Nevada Archives - Missourinet

Brattin and Kinney running to replace State Senator Emery in western Missouri

November 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

(News director Andrew Pitkin at Missourinet Nevada affiliate KNEM contributed to this story)

Two familiar names are hoping to replace term-limited State Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, in rural western Missouri. Emery is being forced out of the Legislature by term limits, after serving 16 years, eight in each chamber.

State Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, speaks on the Missouri Senate floor in Jefferson City on February 19, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Jonathan Lorenz at Senate Communications)

Emery chaired the Senate Government Reform Committee.

Former State Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, served in the Missouri House from 2011-2018, before being forced out of that chamber by term limits.

One of the issues he’s championed and filed in recent years is legislation to authorize a property tax exemption for people who have owned real property for thirty years and those who have owned personal property for ten years. Real property is land and homes.

Brattin’s bill has never gained much traction, due to opposition from education groups worried about school funding. Brattin says Missourians pay for personal property or real property taxes forever.

Brattin’s Democratic opponent is former Sweet Springs Mayor Raymond Kinney, who lives in Raymore. Kinney grew up in the small town of Cleveland, Missouri, south of Kansas City.

One of his top priorities is assisting small, rural towns with infrastructure. He says rural Missouri towns are struggling to keep up with roads, water lines, as well as police and fire protection.

Kinney notes that in many small towns, the income level is low, resulting in low tax dollars. He says before focusing on high-profile issues, attention must be given to the infrastructural backbone of our communities.

Missouri’s 31st senatorial district covers five rural counties: Barton, Bates, Cass, Henry and Vernon. The district has been Republican. The late State Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, held it for years. Then-State Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, also held the seat, although he was elected to that seat as a Republican and later switched parties.

Towns in the district include Lamar, Harrisonville, Butler, Clinton and Nevada. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the district.

Expect transition tonight between snow and freezing drizzle in parts of western and mid-Missouri (AUDIO)

October 26, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) may extend the winter weather advisory for northwest, western and west-central Missouri, which is currently in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Pleasant Hill has issued a winter weather advisory until 1 a.m. Tuesday (October 26, 2020 maps courtesy of NWS Pleasant Hill Twitter page)

NWS Pleasant Hill meteorologist Scott Blair says elevated areas like bridges will see the most accumulation.

“We’ll continue to monitor that and see if there’s any changes that we might need to extend that for, at least the very worst of it is going to be between now and the early morning hours on Tuesday,” Blair says.

A line between Kansas City, Marshall and Moberly is expected to see one to two inches of snow. About 1.5 inches of snow have already fallen in Pleasant Hill.

Since 2 a.m. Monday, Kansas City Police have responded to about 100 injury crashes involving snow, and to another 46 non-injury crashes. Kansas City Police are urging motorists to slow down.

Mr. Blair says three inches of snow is possible by tonight in western Missouri’s Warrensburg and Belton.

Meantime, freezing drizzle and icy conditions are possible tonight into Tuesday morning in western, west-central and mid-Missouri. Blair says Kansas City, Marshall, Sedalia, Columbia and Jefferson City could be impacted.

“As the snow begins to wrap up towards this evening, we’re going to see a transition between snow and some freezing drizzle, some light glazing possible in those areas you mentioned,” says Blair.

Western Missouri’s Nevada and Clinton could also be impacted.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Scott Blair, which was recorded on October 26, 2020:

Missouri congresswoman says Republican National Convention will focus on optimism and heroes (AUDIO)

August 24, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A west-central Missouri GOP congresswoman says this week’s 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte will focus on optimism.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, spoke at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia on August 21, 2020, along with two USDA officials (photo courtesy of Brownfield’s Julie Harker)

While U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, isn’t a delegate this year, she’s excited about the convention.

“And looking at the great American heroes that we have in our local communities, and how we together collectively have made this the greatest country in the world,” Hartzler says.

She predicts Americans will be inspired by their stories. The convention, which begins Monday, will primarily be virtual.

Congresswoman Hartzler says law-and-order will be a theme at the convention. She is praising President Donald Trump’s leadership.

“Making us safer as a nation and contrasting that to what we’re seeing on the other side of chaos and lawlessness versus law and other. I don’t think we want to go there,” says Hartzler.

The widow of retired St. Louis Police Captain David Dorn will be addressing the nation on Thursday evening. Mr. Dorn was killed during June looting on a night where four other St. Louis police officers were also shot, in the line of duty.

St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards told St. Louis reporters the next day that more than 200 people engaged in “persistent criminal activity” overnight. He also announced that the FBI, ATF, the Missouri National Guard, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other agencies had arrived to help patrol St. Louis, after the early June incidents.

Hartzler, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, says this week’s convention will also focus on the military. Her district includes Fort Leonard Wood in southern Missouri’s Pulaski County, and Whiteman Air Force Base in western Missouri’s Knob Noster.

“I think it’s going to look at the amazing achievements that have been done in the last three or four years, to grow the economy, to rebuild our military,” Hartzler says.

Hartzler, who was elected to the House in 2010, is finishing her fifth term on Capitol Hill. Her district also includes Columbia, Moberly, Sedalia and Nevada.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis are scheduled to speak on Monday evening. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D) filed a felony unlawful use of a weapon count against each of the McCloskeys, for a June incident outside their Central West End home. They were seen pointing guns at protesters. The McCloskeys have said they feared for their lives that evening.

Like last week’s Democratic convention, Missourinet will have coverage throughout the GOP convention.

Congresswoman Hartzler spoke to Missourinet on Friday, after an event with two top USDA officials at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, which was recorded on August 21, 2020 outside the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia:

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:

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:

National Weather Service warns Friday’s commute will be hazardous across much of Missouri (AUDIO)

January 16, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather advisory for northern, west-central, western and southwest Missouri.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pleasant Hill has updated their forecast for January 17, 2020 (map courtesy of NWS Pleasant Hill Twitter)

NWS Pleasant Hill meteorologist Scott Blair says Kansas City, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Columbia and Jefferson City will see snow and ice on Friday.

“What we’re looking at is a wintry mess out there and really it’s going to be a transition of precipitation types throughout this whole event,” Blair says.

He says the storm system will be moving from southwest to northeast Missouri.

The storm is expected to begin Friday morning in the 3-8 a.m. time frame. Blair tells Missourinet that Friday’s morning and evening commutes will be hazardous for Kansas City, Warrensburg, Columbia and Osage Beach.

“What we’re going to be seeing is snowfall starting out in these places Friday morning,” says Blair. “And as a little bit warmer weather moves into the area we’ll see that precipitation type change to a little bit of sleet and then eventually some freezing rain,” says Blair.

Springfield, Lebanon, Rolla and West Plains are also expected to see ice on Friday.

The Highway 63 corridor will see the heaviest amounts of ice, with up to a quarter-of-an-inch expected in Jefferson City, Columbia and Kirksville. Far western Missouri’s Butler and Nevada could also see up to a quarter-of-an-inch of ice.

The NWS says northwest Missouri will see the heaviest snowfall on Friday, with more than three inches expected in Maryville and Bethany.

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 January 16, 2020:

Rural Missouri town approves sales tax aimed at saving hospital

August 7, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(News director Tony Abati at Missourinet Nevada affiliate KNEM contributed to this story)

Voters in southwest Missouri’s Nevada have voted to increase their taxes to save their hospital. Tuesday’s half-cent sales tax ballot measure was approved by 89 percent of voters.

Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is located in southwest Missouri’s Vernon County (2019 file photo courtesy of NRMC)

Dr. Warren Lovinger, who chairs a group called “Citizens United to Strengthen Our Hospital”, tells our Nevada affiliate KNEM (AM 1240) that the vote is a strong community mandate for Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC).

“I can honestly say of all the people I had the pleasure of speaking to, it was almost unanimous the support,” Lovinger says. “And in situations where people were concerned, it was a matter of communication.”

The vote will help the 71-bed NRMC pay off its debts. The tax is expected to generate about $800,000 annually, specifically for bond payments.

Nevada Regional is the only hospital between Kansas City and Joplin that delivers babies. Dr. Lovinger tells KNEM he’s ecstatic.

“We feel that the issue sells itself, that we really want to have a hospital and a strong hospital not just now but in the future,” says Lovinger.

Nevada Regional serves six counties and is an acute, intensive and skilled care hospital.

The Missouri Farm Bureau and the Missouri Hospital Association note seven rural Missouri hospitals have closed in the past five years.

Missouri Hospital Association President Herb Kuhn wrote a June column on this very issue.

“When a rural hospital closes, it leads to a daisy chain of events- including the loss of access to hospital and other health services that result in medical deserts. That’s unacceptable,” Kuhn wrote.

The Missouri Hospital Association launched a Reimagine rural health initiative in January, that emphasizes the need for investments in rural health care. Mr. Kuhn says it was influenced by Governor Mike Parson’s (R) rural health summit.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, and other House Democrats have called for Medicaid expansion, saying that would help rural hospitals and residents.

Missouri independent congressional hopeful focusing on Social Security (AUDIO)

July 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A man from southwest Missouri’s Nevada hopes to become the first independent elected to Congress from Missouri since 1996.

35-year-old Robert Smith of Nevada plans to run for Congress as an independent in 2020 (photo courtesy of Mr. Smith)

Robert Smith says he will run as an independent in 2020 against U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, in the sprawling fourth district. He says the two major parties have a duopoly which disenfranchises voters.

“I feel that whenever you’re elected as a Republican or a Democrat, you have to hold party lines, you owe favors,” Smith says.

He says preserving Social Security is one of his top priorities, along with reducing the national debt. He also wants to see increased livable wages. Smith, who worries Social Security will be insolvent by 2035, supports legalizing marijuana and hemp to provide funding for Social Security.

“I believe with the cannabis and the hemp, hemp can open up new industries,” says Smith. “We can make paper, you can make biodegradable plastics which can start fighting pollution.”

Hartzler, who was elected to Congress in 2010, is expected to seek a sixth House term next year. The district includes Columbia, Sedalia, Warrensburg, Lebanon and Moberly. It includes Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Noster.

Missouri hasn’t elected an independent to Congress since 1996, when Cape Girardeau’s Jo Ann Emerson won. Her husband, then-Congressman Bill Emerson (R), died in June 1996, and because of state law at the time, she had to run as an independent. That’s because the filing deadline for the election had already closed. While she ran in 1996 as an independent, Emerson had the backing of Missouri GOP leaders at the time. After being elected, Emerson was a Republican.

As for Smith, he knows that it’s been 23 years since an independent was elected to Congress from Missouri. He’s pledging to impose term limits on himself.

“As a U.S. House of Representatives member I will not seek more than three terms, which would be six years,” Smith says.

He also says he would reject medical benefits and the congressional retirement package, if elected.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Robert Smith of Nevada, which was recorded in July 2019:

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:

Flash flood watch in effect for much of central and southwest Missouri (AUDIO)

May 7, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flash flood watch for parts of mid-Missouri as well as southwest Missouri. The watch remains in effect through Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis has issued a flash flood watch for much of mid-Missouri (map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter page)

NWS Springfield meteorologist Jason Schaumann tells Missourinet the watch area covers a large geographic area.

“We’re talking from Nevada to Clinton, Sedalia, Jeff City, Osage Beach and then down towards Lebanon, Buffalo and Bolivar,” Schaumann says.

Schaumann says parts of the Ozarks have seen four to eight inches of rainfall in the last couple of weeks, adding that some areas have received ten inches. He says heavy rain will likely cause low-lying areas to flood, along with areas near streams and rivers.

Schaumann says an additional one to three inches of rainfall is expected in the watch area, where the ground is already saturated.

“You will literally see hundreds of low-water crossings that can flood across the Missouri Ozarks, the central Missouri area, and eventually then we’re going to see some rivers flood,” says Schaumann.

Schaumann says several rounds of thunderstorms are expected to move through. He also reminds you to never drive through a flooded roadway.

Meantime, the NWS in Springfield warns southwest Missouri residents that they may see severe weather again overnight. Mr. Schaumann tells Missourinet a squall line of thunderstorms is expected to push in late Tuesday night into the morning.

“That’s going to move from west to east across the region and that may carry some damaging winds with it, especially the further west you go towards the I-49 corridor,” Schaumann says.

A squall line is a band of strong winds and storms associated with a cold front.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield meteorologist Jason Schaumann, which was recorded on May 7, 2019: