Month: May 2023

Nearly a dozen local business leaders gathered at our KWTO studios Thursday for Zimmer Midwest Communication’s quarterly CEO Roundtable.

Our panel discussed the level of optimism in our local and regional economy for the remainder of 2023 and beyond, as well as potential effects of the showdown in Washington D-C over the debt ceiling.

The CEO’s also discussed the effects of large brick and mortar retailers, such as Bed, Bath and Beyond closing their doors.

The discussion with these leaders will continue in the form of follow-up interviews on local issues of concern, through programming on Wake Up Springfield, The Elijah Haahr Show and Watching the Ozarks with Bonnie Bell on 93-3 and A-M 560 KWTO.

Thanks to the following business leaders for taking part in Thursday’s discussion over lunch, catered by “Simply Delicious Catering”:

Brandy Bewley–President of Bewley Custom Homes and Realtor with Keller Williams

John Maupin—Executive Vice-President of OMB

Rachel Watson—Realtor, Keller Williams

Lynn Thompson–President of Thompson Sales Company

Darline Mabins—-Director, Community Partnership of the Ozarks

Seth Harrell—Foresight Consultant, Imagine Foresight

Jeff Seifried—Owner, Mother’s Brewing Company

Lindsey Seifried—Owner, Blackwell’s Fine Men’s Clothiers and Talent Wellness

Jimm Swafford—Managing Partner, Jimm’s Steakhouse and Pub

Steve Childers—City Administrator, City of Ozark

Springfield Police have a suspect in custody accused of stealing a car from the parking lot of a Burger King.

Investigators say the suspect approached the driver of the vehicle at gunpoint at around 11:30 pm Wednesday night at the fast-food restaurant on West Kearney.

The victim gave police a description of both the car and the suspect at the scene. 20 minutes later, the car was located near the intersection of Chestnut and Glenstone.

Officers say they attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect took off.

Police pursued the suspect until they finally surrendered on East Pythian Street and was taken into custody.

The identity of the suspect has not been released at this time.

One person has died in a plane crash in Northwest Arkansas.

The twin engine plane went down in the Southern part of Washington County on Wednesday, killing the pilot, who was the only person on board.

Federal aviation officials say the plane had taken off from University-Oxford Airport in Mississippi. The pilot’s name has not been released.

An armed robber fired three shots during a robbery at a Dollar General store in Springfield Wednesday night. No one was injured.

Police say the man entered the Dollar General store in the 2400 block of West Division at about 9:30 PM and fired three shots.

Police and Sheriffs Deputies searched the neighborhood around the store for the robber but did not find him.

A manhunt near Saddlebrooke is now being disbanded after a man was arrested in a wooded area off Highway 65.

Investigators say the suspect, who had warrants out for his arrest in Arkansas, was spotted in Branson on Tuesday.

When authorities attempted to stop him, a pursuit began that went through Stone, Taney and Christian counties, ending when the suspect abandoned his vehicle along Highway 65 near Saddlebrooke.

He fled into a wooded area, where authorities set up a perimeter in order to conduct a search.

Details of the suspect’s arrest, as well as his identity, have yet to be released.

With Governor Mike Parson exiting the office in January of 2025, candidates are already lining up to fill the seat.

On Tuesday, Lieutenant Govenor Mike Kehoe announced he would be joining the race.

Kehoe, who has been Lt. Governor since Parson to the became Governor in 2018, is a born and raised St. Louis native.

Before joining Parson, he served as a member of the Missouri Senate, including three years as majority leader from 2011-2018.

He becomes the second Republican candidate to enter the race, joining Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

No democratic candidates have announced their candidacy at this time.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a small tornado touched down in an area of Southern Dallas County Monday afternoon.

The EF-0 twister hit near Fair Grove around 4:45 PM. It had 77 mile per hour winds and was on the ground long enough to cross Highway 65. The storm damaged a house and brought down some trees.

Main Street in Nixa will be packed with people for the 65th annual Sucker Days music, arts, and crafts festival.

The event features family friendly rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, two entertainment stages featuring gospel and mainstream music, with over 100 arts, crafts, and homemade food item booths.

The annual Sucker Days parade begins at 6 pm Friday. The event runs through Sunday.

Springfield Police say 37-year-old Stephen Meyle died Tuesday at Cox North from injuries he suffered in a stabbing Saturday on East Commercial Street.

Investigators have identified a person of interest, but an arrest has not been made.

If you have any information, you are asked to call Springfield Police.