Autocross race held in Neosho

NEOSHO, Mo. — Racers were running against the clock to win prizes in Neosho.

Today was the Sports Car Club of America’s final Autocross race of the year at Crowder College.

58 drivers were racing through the cones for the best times and competing for prizes.

“Autocross is a great way for drivers to experience their car to the limit in a very safe and controlled environment. There are prizes, but a lot of the competitors are chasing year end Championships for their class or driver of the year where we have the best driver out of all of the classes combined.” said Sam Henry, Regional Executive for the Ozark Mountain Region SCCA.

All proceeds from today’s race are going towards a domestic violence shelter in Springfield.

Missouri vaccine outreach aims to be non-confrontational

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – With the delta variant causing a surge of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in southwestern Missouri, health officials have taken to going door-to-door in an effort to encourage vaccinations.

(Previous story: Missouri governor says door-to-door vaccine push would not be effective)

The Kansas City Star recently followed along as health officials knocked on doors in Springfield, handing out brochures. The newspaper reports that the effort was non-confrontational and the officials always took “no” for an answer, despite concerns raised by Gov. Mike Parson and other Republican leaders that the outreach would be heavy-handed.

Southwestern Missouri has seen an alarming rise in illnesses caused by COVID-19 in recent weeks.

 

Survey: Pandemic proved too much for some Missouri teachers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A recent survey has found that one in 10 Missouri teachers are thinking about calling it quits after a challenging year of pandemic education.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that researchers with Missouri State University’s College of Education sent out the survey to each of the 67,000 public school educators with an email on file with the state and 8,040 responded in mid-February. Of those planning to retire or resign, 62% cited the pandemic as their reason.

Paul Katnik, assistant commissioner of education in Missouri, said any uptick in exits will cause ripples in the state.

Coffeyville man charged with night club shooting; claims self-defense

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A man from Coffeyville, Kansas charged with a shooting outside Zan Night Club in downtown Springfield, Missouri is claiming self-defense.

Jawaun Thompson told an investigator he and two friends were spending a night out on the town. He says they didn’t have any problems when they went into the club Saturday night. Thompson told the investigator  he got a gun from his car after leaving the club because he says he “felt safer.”

Outside Zan’s, Thompson says a man hit him in the face with what he believed was a gun and at least two others tackled him. Thompson fired a couple of shots. A bullet hit one man in the side.

Thompson is charged with first degree assault and armed criminal action.

Springfield Endangered Person Advisory: Zachariah L. Moore

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Police Department issues an Endangered Person Advisory for a missing person who suffers from a mental disability.

The endangered missing person is 22-year-old Zachariah Moore.

According to police, someone last saw Moore at his home on N. Farmer Road in Springfield, Missouri at 5:19 a.m. on March 27, 2021. His direction of travel or possible destination is unknown. Police say he suffers from a mental disability rendering him unable to care for himself.

He may be under the influence of an unknown controlled substance, according to the Endangered Person Advisory.

If you see Moore, or have any information related to him missing, call 911 or contact the nearest law enforcement agency. You can reach the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810.

Missouri State University to be the location of ‘Mega’ Vaccine Site

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 Thursday April 8 and Friday April 9. The both clinics will be available from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The clinic will use the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. You must register in advance through Missouri’s Vaccine Navigator.

NWS offers ‘Severe Weather Preparedness 101’ webinar

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) will offer its “Severe Weather Preparedness 101” webinar on Tuesday, March 30 and Tuesday, April 6. The webinar is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on both days.

Experts will teach viewers about NWS severe weather forecast products, forecasting approaches, science, sending reports, and how to prepare for the upcoming Spring season. To register for the webinar visit www.weather.gov/media/sgf/Outreach/SevereWeatherPreparedness101WebinarRegistration.pdf

As the storm season begins, the City of Joplin encourages residents to have a plan for where to seek shelter during severe weather. They should also have an emergency supplies kit packed with bottled water, non-perishable foods, necessary medications, a flashlight, batteries and a first aid kit.

“Another tool that will help community members be prepared for emergencies is an all-hazards NOAA weather alert radio,” adds Joplin Emergency Manager Keith Stammer. “These programmable radios operate on electricity with battery-backup. They can be programmed to receive information for only the counties and topics of interest to the user. They carry alerts and information on severe weather, missing children, public health emergencies, civil emergencies and more.”

The radios can be purchased at local retailers. For more information on preparing for emergencies, go to the Joplin-Jasper County Office of Emergency Management website at http://www.joplinmo.org/221/Plan-Prepare.

 

Woman walking on Springfield sidewalk fatally hit by vehicle

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Police say a pedestrian fatally struck by a sport utility vehicle this week in Springfield was walking on the sidewalk when she was hit.

The News-Leader reports that investigators say 73-year-old Phyllis Tinsley was walking on the sidewalk along Fremont Avenue Tuesday morning when she was hit. Police say the driver of the SUV experienced a medical emergency, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and onto the sidewalk. Tinsley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say the 72-year-old man driving the SUV was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.