News/Talk KRMS 1150 AM, 97.5 FM & 103.3 FM

Talk Radio at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri

Lake Lenders See More New Home Construction Across The Lake

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man in yellow shirt and blue denim jeans jumping on brown wooden railings under blue and

Photo by Josh Olalde on Unsplash

A Lake Area lender is giving his take on concerns some people have about buying a home in Lake of the Ozarks.

“There’s a lot of media that’s scaring people to go forward and get their house, because they’re worried that they’re going to end up upside down in their house like they did in 2006” says Ron Yarbrough with Prime Lending in Camdenton.

He tells KRMS News more home construction is happening in the Lake Area now than it was a year ago “If I drive from the 20 mile marker in my boat, all the way down to the 45 mile marker…I’ll probably pass 25 or so new homes going in.”

Yarbrough says interest rates are low right now, compared to 2006, but they will go up at some point “Once they feds start trying to combat the massive amounts of money we keep pumping into the economy….we’ve got a couple of good years before that goes up.”

Yarbrough was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

MO Attorney General Pushes To Have Mask Mandate Lawsuit Class Certified

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The Camdenton R-3 School District and School of the Osage are not forcing children to wear masks all day in school, but some school districts in Missouri are, and they’re facing what could be a class certified lawsuit.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt has already filed lawsuit against some districts in St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia.

But if the lawsuit gets class certification, 50 more school districts would be added to the lawsuit.

The AG’s website shows zero children under the age of 10 have died from COVID-19, and DHSS numbers show children make up less than 1 of every 100-thousand people hospitalized with COVID in Missouri.

Schmitt says wearing masks is a decision for parents and students, not for school districts.

BIKEFEST 2021 Underway – Officials Urge Caution On Roadways

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You’ll notice tens of thousands of motorcyclists cruising Lake of the Ozarks throughout the weekend as Bike Fest continues.

Law enforcement is stressing the importance of staying aware of the bikers when you’re driving on roads and highways, but staying alert has to continue when you’re stopped.

“The biggest thing right now is slow down. Don’t be in a hurry, be aware of bikers….no body wants to get hit on a bike by a car” says Sunrise Beach police officer Scott Craig.

He tells KRMS News just because you have the right of way doesn’t mean it’s safe to start moving “If you see a large group of bikes at a stoplight…and it turns Green, and then you get a Green light and that group has not gone through yet….expect them to break the law and go through it.”

And Craig also talks about another obstacle for drivers in the Lake Area “So many deer crashes are occurring and especially now that we’re moving into Fall, it’s been a really hot summer….so many of the deer have been moving at night and now they’re going to be moving to try and stay warm or eat, so it’s going to be more of a 24-hour problem now than what we’ve seen over the last several months.”

Two KRMS Radio talk show hosts hit deer on the same day Wednesday, but nobody was hurt.

Craig was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Attorney Talks About COVID Mandates And Local Businesses

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As pushback and defiance of Washington DC’s COVID shot mandates continues, one local attorney is talking about the future relationship between businesses and their employees.

“This is going to be a huge impact as folks continue to look forward. I think employers are going to struggle with “how do I deal with this COVID 19 thing” and “How do I let people back into my business” as opposed to not” says Attorney At Law David Porter.

He tells KRMS News Lake Area businesses need to have their own plan moving ahead “Don’t let yourself get carried away with the global and national rhetoric and let that decide how you drive your business.”

Porter also talks about how the word ‘science’ is being used in ongoing COVID measures “There’s a lot of different positions on what the science is. And the science is constantly evolving. I think the idea that science is a static, that we’re going to land on a place in science and that’s where we are going to stop, that’s really really false.”

The Biden Administration’s COVID shot mandates are being condemned by the entire Camden County Commission, U-S Missouri Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer and Vicky Hartzler and also Governor Mike Parson.

Porter Law handles Business, Estate Planning and Mediation in Lake Ozark.

EPA Says “Impaired Waterway” Designation For LOTO Is About Fish & Wildlife – Not Tourism

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The Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri DNR disagree on Lake of the Ozarks landing on a list of ‘Impaired Waterways.’

But the EPA is also explaining what that list of 40 impaired water bodies in Missouri means.

“All of the Lakes we’re talking, these 40, are being listed for chlorophyll” says Jeff Robichaud with the Water Division Director for EPA Region 7, “What happens is you get high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous and you get the creation of algae blooms and when that occurs…it can affect aquatic species, mainly fish.”

But Robichaud tells KRMS News the designation does not mean the lake area economy will be affected because people can’t go in the water or because recreational boating isn’t allowed “There’s a bit of a misconception either that a water body is pristine, or often times people think when it gets on a list that it’s heavily polluted….that’s not the case.

He says the concerns about the lake’s water quality are directed at fish and not humans “The Lake had water quality data that exceeded the State’s water quality criteria, or their screening levels, that coupled with some Fish Kills that occurred during that time period…resulted in the Lake exceeding the threshold and needing to be impaired.

He also says solutions will be discussed and implemented locally “For Lake of the Ozarks, it may need additional work to septic systems alongside of the Lake or additional best management practices for those who are located along the watershed. In this the Public is involved, the community is brought in and it really is a local approach to making sure these waters are protected in the future. This is not a case where the EPA comes in and tells the local community what to do.”

Robichaud was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

School Of The Osage Clarifies It’s Stance On COVID 19 Vaccination Requirements

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While the White House tries to force you into taking a COVID shot, School of the Osage wants to end speculation about how students and faculty are being handled before it begins.

“There is no room for speculation on this right now. We haven’t been directed by the Governing body that Governs School Districts, around adding this to our Immunization rotation” Says Superintendent Dr. Laura Nelson.

She tells KRMS News the governing body for School of the Osage and public schools around Missouri is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education “The State of Missouri regulates the way schools regulated vaccines and immunizations. We’re guided by DESE in the matter and that haven’t made any statements on that (COVID Vaccines) yet.”

She also says the interest for School of the Osage is to educate children in the best environment possible while keeping them out of the crosshairs of speculation “We hear things on TV all the time…and we don’t just jump into action. We, are very steady in our responses and right now there seems to be a lot of challenge to what is being said.”

Dr. Nelson confirms to KRMS News children are not forced to take COVID shots and teachers and faculty can choose to take one or not.

Lake Wide Job And Career Fair Taking Place Today In Osage Beach

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If you feel the time has come for a career change, you’re in luck.

Today (Tuesday) from 11AM until 6PM, News/Talk KRMS & Viper Communications is hosting a Lake Wide Job and Career fair at the Inn at Grand Glaize.

Residents from across the 4-county region, as well as cities outside the lake area, are welcome to attend for free.

It’s recommended you come dressed for an interview and bring a resume, as many lake area businesses will be on hand and are looking for employees today.

The Inn at Grand Glaize is located at 5142 Osage Beach Parkway, about a quarter-mile west of the bridge.

You can learn more below:

Camden County Commission – Local And State Leaders Snap Back At COVID Vaccine Mandates

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The Camden County Commission, U-S Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer and Vicky Hartzler, and Governor Mike Parson are united in their stance on a Biden Administration mandate to take new COVID shots.

Governor Parson says it’s a poor attempt by the White House to reset after the disaster in Afghanistan and that his administration will fight it (See below.)

Representative Luetkemeyer thinks it’s going nowhere “This is so over the top, this is so tyrannical in the way they are doing this…it’s going to be challenged in court and I think the courts will overturn it.”

He’s joined by Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who says these mandates are not American at all “I never thought I would see a day, in our country, where the Government would be forcing citizens to do something (a medical procedure) and these mandates are just out of line. They’re UN-American and they have to be opposed.”

Camden County Presiding Commissioner Greg Hasty says in a release (see below), that the commission’s united in its concerns about the federal measures as well.

Hasty points to early January, when the Commission voted to rescind a prior ordinance requiring food service workers to get hepatitis A vaccines.

On the same day in January, the Commission passed an ordinance recognizing and reasserting several God-given rights, including your right to reject any forced vaccinations and, in some cases, medications.

Hasty says Camden County, unlike many others in Missouri and the U-S, has refused to pass ordinances requiring face masks in schools, public places or working locations.

The Biden Administration also wants to double fines for airline passengers who refuse to cover their faces on a place, despite little evidence mask-wearing impacts the spread of COVID.

 

***More from the Camden County Commission on the Vaccines below:

The Camden County Commission met this morning in executive session to discuss the potential ramifications of the Presidential covid vaccine mandates announced by Washington on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

The president announced vaccination requirements for health care providers that accept Medicare and Medicaid, for all federal employees and contractors and for the staffs of Head Start programs, Department of Defense Schools and Bureau of Indian Education-operated schools.  All members of the Armed Forces are required to get vaccinated.

Regarding the private sector and the public, The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is developing a rule requiring all employers with at least 100 employees to make sure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require unvaccinated workers to get a negative test at least once a week. OSHA will issue an “Emergency Temporary Standard” to introduce the vaccine requirement. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of $14,000 per violation.  It appears the orders may include exceptions for workers seeking religious or medical exemptions from vaccination.  The new vaccination requirements could apply to as many as 100 million Americans — close to two-thirds of the American workforce.

In addition to the vaccination requirements, President Biden moved to double federal fines for airline passengers who refuse to wear masks on flights or to maintain face-covering requirements on federal property.

Many organizations across the nation have already announced their concerns in relation to the President’s announcement.  The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, is taking issue with the mandatory vaccine requirement.  Further, the Republican National Committee announced that it plans to file a lawsuit against the Biden administration regarding the new vaccine requirements.  Across the nation, Governors of many states have announced that they also take issue with new mandates.

The Camden County Commissioners are united in their concerns about the new federal vaccine mandates.  Early this year, on January 28th, 2021, the Commission voted to rescind a prior ordinance (Ordinance 1-14-21-01) requiring food industry workers to get a hepatitis A vaccination, leaving that decision to employers.  The same day, the Commission passed an ordinance (Ordinance 01-28-21-01) recognizing and reasserting several God-given rights possessed by all Americans; including:

“6. The citizens of Camden County are aware of their own underlying health risk factors better than the government and can reject any unduly forced vaccinations; and

  1. That unless required by law, individuals have the right to refuse directives or recommendations to take any drugs or medications for the prevention or treatment of any condition, illness or disease and
  2. A state of emergency that operates in perpetuity can be considered by some a state of tyranny”

Similarly, unlike a large number of counties across the United States, the Camden County Commission has refused to pass any ordinance requiring face masks in schools, public places or places of employment, being of the opinion that this would represent an over-reach of government authority.

 

***More from Governor Mike Parson on the Vaccines:

Governor Mike Parson says that his administration will reject the Biden Administration’s attempt to enforce an unconstitutional, federal vaccine mandate for Missourians and private businesses. The Office of the Governor has been in communication with leadership from the Missouri General Assembly and the Attorney General’s Office to align resources for a pending legal fight. 

“This assault on individual liberty and free enterprise is a poorly executed attempt by the Biden Administration to reset after its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Governor Parson said. “With our southern border in crisis and as we are experiencing out-of-control inflation, President Biden is desperate to divert attention from his failures. However, Missouri will not be a pawn in this publicity stunt that seeks to force Missourians to disclose private health care decisions and dictate private business operations.”

Yesterday, during a speech at the White House, President Biden announced plans to use the Occupational Safety and Health Admisntration (OSHA) to issue an unconstitutional vaccine mandate for private employers. This action would infringe on Missouri’s constitutional authority and exceeds the scope of the authority granted to either President Biden or OSHA. The President cannot legislate with the flick of his pen from the Oval Office and OSHA cannot dictate personal health care decisions for Missourians. Missouri is not under an OSHA state plan, and Governor Parson will not allow state employees to be used to enforce this unconstitutional action.

The United States Constitution does not give unelected and unaccountable federal bureaucrats authority over the personal health care decisions of Missourians. The Biden Administration is trying to use a federal agency to interfere with private businesses and personal decisions. This unconstitutional behavior is clearly meant as a distraction from the real problems the Biden administration has fostered since coming into office.

“When President Biden should be focused on protecting our troops and securing our borders, he has instead decided to inject himself into the private lives and business dealings of hard-working Missourians,” said Speaker Rob Vescovo. “This is an obvious attempt by the President to shift attention away from his failures in Afghanistan where his disastrous withdrawal left American citizens behind. We in the Missouri House of Representatives will not stand for it, and we will do everything in our power to protect the personal liberties of Missourians.”

The United States Supreme Court has said that states, not the federal government, are charged with the responsibility to protect public health within states under the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Governor Parson believes the regulation of public health is a state issue and that the General Assembly has a say in the process.

“As a small business owner who would be subjugated to President Biden’s unconstitutional mandate, I, nor the Missouri Senate, will stand idly by and allow this inexcusable power grab to harm Missourians,” said President Pro-Tem Dave Schatz. “What the Biden Administration is attempting to do will only worsen the workforce shortages businesses across the country are facing and is an absolute affront to our American freedoms.”

Missouri stands ready to meet this unconstitutional encroachment of power with strong legal action. 

Reaction To President Biden’s COVID Mandate Met With Hard Push-back In The Ozarks

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Reaction to President Biden’s vaccine mandate is being met with harsh push-back in the Lake of the Ozarks region.

In separate interviews on KRMS, both Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler say the request “infringes” on the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Missouri.

“This is so over the top, this is so….tyrannical in the way they are doing this” says Lake Area Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District, “They’re going to intimidate a lot of small businesses to get everyone vaccinated. To mandate that is way out of line…we’re going to take this to court and I think they’re going to lose.”

“Well it’s draconian and it’s unconstitutional” says Lake Area Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler of Missouri’s 4th Congressional District,“I never thought I would see a day, in our country, where the Government would be forcing citizens to do something (a medical procedure) and these mandates are just out of line. They’re UN-American and they have to be opposed.”

At the Camden County Commission, one commissioner agrees.

In a post to Facebook, 1st district commissioner James Gohagan says he will never vote to “force” residents to put anything in their bodies and that he will vote “no” on any such requirement for the district and county employees.

“Citizens of Camden County, I will never agree to force you to put anything into your body against your will, that applies for county employees as well. My vote will always be no.” says Gohagan.

That sentiment is being echoed by leaders throughout Missouri who also say the President is stepping over a line that “should never be crossed.”

Double-Homicide In Kaiser Linked To Possible Suicide In South Dakota

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The KRMS News room is getting details on a double-homicide followed by a possible suicide.

The Miller County Sheriff’s Office is reporting two people dead after deputies found the bodies at or near a home in the 300 block of Route D in Kaiser.

But the suspect, JT Mclean, was found dead in a car early Thursday morning in South Dakota.

“We located it at a motel in the southern part of our county. We had several agencies involved” says Dan Limoges with the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

But when they found him inside and unresponsive…the used a drone to investigate “flew the drone right through the windows and we were able to see the subject in the back seat was deceased.”

He tells KRMS News Mclean’s car was tracked with the help of OnStar and that he might have been heading that way to get closer to family members.

The two people found dead in Kaiser are identified as 74-year-old Daniel Stephan and 64-year-old Pamela Stephan.

Boone County Sheriff’s Department investigators said J.T. McLean was also wanted for the murder of his girlfriend Allison Abitz and her 11-year-old daughter Jozee in their home on Lavender Drive on August 22.

Few other details are available right now, but we’ll pass along more when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

Route D Homicide 2

BREAKING: Weapon Believed To Have Been Used In Vonza Watson Shooting At Lazy Gators Found

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***Updated story:

 

Investigators with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office think they’ve found a gun that might have been used in the shooting death of 27-year-old Vonza Watson at Shady Gators over Memorial Day weekend.

“With the help of a dive team, that firearm…we believe…has been recovered. That will be sent to the lab for testing and once ballistics have confirmed that, that will be used in the case and there will be additional charges…I expect…as officers continue their investigation” says Camden County Prosecutor Caleb Cunningham.

He tells KRMS News there’s no timetable for ruling the gun in or out as the murder weapon.

Two suspects have been charged in Watson’s murder, and one of them could be facing the death penalty.

This is a developing story and we’ll pass along more details when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

 

***Previous story:

Investigators with the Camden County Sheriff’s office believe they have found the gun used in the shooting death of Vonza Watson of Jefferson City at Lazy Gators on Memorial Day Weekend.

Divers were on scene after 9AM Thursday Morning and they recovered a gun in about 2 feet of water near a dock at Shady Gators.

This is a developing story and we will have more details as soon as possible on News/Talk KRMS.

 

Here are some photos from the scene:

Here is the audio from the Press Conference held shortly after the discovery:

      09-09-2021 CALEB CUNNINGHAM PRESSER LAZY GATORS GUN - 9th September 2021

Quarter Cent Sales Tax For Camden Sheriff Won’t Start Sending Money Until March 2022

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A quarter-cent sales tax increase is coming for Camden County.

But when will you start paying it?

“This sales tax will start being collected on January 1st of 2022” says County Auditor Jimmy Laughlin, and he tells KRMS News money for the Sheriff’s Office won’t start coming in until March of next year.

He says the county has notified the state the sales tax increase was passed and the deadline for that is October 1st “As long as it’s filed by then, the sales tax will start being collected in the 2nd quarter following.”

But the month of January has to pass and then retailers have to file their taxes by mid-February “So in March we’ll get our first check for that sales tax.”

Camden County voters approved the quarter-cent sales tax increase in August so Sheriff Tony Helms can give raises to the deputies he has and also to hire more deputies.

The County Commission gave the Sheriff’s Office more than $200-thousand dollars in advance to start pay raises in September rather than wait for the tax to kick in next March “We’re having 2 record years of people coming down here, so we have some extra money and so, in the end of the year we can adjust for some of that.”

2nd Suspect Arrested In Laclede County Child Rape Case

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Another suspect is facing charges as an investigation into child rape continues in Laclede County.

28-year-old Cody Staggs of Lebanon was arrested and charged with statutory rape after it was announced his half brother was charged with child sodomy last week.

“In the process of investigating the Marcus Hill case, we were dealing with some children…all related…that led us to Cody Staggs also being a perpetrator” says Sheriff David Milsap, “That led to his arrest on Thursday night and a search warrant that was served at his residence in Laclede County on Friday.”

Milsap tells KRMS News that while the number of suspects is growing, so is the number of possible victims “We think we have at least 10 victims. It’s not unusual in this types of cases, once you get involved in the investigation….to see that number of victims to start to mushroom.”

Milsap says some of the victims now coming forward are women in their early twenties who are talking about abuse they endured when they were children “We have some victims who are no longer children, they’re now in their early 20’s, who have come forward and are wanting to talk to us about having been assaulted when they were younger.”

This is a developing story, we’ll passing along the latest when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

 

****Press release:

A 28-year old Lebanon man is in the Laclede County Jail facing three counts of Statutory Rape. Cody Lee Staggs was arrested on September 2, 2021 regarding the sexual assault of a 10-year old girl in Laclede County. The investigation into Staggs’ assault of the 10-year old began as part of an investigation which led to charges being filed last week regarding Staggs’ half-brother Marcus Hill.

“While charges have been filed, in these particular cases, we are continuing to investigate similar complaints on both suspects. We believe, at this point, we may have as many as 10-child victims, or children at the time of the assault. As these cases develop we will have better idea if we will be able to present  further information to the Prosecuting Attorney,” said Sheriff David Millsap.

On September 3, 2021 detectives from the Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the Staggs’ residence located in Laclede County. “Evidence seized in the search warrant will be examined at the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab in Springfield,” Millsap said.

Bagnell Dam BLVD Bridge Over Dam Closed Until December

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It’ll be business as usual on The Strip in Lake Ozark, but it’s a different story for Bagnell Dam for the next few months.

MoDOT begins a rehabilitation project Tuesday.

“It’s going to require complete closure of the dam at this time” says MODOT Central District Area Engineer Bob Lynch, “I know people would like for us to keep the road open, and I understand that….but the type of work that we are doing and the width of the dam it just isn’t safe…we’ll have to close the dam.”

He tells KRMS News work will be done on the road and sidewalks through December “The goal here is to improve the driving conditions, the road…the sidewalk….the curbs…and try and get some additional life out of the structure. Hopefully we’ll have it ready for next year.”

You’ll still have access to the Strip by heading in from Hwy 242, Bagnell Dam Boulevard or Horseshoe Bend.

Miller Sheriff Arrests 5 People Over The Past Week Involved With Drugs

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There were numerous drug arrests made by the Miller County Sheriff’s office over the past week.

Officials say on Wednesday they picked up a Jefferson City man who had cocaine in his position while driving in Lake Ozark.

Then on Thursday four people were picked up following a drug raid at two separate homes.

Deputies say the first one happened on Noel Road just outside of Eldon and shortly after another raid took place at Lakeview Drive.

During those raids the Sheriff’s office found meth, pills, other narcotics and illegal firearms.

Full details on all of the arrests can be found below:

Donald Shawler
 De Aaron Knowles

Springfield Armory Donates Guns And Equipment To Lake Ozark Police Department

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Police in Lake Ozark now have new equipment thanks to a donation and some discounts from Springfield Armory.

It all started with a recent phone call from a representative for CEO Dennis Reese.

“Basically a few weeks ago a local representative for lake shore holdings, which Mr. Resse owns, reached out to me and just inquired if there was anything they could do to assist the department with equipment needs….or anything that may be helpful to our department” says Chief Launderville.

He tells KRMS that lead to his department getting 17 new 9 millimeter pistols, red dot optic gun sites and holsters, but there was more “Two new rifles, AR-15’s, for the price of one.”

Chief Launderville says training will also be provided for officers in Lake Ozark, and the value of everything is around $23-thousand dollars, or more.

 

****More info:

Springfield Armory® Donates Firearms and Equipment to the Lake Ozark Police Department

 

GENESEO, ILL. (09/03/21) – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the donation of guns and equipment to the City of Lake Ozark Police Department.

 

Spearheaded by Springfield Armory CEO Dennis Reese, this donation equips every officer of the Lake Ozark, Missouri police department with the gear necessary to help ensure they can effectively perform their duties protecting its citizens.

Dennis Reese and his wife, Jane, have long-time ties and deep connections to the area, and are very involved in the development of the historic Bagnell Dam Strip — known as “The Strip” to most.

“Lake of the Ozarks is a very important place to my family,” said Dennis Reese. “My wife Jane and I raised our kids here during the summers and throughout much of the off-season, so the area has a lot of great memories for us. We wanted to do our part giving back to the area, helping to protect the Strip for families to enjoy. When we found out that the Lake Ozark Police Department needed support, it was a no-brainer that Springfield Armory could be a solution.”

Pistols provided to the department are from the highly capable 9mm XD-M® Elite OSP™ family. Also provided with the pistols were Springfield Armory’s HEX™ Dragonfly™ red dot optics. In addition, Springfield Armory donated Dara Holster Systems capable of accepting the pistols with the red dot optics installed.

Additionally, the department acquired two SAINT® Victor B5 5.56mm rifles, also equipped with HEX Dragonfly red dot optics. This provides the officers with additional firepower should it be required in the course of their duties.

“When the Reese family learned that our department was looking to replace its current firearms, Dennis Reese reached out to me immediately,” said Lake Ozark’s Chief of Police, Gary Launderville. “Our current firearms were nearly 15 years old and in need of replacement, but we did not have the budget to accomplish this. Mr. Reese determined what we needed and made it happen. He has been awesome.”

“Springfield Armory could not be more proud to support the Lake Ozark Police Department in their efforts to keep their community safe,” said Fred Mincks, Springfield Armory’s LE Sales Manager. “We support the efforts of the law enforcement community and are happy to have been able to do this for the Lake Ozark Police Department.”

For more information on Springfield Armory, visit www.springfield-armory.com.

 

About Springfield Armory®

In 1794, the original Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the defense of our young, free Republic. The Armory functioned as a firearms supplier for every major American conflict until 1968 when the government sadly closed its doors. In 1974, nearly two centuries after its inception, Springfield Armory Inc. in Geneseo, Ill. revived the iconic heritage of the Armory to carry on its legacy.

We strive to honor this responsibility as guardians of the original Springfield Armory legacy by manufacturing the highest quality firearms to enable responsible citizens to preserve their right to keep and bear arms in the defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

With an unmatched emphasis on craftsmanship, performance and exceptional customer service, our mission is to forge superior firearms and provide the tools necessary to defend individual freedoms and equality for those who embrace the rights and principles secured by our Founding Fathers. For more information, please visit us at: springfield-armory.com.

Drowning Deaths At Lake Of The Ozarks Have Local Water Safety Officials Concerned

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There have been five drowning deaths on Lake of the Ozarks for the month of August alone, and another drowning happened on July 31st.

And not all of them are happening on the water.

“One of them was a gentleman who liked to fish…and he was leaning back to try and support himself on a post, well…he didn’t hit the post and instead he fell off the dock and never resurfaced” says Captain Doug Beck with the Lake of the Ozarks Captain’s Association and the water Safety Council,“we have currents, we have underwater obstacles as well as the boat traffic. People have to remember, underneath the lake we have branches, we have trees, we have concrete, we have other objects. They increase the chances of extreme injury or even death so, it’s very simple, wear a life jacket!”

Beck says in most cases you can’t see those objects under the water; the lake may offer only one or two feet of visibility from the surface and sometimes people are unaware of what they’re diving into when they jump off a cliff.

He also says many people don’t understand the warning signs of drowning “Drowning doesn’t look like it does on TV or movies, where people are wailing and splashing around…that’s not what that is. A person is often not kicking, so their legs are still….they often hold their face above the water, so they may be still. They could be bobbing up and down, but they’re actually trying to gasp for air…so they may not be able to scream.”

Beck says wearing a life jacket should be worn anytime you’re on the water or around a dock.

Beck was a guest with Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Bagnell Dam To Close Next Tuesday For Winter Rehabilitation Project

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MoDOT is getting ready to start a rehabilitation project on Bagnell Dam the day after Labor Day (Tuesday September 7th.)

“And that is going to require complete closure of the dam at that time. We’re doing a rehabilitation project there to improve the driving conditions, the sidewalks and the curbs. We’re trying to get some additional life out of that structure and hopefully we’ll have it ready for next year” says MoDOT Central District Engineer Bob Lynch.

He tells KRMS News the project is all about extending the life of the road going over the dam and the project should be complete by December “people would like for us to keep the road open if possible, and we understand that, but with the work we are doing and the limited width you have with the dam, it’s a challenge so we do have to close it down.”

But you’ll still be able to get to The Strip in Lake Ozark even though the dam will be closed after Labor Day “there is good access to the strip area, coming in from the south off Route 242, or Osage Beach Parkway….there are plenty of ways to get in there.”

Lynch also says traffic at the new interchange on Highway 54 and Route W will be unaffected while the Dam’s closed.

He was interviewed by Guy Wehman on The Ozarks This Morning on News / Talk KRMS.

Man Drowns After Jumping Off 125′ Cliff At Lake Of The Ozarks

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There have now been 5 drownings for the Month of August across Lake of the Ozarks.

The latest is a 41-year-old man who died after jumping from a 125’ cliff, at the 64 ½ mile marker of the main channel at the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend.

The Highway Patrol’s water division says Thomas Painter of Bosworth, Missouri made the jump without a lifejacket, hit the water and never resurfaced.

There have been 11 deaths (10 were drownings) recorded since the start of August and a total of 57 since January, many on Missouri Rivers.

“We’ve got people that have died in Current River, Elk River, Meramac River, A Private Pond, Stockton Lake, Truman Lake and of course here, so I guess you can say we’ve all contributed to that number” says Captain Bob May of the No Wake Zone Boating Radio Show, “many of them were not aware of the fact that a river has some strong currents. I mean, you have a 5 mile an hour current and you won’t last very long in that without a life jacket on.”

Fort Leonard Wood Army Specialist Joshua Morrison was the latest victim of river currents, when he was killed while on a Kayaking trip on the Gasconade River.

May says that the biggest issue involved in all of these water related deaths were boating and water safety education “You know these days it’s so easy to get boating and water safety education, there’s websites….in person trainings and there’s just so many ways you can get trained. It doesn’t take long…you can do it at home, on your cellphone, tablet, laptop…whatever. And we need more education now more than ever.”

The Highway Patrol reminds boaters, swimmers and kayakers alike….everyone should remember to wear a life jacket whenever you’re entering the water and it is the law if you’re 7 years or younger, or you’re riding on a PWC.

MO COVID 19 State Of Emergency Enacted In March 2020 Ends After New One Takes It’s Place

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As one State of Emergency for the Show Me State comes to an end, another takes it place.

Governor Mike Parson officially ending the original State of Emergency on Friday, after it had been in effect since March 13, 2020.

However Parson issued Executive Order 21-09 short after, a more targeted State of Emergency declaration acknowledging the continued needs of Missouri’s health care system.

This new State of Emergency invokes the Governor’s emergency powers and activates the Missouri National Guard for continued mission support in recovery operations, if needed.

The order also keeps in place telehealth, and it allows state agencies to request waiver of certain statutory and regulatory requirements that would otherwise hinder the state’s response to ongoing COVID-19 challenges.

Read more below:

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Today, Governor Mike Parson terminated Executive Order 20-02 ending the State of Emergency that had been in effect since March 13, 2020. 

“In the nearly 18 months we operated under this Executive Order, we have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing unprecedented levels of resources and support,” Governor Parson said. “This Order enabled us to respond to the unknown and everchanging needs of our state. Now, we know how to fight this virus and have a solution to ending the pandemic with the vaccine. Today, we are terminating this order as our situation no longer demands an expansive emergency declaration.” 

Upon the termination of Executive Order 20-02, Governor Parson issued Executive Order 21-09, which represents a more targeted State of Emergency declaration that acknowledges the continued needs of Missouri’s health care system. While Missouri’s economy has improved, the health care system is still experiencing strain due to current staffing shortages being exacerbated by COVID-19.

Executive Order 21-09 invokes the Governor’s emergency powers pursuant to Section 44.100 and activates the Missouri National Guard for continued mission support in recovery operations, if needed. The order also keeps in place provisions related to remote notary services and telehealth, and it allows state agencies to request waiver of certain statutory and regulatory requirements that would otherwise hinder the state’s response to ongoing COVID-19 challenges.

Any statutory or regulatory waiver approved under Executive Order 20-02 that is still in effect as of the date of the new order will remain in place. Approval of any new waivers will be aimed at supporting Missouri’s health care system and response to COVID-19. New requests will be subject to approval from the Governor’s Office.

Under the new order and as part of the transition process from the previous order, the state has significantly scaled back the number of waivers in effect. At the peak, more than 600 statutory and regulatory waivers were in place; however, only 163 waivers remain in effect under the new order. Many of the remaining waivers are implemented by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The remaining waivers were found to be necessary to support the health care system, provide regulatory flexibility, and ensure the state remains federally compliant.

“We have always taken a balanced approach in our response to COVID-19, and this new order demonstrates the progress we have made in fighting this virus,” Governor Parson said. “Like all Missourians, we want this crisis to end and to close this chapter. However, while we are shifting our operations, we must maintain flexibility to aid our health care system and adapt to the challenges we face.”

“We are returning to normal, but we must continue providing needed resources and support while more Missourians choose COVID-19 vaccination and are protected from serious illness,” Governor Parson continued. 

Executive Order 21-09 will terminate on December 31, 2021. To view the order, click here or see attachment. 

Executive Order 21-09

New Over The Air Free TV Station Coming To Lake Of The Ozarks

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There’s a new TV station coming to Lake of the Ozarks.

It’ll be called KRMS TV 32.

“The Lake of the Ozarks have never had a true, local Television station” says Viper Communications President and Co-Owner Ken Kuenzie, “we’re going to be able to provide 4 different channels, all on channel 32. One will have news content, one will have entertainment content, and we have some plans for the other channels…all focused on local community involvement.”

Kuenzie tells KRMS News the channel will be free and easy to tune in to “all you have to do is put one of those little $10 TV antennas, which you can pretty much buy anywhere, and connect it to your TV and boom you’ll have free HD TV.”

Kuenzie says he wants the TV station on the air by the end of the year.

He also says Viper Communications will be looking for local talent, and you can apply at the Osage Beach offices during business hours.

KRMS TV will be joining a family of Lake Area radio stations, including 98.7 The Cove, Classic Country 104.9, 93.5 Rocks and News / Talk KRMS, AM 1150 – FM 97.5 & 103.3.

New TV Press Release

Former School Resource Officer Faces Charges Of Sexual Contact

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Charges of sexual contact with a student are now filed against a former Lake Area school resource officer.

KRMS News can confirm the case against Jenna Jackson started in January after accusations she gave pornographic material to a minor and had sexual relations with a student who graduated last year.

Investigators say Jackson also went to parties where students were hanging out and she’s accused of sending nude pictures of herself via social media and trying to hide a relationship from her fiancée.

This is a developing story and we’ll pass along more details when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

Osage Beach Police Capture Numerous Fentanyl Pills / Ammo In Multi-jurisdictional Capture

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Police in Osage Beach say a man’s in jail facing numerous charges after a tip lead to a search that turned up drugs, cash and bullets.

It all started when police were told Nickolas Lombardo would be driving through Osage Beach in a black Dodge Challenger.

After spotting a car matching the description, they pulled it over on a traffic violation and officers say they asked Lombardo about drugs.

Investigators say he gave police permission to search the car and they found marijuana.

After Lombardo was arrested, police say he gave permission for a search of the room he was staying in at the Ozark Inn and Suites.

Officers say there they found more than 250 pills believed to be fentanyl, 340 grams of pot, baggies, a scale, two 9 millimeter magazines loaded with bullets and just over $700 dollars in cash – and other items and drug paraphernalia.

Lombardo was taken to the Camden County Jail and he’s now charged with 1st Degree Drug Trafficking, among other charges.

Police say the bust was a collaborative effort between police in Osage Beach and Lake Ozark, the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force and the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Drug Arrest 20210824 2

Mayor Of Lake Ozark Advocates For Alternative COVID 19 Medicine

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The Mayor of Lake Ozark is calling it a ‘Hail Mary’ while taking an alternative medication to a friend hospitalized with COVID-19.

On a post since deleted off of Dennis Newberry’s Mayoral Facebook Page, he says he’s procured an unknown amount of the drug ‘ivermectin’ (Eye-ver-meh-ctin), and he’s taking it to a Central Missouri hospital in hopes the medical staff will administer the drug.

The mayor says in the post if he does nothing, his friend will die and he asks for prayers and support in the comment section.

KRMS News is reaching out to the Mayor to learn more about why Newberry is choosing ‘ivermectin’ for his friend, who keeps a boat at a Lake Ozark marina but lives in Cuba, Missouri.

We’ll pass along more details when possible on KRMS.

 

Here are some screen shots of the post and comments before it was taken down.

Camdenton Laker Football Player Is Told That Flying “American Flag” During Jamboree Is A Political Statement

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Photo by Mitch Prentice and Lake News Online (Copyright): Photo comment by Amber Brandt: “This photo of Garett carrying his flag onto bob shore stadium (in 2020) may be the first and last we will ever get. He was told tonight that he could not carry his flag because it is a political statement and that political statements aren’t allowed in MSHSAA events.”

****Story Update # 1:

The Missouri State High School Athletic Association is responding to a situation involving a Camdenton Football Player and the American Flag.

The issue stems from a comment made by a parent Friday on social media, stating her son was told by a MSHSAA official that carrying the flag was a “political statement” and wasn’t allowed in their bi-laws.

Officials with MSHSAA say they have no no bi-laws that states a player cannot carry the Flag onto the Field, and whoever made that comment wasn’t a MSHSAA member.

“There were no MSHSAA staff present at that preseason jamboree and there was no one, outside of school personnel, who would have the authority to make such a statement” says Communications Director Jason West, “The underline information that needs to be shared with everyone is that there is NO language in MSHSAA bi-laws that says carrying an American Flag onto a football field is a violation. There has never been any language to that, there has never been an consideration to making language to that, so the interpretation that it was a MSHSAA violation to carry the flag on to the field before the football game is false and in-accurate.”

He tells KRMS News that both they and the Camdenton R-3 School district are looking into who made the comment “We’ve spoken with members of that school’s administration and to our knowledge, there was no one from that school that said that as well.”

Camdenton school board officials tell KRMS News they are aware of the situation and believe the comment happened in the school’s parking lot.

At this time, it’s unknown who made the comment that sent social media into a massive uproar on Saturday but MSHSAA officials and the Camdenton School Board are investigating “We would like to know if there is someone who’s trying to impersonate or act like they know what the MSHSAA bi-laws are, or trying to provide interpretations of those MSHSAA bi-laws without any type of consent from the MSHSAA office or staff. At this time there are no legal actions we can take, other than asking that person to cease and desist.”

This remains an ongoing story and we’ll continue to bring you latest as it comes in.

Mr. West also provided this statement to KRMS…..

 

American Flag Allowed at High School Football Games 

Columbia, Mo.- The Missouri State High School Activities Association has been made aware of false statements being spread on social media.  Earlier today, a story was reported by KRMS in Camdenton, Mo. claiming the Association told a student-athlete he could not carry an American Flag onto the football field prior to his team’s pre-season jamboree as it was against MSHSAA By-Laws.

This claim is false.  The Association’s member schools have never had or considered by-law language that would consider carrying an American Flag on to a football field a violation.  At no point in the history of the Association has a member of its staff told anyone from a member school, a parent, a student or any member of the public that carrying an American Flag on to a football field is a violation.

 

****A note from the News Department:

KRMS would like to also point out that the statement that a MSHSAA official told the student he “could not carry the flag” was made by the parent, and not KRMS. We are simply relaying what the parent stated in the social media post that was made yesterday.

****Previous story:

There’s a viral post on social media that’s catching the eye of Lake Area parents and residents.

The post shows a Camdenton Laker Football player and student carrying the American Flag onto the field, a tradition for every start of the season game for the Lakers.

However, in the post, the mother of the student Amber Brandt indicated that her son, Garrett, was told he could not carry the flag for this year’s jamboree.

The reason, a Missouri State High School Activities Association rule banning “political ventures” without written consent of a school administrator, that according to the MSHSAA handbook (“4.1.7 Representing the School: Participants shall not represent the school (appearing in school uniform, school-named clothing, at school facilities, or with mascot/school colors) to endorse or promote a product/service, commercial venture, political venture, etc. without prior, written consent by a school administrator.” ).

Brandt says an association member told her son that carrying the flag was a “Political Statement” and it wasn’t allowed.

KRMS has reached out to the Association, Garrett’s Mother and the School Board for comment and we’ll relay any updates on the story as they come in.

Schools Start Next Week Across The Lake Area

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Kids head back to school on Monday in the Camdenton R-3 School District.

“So many jobs and occupations…you don’t get that fresh start all of the time. It can be a little bit of a grind, but when you’re in the school business you know….you get a fresh start every year” says Camdenton Superintendent Dr. Tim Hadfield.

He tells KRMS News there are 42 new faculty and administrators in the district this year “It’s always great to have fresh eyes, new ideas and new friendships you can behold so…we’re all good to go and fired up here for August 23rd!”

Dr. Hadfield says new teachers have been on campus this week getting ready for 2021-2022.

He’s also reminding parents and young drivers to plan ahead and be cautious Monday as school buses will be on the road along with kids riding bikes and walking to school.

School of the Osage is also getting ready for the start of its school year on Tuesday, August 24th.

“Parents and students and Teachers and staff….everyone is getting ready with final preparations and lots of excitement is in the air” says Superintendent Dr. Laura Nelson

She tells KRMS News the academic year will open with awareness of the pandemic, but also with a commitment to maximizing education for students “Everyone in the community knows COVID is with us, and it’s a situation that we’re just working with it…our focus is on students and making sure they have the best education experience possible.”

Dr. Nelson says the school year will open with no restrictions on attendance or large gatherings.

School of the Osage will operate with a four-day week for students, but teachers will be working all five days.

Lake Area Loses Population According To 2020 US Census

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The two most populated counties in the Lake Area are falling in population, according to the 2020 U-S Census.

The numbers show Camden County’s population dropping 2.9-percent for a total of just over 42-thousand seven hundred people.

Miller County’s population fell point-one-percent to a total of more than 24-thousand seven hundred residents.

But it’s a different story to the south and southwest.

The census shows Laclede County increasing its population by 1.3-percent to just over 36-thousand people.

Pulaski County had the greatest increase in the region with close to 17-hundred people showing up – that’s an increase of 3.2-percent over the 2010 Census.

 

Data by county:

In The Lake Area

Just Outside The Lake Area

Osage Beach Sees Significant Increase In Sales Tax Revenue

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Osage Beach is reporting an increase in sales tax collections as summer winds down.

“We’re about 22 1/2%, we’re about 18% up from where we foretasted, so expected a little growth just because of the activity from 2020” says Jenna Woods, City Administrator in Osage Beach,
“That has everything to do with people shopping, activities and events and everything that happened within our city limits. We had a great summer…lot of tourists, a large influx of people.”

She tells KRMS News plans are being made right now for next year’s budget “End of October, maybe early November at the latest…we meet with the board of alderman in several public workshops, which are public meetings, and we present our requests to the board and hopefully we have our budget requests answered by December…so that we can start January 1 with a new budget.”

Woods also says Osage Beach is in line for more than $900-thousand dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act “Part of that act includes relief funds for a lot of jurisdictions. The act outlines that we will get half of the finds when the state first distributes it, and the other half will come 12 months after that.”

Woods was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Columbia Man Involved In Wild Chase Identified As Kenneth Rybolt

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Lake Ozark police are releasing the name of a Columbia man accused of trying to steal multiple cars, including a police car, and a PWC on Saturday.

But the whole thing started with a call from Kohl’s Department Store about shoplifting.

“This one was a little bit more bizarre, it involved a lot more people and it was a whole lot more dangerous than a typical shoplifting call” says  Lake Ozark Police Chief Gary Launderville.

He tells KRMS News when officers got to Kohl’s 26-year-old Kenneth Rybolt rammed a police car and headed toward Bagnell Dam before crashing into another car “it just showed he had no regard for anybody’s safety, including his own.”

Rybolt was arrested after the first crash, but he broke free inside the patrol car he was put in – and then took off in that car “we have a plexiglass sliding window in our cage in the car, and he was able to kick that hard enough and was able to get it unlocked. Then he climbed through the window and even once he was able to get away in the police car it was very evident that he wanted to get away because he event tried to steal the jet ski.”

Investigators say Rybolt then crashed the police car near Porta Cima and then tried to steal a PWC before he was found under a dock in the lake.

Rybolt’s facing numerous charges, including First Degree Assault, Resisting Arrest and Escaping from Custody While Under Arrest.

 

*********More info:

Kenneth Rybolt, 26, of Columbia, is facing multiple Miller County and Camden County charges after a wild vehicle chase Saturday afternoon that ended with the suspect apprehended in the lake.
The charges from both counties resulted because the chase began in Lake Ozark/Miller County and ended in Camden County. He is currently being held in Miller County Jail.
Rybolt is facing Miller County charges of:
•First degree assault or attempt – serious physical injury.
•Resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing and creating a substantial risk or serious injury/death.
Camden County charges include:
•First degree assault or attempt – serious physical injury.
•Two charges of tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree.
•Resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing and creating a substantial risk or serious injury/death.
•Escaping or attempting to escape from custody while under arrest for a felony.
•Careless and imprudent driving involving an accident.
•Burglary in the second degree.
•Tampering with an airplane/motorboat in the first degree.
•Property damage in the second degree.
The scenario
A little after 3 p.m. today, Saturday, the Lake Ozark Police Department responded to a call of shoplifting at Kohl’s Department Store in Eagles’ Landing.
The reporting party was an employee just getting off work and was in the parking lot when he called the LOPD. The reporting party was being followed by the suspect into the Marcus Theatre parking lot. Two of the LOPD officers arrived, blocked in the suspect car (later determined to be stolen from Columbia a week prior) when the suspect rammed one of LOPD cars and got away.
The pursuit ensued on Bagnell Dam Blvd. where the suspect hit another vehicle in traffic head-on in the Break Time/JB Hooks area. The suspect then left the scene and drove down past the post office and instead of turning into Woods Supermarket, drove straight off the roadway, down an incline and then went off the first layer of the cliff above the Rt. MM highway, stopping just short of going off the cliff onto MM highway.
The suspect got out of car, ran to the MM stoplight, attempted to carjack a car at the stoplight and was finally apprehended by one of our officers and Miller County deputy. The suspect was handcuffed behind his back and shackled around his ankles and placed in the back seat of our car. Somehow the suspect was able to get his hands from behind his back (still cuffed), broke the cage partition and was able to climb in the driver’s seat and took off with the LOPD car over the Community Toll Bridge.
A Miller County deputy and an LOPD officer had to run back up the hill to the Miller County squad car since they did not have sight of the LOPD car. In the meantime, Camden County received a call from a resident in Porto Cima that a LOPD car was crashed and the suspect attempted to steal their car. The suspect also broke into an unoccupied house in that neighborhood, stole a key for a personal watercraft and was attempting to steal that PWC when the Missouri State Water Patrol pulled up. The suspect jumped into the water and was trying to hide under a dock. An LOPD officer jumped into the water and re-apprehended the suspect (still cuffed and shackled).
“Thankfully, no one was injured in this entire incident. We have two cars with damage,” Police Chief Gary Launderville said.
The stolen car from Columbia is totaled and full of property that has probably been stolen, according to the chief. The car that was hit head-on by the suspect has extensive damage. Those people were checked out by medics and released.
Both Miller and Camden County will be getting statements of probably cause from the LOPD and both prosecutors are expected to file numerous charges.
Columbia Police Department has been contacted and is familiar with the suspect.

Columbia Man Faces Charges After GTA Style Police Chase Through Lake Ozark

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A Columbia man accused of stealing a police car in Lake Ozark after his arrest is facing numerous charges in multiple Lake Area Counties.

It all started Saturday afternoon when police were called to Kohl’s on a report of shoplifting.

When officers arrived, the suspect took off after ramming one of the patrol cars and headed toward Bagnell Dam, but he crashed head-on into another car and kept going.

Police say the suspect then drove the damaged car, which had been reported stolen, off the road near MM at Woods Supermarket.

He was later arrested after he tried to carjack another car.

But officers say the hand-cuffed man was able to get his arms in front of him before he broke the cage partition in the squad car he was in.

Investigators say the man got into the front seat and drove the police car over the toll bridge, where he crashed it.

Then, he reportedly broke into a house and attempted to steal another car, was unsuccessful, so he broke into another house and stole a set of keys for a PWC.

Lake Ozark police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division later found the man under a dock in the lake, where he was taken into custody again by Corporal Green with LOPD.

This is a developing story and we’ll pass along more details when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

 

*****Update from Lake Ozark PD:

A little after 3 p.m. today, Saturday, the Lake Ozark Police Department responded to a call of shoplifting at Kohl’s Department Store in Eagles’ Landing.

The reporting party was an employee just getting off work and was in the parking lot when he called the LOPD. The reporting party was being followed by the suspect into the Marcus Theatre parking lot. Two of the LOPD officers arrived, blocked in the suspect car (later determined to be stolen from Columbia a week prior) when the suspect rammed one of LOPD cars and got away. The pursuit ensued on Bagnell Dam Blvd. where the suspect hit another vehicle in traffic head-on in the Break Time/JB Hooks area. The suspect then left the scene and drove down past the post office and instead of turning into Woods Supermarket, drove straight off the roadway, down an incline and then went off the first layer of the cliff above the Rt. MM highway, stopping just short of going off the cliff onto MM highway.

The suspect got out of car, ran to the MM stoplight, attempted to carjack a car at the stoplight and was finally apprehended by one of our officers and Miller County deputy. The suspect was handcuffed behind his back and shackled around his ankles and placed in the back seat of our car. Somehow the suspect was able to get his hands from behind his back (still cuffed), broke the cage partition and was able to climb in the driver’s seat and took off with the LOPD car over the Community Toll Bridge.

A Miller County deputy and an LOPD officer had to run back up the hill to the Miller County squad car since they did not have sight of the LOPD car.  In the meantime, Camden County received a call from a resident in Porto Cima that a LOPD car was crashed and the suspect attempted to steal their car.  The suspect also broke into an unoccupied house in that neighborhood, stole a key for a personal watercraft and was attempting to steal that PWC when the Missouri State Water Patrol pulled up.  The suspect jumped into the water and was trying to hide under a dock.  An LOPD officer jumped into the water and re-apprehended the suspect (still cuffed and shackled).

“Thankfully, no one was injured in this entire incident.  We have two cars with damage,” Police Chief Gary Launderville said.

The stolen car from Columbia is totaled and full of property that has probably been stolen, according to the chief. The car that was hit head-on by the suspect has extensive damage. Those people were checked out by medics and released.

Both Miller and Camden County will be getting statements of probably cause from the LOPD and both prosecutors are expected to file numerous charges. Columbia Police Department has been contacted and is familiar with the suspect.

UPDATE: Columbia Man In Custody Following 2 Car Chases – One Involving A Stolen Lake Ozark PD Vehicle

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***Update:

A Columbia man is facing numerous charges following a wild chase through Lake Ozark.

Officials say it started at the Kohl’s parking lot, when Lake Ozark Police responded to a shoplifting call.

Once there, officers were forced to give chase when the man commandeered a stolen car and drove to Bagnell Dam BLVD, where he was involved in a head-on collision.

He then proceeded to go to Woods Supermarket and went over the cliff at the parking lot.

He was apprehended and placed into a Lake Ozark Patrol vehicle, where he was able to break out of the cage and stole the police car.

Another pursuit took place across the Toll Bridge into Porto Cima, where he jumped from the car, ran into the Lake and was eventually captured by Corporal Green of the LOPD.

The man is being held in the Miller County Jail on a number of charges and 2 LOPD Vehicles were damaged in the pursuits.

This remains a developing story and we will bring you the latest as it comes in.

 

**** From the city of Lake Ozark:

A Columbia man is in custody after a rather bazaar incident late Saturday afternoon.
It all started in the parking lot at Kohls in Eagles’ Landing when the Lake Ozark Police Department received a shoplifting call. A pursuit began there and went to the parking lot at Marcus Theatre. From there, the suspect, who commandeered a vehicle taken from Kohl’s that turned out to be stolen – took off to Bagnell Dam Blvd. where he was involved in a head-on collision. (No reported injuries)
The vehicle then left the scene, went to Woods Supermarket and then over a cliff At some point, the Lake Ozark Police Department took the suspect into custody and handcuffed the suspect behind his back and put him in the back of the patrol car. While the LOPD officer was tending to the head-on accident, the suspect was able to put his hands in front of him and break out the cage between the backseat of the LOPD and the front seat and the stole the LOPD vehicle.
He then raced across the toll bridge into a Porto Cima neighborhood where he abandoned the vehicle. The suspect entered the lake where he was eventually apprehended by an LOPD officer.
The suspect is in custody in Miller County where he faces a variety of charges.
The LOPD has two damaged vehicles.
The Missouri State Water Patrol, the Miller County Sheriff’s Department and the Camden County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the incident.
More details will be provided when available.
This is a developing story. No additional information is available at this time;

*****Previous Story:

We’re getting word of an accident involving a Lake Ozark Police SUV.

According to sources & comments on social media, it appears that someone may have stolen the Police SUV and during a chase with other officers, crashed it.

That is unconfirmed at this time and we are awaiting more information from the city about the incident.

As soon as the details are released, we will pass them along to you.

Food Trucks Are Welcome In Lake Ozark With New Ordinance

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woman wears multicolored striped sweater

Photo by Arturo Rey on Unsplash

Food Trucks are finally free to operate in the city of Lake Ozark, with just one exception.

The city giving the green light to the industry to operate within the city limits, however Food Trucks are still not allowed to operate on the Bagnell Dam Strip.

That is unless there is an event underway and permits were requested for them to be present.

Officials say the ordinance allowing the Food Trucks is already active and all one needs is to pay a $50 permit fee to get started.

Iberia Man Sentenced To 13 Years For Jefferson City Sexual Assault

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An Iberia man will spend the next 13 years in prison for sexually assaulting a Jefferson City woman.

The sentence was handed down by a Cole County Judge after 50-year-old David Gene Lee pleaded guilty to charges of Sexual Abuse.

Lee, a registered sex offender, admitted to the court that he promised to give the 19-year-old victim a “ride home” while at the 500 block of High Street back in January of this year.

Instead, Lee took the woman to a hotel on Jefferson Street and repeatedly assaulted her.

Lee’s record shows a history of assaults and kidnappings, some of which date back to 1988.

Lake Ozark Moves Closer To Achieving More Affordable Housing For The Lake Area

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The next step is being taken toward the development of some more affordable housing in the Lake Area.

The board of aldermen in Lake Ozark giving first-round approval of a measure to adopt a recommendation from planning and zoning, which clears the way for Phase-3 of the Fish Haven project.

Officials say the first two phases include the Fish Haven apartments and Estates.

They also say that the Frisco company, if given final approval by the city, will be responsible for constructing two 20-unit developments for affordable housing.

The first reading passed unanimously with the second and final reading set for the 24th of this month.

 

***More information:

 

More workforce housing proposed for Lake Ozark

A housing developer with a track record of success in Lake Ozark wants to continue providing working class housing in the community.

Briscoe Ozark Development Group, developer of Fish Haven Apartments and Fish Haven Estates retirement community, is hoping to expand the footprint of affordable housing along South Fish Haven Road with two 20-unit complexes adjacent to Fish Haven Apartments.

The board of aldermen recently gave first-round approval of an ordinance adopting a Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to rezone 19 parcels of land along Fish Haven Road, Hickory Drive and Forest Hills Road. The rezoning would be from Manufacturing Home Park Residential and R-1 Low Density Residential to R-3 Multi-Family residential. Second reading is expected at the regular Aug. 25 board meeting.

The board also approved first reading of an ordinance rezoning property fronting Rt. 242 from R-1 Low-Density Residential to C-2 General Commercial at the request of Briscoe Ozarks Development Group. Ryan Fuller, representing McClure Engineering, said the development group does not have a specific client interested in the Rt. 242 property but wants to market the area as General Commercial to potential clients.

After final board approval, the next hurdle for the developer will be obtaining tax credits from the Missouri Housing Development Commission which would help buy down the cost of the project.

Deadline for applying for the tax credits is September with notification expected in December.

 

Workforce housing

Pete Ramsel, representing Briscoe, said that equity raised by selling the tax credits to investors is used to help buy down the cost of the project. Private equity will fund between 85 and 90 percent of the project with the balance borrowed. That helps keep the overall cost down, making the units more affordable to the public, he explained.

Ramsel said the two-bedroom units will rent for between $500 and $600, and the three-bedroom units will rent for $550-$650 per month.

“They are very, very affordable,” Ramsel said. “If people make too much money they can’t live there. There is no rental assistance. The difference between low-income housing and affordable housing is that these people live in the community, work in the community and pay rent.”

Fish Haven Apartments Phase 3 will offer units on a fixed income basis.

Phase 1 of the Fish Haven developments – Fish Haven Apartments – opened in early 2016. Fish Haven Estates, the senior living community across from the apartment complex, opened in early 2018 as Phase 2.

One of the proposed buildings would be located at Fish Haven and Hickory Drive. The second would be located on South Fish Haven just west of Fish Haven Estates.

“The first two phases have been great,” Ramsel said.

He also praised Briscoe Development Group and McClure Engineering, the engineer firm for all three phases, for their partnership in the projects.

Ramsel also noted that a million-dollar Community Development Block Grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development approved several years ago to build a regional lift station was another key factor in creation of the Fish Haven complex.

Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Scheduled For This Afternoon

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Residents across the Lake Area and the State of Missouri will be seeing a “Nationwide Emergency” alert this afternoon.

It’s part of a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert System that FEMA will be running just after 1PM central time.

Officials say the test will be sent to TV, select cellphones and radio stations like KRMS.

FEMA say the test is a way to make sure the system is working properly in case there is a national emergency where the alert would be issued.

Missouri Bicentennial & Best Dam Birthday Bash Fireworks Show Happens Tonight

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Celebrations will be plenty across the Lake of the Ozarks today.

The show me state is celebrating 200 years in existence and coinciding with that, the Lake area is throwing a celebration for the 90th anniversary of the Bagnell Dam as well.

“We have the largest Fireworks display the Lake has ever seen happening tonight. It’s spread throughout the lake area with 6 different locations on the water” says Director of the Convention and Visitor Bureau Heather Brown.

She tells KRMS News the fireworks display isn’t the only event taken place “There is still a lot happening. We have the big Art Festival taking place all week…people are coming from all over the nation to participate. Plus we have concerts at the Ozarks Amphitheater this week and we have the Hot Summer Nights this weekend as well, which will be dedicating it’s show to the Bagnell Dam’s 90th anniversary.”

Brown says the fireworks displays will begin at 9:45PM, with music from Missouri Based Artists, synced up to the display being played on our sister station, 935 ROCKS as well as our country station, Classic Country 104.9 “We did the show on Tuesday because it is the actual Missouri Bicentennial holiday, plus this is a lot for our locals and people who quite often aren’t able to watch these events because they work on the weekends.”

See the map below for locations:

BDBB2021-FireworksMap-7-26-21

 

Heat Advisory In Effect Through Thursday – Heat Indexes Could Reach 110

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Sustained daytime highs reaching 100 degrees or hotter are in store for Lake of the Ozarks from today through Thursday.

Local officials say it will be hot enough to cause health risks for some people “you should limit the number of outdoor activities you’re going to be doing, especially if those activities are going to be strenuous. Whether that’s yard work, exercises outside….whatever the case, just make sure you remain hydrated” says Meteorologist Jake Pozezinski with the Weatherology Weather Center.

He tells KRMS News it’ll be hot enough to be dangerous in cars “if you have small children or pets, temperatures in a car will get extremely hot. Especially when it’s sunshine and we see those temperatures into the 90s….so make sure you check your back seat and make sure nothing is left back there as well.”

Officials are recommending that you keep a close eye on your body, take plenty of breaks in the shade and check on family and friends during this heatwave.

****More info from the NWS:

...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM
CDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Heat index values near 105 expected each afternoon.

* WHERE...Portions of southeast Kansas and central, east
  central, south central, southwest and west central Missouri.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
  illnesses to occur.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Former State Senator & 4th Congressional District Candidate Ed Emery Passes Away

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Former State Senator Ed Emery, who was in the running for Missouri’s 4th Congressional district, has died.

Emery was receiving treatment at University Hospital after collapsing last Tuesday during a rally in Randolph County.

In a tweet posted this weekend, Governor Mike Parson says the two served together in both the house and senate, and that Emery leaves an enduring legacy in public service.

Missouri’s 4th Congressional District encompasses most of Lake of the Ozarks.

The seat is currently held by Vicky Hartzler, who is running for the Missouri Senate Seat being vacated by Senator Roy Blunt.

No further details as to what caused the Senator’s death have been released at this time.

MO Troopers Say Speeding Is Becoming A Real Issue During The 100 Deadliest Days Of Summer

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The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer continue in Lake of the Ozarks, and some people are driving too fast, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

One Trooper talks about the time you will not gain because you’re driving over the speed limit “It’s pretty minimal. You can think about the times you’ve seen someone fly by you and then you get to the next stoplight and boom..they’re at the next stop light,” says Corporal Brian Geier.

He tells KRMS News about the time he pulled over one driver in the Lake Area who was coming up behind him going 87 miles an hour “it’s not too smart…that’s way to fast on any roadway. He was late to work, and he was already 15 minutes late to get there…he wasn’t going to get any faster by getting pulled over.”

Geier says Troopers on the highway don’t have to be stopped with a radar gun to figure out how fast you’re going “Our radars are pretty fancy. We can sit stationary, and get cars going in either direction or the same direction. So if I’m going down a multi-lane highway and someone is coming up behind me, we can check their speed….and if someone is in front of me, pulling away from me…we can check their speed. So there’s pretty much any angle we can check.”

He urges you to wear a seatbelt and to slow down.

Geier was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS morning Magazine.

Most Wanted Man Captured After Foot Chase In Ulman

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The Miller County Sheriff’s office says a “most wanted” man is now off the streets.

According to Sheriff Louie Gregorie, Jody Ray Ash was found on Thursday at a location on Redbird Lane near Ulman.

Ash then took off on foot, forcing Deputies and Missouri Park Rangers to give chase.

Ash is a wanted fugitive with a no bond warrant and a Pulaski County warrant.

He was captures and is being held in the Miller County Jail, facing numerous charges.

20210805145727

Highway Patrol Urges Caution As School Year Gets Underway

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is offering some tips as the 2020-2021 school year closes in.

The ‘Patrol says nobody was killed in traffic crashes involving school buses last year, but more than 150 people around Missouri were hurt in crashes that did involve a school bus.

Troopers also say you should make sure your kids are wearing a helmet if they’ll be riding their bike to school.

Other kids will be walking to school and some could end up in the road with little or no warning.

And the coming school year will include numerous young drivers who just a few months ago couldn’t drive a car.

The ‘Patrol is urging caution and patience in the coming school year.

 

****More details:

Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe

B.R.A.K.E.S.offers free defensive driving school for teens and parents Aug. 28-29     

                                     

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri roads are about to get a little bit safer. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) are teaming up to bring Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) Teen Pro-Active Driving School to the Missouri Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) training center in Jefferson City on August 28-29.

B.R.A.K.E.S. is a GuideStar Platinum-rated 501(c)(3) charity that offers free, hands-on defensive driver training to teens and their parents nationwide. Multi-time Top Fuel drag racing champion Doug Herbert founded the road safety organization in honor of his two teenage sons, Jon and James, who lost their lives in a car crash in 2008. The class is free but requires a $99 refundable deposit to hold your seat. For more information, or to register for this event, please visit https://putonthebrakes.org/shop/Merchandise?item=276.

“Car crashes are the number-one cause of death among teens across the country, but I never knew that until Jon and James became part of those statistics,” said Herbert. “From that tragedy, we created a mission to prevent injuries and save lives by training teens and their parents to be safer behind the wheel. We’re truly grateful to our friends at MSHP and the Missouri DOT for helping us bring our lifesaving training to the area and make Missouri’s roads a little safer for everyone.”

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol is very excited to host B.R.A.K.E.S.,” said Captain John Hotz. “This advanced driver training program provides a new and innovative opportunity to help reduce traffic crashes in our state.  The hands-on driving exercises that are included in the B.R.A.K.E.S. curriculum will provide the teens who attend the training with skills that may help them avoid being involved in a traffic crash.”

Funding for the Jefferson City B.R.A.K.E.S. event is being made possible by a federal highway safety grant from MoDOT, as part of Missouri’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan – Show-Me Zero, Driving Missouri Toward Safer Roads. 

According to Missouri Department of Transportation Assistant Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for youth (15-20) in Missouri, accounting for nearly 12.3% of traffic fatalities during the last three years.

“Many factors come into play in these preventable tragedies, including inexperience, alcohol, speeding, distracted driving and simply not buckling up,” said Nelson. “Bringing B.R.A.K.E.S. to Jefferson City is one of many investments we’re making in an effort to eventually eliminate traffic deaths on Missouri roads.”

Missouri’s new strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero, Driving Missouri Toward Safer Roads, identifies four key focus areas to help reduce traffic deaths, including the importance of seat belts, car seats and motorcycle helmets. Other focus areas in the plan include distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving. For more information on the Show-Me Zero plan, and to check out the Coalition’s new video promoting the plan, visit www.savemolives.com.

Tuesday’s Election Results Are In – Camden Sheriff Will Get Tax Increase

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Election results from Tuesday are in and it’s a yes vote all across the board.

For Camden County, over 1,800 residents said yes to a tax increase for the Camden County Sheriff’s Office.

The department requested the increase after calls for service shot up nearly 60% over the past year.

It also comes at a time where Camden County was the lowest salaries for deputies anywhere in the state.

In Laclede County, voters also gave a yes nod to the Bond for the Public Water District # 1 and said yes to a one-half of one percent sales tax increase for storm water management and parks in the city of Lebanon.

The sales tax will replace the park tax levy, which was being charged on personal property and real estate.

130_PALL_Election_Summaryfinal
 Unofficial Results-8.3.21-Evening

Man Charged With First Degree Murder In Lazy Gators Shooting

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A charge of First Degree murder is announced by Camden County Prosecutor Caleb Cunningham.

“On Saturday May 29th, 2021….a shooting occurred here at Lazy Gators in Camden County. Vondza Watson, was the target of the shooting and would pass away from his injuries. Following an extensive investigation, my office is charging Chad Tariq Brewer of Jefferson City, with murder in the first degree.”

Cunningham spoke at a press conference Wednesday at the Camden County Courthouse.

He says the penalty for the murder charge Brewer’s facing ranges from a minimum of life in prison without parole to the death penalty.

Cunningham’s not ruling out additional charges for other people who may have been involved in the Memorial Day weekend shooting.

This is a developing story and we’ll pass along the latest on News / Talk KRMS.

Press Release (Brewer)

Heat Advisory In Effect Across The Lake Area – Heat Index Could Be Over 110

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It doesn’t look like the Lake Area’s in line for record-breaking heat, but it will be hot enough to be dangerous through Thursday in Lake of the Ozarks.

The air temperature will get close to 100 degrees, but it’ll feel even hotter outside “That’s going to be a lot of humidity, so we’ll see that head index really climbing to at least 109 and we could even see it getting to 110 or 110 on Thursday” says Weatherology meteorologist Ray Miller.

He tells KRMS News you’ll need to stay hydrated if you have to be outside “when we start getting into the dangerous heat territory, even healthy individuals…being outside for prolonged lengths of time, specifically if you’re exerting yourself, that can put you in danger and at risk for heat related illnesses. Drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks in the shade, and get indoors when you are able.”

And Miller also talks about how hot your car could get when parked outside “it is EXTREMELY dangerous inside a car. You can see temperatures warming up well into the triple digits! 140 to 150 degrees….within minutes…if you’re parked in direct sunlight.”

A Heat Advisory is in effect for Lake of the Ozarks and much of Missouri through 9 o’clock Thursday night.

 

Camdenton Man Faces Sexual Misconduct Charges Related To A Children’s YMCA Camp

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A Camdenton man’s facing four counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Child Under 15.

According to the Lebanon Police Department, Gordon Bruce Mitchell is accused of exposing his genitals to four different children ages 10 through 12.

As of this evening, Vinelink shows that he has posted bail and is no longer being held at the Camden County Jail.

Read more from the Lebanon PD:

 

On July 25, 2021, 74-year-old Gordon Bruce Mitchell of Camdenton, Missouri was charged by the Laclede County Prosecutor’s Office with four (4) counts of Felony Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree involving a child under 15 after an incident that occurred at the Lebanon YMCA on July 21, 2021.

Mitchell is currently being held at the Camden County Jail with a $25,000 Cash or Surety bond.

On July 22, 2021, Lebanon Officers were contacted by Lebanon Family YMCA after a report that Mitchell
had been exposing his genitals to children who were attending the YMCA Summer Day Camp. After
further investigation, this behavior was found to have occurred on multiple different occasions.

Mitchell was taken into custody on his warrant by Camden County Sheriff’s Deputies for the above charges on
July 26, 2021 without incident.

The above charges are mere accusation and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these
charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Two Drownings In One Week At Lake Of The Ozarks

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Two drowning deaths in two days on Lake of the Ozarks.

Troopers with the Missouri State Highway Water Division say they were called to Anderson Hollow Cove at the 18-mile-marker of the main channel Friday afternoon.

When they arrived, witnesses said 69-year-old Gary Medley of the St. Louis area had tried to get back to a dock, went underwater, and came back up before trying to grab the ladder.

But he went under again before being pulled out by witnesses who got him out of the water and started CPR.

But Medley died at the scene.

On Thursday, the ‘Patrol says 64-year-old Christopher McClain of Lincolnshire, Illinois did a back flip off a high dive in Downing Branch Cove, but he didn’t come back to the surface until his body was found nearby.

Lake Ozark Board Of Alderman Have Disagreement With Mayor Dennis Newberry

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There’s division between the Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen and Mayor Dennis Newberry.

At issue is the transition from current City Administrator Dave Van Dee and Assistant City Administrator Harrison Fry, who was hired a year ago in preparation for the change.

“He has refused to bring Harrison’s name up, to fill that position” says Lake Ozark Alderman Vernon Jaycox, “and everyone at the city hall, every department head….everybody loves him (Harrison) to death.”

Alderman Jaycox tells KRMS News the Mayor will present a candidate to the board for their approval, but that has not happened “I called, myself as an Alderman, for a special session to talk about his thoughts, theories and things….but he refused to attend the executive session. I thought that was not becoming of the Mayor. With all my experience, I felt like he let us down.”

Jaycox says Newberry wants to re-open the search for a successor to Van Dee, who’s retiring at the end of October, and that Newberry will consider Fry as a successor…but only along with other candidates, after posting an ad on a website designed to hire public officials.

National Weather Service To Change How Some Storm Alerts Are Sent

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The National Weather Service is making some changes to the way you get notified about dangerous severe weather.

“This new format that we’re using, called Impact-Based Warning Format, is a way for us to address a degree of severity” says Megan Terry with the National Weather Service in Springfield.

She tells KRMS News a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued when a storm generates 58 mile-an-hour winds and one-inch hail however, Terry says another threat level will be announced if a storm has winds of more than 80 miles-an-hour and baseball sized hail.

In that case she says a ‘destructive tag’ will be added to the warnings “when we start seeing storm intensity to where they’re producing 70 mile an hour winds, or golf ball sized hail, we will put on it what we call a considerable tag.”

The impact-based severe thunderstorm warning system will begin August 2nd.

 

****More info:

July 22, 2021 – Severe thunderstorms can be life-threatening, but not all severe storms are the same. Hazardous conditions range from tornadoes, large hail storms, and widespread straight-line winds called derechoes, to cloud-to-ground lightning and flash flooding. Starting August 2, the National Weather Service will better convey the severity and potential impacts from thunderstorm winds and hail by adding a “damage threat” tag to Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, similar to our Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings.

“Destructive” and “Considerable” Damage Threat Categories

We developed three categories of damage threat for Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. The categories, in order of highest to lowest damage threat, are destructive, considerable, and base. These tags and additional messaging are designed to promote immediate action, based on the threats.

  • The criteria for a destructive damage threat is at least 2.75 inch diameter (baseball-sized) hail and/or 80 mph thunderstorm winds. Warnings with this tag will automatically activate a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones within the warned area.
  • The criteria for a considerable damage threat is at least 1.75 inch diameter (golf ball-sized) hail and/or 70 mph thunderstorm winds. This will not activate a WEA.
  • The criteria for a baseline or “base” severe thunderstorm warning remains unchanged, 1.00 inch (quarter-sized) hail and/or 58 mph thunderstorm winds. This will not activate a WEA. When no damage threat tag is present, damage is expected to be at the base level.

On average, only 10 percent of all severe thunderstorms reach the destructive category each year, nationwide. Most of these storms are damaging wind events such as derechoes and some of the larger, more intense thunderstorms, called “Supercell” storms that can typically produce very large hail in their path. The new destructive thunderstorm category conveys to the public urgent action is needed, a life-threatening event is occurring and may cause substantial damage to property. Storms categorized as destructive will trigger a WEA to your cell phone.

All National Weather Service Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will continue to be issued and distributed via weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio, Emergency Alert System and through dissemination systems to our emergency managers and partners. The addition of damage threat tags are part of the broader Hazard Simplification Project to improve communication of watches and warnings to the public.

Thirteen of the 22 costliest weather disasters in 2020 were severe thunderstorms. The new “destructive” tag would have activated a Wireless Emergency Alert for many of these impactful events, including the costliest thunderstorm in U.S. history, the $11 billion derecho that affected Iowa in August 2020.

Learn how to stay safe in a severe thunderstorm. Knowing what to do before, during, and after severe weather can increase your chances of survival.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center provides forecasts of severe weather up to seven days in advance, and severe thunderstorm and tornado watches several hours before storms form.

Lake Ozark Mayor Gets Salary Garnished After Promising It To LOPD

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Promised funds to the Lake Ozark Police Department may be in jeopardy, after a garnishment is issued on Mayor Dennis Newberry’s salary.

According to CaseNet, the garnishment was filed in Miller County for just over $3,800 dollars to the collection agency “Consumer Adjustment Company.”

The mayor had previously promised that his salary would be donated to the Police Department to help with their ongoing needs, which may be even more important with the threat of Biker Gang retaliation from the recent shooting on the Bagnell Dam Strip.

CaseNet does not show that the garnishment has been satisfied, therefore it’s expected to be going into effect immediately.

NextSite Expansion Program Gaining Steam With Other Cities Involved

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Photo by Tony Stoddard on Unsplash

Lake Ozark wants to attract more business to the city, and the board of aldermen are signing off on an agreement with a company that does that.

“NextSite is a company that specializes in commercial recruitment and data analytics. Basically they take the information collected through cell phone towers, about who’s driving through our community…where they are going and what they are doing…and they use that to create a market profile” says Lake Ozark Community Development Director Harrison Fry.

He tells KRMS News the agreement is coming through the Lake of the Ozarks Economic Development Council and the cost has been reduced for each city, but it was reduced thanks to Ameren Missouri’s involvement “originally the cost to bring them down here was astronomical, but Ameren was able to bring that down to $30,000 lake wide…and with the $10,000 agreement from LORDEC, that brought the cost down to only $2,850 per city.

Other cities in the Lake Area are also coming on board with the plan to bring more businesses to Lake of the Ozarks, including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Eldon and Versailles “Sunrise Beach and Laurie over on the west side, they’re continuing to review the proposal…there is a lot of interest over there.”

Sunrise Beach and Laurie are reviewing the NextSite opportunity and we’ll pass along the latest details when they arise on News / Talk KRMS.

 

****Additional Info:

For Immediate Release

The City of Lake Ozark has endorsed a plan that could help the community market itself to potential new businesses and industries.

The board of aldermen recently signed off on an agreement with NextSite through the Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council (LOREDC) to provide analytical data and business recruitment. NextSite is a commercial development advisory firm specializing in identifying and connecting opportunities to developers, tenant reps and end-users to affect positive change in communities across the U.S.

LOREDC and Ameren Missouri have been working for several months to secure an agreement with NextSite so communities in the lake area – including Lake Ozark – can have access to data and services that could help in business recruitment. Now, the various lake communities are being asked to support the project with financial support of $2,850 each.

If the NextSite marketing program is the direct cause of a project for any of the cities, the cities will provide a Success Fee that would be determined as part of the specific agreement with the city.

Total cost of the NextSite services is $30,000 a year for three years, and LOREDC has agreed to pay the first $10,000 each year.

The cities of Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, Camdenton, Eldon, Laurie, Sunrise Beach and Versailles are being asked to participate over the next three years.

Assistant City Administrator Harrison Fry explained that NextSite gathers shopping data based on cell tower use, by mapping customer shopping habits and other types of customer information to develop recruiting plans.

Alderman Dennis Klautzer said he sees NextStep as a headhunter company for businesses.

“This is getting more and more common in the business world, finding businesses for communities,” he noted.

 

Benefits

  • At least one on-site meeting with a NextSite staff member to discuss the city’s goals and available development sites and available buildings suitable for commercial, office or institutional tenants.
  • Access to the full LOREDC study data and each city’s data.
  • The opportunity to have special business segment, district or site studies conducted by NextSite.
  • The city’s properties and sites will be included in NextSite’s full national marketing program including the trade show schedule and targeted marketing programs aimed at suitable commercial, office and institutional users.
  • The city and LOREDC will receive status reports from NextSite on a regular basis recapping the marketing activity that is included on the city’s sites.

Once NextSite completes the market analysis phase, identifies realistic opportunity targets and creates the marketing overview for Lake of the Ozarks market, it begins the proactive recruitment of developers, tenant reps and retailers. Using its extensive contact database and relationships throughout the commercial real estate and retail industry, NextSite connects the opportunities to decision makers with the goal of generating interest that results in market drives from these real estate professionals.

According to NextSite, the company has connected and supported more than 20 million square feet of commercial development projects resulting in more than $4.1 billion in capital investment.

 

The cost

NextSite will provide research, marketing and recruitment services for participating communities in the lake area. A development that is considered procured by NextSite when the retailer/restaurant opens for business at which time fees are due from the city to NextSite.

The fee structure is as follows:

  • Restaurants — $4,500 per location
  • Single or multi-tenant development of less than 10,000 square feet — $7,500 per development
  • Multi-tenant development or single tenant retailer between 10,001—and 50,000 square feet — $15,000.
  • Multi-tenant development or single tenant retailer between 50,001 and 100,000 square feet — $20,000 per development.

Development or single tenant retailer of 100,000 square feet — $30,000 per location.

Multi-family, single-family, townhomes, senior housing development, hotel, movie theater or hospital — $25,000 per location if the developer is introduced to the market by NextSite.

2nd Degree Murder Charges Now Filed Against Man Involved In Fatal Warsaw Shooting

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A shooting death in Warsaw has one man facing charges, and some people are saying on social media there’s a connection between that shooting and another fatal shooting in Lake Ozark last week.

“That’s total misinformation. I don’t understand why citizens want to make up their own stories using information that’s just not there” says Benton County Sheriff Eric Knox, “the white noise of social media can affect an investigation like this. If something is put out, people who would come forward….won’t come forward….because they are afraid of what would happen to them.”

He tells KRMS News the shooting death of 28-year-old Lance Lyman of Warsaw is in no way connected to a shooting death on The Strip Thursday night “this is an isolated incident of alcohol and weapons, which don’t mix well together. That’s what this was.”

Deputies took one call about a disturbance early Sunday morning, and later they got another call “a driver of a truck, he said he had a person who had been shot in the back of his truck. He didn’t know who he was but he was on his way out to the ambulance base.”

But Sheriff Knox says Lyman died before Deputies could get there “he knew the female and he tried to intercede in what was actually an attack on her, so he died a hero in my estimation.”

24-year-old John Moreno was later arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action and also First Degree Assault against a woman who has not been named.

This is a developing story and we’ll pass more details when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

No Immediate Asbestos Risk At Camden County Courthouse – Removal Is Recommended

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The Camden County Commission is reporting there’s no asbestos risk in the Hugh Phillips Annex of the County Courthouse.

The Missouri DNR now says the building’s in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations after a previous inspection done earlier this year.

“The was a different between the inspection done by Mr. Rick Bryant and the inspection that I did” says environmental specialist Roderick Manuzon with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

He tells KRMS News his inspection centered around whether or not previous renovations of the building released asbestos “previously they renovated the facility. The removed some carpet and added some walls, they also renovated some toilets. So those were the things that I checked.”

The Bryant inspection did find asbestos in the building, but Manuzon says those areas were not affected by the renovations.

“I think we were there three different times, found 11 areas that contained asbestos…but these were non-friable asbestos, meaning they do not have to be removed” says Inspector Rick Bryant.

He tells KRMS News he did recommend they remove it none-the-less “when you have asbestos present, there’s always a risk. There’s not necessarily, as I explained to everyone involved, an immediate risk for everyone involved…because it’s in basement and it’s non-friable. But it’s absolutely IMPERATIVE that people understand they’re NOT to disturb it. You can’t hit it, bang it…you can’t make it friable!”

The estimated cost of removing the non-friable asbestos is around $6-thousand dollars, according to Bryant.

One Dead, Others Injured In Bagnell Dam Shooting – One Suspect Now Facing Charges

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****Update….

Officials have released the name of one person who’s been charged in this shooting.

Accoridng to a report, The Miller County prosecutor is charging Tonka Way-Con Ponder of Hickory County with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

The probable cause statement filed in Ponder’s case says investigators found surveillance video showing a shooting victim identified as B.C. was in a fight outside the bar, when he pulled a gun on Ponder.

Apparently Ponder was fighting with another person at the time, and he preceded to draw his weapon and shoot B.C., who died at the scene.

Ponder and another person identified only as D.K. were also shot in the shootout, both falling to the ground.

The same video also shows Ponder reloading whilw wounded on the front desk of the bar, then firing at a man walking by with his hands up in the air….later identified as T.C.

 

****Previous story

The City of Lake Ozark is reporting one death after a Thursday night shooting on the Bagnell Dam Strip near Casablanca.

One eyewitness near the scene tells KRMS News the first gunshots were mistaken by some as fireworks being set off “We were at the Brickhouse and something sounded like fireworks were going off. A lot of people were scared, they thought it was a shooting outside…but most thought nah, that’s Fireworks” says Travis Higginbotham, “the second round went off and then it was obvious that it was an actual shooting. So we got down, and kind of hid behind a brick for a little while. Once we got up, you could see there were bodies laying around. You couldn’t tell which ones at that point, because they just shown up and the cops were all around.”

As many as four other people were hurt during the shooting that happened during a Bike Night event on the Strip.

 

City officials released this statement later in the evening:

One male is confirmed dead and four other individuals were injured by gunfire in a shooting about 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday, near Casablanca on The Strip in Lake Ozark.

State investigators have been called in to assist Lake Ozark Police and multiple law enforcement agencies.

Several suspects have been detained as part of the investigation. The shooting is believed to be gang related, and officials say the public should not be concerned about their safety.

The names of the deceased, the injured and the suspects have not been released pending further investigation.

Lake Ozark officials were quick to note that this isolated incident is not the norm for the community.

More information will be released as the investigation develops.

 

According to witnesses at the scene, the fight was between two gangs and it’s unconfirmed, but one of the gang leaders may have been killed in the shootout.

Lake Ozark Police are now on high alert ahead of Bike Week, as they worry there could be retaliation for this incident.

Police were on the scene within seconds because a number of officers from across the state happened to be in town for a police convention, and were having dinner at a restaurant across the street.

We’ll pass along further details as they become available on News / Talk KRMS.

BREAKING: Shooting Reported At Casablanca In Lake Ozark

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Update from Lake Ozark:

One person is dead and four others injured in a shooting about 8 pm tonight , Thursday, near Casablanca on The Strip in Lake Ozark.

One or more suspects are being detained.

More information will be released when available.

KRMS has also learned that the response to the shooting was extremely fast, as a number of police officers from across the state are currently in town for a convention and happened to be dining across the street.

The shooting was apparently between two rival biker gangs. It is unconfirmed, but witness reports say the leader of one of the gangs may have been killed.

There continue to be unconfirmed reports from witnesses on the scene of additional injured.

As soon as more information is released, we will bring it to you here.

 

Previous story:

We are getting reports of a shooting on the strip at Casablanca.

Unconfirmed reports from residents on social media indicate 1 person may be dead and the shooter may have a hostage.

We are awaiting confirmation from Lake Ozark Police.

This is a ongoing fluid story and we are researching the reports….

Dock Bill Officially Signed Into Law

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New rules concerning docks and vessels on Lake of the Ozarks after Governor Mike Parson signed several bills.

It’s now unlawful for a vessel within 100 feet of a permitted dock to anchor in a way that obstructs the ingress and egress of watercraft to the dock.

It’s also unlawful to secure a vessel or enter a private permitted dock unless authorized by the dock permit holder.

Out on the water, the act prohibits the obstruction of normal, flowing traffic on Missouri waters.

And a requirement’s been waived that said boat dealers have to sell at least six vessels or vessel trailers per year to be recognized as a boat dealer, but the dealer has to be a licensed custom boat manufacturer that makes vessels for biological and other scientific research.

 

Info about the bill:

HCS/SCS/SB 49 – This act modifies provisions relating to public safety.

BOAT DEALERS (Section 301.550)

This act waives the requirement that an entity must sell at least 6 vessels or vessel trailers in a calendar year in order to qualify as a boat dealer, provided the entity is a licensed boat manufacturer that custom manufactures boats for use with biological research and management equipment for fisheries, or for use with scientific sampling and for geological or chemistry purposes.

These provisions are identical to HB 1266 (2021).

PERMANENT VESSEL REGISTRATION (Section 306.030)

This act provides that vessels may be issued a permanent certificate of number upon payment of 3 times the amount required for a 3-year certificate of number and 3 times any processing fee applicable to a 3-year certificate of number. Permanent certificates of number shall not be transferred to any other person or vessel, or displayed on any vessel other than the vessel for which it was issued, and shall continue in force and effect until terminated or discontinued as provided by law. (Section 306.030.6)

These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 4 (2021), provisions in HCS/SB 38 (2021), and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 46 (2021), and similar to HB 579 (2021).

PERMITTED BOAT DOCKS, AND OBSTRUCTIONS CAUSED BY VESSELS (Section 306.221)

This act prohibits vessels positioned within 100 feet of a permitted boat dock from being anchored in a manner that obstructs ingress or egress of watercraft to or from the dock, unless authorized by the boat dock permit holder. The act also provides that no person shall secure a vessel to or enter upon a private permitted boat dock unless authorized to do so by the boat dock permit holder, or as specified in the act. A violation of these provisions shall be an infraction.

This act also specifies that operating or positioning a vessel in a manner that obstructs or impedes the normal flow of traffic on the waters of this state shall be an infraction, rather than a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense or a Class B misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.

These provisions are similar to HB 871 (2021).

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTIONS (Section 307.380)

This act exempts new motor vehicles from the requirement that motor vehicles receive a safety inspection immediately prior to their sale regardless of any current certificate of inspection and approval.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/HB 661 (2021), provisions in SCS/HB 578 (2021), provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 4 (2021), provisions in HCS/SB 38 (2021), provisions in HCS/SS/SB 46 (2021), provisions in HCS/SS/SB 89 (2021), and HB 687 (2021).

MISSOURI CYBERSECURITY ACT (Section 650.125)

This act establishes the “Missouri Cybersecurity Commission” within the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of identifying risk to state and critical infrastructure with regard to cyber attacks. The commission shall be funded by appropriation, and any expenditure constituting more than 10% of the commission’s annual appropriation shall be based on a competitive bid process. The commission shall advise the Governor on the state of cybersecurity in the state, obtain data from certain public entities specified in the act, and make recommendations to reduce the state’s risk of cyber attack. The commission shall present an annual report to the Governor by December 31st of each year, which shall be held confidential.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1204 (2021).

 

More details:

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – By the end of today, Governor Mike Parson will have signed 13 remaining pieces of legislation into law, concluding bill singings for the 2021 legislative session.

SB 26 – Public Safety

Modifies several provisions related to public safety, including providing taxpayers with the ability to obtain injunctive relief if a local government decreases its police department’s budget by a prescribed amount and creating additional protections for law enforcement officers.

Additionally, this bill modifies provisions related to jail time credit for criminals prior to conviction and allows a defendant’s behavior during that same period to be considered in sentencing proceedings.

SB 49 – Public Safety

Modifies several provisions related to public safety, including establishing new watercraft and waterway regulations and eliminating safety inspections for new vehicles.

SB 53 – Public Safety

Modifies several provisions related to public safety, including clarifying the Raise the Age statute, increasing the penalty for doxing a first responder or law enforcement officer, modifying the residency requirement for Kansas City law enforcement officers to assist with recruitment efforts, and creating a judicial procedure that provides a pathway for a prosecuting attorney to correct a miscarriage of justice resulting from a wrongful conviction.

The bill also allows prosecutors to use a witness or victim statement when a defendant engaged in wrongful conduct that prevented the witness or victim from being available to testify in a criminal proceeding.

HB 69 – Certain Metals

Modifies record keeping requirements for purchasers of gold, silver, or platinum to reduce theft.

HB 72 – Awareness and Monument Designations

Establishes Law Enforcement Appreciation Day as the first Friday in May, creates Pioneering Black Women’s Day on March 26th, and establishes The Gateway Arch as Missouri’s official state monument.

SB 120 – Military Affairs

Ensures National Guard service members are granted interviews for state government positions, promotes awareness of the state’s resources that are available for veterans, and creates the Purple Star Campus for K-12 schools.

HB 297 – Higher Education

Expands the available uses of 529 education savings plans, requires Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a state plan for Career and Technical Education, and allows college student-athletes to earn compensation for their name, image, or likeness.

HB 349 – Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

Creates Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) that will offer scholarships to qualifying students to attend a K-12 school that is outside of their current school district.

SB 86 – Public Funds

Prohibits the contribution or expenditure of public funds for a variety of political causes and updates provisions related to ESAs.

HB 369 – Land Management

Provides additional liability protections for Missouri landowners.

HB 432 – Relating to the Protection of Vulnerable Persons

Makes statutory changes to implement the Office of Childhood, clarifies wage requirements for sheltered workshops, and establishes a right to unpaid leave for victims of domestic or sexual violence and their caregivers.

SB 520 – Memorial Highways

Establishes numerous memorial highways throughout the state.

HB 557 – Relating to the Protection of Children

Establishes minimum reporting requirements for license-exempt residential care facilities in an effort to ensure the safety and well-being of children and requires background checks for all facility and agency workers who have contact with children.

 

MODOT Is Trying To Drive Awareness For The Different Highways Signs Across The Lake

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stop signage

Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash

A traffic engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation is breaking down what yield signs mean for Lake Area traffic.

“You come up to a roundabout, and you have yield signs…which you should be able when you approach the roundabout…And the idea there is if there are no vehicles in the roundabout, you can proceed through the roundabout without stopping and proceed to were you were going to go” says MoDOT Central Engineer Bob Lynch.

He tells KRMS News the new roundabout at the new Highway 54, Route W interchange sometimes has people confused about what they’re supposed to do.

The yield sign means if there are no cars in the roundabout when you come up on it, you can enter…But if cars are already in the circle, you have to wait your turn.

When it comes to a four-way or two-way stop, Lynch says you need to read the print below the stop sign to know which type of intersection it is “you know up in Iberia at 42 and 17, 42 comes to a stop but Highway 17 doesn’t. So, some people may think it is a four-way stop but it isn’t, and they go ahead and pull out…and there’s an accident unfortunately. So you really have to pay attention to the intersections.”

Lynch also says that MoDOT is getting some roads ready for the winter “in Laclede, Miller, Morgan and Camden Counties…you’ll see our crews putting out a thin layer of oil, and they fill it with chips…to help protect the roadway.”

He says after the asphalt is laid down crews will seal coat the roadway to keep moisture out.

Bob Lynch was interviewed by Guy Wehman on The Ozarks This Morning on News / Talk KRMS.

Gas Tax Bill Expected To Be Signed By Governor Parson Today

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For the first time since 1996, Missouri’s gas tax is about to go up.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson will sign a bill Tuesday that’ll increase one of the lowest gas-tax-rates in the country.

Missouri has a 17-cent-per-gallon gas tax right now, but starting in October two-and-a-half more cents will be added.

And more increases will follow.

Each year through 2025, another two-and-a-half cents will be added until the gas tax reaches a total of 29.5 cents per gallon.

Missourians have turned down gas-tax increases in Missouri three times over the last two decades, but Governor Parson says the money’s needed for roads and infrastructure.

 

***Below is some older information regarding the bill and what it would do when signed.

JEFFERSON CITY — A broad coalition of transportation stakeholders, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Missouri AFL-CIO, has released a new study analyzing the economic impacts of a proposed transportation investment bill. The study was completed by Economic Leadership, LLC.

Missouri has long had one of the lowest average gasoline taxes in the nation and it has been about 25 years since the state gasoline tax was increased. Additionally, Missouri has consistently ranked in the bottom half of states in terms of roads in poor condition and bridges that are deemed structurally insufficient. Estimates suggest that Missouri currently underfunds its transportation system by more than $825 million annually. In light of this critical need, more than 250 Missouri businesses and individuals have signed on to a letter urging the legislature to act.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 262, would generate about $500 million per year and direct these funds to address the infrastructure backlog.

The report addresses two main benefits that can be anticipated and measured from transportation improvements. The first benefit is the increase in economic activity in the construction sector spurred by the new gas tax revenue. These construction jobs are often stable, higher wage jobs. The spending of these higher wages can produce ripple effects throughout the economy. The second benefit measured in the report is cost savings to Missouri drivers from the improved quality of roads and bridges.

Together the annual benefits to drivers and infrastructure construction investment could result in the generation of over $1.8 billion in sales in Missouri’s economy. This would also create an overall increase of $722 million in earnings across the state and more than 17,000 jobs every year.

“It’s frustrating to see Missouri roads crumble while we send our workers to other states to build other states’ transportation projects,” said Jake Hummel, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO. “Investment in our infrastructure will increase safety for all Missourians and create and sustain good jobs. “We have the opportunity to make much needed improvements to our state’s roads while employing an additional 17,000 Missourians.”

 “The current state of our transportation system is unacceptable. More than $800 million in unfunded repairs, 45th in revenue per mile, over 2,00 deficient bridges – these numbers speak for themselves. But so do the numbers in this economic analysis,” said Daniel P. Mehan, Missouri Chamber President and CEO. “We can address serious safety and competitiveness issues while generating nearly $2 billion in additional economic activity in our state each year.”

For a complete copy of the study, click here.

Deaths On Motorcycles Are Up Halfway Through 100 Deadliest Days Of Summer

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Deaths on motorcycles are up 33-percent in the Lake Area and Missouri as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer crosses the midway point.

“Unfortunately we lost our rider helmet law last year, and we’re seeing some numbers that we did predict we would have with the increase in un-helmeted motorcycle fatalities” says Scott Jones with the Missouri Department of Transportation

He tells KRMS News at this time a year ago there had been two people killed on motorcycles who were not wearing a helmet.

So far in 2021, 31 people have died on bikes while not wearing a helmet “with Motorcycles, usually the Summertime is when we start to see more of them on the road…so that’s usually when we start to see more crashes involving Motorcyclists.”

Jones says the Highway Patrol has handed out more than 16-thousand speeding tickets around Missouri for people driving 20 miles an hour, or more, above the posted speed limit and there have been 450 deaths on Missouri roadways so far in 2021 “we are really trying to monitor this and get the word out to folks that, some of the things we’re seeing….excessive speed, etc….are the major problems we are having.”

The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer continues through Labor Day.

 

More info:

JEFFERSON CITY –A rise in speeding and other reckless driving behaviors continues to be a disturbing trend in 2021. During the first half of the year, more than 450 people lost their lives in a crash on Missouri roadways. The primary causes are all too common: excessive speeds, distraction, impairment, and choosing to not wear a seat belt or motorcycle helmet.

So far during 2021, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers have issued more than 16,000 citations to drivers traveling 20 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, a 9% increase from the same time period in 2020. “Traveling too fast reduces a driver’s ability to react to changing conditions, increases stopping distance, and reduces the effectiveness of occupant protection equipment in your vehicle,” said Missouri State Highway Patrol Lieutenant Eric Brown.

Following the August 2020 repeal of the all-rider helmet law, motorcyclist fatalities are up 33% and the number of unhelmeted riders killed in crashes increased from two in the first six months of 2020 to 31 so far in 2021.

“The increase in motorcycle fatalities is very concerning, but so are the overall trends” said Missouri Department of Transportation’s Assistant State Highway and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson. “We see the same behaviors coming into play over and over again, and the reality is, these crashes don’t have to happen. You can take these simple steps to keep yourself and your passengers safe:  wear a seat belt or motorcycle helmet, put your phone down, and slow down.”

As we near the halfway point of the “100 Deadliest Days”, those days between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities are most prevalent, it’s imperative to be mindful of safety every time we use the roadways. Doing so may mean the difference between life and death.

Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero, provides information and strategies all Missourians can use to promote four key messages: buckle up, phone down, slow down, and drive sober. More information and resources can be found at www.savemolives.com.

Lake Area Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch

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A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma until 11 PM CDT

 

More info:

3:10 PM: Monitoring thunderstorm development along a line from near Appleton City to Hermitage. Moderate to heavy rain, frequent lightning and wind gusts to 40 mph are possible. Storms are tracking east 30-40 mph and will be impacting portions of the Lake of the Ozarks.

 

 

 

Highway Patrol Continues To Battle Opioid/Human Trafficking Crisis In Missouri

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Troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are working with out-of-state law enforcement to stop human trafficking and to manage the effects of the boarder crisis.

“This training was put together by the Texas department of safety. We had their instructors come up here to Missouri to train our instructors, who have in turn not only trained members of our Missouri Highway Patrol, but other law enforcement entities” says Captain John Hotz with the ‘Patrol, “We have conducted operations were victims have been rescued and people have been arrested for human trafficking. We know that the clues for looking for human trafficking are a bit different than things we’ve been looking at before.”

Hotz says the opioid crisis in some parts of Lake of the Ozarks and around the state remains a focus for them as well “We have to educate the people and get people treatments as well, before this issue is going to go away. We’re trying to work with numerous agencies, so that when we come in contact with these individuals we can at least know where to get these individuals help, as we know these drugs are very addicting.”

Captain Hotz says the Patrol is recognizing that arrests are not the only way to tackle the opioid crisis.

Hotz was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Osage Beach Police Numbers Show No DWI Arrests Over 4th Holiday

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Police in Osage Beach are reporting no DWI arrests in the city over the Fourth of July holiday.

And more people in the Lake Area using transportation apps and taxicabs is getting some of the credit.

“I think that actually helps us out a lot. Especially on the weekends, I see a lot more Ubers and Taxicabs out there than we use to see. I think that’s sorta becoming the trend” says Police Chief Todd Davis, “overall it was a typical holiday weekend here for us at the Lake. We had a lot of people in town and we didn’t have, what I would call, major incidents for us.”

He says people might be realizing their money could be better spent elsewhere “people are a little bit smarter now…they don’t want to spend that money on fines, attorneys…everything else.”

Chief Davis says the cost of dealing with a DWI charge will reach thousands of dollars and it’ll also impact your ability to drive.

He also says getting a ride from someone who’s sober cuts down on accidents police have to respond to during the busiest time of the year in Lake of the Ozarks.

WEEKLY SUMMARY_NEWS RELEASE 20210628_20210704(002)

Camden County Sheriff Says Holiday Weekend Went Smoothly

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A better-than-expected Fourth of July weekend for Lake Area law enforcement, according to the Sheriff of Camden County.

“Friday and Saturday it was extremely busy. I listened to the radio all night and they were busy from the time they got on, to the time they got off” says Sheriff Tony Helms, “For the most part people really behaved themselves. I know we made a lot of arrests but, in comparison to the amount of people that were down here…that was really a small amount.”

Helms says some of his officers got into overtime just making reports, but by Sunday things started calming down, however there were still calls coming in for help “the bad thing that happened a lot, there was a lot of domestics. People have been together all weekend, they were getting hot…probably sunburned…they’re getting cranky and it’s time to go home. I think we had at least 7 or 8 in a 2 hour time span that we had to chase down.”

Sheriff Helms says some of those domestic calls were verbal, but others more severe.

He also says Camden County Sheriff’s Deputies executed 25 warrants for arrest with around 10 DWI arrests in the county over the holiday weekend.

Roadwork To Get Back Underway Now That Holiday Weekend Is Over

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The Fourth of July is a wrap and the weather is clear for more road work in the Lake Area.

“We’re trying to get underway in Lebanon down there on route 5, in town, and also north of there in Camdenton…some of that work will be at nighttime…most of it probably will be” says MoDOT Central District Engineer Bob Lynch.

He tells KRMS News future projects could include widening Highway 54 in Camdenton to five lanes from the square west to the city limits “We’re looking at widening route 52 in Versailles from the stoplight at Route 5 out west to the 3 lane section by the Wal-Mart and McDonald’s there…as well as widening Highway 54 in Camdenton, from the Square west in the city limits…as you head towards Macks Creek.”

There are no dates for those projects as of right now.

Dock Bill Awaiting Signature From Governor Parson

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A bill sitting on Governor Parson’s desk could change laws about docks at the Lake of the Ozarks.

SB49 or the Dock Bill, prohibits boats within 100 feet of a permitted dock from being anchored in a way that obstructs the ingress and egress of watercraft too and from said dock, unless authorized by the dock owner.

Violations of these rules would result in an infraction.

Another rule in the bill prohibits boaters from obstructing the normal flow of traffic on the water.

Doing so would result in a class C or B misdemeanor.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Justin Brown, who represents District 16 including Camden and Pulaski counties.

If signed, the new laws would go into effect in August.

Fire Officials Stress Fireworks Safety For Holiday Weekend

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Fire officials all over Lake of the Ozarks are getting ready for a busy Independence Day weekend, with lots of people and lots of fireworks.

But there’s a common theme going around about mixing fireworks and alcohol.

“Have someone who’s not been drinking to manage the fireworks, because 9 times out of 10….if you take someone mixing vodka or rum with high velocity fireworks, it usually doesn’t turn out well” says Deputy Fire Chief John Scheper with the Gravois Fire Protection District.

He tells KRMS News what he thinks is the most dangerous kind of fireworks, and it’s one you might not be expecting “Sparklers burn at like 11 hundred degrees…it’s basically like an arc-welder. We actually see more eye and finger injuries, arm injuries and burns…all by sparklers, more than anything else…and yet you see 3-year-old’s dancing around with sparklers.”

Scheper says its best to go see a professional fireworks display for the 4th of July and there are numerous events planned for the Lake Area this weekend.

Reports Of A Loud Explosion Heard Throughout The Lake Area

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A loud noise heard all over Lake of the Ozarks has people talking ahead of the 4th of July weekend.

Around 1:40 Wednesday afternoon the sound shook some windows and rattled doors.

Dozens of KRMS listeners called in during The Ozarks Today to talk about what the noise might have been….

“I was inside in the house when I heard it….and everybody said “what was that?” like something falling off a wall” says one listener, “I was on the phone at that time on a conference call, with someone very near the dam, and an another person near Camdenton and we all 3 experienced it at the same time” says another listener.

One listener described it more like a sonic boom “I was in rocky mount when we heard it, it sounded like a sonic boom and actually shook the garage door in and out on our shop” while another resident says he saw the reaction on film “I don’t know what happened but my security cameras notified me and when I went to view the video, I could see the cameras were shaking.”

Calls came in from as north as Rocky Mount and as far south as Climax Springs.

At this time no official release has been made on any sonic booms, however officials with Whiteman Air Force Base did confirm that military training was underway in the skies at the time the sound was made.

A sonic boom can actually be heard up to 100 miles from the source.

We’ll pass along more details on the story as soon as possible on News / Talk KRMS.

Police Offer Advice Ahead Of 4th Of July Fireworks Celebrations

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The 4th of July weekend is closing in on Lake of the Ozarks, and one local law enforcement officials gives his take on how to enjoy fireworks.

“I’ve tried doing some of those shows or tried doing my own fireworks display, it don’t work. Just go to the big show, let somebody else do them and it will work out better” says Osage Beach Police Lieutenant Michael O’Day.

He’s reminding you Osage Beach does have an ordinance prohibiting the setting off of fireworks within city limits.

O’Day also says if you are shooting fireworks in an area that allows them, make sure the person lighting them is sober “when you start drinking, your reflexes…everything starts slowing down. So If a motor does flip over or something gets out of hand, your reaction time is going to be a lot slower as well.”

There are numerous professional fireworks shows planned for the Lake Area throughout the 4th of July weekend.

Lieutenant O’Day was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Camdenton Man Faces Sex Crime Charges With An Underage Girl

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A Camdenton man accused of having a sexual relationship with a girl under 14 years old is facing charges.

“There’s three count of statutory rape in the 1st degree and 2 counts of statutory sodomy in the 1st degree. All of those carry the same range of punishment, and there is what is called an unclassified felony, and those are a minimum term of years….at least 5 years and up to 30 years or life imprisonment on each one” says Camden County Prosecutor Caleb Cunningham, “I will say this defendant doesn’t have an extreme criminal history, but that’s the case with the most prominent sex offenders…and I think in this case, we will be seeking life imprisonment.”

He tells KRMS News 36-year-old Thomas Carnahan is accused of having sexual relations with the girl from September 2020 through June 24th.

Cunningham says the investigation started after a concerned parent which lead to a warrant for Snapchat and then the arrest “this started with the report of a concerned parent. The parent said something to the school and the school initiated the CRO in the school, and that started the investigation. From that investigation, search warrants were obtained and based on the results from the search warrant…an arrest was made.”

This is a developing story and we’ll pass along more details when possible on News / Talk KRMS.

Flash Flood Warning In Effect For Part Of The Lake Area

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The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Northern Camden and Miller Counties, including Eldon MO, Osage Beach MO, Lake Ozark MO until 12:45 AM CDT.

 

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Morgan County including Versailles MO, Laurie MO, Barnett MO until 11:30 PM CDT.

 

The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Camden County in central Missouri...
  Western Miller County in central Missouri...

* Until 1245 AM CDT Tuesday.

* At 638 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain has
  already fallen from east of Camdenton to east of Bagnall and the
  band of heavy rain will continue to move northward into Miller
  County through mid evening. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Eldon, Osage Beach, Village of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, Linn
  Creek, Tuscumbia and Olean.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Many flood
deaths occur in vehicles.


The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Morgan County in central Missouri...

* Until 1130 PM CDT Monday.

* At 523 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across eastern Morgan County. Flash flooding is ongoing
  or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Versailles, Laurie, Sunrise Beach, Barnett, Gravois Mills, Rocky
  Mount and Lake of The Ozarks.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Many flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

 

Flooding Concerns Continue Into The Work Week

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Scattered rain and thunderstorms continue for Lake of the Ozarks.

That’s prompted the National Weather Service to extend the Flash Flood Watch until Tuesday.

With all the water out there, there continues to be the risk of it flooding low lying areas and low water crossings.

Flood Warnings are also in effect for the Missouri River and
the Osage River near the Mari-Osa Campground.

 

Additional Info:

Bourbon-Crawford-Cherokee-Benton-Morgan-Miller-Vernon-St. Clair-
Hickory-Camden-Barton-Cedar-Polk-Dallas-Jasper-Dade-
Including the cities of Filley, Quincy, Crockerville, Stippville,
Chicopee, Whitakerville, Bolivar, Foose, Lake Ozark, Aurora
Springs, Cole Camp, Mora, Village of Four Seasons, Lockwood,
Versailles, Lowell, Columbus, March, Johnson City, Hermitage,
Decaturville, Carthage, Fort Scott, Appleton City, Meinert,
Neutral, Wheatland, Cedar Springs, Olive, Roach, Camdenton,
Charity, Lamar, El Dorado Springs, Lincoln, Kenoma, Windyville,
Riverton, Arnica, Tiffin, Osage Beach, Plad, Laurie, Edmonson,
Joplin, Caplinger Mills, Buffalo, Baxter Springs, Lone Oak, Rocky
Mount, Stockton, Pittsburg, Greenfield, Cross Timbers, Pawnee
Station, Eldon, Stover, Weaubleau, Nevada, Sherwin, and Warsaw
318 AM CDT Mon Jun 28 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

The National Weather Service in Springfield has expanded the

* Flash Flood Watch to include Portions of southeast Kansas,
  including the following areas, Bourbon, Cherokee and Crawford.
  Portions of Missouri, including the following areas, Barton,
  Benton, Camden, Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Hickory, Jasper, Miller,
  Morgan, Polk, St. Clair and Vernon.

* Through Tuesday morning.

* Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall
  are possible across the area through tonight. Saturated soils from
  recent excessive rainfall will result in an increased flash flood
  threat.

* While not all areas will receive rainfall, the storms that do form
  will produce heavy rainfall potentially leading to flooding. Low
  water crossings, creeks and streams will be susceptible to
  flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Flash Flood Watch In Effect As Rain Continues For Missouri

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The Missouri Department of Transportation’s urging caution on the road as a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until Sunday.

Several roads north of Highway 50 area either closed or covered with water at this time.

Weather forecasters say there are some guidelines to follow if you run across water in the road.

“The guidelines that I use, and this is a general guideline…if you can still see the pavement markings, the shoulder markers or the lane markers…then the water isn’t that deep. If you cannot see any of the lane markers, then the water is too deep to cross” says Meteorologist Ray Miller with Weatherology, “the simplest advice is to simply turn around (when you find water crossing the road) and find an alternate route. It takes very little water to float a car and carry it downstream.”

Friday night into Saturday morning there have already been numerous water rescues, including some near Columbia and Jefferson City, as well as areas south towards Springfield.

For the latest road closures click here: https://traveler.modot.org/map/index.html

 

*Additional info:

Bourbon-Crawford-Cherokee-Benton-Morgan-Miller-Maries-Vernon-St.
Clair-Hickory-Camden-Barton-Cedar-Polk-Dallas-Jasper-Dade-
Including the cities of Filley, Quincy, Crockerville, Stippville,
Chicopee, Whitakerville, Bolivar, Foose, Lake Ozark, Aurora
Springs, Vichy, Cole Camp, Mora, Village of Four Seasons,
Lockwood, Versailles, Lowell, Columbus, March, Johnson City,
Hermitage, Decaturville, Carthage, Fort Scott, Appleton City,
Meinert, Neutral, Wheatland, Cedar Springs, Olive, Roach,
Camdenton, Charity, Lamar, El Dorado Springs, Lincoln, Kenoma,
Windyville, Riverton, Arnica, Tiffin, Osage Beach, Plad, Laurie,
Edmonson, Joplin, Caplinger Mills, Buffalo, Baxter Springs, Lone
Oak, Rocky Mount, Stockton, Pittsburg, Greenfield, Cross Timbers,
Pawnee Station, Eldon, Stover, Weaubleau, Nevada, Sherwin, and
Warsaw
455 AM CDT Sat Jun 26 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of southeast Kansas, including the following areas,
  Bourbon, Cherokee and Crawford. Portions of Missouri, including
  the following areas, Barton, Benton, Camden, Cedar, Dade, Dallas,
  Hickory, Jasper, Maries, Miller, Morgan, Polk, St. Clair and
  Vernon.

* Through Sunday morning.

* Showers and thunderstorms will continue to track across the area
  today and tonight. Some areas have already received 1 to 3 inches
  of rainfall, with localized heavier amounts. An additional 1 to 3
  inches, with localized heavier amounts are possible through early
  Sunday morning.

* Rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour with the heaviest storms
  will quickly lead to excessive runoff. Low  water crossings,
  creeks and streams will be susceptible to flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

There Are Now Five People Serving On The Sunrise Beach Fire District Board

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It’s officially a five-person Board of Directors for the Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District.

“The vacancy was full with John Suellentrop….John was appointed to the position and he will remain in that position until the April 2022 municipal elections” says Fire Chief Joseph LaPlant with the Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District.

He tells KRMS News John Suellentrop is returning to the fire protection district “John’s been involved with the fire district since it was a volunteer fire department back in the early 80s and actually served as Fire Chief until his retirement in early 2012.”

At Monday’s meeting the Board also approved moving the district’s fire boat to Hi-Way Cove Marina.

Chief LaPlant was interviewed by Christian Blood on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Viral Video Leads To Camden County Sheriff Employee’s Removal From Department

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Police video of a Lake Area man’s interaction with officers from Sunrise Beach and Laurie is going viral.

The man, identified as Mason, is first seen being interrogated on the side of the road under suspicion of public intoxication, and he refuses to identify himself.

Mason was later taken to the Camden County Jail, and that’s where one officials can be seen and heard threatening to punch him during an exchange.

Now that official is no longer with the Sheriff’s Office.

“I just want everyone to know…we do not tolerate this. We are gonna take care of these problems as soon as they’re brought to our attention” says Sheriff Tony Helms.

He says he was not aware of the front half of the video that took place with the officers at an unknown location, but he was aware of the Camden County footage “I know we had released our portion of the video when he did a sunshine request. And at that point we took appropriate actions within our department to rectify that.”

The early part of the video shows Mason’s interaction with two officers who said they thought he was drunk in public, but they’re later heard telling each other they didn’t actually smell alcohol on Mason.

This is a developing story and we’ll pass along more details as soon as possible here on News / Talk KRMS.

2nd Of 3 Listening Sessions For LO Comprehensive Plan Tonight At Willmore Lodge

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The second of three focus sessions on the Comprehensive Plan for Lake Ozark is happening Wednesday night (tonight).

“This is the document that gives direction to the city as far as growth and growth based decisions go, over the next 5 to 10, even 15 years” says Harrison Fry, Assistant City Administrator in Lake Ozark, “this is not the plan we use to talk about fixing the pot holes on your street necessarily, this is the plan that we use to talk about which parts of town do we want to see become more commercialized…which part of town we want to stay residential, how do we build our infrastructure in a thoughtful way…that sort of thing.”

He tells KRMS News the Comprehensive Plan for the city hasn’t been updated since 2006.

The meeting is open to those living in Lake Ozark and also to those who own property or a business within the city limits.

Fry says the first of the three focus sessions drew in about a dozen people.

Wednesday’s (Tonight’s) session is happening at 6pm at Willmore Lodge.

The final focus session will happen July 22nd.

Camden Sheriff Requesting Sales Tax Increase For More Deputies

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Sheriff Tony Helms

Sales tax revenue in the Lake Area is up, according to the Camden County Commission.

But the Sheriff’s Office needs more deputies, and just because sales tax revenue is up doesn’t mean more deputies can be hired with the money “I have to compete for this money, I just can’t get it because it’s there…if that makes sense” says Sheriff Tony Helms. He tells KRMS News he is proposing a quarter-cent sales tax increase “We’re kinda behind the curve. We need at least 10 more people, not just deputies…but an Animal Control officer and a civil process server. I just can’t stress enough….I don’t have enough people.”

Helms says summer’s not yet halfway over, but his department’s already feeling the pinch “I have burned up half of the department’s overtime, I’ve got to have more money. I just don’t have the people, so we’re scheduling people to come in on their off days…to work short 8 hour shifts, which is because we work 12 hours shifts regularly.”

Sheriff Helms says another problem he’s facing is the loss of some law enforcement personnel to higher pay checks in other jurisdictions.

Helms says Lake Area voters will decide in August on his proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase “this would be able to supply us with 10 more officers, all the raises and the following year it would allow us to give dispatch and the jailers a raise.”

Columbia Man Found Dead In Benton County

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A body found half-a-mile from his car in Benton County is now identified as 28-year-old Cody Garrett, of Columbia.

The search for Garrett started June 12th when his mother called the Sheriff’s Office to report him missing.

Garrett had told his mother he was going shooting with friends, but after 48 hours his mother hadn’t heard from him.

Investigators found Garrett’s car after getting a ping on his phone, and investigators say a bicyclist helped them navigate narrow bike trails that lead to the body.

The investigation is ongoing and you’re urged to contact police if you have any information about how Garrett was killed.

Body Of Man Found In Osage River Identified As Randy Voss – Lead Singer Of Firecreek

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The body of a missing fisherman found in Cole County has been identified by the Highway Patrol as Randy Voss, the lead singer of the band Firecreek from the Lake Area.

The Miller County Sheriff’s Office says they were called by a camper in St. Elizabeth on report a fisherman who went missing earlier this week.

Investigators say they found fishing gear on the bank of the Osage River and witnesses think Voss may have unintentionally ended up in the water.

The Sheriff’s office says his body was found in St. Thomas, several miles away.

An investigation into how Voss ended up in the river is now underway.

Heat Advisory On Top For This Friday Across The Ozarks

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If you’re going to be outside today, make sure you’re prepared.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, which is in effect between noon and 7pm this evening.

Weather officials say heat index values could range between 100 to 109 degrees today.

If you have to be outside, it’s recommended that you drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks in the shade or air condition and pay attention to the signs of possible heat exhaustion.

They’re also recommending you bring any pets inside to keep them cool from the heat.

Former State Senator Ed Emery Announces Run For Hartzler’s Seat

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The Lake Area can expect a new representative in the U-S House with the announcement Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler plans to run for the U-S Senate.

That future rep in the U-S house might be a former Republican state senator.

71-year-old Ed Emery of Lamar is the first candidate to announce he’ll be running for the U-S House for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District.

Lamar was elected to the state senate in 2012 and he served there until the beginning of this year.

Prior to serving in the state senate, Lamar also served as a state representative.

Six Injured In Boat Explosion On Lake Of The Ozarks

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Another boat explosion on Lake of the Ozarks, and this one has all six people on board in the hospital.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division says it all happened at the 10 mile-marker of the Osage Arm around 1:40 Tuesday afternoon.

Everyone on board is from Elk Horn and Gretna, Nebraska.

The youngest, a two-year-old, was taken privately to Lake Regional Hospital.

But everyone else on board has serious injuries.

Two adults were taken by chopper to University Hospital in Columbia.

Three others were taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance.

The ‘Patrol says the explosion happened due to a fuel-related problem.

 

***From the ‘Patrol:

Lake of the Ozarks boat explosion near the 10.5MM Malachai Point Cove. An explosion occurred because the vessel suffered a mechanical problem causing a fuel related fire. All occupants are accounted for but there were 6 injured.

Security Guard Attacked At Backwater Jacks Over The Weekend

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Backwater Jacks in Osage Beach. Photo Courtesy of BWJ.

Police in Osage Beach are looking for two people who might be responsible for an assault at Backwater Jacks over the weekend.

Lieutenant Michael O’Day says, in a release, it all started Friday night around 10 o’clock when police were called to the location on report of two people trespassing.

Officers say the people had been drinking and were causing problems, so they were told to leave.

But less than two hours later the two were back and officers again went to Backwater Jacks.

On their second visit, police learned a security guard told officers he had been jumped while chasing the two people off the property.

Investigators say the security guard had injuries to his face and he was taken to Lake Regional Hospital.

Officers could not locate the people they had warned earlier in the evening.

We’ll pass along more details as they come in to News / Talk KRMS.

2ND Amendment Preservation Act Is Now Law In Missouri

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The Second Amendment Preservation Act is now law in the State of Missouri.

At Saturday’s signing in Lee Summit, Governor Mike Parson used Kamala Harris as an example of why signing the bill into law is necessary “you’ve had the Vice President of the United States, back when she was running for President if you remember this….and any particular weapon she decides that she didn’t like, she was going to come to your door and take it away. Well, not in Missouri she’s not!”

Under the new bill, it would be unlawful for any person or entity to deprive a Missouri citizen of their right to bear arms “when the Federal Government seems to want to tell us what we can do, it’s suppose to be the opposite of that. We’re the ones who are representing the people of the United States of America, we are! And trust me, the states are the firewall to the Federal Government!”

During the signing ceremony, Parson said law enforcement’s ability to assist federal officials in other situations will not change.

But the bill does make it illegal for any person or entity to knowingly deprive the people of Missouri of their right to bear arms.

If it does happen, the person or entity will be held liable and each occurrence would result in a $50-thousand dollar fine.

Read more on the signing:

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Today, Governor Mike Parson signed HB 85 into law, establishing the Second Amendment Preservation Act in Missouri.

“Throughout my law enforcement career and now as Governor of the state of Missouri, I have and always will stand for the Constitution and our Second Amendment rights,” Governor Parson said. “This legislation today draws a line in the sand and demonstrates our commitment to reject any attempt by the federal government to circumvent the fundamental right Missourians have to keep and bear arms to protect themselves and their property.”

HB 85 prohibits state and local cooperation with federal officials that attempt to enforce any laws, rules, orders, or actions that violate the Second Amendment rights of Missourians. These protections against federal overreach are triggered if federal officials attempt to violate the state or federal constitution.

Additionally, the bill is an acknowledgment that the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental and inalienable, and that the nation’s federalist constitutional structure limits the federal government’s authority over states.

Under HB 85, any person or entity who knowingly deprives Missouri citizens of their right to bear arms – as protected by state and federal constitutions – will be liable for redress and monetary damages of $50,000 per occurrence. Local law enforcement’s ability to assist federal officials in other instances remains unchanged under this legislation.

“HB 85 puts those in Washington D.C. on notice that here in Missouri we support responsible, law-abiding gun owners, and that we oppose government overreach and any unlawful efforts to limit our access to firearms,” Governor Parson said.

For more information on HB 85, click here.

Boat Explodes At Lake Of The Ozarks

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Three people are okay, but their boat is a total loss after it exploded on Lake of the Ozarks Saturday morning.

Donna Wilson tells KRMS News it happened shortly after refueling “After fueling, we got away from the dock and one of the engine wasn’t turning over right away. After trying several times, my husband decided he would let it rest.”

Taylor Wilson was on the boat with her grandparents “I was sitting on the back, and the burst of it threw me up into the air, then back into the water.”

Taylor says her grandparents were on a different part of the boat when the explosion happened.

Both grandparents are okay, but Taylor’s grandfather, Wes Wilson, was taken to the hospital “He is ok, he does have some burns on his legs and his arms…and he has pain on the back of his head.”

The explosion happened in a cove at the 18 and a half mile marker of the main channel.

The cause of the explosion in not yet known.

 

Heat Wave Apparently Coming To The Lake Area

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Photo by Jeremy Zero on Unsplash

It might not qualify as a heat wave for Lake of the Ozarks, but warm daytime highs are going to be here for awhile.

“When it comes to water, things that “most people” think of is definitely staying hydrated, bringing sunscreen if you’re going to be outside. With these warmer temperatures, your body is going to lose a lot of fluid. So make sure your putting those fluids back into your body, drink a lot of water” says Jake Pozezinski is a meteorologist with the Weatherology Weather Center, “you should also limit the number of outdoor activities you’re doing, especially if those outdoor activities are going to be strenuous….like yard work, exercising outside…etc….just make sure your limiting that and drink lots of water.” 

He tells KRMS News it’ll also be important to wear sunscreen if you’ll be out on the lake and make sure you’re checking the back seat of your car for kids or pets after parking “if you have small children, or pets, temperatures in the car can get EXTREMELY hot…especially when we have sunshine and temperatures in the 90s, so just take those precautions that you check your backseat and make sure nothing is left back there as well.”

Officials Request More Boats Ahead Of This Weekend’s Guinness World Record Attempt

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We’re just a few days away from Lake of the Ozarks attempt at grabbing a world record.

As Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark turns 90 this year, officials are celebrating with a push to set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Boat Parade this weekend.

“Currently it’s held in Malaysia, so not only do we want to bring it to Missouri to celebrate our bicentennial…but also here to Lake of the Ozarks for Bagnell Dam” says Executive Director Heather Brown with the Convention and Visitor Bureau.

She tells KRMS News the Lake Area boat parade will have to beat the 11-hundred-80 boats that set the current record in Malaysia in 2014.

And Brown also says if you plan to be in the boat parade, you have to register to get counted by Guinness “don’t assume we have enough boats, because people may no show that day…so we want to get as many boats as we can. We don’t just want to be the record this Saturday, we want to blow it out of the water.”

Brown says the cost of getting a Guinness official to the Lake for the parade cost $15-thousand and that fee was paid for by a local mortgage company.

You can find out more details and get registered here: https://bestdambirthdaybash.com/boat-parade/

Man Arrested For Shooting In February, Attacks Again, Then Takes His Own Life

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Two Lake Area Sheriff’s Offices are investigating the death of an Eldridge man who may have walked across county lines to kill people in Camdenton.

It all started with a call Monday from the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office.

“They received information that there was a man who was going to a residence at Bear Ridge Road in Camdenton with intentions to shoot someone at that residence” says Chief Deputy Jim Brashear  with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office.

He tells KRMS News deputies went to the home to warn the people, but they didn’t want to leave the house “despite that…deputies continued searching for this individual as he was supposedly walking along the road. Then, a short time later we received at 911 call from that residence that they had been shot at. There are still bullet holes in that home.”

Hornozy was arrested in February, after a shooting at the same home on Bear Ridge Road.

Brashear says the search for 45-year-old Michael Horonzy continued until Tuesday, when deputies learned he had shot himself.

Horonzy was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Search For Missing Canoeist Comes To A Tragic End

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The search for a missing canoeist in Laclede County has come to a tragic end.

According to the Highway Patrol, the body of Tim Stapleton was found Monday morning.

Stapleton and a woman were canoeing on the Niangua River last Sunday, when they struck debris and tipped over near Eldridge.

Investigators say the woman was able to grab a tree branch, but Stapleton went under and was carried down the river.

He was found 1 ½ miles from where the canoe capsized.

Lake Race 2021 A Success – New Award Added For Racing History

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Official results are now in from Lake Race 2021 and officials are excited about the turnout and response to this year’s event.

“We thank our sponsors, it’s been an incredible journey….it’s been 2 years since we’ve had Lake Race. I became President of the board in December of 2019 and we didn’t have a race in 2020 due to COVID, so everybody for 2021 THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Tom Abbott with Lake Race says they couldn’t have done it without the volunteers and the sponsors.

“Where would we be putting this race together without our sponsors? KRMS and Viper Communications…they broadcasted this race on television to over 40 million people and over 50 television stations across the united states so, Camden on the Lake..our host hotel…how about the race course today? The guys who set the race course today have never set a race course in their life and they pulled it together for us. And the Neon Taco? How about George Tucker and his crew getting us back to the dam!”

In addition to the trophies handed out to the winners, Lake Race’s Tom Abbott says they’ve added a very special trophy which will remain here at the Lake.

“As one of my roles as President, I wanted something to commemorate the very beginning…the start of powerboat racing here at the Lake of the Ozarks. I was reading a 1995 edition of the Powerboat Magazine that had an article about Earl Rand and his lovely wife Rose, so I made a choice and today we’re unveiling the “Earl and Rose Rand” Memorial Lake Race trophy.”

Abbott says Earl Rand’s history runs deep for powerboat racing at the Lake of the Ozarks “Lake race has been around since 2013. I have been involved in offshore powerboat racing here since 1993, which was the US offshore power  fest. One of the brain child’s behind that was Earl Rand with Marina Bay resort. So Earl was instrumental in it, our Tri-County Lodging Association and Jim Divincen…they all had the vision to bring offshore powerboat racing here to Lake of the Ozarks.”

You can find full results from this year’s winners below:

OPA & FORMULA AWARDS

Death Defying Powerboat Crash In Key West Is Hot Topic Day Before Lake Race

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The World Championships in Key West produced a death defying incident and the teams involved meet again at the Lake Race.

Both Loren Peters and Bill Allen are racing again this weekend at the Lake Race. Scott Porta at Porta Performance has taken on the challenge of finding out exactly why this happened and how we can stop anything like this happening again.

Each boat’s throttleman and driver escaped through the escape hatch and was transported to the medical center and released without life threatening injuries.

All three (3) will be at the race this weekend to discuss the progress on the aerodynamic findings, which will be released in an upcoming Professional Boat Builder’s article: “Boats Can’t Fly.”

Catch them live on today’s Morning Magazine show at 9AM and see the crash videos below…..

 

 

Bagnell Dam Bridge Rehabilitation Approved – Set For After Labor Day

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The bridge over Bagnell Dam is set for rehabilitation after Labor Day.

MoDOT says a new driving surface will be added to the bridge and there will also be repairs made to the barrier walls, expansion joints and the bridge deck.

The project should take around 3 months to finish and Business 54 will be closed at the dam while the work’s being done.

MoDOT says the cost of the project will be around $1-point-six-million dollars.

The Bagnell Dam Bridge was built in 1929 and officials say the work is necessary to extend the life and integrity of the bridge.

 

***More info….

 

Rehabilitation Approved for Bagnell Dam Bridge in Lake Ozark

Project
Bagnell Dam Bridge Rehabilitation

JEFFERSON CITY – Rehabilitation of the Business Route 54 Bagnell Dam bridge over the Osage River, located in Lake Ozark, has been approved by the Highways and Transportation Commission.

During their meeting on Wednesday, the commissioners awarded the project to Concrete Strategies, LLC., which submitted the low bid of $1,611,862.

The existing Bagnell Dam Bridge was built in 1929. The purpose of this project is to repair the bridge deck, expansion joints and barrier walls and to replace the bridge driving surface and repair the adjacent sidewalk. Rehabilitation is necessary to extend the life and usability of the bridge.

During construction, Business 54 will be closed at the bridge for approximately three months. Motorists will need to use an alternate route while work takes place.

This project is scheduled to begin after the Labor Day holiday and to be completed by the end of the year. Prior to work starting, MoDOT will alert the public through signs, news releases and social media.

For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/modot-central-district.  Follow the MoDOT Central Missouri District on social media for project updates.

Highway Patrol Stats Show Relatively Safe Memorial Day Holiday

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is releasing some numbers from the Memorial Day Weekend, and some are lower than those recorded a year ago.

Patrol Captain John Hotz says Troopers reported four fatal crashes around Missouri this year, but that number’s down from six deaths during the Memorial Day reporting  period last year.

Last weekend there were 270 crashes, compared to 310 in 2020.

The numbers show 112 DWI arrests this year, compared to 118 throughout Missouri a year ago.

Eighty-two people were reported injured on state roads and highways this year.

But last year there were more than 120 people injured in traffic accidents investigated by the Patrol .

The Memorial Day reporting period started at 6 o’clock Friday night and it ended at 11:59 Monday night.

 

***Additional Info***

EMPHASIS: Patrol: Preliminary Reports Indicate Six Traffic Fatalities, One Boating Fatality, & One Drowning Over Memorial Day Weekend

Six people died in traffic crashes over the 2021 Memorial Day weekend counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, May 28, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 31, 2021.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated the following over the 2021 Memorial Day holiday weekend:

Traffic Statistics

Crashes — 270
Injuries — 82
Fatalities — 4
DWI — 112
Drug Arrests — 77

[Note: Springfield Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department each investigated a traffic fatality.]

Boating Statistics

Crashes — 10
Injuries — 2
Fatality — 1
Drowning — 1
BWI — 8
Drug Arrests — 2

(Note: During the 2020 counting period, the Patrol investigated 310 traffic crashes, which included 126 injuries and six of the 10 fatalities. Troopers made 118 arrests for driving while intoxicated last year. Also, over the 2020 Memorial Day holiday: Marine operations troopers investigated 11 boating crashes involving seven injuries and one fatality; and arrested 11 people for boating while intoxicated on the state’s rivers and lakes. One person drowned over the 2020 Memorial Day holiday.)

Troopers investigated four of the six traffic crash fatalities. One fatality occurred in each of the following areas: Troop A, Lee’s Summit, MO, Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, MO, and Troop F, Jefferson City, MO. The remaining two fatalities were investigated by the Springfield Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

One person drowned Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Iron County, MO. No further details are available at this time.

One boating fatality occurred on Sunday, May 30, 2021, on Rinquelin Trail Lake in Maries County. Paul W. Becker, 77, of Crocker, MO, died after he fell overboard and didn’t resurface.

There were no traffic fatalities within the counting period on Friday, May 28, 2021.

Two traffic fatalities occurred on Saturday, May 29, 2021. Brenda E. Mahoney, 55, of Wentzville, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving struck another vehicle headon, then struck a third vehicle before it traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Mahoney’s vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Missouri Highway 364 east of Bryan Road in St. Charles County at the time of the crash. A St. Charles County paramedic pronounced Mahoney dead at the scene. The driver of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries; the third driver sustained minor injuries. All three drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Barry W. Light, 32, of Pevely, MO, died when the motorcycle he was operating struck a concrete traffic barrier. The crash occurred on Interstate 64 just after the 11st Street exit in St. Louis, MO. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated.

Two fatalities occurred on Sunday, May 30, 2021. Timmy L. McIntire, 29, of Rockville, MO, died when the motorcycle he was operating ran off the right side of the roadway. McIntire was ejected from the vehicle. Both vehicle and driver then struck a utility pole. McIntire was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash occurred southwest of the intersection of W. Vernon Avenue and Fourth Street in Rockville, which is located in Bates County.

Nathaniel L. Linkins, 20, of Republic, MO, died when the motorcycle he was operating struck the curb as it a came around a curve. The motorcycle traveled onto the grass median and struck a tree. Linkins was thrown from the motorcycle; he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Debris from the motorcycle then struck a northbound vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she was not injured. The crash occurred at the intersection of Kansas Expressway and Broadmoor in Green County. The Springfield Police Department investigated.

Two fatalities occurred on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. Leonard R. Byars, 80, of Eldridge, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the right side of the roadway. Byars overcorrected, the vehicle returned to the roadway, then ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Byers was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Medical Examiner Jason Funke pronounced Byars deceased at the scene. The crash occurred on Missouri Route D north of Jack North Road in Eldridge, which is in Camden County.

Conor P. Chance, 21, of East Prairie, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway and struck a tree. It is unknown whether or not Chance was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker pronounced Chance deceased at the scene. The crash occurred on Miller Road north of East Prairie, in Mississippi County.

Follow the Patrol on Twitter for the most current news @MSHPTrooperGHQ

NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, other departments report crashes or incidents, a fatality is determined to be a drowning, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition after this news release was posted.

 

Man Shot At Lazy Gators Was An Upcoming Rapper

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New details are emerging about the man shot and killed over the weekend at Lazy Gators.

The Kansas City Star is reporting that 27-year-old Vonza Watson, aka VNZA, was an aspiring rap artist who had moved from Detroit Michigan to Jefferson City, MO and had been living in Kansas City for the past few months.

Watson’s recently release album featured a mix of hip hop and rap, with styles inspired from artists like Jay Z.

The Sheriff’s Office is not releasing the names of the three suspects who are now in custody, but they are asking for the public’s help in piecing together the events that led to the shooting.

They say if anyone has video recordings to please send them to the Sheriff’s office or contact them right away.

This remains a developing story and we’ll bring you latest details as they happen on KRMS.