Month: March 2023

College of the Ozark hosted Mike Rowe of the popular television show, Dirty Jobs, Tuesday night in their Spring Work Ethic Forum.

Rowe spent the day visiting the various student-run work stations around campus, participating in jobs such as tending to the livestock, baking the campus’ famous fruitcake, and more.

“We don’t come into the world fully formed with the kind of work ethic that you all celebrate here at College of the Ozarks,” Rowe said. “That has to be taught, and that’s why I wanted to come here because you are teaching it. It’s not just a lecture or a sermon, you’re actually doing it.”

Rowe encouraged College of the Ozarks students to change their mindset when looking at what it means to work a job.

“I think we all have to find our own path,” Rowe said. “If you want to look at it as something more than merely transactional, then you have to love it. You have to be passionate about your job, even if your job isn’t your passion.”

Governor Mike Parson also attended the event and addressed students.

Springfield-based Convoy of Hope is assisting victims of tornadoes in Mississippi.

The relief agency is on the ground in the town of Amory, Mississippi.

Workers with Convoy of Hope are distributing basic necessities like water, food, and cleaning supplies, as well as chainsaw crews to clear debris.

The Missouri House is attempting to strip state funding for public libraries.

Lawmakers voted Tuesday to remove all of the state’s funding of public libraries, roughly a week after House Budget Chairman Cody Smith cut the libraries funding by $4.5 million.

Both decision come after several library groups filed suit against the state that demands a new Missouri law be overturned.

The law in question, which was passed last year, bans books that include sexually explicit material, specifically in school libraries.

The ban does not apply to written descriptions of sexual nature, only visual depictions such as photos, drawings or videos.

Republican lawmakers have said that the law is not a book ban, but a way to protect innocent children.

Greene County authorities are looking for a fugitive wanted for assault.

Michael Wright pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated resulting in injury.

Detectives believe Wright is in the Greene County area. Wright has several tattoos, including a rosary with praying hands on the left side of his neck.

Detectives say Wright is 6’3″, 215 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

A suspect in a shooting in Camden County has been taken into custody.

James Mark was arrested at a home after the Sheriff’s office recieved a tip that an SUV matching the description of the one Mark was driving was seen there.

Mark is suspected of shooting a man at an apartment in Four Season Monday.

The victim survived and charges against Mark have not been filed yet.

Officers with the Springfield Police Department say they are investigating more sexual assault cases than usual.

The department investigated 337 cases of sexual assault during the 2022 calendar year, but say there were 21 cases reported during a two week span from February 13-26 of this year.

SPD says they want to get this information out to protect potential victims, and offer tips to combat a possible attacker.

Officers say to plan in advance how to confront someone and be prepared to fight if necessary.

If meeting a stranger for the first time, pick a public place, provide your own transportation and only accept drinks from employees if you are drinking.

Do not reveal personal information about yourself and avoid sending compromising pictures.

The department warns that most sexual assault cases occur when the victim knows their attacker, so do not let your guard down.

The Springfield Police Department says the most important thing to remember in the case of a sexual assault: it’s never the victim’s fault.

Much of the Ozarks is under a threat for strong to severe storms on Friday from the morning hours into the afternoon and early evening.

The National Weather Service says at this time, the highest risk area is along and east of Highway 65, where there’s a level three “enhanced risk” for severe storms.

Areas west of Highway 65 are under a level two “slight risk.”

Forecasters say the exact details of timing, locations and hazard types will be fine-tuned over the next 24 to 36 hours.

There are a couple of different scenarios, with the first having thunderstorms develop Friday morning, which will lead to a severe weather potential along and east of the I-49 corridor.

The second scenario has thunderstorms developing early Friday afternoon, which would lead to a severe storm potential along and east of Highway 65.

The weather service says there is a low flooding potential with this system.

We’ll keep you up to date with the changing forecast and any watches and warnings on 93-3 A-M 560 KWTO.

Ozarkers will have the chance to share their talent by competing in the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival’s inaugural “Great Route 66 Talent Competition.” The new competition could provide winners a “fast pass” to national television show “America’s Got Talent.” 

Leading up to the Aug. 10-12 festival, singers, dancers and anyone at least 18 years old with a talent to share are encouraged to submit videos showcasing their talent to KY3.com be voted on by KY3.com viewers. Finalists will compete live at the festival, Saturday, Aug. 11 at the Park Central Stage.

Birthplace of Route 66 Festival organizers the City of Springfield, Aaron Sachs & Associates, KY3/KSPR/CW, Downtown Springfield Association and West Central Neighborhood Alliance announced the lineup for the 2023 festival in a news conference Tuesday, March 28 at the Shrine Mosque.

The 2023 festival will take place Aug. 10-12 and will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 at the Aaron Sachs Stage in Motorcycle Village (Jefferson Avenue and McDaniel Street) with the free Rockin’ the Route 66 Kickoff Concert. The opening act goes on at 6 p.m. and the headliner will take the stage at 8 p.m. The car and motorcycle shows will be Aug. 11 and 12. 

Registration links for Friday and Saturday’s car show, the Charity Bike Show and the Gypsy Tour Poker Run to benefit the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will be live Wednesday at route66festivalsgf.com. 

The Mother Roadster Foundation will raffle off a custom-built 1932 Ford Roadster pickup truck. This is the fifth Mother Roadster the foundation has raffled off, with proceeds benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children. Discovery Center of Springfield is raffling off a 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood at the festival. Links to purchase tickets for both raffles are available at  route66festivalsgf.com. Tickets are $20 each or six for $100. 

A full lineup of free entertainment is planned, including the Friday parade starting at 6 p.m. at Grant Avenue and College Street traveling east through Park Central Square to St. Louis Street and dispersing at National Avenue. Join us for a pre-parade party at the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park at 4:30 p.m.

The Women’s World Expo at the Shrine will be back this year, along with the Authors, Artists, Collectors & Associations expo at The Old Glass Place. Make sure to stop by History Museum on the Square and tour the Birthplace of Route 66 Gallery.

Concerts begin Friday evening at the Aaron Sachs Motorcycle Village Stage at 7 p.m. with Machine Gun Symphony and Sixwire.

New this year will be the Great Route 66 Talent Competition at the Chevy Dealers of the Ozarks/KY3 Stage at Park Central Square on Saturday afternoon, and a cornhole tournament at the Expo Center in partnership with Springfield Cornhole.

Saturday’s concerts kick off at 1:15 p.m. at the Aaron Sachs Stage in Motorcycle Village with Nathan Bryce and the Loaded Dice and continue through the day with Red Light Runner, Damsel, Dirty Saints and closing with Sixwire taking the stage at 9 p.m. 

Food and merchandise vendors interested in having a presence at the festival should email masterfuleventsmo@gmail.com.

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For more information, visit route66festivalsgf.com or contact Cora Scott at 417-380-3352 or cscott@springfieldmo.gov.  

The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors has accepted the resignation of the chamber’s president.

Chris Russell is resigning due to personal reasons.

The current vice president of membership, Ashely Johnson, has been named interim Chamber President.

The Buffalo chief of police has resigned.

City leaders accepted Chris Twitchel’s resignation last Thursday.

Twitchel had served in that position since April 2021.

The city’s board of aldermen place Twitchel on paid administrative leave in January for an internal investigation.

The city’s mayor said an interim chief will be named soon.