Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who is charged for his alleged role in a standoff on April 11 on West Ash Street has been committed to the Department of Mental Health.

A commitment order was filed on Tuesday for Michael Whited, 59. He is charged with second-degree making a terroristic threat, resisting arrest and three counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault.

He joins roughly 500 other people who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial who are waiting for a bed with the Department of Mental Health, according to previous reporting. The order says Whited should be evaluated within six months. He is currently listed on the Boone County Jail’s roster.

Whited allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot a woman and a dog at Ash Street Apartments earlier this year, according to court documents from previous reporting. White then allegedly pointed the gun at other people in the area before barricading himself in his apartment, previous reporting states.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Blair Oaks school district went on a “soft lockdown” on Friday after the district received a “suspicious” phone call.

Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler told ABC 17 News that the school received a “vague” phone call around 2 p.m. Law enforcement determined the threat was not credible and school continued as normal.

 “Out of an abundance of caution we went into a green lockdown until local law enforcement was able to investigate. It was NOT deemed a credible threat by local law enforcement. Therefore, the district dismissed school at normal time with no disruption. At no time were any students or staff in any danger,” an email from Blair Oaks Superintendent Ben Meldrum said.

Blair Oaks wasn’t the only district to experience this, with rumors at Hickman High School resulted in a student being detained and Rock Bridge High School addressed safety concerns on Thursday following a message made on social media.

Wheeler said the sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The 25th annual Mid-Missouri PrideFest is set to kick off Saturday afternoon, featuring live performances, food trucks, and more than 100 vendors and activity booths.

The two-day festival will take place at Rose Music Hall and take up a portion of Park Avenue. Attendees can enter through Park Avenue at the west end, as well as at St. James and Ash streets and Orr and Ash streets.

According to the event’s emergency plan, 20-25 staff members and 75 additional volunteers will be on site.

Organizers will be monitoring the weather at all times during the event and, in the case of extreme weather, will tell guests and event staff to take shelter at Rose Music Hall and in nearby parking garages and businesses, according to the emergency plan.

In a non-weather emergency scenario, event staff will alert guests if an evacuation is necessary over the festival’s intercom system.

All guests will also go through security checkpoints when entering the event, and all bags are subject to search.

The PrideFest Parade is set to start at Noon on Sunday. The parade begins at Ninth and Ash Street, heads south, and turns west on East Broadway, then north up Fifth Street. Fifth Street will also be a designated quiet zone for people who are sensitive to loud noise.

Festival President Janet Davis released a statement Friday addressing safety for the weekend.

“We always have a lot of security and safety measures in place. Whether you see them or not. We don’t feel that the general public, patrons or vendors need to see what is protecting them unless it’s needed. We are extraordinarily fortunate in this city to have never had an issue in 25 years! “

PrideFest gates open at Noon on Saturday and close at 10:30 p.m. both days. Parke Ave. will remain blocked during the day for the weekend, with through traffic expected to be open around midnight in the evenings.

Outside food and drink are not allowed inside the property. Due to space limits, blankets and chairs are not allowed inside Rose Music Hall after 6 p.m. Service animals are welcome.

The festival is free and family-friendly.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mid-Missouri PrideFest began on Saturday afternoon and will continue through Sunday, running from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The event will result in several road closures and potential traffic disruptions in downtown Columbia throughout the weekend.

According to the Mid-Missouri Pridefest Emergency Plan, each street entrance will be barricaded to ensure safety during the event. Road closure signs will be placed near Park & St. James.

President of PrideFest Janet Davis re-assured that there are plenty of parking spaces available for guests.

“We are lucky enough also that Columbia College doesn’t mind that we use their lot,” Davis said. “So, if you get in here, there’s a great spot on 10th street right outside of Columbia College with lots of parking, and then the parking lots and garages are free on the weekend anyway.”

The festival also has an emergency procedure plan in place featuring over 20 staff members ready to assist if any issues were to arise, with eight specifically dedicated to security.

“We’ve never had an incident in the 24 years we’ve been hosting Mid-Missouri PrideFest but with the current climate, the city wanted to ensure we had the extra help,” Davis said.

Additionally, two MU Health Care trucks and the festival’s own first aid tent are on hand for emergencies.

“We have an emergency plan in place if we need it, and we’ve never had to use it. Knock something, knock on wood, I guess but they’re there if we need them,” David said. “And, we have our own first aid tent as well with carts and people and we actually have you know, a doctor in there as well. So if something were to happen, everything is really close.”

However, Davis said two incidents reported during last year’s festival. One involving a protester and the other, dealing with the response to the protest.

Davis said the festival will continue regardless of the weather because scheduling during the fall season, especially with MU football in season, is challenging.

“Once we pick a date everything else in September and October fills up so quickly that we would have to move it to the next year anyway,” Davis said. “So,we aren’t afraid of a little rain so it’s okay as long as it’s not lightning.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Paul Boyd on Friday to become Montgomery County’s next prosecuting attorney, according to a Friday press release from the governor’s office.

The release says Boyd is the violent crimes team lead for the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office and has previously served as a counterdrug coordinator and military judge for the Missouri National Guard.

He is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars service organization, the National Guard Association of the United States, and the Missouri Bar Association, according to the release. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southwest Missouri State University and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, the release says.

Benton County treasurer named

Kehoe also appointed Rebecca Minks, of Warsaw, Missouri, to become the Benton County treasurer, the release says.

She was a tax specialist at H&R Block in Warsaw before buying and managing the franchise location, the release says. She has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Central Missouri State University, the release says.  

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Jazsmin Halliburton

Starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Interstate 70 between Range Line St. and the U.S. 63 Connector in Columbia will be down to one lane heading east until 6 a.m. Monday. All exit and on ramps will remain open during the lane closure.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, this closure will allow crews to safely build the new eastbound lanes near the Paris Road Bridge.

Improve I-70 Statewide Director Eric Kopinski told ABC 17 News that MoDoT had this work scheduled and has been trying to find a perfect time to do this project in the area.

“There never is a good time to close a lane on I-70, especially during the day,” said Kopinski. He said that MoDoT wanted to avoid doing this project on weekends when there’s a Mizzou football game and this was the best time due to the team having a bye week.

“We know there’s still going to be a lot of traffic going eastbound I-70. This was the best weekend that would least impact as many as possible,” said Kopinski.

Kopinski asks drivers to slow down, as speeding is their biggest challenge. He says that speeding occurs either when entering or exiting the work zone throughout the state.

“There isn’t one location that we’re seeing the most speeding occur, but we are having some really severe crashes that are taking place, and again, that’s statewide,” said Kopinski

This lane closure is part of the Improve I-70 project to make the interstate three lanes in each direction from Kansas City to St. Louis.

Drivers are asked to be patient with the work being done across the state. “Our message is keep trying to hang in there with us,” Kopinski said. “When this is all said and done, it’s going to be a game changer for Mid-Missouri, for the entire state. So we’re asking everyone to hang in there with us.”

MoDoT says drivers should expect delays and find an alternate route throughout the weekend.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The total number of fans ejected from Mizzou home games this football season is up to 63.

The Tigers are on bye this week and host Alabama on Oct. 11. All of Missouri’s games have been at home this season, and there were 31 total ejections heading into MU’s game against South Carolina on Sept. 20.

There were fewer ejections this year during the South Carolina game than there were in 2023, the last time the Tigers hosted the Gamecocks. There were 21 fans thrown out of the stadium on Sept. 20, far below 2023’s 41.

Seventeen of the ejections at this year’s game were alcohol-related, according to ejection cards. Seven of those were for sneaking in booze, while eight just had “alcohol” as a reason and three were thrown out for “intoxication.”

Two people were thrown out for vaping, one person was tossed for “pushing/shoving,” and another person was accused of urinating in public. The ejection card for the latter reason claims a man was “urinating on wall of medic room outside of security office.”

The annual homecoming game was held against UMass on Sept. 27 and saw 11 people thrown out of the stadium. Nine of those were alcohol-related, with four just listing “alcohol” as the reason, three were for intoxication/vomiting, one for minor in possession and one for sneaking in booze.

One person was thrown out for attempted theft, while another was accused of throwing something at the field.

The total ejections of fans by game this year are:

Aug. 28 vs. Central Arkansas – 4

Sept. 6 vs. Kansas – 24

Sept. 13 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette – 3

Sept. 20 vs. South Carolina – 21

Sept. 27 vs. UMass– 11

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after an electrical fire occurred Thursday evening at Town and Country Lanes off of North Providence Road in Columbia.

Columbia Fire Department Capt. Wayne Cummins said at the scene that a fire started on the “insulation of the electrical lines going into” the building.

Firefighters went up to the roof to extinguish the fire, Cummins said. He said at around 7:20 p.m. that first responders were waiting for Columbia Water and Light to turn off electricity to the building.

The bowling alley is expected to be closed for the rest of the evening.

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Euphenie Andre

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)

Osage Beach’s Board of Alderman on Thursday evening discussed the city’s panhandling ordinance.

The discussion comes months after a homeless couple filed a federal lawsuit against the city. Thursday’s meeting lasted about an hour-and-a-half, but discussion on the panhandling ordinance was brief because city leaders could not comment extensively on the ongoing litigation.

At 5:30 p.m., council members gathered to consider repealing the ordinance.

In January, Jackie and Brittany Pugh filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming they did not violate the panhandling ordinance after an Osage Beach officer allegedly stopped them from begging for money last year.

The city now plans to remove the existing ordinance completely.

“Our lawyer is out today, but he did let us know that the ordinance currently on file was written a long time ago. There’s a fine line between First Amendment rights and public safety. How close people are to the road, obstructing vehicles, and so on,” Mayor Michael Harmison said.

Because of these challenges, city leaders decided it would be more effective to start fresh rather than try to revise the old ordinance.

“The current policy has been on the books for a long time. Rather than try to rewrite it, it was best to remove it entirely and start drafting a new ordinance that better fits today’s society,” Harmison said.

Harmison said the city does not have a homeless problem, and the decision to rewrite the ordinance is focused on public safety, not targeting homeless individuals.

“We certainly don’t want to infringe on people’s First Amendment rights,” he said. “But if multiple people are obstructing traffic or being aggressive, that’s something that needs to be addressed.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man has been charged after authorities claim he shot at two people on May 9 in Boonville.

Fernando Townshend was charged on Thursday in Cooper County with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. Janiya Rucker, of Jefferson City, was charged with being an accessory to each crime. Warrants were issued for both people on Thursday and $100,000 bonds were set. Neither were listed on the Cooper County Jail’s online roster on Thursday evening.

Townshend is accused of firing a gun at an 18 year old and 22 year old around 3 p.m. that day near the intersection of Rankin Mill Lane and Main Street. The shooting occurred after school in the area let out, so traffic was relevant in the area, the probable cause statement says.

Rucker allegedly admitted to law enforcement that she sped away in the vehicle with Townshend inside it, the statement says. She was allegedly seen by witnesses running outside the vehicle and a gun was found in the area she was seen, the statement says.

Rucker allegedly claimed Townshend tried to throw away the gun, but it did not go far, so she “must have” went outside the car to throw the gun further, the statement says. Rucker allegedly did not remember that part of the story occurring, but told law enforcement she must have done that since Townshend is paralyzed from another shooting and is not able to get himself out of a vehicle, court documents claim.

No injuries were reported.

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