Community Partnership of the Ozarks will conduct its annual survey of the homeless from January 22nd through the 24th.
The survey called “Everyone Counts” is designed to count the number of homeless and get information about them.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to count the number of homeless on one night at the end of January.
The Springfield Police Department is alerting residents to be aware on roadways tonight into tomorrow morning with New Year’s holiday celebrations taking place around the country.
Officers and other SPD officials ask that residents refrain from driving under the influence, and get a sober or designated driver if possible. There will also be an increase in pedestrian traffic, specifically downtown.
With the major news this week of former President Jimmy Carter passing away at 100 years old, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops are pledging $1 million towards conservation in his honor.
Carter was awarded the Bass Pro Shops Conservation Partner of the Year back in 2017, honoring him for a lifetime of service to conservation efforts.
The list of organizations that will benefit from the donation includes:
Morris had previously made a $200,000 donation in Carter’s name back in 2021 to the Gateway to Fishing Program for the 39th President’s 97th birthday.
He visited Springfield on multiple occasions, including in 1988 when he went to Bass Pro for an autograph event for his book “An Outdoor Journal”.
Carter later returned to the Queen City in 2017 when Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium opened in Springfield.
A portion of the release from Bass Pro Shops can be found below:
“It fills our hearts with joy to remember our very special fishing buddy, President Jimmy Carter. What a true honor and blessing in life, when over thirty years ago through our shared love of fishing, we came to know this remarkably humble, kindhearted gentleman who was always led by his faith and love of his family and country.”
“On behalf of all fellow sportsmen and women, we thank you President Carter, for being a steadfast supporter of hunting, fishing and the great outdoors and for your lifetime commitment to conservation! And oh yes, we thank you for being a loyal customer of Bass Pro Shops!”
A passenger is in custody, and a driver is on the run after leading authorities on a car chase and crashing into a Springfield-based U-Haul location over the weekend.
Deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office say the chase began near the intersection of Chestnut Expressway and Hillcrest Avenue when the driver alleged committed several traffic violations.
Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, which is when the pursuit began.
A short time later, the driver crashed the truck into the fence of the U-Haul location, then fled the scene on foot.
Deputies say a female passenger in the vehicle was found at the scene, and was arrested after multiple warrants were discovered.
A search continues for the driver of the vehicle.
Officials in West Plains are investigating a potential cause after an SUV caught fire
in a Walmart parking lot.
West Plains Fire Department crews arrived at the scene Saturday afternoon to the vehicles in flames.
Investigators have said the fire appears to have started in the cabin, and not in or near the engine. No injuries were reported.
Wonders of Wildlife, located at Bass Pro Shops here in Springfield, is welcoming 20 sea turtles for treatment and rehabilitation.
Spokespeople for the museum and aquarium, considered one of the best in the world, say that the animals were in conditions of rapidly dropping sea temperatures that were causing a variety of issues, including hypothermia, dehydration, and pneumonia.
The turtles were transported to the Ozarks last week, on December 21, where they will now undergo life-saving procedures and treatments to restore their quality of life.
These 20 creatures are among some 400 turtles that have been found along the East Coast that were found requiring emergency medical attention.
Wonders of Wildlife has previously cared for around 40 other sea turtles since the creation of its Sea Turtle Center back in 2020.
A woman was arrested after a chase that ended with a crash at a Springfield business.
Greene County Deputies attempted to pull over a truck for a traffic violation near Chestnut Expressway and Hillcrest Avenue when the truck sped away.
It crashed into the fence at a business damaging some U-Haul trucks.
The driver escaped on foot.
A woman passenger was arrested.
The incident is under investigation by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
One person is dead after a crash in Camden County.
The Highway Patrol says the crash happened on Route ‘T-T’ when a 38-year-old Linn Creek woman driving a Jeep skidded off of the road and struck two trees.
She was thrown from the Jeep as it overturned several times.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A bridge north of Branson will close for repairs for the first few months of the new year.
MODOT has announced that the westbound Route 76 between Missouri Route 248 and Missouri Route 376 from January 6 until March to repair a bridge over the M-N-A Railroad.
The ramp from Route 248 to Route 76 will also be closed.
MODOT says traffic will detour through Route 65 and Route 265.
A former Laclede County sheriff has died. Richard Wrinkle died Friday at his home.
Wrinkle was in law enforcement in Laclede County for 50 years, starting in 1971 with the Lebanon Police Department.
He served three terms as Laclede County’s sheriff from 2001 to 2012.
He later returned to the sheriff’s department as a chief deputy.
He retired in 2021.
Funeral services have not been announced at this time.