Tag Archives: mcdonald

Escaped McDonald County inmates captured

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NOEL, Mo. – Authorities capture all three inmates who escaped from the McDonald County Jail over the weekend. In a post on Facebook, Sheriff Rob Everson said David Molina, Carmelo Burgos and Shun’tavion Thomas were taken into custody in Noel, Missouri without any injuries.

(Previous story: McDonald County authorities release update on search for escaped inmates)

The three escaped the detention center Saturday July 24, after attacking an on duty detention officer. Officials say all three were being held in the McDonald County Detention Center for violent offenses, and at the time of the search were considered armed and dangerous.

The sheriff’s office says the female Detention Officer who was attacked sustained minor injuries during the escape and is recuperating at this time.

News to Know (4/1/2021)

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ATLANTA, Ga – With the U.S. well above 30 million confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, the nation is bracing for what health experts fear could become a fourth wave. New data from the CDC shows the highest number of cases per capita now concentrated in Michigan and parts of the northeast.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The state of Missouri looks to vaccinate up to ten-thousand residents at a “mega” vaccine site in Springfield. It will be held at the Hammond Student Center at Missouri State University. It’s a two-day clinic next Thursday, April 8 and the following Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days. The clinic will use the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. You must register in advance.

MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo. – Authorities in McDonald County, Missouri make a breakthrough in a cold case. For 30 years investigators worked off this rendering as they tried to identify a woman only known as “Grace Doe”. Investigators had been referring to the woman as “Grace” as they tried to uncover her identity because they thought, only through the grace of God would they figure out who she was. Now DNA evidence has revealed who she really is, Shawna Beth Garber. Garber was found dead in 1990 on Oscar Talley Road in McDonald County. Lieutenant Hall with the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office says the case is far from closed.

PITTSBURG, Kan. – A multi-million dollar tax settlement involving Pittsburg native and entrepreneur Gene Bicknell has been overturned by the Kansas Court of Appeals. In a two to three decision, the court ruled that the district court of Crawford County improperly put the burden of proving that Bicknell lived in Kansas on the Kansas Department of Revenue. Bicknell’s legal fight with the state centered on whether he lived in Kansas or Florida when he sold his company, NPC International in 2006.

Local senior centers reopening after a year of being closed

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JOPLIN, Mo. – The Area Agency on Aging Region X (AAAX)  announced plans for a soft opening of all seven of its senior centers on May 3. That includes the centers in Barton County, Carthage, Webb City, Carl Junction, Joplin, Neosho and McDonald County.

“After being closed for more than a year, we have started to see a continued decline in COVID-19 cases,” said AAAX CEO Jennifer Shotwell. “In addition, more and more residents are being vaccinated as vaccination clinics pop up across our four counties. I feel confident that we can safely open the centers with minimal restrictions.”

Each center will have activities on specific days of the week. Monday and Friday have been designated for clients to play pool. Tuesday and Thursday have been designated for bingo and lunch service. Wednesday has been designated for cards/games and exercise classes. Officials ask clients call ahead to sign up for all activities, except for pool. However, pool tournaments will not be held at this time. Officials say that may change in the future.

All clients entering the senior center will be asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Volunteers will be asked to oversee the activities and to help maintain cleanliness by washing any tables or chairs that are used for activities. Volunteers will also resume delivering to Meals on Wheels recipients at all centers.

The Area Agency expects to bring more activities back as COVID-19 cases continue to decline.