Tag Archives: Local News

Construction begins on bigger LCC athletic complex

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PARSONS, Kan. – A bigger athletic and academic complex is coming to Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas.

A groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday officially kicked things off. The $5.8 million project renovates and expands the current gymnasium. There will be new spaces for fitness and wellness education.

“So they are excited,” said Lindi Forbes of the Labette Community College Foundation. “It makes them feel really good to know that so many people gave, to make their lives better. To help them compete at a higher level to have a better facility, to bring in more fans and to bring in more community spirit and pride.”

(Previous story: LCC surpasses goal for athletic complex campaign)

College officials say the finished product will not only add to the college, but the entire Parsons community.

Group supporting female business leaders expands into SEK

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PITTSBURG, Kan. – The focus is on women business leaders as a new organization makes a home in Southeast Kansas.

The organization is called New Growth. They’re behind a women’s business center in El Dorado Springs, Missouri. Thanks to grant money, the organization is extending services into Crawford and Bourbon Counties.

One of the missions is to cultivate community interest and entrepreneurs.

“Sometimes (when) you are a small business owner, you feel like you have to know everything to be successful,” said Lisa Zimmerman of New Growth Women’s Business Center. “And that is almost impossible. So hopefully some of these services can help those women entrepreneur find those needed resources.”

The business center also helps people connect to resources to help them succeed.

Extreme February weather damages Mercy Park Butterfly Mural

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Mother Nature takes its toll on a mural dedicated to Joplin’s recovery following the 2011 tornado. The recent rains, snow and subfreezing temperatures caused two tiles of the Butterfly Mural in Mercy Park to come loose and break.

Joplin Parks and Recreation workers found the damage and removed several other pieces of the tile mural to protect them. Paul Whitehill of Whitehill Enterprises, who oversaw the project’s design and installation, said weather played a role in the damage.

“Last month’s freezing and thawing allowed moisture to seep in behind the tiles and weakened the adhesive that holds them to the wall,” said Whitehill. “All the tiles of the Butterfly Mural will be removed, each assessed, the wall will again be treated with a moisture barrier, then restored. The two broken tiles will need to be manufactured.”

A different cap or moisture deflector is being considered for the top of the wall which also holds the Together We Create mural on the opposite side. Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau director Patrick Tuttle hopes the mural repaired in time for the 10th anniversary of the Joplin tornado.

“We are hoping the restoration can be accomplished in time for this year’s May 22, 10-year remembrance,” said Tuttle. “The mural has served as part of the community’s healing process.”

The Butter Fly Mural was commissioned and installed to mark 5th anniversary of the May 22 tornado in 2016. It’s located on the site where St. John’s Hospital once stood, before it was destroyed by the storm. That land was turned into a public space known today as Mercy Park. According to the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, “The butterfly mural represents the transformation of our city and the hope for a beautiful future.”

Authorities seek help identifying woman hit and killed on I-44

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LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. – Lawrence County, Missouri police are asking for the public’s help identifying the body of a woman hit and killed by oncoming traffic on I-44. 

She died March 6, 2021 in the eastbound lane of I-44  near Mile Marker 52 in Lawrence County. Authorities say she ran directly into traffic and was hit and killed by a vehicle.

The unidentified person is reported to be a white woman between the ages of 18 and 24, a height somewhere between 5’2 and 5’4, has blonde/strawberry hair and grey/blue eyes. The sheriff’s office provided photos of the woman’s multiple tattoos.

Anyone with information on woman’s identity should contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office at (417) 466-2131.

News to Know (3/11/21)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today marks one year since the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The virus has since killed well over half a million people across the U.S. and taken some 2.6 million lives around the world. President Biden will address the nation this evening to mark the grim anniversary.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas could finish immunizing seniors, meatpacking employees and other essential workers and move on to the next phase of coronavirus vaccinations by next month. The next phase includes people ages 16 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at severe risk if they are infected with covid-19, including cancer and type 2 diabetes, as well as workers in critical industries such as information technology and government.

CEDAR COUNTY, Mo. – Dozens of felony charges are filed against the owners of the Circle of Hope girls’ ranch. Boyd and Stephanie Householder, the owners of Circle of Hope girl’s ranch in Cedar County, Missouri, have been charged with more than a hundred felony charges combined. They include sexual and physical abuse charges, as well as neglect charges. In August 2020, the state removed around 20 girls from the facility and the Attorney General’s office got involved in November. The Attorney General says so far, 16 alleged victims have come forward.

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce starts talks with a major automotive manufacturer. Chamber President Toby Teeter Tuesday addressed a tweet he had sent to General Motors, pointing out the incentives the company could receive if they build a battery manufacturing plant in Joplin. There has also been a page dedicated to the effort on the Choose Joplin website. On Wednesday, the Chamber and GM started early discussions, something Teeter is excited about.

Should daylight saving time be permanent? http://koamnewsnow.com/vote

Crawford County Health Department talks vaccination phases

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CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ks. – You’ve got questions about COVID-19 and virus vaccinations and KOAM is getting answers from the experts.

Delphia writes, “Why is Southeast Kansas not vaccinating people at high risk yet? Joplin is way ahead of Pittsburg when it comes to moving levels. Can you find out why?”

Kansas is currently in Phase of 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations which includes people over the age of 65 and high-contact critical workers. Phase 3 includes people aged 16 through 65 with severe medical risks but the Crawford County Health Department can’t just change phases on its own.

“We aren’t able to make the decision on our own to move from phase to phase. We have to wait until Governor Kelly gives a thumbs up to move to the next phase,” said Crawford County Health Department Director Teddi Van Kam.

The head of Kansas’ health department said Tuesday that Phase 3 should arrive in a little less than a month, and that the state doesn’t want rural communities that have finished Phase 2 vaccinations to enter a new phase before other areas are ready.

“I think it is a team effort and I think they want to be concerned about health equity and that we’re all doing the same throughout the state, so that there’s less confusion,” said Van Kam.

And speaking of confusion, some Kansans may be confused about people getting vaccinated through their employers who appear to be going before their phase. But the Crawford County health department director says that no rules are being broken.

“Some healthcare facilities are receiving federal allocations, and if they’re a federally qualified healthcare then they’re able to go by federal guidelines, and those guidelines are a bit looser than the state guidelines,” said Van Kam.

 

Alleged victims relieved to see charges filed against Circle of Hope owners

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CEDAR COUNTY, Mo. – Details of restraints that made it hard to breath and left bruises, instructions detailing how to commit suicide, accounts of young girls being forced to consume dishwashing liquid, and sexual assault that progressed to statutory rape.

All in a 37 page document, detailing charges against Boyd Householder.

“It still blows my mind that it actually was even able to happen,” says Gabrielle Whitton. “Those weren’t punishments… that was every day.”

On Tuesday, March 9th Boyd and Stephanie Householder, the owners of the Circle of Hope Girl’s Ranch in Cedar County, Missouri were charged with a combined 101 felony charges — including physical, mental and sexual abuse and neglect against minor girls.

“We believe this to be one of the most widespread cases of sexual, physical and mental abuse patterns against young girls and women in Missouri history,” says Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt in a Press Conference on Wednesday.

(You can see the press conference here: https://www.koamnewsnow.com/state-to-give-update-on-circle-of-hope-girls-ranch-abuse-investigation/)

In August, 2020, the state removed around 20 girls from the facility as the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri Department of Social Services started a criminal investigation. In November 2020, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office got involved in the investigation.

So far 16 alleged victims have come forward, giving testimony of abuse that spans back to October, 2016.

“It is simply unthinkable to me that this kind of neglect and abuse can be perpetrated against those who are so vulnerable,” says Attorney General Schmitt.

“They did what they did. I’m just glad they’re being held accountable for it. Something I never thought was going to happen,” says the Householder’s adult daughter Amanda on TikTok.

For more than a year, Amanda has been speaking out about the alleged abuse at the boarding school — taking to social media and speaking with news agencies, trying to shed light on the situation.

This is the outcome she and many others have been working toward, but she explains that it’s still difficult.

“No one ever wants to see their parents go to jail, but they did this. They are being held accountable for their own actions,” explains Amanda. “I’m more frustrated at the fact that it took this long for anything to be done.”

“I’m more like almost disgusted after reading some of the things that I didn’t know about,” explains Gabrielle Whitton.

Gabrielle Whitton, who was at the facility for just under a year around a decade ago, says reading the charges against the pair takes her back to her time there — reminding her of the constant fear she was in.

She’s glad to see that there is finally true action being taken, so that no other girl will have to go through the same thing at the ranch in Cedar County.

“It’s been a long time of hearing the same stories, so to see this actually finally happen, I think I’m mostly like relieved and happy,” says Whitton.

The Householders are being held at the Vernon County, Missouri Jail.

Circle of Hope was a boarding school in Cedar County — with the now removed website saying it was Christian based. The facility closed permanently in September 2020, after the beginning of the investigation.

You can read the full list of charges, and a brief synopsis of what lead to each charge, below:

2021.03.09 Boyd Householder Information

2021.03.10 Stephanie Householder Information

 

This is a story that KOAM has been following since the investigation began. You can find the previous stories below.

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/children-removed-from-cedar-county-boarding-school-as-state-launches-investigation/

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/search-warrant-served-at-circle-of-hope-girls-ranch/

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/circle-of-hope-owners-speak-out-close-doors-amid-state-level-investigation/

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/state-to-give-update-on-circle-of-hope-girls-ranch-abuse-investigation/

 

20 cent tax levy to be on April ballot in Barton County

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LAMAR, Mo. — A twenty cent levy will be on the upcoming April ballot in Barton County.

The recycling company is reliant on workers with disabilities to operate. Before covid-19 Lamar Enterprises had 25 workers since the pandemic they’re down to around 10.

If the levy is passed these funds would keep Lamar Enterprises in operation and help fund transportation for workers to and from work.

Judd Chesnut – Senate Bill 44 Board, said, “They want to come to work. You know and that’s the thing, is we just want to secure for years down the road like all the other work shops in the state of Missouri.”

Kim O’sullivan – Barton County Chamber Of Commerce Membership Director, said, “They provide the only recycling services for Lamar and Barton county, so a lot of us, as myself as a resident we take all of our recycling there and they provide a very needed service for our community.”

Chesnut adds that the state does assist with the workers pay, but it’s not enough to cover all the expenses of the operation.

Cedar County's Circle of Hope Girls Ranch abuse allegations

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VERNON COUNTY, Mo. (KOLR) — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is announcing an update on abuse allegations at the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Humansville, Missouri.

Boyd and Stephanie Householder, the owners of Circle of Hope, have been arrested and are being held in Vernon County.

The Attorney General’s office confirmed to OzarksFirst, that both Householders have been charged with 102 felonies between them.

Attorney General Schmitt will give more details into the abuse allegations and charges on Wednesday, March 10, at a press conference that will live streamed on Facebook at 12:00 p.m.

The Circle of Hope facility, just a few miles off of Highway 13 on N Highway, came into the light back in August of 2020 when 24 girls were removed from the reformatory boarding school after several allegations of abuse came forward.

In November 2020, Schmitt took on the case after the Cedar County Republican newspaper showed several allegations it had collected over the course of a few months.

Attorney for Circle of Hope victims happy to see AG on the case 

Four girls filed petitions against Circle of Hope and gave details of their abuse brought on by the Householders and their son.

Carterville shows gratitude for help during water outage

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CARTERVILLE, Mo. — The city of Carterville is showing their appreciation for everyone who helped them during an eight day long water outage.

How is the city showing their gratitude?

Tuesday the Carterville City Council presented businesses and organizations with awards. The mayor says it was a difficult time, but they are grateful for everyone who’s helped.

Alan Griffin, Carterville Mayor, said, “We were without water for eight days. It was amazing the people that stepped up in our community and not just our community.”

The city of Carterville is thanking businesses and people in the community for helping when they were without water for eight days in February after their well broke and several main breaks. Tuesday night during their City Council meeting the Carterville Mayor handed out 14 certificates of appreciation to Walmart, Crossland Construction, Spire, Webb City Public Works, and The Fire Department.

“They had the fire department come and work all night long and work hydrant to hydrant to get some water in the city. Some people enjoyed that and it was not drinkable, but they were able to get enough water to bathe.”

The Webb City Fire Department and Public Works Department were working around the clock to restore Carterville’s water. Webb City’s Mayor says his crews were happy to help.

Lynn Ragsdale, Webb City Mayor, said, “They just see that they have a job to do to help their neighbor. Loving thy neighbor is more than a personal issue I think its a city issue as well. Not one word of complaint from the crews that worked night and day. And when that was over they went right back to work for our city doing what they do there.”

Mayor Griffin says with the generous donations they were able to give up four cases a day to residents.

“We’re so blessed. We went through a time when we couldn’t flush a toilet and couldn’t take a shower,” said Griffin.

He says with their new well they are able to deliver water to other areas including Duneweg. He says they feels good about the upgrades they’ve done to fix their water supply.