Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 1,200 Ameren customers in Boone County have power back after an outage was reported on Thursday evening.

An Ameren spokesperson told ABC 17 News in an email that the outage was caused by “a power line issue which feeds a substation in Hallsville.” Crews are currently working on restoring power.

Boone County Joint Communications sent a notification at 7:10 p.m. stating that 868 customers in Hallsville were without power.

The outage was expected to be restored by 1 a.m. Friday, according to the notification and a posting on Ameren’s outage map. The outage was first reported at 6:50 p.m.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 News premiered its new studio during its 5 p.m. newscast on Thursday.

The studio is located at the same building. It took roughly a month to deconstruct the old studio and build the new one.

A larger weather center and enhanced equipment are features of the new set.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Sedalia Councilman Tom Oldham has been removed from a nonprofit’s board of directors.

Sedalia Citizens Against Spouse Abuse announced in a Thursday social media post that it terminated Oldham’s board membership.

Oldham stepped down from his position last week after “serious allegations” were brought against him, the City of Sedalia wrote in a social media post. The city did not elaborate on the allegations in the post or in communications with ABC 17 News.

Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders told ABC 17 News in emails that his office is investigating Oldham. The criminal investigation includes the possible sexual harassment of a youth.

Anders wrote last week that the investigation “involves the extraction of data from electronic devices,” so there is no timeline for when possible charges could be filed. Charges have yet to appear on Casenet.

“Like many, we are saddened to learn of these allegations and the effects it has had on several of our community members. It can be shocking or alarming to learn of the abuse perpetrated by individuals in positions of power. However, our knowledge and awareness of these atrocities is attributed first and foremost to the courageous survivors who have come forward to report the abuse to friends, family, colleagues, and/or authorities. It is their bravery that inspires everyone at CASA to continue providing life-changing, life-saving, confidential services,” CASA wrote in its statement.

“For 42 years, we have been committed to our mission to empower victims of domestic and sexual violence to regain control of their lives through education, advocacy, and coordination of community resources. We remain committed to this mission and have always and will always stand with survivors. If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, please contact CASA. We are here to help and WE BELIEVE YOU!”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The owner of The Peanut Gallery on Highway 5 in Camdenton has been charged with multiple felonies after she was accused of trafficking methamphetamine.

Jennifer Schaunel, 54, of Camdenton, was charged on Thursday in Camden County with second-degree drug trafficking and four counts of unlawful use of a weapon. She is being held at the Camden County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

Court documents say law enforcement had a warrant and needed to force itself into the locked building, and Schaunel was found behind the register of the business. The location doubles as Schaunel’s residence, court documents say. She allegedly denied knowing any methamphetamine was in the building.

Law enforcement found multiple guns, 54.4 grams of meth and a scale and a pipe that had meth residence, the statement says. She later admitted to picking up the drugs.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The annual March for Life took place in Missouri’s capital city on Thursday, with scores of people from Missouri and elsewhere rallying against legalized abortion.

The event took place as Republican lawmakers and officeholders work to overturn Amendment 3, which was approved by voters last November and enshrines abortion rights into the Missouri Constitution.

A resolution in the Senate would put a question on a future ballot to overturn Amendment 3 and severely limit abortions statewide. The House has already approved the measure.

“Missourians, we’re not finished, you know, we are going to do everything that we can to offer help and hope to these moms who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy because that’s what it’s all about,” said organizer Kathy Forck.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man has been charged with several felonies after he allegedly fired a gun filled with people on Tuesday.

Derek Clifton was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, three counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree harassment. A warrant was served and a confined docket hearing was held on Wednesday, where his bond was reduced to $250,000. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 22.

The probable cause statement says three people were in a car traveling away from a trailer court when Clifton yelled at the car to stop. Clifton allegedly asked if one of the victims was in the car and then pulled out a “long gun” while telling them to get off his property, court documents say. The driver sped away and all three people in the car heard a gunshot, while one reported seeing a flash.

Another person quoted in court documents said that they saw Clifton tell the car to stop and then heard a gunshot. Another person told law enforcement that they heard Clifton’s voice before a gunshot went off, court documents say.

Clifton allegedly admitted to law enforcement that he was in an argument, but denied firing the gun, the statement says. Deputies obtained a search warrant and found several guns and ammunition on his property, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Linn man has been charged with a felony after he is accused of hitting a pedestrian at a high speed while he was drunk.

Jesse Hollandworth, 47, was charged with felony driving while intoxicated and two misdemeanors: Reckless driving and not having vehicle insurance. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.

The probable cause statement says that Jefferson City police were called to Highway 179 near Merchants Drive for a crash at 12:50 a.m. Thursday. Hollandworth was the only person in a Nissan Altima and allegedly hit a pedestrian who was walking on the west shoulder, court documents say.

The Nissan was going 45-50 miles per hour, according to court documents. The victim was brought to University Hospital with serious injuries, but is considered stable, the statement says.

Police wrote that Hollandworth was “visibly intoxicated” and was distraught at the scene because he thought he had killed the pedestrian when he called EMS, the statement says. Hollandworth allegedly admitted to drinking four beers at Chick’s Bar on Industrial Drive from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. and had an additional beer about an hour before at Ecco Lounge, where he works, the statement says.

Police had Hollandworth take a breath test and his blood alchohol level was .165, more than twice the legal limit to drive, the statement says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people were taken to a hospital by ambulance Thursday afternoon after a pileup on South Providence Road.

Photos from the scene showed three vehicles, including a work van, involved in the crash. The injuries were not life-threatening, according to police at the scene.

The crash and cleanup briefly closed South Providence at Green Meadows Road.

Two police cruisers and two firetrucks were sent to the scene along with multiple ambulances.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Audrain County woman was charged with two felonies after she allegedly assaulted a pregnant woman on Wednesday in Boone County.

Jacque Dieckmann, 48, of Mexico, Missouri, was charged with first-degree domestic assault and third-degree domestic assault. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

The probable cause statement says that Dieckmann assaulted a pregnant woman at the woman’s residence before 4 p.m. Wednesday. Dieckmann was allegedly asked to leave before assaulting the woman, court documents say.

The assault included a kick to the stomach, court documents say. Police saw bruising and scratching on the pregnant woman’s arm, chest and stomach.

Dieckmann allegedly admitted to slapping the woman, but denied kicking her, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Portland, Missouri, man pleaded guilty to several charges related to firing guns at cars at a Callaway County campground.

Wally Spencer, 48, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated DWI and illegal gun possession in one case and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of illegal gun possession in another case.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison and was given credit for time served. He is currently being held at the Callaway County Jail.

Previous reporting indicates that deputies took 18 guns from his residence in 2022 at Rivers Edge RV Park & Compound in Portland. Other reporting shows that Spencer shot a gun in the air to scare off teenagers in 2020.

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