Willard, Nixa, Ash Grove residents injured in collision on 160

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident 11 a.m. today on U. S. 160, one mile south of Springfield.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2011 Buick Regal driven by Evelyn K. Kincaid, 79, Nixa, pulled into the path of a 2001 Pontaic Grand Prix driven by Amy A. Hughes, 43, Willard.

Kincaid and Hughes were treated for moderate injuries at Mercy Hospital, Springfield.

A passenger in the Hughes vehicle, Sidney A. Dunfield, 18, Ash Grove, was treated for minor injuries at Mercy.

Springfield city attorney takes new job in Denver

(From the City of Springfield)

Frank Romines has submitted his letter of resignation as the City of Springfield’s City Attorney, effective Tuesday, Sept. 4. He has taken a staff attorney role with the City/County of Denver, Colorado.

Romines joined the City in June 2016, having previously served as senior corporate counsel for Jack Henry & Associates.


“We are grateful for Frank’s service to the City of Springfield and I wish him the very best in his new endeavor, but he will certainly be missed,” said Jason Gage, City Manager.

Gage will appoint Deputy City Attorney Rhonda Lewsader to serve as the interim City Attorney and will begin a broad-based recruitment effort to fill the vacant role.

Shepherd of the Hills hatchery hits 8 million visitor mark

(From the Missouri Department of Conservation)

In Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery’s 60 years of operation, a facility that was designed to deal with thousands of fish has learned how to accommodate thousands of visitors, too.

This point was driven home July 19 when the Hatchery’s Conservation Center – the part of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) facility that serves as the visitors’ center – received its eight millionth visitor. That distinction was a collective honor that went to the Brian Garnes family of Des Moines, Iowa. The family was given a private tour of the hatchery and a free bucket of fish food to feed the trout. It was the Garnes’ first visit to the hatchery.

What the Garnes won’t know is that an internal asterisk of sorts is attached to their visitation because, in truth, they were not Shepherd of the Hills’ eight millionth visitor; they were merely the eight millionth visitor MDC has record of at the facility.

When Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery in Taney County began operation in 1958, its sole mission was to produce trout. It was MDC’s state-of-the-art answer to the state’s growing interest in trout fishing – an interest that had out-stripped what could be provided by Shepherd’s predecessor; the much-smaller Sequiota Hatchery in Springfield.

The Conservation Center that currently serves as the public entrance to the hatchery was not added until the late 1970s. MDC staff did not begin keeping attendance figures at the building (originally called “The Visitors’ Center”) until 1980. That means several years’ worth of uncounted visitation can be added to the present figure of eight million.

It’s hard to estimate how many people visited the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery in those pre-count years because it was before Branson became a tourist magnet – a fact evident by the original plans of Shepherd’s Visitors’ Center that called for the building to be an un-staffed facility designed for passive, impersonal visitation.

Soon after Shepherd’s Visitors’ Center opened, it was clear the original designers had under-estimated the facility’s popularity. Currently, an average of 250,000 people visit Shepherd’s Conservation Center each year. On an average summer day, 1,200 visit Shepherd. On a busy day, that number can balloon to as many as 1,800.

Visitors get an up-close view of how trout are raised. Through guided tours and individual walks around the rearing pools, people get a look at some of the 1.2 million trout the hatchery produces annually. Besides providing trout for Lake Taneycomo and other Missouri trout-fishing areas, Shepherd of Hills supplies trout eggs and fingerlings for other MDC hatcheries.

In addition to providing views of live trout in an aquarium, visitors to the Conservation Center can see live specimens of some of the Ozarks’ snake species on display in the 50-seat auditorium. The auditorium is also the site of periodic programs and an audio-visual presentation about the hatchery.

“We’re proud to be such a popular destination for families from across the nation,” said MDC Interpretive Center Manager John Miller, who manages Shepherd’s Conservation Center. “It is even more touching to have parents bringing their kids to the hatchery because their parents brought them when they were young kids. Being a sense of place for so many visitors is a true source of pride.”

For more about Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery, visit www.mdc.mo.gov

(Photo information- In July, the Brian Garnes family of Des Moines, Iowa were the eight millionth visitors of the Conservation Center at the Missouri Department of Conservation's Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery in Branson.)

Five Springfield, Pleasant Hope residents injured in four-vehicle chain reaction accident

Five people were injured in a four-vehicle accident 12:20 p.m. Tuesday on Highway H, four miles north of Springfield.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a southbound 2002 GMC Envoy driven by George S. Mattox, 27, Springfield, struck a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Heather J. Hannon, 36, Pleasant Hope from behind, causing it to hit a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Donald R. Harris, 52, Springfield, which was stopped to make a left turn. The impact caused the Hannon car to move into the northbound lane where it struck a 2006 Ford F250 driven by Joseph M. Woods, 39, Springfield.



Woods and Harris were treated for moderate injuries at Cox South Hospital, Springfield.

Hannon and two passengers in her vehicle, Nathan C. Johnston, 18, and John M. Wilkinson, 43, both of Pleasant Hope, were treated for moderate injuries at Mercy Hospital, Springfield.

Branson police officer comforts little girl after car breaks down

(From the Branson Police Department)

BUSTED! Someone caught Branson Police Officer B.J. Russell comforting a little girl after a car broke down and needed towing.

Thank you for sharing!

The message

"Well BPD I caught you good today!!! I have proof!! It’s all on my phone! BUSTED!!!! I’m going to show them all what you’ve done!!!

I saw this officer holding this little girls hand after a pretty bad accident and comforting her! It was adorable, and I couldn’t resist grabbing this picture!! Good on you!!! Appreciate what you did! This was awesome!!!"

Battlefield Mall officials conduct active shooter drill

In a sad reflection of the time in which we live, Battlefield Mall officials conducted an active shooter drill Tuesday night.

The accompanying video is from KOLR.

Watch the Springfield Board of Education meeting live at 6 p.m.

Portion of Walnut Street to close beginning Wednesday morning

(From the City of Springfield)

Walnut Street will close between Grant Avenue and Main Avenue beginning 6 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22 through 6 a.m. Aug. 24 (weather permitting) for street improvements related to the Grant Avenue and Route 66 Streetscape project.

About the Grant Avenue and Route 66 Streetscape project

This project will complete streetscape improvements along Grant Avenue from Olive Street to Walnut Street. Included are street improvements, construction of ADA compliant sidewalks, new storm sewer, gas and water renewals, and signal improvements at the intersection of College Street and Grant Avenue and the intersection of Walnut Street and Grant Avenue. The project is funded by the City of Springfield ¼-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax and a federal Transportation Alternatives Program Grant.

Springfield Crimestoppers unveiling informational kiosks

(From Springfield Crimestoppers)

The Greater Springfield Crime Stoppers program, in partnership with the City of Springfield and the Springfield Police Department, will unveil four new informational kiosks this week.

The Crime Stoppers kiosks will display Amber Alerts, wanted fugitive features, arrested posters, special features, SPD recruiting information, and general Crime Stoppers program information. 

The kiosk units are easily transported and will be utilized at community events as well. The kiosk decals highlight where community members can go for additional information and include QR codes that can be scanned for easy access to the tip submission form and the Crime Stoppers website. Although tips cannot be submitted directly at the kiosk, tip submission is simple to complete on your cell phone or tablet after scanning the QR code or utilizing the Crime Stoppers website.

Kiosks will be placed in the following locations on August 23, 2018:

1) Library Station (2535 N. Kansas Expressway)
2) Library Center (4653 S. Campbell)
3) Wal-Mart (1923 E. Kearney)
4) Wal-Mart (2021 E. Independence)

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit program of Community Partnership of the Ozarks that encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime. The program relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and citizens to provide anonymous information about crime and criminals in the Greene County area. Cash rewards of up to $1,000 are available for tips that directly lead to a felony arrest or seizure of a felony amount of drugs. Partners involved in bringing these innovative kiosks to Springfield hope to increase tip submissions, inform the community about relevant local crime information, and make Springfield a safer place.


More information about Greater Springfield Area Crime Stoppers can be found at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GSACrimeStop
Website: www.springfieldcrimestoppers.com
Twitter Handle: @GSACrimeStop

Park Central East to close Wednesday for emergency repairs

(From the City of Springfield)

Park Central East will close to through traffic just east of Robberson Avenue beginning 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22 for emergency stormwater infrastructure repairs. The roadway is anticipated to reopen by 5:30 p.m.

Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route. All businesses will remain open to foot traffic throughout repair work.