Month: October 2021

Springfield Police have arrested a man for several thefts including merchandise from a trade show at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds earlier this month.

37 year old Derek Wells of Springfield faces 23 charges.

Wells had been under investigation since September for other thefts, when someone tipped off the police after the thefts at the trade show.

He was on parole for burglary when he was arrested.

He is being held in the Greene County Jail without bond.

Next week, Nixa voters will be deciding whether to remove the city’s current mayor from office after he enacted a city wide mask-mandate.

On November 2nd, Nixa voters will be asked to either vote “Yes” to remove Mayor Brian Steele from office or vote “No” to keep him in his current position.

Christian County Clerk Kay Brown says mayoral elections typically happen in April, so it is difficult to gauge Tuesday’s turnout.

She says no matter how many people show up to the polls on Tuesday, the special election will still cost taxpayers money.

She estimates $15,000 for this election.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says all COVID-19 booster shots are now available locally, including the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Here’s the latest in a news release from the health department on guidance for getting those shots:

With the recent approval of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department has created an online tool that will help determine if an individual is eligible for a booster shot and if the booster dose is recommended.

The questionnaire is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and can be found at vaccine417.com. The CDC guidance draws a distinction between those who should and those who may get the booster shot, and the questionnaire will help individuals determine if a booster is recommended for them. 

Those who meet the following criteria and received the two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines should receive a booster shot at least six months after their second dose was administered:

•              people 65 years and older 

•              residents in long-term care settings 

•              people aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions

Individuals who received the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines who may receive a booster at least six months after their second dose was administered meet the following criteria:

•           people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions

•           people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting

The CDC states that everyone 18 and older who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot at least two months after their vaccine was administered.

While it is recommended that the same vaccine be administered, mixing vaccine types was also approved for the booster doses only. Individuals who are eligible to receive a booster shot can choose a different vaccine type than they received initially. Those with additional questions or in need of guidance should discuss their options with their healthcare provider. 

All doses and boosters are available at the Health Department Vaccination Clinic located at 1425 E Battlefield Rd. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. More information and additional opportunities to get vaccinated can be found at vaccine417.com or by calling the COVID-19 Call Center at 417-874-1211. 

The National Weather Service has confirmed that an E-F-1 tornado touched down near Richland in Camden County.

Survey teams believe the storm had winds of 90 MPH and stayed on the ground for 4 minutes.

It cut a path of about 2 miles.

The storm damaged a barn, the roof of a house and several trees.

Springfield Police have identified the victim in a deadly shooting that happened Sunday morning.

Police say 43-year-old Robert Eagleburger died at a Springfield hospital.

They found Eagleburger with a gunshot wound at 1118 West Division.

He was transported to the hospital in a serious condition but later died.

Officers determined the shooting happened at 1122 W. Lynn Street.

They have identified a suspect in the shooting.

Officers have interviewed this person, but have not arrested them.

The Camden County Sheriff says it could take investigators more than a year to identify remains found by hunters Friday.

Arrowhead hunters found the remains in a remote area near Route “Y” and U-S 54 near Linn Creek.

Sheriff Tony Helms says depending on the D-N-A and the type of test needed it could be awhile before there is an identification.

Sheriff Helms says this was probably an accident because there is a dangerous ravine nearby.

Springfield Police are investigating a fatal shooting Sunday morning.

It happened just after 5 a.m on West Lynn Street near Division and Kansas Expressway.

The victim died from his injuries at a local hospital.

Police have not identified the victim or a suspect.

Investigators believe they know who the suspect is but they have not yet been arrested.