Month: November 2025

(Photo courtesy of the Greene County Jail)

A man is facing charges after a fatal motorcycle crash in Springfield over the weekend.

Springfield Police say 32-yeasr old Colby Wickwar of Springfield is charged with D-W-I resulting in death following a crash that killed 20-year-old Colin McEntire.

The crash happened Friday night when Wickwar turned into the path of McEntire’s motorcycle at the intersection of Campbell and Buena Vista Street.

McEntire died from his injuries at the hospital.

Wickwar allegedly had a high blood alcohol content and several alcoholic beverages in his vehicle.

He is in Greene County jail.

College of the Ozarks’ annual ‘Operation Christmas Child’ donation drive is coming back to the campus starting Monday, November 17.

The Christian Ministries Department at the college partnered with Samaritan’s Purse to plan and orchestrate the O.C.C. events, which collects shoeboxes packed with a variety of toys, treats, school supplies, and other necessities and delivers them all over the world.

The college will be collecting shoebox donations at the Christian Ministries Building on the campus from November 17 until November 24.

They will be accepting shoeboxes on Nov. 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Nov. 20 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Nov. 24 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Those who want to contribute but can not or do not wish to leave home can build a shoebox online on Samaritan’s Purse’s website.

Photo courtesy of College of the Ozarks.

A man from Lebanon has been arrested for armed robbery at a gas station on Friday.

Online court dockets show that Bryan Arnold has been charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, and stealing – physically taking.

According to the probable cause statement, an officer with the Ava Police Department responded to a Murphy’s USA gas station on a report of a man wearing a black jacket, orange pants and a gray hat who robbed the location.

He reportedly fled in a black Chevrolet Impala heading east on Springfield Road in Ava.

Officials spoke to the victim at the gas station, who said that the suspect had come into the store asking for a carton of cigarettes, ten lottery tickets and some gum.

The suspect then asked the cashier if he had change for a $100 bill, lifted his shirt to show a small pistol in his waistband, then demanded that everything be thrown into a bag or he would “have to pull this out”.

Arnold allegedly stole about $351 and ran east through a parking lot.

Surveillance video confirmed the witness’ statement of Arnold showing the pistol and fleeing in an Impala.

Arnold was later found on a property west of Ava and was taken into custody.

He is currently in the Douglas County Jail and has a bond reduction hearing scheduled for November 20.

Photo courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

A dry and warming air mass will develop Tuesday in the Ozarks as temps climb into near 60 degrees.

The National Weather Service says gusty southwest winds will peak at 35 to 40 miles per hour, with the strongest gusts along and west of Highway 65.

Along with dry grass and leaf litter, this will lead to an increased risk of fires.

A man has died following a shooting in West Plains on Saturday.

According to the West Plains Police Department, officers responded to the 2600 block of Paula Drive in West Plains around 7:33 p.m.

Officers stated that they found a 23-year-old man with a gunshot wound, and he was later pronounced dead.

A suspect involved in the shooting was identified by officers and interviewed, but the individual was eventually released pending the filing of formal charges.

Investigators say that there is currently no ongoing threat to the public and that the investigation remains active.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the West Plains Police Department at 417-256-2244.

Photo courtesy of Envato Elements.

A man from Polk County has been found guilty for the death of his wife back in 2022.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 42-year-old Lucky Johnson of Halfway, MO has been found guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in Polk County Circuit Court.

The verdict was handed down on Thursday, November 6 after a thorough investigation and week-long jury trial.

Back in May 2022, Polk County deputies found Darrianna Johnson dead during early morning hours, prompting an investigation.

Officials found her with a single gunshot wound and a shotgun resting on her body.

Polk County detectives and investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control secured critical evidence during the investigation that led to the arrest of Lucky Johnson in October 2022.

According to online court dockets, Lucky will be sentenced on January 9, 2026.

Photo courtesy of Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Two people have been seriously injured in a UTV crash on Saturday.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a man and woman from Bloomington, IL were injured on Route K south of Seymour, MO.

The incident occurred on private property when the two were trying to upright a Polaris Pro XP being driven by a 32-year-old man from Clear Lake, MN.

The man from Minnesota entered the vehicle to help when the UTV’s throttle got stuck and it took off, striking the man and woman.

The man was airlifted to Cox South, while the woman was taken there by ambulance.

Photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will be conducting flag-retirement ceremonies tonight for anyone with an American flag that is old or worn out.

The flags will be ceremonially burned starting at 5 p.m. at the parking lot of the United Methodist Church in Branson, MO.

Boy Scouts from Pack 93 and Girl Scouts from Troop 71681 will participate, and the public and veterans in Branson for the Homecoming Week are encouraged to attend the ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.