The Big Three: Mojo burger razed, chain reaction crash

BIG STORY #3: A Pineville, Mo., couple has been charged in federal court for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman. Amber Waterman, 42, and her husband, Jamie Waterman, 42, were charged in separate criminal complaints signed on Thursday, Nov. 3, and filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield Friday, November 4, 2022. The Watermans remain in federal custody pending detention hearings, which have not yet been scheduled. If you are interested in reading the complete article, click here.

BIG STORY #2: The former Mojo Burger location at 702 S Maiden Lane has been razed. According to county records the property changed hands this past quarter paving the way for some changes on this SW corner of 7th and Maiden Lane on Route 66. This is also where local favorite ‘ Mojo the Cow’ was recently located. He has been missing since earlier 2022. Click here to read more about this story.

BIG STORY #1: About 9:50 a.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2022 reports of a 5-vehicle chain reaction crash in the westbound lanes approaching the intersection at E 32nd and Connecticut. To read the complete article, click here.

BONUS STORY: Joplin Vietnam solider killed is added to Memorial Hall Monument.

News To Know: three people killed in head on crash and murder charges brought in TN kidnapping case

PINEVILLE, Mo. – A head-on collision takes the life of three people in Mcdonald county. The crash happened shortly after 9:30 Tuesday night on US 71 near Brush Creek road in Pineville. Troopers say 29-year-old Kyler Johnson from Washburn was heading south when he traveled into the northbound lane and struck another vehicle head-on. Johnson, along with both of his passengers – 58-year-old Joseph Lynch from Powell and a 15-year-old from Washburn – all died at the scene. A 17-year-old from Neosho was driving the second vehicle she was flown to Freeman hospital in Joplin in serious condition. Click here to read more about this story.

PITTSBURG, Ks. – More than a hundred people gathered at the Four Oaks golf course in Pittsburg on Wednesday to participate in the regional golf competition. The competition was for students and adults. Unified teams also competed, and those teams consisted of students with and without disabilities. If you’d like to read more about this event, click here.

MEMPHIS, Tn. – Memphis, Tennessee went on high alert yesterday with many residents sheltering in place as police desperately searched for a man driving around shooting at people during an hours-long, deadly rampage. During the pursuit, police sent out an alert saying a man driving a light blue Infiniti was responsible for multiple shootings in the city. According to authorities, the suspected gunman later switched vehicles to a grey Toyota SUV. Police said the alleged shooter recorded his actions on Facebook. For more information on this story, click here.

MEMPHIS, Tn. – Cleotha Abston appeared before a Tennessee judge in handcuffs to face first-degree murder charges. The murder charges came after police discovered Eliza Fletcher’s body Monday in a grassy lot behind a vacant duplex, roughly 7 miles from where the 34-year-old kindergarten teacher and mother of two was last seen. At the age of 16, Abston kidnapped a prominent Memphis attorney. He spent nearly two decades in prison and was released in 2020. Click here to read more about this story.

 

Three killed in wrong-way driver crash, Neosho, Mo. teen flown trauma to Joplin

PINEVILLE, Mo. — Just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night reports of a head-on collision on US-71 just north of Brush Creek Road in the city limits of Pineville alerted McDonald County E911.

Pineville Fire Dept, Pineville Marshals, McDonald County Sheriff’s Deputies and Freeman Ambulance responded. Missouri State Highway Patrol and MoDOT were notified. White Rock Fire responded to assist.

On the scene Trooper Randy Morris tells us one vehicle, 2014 Nissan Versa, with three persons was traveling the wrong way, south in the northbound lanes, on divided US-71. This is about 2 miles south of the I-49/US-71 junction. All three in that vehicle died at the scene. 

Those killed include the driver, Kyler Johnson, 29, of Washburn, Mo. Passengers Joseph Lynch, 58, of Powell, Mo. and a 15-year-old juvenile male of Washburn.

The northbound victim vehicle, 2011 Toyota Prius, driven by a 17-year-old Neosho, Mo. female.  She was flown trauma to a Joplin hospital. 

The Major Crash Investigation Unit (MCIU) of Troop D were summoned to the scene to map crash for investigation.

US-71 was closed northbound at MO-90 until about 2 a.m.

Fatal traffic crash. Next of kin notified. [Nissan] travelled southbound in the northbound lane and struck [Toyota]. All three occupants were pronounced deceased at 9:35 p.m. by Deputy McDonald County Coroner Jonathan Fletcher.” – Tpr Randy Morris of MSHP Troop D, McDonald/Newton County

Pineville Fire expressed thanks in a release of information to agencies assisting, “It’s great to know in a time of need we have all these great teams that will come together to get the job done. This was a fatality accident and our prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased.

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Jessie James Days begin in Pineville, Mo.

PINEVILLE, Mo. — Many know Pineville as the beginning point of your canoe trip on Elk River. But there is much more to the McDonald County Seat.

Jessie James Days is an annual celebration in August. This year like many others there is a carnival in town for the kids to enjoy. Purchase arm bands at City Hall in advance for $15. All monies raised goes to the Pineville Rural Fire Dept.

Each evening music begins at 6 p.m. and everyday there are special events.

And why the name of the festival? In 1938 Pineville was chosen to be the backdrop of the Hollywood film: Jessie James.

“In 1938, the Hollywood movie “Jesse James” was filmed in the Missouri Ozarks. The movie, produced by Twentieth Century Fox and starring Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, and Nancy Kelly, was primarily filmed in the small town of Pineville, as well as elsewhere in McDonald County. Additional filming locations included Lake Ozark, Missouri. Pineville was selected to represent Jesse James’ hometown of Liberty, Missouri, due to its resemblance at the time to 19th Century Missouri. Pineville’s population at the time was 383, and many of its citizens took part in the movie as extras. The film, which was a box office success, was Missouri’s first major contribution to Hollywood filmmaking history. The city of Pineville continues to commemorate its role in the film with its annual “Jesse James Days” celebration.” — Missouri State Archives

| Click here to view more of the images of the filming behind the scenes in the Digital History Archive from the State of Missouri.

The McDonald County Library will show the Jessie James Film twice a day, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The library also invites everyone to enjoy their Jessie James movie collection that was filmed on the Pineville Square.

Although this is a fun week to celebrate the film that put the city on the map, it’s not thought that Jessie James was ever in Pineville. His hometown was Liberty, Mo.

You’ll have to make time to visit Jessie James Days and learn more before it ends Saturday night, August 20.

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