Month: August 2022

A dozen industry leaders from a variety of disciplines in the Ozarks joined our fifth CEO Roundtable Thursday at our KWTO studios in Springfield.

Some of the topics addressed included our economic health in Springfield and Greene County and how much concern there is over whether we’re heading for a recession

We also talked about workforce issues, quality of life, the city of Springfield’s proposed 20 year comprehensive plan, and crime.

Each of our CEO’s filled out a survey before the meeting, and were asked to rate their current level of optimism in Springfield and Greene County’s economic future.

We had quite a range of responses, with a low of 61 and a high of 99.

Thanks to the following participants for joining us for lunch and a great discussion.

Richard Ollis, CEO of Ollis/Akers/Arney

Dr. Mike Rakes, President of Evangel University

Brian VanFosson, President of Citizens Bank of Rogersville

Don Harkey, CEO of People Centric Consulting Group

Teresa McGeehan, owner/operator of McDonalds Restaurants

Randall Whitman, Principal Planner for the City of Springfield

Brian Inman, Area Director of Operations and Culture for O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC

Gary Gibson, CEO of Springfield City Utilities

Alyssa Ingle, CEO of Perimeter Healthcare

A.J. Exner, Client Relations Manager of Dynamic DNA Laboratories

Jessica Olson, Managing Partner of Maxon Fine Jewelry

Hector Cruz, Senior Director of Development at Evangel University

We will use the information gathered to guide topic selection for our local talk shows on KWTO:

The Howell County prosecutor has charged six staff members of a state school in West Plains with assaulting a 13-year-old with Autism.

The six are charged with child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

The assault occurred at the Horizon State School in West Plains. An investigator with the Children’s Division gave police surveillance video of the incident.

The school fired the staff members after the investigation began.

The Amazon facility in Republic was evacuated Tuesday evening.

An alarm sounded of a possible problem with the air quality at the site.

Firefighters arrived to perform a safety check, but they found no problems.

Employees were allowed back in after an all-clear.

Vandals spray painted graffiti on a north Springfield church.

The vandals painted alleged Satanic symbols on the predominantly African-American congregation’s church building.

Members of the Acts of Praise church believe they were targeted, because they are African-American, because the vandals passed over another nearby church and another African-American church had been recently vandalized.

Prosecutors in Howell County say six staff members have been charged for allegedly abusing a 13-year-old child with autism.

Court records indicate Varnella Burges, Barbara Stark, Cheryl Silva, Teresia Huddlestone, Barbara Baker, and Karen Gore as the suspects, and each of them are charged with child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Investigators found evidence of the abuse, which occurred at Ozarks Horizon State School. All the staff members were fired after the district had discovered the abuse.

Reports say investigators were given surveillance video that showed evidence of the crimes being committed.

Court dates for each of the six suspects were not included in the report.

The Greene County Commission has awarded 29 small business pieces of the ARPA funds.

Click here for a full list of businesses who have been awarded the funds.

This round of delegations totaled $399,050. The remaining Greene County ARPA funds must be assigned by Dec. 31, 2024.

For updates of future application opportunities, visit arp.greenecountymo.gov.

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating two missing teens in the Branson area.

Autumn Barton (16) and Amiee Averill (15) were last seen in the area of Evergreen and State Highway BB Saturday morning. Police believe they were heading to Turkey Creek.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Branson Police Department or 911.

A widespread one to two inches of rain are possible in the Ozarks from tonight all the way into Wednesday.

The national weather service says there is the potential for some localized amounts of three plus inches.

Flooding may develop where heavy rain moves over the same area. There is a marginal risk of severe storms on Tuesday.