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Author Archives: KOAM TV 7
Joplin prepares to host Freeman Lady Eagle Classic
JOPLIN, MO. – Joplin hosts the 26th annual Lady Eagle Classic this week. They hit the floor against Leavenworth in the tournament opener on Thursday at 2pm.
The Eagles (1-3) are coming off their first win of the season against Pittsburg.
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K-9 Officer laid to rest
SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla – A k-9 Officer was laid to rest today.
Seven-year-old Taz was a drug dog for the South Coffeyville police department and helped serve his community since 2018.
His handler Officer Shelldon Rivers was there for his last ride.
Taz’s hips had continually become worse and he was in pain and having a hard time walking.
He was taken to Independence Kansas to an animal hospital to be euthanized.
Officers say they tried to spoil Taz in his last weeks with treats and his favorite ball.
He was laid to rest in Nowata Oklahoma at Stumpff Funeral Home.
His handler Officer Rivers said he trusted Taz with his life and couldn’t have had a better partner.
You can watch the full story below.
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Chanute woman found dead, person of interest developed
NEOSHO COUNTY, Kan. – Authorities arrest a person of interest after information from North Carolina leads to the body of a Chanute, Kansas woman.
Yesterday evening (Dec. 6) around 5:00 pm, Neosho County, Kansas Sheriff deputies went to 6845 160th Road in rural Chanute. They were conducting a welfare check after the Cumberland County, NC, Sheriff’s Office called with information causing concern for a woman who lived at that home.
Deputies searched the property and found the body of 47-year-old Elaina M. Asprea next to a field near the home.
The Neosho County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigation are looking into the case as a homicide. The KBI Crime Scene Response Team arrived to investigate.
Authorities in Fayetteville, North Carolina, have developed a person of interest in the case. The 37-year-old man also had a warrant out of a North Carolina county for charges unrelated to this case, according to the KBI. He’s currently in police custody.
The coroner’s office has an autopsy scheduled for Dec. 9.
The KBI says they’re still investigating. Authorities are not releasing any more information at this time.
If you have information about this, you can call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office at 620-244-3888. You can also submit tips online here.
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
Man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting prisoner during transport
CLAREMORE, Okla. – A former prisoner transport officer pleads guilty in federal court for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a male detainee in Missouri and Oklahoma.
56-year-old Dewayne Dudley pleaded guilty in federal court in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The Court has not scheduled a sentencing hearing at this time. Following the plea agreement, Dudley faces 12 to 15 years in federal prison. After that, he could have up to five years of supervised release.
“Dewayne Dudley exploited his position of authority when he cruelly assaulted a detainee he was charged to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray for the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to preserving trust in law enforcement. We will not tolerate public officials who violate the constitutional rights of our citizens.”
According to the U.S. Justice Department, Northern District of Oklahoma, Dudley worked as a prisoner transport officer for Blue Raven Services at the time of the crime. It’s a private prisoner transport company.
Authorities say Dudely performed the government function of picking up individuals arrested on out-of-state warrants. He would then take those individuals back to the jurisdiction that issued the warrants.
2021 Sexual Assault and Kidnapping Crime
(Some details explicit)
On August 26, 2021, Dudley picked up a male detainee from a Boonville, Indiana, jail to take him to Valencia, New Mexico.
The next day, before arriving in New Mexico, prosecutors say Dudley stopped the transport van at a Holiday Inn Express in Marshfield, Missouri. He rented a room.
The U.S. Justice Department states Dudley took the handcuffed detainee into the hotel room and told him to shower. Court documents state after the victim showered, Dudley pointed a gun at the victim and told him to undress.
“Dudley then proceeded to grope the victim’s genitals. When the victim’s penis did not erect, Dudley handcuffed himself to the victim, before going to sleep. Several hours later, Dudley resumed transporting the victim, before stopping the transport van at his (Dudley’s) apartment, located in Claremore, Oklahoma. Against the victim’s protests, Dudley brought the handcuffed victim inside his apartment. While inside his apartment, Dudley again groped the victim’s genitals, causing the victim bodily injury. The victim said, “No!,” and was able to break free and run outside of Dudley’s apartment,” the Department of Justice stated in a press release.
The Oklahoma City FBI Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Compton of the Northern District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
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Around 200 sick in an SEK school district; cleaning scheduled
OSWEGO, Kan. – A 4-State school district closes for the rest of the week starting tomorrow due to hundreds being out sick.
According to Superintendent Mitchell Shaw, USD 504 in Oswego, Kansas, has around 200 students and staff sick. Besides general sickness, some are ill with RSV and Influenza A.
One school has 44 percent of students out. School officials met with the board and health officials to organize a deep clean in all buildings ahead of Monday.
The district has canceled school and all school activities for Thursday and Friday (Dec. 8-9).
At this time, classes and activities are planned to resume on Monday, December 12.
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Amy Elizabeth Spidle
Amy Nichols Spidle, 102 years young, made her transition from this earth to God’s eternal life on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Born in Joplin, she returned in 1953 to raise her family and become a valued member of Joplin society.
Amy had two daughters, April Nichols Good, Creve Coeur, Missouri, and Terry Nichols Smith (deceased 2016); one sister, Joan Southerland Metten (deceased 2021), and a niece, Sandra Hanselman Benti of Connecticut.
Amy had 7 grandchildren; Dr.Shawn Good, PhD (Andrea/3 children) Idaho; Melissa Carter, OMM (2 children) Florida; Reed Good, AIA, (Kathy/2 daughters) Colorado; Dr. Heather Stalcup,DC (3 children) Missouri;Carrie Good,CMA(5 children)Iowa; David Harrison (1 child) and Daniel Pliler (2 children) Missouri.
Amy was a veteran of World War II, serving the United States in the Navy as a pharmacist’s mate. She attended UCLA & Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Amy retired from Sperry Vickers in Joplin at its dissolution in 1987.
Amy was a member of St. Phillips Episcopal Church since 1953. She served the Well Child Clinic of St. Phillips in the 1950s & the Joplin Community Clinic in the 2000s, as well as serving many local charitable associations throughout the years.
Amy has resided at St. Luke’s Residential community in Carthage, Missouri since 2016.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorial donations be made to your local food pantry.
Private graveside services will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary in Joplin.
Ronald “Ron” W. Burns
Ronald “Ron” W. Burns, 86, of Fredonia, passed away Monday, December 5, 2022 at Morningstar Care in Fredonia. Ron was born on December 31, 1935 in Wichita, KS the son of Clifford Emmet and Ella Martha (Mason) Burns.
On December 27, 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in Fredonia, Ron married Maurine Ruth Hise. Ron and Maurine were married for 56 years until her death of April 10, 2016.
Ron was a graduate of Elk City High School, he also served in the U.S. Army for 2 years. Ron worked various jobs throughout his life in the gas and oil business, ultimately retiring from his own company Burns Oil Company. Ron also worked with survey crews, with the Wilson County engineer and one of his jobs was plotting sections at the Fredonia City Cemetery.
Ron was very social, he enjoyed going to the coffee shops, visiting and just meeting people. Ron could travel anywhere and would meet people that he knew. Ron was a charter member of the Old Iron Club, and a member of the Optimist Club. Ron enjoyed being outdoors, woodworking and making brooms. Most of all, Ron enjoyed being with his friends and family.
Survivors include:
Two Sons:
Rodney Burns and wife Janice of Erie, KS
Roger Burns and wife Susan of Pittsburg, KS
Siblings:
Jack Burns of Abilene, KS
June Peel of Peru, KS
4 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great-Great Grandchildren
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, wife Maurine, brother-Robert Burns and sisters- Ruth Ann Richardson and Margaret Andrews.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Countryside Funeral Home in Fredonia. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time. Burial will be a private service held at a later date. Memorials have been suggested to either the Old Iron Club or Hometown Hospice and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247 Fredonia, KS 66736
Bernard Lee Gough
Bernard “Bernie” Lee Gough, age 78 of Galesburg, passed away at 9:36 am on Monday, December 5, 2022 at his home following an extended battle with Leukemia.
Bernie was born in Parsons, KS on July 1, 1944 to the union of Harold Gough and Irene (Hines) Gough. He graduated from Galesburg High School with the Class of 1962. He joined the Boilermakers Union in 1974, and later worked as a welder for Beachner’s from 1992 until his retirement. He enjoyed spending his free time going fishing.
He was united in marriage with Wanda Gough. She preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Irene Gough.
Survivors include two sons, Dale Gough (wife Lara) of Galesburg, and Darin Gough (wife, Heidi) of Iola, KS; two daughters, Brenda Tucker (husband, Mark) of Bella Vista, AR, and Tonya Council of Chanute, KS; as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Gough has been entrusted to Derfelt Funeral Home of Oswego for cremation. The family plans to host a private memorial service at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.
Deborah S. Snowden
Deborah (Debbie) Sue Snowden passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 8:21 AM in Mercy Hospital, Joplin, MO.
She is survived by her husband, Benjamin Snowden, her daughter Ashley Cox and husband Nathan. She is survived by her 2 grand sons Braxton Cox and Aiden Cox, her sister, Sharon Durik, brother Richard Gozia and wife Elizabeth and brother Jim Gozia and wife Jennifer. Also her sister-in-law Voncielle Wilkerson and numerous nieces and nephews and dear friends.
Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date.