Cass County Archives - Missourinet

Parson: Kansas City EMT who died of COVID-19 “died heroically and selflessly in service to others”

April 22, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Wednesday at fire stations statewide to honor a Kansas City Fire Department EMT, who is the state’s first known COVID-19 line-of-duty death of a first responder.

Kansas City Fire Department EMT Billy Birmingham is Missouri’s first known COVID-19 line-of-duty death of a first responder (Kauffman Stadium photo courtesy of the Birmingham family)

The funeral for Kansas City Fire EMT Billy Birmingham will take place Wednesday morning at 11 in Kansas City, according to information from Duane Harvey Funeral Directors.

Governor Mike Parson’s order also means U.S. and Missouri flags will fly at half-staff Wednesday at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri, which is located in Kingdom City. That’s about 30 miles north of Jefferson City. They will also fly at half-staff at all government buildings Wednesday in Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte Counties, the four counties that comprise Kansas City.

The governor notes that Mr. Birmingham, 69, died on April 13, after responding to several service calls in which there were patients positive for COVID-19.

“In the face of this unprecedented public health crisis, Billy Birmingham repeatedly and without hesitation risked his own health and safety by responding to emergency calls,” Governor Parson says in a statement. “EMT Birmingham died heroically and selflessly in service to others. His death is a reminder to all of us to appreciate and thank the EMTs, paramedics, and all first responders who are serving on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19.”

Governor Parson also notes that Mr. Birmingham was an ordained minister, who founded Agape Love Ministries of Christ Unlimited in 2012.

Click here to read Governor Parson’s proclamation.

Parson: Missouri now has 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus

March 17, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor announced Tuesday night in Jefferson City that there are five new positive cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 15.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson addresses Capitol reporters in Jefferson City, after he declared a state of emergency in Missouri for coronavirus (March 13, 2020 file photo courtesy of the Governor’s office)

Governor Mike Parson says there are now four confirmed cases in southwest Missouri’s Greene County, four in St. Louis County, two in western Missouri’s Cass County, one in mid-Missouri’s Boone County, one in mid-Missouri’s Cole County, one in St. Louis City, one in Jackson County and one in western Missouri’s Henry County.

The governor says the state health lab has tested 267 people for COVID-19. There have been 253 negative patients, while 15 have tested positive.

Governor Parson is starting daily briefings about coronavirus, and the first one is happening tonight at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

The governor was joined by state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams, State Medicaid Director Todd Richardson and state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten.

The governor is emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility, and washing your hands.

The governor announced earlier that the state’s 13 riverboat casinos will close at midnight, and will remain closed through March 30. Governor Mike Parson says the aim is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Some of the towns impacted by the casino closings are Boonville, Cape Girardeau, Caruthersville and St. Joseph.

Flags to fly at half-staff at all Missouri fire stations on Saturday to honor McCormick (AUDIO)

January 10, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday morning in Lee’s Summit for a firefighter/paramedic who died Sunday (January 5) while battling a house fire in western Missouri’s Peculiar.

State Rep. Mike Haffner, R-Pleasant Hill, addresses the Missouri House about the death of firefighter Charles McCormick during a January 8, 2020 floor speech. State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, is to Haffner’s right (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The service will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. at Abundant Life Church. Firefighters from across the state are expected to attend.

Governor Mike Parson has ordered U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at every fire station in Missouri on Saturday, in honor of Charles McCormick. The governor has also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Saturday at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri, which is located in mid-Missouri’s Kingdom City. Flags will also be at half-staff at all government buildings in Cass County.

“Firefighter-paramedic Charles McCormick lived his life as a devoted public servant committed to protecting others,” Governor Parson said in a written statement. “He made the ultimate sacrifice, and he will always be remembered for his legacy of bravely serving his community, state and nation so that others could be safe. Firefighter-Paramedic McCormick’s tragic passing serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by members of Missouri’s fire service, who take on risks each day to protect their neighbors and people they may never meet.”

During Wednesday’s opening day of the 2020 legislative session in Jefferson City, the Missouri House honored the 30-year-old McCormick with a moment of silence.

State Rep. Mike Haffner, R-Pleasant Hill, asked Cass County’s House delegation from both parties to join him. State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, stood at Haffner’s right, with other delegation members nearby.

“We’re deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” Haffner said on the House floor. “Our first responders make great sacrifices to serve and protect.”

Representative Haffner praises Mr. McCormick’s military service and his courage. McCormick served in the Missouri National Guard’s 1135th Engineer Company from 2011 to 2014.

“We’re eternally grateful for his service and his sacrifice. On behalf of the people of the great state of Missouri, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his fellow firefighters, particularly to his family,” Haffner said on the floor.

Governor Parson says McCormick is survived by his wife and three young sons.

Click here to listen to the Missouri House floor comments from State Rep. Mike Haffner, which took place on January 8, 2020 in Jefferson City:

Winter storm briefly closes interstate in western Missouri (AUDIO)

November 11, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Winter weather briefly closed heavily-traveled southbound I-49 in western Missouri’s Belton on Monday morning, because of numerous slide offs and unsafe driving conditions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis is warning about deteriorating conditions on bridges and overpasses (November 11, 2019 map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter)

National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jonathan Kurtz notes it’s rare for a storm to close an interstate.

“It happens from time to time when you get these pretty strong intense bursts of snow,” Kurtz says. “And we have had two rounds here in the Kansas City metro, and two pretty strong lines have come through.”

I-49, which has re-opened, is a major route for truckers, and runs in Missouri from just south of Kansas City to southwest Missouri’s McDonald County.

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) spokeswoman Sally Oxenhandler tells Missourinet that southbound I-49 at 163rd Street in Cass County was closed for about 20 minutes today.

Kurtz says conditions on the interstate quickly deteriorated.

“I-49 was only closed for a little bit of time there due to some slick roads there,” says Kurtz. “And snow started to accumulate pretty fast. Once it started hitting the ground, it only took about 20 to 30 minutes for the road to start to get snow-covered.”

Missouri state troopers responded to several slide-offs on Highway 50 in western Missouri’s Knob Noster on November 11, 2019 (photo from Missourinet’s Ashley Byrd)

The National Weather Service is warning Missourians that the snow and falling temperatures will lead to deteriorating conditions on bridges and overpasses for your evening commute. Mr. Kurtz is urging motorists to slow down.

“My drive in was pretty slick as well, and you just have to give yourself plenty of time. And we can kind of be thrown off, especially when the day before we had highs in the 50’s,” Kurtz says.

Snow is expected to end in Jefferson City by 4 p.m. Monday and in southeast Missouri’s Farmington by 6 p.m. The NWS is urging motorists and anyone heading outside to dress in layers.

Northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph has received about an inch of snow, while mid-Missouri’s Columbia has seen about an inch as well. There’s an inch-and-a-half on the ground in northeast Missouri’s Foley.

Several schools in mid-Missouri and in the Ozarks have dismissed early because of the storm. Westminster College in mid-Missouri’s Fulton has also dismissed classes early.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jonathan Kurtz, which was recorded on November 11, 2019: