Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

03/11/2026 0446 ERIK LEE WILSON

935 Wood St

MOUNT VERNON, MO 65712

WM 48

3434 S RANGE LINE RD 481.50

1 NPD STEALING 215.320

2 JOPLIN PD RECIEVE STOLE PROP

3 JOPLIN PD MSIC PED VIOLATION

03/11/2026 1256 CHANEL LOUISE

STOCKER-REED

15844 Graydon Ln

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WF 53

11999 POPPY DR/JAGUAR RD 200.00

1 NPD TRESPASS 215.370

03/11/2026 1436 JESSICA RAE KREEGER

1021 W 12th St

JPLN, MO 64801

WF 41

303 E 3RD ST 5,000.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA - AMPHETAMINE OR M

3 DOMESTIC ASSAULT 4TH DEGREE

4 `OWNER OPERATE MV WITHOUT MAINTAINING FIN. RESPONS.-1ST OFF

03/11/2026 1520 NATHAN MARTY RYAN

4220 150th Rd

CHANUTE, KS 66720

WM 47

123 E MAIN ST 50,000.00

1 TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE - 1ST DEGREE

03/11/2026 1658 ERIN MICHELLE EDMISTEN

635 Park St

NEOSHO, MO 64850

WF 23

7383 WESTVIEW RD/FINCH DR 0.00

1 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE

03/11/2026 1755 AUSTIN RYAN MCGUIRE

19810 Kodiak Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WM 34

19810- 11 KODIAK RD 200.00

03/11/2026 1755 AUSTIN RYAN MCGUIRE

19810 Kodiak Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WM 34

19810- 11 KODIAK RD 200.00

2 FTA GPD FAIL TO REGISTER MOTOR VEHICLE 390.090

5 FTA GPD RESIST/ INTERFERE WITH ARREST

6 FTA GPD RESIST/ INTERFERE WITH ARREST

7 FTA GPD CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT DRIVING 340.330

3 FTA GPD NO INSURANCE/ FINANCIAL RESP. 390.140

4 FTA GPD FAIL TO REGISTER MOTOR VEHICLE 390.090

1 FTA GPD FAIL TO REGISTER MOTOR VEHICLE 390.090

03/11/2026 2238 JAMES RONALD BETTES

1227 Fir St

GRANBY, MO 64844

WM 39

1227 FIR ST 250.00

1 `EXCEEDED POSTED SPEED LIMIT (1-5 MPH)

1

2 OPERATE MOTORCYCLE WHEN DRIVER`S LICENSE NOT VALIDATED FOR S

 

Highway Patrol Arrests March 11-12

Joshua L. Smetak, 41, St. Louis, felony drug trafficking, felony possession of a controlled substance- fentanyl, felony resisting arrest, felony tampering with physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia

Victoria E. Burnett, 42, Joplin, driving while intoxicated, no valid plates

Cody L. Oplinger, 35, Rocky Comfort, felony leaving the scene of an accident, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway resulting in a crash, no insurance

 

Agenda posted for Joplin Historic Preservation Commission meeting

 

High Street in Joplin to be closed between 5th and 6th streets

(From the City of Joplin)

There is a road closure on High Street between 5th and 6th Streets to allow for stormwater repairs. 

Work is expected to be completed by early April, weather permitting.






Neighborhood traffic will still be able to access residences. Drivers should use alternate routes and practice caution while in this area.

The City appreciates your patience as the repair work is completed.

Prescribed fire planned at George Washington Carver National Monument

(From George Washington Carver National Monument)

George Washington Carver National Monument is preparing to conduct a prescribed fire between March 16 and March 21, 2026, weather permitting. The operation is expected to take one day. Most of the park will remain open to visitors during the prescribed fire. However, temporary closure of the Carver Trail will be necessary to ensure public safety.

The prescribed fire would treat approximately 80 acres under the direction of trained fire personnel. The goal is to reduce wildfire risk by removing hazardous fuels, limit woody vegetation and support the health of the park’s tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 140 million acres across the United States, but most of it was converted for agricultural use. Prairie ecosystems depend on natural processes, including grazing and fire, to maintain ecological balance. For roughly 5,000 years, frequent fire played a critical role in sustaining these grasslands. Today, prescribed fire continues that essential role, helping protect and restore remaining prairie ecosystems.

George Washington Carver National Monument contains areas of restored tallgrass prairie that benefit from these management practices.

Administered by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior, George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver - scientist, educator, and humanitarian. The park is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri, on Highway V, then ¼ mile south on Carver Road. More information is available by phoning the park at 417-325-4151 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and via the park website at www.nps.gov/gwca.

Public meeting on improvements to I-44 scheduled at Joplin Public Library

(From MoDOT)

MoDOT: Forward 44: Joplin Improvements Project in Joplin, Focus of Public Meeting Thursday, March 26

Those interested in the Forward 44: Joplin Improvements Project in Joplin are invited to a public meeting on Thursday, March 26, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

The come-and-go style meeting will be held 4:30 – 6 p.m., Thursday, March 26, at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 E 20th St, Joplin. No formal presentation is planned. Those who attend may come at any time between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn about the project, ask questions, and leave comments.

Those unable to attend the in-person meeting can view exhibits and obtain project information at https://www.modot.org/forward44. Comments on this project can be mailed in, emailed, or submitted online through the project website until Thursday, April 9.

MoDOT is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. If you need a reasonable accommodation or translation services, please contact Southwest District Communications at 417.895.7600 by March 19. For those unable to access the online meeting, contact MoDOT’s Southwest District Office, and accommodations will be made to share the information and gather feedback.

This work is part of a larger effort to study and bring improvements to I-44. For the latest on work happening along the corridor, visit the Forward 44 website: Forward 44 | Missouri Department of Transportation.

Project Summary

Replace pavement and widen I-44 to 6 lanes between Missouri Route 43 (Main Street) and Loop 49 (Range Line Road)

Additional lanes will be installed in the median

The City of Joplin will install a new culvert under I-44 at Spring Creek

Traffic Impacts

Narrowed lanes, traffic shifts on I-44

I-44 will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction, except for short-duration closures during nighttime hours

I-44 ramp closures

During higher traffic volume, drivers can expect delays

Drivers urged to use alternate routes during construction to avoid the work zone

Electronic message boards and news releases will notify the public of traffic impacts

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

Proposed construction is scheduled for Spring 2027.

The estimated project cost is $25.1 million.

The proposed project is scheduled for completion Winter 2028.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

03/10/2026 1138 ALICIA DENISE TORRES

925 S Picher Ave

JOPLIN, MO 64801

WF 38

208 W COLER ST 1,500.00

1 PROPERTY DAMAGE 1ST DEGREE

03/10/2026 1412 SEAN ALLEN TISON

1807 Redbud St

WEWOKA, OK 74884

WM 28

211 E. 2ND ST 1,000.00

1 PASSING BAD CHECK

03/10/2026 1138 STEPHEN P ROBERSON II

4285 Elm Dr

JOPLIN 64804

WM 31

208 W COLER ST 1,500.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

03/10/2026 26000470

2200 CHRISTINA MICHELLE STEVENS

WF 34

19310 REINDEER DR 0.00

21330 Raccoon Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64867

4 POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS

2 DELIVERY OR POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AT COUNTY/P

3 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA - AMPHETAMINE OR M

1 MAKING A FALSE DECLARATION

03/10/2026 26000470

2115 ROBERT GERHARDT

WM 46

19310 REINDEER DR 0.00

RHINEHART

322 S Hamilton St

NEOSHO, MO 64850

5 PROBATION VIOLATION- POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

1 MAKING A FALSE DECLARATION

2 DELIVERY OR POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AT COUNTY/P

3 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA - PRIOR DRUG OFFEN

4 POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS

03/10/2026 26000470

2256 CHRISTINA MICHELLE STEVENS

WF 34

19310 REINDEER DR 0.00

21330 Raccoon Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64867

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA - PRIOR DRUG OFFEN