Month: April 2023

With election day less than 24 hours away, we at KWTO want to bring you all of the issues you may see on your ballot tomorrow.

To track election night coverage in Greene County, click here.

The complete list of local election races and money issues can be found below:

Mayor/City Council Races:

Springfield Mayor’s Race:

• Ken McClure
• Melanie Bach

Springfield City Council General Seat C:

• Callie Carroll
• Jeremy Dean

Springfield City Council General Seat D:

• Derek Lee
• Bruce K. Adib-Yazdi

Springfield City Council Zone 3:

• Brandon Jenson
• David Nokes

Ozark Mayor’s Race:

• Eddie Campbell
• David T. Snider
• Donald Currence

City of Ozark Ward 2 Alderman:

• Jim Price
• Joshua C. Tuning
• Jean Ann Hutchinson

Branson Mayor’s Race:

• Larry Milton
• Karen Best
• Charles Rodriguez

City of Marshfield West Ward Alderman:

• Robert V. Boggs
• Earl Terrill

School Board Races:

Springfield School Board Race (2 voted in):

• Landon McCarter
• Shurita Thomas-Tate
• Judy Brunner
• Chad Rollins

Republic School Board Race (3 voted in):

• Denny Lawson
• John Parker
• Terry McConnell
• Adam Poulson

Willard School Board Race (3 voted in):

• Jason Dixon
• Sutton Berry
• Lacee Blunt
• Eric L. Wilkins
• Curtis Martin
• Wesley Burrell

Walnut Grove School Board Race (3 voted in):

• Diane R. Smith
• Jeffrey Daniel Kruger
• Jeremy Kelley
• Tyler Jeffreys
• Daphne Wilkins
• Brandon Chad Simpson

Nixa School Board Race (3 voted in):

• Heather Zoromski
• Linda L. Daugherty
• Alex Bryant
• Elizabeth Dudash-Buskirk
• Jasen D. Goodall

Ozark School Board Race (3 voted in):

• Amber Bryant
• Ralph Phillips
• Guy Callaway
• Joey Mills
• Anthony Petrosino
• Christina Tonsing
• Amy S. Wilkerson
• Jeremy Devoto
• Lisa Tindall
• Joshua Hartman

Ballot Issues:

Christian County Sales Tax Issue:

• 3% county-wide sales tax on all non-medical adult use marijuana sold with the county

City of Springfield Question 3:

• Repeal of existing 5% hotel/motel/tourist court tax and replace it with a licensing tax at the same 5% rate for hotels, motels and tourist courts and add short-term rentals, such as Airbnb

City of Springfield Question 1:

• Updates to City Charter, including adding hiring preferences to all honorably discharged military veterans

City of Springfield Question 2:

• Would allow the City Council to approve acceptance of a bid and entry into a contract with the successful bidder in the same meeting.

City of Nixa Question:

• 0.75% general sales tax to improve public safety, including hiring additional police officers and construction of a new headquarters.

City of Marshfield Proposition:

• Half cent general sales tax to improve public safety, including hiring additional police officers and staff.

City of Clever Proposition:

• Half cent general sales tax to improve public safety, including hiring additional police officers and staff.

City of Ozark Question:

• 3% sales tax on all retail sales of non-medical adult use marijuana sold within the city. Tax would fund the police department.

Fire Protection District Ballot Issues:

Willard Fire Protection District: Proposition Fire

• $10 million bond issue to acquire and renovate fire stations, vehicles and equipment

Fair Grove Fire Protection District: Proposition Fire

• $3 million bond issue for acquiring, building, improving, equipping and maintaining fire stations.

Billings Fire Protection District: Proposition Fire

• #3 million bond issue for acquiring, building, improving, equipping and maintaining fire stations.

School District Ballot Issues:

Springfield R-12 School District Proposition S:

• $220 million to fund school improvements prioritized by a citizen task force that will impact all SPS schools.

Republic R-3 School District Question:

• $47 million “no tax increase” bond would pay for a new 5th/6th grade building, among other renovations.

Ash Grove R-4 School District Proposition K.I.D.S:

• $9.4 million bond issue to add six new classrooms, new restrooms and a gymnasium that would double as a storm shelter.

Strafford R-6 School District Proposition K.I.D.S:

• $10 million bond issue to build classroom additions and renovate the Lucille Cogdill Early Childhood Center.

Strafford R-6 School District Proposition 2:

• Operating tax levy increase for attracting and retaining quality certified, support and safety faculty and staff.

Nixa Public Schools Question:

• $47 million bond issue to pay for renovations and add safety features

Marshfield R-1 School District Question:

• $10 million “no tax increase” bond issue for acquiring, building, repairing, renovating, furnishing and equipping school facilities, including a storm shelter and expanding the agriculture shop.

Fordland R-3 School District Question:

• Operating tax levy ceiling increase for operating, maintaining and staff school facilities

Tornadoes, large hail up to two inches in diameter and damaging winds are all possible with the latest round of storms in the Ozarks.

The National Weather Service says storms could fire up in the afternoon hours on Tuesday, but are more likely Tuesday night into the early morning hours of Wednesday.

The entire area has the potential for tornadoes, but forecasters say the highest probabilities are from Springfield and points east, where strong tornadoes are possible.

Areas along and east of Highway 65 are under a Level 4 “moderate risk” for severe weather, with the threat tapering off to a Level 2 “slight risk” along the Interstate 49 corridor west of Springfield.

These supercell tornadoes are expected to form during the late night hours Tuesday, extending into the overnight period, making them even more dangerous because they’ll be occurring in the dark.

Make sure you have a sheltering plan in place and listen to 93-3 A-M 560 KWTO for the latest forecast changes, watches and warnings.

The Bolivar School District is returning to normalcy following a lockdown Monday afternoon.

Police say the lockdown occurred following concerning comments that were made by a customer at a local business.

The district went into a level 2 lockdown while police investigated, but say there was no active threat against students or faculty.

Officers have located the suspect and are proceeding with the investigation at this time.

The identity of the suspect, and the details of the comments have not been released as the investigation is ongoing.

A community comes together to find a missing two-year-old boy.

Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin says nearly 100 people joined in the search for Waylon Loftis on Friday in Tecumseh. Several police and fire departments, sheriff’s deputies, and volunteers who lived in the area, looked for Loftis.

The child got away from home during nap time, and went into the woods, overcoming child safety locks on the doors. He was found safe by volunteers.

The lead pastors at James River Church say that they are gradually going to step back from their positions over the next four years.

John and Debbie Lindell made the announcement in a short video Sunday, saying their sons and daughter-in-laws, David and Becky Lindell, and Brandon and Beth Lindell, will become co-lead pastors of the multi-site mega-church based in Ozark in 2027.

The Nixa Police Department says an endanger-person advisory has been cancelled after a missing man from Nixa was found safe.

Officers say 53-year-old Michael Schoen left Promise Care Center Sunday morning at around 11 a.m.

He left the facility on foot and has not been seen since. Employees at the center say he left wearing a red Kansas City Chiefs jacket, a blue hoodie and jeans.

He was considered at-risk due to a medical condition, which has not been specified.

Details about Schoen’s condition and where he was found have not been released, other than he is safe.