kspr.com - Local

Judge refuses plea deal in toddler abuse case

by Emily Rittman — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:42:00 -0600

AVA, Mo. -- A Douglas County judge refused to accept the plea agreement Friday for a woman accused of shaking an 16-month-old boy.

Britny Tyra, 23, had previously entered an Alford plea in which she did not admit guilt but conceded prosecutors had enough evidence to convict on charges she violently shook Karson Scribner in April 2011.

After Judge Don Henry refused to accept the agreement, Tyra withdrew her plea, likely sending the case to trial. Henry said

Henry also said he would remove himself from the case because he knew too many of the details.

Under the agreement, Tyra would have served an additional 30 days in jail on top of 60 days she has already spent in jail.

During Friday's proceedings, Scibner's mother, Ashley, testified about the first time she visited her son in the hospital after the April 20 incident. Prosecutors also displayed graphic photographs of Karson following the incident.

According to court documents, Karson's father Chris came home from work that day to find Karson with a swollen head and took him to the hospital. Doctors said it appeared Karson had been shaken so hard, it caused his scalp to tear from his skull.

Ashley Scribner said her son continues to have issues with his vision and playing with other children. Henry said once he learned of the extent of Karson's injuries, he could no longer accept the plea agreement.

In turn, Tyra withdrew her plea. After Friday's hearing, she asserted her innocence,

"I did not injure this child in any way shape or form, nor would I ever," Tyra said.

Ashley Scribner said she accepted the judge's decision. "I'm willing to wait that amount of time to get my son justice and I know she'll get more time. I'm fine with it," Scribner said.

Chris Scribner and Ashley Scribner were separated at the time of the incident. Britni Tyra was Chris Scribner's girlfriend.

Last year, Ashley Scribner launched a campaign on Facebook to petition to keep Tyra in jail, instead of having her bond lowered.

Robbery reported at Great Southern Bank on West Chestnut Expressway

by Chris Brewer / Follow me on Twitter: @iamchrisbrewer — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:05:00 -0600

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield police have responded to an apparent robbery at Great Southern Bank on West Chestnut Expressway this afternoon.

Officials say a man wearing a black mesh mask, a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black gloves and black sunglasses demanded money from a teller.

The man, who was armed with a black semi-automatic pistol, made off with an unknown amount of cash in a trash bag or something similar. The man left northbound on foot.

Officers say the man is considered armed and dangerous. If you have information about the man or the robbery, you can call 911.

MSU-West Plains receives $4 million gift; donation is largest ever to MSU system

edited news release — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:27:00 -0600

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State University-West Plains has received the largest gift in its campus' history, designated for enhancing a college program and providing two athletic scholarships. MSU announced the gift at a news conference on Friday morning.

The estate of Lorene Thompson Brooks donated $4 million to MSU-West Plains to endow and expand the Corps of Opportunity and provide the athletic scholarships, according to a news release on the MSU-West Plains website.

Lorene Thompson Brooks was born Feb. 27, 1930, in Stotesbury, Mo. Her family moved to Koshkonong, Mo. in 1941. She graduated from Koshkonong High School in 1948 and attended Draughon Business University in Springfield.

Brooks, who died Dec. 20, 2010, in Texas, initially donated a collection of books belonging to her daughter, Deidre, who died in the 1990s, to the university, starting a relationship between Brooks and the campus.

The $4 million donation was the entirety of Brooks' estate, the university said. It's the largest gift ever given to the MSU system, according to Drew Bennett, MSU-West Plains chancellor.

The Corps of Opportunity Program brings on-campus work opportunities and scholarships together as a way for students to gain financial assistance to cover education costs. The program largely is designed to address unmet financial needs regardless of benefits received from government programs. Students work on-campus jobs as a means of paying for their education under the program.

"As we focus on access to higher education for all students, financial aid becomes increasing important," Missouri State University Interim President Clif Smart said in the release. "The need-based scholarships this fund will provide for West Plains students may very well mean the difference between a student getting a college degree and not. That is the significance of this gift. It will have a positive impact on students' lives."

The gift is part of Our Promise: The Campaign for Missouri State University; more on that campaign can be found at www.ourpromise.missouristate.edu.

Harrison to host Nonviolence Youth Summit today

by Chris Brewer / Follow me on Twitter: @iamchrisbrewer — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:56:00 -0600

Positive leadership development and engaging in one's community will be the focus of a youth gathering today in Harrison, Ark.

The Nonviolence Youth Summit Part VI - A New Beginning, presented by the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Durand Center.

The summits are designed to educate youth on principles of Kingian nonviolence and other issues so they can face and positively react to violence in communities, according to a press release from the summit. Previous Nonviolence Youth Summits have been held across Arkansas in West Memphis, Pine Bluff, Fayetteville, Little Rock and Hope.

Breakout sessions during the summit will cover such topics as cyberbullying, racial discrimination, gender equality, leadership and even Arkansas' Civil War history.

A Peace Rally will also take place, which state legislators have indicated they will attend.

Panera Bread teams up with Ozarks Food Harvest to provide meals for kids

by Chris Brewer / Follow me on Twitter: @iamchrisbrewer — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:31:00 -0600

Efforts to feed the hungry here in the Ozarks are about to get a big boost from customers' purchases at a bakery-cafe chain.

Panera Bread has announced it will donate proceeds from four menu items, one day per month beginning today, to Ozarks Food Harvest. Panera locations in Springfield, Branson and Joplin are all teaming up to donate the money.

The money could go a long way, as Ozarks Food Harvest says for each $1 donated, six meals are provided. Roughly 180,000 people are what it deems as "food insecure" in the 28 Missouri counties the group serves.

The funds raised will serve The Food Bank's Backpack Program, which helps provide nearly 1,000 at-risk children with backpacks full of child-friendly, nutritious foods.

One hurt in Springfield home invasion

by Jonah Kaplan, KSPR News — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:35:00 -0600

Three men forced entry into a Springfield home Thursday night and injured a man in his 30s.

It happened at the 200 block of North Bellcrest Avenue.

Springfield Police officers tell KSPR News that three white males arrived at the house and attacked the resident. They did not steal anything.

One suspect pulled out a knife and cut the victim on his arm and chest.

Officers say that the victim believes the attack may be retaliation for a prior incident involving his roommate.

The suspects were seen driving a blue four-door sedan that may have been a Ford Taurus.

Anyone with information is asked to call Springfield Police at (417) 864 1810

Missouri State University's West Plains campus is getting a major gift

Carrie Winchel — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:10:00 -0600

Students at Missouri State University's West Plains campus will be getting some good news.

The Missouri State University Foundation will announce a major gift Friday morning.

The big news will be delivered at 10:30 a.m. in the first floor Hospitality Room in the Meyer Alumni Center. That's on South Jefferson on MSU's Springfield campus.

The gift will benefit students on the West Plains campus.

Build-A-Barrier: Ozark School District willing to create buffer around new bus yard to tone down noise

by Jonah Kaplan, KSPR News — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:13:00 -0600

Residents around South Elementary School in Ozark, are already complaining about a new bus facility that's being built.

The school district says it has an answer. Ozark school officials say they're ready to pay for a barrier wall or fence that will tone down the noise - and the complaints around the bus yard.

Ozark School District broke ground on the new transportation center last fall. It will hold as many as 80 school buses - double the current capacity.

Fifty families live across the street from the new location. They have complained to the school and met with officials to share their concerns.

Ozark's school board president says the district picked the South Elementary location because that's where they see the city's future growth.

"The Ozark School District is considerably spread out from north to south," explains Chuck Fugate, president of the board. "It's a long, thin district. That location will be the most economical and the best buy for our taxpaying patrons over the long haul, to save bus gas money."

Fugate says the board is reviewing two fence options: a wood fence that would cost the district $42,000; or a concrete wall - perhaps more effective, but it would cost $98,000.

School officials told us they continue to measure the risks of noise and fumes from buses, and will decide which fence to install at their next board meeting in March.

Weekend Events: A variety of events across the Ozarks

by Jonah Kaplan, KSPR News — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:41:00 -0600

Friday, February 24

Bass Pro Fishing Classic - The Spring Fishing Classic is the best place and time to pick up the secret techniques and strategies used by the best anglers in the world.

• 6 p.m.: Advanced Small and Largemouth Bass Tactics
• 7 p.m.: Local Fishing Tips and Techniques
• 8 p.m.: Side Image Sonar: How to Use it Effectively to Catch Fish

Saturday, February 25

Sword Swallowers - More than 20 sword swallowers will be "dropping swords" at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide at 2:25 p.m. on February 25, in celebration of the 6th annual World Sword Swallower's Day. In excess of 125 feet of solid steel is set to go down the hatch - hopefully without a scratch!

I Love Nursing Day - Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of SBU will host the fourth annual "I Love Nursing Day" 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at the college, 4431 S. Fremont in Springfield. Displays, information booths, and detailed information on nursing as a career, education requirements, and financial aid opportunities will be available. Faculty, staff, and current students will be on hand to give demonstrations, provide tours of the facility, and visit with prospective students individually and in group sessions.

To register for "I Love Nursing Day", please contact event coordinator, Ronda Thomas, at rthomas@sbuniv.edu or 417.820.5032. A pizza luncheon will be served.

Polar Plunge - This year's POLAR PLUNGE will be held at the Henderson Park on Lake Norfork. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m., and the plunge will commence at 11:00 a.m.

The plunge is open to anyone or any group who wants to participate and help raise money for Special Olympics of Arkansas. Each person needs to raise a minimum of $50.00 to register and "take the plunge". Costumes are encouraged, but not necessary. There will be prizes awarded for best costume, youngest plunger, oldest plunger, largest group plunging together, and etc.

American Taekwondo Association Tournament - More than 900 competitors are expected to participate in the Downtown Springfield Regional Tournament that includes a full-day lineup of competition. For a complete schedule, visit http://prosserata.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Schedule.pdf.

Bass Pro Fishing Classic - The Spring Fishing Classic is the best place and time to pick up the secret techniques and strategies used by the best anglers in the world.

• 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Lefty Kreh, World-renown Fly Fishing Expert will sign autographs-no seminars
• 1 p.m.: Cold-Water Jerk Baits
• 2 p.m.: Pre-Spawn and Post-Spawn Bass
• 3 p.m.: Fish Finder Basics
• 4 p.m.: Crankbait Fishing: Tactics and Importance of Matching Rod and Reel Gear Ratio to Various CrankBaits
• 5 p.m.: Spinnerbait Basics

Kid's Trout Fishing Day - The Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation's annual Kid's Trout Fishing Derby, is scheduled to take place at the Stone Mill Spring Recreation Area from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Event registration starts at 9 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles; however, a limited number of poles will be available for use.

Acapella Competition - Missouri State University's first and only all-female a cappella group, A Cub Bella, will be hosting Midwest Quarterfinal 4 of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. The concert will take place on Saturday, February 25th at 8 p.m. at the Gilloiz Theatre in downtown Springfield. The competition will feature a cappella groups from Mizzou and other Missouri universities, as well as Missouri State's own A Cub Bella and the Beartones.

Sunday, February 26

Oscar Night America - Join KSPR at Hammons Hall for the Ozarks' only Academy sanctioned Oscar party! The event includes hors d'oeuvers from several of Springfield's best restaurants, wine and beer. There will also be a silent auction with movie, music and sports memorabilia.

All money raised goes to Isabel's House, the Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks - the home away from home, for children whose families are in crisis.

For more information, please contact Isabel's House at 417.865.2273 (CARE) or all the details are in the "hot topics" section of our web site at kspr.com.

Bass Pro Fishing Classic - The Spring Fishing Classic is the best place and time to pick up the secret techniques and strategies used by the best anglers in the world.

• 1 p.m.: The Tackle and Tactics of Power Fishing vs. Finesse Fishing
• 2 p.m.: Local Fishing Tips and Techniques
• 3 p.m.: Side Image Sonar: How to Use it Effectively to Catch Fish
• 4 p.m.: Fish Finder Basics

Highway Patrol to step up "Click-it or Ticket" efforts

Lauren Matter — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:28:00 -0600

The Missouri Highway Patrol wants you to wear your seat belt and troopers are set to enforce the "Click-it or Ticket" rule starting Friday.

Troop D's commanding officer says drivers should be ready for the Highway Patrol to step up their efforts to make sure you're buckled up.

7 out of 10 drivers killed on Missouri's roads are not wearing a seatbelt.