Month: September 2023

Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield is breaking ground on a new facility that will cater towards the area’s youth.

On Monday, officials held a ground-breaking ceremony at the new location on North National near Perimeter Behavioral Hospital.

The Youth Services Center will include a behavioral crisis center, hospitalization services, outpatient care and residential facilities.

The company says the center will be for children ages 13-17 experiencing mental health or drug use problems.

A timetable for completion of the project and a potential opening have not been released.

Police in Mt. Vernon say an elderly woman is now home safe after going missing over the weekend.

81-year-old Beverly Stewart left her home to pickup her granddaughter from work at a nearby Wendy’s, but never arrived.

Officials say she has been diagnosed with dementia.

Stewart is described as a 5’1″, 180 pound woman with gray hair and hazel eyes. The vehicle she was driving is a 1992 silver Buick Park Avenue with license plate BYE.

Details of the incident, including where she was found, have not been released.

The 25th annual Cider Days on historic Walnut Street kicked off on Saturday, marking the first days of fall for many in Springfield.

“We like to think of Saturdays as the kickoff to fall here in Springfield,” said Hailey Magnus, the Communications Director for the Downtown Springfield Association. “We bring in a ton of local vendors that bring all kinds of art and décor. We have three stages full of performances from dancers to singers to acrobats, all kinds of stuff and and of course, great food and apple cider.”

Magnus said coming to Cider Days every year was part of her upbringing. 

“The 25 years is really momentous. I am someone who grew up around here. I grew up coming to this festival. I grew up dancing on that stage like we’ve seen a lot of little girls do today,” Magnus said. “So it’s very exciting for me to come be a part of this 25th celebration, this acknowledgment of a festival that has had a real impact on Springfield.” 

Walnut Street was lined with local vendors, food, performances and the festival’s namesake apple cider.

Robert Briggs with Corvus Moon Pottery won a Cider Days award for best regional artist, and he said he has been coming to Cider Days for around 15 years. 

“We like setting up for cider days quite a bit,” Briggs said. “And so, whenever we do get an award, it’s always, you know, unexpected and fun.” 

For many Cider Days marks the beginning of fall in Springfield, from the decorations and apple cider to this year’s fall-like weather. 

“I always look forward to fall and coming back to, I don’t know, just like flannel shirts and gourds,” said Chris Rieping, who attended the festival. “I’m a big fan of pumpkin painting and carving, I think fall is a favorite season for sure.” 

Cider Days continues on Sunday, September 17^th, starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at 5 p.m. 

This story courtesy of Emilee Kuschel of OzarksFirst.com-

SPD officers responded to a home on S. Broadway Avenue early Saturday morning after a reported home invasion and robbery.

SPD said the suspect entered the home and assaulted the victims before leaving on the victim’s motorcycle. Officers spotted the motorcycle and tried to stop the rider, but the suspect got away and officers stopped the pursuit, picking it up later with K9 officers.

SPD has not confirmed whether the suspect has been caught yet.

This story courtesy of Sydney Moran of OzarksFirst.com-

A woman from Republic is dead after she was hit by a car going westbound on I-44 near the 123.8 mile marker.

The highway patrol crash reports states the first crash happened at 1:15 a.m. A 20-year-old was driving 42-year-old Crystal Hassett and two other passengers when the driver went off the left side of the road, overcorrected, then went off the right side of the road and overturned.

Hassett was lying in the road when a car hit her and continued driving westbound on I-44 at 1:16 a.m. according to the highway patrol.

The driver and passengers in the initial crash were taken to Cox South for minor injuries.

This is Troop I’s second fatality this month, and 21st for the year.

This story courtesy of Addy Bink of OzarksFirst.com-

Nexstar Media Group and DIRECTV have agreed to temporarily return Nexstar-owned television stations, as well as cable news network NewsNation, to DIRECTV.

Nexstar Media Group and DIRECTV issued a joint statement Sunday morning, reading, “In recognition and appreciation of the continued patience of DIRECTV customers and Nexstar viewers, the companies have agreed to temporarily return the signals of the Nexstar-owned television stations and national cable news network NewsNation to DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and U-verse while we both work to complete the terms of an agreement.”

A man and woman from Joplin are in custody, accused of stealing residents mail.

Investigators say 27-year-old Aaron Blake and 30-year-old Emily Anna-Lee Sturgis stole checks, credit cards, cash, jewelry and other documents from mailboxes throughout Branson from December of 200 through January of this year.

The two rented a hotel in Carthage where they would hide the stolen mail and objects.

Officers also allege that in stealing the mail, Blake and Sturgis would use personal information from the residence to open credit cards in their name.

Both Blake and Sturgis are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of possessing stolen mail. Blake is also facing a charge of aggravated identity theft.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark.

Investigators in Howell County say a former teacher is facing charges stemming from a sexual relationship with a student.

Victoria Fowler is charged with three counts of statutory rape and one count of statutory sodomy.

Police in the case found evidence of a sexual relationship between her and a 16-year-old student that included multiple sexual encounters as well as lude photos and videos sent by both parties to each other.

Fowler admitted to having a sexual relationship with the student.

According to reports, the relationship occurred when she was teaching at the Bakersfield School District. She has since been hired by Lutie, but was fired.

Fowler will appear in court October 16th for an initial hearing.

This story courtest of Parket Padgett and Ben Gilbert of OzarksFirst.com-

A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning to mark the beginning of construction on a new government plaza in Ozark.

The groundbreaking ceremony will mark the first step in developing a 39.36-acre parcel purchased by Christian County in January 2020 by expanding water and sewer infrastructure throughout the site.

Phase One of the project will include the construction of buildings for the County’s operational staff, its recycling center and maintenance and storage. The project also includes the development of a half-mile walking trail.

Additionally, one of the stormwater detention basins has been designed to serve as a small outdoor performance venue. The municipal campus will occupy roughly half of the 39.36-acre property with the remaining areas having road frontage being reserved for commercial development.

“The Historic Courthouse on the Ozark Square is a symbol of our heritage and has served this
county well for a very long time and I believe it will continue to do so,” said Eastern Commissioner Bradley Jackson. “With that said, trying to meet all the needs of our continually growing population within the downtown square is no longer realistic and presents ever-growing access and parking problems for the businesses nearby. My hope is that over time this transition will support vitality here on the square while also expanding economic development opportunities near the future campus.”

Christian County has been one of Missouri’s fastest-growing counties for many years, increasing in population from 32,644 in 1990 to an estimated population of 93,114 in 2022, according to the press release.

This story courtesy of Bethany French of OzarksFirst.com-

The Willard Board of Alderman held a special meeting tonight to discuss the hiring and firing of interim city administrator Donna Stewart. 

 The present aldermen voted unanimously to reinstate Stewart as the interim city administrator. In a separate vote, the board also voted unanimously to censure Mayor Samuel Snider. 

Tensions were high as the board of alderman discussed the hiring and firing of interim city administrator Donna Stewart.   

City Attorney Ken Reynolds said in his legal opinion the mayor pro-tem acts on behalf of the mayor in his absence.   

“He [the mayor] has a right to fire her,” said Reynolds. “But it’s subject to your [The Board of Alderman] approval.” 

The mayor said the hiring of Donna Stewart was *illegal because The Boar of Alderman appointed Stewart for hire, but the mayor pro-tem approved the hire. Mayor Snider fired Stewart when he returned from a city business trip. 

Thursday night a vote overturned that firing and reinstated Stewart as interim city administrator. 

“I think it’s the aldermen are against the mayor right now,” said Dwight Dodson a citizen of Willard. “And I don’t think there are too many citizens that are for the mayor too, so we’ll see where it goes from here.” 

The board also voted to censure Mayor Snider, which has no legal ramifications but officially brings his actions to public attention.  

Both the Willard Board of Aldermen and the Mayor were not available for comment.