Jasper County Extension Council elected

 (From University of Missouri Extension)

Ten individuals were newly-elected in the balloting that ended January 23, 2026, according to Frances O’Kelley, council chair.

Newly elected members to serve two-year terms are: Charli Jo Baugh, Sarah Meredith, Virginia Bryan, Amanda Smith, Carthage; Eugene Meyer, Jr., Sarcoxie; Brandy Crow, Asbury; Stacy Pope and Tami Maneval, Jasper; Kendra Jackson, Webb City; and Bob McNary, Golden City.

These members will join the following hold-over members: Jennifer Chandler, Lea Ann Keeling, Dale Lawrence, Gail Lawrence, John Marshall, Judy Shaffer, and Roxanne Willard, Carthage; Lisa Daoud, Sarcoxie; Charlie Davis, Webb City; and Larry Jackson, Reeds.

The appointed members to the council are: Jimmy Morris (County Commission), and Kara Cloud Benefiel (Farm Bureau).

The council has four major responsibilities. They are: (1) to advise the University of Missouri on needed extension educational programs, (2) approve the extension staff housed in Jasper County, (3) arrange for financing the Jasper County Extension Center and, (4) hold elections to perpetuate the Council.

Officers elected for the 2026 council are: Charlie Davis, Chair, Robert McNary, Vice Chair, Gail Lawrence, Secretary, and Lisa Daoud Treasurer.

University of Missouri Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of Missourians. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to practical education on almost anything. More information is available online at http://extension.missouri.edu.

 

Lane reductions, ramp closures expected on I-44 ramps at 43/86 and Range Line

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Expect Lane Reductions, Ramp Closures at I-44 Exits 6 & 8 Week of Feb. 16

Where: I-44 at Missouri Route 43/86 (Exit 6) and I-44 at Range Line Road (Exit 8)

When: 9 p.m.-5 a.m., Monday-Thursday, February 16-20

What: Contractor crews inspecting truss signs

Traffic Impacts

Westbound I-44 at northbound Route 43/86 ramp (Exit 6) Expect periodic lane reductions and/or ramp closures

All lanes OPEN during daytime hours

No signed detours

Northbound Route 86 south of I-44 Expect periodic lane reductions

All lanes OPEN during daytime hours

No signed detours

I-44 at Range Line Road (Exit 8) Expect periodic lane reductions on I-44 and on Range Line Road in all directions

All lanes OPEN during daytime hours

No signed detours

Crews working at only one interchange at a time

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching work zones

Drivers urged to find alternate routes

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or construction delays could alter the work schedule.

Ewert Park renovations to be featured on Newsmakers

(From KGCS)

The year was 1925. Joplin was still a segregated community. Businessman and attorney Paul A. Ewert, who died the year before, had given14 acres of property and funds to create a park for the Joplin Black community. Ewert Park would open in July of 1925. A century later, the park is getting a more than nine-million-dollar renovation. Those plans are the focus of the next Newsmakers program.

Joplin Parks and Recreation Director, Paul Bloomberg, shares details of the many changes coming to Ewert Park that include a splash park, ice ribbon, covered basketball courts and attached amphitheater. Members of a stakeholders committee: Fred Palmer, Tracey Thompson, Melodee Colbert Kean and Chalise Cooper explain their role in helping plan the park renovations to include references to its rich history for the Black community and residents of East Town. 

Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. beginning February 15 on KGCS-TV and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, February 21 on KOAM-TV. It is also posted on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS – Missouri Southern State University.

KGCS-TV programming can be seen on channel 21 and is also available on regional cable television systems such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Optimum Internet. The station operates as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

02/09/2026 1145 EDWARD DOUGLAS

MCDONALD

22192 Old Ritchey Rd

GRANBY, MO 64844

WM 64

123 E MAIN ST 0.00

1 STEALING - $25,000 OR MORE/TELLER MACHINE OR CONTENTS

02/09/2026 26000258

1733 ROBERT JOHN BOHNERT

WM 58

13553 PALM RD 0.00

13553 Palm Rd, 33

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

1 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT INVOLVING A CHILD UNDER 15 - 1ST OFNS

2 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT - 1ST DEGREE - 1ST OFFENSE

3 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT - 1ST DEGREE - 1ST OFFENSE 

Joplin city offices closed Monday, council meeting date changed

(From the City of Joplin)

City offices will be closed on Monday, February 16, in recognition of Presidents’ Day, and the Joplin City Council’s regular third Monday meeting in February will be moved to Tuesday, February 17. The rescheduled meeting will begin at 6 p.m. is being relocated to the Corley Auditorium of Webster Hall at Missouri Southern State University.

City Hall and other City services, including the Recycling Center, Sunshine Lamp Trolley, and MAPS system, will be closed on President’s Day, Feb. 16. Joplin City Hall and other City operations will reopen at their regular time on Tuesday, February 17. 

Residential trash and curbside recycling services will not change due to this holiday.

KGCS-TV, Missouri Southern State University’s (MSSU) television station, will broadcast the meeting live on February 17 and rebroadcast it at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18. The Council meeting will also be live-streamed on the City’s YouTube channel (YouTube.com/@JoplinCityHall). Meetings in the Council Chambers at City Hall are typically streamed on the City’s website; however, the Corley Auditorium is not equipped with the same streaming and broadcast equipment. 

The City will also post the recording of the Feb. 17 meeting to the City website archive of recorded council meetings within two business days of the meeting’s conclusion.

KGCS-TV is a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University. Programming may be seen over the air on digital channel 21 and on regional cable television systems, including Sparklight, Mediacom, and Suddenlink.

For more information, contact Lynn Onstot, Public Information Officer at 624-0820, ext. 1204.

South Indian Creek Bridge west of Stella to be closed

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Route A/South Indian Creek Bridge in Newton Co. CLOSED for Bridge Work Feb. 17-20

Where: Newton Route A bridge over South Indian Creek West of Stella

When: 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, February 17-20

What: MoDOT crews making repairs to bridge deck/driving surface

Traffic Impacts

All lanes of Route A bridge over South Indian Creek CLOSED during daytime hours

All lanes of Route A bridge over South Indian Creek OPEN during nighttime hours

Drivers will have access to all entrances and driveways at either end of the bridge, but will not be able to drive through the work zone

No signed detour

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

Drivers should find alternate routes

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

02/06/2026 0534 KEDSON LONEY

202 N Kelly Ave Apt 8

WHEATON, MO 64874

IM 47

20999 GATEWAY DR/SORREL RD 0.00 04/23/2026

1 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 2ND OR 3RD OFFENSE

02/06/2026 1006 TINA JANEA SHEPHERD

2911 W 14th St, 5

JOPLIN, MO 64801

WF 48

208 W COLER ST 1,000.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

02/06/2026 1315 DESIRAE LOUISA REYNA

2920 S Mohaska Ave

JOPLIN 64804

WF 41

303 3RD 0.00

1 ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF A CHILD UNDER SECTION 568.060.5(1)-

2 MAKING FALSE REPORT

3 ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF A CHILD UNDER SECTION 568.060.5(1)

02/06/2026 1417 LOGAN SCOTT LAKIN

3211 Lawrence 2216

PIERCE CITY, MO 65723

WM 24

28 B ST. 5,000.00

1 RESISTING ARREST/DETENTION/STOP BY FLEEING - CREATING A SUBS

2 SPD CARELESS AND RECKLESS DRIVING 340.220

3 SPD CARELESS AND RECKLESS DRIVING 340.220

4 SPD EXCEED THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT- 51 MPH AND OVER 320.050

5 SPD DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED / REVOKED 390.010

6 SPD FAIL TO YIELD TO EMERGENCY VEHICLE 310.070

7 SPD NO INSURANCE/ FINANCIAL RESP. 390.140

8 SPD IMPROPER REGISTRATION 390.090

9 SPD FALSE DECLARATIONS TO OFFICER 215.155

02/06/2026 1538 DEVON JAMES SCOTT

17465 Elmwood Ln

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WM 30

2000 HIGHWAY K/OLIVE ST 0.00

2 BARRY CO-FTA-LARCENY

3 BARRY CO-FTA-LARCENY

4 BARRY CO-FTA-DANGEROUS DRUGS

1 SPD POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 215.1830

02/06/2026 26000240

1534 SAMUEL LEON LANE

WM 43

6614 OLD HIGHWAY 71 1,500.00

1093 Lawrence County

SARCOXIE, MO 64862

1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT - 3RD DEGREE

02/06/2026 1452 LUKAN THOMAS LOGAN

67594 E 188 Rd

WYANDOTTE, OK 74370

IM 32

28 B ST SE 5,000.00

1 RESISTING ARREST/DETENTION/STOP BY FLEEING - CREATING A SUBS

9 SPD GIVING FALSE INFORMATION TO POLICE 390.030.5

2 SPD CARELESS AND RECKLESS DRIVING 340.220

3 SPD CARELESS AND RECKLESS DRIVING 340.220

4 SPD EXCEED THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT- 51 MPH AND OVER 320.050

5 SPD DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED / REVOKED 390.010

6 SPD FAIL TO YIELD TO EMERGENCY VEHICLE 310.070

7 SPD NO INSURANCE/ FINANCIAL RESP. 390.140

8 SPD IMPROPER REGISTRATION 390.090

02/06/2026 2318 LEVI GARRIN BURTON

21249 Mulberry Rd

GRANBY, MO 64844

WM 25

21251 MULBERRY RD 0.00

1 JPD-NO INSURANCE

02/07/2026 26000246

2017 JASON WILLIAM RAWLINS

WM 38

30999 HIGHWAY 60/WALLABY RD 0.00

29568 Hwy Hh

FAIRVIEW, MO 64842

1 `DWI

02/08/2026 26000248

0039 JASON CHRISTOPHER FRANKLIN

WM 45

3599 APRICOT DR/BROKEN

ARROW LN

8396 County Lane 294

CARL JUNCTION, MO 64834

1 `DWI

02/08/2026 1928 TY LYNX SMITH

9664 Geranion Road

CARTHAGE, MO 64836

WM 27

208 W COLER ST 10,000.00

1 TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE 2ND DEGREE

02/08/2026 2122 ROGER ROBERT SMITH

2102 S Maryland Ave

JOPLIN, MO 64801

WM 37

208 W COLER ST 0.00

1 DAMAGE TO JAIL/JAIL PROPERTY