Nixa Archives - Missourinet

Missouri motorcycle helmet legislation is still under review

June 10, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor is still reviewing legislation that would allow some motorcyclists to ride without a helmet.

State Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on February 20, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The provision is included in a large transportation bill that is now on Governor Mike Parson’s desk. Parson’s spokeswoman, Kelli Jones, told Missourinet on Wednesday that the large bill is still under review.

Current Missouri law requires every person operating or riding a motorcycle to wear protective headgear.

The provision in the transportation bill would allow riders 26 and older to operate a motorcycle without a helmet, if they have both medical insurance and proof of financial responsibility.

A national highway safety organization is calling on the governor to veto the bill, because of the helmet provision. The organization “Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety” says the helmet law saves lives and prevents life-long brain trauma.

The group also says it will be difficult to enforce, saying it will be hard for police to know if a motorcyclist driving by is 26 or older.

State Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, and other supporters of repealing the helmet law say it’s an issue of freedom. They say Missourians 26 or older should be able to decide whether or not they want to wear a helmet.

The organization “Freedom of the Road Riders” also supports the repeal. Their members travel to the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City each year to ask lawmakers to support a helmet repeal.

This is a perennial issue that’s been debated annually at the Capitol for more than 25 years.

At least three governors, including GOP Governor Parson, have vetoed helmet repeal legislation. Governor Parson vetoed a broad bill in 2019, that included a helmet repeal. The governor’s objections were to a different part of that overall bill.

Then-Governor Mel Carnahan (D) vetoed a similar motorcycle helmet bill in 1999, and then-Governor Jay Nixon (D) vetoed a similar bill in 2009. None of those three vetoes were overridden.

Heavy rain heading to far southern Missouri; forecasters warn of possible flooding (AUDIO)

November 6, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says far southern Missouri towns could see two to three inches of rainfall by Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service in Springfield says heavy rainfall is expected overnight in far southern Missouri (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

NWS Springfield warning coordination meteorologist Steve Runnels says Branson, Gainesville and West Plains could see three inches of rain.

“We’re going to see just a ton of rainfall coming out of Oklahoma moving into the southern part of Missouri during the course of the evening into the overnight hours,” Runnels says. “It’s something that’s kind of unusual for this time of the year.”

Runnels says prolonged rain could cause low-lying areas to flood, and warns about possible flooding after dark.

“People that are traveling along Highway 60 and on south should be anticipating very heavy rainfall starting sometime mid to late evening and lasting into the nighttime hours,” says Runnels.

Runnels says far southwest Missouri’s Anderson will also see heavy rainfall. Further north, Springfield and Nixa are expected to receive at least an inch of rain.

Click here to listen to the full two-minute interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield warning coordination meteorologist Steve Runnels, which was recorded on November 6, 2019:

Nixa’s Frerich turns on the speed late to punch her ticket to Rio in Women’s Steeplechase (VIDEO/AUDIO)

July 9, 2016 By Bill Pollock

Courtney Frerichs (back left), passes Colleen Quigley (back right) as they chase Emma Coburn. All three are U.S. Olympians (NBCSN screen shot)

What a year it’s been for Nixa, Missouri’s Courtney Frerichs. After graduating from UMKC, she just completed her first year of graduate studies at New Mexico. She led the Lady Lobos to the NCAA DI cross country title in the fall, and then won the 3,000 meter steeplechase and setting the collegiate record with a time of 9:24 at the NCAA Championships back in June.

Follow Frerichs on Twitter

On Thursday night, Frerichs was back in Eugene, Oregon competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Emma Coburn won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:17.48.

Frerichs was a distant fourth heading into the final lap well behind Coburn, Stephanie Garcia and Colleen Quigley. On the back stretch, Frerich kicked it in gear closing the gap. Garcia fell over the final barrier making it a three-person race down the stretch as Frerich’s pulled ahead of Quigley at the end, a teammate of hers from the Bowerman Track Club, for second place. All three are headed to Rio.

Watch the final lap

An excited and exhausted Frerich was interviewed by NBCSN after the race.

“This year couldn’t have gone more perfect,” said Frerichs. “To be with these two girls (Coburn and Quiqley), I’m just so happy.”

Helias Catholic and Nixa open the 2014 football season on ESPNU, Sunday, August 24th

July 1, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Helias defenders tackle a Marshall running back. (photo/Pam Bax, Helias High School website)

The Helias Cathohlic Crusaders from Jefferson City will open the 2014 football season Sunday, Aug. 24, with a game against the Nixa Eagles that will be televised by ESPNU from Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.

Nixa, a Class 5 school finished 9-2 last season and beat Branson before losing to Springfield-Kickapoo in the quarterfinals of last year’s Show Me Bowl. Helias, a Class 4 school, is coming off back-to-back appearances in the Show Me Bowl finals, where they finished runner-up to Webb City.

Helias was set to move forward with a game on ESPNU against Rock Bridge, but the deal fell through. The ESPN Network approached Helias once again about the Nixa game and both schools agreed.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our football program, our school and the entire Jefferson City community,” Helias head coach Phil Pitts told the Jefferson City News Tribune.

The Nixa Eagles will be featured on ESPNU this August 24th. (photo/TalonTalk.com)

The game, originally scheduled to kick off on Friday, Aug. 22, was re-scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start that Sunday and if heat is an issue, the start time could be pushed back to later in the day.

Both schools will receive a stipend for agreeing to appear in the game.