Highway Patrol Arrests January 2-3

Daniel L. Ison, 23, Bentonville, Arkansas, driving while intoxicated, speeding, lane violation

Mauricio Ramirez Guillen, 45, Cassville, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash, no valid license, no insurance

Joplin Health Department signs contract to continue WIC services

(From the Joplin Health Department)

The Joplin City WIC announces a contract continuance to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2024 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility. 

The primary services provided are healthy, supplemental food, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screening and referrals to health care. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible.

WIC supplemental food packages are specially chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products, hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit juices, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding, provides breastfeeding support, baby foods, and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental, iron fortified formula. WIC participants obtain their foods by using their eWIC cards for specific items at participating local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the early months of pregnancy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.

WIC is administered in Jasper County by the Joplin City WIC. Clinics are offered by appointment at 321 E. 4th Street, Joplin, MO 64801. Persons interested in applying or who need more information should contact the Joplin City WIC office at 417-623-1928 option 3, please leave a message, or complete an on-line interest application using the QR code.

McDonald County R-1 offers update on building projects

(From the McDonald County R-1 School District)

As we kick off the new year at McDonald County Schools,, we're excited to share new progress on some building projects across our district! 

 Pineville Primary School: The outer shell of the new storm shelter and multi-purpose area is UP!  Take a sneak peek at the transformation happening right before our eyes!

 Southwest City Elementary: The new classroom addition is almost complete! Get ready for enhanced learning spaces!

These incredible upgrades are made possible by YOU – the voters who approved the 2022 Proposition KIDS bond issue.  Your support is shaping the future of education and safety for our kids in McDonald County!

Work is also underway on storm shelters at Rocky Comfort and White Rock, with more to come in 2024. Significant changes are on the horizon, too, for Noel Elementary, Anderson Middle School, and Anderson Elementary.

Jasper firefighters respond to 319 calls in 2023

 (From Jasper Fire and Rescue)

In 2023 the Jasper Firefighters responded 319 times. (The highest number by our station in history.)

Fires = 65
Medical = 137
Motor vehicle crashes = 38
Other = 79

They also put in over 930 hours for training and several hundred hours working on equipment, fire prevention programs, hose testing, etc. 

The following is a breakdown of runs for 2023:

Structure Fire in our district = 4
Mutual aid to other departments for structure fires = 19
Grass fire in our district = 23
Mutual aid to other departments for grass fires = 5
Vehicle fire = 14
Motor vehicle crash with severe injuries and persons trapped = 8
Motor vehicle crash with severe injuries and no entrapment = 19
Motor vehicle crash with minor or no injuries = 11
Cardiac arrest/ DOA = 13 (3 others included in other type of calls)
Cardiac/ Chest pain = 12
Breathing problems = 21
Falls = 12
Diabetic = 2
Unresponsive/ Altered LOC = 15
Trauma (not vehicle crash) = 6
Psychiatric/ OD = 11
Stroke = 2
Seizures = 3
Childbirth = 1

Hazardous materials (not vehicle crash) = 5
Sick person (Weakness, non-traumatic pain, abdominal pain, ect.) = 39
Service calls (lift assist, helicopter landing zones, lines down, ect.) = 31
False alarm/ nothing found/ cancelled = 29
Storm response/damage = 13
Search for lost person = 1

Thank you to our volunteers for the hours spent on calls, training and events when they can and to their families for allowing them to be away at all times of the day and night.

As always, we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported us throughout the past year, not just monetarily, but just by your support online and in passing when we meet. It is greatly appreciated! We will continue to strive to keep providing the best service that we can with the personnel that we have.

Also last but not least, Thank You to the surrounding fire districts and departments for working well with us and sending assistance to help us when you can!

Duenweg Fire Department announces promotions

(From the Duenweg Volunteer Fire Department)

Duenweg Fire Department would like to announce and congratulate several promotions as of January 1st, 2024. 

January 1st, Chief Howard Reding retired and Deputy Chief Gary Davis has been promoted to Fire Chief. Chief Reding has agreed to stay on for a short time to help insure a smooth transition to the new administration. 

Captain Kevin Theilan has been promoted to Deputy Chief. Firefighter/Paramedic Taylor Roberson has been promoted to the position of Lieutenant. Firefighter/EMT Colton Gurera has been promoted to the position of Lieutenant. 

We at the department are very excited for the future under the new leadership.

Juvenile arrested in connection with Galena shooting death

(From the Galena Police Department)

On Monday, January 1, 2024, at approximately 0220 hours, Officers with the Galena Police Department were notified that a man had been shot at the Galena Estates Apartments' located near East 7th Street and State Line Road in Galena, Kansas.

When officers arrived, they located a juvenile male subject sitting on the stairs of one of the apartment buildings. The subject informed officers that a person in the 3rd floor apartment had been shot.

After securing the scene, Officers entered the apartment and located a male victim which was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim has been identified as Christopher Story, DOB: 10/12/1985.

As a result of the initial investigation, Officers arrested the Juvenile male and transported him to the Juvenile Detention Center pending formal charges.

Pittsburg Police investigating shooting at Sycamore Village Residences

(From the Pittsburg Police Department)

On Friday, December 29, 2023 at approximately 1:31 AM, first responders from the Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg Fire Department and Crawford County EMS responded to an apartment located at Sycamore Village Residences, 2601 N. Joplin, for a report of an individual suffering from a gunshot wound.

The 28-year-old male was transported to Via Christi Hospital for a non-life threatening injury to his leg. The investigation into this incident is ongoing at this time.

Anyone having information related to this incident, or other crimes, is urged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at (620) 231-1700, or at our automated tip line, (620) 231-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.