A suspect has been arrested in connection with a body found in a ditch over the weekend.
Court documents say Paul Ray Sartin has been charged with abandonment of a corpse.
The body of 50-year-old David Costlow was found with gunshot wounds in a ditch near Brighton on Sunday, Oct. 26.
Sartin’s vehicle was identified on security cameras in the area.
He is currently in Greene County Jail with no bond set.
After almost four decades of service to Missouri State University, Dr. Tamera Jahnke, Dean of the College of Natural Applied Sciences, will retire on June 30, 2026.
Dr. Jahnke has made profound contributions to the university’s academic mission, scientific endeavors and institutional growth.
“It’s been my honor to serve the students, faculty and staff of Missouri State,” Jahnke said in a press release. “This university gave me my first opportunities to teach and pursue research. Throughout my life, I’ve benefited from the excellent public education I received. At Missouri State, I’ve had the chance to give back and make sure others enjoy the same opportunities.”
Dr. Jahnke joined Missouri State’s faculty in 1986 as assistant professor of chemistry, and over 35 years, she has risen through the ranks and held roles such as professor and department head from 1997-2005, acting associate provost from 2005-2006, and CNAS Dean from 2006-present.
She also took on additional responsibilities, serving as interim provost from last December until June of 2025, and has also served on the university’s Higher Learning Commission Steering Committee since 2010 and co-chairs the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
“Tammy’s long and successful career at Missouri State exemplifies outstanding leadership, integrity and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” President Richard B. Williams said. “Her vision and steady guidance have advanced CNAS and our entire university. While we’ll miss her presence, we’ll continue to carry forward the strong foundation she established.”
Under Dr. Jahnke’s leadership, CNAS has seen significant growth in several areas, including the launch of a new degree and certification program that includes the master’s degree in computer science, a successful implementation of the cooperative engineering program with Missouri S&T, the expansion and renovation of Roy Blunt Hall, the addition of the CNAS Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the CNAS Faculty and Staff Awards programs that recognize outstanding work.
The search for the next CNAS Dean will launch before the end of this year, with the goal of interviewing candidates early in the spring semester.
Photo courtesy of Missouri State University.
A man from Missouri has filed a lawsuit against rapper Drake, online streamer Adin Ross, and the parent company of gambling platform Stake, accusing them of promoting illegal online gambling to residents.
Court records say that Justin Killham of Independence accuses Sweepstakes Limited of violating state gaming and consumer protection laws through its U.S. platform, Stake.us.
Killham claims that Stake.us is a “virtual clone” of Stake.com and that the company is disguising real-money gambling as a social casino and sweepstakes, allowing Missourians to access and take part in illegal online gambling.
The lawsuit also says that Stake engaged in deceptive marketing practices that targets younger, more vulnerable consumers.
The suit names Drake and Adin Ross, as both of them have promoted Stake on their livestreams and social media pages.
Killham claims that Stake pays Ross and Drake millions of dollars every year to promote their services, and alleges that both influencers misled their viewers by claiming they gambled with their own money rather than millions of virtual Stake money.
Killham is looking to recover gambling losses that he and other Missourians that used the site have had.
Though he argues the site uses legal loopholes, other gambling companies like sportsbooks Fliff and PrizePicks follow similar practices and are still allowed to operate.
Stake has reportedly denied the accusations.
Photo courtesy of Envato Elements.
A Freeze Watch is in effect for the Ozarks from late Saturday night through Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service says sub freezing temps as low as 30 degrees are possible, which could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
Unprotected outdoor plumbing could be damaged as well.
Sensitive outdoor plants could be killed if left uncovered.
A Freeze Watch is in effect for the Ozarks from late Saturday night through Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service says sub freezing temps as low as 30 degrees are possible, which could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
Unprotected outdoor plumbing could be damaged as well.
Sensitive outdoor plants could be killed if left uncovered.
A man is jailed for allegedly attacking a woman in an unprovoked assault.
Springfield Police say Nicholas Munguia is charged with first-degree assault.
Police responded Tuesday morning reports of an attack outside a business on East Bennett.
Munguia was captured on security video allegedly tackling the victim from behind, striking her multiple times, including kicking her in the head.
Munguia is currently held in Greene County Jail without bond.
A teacher in Dallas county has been arrested on a sex crime charge.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Jonathan Whatley while he was at Dallas County R-1 High School on a warrant out of McDowell County, West Virginia.
He is charged with distribution or possession of materials involving minors in sexually explicit conduct.
Whatley is currently held in the Dallas County Jail without bond.
Officials in Lawrence County are seeking residents who are willing to collect deer killed in vehicle crashes.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office announced that they are rebuilding a list of residents who are interested in retrieving deer after collisions, an effort that officials say is aimed as a simple solution to handling deer-related crashes while also helping locals who could make use of the venison.
The updated list of residents will be made from scratched and filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and those who sign up must be prepared to respond at any time when contacted to collect a deer.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office talked about the list and said that any residents that don’t answer when contacted or are not available to collect, they will just move on to the next person down the list.
The post also says that once the deer is collected by someone, that person’s name will be moved to the bottom of the list so that others have a chance at retrieval.
The sheriff’s office did emphasize that there is no guarantee participants will be contacted, but some may be called on more than once depending on the circumstances.
Anyone interested in this program are asked to privately message the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page and give their name, phone number, and the city they live near or in.
Only residents of Lawrence County are eligible to join this list.
Photo courtesy of Envato Elements.
Governor Mike Kehoe has announced additional steps to accelerate food assistance in Missouri in light of the impending loss of November SNAP benefits for individuals across the state.
SNAP benefits are 100% federally funded and will be impeded due to the ongoing government shutdown.
There is no mechanism for state appropriations to be transferred to cover this funding, but the Missouri Department of Social Services is standing ready to issue SNAP benefits as soon as the federal government reopens.
Governor Kehoe has put a full $10.6 million fund transfer from the Senior Services Growth and Development Fund to Missouri Areas Agencies on Aging.
He has also ordered a $5 million distribution of Missouri food banks using Temporary Assistance for Needy Family funding.
If you need food assistance or are wanting to volunteer or donate, you can visit Feeding Missouri’s website.
Photo courtesy of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.
Governor Mike Kehoe has announced six gubernatorial appointments, including two people from the Ozarks, to various state boards and commissions.
Jami Adams of Springfield was appointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board, and Jason Pounds of Houston, MO was appointed to the Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission.
Adams previously worked for Monett Public Schools and as the director of school counseling for the Greenfield School District, and Pounds is an English teacher for the Houston R-1 School District.
Other appointments include Dr. Dawn Heizman of Kansas City to the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, Dr. Rolfe McCoy of Chillicothe to the Missouri Dental Board, James Morris of Jasper as the Jasper County Easter District Commissioner, and Rueben Shelton of Chesterfield to the Harris-Stow University Board of Regents.
Photo courtesy of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.