Month: June 2021

It’s a little early, but the summertime heat has reached the Ozarks.

The National Weather Service says the combination of heat and humidity will push the heat index into the mid to upper 90’s Thursday, and 100-105 Friday and Saturday.

Prolonged exposure to the sun will be potentially dangerous, especially with this being our first heat event of the year.

Make sure you drink plenty of water, schedule any strenuous outdoor activities early in the day or later in the evening, and never leave kids or pets unattended in vehicles.

Traffic on U.S. 65 near Sunshine was slowed Thursday morning by a bizarre accident.

A piece of equipment fell off a trailer and rested against the center median in the southbound lane. While no vehicle collided with the equipment, it required the closure of two lanes of southbound U.S. 65 to clean up the accident.

The lanes of traffic and the subsequent backup of traffic took place for just over an hour.

One person was slightly hurt Wednesday when a car crashed into a Branson apartment complex.

Branson Professional Firefighters Local 152 said it’s possible the driver of the vehicle suffered some kind of medical crisis before the crash. Medical personnel said that the driver of the car did not suffer injuries related to the crash.

One person in the apartment suffered minor cuts and bruises despite “significant damage” to the apartment.

The car’s driver was transported to a hospital for treatment of a non-accident related medical issue.

Branson police are investigating the crash.

(Photo courtesy Branson Professional Firefighters Local 152)

A home in the Grant Beach neighborhood has been destroyed following a Thursday morning fire.

Springfield Fire officials say the home was fully involved when firefighters arrived just after 5 a.m.. No one was reported to be inside the home in the 800 block of West Webster, south of Grant Beach Park.

The home is a total loss. The fire marshal is investigating the cause.

Another hat has been thrown into the ring for the nomination to replace retiring U.S. Senator Roy Blunt.

U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler announced Thursday that she is entering the race for the Republican Senate nomination. She will be facing off with previously declared candidates Eric Greitens, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, and Mark McCloskey.

“I am the candidate for Senate who will ensure that this seat stays in conservative hands, and I am the candidate for Senate whom you can trust to fight for you and win,” Hartzler said.

Hartzler touted her conservative credentials, such as her pro-life efforts and work to protect religious freedom, but also noted that she is not really someone who is a Washington, D.C. insider.

“I’m the only candidate in the race who’s been sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party,” Hartzler said, in reference to her membership in the Congressional Executive Commission on China, which the Chinese government sanctioned in 2020.)

Hartzler owns a farm in Cass County with her husband, where they raise corn, soybeans, and wheat. She is a former home economics teacher.

She served three terms in the Missouri House before she ran to unseat long time Congressman Ike Skelton by six percentage points in the 2010 election.

The Springfield Police Department has named the men involved in the fatal shooting on East Atlantic early Wednesday.

Investigators say that the victim is Christopher L. Kuder, 42, of Springfield.

Police were called to the 1400 block of East Atlantic Street after callers to 911 reported hearing gunshots. Officers found Kuder lying in the road suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he died from his wounds.

Investigators arrested Mickal O. Johnson, 22, of Springfield for the shooting. He is in the Greene County Jail pending charges.

SPD officials ask anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 869-8477.

It’s been one year since a man in an SUV rammed Springfield Police Officer Mark Priebe on the parking lot of police headquarters on Chestnut Expressway.

Prosecutors say Jon Routh used the vehicle as a weapon, leaving the 21-year police veteran paralyzed.

Priebe spent months in a hospital in Colorado for rehabilitation, then returned home last fall to a warm welcome.

Priebe now has a van with hand controls for gas and the brake, and drives himself to appointments and lunches.

He says the experience of June 9, 2020 has given him a chance to be a better dad and husband and to make a difference in his community.

Police say one man is dead and another is in custody following an overnight shooting in Springfield.

Officers found a 41-year-old man with a gunshot wound in the street near an SUV in the 1400 block of east Atlantic just after 2:00 a.m. Wednesday.

Police performed CPR, but say the man died at the scene.

Shortly after officers arrived, they saw a 22-year-old man running through an alley on north Pickwick He was taken into custody.

Investigators believe the victim and suspect knew each other.

The Springfield Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in searching for missing, endangered 13-year-old Devan Peterson. 

On June 8, 2021 at 4:00 p.m., officers responded to 6446 S. Ridge Crossing Ave. Devan was last seen at 12:30 p.m. walking from that location.

He is a white male, 5’2 tall, 125 pounds, he has brown hair and brown eyes and wears glasses.  He was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and khaki cargo pants.

Officers are told Devan suffers from PTSD, Reactive Attachment Disorder, a Moderate Cognitive Impairment, a Communication Disability and  has the mental capacity of a 6-year-old child.  

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or call 911. 

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the body found off Farm Road 59 near Farm Road 94 in Bois D’Arc on Friday.

A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office says the body is 39-year-old Russell Long of Willard.

Greene County Detectives say the body was found by Highway Department workers. Investigators are working the case as a homicide but did not release any more information about the investigation.

Long was reported missing on April 6, 2021. Family members said he was last seen on March 31 around 8 p.m. at a family member’s home near Farm Road 76 and State Highway UU in Willard.

The Greene County Sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 868-4040.