Category: kmiz-local-news

Keriana Gamboa

Columbia Mo. (KMIZ)

On Saturday, Second Chance celebrated the opening of its new clinic building at an open house event where the public got their first look inside, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony two days ago.

Second Chance unveiled a climate-controlled storage building for pet food and opened an in-house clinic for spay and neuter procedures. They also renovated their adoption building to include emergency dog rooms for dogs not in foster care.

Second Chance executive director, Giulia Hall, says looking ahead, Second Chance plans to use the new building as a food pantry to support community members in need.

“What we would like to do is just to be able to offer supplies and food and you know, even beyond food, if people need things for the community, especially on towards Booneville, because there isn’t a lot out this way,” Hall said.

They have not finalized a timeline for its opening.

“That being available to people who possibly need food for their dogs because they don’t have a home at the moment or they’re just, you know, struggling between paycheck to paycheck, because dog food can get pretty pricey,” Foster Employee, Veronica Buman said.

Second Chance also recently broke ground on a new memorial garden and is still in the early stages of development. They completed the walking path last week, and the next phase will involve adding paw print designs made from river rocks for community members to paint.

Susan Groshong, a foster parent for over a decade, said having an animal rescue nearby matters, especially in communities with limited resources.

“I know I’ve had dogs that were from Eldon or other communities that don’t have shelters, so being here in Boonville makes it easier for people to come here to meet the dogs,” Groshong said.

Since 2022, Second Chance has facilitated more than a thousand adoptions each year. Currently, they have over 200 animals placed in foster homes.

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Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor’s note: The Number of fatalities in the 2019 tornado has been corrected.

The United Way of Central Missouri’s Cole County Community Organizations Active in Disaster, or COAD, is set to host the Cole County Ready Festival Saturday afternoon, focused on emergency preparedness and safety.

In partnership with the Cole County Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross, the family-friendly event aims to connect the community with emergency management agencies and provide resources for disaster preparedness.

The county has faced numerous disasters over the years, including flood rescues and a 2024 house explosion. In 2019, a devastating EF-3 tornado that displaced hundreds of residents.

The Cole County Ready Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln University’s Jason Gym. There will be emergency preparedness booths, local emergency response trucks and safety vehicles and food trucks.

“It’s important to be prepared for emergencies, because really, they can strike at any time and knowledge is power,” Cole County COAD Board Member Amber Brondel said. “Just to know what different disasters can impact you or your family and how to respond to them, it’s just so important to make sure that everyone stays safe.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was found guilty of two felonies last month for making a grocery store to go on lockdown last year was sentenced on Friday.

John Linzie, 46, was found guilty of second-degree making a terroristic threat and first-degree property damage. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was given credit for time served.

According to court documents in previous reporting, Linzie allegedly threatened to “grab a shotgun and shoot everyone” on Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Gerbes Supermarket on West Broadway.

Court documents say Linzie threw trash cans at the store’s glass door and that Linzie broke some of the cart corrals during the attack.

Multiple store employees allegedly told police that they saw Linzie throw trash cans and damage the cart return, the statement says. A manager at the store had locked down the store to keep Linzie from entering, the statement says.

He also allegedly threatened to fight staff.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 35-year-old man suffered moderate injuries after a boat exploded and sank at the Lake of the Ozarks on Friday.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol report indicates a 1986 Wellcraft Cabin Cruiser exploded after the driver – a 70-year-old St. Joseph man – started the motor. The 35-year-old man from St. Joseph was brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance, the report says.

A press release from the Mid-County Fire Protection District says that first responders were called to the 5-65 Marina off of Twin Rivers Point Road in the Greenview area. People in the area initially pushed the boat away from the dock so damage wouldn’t occur to the dock or other boats, the release says.

The fire was brought under control in minutes, but the boat sank in about 40 feet of water, the release says. A fireboat marked the GPS coordinates where the boat sank for a salvage company, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Southern Boone School District is considering a schedule change for the 2026-27 school year.

The district said in a Friday press release that it is considering changing its school week to four days. The release cites teacher recruitment and retention and enhancing student engagement for possible reasons. No changes will be made for the upcoming school year.

“We know how hard our educators and staff work, and we are committed to supporting them,” Superintendent Tim Roth said in the release. “Exploring a four-day school week is about recognizing the challenges of today’s educational environment and being proactive in finding ways to support our team while continuing to prioritize student learning.”

The release says that it is creating surveys for parents and staff to gain their input. The district will also host presentations and forums in the coming months.

If a change does occur, the Board of Education will make the decision during a vote, the release says.

For questions or to share feedback, community members may contact the district by sending an email to communications@sbschools.us.

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Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Renovations planned for the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center are aimed to improve accessibility and enhance the experience for families, according to city officials.

City officials on Friday afternoon held a public input meeting at the pool and will be accepting input online through July 24.

Proposed renovations at the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center include upgrades to the plumbing and mechanical systems, the addition of an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant zero-depth entry pool, new water features, expanded shade structures and updates to the diving boards and ADA pool chair lift.

The project has a budget of $4 million, with construction expected to begin in the fall and completion targeted for next summer.

The Parks and Recreation Park Services Manager Mitchell Dooley said ADA improvements are a key focus of the renovation.

“It improves accessibility and makes it easier to get into the water, particularly for kids and those with disabilities,” Dooley said.

Joy Sweeney, who is the CEO of Woodhaven — an organization that advocates for individuals with disabilities — told ABC 17 News in a statement the group strongly supports the city’s efforts to improve the pool.

Residents who showed up to the meeting were supportive of the changes.

“I think it’s great. Anything that makes it more accessible to the handicapped or people that have needs, even like myself, I think would benefit from it,” Columbia resident Christine Watermon said.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A portion of Business Loop 70 in Columbia will experience a traffic shift on July 3, according to a press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Release says crews working on the Improve I-70 Project will divert westbound traffic – near Eastland Circle and Hinkson Creek – to the center lane. The release says there will be no turn lane during the traffic shift.

The release says crews are preparing to build a new roundabout that will connect Business Loop 70 to Interstate 70.  

A date for the end of that portion of road work was not announced in the release.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A second man has been accused of stealing Mizzou football merchandise and gear from an athletic facility in March.

Victor Decunha, of Columbia, was charged on Friday with first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary. He is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster and a $50,000 bond was set.

He and Jace McKernan were accused of going into the Mizzou Football South End Zone Facility several times from March 2-25 with “other unidentified individuals.” They allegedly took boxes of Mizzou football athletic gear, clothing, alcohol, paintings and other items.

McKernan was also charged with first-degree and second-degree burglary and posted a $5,000 bond on April 1. An arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 30.

Court documents say McKernan listed the name “Victor” as an associate and Decunha was identified through “several anonymous persons with ties to Rock Bridge High School.” A school resource officer was also able to identify him and gave a cellphone number to police, the statement says.

Decunha was also allegedly seen in a Facebook profile picture with McKernan when he tried selling the stolen items on Facebook Marketplace, the statement says. Decunha’s cellphone number was also identified by police during a text exchange with McKernan in which they discussed the heist, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman was charged on Friday after police say they found her with 17 pounds of methamphetamine.

Asia Schafer, 23, was charged with first-degree drug trafficking. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says that a Columbia police officer was monitoring traffic around 1:30 p.m. Thursday when a Tesla Cybertruck with dark windows was seen heading eastbound on Interstate 70 near the Stadium Boulevard exit. The statement says the tint in the windows was too dark and tested at 11% light transmittance, with state law requiring 35%.

The officer pulled over the vehicle at Broadway and Keene Street, the statement says. Schafer allegedly told police that she was coming from the park for lunch, but the officer wrote that he “had prior knowledge that the vehicle was coming from Kansas City and Schafer was lying.” She eventually stated she came from Kansas City, the statement says.

A K-9 was used and drugs were found. Law enforcement found about 17 pounds of methamphetamine in a diaper bag.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with three felonies after he allegedly shot at a woman in a home and yard on Thursday.

Cody Gore, 29, was charged on Friday with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

An initial court appearance was held on Friday afternoon and Gore appeared by video from the jail. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, July 3; while a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 22.

According to the probable cause statement, police were called on Thursday to a residence on Bonny Linn Drive for a report of gunshots and a woman screaming. Police saw the victim run behind a home and Gore in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, the statement says.

Police found a gun in the car that was still hot, along with a magazine that could hold six rounds with one left, the statement says. Police wrote that three shell casings were found in the front yard and two more, along with new bullet holes were seen in a room in the home.

The victim allegedly told police that she woke up Gore, he started yelling and an argument ensued, the statement says. Both people fell and Gore allegedly threatened to kill the victim before firing shots, the statement says.

Gore allegedly told police that an argument started and initially denied firing shots or assaulting the victim, before saying he fired shots, the statement says.

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