Tag Archives: Joplin News

News To Know: record voting numbers, Big Fish

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WASHINGTON— The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant David E. Holeman, 39, of Le Harpe, Kansas, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II, was accounted for August 23, 2022. To read more about this coming home, click here.

JOPLIN, Mo. — The midterm elections are finally over but it was one for the record books for Jasper County. Out of 81,907 registered voters in Jasper County 34,903 ballots were cast. That means 42.67 % voted. It was the 3rd largest turnout for a November election ever in Jasper County.

NEOSHO, Mo. –The 20th Annual Crowder College Foundation Festival of Wreaths took place Tuesday evening at 5:00 P.M. The event began with a silent auction in Longwell Museum located inside the Elsie Plaster Community Center on the Neosho campus. Last year, the event raised over $137,000 for scholarships & program support. Click here to read more about this story.

PITTSBURG, Ks.— Students at Pittsburg High School are putting the final touches on their newest theater presentation “Big Fish”. The musical is based on a celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace as well as a movie by Tim Burton.

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News To Know: inmate dies, marijuana on the ballot in MO

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LABETTE COUNTY, Kan. – The Labette County Detention Center says an unresponsive inmate was discovered this morning. According to deputies, 31-year-old Kenneth J. Jones, Jr. was discovered by his cellmate with an apparent self-inflicted injury. EMS transported Jones to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased by doctors. Click here to read more about this story.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Some cannabis enthusiasts gathered in Joplin last night to encourage a yes vote on Amendment 3.  The gathering took place near 7th and Range Line. If you’d like to read more about this story, click here.

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Midterms voting takes place today, November 8th,  and Kansas voters may decide the balance of power between the Legislative and Executive branches. If passed, Constitutional Amendment One would give Kansas lawmakers the authority to overturn regulations or rules that are passed in the state. Officials say this change could potentially include mandates by the Kansas governor. Click here if you’d like to read more about this potential constitutional amendment.

GIRARD, Kan. – Girard could merge paid and volunteer fire departments. The city of Girard currently has two fire departments within its city limits: The Girard City Fire Department and the District 4 Fire Department. Girard Fire has paid workers and District 4 is ran by the county and is volunteer based. In the open forum held today at city hall, one of the main concerns brought up was the quality of the department if they were to merge. If you would like to read more about this story, click here.

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News To Know: world-renowned scientist, tech summit

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JOPLIN, Mo. – The Making Memories Tour holds its annual travel expo. They have multiple stagecoach tours and trollies. It gives repeat customers an opportunity to come back and tour together.

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Stanford University names a Pittsburg State University faculty member a part of the top 2 percent of scientists in the world. Ram Gupta works as an associate professor at PSU. The chemist spends his time researching, advocating for grants, and most importantly inspiring a new generation of scientists.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Some local tech businesses on Friday had the opportunity to show off their innovations in Joplin. The Joplin Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2022 Joplin Regional Innovation and Technology summit. The summit provides a chance for tech businesses to hold sessions showcasing their emerging technology, business innovations, cyber resiliency, and digital cities. Click here to view a full interview with Erin Slifka from the Joplin Chamber of Commerce to hear more about this tech summit.

JOPLIN, Mo. – KCU Joplin starts a new program to train their students with the help of actors. The simulated patient program allows students to experience realistic scenarios they could face on the job. Actors are trained to portray patients with various illnesses and injuries. Students are assessed on how they provide care to the actors.

 

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News To Know: Arrive Alive Tour, Burgers & Badges

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FORT SCOTT, Kan. – A fifth person is extradited back to southeast Kansas and charged with the attempted murder of a Fort Scott, Kansas man, 39-year-old Kenneth Bevins. The latest suspect is 23-year-old Cody Tindill of Fort Scott. Authorities arrested him out of state. On November 2 they extradited him back to Fort Scott and booked him into the Bourbon County Jail. Kenneth Bevins remains in critical condition. Click here to read more about this story.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin police release the preliminary cause of death in the double homicide which occurred at the 2200 block of Annie Baxter. Joplin police said that autopsies for Stacy Rush and Erik Stampfli were completed and both died from gunshot wounds. Rush and Stampfli were found dead shortly after 9:20 on Monday night. The suspect in their deaths shot himself Wednesday during a confrontation with newton county deputies. He later died. To read more about this story, click here.

McDONALD COUNTY, Mo. — The “Arrive Alive Tour” brought its sobering message to McDonald County high school. Students get into an actual disabled vehicle and put on a virtual reality headset. Sensors are connected to the vehicle’s gas and brake pedals and steering wheel, enabling the participant to experience simulated drugged driving — even a crash — without real-life consequences.

PITTSBURG, Kan — Pittsburg kicks off the annual Badges and Burgers event today. The event unites the community to enjoy food, fellowship, and raise funds for local children who have been sexually abused. The funds go to Children’s Advocacy Center — a neutral place for children to participate in an interview to talk about what has happened to them. The event is important as the police and Children’s Advocacy Center work closely to solve cases.

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News To Know: Webb City bomb scare, mass grave in Tulsa

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GALENA, Mo. — At 3:20 p.m. Wednesday afternoon troopers say a 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 250 failed to negotiate a curve on Missouri 248. The motorcycle left the road, struck a road sign and ejected the driver, Bonnie Garrigus. An air ambulance transported the 39-year-old Garrigus to Mercy Hospital in Springfield with serious injuries.

JOPLIN, Mo. — In an update to an ongoing investigation, Joplin police release the names of the two people killed Monday night. Police say 35 year old Eric Stamfli, of Grove, Oklahoma and 35 year old Stacy Rush of Joplin were found dead in a home at 22-16 south Annie Baxter. On Wednesday authorities identified a possible suspect in the case: 34-year old David Rush of Wyandotte, Oklahoma. According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma officials began a pursuit with the suspect from Oklahoma into Missouri on Highway 60. Rush then stopped the vehicle, got out with a gun and indicated that he was suicidal. After three hours David Rush shot himself and was transported to a local hospital where he has since died. Click here to read more about this story.

WEBB CITY, Mo. – About 11:27 a.m.  Wednesday morning, November 2, 2022 Chief Don Melton of the Webb City Police Department says a citizen brought what appears to be an old rusty bomb to the police department. Authorities cleared their building, the area and closed down streets. He said they summoned the Springfield Fire Dept Bomb Squad to assist with the situation. They arrived on scene about 2:15 p.m. and determined the bomb to be inert. If you’d like to read more about this story, click here.

TULSA, Okla. – The search for remains of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre has turned up 21 additional coffins in unmarked graves in the city’s Oaklawn Cemetery, officials said. Seventeen adult-size graves were located Friday and Saturday, Oklahoma State Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck said Monday. Additionally, the city announced Tuesday that four graves, two adult-size and two child-size, had been found. Click here to read much more about this story.

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News To Know: serious crash, Special Olympics

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WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — Authorities say 43-year-old David McKay of Waynesville, Missouri sexually abused four children while serving as the youth ministry director at Fort Leonard Wood. Mckay pleaded guilty to one count of transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and four counts of sexually abusing a minor. He is sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole.

WEBB CITY, Mo. — A lane change causes a serious crash in Webb City. Troopers report the crash took place Tuesday morning at airport drive village one mile north of Joplin. The crash happened When a 2022 Ram truck driven by Trey Covey changed into the center lane and made a left turn into the path of a 2010 Honda motorcycle driven by Jon Covert. Covert was transported to freeman hospital with serious injuries.

SOUTHEAST KANSAS —Special Olympics Kansas will host the Southeast Kansas Regional Youth bowling competition. The event will feature schools in multiple Southeast Kansas counties. For the Special Olympians events like the youth bowling competition provide a healthy dose of good sportsmanship, a break from their regular school day and interacting with other members of the community such as local law enforcement,

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin Public Library opened a new art exhibit inside its Post Art section. The exhibit is called “The Eyes Have It”. It’s themed around the human eye and features work from the Joplin regional artists coalition in several different mediums.

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Buckle up phone down to save lives

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The Missouri Department of Transportation has a message they want to make sure all drivers are aware of: buckle up, phones down. Did you know that texting while driving increases the risk of a car crash by 50%? Or did you know sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for nearly five seconds? At 55 mph, that is the same as driving the length of an entire football field blindfolded.

KOAM’s Janna Hautala talked to Sergeant Andy Blair from the Joplin Police Department about this life-saving message. He stressed the role of safety, and the best way to do that is pay attention to the road. And be warned: he said JPD will be on the lookout for drivers not buckled up or texting while driving.

Janna also talked to Isabella Yust, a student from Joplin High School. For her generation, Isabella said, staying off the phone can be difficult for her generation, but she emphasized the necessity for staying off the phone on the road. She also emphasized the need for good habits, starting when a driver first gets behind the wheel.

Both Sergeant Blair and Isabella stressed being safe and staying aware while a driver is on the road and, most importantly, don’t forget to buckle up, and put your phone down.

If you’d like more information about the Buckle Up, Phone Down campaign, click here to check out the MO DOT website.

Click here to check out the Joplin Police Department’s Facebook page.

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Legos connect the past with the future of Joplin

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Lisa Nelson had a conversation with her son one day. She asked him, “If you could build a local landmark, what would you build?” Her son said, “I don’t really know of any.” This came as a revelation to Nelson — who teaches local history? — so her and her son began to brainstorm. The idea they came up with was Iconic Joplin: a combination of Legos, engineering, STEM practice and a fun way for 12 to 16-year-old middle schoolers to learn about historic Joplin architecture. By reaching back into Joplin’s past, the project aims to encourage kids headed to high school to pursue a career in math, science, or engineering. And what better — or more fun — way to connect the past with the future than with Legos? KOAM’s Janna Hautala sat down with Lisa Nelson to build more on this story.

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News To Know: pursuit becomes standoff, reward for escapees

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JOPLIN, Mo. – About 9:30 p.m. reports of a police pursuing a silver pickup truck traveling south on Schifferdecker. The pickup was spiked and stopped near Coyote and Concord Lane, south of 32nd and Schifferdecker. Joplin Police requested assistance in a Felony Car Stop. Witnesses who live in the Arbor Hills Neighborhood tell us they heard a gunshot as Joplin Police closed down the road to all traffic and began a contain and call-out for the driver of the pickup. Joplin Police have not confirmed any weapons were fired. Click here to read more.

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. – A child dies after a house fire in Independence, Kansas. The fire happened on Wednesday afternoon. Cherryvale firefighters, along with crews from Independence Rural Fire, Sycamore Rural Fire and the City of Independence Fire and EMS, were dealing with a fully engulfed fire. An 8-year-old was still inside. To read more about this story, click here.

MOUND VALLEY, Kan. – Authorities say the deaths of two southeast Kansas residents are now considered homicides. On October 3, the Labette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call. Someone found two bodies at around 8:30 a.m. while trying to check on their friends. When officers got there, they found the decomposing bodies of both a male and a female. The Kansas Bureau of Investigations released their identities. The victims have been identified as Leanda R. Pound, 43, of Mound Valley, and Jason M. Bakken, 39, of Mound Valley.

OTTAWA COUNTY, Okla. – Authorities offer $2,500 rewards for information leading to the capture of two escapees. Police consider Daniel Zajicek and Tyler Tavis armed and dangerous. They are 2 of 4 inmates who escaped Tuesday while in a dorm-style pod.

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News To Know: fatal crash, collector’s expo, and Heart Walk 2022

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BARTON COUNTY, Mo. — Just before 2:00 Sunday morning, reports of a crash along State Route V near NE 40th alerted Barton County E-911. A Barton County Deputy arrived first, locating the crash about 10 miles northwest of Lamar. Missouri State Highway Patrol were notified. Authorities reported a single vehicle crash with three occupants; the driver, Benjamin Harrington, 18, of Lamar was killed. Click here to read more about this story.

JOPLIN, Mo. – The annual Mercy American Heart Association Heart Walk kicked off on Saturday with Special guest: KOAM’s own Jordan Aubey as emcee. Officials say all money raised at the event help the American Heart Association fund critical research. If you’d like to read more about this story, click here.

NEOSHO, Mo. – The Neosho Art Council hosted a sidewalk chalk art contest to kick off Neosho’s fall festival. A variety of artists — young and mature — created beautiful sidewalk masterpieces. The contest encouraged the community to interact with local artists in action. Click here if you would like to read more about this year’s Neosho Fall Festival.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Collectors in the Joplin area gathered at Cecil Floyd Elementary on Saturday for the 2022 Joplin Collectors Expo. Officials say the expo featured Missouri Robot Fights, a cosplay contest, and more cool events. Plus vendors had plenty of collectibles including various cards, figurines and games. If you’d like to read more about Collector’s Expo 2022, click here.

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