Joplin man sentenced to five years for fatality DWI

(From the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office)

A Joplin man has been sentenced to prison after entering a guilty plea to a Class C felony of Driving While Intoxicated Involving the Death of a Passenger.

William Deckard, 24, of Joplin, Missouri was sentenced to 5 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Kevin Selby of the 40th Judicial Circuit after pleading guilty as charged without the benefit of a plea offer.

The charges arose out of a fatality wreck on River Road east of Highway 86 just south of Joplin on June 21, 2023. A probable cause statement filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol outlined that the defendant admitted to consuming liquor and beer and smoking marijuana before operating his 2009 Chevy Cobalt at a high rate of speed off of the roadway into a mailbox in the single-vehicle crash, leading the death of Liberty Fowler, his passenger.

“We ask that you sentence the defendant to the maximum amount of time permitted by law,” argued Keegan Tinney, Newton County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, at the hearing. “The family has suffered extreme loss at the hands of the defendant’s own actions and we believe that sentence is appropriate.”

“The defendant has taken responsibility for his reckless actions that led to the senseless loss of life of Liberty Fowler,” said Newton County Prosecuting Attorney William Lynch. “There is nothing that the criminal justice system can do to restore this kind of loss, but we remain hopeful that this measure of justice brings closure to her grieving family.”

“We are here because of a tragic event and the loss of a life that should not have been taken,” pronounced Judge Selby at sentencing. “Nothing I do here brings her back, I would if I could.”

The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and prosecuted by Keegan Tinney and William Lynch of the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Malpractice suit filed against Freeman, claims doctor botched Joplin man's surgery

A malpractice suit filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court claims a hernia surgery performed at Freeman Health System Surgical Associates left him permanently disabled and in pain.

The plaintiff in the case is Travis Newman McKinney, Joplin.

Listed as defendants are Freeman-Oak Hill Health System, Freeman Health System, Freeman Surgical Associates and Cory B. Emmert D. O.

From the petition:

On or about March 23, 2023, Defendant Emmert performed surgery to repair plaintiff’s hernia. During the course of said procedure Emmert stitched and injured the ilioinguinal nerve. Defendants continued to treat the plaintiff thru March 4th, 2024.

That defendants were negligent in identifying and preserving the nerves at or near the site of the aforesaid operative procedure, in stitching the said nerves and in failing to recognize that the nerves had been stitched and damaged prior to exiting the operative field.

The aforesaid negligent conduct of the defendants proximately caused or contributed to cause permanent pain and disability, medical treatment, medical expense and loss of income both past and future.

McKinney is represented by G. Michael Fatall, Kansas City.

Probable cause: Webb City man breaks kettle over girlfriend's head

A Webb City man has been charged with second-degree domestic assault after allegedly breaking a kettle over his girlfriend's head.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Kenneth Pippin, Jr. (DOB 1974) with bond set at $25,000 cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

The Victim and Kenneth were in an ongoing intimate relationship and lived together. During an argument where Kenneth accused the Victim of stealing his belongings, the Victim walked away.

Kenneth grabbed an electric kettle, and struck the Victim on the back of their head toward the top
causing a lump to form, and breaking the kettle. The neighbor overheard their commotion and went
to check on the Victim. The Victim had an inflamed circular bump about a quarter-inch in diameter
from where Kenneth struck them with the kettle. 

According to the victim, the lump was larger immediately following the assault and she had issues maintaining consciousness. After the incident, Kenneth said, through text message to the Victim, all the blood from the incident was his, and further threatened the Victim.

Newton County prosecutor asks for no bond or high bond for Neosho man charged with DWI in fatal crash

A 1 p.m. Monday, March 2 bond reduction hearing has been scheduled in Newton County Circuit Court for Isaac O'Neal, 23, Neosho, who is charged with driving while intoxicated-death of another, in connection with the February 20 collision that killed Mason McNutt, 23, Neosho.

O'Neal was arraigned Monday and entered a not guilty plea.

Newton County Prosecuting Attorney William Lynch filed a request that either O'Neal be held without bond or that a high bond be set. Lynch listed three reasons.

 

1. Defendant was residing in Newton County with the family of the Victim,

2. Defendant no longer has a place to stay in the State of Missouri,

3. Defendant’s family resides in the State of Georgia.

 Judge Jacob Skouby will preside over the bond reduction hearing.

 

Lawsuit allegation: Mount Vernon School District ignored safety hazards after repeated warnings

 

The former director of maintenance for the Mount Vernon R-5 School District filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the district today in Lawrence County Circuit Court.

Roger Brown, who worked for the district for 15 years, claimed he was fired after he repeatedly warned district officials of safety hazards in the high school agriculture room and shop, but was ignored.

Brown's concern led him to ask city officials for an inspection, which the district failed, according to the petition. After that, Superintendent Christina West fired Brown.

Before Brown filed his lawsuit, the district attempted to reach a settlement with him that would have prevented him from claiming unemployment, running for school board or ever speaking about what happened to him.

From the petition:

Beginning in early 2023, Brown identified and reported multiple fire-code violations and dangerous conditions located in the high school agriculture room and shop (the "AG/Shop") to the then-superintendent, Scott Cook.

Brown reported that the administration took no action to clean, remediate, or correct the hazards and violations he reported in the AG/Shop.

In April 2023, following a local business fire reportedly caused by large amounts of sawdust and wood flour, Brown emailed District administration and shop teachers a video warning about the dangers of sawdust and wood flour around open flames.

Superintendent Cook responded by chastising Brown for sending the video, while also acknowledging that Brown had made Cook and the District fully aware of the issues in the AG/Shop.

Cook further represented in writing that Fire Chief Brad Delay had inspected the AG/Shop and stated that the room was safe.

Brown then contacted Fire Chief Brad Delay and showed him Cook’s email; the Fire Chief stated that Cook’s representation was false and that the Fire Chief had stated there were safety violations in the AG/Shop.

From 2023 through 2025, Brown continued to report safety issues and violations in the AG/Shop to District administration.

During that period, Brown repeatedly warned that the AG/Shop contained three (3) large open-flame heaters in a room where sawdust and wood flour were present, including in the air, creating a serious ignition and fire hazard.

Brown also reported that dust-collection vents were not being properly cleaned and maintained. Brown further reported that exposed chemicals and rags were located near flammable equipment and that a large step-down transformer was uncovered and exposed.

Despite Brown’s repeated reports, the District took no corrective action to address the reported fire-code violations and dangerous conditions.

In March 2025, Brown requested an inspection and quote from Jameson Heating and Air ("Jameson") regarding the AG/Shop conditions.

Jameson conducted a free inspection and provided a detailed report indicating serious dangers and violations were present, and Brown provided the inspection report and quote to Superintendent Cook.

The District again took no action following receipt of the Jameson inspection report and quote.

Before the start of the 2025–2026 school year, Christina West (pictured) was named superintendent for the upcoming school year.  Brown provided Superintendent West with the previously reported dangers and
violations, including the Jameson inspection report and estimate.

Superintendent West disregarded the information and chastised Brown multiple times for attempting to address the hazards because remediation would cost money, including shouting, “[t]his is why we go around you on everything,’ in front of another maintenance employee, Steve.

In August 2025, in an effort to protect students and staff after years of inaction, Brown contacted the city building inspector, the city administrator, and the mayor to request an inspection of the AG/Shop.

Brown explained to city officials that he had attempted for several years to have District administration correct the violations and dangers without results, and that he therefore sought inspection by city officials with authority to evaluate the conditions.

City officials inspected the facility, documented multiple issues, and stated that if the issues were not corrected, the building might have to be closed.

The inspection results and related information were emailed to Superintendent West.

On or about August 7, 2025, Superintendent West chastised and yelled at Brown for bringing city officials in ‘behind her back.’

Brown told Superintendent West he had brought the safety issues to the District’s attention many times without results; Superintendent West yelled that Brown could not hire consultants, and Brown responded that he did not hire the city officials.

Brown was not provided any written discipline at that time, nor was any write-up presented to him or verbally issued to him as formal discipline on August 7, 2025.

From approximately August 11, 2025 through November 19, 2025, multiple emails were exchanged between the city and Superintendent West regarding the identified issues and Superintendent West’s claims that the issues had been fixed.

During this period, the District made no attempts to correct the violations outlined by the city.

On or about November 24, 2025, Brown was called into Superintendent West’s office for a meeting attended by Superintendent West and high school principal Dr. Prevo.

Superintendent West informed Brown he was being terminated for alleged willful misconduct, disobeying administrative directives, and missing work.

Brown demanded evidence supporting the allegations and stated that, in fifteen (15) years of employment, he had never received a write-up.

Superintendent West then produced a write-up dated August 7, 2025, that included a line stating Brown refused to sign; Brown stated the write-up had never been provided to him and the ‘refused to sign’ notation was false.

Superintendent West asserted Brown was insubordinate and claimed he disobeyed an order not to hire consultants; Brown again stated the City inspectors were not hired.

Superintendent West repeatedly told Brown to be quiet and interrupted him when he attempted to respond.

Superintendent West’s termination letter stated that Brown had never brought the AG/Shop issues to the administration’s attention and that he had missed work multiple times.

The termination letter was false as there is documentation supporting the fact Plaintiff raised concerns about the AG/Shop on multiple occasions.

The termination letter further indicated Brown was suspended and that his termination date would be December 31, 2025.

Brown was escorted out of the building and taken to the maintenance office to collect his belongings, and he was told he was not allowed to return to District property.

Upon arriving at the maintenance office, Brown discovered his computer had already been wiped, including emails and documents.

In December 2025 through January 2026, Brown received a proposed settlement agreement from the District that, if signed, would restrict Brown’s ability to pursue unemployment, would restrict his ability to seek a position on the school board, and would restrict his ability to speak about the District and Superintendent West; Brown refused to sign.

Brown accuses the district of retaliation, says he lost income and career opportunities and claimed the district's attempt to "buy his silence" caused him mental anguish because he needed the money but "was unwilling to be silent regarding potential health and safety violations."

Brown, who is represented by Timothy Alan Ricker of the Hall Ansley firm of Springfield, is asking for "fair and reasonable damages."

Carthage man pleads guilty to federal weapons charge

Jeromy Michael Daughtery, 32, Carthage, pleaded guilty today to in U. S. District Court in Springfield to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

No date has been scheduled for the sentencing.

According to the indictment, Daughtery was arrested with a firearm September 7.

Jasper County Circuit Court records indicate the Carthage Police Department arrested Daughtery that day and the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney charged him with unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest.

From the probable cause statement:

On 09/07/2025 at approximately 1417 I, Cpl. Snow, attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Jeromy Daughtery riding a bicycle for failing to signal as he turned south onto the 200 block of south Francis from the alley.

I turned on my emergency lights and chirped my siren at him. He did not turn around to look. He continued into the 300 block of Francis where he looked back at me, held up his hand signaling to wait. He continued east into the alley picking up speed attempting to elude me. I got along side him and passed him, stopping in front of him behind 313 Sophia. 

As I exited my vehicle Daughtery was tangled with his bicycle trying to run.

Daughtery got free from the bicycle and began running north towards the residence. Daughtery quickly tripped and fell to the ground on his stomach. I got on top of his back and got his hands behind his back.

Daughtery advised he had a gun on him. He said the gun was not his and that he had just taken it from a 16 year old. I asked Daughtery if he was a felon and he said yes.

Ellen Nichols announces run for state senate

(From the Ellen Nichols Campaign)

Dr. Ellen Nichols, a longtime Joplin neurosurgeon and community leader, announced today that she is running for the Missouri State Senate in the 32nd District in 2026, citing her readiness to put decades of high-stakes decision-making to work for Missouri families in Jefferson City.

For more than three decades, Dr. Nichols has served southwest Missouri as a practicing neurosurgeon, treating patients facing some of life’s most serious medical challenges. After completing her medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and an intensive neurological surgery residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals, she chose to build her career in Joplin—where she has practiced for over 33 years. Her work has included treating traumatic brain injuries, spinal disorders, and emergency neurological conditions, often in high-pressure, life-or-death situations.

“I can’t think of a better person to represent our community in the legislature,” said retired Crowder College professor, Curtis Daniels. “Dr. Nichols is one of the top neurosurgeons in the Midwest, and while I’d hate to see her leave medicine, knowing she’d bring that same level of care and discipline to reviewing the laws passed in Jefferson City would let me sleep a lot better at night.”

Those experiences, Dr. Nichols says, shaped her belief that government must be fiscally responsible, efficient, and focused on results. “In medicine, every decision has consequences,” she said. “You learn quickly to make smart choices with limited resources.” As a candidate, Dr. Nichols plans to emphasize balanced budgets, responsible spending, and respect for taxpayers who expect government to live within its means.

Dr. Nichols has also made clear that she would prioritize protecting innocent life by standing up for the unborn and supporting laws that respect the sanctity of life. A strong supporter of the Constitution, she has consistently defended the Second Amendment, believing law-abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves and their families.

Her medical background has also given her a deep appreciation for small businesses, particularly those struggling under rising healthcare costs and regulatory burdens. As a physician who has worked within complex healthcare systems, Nichols has firsthand experience navigating regulations, payroll, and compliance. She believes the same red tape hurting doctors and nurses is also choking local employers across Jasper and Newton Counties.

Dr. Nichols has spent years advocating for reform through the Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA), where she currently serves as secretary and previously served on its legislative affairs committee. In those roles, she has worked on issues such as ensuring patients receive physician-led care, and tort reform, aimed at reducing lawsuit abuse that drives up healthcare costs for families and employers alike.

Beyond her professional life, Dr. Nichols points to her strong Christian faith and deep family roots as central to who she is. She and her husband raised four children, including two who joined their family through foster care and adoption, and are now grandparents. She has been active in church life with the Salvation Army and remains committed to service beyond the operating room.

Local Republican leader and retired McAuley High School Principal, Gene Koester, said Dr. Nichols’ impact is already well known. “She has been a force for good in this community for years,” the supporter said, “From healthcare leadership to grassroots Republican work, Ellen has earned respect by showing up and doing whatever needed done.”

Another community member emphasized her personal values. Nathan Hicks, Salvation Army store manager, said, “Ellen’s faith and commitment to family aren’t just words. She’s lived them—through adoption, service, and a lifetime of putting others first.”

Dr. Nichols says any campaign she pursues will be grounded in conservative principles: cutting property taxes, stopping illegal immigration, protecting public safety, standing up for women by keeping men out of women’s sports and putting the health and well-being of Missouri families first. “As a physician, I’m trained to solve problems and focus on outcomes,” she concluded. “Missouri needs leaders who do the same.”

Nice Guys, Soul's Harbor fail Joplin Health Department inspections

Nice Guys, 101 North Range Line Road, and Soul's Harbor Kitchen, 915 S. Main, failed Joplin Health Department inspections recently, according to information posted on the department website.

In its inspection Monday, Nice Guys received two priority violations and three core violations.

The priority violations were for the following:

-The sanitizer dispenser wasn't working properly.

-The floor sink beneath the three-compartment sink wasn't draining properly.

The core violations were for the following:

-The floor beneath the three-compartment sink wasn't being cleaned often enough to maintain sanitary conditions.

-Ventilaton covers above the grill had an accumulation of grease

-Ceiling tiles were missing or in disrepair.

In its inspection Thursday, inspectors found two priority violation and two core violations at Soul's Harbor Kitchen.

The priority violations were for having chili and soup in the walk-in cooler with missing or improper date marking and for having mouse droppings in the storage closet.

The core violations were for not having enough light intensity in the walk-in cooler and having a floor tile in disrepair in the kitchen.

***

The following establishments received passing inspections:

Indo-Chinese Express, 4543 Highway 43 (re-inspection)

Chick-fil-A, 101 N. Range Line Road

Mac's Stop, 1302 S. Schieferdecker Avenue (re-inspection)

Elks Lodge: Restaurant, 1802 W. 26th Street

Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, 511 N. Range Line Road

China Wok, 1130 E. 32nd Street

Schifferdecker Golf Course, 506 S. Schifferdecker Avenue

Walmart Neighborhood Market- Retail/Produce, 1600 E. 7th Street

Sonic Drive-In, 1600 E. 7th Street

4th Street Bowl, 1419 W. 4th Street

Twin Hills Main Dining/Jolly Boys Tavern, 2019 S. Country Club Road (re-inspection)

Sonic Drive-In, 720 S. Maiden Lane

Taco Stop, 1730 E. 7th Street

Quality Inn Breakfast, 3325 S. Arizona Avenue

Whiskey Dick's, 516 S. Joplin Avenue

Steak N Shake, 3115 Hammons Boulevard

Drury Inn Suites and Breakfast, 3601 S. Range Line Road

Sonic Drive-In, 3333 S. Range Line Road

Jill Carter bill would put personal information about every voter online

By Rudi Keller

Missouri Independent

Missouri Senators raised privacy concerns Monday during a hearing on a bill that would put personal information about every registered voter on a state website.

Under the legislation proposed by state Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, the secretary of state’s office would be required to publish the full list of approximately 4.5 million registered voters on the office website. The list would have to include the voter’s name, address and date of birth along with a voter identification number, the township or ward where they reside and the precinct where they are assigned to vote.

“This seems like a lot of personal information that is going out there,” state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, said during a hearing of the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee. “I have very serious privacy concerns about that being on a website.”

Voter registration lists are public records and the statewide list can be obtained with a Sunshine Law request and a nominal payment, Carter said during testimony to the committee. Making the entire voting list public, she said, “just helps the administrators and those poll watchers be able to ensure that the poll data is just timely before the election cycle.”

Carter’s office clarified that the intent of the bill was to ensure the most up-to-date information was provided to election judges and poll watchers on Election Day. Posting the material online was the result of a drafting error, and Carter said she would revamp the language of the bill before the committee takes a vote.

“I can go to my clerks and get a lot of that information, but in regards to a website, let me follow up and make sure of that,” she said.

Along with the provision to put voter lists online, the bill would extend a fee collected by the secretary of state’s office, require election tallies to be reported with separate totals for Election Day voting and absentee ballots and direct the office to assign a unique identifier for every voting district in the state.

Even though voter registration lists are public records, along with information about participation in particular elections, it is not generally available online.

The secretary of state’s website maintains a page where individuals can check voter registration but no individual’s information can be accessed without the exact name used for registration, as well as their birthdate and county of residence. In some instances, the user must also supply an exact street address.

State Sen. Sandy Crawford, a Republican from Buffalo, said she was worried that the information required in the bill would reveal personal information and how individuals actually voted in some smaller locations.

Along with the website list of voters, local election authorities would be required to report election results at the precinct and township levels, showing the vote on election day and the results from absentee ballots in separate tallies.

Some townships, Crawford said, have 50 or fewer registered voters.

“It seems like a lot of identifiable information, right when we have so many concerns about fraud and everything else,” she said.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins supports the bill because it would extend a fee on business registrations that supports the office’s technology fund, said Amanda Bell, the office’s lobbyist. The $5 fee, first established in 1994, funds the office’s cybersecurity efforts and pays for computer upgrades for business and election systems, she said. The fee expires at the end of the year and the bill would extend the sunset for four years.

There was no discussion of the provision putting the secretary of state’s office in charge of assigning voting district designations. That is currently a local responsibility and has become an issue in one of the cases challenging the gerrymandered congressional district map passed last year by Republicans.

A trial was held in the case last week but no ruling has been issued.

Under questioning from the committee, Bell said only individual voter information was accessible online. It is available on request, she said.

“You’re not just going to go out there and get a whole list of everybody in the state,” Bell said. “That’s how it currently is.”

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, asked whether there was a need to publish the full voter list with birthdates and addresses.

“You can go check out your own,” Beck noted. “Why do we need this to be written down here?”

Bell said she did not know.

“I did not,” she said, “request that portion of the bill.”

Carl Junction man killed in collision at 171 and Ivy Road

A Carl Junction man was killed following a two-vehicle collision 6:45 p.m. Sunday on MO 171 and Ivy Road in Carl Junction.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2004 Dodge Ram driven by Johnny Alford, 68, Carl Junction, attempted to cross the highway and was struck by a 2022 Kenworth T680 driven by a 24-year-old Greeley Colorado man. (Note: Alford's name was not included in the Highway Patrol report, but comes from the Jasper County Coroner's office.)

Dr. Nathan Piccoli declared Alford dead at 5:24 a.m. today at Freeman West Hospital.

A passenger in the Alford vehicle, a 65-year-old woman, was treated for serious injuries at Mercy Joplin. The driver of the Kenworth was treated for moderate injuries at Mercy.

Another passenger in the Alford vehicle, a 3-year-old boy, was treated for minor injuries at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.

The fatality was the 11th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.