West Plains, MO. – The end of the year is almost upon us and 2022 has had it’s ups and downs. We have compiled a list of the top 10 stories that our readers have viewed on Ozark Radio News.
10. Homicide in West Plains, Two in Custody
The death of James Harlin Vineyard at the 14 Junction Truck Stop in West Plains on the night of April 5, 2022 shook the community. Witnesses at the scene said they had seen two people involved in this criminal activity drive south on Highway 63 in a red Chevy Avalanche. Thanks to witness testimony, the two were later found at a residence in West Plains and were apprehended.
Damian Paul Henry of West Plains will stand trial on January 11, 2023 in Howell County on the charges of 1st Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action.
9. Ozark County Woman Arrested in Friday Night Shooting
The smiling mugshot of an Ozark County woman who was arrested after shooting at two people on May 6, 2022 had readers intrigued.
Rhonda Sprague, 57 of Caney Mountain, had been arrested after shooting two people at 11:30 p.m. on May 6th. Sprague was held in the Ozark County Jail without bond. She pled guilty to two charges of 2nd Degree Assault on November 9th and was sentenced to 5 years probation.
8. Human Remains found near Winona (Update)
One of our biggest news stories of the year was also one of the earliest. Law enforcement began an investigation of the body of a woman that was discovered in a ditch near Winona on January 12.
Missouri Department of Transportation crews were mowing the grass on the side of U.S. 60 when they discovered a body. As of publishing this piece, the body remains unidentified.
7. Update: US 63 has reopened after accident Wednesday Afternoon in West Plains
In one of the most tragic accidents that was reported on Ozark Radio News in 2022, the multi-vehicle crash that left a mother and her two children dead on May 25th still moves many in the West Plains area to tears.
A semi hauling cattle on US 63 attempted to break at a red light at the intersection of MO 17 and skidded into the intersection and landing on a vehicle driven by Alexias Crider, her two sons, Brantley, age 1, and Aiden, age 2, and her younger brother. The driver and her two sons died in the crash and her younger brother was in critical condition but, has since recovered.
An SUV was also damaged in the crash, with two occupants suffering moderate to minor injuries.
6. “Little House on the Prairie” Star to Appear in Mansfield, MO
Charlotte Stewart, age 81, who played Miss Beadle on “Little House on the Prairie” made an appearance in Mansfield on September 24th for the Wilder Day celebration at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.
The celebration included a “Fiddle-Off” contest and street dancing.
5. Missing Mountain Home Teen Found Living in Cave with Kidnapper, Man Arrested with $1,000,000 Bond
A missing Mountain Home, Arkansas teen was found on June 22 living in a cave with her accused kidnapper, Isaac Melder of Yellville. The 14-year old girl had gone missing on the afternoon of May 12 and her mother notified police that she did not come home after school and may have been picked up by Melder.
Melder and the child was found in a rural Marion County Cave and Melder was arrested.
The conservative attorney generals of 22 states, including Missouri and Arkansas, filed a lawsuit against the federal government for changing Title IX to include sexual orientation and gender identity and that non-compliance could result in withdrawal of federal funds from public schools.
The guidance had been issued on May 5th and the filing of the lawsuit was on July 27, shortly before the August 8th primary elections, was believed to be used as a political point.
3. Update: Superintendent Releases Statement on Bus Carrying the Koshkonong Basketball Team Crashes
As the Koshkonong boys basketball team were on their way home from a game on February 15th on Highway 99, the bus travelling in drove off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected and rolled off the left side of the road, striking trees. Luckily, there were no fatalities and mostly minor injuries.
2. Ozark County Sheriff Issues Emergency Order
On July 7th, the Ozark County Sheriff issued an emergency order that their office would be running tight due to budget constraints. The price of fuel was at an all-time high and the sheriff had underestimated the cost of fuel and operations that would be needed to operate for the year.
The budget constraints led to layoffs and limited law enforcement actions until the price of gas dropped to more normal levels in the fall and Ozark County passed a tax to increase funding to the Sheriff’s Office.
Our top story of the year is not one of crimes, or death, or lawsuits but, a change in Commercial Driver License, or CDL, requirements posted on January 21st.
The requirement added the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) program to obtain a CDL. While those with a valid CDL or certain similar license, this would require new drivers to take additional training to drive a bus, a vehicle hauling hazardous materials, or transport passengers. While some saw this as added protection, others saw it as a major problem to the recovering trucking industry following the COVID-19 pandemic.
