SENECA, Mo.—Authorities are investigating a suspected burglary at the old Milnot Plant in Seneca. Officials received a call around four Thursday afternoon that someone had broken into the building. Investigators from Newton and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as the Seneca Police Department responded. After searching the building, officials did not find a suspect inside. Officials tell us it appears the break-in happened on the Oklahoma side of the building, so the investigation will be handled by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
Tag Archives: seneca
Seneca woman dies in hospital after crash
NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. – A Seneca, Missouri woman dies a day after a wreck in Newton County.
It happened Monday around 4:40 p.m. on MO-43 about four miles north of Seneca. Police say a car driven by 35-year-old Stephanie Langland pulled into the path of a utility truck driving north. A passenger of the car, 32-year-old Crystal Ward, was taken to Freeman Hospital where she was pronounced dead Tuesday.
Langland suffered serious injuries, and a 14-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
Seneca residents evacuated after Lost Creek floods
SENECA Mo. — Residents in Seneca are displaced after heavy rains caused Lost Creek to flood.
The Police Chief says flooding north of Lost Creek damaged multiple homes and businesses.
Around 7a.m. Saturday morning The Seneca Police Department, Seneca City Fire Department, Seneca District Fire Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol went door to door telling residents to evacuate.
Seneca authorities closed parts of Highway 43 from Lost Creek bridge for nearly two hours.
The Police Chief says everyone needs to stay away from flooded roadways.
“They just need use some common sense. Many times we had a few today, people just think the water is four to six inches deep. We’ll we’ve had some asphalt wash away and we’ve had some chips in roads or buckle and wash away due to the heavy current. Just because you think its two or three inches doesn’t mean its not two or three feet,” said Chief James Altic.
Chief Altic says right now they do not know how many businesses or homes were damaged from the flooding.
Authorities set up a shelter for the evacuees at Seneca Christian Church at Bethel and U highway because they are out of the flood zone.
He says there have been no water rescues or injuries are reported.
Vandals using frozen water bottles to break windshields on Hwy 43
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI — Some drivers in Southwest Missouri have been targeted by vandals this week – and now authorities are on the lookout.
It’s scary enough when you’re behind the wheel and a small rock hits your windshield. But something much bigger struck this car windshield, startling the driver Wednesday. And unfortunately, the same thing has been happening to other motorists as well driving highway 43 in Newton County between the Petro Truck Stop and Seneca the last few days.
James Altic, Seneca Police Chief, said, “We’re lucky that somebody hasn’t been hurt real bad or killed, I mean some of these have destroyed the fronts of cars, we’ve had numerous windshields knocked out, the grills knocked out, it’s dangerous, it’s very dangerous.”
In fact, Altic says some victims have been hit more than once.
“We had one victim get hit coming into town and going out of town on two separate days.”
Altic says this is a photo of one of the pick up trucks that could be involved in the incidents. But cars aren’t the only vehicles that are getting targeted. This Seneca school bus was struck Thursday morning on 43 Highway going 55 miles an hour and Travis Vanwagner says it could have been disastrous.
Travis VanWagner, Transportation & Maintenance Director, Seneca Schools, said, “You get hit in the windshield with something, what ever was thrown, if it spooks the driver, that could cause him to go into the ditch, wreck, you know, you your taking kids lives in danger, it’s just ridiculous of people doing this, it’s crazy.”
Chris Jennings, Newton County Sheriff, said, “I’m assuming it’s probably a bunch of kids that have seen something on TiKTok or something and now they’re trying it, but they don’t realize how dangerous it is and how close they can come to really hurting somebody, a frozen water bottle is just like throwing a rock at somebody, it’s a deadly weapon, and we will pursue it and prosecute it like it is.”
Newton County Health Department to receives 975 vaccine doses
NEOSHO, Mo. – Newton County Health Department administrator Larry Bergner says the department is getting 975 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this week.
Bergner says the department will be partnering with Prater’s Pharmacy in Seneca, Missouri, and Mitchell’s Pharmacy in Neosho, Missouri to provide greater access to the vaccine in the county.
“This 975 for our small clinic would be overwhelming,” says Bergner. “But with those partners in place we can bring more resources in, and we can take care of these 975 doses in good shape.”
The health department is having an appointment only clinic on Thursday, February 25 in Neosho. The pharmacies are setting clinics at their locations.