Cooper Archives

Break Time store robbed at gunpoint in Boonville

January 6, 2023 5:20 PM Matthew Sanders

A masked man with a handgun robbed a Boonville convenience store and might have had an accomplice, police say.

Governor extends order to help Gygr-Gas customers

December 29, 2022 5:21 PM Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday signed an executive order to continue to allow customers of a Boonville-based propane supplier to get their tanks filled by other companies.

Several Mid-Missouri centers, offices and schools close Thursday for winter weather

December 21, 2022 3:42 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Snow and extreme cold are headed to Mid-Missouri on Thursday. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team is tracking subzero temperatures for the rest of the week. Several Mid-Missouri entities are announcing closures for Thursday to stay ahead of the storm. All local closings and delays can be found here, ABC 17 will

Cooper County man pleads guilty to racially motivated crime

December 21, 2022 11:45 AM Matthew Sanders

A Wooldrige man pleaded guilty last week to a felony charge of racially motivated harassment.

Governor signs order to help customers of Mid-Missouri gas company

December 15, 2022 1:59 PM Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Thursday that will help customers of a Boonville-based propane company that has stopped making deliveries and responding to communication.

Needs are up, donations down at local food bank

December 12, 2022 4:04 PM Marissa Hollowed

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy. However, for families struggling to make ends meet, that joy can quickly be replaced with stress. This year, the Foodbank for Central and Northeast Missouri says the need for food in our area is growing. At the same time, the amount of

Illinois man killed in I-70 crash that sparked median fire

November 30, 2022 12:20 PM Matthew Sanders

An Illinois man died in a crash that slowed down traffic on Interstate 70 in Cooper County on Wednesday morning.

Parson extends drought alert until March 1

November 28, 2022 4:43 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson on Monday issued an executive order to extend Missouri’s drought alert until March 1, 2023, to address issues outlined by the state’s Drought Assessment Committee. Currently, 87% of Missouri face abnormally dry conditions, with many counties — including Boone, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, Pettis and Saline — still experiencing

Inflation, drought drive up Christmas tree prices

November 25, 2022 6:13 PM Hannah Falcon

Decking the halls may hurt your wallet a little more than usual this year.

Students help clean up in aftermath of Wooldridge fire

November 21, 2022 11:44 AM Erika McGuire

Students from a Columbia private school will help residents of a Cooper County village clean up Monday after a devastating wildfire.

Cooper County Sheriff: Jackson County man faces several charges after allegedly stealing truck, ATM, setting truck on fire

November 18, 2022 4:09 PM Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) An Independence man was charged with several felonies on Thursday in Cooper County in relation to an alleged incident that occurred in October. Joshua Dillon, 40, was charged with: Three counts of tampering with a motor vehicleTwo counts of stealing a motor vehicleSecond-degree burglaryFirst-degree property damageStealing $750 or moreReceiving stolen propertyKnowingly burning

Cooper County Sheriff’s Office: Two men face burglary charges

November 11, 2022 3:45 PM Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) The Cooper County Sheriff’s Office said Friday on its Facebook page that two men were charged with multiple felonies on Thursday after allegedly being involved in a burglary on Route M. Jordan Dickerson, 26, and Antonio Benford, 30, were each charged with second-degree burglary, stealing a gun and first-degree property damage. The

Cooper County sex offender indicted for child pornography charges

November 9, 2022 3:46 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Prairie Home man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges related to producing child pornography. Bradley Knecht, 28, was charged Tuesday with sexual exploitation of children and activities constituting/containing child pornography in Jefferson City. Knecht, who was arrested Wednesday, has a prior Arkansas conviction for possessing

Judgment declared in case against Cooper County Public Health Board

November 2, 2022 10:30 PM Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A judge on Oct. 28 ordered for $94,000 –for fees and litigation costs — to be taxed against the Cooper County Public Board of Health. A jury earlier this year said Cooper County’s health board violated the Missouri Sunshine Act when debating possible farming rules. The jury heard arguments from a group

Debris from Wooldridge fire still sits on road one week later

October 29, 2022 9:42 PM Marina Diaz

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) The empty shell of cars and the rubble from homes still lay along the roads in the Village of Wooldridge one week after the major brush fire damaged the town. “The financial toll that we just took was at least $80,000,” said Jessica McComb. McComb was just one of many people

Governor praises first responders to Wooldridge fire; says no one to blame

October 26, 2022 12:05 PM Matthew Sanders

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday praised firefighters, the highway patrol and other first responders and said he’s thankful no lives were lost in the wildfire that ripped through a Cooper County village over the weekend.

Wooldridge begins recovery after weekend fire

October 24, 2022 3:41 PM Ethan Heinz

The small town of Wooldridge is recovering from a Saturday brush fire that burned down homes and businesses.

PHOTOS: Fire leaves behind destruction in Wooldridge

October 24, 2022 11:19 AM ABC 17 News Team

The small community of Wooldridge, with about 60 residents, was devastated in a wildfire Saturday.

Crews respond to small overnight fire in Cooper County

October 24, 2022 6:55 AM Joushua Blount

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Firefighters contained another fire early Monday morning near the Interstate 70 bridge over the Missouri River. An ABC 17 News crew saw the small fire from the bridge in Cooper County around 4:15 a.m. There were no reports of injuries, according to the Boone County Fire Protection District. Over the weekend,

Controlled burn meant to keep Cooper County wildfire from spreading

October 24, 2022 11:08 AM Matthew Sanders

NEAR WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (KMIZ) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hoping to keep the wildfire that devastated a Cooper County town over the weekend from spreading onto more public land. Fish and Wildlife workers were conducting a controlled burn Monday in the Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge in Cooper County. The refuge is near