Month: March 2022

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to redevelop over the Ozarks Tuesday afternoon and evening, but the National Weather Service says severe weather is no longer expected.

The Storm Prediction Center has removed areas north of I-44 from a “marginal risk” area for damaging winds and large hail.

Forecasters say you should remain aware for lightning Tuesday afternoon and evening, with additional rainfall amounts likely remaining below a half inch.

The weather service says check the forecast before heading out, remain weather aware if you have outdoor plans, and have an umbrella ready.

Heavy rain and some flooding were reported in several areas late Monday night into Tuesday morning, with Cowskin Creek flooding at Highway Y west of Ava and Highway AB closed at Wolf Creek due to flooding northeast of Mansfield.

Some areas of far western Missouri, including Mindenmines in Barton County, reported two inches of rain over a 24 hour period.

One man is dead and two others injured after a crash on Native Drive southwest of Lebanon.

The Highway Patrol says a pickup truck driven by 33 year old Casey Rader of Conway struck a ditch and overturned, throwing all the occupants out.

Rader was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other passengers are hospitalized with serious injuries.

Firefighters at the Lake of the Ozarks battled a fire that spread to three lakeshore homes and damaged another house.

Firefighters were called about 11:30 am Monday to Peacock Lane near State Highway “Y”.

Authorities say high winds cause the fire to spread.

The three homes are a total loss and one house had exterior damage from the heat.

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler has released a video regarding new physical abuse altercations against Eric Greitens.

Greitens was the Governor of the state of Missouri from 2017-2018. He resigned from the office after he was charged with felony tampering and campaign-related offenses stemming from an affair.

Hartzler’s statement comes after Greitens ex-wife, Sheena Greitens, accused him of emotionally and physically abusing her and their children, including their then 3-year-old son.

A written transcript of Congresswoman Hartzler’s statement is attached below.

A motorcyclist has died in a crash Monday morning along National Avenue just south of the Springfield city limits.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the crash happened just after 7 a.m. Monday when the motorcycle was speeding south on National.

Troopers say a vehicle pulling out of Darby Place pulled into the path of the motorcycle.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

More information will be released when family members of the victim are notified.

Widespread rain is likely in the Ozarks Monday evening.

The National Weather Service says some areas may experience over an inch of rainfall with this first round.

Minor flooding is possible.

We’ll have additional thunderstorms on Tuesday, and some of those could be strong to severe, especially north and west of Springfield.

Light rain chances and cooler temps in the 40’s will continue Wednesday and Thursday.

The highest rain totals are expected along the I-49 corridor west of Springfield, with three quarters of an inch to an inch possible in the metro area.

After leading the Missouri State Lady Bears to two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three seasons, Head Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is leaving to become the head coach at the University of Virginia.

The Virginia women’s basketball program made the announcement Monday morning with a “Welcome Coach Mox” tweet.

Agugua-Hamilton led the Lady Bears to a 74-15 record in her three seasons in Springfield, including a 46-6 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Lady Bears beat Florida State in the “First Four” round of this year’s NCAA Tournament before losing to nationally ranked Ohio State 63-56 in the opening round of The Big Dance.

Here’s the news release from Missouri State University:

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The University of Virginia has named Amaka Agugua-Hamilton as its next women’s basketball head coach, the university announced today (March 21), ending her three-year stint at Missouri State University.

“Coach Mox” compiled a 74-15 overall record in her tenure with the Lady Bears, including a 46-6 ledger in the Missouri Valley Conference with three 20-win campaigns. Missouri State captured MVC regular-season titles in 2020 and 2021 under her guidance with NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 (Sweet 16) and 2022. She also earned MVC Coach of the Year honors twice in her three seasons at the helm.

“I can’t thank Amaka, Billy and Eze enough for taking a chance on Missouri State,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “Coach Mox has far exceeded our expectations as a coach, colleague, and mentor to our student-athletes. Her record speaks for itself, but the way she has dealt with the many challenges in her path over the past three years has been remarkable. Our players have improved tremendously on the court and have grown so much more as people. I know she will be evaluated on her wins and losses, but there is far more to her as a person than wins and losses.

“The Missouri State family will be forever grateful to her for upholding our great women’s basketball tradition and graduating quality young women.”

Originally from Herndon, Virginia, Coach Mox led the Lady Bears to 25-8 record in 2021-22 and runner-up finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State defeated Florida State in the NCAA Tournament opening round before being eliminated from the tournament by Ohio State, 63-56, on Saturday.

“She has been a tremendous ambassador for the university, for the city of Springfield and certainly for our athletic program during her tenure here,” said Missouri State University President Clif Smart. “Those impressions will be long standing and have helped maintain our women’s basketball team as one of the nation’s most successful programs.”

According to Moats, a national search for Agugua-Hamilton’s replacement will begin immediately. As is our customary, university administrators will not comment on the search process until a new coach has been selected.

The name of the person found dead in the backseat of a burned pickup truck in Morgan County has been released.

A medical examiner in Boone County identified the body as 48 year old Robert Miles of Ivy Bend.

Investigators say the truck burned on March 10th.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office says the case is an open investigation.

A Taney County couple have been found guilty of child sexual assault and child pornography.

Mark and Tara Millman were sentenced to 35 years in jail in separate federal court hearings Thursday.

The couple pleaded guilty in July 2021 to sexually assaulting two children to produce child pornography.

The acts were recorded on an I-phone and shared on a cloud storage platform.