Category: kmiz-local-news

Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

Columbia Animal Control is temporarily pausing most stray dog pickups after it and the Central Missouri Humane Society reached capacity, prompting officials to reserve kennel space for emergencies.

Animal Control says its contract with the Humane Society provides 25 primary cages. Those kennels have filled with stray dog pickups, animals being held for court proceedings and legally required quarantines.

“We made the decision to go ahead and pause stray dog pickup so that we could hold those five cages for emergency situations,” Animal Control supervisor Kevin Meyers said.

While the temporary pause is in place, officials say aggressive dogs and other public safety concerns will continue to receive priority.

People who find friendly stray dogs are encouraged to first try reuniting them with their owners by filing a lost pet report with Animal Control and posting in the Columbia, Missouri Lost and Found Pets Facebook group.

CMHS says it’s also running out of space because of an increase in dogs entering the shelter, along with animals connected to cruelty investigations, neglect cases and legally required quarantines.

“So there’s just a great need in the community for our services,” CMHS Executive Director Michelle Casey said. “We are about at capacity. We are running out of kennel space.”

The shelter is asking community members to help by fostering or adopting pets. Casey said even short-term fostering can make a significant difference.

“Even just getting a pet out of here for a weekend or a few days makes such a big difference for us because it opens up space in the shelter, but also allows us to learn a lot more about that animal when they’re in a home setting,” Casey said.

Animal Control says it expects the pause to be temporary and hopes normal stray dog intake can resume as more animals are adopted or placed in foster homes.

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A project director for the Improve I-70 Project from Rocheport to Columbia says the St. Charles Road bridge on Interstate 70 will be opening mid-August.

There is an estimated date of Friday, Aug. 14 for when drivers can use the bridge.

The East St. Charles Road bridge has been under construction since mid-April and was expected to open back in late September.

“We have been absolutely killing construction in that area. It is going very, very well. And, I see no reason why we would not be opening by mid-August at this point,” said Spencer Robinson, who is a project director on the Improve I-70 project.

After the St. Charles bridge is completed, the Missouri Department of Transportation has plans for additional improvements.

Shortly after the bridge opens, a part of Clark Lane will be closed to begin construction on the Hanover roundabout.

For the Providence Road bridge that is under construction, all piers and foundations have been poured.

Construction on the underneath support beams will begin Monday. Roadblocks will be in place in the westbound lane through Wednesday.

MoDOT is aiming to have the Providence Road bridge reopened by late October.

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Sutton Parker

COLUMBIA Mo. KMIZ

Missouri state parks funding and soil and water conservation funding will be back on the ballot for the Aug. 4 election.

Amendment 1 is an automatically recurring 10-year renewal of Missouri’s existing 1/10-cent statewide sales tax, which split-funds state parks and soil and water conservation efforts. The tax has won passage every 10 years since its inception in the 1980s.

The tax would specifically go to renovating facilities, maintenance and the upkeep of state parks.

Along with funding for the soil and water Conservation program to preserve water quality and help to reduce erosion to protect water quality.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer said the tax generates around $168 million.

“So it gets split in half. So 50% goes to our state park system, and then the other 50% goes to the Soil and Water Conservation program,” he said.

This year, with many other tax votes on the ballot, Schaefer said the familiarity of this amendment makes him confident it will pass again.

“I think the distinction with amendment one is voters have approved this so many times, in support of it, it showed through their vote that I think they’re very familiar with it, you know, so every ten years that this has been on the ballot since the 1980s, it has increased in the number of votes it gets,” he said.

Scheaffer said that if the amendment is not passed, park funding would have to come out of the state’s budget.

“Presumably general revenue, which is something that’s in very short supply right now. We’re dealing with a lot of issues in the state budget right now with general revenue,” he said.

Adding that a lack of general funds was the reason this amendment was added to the ballot in the first place.

“So that’s the one thing about this, really, in the 1980s that was put together by citizens who got this on initiative, a petition onto the ballot in 1984,” he said.

Tylet Schwartze with the Conservation Federation of Missouri said that if this amendment fails, it would lead to entrance fees returning to state parks.

“If it weren’t to pass, it would definitely be some financial challenges. The burden on the state parks, potential entrance fees,” he said.

Scheaffer said one of the reasons behind the creation of the amendment in the 1980’s was for that exact reason.

“Parks were actually starting to install gates to charge an entrance fee. And that’s really what prompted the parks part of this tax to get people involved and get it on the ballot and get this passed initially in 1984,” he said.

Schwartze said that even with other taxes up for a vote in August, he remains hopeful Amendment 1 will pass.

“Even though there are other amendments, I think it’s important to focus on Amendment 1 and what it does, the impact that it has on the citizens. It’s a renewal tax;s been around since 1884. Last time, citizens renewed this tax by over 80%. So four out of five Missourians said yes last time,” he said.

The last time Amendment 1 appeared on the ballot was in 2016, when it was passed by 80% statewide.

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Pavement maintenance will take place on Old 63 starting from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night starting Monday.

The City of Columbia Public Works Department has been revamping streets throughout Columbia one at a time. The construction on Old 63 will start at its intersection with Chinaberry Drive.

The work will start south and end north by Business Loop 70.

John Ogan with the City of Columbia Public Works says that although the project was supposed to start on Friday, weather pushed the work back.

An estimated finish date was set for July 31. There has been no confirmation if this finish date will be met due to the unexpected weather.

Since the work is taking place overnight, not everybody will be affected and one lane will always be open.

Ogan urges drivers to stay alert and keep workers safe.

“They’ll be working just a few feet from live traffic. So if you see these crews, just follow the flagger instructions. Don’t go until it’s your turn.” Ogan said. “These are workers who are working for the benefit of our transportation network. Just make sure they go home safe.”

The last time Old 63 was repaved was 15 years ago.

Roads that have gone through maintenance this summer are:

Nebraska Avenue from North Seventh Street to North Providence Road

Big Bear Boulevard from Providence Road to the east end of the street

Watson Place from Elm Street to Woodson Way

South Fifth Street from Cherry Street to East Stewart Road

Sixth Street from Ash Street to Elm Street

Elm Street from South Sixth Street to South Ninth Street

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Missouri appeals court has reversed a decision made by a Cole County judge in a decades-old murder case.

Judge Emily Fretwell had dismissed charges against William “Chris” Niemet earlier this month.

Niemet, of Fulton, is charged with first-degree murder in a 1991 death of his classmate in Russellville.

Fretwell had dismissed the case on July 16 and the attorney general’s office filed an appeal immediately, according to a Friday statement from the AG’s office and court filings. Catherine Hanaway’s office filed a writ against Fretwell, which was issued by the Western District court on July 20.

Hanaway’s filing on July 16 kept Fretwell “from taking further action” in the case, unless Fretwell vacated the order. Fretwell then vacated her order and an arraignment was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Niemet is accused of killing Greg Jones in April 1991 in Russellville. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with first-degree murder. The trial has been delayed multiple times.

Fretwell was assigned to the case in May after a request for a change in judge was filed.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Sedalia Police Department issued an endangered Silver Advisory for a 79-year-old woman with dementia who went missing on Friday morning, according to an alert from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Helen Frances Gillespie was last seen at 7 a.m. in the 1900 block of East 9thn Street in Sedalia, according to the release. She is 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighs 180 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.

She left her residence this morning in a blue 2012 Toyota Rav 4 with an “unknown intended destination.” The license plate reads LG3D8S.

The vehicle was last seen heading northbound on Glenstone Avenue at Kearney Street in Springfield, Missouri, at 2:09 p.m., the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins on Friday threatened Daniel Boone Regional Library’s funding over an LGBTQ+-themed event that is set to take place this weekend.

The Columbia Public Library’s “Rainbow Story Time” event is scheduled for 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday in the Children’s Program Room.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued a statement on Thursday claiming “residents” had requested her office to make sure the event is “”conducted in a manner consistent with Missouri law.”

Library spokeswoman Mitzi St. John wrote in a Thursday email that the event includes readings of “Rainbowsaurus” and “Big Wig.” St. John wrote that neither book includes sexual content.

“Rainbow Story Time is part of our expanded story time events and is geared toward families. The letter from the AG office does not alter our plans,” St. John wrote in a follow-up statement on Friday.

Hoskins in his statement referred to a law Gov. Mike Kehoe signed earlier this month that requires age verification for pornographic websites.

“Yet this event mocks some of the very protections so many have fought for by exposing toddlers and preschoolers to adult material that is not only inappropriate, but far beyond their level of cognitive development,” Hoskins’ statement says.

Hoskins wrote that if the event does occur, DBRL’s funding will be affected.

“As you know, the State Library falls under the Office of the Secretary of State, and as such, I oversee the administration of significant library grant funding,” the statement says. “Please be advised if this inappropriate endeavor for children takes place, I will do everything in my power to block every dollar of state and federal funding I can from future events at the Daniel Boone Library System.”

St. John told ABC 17 News that the library did not have a comment on Hoskins’ statement.

Daniel Boone Regional Library Workers United, the union that represents DBRL employees, also is aware of Hanaway’s and Hoskins’ statements, saying the office’s influence has not changed their services.

“Our staff and our library are proud to serve an incredible, diverse community. We have always and will always seek ways to meet the needs of our entire community. In turn, our community has shown our library and staff an immense amount of support that we know they will continue,” DBRLWU President Patrick Johnston said in a statement. “Banning books and threatening libraries is not the sign of a healthy polity.”

“Rainbowsaurus” is about two dads and their three children following a rainbow to find the rainbowsaurus. Along the way, they meet animals of all different colors, according to Simon and Schuster’s website.

“Big Wig” is about youth dressing up in drag to compete in a costume competition, and finding confidence in dressing out of the norm, according to Simon and Schuster’s website.

ABC 17 News viewed both books at the library. DBRL also provided social media posts showing the books’ content. Both books can be viewed below.

Charles Hatfield — who is an attorney and former chief of staff for the AG during Jay Nixon’s tenure — tells ABC 17 News Missouri’s pornography laws are purposefully narrow.

“In other words, you can ban pornography, but it has to really be pornography. You can’t just ban books or materials that you don’t like,” Hatfield said.

Under Chapter 573 of the Missouri Constitution, for material to be “pornographic for minors” it must meet all three requirements: cater sexual content to minors or, “cater or appeal to a prurient interest of minors,” clearly show nudity or sexual acts and lack “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”

“Just reading a book to a minor that might be about different lifestyles or cultures that maybe even all of us disagree with, that’s not pornographic material, that’s First Amendment expression,” Hatfield said.

Hatfield added officials currently cannot stop the reading from happening and can only take action after the fact, such as revoking state funds.

“If the secretary of state does something that the library thinks is inappropriate, the library could go to court and challenge that decision,” Hatfield said. “We’ll have to see what happens on Saturday, but again, given what I’ve read about it, it sounds like the library is not planning to violate the state law on pornographic material.”

ABC 17 News spoke with Columbia resident Rachel Wolpertl, who said she does not agree with the statements from Missouri officials about the contents of the book and said libraries are all-inclusive spaces and they should be kept that way.

“Those books are geared towards full inclusivity. You know, it’s not about sex, it’s about supporting everybody and being a kind, wonderful friend to all people in the world, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, their religious beliefs, everything,” Wolpertl said. “None of those books have any sex themes. So… there’s I don’t know why people would be against reading about being a friend and kind to everybody.”

Wolpertl said parents have the ability to choose what they expose their children too and that the library is providing books for children to learn about their world at their own pace.

“That’s what the library is able to do, is to provide age-appropriate books and resources to children so that they can be exposed to things on their own timeline,” Wolpertl said. “Of course, parents can limit as much as they want to or not expose their children to what they want to do in their own lives, and to what their beliefs are and what their value systems are.

ABC 17 News reached out to Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe for comment. She declined to comment because she said she does not oversee the library.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City woman has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of arson after a house fire earlier this month.

Sheila Kroeger is charged with first-degree and second-degree arson.

Court documents state that the home Kroeger was living in caught fire on July 9.

An officer with the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office said the property owner reported ongoing issues, including Kroeger allegedly not paying her rent.

Investigators found two points of origin, one in the bedroom and another on the back porch. Fire patterns were consistent with the fire being intentionally set, according to court documents.

Officers said Kroeger was interviewed on July 15 and said she was home alone when the fire started.

Court documents state that she described electrical issues throughout the home, but investigators found no evidence of this.

The officer also said Kroeger denied involvement but said “it couldn’t be arson because an accelerant wasn’t used,” but that information was not provided.

No injuries were reported. A neighboring home was also damaged, along with a vehicle.

Online court records state that she pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Monday.

Judge Joseph Shetler denied her request for a bond change. Kroeger is being held without bond at the Cole County jail.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Task Force 1, an urban search and rescue team attached to the Boone County Fire Protection District, began its trip home from a deployment in flooded south Texas on Friday.

The team was first sent to Texas about a week ago after heavy rains caused devastating flash flooding in the southern part of the state. The team worked in Zapata County, near the southeastern Texas-Mexico border, and then staged in San Antonio to be ready if needed for Tropical Storm Bertha response.

The trip home will take about a day and a half, the Task Force stated in a news release.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused of killing his ex-wife and her mother will now go to trial in December.

Judge Josh Devine agreed to push back Randall Fox’s murder trial to December 8. A pre-trial hearing was set for November 9. Court records show Fox’s defense moved to delay the trial after the state disclosed new discovery materials, just a month before the trial was set to start.

Fox, 51, faces two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of tampering with evidence.

Defense attorney Manuel Tatayon wrote in a motion on Friday that prosecutors gave him autopsy results on June 30, along with 260 pages of discovery. Tatayon said he is still waiting on information in the case “regarding additional potential other suspects.”

Columbia police believe Fox shot and killed Sarah Fox and her mother, Marcia Hess, at Hess’s home in the 1700 block of Ridgemont Drive in 2024. Investigators say they found the two dead inside a basement closet at the home in May after receiving calls that they had not been seen or heard from in several days.

Court documents detail police’s search for Sarah Fox and Hess in late May. Police wrote that they got a call from a family member of Sarah Fox and Hess’s on May 18 claiming they had not heard from the pair in ten days. Police said Randall Fox was at the Ridgemont Drive house that day. During a search of the house, Fox allegedly said a “bad smell” in the house was coming from some sleeping bags. When an officer asked to look inside the closet the bodies were allegedly found in later, Randall Fox said the objects inside “will fall out if he opens it.”

Police said Randall Fox told them in an in-custody interview on May 23 that he didn’t know that they were found dead in the basement of the home. The detective noted that they had never told Randall Fox where exactly the bodies were found in the home.

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