Categories
Ozark News

Guilty Plea for Springfield Man Accused in Girlfriend’s Death

57-year-old John Shuck has pleaded guilty to charges surrounding the death of his girlfriend, 54-year-old Tammy Colbert.

Colbert was found dead inside her home in March of 2020. The autopsy showed multiple blows to the head and neck as the cause of her death.

Shuck was arrested shortly after her death, and later admitted to authorities that he had struck her multiple times during a dispute between the two.

Shuck pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

Categories
Ozark News

Christian County Man Sentenced in Daughter’s Murder

An Ozark man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after the death of his own daughter.

James Church pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges in the death of 8-week old Iris Church in 2016.

She was admitted to the hospital in October of that year, where she died from head trauma and other injuries.

Church later confessed that he had shaken the child and also dropped her.

Categories
Missouri News

Missouri Attorney General Releases Statement Following CDC Director’s Visit to Washington University in St. Louis

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has released a statement following CDC Director Rochelle Walensky’s visit Thursday to Washington University in St. Louis.

Here’s the full statement from Schmitt:

“Today, the CDC Director visited Washington University in St. Louis to talk public health. Missing from her roundtable discussion was an apology – an apology to the parents and children of Missouri that were forced to mask all day in school based on her flawed guidance, an apology for the CDC’s complete politicization of public health guidance and data, an apology for the damage that was done to education and for the exponential increase in detrimental mental health impacts.

We’ve said all along that the science and data show that masks are ineffective and that they cause lasting, negative impacts on our society’s youngest.

From the beginning, CDC has completely ignored and disegarded that science and data. Now that it’s politically convenient, the CDC is changing their tune and changing their guidance, but the damage has already been done.

My Office will continue to follow the science and data, and will keep fighting to unmask our children.

Meanwhile, Missouri’s children and their parents will wait with bated breath for that well-deserved apology from the CDC Director.”

Categories
Ozark News

Business in Wright County Raises More Than $1 Million to Help Ukraine

The Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, based in Mansfield, has raised more than $1 million to help Ukraine.

Baker Creek Owner Jere Gettle says his great grandfather emigrated from Ukraine, and the company has customers in Ukraine.

Gettle says the company’s campaign raised $1.6 million in two and a half days.

Categories
Ozark News

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Continue to Drop in Greene County

The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Greene County continues to drop.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard shows the seven day case average is down to 39, the lowest number since November 7th, 2021.

The number of people in Greene County hospitals with the virus has dropped to 80 after jumping all the way to 254 just a month ago, on February 3rd.

Categories
Ozark News

Car Fire Burns Shop Building In Aurora

Fire destroyed a shop building north of Aurora Wednesday afternoon.

The Aurora Rural Fire Protection District responded to a blaze on Lawrence County Road 2170 during the noon hour.

There was a car inside the shop on fire.

The building was destroyed.

The exact cause of the fire is unknown.

No one was injured.

Categories
Ozark News

New Charges In High Speed Chase

The Greene County Prosecutor has filed new charges against the man who led authorities on a high speed chase through Springfield Tuesday evening.

Johnnie Coffer faces charges of vehicle hijacking, resisting arrest, and drug possession.

Greene County deputies attempted to arrest Coffer, when he and another man sped off in a truck.

They assaulted the driver, who was still in the truck, and threw him out.

Coffer sped through several intersections before he crashed into a patrol car at Dale and Grant.

Deputies say he violated his probation in November by cutting off his GPS ankle monitor.

Categories
Ozark News

Deliberation Begins in Double Murder Case in Camden County

After prosecutors in Camden County laid out the case against a man charged with several crimes, including two counts of first-degree murder, a judge will now deliberate before making a ruling.

Steven Endsley is on trial for the murder of Danielle Smith, and her mother Theresa Jackson. According to prosecutors, Endsley stabbed Smith and Jackson to death before burning down their home with the bodies still inside.

The prosecution believes the murders occurred because of an ongoing feud between Smith and Endsley due to Danielle’s sexual orientation.

Both sides presented cases this week, with closing statements being made Wednesday. The judge assigned to the case will now deliberate before determining guilt. The decision could take several weeks to come down.

Categories
Ozark News

Ozark Chamber of Commerce Endorses School Bond Issue on April’s Ballot

The Ozark Chamber of Commerce has endorsed a bond issue for the school district and a tax levy transfer.

The $19 million bond issue would pay for three school storm shelters.

The 10 cent levy transfer would not increase taxes, and would make about $500,000 for operating costs.

The two measures will be on the ballot together April 5th.

Categories
Missouri News

Missouri Capitol To Show Support For Ukraine

Governor Mike Parson announced Tuesday that the Missouri Capitol dome in Jefferson City will be lit in blue and yellow from March first through the forth to show that Missouri stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Gov. Parson said, “Teresa and I continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, all innocent lives put in harm’s way, and a quick resolution to peace that protects the sovereignty and freedom of Ukraine.”