Cooper Archives

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

Firefighters contain natural cover fire in Cooper County, displaced family loses everything

October 23, 2022 10:21 AM Erika McGuire

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A family displaced in a fire in Woolridge says they have lost everything, after their two properties burned to the ground Sunday. Over 50 fire departments from across the state of Missouri contained the natural cover fire near Wooldridge in Cooper County. Cooper County Fire Protection District says the fire spread

Red Cross helps displaced Wooldridge residents after devastating fire

October 23, 2022 8:07 PM Hannah Falcon

WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (KMIZ) Displaced Wooldridge residents are staying in a Red Cross shelter for another night. The Red Cross said it has helped nine families so far. The shelter will stay open for anyone who needs it until 10 a.m. Monday. The shelter is at the Open Bible Praise Church in Booneville, and those coming

Cooper County Emergency Management Agency to give update on fire near Wooldridge

October 23, 2022 5:20 AM Erika McGuire

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Crews continue to work to put out a natural cover fire that has burned at least 20 structures near Wooldridge. Larry Oerly, Director of Operations for Cooper County Emergency Management Agency is set to give an update on the fire at 7 a.m. Sunday. ABC 17 News crews said they could

Eldon man charged in Cooper County after bar fight

October 6, 2022 2:05 PM Zachary Farwell

An Eldon man faces criminal charges in Cooper County after a bar fight in August.

Delays possible on eastbound I-70 at Missouri River bridge due to crash

October 6, 2022 8:28 AM Zachary Farwell

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) WATCH LIVE: Drivers should expect to find delays on eastbound Interstate 70 at the Missouri River bridge due to a crash Thursday morning. MoDOT reported around 8:05 a.m. that the delays at the bridge should last about an hour. Crews closed the right lane off to drivers following the crash near

Cooper County man charged following police chase in Columbia

September 30, 2022 4:15 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boonville man was charged with multiple crimes Wednesday after causing a police chase in north Columbia. Cameron Comstock, 22, was charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and driving while revoked — second or third offense. A Boone County police officer came across Comstock driving a stolen GMC Yukon in