Guest House owners appeal revocation of licenses

As various news outlets reported Thursday, Joplin River of Life Ministries is appealing the revocation of its licenses to operate Guest Houses in Anderson, Carl Junction, and Joplin:

The three remaining Guest Houses in Joplin and Carl Junction shut down last week, the Department of Health and Senior Services said. But the organization appealed to the state's Administrative Hearing Commission in hopes of regaining its residential care licenses so the homes would be more valuable to sell, said Executive Director LaVerne DuPont.

State officials say the Guest Houses were being operated by Mrs. Dupont's husband, Robert, who was not allowed to run group homes following his 2003 federal fraud conviction. The investigation into the operation of the facilities began following the Nov. 27 Anderson Guest House fire in which 11 were killed.