Month: May 2022

A local Greene County man and employee of Macadoodle’s, a Missouri owned liquor store, has been arrested.

52-year-old Jason Bernard, of Rivercut, has been charged with federal sexual exploitation of a minor.

Bernard was the General Manager of Macadoodle’s East Independence location in Springfield.

The arrest was made after investigators discovered Bernard had been sending money to a 15-year-old North Carolina girl in exchange for sexually explicit video and photos. Investigators also say the relationship had been ongoing for the past two years.

Following his arrest, court documents indicate Bernard admitted to paying the victim, as well as four other underage girls.

In statements from the victim, she revealed Bernard knew the girl’s age, and that was the reason he liked her.

Reports say Bernard was paying the victim $250 per week for the videos and photos, and had even offered her $10,000 to come to Springfield for sex.

Through the victims statement, authorities found nearly $1,700 in payments made from Bernard to the victim.

Bernard is currently in jail, and could face up to 30 years in prison for the charges.

A Springfield native has died after falling near one of the most dangerous sections of the Buffalo National River.

Authorities say 46-year-old Brad Thomas has been pronounced dead after he fell over 20 feet into the Indian Creek drainage, which runs off of the Buffalo National River. The fall took place near Eye of the Wilderness.

Emergency crews have been called to this section of the river numerous times, as the land is susceptible to breaking off, causing slippery conditions to the already steep terrain of the hiking trail.

First responders attempted CPR to revive Thomas, but were unsuccessful.

Park personnel and emergency responders warn hikers to equip for self-rescue, as this area can make response difficult and lengthy.

More than 200 people attended an “Our Body Our Choice” rally over the weekend at Park Central Square in Downtown Springfield.

It comes after a draft Supreme Court opinion suggesting Roe Versus Wade, the nearly half century old case legalizing abortion, would be overturned.

Chants of “What do we want? Abortion on demand. When do we want it? Now,” and “Women must decide their fate” rang out at the event.

There were also pro-life advocates in attendance at the rally.

With the constitutional deadline approaching late Friday afternoon, lawmakers in Jefferson City seem to have agreed on a state budget.

The budget will be the largest in the state’s history at a whopping $48 billion, and includes provisions for increases in teachers pay and K-12 busing for public schools.

The budget also includes Medicaid expansion, high-speed internet and tax credits for individuals making under $150,000 per year, and couples making under $300,000.

All public four-year colleges and universities will receive a funding increase of over 5%.

Reports say the budget is slated to be passed by 6 p.m.

Police in West Plains are looking for a car involved in a hit and run crash.

The car struck a 19 year old bicyclist on U-S 63 Thursday morning. The bicycle was dragged 100 feet from where the injured rider was found.

Witnesses say the car was a dark, red, Pontiac Bonneville.

If you have any information about this crash, you are asked to contact the West Plains police department.

A man from Cape Girardeau is charged with arson after authorities believe he burned down a church.

Police have arrested 46-year-old Scott Pritchard and charged him with intentionally obstructing parishioners of the church from the free exercise of religion, and with using fire to commit a federal felony.

Authorities believe he purposely set fire to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in April of this year.

If convicted, Pritchard faces up to 30 years in prison.

A system that has brought more than a half foot of rain to parts of the Ozarks is finally moving out of our area Friday morning, with dry weather for much of the next week.

But flooding will likely continue in many areas over the next couple of days.

The National Weather Service says numerous roads are still closed due to being impassible.

Forecasters say do not drive or walk into flooded areas. It only takes six inches of water to knock you off your feet.

Get the latest road closings across southwest Missouri and across the state with the MoDOT Traveler Information Map.

Campers at two state parks had to be rescued because of the heavy rains and flooding Wednesday and early Thursday morning.

Rising water lead to evacuations and rescues at both Bennett Springs near Lebanon and Roaring River at Cassville.

Laclede County Emergency Management and the Highway Patrol used rafts to save campers after the Niangua River began flooding.

Emergency crews at Roaring River says many campers left the park early in the storm.

Former Governor Eric Greitens has been granted access to his ex-wife, Sheena Greitens, phone record in an ongoing custody battle between the former couple.

Greitens attorney’s filed the request after Sheena Greitens accused the former Governor of physical abuse of her and the couples children in the past.

On Thursday, a judge granted approval for Greitens team to access the phone records, but denied requests for phone records for Sheena Greitens sister and Greitens former campaign manager Austin Chambers.

While in the midst of the custody battle, former Governor Greitens is also engaged in a race for the United States Senate.