Crews

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- CoxHealth on Wednesday morning broke ground on an expansion that will include a women's and children's hospital and a neuroscience center. CoxHealth officials expect the 310,000-square foot addition to be complete in 18 to 24 months, according to a news release. The total projected cost is $130 million, financed in part by issuing bonds. Officials present also announced two major donations: one from the Jared family, which will support the Jared Neuroscience Center; and another from Arthur and Ruth Ann White, in support of the Dee Ann White Women's and Children's Hospital.

JOPLIN, Mo--- While several months have passed since the deadly tornado hit Joplin, demolition has finally started at the high school. School administrators say it took awhile to get all the paper work done. Friday at noon workers finished removing all the hazardous material from the high school.  Then demolition immediately started. District leaders say they are recycling the metal.  In a few weeks, the high school will be no more. The area will be covered with dirt and used as a floodplain.

ASH GROVE -- Firefighters were battling a 40 acre grass fire Saturday afternoon in Greene County. Crews said it took about an hour and half to get the flames under control near Ash Grove. The blaze on Farm Road 84 was spotted by a neighbor who then called 911.  The woman said she saw the flames in a ditch, but the winds quickly fanned the flames. No one was injured in the fire.  No word on what caused the blaze

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield City Utilities crews are working to repair a water main break near Kimbrough and Greenwood. The break occurred close to Cowden Elementary School. At this time, water is flowing up Kimbrough Avenue to Sunset Street. Viewer reports say several slick spots were forming on the roadway due to the cold weather. We will update this story when we find out more information.  

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Crews and equipment from miles and miles around are helping Joplin begin to dig out of the piles of debris.  Springfield Public Works crews headed to Joplin as soon as they could to start helping with the massive effort of cleaning up tornado debris.  It is definitely more than just another job to them.  As they worked to clear streets on the edge of the tornado's path on Thursday, Springfield crews were thinking about a...

HARRISON, Ark. -- The snow just keeps falling in northwest Arkansas and, as long as it keeps on, Mike Magness can't afford to stop shoveling. "I’ve got to keep the customers coming and prepare for Valentine's Day,” said Magness. For Magness’ wife's shop, an educational supply shop, ‘tis the season for big business. "It's her prime time in this season; Valentine's Day is when she can recoup a little investment,” he said. Magness will keep on keeping on. "It started about 4 this morning,” he said.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Firefighters battled a house fire in the 1900 block of High street, near National on Saturday morning. Officials say one man was home and woke up to the smell of smoke. He was able to safely escape the flames. Crews were able to keep the fire contained to the front of the house, which had an enclosed porch. Investigators believe an electrical issue ignited the flames.

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. -- Nearly a year after the Leap Day tornado that hit Stone and Taney counties, the landscape of Kimberling City is changing again.  The motel buildings at Kimberling Inn Resort and Conference Center are being demolished. They've stood at the north end of the Kimberling City bridge, welcoming folks to town for nearly 25 years.  Now heavy equipment is finishing what the tornado started.  "It's too bad.  Changes things," said Kimberling City resident Ralph Swanson.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- Crews will be working late into the night trying to make sure the roads stay safe and clear for drivers. The city is working on primary and secondary roads. MoDOT is taking care of major highways and hoping to reach into some rural areas. Before the storm made its way into the Springfield metro area, MoDOT crews were already hitting the streets, hoping to stay ahead of the game. "With icy conditions like this, it's very difficult to stay ahead of it.  You put a treatment down, it will get washed away by the rain.

PLEASANT HOPE, Mo. - Crews will clean the water tower in the town of Pleasant Hope between 8 and 11 a.m. Thursday morning. If you live in the area, you might notice a drop in water pressure later this morning. Officials say there shouldn't be a disruption in service.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- CoxHealth on Wednesday morning broke ground on an expansion that will include a women's and children's hospital and a neuroscience center. CoxHealth officials expect the 310,000-square foot addition to be complete in 18 to 24 months, according to a news release. The total projected cost is $130 million, financed in part by issuing bonds. Officials present also announced two major donations: one from the Jared family, which will support the Jared Neuroscience Center; and another from Arthur and Ruth Ann White, in support of the Dee Ann White Women's and Children's Hospital.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Campbell Avenue again will close in a portion of downtown Springfield. Crews from City Utilities will be performing underground utility work, prompting the closure which runs through May 10. The closure affects Campbell Avenue between Walnut and College streets. Surrounding streets remain open, as well as businesses in the affected area.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Firefighters were able to quickly put out a fire that burned the back porch of a home in north Springfield on Monday morning.  Battalion Chief Kevin Trogdon said a passerby in the 2300 block of North Delaware Avenue called 911 to report flames at a home there.  Crews arrived and were able to bring a man and young child out of the home without incident. Firefighters ensured flames were contained to a back porch area.   A fire marshal is trying to determine the cause of the fire.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--   Two Springfield homeowners are hoping to find some solid ground after falling into deep trouble in late January.  Crews are working on stabilizing an old mine shaft between two south-east Springfield homes. Wednesday, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources brought in crews to start digging on the collapsed mine shaft, known as Big Ben, to try and find a permanent solution. It's been a rocky ride for homeowner Mark Hill, and one he hopes will soon come to a close.  "Nervous, but quite looking forward to it happening, so we can get on with our lives.  This has disrupted my life enough.  It's taken a toll on my health.  It's interfered somewhat with my work, which my boss has been fantastic about," says Hill.

VALLEY SPRINGS, Ark. -- Hundreds of people in northern Arkansas have been without safe drinking water since Sunday.  A major water line near Valley Springs burst over the weekend. "The failure happened Saturday evening and we had people on site at midnight Saturday night," said Andy Anderson of the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority. Anderson said a line installed just this winter burst over the weekend.  Crews thought they had it repaired Sunday night, but it did not hold.

SPRINGFIELD, --  MoDOT says its priority is trying to clear the roads for the morning commute. Officials are asking for folks to be prepared for the drive to take a little longer. They ask drivers to leave 30 to 45 minutes earlier than usual. A lot of the pavement is wet and temps are expected to drop. MoDOT engineers are concerned about the refreezing.  They want drivers to be extra careful on ramps and divided highways. Being ready for Monday morning rush hour is the priority.

PLEASANT HOPE, Mo. - Crews will clean the water tower in the town of Pleasant Hope between 8 and 11 a.m. Thursday morning. If you live in the area, you might notice a drop in water pressure later this morning. Officials say there shouldn't be a disruption in service.

BRANSON, Mo -- The city of Branson plans to tidy up the 100-year-old historic downtown.  Those working on the $5 million facelift project are getting feedback from folks on what upgrades should be made. "I hope it continues to thrive, but I really don't want it to change that much because that to me is the essence of the historic downtown.  It's not like any other place," said Judy Dees with Mr. B's Ice Cream. People say they want more parking space and outdoor dining, better sidewalks for visitors, and better trolly stops.  Also on the wish list are more restrooms, trees and park benches.

Notch, Mo. --  Silver Dollar City's newest wooden coaster, Outlaw Run, officially opens to the public Friday, March 15.  But Wednesday a small group of park employees, community leaders, and reporters got to test the ride out and share their findings. I climbed aboard the park's newest and coolest $10 million addition, in a front row seat, with the SDC co-founder Sherry Herschend. The 16-story, nearly vertical, 81-degree drop starts things off, and if you're not ready, it will take you by surprise.

ROGERSVILLE, Mo. -- Living behind closed gates may provide a sense of security but doing so can also create barriers for those trying to deliver help. "They serve a good purpose in trying to keep people out and privacy and things like that, but, when the fire department needs to get in, that becomes the issue," said Logan-Rogersville Fire District assistant chief Robert Talburt. Logan-Rogersville firefighters have run into problems being greeted by gates and no way to get in.  "We are just trying to overcome those issues.  Again, the seconds or minutes from the delay can mean a big difference in how we respond to the incident," Talburt said.