Screenshot taken from Viral Video that showed patrons packing area pools during the Memorial Day weekend. Video from CBS affiliate station.

All eyes will be on the Lake Area this weekend thanks to a viral video showing vacationers ignoring social distancing last weekend.

With the warm and clear weather expected, tourists are already making plans to visit the Lake, but many seem unconcerned about the Coronavirus.

Missouri resident Brady Cutter.

So far there has been no change in the way businesses will tackle social distancing this weekend, nor has there been any mandates handed down by the state or local health departments.

In Camden County, Sheriff Tony Helms made it clear that Social Distancing is not a crime and therefore people cannot be arrested for violating it.

A man is dead and a woman remains hospitalized following a shooting in Benton County.

It happened Wednesday afternoon in the Grandview Beach area outside of Warsaw.

Benton Sheriff Eric Knox tells KRMS News 44-year-old Donald Leven allegedly went inside the house with a gun to try and intimidate 47-year-old Rebecca Duncan and the witness.

The case remains under investigation.

The ‘Show Me Strong Recovery Plan’ for Missouri will end Phase One on Sunday.

Governor Mike Parson speaking at his Wednesday press briefing in Jefferson City. He says overall Phase 1 was a success.

He is planning to announce additional details about Phase Two during his press briefing later today.

That briefing can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Backwater Jacks in Osage Beach. Photo Courtesy of BWJ.

The Owner of Backwater Jacks in Osage Beach is responding to the ongoing national media attention pegged at the establishment.

It follows viral video that showed patrons ignoring social distancing guidelines during a Memorial Day weekend pool party.

Owner Gary Prewitt had this to say about the incident:

With the recent coverage of the Lake of the Ozarks this weekend, especially our venue, we would like to address the following:
1. No laws were broken. Social distancing is not a crime. As stated by the Camden County Sheriff: “Camden County is a tourism-drive economy and each business is working hard to follow the state’s guidelines and protect their patrons and staff. Those who frequented the businesses, bars and restaurants at the lake this weekend made a conscious decision to attend each event and frequent each location. It was the right and responsibility of each individual who made those decisions to access the risks inherent to those decisions.“
2. Non-contact thermal checks were conducted at both entrances to the pool by medical staff hired for the event. This upset many customers, however it was an additional layer we chose to implement. Anyone with above 100.4 temperature was refused entry.
3. Personal bottles of FDA-approved hand sanitizer were made available for free to all attendees upon entry and for the duration of the event.
4. Despite false reporting, the name of the event “Zero Ducks Given” had absolutely nothing to do with the pandemic situation. This is the third year of the event series that takes place on each holiday weekend.
5. Unfortunately, our business is seasonal and nearly a third of our season has already been lost. The initial shut down has already had a tremendous impact on many of our staff and their families. All staff were given a choice of whether they wanted to work without any negative consequences if they chose not to.

We understand that there are many emotions and feelings involved on every side of the pandemic situation. Any hateful messages attacking our business, our customers, our staff, or other businesses in our community will not be tolerated and removed from our social media. For our loyal customers who stand in support, thank you. For customers we may have lost, thank you for your previous patronage and we hope to win your business back in the future. We love our customers and will continue to do our best to provide delicious food, drink and entertainment at Backwater Jack’s.

Official press release below:

Sheriff Tony Helms

The Camden County Sheriff defending the lake area….

Speaking with CNN’s Don Lemon on Monday Night, Sheriff Tony Helms says unlike other states, Missouri’s laws on COVID 19 are significantly different.

The response follows a viral video which shows visitors packing lake area pools and restaurants and not adhering to social distancing requirements.

That led to the health directors of both St. Louis and Kansas City to request that residents who visited the Lake this weekend “self-isolate” for 14-days.

St. Louis taking it a step further by issuing a travel advisory on the lake area, which has caused an uproar on social media.

Lake residents in numerous Facebook Groups call the advisory “ridiculous” and say the video is a “narrow view” of the lake area in general.

They say the video only tells the story of “select areas” and isn’t a true representation of the entire community, of which many were following social distancing guidelines and have been for months now.

Here’s a look at the full interview with CNN’s Don Lemon on Monday Night.

"I can't enforce something that's just not a law."

CNN's @DonLemon speaks to Sheriff Tony Helms about video of a Memorial Day weekend pool party at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

The gathering violates social distancing measures intended to limit the spread of Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/eGM6yJVQAa

— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) May 26, 2020

Patrons pack the pool in a viral video shot by CBS reporter Scott Pasmore of Arizona, photo is a screen shot of the video posted to Twitter.

Memorial Day weekend at the Lake getting national attention in the wake of COVID 19

Viral video making the rounds on national media, showing patrons at area bars and restaurants, celebrating like it was a normal party weekend.

John Custer of Four Seasons Property Management. He Tells KRMS News all of his rental homes were filled with vacationers who want to get out after being cooped up for so long.

Custer says the video only shows a fraction of the tourists this weekend. Many of his guests say they stay on the water or inside the homes the rented, just to get away from it all.

He also says despite the negative issues there, it’s an overall positive as many lake businesses depend on this revenue to remain open. That’s because the lake only gets 3 to 4 months to make their income, as a opposed to year round places like St. Louis or Kansas City.

Here’s a look at the video that was first posted to Twitter by CBS reporter Scott Pasmore of Arizona.

No covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks😳 #loto pic.twitter.com/Yrb4UNM64u

— Scott Pasmore (@scottpasmoretv) May 24, 2020

Lake Race 2020 is officially canceled.

The race was originally planned for May 29-30, but officials had postponed it until later in the year due to Covid-19 concerns.

Lake Race President Tom Abbett tells KRMS News the decision was made because of 2 main issues. 1, the OPA & ABPA series did not have any open dates that could work with the Lake Area and shutting down the boating traffic for the races and 2. The only date OPA could do would coincide with the annual in water boat show with the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers, which they didn’t want to take away from their already scheduled program.

COVID-19 Economic Rebate Plan (From the city of Osage Beach)

The City of Osage Beach is offering a limited economic rebate plan available to all Osage Beach water/sewer customers.

Additional Details from the city’s website:

Tourism numbers are looking up for the Lake area this holiday weekend.

Don Neuharth of Hotel Lake of the Ozarks, formally the EconoLodge, tells KRMS News most of his current reservations are for just a day or so.

Vacation rental agencies are also seeing large numbers.

John Custar with Four Seasons Property Management tells KRMS News they’ve booked all of their 45 homes for the weekend.

If you’re looking for a Job you may want to consider McDonald’s.

The company says it plans to hire more than 1,200 new employees across central Missouri.

They are also partnering with Columbia College to help current and future employees take advantage of a discounted tuition rate for those who take classes online or on campus in Osage Beach.

Those interested can apply online or you can pickup an application from the store’s drive-thru.

All McDonald’s locations across the lake are participating.

Press Release: Area McDonald’s restaurants will hire more than 1,200 new employees in surrounding communities over the next few weeks.

McDonald’s employees will learn transferable soft skills on the job, such as teamwork, customer service and responsibility, and will also get the chance to further their education through Archways to Opportunity, McDonald’s signature education and career advising program.

McDonald’s employees are eligible for the Archways to Opportunity program after 90 days and 15 hours a week. Employees have the chance to earn a high school diploma, receive $2,500 in upfront college tuition assistance, access to career advising services and the opportunity to learn English as a second language. Qualify employees may also be eligible for free tuition to participating educational partners. In 2019 alone, McDonald’s restaurants in the area contributed around $471,000 in tuition assistance dollars to 218 employees.

“By offering restaurant employees the option to further their education paired with skills they learn on the job, we’re supporting their full potential to succeed whether that’s at McDonald’s or beyond,” said Thomas Nichols, Local McDonald’s franchise Owner / Operator.

Additionally, local McDonald’s restaurants have partnered with Columbia College to offer additional opportunities to make college affordable. McDonald’s employees are eligible for a discounted tuition rate through the college. Students who take classes online or at one of the college’s locations (Including Osage Beach) will also have access to the Truition® program, which offers a transparent look at the cost of college by eliminating all fees and providing books at no cost.

A Lake Area school district plans to start next year on time, but with a difference.

School of the Osage Board President Mary Whitman unveiled ‘The Osage Plan’ on Tuesday.

Students will begin the week with a day of E-learning, and will then go to school the remaining four days of the week.

Whitman says it’s about avoiding the complications that happened this Spring as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and closed schools.

School of the Osage says there won’t be any changes to the school calendar and that students, parents and faculty will have the tools they need for the plan to be successful.

The Sunrise Beach Fire District now has more manpower after the graduation of six new firefighters from the training academy.

Chief Joseph LaPlant says the new firefighters spent five weeks training on a variety of topics which included physical fitness and confidence building routines.

The positions were made possible by approval of the 2020 budget and a new collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union, and will insure that station house-3 is staffed 24/7.

The new firefighters are: Jeffrey Udall, Judd Douglas, Serge Balavan, Tyler Austin, Bradley Kane and Jacob Stonebraker.

Photo Courtesy of Quaker Manufacturing of Eldon

The highly anticipated grand opening of the new Quaker Manufacturing plant in Eldon is today.

Officials say the $65 million dollar facility will provide nearly 300 new jobs in the lake community.

The company based out of nearby Freeburg employs more than 900 people statewide.

It’s the first major manufacturing investment in the last 30 years in this region.

The Eldon Career Center will also be partnering with Quaker to offer apprenticeships for high school juniors and seniors, with the goal of transitioning students into full time employment and careers with the company.

Here is their official Press release for Today:

Quaker Windows & Doors will be officially opening the doors to our new Eldon, MO location on Monday, May 18th. The much anticipated new location will expand Quaker’s commercial window and door division’s manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for Quaker’s innovative window and door products. The first set of new Eldon employees have been training for this day at our Freeburg, MO location, and are excited to lead “Team Eldon” into the facility come Monday. “We are very excited for this day to finally be here and look forward to sharing it with the Eldon community at a grand opening ceremony later this year.” said Jason Pratt, General Manager of Quaker’s Eldon Manufacturing Operations.

From 2019:

Quaker Window Products, Co. announced plans today to expand their current operations to a new location in Eldon, Missouri. This phased plan is also expected to create 300 new full-time jobs for the region.

“We love it when homegrown Missouri businesses choose to continue growing in our state,” Missouri Governor Mike Parson said. “To make this project happen, it took a lot of collaboration between state and local partners, across workforce, economic development and government. We want to thank everyone who was at the table, working for this business and the community of Eldon.”

Quaker Window Products, Inc. has been a leader in the window and door industry since 1949. Their current operations consist of their corporate offices along with wood, vinyl, aluminum window and door manufacturing facilities located on two campuses in Freeburg, MO. They currently have over 900 employees and a produce a variety of residential and commercial window and door products that are delivered nationwide.

“Quaker has had a great experience working with State officials, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the City of Eldon to make this project possible” said Quaker Window Products CEO Kevin Blansett. “We are excited to not only be bringing new jobs to the region, but long-term career opportunities to the people of Eldon and surrounding communities as we grow together.”

A number of state and local partners worked together to ensure Quaker chose to remain and grow in Missouri.

“Quaker Windows is at the top of their industry, in terms of both quality and customer service,” Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe said. “Given the continued steady growth of the company, I am certain they were heavily recruited to expand in other states. Quaker is a fantastic corporate citizen, and I am pleased that they have chosen to continue to grow their product lines in central Missouri, using central Missouri employees.”

“This is a great thing,” Mayor Larry Henderson said. “We are glad to have them in our community! I think this is in the best interest of the City and beneficial to all parties.”

Pivotal in the company’s decision was the availability of a quality workforce, which prompted significant involvement on behalf of the local public school district. The Eldon Career Center will be partnering with Quaker to offer apprenticeships for high school juniors and seniors, with the goal of transitioning students into full time employment and careers with the company.

“Our vision is to create a community that our kids want to come back home to,” Matt Davis, Superintendent of Eldon Schools said. “We know if we provide them with the right skill set, they will be able to get a starting job at Quaker that pays more than the current median household income in Eldon. This opportunity will improve the quality of life for our kids and families.”

The Eldon School District has approximately 1,900 students, and of those students 1,100 qualify for free and reduced lunch. Despite having such a high poverty rate among students, the Eldon public school system outperforms many area districts.

Other key contributor’s to making this project a reality includes Ameren, Missouri Department of Transportation, Eldon Development Corporation, and the Eldon Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We hope this is the beginning of more businesses – and jobs – coming to Missouri thanks in large part to a new state energy law that went into effect in late August,” said Michael Moehn, president of Ameren Missouri. “This law enabled Ameren Missouri’s new Smart Energy Plan, which makes Missouri an even better place to do business. That’s because Ameren Missouri is now able to offer one of the most favorable economic development rate incentive programs in the country to keep energy costs low for new and expanding businesses.”

“This is excellent for Eldon. We are excited Quaker gave the City of Eldon this opportunity. It took a lot of people on both sides to make this happen, and it wouldn’t have come together without everyone working together to pinpoint all the final details,” City Administrator Debbie Feeback said.

Quaker will be purchasing over 100 acres in Eldon for the construction of the new 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Quaker plans to begin construction this fall and will be developing job training opportunities as early as this spring in preparation for manufacturing operations to begin in the fall of 2019.

This Friday marks one year since the EF-2 Tornado in Eldon.

The Tornado started west of the Eldon Country Club, damaging numerous homes along the southern and eastern portions of the city.

The Twister moved through the city, taking out numerous houses, businesses and the Rock Island City park.

The Tornado continued for 32 miles tracking into downtown Jefferson City, were it evolved into a violent EF-3 with wind speeds up to 160 miles an hour.

Two lake area residents are dead following a head-on collision on Highway-42 in Miller County.

The highway patrol says it happened shortly before 10:30 Saturday night east of Hawkins Cemetery Road.

The vehicle driven westbound by 28-year-old John Surface, of Camdenton, crossed over the center striking an eastbound vehicle driven by 44-year-old Elizabeth Goewey, of Iberia.

Neither of the drivers had been wearing a seat belt and were, both, pronounced dead at the scene.

National Safe Boating Week is underway across the Lake and nationwide.

Captain Matt Walz of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Division says there are a number of things you should do before hitting the water, in order to stay safe.

1. Make sure to check your supplies. You need to have adequate emergency supplies including spare bulbs, fuses, first aid kits and water….in case you are stranded.
2. Make sure your life jackets are in proper working order AND are easy to access, that is a required law. They cannot be in a storage area.
3. Make sure to open the hatch of your engine bay and check that everything is safe, no fuel smells or leaks, especially when filling up.
4. Do a rundown with your vessel, making sure the lights work, horn works, radio works and that everything is in proper working order before leaving the dock

The annual event’s being hosted by the National Safe Boating Council.

Lake of the Ozarks Captains Association is reminding you to make sure you’re wearing your life jacket on the water, and make sure your friends are wearing one as well.

Lake area Uber drivers will have to change the way they conduct their trips starting Monday.

The company says they’re mandating all drivers nationwide to take “Selfies” showing them wearing a mask and verifying they’ve “sanitized” their cars each day.

They’re also reducing the number of people allowed in the standard ride from four to three and requiring that all riders wear masks.

Uber officials say they’re spending more than 50 Million dollars to buy masks and sanitizers for drivers.

With the extension of the State of Emergency in Missouri, Lake area bars and restaurants will be able to continue to sell “to-go” alcohol.

Governor Mike Parson included a waiver in the executive order permitting it to continue until June 15^th.

Officials say the decision to do so was brought on by grass roots efforts by local bar and restaurant owners on change.org

Despite coronavirus being in the news now on a daily basis, there seems to be even more questions than answers about the spread of the illness. That would also appear to be the case in the lake area with, at least, a couple unconfirmed reports of quarantine situations. However, according to Miller County Health Administrator Mike Herbert, his office has received no such reports…

Camden County Health Administrator Bee Dampier says that some of the confusion may be a result of a respiratory pathogen panel medical professionals use to diagnose possible infections…

Jennifer Bethurem, with the public relations office at Lake Regional, would not confirm anyone being quarantined but does say the health system continues to work with state and other medical officials to minimize any effects should Covid-19 be officially diagnosed in the lake area…

Officials from Lake Regional will be on KRMS at about 7:40 Tuesday morning (March 11, 2020) to give an update on Covid-19 and the chances of it becoming a problem in the lake area.

A fire causing damage at a Camdenton business is considered suspicious and under investigation by local and state fire marshal officials. Mid-County Fire Chief Scott Frandsen says that the call to the Surf’s Up Laundromat, on North Business-5, was received around 7:30 Thursday morning. Upon arrival, light smoke was discovered coming from the roof and significant smoke inside the building. It took about five minutes to bring the blaze located in the back of the building under control. The interior of the building suffered smoke and water damage while the office suffered heavy fire damage. There was nobody in the business at the time and no injuries were reported.

A standoff in Syracuse early Sunday afternoon comes to an eventual peaceful ending and the arrests of two people. Morgan County Sheriff Norman Dills says deputies responded after receiving a report of one male subject threatening another with a firearm. Upon arrival, the suspect allegedly refused to come outside prompting the residence to be surrounded and a portion of U.S. 50 being closed to traffic. Phone contact was established with the suspect who, eventually, surrendered while a second subject inside the residence was also taken into custody. Courthouse records identify the two as 36-year-old Brandon Tate and 42-year-old Amy Wyatt. Tate is charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon-exhibiting and while in possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, armed criminal action and fourth-degree assault. Wyatt is charged with felony possession and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

A Lake Ozark couple found dead in their home last November died as a result of a drug overdose. According to toxicology results released by the Camden County Sheriff’s office, 41-year old Anand and 29-year old Kourtney Torres were found to have acute fentanyl intoxication. The couple were found dead in their home November 10th after authorities responded to a request to check on their well being. They left behind three young children, none of whom were home at the time of their death

One person from Vienna is dead and another seriously injured in a wreck that happened in Osage County Sunday afternoon. According to the Highway Patrol, a vehicle driven by 79-year old Bobbie Copeland went off the road, where it hit a metal post, overturned, hit another metal post, then crashed into a building. Copeland was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries. 72-year old Phyliss Copeland was pronounced dead at the scene. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Osage and Maries county sheriff’s offices.

Former Camdenton city police officer and Camden County deputy Leonard Wilson entered Alford pleas, Thursday, to sex-related charges involving juveniles. Appearing in an orange jumpsuit and flanked by his attorney, Wilson entered the Alford pleas to charges, in separate cases, of 4th degree child molestation and 2nd degree statutory sodomy. In exchange for the pleas, which do not admit guilt but do concede there was enough evidence for a conviction, a sentencing assessment was waived and all other charges at the local level were dismissed. Wilson was ordered to serve four years in prison on the molestation charge and seven years on the sodomy charge. The sentences will be served concurrently to each other and concurrently to his recent eight year federal sentence on a charge of possessing child pornography.

Two women from the lake area are injured in a crash on Highway 54. The wreck happened just west of Route E in Cole County Monday afternoon. According to the Highway Patrol, just before 12:30, 29-year old Hannah Cotten of Eldon lost control of her vehicle, colliding head-on with a vehicle driven by 40-year old Erin Price of Camdenton. Both women were wearing their seatbelts. Cotten was seriously injured and was taken to University Hospital. Price received only minor injuries and was transported to Capital Region Hospital for treatment.

The Mid-County Fire District is hoping the public can provide some information into who’s responsible for recent vandalism at the district’s newest station house. Chief Scott Frandsen says the damage, at station house-7 on Pier-31 Road, included broken and cracked windows along with metal panels of the bay doors and building itself. The damage was, apparently, caused by someone using a vehicle to spray gravel from the parking lot toward the new station house which just opened on the first of the year. Anyone with information on who’s responsible is encouraged to contact the Camden County Sheriff’s Office (573-346-2243).

Voters in Eldon will have a chance to hear from the people vying to be the city’s next mayor. The Miller County Democrat Club is sponsoring a town hall forum for mayoral candidates March 4th.

Organizer Bryan Struebig says there are three candidates running to replace the outgoing incumbent.

The town hall will be held at the Eldon Community Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Eight years in federal prison without the possibility of parole…the sentence ordered for 41-year-old Leonard Jerome Wilson on a charge of receiving child pornography. As part of the plea deal on the federal level, Wilson was also required to enter guilty pleas in two related state cases in Camden County, serve 10 years supervised release following his incarceration and surrender his peace officer license. It had been alleged that Wilson, at the time, committed his offenses on and off duty possessing a cell phone which contained 18 images of child porn and 49 images of child erotica involving infants, toddlers and pre-pubescent children. Wilson is to formally enter pleas on his Camden County charges in Morgan County, on a change of venue, on the 27^th of this month.

Supt. Tim Hadfield

The Camdenton R-III Board of Education has approved their calendar for the next school year. Superintendent Dr. Tim Hadfield says not a lot will change from this year’s schedule.

Hadfield says that may not be the case moving forward. They may look to start making some changes for the 2021 school calendar.

The superintendent says they want plenty of time to gather useful input from parents before making any significant changes.

Two Lake Area residents land in the Camden County Jail after the sheriff’s department teams up with the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group to conduct an investigation at a residence in Sunrise Beach. Captain Chris Twitchel says methamphetamine and paraphernalia were seized during the operation. Taken into custody were 36-year-old Travis Hinkle and 31-year-old Dougie Bruce. They were both formally charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia. Hinkle also had several other outstanding warrants. As of Monday evening, he remained in custody while Bruce was released after she was able to post bond.

BREAKING:

Linn Creek Police Chief Greg Berry has been arrested by the Highway Patrol on a misdemeanor warrant for 4th degree domestic assault. The 49-year-old was suspended from the police department since early October when the incident, allegedly, happened pending the outcome of the investigation. The case was referred to the Missouri State Attorney General’s office which requested a summons or warrant with a warrant being issued on Thursday of this week. Subsequently, both of the associate circuit judges in Camden County recused themselves and Judge Steven Jackson, from Laclede County, was appointed to hear the case. The charge filed against Berry, who has retained private counsel, is a class-A misdemeanor. Following his arrest, Berry was released after posting bond.

Chief Greg Berry

Camdenton Police are investigating an armed robbery they say took place Sunday afternoon. Police responded to Gerbes Supermarket around 3:15. A male subject described as tall with a slender build jumped the counter at the pharmacy brandishing a firearm. He stole several hundred prescription pills and then fled the scene in a black GMC Sierra four-door truck. It’s believed the truck’s model year is between 2007 and 2013. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information that may be helpful to police should call 346-3604. If you’re calling after hours, call 346-2243.

Weather-related announcements for Friday, Feb. 7, 2020

Last Updated: 6:06 a.m.

SNOW ROUTES:

Eldon

Camdenton

California

A Camdenton area church is damaged as a result of a fire that broke out Friday afternoon. Camden County Sheriff Tony Helms and Chief Deputy Jimmy Brashear spotted smoke coming from the First Assembly of God church on South Business Route 5 and called 9-1-1. Mid-County Fire District responded with assistance from Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, and Lake Ozark Fire districts. Heavy smoke and flames were seen coming from the second floor of the building. The downstairs and upstairs lobby areas suffered fire and water damage. The sanctuary received smoke and water damage. It took firefighters around 20 minutes to get the blaze under control. No one was in the building at the time and the fire is not considered to be suspicious.

Camden Co. Commissioners

A lake area attorney is concerned about recent closures of the Camden County Courthouse. Christopher Rohrer says it’s costing taxpayers money, often unnecessarily.

Rohrer says that by his count, there have been 13 closures relating to weather since last January, and apparently there’s no formal policy in place dictating when the closures will come.

Rohrer says that’s cost taxpayers over half a million dollars since last January.

The commission has also not granted a request from KRMS to be notified on days that the administration offices are closed so that we can inform the public. Commissioner Don Williams says the policy is currently under review and could be changed soon.

A Buffalo, Missouri, woman who was able to elude authorities for more than ten years on probation violation warrants has now been charged in connection to a murder in Miller County. Now 53-year-old Tabitha Mae Carter was picked up late last week in Morgan County where she was held on the probation warrants out of Morgan and Polk Counties. Late Monday afternoon, Carter was formally charged in Miller County with a class-A felony of first-degree accessory to murder and accessory to armed criminal action. Sheriff Louie Gregoire tells KRMS News that Carter had been a person of interest for some time in connection to the shooting death of Jerry Jeffries at the Swinging Bridges Bar on July 23, 2001. So far, there have been no other arrests in the case. Carter has since been transferred and is in the custody of Miller County where she is being held without bond.

Weather-related closings Friday, January 24,2020

Last Updated 7:40 a.m.:

Eldon

Camdenton
SOTO
Osage Head Start
Iberia
Climax Springs
Miller Co R-III Tuscumbia
Macks Creek
Stover
Versailles
Richland
Crocker
Warsaw
Eugene
Maries Co R1 & R2
Russellville
California

SFCC – All Campuses

Camden Co. Library District – all locations closed

Columbia College Lake Campus will open at 10:00 a.m.

Versailles Senior Center & Westside Senior Center Closed

A Warrenton, Missouri man faces multiple charges after a pursuit that ended in the lake area. 33-year old Darrell Matlock led authorities on a chase that ended with his vehicle going over a bluff in Camden County. Sgt. Scott White says the chase ended in the area of El Terra Drive. The Patrol’s helicopter responded and located Matlock hiding behind a residence. After the crash, Matlock was released for medical treatment. He faces charges including speeding, careless & imprudent driving involving a crash, DWI-drugs, tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and more. A total of 10 different charges are being recommended by the Highway Patrol.

Weather-related closures Tuesday January 21, 2020

Latest Update:  6:30 a.m.

CLOSED:

Camdenton

School of the Osage

Iberia

Miller Co. R-III Tuscumbia

Climax Springs

Macks Creek

Stover

Versailles

Osage Head Start Lake Ozark

Cole Camp

Stoutland

Crocker

Dixon

Russellville

Maries Co. R1 & R2

SNOW ROUTES:

Eldon

California

COMMUNITY:

Camdenton Senior Center

Lake Ozark residents will have to decide if they want to spend a little more money when they’re shopping in order to repair city streets. The Board of Aldermen is asking voters to approve a use tax when they go to the polls in April. The use tax applies to all purchases made from out-of-state vendors that do not have a physical location in Missouri. That includes purchases made online, through catalogs, over the phone, or even in person when you leave the state to buy the product. The Missouri Municipal League estimates that Lake Ozark loses out on approximately $134,000 a year in uncollected sales tax revenue.

More information has been released following an arrest of a 26-year-old Osage Beach man on a child sex-related felony KRMS News first reported over the weekend. Marquecio Simmons is charged with first-degree statutory rape involving a victim under the age of 12. A probable cause statement filed in Camden County alleges there is a 99.999% chance that Simmons fathered a fetus which was miscarried into a toilet earlier this month by an 11-year-old girl. After initially denying any relationship with the girl, it’s also alleged that Simmons told a responding officer that he must have had sex with the girl but did not remember it, claiming that he often has sex with his wife while he is asleep. Simmons was arrested and transported to the Camden County Jail.

A long night, Friday, for the Mid-County Fire District having to respond to multiple calls including back-to-back structure fires. Chief Scott Frandsen says the first call, while working an unrelated motor vehicle accident, was received shortly before 7:00 to a garage fire on Chickasaw Lane in Montreal. Upon arrival, heavy smoke was showing and firefighters made entry into the
detached three-bay garage and brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes. Fire damage was contained to a storeroom and storage area while two vehicles inside suffered smoke damage. While returning from that fire, personnel were then called to a house fire on Willow Creek Road, south of Camdenton, and discovered heavy fire showing from the second floor of the unoccupied residence. Once inside, a large hole in the first floor and the entire second floor were both involved. It took about 90 minutes to bring that fire under control. There were no injuries in the second fire and a pet cat was treated for smoke inhalation at the first fire…both are being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Several fire districts responded to help Mid-
County on the scenes and with move ups.

A woman who admitted to abducting her own child and hiding him in a crawlspace in a home in Laclede County will serve five years of supervised probation. Aubrey Ferguson received a suspended imposition of sentence when she appeared in court Wednesday. She refused to return her son, Braedance Jones, to his custodial father. Authorities spent months trying to get information as to the boy’s whereabouts. Ferguson still faces a charge of child abduction in Laclede County. In that case, there’s currently a pre-trial hearing set for February 3rd with a jury trial scheduled for May 11th.

A Richland woman who hid her son for months while authorities searched for him has entered a guilty plea to a charge of child abduction. Aubrey Ferguson was eventually found in a home in Laclede County where law enforcement says they found the child, Braedence Jones, concealed in a crawl space. Ferguson went on the run after refusing to return the boy to his father, who had court-ordered custody. The guilty plea was for a charge filed in Camden County. Ferguson was also charged with child abduction in Laclede County. Her boyfriend, Woodrow Ziegler, was charged with hindering the prosecution of a felony in both counties.

Lake area State Representative Rocky Miller has pre-filed a House Judiciary Rule seeking a constitutional amendment which would authorize excursion gambling boats and floating facilities along the Osage River. The bill was introduced on Friday. The Missouri House website does not, currently, have a summary available and the legislation does not appear on the calendar at this time for consideration.

Sunrise Beach has been hit with violations from the Department of Natural Resources. According to a combined report from KY3 and Lake Expo, the city is accused of illegal dumping after allegedly pumping thousands of gallons of partially treated sewage onto a hillside near the lake. A former city employee tipped off the DNR about the violations. Brandon Mitchell claims Public Works Director Brian Scheiter has known about and been involved in the dumping for as long as a year and half. The city is facing five citations as a result of the investigation and Mitchell has reportedly filed a hostile workplace complaint, as well.

Although the final numbers still need to be crunched, 2019 would appear to have been a pretty good year for Miller County. That’s according to Presiding Commissioner Tom Wright, speaking on KRMS, who says preliminary figures are showing about a one-percent increase in sales tax revenue for the year…

Wright also says, as unfortunate as it was, the tornado that ripped through parts of Eldon back in May also played a role in the sales tax increase…

Wright says that he hopes the trend of increased tax revenue continues during the 2020 fiscal year.

The Highway Patrol reported a handful of arrests in the lake area New Year’s Eve and into the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. Two of those – 33-year old Korrin Heimbeaugh of Camdenton and 55-year old Gordon Christie of Lake Ozark – included DWI charges. Christie is also charged with speeding and a second-degree charge of making a terrorist threat.

Also arrested:

A 19-year old from Springfield charged with no license or insurance, possession of paraphernalia, and delivery of methamphetamine.

27-year-old Robert E. Smith from Camdenton had been wanted on a felony probation violation warrant out of Camden County. Smith now also faces misdemeanor charges for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Smith was booked into the Camden County jail and is being held without bond.

The Osage Beach Board of Aldermen won’t waste any time getting busy on work for the new year. They’ll meet in regular session Thursday night. Among the items on the agenda is the second reading of an ordinance defining dangerous dogs or other animals and making it an offense to possess one. The ordinance passed the first reading but needs to pass again before becoming law. Also on the agenda, first and second readings authorizing the mayor to execute a contract for engineering services for work on Mace Road. The Board of Aldermen meets Thursday at 6pm in Osage Beach City Hall.

Five people are hurt, three seriously in a wreck in Camden County. It happened on Highway 5 at Dry Hollow Road Sunday evening. 44-year old Brad Vanantwerp of Lebanon was eastbound on Dry Hollow Road when he failed to yield, pulling out in front of a vehicle driven by 41-year old Sabina Alexander of Springfield. That caused a t-bone collision that sent Vanantwerp’s vehicle off the right side of the road, where it rolled over. Four of the injured persons were in that car. None of them were wearing seatbelts. All are from Lebanon. 37-year old James Helm, 35-year old Martha Sadler, and 47-year old Bobbie Taylor were all seriously injured and were taken to Lake Regional. They were also arrested for possession of drugs including prescription pills, pot, and methamphetamine. Vanantwerp suffered minor injuries and fled the scene. Alexander also received minor injuries.

UPDATE: The murder suspect wanted in Miller County for failing to appear in court is in custody. As a matter of fact, 26-year-old Tyler Kroll has been in custody since late November on new felony charges in DuPage County, Illinois, which include leaving the scene of an injury or fatal accident, possession of a controlled substance and aggravated reckless driving. Kroll had been scheduled to appear in Miller County on December 23^rd but, apparently, was not able to bond out on the $51,500 worth of bonds in Illinois. Kroll is a co-defendant along with Joseph McKenna in the June, 2018, shooting death of Tyler Worthington, from the State of California, in an alleged drug deal gone bad. Kroll’s new bond in Miller County was set at no-bond

ORIGINAL: An arrest warrant has been issued after a murder suspect free on bond failed to show up for a scheduled court date. Tyler Kroll is one of two men from the Chicago area accused of killing a California resident in Miller County. Kroll was released after posting a $750,000 bond in April. He was scheduled to appear for another hearing December 23rd but never showed up. A motion by his attorney for a continuance was denied. The court entered an order to forfeit the bond and issued a warrant for his arrest. Kroll is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tyler Worthington.

Motorists along north Highway-5, between Route-54 and Pier-31 Road, are treated to a little Christmas spirit after a small tree decked out in the holiday spirit appears on the roadside. When contacted by KRMS News, Camdenton City Hall acknowledged seeing the tree but not knowing who was responsible for it. Attempts to reach officials in the Camden County Commission office to inquire about the display were unsuccessful leaving only one conclusion…in the spirit of the holiday, it must be just a little Christmas magic!

A collective bargaining project approved by the Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District board this past week is the first new operating agreement for them since 2013. Chief Joe LaPlant says the deal provides disability insurance for the firefighters for the first time, along with a 4% pay raise. The board also approved a new budget that will allow the department to hire five new firefighters in the coming year. The chief says that will allow them provide more staff at station #3 on Spruce Lane in Shawnee Bend. That station had been staffed with two crew members in 2016. It was only staffed on average 75% of the time after that. With the new hires, the station house will be staffed and remain open 100% of the time.

The following schools are all closed today:

Iberia

Crocker

Camdenton

Osage

Climax Springs

Cole Camp

Macks Creek

Stoutland

Richland

Eldon

Versailles

Stover

Miller R-III Tuscumbia

California R-1

Osage Head Start at Lake Ozark

Eugene

High Point R-III

Maries Co. R-1 Vienna

Our Lady of the Snows (Mary’s Home)

Columbia College (Lake of the Ozarks)

The following community facilities are closed today:

Camden County Courthouse

Miller County Extension Office

Camden County Library District (All Branches)

A search warrant executed during the early-morning hours, on Wednesday in the Brumley area, comes to an end with three people taken into custody on felony drug charges. Miller County Sheriff Louie Gregoire says his deputies teamed up with the Mid-Missouri Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit for the effort. Gregoire also says, during the search, 38-year-old Timothy Hunsperger was found in an attic and refused to comply leading to a brief struggle before he was taken into custody on a parole violation warrant. Hunsperger also, allegedly, had a bag apparently containing some 200 grams of meth. Also arrested inside the residence was 27-year-old Raelynn Koenigsfeld and 40-year-old Jeremy Runion, of Macks Creek who was located hiding in a shed on the property. Runion also allegedly had methamphetamine on him at the time. All three were taken to the Miller County Jail. Formal charges of first-degree trafficking have been filed against Hunsperger and Koenigsfeld who also faces a hindering charge. Runion is charged with one count of possessing a controlled substance.

UPDATE: Victim recovered….more details to come

Mid-County and Osage Beach fire responded to a possible drowning in Osage Beach Tuesday evening. It began around 3pm when it’s believed two people were fishing from a canoe that either capsized or began taking on water. Residents from the nearby apartments rescued one person from the water. The water patrol responded and conducted a surface search, dragging operations, and use of side-scan sonar before abandoning the effort. The Highway Patrol dive team is expected on scene today to continue search efforts.

An early-morning crash in Miller County sends four people to the hospital. The accident happened shortly before 3am Friday and began with a pursuit by law enforcement. It involved just one vehicle that the Highway Patrol says was being chased by the Miller County Sheriff’s office when the driver lost control on Cotton Road near Barnhardt Drive. The vehicle overturned and landed on it top. The driver is identified as 22-year old Preston Cash of Sedalia. He and two others – 19 year olds Zackery Lage of Strafford and Sydney Smoot of Eldon – suffered moderate injuries. 35-year old Douglas Cornelius of Eldon was seriously injured. None were wearing seatbelts. All four were taken to Lake Regional.

The budget is the main item on the agenda for the Osage Beach Board of Aldermen. A public hearing and first reading of the proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2020 is scheduled at their meeting to take place tonight at 6pm. Proposed expenditures for the next year are estimated at just over $29.6 million, which is similar to what has been budgeted the last two years. Also on the agenda is a request for just under $59,000 to install bullet-resistant glass in city hall, some amendments to the current year’s budget, and a plan guidelines for investing the city’s money.

A number of area fire districts are having trouble with natural cover fires. Sunrise Beach Fire responded to one Tuesday night that covered approximately eight acres. Mid-County, Gravois, Osage Beach, and Lake Ozark provided assistance. You’re reminded to always check the daily burn notifications especially when it’s dry and windy. Make sure you have a burn permit before you start your fire and have the necessary equipment on hand to control and extinguish it when you’re done.

The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group teams up with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office to execute an early-morning search warrant which comes to an end with a major drug bust and three suspects taken into custody. Sheriff Tony Helms says more than 50 grams of meth, 20 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 300 grams of marijuana, THC, hasish, fentanyl, hydrocodone and pseudoephedrine pills, and several precursors used in the production of meth were, allegedly, seized from the residence in Linn Creek. An additional search warrant obtained also uncovered a larger quantity of the same substances along with two firearms, paraphernalia, a large amount of currency and counterfeit money. 40-year-old Mary Hill and 41-year-old Russell Stamm are each charged with two felony counts of possessing a controlled substance and two misdemeanor counts of possession and possession of paraphernalia. Stamm is also charged with felony possession of paraphernalia and misdemeanor counterfeiting.The third suspect, 55-year-old Darrin Hopkins, faces charges of felony trafficking along with three felony counts of possession, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of possessing paraphernalia.

Updated story:

More details are emerging after first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges are filed this week against a Stover man in Morgan County. At the time of the alleged shooting, back in March of 2015, preliminary reports had indicated that a reported home invasion on Dorsey Lane led to the suspect, identified as now-50-year-old Thomas Capps, shooting 45-year-old Ronald Salmons, Junior, who was found dead outside the residence when deputies arrived on the scene. Due to a conflict of interest, a special prosecutor was named in the case with the case then being handed off to the State Attorney General’s Office for its review. Now reports indicate that Capps, allegedly, staged the home invasion before shooting Salmons. Capps is being held in the Morgan County Jail on a $250-thousand bond.

Capps arraigned:

Appearing in custody in Morgan County Associate Circuit Court on Tuesday, Thomas Capps was arraigned on the murder and armed criminal action charges. During the hearing, a plea of “not guilty” was entered and a request for a modification on the $250-thousand bond was denied. Capps is next scheduled to appear on Wednesday of next week, December 4^th, for a bond hearing as required within seven working days of his initial appearance in court.

Original Story: A Stover man is facing a first-degree murder charge.  Sheriff Norman Dills says 50-year old Thomas Edward Capps is also charged with armed criminal action stemming from an incident that took place on March 17th of 2015.  Capps allegedly shot and killed 45-year old Ronald Salmons at a home on Dorsey Lane in Versailles.  The investigation has been a partnership between the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Office of the Attorney General.  Capps has been taken to the Morgan County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

We have more details on felony charges filed against a Camdenton man. Cory Blume is charged with resisting arrest and assault on a law enforcement officer following an incident that took place Wednesday night. The Camden County Sheriff’s office responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident near South Highway 5 and Spencer Creek Road. Blume, who was the passenger in the vehicle involved, allegedly became combative during questioning by a state trooper. When deputies attempted to intervene and calm him down, it’s alleged that Blume punched one of them in the mouth. That set off a scuffle involving the deputies and state trooper attempting to get Blume into custody. Once he was detained, he allegedly kicked the interior of the patrol vehicle and hit his head against the window. He was treated at Lake Regional and transported to the county jail.

Miller County Sheriff Louie Gregoire

What has been a year-long trend continues in Miller County, where Sheriff Louie Gregoire says they’re experiencing another rash of stolen vehicles. It’s been a repeating pattern all over the state this year.

Gregoire says they’ve had multiple vehicles stolen throughout the county within the last month.

The sheriff’s office says they’ve identified some suspects, at least one of which they believe to be tied to several other thefts around Iberia and Brumley. They’re working with other agencies in multiple counties to find the suspects and take them into custody.

Osage Beach police are reporting the arrests of two people suspected in a rash of vehicle break-ins and stolen vehicles. Lieutenant Michael O’Day says after the recent recovery of three stolen vehicles, the Criminal Investigations Unit was able to identify the suspects and obtain a search warrant for their residence. During the early-morning hours of Wednesday, officers from OBPD were assisted by the highway patrol’s SWAT team in executing the search warrant. Multiple stolen items and drugs were, allegedly, seized at the scene and the two unidentified subjects taken into custody. They were taken to the Camden County Jail. Lieutenant O’Days also says the investigation is ongoing at this time.

A Camden County Commissioner calls for a reorganization of TCLA in a scathing letter addressed to the board. Presiding Commissioner Greg Hasty says the organization has killed their credibility with residents of Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties following the failed vote on a lodging tax increase for a soccer complex. Hasty says TCLA should immediately conduct new elections, identifying each voting member of TCLA and allowing them to cast ballots in an election certified by the county clerks.

The investigation into the deaths of a Lake Ozark couple is ongoing. The Camden County Sheriff’s Office says autopsies were scheduled to take place Wednesday for Anand and Kourtney Torres. Toxicology testing is also being conducted. Captain Chris Twitchel says more information will be released when the results are in, but that could take several weeks. The Torres’s were found dead in their home Sunday when deputies were called to the scene to perform a well-being check. They had three children who were not home at the time.

courtesy Kammy Gilliam

A fire in Linn Creek will be investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s office. The Osage Beach Fire District responded to the call on East Valley Drive shortly before 8pm Monday. When they arrived on scene, fire could be seen coming from all second floor windows at the home. Mid-County and Lake Ozark Fire assisted on the scene and firefighters were there until nearly 11pm. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated and released from Lake Regional. There was no one home at the time of the fire and no additional injuries were reported.

courtesy of race world offhsore

UPDATE:  Race World Offshore has released additional details regarding the condition of the racers.  Billy Allen reported no injuries.  Larry Pinegar was released after evaluation for neck pain.  Loren Peters suffered a sprained ankle and Mike Wright received lacerations on both legs.

Team Allen says they are out for the weekend with damages to the cockpit and port spontoon.  They say they’ll rebuild over the winter and are looking forward to returning for the 2020 season.

Some scary moments for a pair of lake-based race teams as their boats get airborne in Florida. LPC Racing and Team Allen Lawn Care and Landscaping were racing side-by-side at the Race World Offshore Key West Championships when air got under their front ends, sending the boats flying out of the water. The two were just inches apart as they stood end-on-end perfectly vertically before flipping and landing upside down. It happened during the fifth lap of the Super Stock race. All racers involved were able to swim out from under the boats. Three of the four were taken to the hospital as a precaution but none were injured. Team LPC says their boat is too damaged to continue in the other races this weekend but they say it is repairable. KRMS has no information on the extent of damages to the Allen Lawncare boat.

A home is destroyed along with damages to neighboring property after an early-morning fire. It happened in the area around Cedar Heights Condos on Highway 54 West. Crews were battling a fire in the trees there along the hillside when they found the residential structure fire on Good Neighbors Lane. The two-story home was fully involved and the roof had collapsed. A lack of hydrants required crews to shuttle water to fight the blaze. Nobody was home at the time and the home is a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Mid-County and State Fire Marshal’s Office. Mid-County was assisted by Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, Lake Ozark, and Southwest Fire Districts, the Camden County Sheriff’s office, and Southwest Electric Cooperative.

Tuesday is election day around the lake region. Voters in Miller, Morgan, and Camden counties will be deciding on a proposed lodging tax increase to help fund a tournament soccer complex in Osage Beach. Only voters who live within the boundaries of the individual business districts are eligible to vote. In Camden County, that includes all precincts EXCEPT:

– Decaturville
– Hillhouse
– Macks Creek
– Montreal
– Stoutland
In Morgan County, precincts voting are

– Barnett II
– Gravois Mills
– Indian Creek
– Laurie
– Versailles North and South
– Webb

Miller County does not list voting precincts on their website. If you have questions about whether you can vote or where in any of the three counties, contact your county clerk.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office arrests a woman who claims to have explosives in her backpack. Deputies were dispatched to Clover Point in Four Seasons on reports of a disturbance. When they arrived they found that Jessica Bates had also broken windows out of a car. The claim that she had explosives turned out to be false. A press release from the Sheriff’s office says the 41-year old was arrested and charged with first-degree disturbing the peace, first-degree property damage, and resisting arrest. According to Casenet, the formal charges filed are second-degree property damage, resisting arrest, and fourth-degree assault special victim.

A declaratory judgment released by Camden County Commissioner Greg Hasty that listed as an uncontroverted fact that the Camden County Business District is a legally formed entity is from a seven-year old settlement. It’s the current fact on record, but according to attorney Fawzy Simon, that doesn’t mean it’s unchangeable.

Dave Huffman was the party who brought the suit and says he only gave up the fight when he had no other choice.

The issue was raised as part of the discussion over the proposed increase in lodging tax. Huffman says at the end of the day, they just want things done correctly.

Huffman and Simon discussed the issue on “The Ozarks Today” on KRMS. Both interviews can be heard in the archive section of our website.

And then there were eight…that’s how many the Camden County Sheriff’s Department’s “Most Wanted” list is down to after another one is taken into custody. Captain Chris Twitchell tells KRMS News that 27-year-old Jacob John Michael Nutt was busted Monday when he was taken into custody after an anonymous tip led deputies to a general convenience store, in the southern part of the county, where he was hiding in a basement. Nutt was wanted for failure to appear warrants on charges which included: possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, domestic assault, tampering with a motor vehicle and property damage. Nutt was taken to the Camden County Jail and was being held without bond pending a scheduled court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

A Camden County court appears to have answered lingering questions of the validity of area business districts several years ago. Amid recent renewed criticism of the boards and their relationship with Tri-County Lodging, the Camden County Commission said they would seek an outside opinion for clarification. Presiding Commissioner Greg Hasty has provided a court judgment issued in 2012 that says the district is a “properly created and established political subdivision” in compliance with Missouri Statutes. It also verifies the validity of the established property tax and the ability to contract with TCLA to administer it. That strikes down criticisms from opponents of a proposed lodging tax increase to fund a soccer complex after they had claimed the body wasn’t valid and had no authority to collect or spend public funds.

An inmate being held in the Miller County Jail on several felony charges out of Greene County, including rape and assault on special victims, now faces several charges in Miller County. That’s according to courthouse records which indicate 27-year-old James Simpson, of Springfield, has been formally charged with three felony counts of assault—special victim—and one felony count of damage to jail property from early September. It’s alleged, while being held in Tuscumbia, that Simpson injured two corrections officers and then flushed his jail uniform down a toilet flooding the cells and pods. Bond in Miller County was set at $150-thousand. Simpson was being held in Miller County because of overcrowding in Greene County but, has since, been returned to Greene County.

A rezoning request passed by the Osage Beach Board of Aldermen could lead to a $40 million housing development. City Administrator Jeana Woods says it could help fill a big hole in the housing market.

The city is still in search of a replacement for former Engineer and Public Works Director Nick Edelman who resigned in September.

The city will be focusing on the budget. Work sessions will be starting soon to put the annual spending plan together.

A 38-year-old from Tuscumbia faces a child-related sex charge in Miller County. Courthouse records indicate that Jerami David Smith is charged with statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy—deviate sexual intercourse—with a person under the age 0f 12. The charge dates back to an incident which, allegedly, happened sometime on January 1st of 2018. Bond for Smith was set at $250,000 with added conditions of having no contact with the victim or unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 17.

Work is underway on a new station house for the Mid-County Fire District. Chief Scott Frandsen says station number 7 is starting to take shape.

The station will serve residents around Pier 31, Cross Creek, Niangua Bend, and Camelot areas. Customers in those areas currently fall outside of a five road mile radius of a station house. The new building will remedy that and should result in improvements in their insurance rates. Frandsen says they hope to have most of the work done in the next 30-60 days to be able to move some apparatus to the new building.

Authorities in Camden County confirm the discovery of a body on Horseshoe Bend late last week. Sheriff Tony Helms tells KRMS News that not many details are available but he does say the male subject, whose name is not being released at this time, had apparently been dead for a couple days before being discovered in a wooded area with cuts to both wrists. However, it’s unclear if that was the cause or contributed to the man’s death. An autopsy, apparently, will not be conducted.

A former lake area law enforcement officer has pled guilty to federal child pornography charges. Leonard Wilson faces a minimum of five years behind bars with no parole and maximum possible sentence of 20 years without parole. He still faces multiple charges in two local cases. As part of the federal plea, he also had to agree to plead guilty to the local charges, which include stalking, furnishing pornographic material to a minor, two counts of 4th degree child molestation, and two counts of 2nd degree statutory sodomy. Wilson is accused of forcing himself on at least two teenage victims, sometimes while in uniform and in his police vehicle, and sending nude images of himself through his phone.

Press release from the office of the United States Attorney Western District:

A former Camden County, Missouri, sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving child pornography.

Leonard Jerome Wilson, 40, formerly of Camdenton, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Wilson must surrender his peace officer license and enter guilty pleas in two related state cases.

Wilson was employed as a Camden County sheriff’s deputy at the time of the offenses. During an internal investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct and behavior while he was both on and off duty, deputies obtained a tablet and two cell phones used by Wilson. One cell phone contained a MicroSD card with 18 images of child pornography and 49 images of child erotica. All of the images were of infant, toddler, and prepubescent children.

Under federal statutes, Wilson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Supt. Tim Hadfield

Voters in the Camdenton R-III school district will decide in April if they want to pay more taxes in exchange in for a new college campus. The Board of Education has approved a ballot issue calling for a 20-cent property tax to join the Ozarks Technical Community College service area.

If approved, OTC will build a $15-$20 million campus within the district. Superintendent Dr. Tim Hadfield says students living in the district would receive discounted tuition.

The issue goes to the ballot April 7th in Camden, Morgan, and Laclede counties.

National, state, and local health officials have declared an epidemic of vaping among youth, citing rising numbers of kids in both high school and middle school taking up the habit. Local schools are not immune from the problem. Camdenton Middle School Principal Matt Stacey says they’re looking at ways to spread information and try to slow it down.

Stacey says they need to educate kids and parents to potential dangers of vaping, including elevated risks of addiction.

The district says they’ll be rolling out educational programs as well trying to figure out the best disciplinary measures to affectively combat the problem.

Parents can learn more here.

Morgan Co. Prosecutor Dustin Dunklee

Thirteen people were sentenced to the Department of Corrections from Morgan County last month. Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Dunklee says at least six of those cases directly involved controlled substances. Three people – David Rasco, Megan Roberds, and Yvonne Bays – were sentenced for crimes including burglary, robbery, theft, forgery, armed criminal action, and receiving stolen property. Five of the people sentenced were ordered to participate in treatment programs.

1. Edward K. James – Sentenced to 7 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm under RSMo 559.115 with the preference for the 120 day drug treatment center program.
2. Michael A. Perry – Sentenced to 4 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Resisting Arrest.
3. Victor M. Bustamante, Jr. – Sentenced to 3 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Driving While Revoked.
4. David M. Rasco – Sentenced to 30 years in DOC for the Class A Felony of Robbery 1st Degree, 15 years for the Unclassified Felony of Armed Criminal Action and 4 years on the Class E Felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The 30 year sentence and the 15 year sentence were ran consecutively for a total of 45 years.
5. Holly Blankenship – Sentenced to 10 years in DOC for the Class C Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance under RSMo 217.362, the Long Term Treatment Program.
6. Megan E. Roberds – Sentenced to 3 years in DOC for the Class C Felony of Burglary 2nd Degree and 3 years in DOC for three counts of the Class C Felony of Receiving Stolen Property.
7. Yvonne Bays – Sentenced to 10 years in DOC for the Class B Felony of Theft / Stealing and 7 years in DOC for four counts of the Class C Felony of Forgery pursuant to RSMo 559.115 shock incarceration.
8. Suzanne M. Torres – Sentenced to 10 years in DOC for the Class C Felony of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, 7 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance and 7 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Endangering the Welfare of a Child under RSMo 559.115 with the preference for the 120 day drug treatment center program.
9. Shawn M. Freid – Sentenced to 5 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
10. Myles H. Keyser – Sentenced to 10 years in DOC for three counts of the Class C Felony of Endangering the Welfare of a Child under RSMo 217.362 Long Term Treatment Program.
11. Raven L. Hayes – Sentenced to 4 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Tampering with a Motor Vehicle.
12. Tina L. Terry – Sentenced to 4 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance under RSMo 559.115 with the preference for the 120 day drug treatment center program.
13. Colby E. Vansell – Sentenced to 5 years in DOC for the Class C Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance and 4 years in DOC for the Class D Felony of Resisting Arrest.

An apparent ongoing dispute between two men results in one taken to the hospital and the other facing a felony charge. Police say they were called to a fight at Ozark Inn & Suites where they found Bruce Wayne Thompson on top of another man who appeared to be unconscious at the time. According to Thompson and witnesses at the scene, the men had had previous disagreements and even a physical fight recently that went unreported. On this occasion, Thompson claims he was defending himself from the victim, who police say has a history of mental illness. Thompson allegedly hit the man with a small wooden souvenir-type baseball bat. The victim was flown to University Hospital with extensive facial injuries, bleeding, and swelling. Thompson is charged with first-degree assault causing serious physical injury.

Reports of the sale of the Outlet Marketplace in Osage Beach are being debunked by the two main parties rumored to be involved. Social media accounts and information from an unnamed city official in the lake area reported to KRMS News that the property was closed on and purchased by Johnny Morris, owner of the Bass Pro shops, this past Friday. However, replying to email from KRMS, the public relations office for the outlet mall says that there has not been a sale and the communications office for Bass Pro says that it is not true and they are not involved in any way. Other potential locations for a future development by Bass Pro have also been identified on social media but none of those reports have been confirmed.

Two people are injured after a boat collision at Lake of the Ozarks. The accident happened at the 8 mile mark of the Osage Arm in Workman Hollow Cove, according to the water patrol. The two boats collided just before 3pm Sunday afternoon. A 75-year old man from Jefferson City suffered minor injuries, while a 59-year old man from Washington County received moderate injuries. Both refused medical treatment. Two other people in the boats were not hurt.

A man accused in what is described as a brutal domestic violence case is scheduled to stand trial in Camden County next week. Clarence Porter of Linn Creek was charged with first-degree domestic assault causing serious physical injury in December of 2016. Continuations and delays have kept the case in the court system since that time. Most recently, a defense motion to disqualify the prosecution team was rejected by the judge in early September. That came after the court granted an oral request for a continuation in August that was opposed by prosecutors. Jury selection and opening arguments are scheduled for Tuesday.

A Sunrise Beach woman and her group are lucky to escape injury after the boat they were on started having an electrical issue before becoming fully-engulfed in flames. The water patrol division of the highway patrol says it happened just before 2:45 Wednesday morning near the 10-milemark of the Osage Arm. The report also indicates that Jessica Webb and her passengers were able to exit the 2002 Ski Pro Extreme safely and swim to shore. The boat was a total loss.

A 29-year-old from Camdenton faces a class-B felony for attempted robbery after being taken into custody Monday night. Police Chief Laura Wright says officers were dispatched shortly after 5:00 to a report of an armed robbery in progress at Laker Drug on North Business Hwy-5. Upon arrival, the store employee told officers that the suspect had his face concealed and had a blunt metal object in his hand while demanding to be given Xanax. The suspect then fled the store when the employee, instead, dialed 911. Descriptions of the man and the vehicle were given by the employee and the vehicle was later located in a driveway. Taken into custody was Michael Browning. Browning was booked into the Camden County Jail on a $75-thousand bond.

Formal charges have now, officially, been filed in connection to an alleged hit-and-run boating accident from just over a year ago at Lake of the Ozarks. Courthouse records filed in Camden County, on Monday, indicate 30-year-old Konnor Obert, of Bloomington, Illinois, is charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident with property damage exceeding one-thousand dollars and a misdemeanor for careless or imprudent operation of a motorboat. The probable cause statement alleges, during the late evening hours of September 23rd, 2018, Obert left the scene of the crash at the 15.5 milemark of the Osage Arm. After being tracked down, Obert reportedly told the responding trooper he had been going about 40-miles-per-hour and hit the other boat because the operator was not displaying navigation lights. At the time, Obert was issued a citation and released. A summons has now been issued on the felony and misdemeanor charges with a court date scheduled for Obert in early November.

One person is in custody after a bomb scare in Camdenton. Police responded to Sleep Inn just before 1:30 Thursday afternoon to assist staff there in an issue with a tenant. Upon arrival, officers made contact with a male suspect and observed narcotics, weapons, and what appeared to be an explosive device. That’s according to a press release issued by Chief Laura Wright. Officers evacuated the building and parking lot while the Missouri Highway Patrol bomb squad was able to secure the device and safely remove the suspicious item. The investigation is ongoing.

The big picture as far as infrastructure and other repairs needed after the spring and summer storms blew through Miller County could soon begin to come into focus. That’s according to Presiding Commissioner Tom Wright who says a representative of FEMA will be on hand for a meeting on Wednesday to help start the administrative process…

Wright also says that the county plans to combine requests for aid to help pay for repairs needed because of damage caused by the tornado in May and, in general, flooding experienced over the past several months…

Business in the commission chambers, on Wednesday, is scheduled to begin around 9:00 with routine business followed by the FEMA representative who’s expected to arrive by 10:00.

Seven people face felony drug charges after a raid in Miller County. Sheriff Louie Gregoire says deputies and members of the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force executed the search warrant during the evening hours on Thursday at a residence in Mount Pleasant. A large amount of suspected methamphetamine was discovered along with heroin, cocaine, prescription pills, a stolen motorcycle, marijuana and an illegal handgun were, allegedly, discovered during the search. Taken into custody were: Nathanael Davis, of Versailles, and Katie Croswhite, of Jefferson City. They are both charged with a class-A felony for first-degree trafficking, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property. Davis is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Reyne Bachtel, Justin Vaught, Kenneth Davenport and Randy Engelage, all from Eldon, are each charged with possession of a controlled substance. The seventh person, reportedly, taken into custody is not identified on the press release from the sheriff’s department.

Miller County Sheriff Louie Gregoire

Authorities in Miller County continue to investigate an alleged threat made toward the Iberia R-V school district. The investigation began Wednesday evening when a group of students reported the threat to one of the district principals.

Miller County Sheriff Louie Gregoire says they provided extra deputies on campus Thursday and says that could continue as the investigation is ongoing. He would not comment as to whether the threat has been deemed credible. It’s also not clear as to whether the student accused of making the threat has been located or taken into custody.

A 60-year-old from Rolla who pleaded guilty in July for a 2017 double murder in Lake Ozark wants his plea and sentence overturned. That’s according to courthouse records which indicate Gary Sweet, who’s being held in the department of corrections in Fulton, filed the motion to vacate, set aside or correct the judgement or sentence. In the motion, despite not bringing up any issues during sentencing, Sweet now claims that his counsel was ineffective by failing to prepare his defense adequately. Sweet goes onto say, in the handwritten motion that: he was not aware of the consequences of his plea, that the prosecution failed to prove other than by hearsay he was at the crime scene and that the state failed to produce the alleged weapons used in the crime. Sweet was sentenced to 45 years for the killings of Jim and Sheri Parker who served as caretakers at the Riverview RV Park and Campground…apparently as retaliation for being kicked out of the park a short time before coming back to kill the Parkers. A court date to consider the motion to vacate has yet to be set.

A St. Joseph man faces up to 20 years in prison for his role in a fatal boat accident at Lake of the Ozarks. 42-year old Cletus Barsch, III has entered a guilty plea to one count of Boating While Intoxicated – Homicide, and two counts of Boating While Intoxicated – serious physical injury. The charges stemmed from an accident on the Osage Arm last May. Two boats collided shortly before 10pm, injuring Barsch’s 14-year old daughter and two others, including a 20-year old man from the second boat. The second victim, Alec Potthoff, later died from his injuries while hospitalized in Iowa. The state has agreed to limit the maximum sentence to 20 years. Barsch will be sentenced in March of next year.

A Camdenton man faces 11 felony charges and a misdemeanor for going on a spending spree with money he didn’t have. 40-year old Gerald Weaver allegedly passed 11 bad checks between July 19th and August 2nd. Most of the checks were made out to area Cenex or Eagle Stop stations and totaled over $830. He also allegedly passed a bad check in April, resulting in the misdemeanor charge against him.

No injuries are reported following a collision involving two Lake Ozark Police vehicles. Preliminary information being released indicates that it happened around 2:30 Wednesday morning along Highway-242 near Route-MM when the two westbound officers spotted someone speeding. One of the officers attempted to make a U-turn and was struck by the other.

The City of Osage Beach and Tri-County Lodging have agreed in principle to a cooperative agreement for development of a tournament soccer complex within city limits. Under terms of the agreement, the city will be responsible for all aspects of the design and construction of the complex. A combination of lodging taxes and bonds will be used to fund the development. The plan also calls for establishing a capital replacement fund to pay for future repairs and upgrades to the facility, including but not limited to turf, lighting, and concession stands. If voters approve a lodging tax increase, construction would begin in the spring of 2020. When complete, the city will own, operate, and maintain the complex.