Lamar Police Department Weekly Report

(From the Lamar Police Report)

Department numbers for the week of April 16 – April 22, 2025

 
Dispatched calls – 197
Reports -15
Car Stops – 14
DWI – 0
Drug/Paraphernalia Seizure – 1
Total Arrests – 0
Ped/Bike/FIC Cards - 0
Zone, Business & Residential Checks – 107

04/17/2025 Officer took a report regarding identity theft. Investigation continues.

04/20/2025 Officer was checking an area after the storm went through. As he approached 15th & Grand, he saw a large group of people in the roadway screaming and yelling. Two people were arrested with charges of assault domestic 3rd degree, assault domestic 2nd degree and possess drug paraphernalia.

 
04/21/2025 Officers took a report of an assault that occurred earlier. Investigation continues.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call 417-682-3546 and speak with Chief of Police Shannon Crouch.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Weekly Report

 

Two arrested, meth confiscated during search warrant execution at Goodman home

(From the Newton County Sheriff's Office)

On April 23, 2025, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team, along with the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team and McDonald County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant at 21889 Jaguar Road, Goodman, Newton County, Missouri. 

The warrant stemmed from an ongoing investigation conducted by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team.

Upon arrival, Deputies located Johnathon Lee Bickford, 33, on the property. Bickford was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and was arrested. He also had an active arrest warrant issued by the Neosho Police Department. Melvin Leon Bickford, 56, was also present and was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Both individuals, residents of the property, were taken into custody.

Charges have been submitted to the Newton County Prosecutor on Johnathon Lee Bickford and Melvin Leon Bickford for possession of a controlled substance. As of this release, both remain in custody in the Newton County Jail.

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office and its partner agencies are committed to combating illegal drug activity in our communities. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about illegal drugs in our communities to call 417-451-8333 to report the activity.
Sheriff Matt Stewart

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

 04/23/2025 1029 

 JASON ARTHUR DUNCAN 

 2204 S Brownell Ave JOPLIN, MO 64127 

 WM 40 405 E. 5TH 5,000.00 

TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE - 1ST DEGREE  UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM 

BURGLARY 1ST DEGREE 

STEALING - $750 OR MORE 

 04/23/2025 1330 

 JONATHAN LEE BICKFORD 

 21889 Jaguar Rd GOODMAN, MO 64843 

 WM 33 21889 JAGUAR RD 261.50 

NPD STEALING 215.320 

 04/23/2025 1500 

 MELVIN LEON BICKFORD 

 21889 Jaguar Rd NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64843 

 WM 56 21889 JAGUAR RD 0.00 

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

Newsmakers program focuses on Safe Haven Baby Boxes

(From KGCS)

Missouri passed the Safe Place for Newborns Act in 2001 to protect newborn babies from injury due to abandonment and allow a parent to permanently give up a newborn without prosecution. In 2021, the state passed a law legalizing the use of newborn drop-off boxes. Now, two of those boxes are in place at fire stations in Joplin and Carthage. The Safe Haven Baby Boxes are the focus of the next Newsmakers program.

Joplin Fire Chief Gerald Ezell and Carthage Fire Marshall Eli Maples explain how the boxes function at stations. CB Eastman and Karolyn Shrage of LifeChoices discuss fundraising to purchase and install the temperature-controlled bassinets. Mary Anne Phillips shares a piece of Joplin history recounting a “baby in the bushes” incident that made national headlines in 1945.

Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. beginning April 27 on KGCS-TV and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3 on KOAM-TV. It is also posted on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS – Missouri Southern State University.

KGCS-TV will be off-the-air during a planned outage beginning April 29 weather permitting. MSSU is moving the station transmitter to the KXMS-FM broadcast tower on campus.

KGCS-TV programming can be seen on channel 21 and is also available on regional cable television systems such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Suddenlink Communications. The station operates as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.

MSSU to launch 3D Printing Center for Precision Health

(From Missouri Southern State University)

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is proud to announce the launch of the Missouri 3D Printing Center for Precision Health, a new initiative funded through a Science to Jobs grant provided by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.

The center will officially open on May 9 with a special event starting at 9 a.m. State legislators, regional leaders, and media are invited to preview the work that will be taking place. Presentations will highlight the newest technologies now housed at MSSU. The event will be held in the Ummel Technology Building, Room 118, where the center will be temporarily housed.

This cutting-edge facility will serve as a hub for advanced research, workforce training, and regional collaboration focused on the intersection of 3D printing and personalized healthcare solutions.

“The Missouri 3D Printing Center for Precision Health brings new opportunities spanning into the disciplines of healthcare, education, research, and industry,” said Dr. Crystal Lemmons, dean of the College of Health, Life Sciences and Education. “The potential impact of this technology is unlimited in its scope, and we expect the center to continue to grow and evolve over time.”

The long-term vision includes relocating the center to the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center in 2026.

Dr. Crystal Lemmons and MSSU President Dr. Dean Van Galen will be available to speak to media at the event. Please contact Felicia Vaught at 417-625-9365 or Vaught-f@mssu.edu if you plan to attend.

Agenda posted for Crowder College Board of Trustees meeting

CROWDER COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING

Neosho Campus Wright Conference Center Monday, April 28, 2025 Call to Order at 10:00 a.m.

 

I.          Call to order

A.     Welcome guests

II.        Consent Agenda (Board Action)

1. New Trustee Oath of Office
2. Election of Board Officers
3. Minutes from previous meeting
4. Approval of checks written for February
5. Vehicle Use Policy – Second Reading
6. Sam’s Club Policy – Second Reading
7. Load, Overload and Stipend Policy (Amendments) – Second Reading
8. Contract Renewal List

III. Personnel (Board Action)

A.     Retirements and Resignations

B.      Changes of Status

C.      Employments

IV. Academic Programs (Board Action)

A.     Addition of Programs

B.      Modification of Programs

C.      Deletion of Programs

V. Budget and Finances         

A.     Grants (Informational)

B.      Contract and Purchase Approval (Anything over $25,000) BOARD ACTION

C.      Contract and Purchase Information ($5,000-$24,999)

1. Project Description: Annual Service Fee for Maxient's Case Manager software
2. Project Description: Replacing the ice machine in the athletic training room.
3. Project Description: MAACCE AEL conference in Lake of the Ozarks, MO.
4. Project Description: EValue Allied Health Subscription for OTA Fieldwork software (renewal
5. Project Description: Hotel stay for a Talent Search summer cultural trip to Atlanta, Georgia.
6. Project Description: Meal money for cultural trip to Houston, Tx.
7. Project Description: Removal of 12 fully grown trees on the Crowder Cassville campus

VI.       Special Presentations (Informational)

1. TRIO UB/UBMS Presentation
2. Physical Plant
3. Budget – First Reading

VII.     President’s Report (Informational)

VIII.   Trustees’ Comments and Announcements (Informational)

IX.       New Business (Informational)

X.        Executive Session

A. Following the regular meeting, upon motion and roll call vote of the Board, the Board will move to a closed session to discuss personnel pursuant to Section 610.021 RSMo. 

XI.       Adjournment