Merriam Woods couple seriously injured in motorcycle accident, husband airlifted to Mercy Springfield

A Merriam Woods couple were injured in a motorcycle accident 7:25 a.m. today on Route F, three miles north of Branson.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Brandan Ketterman, 49, Merriam Woods, lost control on a curve, went off the right side of the way, struck a guardrail and ejected Ketterman and a passenger, his wife Crystal Ketterman, 46.

Brandan Ketterman was airlifted to Mercy Springfield with serious injuries.

Crystal Ketterman was treated for serious injuries at Mercy.

Complete video- Springfield City Council meeting

Kirbyville man seriously injured crashing into parked pickup cited for DWI

A Kirbyville man was charged with driving while intoxicated following a two-vehicle collision 1:14 a.m. today on MO 76, two miles west of Forsyth.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2002 Toyota Camry driven by Marvin Bell, 58, Kirbyville, ran off the roadway and struck a parked 2012 Chevrolet pickup.

Bell, who was treated for serious injuries at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, was also cited for failing to drive on the right half of the roadway and for not wearing a seat belt.

Springfield woman seriously injured in rollover crash on 65

A Springfield woman was injured in a one-vehicle accident 6:30 p.m. Monday on U. S. 65, a quarter of a mile north of Springfield.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2013 Nissan Rogue driven by Nicole E. Parker, 33, Springfield, ran off the roadway and overturned.

Parker was treated for serious injuries at Mercy Hospital, Springfield.

Stockton woman killed in one-vehicle accident, Springfield woman flown to Cox South

One person was killed and another one injured in a one-vehicle accident 5:21 p.m. Friday on Route J. two miles southwest of Birdsong in St. Clair County.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2001 Toyota Sequoia driven by Rebecca L. Kleiss, 41, Stockton, traveled off the right side of the roadway, returned to the roadway, traveled off the left side and overturned.

St. Clair County Coroner Randy Sheldon pronounced Kleiss dead at the scene at 6:15 p.m.

A passenger, Leah C. Vandiver, 24, Springfield, was airlifted to Cox South Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries.

Springfield man killed, three children injured in rollover accident on 13

A Springfield man was killed and three people injured in a one-vehicle crash 7:50 p.m. Thursday on MO 13, 1.2 miles north of Springfield.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a southbound 2002 Acura MDX driven by George P. Clark, 24, Springfield, traveled off the right side of the road, struck the median, crossed the northbound lanes, overturned and came to rest on the east side of the road.

Clark was pronounced dead by Cox Hospital Dr. John Finke at 8:08 p.m.

A passenger, a 16-year-old boy, was treated for moderate injuries and two other passengers 13 and 11-year-old boys for minor injuries, at Mercy Hospital.

The fatality was the ninth this month for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Willard woman flown to Cox following rollover crash near Sparta

A Willard woman was injured in a one-vehicle accident 12:55 p.m. today on Highway JJ, four miles north of Sparta.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1999 Honda Accord Ex driven by Seriah J. Wallen, 38, Willard, failed to negotiative a curve, ran off the roadway and overturned.

Wallen was flown to Cox South Hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

Ozark residents airlifted to Cox South following head-on collision

Two Ozark residents were injured in a two-vehicle collision 11:50 a.m. today on Route EE, one mile west of Ozark.

According to the Highway Patrol, a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Dustin J. Matheis, 20, Crane, and struck a 2018 Honda CRV driven by Robert C. Butler, 89, Ozark

Butler and a passenger in his vehicle, Donna J. Butler, 83, Ozark, were airlifted to Cox South Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries.

Springfield Police searching for missing, endangered man

(NOTE: The alert had been canceled. Mr. Schell has been found.)

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The Springfield Police Department is investigating a report of a missing endangered person and is asking for assistance from the public.

The missing person has been identified as 66-year-old Bobby Lee Schell. 

Schell was last seen on Sunday, July 19, 2020, at 10:15 p.m. at 2135 N. Howard.

Schell is a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 110 pounds, has balding gray hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white polo shirt, blue jeans, and black penny loafers. Schell suffers from Dementia, Seizures, and Cancer.

He is believed to be driving a black 1995 Ford F250 with a white camper shell Missouri license plate 2SCC52.

Police are seeking to confirm his well-being. Anyone with information concerning her may call the Springfield Police Department at 911 or 417-864-1810.

Monett man seriously injured trying to beat train on ATV, charged with DWI

A Monett man was injured in an ATV accident 7:40 p.m. Saturday on Farm Road 1100, one mile east of Monett.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a Matthew A. Henson, 37, Monett, driving a 2007 Yamaha 450 ATV, attempted to outrun a train, was struck by the crossing gate as he went under it, lost control of the vehicle, went off the left side of the roadway, struck the ditch and was ejected.

Henson, who was arrested by the Barry County Sheriff's Office for driving while intoxicated, was treated for serious injuries at Cox Hospital, Monett.

Bois D'Arc man seriously injured in ATV accident

A Bois D'Arc man was injured in a one-vehicle accident 6:05 p.m. Monday on private property on Route T, two miles south of Bois D'Arc.

According to the Highway Patrol report, Richard L. Boaz, 61, Bois D'Arc, lost control of the Yamaha Grizzly ATV he was driving, causing it to strike a tree and overturn.

Boaz was treated for serious injuries at Cox South Hospital, Springfield.

Tennessee educator named to Springfield Public Schools post

(From Springfield Public Schools)

Springfield Public Schools is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Ron L. Woodard as executive director of secondary learning, effective August 1. Dr. Woodard, former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for Maury County Public Schools in Tennessee, will oversee academics for all secondary learning, including the district's five high schools, six middle schools, three K-8 schools and an intermediate school, as well as all athletic programming.

"Dr. Woodard brings a wealth of experience in effective district and secondary school leadership, as well as student-focused service," said Dr. Nicole Holt, deputy superintendent of academics. 

"SPS looks forward to welcoming him and his family to our community and our academic team."

Prior to his four years of leadership with Maury County Public Schools, Dr. Woodard spent 12 years as a building administrator and four years as a seventh grade science teacher with Metro Nashville Public Schools. His work with students includes service as Science Department sponsor; coach of wrestling, football and soccer; president of the Middle School Athletic Association; and program director for teen mentoring.

"It is truly a blessing and an honor to join a team of committed professionals who are so intentional and passionate about helping children succeed," said Dr. Woodard.

Among the many highlights of his professional career, Dr. Woodard's leadership contributed to a dramatic turnaround for Maplewood High School and Apollo Middle School in Nashville, both of which moved into improving/satisfactory status under No Child Left Behind. In 2016, Dr. Woodard received national honors as an "American Graduate Champion" for his work with dropout prevention and for substantially improving the graduation rate (https://youtu.be/UaR1csoqVqY). Dr. Woodard has also served as a community advocate for youth and teen violence prevention and is a respected trainer and national presenter on a wide-variety of academic topics including teacher efficacy and quality, school climate and culture building, memory and retention studies, and brain-based research.

"We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Woodard to SPS and to Springfield," said Dr. John Jungmann, superintendent. "Our future is bright and we are eager to achieve progress together on behalf of all students. Dr. Woodard's leadership will be key in this critically important work."

Dr. Woodard completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, graduate work at Tennessee State University and a doctoral degree from Lipscomb University. His dissertation focused on examining the self-efficacy of high-poverty, first-generation college students and the importance of mentors in achieving post-secondary access.

Dr. Woodard has two sons who will be attending SPS in the fall and his wife, Cicely Woodard, will be teaching in SPS.

Springfield man flown to Mercy Hospital following fiery crash in Lockwood

A Springfield man was injured in a one-vehicle crash 1:28 p.m. Sunday on 10th Street at Cottonwood Street in Lockwood.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Christopher S. Maize, 61, Springfield, traveled off the end of 10th Street, struck a large asphalt pile, caught fire and burned.

Maize was airlifted to Mercy Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries.

Nevada man airlifted to Mercy Springfield after tubing accident on Stockton Lake

A Nevada man was injured in a tubing mishap 6:24 p.m. Saturday west of Crabtree Cove on Stockton Lake.

According to the Highway Patrol report, Michelle A. Mize, 41, Nevada, was operating a 1988 Hurricane deck boat and accelerated while towing a tube. Ricky J. Berten, 23, Nevada, who was handling the rope to keep it out of the propeller, fell from the boat and the rope tangled around his leg.

Berten was flown to Mercy Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries.

Springfield Police investigating homicide on East Pacific

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On July 2, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., Springfield Police were dispatched to 1007 E. Pacific after a 911 caller stated a vehicle had crashed into another parked vehicle at that location. 

When officers arrived, they found a male subject inside the vehicle who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The male was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. 

The victim has been identified as Darrell W. Gott Jr, an 18-year-old male from Springfield. Next of kin notifications have been made for the victim. A suspect has not been identified at this time.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869- TIPS (8477).

Springfield Police Department releases additional information on vehicle involved in accident in which two pedestrians were killed

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On June 30, 2020, at 04:12 a.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to the 200 block of East Chestnut Expressway regarding a motor vehicle crash between a passenger car and a pedestrian.

The initial investigation indicated a 2014 Hyundai Sonata; driven by 49-year-old Jeremy Behrends of Springfield; was traveling eastbound on Chestnut Expressway when it struck 48-year-old Richard D. Gardner and 52-year-old Scarlet R. Turner in the outside lane of eastbound Chestnut Expressway. 

The male and female were pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified. There is no evidence of impairment regarding this crash.

Through evidence at the scene and witness statements, officers determined Gardner was struck by a white, full-sized Ford pickup truck. When Turner attempted to assist Gardner, they were then both struck by the Hyundai. Through the investigation, the suspect vehicle should be a 2015-2019 Ford F-150, and it is missing the passenger side mirror from the vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or Greater Springfield Area Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

This is the 11th fatality crash and 13th traffic fatality in Springfield during 2020.

State audit notes problems in Stone County government

(From State Auditor Nicole Galloway)

State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Stone County, located in southwest Missouri. The regularly scheduled audit found that controls and procedures needed improvement in several county offices, including those of the Public Administrator, the Sheriff, the Collector and the Prosecuting Attorney. The report gave the county a rating of "fair."

The audit found the Public Administrator does not always file annual settlements and status reports timely with the probate court. 

In a review of 42 cases, 37 cases did not have annual settlements or status reports filed timely; for eight of the cases, the settlement or report was overdue by more than five years. 

The office also was not consistently assessing and collecting fees from accounts, and some gift cards purchased for a ward lacked adequate documentation.

The audit identified both the offices of the Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney did not make deposits timely. Other weaknesses in the Sheriff's office included not restrictively endorsing all checks when received, inadequate follow-up on outstanding bills for boarding prisoners, and charging fees for serving civil process papers that did not comply with state law.

The audit also reported the Collector withheld $77,700 more from tax collections for the county assessment fund than allowed by state law, the Collector needs to improve monitoring of taxpayer balances in the partial payment account, and the County Commission needs to improve payroll and leave documentation for salaried employees.

The full report on Stone County can be found here.