Category: kmiz-local-news

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo.

The leader of an Amish community in Cooper County was arrested on Wednesday over claims of sexual abuse and forced labor at a rural retreat.

Cooper County Sheriff Chris Class said Sam Shetler, 42, was arrested after a search warrant in the 11000 block of Hidden Valley Court at the Mercy and Truth-Amish and Mennonite Retreat between Boonville and Prairie Home.

Prosecutors filed charges on Wednesday, which were made available on Friday, for two counts of trafficking for forced labor and one county sodomy. Shetler is due in court on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a counsel status hearing.

At least three witnesses spoke to deputies in early 2026 about their experiences at the retreat, describing abusive and controlling conditions.

Sam Shetler PCDownload

Court documents show that the sheriff’s office had received numerous tips from 2022 to 2026 about “cult-like” behavior at the retreat in rural Cooper County. Witnesses, many of whom stayed at the retreat when they were teenagers, described working on the property for no pay. Children would be “leased out” for work in town, a witness said, with any pay due going directly to Shetler. Some were made to sleep in the cold or have pepper put in their eyes as punishment.

One witness reported Shetler rubbed oil on them as a means of “healing” prior sexual abuse. The witness said Shetler touched them inappropriately during one encounter. The same witness also allegedly told deputies that they woke on night after taking pills given to her by Shetler to someone holding their legs and arms down, but they couldn’t figure out who it was.

According to court documents, Shetler made at least three women believe they were possessed by demons, and the only way to be healed was through his massages.

“‘Sam would mentally manipulate and mentally torture juvenile females, and young women into believing they were ‘demon possessed’ or that ‘evil spirits’ were present in order to ‘control’ them in exchange for self-gratification,” a Cooper County deputy wrote in a probable cause statement.

Deputies conducted a search warrant on the property after a multi-year investigation.

“The retreat was under the control of one individual who took advantage of his position in the Amish Community to control, coerce, and force vulnerable people for his own profit in different forms,” the sheriff said in a release.

His bond was set at $100,000 cash, according to the release.

Jasper Hoffman is an Amish activist and has a podcast called “The Plain People’s Podast,” where she speaks to Amish women about their experiences with the church and any abuse they might encounter.

Hoffman told ABC 17 News that there are about 70 retreats, like the one in Boonville, in the U.S., that “fly under the radar.”

She said the Boonville case sounds like many of the other retreats.

“It’s very, very typical, like there is nothing that stands out that makes me go ‘Oh my God’ I can’t believe that,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said standing up to any kind of abuse in the Amish community is difficult, and scary for most women.

“It’s a lot of risk for them, from the inside, to come forward. They’re ostracised, they’ll be cut off from support within the church. That means financial support. Oftentimes, we see a lot of harassment happen with phone calls, driving by, intimidation, and they don’t know that’s illegal,” Hoffman said.

Overall, the retreats are “heartbreaking.”

“Truly, nobody’s really getting the assistance that they need. You know, there’s no therapy there, they’re not really receiving anything, and it’s just further creating harm,” Hoffman said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after a refrigerator caught fire Thursday night at a home in the 500 block of Laurel Drive in southwest Columbia.

Firefighters were called at 8:22 p.m. for a reported house fire, according to an email from Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Skyler Clark. Crews arrived within five minutes and saw smoke coming from the home.

Firefighters saw flames coming from a refrigerator when they entered the home, the email says. The fire was quickly put out. There was light smoke damage reported on the wall behind the fridge, according to Clark.

The fire marshals battalion is investigating the origin and cause of the fire, Clark wrote.

Click here to follow the original article.

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Residents in Columbia got a closer look at a potential tax increase during a “Let’s Talk Local” meeting on Thursday evening.

City leaders said the proposal could mean higher taxes, but argue it would help better support police and fire services across the community.

During the meeting — which was held at the Sports Fieldhouse on Philip Farm Road — officials presented data showing the city’s expenses are beginning to outpace its revenues. Assistant Finance Director Jim McDonald said one possible solution is adding a one-cent sales tax.

McDonald provided a breakdown of what the proposed tax could look like for residents. For example, a $4 purchase would add about 4 cents in tax, while a $12 meal would add 12 cents. A $100 purchase would add an additional dollar.

Leaders said the additional funding could go toward several public safety needs, including increasing pension funding for police officers and firefighters, upgrading aging facilities and improving staffing levels.

“Right now, it’s [pension] sitting at about a combined ate of about 56% and our goal with this public safety sales tax would be to get it up to 100%, which would decrease the city’s cost and allow us to use that savings to fund other public safety needs,” McDonald said.

City officials previously said the tax could help close the $156 million funding gap for police and fire retirement funds. The city believes the 1% sales tax would bring in an additional $38 million for public safety departments by the 2028 fiscal year, previous reporting indicates. That money would go into a separate and dedicated account; public safety departments would also still receive about $60 million in general revenue funds.

Results from the city’s survey presented in January indicate there’s some support from residents for a tax that would lead to hiring more police officers and firefighters.  

Under its public safety priorities, the city aims to add 50 police officers and 40 firefighters over the next four years. Plans also include building a new police facility, adding 2 new fire stations with equipment, purchasing police vehicles, renovating 3 existing fire stations, and investing in updated police and fire technology.

City Councilman for the 5th Ward Don Waterman said the additional staffing would help bring the city up to speed.

“The 50 police officers would catch us up to where we really should be for a city of our size.” Waterman said. “The 40 firefighters would let them add an additional person with each to each station for each shift to give them a better response,”

According to Columbia Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Fitzgerald, the police department is currently operating out of a building that is more than 100 years old and in need of significant renovation.

“We’ve got people working in closets,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve turned all the closets in the police department into offices because we’re constrained on space.”

Fitzgerald said the department spent $80,000 dollars last month on a HVAC system.

“The current police headquarters downtown is pretty much at the end of its life.” Waterman said.

Fitzgerald also said the department needs more officers, calling current response times “embarrassing” at times due to staffing shortages. He added that just the other day, officers took 3 to 4 hours to respond to what he described as a “dangerous quality-of-life” issue involving residents.

Fitzgerald estimates the department will need to add 6 officers each year to keep pace with the city’s growth. City leaders are also proposing pay increases to stay competitive and attract more recruits to the police department.

The community was highly engaged during Thursday’s presentation, asking thoughtful questions about what the proposal would mean for both the city and its residents. One resident specifically asked how the plan would be affected if the state moves forward with eliminating the individual income tax by expanding sales taxes to include digital goods.

McDonald said the outcome ultimately depends on voters. If approved, the city would implement the sales tax through a voter-approved levy.

“We would adjust our sales tax every year based on how it was the last 3 years. Right now, we have a stable 2% sales tax that could fluctuate up or down based off of historical sales tax,” McDonald said.

Another resident asked why the city hadn’t been transparent about using money from previous years to cover current needs, a practice known as “cash above target.”

According to McDonald, the city sets this amount at 20% of its projected annual expenses, ensuring there are roughly three months’ worth of liquid cash available to cover costs.

“We’re fortunate in that we have some cash above reserves as a result of previous years, but we are going through that. This year we’re using a little bit of that to balance the budget. We can’t keep doing that indefinitely,” Waterman said.

Thursday was only an introductory meeting, giving residents a chance to learn about the proposal and ask questions.

The Columbia City Council is expected to vote on whether to move forward with the plan in early May. If approved, the proposal would be placed on the August ballot for voters to decide.

The next “Let’s Talk Local” meeting is scheduled for April 30 and will focus on capital improvement projects.

All information presented at Thursday’s meeting will be available to the public Friday morning.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

President Donald Trump’s signature will appear on paper currency, the Treasury Department announced in a Thursday press release.

Paper money typically has the signatures of the Treasurer of the United State and the Secretary of Treasury.

It will be the first time a sitting president has had his signature on U.S. currency, according to the release and other media reports.

Thursday’s press release says Trump’s signature will be used “In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.”

It was reported last week that Trump is also expected to appear on a commemorative coin for America’s 250th.

A draft of a $1 coin with Trump’s face was also reported last year, which has raised legal questions as the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 says: “No coin issued under this subsection may bear the image of a living former or current President, or of any deceased former President during the 2-year period following the date of the death of that President.”

US Treasurer Brandon Beach wrote in an Oct. 3, 2025, social media post that images of Trump on a $1 coin were also expected to be launched for the 250th anniversary.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mitchell Kaminski

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

An armed robbery at a Mid-Missouri casino Wednesday is drawing renewed attention to security measures at the state’s gaming facilities.

Authorities say two men, one armed with a rifle and the other with a handgun, robbed the Isle of Capri casino in Boonville around 2 p.m. and fled with an unknown amount of money. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the suspects initially escaped in a Ford Taurus that was later found abandoned in Howard County before switching vehicles and remaining at large.

While the robbery involved guns and a multi-agency response, state data shows such incidents are relatively uncommon at Missouri casinos.

According to the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the Isle of Capri recorded just seven arrests in 2025, all for misdemeanors, and no felony arrests. The casino also had 11 criminal investigations that year, tying it with the Century Casino in Caruthersville for the fewest arrests statewide. River City Casino in St. Louis and the Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights were tied for the most arrests at 130 a piece. 

Oversight and enforcement at Missouri casinos fall largely to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Gaming Division, which maintains a constant presence at licensed facilities and investigates criminal activity.

The division has an authorized strength of 125 members, though staffing stood at 92 officers and two civilians at the end of 2025; and is divided into administrative, investigative and enforcement units that handle everything from licensing background checks to on-site criminal cases. 

In fiscal year 2025, the division’s Casino Enforcement Unit conducted 1,195 criminal investigations and made 1,497 arrests, 405 of which were for felonies.  That total marks a decline from 1,622 arrests in 2024, 426 of which were felony arrests according to MSHP’s annual reports.

Arrests across the state’s eight casinos were also down in 2025. In 2025 the Gaming Division made 656 arrests at casinos, down from 1,003 in 2024 and 1,303 in 2023. Of the 656 people arrested in 2025, 320 were arrested for a felony. 

Casino operators are responsible for day-to-day security, but employees must be licensed through the Missouri Gaming Commission. The licensing process includes background checks, with MSHP’s Gaming Division assisting in investigations of applicants and potential violations.

Under Missouri law, security personnel working in and around casinos must meet strict licensing requirements, including fingerprinting and criminal history checks. However, those holding a gaming commission occupational license for casino security are exempt from some local licensing rules.

The Gaming Division also oversees thousands of licensees, more than 9,000 active occupational license holders and conducts hundreds of investigations annually, including cases involving gaming offenses, white-collar crime and regulatory compliance. 

Despite that oversight, specific security details, including the number of guards at individual casinos,  are not publicly disclosed.

State records show the Isle of Capri employs 313 workers and operates a 28,000-square foot gaming floor with 650 electronic gaming devices and 15 table games. 

The FBI tracks robbery data nationwide but does not break it down by location type, meaning statistics on casino-specific robberies are not available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department announced in a social media post that it is using unoccupied school buildings for active-shooter response training this week while students are on spring break.

More than 40 officers completed their training this week and more sessions will be held throughout the year, the post says.

“The training was co-developed by multiple Boone County law enforcement agencies, including the University of Missouri Police Department, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbia Police, and is being taught by instructors from each of those agencies,” the post says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who is charged with felony murder in a January shooting that led to the death of a former marine will ask for his bond to be lowered next week.

Joseph Crane, 18, of Columbia, is one of three adults charged in the shooting death of Michael Burke. He is charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of armed criminal action and a count of second-degree murder. He is currently being held without bond at the Boone County Jail.

Crane’s attorney David Kirshner filed a motion for a bond reduction on Wednesday, claiming that a pretrial assessment report determined he would likely show up to court and remain “arrest free.” Kirshner is asking for Crane’s bond to be lowered to $25,000. Crane’s next hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Boone County Courthouse.

Two other adults and a juvenile were also charged in the case. Alexis Baumann, 18, of Hallsville, was also charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of armed criminal action and a count of second-degree murder. Baumann saw her bond lowered to $50,000 last month and was eventually released from jail after she posted bond. Her next hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday.

A juvenile is accused of shooting Burke during a Jan. 18 cellphone sale that was organized through Facebook Marketplace. The juvenile has not been publicly identified by authorities, but is accused of being the shooter in court documents. A certification hearing for that person is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 29.

Court documents in previous reporting say Baumann allegedly told officers the juvenile suspect shot Burke in the 1400 block of Ridgemont Court, took his iPhone and then sold it at an ecoATM at the Walmart on Conley Road.

The fourth person charged in the case is Kobe Aust, 19, of Columbia. He is also charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of armed criminal action and a count of second-degree murder. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. He also has a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The tri-level bridge in Jefferson City over Highway 50 will be demolished next month, according to a Thursday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The release says Highway 50 and several ramps will close while the no-longer-used bridge will be demolished. The closure is expected to last from 9 a.m. April 10 through 9 p.m. April 12, the release says.

The bridge has deteriorated and there are concerns about debris.

All ramps will be closed except the ramp from Highway 54 to Highway 50, the release says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A sex offender in Camden County was charged on Wednesday with two felonies.

Jeffrey Ball, 52, of Camdenton, was charged with child enticement and failure to register as a sex offender. He is being held at the Camden County Jail without bond. A hearing was held on Thursday and his next one is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 31.

The probable cause statement says Ball had been having conversations with an undercover law enforcement official who he thought was a minor. Ball had allegedly been talking to the agent while using a screen name.

Ball allegedly sent the agent nude photographs of himself and requested photos in return. He also allegedly tried to meet up with the agent to have sex, the statement says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Plenty of folks want to be on a school board in Cole County.

Each board of education race in that county has drawn a number of candidates that at least doubles the number of seats available.

Every ballot across Mid-Missouri will feature local races, including municipal governments and school boards. More on each county’s ballot below:

Cole County

Cole County April 2026Download

Cole County’s biggest school district has a crowded field in its board of education race.

The Jefferson City Board of Education has drawn seven candidates for the three seats on the April ballot. And none of them are incumbents.

Instead, Cierra Griffin, Trent Vallandingham, Ryan Towner, Kris Scheperle, Michelle Rodemeyer, Gretchen Duckworth and James Kindred Sr. are seeking a seat. The election will remake nearly half of the seven-member board.

Cole County R-V in Eugene also has a crowded field for its board election. Spencer Hoskins, Brian Golden, Carl Sweezer, Travis Graham, Jen Colvin and Matt Hale are competing for three seats. Hoskins and Hale are incumbents.

The Blair Oaks School District has also drawn a crowded field, with six candidates vying for three seats. All three incumbents — Mark McCarter, Doug Mueller and Sarah Lueckenhoff — are running. They’re joined by challengers Billy Cannon, Frank Verslues and Matt Forck.

Two seats on the Jefferson City Council are up for election. Randy Hoselton faces George Bacon in Ward 1 and Mackenzie Job faces Rebekah Frost in Ward 5. The terms are two years apiece.

Boone County

Boone County April 2026Download

Boone County ballots will also see a high-profile school board race.

Three incumbents — Paul Harper, John Lyman and April Ferrao — are seeking reelection to the Columbia Board of Education. They’re facing a challenge from one political newcomer, Dr. Keary Husain.

The Harrisburg Board of Education will also have a contested race, with four candidates for three seats. Two incumbents are running: Josh Byrd and Scott Eaton. The newcomers seeking to oust them are Seth Clatterbuck and Donald Moxley.

Four candidates are running in Ashland for the Southern Boone Board of Education. Incumbents Amy Begeman, Karen Bill and Chris Felmlee are hoping to keep their seats against challenger Jared Vredenberg. Three seats are up for election.

Meanwhile, in the New Franklin School District, no one filed to run for school board.

Voters in Columbia’s Fifth Ward will also see a contested race, with Christina Hartman taking on incumbent Don Waterman.

Callaway County

Several school districts in Callaway County have contested races set for their April school board races.

The Jefferson City School District stretches into Callaway County. Those voters will see a crowded ballot of Cierra Griffin, Trent Vallandingham, Ryan Towner, Kris Scheperle, Michelle Rodemeyer, Gretchen Duckworth and James Kindred Sr. The election will remake nearly half of the seven-member board, with no incumbents running.

Four candidates are vying for three seats on the Fulton Board of Education, but only Connie Eperson is a current board member. Emily Omohundro, Joe Davis and Joe Bachmann are also seeking three-year terms on the board.

The New Bloomfield School District also has a contested school board race, with four candidates seeking three seats. Two incumbents, Angie Robinson Sullivan and Lance Martin, are seeking reelection against Bethany Walsh and Morgan Starnes.

The City of New Bloomfield also has a contested mayor’s race. Mayor Gary Hoelscher is being challenged by Councilwoman Jessica Shaffer.

Audrain County

Audrain County April 2026Download

Several contested school board races will appear on ballots in Audrain County.

The biggest field is in the Community R-VI School District, where five candidates are running for three seats. Stephan Schafer is the only incumbent running. The other candidates are Ryan Knipfel, Chuck Sommer, Leslie Carter and Brent Raynor.

Four candidates are running for three seats in the Wellsville-Middletown district. Incumbent Clinetta Weinrich is seeking reelection. The other candidates are Chad Scholfield, Melissa Beabout and Katherine Taylor.

Van-Far School District voters will also see four names on their ballot seeking three seats. Three of the candidates are incumbents — Jessica Reading, Mike Smith and Justin Hopke. Carol Schambach is also running for election.

Randolph County

Randolph-aprilDownload

Only one contested race originates in Randolph County — a five-way race for three seats on the Higbee Board of Education. Three incumbents are seeking reelection: Susan Ware, Morgan Rockett and Ernie Boggs Jr. Lisa McGuire and Austin Messer are also seeking seats.

A contested race is also on for the Macon Board of Education, which affects a small portion of Randolph County.

Cooper County

Cooper County April 26Download

Two Cooper County school districts will vote in heavily contested board of education races.

The Boonville School District has six candidates running for three seats on its board of education. The only incumbents seeking reelection are Emily Shikles and Ryan Rapp, meaning at least one seat will be filled by a new member. Others seeking election are William Donahue, Melinda Oswald, Alan Lammers and Bruce Drummond.

Five candidates in the Blackwater School District want board seats. Incumbents Austin Painter and Brad Bergeson are seeking reelection, meaning at least one seat will be filled by a newcomer. Others seeking election are Angela Harvey, Thaddeus Fisher and Kirby Rugen.

The Otterville Board of Education has the biggest field of candidates, with eight going for three seats. The candidates include incumbents Sean Main and Mark Blankenship. Other candidates are Craig Nau, Teni Northern, Jonathan Seifert, Candace Woodall, Dawn Johnson and Daniel Ewers.

Five candidates are running for two seats on the Prairie Home Board of Education. All three incumbents are running for reelection: Nathan Alpers, Klay Holliday and Dennis Toalson. Robert Brandes and Mary Jessica Kaiser hope to unseat two of them.

The Pilot Grove School District only has two registered candidates for three seats on its school board.

In Boonville, voters will pick from three candidates — Morris Carter, Mike Conway, and Tanner Lee Bechtel — for mayor. The city also has a two-way race for the city council’s First Ward between Hallie Thompson and Steve Young.

Howard County

Howard County April 2026Download

Howard County’s April election is largely devoid of contested races.

One exception is for the 911 board, with a contested race in the Western District. Caitlyn Atwood, Debra Carmack and David Schaefer are seeking two board seats.

No one is seeking a seat on the New Franklin Board of Education, while small groups of Howard County voters will decide on members of the Higbee and Harrisburg school boards, which feature contested races.

Moniteau County

Moniteau County April 2026Download

Voters across Moniteau County will be able to pick their representatives for the local school board this April.

Four candidates are running for three seats on the Jamestown Board of Education. One incumbent, Bryan Sedgwick, is joined on the ballot by David Shaul, Devin Baysinger and Gary Jones.

A crowded field is vying for the California Board of Education. Incumbents Tony Haile, David Cook and Jan Trachsel are looking for reelection while Matt Abernathy and Scott Jobe hope to join the board. Three seats are up for election.

Three incumbents are running in the Moniteau County R-V School District in Latham — Sarah and Amanda Bolinger and Bobby Medlin. Lorrie Grimes hopes to prevail over one of them for the three available seats.

Miller County

Miller County April 2026Download

The big race in Miller County is for the Eldon Board of Education.

Six candidates are running for three seats. All three incumbents — Mike Holland, Linday Ahart and Jerry Kaibel- hope to keep their seats against Kelly Robinett, Taylor Bailey and Sara Rose Ollerich.

Three candidates are running for three seats in the Miller County R-III School District for just three seats, making an uncontested race.

The Village of Tuscumbia will also vote in two elections for the board of trustees.

Morgan County

Morgan Co. sample ballotDownload

There is no contested race in the Morgan County R-I Board of Education race. Three candidates are running for three seats.

However, many Morgan County residents will vote in school districts that are based in other counties.

Maries County

Maries Notice of Election Municipal 2026Download

Maries County residents will vote in several contested school board races for districts that are based in other local counties.

Some voters will see a contested race for the Maries County Emergency Services Western District seat on the board of directors. Three candidates are running for two seats.

Montgomery County

Montgomery County SampleDownload

Every ballot in Montgomery County will see a contested race for the health department’s board of trustees. Four candidates are running for the three available seats.

The Northwest Fire Protection District board also has a contested race on the ballot with three candidates for two seats on its board of directors.

Camden County

Camden County April 2026Download

School boards in Camdenton and Climax Springs have contested races on the April ballot.

Camdenton voters will choose among four candidates for three seats. The field includes the three incumbents, Troy Risner, Callie Henze and Shelley Creed. The challenger is Nancy Masterson.

In Climax Springs, the three incumbents, Shannon Hodges, Cody Noell and Ryan Williams, are seeking reelection against challengers Marilyn Emery and Maryellen Noland.

Contested races are also on the ballot for the Northwest Fire Protection District and Camdenton Ward 2 alderman.

Osage County

Osage Co Sample BallotDownload

Voters in the Osage R-II School District will choose from five candidates for three school board seats.

Shawn Strong is the only incumbent running for the three seats up for election. Other candidates are Matthew McCoy, Mitchell Branson, Alfred Brandt and Jill Tschappier.

The field is even bigger in the Osage County R-III District, where seven candidates are vying for three seats. Three incumbents hope to keep their seats: D.J. Schroeder, Joyce Weber and Wayne Baumhoer. The four challengers are Casey Helton, Travis Massman, Karen Luebbering, Elizabeth Feltrop and Nicole Bax.

Voters in the City of Linn will also see contested races for mayor and alderman.

Click here to follow the original article.