A woman is dead in a crash on a county road in Lawrence County.
The Highway Patrol says 50 year old Lori Reid of Miller was killed after the utility vehicle she was a passenger in overturned just before 2 AM Monday morning.
The driver was tested for alcohol and taken to a Springfield hospital with serious injuries.
Springfield Police are searching for a missing man. Police say 61 year old Jody Stogner was last seen on Kearney Street.
A transport company arrived to give him a ride, he wasn’t there.
He is five foot eight and 178 pounds.
Anyone with information about Stogner is asked to call 9-1-1 or Springfield Police Department.
The Springfield Police Department has announced dozens of openings as law enforcement, like much of the country, faces an increasing labor shortage.
The department reports 60 job openings within their unit, with the majority being for sworn-in law enforcement officers.
There is an academy in Springfield for those interested in a career in law enforcement. The SPD Academy pays potential officers $43,000 a year for those training, with a pay raise to $47,000 per year upon graduation, according to a spokesman for the police department.
If interested in training to become an officer, or to apply for one of the departments vacancies, visit www.springfieldmo.gov.
The principal of Bolivar High School is headed to Fair Play.
Dr. David Geurin will take over as superintendent of the district July 1st.
Geurin says he’s beyond excited to have the opportunity to serve in Fair Play.
Geurin began his career in education as a teacher and coach in Marshfield back in 1996.
He takes over for Renee Sagaser, who is retiring after 17 years with the Fair Play district.
The People’s Convoy is passing through the Springfield area on I-44 late Monday morning.
The 10-mile-long convoy is on its way to Washington, D.C.
The group says it’s traveling across the country in peace and unity, asking the federal government to end the state of emergency that led to vaccine and mask mandates.
The convoy spent Sunday night in Big Cabin, Oklahoma and will stop Monday night in Sullivan, Missouri.
A number of truckers have joined in the convoy, but a member of the group says drivers of all vehicles are welcome.
More than 60 animals are dead after a fire broke out in a barn in Greene County early Monday morning.
The fire started just after 5 a.m. at Division and Highway 125, east of Highway 65.
The Strafford Fire Chief says the barn had a wood frame with metal siding, but the cause of the fire has not been determined.
Dogs, cats, horses and goats were in that burn.
With experts throughout the country predicting a sharp rise in gas prices due to the invasion of Ukraine, one Missouri politician is hoping to alleviate concerns in the state.
Republican State Representative Adam Schwardon introduced legislation today that calls for a six month “gas-tax holiday”. The holiday would mean that the states current 17 cent fuel tax would be suspended for that six month period.
The rise in gas prices has been predicted as the likelihood of a retaliation from Russia is likely. The United States levied sanctions against them after their actions in Ukraine.
Russia is the third largest oil producer in the world.
House Bill 2801 calls for immediate action, but has not been assigned to a house committee.
The filing period for Springfield’s vacant Zone 1 city council seat is now open.
The seat was vacated when Angela Romine filed to run for the Missouri Senate.
Applications and statements of candidacy will be accepted in the city clerk’s office during normal business hours (8 a.m.- 5 p.m.) through March 11.
City council will appoint an individual to serve until the April 4, 2023 election.
To apply, you must be a registered voter in the city of Springfield, must have been a resident of the city for at least two years prior to appointment, must have been a resident of Zone 1 for at least one year immediately prior to appointment, must not have had a felony conviction or been delinquent on taxes, and must have completed and filed Missouri Department of Revenue form 5120 per state law.
Applications without the form 5120 will not be accepted.
The Springfield Police Department is warning the public about a counterfeit prescription pill trend.
Officers have recently seized large quantities of pills that look like Oxycodone, but have been called Percocet.
The counterfeit pills are believed to contain Fentanyl, and they’ve caused several overdoses.
Authorities say Oxycodone and Percocet are opioid pain medications commonly prescribed by physicians.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times straonger than morphine and is commonly added to heroin or other controlled substances to increase their potency.
It can be absorbed into the body via inhalation or skin contact.
Police say illegally manufactured Fentanyl can be extremely dangerous and has been a major contributor to opioid-related overdoses.
In 2021, the Springfield Police Department responded to 566 calls for service involving overdoses, with 61 total fatalities.
Already in 2022, police say they’ve responded to 86 calls involving overdoses, with eight total fatalities.
Authorities say anyone who takes prescription meds should only obtain them from a licensed medical prescriber or pharmacy.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department will transition its COVID-19 vaccination and testing operations from the clinic on east Battlefield near Fremont to Westside Public Health Center at 660 south Scenic.
The move is effective Monday, February 28th.
Here are the details provided by the health department in a news release:
The move highlights the Health Department’s dedication to maintaining vaccine and testing accessibility in the community. Along with the new clinic location, the Health Department will also host neighborhood clinics with various community partners in the upcoming months. Hours and locations will vary to allow for easy accessibility.
The Health Department began vaccinating the community at the Battlefield clinic on October 11, 2021. As of mid-February, the staff administered 13,267 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and tested 4,871 patients on site. Also, 3,200 individuals received a $50 gift card for receiving their first or second dose at the Battlefield clinic.
When the CDC approved pediatric vaccination last fall, Springfield Public Schools joined forces with the Health Department to host vaccination clinics and increase testing access for students. In total, 1,984 pediatric vaccine doses were administered at the clinic and 50 SPS students were tested at the site over 12 days during the Omicron variant peak.
Beginning Feb. 28, COVID-19 testing and vaccination will be available each weekday at the Westside clinic. Testing appointments will run Monday-Friday from 8-11:15 a.m. and vaccinations from 1-4:30 p.m. For appointments, call the COVID-19 Call Center at 417-874-1211 or visit COVIDTesting417.com and vaccine417.com. Patients receiving their first and second dose will still receive $50 gift cards at the Westside clinic, as supplies last.
Additionally, various pop-up clinics for walk-in vaccinations will be held on evenings and weekends. No appointments are necessary for vaccine clinics. Upcoming clinics include:
Thursday, Feb. 24
The Library Station (2535 N. Kansas Expy.), 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
APO Downtown (303 Park Central W.), 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Willard Library (305 E. Jackson St.), 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Central High School (423 E. Central) 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Maps with testing and vaccination opportunities can be found at COVIDTesting417.com and Vaccine 417.com.
Organizations interested in hosting a vaccination clinic can fill out the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Interest Form.