Author: KMIZ

Ellyse Edwards

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City’s long-awaited Olive Garden opened its doors Monday, drawing a line of customers outside the restaurant before seating started at 11 a.m.

The new restaurant is located on Missouri Boulevard. Customers lined up outside the building and into the parking lot as they waited for the doors to open, starting as early as 9 a.m. The restaurant’s opening comes after plans for a Jefferson City location were confirmed in October 2025. 

For customer Kirsten Stegeman, having an Olive Garden in Jefferson City means her family no longer has to make the trip to Columbia.

“I think it’s great. I think it’s great for our community. We go to Olive Garden in Columbia. Now it’s closer to home,” Stegeman said.

Stegeman said people in Jefferson City have been talking about getting an Olive Garden for a long time.

Customer Lori Pitts said she sees new additions as part of the community’s growth.

“I work at the city chamber [of commerce] office, so we were talking about how we want the community to grow, and this is helping us to get that way and bringing something exciting for the people to look forward to,” Pitts said.

General Manager Adam Brown said the restaurant’s team spent about five weeks hiring and training ahead of Monday’s opening. Brown said employees come from Jefferson City and surrounding communities.

Brown said the excitement surrounding the restaurant became especially apparent as opening day approached.

“I will admit that I knew people were excited, but until this weekend, you know, and seeing the line out the door and we open, right. It really brings it to life,” Brown said.

Stegeman said having the restaurant in Jefferson City gives residents another option without having to leave town.

“It makes people excited to go out and something new to try and different. We don’t have to go to Columbia. We have it right here in our backyard,” Stegeman said.

The Jefferson City Olive Garden is open seven days a week.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Budget Director Dan Haug will retire on Oct. 1, according to a Monday press release from Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Haug has served as budget director for 11 years — making him the longest to serve in the position — and has worked in state government for 31 years, the release says.

“It has been an honor serving alongside Governor Kehoe and all previous Governors as budget director,” Haug was quoted in the release. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to help these administrations craft state budgets that improved the lives of Missourians in countless ways. I want to thank the amazing team at Budget and Planning for all of their excellent work and service to the state.”

Haug began his state government career as an economist for the Office of Administration’s division of budget and planning in 1995, the release says. He joined the senate appropriations staff in 2002 and served as director of the department from 2005-13. He became the department of mental health’s director of administration in 2013 before becoming the budget director in 2015.

Department of Corrections Director Trevor Foley will serve as budget director after Haug retires. The appointment for the next DOC director “is forthcoming,” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 17-year-old Columbia boy was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to felony charges in connection with a shooting at the mall in 2025.

Samiyon Myers, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, armed criminal action and second-degree drug trafficking. He is currently being held at the Boone County Jail, according to online jail records.

He was originally charged with first-degree assault, delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of shooting at a car and second-degree drug trafficking.

Court documents in previous reporting say police were called around 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19, 2025, for a shots-fired call in the 2100 block of West Worley Street.

A gun was found in a bag near Myers and video from the Columbia Mall allegedly showed Myers firing the gun at a vehicle filled with people, court documents in previous reporting say.

Police saw bullet holes in the vehicle and were able to identify Myers by the color of his underwear, which was seen on video and was the only person wearing red, previous reporting indicates. Police allegedly found Myers with more than 200 pills and found additional guns in a garbage bin, previous reporting says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Owensville man was charged on Friday with 13 counts of possessing child sex abuse materials.

Wilbur Krumrey was served a $100,000 cash-only bond warrant. A mugshot was not available on Monday.

The probable cause statement says a woman and her brother went to the Owensville Police Department on July 26 to report an assault by Krumrey. The woman also reported seeing child sex abuse files on Krumrey’s cellphone.

Krumrey was arrested that month and allowed investigators to look at his phone and they found images of minors “in a sexualized manner,” court documents allege. Authorities applied for a search warrant and were able to use it on Aug. 10, where led to the discovery of at least 13 files of child sex abuse found on the phone, court documents say.

Police wrote in the statement that Krumrey has been staying near Owensville City Park.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A hit-and-run crash late Friday in Columbia was captured on video, leading to the arrest of two suspects, a probable cause statement filed Monday states.

The video captured the moments a vehicle allegedly driven by Shunta Bohanon hit 47-year-old Mark Hunter Jr. at East St. Charles Road and Remm Drive. Hunter was pronounced dead at the hospital. Bohanon was charged with involuntary manslaughter, armed criminal action, leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death and evidence tampering in a felony prosecution

Police officers identified Bohanon’s vehicle and its license plate from video footage, the probable cause statement says. Bohanon allegedly admitted to police that he was driving the car that killed Hunter, but said he didn’t see the man and didn’t realize initially that he had hit a person, the document states.

The impact sent Hunter down the road, leaving a trail of blood, police say.

Bohanon parked his car inside a garage after the crash and closed the door, according to the statement.

Another suspect, Sandra Sharp, 55, hasn’t been charged. Because she posted bond, charges don’t have to be filed until her bond hearing date on Sept. 10, Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Buchanan told ABC 17 News via email.

Sharp was arrested on suspicion of evidence tampering, resisting arrest and assault of a special victim, according to the Columbia Police Department.

Bohanon, 53, was being held Monday without bond in the Boone County Jail.

Police say they arrested both Sharp and Bohanon on Saturday, and that Flock cameras were used to locate the suspects.

A candlelight vigil will be held for Hunter on Friday at Hogan House, located at 313 Hogan Dr. in Columbia. The vigil starts at 7:30 p.m.

Hogan House is a food pantry and a non-profit that falls under the organization Do Something Right Now. The goal is for Hogan House to help out its neighbors in surrounding areas, like families on Hogan Drive or Demaret Drive.

Do Something Right Now Executive Director Sue Riley said Hunter was a part of one of those families on Demaret Drive, and he volunteered with Hogan House for the last three years.

“Mark was very quiet. He had a special little grin, and I always called him a gentle giant because he would work hard, but he wouldn’t say a whole lot. He’d just look at you and smile,” Riley said.

She said Hunter worked with Love Columbia for job coaching, and he recently got one.

“He was proud of himself, and he had every right to be,” Riley said. “We had seen a lot less of him in the recent months because he had started working a job, but when he came around, I would tell him, ‘Mark, I am so proud of you. You’re doing so great.”

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department system is currently staffed with a minimum of three people per truck, but the fire chief would like to see four per truck.

That could happen soon with extra money to pay employees and new recruits coming on staff.

A new public safety sales tax is expected to add 42 new firefighters and result in an estimated $31 million budget increase.

Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said CFD will have a new class of trainees in October and continue to have more classes.

“It’s going to take us a lot of intense work to get people recruited, trained and what we call ‘on the floor,'” said Schaeffer.

Shaeffer said the increased hiring won’t lead to lower standards. He said that when the next class graduates, operations will decide which trucks to expand to four people.

As of Friday, according to a Facebook post made by CFD, eight new firefighters have completed their probationary period.

There are currently around 20 firefighters in the 18-month probationary period. They can be identified by their gray shirts.

Schaeffer said that the new sales tax will have a profound impact on recruiting at CFD.

Schaeffer said that in general, staffing is healthy.

The fire department has an estimated 185 operational, in-uniform positions.

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Jefferson City swore in a new councilmember Monday, filling the Ward 3 seat left vacant by Derek Thomas’ resignation on June 2.

Hal Dulle was appointed to the seat after receiving five votes from the City Council, while Susan Cook received the remaining four.

Thomas resigned in June after moving out of state because of medical issues affecting his family.

Before the vote, Ward 2 Councilman Mike Lester voiced his support for Cook, saying he did not believe Dulle took his application seriously. Cook and Dulle were two of three residents who submitted letters of interest for the position, according to city documents.

“Mr. Dulle has appeared less serious than Mrs. Cook about wanting to serve on the council. At every stage of the process, he seems to give minimal effort. His letter of interest was just that, a couple of sentences announcing that he had interest,” Lester said during the meeting. “His endorsements from Ward 3 residents consisted of his wife, Scott Spencer and Mrs. Spencer.”

Lester claimed Dulle had not reached out to him or several other council members to discuss the position, unlike Cook, who he said demonstrated a greater “commitment to serve.”

Despite Lester’s comments, the council still voted 5-4 in favor of Dulle, with councilmen Randy Hoselton, Chris Leuckel, Shane Kampeter, Jeff Ahlers and Cody Holt all voting in favor. 

Dulle, a retired Vietnam veteran, previously served as executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission. In 2018, he received the Kevin Meinhardt Memorial Award for Distinguished Public Service.

In his letter of interest, which was fewer than 200 words, Dulle highlighted his eight years of service on the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau Board. He also noted he previously chaired the USS Jefferson City Submarine Committee, which coordinates visits to Hawaii with the submarine crew. While he is no longer the chair, the letter states he is still a member of the committee.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Sharon Jones was sworn in to her seat as the Fourth Ward’s representative on the Columbia City Council on Monday evening.

Jones, an area lawyer and lobbyist, won the seat in the Aug. 4 election over Dave Sorrell and Ryan King. Jones’ addition makes her a part of the city’s first all-female council.

The Ward 4 seat became open after former Councilman Nick Foster stepped away from the position in June after announcing a move to Atlanta, Georgia.

Jones will serve the remainder of Foster’s original term through April 2028.

The current City Council is made up Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll, Ward 2 Councilwoman Vera Elwood, Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample, Ward 5 Councilwoman Christina Hartman and Ward 6 Councilwoman Betsy Peters.

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Jefferson City Council on Monday voted overwhelmingly to renew its agreement with Flock for automated license plate readers, with Ward 2 Councilman Cody Holt casting the lone dissenting vote.

Since September 2025, the Jefferson City Police Department has operated 21 Flock automated license plate readers throughout the city.

Ahead of the vote, Holt asked the council to discuss the cameras, citing concerns about privacy and how the data collected by the system is shared.

The use of Flock cameras has drawn scrutiny nationally, with privacy advocates raising concerns about data sharing and law enforcement access.

A national tracker of Flock contracts lists more than 30 communities that have ended their agreements amid similar concerns about privacy, data sharing and law enforcement access.

While Holt said he trusts the Jefferson City Police Department to use the cameras responsibly and wants officers to have access to useful tools, he felt the council needed to have a broader discussion about their use before voting to renew the agreement.

“I believe the personal security aspect is important, and I also think that arming our police and law enforcement officers with the most advanced tools to be able to do their jobs is a good thing, but I think the potential invasion of public privacy is outweighed by that risk,” Holt said during the meeting. 

However, other members of the council quickly voiced their support for the Flock cameras, with Ward 4 Councilman Chris Leuckel saying the police needed as many resources and assets available, pointing to an arrest from Columbia police with the help of the cameras. 

“One in Columbia as recently as I think last week, a crime was committed, and within minutes they were apprehended because of the Flock camera. I think those unfortunately are not celebrated,” Leuckel said. “Not designed to be celebrated necessarily, other than take the broader view of protecting the community and being safe. To address one thing that was brought up about getting potential misuse, as it related to this department, this city, I would give full faith and confidence to our police chief and our leadership. 

Ward 5 Councilman Shane Kampeter offered a similar sentiment. 

“A lot of the things that happen when these are used, minutes, seconds, matter. A car can leave Jeff City pretty fast,” Kampeter said during the meeting. “We do not have enough staff in Jeff City to sit here and physically watch cameras. Systems like this are able to track them before they even get to the Missouri River Bridge, which could be within seconds.” 

Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Allen also acknowledged some of the pushback that Flock has received, but felt the benefits outweighed the concerns. 

“I would just caution us to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I do know these have been very useful in some law enforcement issues that we’ve had,” Allen said.  

Jefferson City Police Chief Eric Wilde said the department has been utilizing some form of automatic license plate reading cameras for more than two decades, but it is now starting to gain more attention as the technology has continued to evolve and get better. 

“This is just another tool that we use that has been one of the most effective that I have seen in my career,” Wilde said. 

Wilde added during the meeting that the use of Flock cameras has helped the department solve three homicides. He also addressed concerns over misuse of the cameras, saying he understands there is not much trust in big government. 

But Wilde tried to alleviate those concerns, saying he understands the weight on his office’s shoulders and that the department will continue to train, establish policy, and audit the use of Flock to ensure they are being used appropriately.

“As law enforcement, we have so many tools that we can utilize that violate your constitutional rights. This weapon, this pepper spray, tasers, our radios, using them incorrectly,” Wilde said. “How we defeat that is ongoing and rigorous training, oversight, policy, and auditing.”

Council documents show the new agreement runs through May 14, 2027, and will cost the city $51,000.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Leaders and businesses with Columbia’s Downtown District requested research on a potential “urban camping” ordinance to be conducted by the city.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, a letter in support of a possible ordinance signed by now nearly 80 downtown business owners, organizations and University of Missouri System President Mun Choi was submitted to council members by the Downtown Community Improvement District.

CID Executive Director Nickie Davis said on Monday that she wants the ordinance to be finalized in a year if possible, with the research completed in the next six months.

“It’s not just about getting people to move along. It’s about getting people into programs or housing or somewhere that’s a little safer than a 95-degree sidewalk,” Davis said.

About 20 community members also attended the meeting and stood up in support of the proposed ordinance.

Columbia already has an ordinance in its city code that restricts anyone from blocking and limiting travel on any street, alley or sidewalk without a parade permit. Violators face a misdemeanor.

Leaders with the downtown district said during the meeting’s public comment portion that the ordinance would help establish clear standards for enforcement and outreach. They also claim it would ensure consistency for city staff, outreach workers, businesses and residents.

A previous version of the letter in July claimed existing ordinances are “broad, and difficult to locate or interpret,” which the District claimed “creates confusion for residents, businesses, law enforcement, outreach providers, and individuals seeking services.”

Davis wants a three-tier educational type of approach put into place to address violations. 

“The first one is kind of a, ‘Hey, did you know that this is not okay in this area? Do you know why?Here’s why’,” Davis said. “At the end of it, if people continue to not follow, whatever ordinance it is that they can then either be hopefully sent to the opportunity to campus, but if not something else.”

City leaders did not immediately respond or comment back to the district’s request at Monday’s meeting.

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