COVID-19 Delta variant skyrocketing in Greene County, 155 hospitalized, 119 new cases Monday

(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

The highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant continues to take a toll on our community, especially among younger adults who are not fully vaccinated.

Cases of the Delta variant have skyrocketed in the past three weeks and have accounted for 93% of cases tested for variants. During a media availability on Tuesday, Acting Director of Health Katie Towns provided insight on the dangers the Delta variant poses to individuals who are not vaccinated.

 

“For more than a year, many people have chosen to not take this disease seriously simply because they believed that those who were suffering the most were older or already suffering from other illnesses and underlying health conditions. The Delta variant is proving these assumptions wrong,” said Towns. “It is a threat to people of all ages. We have heard from our hospital partners that more and more younger people are being hospitalized and put on ventilators.”

Kendra Findley, Administrator of Community Health & Epidemiology, also mentioned a Scottish study published in The Lancet that found the Delta variant doubles the risk for hospitalizations.

“In mid-May, 34 people were hospitalized. As of Monday, we had 155 cases hospitalized. That is the highest it’s been since January. The Delta variant is quickly becoming the dominant variant in our area,” stated Findley.

On Monday, 119 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported to the Health Department, bringing our seven-day average to 94 cases per day. This represents a 27% increase in cases over the past seven days and the highest seven-day average since January 28. As of Tuesday morning,153 individuals were being treated for COVID-19 at Greene County hospitals. From June 7-20, two COVID-19 fatalities were reported to the Health Department, including a man in his 30s.

Over the last two weeks, cases in all age groups rose significantly compared to the previous two weeks. Cases more than doubled in the 31-40 age group.

The Health Department is working hard to make the COVID-19 vaccine easily accessible for everyone, including the younger residents of our community. Those still needing a vaccine can visit vaccine417.com or call the Health Department’s COVID-19 Call Center at (417) 874-1211 for a list of available opportunities.

Number of Greene County residents fully vaccinated (as of June 22)

95,109 Greene County residents 12 and older have been fully vaccinated (or 37.7%)
As of June 7, individuals 12-15 years old are included in this percentage
According to the CDC, 53% of Americans 12+ have been fully vaccinated. This compares to 38% in Greene County.

Cases by vaccination status (among cases where the vaccination status is known)

So far for the month of June, 89% of positive cases have not been fully vaccinated

For the reporting period from June 7-20, 2021:

COVID-19 deaths

Two deaths (man in his 30s, man in his 50s)

Number of new COVID-19 cases

1,171 cases (up from 549 two weeks ago)

7-day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases
94 (up from 44 two weeks ago)

Hospitalizations

153 hospitalizations
60 are Greene County residents

The most common known exposure source in the last two weeks was household spread, accounting for 46% of all cases where an exposure source was identified.

Appellate court upholds conviction of Quapaw man for armed theft at Seneca store

The Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals today rejected a Quapaw, Oklahoma man's attempt to have his conviction on a felony stealing charge tossed.

Judge Joe Schoeberl sentenced Leighton Quapaw, 26, to seven years in prison April 17, 2020 after a Newton County jury found Quapaw guilty following a one-day trial February 27.

The appellate panel rejected Quapaw's claim that the evidence presented at the trial was insufficient to convict him.

From the opinion:

In May 2018, Victim was working in Seneca as a cashier on the overnight shift at Big Daddy’s C-Store. Defendant attempted to buy a six-pack of beer and some cigars, but he left the store without them when his credit card was denied. 

Ten minutes later, Defendant returned with a knife in his hand. Defendant approached Victim with the knife, and he said, “Give me all your money[.]” 

Defendant tried to stab Victim in the stomach, but she grabbed his arm and told him, “Kid, this is something you don’t want to do.” 

Defendant replied, “Give me 20 bucks and I’ll go away.” 

As Defendant was backing Victim toward the cash register, she reached behind her and hit the register’s “drawer[-]open” button. Victim grabbed $20 from the drawer and handed it to Defendant. 

Cash in hand, Defendant ran out of the store and drove away. The State charged, and then attempted to prove, that Defendant was guilty of first degree robbery and armed criminal action. The jury acquitted Defendant of those charges, but it found him guilty of the lesser-included offense of stealing. 

Because the jury found that Defendant had “physically take[n]” the money from Victim, the offense was punishable as a class-D felony. 

Defendant’s sole point on appeal claims the evidence at trial was insufficient to prove that he “physically” took the money from Victim because she had handed it to him. 

We disagree.

Noel man indicted on child pornography charges

A federal grand jury indicted a Noel man for receiving and distributing child pornography.

The indictment, which was unsealed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri alleges Quinton McNeely, 27, committed his crimes as early as September 2, 2020 through June 9.

McDonald County Circuit Court records indicate the McDonald County Sheriff's Office arrested McNeely that day and the prosecuting attorney charged with promoting child pornography, a felony.

Baxter Springs man who stalked Joplin woman sentenced to 30 months

A Baxter Springs, Kansas man was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to stalking a Joplin woman.

Zachariah James Garner, 32, was sentenced during a hearing this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield. 

Garner admitted to violating a protection order dozens of times by contacting his wife after she filed for divorce in Jasper County Circuit Court, including calling her 22 times in one day.

Garner's crimes were detailed in the plea agreement:

On May 6, 2020, the Joplin Police Department requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation's assistance in investigating Zachariah James Garner, the defendant, for violating orders of protection against his wife, A.G., and reportedly stalking her.

On October 9, 2019, A. G. filed for divorce from Garner in the Jasper County, Missouri Circuit Court. On March 30, 2020, A. G. obtained an ex parte order of protection from the Jasper County Circuit Court. The order was served on Garner on March 30, 2020.

The JPD took multiple reports from A. G. between March 31, 2020, and May 6, 2020. On March 31, 2020, A. G. made a reporter with the JPD. A. G. stated that her friend had been contacted by Garner and Garner was threatening to forward inappropriate images of A. G. to her employer.

On April 3, 2020, A. G. reported observing Garner driving past her residence multiple times between 10:15 p.m. and 10:59 p.m.. On April 5, 2020, A. G. reported receiving a telephone call from a friend informing her that Garner had left an item in A. G.'s mailbox.

Upon looking inside her mailbox, A. G. located a "drug screen" with Garner's name on it The document included a letter from Garner.

On April 7, 2020, A. G. reported to the JPD Garner continued to drive past her house daily and left her a handwritten letter. JPD Officer Chris Dunning called Garner and Garner admitted to leaving the letter in A. G.'s mailbox. Garner said he would make sure this did not happen again.
On April 13, 2020, A. G. reported to JPD Officer Tyler Daniel that Garner continued to harass her by sending numerous text messages from anonymous telephone numbers. Garner had also left a backpack at her residence with a note. Later the same date, A. G. reported to JPD Officer Brett Davis that she received two voicemail messages from Garner.

On April 14, 2020, A. G. reported to JPD Officer Katherine Ivie that she received a text message from Garner with an attached image of a GPS screen shot. The message stated Garner was going to be at her house shortly.

The GPS image was attached to a text message which stated, "If u won't answer, then I guess I'll just head on over that way see ya in a bit it's only 24 hrs. in jail then at it again I guess.'

A. G. reported she had received 22 telephone calls that day from Garner and received an eight-page letter from him the previous day.

On April 15, April 20, April 22, April 23, April 29, April 30 and May 1, 2020, A. G. informed JPD Detective David McGough that she continued to receive text messages and telephone calls from Garner, which were provided to JPD.

On May 5, 2020, A. G. reported to JPD Officer J. Carnahan that she continued to receive telephone calls and text messages from Garner and he was still leaving items at her residence. A. G. repeatedly expressed to law enforcement that Garner's actions were causing her substantial emotional distress and fear.

On May 7, 2020, FBI Task Force Officer Charles Root and JPD Detective McGough conducted a post-Miranda interview with Garner. Garner admitted he lived in Kansas and was aware there was an active ex-parte ordered against him.

Garner admitted to repeatedly violating the order of protection, including through text messages, voice mails and coming to A. G.'s residence. Garner also admitted to using multiple third-party cellular telephone applications to attempt to conceal his identity while messaging A. G.

Watch live- Joplin R-8 Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m.

 

Highway Patrol bus inspection results released- how did your school do?

(From the Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the results of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2021 annual school bus inspection program.

Missouri’s 2021 school bus inspection results are as follows:

School buses rated as “approved” upon initial inspection -- 10,807
School buses rated as “defective” upon initial inspection -- 822
School buses rated as “out-of-service” upon initial inspection -- 264

Those buses found defective require repair within 10 days. Buses placed out-of-service require correction of the component(s) prior to further usage.

A total of 277 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence award in 2021. During the 2021-2022 school year, 5,738 buses in these award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger entry side of the bus.

“Through the unified effort of Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel and pupil transportation professionals across the state, a successful inspection of 11,893 school buses occurred in accordance with state statutes,” said Colonel Olson. “The Patrol, school districts, and private pupil transportation companies share a common goal of keeping our schoolchildren safe while they travel on school buses.”

Area School Results

Jasper County

Avilla- 4 buses, 100 percent approved

Carl Junction- 50 buses, 98 percent approved, two percent defective

Carthage- 57 buses, 86 percent approved, 10.5 percent defective, 3.5 percent out-of-service

Jasper- 12 buses, 66.7 percent approved, 33.3 percent defective

Joplin- 79 buses, 93.7 percent approved, 6.3 percent defective

Sarcoxie- 14 buses, 85.7 percent, 14.3 percent defective

Webb City- 48 buses, 95.8 percent approved, 4.2 percent defective

Newton County

Diamond- 17 buses, 94.1 percent approved, 5.9 percent defective

East Newton- 29 buses, 89.7 percent approved, 10.3 percent defective

Neosho- 59 buses, 100 percent approved

Seneca- 25 buses, 100 percent approved

Westview- 3 buses, 66.7 percent approved, 33.3 percent defective

McDonald County

McDonald County- 64 buses, 90.6 percent approved, 9.4 percent defective

Barton County

Golden City- 6 buses, 66.7 percent approved, 33.3 percent defective

Lamar- 18 buses, 88.9 percent approved, 5.6 percent defective, 5.6 percent out-of-service

Liberal- 10 buses, 60 percent approved, 40 percent defective

Dade County

Dadeville- 6 buses, 66.7 percent approved, 16.7 percent defective, 16.7 percent out-of-service

Everton- 6 buses, 50 percent approved, 50 percent defective

Greenfield- 9 buses, 77.8 percent approved, 22.2 percent defective

Lockwood- 7 buses, 85.7 percent approved, 14.3 percent defective

Wagner bill designed to hold China accountable for COVID-19

(From Second District Congresswoman Ann Wagner)

Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after she introduced legislation to hold China accountable for its actions during the COVID-19 outbreak:

“China took deliberate, reckless action that allowed the coronavirus to spread, killing millions worldwide. This is not a matter up for debate, and they must be held accountable. 

" When the world should have been working together to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, China was silencing scientists who dared speak out. The Compensation for Americans Act will make sure China pays for their corrupt, unethical, and dangerous actions. 

" I introduced similar legislation last Congress, but Democrats blocked it from a vote. It’s time to pass the Compensation for Americans Act and send a message to China that the United States will not stand for such horrific acts.”

The Compensation for Americans Act directs the President to employ a series of tools, including the following:

Freeze any necessary Chinese assets in the United States in order to reach a bilateral agreement with China

Create a public repository of Chinese assets and holdings in the United States

Impose sanctions and/or travel restrictions on:

CCP officials, associates, and family members
Chinese medical equipment and pharmaceutical suppliers that have profited from the pandemic
Chinese companies in the high-tech sector
Chinese entities involved in the theft of U.S. intellectual property
Chinese entities that participate in internet surveillance, filtration, and censorship

Establish a fund to compensate America for damages caused by COVID-19

Require U.S. representatives at international institutions to work to:

Remove China’s “developing nation” nation status at the WTO

Remove China’s eligibility for World Bank development loans

Prevent China from obtaining special treatment at the United Nations

Prohibit investment of the Thrift Savings Plan I Fund in China, ensuring that federal retirement savings are not being used to support the CCP regime

Instruct the President to seek a Bilateral Agreement on Compensation with China

Paul Richardson: Did I tell you that?

After several years of consistently traveling to the west, my grandson asked me, “Why do we never go east to places like the Carolinas or Tennessee or Kentucky?” 

“Well,” I responded, “I can’t safely go across the Mississippi River. That is sort of a dividing line. East of the Mississippi there are too many outstanding wants and warrants.” 

I was having flashbacks to a song from the last ‘60’s. “Indiana wants me…I can’t go back there…” just kept playing in my head. This what happens when we live vicariously through our dreams.

A few years later he was present when Ray and I started discussing the possibility of attending a rally in Maggie Valley. Troy listened intently and when he caught me alone, he said, “Grandpa, what about all those outstanding wants and warrants?” 

“Oh, we will slip across the river and slide in quietly and slide out. No one will be the wiser” I replied.

 

A few days later and after considerable thought and probably some research with my good wife and his grandma as the source, he came to me and said with a quizzical voice, “You’ve been lying to me, haven’t you?” I had to come clean.

Then the other shoe hit the floor. “What else have you been lying to me about.” 

 I started to reply with, “That is the only thing, I swear, I don’t know what came over me, but this was the only instance!” However, I kept that thought in my head and simply said, “You’ll figure it out.”

He had forgotten about the incident when he was young, and the good wife was forced to console him because he came in the house crying. He claimed that I, yes, I had threatened to duct tape him to the wall. Oh, the slander and accusations that I have endured. 

His grief came not only from that statement, but from the truth that he clung to. The truth in his life was that grandpa never told a lie and if I said I was going to duct tape him to the wall, then his fate was sealed and from that perch he would be screaming for help.

 

I don’t know what is wrong with me. I have been lying to kids for years. I lied to my kids for as long as they would accept if for the truth and even tested that water repeatedly to make certain that they were thinking for themselves and weren’t still gullible. 

That last sentence was my justification for convincing myself that I was preparing them for the future. Some of them hung on for a long time. I remember when the oldest son was a teenage and we were driving down the road in the old farm truck. I had a bag of horse candy in the seat of the truck. Horse candy is alfalfa pellets covered in a sugar coating. Horses love them. 

My oldest son said, “Hey dad, what is this stuff?” He was thinking that I was keeping candy in the pickup in order to keep my children that often resembled a locust plaque from consuming all of it not that I had ever done anything so devious. 

I did buy ice cream with nuts in it for years simply because the kids didn’t like nuts in their ice cream. Then there is the fact that I kept them away from pecan pie until they were adults by telling them, “That pie is really not all that great and usually only adults like it. You better stick with these cream pies or something that you will be sure to like.” 

Back to the horse candy. I responded, “Oh, you caught me. It’s just some candy.” 

“Can I have some?” he asked. “Sure, enjoy,” I replied. Well, what happened next was quite comical. Once he breached that sugar coating, his encounter with the alfalfa pellet became a spitting, hacking, get it out of my mouth and throw it out the window episode. I just about wrecked the truck from the laughter and delight that I got from that.

Fun for me? Yes. Educational for the kids? Yes. They got to go a lot of places simply because I would pose questions like, “Hey, you kids ever been to Paris?” 

 “No,” they would reply. “Well, what a great opportunity and coincidence this is. This next town coming up is Paris. You guys are in for a real treat!”

Ten new COVID-19 cases in McDonald County, only 13.5 percent of residents vaccinated

(From the McDonald County Health Department)

We continue to encourage vaccinations for those who are eligible. 

We know new variants of the virus are spreading and the current data suggests all vaccines authorized in the U. S. offer protection against most variants.

Billy Long: I will stand for the innocent unborn

 The Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision was handed down in 1973. I was a senior in high school. For the life of me, I couldn't understand how anyone in their right mind could think it was alright and perfectly acceptable to kill an unborn child. I didn't understand it then and I don't today. 

I make no apologies for my pro-life position. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; these immortal words etched into our nation’s founding document, lay out three basic, God-given rights, which all men and women enjoy. No one disputes these rights, except when it comes to innocent babies in their mother's womb. 

Life begins at conception. This is not a belief or opinion, but a fact, supported by science. It is a well-known fact that at only six weeks after conception, a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Shortly thereafter, a fetus can feel pain. When you look at an ultrasound, you can clearly see the beginning of human life.

During my time in Congress, I have continually supported legislation that protects the right to life. Most recently, I supported efforts to bring to the floor a bill preserving this right. 

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would ban the killing of babies who survive botched abortions, giving them the same rights and protections that every child is entitled to after birth. I am proud not only to be an original cosponsor of this bill but also to be a signee of a discharge petition that would force this bill to be brought to the floor for a vote. 

Every time this common-sense legislation has come to the floor in either the House or Senate, Democrats have blocked it.

Not only do Democrats not want to protect babies that are born alive, but they also want the federal government to openly fund abortions. For the first time since its inception, the Hyde Amendment has been removed from the president’s budget request. 

If you are unfamiliar with the Hyde Amendment, it bans any federal funding of abortion, except for instances of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. 

Until very recently, the Hyde Amendment garnered bipartisan support, but not anymore. Throughout his entire political career until his most recent election cycle, President Biden supported the Hyde Amendment and intended to keep it the law of the land. 

To appease his radical base, then-candidate Biden reversed his position on the Hyde Amendment, compromising his morals by casting aside something he has supported for decades.

Luckily, not all Democrats agree on this point. A few holdouts remain, particularly West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who has repeatedly said he would not back ending the Hyde Amendment. Senator Manchin has not given in to the radical left, but President Biden and the majority of Democrats have. To save the Hyde Amendment, more Democrats must stand with Joe Manchin, and not Joe Biden.

You have my word that I will not stop fighting for the innocent unborn. Defending the defenseless I call it. We must pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and must preserve the Hyde amendment. The fact of the matter is that abortion is not health care as many of my Democratic colleagues would argue, it is murder, and the federal government should have no part in funding the mass murder of unborn children. Oh, and by the way, it's time to defund 'Planned Murder' too.