Category: kmiz-local-news

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.

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Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A body was found after several agencies were called to investigate a possible drowning at a Fulton park on Thursday.

Police Chief Bill Ladwig said rescuers were looking for someone in Morningside Lake. Ladwig said a 911 caller reported seeing someone in the water yelling for help around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

“A witness stated that they had heard somebody yelling for help, but when we arrived we didn’t see anyone in the water,” Ladwig said.

Ladwig said FPD asked for assistance from nearby law enforcement after not being able to locate the victim.

Ladwig said in an update Tuesday evening that police were working to notify family members of the death, until then the victims name will not be released. The death is not being investigated as suspicious, according to Ladwig police believe it to have been an accidental drowning.

Other circumstances around the incident were not immediately made public. FPD said more details would be available once a full report is complete.

Sgt. Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said his agency helped with the search, and that at about 2 p.m. that a body was found. Ladwig said other agencies involved included the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and EMS and South Callaway Fire.

The sheriff’s office assisted by using their drone in the recovery efforts, whil South Callaway Fire and MSHP brought in water rescue boats to utilize, according to Ladwig.

Ramona Rohman and Raelynn Goll, students at William Woods University in Fulton, told ABC 17 News they visit the lake on a daily basis. However, they said they aren’t sure if they will come back now after hearing the news that someone drowned.

“Definitely not swimming in this lake, no,” Goll said.

“The locals even say nothing good happens after sunset here. So I guess even with the sun up, it’s not good,” Rohman said.

Rohman and Goll said the lake used to have a ‘No Swimming Sign’, but were unsure when it was removed.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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Alison Patton

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: A source’s name has been corrected.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined the investigation of Wednesday’s armed robbery at the Isle of Capri Boonville casino as of Thursday morning.

Lt. Eric Brown of the Missouri State Highway Patrol told ABC 17 News that the ATF joined in on the investigation. Law enforcement are asking for help from anyone that may have been at the casino on Wednesday morning or shortly after the robbery on what they saw.

According to a press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, two suspects armed with a rifle and a handgun stole an unknown amount of money before taking off in an older Ford Taurus.

Law enforcement believes the suspects abandoned the car on Howard County Road 344, north of the casino across the Missouri River, and got into another vehicle that hasn’t been identified. The suspects are still at large.

Spokesperson for the corporate company Caesar’s, Kate Whiteley, said the staff at Isle of Capri Boonville is cooperating with law enforcement and deferred any specific questions about the robbery to MSHP.

“The safety and security of our guests and Team Members is our highest priority, and we are deeply grateful to MSHP and Boonville Police for their swift response and continued support,” Whiteley said in an email. “We won’t have further comment at this time.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating the armed robbery along with ATF, the Boonville Police Department, the Cooper County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.

Sheri Andrews said she and her husband where at the casino when the robbery happened.

“It really shook me up,” Andrews said. “My whole body was shaking, my heart was racing.” 

Andrews said the floor supervisor came out and asked people to evacuate. As she was walking toward the exit, Andrews said she saw a suspect jump over the cash counter in a ski mask and wearing all black.

While she hid behind a wall and under a table, Andrews said her husband saw both of the suspects fight off a patron who appeared to be stopping the suspects from leaving.

Andrews said her husband saw the man was injured afterward, but the mask of one of the suspects came off.

“So I’m hoping and praying that the cameras got a picture of his face, they got DNA off the mask and things like that to where they can catch these guys,” Andrews said.

She said that despite the circumstances, people were calm.

“There were no screams. There was no panic. I don’t think people had the time to realize because it all happened so fast,” Andrews said.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Regions Bank has filed a lawsuit against a Columbia businessman and several of his companies over the unpaid total remaining on a $1.5 million loan from 2022.

The bank filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Boone County against Greg DeLine, his trust, DeLine Holdings LLC, GKD Investments, Amega Holdings, JAJ LLC, Kelly Deline and Transco Express Corp. The bank accuses the defendants of breach of loan documents and action on guaranty.

The lawsuit claims a $1.5 million business loan was taken out by DeLine on Dec. 8, 2022. The loan was allegedly not paid at all by the Dec. 8, 2023, maturity date and both sides entered a forbearance agreement shortly after that includes $41,226.79 in interest and $1,066.76 in late fees, court documents say.

The petition claims as of March 11, DeLine still owes the bank $540,000 in the principal amount, along with $9,556.11 in unpaid interest, $2,858.31 in late fees and $10,000 for an extension fee.

DeLine is also facing a federal lawsuit over a fraud case involving loans received from the Paycheck Protection Program in 2022, in which he also went through Regions to obtain. Settlement talks have been in the works.

“While we disagree with claims made in this matter, we have engaged in settlement discussions regarding this one loan with the goal of closing this chapter and moving on,” Regions Bank said in a statement about the federal case. “Regions facilitated over 75,000 Paycheck Protection Program loans, helping small businesses stay open while keeping hard-working Americans employed during the worst of the pandemic. We are proud of our record supporting small businesses, and we are looking to resolve this one individual matter regarding one specific loan from that 75,000 total.”

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Marie Moyer

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local and state health agencies are focusing on education and prevention in Mid-Missouri schools after evidence of the opioid nitazene was found during a volunteer wastewater study.

According to a release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the state’s Department of Public Safety analyzed the sewage, or wastewater, of the schools 37 schools in the state during a volunteer wastewater monitoring program since January. They found 26 positive tests.

According to Austin Krohn with Boone County Public Health and Human Services, nitazene was created in the 1950’s but was never cleared for medical use due to its strength. The DHSS claims the drug is five-to-10 times stronger than fentanyl.

Positive-nitazene-testingDownload

Several Mid-Missouri schools, including Boonville High School, Boonville Alternate, Hallsville High School, and Owensville High School also reported positives.

The tests do not identify who has taken nitazene or where it was used. Both the Boone County Public Health and Human Services and Missouri State Highway Patrol reported instances of the drug being cut in illicit substances, as well as vape juice.

“There’s zero quality control, we have no idea what you’re getting when people go out and use these illicit drugs,” Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Scott White said.

White added that nitazene’s presence may be due to recent crackdowns on fentanyl.

“What we’ve learned to that, that it’s harder for the cartels or the people that are manufacturing these illicit drugs to get those precursors, and that’s one of the reasons possibly why this is now emerging,” White said.

In emails provided by the school districts to ABC 17 News, parents were notified of the program’s results.

According to the email, Hallsville High School began testing in January, with nitazene being found on Jan. 13. Results were then presented to the district in mid-February.

“The district is coordinating with the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Department, Boone County Office of Emergency Management, and state and local law enforcement partners to ensure students and staff have access to appropriate resources and support. The district is also reviewing our emergency response procedures, including ensuring naloxone (Narcan) is available on campus and that staff are prepared to respond quickly to any health or safety concern,” according to an email from Hallsville Superintendent Tyler Walker to families in the district.

Boonville began testing in Feburary and a positive sample was found on Feb. 10.

“Our focus is on using this information proactively — supporting student safety through education, awareness, and connection to resources. The district coordinates with state and local law enforcement partners to ensure prevention resources are available to students and staff. Cooper County Public Health Center is also a valuable community resource for families. Naloxone (Narcan) is accessible, and staff are trained to respond to any student health concern,” according to the email from Boonville Superintendent Mark Harvey to families in the district.

“We kind of educated them on what nitazene is,” Krohn said. “This is coming from somewhere, someone in Hallsville is doing this or selling this.”

Krohn added the department provided more than 20 boxes of naloxone to the district and hosted a community health event.

“They are free to come, get more contact us whenever they need or want more,” Krohn said. “We educated the community at large about the dangers of opioids, including fentanyl and nitazene, and how to use naloxone, how to administer it, when to administer it, what to do if you witness someone experiencing an overdose.”

Krohn added multiple doses may be needed when treating an overdose due to nitazene’s strength.

“Naloxone is the best bet and naloxone is still effective against nitazene,” Krohn said. “It may take more than one dose, so you want to administer that through the nasal cavity with the plunger and then still always call 911.”

According to DHSS, nitazenes were used in 14 overdose deaths around the state in 2024.

Naloxone can be found at local and state health departments, including outside of the Boone County Public Health and Human Services building.

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People Not Politicians has filed a notice of appeal over ballot language that would ask voters whether or not to approve the 2025 “Missouri First” congressional map.

The group says the ballot summary written by the Missouri secretary of state was unfair and biased.

The ballot language says the new congressional boundaries keep more cities and counties intact and more compact. The executive director of people not politicians disagrees with calling the 20-25 maps “compact.”

The notice of appeal says that issue is expected to be discussed.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 79-year-old woman from Phelps County admitted to acting as a money mule in a $2 million lottery scam, according to a Wednesday press release from the Department of Justice.

Sharon Dolisi pleaded guilty in the Eastern District Court of Missouri to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The release says she admitted to “admitted depositing cashier’s checks and personal checks from 28 victims into her personal bank accounts from about April 21, 2023, to June 11, 2025.”

She will be sentenced on June 25 and faces a potential 20-year prison sentence. One bank closed her account after the first deposit, the release says.

“On Oct. 28, 2024, Dolisi lied when she told law enforcement officials that she was not receiving money from or sending money to other people. Four days later, in response to an inquiry by bank representatives about three large cash withdrawals totaling $64,500, Dolisi falsely claimed that she buys and sells gold,” the release says. “On June 27, 2025, Dolisi told a bank representative that she immediately needed $54,000 in cash to buy gold and collectibles.”

She allegedly gave debit cards to “co-conspirators in Jamaica,” the release says. Those people would then withdraw money obtained through lottery frauds. Victims were allegedly called and told they won the lottery, but needed to “prepay taxes and fees,” the release says.

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Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The St. Charles Road overpass on I-70 will close in mid-April for demolition and replacement, with the latter phase expected to take upwards of five months.

According to a news release from MoDOT, crews will start bridge demolition at 7 p.m. on April 10 and work until 6 a.m. on April 13. During that time, both directions of I-70 in the area will narrow to one lane each, and drivers will be directed up the off-ramps and down the on-ramps at the exit.

MoDOT added there will be no access to St. Charles Road as well, and drivers will need to find alternate routes to access I-70.

Normal traffic will resume once demolition is finished, according to MoDOT. At that time the ramps will be reopened for access to the interstate. MoDOT expects construction of the new overpass to continue through the end of September.

The news release said the new overpass, which is part of the Columbia-to-Kingdom City portion of the larger Improve I-70 project, will be wider to accommodate three lanes in each direction of the interstate. It will also be taller to allow more clearance for taller vehicles.

MoDOT said the overpass will also feature pedestrian crossings and “enhanced aesthetics.”

You can read more about the specifics of the project here.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department has identified the person from human remains that were found last year at Rock Forks Lake Conservation Area.

Police wrote in a Wednesday press release that the remains were of Daniel Thompson, 41, who was a Columbia man who went missing in 2023. Police wrote in the release that the remains were identified on March 17.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced last year that human remains were found on March 22, 2025, at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area in Boone County. Amy said he was found deep in the woods of the conservation area.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office had asked the MSHP Division of Drug and Crime Control to investigate the scene, according to previous reporting.

In July 2023, Missouri Missing conducted multiple searches for Thompson after his vehicle was found at the Rocky Fork Conservation Area. Daniel’s sister, Amy Thompson said a spurt of bad weather in the days following her brother’s disappearance made search efforts difficult and unsuccessful at the time.

Amy Thompson said the announcement has helped bring some closure to her family.

“Some of our searches were delayed, some were canceled, we had search dogs out there,” Amy Thompson said. “We kind of thought that it might not get answers because things could be covered up or scents could be covered up that the dogs wouldn’t be able to track.”

However, her family still had hope he could still come back home alive. Even with the remains now identified as Daniel, Amy Thompson said her family still doesn’t know exactly how he died and that they may never know.

“Was he out there for a while? Did he fall and get injured? It was such a long period of time from the time that he went missing, until the time any evidence was found, that all of those questions will remain unanswered,” Amy Thompson said.

Amy Thompson said she and her family will remember Daniel by his silly personality and the way he loved his children.

“We’ve spent this weekend going through all the videos of all the fun times with him and in every video we have he’s laughing and giggling and joking around,” she said.

Renee Bosch said she became friends with Daniel Thompson while working with him at the Truman VA Medical Center after bonding with him over their shared experience of serving in the military. Bosch said Daniel always had a smile on his face.

“We never really seemed to be weighed down by anything,” Bosch said. “Just being around someone that appreciates those small things in life, it reminds you of what is really important in this world and Daniel, he chose to see that.”

She also said Daniel would always make an effort to uplift others around him any chance he got.

Several bodies have been found in the conservation area over the years, including the remains of Angela Rice in 2022, which were found more than three months after she was reported missing.

In August 2022, the Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the body of Michael Smith, who went missing while fishing with two friends, previous reporting indicates.

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Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police were at the Isle of Capri casino on the Boonville riverfront Wednesday afternoon investigating.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a now-deleted Wednesday evening social media post that an armed robbery occurred at the casino and that multiple agencies are investigating.  

The sheriff’s office wrote that two men with rifles were involved and sped away in a vehicle to Howard County. The vehicle was found on Howard County Road 344 with no occupants, the release says.The sheriff’s office wrote that the Missouri State Highway Patrol used a helicopter during the search.  

Lt. Eric Brown, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, later told ABC 17 News that one of the men held a long gun and the second had a handgun. He said they got away in a Ford Taurus before abandoning it and getting into another vehicle that has not been identified.

An MSHP press release from later in the night said an “unknown amount of money” was taken from the casino.

Information related to the robbery at Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville, MO on March 25, 2026. pic.twitter.com/fd1q8UbiBM

— MSHP General HQ (@MSHPTrooperGHQ) March 26, 2026

Boonville police referred questions to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, though it later referred to the robbery as an “incident” on its Facebook page. The patrol did not immediately respond to questions.

Boonville police said the casino would be closed for the rest of the evening.

Check back for updates to this developing situation.

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