The gun violence gripping Columbia has hit close to home for a former University of Missouri basketball star with deep Columbia roots. Willie Smith said Thursday that James Hickem, a 23-year-old killed by gunfire Wednesday night, is his grandson. Smith first spoke with ABC 17 News on Wednesday afternoon about the violence that has now
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The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau said it has not seen an immediate drop in tourism following recent shootings. The bureau has been measuring visitor’s perception of safety for the past four years. It is an annual measure. “Columbia, we’ve always branded our self as a community that is open, and welcoming and safe and
Continue ReadingTwo men were arrested after allegedly driving down Interstate 70 with multiple pounds of marijuana. According to court documents, Logan Frazier and Isaiah Hensley were pulled over in their car around the 99-mile marker on I-70 in Cooper County after they allegedly changed lanes without a turn signal twice. Court documents said the two men
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Wednesday’s killing of James Hickem tied a grim milestone for the city of Columbia. The death marked the ninth homicide in Columbia in which law enforcement believed a crime occurred. That ties the number of killings set in 2017, the highest such mark in the last 20 years. Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones said Wednesday
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The Salvation Army Shelter on Jefferson Street has seen an increased number of people seeking shelter over the past few months. “We always see fluctuations up and down but this has been a continual string of us being busy and our beds being full,” said Justin Windell, captain at the Salvation Army. He said the
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The Camdenton Police Department is investigating after officers found what appeared to be an “explosive substance” inside of a hotel room. According to a news release, officers responded to the Sleep Inn on Highway 54 around 1:20 p.m. to help hotel staff with a problem with a tenant. Police said officers found a man inside
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The Columbia Fire Department’s new chief, Brian Schaeffer, said Friday that he plans to build the department’s relationship with the community and have a succession plan in place before he leaves, as he heads into week four in his new role.
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