Agenda posted for Carthage R-9 Board of Education meeting

 

Probable cause: 14-year-old girl walks six miles on broken leg to escape abusive mother

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a felony child abuse charge against a Sarcoxie woman who allegedly abused her 14-year-old daughter to the point where the girl walked six miles on a broken leg to get away from her.

An arrest warrant was issued today for Joyce Morris (DOB 1963) with bond set at $60,000 cash only.

From the probable cause statement:

On June 9, 2026 Jasper County Deputies responded to an address in Jasper county west of Sarcoxie
Missouri 64862 in reference to a 14 year old female running away from home.

I, Detective Bloomer was assigned to investigate this case while deputies were looking for Victim 1. Victim 1 was located at Risen Ranch Cowboy Church by the church staff who were prepping for an
event. 

When Deputies contacted Victim 1 she disclosed that she had run away from home due to physical abuse. Victim 1 was walking with a limp during this time. When asked about her injury she stated that she had sprained her ankle doing chores in the past and after the physical abuse at the house which prompted her to run away it started to hurt again. She advised that she walked from her residence to the church on the injured ankle.

A forensic interview was conducted and the Victim stated during the interview that she had sprained her ankle doing chores. Victim 1 also advised her mother Joyce Morris threw her to the ground the
day before she ran away and she had landed on her ankle causing it to hurt more. 

Victim 1 stated that she had asked her mother for more water before continuing with her chores. Victim 1 said that her mother told her she was back talking and being disrespectful. The interviewer asked what happened following this and Victim 1 stated her mother started to hit her and used a copper water bottle to strike her. 

Victim 1 stated that her mom uses anything she can find to hit her and that mother also called her curse words. The interviewer asked again what Victim 1 was struck with and she again said her mom's water bottle. Victim 1 stated her mom hit her really hard and multiple times. 

The interviewer asked Victim 1 to demonstrate how she was struck by her mom with her hands. Victim 1
made a closed fist. Vicitm 1 also said that she was struck multiple times with an open hand.

The Victim did advise her father was in the car on the phone during the incident.

During the interview Victim 1 mentioned walking from home to the church and it is roughly 6 miles from her residence. Victim 1 said she left around midnight and walked to the church. Victim 1 stated her family used to attend the Risen Ranch Church until one member of the church called the Children's Division on her parents. Victim 1 said she left home because her treatment was getting worse. 

The victim talked about being hit with a wooden spoon on the hands and her butt and a brown leather belt being used to hit her hands, arm, and butt.

On June 12, 2026 Victim 1 was taken to Access Family Medical after continued pain, difficulty walking and inability to keep food in her system. The victim was referred to Mercy Orthopeids where she was informed that the Victim had a broken leg. 

This is the same leg that the victim stated she fell on but though she had resprained it. The victim walked approximately 6 miles on this broken leg to escape her family.

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

Jane man sentenced for domestic assault, endangering.a child

A Jane man pleaded guilty today in McDonald County Circuit Court to two counts of domestic assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one assault count. An earlier charge of sexual abuse appears to have been dismissed.

Judge John R. LePage sentenced Austin David Outt (DOB 1998) to five years on a second degree domestic assault charge, four years for third degree domestic assault, five years for endangering the welfare of a child and four years on the assault charge. Outt will receive credit for time served.

The crimes were detailed in the probable cause statement:

On 04/08/2026 at approximately 0926 hours I was dispatched to the address of (redacted) in reference to a domestic physical past where the male suspect had fled the scene through a fence with his child in the vehicle.
Upon my arrival to the dispatched location I made contact with a white female who identified herself as (Victim 1), who stated her boyfriend Austin Outt (Suspect) just physically assaulted her, after refusing to have sexual intercourse with him.

Victim 1 stated the suspect grabbed her by her arm and slung her into the couch in the adjacent room before climbing on top of her and placing both hand around her neck and squeezing to the point she felt like she was going to lose consciousness.

The victim then went on to say the suspect began forcibly taking her shorts off and forcing her legs into the air while attempting to insert his penis into her vagina while he continued to masturbate, eventually ejaculating onto her stomach.

The suspect then walked outside the residence continuing to scream at her while the victim got her clothes back on and then continued outside in attempts to get her juvenile child victim 2 which had been placed into the suspect's vehicle, by the suspect. 

As the two continued to verbally argue the suspect then rapidly accelerated towards the victim nearly striking her with his vehicle before then fleeing in the vehicle with the child in the back seat, running through a fence into a field then what was described as ramping through a ditch back onto the road at a high rate of speed.

Victim 1 stated she received phone calls from the suspect stating he was going to end it all by wrecking his car and, "good luck seeing me or your kid again." I was also notified by the suspect's father who later arrived on scene after the altercation, the suspect had called him and stated he was going to drop the child off at Newton County and tell them he didn't want the child.

Contact was later made with the suspect who reluctantly agreed to return to the residence with the child and was read his Miranda rights, the suspect stated he understood his rights and wished to speak to law enforcement.

Jasper County Circuit Court records indicate Outt pleaded guilty to second degree kidnapping in 2025. Under a plea agreement, Outt received a suspended sentence and was placed on supervised probation for five years.

According to the probable cause statement in that case, the child was able to call Webb City Police from inside a vehicle and said Outt had a gun and wouldn't let her go. He was later involved in a vehicle pursuit in Coffeyville, Kansas.

At the time of the kidnapping, a protection order was in effect, according to the probable cause statement.

Settlement reached in civil rights lawsuit against former Joplin Police Department officers

A settlement has been reached in a civil rights lawsuit filed in June against two former Joplin Police Department officers.

According to a joint stipulation filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, both sides agree to dismiss the case with prejudice indicating a settlement has been reached.

Each side will pay for its expenses, according to the filing.

The lawsuit was filed by Quinlyn Tosh and her brother, Dausen Tosh, against former JPD officers Seth Lugenbell and Kyle Fallis.

The six-count lawsuit alleged Lugenbell and Fallis used excessive force against Quinlyn Tosh, retaliated against the Toshes for exercising their First Amendment rights, falsely arrested them, maliciously prosecuted them, as well as two common law counts of false arrest and malicious prosecution.

The allegations were detailed in the petition:

On around March 20, 2023, Dausen Tosh was planning to go on a bicycle ride in Joplin, Missouri, with his stepbrother, Wyatt. The two departed for this bicycle ride sometime in the evening. They planned to
initially make a stop at a local gas station to fill up air in the tires of one of the bicycle, as it was
low. Specifically, they were riding their bicycles down B Street eastbound towards the Casey’s
convenience store located on Main Street in Joplin.

As they began their journey, a police officer drove by them in the neighborhood along B Street and inquired as to whether the two young men had been throwing things off a roof. They answered that, no, they had not been doing that, and the officer pulled away.

A few moments later, Dausen and Wyatt realized that they had forgotten to grab quarters so they could use the air machine at the gas station.

At the same time, Plaintiff Quinlyn Tosh was leaving her home to drive to the store. About three minutes into her drive, she saw her brothers—including Dausen—riding their bicycles near the intersection of B Street and Wall Avenue in Joplin. She noticed the tires were flat on one of the bicycles, so she pulled over to give them some change to get some air at Casey’s gas station nearby.

At this point, the three were chatting about the fact that officers had just pulled up to ask Dausen and Wyatt whether they were “throwing chairs over a balcony.” Dausen explained to his sister that they advised the officers they were not engaged in that activity, and the officers said to them: “Okay, if you were doing it, just don’t do it again. And if you weren’t, have a good night!” The group was actually laughing about how nice these officers were.

The three sat and chatted for a while until Defendant Lugenbell pulled up with a trainee, Defendant Kyle Fallis, in a Joplin Police Department squad car.

Officer Lugenbell was immediately aggressive and hostile toward Dausen and his stepbrother, and demanded they come to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street to speak with him and Officer Fallis without explaining why.

Quinlyn and Dausen both inquired as to why they were being stopped and commanded to go to the sidewalk. Lugenbell would not answer, other than saying “because I’m telling him to,” and simply reiterated the command for Dausen and Wyatt to go to the sidewalk on the other side of the street.

Dausen then starts to coast his bicycle toward the area directed and says “I’m coming.” Dausen and Wyatt complied with Officer Lugenbell’s demands and went to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street, while Quinlyn Tosh pulled her vehicle to the side of the road to park and monitor the interaction.

Seconds later, Quinlyn exited her vehicle and leaned against it, situated approximately 20 feet away from where Dausen and Wyatt were standing.

Defendant Lugenbell immediately demanded that Quinlyn get back in her vehicle and says “you’re going to go in handcuffs if you don’t stay in your car.” Defendant Lugenbell never mentions anything about the way she is parked being a problem and does not ask her to move the vehicle. He just demands she get into the vehicle even though she was not interfering in any way.

Quinlyn, still leaning against her vehicle, says: “I’m asking what he did.”


Lugenbell then yells: “You’re interfering, get in your car!”

Fallis then approaches Quinlyn—who was a 23-year-old woman at the time—in an intimidating manner and yells at her: “get in your car or you’re going to jail for interfering with our investigating!”

Quinlyn asks, incredulously: “what investigation?”

Lugenbell immediately says: “hook her up,” ordering the arrest of Quinlyn despite the fact that she is not engaged in any criminal activity, but instead exercising her right to observe the officers’ actions. At this point, the Defendants still had not disclosed why they were stopping Dausen and Wyatt to question them. The two officers suddenly attack Quinlyn, tackle her to the ground, and started handcuffing her. Quinlyn did not resist the officers in any way.

Quinlyn suffered an injury to her leg as a result of being unnecessarily and unreasonably tackled to the ground by the Defendant Officers.

As the Defendants attacked her, Quinlyn screamed “no” and began crying, yelling “please don’t!”

Quinlyn was not interfering with the officers in any way. She was a significant distance from them and was not shouting or interrupting. She was legally observing while standing against her car.

Only approximately 14 seconds elapsed from the time Dausen had gotten to the sidewalk Lugenbell wanted him to go to until when the Defendant Officers tackled Quinlyn to the ground to arrest her. The Defendants unnecessarily and, quite ridiculously, escalated the situation in rapid fashion.

Quinlyn had every right to be present, lean against her vehicle, and observe the officers’ actions. The Defendant Officers had no right to order her to remain in her vehicle.

While Quinlyn was on the ground, crying and terrified, Dausen took out his cell phone to record the interaction from a safe distance. Dausen did not interfere with the officers in any way. He had every right to record the Defendant Officers’ actions. He simply stood at a distance to allow him to record the officers’ actions, while asking why the Defendant Officerswere taking these ridiculously aggressive actions.



While Dausen was recording their arrest of his sister, Officer Lugenbell pulled out

his department issued firearm and pointed it directly at Dausen, leading Quinlyn to tell him

“Dausen please stop” afraid the already aggressive officer would potentially shoot Dausen for

exercising his right to observe and record the interaction. The photograph below depicts Officer

Lugenbell pointing his weapon at Dausen while he was recording:

Officer Lugenbell continues to point his weapon at Dausen for a considerable period of time even though it is readily apparent that Dausen is holding a cell phone to record the interaction. Dausen complied and backed away further as Lugenbell instructed, yet Lugenbell continued pointing his firearm at Dausen. At no time did Dausen charge the officers or take any aggressive action toward them.

Officer Lugenbell appears to have pointed the firearm at Quinlyn as well while removing it to point it at Dausen.

Dausen repeatedly asks “what is happening” to the officers as they are arresting his sister for apparently no legal reason.

Dausen stops recording out of the fear created by Officer Lugenbell pulling his firearm and pointing it at Quinlyn and Dausen.

The Defendant Officers then lift up Quinlyn and bring her to their squad car. While up against the squad car, Officer Fallis says: “All this could have been avoided if you would’ve done what we said.”



This statement was essentially divorced from reality. Dausen complied with the officer commands. Quinlyn was not interfering in any way and was simply attempting to observe the interaction, which she had every right to do.

Lugenbell doubles down on this fantasy, and says: “If you guys were cooperative this would have been avoided.” Dausen responds: “I did, I cooperated with you.” Dausen’s statement is objectively true from the video evidence.

As these interactions are occurring, other Joplin police officers appear at the scene. There were approximately six officers present in total.

While Quinlyn was in the squad car, she heard over the police radio that “those aren’t the right guys.” This radio communication was transmitted to the Defendant Officers while they were with Dausen and Wyatt, but they said nothing to them about the fact that they were mistaken in the first instance.

A few minutes later, after Quinlyn has been placed in the squad car, Dausen gets out his cell phone and records more of his interactions with the law enforcement officers. On this second video, he is questioning Quinlyn’s arrest, stating “we didn’t do anything wrong and she didn’t even do anything.” Dausen then says “sir, what is going on?”

Dausen then says to Officer Lugenbell “you pointed a gun at me for no reason.”

Officer Lugenbell responds “that’s right!” and Dausen responds “why?”

Officer Lugenbell then immediately responds, in retaliation for Dausen’s speech and recording the interaction: “turn around, you’re going to jail too.”

Dausen responds incredulously “what? I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m going to sue you,” to which Officer Lugenbell responds “sue me!”

Dausen asks multiple times “what am I going to jail for? Why am I going to jail?”

Officer Lugenbell would not answer him.

Officer Lugenbell then speaks with Wyatt, and again makes the fantastical claim that Dausen and Quinlyn weren’t complying. Wyatt—who was present during the whole interaction—timidly questions Lugenbell’s false account, stating: “he came over here”; that is, Dausen complied with officer commands. Wyatt’s statement is objectively true from the video evidence.

Displeased with Wyatt now questioning his power and authority, Lugenbell retorts: “you can go be a witness in court."


While at the scene, Lugenbell described to other officers who arrived later what had occurred. He admits to pulling his firearm on Dausen, and says: “We’re hooking her up and he starts trying to walk towards us. Screw ‘em.”

Officer Lugenbell has a serious ego problem and apparently can’t handle an average, law abiding citizen questioning his authority and power in any manner, even while he illegally exercises it. As he so aptly put it, Officer Lugenbell decided to “screw” the Plaintiffs for hurting his fragile ego, even if it meant violating their constitutional rights.

Officer Lugenbell and Officer Fallis prepared reports regarding this incident. Both of their reports conveniently omit the fact that Officer Lugenbell pointed his firearm at Dausen with no legal justification for doing so. Officer Lugenbell also falsely stated in his report that Dausen did not back away when commanded when, in fact, Dausen complied with this command while Officer Lugenbell was pointing his firearm at Dausen. This became the basis for false charges against Dausen for interfering with an arrest.

Likewise, Officer Fallis falsely stated in his portion of the report that “While placing Quinlyn into custody, Dausen then began to interfere with the arrest,” which also became the basis for false charges against Dausen for interfering with an arrest. Dausen was not interfering. He was exercising his first amendment right to observe and record the officers’ actions.

Officer Lugenbell’s report admits that the complainant who initially called about kids throwing things off a balcony confirmed that Wyatt and Dausen “were not the subjects involved in the disturbance that was initially reported.”

No reasonable officer could believe that Officer Lugenbell and Officer Fallis had probable cause to arrest Quinlyn Tosh for lawfully observing police activity. Likewise, no reasonable officer could believe that Officer Lugenbell and Officer John Doe had probable cause to arrest Dausen Tosh, who was committing no illegal activity and was lawfully observing and recording police activity.

Dausen and Quinlyn were taken to jail by officers, booked, and locked up.

As described above, Officers Lugenbell and Fallis initiated false paperwork to charge Quinlyn with obstruction and resisting arrest and to charge Dausen with obstruction. These charges were patently false and were eventually dismissed.

After this arrest occurred, multiple officers within the Joplin Police Department apologized to plaintiffs for the actions of the officers.

One female officer at the police department advised Quinlyn that she “cannot stand” Officer Lugenbell and that this was not the first time something like this has happened with this officer.

As Quinlyn and Dausen were sitting in jail, the officers that had originally pulled up to Dausen and Wyatt—the ones the trio were chatting about as being nice—approached Dausen and Quinlyn to say they could not believe what had occurred and that, if it was them, “it would NOT have happened like that.”

Quinlyn and Dausen were eventually bailed out of jail.

On March 21, 2023, Quinlyn submitted a complaint to the Joplin Police Department about what occurred. She spoke with Sargeant Jason Stump about what had occurred, who admitted the Defendant Officers’ actions were wrong.

On May 4, 2023, the Joplin Police Department sent a letter to Quinlyn regarding her complaint. This letter stated: “Appropriate action has been taken based on our findings,” but nothing more could be said regarding personnel and disciplinary matters. The letter closed by stating: “Please rest assured that the review of your concerns has helped us improve our service and will help prevent future complaints of this nature.”

Dausen and Quinlyn had to hire attorneys to defend them against the false criminal charges lodged by the Defendant Officers. Those charges were all dismissed.


Dausen and Quinlyn Tosh suffered damages as a result of the Defendants actions, including reputational damages, physical injuries to Quinlyn Tosh, emotional distress, mental anguish, the incursion of attorney’s fees to defendant against false criminal charges, and being falsely imprisoned.

Former Riverton teacher accused of having sex with minor

 

Less than three months into his new job as a teacher and coach in the Riverton School District, Justin McKee, 30, Webb City, was fired following an investigation into what school officials termed as an "inappropriate" relationship with a student.

A Cherokee County investigation led to McKee's arrest today on accusations of unlawful sexual relations with a minor, aggravated intimidation of a victim and/or a witness and contributing to child misconduct.

McKee, a Neosho High School graduate, resigned from his position as options teacher at the Powers Learning Center and an assistant football coach for the Carthage R-9 School District at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. He worked for the district for three years.

He previously was a substitute teacher in the Joplin R-8 School District.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office issued the following news release:

On 10/7/2026 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Riverton School District, reporting a possible inappropriate relationship between a staff member and one of their students. 

Detectives from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office immediately began the investigation. The suspect in this case was identified as Justin W. McKee, age 30, of Webb City, MO.

During the investigation it was revealed there had been an inappropriate relationship between McKee and a student. 

Detectives worked closely with the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office during this investigation. Charges were submitted for Unlawful Sexual Relations with a Minor, Aggravated Intimidation of a Victim and or a witness, and Contributing to Child Misconduct. 

On 10/13/2026 a Cherokee County Judge signed a warrant for McKee’s arrest and issued a $15,000 bond. McKee was taken into custody on 10/14/2026 and is currently being booked into the Cherokee County Jail. 

The investigation continues and we encourage anyone with information about this investigation or any other relevant information involving McKee to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 429-3992. 

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty

(Note; The story has been changed to reflect that charges have not been officially filed.)

Joplin man, four others sentenced in fraud scheme

(From the U. S. Attorney for the District of Kansas)

TOPEKA, KAN. – Five people have been sentenced to prison after engaging in a fraudulent scheme that stole over three-quarters of a million dollars from a company that provides cash access services to casinos and online sports betting operators.

According to court documents, the following defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and were sentenced to:

Jeremy Cushing, 53, of Topeka was sentenced to 95 months in prison;
Rachael Matoian, 36, of Topeka was sentenced to 38 months in prison;
Cassandra Williams, 39, of Spring Valley, California was sentenced to 12 months in prison;
Abraham Ruiz, 44, of Joplin, Missouri was sentenced to 34 months in prison; and
Leroy Noll, 46, of Newton was sentenced to 12 months in prison. 

Starting approximately July 2021 and continuing until March 2024, Cushing, Williams, Ruiz, Matoian, and Noll participated in a scheme to defraud a casino and online gaming services company. After identifying customers, the members of the conspiracy would obtain personal identifying information of the customers and use it to create fake driver’s licenses. The co-conspirators would then withdraw funds from customers’ accounts. The defendants repeated this numerous times at various casinos throughout the United States.

“This case underscores how criminals can exploit stolen personal information for financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We urge the public to safeguard their identifying information and to immediately report any unusual account activity. Working together, we can disrupt schemes like this and protect our communities from financial exploitation.”

“In a world where technology and advancement has made it easier for people to participate in gaming activities - traditional methods of fraud are still being used. This scheme used a method of fabricating official identity documents to commit wire fraud. This sentencing should be a healthy reminder to all: no matter who you try to defraud or how you try to do it, the FBI will bear all resources to seek justice and to bring closure for victims,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police Department, and Jackson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham prosecuted the case.

Springfield man sentenced to 12 years for child pornography

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man, who was convicted following a jury trial, of receiving several images of child pornography and using Artificial Intelligence to produce multiple obscene images of children, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton. Judge Benton further ordered that he serve 25 years of supervised release following his release from federal prison.

On June 2, 2026, Jeremy Koppenhaver, 46, was found guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of production of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, following a two-day jury trial in the United States District Court in Springfield, Mo.

The evidence at trial showed that, on June 22, 2024, the Springfield Police Department responded to a coffee shop in downtown Springfield, after another customer reported that Koppenhaver, who was also at the coffee shop using their internet, was attempting to use AI to produce child pornography. The responding officers seized Koppenhaver’s laptop. Investigators conducted a forensic examination of the laptop and found approximately 19 images of child pornography and approximately 61 obscene images of children created using AI. All images of child pornography depicted real children.

The computer data from the obscene images showed Koppenhaver was using an AI image generation website to depict female celebrities as minors who were being subjected to sexual abuse. The data also revealed Koppenhaver was refining his prompts to evade the community guidelines of the AI website and was attempting to make the images more realistic. 

Investigators also located images in which Koppenhaver used photo editing software to edit nude images of Koppenhaver into photographs that depicted nude girls. Data on the computer also demonstrated that Koppenhaver had multiple web searches looking for child pornography.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and Randall Eggert. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.

Springfield man who embezzled retirement funds sentenced for wire fraud, money laundering

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for a fraud scheme that included wire fraud and money laundering involving the fraudulent embezzlement of his investment clients’ retirement funds.

Bob Hunter, 72, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Hunter was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment, followed by three years of post-release supervision, payment of restitution in the amount of $373,230.50. 

 

Hunter presented himself as an investment and retirement professional in Springfield, Mo., and promoted various retirement programs, including Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERP). Hunter advertised SERPs to area executives to invest their money to build an investment retirement account that would be available to the investor during their retirement years. 

Instead of utilizing the invested funds for retirement accounts, Hunter instead used those monies for his own personal expenses and expenses completely unrelated to the administration of the SERPs.

In all, $373,230.50 in intended retirement funds were embezzled by Hunter from his clients. Hunter’s clients only became aware of his fraud after realizing he was misleading them with false investment reports that claimed they had money in their investment accounts that never truly existed, known as “lulling” letters or documents. These lulling letters and documents significantly delayed investors from reporting this fraud scheme to law enforcement and even attempted to conceal the nature and scope of his true embezzlement.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Liberal man killed, Joplin woman seriously injured in crash on 43

One person was killed another injured in a one-vehicle crash 8:45 p.m. Tuesday on MO 43 eight miles north of Airport Drive.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2004 Ford F-150 driven by a 25-year-old Liberal man struck two road closed signs and went off the right side of the road.

The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to go off the left side of the road and overturn multiple times.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:02 p.m.

A passenger, a 36-year-old Joplin woman, was treated for serious injuries at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.

The fatality was the 99th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D. 

Missouri Southern honors alumni during annual awards ceremony

(From Missouri Southern State University)

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) honored six distinguished alumni and one multi-generational alumni family during its annual Alumni Awards ceremony.

The awards recognized alumni who have demonstrated professional achievement, service to Missouri Southern and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Lion-Hearted Award: Deron Burr

Deron Burr, a 1992 MSSU business graduate, received the Lion-Hearted Award and is president and CEO of People’s Bank of Seneca. As a lifelong Southwest Missouri resident, Burr has remained deeply connected to Missouri Southern as a Lionbacker, Foundation Board member and Lantern Society member. He also serves in leadership roles with the American Bankers Association Minority Bank Board, FDIC Advisory Board for Community Banks and Federal Reserve Community Bank Advisory Council.

Spirit of Service Award: Patty Vavra

Patty Vavra, a 1980 physical education and health graduate, has dedicated nearly five decades to Missouri Southern as a student-athlete, professor, coach and volunteer. She received the Spirt of Service Award at the event. She spent 25 years as a professor of kinesiology and 22 years as head women’s cross country and track and field coach, leading her teams to 12 MIAA Championships and four regional titles. Vavra has been named MIAA and Regional Coach of the Year four times and has been inducted into five Halls of Fame.

Outstanding Family Award: Moss Family

The Moss family’s connection to Missouri Southern spans generations, earning them the university’s Outstanding Family Award. Nathan Moss graduated in 1998, followed by his wife, Christin, in 2000. Christin’s parents, Raymond and Lana Mathis, were members of the college’s final junior college graduating class in 1969, extending the family’s MSSU legacy across three generations. Today, Nathan and Christin’s children, Katie and Elijah, are MSSU Honors students, continuing a tradition of academic achievement, leadership and service to Missouri Southern and the broader community.

Outstanding Alumna Award: Betsy Mense
Betsy Mense, a 2010 studio art graduate, serves as president and CEO of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and received the Outstanding Alumna Award. Her career has included leadership in economic development, organizational leadership and nonprofit management. Mense previously served as executive director of the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri and continues her commitment to regional growth through leadership roles with the Joplin Regional Alliance for Health and MOKAN Partnership.

Distinguished Alumnus Award: Dr. Troy Comeau

Dr. Troy Comeau, a 1994 speech communication and television graduate, serves as chair of the Department of Communication and director of Sports Broadcasting at Pittsburg State University. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the ceremony. His career in academia and media production includes national leadership with the Broadcast Education Association and recognition as the American Advertising Federation’s Educator of the Year. His connection to MSSU includes serving as the first MSTV student station manager and more than 20 years of leadership in MIAA Basketball Championship broadcasts.

Distinguished Alumnus Award: Sean Briley

Sean Briley, a 1995 economics and finance graduate and former MSSU men’s soccer student-athlete, is a senior territory business manager with Alkermes, Inc. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award as well. He has spent more than 20 years coaching youth soccer and has served with the Ozark Soccer Officials Association and as an MSHSAA high school soccer referee. Briley also serves as president of the Joplin Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and as an MSSU Foundation Board member.
The Alumni Awards ceremony celebrated the honorees’ accomplishments and their continued impact on Missouri Southern and the communities they serve.