Joplin Archives - Missourinet

National Weather Service urges Missourians to drink plenty of water on Saturday (AUDIO)

June 5, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) says the Lake of the Ozarks and southwest Missouri will see the state’s hottest temperatures on Saturday, with heat index values reaching about 100 to 105 degrees.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says heat index values will reach 100 in Osage Beach on Saturday June 6, 2020 (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

NWS Springfield meteorologist Eric Wise says it will be hot and humid across the Ozarks.

“We’re going to see highs probably in the low to maybe even the mid 90’s and with the humidity, the heat index or the feel-like temperature is probably going to approach 100 to 105 degrees in spots,” Wise says.

The NWS Springfield office says heat index values on Saturday will reach 100 in Osage Beach, and 105 in Warsaw.

“Take frequent breaks, if you have to be outside, get in the shade,” says Wise. “Air conditioning would be good, and check on people, the elderly and especially people without air conditioning.”

Wise also urges you to drink plenty of water and to avoid alcohol and caffeine tomorrow.

Saturday’s heat index will also make it feel like 105 degrees in Joplin, Springfield, Rolla and Salem.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield meteorologist Eric Wise, which was recorded on June 5, 2020:

State lawmaker and rancher hopeful that Missouri will get cattle slaughter facility (AUDIO)

June 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A veteran state lawmaker who has served on the House Agriculture Policy Committee for eight years says Missouri needs a cow processing plant.

State Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, is also a rancher. He notes Missouri is second in the nation in cow numbers.

State Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, attends the Joint Committee on Agriculture hearing in Jefferson City on May 28, 2020 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“I don’t know that we can justify what I call a processing plant to justify processing what I call fed-cattle, most of those are further west of us. But we have a lot of cows in Missouri,” Love says.

Love, whose western Missouri district includes Warsaw and Wheatland, attended the recent legislative Joint Committee on Agriculture hearing in Jefferson City. He is pleased to hear the news from State Rep. Don Rone, R-Portageville, that an effort is underway to get a cattle slaughter facility in Missouri.

“And if you draw a 100-mile circle around Joplin, Missouri, you’re going to find a lot of cows. And I believe we can justify a cow processing plant of size big enough to compete,” says Love.

Love, a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association member, says there was a cattle slaughter facility years ago in western Missouri’s Rockville, which is in Bates County. Rockville is west of Osceola.

Love says the Rockville plant was used by cattle producers across southwest Missouri, as well as southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.

During last week’s hearing, Representative Rone testified that he and State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, met recently with retailers and meat wholesalers.

“This would be a processing plant in Missouri, for Missouri for Missouri-grown cattle and to be sold in Missouri,” Rone says.

Rone emphasizes the effort is in its very early stages, telling Missourinet we’re a “long way from brick-and-mortar.” A specific region hasn’t been selected.

Joint Committee on Agriculture Chairman Mike Haffner, R-Pleasant Hill, supports the plan. Supporters of the proposal hope to form a working group by July.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, which was recorded at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on May 28, 2020:

Columbia, Jefferson City, Springfield and Branson are all at enhanced risk of severe storms (AUDIO)

April 28, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) expects much of Missouri to see thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening, and large parts of southwest, west-central and mid-Missouri are at an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield expects severe thunderstorms across much of southwest and mid-Missouri on Tuesday evening. Isolated tornadoes are possible (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter)

NWS Springfield meteorologist Kyle Perez is urging you to have multiple ways of receiving weather warnings, saying that an enhanced risk means numerous severe storms are possible.

“The main threats we are looking at across the region today include hail up to the size of two inches in diameter, damaging wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour,” Perez says.

Far southwest Missouri’s McDonald County is the only county in the state listed at “moderate” risk, which is the next category up from enhanced. Isolated tornadoes are possible in towns like Noel, Jacket and Rocky Comfort.

Jefferson City, Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Lebanon, West Plains and Rolla are all in the enhanced area, and Perez says storms and hail are likely there between 6 and 9 this evening.

“The initial thunderstorms that will develop will be super cells, so those actually will have the capability of producing little bit stronger tornadoes generally,” says Perez.

Southwest Missouri’s Nevada and Lebanon are also in the enhanced area.

Northwest Missouri’s Maryville and Chillicothe are also expected to see thunderstorms late this afternoon, and southeast Missouri’s Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff are expected to see storms as well.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield meteorologist Kyle Perez, which was recorded on April 28, 2020:

Missouri congressman: COVID-19 has been devastating for businesses and American workers (AUDIO)

April 23, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A southwest Missouri congressman who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee has been chosen by President Donald Trump to serve on the President’s task force on reopening the economy.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, represents southwest Missouri on Capitol Hill (official photo courtesy of Congressman Long’s Washington office)

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, emphasizes that it’s a bipartisan task force.

“There’s some Democrats on there and it’s really interesting to hear them on our conference calls, bragging on the president, telling him what a good job he’s doing, and then the rest of the year they don’t have such kind things to say about him,” Long says.

Long is confident we can protect our citizens, “without crushing our economy.”

“Folks are ready to get back to work. They want to open up the stores and go out and get a haircut and get their dog groomed and go out to dinner and sit down and have a nice meal,” says Long. “And the people that work in those places are more than ready to get back to work.”

Long says COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on American businesses and workers.

Springfield health officials say there have been 93 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Springfield and Greene County, including eight deaths. 35 are active cases, and 50 have recovered.

Congressman Long tells Missourinet that three weeks ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was considering building temporary hospitals for coronavirus, in his district.

“And as of the night before last, there was a total of six COVID patients in hospital beds in the 7th (congressional) District,” Long says.

He says five of those patients are in Springfield, and one is hospitalized in Joplin. Long’s district includes Springfield, Branson, Joplin and Republic.

Long also says Springfield’s Cox Hospital completely converted an empty floor for COVID-19 patients, and that it has not been used. He praises CoxHealth’s preparation.

He also says rural hospitals have been hurting financially, because they haven’t been able to perform elective surgeries.

Long voted for the bipartisan COVID-19 legislation on Capitol Hill on Thursday, which contains $75 billion for personal protective equipment for health care employees and another $25 billion to expand testing.

Instead of flying to the nation’s capitol, he rode in a vehicle with U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, who met Congressman Long on Wednesday morning in Rolla. Smith drove the vehicle, and they arrived in Washington D.C. late Wednesday night.

State health officials say there are now 6,321 confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri, along with 218 deaths. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced the latest statistics Thursday afternoon. The number of deaths has increased by ten, from Wednesday’s number of 208 deaths.

Click here to listen to the full five-minute interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, which was recorded on April 22, 2020:

UPDATE: Westbound I-70 in mid-Missouri’s Rocheport closed for six hours (AUDIO)

February 5, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

UPDATE: The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says westbound I-70 on the Rocheport bridge in mid-Missouri has re-opened, after being closed for almost six hours. MoDOT’s Central District is warning that overnight refreezing is likely on bridges and elevated roadways. The agency will be bringing in additional crews, during the overnight hours. Motorists are urged to slow down.

HERE IS THE ORIGINAL STORY:

State transportation officials say westbound I-70 is completely closed at the heavily-traveled Rocheport bridge in mid-Missouri, due to numerous snow-related crashes. Multiple tractor trailers are involved in the crash, which happened at about 12:15 p.m.

Missouri state troopers say multiple tractor trailers are involved in crashes on the westbound I-70 bridge in central Missouri’s Rocheport (February 5, 2020 photo courtesy of Troop F Twitter page)

State Department of Transportation (MoDOT) spokesman Adam Pulley tells Missourinet they hope to re-open westbound I-70 by 4 p.m. this (Wednesday) afternoon. Tow trucks have arrived in a tight area on the bridge.

Missouri state troopers say there’s one injury, and that there is a lot of debris from the crashes.

MoDOT says more than 12-million vehicles cross the I-70 Rocheport bridge annually, including three million trucks.

Rocheport is just west of Columbia.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple winter storm warnings across Missouri today, including for mid-Missouri and southwest Missouri. NWS Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jimmy Barham warns roads are deteriorating east of the Kansas City metro. He says that could impact Chiefs fans attending today’s Super Bowl parade and rally, which is happening at Union Station in Kansas City.

“People who are leaving the parade heading towards the south or to the east, be aware that you are going to be moving into more hazardous conditions than you think you are,” Barham says.

Winter storm warnings remain in effect for central and southwest Missouri, until Thursday morning.

Missourinet’s Ashley Byrd reports visibility, at times, was only a quarter-of-a-mile today in Columbia. The Jefferson City/Columbia areas are expected to see about five inches of snow. The NWS Springfield office says Joplin and the Stockton Lake areas could see up to six inches.

The NWS is also warning about deteriorating conditions in the St. Louis region, with a snow/sleet mix.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jimmy Barham, which was recorded on February 5, 2020:

Winter storm expected to impact Chiefs parade and much of Missouri (AUDIO)

February 4, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) says most of Missouri is currently under a winter weather advisory, and will see two waves of winter weather by Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill says the heaviest snowfall will be between the I-44 corridor and the Highway 36 corridor in north Missouri (February 4, 2020 map courtesy of NWS Pleasant Hill Twitter page)

NWS Kansas City meteorologist Jimmy Barham says most of the snow will be between the I-44 corridor up to the Highway 36 corridor in northern Missouri.

“The more significant snowstorm looks like it’s going to push in as we get into the morning hours tomorrow, especially down towards Springfield,” Barham says. “We’re going to see snow totals even by the afternoon up into the one to three inch range.”

He says winter storm watches and winter storm warnings will likely be issued.

Western Missouri’s Kansas City, Warrensburg and Sedalia are currently receiving snow now, after seeing freezing drizzle earlier.

The second wave will have the heaviest impact on mid-Missouri’s Columbia, Jefferson City and Lake of the Ozarks, which could receive up to six inches of snow.

Mr. Barham tells Missourinet the snow will likely impact Chiefs fans at Wednesday’s Super Bowl parade and rally in downtown Kansas City.

“Going into the parade might not be too bad, but coming out of the parade you’re probably going to have hazardous travel conditions,” says Barham. “Especially if you’re going east past Sedalia into the Columbia towards St. Louis area.”

Wednesday morning’s parade begins at 11:30, and the victory rally is set for 1:30 p.m. at Union Station. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is expecting “hundreds of thousands” of fans to attend.

Barham emphasizes that Wednesday’s second wave, which is coming from Oklahoma, will be stronger.

The latest NWS models also show a heavy band near I-70 on Wednesday, between Kingdom City and Montgomery County. That area could see up to eight inches of snow.

Southwest Missouri’s Springfield, Joplin and Nevada should see four to six inches of snow, by early Thursday. Northeast Missouri’s Hannibal and Bowling Green could also see up to six inches.

Far southeast Missouri is the only area that’s not expected to see snow.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jimmy Barham, which was recorded on February 4, 2020:

Severe storms and brief tornadoes possible across Missouri tonight (AUDIO)

November 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning that much of Missouri could see severe weather Tuesday evening, into the early morning hours.

The National Weather Service is warning that severe thunderstorms and brief tornadoes are possible across Missouri tonight (November 26, 2019 map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter)

Southeast Missouri towns like Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, Caruthersville and Kennett are now at an enhanced risk.

NWS Pleasant Hill meteorologist Scott Blair describes it as a dynamic storm system that we normally see in the spring.

“Western Missouri, we’re looking at sometime around or just a little after sunset,” Blair says. “And that threat will quickly progress to the east as we head into the late evening and early overnight hours.”

Most of Missouri is in the “slight” risk category. Cities is that category include Columbia, Jefferson City, Kirksville, Hannibal, Springfield, Joplin and West Plains. Blair says those areas could see strong thunderstorms with winds capable of producing a brief tornado.

“The good news though is that if there happens to be any tornadoes, we’re not looking at the real long track strong or violent type. This is going to be more of a brief type of tornado out there,” says Blair.

45 mile-per-hour winds are expected across the state tonight. The biggest threat in much of the state will be damaging wind gusts.

The NWS says the storms will be moving fast.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Scott Blair, which was recorded on November 26, 2019:

Parson visits aging southwest Missouri bridge to tout bridge bonding

September 24, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(Reporter Ty Albright from Missourinet Joplin affiliate KZRG contributed to this story)

Missouri’s governor traveled to southwest Missouri’s Jasper County Tuesday afternoon, touring two deteriorating I-44 bridges that are being replaced with new funding.

This is the I-44 bridge over Shoal Creek near Joplin. It was built in 1956 (September 24, 2019 photo courtesy of KRZG’s Ty Albright)

Governor Mike Parson (R) is concerned about a new study, which says Missouri has the eighth-worst roads in the nation. He tells our Joplin affiliate KZRG (AM 1310) that it’s important to change that.

“After last year, the Legislature worked out the bonding issue. We’re going to be able to make lots of strides forward, in the infrastructure. We’re not going to be able to fix it all with that, but we’re going to make a step forward, and I think that’s what’s important,” Parson says.

Truckers and motorists along heavily-traveled I-44 near Joplin may have noticed the governor and television camera crews today, along with dozens of highway workers. Parson spoke to KZRG’s Ty Albright at the I-44 bridge over Shoal Creek, which was built in 1956. The governor says it was in poor condition.

“Just making sure that the public is aware of what’s going on and how we’re spending the money and why it’s so important that we keep these bridges and our infrastructure up,” says Parson.

State lawmakers approved the governor’s $350 million bridge bonding plan this year, which is aimed at repairing or replacing 250 deteriorating bridges. The two I-44 bridges are being replaced, using that funding.

Thousands of trucks cross the two bridges each year.

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Director Patrick McKenna joined the governor in Joplin.

Missouri congressman describes tornado-damaged Carl Junction as “total devastation” (AUDIO)

May 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A congressman who represents southwest Missouri on Capitol Hill describes the devastation in tornado-damaged Carl Junction as “mind-boggling.” U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, traveled to Carl Junction on Friday to view tornado damage.

Missouri Congressman Billy Long tours tornado-damaged Carl Junction on May 24, 2019 (photo courtesy of Congressman Long’s office)

He traveled by golf cart, to get further inside the battered subdivision.

“There were 19 homes that were totally destroyed, there’s a lot of them that suffered significant damage but they can probably be saved,” Long says.

Congressman Long says two-story homes were cut in half by the EF-3 tornado, which the National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says had estimated peak winds of 140 miles per hour.

The NWS says the tornado was on the ground for 14 minutes.

Long praises volunteers who turned out to assist, saying there is a lot of community spirit in the town of about 8,000 residents.

Long tells Missourinet one homeowner approached him during Friday’s tour, with tears in his eyes.

“(He) shook hands and hugged me and he said ‘thank you, thank you.’ He said, we saw you go by on the golf cart awhile ago and we were just so appreciative of you taking the time to come down here,” says Long.

He says residents are appreciative knowing that someone cares. Governor Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley also visited Carl Junction, after the tornado.

Long is encouraging Carl Junction residents who need assistance in the tornado’s aftermath to call his office. Congressman Long’s Springfield office number is (417) 889-1800 and his Joplin office number is (417) 781-1041.

Congressman Long also says he wishes he could propose legislation to eliminate May 22 on the calendar and go from May 21 to 23. While he’s being facetious, he says he’d like to never hear about May 22 again, except to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.

When Long’s oldest daughter was born on May 22, 1986, his wife’s hospital bed was moved into the hallway at Mercy Hospital in Springfield because of a tornado. The deadly 2011 Joplin and Wednesday’s Carl Junction tornadoes also happened on that date.

“May 22nd of 2011, May 22nd of 2019, just that day for some reason seems to really bring out the tornadoes here in tornado alley,” Long says.

Long describes the scene in Carl Junction as “total devastation.” He says he’s been in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to help in any way possible.

While there was no deaths nor injuries reported in Carl Junction, the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) says a tornado killed three people that evening in nearby Golden City.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Missouri Congressman Billy Long, which was recorded on May 24, 2019:

DPS confirms three storm fatalities in southwest Missouri’s Golden City area (AUDIO)

May 23, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirms three people have been killed in and near southwest Missouri’s Golden City, during Wednesday evening’s storms.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield issued numerous tornado warnings on May 22, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

Reporter Rob Meyer at Missourinet Joplin affiliate KZRG (AM 1310) says the storm stayed intact from Oklahoma into southeast Kansas and into Missouri.

“Joplin was spared but Carl Junction, which is a community just to the north of us, took significant damage. We have reports of several homes being completely destroyed,” Meyer says.

DPS confirms there were several injuries in Carl Junction, which is northwest of Joplin.

Jasper County’s emergency management director tells the “Joplin Globe” there is also tornado damage in nearby Oronogo.

The “Joplin Globe” reports Carl Junction schools have canceled classes for Thursday. The newspaper also reports the Carl Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing a volunteer effort to remove storm debris.

Meyer says Carl Junction authorities are working to determine how many homes were destroyed.

“I do know that the Carl Junction Police Department and the authorities up there are actually trying to keep people out of the affected area so they can assess the damage themselves,” says Meyer.

Meyer says about a dozen homes have been destroyed in Carl Junction, adding that numerous other homes have roof damage.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield will send survey teams to the area to determine if tornadoes or straight line winds caused the damage. However, Meyer, who anchored KZRG’s Wednesday night on-air coverage, tells Missourinet it was a tornado.

Meyer says the tornado stayed on the ground, intact, from Oklahoma into Kansas and then into southwest Missouri.

He also notes Wednesday was the 8th anniversary of the 2011 Joplin tornado, which killed about 160 people.

The NWS warned Wednesday morning that possible tornadoes and flash flooding were possible across southern Missouri.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview Wednesday evening with KZRG’s Rob Meyer, which was recorded on May 22, 2019, before the storm fatalities were confirmed by DPS: