Fire has damaged a manufacturing plant in Monett that makes playground and recreational equipment.
The Monett Fire Department says an oven at the Play Power plant caught on fire.
Workers evacuated the plant while firefighters worked to put out the fire.
No one was injured but there was some water damage to the plant.
This week is National Law Enforcement Week in Branson.
Law officers from all over the United States will be in attendance.
This is the eleventh year for this event. Among the events will be a light parade, a motorcycle competition, a golf tournament, and 5K and 10K run.
Law enforcement officers can get free tickets to shows and amusement parks.
A man from Texas County is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of assaulting and threatening to kill federal officers at Fort Leonard Wood.
Investigators say 32-year-old James Dickens stole a car on the night of June 10, 2023 before driving to the north gate of the fort.
He allegedly made multiple threats to those at the gate, and showed them he had an axe in the vehicle.
Officers say he fled the scene, which led to a high-speed chase that ended with him crashing into a drop-arm barrier. Authorities surrounded the vehicle as Dickens yelled and threatened those at the scene.
Dickens said “if you tase me, I’ll kill you,” to one of the officers as they tried to apprehend him.
He eventually was tased after he began to run towards an officer at the scene.
Those at the scene said Dickens threatened to kill officers multiple times. Paramedics later arrived to evaluate his health.
It was during that time that he allegedly spit on an officer, and a paramedic, and also headbutted one of the officers trying to restrain him to a gurney.
Because the accusations occurred on a military base, to a federal officer, the charges are federal. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Dickens is subject to 18 years in federal prison for pleading guilty to assaulting and threatening federal officers.
Rescue crews were called to Route CC on Saturday when one child and one adult had been swept off the road and into a flooded nearby river.
The pair were found clinging to a tree about a quarter-mile from where they entered the water.
Fair Grove Firefighters threw the two lifejackets and a rope to secure themselves until other units helped get them safely to shore.
Water Rescue Units from the Springfield Fire Department assisted in the rescue. No injuries were reported.
After 15 years as the head of the Missouri State Athletic Department, Kyle Moats is leaving the Ozarks.
Eastern Kentucky University announced Monday morning that he will be the school’s new athletic director beginning July 1.
Moats has had an up-and-down tenure at Missouri State, which included dwindling attendance for Bears basketball in recent years.
Some of his biggest triumphs include the hiring of Bobby Petrino, who enjoyed success with MSU Football from 2020-2022. Of course, most recently, he was lauded for his role in the Bears move to Conference USA beginning in the 2025-26 season.
The complete press release from Eastern Kentucky can be read below:
RICHMOND, Ky. (June 10, 2024) — Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) announced Monday the selection of Kyle Moats as the new Vice President and Director of
Athletics. Moats comes to EKU following 15 years as the Director of Athletics at Missouri State University (MSU).
“Kyle’s impressive track record and extensive experience speak for itself. Securing someone of his caliber for EKU is a significant victory for our athletics program,” said
EKU President David McFaddin. “As college athletics undergoes unprecedented changes, having a seasoned leader like Kyle to guide us through this evolving landscape
is critical. We are excited about the future and confident that we will achieve great success under his leadership.”
“My family and I are extremely excited about this opportunity. This not only brings us back to Kentucky, closer to friends and family, but also to an athletics program with
a storied tradition of excellence and success,” said Moats. “EKU’s rich legacy, with numerous conference championships, speaks to the university’s commitment to sports
excellence. I’m honored to join a program that has long been prioritizing student-athletes, focusing on holistic growth, and is supported by a passionate and dedicated fan
base. I’m eager to get to work.”
Speaking of his time in Missouri, Moats added, “I first want to thank Missouri State and President Clif Smart for 15 wonderful years in Springfield. We worked together
on many tasks, and I’m proud of what we accomplished. I also want to thank the fans, alumni, students and staff for their loyal dedication to Bears Athletics during my
tenure. It was a privilege to be your AD.”
A veteran of college athletics, Moats brings 34 years of experience to his new role, with deep ties to the Commonwealth. He previously served 14 years at the University
of Kentucky athletics department, serving as associate athletics director for marketing during the last three years (2000-02). He later returned to the Commonwealth,
serving as associate director of athletics for national marketing at the University of Louisville for four years starting in 2005, before becoming the athletic director at
Missouri State.
He will begin his duties on July 1. An introductory press conference for Moats will be held on Wednesday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at the EKU Center for the Arts. The event is
open to fans, community members and members of the media.
“Hiring Kyle Moats is not just a home run for Eastern Kentucky University; it’s a grand slam,” said Interim Director of Athletics Dan McBride. “I have known Kyle for
over 20 years, and I cannot think of anyone better suited to lead our athletics department during such a pivotal time in college athletics.”
During his tenure at Missouri State, Moats led a period of significant success and growth in the athletics program financially, academically and competitively.
Beginning in 2009, he played a pivotal role in growing the MSU athletic budget from $14 million to $31 million while effectively navigating the challenges posed by the
COVID-19 pandemic, meeting all budget expectations.
Moats oversaw a sponsorship increase from $650,000 gross to $3 million and helped establish a state-wide over-the-air basketball television network deal worth $1.35
million.
He also spearheaded several successful fundraising campaigns, including a new football weight room slated for 2025 at $400,000, the collaboration with two collectives to
raise NIL money for student-athletes and several other six-figure projects.
Additionally, Moats was instrumental in initiatives that resulted in the naming of Great Southern Bank Arena, a contribution worth $5.5 million.
Under Moats’ leadership, the Bears achieved notable competitive successes, including 20 Missouri Valley Conference team championships, two FCS Football Playoff
berths (the first in 30 years in 2020) and 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Individually, 23 student-athletes became NCAA qualifiers across various sports, 30 student-athletes were drafted to play professionally and over 500 student-athletes were
named all-conference performers.
In recognition of his leadership, Moats was appointed to serve on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee in February 2017 and became committee chair
prior to the 2020-21 academic year. Additionally, he served as chair of the MVC Media and Marketing Committee and on the league’s Finance Committee.
Academically, Moats spearheaded a department overhaul in student-athlete performance in the classroom, raising the cumulative department GPA from 2.88 in 2009 to
3.30 this past semester, the highest mark in MSU history. This past Spring, 304 student-athletes recorded GPAs of 3.0 or higher, with 76 posting a perfect 4.0 GPA.
During Moats’ tenure in Springfield, the department made monumental strides in the areas of student-athlete well-being, nutrition and mental health support. His efforts
helped Missouri State stay ahead of the curve nationally in those critical areas long before the NCAA’s transformational changes became part of the Division I landscape.
A native of Dixon, Illinois, Moats graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1988. He was a three-year letterwinner in golf and served as a student
assistant basketball coach for the Cougars from 1985 to 1988. In 2001, he earned a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Kentucky.
Moats and his wife, Leeann, have two adult children, Kirk and Lauren, and three grandchildren.
Storm began firing north of Springfield late Saturday afternoon, with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for all of southwest Missouri until 1:00 a.m. Sunday.
The National Weather Service says isolated to scattered storms Saturday evening will increase in coverage late at night, with all modes of severe storms possible, including large hail and damaging winds.
There is a low end, conditional threat for a couple of tornadoes.
In addition to the severe weather threat, flash flooding is a concern with multiple rounds of training thunderstorms.
A Flood Watch is in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday through Sunday afternoon.
Forecasters say training thunderstorms will lead to widespread rainfall amounts of 2-3
inches, with locally higher amounts up to 5-7 inches possible. This will lead to
flash flooding, including potential for considerable flash flooding where higher
amounts occur.
The location of greatest rainfall remains uncertain. There will also probably be a
cutoff in rainfall amounts to the southwest, but that location is also
uncertain.
Here’s the latest update on severe weather and flooding impacts from the National Weather Service:
Listen to 93-3 and A-M 560 KWTO for the latest updates on severe weather warnings, as well as damage reports and other life-saving information from emergency managers and the National Weather Service.
Two out-of-state residents were killed in a crash on U-S 60 near Cabool.
The Highway Patrol says a vehicle driven by 31-year-old Larae English of Bridgeport, Alabama, skidded off the left side of the road, rolled across the median into the path of a semi-truck.
English was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger, 42-year-old Christopher Thomas of Cowan, Tennessee, died on the way to a hospital.
Lebanon Police have arrested a man for armed robbery.
Lebanon Police say 32-year-old Storm Hardesty is charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.
Police say Hardesty robbed one person at gunpoint and threatened two others.
He had a loaded gun when he was arrested. He is being held in the Laclede County Jail.
Officials in Barry County are preparing for a new jail, as the old facility closes.
The Barry County Jail closed on June 1 due to the age of the building and plumbing issues that have caused several problems.
Inmates at the jail have been moved to facilities in Stone County, Webster County, Christian County, and Douglas County.
Sheriff Danny Boyd says the new facility is under construction, and should be opened by October 1.
Residents in Barry County are confident the new building will have better security, after two separate inmate escapes in 2022 and 2023.
A man from Springfield who was originally sentenced to prison will now serve probation for assaulting a police officer and tampering with a vehicle.
Officials say Kyle Grozinger was approached by Springfield Police in April of 2019. He sped off when officers went to check on him.
One of the officers was holding onto the vehicle he was driving, and was injured after being dragged by the car.
Another SPD officer opened fire on Grozinger, hitting him twice. Both individuals recovered.
Grozinger pleaded guilty to the charges, and was ordered to serve five years of supervised probation, pay restitution to the injured officer, and complete 500 hours of community service.
He was initially sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.