Month: April 2014

It’s that time of year when more kids are playing outside in the nice weather, keeping parks busy throughout Mid-Missouri. While parents want to make sure their kids are playing safely ABC 17 News found some possible dangers that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Dr. Bethany Stone is an associate professor of biology

In Missouri, around 78,000 children are living in grandparent-headed households. The AARP says grandparents raising their grandchildren is a growing trend not only in the state, but nationally. Jefferson City’s Community Services Committee members said they noticed large amount of grandparent-headed homes in the city and felt compelled to do something to help them out.

The owner of Sake Japanese Bistro and a few Jimmy John’s franchises in Columbia said a man by the name of Jason Martinez tried to scam him. “He said here’s what you need to do… Go to Wal-Mart or Walgreens and buy a prepaid two hundred and fifty dollar card and send it to this

One woman was killed and another seriously injured in a Thursday morning crash on Highway 63 near Ashland. 19-year-old Briana Forrest was crossing Highway 63 from Forsee Road in a Dodge Avenger and failed to yield to 34-year-old Trudy Lakes who was driving a Ford Expedition who was driving south on Highway 63. Lakes’ SUV

Jefferson City Public Works met Thursday to discuss snow removal and overtime cost for the winter 2014 season. Jefferson City Public Works Director Britt Smith told ABC 17 News the bills have been paid for this winter, but the city’s stockpile of treatment materials is only 30 percent of it’s capacity. Smith asked the city

Police have arrested Darrius Edwards for murder in connection with a robbery that turned deadly in April. According to investigators, Edwards and two other people tried to rob an apartment on West Texas Avenue on April 22. One of the people living there shot at the invaders, hitting two of them. Derrick Brookins died from

More roadwork is being done now that warmer weather is here. When most people go to work they worry about getting their work done correctly. Those who work for the Missouri Department of Transportation worry about getting their work done as well as their safety. MoDOT worker, Kent Cunningham, was almost hit by a tractor

In an effort to find solutions to the violent crime in Columbia, members of the mayor’s task force on community violence reached out the community members who have been directly affected. Those community members were invited to talk about their experience before the task force members at their meeting Wednesday night. “There are things that

A Sedalia man died in a car accident Wednesday afternoon in Warren County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, James Lutjen was driving west on I-70 outside Warrenton when his truck left the road and flipped over. Lutjen, 35, died at the scene. The cause of the accident is unknown. It’s also unclear if

A partnering of three local agencies would create a campus to house dozens of homeless and struggling veterans in Columbia. The plan, announced Wednesday afternoon, has been in the works for years between Welcome Home, Inc., the Truman VA, and the Columbia Housing Authority. The partners need community commitment to make the dream a reality,

Baseball- Peter Fairbanks pitched eight strong innings while Dylan Kelly went 2-4, as Mizzou baseball upset Illinois 5-2 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Fairbanks (4-4) got the win, striking out 3 and throwing 84 pitches in eight innings. Kelly’s biggest hit came in the fifth, getting a 2-out RBI scoring Shane Segovia and Logan

The U.S. Department of Justice announced changes Wednesday to the federal guidelines for clemency. The department says it’s part of Attorney General Eric Holder’s “Smart on Crime” campaign. Now, lawyers may file petitions for “non-violent, low-level” inmates with no connections to large criminal organizations. The person must have shown good conduct in prison, and have

A Moberly man was indicted by a federal grand jury for having and using counterfeit $50 bills. 37-year-old Kevin McCuiston was charged in a two-count indictment. McCuiston was charged for possessing 49 counterfeit $50 bills on December 6, 2013, and with passing 4 counterfeit $50 bills and 5 $10 bills on December 2, 2013. McCuiston

Tyler Clark of Fulton was arrested Wednesday for having cocaine and drug paraphernalia in a home in the 700 block of Bluff Street. The MUSTANG Drug Task Force and Callaway County Sheriff’s Department found more than 10 grams of suspected crack cocaine, digital scales, and packaging materials. Detectives also found a 40 caliber handgun and

69-year-old Ronald Lee Nowlin was arrested Tuesday afternoon after stabbing a 35-year-oldman in the arm with a pair of scissors. The incident happened in the 400 block of East Cedar Court in the Clearview Subdivision just north of Columbia after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The victim is reported to be Nowlin’s son-in-law who was treated for

One man is in custody for an April 5th shooting in Columbia. Damien Jones was picked up by Columbia police Tuesday night in the 400 block of Lasalle Place. The shooting happened near the Midwest Petroleum Convenience Store off Providence. One man was injured in the shooting. Jones is now facing numerous charges including armed

A Break Time store in Columbia was the target of theft Tuesday night. Columbia police were called to the store on Nebraska Avenue and Providence Road at around 11:20 p.m. for reports of a robbery. The suspect took cash from the store, but was not armed at the time. No one has been arrested for

The University of Missouri appears to be looking at UTEP coach Tim Floyd, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. Multiple reports say UTEP AD Bob Stull says he has not been contacted by either Floyd or Missouri about a move. Stull was a former football player at the University of Missouri. Floyd previously coached at Southern

Columbia Police said they are still looking for the suspect or suspects in Tuesdays homicide on Texas Avenue, but one witness said he knows who did it. Mike Chambers was standing outside his garage across the street when he heard and watched the chaos unfold just before 2 p.m. Tuesday. “I heard boom, boom, boom,

The Fulton State Hospital was built in 1851 and is the oldest mental hospital West of the Mississippi. Representatives Jeanie Riddle and John Dhiel agree that the facility is becoming more and more dangerous for the patients and workers. The House and Senate appropriated thirteen million dollars last year to rebuild the state hospital. The