Springfield Archives - Missourinet

Missouri Congressman Long and House Agriculture Committee chair to tour Ozarks (AUDIO)

August 19, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A southwest Missouri GOP congressman is bringing in a key Democrat on Capitol Hill for this week’s farm tour across the Ozarks.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long (second from right) visits Edgewood Farms in Purdy in August 2018 (file photo courtesy of Congressman Long’s office)

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, conducts the farm tour every August. Long’s guest this year is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota.

Long says Peterson, a founding member of the Democrats’ “Blue Dog” Coalition, understands agriculture.

“He’s a buddy of mine and he’s what I call a DINO, because he’s a Democrat in name-only, he votes pretty much like Republicans,” Long says. “But Collin is going to come down and be on our ag tour with us, which is really exciting for people.”

Long says they’ll be visiting several farms, and rural broadband is expected to be a main topic during the tour.

“Springfield and then we go out to Rogersville and then down to College of the Ozarks (in Point Lookout), so we do a east side, west side rotate every year and this is our east side of my district year,” says Long.

Long tells Missourinet farmers in his district are excited that Peterson is visiting. Long’s district includes Springfield, Joplin, Bolivar and Branson.

He and Peterson just returned from Brazil, where they toured a massive soybean and cotton farm. Long says Brazil is “ramping up production” of soybeans.

Peterson’s committee has jurisdiction over numerous issues, including the farm bill, disaster assistance and international trade.

Long spoke to Missourinet at Thursday’s governor’s ham breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. He describes the state fair as one of the best in the nation.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, which was recorded on August 15, 2019 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia:

Springfield Police arrest heavily-armed man who carried tactical rifle into Walmart

August 8, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(Reporter Jason Rima at Missourinet Springfield affiliate KSGF contributed to this story)

Police in southwest Missouri’s Springfield say a man carrying a tactical rifle and more than 100 rounds of ammunition was arrested this afternoon, after walking into a Walmart in Springfield. Police say there was no injuries and that no shots were fired.

Missourinet Springfield affiliate KSGF (FM 104.1) reports the man, who was wearing body armor and military-style fatigues, entered the Walmart near Republic and Golden at about 4:10 p.m.

KSGF reports the store manager saw the man and pulled the fire alarm, and that terrified shoppers ran outside into the parking lot.

Springfield Police Lieutenant Mike Lucas tells reporters the suspect was using his cellphone to video himself as he pushed a shopping cart through Walmart.

Lieutenant Lucas says when other shoppers went outside, the man followed them and was confronted by an off-duty firefighter who pulled his own gun.

Springfield Police then arrived and arrested the suspect. Lucas describes the Walmart scene as chaotic, with people hiding behind barriers to stay safe.

Springfield Police describe the suspect as “an armed white male in his twenties”, adding that the investigation continues and that detectives are working to determine his motives.

Detectives are requesting that anyone who was at the Walmart during today’s incident who didn’t speak to an officer to contact Springfield Police to file a report. That phone number is (417) 864-1810.

“Hailey’s Law” to become law in Missouri

July 16, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation requiring Missouri’s Amber Alert System Oversight Committee to meet at least annually has been signed into law by Governor Mike Parson.

State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 16, 2019 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, filed “Hailey’s Law” in response to the 2014 kidnapping, rape and killing of ten-year-old Hailey Owens in Springfield. Trent notes the oversight committee hasn’t met since 2015.

“And I think in the case of a very sensitive public safety issue like this there should be at least annual meetings to make sure we’re reviewing the Amber Alert System, that we’re identifying any new technologies,” Trent says.

51-year-old Craig Wood was convicted of first degree murder and has been sentenced to death, for killing Owens. Wood’s father, Jim, testified in April that Hailey’s life could have been saved if the Amber Alert was issued earlier.

Representative Trent tells Missourinet annual meetings will help identify any new procedures that should be used to ensure alerts are issued quickly.

“Because we know the statistics have shown, the data shows, that time is critical when you have a missing person,” says Trent.

The law, which takes effect in August, requires the Amber Alert System to be integrated into the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES).

Trent, who was first elected to the Missouri House in 2016, has sponsored the bill for three years. It has the support of both House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield. The murder happened in Quade’s district.

The bill also allows the oversight committee to include a representative from the outdoor advertising industry. Supporters say digital highway signs can be very effective.

Wood, who’s currently incarcerated in Potosi, is appealing his death sentence. The Missouri Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in April. The court has not issued an opinion yet.

Jim Wood and Hailey’s father, Markus, testified together during April’s hearing. They sat together in the hearing room. Both men attended Thursday’s bill-signing in Governor Parson’s office in Jefferson City.

Multiple tornado warnings have been issued across southwest Missouri (AUDIO)

May 21, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield has already issued multiple tornado warnings on Tuesday afternoon across the Ozarks. Tornado warnings have been issued for towns such as Mansfield, Hartville, Niangua and Marshfield.

The small towns of Plato and Competition are also under a tornado warning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield has issued a tornado watch across the Ozarks, which is in effect until 7 p.m. (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

The NWS’ tornado watch goes until 7 this evening for 14 southwest Missouri counties, including the cities of Springfield, Branson and Ava.

Meantime, the National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis has issued a tornado watch for much of central, eastern and southeast Missouri until 10 this evening. Cities in the tornado watch area include St. Louis, Jefferson City, Columbia, Troy, Farmington and Poplar Bluff.

NWS Springfield meteorologist Cory Rothstein says West Plains is also in the watch area. He says the watch area there is primarily along, south and east of the I-44 corridor.

Rothstein says golf-ball sized hail and 70 mile-per-hour winds are possible, along with additional flooding.

Mr. Rothstein warns motorists and truck drivers about the additional flooding.

“The main concern also with this will be additional flooding of upwards of two inches on a localized basis, in addition to the two to five inches we saw yesterday with yesterday’s storms,” Rothstein says.

Rothstein says the ground is already saturated across the Ozarks, because of heavy May rainfall.

“So far to date we’ve actually gotten about six inches here in the Springfield area, which is about two-and-a-half inches above normal,” says Rothstein.

The NWS in Pleasant Hill says Kansas City has already received 7.46 inches of rain in May. NWS notes the normal rainfall amount for the entire month of May in Kansas City is about five inches, and today is only May 21.

The NWS in Pleasant Hill also warns that isolated tornadoes are possible today across a large section of Missouri, including Kansas City.

The state Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) traveler map says about 300 state roads are closed.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with National Weather Service Springfield meteorologist Cory Rothstein, which was recorded on May 21, 2019:

UPDATED: Springfield couple indicted for embezzlement, bribery in continuing prosecution of former Preferred Family Healthcare executives

April 11, 2019 By Missourinet Contributor

UPDATED: Spokesman for U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri tells Missourinet that this is an ongoing investigation.

A federal grand jury has indicted two former executives of a Springfield, Missouri-based charity for embezzlement, bribes and illegal campaign contributions. This is another indictment in a series of prosecutions against former executives and staff of the non-profit Preferred Family Healthcare.

Preferred Family Healthcare has cooperated in the two and a half year investigation.

The case was unsealed Thursday against Bontiea Bernedette Goss, 63, her husband, Tommy Ray Goss, aka “Tom,” 63, both residents of Springfield, Missouri, and Boulder, Colorado, and Jeremy Young Hutchinson, 45, of Little Rock, Arkansas

According to the case summary, the indictment alleges that the Gosses, while high-level executives at Preferred Family Healthcare Inc. (formerly known as Alternative Opportunities Inc.), and Hutchinson, who is an attorney and served as a state senator in the Arkansas Senate from 2011 to 2018, along with others, participated in a conspiracy from 2005 to November 2017 to embezzle and misapply the funds of a charitable organization that received federal funds, to pay bribes and kickbacks to elected officials, including Hutchinson.

According to the indictment, in exchange for the bribes and kickbacks offered by the Gosses and other co-conspirators, Hutchinson and other elected officials allegedly provided favorable legislative and official action for the charity, including directing funds from the state’s General Improvement Fund.

The indictment also alleges that the Gosses embezzled and funneled charity funds for their personal benefit, including:

causing the charity to pay for chartered air flights for the Gosses to commute between their home in Colorado and their work at the charity’s office in Springfield;
providing millions of dollars in interest-free loans to their for-profit companies;
charging the charity inflated prices to lease vehicles from their for-profit companies;
renting charity-owned commercial real estate to one of their for-profit companies at below-market rates or, in some instances, for free; and
using charity funds to pay for personal services for themselves, including child and pet care, housekeeping and cleaning their personal residences, picking up and delivering groceries, and shoveling snow, among other personal services paid for by the charity.

The Alternative Opportunities charity merged in 2015 with Preferred Family Healthcare that serves patients in Missouri and neighboring states. Services include mental and behavioral health treatment and counseling, substance abuse treatment and counseling, employment assistance, aid to individuals with developmental disabilities and medical services.

In a statement provided to Missourinet, PFH says “At the time of the merger proposal, Mr. and Mrs. Goss knew that federal prosecutors were investigating public corruption by AO, but they concealed the existence of that investigation from PFH.”

In September of 2018, PFH sued the Gosses, other former staff of AO, and others who worked with the Gosses for actual and punitive damages.

Win a prize pack to check out the Springfield Cardinals and make plans to take trip to the middle of it all in Springfield. (Google Hangout)

April 28, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Check out a Springfield Cardinals game this summer (photo/Springfield CVB)

It’s spring time, the weather is warming up and we’ll be getting our families out of the house to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re planning a day trip, a long weekend, maybe even a family vacation, you don’t have to look very far. In fact, you can find some cool things to do right here in Missouri.

One area you should look at is Springfield and it’s surroundings.

Springfield is the third largest city in the state and Susan Wade, Public Relations Manager of the Springfield CVB, tells us in the Google Hangout below, they have plenty to offer from museums, professional sports, and great restaurants.

“Springfield has a lot to offer, everything you would expect from a big city, but small enough that you’re still comfortable,” says Wade.

Whether your family is into sporting events, like the Springfield Cardinals, shopping at Bass Pro or checking out a museum, or spending the afternoon at a spa or golf course, Springfield has much to offer.

“Minor league baseball is all about the experience,” says Dan Reiter, Director of Sales and Marketing Springfield Cardinals. “Our staff is trying to give people an experience, right from the moment they walk in.”

We want to help kick start your summer by giving you can chance to win prize package. The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, May 26th, but the winner will receive:

– 2 nights at the Best Western Plus Coach House

– $100 Bass Pro Shops Gift Card

– 4 Springfield Cardinals tickets

– $100 to Gilardi’s Ristorante

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Susan Wade and Dan Reiter join me on this Google Hangout to talk more about making Springfield your next getaway destination.

Springfield area teams rallying around wounded Springfield police officer Aaron Pearson. More events planned to raise money

February 13, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Springfield Police Officer Aaron Pearson

Springfield area teams are coming together to help raise funds for Springfield police officer Aaron Pearson, who was shot in the head during an investigation early on January 26th. On Tuesday, basketball rivals Kickapoo and Glendale raised over $2,000 for Pearson at a boys game held at Drury University.

Next Saturday, the Springfield Express junior hockey team announced a fundraiser next Saturday at the home game. The Springfield Express have selected the February 20th game against the OKC Blazers as Officer Pearson Fundraiser Night. All tickets will be $10.00 for Premier and General Admission. All monies collected for this game will go directly to Officer Pearson’s family for support in his recovery. Please come out February 20th and support your this great family and your community.

Missouri State University will host a soccer exhibition match between USL clubs St. Louis FC and Oklahoma City Energy FC on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 and a portion of the gate proceeds will benefit the Pearson family. Both teams are affiliated with Major League Soccer Clubs.

Click here to read more on officer Pearson’s story.

Infected Springfield restaurant worker could have exposed 5,000 to Hepatitis A

May 21, 2014 By Mike Lear

The Springfield-Green County Health Department says as many as 5,000 customers at a Springfield restaurant could have been exposed to Hepatitis A.

The Department says one worker at the Red Robin on South Glenstone has tested positive for the virus. Those who ate at the restaurant between May 8 and May 11 are urged to get vaccinated.

4,000 doses of vaccine are on the way to Springfield from Memphis, Tennessee and will be administered at clinics this weekend. The vaccine is said to only be effective if given within 14 days. Pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems are urged to visit their doctor.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can result in sickness ranging from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to severe symptoms lasting several months. It is easily transmitted from person to person in a food service environment.

The Department says the restaurant is cooperating and has vaccinated other employees.

For details on local vaccination clinics and to view a statement from Red Robin on the incident see this story on the website of our affiliate, KTTS.

Police say all children accounted for after report of abduction in Springfield

May 20, 2014 By Mike Lear

Springfield Police say all of the children at an elementary school matching the description of the reported victim in a possible child abduction have been accounted for.

Two young girls reported what appeared to have been a child abduction Tuesday afternoon. Police responded to Bissett Elementary School where they reviewed surveillance tape and checked on the whereabouts of children match the description given by the girls. No children have been reported missing.

Police are asking any parents who may have disciplined children near the school Tuesday afternoon to talk to investigators.

No Amber Alert was issued in regard to Tuesday’s incident. Police say with only vague descriptions and no child reported missing, the circumstances did not meet the criteria for one.

See earlier story

Authorities investigating report of an abduction at a Springfield elementary school

May 20, 2014 By Mike Lear

Police in Springfield are responding to the report of a possible child abduction from Bissett Elementary School.

Police confirm they are looking for a white kindergarten-aged girl. She might be wearing a pink shirt and blue jeans and have light hair, but that description is not confirmed. They are looking for a heavy-set black male in his 20s wearing an orange shirt in a grey or blue, older, beat-up vehicle.

A reporter for the Springfield News-Leader, Jonathan Shorman, says a police spokesman tells him camera footage is being reviewed.

Police are not calling the incident an abduction at this time.

Authorities ask anyone with information to call the Springfield Police.