JOPLIN, Mo. – Two people are dead following a crash on Highway NN south of Joplin.
Authorities with the Missouri State Highway Patrol say a car driven by 50 year old James Uitts ran off the road, hit a ditch, a telephone pole, overturned, and then hit some trees. Uitts and an 8 year old passenger, both from Joplin, were pronounced dead on the scene.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
JOPLIN, Mo. — On May 22, 2011, everything changed for one Midwest city. The EF5 tornado that struck Joplin was the seventh deadliest tornado in U.S. history, killing 162 people, displacing 9200 residents and destroying 25% of the town.
This article serves as a collection of all the stories that aired on KSNF & KODE from May 14th, through May 22nd, 2021.
Checking in with an Extreme Home Make Over family 10 years later
The Nguyen family; one of the seven EM:HE families that lost their home.
Joplin tornado before and after pictures
Interactive photo gallery with before & after pictures of locations that were hit in the storm.
Joplin tornado launched a series of public art throughout the community
How a local group’s project united the community and introduced a symbol of hope.
Homeowner looks back on how Habitat for Humanity helped after the Joplin tornado
Thanks to the efforts of an area organization many who lost their home now have a place of their own.
The story of hope and the cross that stood after the Joplin tornado 2011
One of the churches impacted by the tornado left something behind that continues to serve as a rally point for the community.
How the city became “Joplin Strong” after the May 2011 tornado
When the EF-5 tornado swept through Joplin in 2011, the focus at city hall changed in an instant.
Duquesne: The other city that survived the powerful EF-5 tornado
While Joplin bore the brunt of Mother Nature’s wrath on May 22nd, 2011, it wasn’t the only community devastated by the storm.
Mercy Hospital: An inside look at ‘ground zero’ of the Joplin tornado
Of all the buildings that were destroyed by the tornado, the Mercy Hospital building was one of the most critical.
Inside the world of: tornado survivors Pt. 1
Hear from two survivors and their unique story of what they went through.
[ More to come ]
JOPLIN, Mo. — People were reunited with their precious memories in Joplin, Saturday.
National Disaster Photo Rescue, held a photo reunification event at the Joplin History and Mineral Museum.
There, people received back photos they had lost during the tornado.
While NDPR started as a result of the Joplin tornado, it now also has photos from other state disasters.
Thad Beeler, National Disaster Photo Rescue Executive Director, says, “Every time we return one photograph, it becomes worth it, all of those thousands of hours that our volunteers put in, it’s always worth it to see a family get one photograph back that they thought was lost forever.”
Brandi Miksell, Joplin Resident, says, “I only have one daughter, so my pictures mean the world to me, so it’s great to get them back.”
The organization will be delivering 1,000 photos to a family in North Carolina in the coming weeks.
To take a look at the photos or claim pictures you have lost, we have a link here.
GOODMAN, Mo.– Saturday was a celebration for one organization in Goodman.
“Trinity Circle Horses Healing Hearts” held their annual open house Saturday afternoon.
The riding school specializes therapeutic services using horses.
This can range from PTSD in veterans, emotional trauma and Autism.
Organizers say this is the ranch’s biggest event of the year and shows the help the horses have offered the community.
Dawn Newlan & William Lambert, Owner & Ranch Foreman, says, “He’s got two boys and a daughter that would be devastated without him and if we can reach one life, save one life, change one life, to me the whole day’s worth one life, but if we can reach multiple, even better.”
The event had live music, a barbeque and horse drawn carriage rides.
JOPLIN, Mo. — Saturday morning 2,000 people spent the morning remembering the lives lost in the May 22 tornado.
Josh Simpson, Runner, says, “Just to think about ten years ago driving through this area so much destruction and heartache but now such joy this morning.”
2,000 people from 25 states were in Cunningham Park, Saturday morning for the Joplin Memorial Run.
Families running to remember the 161 lives lost in the tornado.
Steve Gurley, Runner From Saint Louis, says, “We had an in law who passed away. He was over by the high school and was actually taken to the hospital and died after surgery.”
Steve Gurley was in Joplin for a wedding and drove back to St. Louis on May 22, 2011.
“It was weird because we were literally driving around the streets when we came back the next day to help and couldn’t recognize a lot of the things we had seen. It was tough.”
Families impacted by the tornado coming back to the site that was hardest hit to reflect.
Mallory Hill, home destroyed in tornado, says, “Our house was one of the ones that was destroyed in the tornado. We lived at 23rd and Pearl kind of on the edge of it. It’s great that everyone gets out here and supports Joplin and its regrowth.”
The Joplin Memorial Run takes runners through the path of the tornado.
Catrina Richards, Runner, says, “It feels a little emotional to me to be honest.”
The park is lined with 161 flags with the names of all the tornado victims.
Josh Simpson, runner, says, “It’s so humbling to run and see all these banners and as you’re running by them to remember all the people.”
Proceeds from the run will go toward helping Joplin rebuild.
JOPLIN, Mo. — Saint Mary’s Catholic Church is working to preserve a symbol of hope that was left standing after the tornado.
Saturday, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church held a prayer service at the cross near near 25th Street and Byers Avenue.
This summer the church is starting landscaping projects around the Saint Mary’s cross .
Last fall the church put in a permanent pedestal around the cross.
The church wanted to make a location where visitors feel comfortable visiting and praying.
Father Joe Weidenbenner, Pastor At St. Mary’s Catholic Church, says, “I think its like every step you take after you experience a tornado or any kind of disaster in your life or upheaval it brings some healing. It brings some sense of peace to a lot of people. Hopefully it will bring it to everybody from Joplin as we share it together.”
They hope to start the projects later this summer and complete it within the next year.
JOPLIN, MO. — As we reflect on the events that occurred 10 years ago on May 22 in Joplin, so much has been done to make sure we never forget what happened that day.
One of those things was the creation of the Will Norton miracle field, home to the miracle league of Joplin. While it’s existence stemmed from an unthinkable tragedy, it’s since become a place of joy, unity and hope.
From afar, it may look like just a baseball field, but for members of the Joplin community, it’s so much more than that.
It’s namesake, Will Norton was one of the victims of the 2011 Joplin tornado. He was known for his kindness and his desire to make everyone he met feel welcomed and included. That’s exactly what the field reflects.
“Out here, everybody plays,” said Margie Black, whose serves on the board of directors. “Everyone gets it. There’s nothing but love on the field.”
Its a place specifically designed to accommodate those with disabilities and special needs. It’s where the miracle league of Joplin holds their baseball games. The league is for individuals with disabilities.
Black said she first got involved because of her son Scottie.
“It gave the kids a chance to play ball,” said Black. “Do something that probably typically weren’t going to get to experience. That team bonding on a field, playing ball, that social interaction, just the whole, everything that comes with playing a sport.”
That’s what drew the Shusters in. It was a chance for their daughter Kaylyn to be apart of something uniquely hers.
“Just something for her to look forward to that’s only hers,” said Angie Shuster. “I mean, other kids are doing all their sports events and other things and this is something that’s just…It’s her thing and allows her to be involved in something.”
It wasn’t just the inclusivity the Shusters loved, it was also the support and sense of community.
“This isn’t an easy life and if you don’t live it, it’s really kind of hard to explain and you don’t have to explain to anybody when you’re here because they get it,” said Mike Shuster.
While will may be gone, his spirit and everything he stood for in life lives on through the miracle league.
“To honor will in that way is I hope in some small way, brings comfort to his family,” said Black. “To know that so many people are experiencing such a joy-filled opportunity to just be like everybody else.”
JOPLIN, Mo. — Saturday afternoon KCU-Joplin held a groundbreaking for its dental school outside its current physician facility.
Joplin is the smallest community in the United States with both a dental and physician school.
Prospective students are now applying to the school even before its built.
Gavin Barclay, Prospective Student, says, “I’m enrolling now and seeing what my options are and then depending on what happens I could definitely see myself here in 2023.”
Kathy O’Loughlin, Executive Director of the American Dental Association, says, “Your smile is the way we radiate to the world and so its very important to be healthy in your mouth and it supports health all over your body.”
Dr. Linda Niessen, Founding Dean of KCU Joplin College of Dental Medicine, says, “This is an incredible day. It’s a historic occasion we honor the loss that occurred in Joplin and we build the future of a healthier workforce so its a very exciting day.”
KCU Joplin College of Dental Medicine will create 200 jobs and generate $45,000,000 for the city.
They plan on opening the school in August 2023.
JOPLIN, Mo. –At May 22nd’s ceremony, many friends and family members surviving those who didn’t make it through gathered to honor their lost loved ones.
“So many people died, and so many people that need to remember the events of that day, how it affected their life, so many positive things have come out of this…so I think it’s just wonderful that this is being held today,” said Joplin resident Ron Nichols.
For Joplin, May 22nd is a day forever marked in the city’s history.
And with the ten-year anniversary, a decade of change has swept through the community. Although Joplin has been able to grow back over the years, the city hasn’t forgotten those that were lost.
“I know a lot of people who have storms like this, people don’t get remembered, Joplin was way different like that, we remembered every person who died, got injured, everything said Grace Bennett, who was there to remember two loved ones lost 10 years ago.
She was about to turn eight when the 2011 Joplin tornado changed her life and the rest of Joplin’s lives.
At the remembrance walk-through, she looks back on those she lost.
“I called, Miss. Margaret was Aunt Margaret, and Jane was Miss Jane…so Miss Jane, she always had this big jar of jelly beans, and I would pick out the favorite ones like the black licorice ones and like the ones that tasted like butter…and then she would always have peach tea…Aunt Margaret really was about three years older than my mother was, so she’d be 65 right now, I remember I would sit on her front porch and she had this little dog with three legs and no tail….and she’d always invite me over like, oh kids have fights with their mom, every time we had a fight she’d invite me over and give me something to drink.”
For others, it’s a day to remember those within their communities who were lost.
“I knew uh Grace Aquino, Ramona Bridgeford, and Marie Picard…I just uh seen em’ at church, and I talked to them and everything, but, they was dear ladies…it’s still in my heart you know, and everything to remember what they did you know,” said Joplin Resident Randy Putnam, who wanted to commemorate the 2011 victim’s memories at the event.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
