Month: November 2023

After debating for several months, the Springfield Public School Board is adding language to their discrimination policy to protect against “gender identity” and “sexual orientation”.

The group voted for the third time on the measure Tuesday, which passed 4-3.

The controversy began in September, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture requested the language be added to the policy nationwide.

There was widespread fear that by rejecting the change, the district would run the risk of forfeiting the $7 million that comes from the USDA to accommodate students requiring free-or reduced lunches in the district.

A man from Springfield is in police custody, accused of attacking a woman and killing her dog during a dispute.

33-year-old Bryant Mendenhall was arrested Saturday, November 11, near the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame after a call was made to police for a wellness check.

When authorities arrived, they found a dog that had been shot and killed and a woman with injuries to her face and neck.

Mendenhall and the victim initially told officers that a car had driven by and shot the dog, and the woman was hurt when Mendenhall slammed on the brakes of his car.

Police were eventually able to separate the two, at which point the victim told police he had shot the dog while inside the vehicle, then turned and hit her in the face with the gun.

The gun broke her nose, and she later told officers he had threatened to shoot her if she tried to help the dog or tell anyone what had happened.

Mendenhall is being held in the Greene County Jail facing several charges.

Those charges include:

• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Unlawful possession of a firearm
• Domestic assault
• Misdemeanor animal abuse
• Armed criminal action

A man from Laclede County has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for child abuse and neglect.

George Holmes pleaded guilty to abusing and neglecting a 3 year old boy.

When investigators found the boy, he was severely anemic, had a bone and blood infection, bleeding on the brain, and other injuries.

Doctors say the boy would have died within a week if he had gone untreated.

A man from Webb City faces child pornography charges.

Charles Tyler is charged with 3 counts of possessing child pornography.

Tyler reportedly admitted to investigators that he had downloaded the material.

He is being held in the Jasper County Jail on a 50 thousand dollar cash only bond.

A pedestrian is dead after being struck by a car at a Springfield intersection Tuesday evening.

Springfield Police say the incident happened on Grand Street at South Newton Avenue around 6 pm.

The pedestrian was transported to a hospital but died from their injuries.

Investigators say the driver may have been impaired.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

No names have been released.

A man has been arrested and charged with attempting to kidnap a child at a Springfield supermarket over the weekend.

Court documents say 58-year-old Nelson Vrana is charged with a Class B felony for attempted child kidnapping.

Springfield Police say Vrana allegedly grabbed the child at the checkout line and tried to leave with him, but his father stopped Vrana.

He left the store but was arrested later.

The child was not harmed.

Two men have been arrested and charged with stealing air conditioners over the summer.

Springfield Police say 40-year-old Jeffrey Brockman and 35-year-old Brandin Hylton have both been charged with stealing and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Brockman and Hylton allegedly stole a total of 16 air conditioning units.

They are being held in the Greene County Jail.

From the chamber of commerce to aviation, the restaurant industry and banking, Zimmer Midwest Communications hosted local business leaders Tuesday for our 10th CEO Roundtable luncheon.

Our CEO’s discussed their level of optimism in the local economy heading into 2024, and what economic conditions they anticipate playing a role as they plan a growth strategy for the new year.

Our panel also talked about remote working, having an effective AI strategy, attracting and retaining Gen Z workers, and what are the biggest concerns with their business as we move toward 2024.

Thanks to the following panelists for being a part of our CEO Roundtable:

Matt Morrow—-President and CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Mark Burgess–Owner of Burgess Aircraft Management and the Ozarks Lunkers Arena Football League team

Joseph Gidman—Owner of Cafe’ Cusco

Jay Titus—President, Missouri Division of Cadence Bank

The discussion with our business 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.

The Honor Flight of the Ozarks is celebrating a new, and very unique, gift from Governor Mike Parson.

The Missouri governor donated a “top secret” map from World War II depicted details of the Normandy invasion on D-Day to the organization.

Honor Flight directors were given the map after returning home from a trip on October 25.

Officials say the plan is to put the map up for auction at next years Honor Flight Gala in October.

They hope to raise thousands of dollars auctioning off the map in order to help future veterans make the trip to Washington D.C.