Tag Archives: Local News

WATCH: Massive 1,280 lb pumpkin entered into Kansas State Fair

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HUTCHINSON (KSNT) – The competition for heaviest pumpkin at the Kansas State Fair is heating up as an early contender was showcased on Wednesday.

The Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau posted a video on social media of an early entry for the giant pumpkin competition. The massive piece of produce weighed-in at 1,280 pounds, giving it a strong lead before the fair begins. It wasn’t made clear who had submitted the giant vegetable for the judge’s consideration.

Last year’s record-breaking pumpkin came in at 1,127.2 pounds, an amount that the KansasFarmer referred to as “mammoth.” That pumpkin was grown by Calvin Beeson of Clyde, Kansas.

Jay man charged with making sexual comments to five children

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JAY, Okla. – A Delaware County man accused of making sexual comments to five children and then threatening to harm them is free on bail and due back in court in October.

Chad Joe Daniels, 44, of Jay, is charged in Delaware County District Court in Jay with two counts of lewd or indecent proposals to a child under 16 and threatening to perform an act of violence.  

Chad Daniels

Daniels denied making any comments, according to an arrest affidavit. He was released on $51,000 bail, online records show.

After Jay police questioned Daniels, he was later seen “yelling, cussing” at an adult woman who reported him, the affidavit states. Daniels was overheard by a witness saying “she ought to be scared of him,” referring to the adult woman, the affidavit states.

He also made a sexual comment to the adult and after being rebuffed Daniels said “he was going to knock out her teeth,” the affidavit states.  He also threatened one of the juvenile girls, the affidavit states.

Daniels is accused of making sexual comments to two 14-year-old girls and a 12-year-old girl and asking for their phone numbers and their Snapchat names, the affidavit states. He later made sexual comments to 2-year-old and 3-year-old boys and encouraged them “to run around naked,” the affidavit states.

Neosho man killed in DWI crash

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NEOSHO, Mo. — One man is dead and two others are injured after being thrown from the bed of a truck in a multivehicle crash Wednesday evening.

Neosho Police released their investigation’s findings Thursday afternoon and said the accident occurred when a Ford F150 pulled across a Neosho Blvd. and into the path of oncoming traffic.

That’s where it was fired struck by one northbound car in the outside traffic lane, then once again by an SUV within the inside lane. Two of the truck’s occupants sitting in the bed area were ejected in the process.

All three occupants of the truck were taken by ambulance to Mercy – Joplin, two with moderate injuries, and one fatal injury; now identified as 39-year-old Jeremy Olmstead.

Per State Law, all drivers were tested for BAC and the results determined that the driver of the Ford F150 was under the influence.

Joplin Fire Station #7 under construction

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Less than a year from now. That’s when Joplin’s newest fire station is expected to be ready. Fire Station #7 is under construction on east 30th Street, near the Casey’s Distribution Center. The $4.5-million project is being funded through the Public Safety Tax that voters passed in 2006.

The new station will also house a new fire engine designed to respond to incidents in an area with large industrial complexes, along with a hazmat trailer, and a brush truck.

“Because we’re actually on the outskirts of Joplin here, so this is an area where we’re probably going to run a lot of mutual aid on brush fires, grass fires. But as far as Hazmat goes, I mean, we’ve got the interstate. This station will be, you know, Johnny on the Spot. We’ll be able to get on the interstate in no time at all, so that’s why we’re going to put our Hazmat resources out here,” said Gerald Ezell, Joplin Fire Chief.

9 additional firefighters will also be hired to staff the station.

It’s expected to be up and running by August of next year.

Neosho Wildcat featured on NASCAR race car

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NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho School District will have some representation at this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.

The school’s mascot, Willie the Wildcat, will ride aboard Corey LaJoie’s #7 car during Sunday’s “Hollywood Casino 400.” It’s part of a partnership between Spire Motorsports and North Carolina-based Circle B Diecast, which also has a warehouse in Neosho and is sponsoring LaJoie in Sunday’s race.

The mascot’s role in Sunday’s race isn’t costing the school district a dime. Circle B Owner Brent Powell is a Neosho High School graduate. He says it was his son’s idea to have Wildcat Nation on the car.

“I just hope everyone’s proud of it. I’m sure proud of Neosho being on the car. I spent a lot of time here — moved away for 20 years — but we’ve always considered Neosho our home,” said Brent Powell, President of Circle B Diecast.

“It’s just another one of those things where it’s neat to have somebody that cared about the Neosho School District to bring it into their business model and they had the connection with NASCAR and so, just another one of those things where it’s like anything else — people are talking positive about your school district or you’re seeing them on a big stage like that,” said Dr. Jim Cummins, Superintendent of Neosho School District.

Tickets are still availiable for Sunday’s race. It’ll also be televised on USA Network and starts at 2 p.m.

How business owners can take advantage of Employee Retention Credit

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Some Four State area businesses, still feeling the effects of the pandemic, could get significant financial assistance through a government program. It’s called the Employee Retention Tax Credit. Any small business owner who had employees during 2020 and 2021 could qualify and receive up to $26,000 per employee in COVID relief money.

Andrew Jordan, of Jordan CPA Services, says small business owners with a lot of lower-paid employees should look into it, even if they weren’t able to keep their doors open during that time frame. And, some of those businesses that qualify for the tax credit can get more money from this program than they did for the Paycheck Protection Program.

“We’re talking to businesses who qualify for big dollar amounts, tens or hundreds of thousands in credit that don’t know that it exists, and so this is really just educating people and making sure they know to check into it,” said Andrew Jordan, Jordan C.P.A. Services.

He adds, in some cases, business owners can qualify for both the PPP and Employee Retention Tax Credit programs.

Preview of new business coming to Joplin

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JOPLIN, Mo. — If some of your favorite restaurants don’t already have a location in Joplin, it may just be a matter of time. Possible plans to build a What-A-Burger between The Big Nickel, and Enterprise Car Rental near 20th and Rangeline go before the Joplin Zoning and Planning Commission next week.

Construction is already underway on what will be a new KFC next to the Walmart Supercenter on West 7th Street. It’s set to open before Thanksgiving.

And if anything, Erin Slifka says that trend will continue as long as the population continues to grow.

“As we continue to expand and um see growth in our business community, we’ll begin to see those um brands that everyone enjoys that’s part of their lifestyle,” said Erin Slifka, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to those newcomers — other existing eateries are headed to new locations. Maria’s Mexican Grill and Cantina is going into the old Pacific Rim building off South Rangeline because it’s bigger. Panera Bread is relocating to 20th and Rangeline because its current location doesn’t have a drive-thru.

New restaurants coming into Joplin, and those already here moving to larger locations says something about the local economy.

“It’s a benefit to continue to keep people here, that contributes to the tax base, and by contributing to that tax base that improves our infrastructure so it goes full circle,” said Slifka.

And, by having many of the most popular fast food chains in Joplin, visitors traveling north and south as well as east and west on area highways are more likely to stop here to eat, instead of just driving through.

Joplin NALA READ 2nd Annual Literacy Liftoff

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Thursday evening, September 8 at the MSSU Soccer Fields is the 2nd Annual Joplin NALA READ Literacy Liftoff.

NALA says it’s another way to Celebrate Reading. The basic foundation of learning.

What is NALA READ?

“More than 36 million American adults struggle to read, write, do math, and use technology above a third-grade level. The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Literacy (PIAAC) examined the United states and 23 other industrialized countries and found that U.S. mean literacy score was below the international average – Ranking 16th out of 24 countries. There is a correlation between low literacy rate and a low paycheck. Just 35% of individuals with below basic skills are employed full-time, while 64% of people with proficient literacy skills have full-time employment. The salaries of adults with below-basic literacy skills are, on average, $28,000 less than salaries of adults with proficient skills.” — NALA READ (click for more)

They stress these key objectives as an organization:

1. Recruit and tutor adults who need help in reading, writing, math and/or English as a Second Language.
2. Recruit and train volunteers.
3. Provide programs to increase the family’s awareness of the value of reading.
4. Promote literacy awareness.
5. Coordinate with community resources.

There will be other great community organizations at the event like P.A.T. (Parents as Teachers), the Joplin Public Library and Adult Basic Education.

“Reading and Literacy Efforts can Lift Up Everyone to New Opportunities in Today’s World!”