Joplin Archives - Missourinet

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:

National Weather Service warns of possible tornadoes and flash flooding in southern Missouri tonight (AUDIO)

May 22, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says severe weather is possible again late Wednesday afternoon and tonight across parts of the Ozarks, including Joplin and Nevada.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says tornadoes, tennis ball-sized hail and flooding are possible tonight in the Ozarks (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

NWS Springfield meteorologist Cory Rothstein tells Missourinet all modes of severe weather are possible, including tornadoes.

“Primarily looking at some supercell thunderstorms developing this afternoon and evening, mainly along and northwest of a line from Neosho to Osage Beach,” Rothstein says.

He says Lamar and Stockton are also included in the “moderate” category, which is the fourth-highest of five categories.

“We’re looking at a strong tornado to even possible with these supercells, large hail up to the size of tennis balls and damaging wind gusts to 70 miles per hour,” says Rothstein.

The NWS also warns that significant flash flooding is possible tonight in the Ozarks. They remind you that 12 inches of water can sweep a car off the road.

Meanwhile, NWS survey crews have confirmed that a tornado struck southwest Missouri’s Marshfield on Tuesday. Mr. Rothstein says there were no injuries in the Marshfield tornado.

“That one was an EF-1 tornado that was confirmed,” Rothstein says. “There was damage to a roof on a house and then multiple trees as well.”

The NWS says the Marshfield tornado began two miles west of Mansfield and was on the ground for 23 minutes on Tuesday, from 3:17 to 3:40 p.m. Its peak winds were 110 miles per hour.

The tornado’s path length was almost 22 miles.

The NWS is also confirming this was the tornado that struck the Town and Country Supermarket in Hartville, the town’s only grocery store.

The supermarket’s storefront has collapsed and the back of the store has blown in. The ceiling has also fallen in, and store owners have been working to remove debris.

There was no deaths nor serious injuries reported in any of Tuesday’s tornadoes or storms in southwest Missouri.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield meteorologist Cory Rothstein, which was recorded on May 22, 2019:

Attorney General settles with fundraiser that pocketed Joplin tornado response donations

March 6, 2014 By Mike Lear

The Attorney General’s Office says it has recovered more than $39,000 of money donated to help Joplin recover from the May, 2011 tornado, but used by a fundraiser for personal expenses.

Attorney General Chris Koster says Sidney Ray-Bazan agreed to pay $39,200 to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for rebuilding efforts in Joplin. His office’s investigation revealed that she had taken a large portion of the $133,000 she collected as the owner of Relief Spark.

“The money was diverted by an unscrupulous fundraiser from donations intended to help tornado victims, but was instead diverted for her personal use,” says Koster.

He says Ray-Bazan spent that money on things including meals at restaurants, coffee shops, upscale children’s clothing boutiques, veterinary offices, grocery stores and her children’s babysitter.

Koster says the check will be turned over to Rebuild Joplin, a non-profit agency dedicated to the Joplin rebuilding effort.

Ray-Bazan also agreed not to solicit funds for any charitable purpose in Missouri for five years.

“I felt that the just thing to do was simply to make things right, put things back where they should have been,” says Koster, “So we’re going to close the prosecution at this point.”

The agreement is subject to court approval.

Joe Lancello, KZRG in Joplin contributed to this report

Report: better building codes, public shelters could have saved lives in Joplin tornado

November 22, 2013 By Mike Lear

A federal report on the May 2011 Joplin tornado says better building code standards and public shelters could save lives when storms like that happen.

The May 22, 2011 Joplin Tornado killed 161 people and injured 1,000 and caused $3-billion in property damage, destroying about 7,500 homes and 553 businesses. (photo courtesy; Naitonal Weather Service)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a nearly 500-page report containing 47 findings and 16 recommendations.

The Institute began its study within days of that EF-5 tornado, that killed 161 people.

It learned that many people in Joplin tried to ride out that storm in homes, public buildings and businesses. Its report says fewer people would have died if those structures were built to resist tornadoes.

According to the Institute’s Director of Disaster and Failure Studies Eric Letvin, “Neither residential nor large commercial buildings in Joplin adequately protected building occupants. There were no community shelters in Joplin in May 2011 and residents had limited access to underground or tornado-resistant structures.”

The Institute recommends the development of national performance-based standards for tornado-resistant building designs, installation of tornado shelters in buildings, and the creation of national codes and standards for clear, consistent and accurate emergency communications.

Joplin City Officials have received that report. City Manager Mark Rohr says the City’s view is that residents should find shelter in a storm as close as possible to where they are when it hits.

“We’re not convinced that exposing themselves to the elements by getting out in the car and going to some kind of public shelter is the best idea given all the circumstances that are surrounding a tornadic-type event,” Rohr says.

Rohr says he will have city staff go over the report and prepare recommendations to present to the city within the next month.

See the report here.

Jason Rima, KTTS in Springfield and Darrin Wright, KZRG in Joplin contributed to this report.

Missouri Southern football assistant dies in Joplin shooting

November 4, 2013 By Bill Pollock

Missouri Southern assistant coach Derek Moore

Joplin police said Saturday that the Jasper County prosecutor’s office has charged 39 year old Jeffery L. Bruner of Joplin with felony murder and armed criminal action in the death of 37-year-old Derek Moore. Moore died from injuries after he was shot Friday night as he left a Joplin movie theater.

“It is not a random shooting. It was targeted,” Sgt. Jared Delzell told media outlets. Delzell said the motive is under investigation.

Bruner is being held without bond in Joplin. Jail officials say it’s not clear if he has a lawyer.

Moore was in his first year as a Missouri Southern offensive line coach. He came to MSSU after three seasons at Western Illinois.

The university canceled homecoming activities and said in a statement the school was “stunned and deeply saddened” by Moore’s death.

“The Missouri Southern athletics community is deeply saddened by the events that have occurred,” said Athletics Director Jared Bruggeman. “In times like this, our priority is to make sure we are there for our student-athletes, coaches and support staff in whatever way necessary.”

Missouri Southern was scheduled to host Lindenwood University from St. Charles, Mo.

Cardinals present big check to Joplin children

August 21, 2012 By Bill Pollock

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals (L to R) hitting coach Mark McGwire, manager Mike Matheny and General Manager John Mozeliak, pound nails into boards as they help rebuild homes in Joplin on August 20, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Following their marathon 19 inning, six hour, seven minute game on Sunday, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, hitting coach Mark McGwire and several other staff flew to Joplin to help build for Habitat for Humanity on Monday, as part of the Governor’s Joplin Challenge to build 35 houses. The Cardinals also presented a check for $200,000 that will be spread out to four children’s charities in Joplin.

The donations to Children’s Haven, Bright Futures, Ronald McDonald House of Joplin and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jasper & Newton Counties/Joplin were made possible by the generosity of fans who donated money to Cardinals Care’s Joplin Recovery fund as part of the Teams Unite for Joplin effort last summer.

“It’s unbelievable how far they’ve come since the devastation last year,” McGwire said. “It’s really cool that we’re a part of it. Mike Matheny and I were asked by general manager John Mozeliak and we said, ‘Absolutely, let’s go.’ How could we not? My brother back in California does this line of work. I have a lot of respect for these hard-working men and women who do this. It’s a lot of work.”

The checks were presented to four agencies who work with children in Joplin — $70,000 to Children’s Haven, $40,000 to Bright Futures, $20,000 to Ronald McDonald House, and $70,000 to Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

Surveillance cameras catch images of possible Joplin mosque fire suspect (PHOTOS)

July 5, 2012 By Mike Lear

Jasper County authorities are investigating a fire at a mosque in Joplin as a case of arson. The Islamic Society of Joplin was damaged by an early morning fire Wednesday. Sheriff Archie Dunn says the facility’s security camera caught photos of a suspect they’d like to talk to.

“We’re hoping somebody can help us identify that person so we can interview them to see if they have any part in this.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for state and federal agencies to investigate the case as a possible hate crime. The FBI has been called in to join the investigation.

Darrin Wright at KZRG in Joplin contributed to this report.

Obama, Nixon speak at Joplin High School graduation (VIDEO, AUDIO)

May 22, 2012 By Mike Lear

The Joplin High School Class of 2012 has graduated in a ceremony that took on a double meaning, as President Barack Obama and Governor Jay Nixon helped to celebrate the class and to mark the one year anniversary of the tornado that devastated the community.

The President greeted the 431 members of the Joplin Class of 2012 ahead of the ceremony. Then in his address, he recalled what happened nearly a year earlier only hours after the Class of 2011 graduated.

“The most powerful tornado in six decades tore a path of devastation through Joplin that was nearly a mile wide and thirteen long. In just 32 minutes it took thousands of homes and hundreds businesses and 161 of your neighbors, friends and family.”

Some of those killed were close to the graduates. “It took a classmate, Will Norton, who had just left this auditorium with a diploma in his hand. It took Lantz Hare, who should have received his diploma next year.”

The night was also marked with humor. Class President Chloe Hadley recalled how her senior year had been spent in makeshift facilities, including a local shopping center. “With all confidence I can say I am proud to be a member of the North Park Mall graduates of 2012.”

Superintendent C.J. Huff told the graduates he is proud of them. “If I could have picked a motto for this class, it would simply be this, ‘No excuses.’ Class of 2012, you have shown amazing leadership and character in the face of overwhelming adversity. You have shown the world not only that of which you are capable but also that of which you are made.”

AUDIO: Hear Governor Nixon’s speech, 9:18

AUDIO: Joplin School District Superintendent C.J. Huff, 7:13