Jerico Springs teen killed in crash near Stockton

 

A Jerico Springs woman was killed in a one-vehicle accident 9:42 a.m. Tuesday on Route B, west of 975th Road, seven miles southwest of Stockton.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2004 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Callee L. Henson, 18, Jerico Springs, traveled off the right side of the road, struck a tree and overturned.

Cedar County Coroner Nora Powell pronounced Henson dead at the scene.

The fatality was the 113th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Springfield Police investigating officer-involved shooting on West Chestnut Expressway

 (From the Springfield Police Department)

On December 29, 2020, at approximately 5:08 a.m., Springfield Police Officers located a suspected stolen vehicle at the Fast n’ Friendly (501 W. Chestnut Expressway). 

Officers approached the vehicle, a 2012 maroon Chrysler four-door sedan, and attempted to contact the female driver who was the only occupant of the car. 

The driver fled in the vehicle and struck an officer as she drove through the parking lot. Three separate officers fired shots at the driver. The vehicle then fled northbound on Main and was not located. The officer suffered a minor injury that did not require immediate medical attention.

At approximately 6:45 a.m., the Springfield Police Department received a 911 call stating a female with gunshot wounds was at 1033 E. Commercial. 

Springfield Police Officers responded to that address and contacted Maggie Thrift, a 27-year-old female from Springfield, MO who was identified as the driver of the stolen vehicle. Thrift had suffered injuries from gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening. 

Thrift was transported to a local hospital where she was admitted. Thrift was arrested for outstanding warrants not related to this case. This case will be presented to the Greene County Prosecutor for review and filing of appropriate charges.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., a Springfield Police Officer located the vehicle that Thrift had been driving during this incident near the intersection of Atlantic and Park. The vehicle was towed and secured for processing.

The Springfield Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is currently investigating this incident. Detectives 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 man killed in Taco Bell shooting

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Dec. 21, 2020, at about 11:30 p.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to the Taco Bell located at 2933 S. National after a 911 caller stated someone had been shot. Officers arrived and located a male in the parking lot of 2949 S. National who had suffered a gunshot wound. The male was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The deceased person was identified as Malcolm J. James, a 28-year-old male from Springfield, MO. Next of kin notifications have been made. 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).

This marks the 27th violent death in Springfield in 2020. Eighteen of those, including this case, have been determined to be Murder under the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) rules, one was classified as Negligent Manslaughter, and two others were ruled justified after review by the Greene County Prosecutor. Six other cases remain under investigation to determine the appropriate classification.

Springfield Police make six DWI arrests, two drug arrests during crackdown

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Friday, Dec.18, 2020, between 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. officers with the Springfield Police Department’s Traffic Section conducted a holiday DWI saturation enforcement. During the enforcement, officers targeted hazardous moving violations through increased patrol efforts.

During the enforcement officers made six arrests for DWI violations and two arrests for drug violations. 

Officers also issued 15 citations for moving violations, three citations for non-moving violations, identified one suspended driver, and issued 16 warnings.

The operation was funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Smoke alarm installed by Springfield Fire Department saves two lives

(From the Springfield Fire Department)

A woman and her elderly mother who live in the Mark Twain neighborhood were alerted to a fire Dec. 20 by a smoke alarm installed by the Springfield Fire Department last year, providing them time to escape safely.

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing injuries and deaths from a house fire. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, in each bedroom and outside each sleeping area.

While Project RED Zone canvasses are currently paused due to the pandemic, Springfield firefighters have installed 3,620 smoke alarms in area neighborhoods as a component of Project RED Zone, an initiative that began in 2017. They have visited 24,634 homes in the Rountree, Delaware, West Central, Grant Beach, Westside, Heart of the Westside, Robberson, Woodland Heights, Tom Watkins, Doling, Midtown, Bissett, Weller, and Oak Grove neighborhoods as well as areas without organized neighborhood associations.

In addition to the 3,600-plus installed alarms, firefighters have tested more than 6,800 alarms to ensure they are functioning properly and have replaced over 970 batteries in existing alarms as a part of the project.

Project RED Zone – a reference to the red areas on the Springfield Fire Department’s map of fire incidents – stands for Reduce, Educate, Deliver. It is part of SFD’s Community Risk Reduction (CRR) program. The multifaceted campaign aims to ensure all homes in high-risk areas of the city have working smoke alarms.

“Now approaching year 3 of Project RED Zone, we are starting the see the positive effects of these canvasses, and our efforts to make Springfield a fire safe community” said Fire Chief David Pennington, earlier this year. “We have responded to several house fires now in which the occupants of the home have safely escaped because of a working smoke alarm that we installed for them.”

Project RED Zone is funded with the help of donations from the American Red Cross of Southern Missouri, Safe Kids Springfield, FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety grants and general revenue SFD funds designated for community risk reduction.

The Fire Department offers free smoke alarms and batteries to anyone in need. If you have questions or need smoke alarms or batteries, call the Fire Department at 417-874-2300 for assistance or to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm check or installation.

Springfield Police investigate shooting death of teen at 2330 N. Pierce

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Dec. 18, 2020, at about 2:40 p.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to 2330 N. Pierce due to a 911 caller stating a subject had been shot. 

Officers entered the residence and located a male inside who had suffered a gunshot wound. The male was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

The deceased person has been identified as Richard Tyler Corbin, a 17-year-old male from Springfield, MO. Next of kin notifications have been made. Officers contacted a juvenile female at the scene who stated she was the person who shot Corbin. Based on the initial investigation, it appears that the shooting was accidental. No arrests have been made. 

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).

This marks the 26th violent death in Springfield in 2020. Seventeen of those have been determined to be Murder under the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) rules, one was classified as Negligent Manslaughter, and two others were ruled justified after review by the Greene County Prosecutor. This case and five other cases remain under investigation to determine the appropriate classification.

Springfield Police Department to conduct weekend holiday DWI enforcement

 

(From the Springfield Police Department)

Officers with the Springfield Police Department’s Traffic Section will be conducting a holiday DWI saturation enforcement this Friday night (December 18, 2020) between 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. 

This enforcement is an effort to proactively target hazardous moving violations that pose a threat to safety for motorists in Springfield. Violations will be identified through increased patrol efforts.

The operation is funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation. The Springfield Police Department wants to remind drivers to be vigilant and to watch for suspected impaired drivers operating on our roadways. Remember, “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose."

Springfield Police reveal identity of Marionville man killed in November traffic accident

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On November 19, 2020, at about 5:00 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to the intersection of Kansas Exp. and Catalpa regarding a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck.

The rider of the motorcycle was traveling northbound on Kansas Exp and struck the rear of a pickup truck that was slowing in traffic. 

Medical personnel responded, but the rider succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The motorcycle rider was identified as James A. Gailey, a 39-year-old male from Marionville, MO. After several attempts, investigators were eventually able to locate and notify next of kin.

Officers with the department’s Traffic Unit are investigating the circumstances involved in the crash. Impairment was not suspected to be a factor. This was the 21st fatality motor vehicle crash and the 23rd total crash-related death of 2020 for Springfield.

Autopsy scheduled today after student commits suicide at Nixa Junior High School

 

(From the Christian County Sheriff's Office)

On 12/15/2020 at approximately 0935 hours Christian County School Resource Deputies were requested for assistance in reference to a medical emergency at the Nixa Junior High School. 

A School Resource Deputy was already on campus at the time assistance was requested and immediately began rendering medical aid to an individual identified as a Nixa Junior High student until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. The student was transported to the hospital by ambulance where he was later pronounced deceased.

The scene was immediately secured by other responding School Resource Deputies until Detectives arrived and processed the scene. 

At this time Christian County Detectives, School Resource Deputies and the Christian County Coroner continue to investigate the incident. Preliminary indications from the investigation indicate the incident to be a suicide and at no time were any other students or school personnel in any danger.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow and next of kin have been notified.

Cox Health opens Nixa facility

(From Cox Health)

Patients are now being seen at CoxHealth Nixa, which opened its doors on Dec. 14.

Located at 501 N. Wilderness Rd. in Nixa, the new 30,000 square-foot facility represents CoxHealth’s most recent effort to give health care with convenience. It offers primary care, urgent care, and physical therapy in one place. All services are now available with the exception of physical therapy, which will open in January.

“As we have evaluated the needs of our region, something we have consistently heard from our patients is that they desire convenience when it comes to their health care,” says Max Buetow, vice president of Cox Medical Group. 

“This facility, the first of several we have slated to open in the coming months, is part of our effort to fulfill that need. Our patients have high expectations for their care, and we strive to meet them in every way that we can.”

Urgent care is available daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Primary care is available Monday to Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Save My Spot is available at the facility, which allows patients to hold their place in line from home.

Other similar facilities are set to open in Ozark, Monett and Republic in the coming months. Next in line is Ozark, which will open later in December.

This facility replaces the former CoxHealth Center Nixa location. For more information, click here.