KHP bomb squad determines a metal pipe to be an explosive

LABETTE COUNTY, Mo. – KHP bomb squad responds to Labette County, Kansas, determining a metal pipe to be an explosive device.

On October 11, around 7:24 pm, Labette County Deputy Timothy Gilliland responded to a reported black SUV driving through the 3803 West Main Street area just outside of Parsons on the west side.

The Sheriff’s Office requested Parsons Police Department to assist.

Police Sgt. Adamson got to the area and found the black SUV. He saw and spoke with three people who came out of a storage unit that allegedly didn’t belong to them.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Adamson collected their names, finding that two of them had active warrants. He placed those two under arrest. Authorities identified them as Holly Rebecca Vanwinkle and Daniel Lee Mitchell.

Pipe Bomb Found

Deputy Gilliland also searched a backpack and found a metal pipe about three inches long. Authorities say it had a metal cap on one side and tape on the other end. They removed the pipe from the bag and called the Kansas Highway Patrol bomb squad.

The KHP team arrived and looked at the device. They determined it was explosive and took control of it.

Arrests

Authorities say while Daniel Mitchell was under arrest in the Sheriff’s Office vehicle, he damaged it. They say Mitchell broke the passenger rear door panel, preventing it from opening. He also allegedly damaged the driver’s side rear door, bending it.

Deputies arrested him for his warrants. They are also requesting new charges of criminal damage, criminal use of an explosive, and attempted aggravated escape from custody. He’s booked in the Labette County Jail.

They arrested Holly Vanwinkle for her warrants. Authorities are also requesting new charges of possession of methamphetamine and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. She’s also booked in the Labette County Jail.

Both suspects had multiple failures to appear warrants.

Vanwinkle’s probation was revoked in January stemming from a 2021 case. She got probation after pleading no contest to:

  • Endangerment; Recklessly expose to danger of great bodily harm or death
  • Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship
  • Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

Pierce City Fire Protection District battle house fire on Beech Road

UPDATE: Reports that the fire at 30628 Beech Road had rekindled just before 4:15 p.m. alerted Pierce City Fire Protection District for a full response.  Mutual aid partners also responded to assist including Monett City Fire Dept, Monett Rural Fire, Sarcoxie Fire Dept and Sarcoxie Rural Fire Dept. PCFPD noted their busy day in a release of information online.

NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. — About 4:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, October 12, 2022, reports of a structure fire on the NE edge Newton County near Wentworth at 30628 Beech Road alerted Newton County Central Dispatch and Barry Lawrence E-911.

Pierce City Fire Protection and Newton County Ambulance responded emergency. Sarcoxie Rural Fire, Monett Fire and Monett Rural Fire responded for mutual aid.

Sources tell us the single-level residence also had a full basement.

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Since the location was rural, a tanker shuttle was set with multiple apparatus shuttling water to a port-a-tank at the scene.

Monett Rural Fire state in a release of information, “Tanker 1223 responded as auto aid with 2 crew members to assist Pierce City Fire Protection District. Tanker 1223 shuttled water from Pierce City to Wentworth until no longer needed by PCFPD command.”

A Pierce City Fire Protection representative tells us no occupants of the home were injured. And no firefighters were injured fighting the fire.

The Red Cross responded to assisted an unknown number of children and adults.

Liberty Utilities responded to control the utilities.

Monett Rural Fire say they were released about 7:30 a.m.

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Joplin construction company celebrates seven decades; a look back at their beginning

JOPLIN, Mo. — A lot can happen in seven decades, and nobody knows that better than one local construction company.

This month, R.E. Smith Construction Company celebrated its 70th year in business.

Three generations of Smiths have seen a lot over several decades in the construction business.

As the years passed by, much of what the Smiths began to see was their own work shaping the city where their company was founded, and still operate out of today.

“It really makes me feel good to drive through Carthage, Springfield and of course Joplin, and see all the project’s that we’ve built and all that our company has done to contribute to the landscape, especially here in Joplin,” said Dick Smith, President of R.E. Smith Construction Company.

R.E. Smith is a family business, dating back to 1952 when Dick Smith’s father, Richard Smith started the business out of the family garage with just one other employee.

“My dad (Richard) came back from World War II and immediately began working at a local cabinet shop. After doing several odd jobs involving woodworking, Dad eventually drummed up enough of his own business to start doing full home construction. All of it in the beginning was on his shoulders, along with the one other employee he had to help out,” said Dick Smith.

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In its infancy, R.E. Smith Construction was known for building homes, and eventually small commercial projects, like grocery stores.

After moving the business out of the family garage, Richard Smith purchased property on 2nd street in Joplin (1036 West 2nd Street) where he built the first official office for R.E. Smith Construction. After many add-ons and renovations, the company headquarters still exists at the original 2nd Street location.

After opening its new office, the company’s first big projects would come from another business that’s also rooted in Southwest Missouri: Eagle Picher.

In the 1960’s, the battery technology company hired R.E. Smith to construct several of their Joplin facilities.

As with all things, it took time for R.E. Smith Construction to become a name that Four State residents and businesses came to know.

Dick Smith, who runs the company with his brother Dave Smith, says their 96-year-old father, Richard, couldn’t be more proud of what R.E. Smith Construction Company has become.

“Over the last 70 years, R.E. Smith has gone from just two employees in 1952, to approximately 50 who work for us full time. To date, we’ve constructed 8,000 projects in eight states. We’re doing several projects now that are in the $20 to $22 million range. So, we’ve come a long way over seven decades, and I know Dad is very proud of the growth of this business that he started so many years ago,” said Dick Smith.

Out of the 8,000 construction projects that R.E. Smith has worked on over the years, there’s a few of those projects that the Smith family says they are especially proud of.

“Missouri Southern is probably one of our proudest projects. We’ve built a number of projects out there for the University. We’ve actually done quite a few projects on that campus. We’re also very proud of the Joplin Library projects, too. Anytime we can contribute to making Joplin, our home, a better place to live and to work, it’s a big deal for us,” said Dick Smith.

You can find more information on R.E. Smith Construction Company, HERE.

With flu season underway, what precautions can you take?

NEOSHO, Mo. — If you haven’t received your flu shot yet, experts say, now’s the time.

Flu season typically runs from October through March, although the number of patients affected can fluctuate.

Overall cases have been lower in the last two years, likely due to pandemic precautions.

But this year, experts are worried numbers could rebound.

“Mid October to November, that is the best time to get vaccinated for the flu. That will give you the longest protection to last through the remainder of the flu season,” Larry Bergner, Newton Co. Health Dept.

The Newton County Health Department has a walk-in flu shot clinic every day from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Folks don’t have to live in the county to get a shot there.

Iconic Joplin landmarks to be reimagined in LEGO brick

JOPLIN, Mo. — Some of Joplin’s landmarks will be rebuilt brick-by-brick. LEGO bricks, that is.

Applications are now available for the Joplin LEGO Build Competition through a program called Iconic Joplin.

The Joplin Public Library, Joplin History & Mineral Museum, and Creative Learning Alliance are hosting the competition.

Each of those sites will host up to three teams of eight teens, between 12 and 16 years old.

Over the next six months, the teams will research a city landmark… Then design and build it using LEGO.

“Then, we’re going to take all the completed builds on tour throughout the city of Joplin, and people can also virtually tour them at landmark-builds.com. And, we’ll have a People’s Choice vote award and several other awards for the builds, as well,” said Lisa Nelson, Landmark Builds Founder,

The competition is free for participants and is part of the city’s 150th birthday celebration.

The deadline to apply is November 14th.

Apply by visiting www.Landmark-Builds.com and click on “Apply Today” under
“Become an Iconic Joplin builder.”

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas taking over "CareVan" program

PITTSBURG, Kans. — Changes are coming to the way some Pittsburg area residents get to and from their medical appointments.

For many years, patients that require help with transportation to Ascension Via Christi were able to contact the hospital for rides, but beginning November first, the CareVan program will be taken over by the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

Hospital officials say they are happy to see the transportation service continuing for anyone in need.

To use the free service, patients will need to call “CHC-SEK” at 620-231-9873 to schedule their ride.

An economic forecast for the Sunflower State

PITTSBURG, Kans. — One day of year, area business owners and community leaders gather to take a peek into their state and regional Southeast Kansas economic crystal ball.

It’s called the “Pittsburg Economic Outlook Conference” and is hosted by members of the Wichita State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research. The leader of which is Dr. Jeremy Hill.

“It sounds negative but I think we will go in recession in Kansas in the first part of this next year, but I think we’re going to bounce back towards the second half or the end of the second half of year so our forecast for Kansas is zero growth next year,” said Dr. Jeremy Hill, Wichita State University,

He says factors occurring outside the Sunflower State have combined to have a major impact on the state’s economy, including the war in Ukraine, increasing interest rates, and the reduction in the supply of oil on the world market by oil producing countries in the Middle East.

But, Craig Van Wey with the Kansas Department of Commerce says that doesn’t mean local businesses can’t thrive.

“With our transportation network and the lot of the amenities we have here, Pittsburg State University, our Community Colleges, we’re well suited for continued economic growth into the future,” said Craig Van Wey, Kansas Department of Commerce.

Outlook conferences like this one are held in a number of Sunflower State cities by Wichita State with area universities like Pittsburg State University crunching local numbers, which is what Dr. Michael Davidsson does.

With the shortage of housing in Pittsburg being addressed by new home construction, he says only one factor is holding back the region from even more economic growth, but it’s a familiar one.

“And there is like, 7, 8 hundred jobs according to the Kansas Labor Market Information Center that are open and unfilled and of course that is an impediment,” said Dr. Michael Davidsson, P.S.U. Economics Professor.

Property tax "freeze" for Pittsburg metal fabrication company

PITTSBURG, Kans. — Atkinson Industries was founded in Pittsburg more than 100 years ago, and has facilities across the country.

This city-approved tax freeze involves the company’s $2,000,000 manufacturing expansion project in Pittsburg.

“By being able to essentially freeze their property taxes at their current rate, it allows them to recoup the cost that they put into the expansion, so it obviously benefits the company, but it also benefits the community because this enlarges the company’s foot print in our community and obviously they’re adding jobs, adding to our local economy,” said Blake Benson, President, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

It’s predicted to add 10 initial jobs, and at least 20 more in the next 10 years, resulting in up to 35 new Pittsburg residents.

“Among the benefits would be, $9,000,000 in new personal incomes, almost $13,000,000 in new local retail sales tax generation. So, it’s certainly a project that’s good for the community and this is a tool that will be very helpful to them,” added Benson

It will also result in more people becoming Pittsburg residents, which has been a focus recently for city officials.

“That’s how cities, you know, foster and grow is by that revenue generation. So, the more employees we bring in, whether we get them to house in the city or not, they’re buying fuel at the local stores and you know, supporting the local restaurants,” said Jeremy Hoffman, General Manager, Atkinson Industries, Inc.

The expansion project is expected to be finished by February.

One person airlifted after vehicle strikes pedestrian

(CourtesyGoogle Maps)

GALENA, Kans. — A vehicle strikes a pedestrian on a residential street in Galena, sending one person to a Joplin hospital.

It happened this evening (Tuesday, October 11th) near the intersection of East 22nd Street and South Wood Street.

Galena Police Chief, Billy Charles said the pedestrian was then airlifted to Freeman Hospital.

The extent of the injuries to either the pedestrian or the driver of the vehicle involved, are unknown at this time.

Galena Police are now investigating the incident.

This is a developing story, and we’ll have more information as it becomes available.

"Medflight" celebrates 30th year of service

PITTSBURG, Kans. — A company that provides lifesaving services to the Four States has plenty of reasons to celebrate.

How about 30? As in the number of years Medflight has been operating locally.

A celebration was held tonight in Pittsburg, and featured company officials, past and present crew members, even former patients, and many others.

Medflight has home bases in both Joplin and Parsons.

“…And, our accomplishment and what we do is we provide more tomorrows,” said Rod Pace, Regional Vice President for the Midwest region for AirMethods.

“MedFlight came and picked her up, they were actually waiting for the ambulance by the time we got there and they transported her to KU Med, definetly instrumental in saving her life,” said Nelson and Euna Blythe, Former Patients.

Since taking flight in October of 1992, Medflight crews have completed more than 21,000 transports.