Newton Co. homeowners may be eligible for grant

NEWTON COUTNY, Mo. — A Joplin area organization does more than just build new homes, they can also help repair existing houses.

The Joplin Area Habitat For Humanity has a program called “Critical Home Repair” which has been in effect for some time in Jasper County. Now they can provide the same service to qualifying home owners in Newton County.

“We received approximately $550,000 to address 20 eligible owner occupied homes for home owners for critical home repair needs, such as roof replacement, window replacement, heat and air replacement and also accessibility modifications,” said Bryan West, Habitat For Humanity Community Development Manager.

The program is income based and requires home owners to foot as much as 9% of the total cost of repairs.

If you live in Newton County and want more information, call the number on your screen, 417-782-6533.

Republican attorney enters race for Jasper Co judge office

CARTHAGE, Mo. — A local attorney has thrown her hat in the ring for judge in Jasper County.

Sarah Luce-Reeder has announced her intention to seek the office of Jasper County Division 6 Associate Circuit Judge.

Jerry Holcomb currently holds the position, but won’t seek re-election.

Luce-Reeder has been in private practice since 1994. If elected — her career will have come full circle when it comes to public service.

“When I first came to office in 1990 I was Assistant Prosecutor for David Dally and then I was Assistant Prosecutor for Scott Watson in Newton County, so I served as Assistant Prosecutor for four years. I was also a Municipal Circuit, which is considered Associate Municipal Court with Alex Curchin for five years,” said Sarah Luce-Reeder.

Attorneys Luke Boyer and Nicole Carlton are also running for the position. All three are republicans. No democrat entered the race.

Carthage paving project, expect traffic delays

CARTHAGE, Mo. — In Carthage, 56 city blocks are getting some TLC.

Milling and paving work began this week on Grand Avenue from Airport Drive, up to the Grand round-about going north to Chestnut.

The City is paving nine streets, including West Juniper Road, North Francis Street, Wiggens and Hazel Streets. They were chosen based on age and how much they’ve deteriorated. Total cost of the project –more than $1 million.

The work will continue into next week.

Drivers should expect delays along the Grand Avenue Corridor.

The Jasper School district is honoring veterans with a new memorial

JASPER, Mo. —The Jasper School District has something new honoring veterans.

Today the district celebrated the newest additions to campus with a flag raising ceremony.

“I’m very proud they are taking that kind of effort to help their students appreciate the future and the people who serve,” said Jon Sykes, Senior Vice Commander of the VFW Post 6415 Jasper.

Wednesday afternoon the Jasper R-5 School District held a flag raising ceremony for its new flag poles — which are part of a new veterans memorial.

“We had an opportunity to use all of our students several staff members. Our band played, our sixth grade choir sang, our high school choir sang. We had student council members do some of the reading, help raise the flag,” said Dr. Eric Findley, Jasper R-5 Superintendent of Schools.

“I have born silent witness to all of America’s finest,” read one of Jasper’s students.

The district also unveiled six new benches that pay tribute to each branch of the military.

“I think anytime you walk by it has a meaning. With every bench having a branch of the service written on it that magnifies the meaning so we obviously have the American flag with that as well as the Missouri flag and Jasper flag,” added Dr. Findley.

The VFW Post 6415 raised the flags and finished the ceremony with a prayer.

“It is very encouraging that this community especially supports Americanism the ideals and the veterans of the community. We are very proud of them. They represent our future and we are extremely grateful they are embracing the principals of what this great country stands for,” said Sykes.

The new benches, flag poles and digital sign cost $50,000.

The projects were made possible by community donations.

Freeman COVID Unit closing

JOPLIN, Mo. — Freeman Health System is celebrating the end of a long two years and looking towards the future.

“Not going to lie, I was a little hesitant. Definitely kind of scared,” said Alissa Terrapin, Freeman Health System ICU Charge Nurse.

Terrapin recalls how it felt when those first COVID-19 patients were admitted to Freeman Health System in March of 2020.

“For the longest time, I feel like they all came in so sick. It was really hard, because a lot of them, unfortunately didn’t make it, and we were the only people able to be with them during that time,” she said.

13 beds reserved for the sickest COVID-19 patients, expanded to 19 as the pandemic reached its height.

17 beds in the medical COVID unit turned into the ability to accomodate 30 patients.

And 9 beds were added in a 3rd unit, known as the ICU step-down. It was a busy unit that took a lot of resources and manpower to care for patients — but things are different now.

“When you look at where we were, even a few months ago and where we are today, we can see the tremendous progress that’s been made,” said Paula Baker, Freeman Health System President & CEO.

“Just to think back, it’s never been this quiet. Always some kind of commotion, I felt like. For the longest time, every day, we’d have multiple patients just crashing and having to, you know, do all the things for them,” added Terrapin.

“We actually were talking to today about how it was weird to come in here and not hear the fans. All of the fans running, there was a really loud hum,” said Jeanee Kennedy, Freeman Health System Chief Nursing Officer.

“This is a day of celebration. I am standing here in the COVID unit of Freeman Health System, and I am very, very pleased to tell you that it is empty of patients. We have zero patients today,” added Baker.

The “COVID ICU” unit will now turn back into a regular ICU area, as the need for a specific COVID Intensive Care Unit is no longer needed.

“I think it’s an incredible, incredible thing. Definitely gives us a little hope that things are going to return to a little more normal,” said Terrapin.

Of course, COVID-19 isn’t completely gone. But, hospital staff say the last two years have prepared them for any other variants that may come along.

“This time we’re really cautiously optimistic about the future, and if we do have a next surge what that will look like for the hospital. But, we’re ready for whatever. But we are enjoying this day, for sure,” Kennedy added.

“We expect that there will be variants, but we also know now that we have resources now that we didn’t have before,” said Baker.

“To know that things are starting to get better for our community is amazing,” said Terrapin.

Local PD receives donation to buy ten AR-15 rifles

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kans. — A local police department just received a $7,500 donation to update equipment.

The Ronald O. Thomas Charitable Foundation donated a check to the Baxter Springs Police Department today. The donated funds have purchased ten AR-15 rifles and optics for each officer.

Prior to the donation, the department had three rifles that were becoming outdated. The rifles will provide a better quality of weaponry and will protect officers in high-risk situations.

“Should an incident or an active shooter event take place within our community, it allows us to respond and place, accurate rounds on a target without endangering innocent bystanders,” said Brian Henderson, Chief of Police.

The Police Department says it is very thankful for the donation as it benefits in keeping the community safe.

RECALL: Easter bunny cookie kit labeling omits milk allergen

(NEXSTAR) — Just weeks ahead of Easter, Illinois-based Wilton Industries, Inc., is initiating a voluntary recall of its Ready to Build Chocolate Cookie Bunny Hutch Kit, which is sold at several major retailers including Walmart, H-E-B and the company’s website.

In an announcement, the company explains the packaging omits a milk allergen, saying: “The ingredient list on the package lists “Skim Milk Powder” as an ingredient, however the “Contains” statement did not include “Milk” as required.”

Wilton says people with allergies or severe sensitivities to milk could be at risk of a life-threatening reaction if they consume the product.

The affected Ready to Build Chocolate Bunny Hutch Kit has the UPC code 0070896117274. Wilton says the recall affects lot numbers 22005, 22006, and 22007 – these numbers can be found on the side or bottom of boxes. The company says so far no illnesses have been reported.

Wilton Industries says the “labeling oversight” was discovered after a consumer inquiry.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says consumers can contact Wilton Industries by emailing productrecall@wilton.com or calling (800) 794-5866.

Police name Topeka man accused of murdering baby

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Topeka police have named a man accused of killing a baby during a Wednesday morning assault.

Trayvonne Jones’ mugshot. (Courtesy Photo/Shawnee County Department of Corrections)

Trayvonne Damont Jones, 21, of Topeka, faces charges including:

  • First-degree murder
  • Second-degree murder
  • Abuse of a child
  • Aggravated child endangerment
  • Two counts of aggravated battery

Jones knew the victims he attacked and there is no further danger to the community, according to the Topeka Police Department. The assault happened around 4:40 a.m. in the 1400 block of Southwest Byron, which is in the College Hill Apartments area near Washburn University.

TPD said a baby later died at a local hospital as a result of its injuries during the incident. The baby’s mother was also hurt in the assault, but was treated and released.

A Topeka police car stakes out the scene of an alleged assault, where a baby died March 30, 2022. (KSNT Photo/James Ryan)

Jones’ arrest came after TPD said it took multiple people to the Topeka Law Enforcement Center for further questioning. Officers stayed at the scene of the assault for hours, going into the afternoon as detectives investigated.

Police took Jones to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, and a jail representative told KSNT 27 News around 6 p.m. that he is being processed as an inmate.

Cool to wrap up the month of March tomorrow – Nick

Good late Wednesday evening, everyone. We ended our t-storm chances with this slow-moving storm system once we got past this morning. In terms of rain, our northwestern counties and areas along and southeast of I-44 saw the heavier amounts range between half an inch and 2 inches. Areas in between kind of saw very little rain under a quarter of an inch since the line of t-storms actually made a split as they worked from west to east. The severe weather has shifted into parts of the South while we turn cold tonight on the backside of the front. We’re also watching another front out west that will come at us fairly soon.

Upstairs, the upper-level wave is passing over Iowa and northern parts of Missouri. Before it finally clears out, additional energy from this upper-level low will head our way tomorrow.

Before that incoming energy does anything funny, we’ll see partly cloudy skies overnight before mostly cloudy skies work back in Thursday morning. We’ll be cold for tonight and Thursday morning with lows dropping back around 32°. Look at what wants to come in from the northwest, though.

While this burst of energy will bring scattered showers our way, colder air aloft will allow for some pockets of snow (maybe some bursts of light to moderate snow) at times. We aren’t expecting very much in terms of accumulation since we’ll be in the upper 30s to lower 40s by late morning and as we get the afternoon started. Don’t be surprised, though, if you see some snow at times during the middle of the day.

These rain and snow chances won’t last all day, thankfully. The wave will move off to the east and allow for some sunshine to return during the afternoon. Plus, most of us will push into the middle 40s for the afternoon. It’s certainly possible that some spots west of Joplin and Pittsburg could push near 50° for the afternoon ahead.

Friday is looking pretty good as the first weekend of April gets going. After a cold start, partly sunny skies will push us back into the middle 60s for Friday afternoon.

Even though Friday should be dry during the day, note the cloud cover that will be eager to work back in from the west. Another quick wave will come in with scattered showers Friday evening, Friday night and into early Saturday morning. Once it clears out, we’ll stay partly sunny and dry for the rest of the day with highs back in the middle 60s.

Heading into Sunday, the day will start dry. That will help push highs into the upper 60s to near 70° to wrap up the weekend. However, another system in Doug’s pattern will head our way. Not only will that bring scattered t-storms back in for Sunday afternoon and Sunday night, that system will keep t-storm chances in the forecast for Monday. The latest look at Sunday’s and Monday’s t-storm chances doesn’t have them turning too strong. Still, it’s the next big system in the pattern that we’ll keep a close eye on.

Behind that system, we’ll watch for minor chances for a few showers Tuesday and Wednesday as highs should stay in the lower to middle 60s. Don’t forget that Doug has your long range forecast out through the middle of May down below. You’ll get an idea of when we’ll see storm systems and chances for severe weather try to come our way. Have a good night and a great Thursday!

Nick

April 7th-9th:  Staying mild through the week with t-storms for Thursday &  Saturday.  We do need to watch for severe chances around the 7th (that Thursday).

April 10th-16th:  A mild first half of the week with slight chances for thunderstorms on Monday.  Better chances for thunderstorms on Wednesday with cooler temperatures for Thursday and Friday.

April 17th-23rd:  Mild with thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday.  Warming up through the week with thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, most likely severe.

April 24th-30th:  Mainly a mild week with Monday thunderstorms.  Then again chances for storms Thursday through Saturday.

May 1st-7th:  A warm week with thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday, most likely severe.  Thunderstorms Thursday and Friday, also most likely severe.

May 8th-14th:  A warm storm with thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday, most likely severe.  Cooler for the middle of the week.  Mild temperatures back in the rest of the week with  thunderstorms by the weekend.

May 15th-21st:  Cooler start to the week with thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday.  We warm up toward the weekend with Saturday thunderstorms, most likely severe.

Joplin City Council Candidate Forum for April 5, 2022 ballot, hosted by Bobbie Pottorff of MSSU

JOPLIN, Mo. – This was originally recorded and aired on MSSU television KGCS-21, Monday evening, March 29, 2022.

The host/moderator is Bobbie Pottorff is the General Manager of MSSU tv, KGCS-21.

Pottorff outlines the forum to the candidates and those viewing.

  • Each candidate will have one minute to introduce themselves.
  • Questions will be asked of candidates at random.  Each candidate will have two minutes to respond.
  • Five candidates are running for three general seats:
    • Doug Lawson (incumbent)
    • Kate Spencer
    • Brian J. Evans
    • Josh DeTar
    • Jon Thomas Buck
  • Two candidates for one seat in zone 4:
    • Diane Reid Adams (incumbent)
    •  Mark Farnham
  • Gary Shaw is running unopposed in zone 1.

This program will air on television again at 6 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday. It is available on their KGCS-21 You Tube Channel. You can also view it on various cable outlets across the area.  However the election will be decided only by those who are registered to vote in the Joplin city limits.

It is also available on the City of Joplin website.

Find sample ballots and more election information here.