Author: KMIZ

Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Minutes before the opening of the new Trader Joe’s in Columbia, hundreds of people were in a line wrapped around the Shoppes at Stadium from the new store to Old Navy.

“This is my first grand opening, but I just love the atmosphere and the fun,” said Columbia resident Tim Dollens.

According to Trader Joe’s website, this is the sixth location in Missouri. Other locations include Brentwood, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Des Peres and Kansas City. Trader Joe’s told ABC 17 News in an email that this is the 604th store to open.

Dollens was in line around 7:30 a.m. with dozens of other excited shoppers. Dollens is a super fan — he says he’s been to 144 Trader Joe’s in 42 states.

“When I go on vacation, I just make time to go to Trader Joe’s,” Dollens said.

Shopper Victoria Wiltfong said she’s excited that she doesn’t have to travel far anymore to find a variety of options which align with her diet.

“Not having to commute to St. Louis or Kansas City to get gluten-free food, I’m really excited about that,” Wiltfong said.

She also picked up a Halloween Trader Joe’s reusable bag, which was an item popular with shoppers today. ABC 17 News saw multiple large stacks of these bags in the front of the store around noon, but they were gone around 6 p.m.

Store manager Pamela Volk said this is her seventh Trader Joe’s store and her third as store captain. She said the store has hired around 75 employees, but is open to hiring more. She said they’re always accepting applications.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, patience, teamwork, creativity and just heart,” Volk said. “They’ve really put, this team has put their heart and soul into the store.”

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said the store filling up a space that used to house a two-story Macy’s, which closed in 2016.

“They pay full-time wages, like these are people that are going to be working and living in our community,” Buffaloe said. “It’s just great for us, for our economy, that when we talk about this, like having a place like Trader Joe’s, that more sales tax for us, which supports the foundation of what we provide with city services and so we’re thankful to have them.”

According to the city, Columbia has a sales tax rate of 7.98%. In February, the city predicted it would bring in $64.5 million dollars in sales tax for fiscal year 2025. By fiscal year 2030, the city predicts it will bring in over $69 million in sales tax.

Shoppers also pay an extra 1% sales tax at the Stadium Shoppes for a transportation development district.

Many packed into the grocery store on Thursday morning and afternoon, purchasing handfuls of items ranging from fresh flowers to produce, frozen items and alcoholic beverages. Lines varied throughout the day at registers but there was always a constant flow of people in and out of the store.

Trader Joe’s in Columbia is open everyday from 9 am to 9 pm.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Citing a dramatic increase in demand for food, the Jefferson City Salvation Army has issued a public call for donations to replenish its food bank.

“Community members seeking assistance with food has drastically increased over the past 2 weeks and with SNAP benefits not renewing for many neighbors next week, we expect even more visitors in the days/weeks ahead,” the organization wrote in a Facebook post Thursday morning.

The Salvation Army Food Pantry has a list that includes canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat, canned pasta, soup, Minute Rice, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix, canned milk, juice and peanut butter and jelly. Donations will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 927 Jefferson St.

Those who need to drop off outside of that schedule can call 573-635-1975 to arrange another time. Donations can also be made online.

The Salvation Army also encouraged people to start food drives at their churches, workplaces and in their neighborhoods and bring the collected items to the pantry.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Schnucks is helping out Missourians who lost their November SNAP benefits with a food drive at all stores across the state starting Thursday and running through Nov. 11, according to a press release.

The chain is asking people to donate shelf-stable, nonperishable items like canned goods, noodles and pasta sauce.

A manager at the Forum Blouvard location in Columbia said Thursday afternoon that there were several large donations since that morning.

Missouri food bank donations have been increasing since the federal government shutdown began Oct. 1. November SNAP benefits were paused as a result, forcing more people to fall back on food banks.

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday announced that over $15 million is going to food banks and a program to feed senior citizens.

The Boone County Commission a week before Kehoe’s announcement said that the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri will receive $50,000 to use within the county.

The average SNAP recipient received about $187 a month last year, with national spending nearly reaching $100 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police officers could be on hand to help with traffic outside the new Trader Joe’s all weekend.

Mid-Missouri residents welcomed Trader Joe’s Thursday morning, as the grocery store officially opened its doors at 9 a.m. The opening of the store attracted many shoppers.

Some expressed traffic concerns about the opening in a congested area, but store captain Pamela Volk said she has invited Columbia Police Department officers to help with traffic all opening weekend.

An officer was directing traffic outside the store Thursday afternoon.

The store is located at 201 N. Stadium Blvd. at The Shoppes on Stadium, where several businesses, including Men’s Warehouse, Five Below and other stores are located.

The area is known for congestion with Home Goods and Chick-fil-A nearby. The streets likely to see the most traffic are North Stadium Boulevard, West Worley Street and West Ash Street.

On Wednesday, A CPD spokesperson said extra officers will be assigned to the area, and some off-duty officers will work traffic control.

In a statement from the City of Columbia, it said: “It should be noted that the city will be watching traffic volumes and impacts on the adjacent street network following the opening of these businesses to become aware of any adjustments that might need to be made to the signal timing at Worley and the Mall signal or any signage or striping that might be necessary on the surrounding streets.”

Employees will park in designated spots behind the store.

Trader Joe’s will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:55 a.m.

Around two dozen shoppers began forming a line outside of Trader Joe’s just before 6:30 a.m., all bringing several items to keep warm as they wait for the doors to open.

According to Trader Joe’s Store Captain Pamela Volk, employees will be handing out chips and free reusable Trader Joe’s bags to customers.

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Dan Kite

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Elected officials in Cole County will take home more money in the coming years, after a vote for a 5% raise was narrowly passed at the Tuesday meeting of the Cole County Salary Commission.

The vote came after a debate between members about whether to note that elected officials have not received an official raise in decades. The only exceptions they noted were cost-of-living adjustments and a separate adjustment in 2017 to bring salaries back in line with state statutes.

The raise was passed by a vote of 7-5, with the county sheriff, prosecutor, and public administrator among those in favor, and all three county commissioners among those against the proposal.

The commission also passed a separate cost-of-living adjustment by a vote of 10-2.

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Camryn Payne

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department will dedicate extra resources for the Trader Joe’s grand opening in Columbia on Thursday.

A CPD spokesperson said extra officers will be assigned to the area, and some off-duty officers will work traffic control.

Trader Joe’s will be located at 201 N. Stadium Blvd. at the Shoppes at Stadium, where other stores and businesses, including Five Below, Men’s Warehouse and Old Navy are located.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held moments before the store opens at 9 a.m. Thursday. The store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fulton man led deputies to a half-pound of methamphetamine stashed in his truck Monday, according to court documents.

Lance M. Stout was charged Tuesday in Callaway County with drug trafficking and felony possession after the Monday night traffic stop. Stout was pulled over in his F-150 on Highway 54 for speeding in a construction zone and crossing the center line, according to a probable cause statement.

Stout told investigators that he had about a half-pound of meth in the rear passenger floorboard, the statement says. Stout also had digital scales and several plastic baggies, investigators say.

Stout also told deputies that he sold large amounts of methamphetamine in Boone, Callaway and Cole counties.

Stout is being held in the Callaway County Jail on no bond. He is seeking a public defender, according to court records.

A bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Osage County authorities charged an Indiana man Tuesday with five felonies and a misdemeanor for allegedly stealing two wheels from an Osage County R-2 car.

Tanner M. Cripe of South Wabash, Indiana, was charged with two counts of felony stealing and one count each of tampering, second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage. He was also issued a trespassing citation, according to court records.

The Osage County R-2 School District in Linn reported to the Osage County Sheriff’s Department that two wheels on a district-owned Chevrolet Malibu had been stolen around Oct. 15, according to a probable cause statement. The wheels were valued at nearly $2,500, the statement says.

A video showed a man pull up in another vehicle at about 4 a.m., and switch the wheels from the Malibu with two wheels from his car, the statement says. Investigators linked the vehicle to a burglary in Linn and posted information about the vehicle and the driver on Facebook.

A person contacted the sheriff’s office to identify the suspect on Oct. 17, according to the statement. Investigators traced the photos back to booking photos from Wasbash County, Indiana, and identified Cripe, the statement says.

Cripe had been working for a business that runs pilot cars for oversize loads, the statement says.

A warrant was issued for Cripe’s arrest with a $100,000 bond.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Meals on Wheels of Columbia said Wednesday that it will provide 5,000 free meals to people who receive SNAP benefits.

SNAP benefits in Missouri will be unavailable starting Saturday unless Congress votes to fund the government.

Meals on Wheels wrote in a news release that SNAP recipients can get up to seven free meals each week per household member starting Nov. 6. Online registration is required. Meals will also be available on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20.

People who want meals will have to show proof of eligibility. Registration is required by 2 p.m. Tuesday to receive meals on a Thursday. Thanksgiving meal reservations are required by the Friday before and will be picked up on Nov. 25.

Pickups take place at Broadway Christian Church.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County judge ordered a Columbia man committed indefinitely to the Missouri Department of Mental Health on Wednesday after accepting his insanity plea in the death of his father and subsequent fire.

Steven Strumpf had been set for trial on first-degree murder, armed criminal action, second-degree arson and credit card fraud charges this month. But the trial was canceled and a hearing set for Wednesday, where Judge Jeff Harris accepted Strumpf’s insanity plea.

Harris’ order says Strumpf was examined by the Department of Mental Health on Aug. 22, and doctors diagnosed unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Those disorders made Strumpf incapable of understanding the consequences of his actions, the order says.

The state did not object, and no other exam was ordered, the order states.

Steven Strumpf was accused of killing David Strumpf in January 2024 on Deerfoot Way in south Columbia. Police accused Steven Strumpf of stabbing David Strumpf and setting him and the house on fire.

According to Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson, Strumpf allegedly told detectives on the night of the murder that he was driving to Columbia from Kansas City when he saw graffiti that he believed was a message to him from a demon.

Strumpf told detectives he believed the graffiti was telling him that his father was a demon and was going to kill him.

He then allegedly said he heard a voice say “game over” in the kitchen of the home, which he interpreted as meaning his father was going to kill him. He then got a knife and stabbed his father, and later burnt his body but told detectives he didn’t believe it was his dad’s body that he was burning.

Johnson also said Strumpf has made statements over time, indicating that he is was the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to Johnson, Strumpf has a history of mental health issues, and has made “irrational statements” at court hearings in the past. He said the DMH has tests they can conduct to determine if a person is faking a disorder, but ultimately determined that Strumpf was not.

“He’s been consistent throughout the case when he’s talking with the detectives and when he’s talking with other people that that these are sincere beliefs that he had,” Johnson said. “It’s a case where they’ve had a lot of opportunity to observe him and see how he’s acting, and he’s just consistently demonstrated really serious mental health issues.”

Johnson said over the last several years, the number of cases his office has involving serious mental health issues has increased substantially.

David Strump’s stepdaughter– Maura Bassett– addressed the court room on Wednesday, stating that David was a “remarkable man” who spent years caring for Steven. Bassett also said following the murder, the family told detectives of documents Steven had written about David.

Detectives believed the notes may have shown that the murder was planned, Bassett said.

Bassett told the judge that along with the pain she and her family have endured over the years, there is also the threat of parole and said her mother believes Steven would try and kill her, if granted parole.

“It hurts to live knowing that I will never have him (David) in my life again. It hurts to continually relive my experiences of having a father figure in retrospect. I want nothing more than to have David back in our lives but unfortunately, I now understand the finality of death,” Bassett wrote. “So I urge you, please consider my words and assist my family in finding reprieve from anymore senseless death.”

Strumpf’s attorney declined to comment on the case.

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