The National Transportation and Safety Board has released a preliminary report on last week’s Osage Beach plane crash that killed two people.
The report says there were no mechanical problems.
Witnesses told investigators that the tail dropped during a turn then it crashed nose first into some trees.
The investigation is continuing.
The Springfield-Branson National Airport set a record.
According to a news release, June 2023 was the busiest month in the history of the Springfield-Branson National Airport. There was a total of 126,370 airline passengers through the airport.
That is up ten percent from last year.
The increase in passengers may be due to the strong local and national economy and post-pandemic cabin fever.
Two people from Ava are in police custody accused of several felonies, including being in possession of a pipe bomb.
35-year-old Joshua Bettis and 40-year-old Tabitha Medlock were arrested late Monday night, July 17.
A neighbor had called in a report of shots fired after alleging they heard a gunshot go off inside the home.
When police arrived, Bettis was yelling outside the home. He was ordered to surrender to police, and after a short standoff cooperated, along with Medlock.
Investigators searched the home, discovering numerous firearms, hundred of rounds of ammunition and bulletproof vests.
During the search, one member of law enforcement conducted a search of an ammo can, which contained a pipe bomb.
The bomb squad was called in to inspect and defuse the bomb.
Bettis is charged with:
Medlock is facing one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
Both suspects are scheduled for a bond reduction hearing on Friday, July 28.
A man from Springfield will spend several years in prison for allegedly driving his truck into a home in Springfield.
Investigators say 29-year-old Shelby Shaffer engaged in two separate car chases with police on February 27 of this year.
Officers ended the first chase due to dangerous driving conditions, but located him later that same night and pursued him again.
The second chase ended with Shaffer crashing into the side of a home on the corner of Hemlock and Monroe in Springfield before he fled the scene on foot.
Shaffer was eventually apprehended and arrested with the assistance of a police K-9 unit.
He pleaded guilty to charges of resisting arrest and leaving the scene of an accident.
Prosecutors say Shaffer was sentenced to five years for each charge, but the judge ordered they be served concurrently.
The City of Thayer is still under a boil order after a storm last week damaged a water main and water tower.
Most of the town was also without electricity after the storm.
City officials expect to have test results on the water supply in the next day or two, and the boil order may be lifted if the test results are good.
Homeowners in McDonald County shot a burgler who was trying to rob their home.
Sheriff’s officials say James Garrett barricaded himself inside a home on Buffalo Creek Road near Tiff City.
When the homeowners arrived Wednesday morning, Garrett shot at them. The homeowners returned fire, wounding Garrett in both legs.
Garrett was taken to a hospital in Joplin. He is charged with burglary, first degree assault, and armed criminal action.
The City of Branson is designating a storm debris drop off location on Saturday, July 29, from 7 AM until 12 PM at the Cooper Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on Fall Creek Road.
This service will be offered at no charge and is for Branson residents only.
The drop off is for brush, limbs, and other vegetation.
This collection is not for trash or for commercials vendors of properties.
With school just over a month away, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is offering an opportunity to get kids the vaccines they need.
The department is hosting a vaccine clinic at their facility on East Chestnut Friday, July 21 from 10:30am-3pm.
The clinic is by appointment only, which can be scheduled by calling (417) 864-1658.
The vaccines are available to children birth to age 18, including:
More information on the clinic, including those who are eligible, can be found here.
With school just over a month away, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is offering an opportunity to get kids the vaccines they need.
The department is hosting a vaccine clinic at their facility on East Chestnut Friday, July 21 from 10:30am-3pm.
The clinic is by appointment only, which can be scheduled by calling (417) 864-1658.
The vaccines are available to children birth to age 18, including:
More information on the clinic, including those who are eligible, can be found here.
It has now been five years since a tourist boat capsized, killing 17 people in Branson.
The Branson Ride the Ducks boat was travelling on Table Rock Lake July 19, 2018 when a storm hit the area, causing the boat to flip.
There were 31 people inside the boat at the time of the incident, with 17 of them dying.
Since then, the company has closed, new safety regulations have been put in place, and three people were charged in the incident.
All three individuals had the charges against them dropped due to federal charges not having jurisdiction.