Joplin Police warn of counterfeit money being passed off in Joplin area

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin Police Department have received numerous reports of fake bills being passed. These reports have now sparked investigations of counterfeit money being used throughout city to purchase goods and services from local businesses.  Also to purchase items from persons selling goods from Online Marketplace and Garage Sales, and other online groups.

Please be vigilant and check the cash bills before exchanging goods or services. This picture is an illustration of the type of money being used around the city on a regular basis. Again, please check the cash for authenticity before exchanging goods or services.” – JOPLIN POLICE DEPT

Stay with Joplin News First on KOAM News Now as we continue to learn more and cover news where you live.  Scroll below to sign up for our JLNews1st email list so you don’t miss an article.

FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS, SEE NEWS WHILE YOU SURF…

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

Joplin News First (@joplinnewsfirst) • Instagram photos and videos

Mercy MASH Camp returns to Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. — Before spending several years in school and thousands of dollars on an education, you might want to make sure what you plan to do for a living is really the right thing for you. That’s why a group of teenagers was in an area hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Although it had to be postponed because of covid the last two years, the annual MASH Camp for area high school students was back on again this year.

This is actually day two of the MASH Camp. Tuesday, students were on the campus of KCU. Wednesday, Mercy Hospital Joplin.

Angela Kennedy says the tradition of the camp dates back to the days of the old St. John’s Medical Hospital which was destroyed by the May 22nd, 2011 Joplin tornado.

“To introduce the students to healthcare in various different forms. These are students who have an interest in healthcare, and they’re now 9th through 12 graders so they’ll have this time to make a decision about what they want to do post-high school,” said Angela Kennedy, Medical Education Coordinator, Mercy Hospital Joplin.

Sheraz Anis is a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson and says he plans on following in his father’s footsteps into healthcare, but as a dentist instead of a physician.

“I think it’s been great. You know, we’ve learned so much about how much our essential healthcare workers do for our society, and without them, we’d be lost. They do so much and I never realized how much work actually goes into running the hospitals from the doctors to the people who work on the electrical in the basement,” said Anis.

“I’ve had a couple of family members in the healthcare, medical field, and I’ve just always looked up to them,” said Madelyn Kennedy, MASH Camp Participant.

Carthage High School sophomore Madelyn Kennedy says mash camp sealed the deal for her.

“The more that I see of the hospital and all these people do, it just makes me want to go into healthcare. Like, I’ve always wanted to but now this is for sure what I want to do,” she said.

La-Z-Boy expansion opens in Neosho

NEOSHO, Mo. — A celebration involving expansion was held Wednesday in Neosho.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the La-Z-Boy distribution facility. Officials say the company first broke ground in Neosho in the 1960s.

Today marked the end of the first phase of an expansion project. One that now includes new restrooms, break rooms, offices, and a cafeteria for employees.

The goal is to help it be more innovative, effective, and efficient.

“It’ll provide some benefits to the Neosho Facility as well as some of our other facilities. We have a manufacturing facility in Siloam Springs, which is very close by, which will also help us there and then just gain some efficiencies throughout all of our supply chain at La-Z-Boy,” said Brendon Barnes, Senior General Manager, La-Z-Boy, Neosho Facility.

“Neosho has been with us for like 50 years. It’s our second-oldest facility. It’s a high-performing facility with very talented individuals, and so it continues to be a really important part of our overall footprint,” said Melinda Whittington, President and CEO of La-Z-Boy Inc.

Phase two of the project is expected to be finished by this time next year.

Elderly man dies in residential fire

JOPLIN, Mo. — A house fire claims the life of an elderly man.

Just after 3:00 a.m. Monday morning (6/27), the Joplin Fire Department (JFD) was dispatched after a 911 call reported a possible residential structure fire at 819 West A Street (at the intersection of West A Street and Connor Avenue).

The 911 caller stated that flames were visible inside the home and that the occupant inside was unable to get out safely.

Crews with JFD arrived within minutes of the initial call, and found a two-story home engulfed in smoke.

| Joplin Fire Station Proposal >

As firefighters searched inside, they were able to locate the trapped occupant, 71-year-old Michael Haas of Joplin.

Haas received initial medical treatment on scene by EMS, however, the 71-year-old had already succumbed to injuries sustained from the fire.

Once the fire was extinguished, officers with the Joplin Police Department, as well as the Joplin Fire Marshal, began investigating the cause of the blaze.

The fire was determined to be accidental, due to a malfunctioning electric fan in the living room of the home.

Heat index returns Friday; Rain chances return this weekend

Temperatures will warm into the 90s for the last day of June, but we’re still dealing with low humidity. Dew point temperatures will increase overnight as we only cool into the 70s. The heat index near 100° will return tomorrow, ahead of some weekend rain chances.

Note that there will be PLENTY of dry time through Saturday & Sunday, and not everyone will see rain at the same time. These will isolated to scattered showers and storms popping up across the Four States–beginning Saturday afternoon and ending Sunday night.

We should be dry as rain chances move east on the Fourth, but temperatures will sky rocket into the upper 90s. Excessive heat will return to the area with heat index values even higher than that through at least the middle of July.

Convicted child molester attempts to leave courtroom during victim impact statement; sentenced to 35 years

JAY, Okla. – A Delaware County man was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in prison for sexually abusing a child.

Kevin Wayne Swager, 31, of Rose, was convicted in April in Delaware County District Court of child sexual abuse and child abuse, both felonies.

It is KSNF/KODE’s policy not to identify sexual assault victims.

The victim was 8 years old when the abuse started, the mother said during the hearing.

The victim’s mother asked that Swager serve 50 years in prison, be required to register as a sex offender, and for Swager to stay away from not only her and the children but her mother and grandmother as well.

“This is to keep my children, my family, and myself safe from Kevin Swager,” the victim’s mother said.  

Swager’s attorney, Terry Allen, asked for probation, and state prosecutor Laura DeYoung asked for the maximum sentence.

District Judge Barry Denney sentenced Swager to 25 years for child sexual abuse and 25 years for child abuse.  On the child abuse sentence, Denney suspended all but 10 years.  Both sentences are to run consecutively.

At the beginning of the hearing, Swager was heard saying, “I didn’t do it.

Swager denied abusing the child, but he also did confess to Delaware County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Brandon Houston to hurting the child, trial testimony shows.

Swager’s aggressiveness and temper were evident during the trial as he lashed out at prosecutor Laura DeYoung with cursing. The same demeanor was seen when the victim’s mother read her victim impact statement.

A visibly angry Swager attempted to leave the courtroom during her testimony.  He was eventually escorted out of the courtroom and returned when the sentence was announced.  

“This crime has not only affected myself, but my children and immediate family as well,” said the victim’s mother.

“We had to move for safety reasons,” the mother said.

“She (the victim) said she never told me because you said that I knew about it and was ok with it,” the victim’s mother said.  “That is one of the sickest things I have ever heard. I am glad she was strong enough for not only herself but her three little brothers who could not stand up for themselves. She has saved other children from having to endure abuse.”

The victim also disclosed to her mother the abuse suffered by a younger sibling who was lying in a bassinet.

 “You got so angry while trying to get the basinet through the door …that when you pulled it through the door that the basinet fell over with” the child in it, the mother said.

“Then you proceeded to kick the basinet several times,” the victim’s mother said.

“I had to get a hip X-ray…because (the child) was not walking at the appropriate age and the doctor said he could have suffered a physical injury due to that specific incident and others that we were not aware of,” the mother said.

Swager is to have no contact with the victim or her family when he is released from prison.  He is also required to register as a sex offender. “

Swager is also charged in Ottawa County District Court with child sexual abuse.

Fun attractions in the Four States that won't break the bank this summer

KSNF/KODE — With inflation and record-breaking prices, it can be difficult to find activities individuals and families alike can enjoy this summer without a bank-breaking vacation. We asked locals what their favorite activities are in the Four State area.

Creation Safari Wildlife Park

It’s about a 33-minute drive from the Joplin area to Creation Safari Wildlife Park where over 200 animals are cared for, including some endangered species. Their Facebook page showcases and highlights a number of patron testimonies and photos of critters such as kangaroos, giant tortoises, and zebras. The safari offers a shaded petting zoo to pet and feed some of the wildlife. Their property also has an air-conditioned gift shop with cold drinks available.

Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for kids. You can check out their Facebook page here for their hours of operation.

Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park

Also in Oklahoma, is Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake. Less than an hour from the Joplin area, it’s a popular spot for fishing a variety of fish, boating, picnics, and camping. Their facilities include picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, and horseshoe pits. There are options for lake huts and RVs as well. For more information, you can check out this link here.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

General admission is always free at Crystal Bridges in NW Arkansas. The unique day trip, located on 120 acres of Ozark forest with five miles of trails, has something for everyone. The permanent art collection is indoors, but there’s also an art trail outside that features great photo-ops near unique sculptures.

Temporary exhibitions make their way to the Museum of Art throughout the year for an admission fee. The facility also offers a restaurant, coffee, and unique gift shop experience. For a full guide of tours available, trail maps, and more information to plan your visit follow this link here.

Scott Family Amazeum

This unique and creative experience offers 50,000 square feet of a variety of exhibits that use Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) learning through play. Families can play all day in a safe and fun environment that will pique their curiosity with hands-on functional play. Admission is $11 per person aged 2 and older. You can check out their website here.

George Washington Carver National Monument

Rich in history and culture the Monument is a national treasure that highlights the life of agricultural scientist and teacher George Washington Carver through guided tours, breath-taking nature trails, diverse woodland, streams, and prairie land. A Carver family cemetery, 1881 Carver house, and sculptures are also located on the property. The Monument offers a visitor center where you can browse historic documents, interactive exhibits, and a 19th-century classroom. Follow this link here to see their website and hours of operation.

Diamond Grove Adventure Park

Diamond Grove Adventure Park is located in Diamond, Missouri and has a range of activites from a scenic train ride, miniature donkeys and goats, to a natural play scape and gem mining. The park also features a 14-foot platform for those brave enough to jump off onto a giant inflated pillow. To see pictures and reserve tickets you can follow this link here.

Kiddieland in Lincoln Park

The amusement park in Pittsburg, KS first opened in the early 1950’s, eventually closed, and reopened in 2022. The park includes a train, roller coaster, planes, Ferris wheel, cars, tubs, and carousel. You can find information on their cheap tickets and hours here.

Route 66 Drive-In Movie Theatre

Break out the lawn chairs and blankets, or hangout inside the car or bed of the truck while you enjoy the classic, iconic experience of the Route 66 Drive-In. Every weekend the theater offers a double-feature of popular new releases and the occasional throw-back to an old time classic. Admission is cash-only but the concessions do take cash and debit cards. To see times and featured films follow this link here.

22-year Kansas fishing record broken

SHERMAN COUNTY (KSNT) – A Kansas woman has set a new state fishing record with her catch out of a local farm pond in Sherman County.

(Photo Courtesy/Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks)

Tami Sanderson has entered the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Park’s records after catching a yellow perch in a farm pond. The perch weighed in at 1.46 pounds and was 13.66 inches in length. She caught the fish using a rod and reel with a minnow as bait on Feb. 20, 2022.

The previous state record was set in 2000 with a perch caught in Coffey County that was 1.06 pounds and 14 inches long. To see Sanderson’s catch on the KDWP’s website along with other state fishing records, click here.

BREAKING: Joplin's historic library suffers fire damage

JOPLIN, Mo. — An early morning fire erupts at the Old Joplin Library building (a.k.a. Joplin Carnegie Library), with flames and smoke covering every floor.

Joplin Fire Chief, Gerald Ezell said dozens of fire crews were dispatched to the historic building, located at 830 Wall (at the intersection of 9th Street and Wall Avenue), just after 5:00 a.m. Thursday (6/30).

Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the bottom floor of the Old Joplin Library building.

SLIDESHOW: View Photos From The Joplin Carnegie Library Fire

Once crews were able to gain entry, visible flames were reported on all three floors of the historic building.

Fire Chief Ezell said it took crews more than two hours to put out the flames.

However, hot spots continued to arise, keeping firefighters on the scene for several hours after the initial fire was extinguished.

The Old Joplin Library has a long history in the Downtown district.

It was constructed in 1902 as Joplin’s first pubic library, before becoming vacant when the City of Joplin opened a new Library building at 3rd and Main Street in the 1970’s.

Then, just a few years ago, the location of the City’s public library was moved to 20th and Connecticut in a newly constructed building.

Joplin Fire Chief, Gerald Ezell said investigators have yet to make it inside the Old Joplin Library building to begin assessing possible structural damage, and to determine the cause of the fire.

Chief Ezell is asking the public to stay away from the area of 9th and Wall as the Joplin Fire Marshal and the Joplin Police Department conduct their investigation into the early morning blaze.

This is a developing story. We’ll continue to update you here on fourstateshomepage.com when new information becomes available.

Widow files first wrongful death lawsuit in Missouri Amtrak train crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The widow of a truck driver killed in the Amtrak train crash and derailment in Missouri has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Attorneys for Erin Barton, wife of Billy Barton II, filed the suit against Chariton County and BNSF roadmaster Mariano Rodriguez.

Billy Barton was driving a dump truck Monday on Porche Prairie Avenue when he attempted to drive over what’s known as the “Porche crossing” at BNSF tracks. An Amtrak passenger train going 90 mph struck Barton’s truck, killing the Brookfield, Missouri, man and three train passengers.

The lawsuit says Barton didn’t “see or hear the train coming with adequate warning to safely cross the tracks.”

In Erin Barton’s wrongful death lawsuit, she accuses Rodriguez and the county of negligence for leaving the road leading to the crossing and the crossing itself in a dangerous condition.

Rodriguez is a manager in BNSF’s engineering/maintenance of way department and, according to the lawsuit, is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the railroad company’s right of way — including the Porche crossing.

The lawsuit alleges the Porche crossing, which was a grade crossing, had impaired sight triangles and “an excessively small” crossing angle at the road and tracks’ intersection. Erin Barton argues the small crossing angle caused impaired visibility for drivers.

The lawsuit also argues that the sloped approach up to the crossing, and brush, trees and crops block the full view of oncoming trains.

Barton’s suit says the crossing is narrow, rough and poorly maintained, distracting drivers and making it difficult to cross. These conditions have existed for years, she says.

In addition, it’s a passive crossing, meaning there are no warning devices like bells, crossing arms or lights. The Porche crossing only has signs indicating there are tracks nearby.

Barton alleges that Rodriguez should have known the Porche crossing was dangerous, “yet he did nothing to ameliorate the danger to motorists or train occupants (crew and passengers) to ensure that gates and lights were installed at the crossing.”

The lawsuit also argues the county is responsible for properly designing, building, inspecting, repairing and maintaining its roads, including the road leading up to the crossing.

Barton argues the approaches to the Porche crossing were not in compliance with national and state standards for roads approaching tracks, “making the roads dangerous to use.”

The suit says the road was in dangerous condition, and the Chariton County Road Authority knew or should have known. Concerned citizens had reported the dangerous crossing to the road authority “well in advance,” the lawsuit says.

Barton’s attorneys are requesting a jury trial and damages in excess of $25,000 from each defendant.