We take a look at hydroelectricity in the four-states

Electricity is a key element in everyday life. Without it, we couldn’t set our alarm clocks, turn on the lights, or cook most meals. Electricity is just electricity by the time it gets to your house. But how it gets there, is very different across the four-states. We’re looking at how hydroelectric generation works.

Grand Lake in northeast Oklahoma holds millions of gallons of water. It’s an artificially created lake, designed to put those millions of gallons of water to good use. That’s where the Pensacola Dam comes in. We spoke Justin Alberty with the Grand River Dam Authority about the dam. Alberty says, before it generated electricity, it generated hundreds of jobs during a dark part of America’s history. “Pensacola Dam was constructed between 1938 and 1940, really during the Depression era, it’s the first hydroelectric facility in Oklahoma and it’s the longest, continuous multiple-arch dam in the world that stretches out for a mile across the Grand River valley.”

Once it came online, it of course, began generating power for the region. “Today, it can generate, it has capacity of about 120 megawatts total, that’s across six units in the powerhouse.”

Over the years, the dam has been modernized by GRDA. “In the late 90s, early 2000s, GRDA did a major overhaul of all six units, added new components, traded out water wheels that were iron for stainless steel, things like that, so components that are going to last longer that are more efficient. If you go in there today and you look at it, it’s going look like it did when it opened in 1940, so what I tell people is, it’s like a classic car, with a new motor under the hood.”

The way hydro electric power works is pretty straight forward. “You capture the power of falling water, it’s mechanical energy as it comes down hill and you use it to spin a turbine and that turbine as it spins, it’s connected to a shaft, that shaft is connected to a generator, and as the rotor spends inside the stator in that generator, that’s where the electricity is created.”

That makes it one of the cleanest forms of energy generation out there. Pensacola Dam however, isn’t the only power facility the GRDA utilizes. “We have this hydro facility, we have a couple others, we have Kerr Dam, we have our Salina pump storage facility, we have gas generation, we have coal generation and then we also purchase some wind power.”

Alberty says the majority of the power they generate is sold to the eastern half of the state. “In Oklahoma, we sell 15 different municipalities, spread out mostly in the eastern part of the state, so that’s where our power flows to, we also sell to all the industries in the Mid-America Industrial Park south of Pryor, Oklahoma.”

Alberty says hydro power is faster to get to the electric grid when it’s needed, because it’s a shorter turn around time to power up the generators at the dam versus heating water at a coal or gas plant to start generating steam.

Crash on Rangeline takes out stop sign at 11th, two transported to hospital

JOPLIN, Mo. — Just before 11 p.m. Sunday night reports of a crash in the 1100 block of S Rangeline alerted Joplin Emergency Dispatch.

| JUST PRIOR TO CRASH >> Joplin News First cameras were at a commercial structure fire just a few miles away at 3800 E 20th.

Joplin Fire, Joplin Police and METS ambulance responded to the parking lot of LendNation, 1102 S Rangeline.

Joplin Police tell us on scene two vehicles were involved. One was traveling south, and the second pulled from a business on the east side, to travel south. They collided in the roadway and both traveled into the property of LendNation.

1102 South Rangeline at LendNation in Joplin. 

One car came to rest, taking out a stop sign on the corner and the other crashed to a halt into a utility pole.

Two people were transported to an area hospital from one vehicle. They both suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Two from the other vehicle were not injured.

South Rangeline was partially blocked for about an hour.

City of Joplin Public Works were notified of the stop sign taken out at 11th Street.

Liberty Utilities responded to inspect the pole for damage, it is unknown if they replaced it overnight. There were no outages reported in the area.

Chuck’s Towing removed the vehicles from the crash scene.

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Joplin Metaphysical Crystal Store celebrates first anniversary

JOPLIN, Mo. — People are getting a look at the metaphysical in Southwest Missouri.

Christene’s Curiosities held its 2nd Annual Metaphysical and Craft Fair this weekend.

Like the store, the two day show centers around the healing, relaxation and fun of crystals and stones.

It also celebrates a year of operations for the small business.

Owner Christene Ogle had originally wanted to start a thrift store with a small metaphysical section.

But after talking with her accountant, Ogle realized her true passion was to create her current setup as safe place for people to explore and express themselves.

“A lot of people are scared to come out and say ‘Hey I’m different,’ and that goes for more than just crystals, that’s every walk of life there is, whether it’s POC, LGBTQ, all of it. This is a safe place for everyone, there’s no judgement once you walk in my door,” says Ogle.

Coming up next the store will have a Cards Against Humanity fundraiser on September 24th.

Money raised will help the International Thespian Society at Carl Junction High School go to their state conference.

Humane Society holds adoption event to close Little Balkans Days

PITTSBURG, Ks. — Little Balkans Days is wrapping up this weekend with something big for one local animal shelter.

This afternoon the Southeast Kansas Humane Society held an adoption event at Lakeside Park.

People were able to meet some of the dogs up for adoption at the shelter.

Director Jasmine Kyle says socialization events like this are big for residents, especially for Robert the five year old beagle.

He was one of 4,000 rescued from a breeding facility in Virginia earlier this year, and today was the first time he had ever gone to a park.

“He was born at that facility, and that’s all they know, they have never seen a tree. When they first got to our shelter they were a little hesitant on grass when we first got them out. So it’s really important that you work with that overstimulation with them,” says Kyle, “We always like to see how they’re going to be doing outside, how they’re going to be doing with other people, and let them enjoy what they’re about to experience with their family.”

The shelter has also restarted its dog check-out program.

It’s where people check-out one of the residents for part of the day.

They can take them around town for things like a walk or a pupcup, and then bring them back to the shelter.

To take part, just visit the shelter during normal business hours.

New Health Department Director named in Crawford Co.

PITTSBURG, Ks. — There’s a new face behind public health in Southeast Kansas.

Debra Anthony has been named the new health department director of Crawford County.

Anthony has around 30 years of experience in the healthcare field.

She was a part of the Crawford County EMS for 11 of those years.

She is a registered nurse, with a degree from the University of Kansas, and experience in the ICU and hospice.

Anthony has been a member of the health department for 11 years.

She says she’s ready to take the lessons the department has learned over the COVID-19 pandemic to help improve Crawford County.

“We’re going to look at what services we provided during that time and look to the future, how we can maybe do things a little more efficiently, and really communicate well with the public. Communication is one of those areas that there’s always a breakdown, so getting that reliable, accurate information out into the public is really one of the main purposes of Public Health,” says Anthony.

Anthony is taking over for former director Teddi Van Kam who retired on August 19th.

A good show for a good cause

Joplin, Mo. — Car lovers from all over put their wheels in motion today for a big cause.

Last year in September, 12 year-old Christian Heady passed away due to childhood cancer.

In April of 2021, a car show was held to raise funds for his various medical expenses and trips.

At that car show, Christian chose Aaron Hoyt’s car as “the best of show.”

Today, over 100 cars were put on display in “Doc’s Stop” parking lot for the “Christian Heady Memorial Car Show” in Joplin.

Coming from Eureka Springs, Aaron insisted he come back for today’s car show, in memory of Christian.

“There was Christian, and Doug and Leslie were there. And Christian handed me the trophy, and I got to tell you, I’ve been doing car shows for three and a half years and that’s probably without a doubt the most meaningful of the trophies I’ve gotten. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away from this, you know, so, of course I’m going to come up here. There was something about my car that caught his eye. I don’t know if it was all the lights on it because it has an obscene amount of lights on it, but he was just drawn to the car and I don’t know, I still to this day don’t know what it was. He just said I had the coolest car,” said Aaron Hoyt.

All the proceeds from today’s car show will go to the “Christian Heady Foundation,” which was created by his parents, Doug and Leslie Heady.

The foundation helps other families who have children fighting cancer.

Newton County's Maps will soon be updated

NEOSHO, Mo. — Newton County maps and street center lines are receiving a digital update.

Beginning on September 9th, the Newton County Assessor and Director are working together to update all Newton County maps, excluding the city of Joplin.

This is to ensure addresses and street center lines are correctly recorded for emergency first responders.

Until the end of December, mapping engineers from Newton County’s 911 mapping contractor will be driving throughout the county to verify addresses.

The 911 mappers will stop in front of homes, but will not knock on doors or trespass on private property.

Mappers will also be driving in marked cars reading “911 mapping” and will carry photo IDs.

Missing Carthage teen

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Police Department is asking the public for help in locating a missing teen.

17 year-old Dylan Alexander Bell has been missing since Friday.

Authorities say he was last seen in Carthage driving a 2006 Gray Dodge Magnum.

Bell is 5’11 with blonde hair and blue eyes.

If anyone has information on Bell’s whereabouts, you are asked to call the Carthage Police Department at (417) 359-9100 or call 911.

Duenweg Fire extinguish electrical fire at RealPro Realtors

DUQUESNE, Mo. — Just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday night an unknown alarm call summoned Duenweg Fire Dept to a commercial business, RealPro Realtors at 3800 E 20th.

Duenweg Fire say on arrival they saw smoke coming from the east side of the building.

Fire Chief Howard Reding tells us it was an electrical fire that was in the wall and spread into the ceiling area. He says the business was closed, no one was in the building.

Joplin Fire Dept, Webb City Fire and Redings Mill Fire assisted Duenweg as automatic mutual aid, which is protocol on a building of this size.

Chief Reding tells us also no firefighters were injured.

Liberty Utilities turned off electric service to the building until repairs can be made.

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Weir community celebrates the new school year in style

 

WEIR, Kan. – Community members gathered tonight to celebrate fellowship and the new school year in Weir, Kansas.

The Weir Baptist camp hosted the free Back To School Night event with plenty of activities and fun for the family such as:

  • Waterslide
  • Bouncehouse
  • Popcorn
  • Hotdogs
  • Snowcones

Officials say all kids must be accompanied by an adult,

Click here to see more.