Thursday, July 30, 2026

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

07/29/2026 0920 BROCK ADAM BUFFINGTON

Homeless

JOPLIN, MO

WM 30

303 3 10,000.00

1 BURGLARY - 2ND DEGREE

2 STEALING - $750 OR MORE




07/29/2026 1023 DUSTIN SCOTT SHIPMAN

413 1/2 E Hickory St

NEOSHO, MO 64850

WM 59

208 W COLER ST 0.00

1 DWI - AGGRAVATED


07/29/2026 1924 DESIREE LEE JONES

512 McKinney

NEOSHO, MO 64850

WF 34

14359 HIGHWAY 60/HEARTHSIDE

1,500.00

DR

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE


07/29/2026 2010 NICOLE LILLIAN LEE

LAUDERDALE

3970 Route E

ROCKY COMFORT, MO 64861

WF 28

18699 E HIGHWAY 86/OTTER DR 225.00

2 GPD DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT 380.140

1 GPD PEACE DISTURBANCE 

Highway Patrol Arrests July 29-30

 Robert J. Harlan, 40, Pittsburg, Kansas, Bates County misdemeanor warrants for trespassing, failure to appear on illegal weapon charge, driving while suspended/revoked (two counts, no rear license plate lamp, failure to signal and failure to drive on right half of roadway, driving while revoked, no insurance, no seat belt

James A. Johnson, 56, Branson, Taney County felony warrant for possession of a controlled substance







Eric L. Blanchard, 33, Lamar, driving while intoxicated (drugs) with person under 17 in vehicle, driving while revoked, failed to drive on right half of roadway

Jacob L. McAffrey, 42, Springdale, Arkansas, possession of drug paraphernalia, two Wheaton Police Department warrants for failure to appear, no valid license

Andrew M. Mazurkiewicz, 32, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash

Joseph M. Gaterman, 38, Imperial, driving while intoxicated, lane violation, speeding

Portion of Tracy Street in Webb City to be closed

(From the Webb City Police Department)

STREET CLOSURE: (7/31/26) 

Tracy Street from Hall to Main will be closed tomorrow, Friday, July 31st from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

The Water Crew will be boring test sites into the street.


Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

07/28/2026 0249 JEREMY LEE BACON

5656 State Hwy 86

JOPLIN, MO 64831

WM 42

4999 HIGHWAY 43/DOUGLAS FIR

500.00

RD

1 JASPER CO SO CARTHAGE `DWI

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


07/28/2026 1000 STEPHEN PAUL ROBERSON II

531 Kentucky Ave

JOPLIN, MO 64804

WM 31

405 5 3,500.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2 TRESPASS - 1ST DEGREE

07/28/2026 1345 ARNIE LEE TORRENCE

1402 North St

JOPLIN 64801

BM 37

303 3 2,500.00

1 NON-SUPPORT, TOTAL ARREARS IN EXCESS OF 12 MONTHLY PAYMENTS


07/28/2026 1509 SHAYLER DANE-JOSEPH

ROUTE

1601 Mayberry Dr, E

NEOSHO, MO 64850

WM 27

12976 NORWAY RD 250.00

3 `OPERATE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE - 1ST OF

1 `DWI

4 `OPERATE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE - 1ST OF

5 OPERATED MOTOR VEHICLE IN A CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT MANNER

2 DWI - PERSON LESS THAN 17 YOA IN VEHICLE


07/28/2026 1509 CHANCE WARD ROUTE

11852 Norway Rd

NEOSHO, MO 64850

WM 52

12976 NORWAY RD 5,000.00

1 POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE PRECURSORS JASO


07/28/2026 2258 15420 GOLDFINCH RD 500.00

JAMES COLTON KIVETT

WM 72

15420 Gazelle Dr

NEOSHO, MO 64850

1 `OPERATE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE - 1ST OF


07/28/2026 2331 KRISTIN JOANE PHILLIPS

404 Schulz Ave

MONETT, MO 65708

WF 30

299 W VALLEY ST/COBB HILL RD 0.00

1 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE 

Highway Patrol Arrests July 28-29

Kahlie Cruzan, 27, Buffalo, hindering prosecution

Kyle K. Langstaff, 35, Buffalo, felony probation and parole warrant for probation violation, Hickory County felony warrant for failure to appear

Kevin E. Bond, 62, Moundville, driving while intoxicated

Hunter A. Hemphill, 25, Branson, driving while intoxicated, felony possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia








Trevor A. Harris, 45, Rockaway Beach, Christian County misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear on non-support

Michael A. Douglas, 36, Mount Vernon, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway

Colin M. George, 30, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, expired registration

Patrick J. Callhan, 47, Branson, felony possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine, felony aggravated fleeing, felony tampering with evidence, felony resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated (drugs), following too closely, careless and imprudent driving, red light violation, no valid license

Former Carthage police officer receives Highway Patrol promotion


(From Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the following transfers effective August 1, 2026.

Captain Matthew J. Broniec, Budget and Procurement Division (BPD), will transfer to the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division and serve as the director.








Broniec was appointed to the Patrol on January 1, 1995, as a member of the 69th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on June 22, 1995, he was assigned to Troop F, Zone 4, Audrain County. Broniec served as a K-9 handler from 1998 to 2009. Broniec was promoted to corporal on May 1, 2000. On July 1, 2009, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and designated zone supervisor of Troop F, Zone 10, Boone County. On June 1, 2021, Broniec was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and designated assistant director of BPD, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO. On October 1, 2022, he was promoted to the rank of captain and served as the director of BPD.

Captain Broniec was born in Creve Coeur, MO, and graduated from De Smet Jesuit High School in 1990. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis in St. Louis, MO, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1994. In 2015, he completed the Leadership in Police Organizations course.

Captain Scott B. White, Public Information and Education Division (PIED), will transfer to the Budget and Procurement Division and serve as the director.

White was appointed to the Patrol on January 8, 2007, as a member of the 86th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to Troop F, Zone 11, Camden and Miller counties. He was promoted to corporal in February 2012 and assigned to marine operations as assistant zone supervisor of Troop F, Zone 16, Lake of the Ozarks. In January 2014, White transferred to Zone 18, Miller County, where he was designated assistant zone supervisor. He transferred to Troop F Headquarters in April 2015 to serve as the public information and education officer. White was promoted to sergeant in October 2015 and remained in that position. On October 1, 2020, White was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the Professional Standards Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO. White was promoted to captain and named director of PIED on July 1, 2024.








In 1997, he graduated from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO, having earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice administration. He graduated from Police Leadership: The West Point Model in November 2023. Prior to joining the Patrol, White served as a police officer with the Carthage (MO) Police Department.

Lieutenant Stephen M. Burgun, Water Patrol Division (WPD), will transfer to the Gaming Division where he will serve as an assistant director.

Burgun graduated from the Missouri State Water Patrol Academy in 2008 and became a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol when the agencies merged on January 1, 2011. Burgun was promoted to corporal on January 1, 2014, and designated assistant zone supervisor of Troop F, Zone 16, Lake of the Ozarks. In December 2017, he was promoted to sergeant and designated zone supervisor of Troop F, Zone 16, Lake of the Ozarks. On January 1, 2020, Burgun was promoted to lieutenant and transferred to Troop F Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO. He transferred to General Headquarters on February 1, 2021, and served as the assistant director of WPD.

Lt. Burgun is a native of Bolingbrook, IL, and graduated from Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, MO, in 1996. He is a graduate of John Wood Community College, in Quincy, IL, where he earned an Associate of Science in criminal justice. In 2018, Lt. Burgun graduated from the Police Leadership: The WestPoint Model course. He and his wife, Jamie, have three children.


Storyteller Songwrights collective featured on Newsmakers program

(From KGCS)

Ever wonder what inspired the lyrics to a song? Joplin area musicians are sharing those stories as part of a collective called Storyteller Songwrights. Their organization and events planned to spotlight musical artists are the focus of the next Newsmakers program.

Singer-songwriter and collective founder Trevor Smith and musician Caleb Miller explain how Storyteller Songwrights was conceived and explain how artists get an opportunity to talk about their songs and the stories behind them. They also share details of the Night of the Wrights event August 14 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Sterling Event Center that will also feature a maker’s market and food trucks. Kimberly Barker with EcoSavvy Insights shares the mission of her non-profit that will benefit from raffle donations to the otherwise free event.








Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. beginning on KGCS-TV August 2 and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, August 8 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.