Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

04/29/2026 0116 JASON JUSTIN GEORGE

112 S Ball St

WEBB CITY, MO 64870

WM 36

1102 W 32ND ST 10,000.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE EXCEPT 35 OR LESS 0

04/29/2026 0750 BRITTANY MORGAN TATE

5500 Gateway Dr

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64804

WF 33

6867 GATEWAY DR 0.00

1 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE

04/29/2026 0447 KILEY RENAY MCDONALD

13678 Indiana Ln

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WF 36

2830 E 36TH ST 0.00

1 TRAFFICKING DRUGS OR ATTEMPT- 1ST DEGREE

3 US MARSHAL HOLD

2 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

04/29/2026 1006 DUSTIN ZACHARIAH

SILBERMAN

14676 McCracken Ln

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WM 45

14548 MCCRACKEN LANE 0.00

2 FAIL TO NOTIFY SHERIFF OF PRIOR RESIDENCY WITHIN 1000 FEET O

1 FAIL TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER PURSUANT TO SECS 589.400-

04/29/2026 20260306

1009 ERIK LYNN WALTERS

WM 53

11190 HAMMER RD 0.00

909 Texas Ave

JOPLIN, MO 64801

1 JOPLIN LARCENY

2 JOPLIN STEALING

04/29/2026 1048 LUTHER WAYNE SAMPSON

14222 Falcon Rd

NEOSHO 64850--

WM 59

208 WEST COLER ST 100,000.00

1 STATUTORY SODOMY OR ATTEMPTED STATUTORY SODOMY - DEVIATE SEX

04/29/2026 1130 MICHAEL EUGENE WHITE

13531 Nogales Ln

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WM 59

123 E MAIN ST 5,000.00

1 BURGLARY - 2ND DEGREE

04/29/2026 1400 GABRIEL ETHAN PRICE

301 N Main Ave

SPRINGFIELD, MO 65806

WM 21

1199 N 250.00

1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT 4TH DEGREE

3 JPD EXPIRED PLATES

2 JPD NO INSURANCE

04/29/2026 2101 TABB D KELLER

3002 Lawrence 2180

WENTWORTH, MO 64873

WM 34

15999 HIGHWAY 60/HIGHWAY HH 0.00

1 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE

04/29/2026 1014 MEGAN NICOLE RAMIREZ

909 S Texas Ave

JOPLIN, MO

WF 34

11190 HAMMER RD 100.00

3 CARTHAGE PD SIMPLE ASSAULT

4 CARTHAGE PD PEACE DISTURBANCE

5 CARTHAGE ASSAULT

2 JASPER COUNTY ASSAULT

1 JASPER COUNTY DOMESTIC ASSAULT 2ND

6 JOPLIN PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT 

Highway Patrol Arrests April 29-30

Francisco A. Rodriguez, 29, Fort Leonard Wood, driving while intoxicated, lane violation no headlights

Charles H. Clark, 39, Oronogo, driving while intoxicated, speeding, lane violation

Jose G. Almaraz, 24, Monett, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway resulting in crash, no valid license

Tony D. Strain, 58, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, consumption of alcohol while driving, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash

Andres I. Fernandez, 35, Springfield, Greene County felony warrants for failure to appear on leaving the scene of a crash and probation violation, Christian County warrant for failure to appear on child neglect for non-support

Joshua W. Wheeler, 20, Salem, Dent County felony warrant for burglary

Toby S. Dodson, 47, Purdy, felony possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, two Cassville Police Department warrants for traffic violations, no valid plates, no insurance, displayed plates of another, possession of drug paraphernalia

Michael A. Whaley, 68, Forsyth, driving while intoxicated, stop sign violation

Christopher A. Webb, 56, Fayetteville, Arkansas, felony driving while intoxicated resulting in the injury of another, careless and imprudent driving resulting in a crash, failed to display valid plates

John M. Uranga, 67, Neosho, driving while intoxicated, failed to register motor vehicle 

Intersection of W. 20th Street and Crestview Drive in Joplin to close

(From the City of Joplin)

Starting Friday, May 1, Crestview Drive at 20th Street will be closed to all north and southbound traffic, cutting off access to 20th Street at this location, to allow for the reconstruction of the intersection. This closure is expected to remain in place for up to two weeks, weather permitting.

Access to the Twin Hills neighborhood, including Crestview Drive will be available using Twin Hills Drive during this construction period. 

Citizens should be aware that other closures will be announced as this capital improvement project progresses to widen approximately two miles of West 20th Street from two lanes to three lanes from Schifferdecker Avenue to Central City Road. The project includes intersection improvements at both Country Club Drive and Central City Road, adding curbs and gutters, as well as a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists along the entire route.

Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. is the contractor for this $9.8 million project. Funding is through the Capital Improvement Sales Tax initiative passed in 2014 and renewed by voters in 2024, and is partially funded through the City, Jasper County ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), and Joplin Special Road District.

For questions, contact Rob Beachner, Capital Improvements Project Manager, at 417-624-0820, ext. 1543 or rbeachne@joplinmo.or

Minnesota Twins organization buys former MSSU All-American's contract

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Former Missouri Southern Baseball All-American Henry Kusiak's professional contract has been purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization, the Long Island Ducks announced Wednesday. Kusiak will report to Minnesota's Single-A affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida.

"Henry was outstanding both at the plate and in the field during the season's first week," said Ducks Manager Lew Ford. "He has earned this opportunity, and we wish him the best of luck in the Twins organization."

Henry Kusiak played five games for the Long Island Ducks (based in Central Islip, New York, member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball) during the opening week of the 2026 season. He posted a team-best .474 batting average with two home runs, eight RBI, seven runs, nine hits, two doubles, a walk, two stolen bases and a 1.395 OPS. The 25-year-old hit the Ducks first home run of the season, a 419-foot blast to center field on April 23 against Hagerstown. He also went deep in game one of a doubleheader on April 26 at Lancaster, finishing the game with four RBI and a magnificent diving catch in right field that preserved Trevor Bauer's no-hitter.

Kusiak, a Round Lake, Illinois, native, is currently in his third season of professional baseball. He was named the American Association Rookie Hitter of the Year and an American Association All-Star in 2025 after hitting .309 with 12 homers, 47 RBI and an .858 OPS as a member of the Chicago Dogs. He played 77 games in 2024 with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League, batting .277 with three homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs and a .345 on-base percentage.

Prior to pro ball, Kusiak played five seasons for Missouri Southern from 2020 to 2024.

He helped the Lions capture the 2024 MIAA Tournament Championship as he was named an ABCA Second Team All-American, ABCA Gold Glove winner, ABCA First Team All-Region, NCBWA Second Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-MIAA, MIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-American.

Over the 2024 season, Kusiak hit .397 with 89 hits in 224 at-bats. Of his 89 hits, 20 were doubles, 3 triples, and 15 home runs for a team-high slugging percentage of .714. He drove in 63 runs and scored 78 himself. Additionally, Kusiak walked 44 times and recorded an MSSU single season record 23 HBP on the year for a .527 on base percentage. 

In the field, Kusiak finished with a .988 fielding percentage, making just 3 errors over 242 chances. The ABCA tabbed Kusiak with Gold Glove honors, deeming him the best defensive shortstop in all of NCAA Division II this season.

Over his career as a Lion, he broke a total of 10 records in 2024, seven MSSU career records: hits (314), runs batted in (219), total bases (553), at-bats (903), extra base hits (124), games played (232), hit by pitch (57); two MIAA career records: hits (314), at-bats (903); and one MSSU single season record: hit by pitch (23). He also tied the MSSU career record for runs scored (244). Additionally, Kusiak ranks second in MSSU history in career doubles (61, one shy of tying the record) and career home runs (52, just the second player in MSSU history to hit 50+ in a career).

At Southern, Kusiak was also a two-time ABCA All-Region selection, two-time D2CCA All-Region selection, two-time NCBWA All-Region selection, four-time All-MIAA selection, two-time MIAA Gold Glove shortstop and two-time MIAA Hitter of the Week.

Kusiak graduated from Missouri Southern in Spring 2024 with a degree in biology, boasting a 3.94 GPA.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

04/28/2026 0147 MICHAEL STEVEN LYONS

7033 Red Tide Dr

LAS VEGAS, NV 89131

WM 47

EB ON RAMP/I 44 EB 0.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

04/28/2026 0320 STEPHANIE ALEXIS WATTS

1418 S Wall Ave

JOPLIN, MO 64804

WF 23

4799 W DOWNSTREAM BLVD/US

166 HWY

475.50

1 SPD POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 215.1830

2 ANDERSON PD - PUBLIC PEACE DISTURBANCE

04/28/2026 0433 JIMMY MARLAND HIBBS

1005 W Daugherty

WEBB CITY, MO 64870

WM 34

4240 HIGHWAY 43 0.00

1 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

2 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROOF WITH DOR -FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

04/28/2026 0900 CODY JOE RUTHERFORD

PO BOX Po Box 279

JAY__, OK 74346

WM 58

114 S MISSOURI AVE 0.00

1 DWI - PERSISTENT

04/28/2026 0745 WILLIAM GEORGE GUINN

1423 Robertson

CARTHAGE, MO 64836

WM 64

5449 MCCLELLAND PARK

RD/DOLLIVER LN

100.00

1 CARTHAGE PD ASSAULT

04/28/2026 1158 JOSEPH ANDREW MOLINARI

WM 34

2723 W Tennyson Ave

OVERLAND, MO 63114

4799 S RANGE LINE RD/E 48TH ST 0.00

1 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE

04/28/2026 26000801

1449 PHILLIP IVAN RITTENBERRY

WM 26

7185 GATEWAY DR 129.50

2102 South Byers, A

JOPLIN, MO 64804

04/28/2026 26000801

1449 PHILLIP IVAN RITTENBERRY

WM 26

7185 GATEWAY DR 129.50

2102 South Byers, A

JOPLIN, MO 64804

2 DUQUESNE PD NUISANCE VIOLATION

1 DUQUESNE PD ANIMAL AT LARGE

04/28/2026 1612 CHANEL LOUISE

STOCKER-REED

15969 Graydon Ln

NEOSHO, MO 64850

WF 53

59 HWY / MM HWY 333.50

1 FTA - SPD DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT 380.140

04/28/2026 26000801

1526 BOBBIE JO ONEAL

WF 26

7243 GATEWAY DR/JAGUAR RD 0.00

210 N Oak Ave

JPLN, MO 64801

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 

Spring rock show scheduled at Joplin History and Mineral Museum

(From the City of Joplin)

The Tri-State Gem and Mineral Society presents its Annual Spring Rock Show during the weekend of May 15 – 17. Attendees can browse bead jewelry, learn to identify local minerals, take part in rock swaps, shop for gems, watch demonstrations, and enter to win door prizes.

The Rock Show is a free event and will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16. On Sunday, the show’s hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held at the Joplin History and Mineral Museum, 504 Schifferdecker Avenue, within Schifferdecker Park.

The event is presented by Tri-State Gem & Mineral Society and the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, contact the museum at 417-623-1180 or joplinmuseum@gmail.com .

7th Street to be closed between Florida Avenue and Range Line

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Route 66 (7th Street) CLOSED in Joplin for Water Main Work May 7

Where: Missouri Route 66 (7th Street) between Florida Avenue and Range Line Road in Joplin

When: 8 p.m., Thursday, May 7 until 6 a.m., Friday, May 8

What: Missouri American Water contractor crews installing water main at Ozark Street

Traffic Impacts

All lanes of Route 66 (7th Street) CLOSED between Florida Avenue and Range Line Road from 8 p.m., Thursday, May 7 until 6 a.m., Friday, May 8

Additional work requiring a full closure of Ozark Street may be needed during daytime hours

Drivers urged to find alternate routes

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

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

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