Stark City man charged with domestic assault, endangering the welfare of a child

An arrest warrant was issued and bond set by Judge Jacob Skouby at $10,000 for a Stark City man charged with domestic assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to the probable cause statement, Ethan Tyler Hailey (DOB 2000) struck his wife with a closed fist, kicked her and head butted her Friday and it was captured on video.

From the probable cause statement:

Victim 1 provided interior home surveillance footage from cameras located inside the residence. While reviewing the footage, I observed portions of the incident and heard audio of the assault. 

The footage captured Ethan yelling threats including "stomp your f----ng ass" and repeatedly yelling "suck my d---."

The footage also captured the children witnessing the assault and screaming statements including, "Dad, what are you doing to her?" and "Dad, please don't hurt her."

In one video, I observed Ethan strike Victim 1 with a closed fist, causing her to scream. I also observed Ethan forcibly remove a baby from Victim 1's arms. 

In another video, Ethan appeared to strike Victim 1 with his head. The recordings captured Victim 1 and the children screaming, along with sounds consistent with objects being thrown or slammed.

The case was investigated by the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Fairview man charged following shooting

A Fairview man faces four felony charges following a shooting incident today at a Fairview residence.

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged Tyler Koeda Millikin (DOB 1995) with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm. Millikin's arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday in Newton County Circuit Court.

An arrest warrant was issued for Milliken with no bond.

From the probable cause statement:

On April 27, 2026, law enforcement responded to a report of shots fired at or near Fairview, Newton County, Missouri. 

Upon arrival, witnesses reported hearing approximately three gunshots coming from the area of that residence. One witness described a black or dark-colored sedan arriving immediately prior to the gunshots and then fleeing the scene.

Law enforcement was later contacted by W1, who reported that Tyler Milliken shot V1 during an altercation at that location.

Officers subsequently located V1 in Webb City, Missouri. V1 reported that he had been shot in the arm.

Deputies made contact with Tyler Milliken at or near 203 South Estes Avenue where he lives. Milliken denied involvement in the incident.

While on scene, deputies observed physical evidence consistent with a shooting, including a spent shell casing located in the front lawn of the residence, as well as broken glass and tire tracks consistent with a vehicle leaving the area abruptly.

Criminal History reveals that Tyler Milliken was previously found guilty of felony possession of a controlled substance in Newton County, Missouri, on June 25, 2018, making it unlawful for him to possess a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Change of plea hearing set for Carthage man on federal weapons charge

A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 6 in U. S. District Court in Springfield for Phillip Jordan Neese, 33, Carthage, who is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, Phillip Jordan Neese, 33, possessed the weapons September 17 in Jasper County.

The indictment stems from a Joplin Police Department arrest that day. Neese was charged with drug trafficking, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.

More information about the charge and Reese's background can be found at the link below.

Detention hearing set for Carthage man on federal weapons charge

Jason Smith: I'm committed to working with President Trump to reduce Medicare fraud

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

Medicare was created as a promise to every American who spent decades working and paying into the system so that when the time came, they could get the care they needed. Today, that promise is under attack. The Ways and Means Committee, which I chair, has jurisdiction over the Medicare program, and I am fighting every day to preserve those benefits for current and future seniors. For years, criminal networks have moved in and are bleeding it dry, but I am committed to finally holding these criminals accountable.

Every year, $60 billion in Medicare funds is stolen through fraud, waste, and abuse — that’s nearly $900 per beneficiary that should be going toward patient care and lower costs for seniors. Instead, criminals are stealing from taxpayers and robbing seniors of the care they need and getting rich off their schemes in the process. The American people deserve answers and accountability. That’s exactly why I held a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday to learn the true scope of this fraud, and what we discovered was deeply concerning.

During our hearing, we heard from a patient, Dr. Lynn Ianni, who told us her story of how she was impacted by fraud. She had a sports injury, and went to get physical therapy, but Medicare denied her claim because she had been enrolled by criminals in a fraudulent hospice care scheme for two years without her knowledge. This individual had never been on hospice a day in her life, but fraudsters had enrolled her without her knowledge and were cashing in.

Sheila Clark, a hospice industry expert, shared that fraudsters were able to enroll a burrito stand in California as an accredited hospice facility and was collecting taxpayer dollars. Let that sink in. One building in Los Angeles County was also found to allegedly be the home of 89 different hospice operations. In LA County alone, there is estimated to be over $3.5 billion in fraud in Medicare. And that’s just California. Democrat governors in Minnesota and New York have turned a blind eye to fraud for years.

In New York, fraudulent home health aides have become the number one new job in the state, totaling more than 600,000 as of January 2026 — more than double than that of the second highest occupation. And in Minnesota, investigators estimate more than $9 billion across several public programs has been lost to fraud, including the sham daycare centers where there wasn’t a single child in the building. Democrat governors have known about these issues and continued to look away.

As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, I’m committed to working with President Trump and his administration to tackle fraud wherever it is found. Last year, I requested a GAO investigation that found nearly 60,000 individuals were receiving subsidized care through Obamacare despite the fact that they were dead.

The fact is, it shouldn’t be hard to fix this problem, and we’re already working to enact some commonsense solutions. I pushed for the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act signed into law, which permanently allows the Social Security Administration to share death records with the Treasury Department. In its first year alone, it has stopped over $100 million in payments going to people who are no longer alive.

Unlike Democrat politicians across the country, President Trump is not turning a blind eye to fraud. His 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown has saved taxpayers nearly $15 billion and charged more than 300 people committing Medicare fraud with federal crimes. The Trump Administration has also shut down 450 fraudulent hospices in Los Angeles alone, and not one of them have asked why their payments stopped because they knew they were never legitimate to begin with.

The days of fraudsters stealing taxpayer dollars without any fear of oversight or accountability are over. Medicare belongs to the people who earned it, and I will keep fighting every single day to make sure it stays that way.

35 out of 37 businesses don't sell alcohol to minors during Joplin PD compliance check

To reduce underage access to alcohol, the Joplin Police Department conducted Youth Alcohol Compliance Checks at various establishments throughout the City of Joplin on April 22, 2026. 

Compliance checks are aimed at ensuring adherence to state and local laws regarding the legal sale of alcohol to minors.

Of the 37 locations checked, 2 locations were found to be non-compliant and sold alcohol to minors. The list of compliant and non-compliant stores is below.

In addition to compliance checks, the Joplin Police Department is encouraging local establishments and owners to ensure that each employee responsible for selling alcohol receives proper training. 

The Department recommends that businesses learn more through Free Responsible Retailer Training, a class for local retailers hosted by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks.

If your business would like up-to-date information on Missouri alcohol sales laws, how to identify minors and intoxicated persons, state compliance checks, and more, contact Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO) at (417) 888-2020 or email kpoor@cpozarks.org.

Compliant

1. Downstream Q Store 4777 W Downstream Blvd

2. Pilot 4500 S 43 Hwy

3. Rapid Roberts 4549 S 43 Hwy

4. Love’s 4013 S 43 Hwy

5. Dollar General Store 2630 W 32nd St

6. Walgreens 3222 S Main St

7. CVS Pharmacy 112 E 32nd st

8. U-Gas 2702 S Main St

9. ALPS 2602 S Main St

10. Casey’s General Store 2501 S Main St

11. The Corner 2002 S Main St

12. Fresh Way/Downtown Corner Mart 419 W 4th St

13. Chad’s Spirit 66 703 W 7th St

14. Cash Saver 811 W 7th St

15. Zip Trip 1102 W 7th St

16. White Oak Station 1832 S Maiden ln

17. Hall’s Food Mart 2002 S Bird Ave

18. Casey’s General Store 403 N Main St19. White Oak Station 1631 E 4th St

20. UGAS 1201 S Range Line Rd

21. White Oak Station 1503 S Range Line Rd

22. Joplin Mini Mart 1210 E 15th St

23. Discount Smokes and Liqour 1817 S Main St

24. Red Apple Mart 901 N Florida

25. Casey’s General Store 2604 N Range Line Rd

26. Discount Smokes and Liquour 1804 E 7th St

27. Casey’s General Store 1904 E 20th St

28. Jugz 1605 E 20th St

29. UGAS 2115 S Connecticut Ave

30. The Corner 1318 E 32nd St

31. ZIPS 1904 E 32nd St

32. Discount Smokes and Liquor 2703 E 32nd St

33. Eagle Stop 3504 S Range Line Rd

34. Casey’s General Store 4800 S Range Line Rd

35. Phillips 66 3308 E 32nd St

Non-Compliant

36. Casey’s General Store 2764 W 32nd St

37. Lion Stop 3525 E Newman Rd

Crawford County paramedics, Pittsburg policeman treated for fentanyl exposure

(From the Pittsburg Police Department)

On Friday afternoon April 24, 2026, at approximately 2:51 PM, first responders with the Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg Fire Department and Crawford County EMS were dispatched a residence located in the 1100 block of W 4th Street, in Pittsburg in reference to a subject suffering from a suspected drug overdose. 

The patient, who was identified as a 32-year-old male, was found to be unconscious and was not breathing. The patient was transported to Pittsburg Mercy Hospital for treatment. Individuals on scene were interviewed by investigators, and the residence was secured while law enforcement officers applied for a warrant to search the residence for illegal narcotics. Once at the hospital, the patient recovered from the suspected overdose and left the hospital against medical advice. 

At approximately 4:33 PM, two Crawford County EMS paramedics who were at the scene and treated the patient, began showing signs of an accidental overdose due to a suspected fentanyl exposure. The two EMS paramedics were transported to Pittsburg Mercy Hospital for treatment. One of the paramedics was later transferred to Joplin Mercy Hospital for further treatment.

At approximately 5:13 PM, a Pittsburg Police Department patrol officer began to feel ill and was taken to Pittsburg Mercy Hospital to be evaluated. The patrol officer has since been released from the hospital. 

Due to the ongoing threat of exposure to illegal narcotics in the residence, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Clandestine Laboratory Response Team (CLRT) was requested to assist in the execution of the warrant. 

While officers were waiting on the KBI’s response team to arrive, a subject at the residence on W. 4th Street began to interfere with officers on scene. As a result, 50-year-old Justin West was placed under arrest for felony interference with law enforcement. 

Mr. West was transported to the jail located at the Crawford County Sheriff’s office for booking and is currently being held without bond. 

Mr. West is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will be taking over the investigation and further information will be released by their agency. 

The investigation into this incident is ongoing at this time. Anyone who has information related to this incident, or other crimes, is urged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at (620) 231-1700, or at our automated tip line, (620) 231-TIPS (8477). The KBI can be contacted at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar. Callers may remain anonymous.

17 establishments pass Joplin Health Department inspections

All establishments that were inspected by the Joplin Health Department this week passed their inspections. The list is below:

The Grind (mobile)

Sweet Lemon LLC, 1218 W. 7th Street

Stop N' Shop, 1832 S. Maiden Lane

Taco Bell, 1929 S. Range Line Road

Billy Sims Barbecue, 3025 S. Main Street

IHOP, 2117 S. Range Line Road

Dollar Tree, 426 S. Range Line Road

KCU- Farber Foundation Campus Commons, 2901 S. St. John's Boulevard

McDonald's, 1531 W. 7th Street

Dollar Tree, 2128 S. Maiden Lane

Del Rio Grill and Cantina, 1802 W. 32nd Street

Casa Montez, 4224 S. Main Street

Tilt Studio, 101 N. Range Line Road

Turtleheads Raw Bar, 4218 S. Main Street

Stapleton Elementary School, 101 E. 41st Street

Stop N' Shop, 1930 S. Schifferdecker Avenue

Snak-Atak, 4302 S. Main Street

 

Joplin R-8 Board accepts 19 professional separations, approves 33 professional hires

While the Joplin R-8 Board of Education is still referring to people who will no longer be in the district as "separations," the minutes now reflect whether the people resign or retire. It would still be nice to know what positions the people who resigned or retired held and the jobs of the people who are hired. Still, this is an improvement.

From the minutes:

Justin Crawford, Director of Human Resources and Instructional Support brought before the board the following personnel items. 

1. Personnel Items Not Requiring BOE Action - Info. (Crawford)

The following employees have submitted their resignation and/or intent to retire. These do not require action to be taken by the Board of Education as they have fulfilled their contractual obligations or are otherwise not on an employment contract.

Rita Wilson - Retire
Anthony Miller - Resign
Laurel Wike - Resign
Addison Clarkson - Resign
Ashely Davis - Resign
Zachary Goad - Resign
Austin Demerest - Resign
Stephanie Camerer - Resign
Rebecca Hawkins - Retire
Vicki Sherraden - Retire
Reese Webb - Resign
Kayla Ledford - Resign
Ladenna Evans - Resign
Kimberly Jones - Resign
Bridgett Dillingham - Resign
Emma McPhail - Resign
Stacy Greene - Resign
Kimberly Timm - Resign

2. Professional Separations - Action (Crawford)
Tracy Douglas separation was voted on separately.
Motion made by: John Hird
Motion seconded by: Matthew Robertson
Voting results:Unanimously approved

The following Professional Separations were voted on with remaining personnel items. 

Sylvia Neal - Resign
Tiffany Chiles - Resign
Chelsea Brooks - Resign
Angela Fry - Resign
Brooke Luna - Resign
Shandon Reed - Resign
Chastyti Hagerma - Resign
Cindy Myers - Resign
Tylease DePriest - Resign
Stacey Tracy - Retire
Kevin Hawkins - Retire
Shawn Eklund - Resign
Reece Webb - Resign
Mary Yeoman - Retire
Jamie Moana - Resign
Jessica Tupper - Resign
Katryn James - Resign
Emily Pearce - Resign

3. Professional Hires - Action (Crawford)
Daniel Siever, Evan Overstreet, Lexa Quesenberry, Shelby Needham, Cailyn Sweeney, Madilynn Grundy, Justus Barley, Sheila Dilley, Kynslee Hill, Sara Davis, Michaela McCoy Rodriguez, Zaben Barnes, Emilia Garren, India Reynolds, Savannah Marshall, Claire Jasper, Brittany Davis, Caleb Frakes, Shelby Negron, Halle Walker, James Sumler, Kerri Fields, Madison Bay, Savannah Marshall, Abigail Geering, Lindsay Hussong, Olivia Putney, Lauren Keczkemethy, Ryan Riddle, Luke Hardman, Delainy Jimerson, Jeana Compton, Nichole Valenti

4. Classified Hires - Action (Crawford)
Jackelyne Gutierrez, Hannah Templeton, Melissa Stiffler, Kara Middick, Stacie Kirby, Gavin James, Potter Willis, Andrew Cummings, Amelia Goodwin, Rita Lewis, Hilario Stantillan, Katie Lindsey, Donna Cummins, Gabrielle Bickerton, Caleb Frakes

5. Substitute & Secretary HIres - Action (Crawford)
Pamela York, Amanda Steverson, Lorelai Myers, Lillian Taylor, Taylor Pritchard, Katie Rodick, Savannah Hubbard, emaan Aqeel, Shelby Needham, Caleb Frakes, Rachel Patterson, Brett Heady, Katelynn Blobaum, Abigail Killinger, Christopher Hagerman, Alyssa Barrager, Peggy Holland, Jordyn Butler, Julie Myers, Christine Landis, Claire Lowry, Susan Morehouse, Kandi Dogotch, Caleb Freeman

6. Stipend Hires - Action (Crawford)
James Cessna, Jessica Byrne, Evan Overstreet, Marissa Mitchell, Morgan Secrist, Lude Hardman, Holly Tyson, Jeana Compton, Alexander Curry

7. Summer School Professional Hires - Action (Crawford)
Macie Buxton, Mireya Cateilleja, Craig Gullett, Shannon Harris, Aaron Ketcher, Chase Kilgore, Michael Lawrence, Cassie McCallister, Claire Miranda, Tina Olson, Ava Perrin, Mackenzie Peterson, Morgan Secrist, Kaylyn Simmons, Chantelle Singe, Alex Smith, James Spencer, Annie Stover, Brandon West

8. Summer School Classified Hires - Action (Crawford)
Lindsday Andrews, John Banta, Michele Beckham, Shahida Birkhead, Jermaine Boykin, Charlene Campbell, Adyson Chew, Cassandra Copher, Sydni Cornman, Brianna Daniel, Sherry Dillard, Roanna Dowell, Dora Eastin, Chelsea Edwards, Andra Fields, Faith Griswold, Susan Gust, Jackelyn Gutierrez, Kayla Hess, Tori Hopkins, Elizabeth Jones, Jana Kidd, Destiny King, Faith Knoblauch, Kayla Lunderman, Kindra Marlow, Hadley McBride, Dailyn McNight, Chloe Miller, Cassadra Mueller, Ashley Russell, Brian Starchman, Lara Summers, Amy Swartz, Ayden Taylor, Hannah Templeton, Carly Webster, Sarah Whitten, Melissa Wilkins, Michaela Willis, Berkley Wood

The motion was made to approve the above employment items.
1st - David Weaver
2nd - Matthew Robertson

Jasper County jury convicts Exeter man on first-degree murder charge

(From the Barry County Sheriff's Office)

Last week (4-14-26 to 4-16-2026), a jury trial was held in Jasper County for the criminal charges against Aaron Malone for the murder of Aspen Lewis.

In November of 2024, Aaron Malone reported that Aspen Lewis was missing and possibly abducted.

A criminal investigation was started due to inconsistencies in Malone's statement.

The following day, Malone led investigators to Lewis' body, located in a heavily wooded area in Shell Knob.

Malone admitted to an altercation taking place between him and Lewis and disposing of Lewis' body.

The investigation was conducted by the Barry County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

After three days of testimony from the prosecution and defense, the Jasper County jury found Malone guilty on all counts. Malone is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9m, 2026.

The case was presented by the Missouri Attorney General's office and the Barry County Prosecutor's Office.

This case highlights how multiple agencies working together can build a strong case and successfully remove a violent criminal from the community. The Barry County Sheriff's Office is devoted to keeping our community safe.

Webb City businesses pass alcohol compliance check

(From the Webb City Police Department)

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Webb City Police Officers conducted an alcohol compliance check of local businesses selling package alcohol. 

All twelve businesses were in compliance, and none sold alcohol to our underage buyer. We appreciate our local businesses for helping to keep our youth safe.