Month: June 2021

Springfield city staff and their design consultants with Olsson brought forward a proposed master plan for the Renew Jordan Creek project.

The plan calls for daylighting of portions of the creek that are currently underground in concrete culverts, with a goal to reduce flooding in the downtown area and improve the creek’s water quality. The overall plan includes the initially announced first phase of land between Boonville Avenue, Water Street, Main Avenue, and Mill Street; but it also shows changes will be made to Founder’s Park and the newly acquired former Meek’s Lumber site.

“Conceptually, the master plan is a ‘string of pearls’ along Jordan Creek and includes all of Jordan Valley Park,” Director of Quality of Place Initiatives Tim Rosenbury said in a statement. “As visitors and residents explore the area, they will be drawn from one active place to another to enjoy amenities unique to each site, yet part of a whole experience.”

City staff also announced ways citizens can provide feedback:

• Visit renewjordancreek.com anytime June 7-13 to click through a Virtual Public Open House webpage. The virtual platform will provide the opportunity to view proposed concepts for the three master plan sites and provide comments.  
• 6-7 p.m., Wednesday, June 9, the City will host a Virtual Public Information Session providing residents a tour of all three master plan sites and walking them through   various aspects of the proposed plan. The session will also involve a Q&A session and calls for feedback from the community. Residents are encouraged to tune in by visiting renewjordancreek.com or Facebook.com/CityofSGF. 

The project has already had community feedback through a visioning survey that obtained over 600 responses, and a virtual open house that generated just over 120 comments. Olsson will incorporate feedback from the scheduled final public sessions in their final master plan proposal.

Republic police have one person in custody after a bomb threat to the community’s Walmart.

The store was evacuated after the threat was made to the store per Walmart policy. Police searched the store and did not find a bomb.

Customers and employees were allowed back into the store after 2 p.m..

A suspect has been taken into custody but Republic officials have not released the suspect’s name. No charges have been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

Stone County has received an “excellent” rating in an audit of the County Collector’s office.

State auditor Nicole Galloway released the audit Tuesday, stating that state auditors found no concerns in their review of the county collector’s office’s procedures.

“This audit confirms the Stone County Collector’s Office was run in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Auditor Galloway said. “This is great news for the taxpayers of the county and an example to offices throughout the state.”

The audit of the department initiated because of a state statute requiring an audit when there is a vacancy. Vicki May resigned as the county’s collector, and Anna Burk was appointed into her place.

Only Holt County and Johnson County have received “excellent” ratings in recent years.

stonecountycollectoraudit

Stone County has received an “excellent” rating in an audit of the County Collector’s office.

State auditor Nicole Galloway released the audit Tuesday, stating that state auditors found no concerns in their review of the county collector’s office’s procedures.

“This audit confirms the Stone County Collector’s Office was run in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Auditor Galloway said. “This is great news for the taxpayers of the county and an example to offices throughout the state.”

The audit of the department initiated because of a state statute requiring an audit when there is a vacancy. Vicki May resigned as the county’s collector, and Anna Burk was appointed into her place.

Only Holt County and Johnson County have received “excellent” ratings in recent years.

stonecountycollectoraudit

Southwest Missouri Congressman Billy Long has been touring COVID-19 vaccination events and meeting with health care workers and has identified several challenges in the effort to get shots into the arms of residents in the 7th District.

Long says we need to do a better job getting vaccine to rural resident.

He says there are elderly patients in rural areas who would benefit from mobile vaccination clinics.

Long also says he’s noticed a shortage of supplies, such as syringes and needles, during his tour, and he says there’s still a shortage of nurses.

Areas along and south of Highway 60 stand to see the most rain Tuesday, with flooding concerns at low water crossings.

The National Weather Service says a Flood Watch is in effect for the southern Ozarks through Wednesday morning.

In addition, the weather service issued a Flood Advisory for parts of nine counties in southwest Missouri through 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Some locations that will experience flooding of low water crossings are Springfield, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Monett, Aurora, Battlefield and Mt. Vernon.

Doppler radar indicated heavy rain in these areas Tuesday morning, with one to two inches already falling and another inch of rain possible before ending in the afternoon.