Month: April 2022

The Polk County Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of their own.

In a statement by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 23-year-old Christopher West died in a car accident Thursday afternoon near Fair Grove.

The crash happened on Highway CC just west of Fair Grove, where investigators say a woman turned left along the highway into the path of West’s pick-up truck.

The name of the woman involved in the accident has not been released.

Ambulance crews responded to the scene and rushed West to a local hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

West was a firefighter for the Pleasant Hope Fire Protection District.

A report from the National Weather Service warns Southwest Missouri residents of thunderstorms moving through the area beginning late Friday night.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, with increased chances of strong winds and large hail. The report from NWS says that the chances of tornados are low, but not zero.

The highest chance of storms is predicted between midnight and 4 a.m. Saturday morning.

Areas with higher risk include counties to the west of I-49 and north of I-44, including eastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri, specifically areas to the west of Greene County.

Chances of rain and isolated thunderstorms will continue through the morning hours Saturday, ending at around 8 a.m.

Springfield Fire Department officials say the number of fires in vacant buildings is increasing.

Chief David Pennington says there have been 94 incidents in the first three months of the year. There were only 52 in the same period last year.

Pennington says the fires are often intentional. He says the fire department can not solve the problem all alone, and the community needs to be involved.

Miller County authorities are searching for a man accused of an unusual assault.

Ryan Pierce of Lake Ozark is charged with first degree assault after biting off a man’s ear.

He is also charged with first degree burglary.

Authorities fear Pierce may kill his family or neighbors if not captured.

U-S Marshals have arrested a Nixa man after he was on the run from house arrest.

Joe Dutton faces eight felony charges in connection with a fight at his home, in which a teenage girl was stabbed several times last year.

Dutton had been under house arrest but missed two court appearances.

He is now in the Christian County Jail without bond.

After months of speculation, star Missouri State guard Isiaih Mosley has made it official, he will be leaving the Bears program.

The two-time first-team Missouri Valley Conference star has entered his name into the transfer portal for his final year of college basketball.

Mosley also announced his intention to continue through the NBA Draft process for the time being.

After a standout high school career at Columbia-Rock Bridge, the 6’5″ guard averaged 16 points per game in three seasons with the Bears.

Mosley averaged over 20 points per game last season, and drew consideration for Missouri Valley Player of the Year honors. He finished with 1,434 points in his career, just outside of the top 10 for career scoring in Missouri State history.