Closure of St. Louis Avenue in Joplin postponed

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Closure of St. Louis Ave. in Joplin Postponed to Oct. 21

Where: St. Louis Avenue north of Missouri Route 66 (7th Street) in Joplin

When: Beginning Wednesday, October 21 for up to three weeks pending completion of work on signals at Florida Avenue

What: Contractor crews will install new storm sewer, sidewalk crossings and concrete approach

Traffic Impacts

St. Louis Avenue CLOSED on north side of Route 66 (7th Street) beginning Wednesday, October 21 for up to three weeks

Work on St. Louis Avenue will not start until signal work at Florida Avenue is complete and open to traffic

Access to all business on St. Louis Avenue north of Route 66 (7thStreet) maintained during business hours

No signed detour

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.

This work is part of a project to make improvements along the Route 66 (7th Street) corridor in Joplin between Jasper County Route P (Schifferdecker Avenue) and Loop 49 (Range Line Road). More information can be found by going to the project website.

Project Information

Prime Contractor: D&E Plumbing & Heating LLC, Nixa
Construction Cost: $61.6 million
Contract Completion Date: December 1, 2028

Route M south of Jasper to be closed for railroad crossing repairs

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Route M CLOSED in Jasper Co. for RR Crossing Repairs Oct. 15-16

Where: Jasper County Route M west of I-49 south of Jasper

When: Thursday-Friday, October 15-16

What: Route M CLOSED while railroad crews make repairs to crossing

Traffic Impacts

All lanes of Route M CLOSED at railroad crossing

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

No signed detours

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.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks issues call for O positive, O negative blood

(From Community Blood Center of the Ozarks)

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO), the sole supplier of blood, platelets, and plasma to patients at more than 40 hospitals across the region, is asking eligible donors to give blood following an unusually high demand for blood products over the weekend.

Several trauma cases across the Ozarks resulted in the use of more than 220 units of O positive, placing additional pressure on the local blood supply. 

CBCO is especially seeking donors with O positive and O negative blood types. Donations made in the coming days will help replenish the blood supply and ensure local hospitals have the blood products they need for emergency and ongoing patient care.

"Weekend trauma cases can quickly change the needs of our local hospitals," said Michelle Teter, CBCO Media Relations Representative. "When demand increases unexpectedly, we depend on blood donors to help maintain an adequate local blood supply strong. If you are eligible to donate, we encourage you to make an appointment this week. Your donation could help save a life when patients need it most."

Donors will receive a voucher for two free general admissions to the Dickerson Park Zoo, a $38 value, along with a limited-edition otter-themed T-shirt, while supplies last. 

Photo identification is required. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. Eligible donors must be at least 17 years of age, or 16 with a signed parental permission, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and have not donated blood within the past 56 days.

Appointments are strongly encouraged to help reduce wait times. To schedule an appointment, visit www.cbco.org/donate-blood or call 417-227-5006.

On behalf of local hospital patients, CBCO thanks blood donors from across the region for giving life to your community.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

10/05/2026 26001999

0139 JACK ALLEN HAMES

WM 21

915 CARWELL ST 0.00

915 Cardwell St

STELLA, MO 64867

1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT - 2ND DEGREE

3 ASSAULT- 4TH DEGREE - PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (3)

2 ESCAPE OR ATTEMPTED ESCAPE FROM CONFINEMENT BY STRIKING PERS

4 PROPERTY DAMAGE 2ND DEGREE - L/E OR RELATIVE

10/05/2026 1508 JOHN EDWARD HAMILTON

7288 Highway Nn

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64804

WM 30

7288 HIGHWAY NN 531.50

1 FTA- NPD STEALING/LARCENY/THEFT

2 FTA- NPD DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED / REVOKED 390.020

3 FTA- NPD STEALING/LARCENY/THEFT

4 NPD TRESPASS 215.370

10/05/2026 0921 ZACHARY R SEWARD

221 Eagle Ledge Ave

DUENWEG, MO

WM 37

208 W COLER ST 750.00

1 NON-SUPPORT

10/05/2026 1643 BRITTANY NICHOLE

SAUCEDA

5260 E Sunny Acres Ln

JOPLIN, MO 64801

WF 36

59@U 500.00

1 FAILURE TO APPEAR - NO INSURANCE JPD 

Highway Patrol Arrests October 5-6

 Paul D. Morris, 59, Independence, felony driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on the right half of the roadway resulting in an accident

Marianne Jones, 70, Centerton, Arkansas, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway, no seat belt

Driver's examination stations to close for Columbus Day

(From Missouri State Highway Patrol)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on the following date:

Monday, October 12, 2026, in observance of Columbus Day. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. 

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

10/02/2026 1000 LARRY JOSEPH ALLEN

1124 East Blaine, P

SPRINGFILED, MO 65802

WM 84

1199 HASELTINE 500.00

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

10/02/2026 1440 BROOKE ASHLEY

WILLIAMSON

10 Gantry Lane

CALERA, OK 74730

WF 40

303 3 3,500.00

1 TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE - 1ST DEGREE

10/02/2026 1438 ALEXANDER LITTLETON

10 Gentry Lane

CLARA, OK

WF 45

303 E 3RD ST 1,000.00

1 TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE 2ND DEGREE

10/02/2026 1840 NICOLE LILLIAN LEE

LAUDERDALE

3970 Route E

ROCKY COMFORT, MO 64861

WF 28

145 E NEWTON ST/N CENTER ST 500.00

1 STEALING

10/02/2026 26001984

2254 ENRIQUE JR MATURINO

WM 29

I-44 EB 10.4 0.00

1330 W Budlong #7

CARTHAGE, MO 64836

1 `OPERATED VEHICLE ON HWY WITHOUT VALID LICENSE - 3RD AND SUB

10/03/2026 26001985

0104 MELISSA ANN WILLIAMS

WF 39

498 W 32ND ST/S MOFFET AVE 10,000.00

1153 Se Star Road

BAXTER SPRINGS, KS 66713

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

10/03/2026 0055 SPANKY SHANE WILLIAMS

199 County Lane 172

JASPER COUNTY, MO 64804

WM 45

119 REDINGS MILL RD/CASTLE DR 0.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

10/03/2026 0049 SAVANNAH JADE

HOFFHINES

9223 E Highway 86

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WF 21

12939 HIGHWAY K 5,000.00

1 SEXUAL ABUSE - 1ST DEGREE

2 SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO A MINOR OR INTOXICATED PERSON

10/03/2026 2146 MARC CHRISTOPHER LUJAN

1219 E 26th St

JOPLIN, MO 64804

WM 46

4947 EMILY LN 533.50

1 SPD DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED / REVOKED 390.010

2 SPD NO INSURANCE/ FINANCIAL RESP. 390.140

3 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE

10/03/2026 26001991

2355 TRISTAN TAYLOR HOBBS

WM 29

18709 ANTELOPE RD 500.00

2953 Quince Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64865

1 ASSAULT- 4TH DEGREE - PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (1), (5)

10/04/2026 26001990

0105 JEREMY LEE BACON

WM 42

5947 DOUGLAS FIR RD 8,000.00

5947 Douglas Fir Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64804

1 BURGLARY - 2ND DEGREE

10/04/2026 26001993

0241 LUKE TIMOTHY BENFIELD

AM 25

I-49 N MM 38 0.00

1804 S Joplin Ave

JOPLIN, MO 64804

1 `DWI