Ozark

OZARK, Mo. -- Sources within law enforcement tell KSPR News a body was found Thursday.  The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the person had been reported missing and may have died from a drug overdose. Calls to the Ozark police chief and the Christian County coroner had not been returned by late Thursday.  

In our Springfield Business Journal Report we learn a private equity firm bought an Ozark technological company with hopes to turn it around. The Company, Simclar produces various high tech equipment for cellular companies around the World. It filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and now an L.A. based firm has acquired it. “Balmoral will come in and invest anywhere between 5 to 20-million dollars in the company and try to build it up, get rid of debt and increase the customer base.

OZARK, Mo. - The cause of a Sunday afternoon church fire in Ozark is still under investigation. The fire started just before 1 p.m. at Lake Hill Church which is at 22nd and Calhoun, just off of Highway 65 and Highway CC. Crews say no one was inside the church at the time of the blaze. Officials say the fire damaged most of the church's supplies and it will be unusable for services until significant repairs are made. Despite the setback, church officials say they do plan to hold services next Sunday, they're just not sure how or where that will happen.

OZARK, Mo. -- A Thursday morning fire burnede a home to the ground in Ozark. The fire started just before five o'clock this morning in the 6800 block of North 26th street.  At least two people safely escaped.  Firefighters say it appears the flames started in the living room and spread to the kitchen. No word yet on an exact cause. No one was hurt. The Red Cross is helping the family find a place to stay.

A business known for its roasted coffee caught fire in Ozark today. It happened at the Ozark Mountain Coffee Company on North 20th Street. Ozark and Sparta crews responded to the scene and were able to put the fire out. Investigators are now trying to determine the cause. No one was hurt.

Branson and Ozark have combined to win five of the last six Blue & Gold titles. Tuesday night, they faced off in a conference showdown that could have district-seeding implications.

A QuikTrip caught fire Thursday on Highway 14 near Ozark. The canopy over the gas pumps is the only part of the station that caught on fire. Fire Officials say it too soon for a cause and may not be weather related. The QuikTrip is open again, and people are pumping gas. No one was hurt.

Wrestling triangular in Ozark Tuesday night. The third-ranked Tigers haven't lost a dual meet all year. Tigers got the win at 112 lbs. with Colton Howell picking up the pin. The Ozark came up with the big win at 135 lbs. Dunstin McClintock beat second-ranked Carter Huffmaster. Monett would get one back at 140; top-ranked Ethan Davis got the fall, but the Tigers would beat Monett, 55-16.

The 3rd ranked Ozark wrestling team sent a school record 14 wrestlers on to the state tournament at Saturdays class 3 district 3 tournament. Ozark won the team title by 82.5 points over 2nd place Rolla. The top 4 wrestlers in each weight class advance to this weeks 2-day state tournament at Columbia's Mizzou Arena. Individual Champs: 103 - Colton Howell, Ozark 112 - Dmitry Loftis, Ozark 119 - Blayne Shockley, Rolla 125 - Nick Shea, Helias 130 - Blake Wenzel, Helias 135 - Chris Sanders, Rolla 140 - Kevin Brown, Warrensburg 145 - Trenton Patterson, Ozark 152 - Taylor Ball, Willard 160 - Masen Ridenhour, Rolla 171 - Cody Johnston, Warrensburg 189 - Shane Hardman, Camdenton 215 - Joel Wyman, Willard 285 - Christian Adams, Willard Team standings: 1. Ozark 263 2. Rolla 180.5 3. Warrensburg 148.5 4. Jefferson City Helias 120 5. Nixa 120 6. Willard 107.5 7. Sedalia Smith-Cotton 81.5 8T. Camdenton 60 8T. Branson 60 10. Republic 52 11. Hillcrest 25 12. Glendale 16 13. Central 14.5

Oscar Nava was arrested short after allegedly of stabbing Christopher Wood in the stomach with a bread knife. According to Police documents the knife used to stab Wood in the stomach was between 15 to 18 inches long. Wood is recovering at a hospital after receiving the life threatening injuries. He's expected to make a full recovery. Nava is charged with felony assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. Nava could get 10-30 years or life in prison. Nava was arrested short after stabbing Wood when someone called police.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- Most of us have seen the images from Oklahoma's deadly tornado. The pictures from the aftermath have increased the interest in storm shelters. It is what Charlie Williams hopes will keep his wife and two dogs safe if and when bad weather strikes. He's lived in Springfield for over 60 years. He has never bought one until now. He calls it: insurance. "We chose it to be in here because we didn't think we would go outside when it is lightening and hailing," says homeowner Charlie Williams.

By now you've seen how much damage the Oklahoma tornado's 200mph winds caused but were they strong enough to blow debris all the way to Ozarks? KSPR's Melody Pettit checked out several reports of storm debris in Branson. Tornado debris can travel a long way but if these latest reports are true experts say it could easily set some records for distance traveled by tornado debris. “I've heard there are pictures and people's personal effects,” said one Branson resident. “When I heard, it certainly raised my eyebrows, I'll tell you that,” said another Branson resident.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - An Ozarks mom is giving children with special needs a chance to go to a camp she says changed her son's life. Kris Presley adopted her son Chance nine years ago. "His case worker and everyone said at that point that I probably would have him until he was five. He will be 14 come July 27th," says Presley. Chance was born with special needs and requires around-the-clock care. "I saw his picture and at that point, it didn't matter what was wrong with him, what syndrome he had. He was mine.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Students across the Ozarks are graduating this month and jumping into the job market, but they could be in for a challenge. New numbers show unemployment is the highest among young adults. Around this time of year, officials say they see a rush of graduates that come to the Missouri Career Center looking for work. But officials say actually finding a job depends on your field of study. The center's youth job developer says locally, careers with the best outlook this year include work in hospitals and banks.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - It starts with congestion and sneezing and then you get a running nose and irritated eyes. Spring seasonal allergies are once again sending people to the doctor's office this week. At Ozarks Community Hospital's Primary Care Clinic in Springfield, doctors are seeing around 5 new patients a day complaining about allergies. Some people say they have never had allergies until this year. According to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, mold is high, grass is high, tree pollen is high and weed pollen is also high.

When gas prices spike Missouri is often one of the best places to be.  The midwest tends to sit below the national average when it comes to the cost of a gallon of gas-- not right now though.  In Springfield we're up to $.384 at most stations, a ten cent jump since Wednesday.   "We're selling smiles, not ice cream," Justin Hurst tells us from the driver's seat of one of his Kiddie Karts.     The Hurst family's been in the smile business for over 50 years and, true to his product, Justin has learned to grin and bear it when it comes to the constantly changing cost of getting the kiddie karts to the kiddies.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Powerball fever is sweeping the Ozarks and the nation. Tonight's drawing will top $360 million dollars. For some, it is tradition. "My dad always played. I kind of always played. I haven't won yet , but it will happen maybe eventually. You never know," says Powerball player Lindsey Martinez For others, it is a first-class ticket to the good life. "There is a chance of being rich beyond your wildest dreams," says Powerball player Bill Neary. It is that chance to cash-in big, that those who play, are banking on. "I do tend to buy more when it's higher like that.

New research says pedophiles may be born with the urge to have sex with children, and it's already controversial.   Wednesday, in a special report, we hear from people who believe it and those who don't.   Some of this new theory about pedophilia comes from studies on convicted sex offenders.  It was done at the Criminal Center for Mental Health and Addiction in Toronto.   Here are just a few things they found: a large number of pedophiles are left-handed, at least an inch shorter than normal, about ten IQ points below average, and have less white matter in their brains.  Some scientists say those are all biological so pedophilia likely is as well.  Not everyone buys that though, even an actual sex offender.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Leaders of the Ozark Empire Fair announced one of the concerts for this year's fair and also said it will start on Thursday this year instead of the traditional last Friday of July.  The theme for the 2013 is “Sweet Summertime.” The concert that was announced at the news conference is Collective Soul , a band from Atlanta.   That group has a number hit, “Shine.”  It first became famous 20 years ago for its...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - It is the time of year when donations are low heading into the summer months for food pantries. People in Ozarks did their part today to help keep those shelves full. A woman who will benefit from the drive, says taking from the generosity of others isn't easy. Around the time Caitlyn Shultz-Mizell found out she was pregnant with her first child, her husband lost his job. Then they lost their house. "We just found out a couple of months before and then him losing his job. We just didn't know what we were going to do," says Caitlyn Shultz -Mizell.