Do these stories ring a bell?
Memorable Stories of 2009
From the news files at Zimmer News Network, here are some of the more memorable stories as we chronicle the events in 2009 that affected the lives of our listeners at The Eagle 93.9
January 2009
—Minimum Wage: Some of us started the year out with more money in our pockets. Missouri’s minimum hourly pay increased by 40 cents to $7.05 thanks to a 2006 ballot measure.
—New Laws January 1st: Besides minimum wage, new laws went onto the books. Missouri businesses are being encouraged to use a federal database for screening newly hired employees for illegal immigrants.
—Crime at Gatehouse Apartments: Disturbances, drug busts, shots fired and arrests became headlines on many January nights at this Columbia apartment complex
—Columbia Visioning Commission: The newly formed commission met for the first time
—Callaway Two? We heard in January that Missouri’s largest electric utility might build a 2nd nuclear reactor
—Governor Blunt’s Emails: Time’s up…hand them over. A judge approves a settlement requiring Gov. Blunt to turn over thousands of emails to investigators representing the attorney general. The settlement dismissed a lawsuit alleging Blunt had “knowingly and purposely” violated the state’s Open Records Law
—Columbia Police Training Center: Columbia City Council votes to spend $83,000 to furnish the Training Center which was forecast to be operational in the Fall of 2009
—Kingdom City Petro Mart fire: A Kingdom City truck stop is destroyed by fire
—Senator Bond Announces Retirement: Two-term Governor and 4-term U.S. Senator Kit Bond announces he will not seek re-election in 2010.
—State Government Pink Slips: Gov.-elect Nixon sent out letters telling 150 state employees they will be out of a job when he’s sworn in. The firings were said to be part of Nixon’s effort to build a “team of highly qualified public servants who share his priorities.” These employees were generally in cabinet-level, senior staff or policy-making positions.
—Homeless Camp Body Found: Human skeletal remains are found in a shed at an abandoned homeless encampment in Columbia on Conley Road. Foul play is not suspected
—Columbia‘s Drinking Water: Water & light crews are instructed to add ammonia to the water supply as a way to prevent the formation of Trihalomethanes.
—Sex For Sale Ads on Craigslist: Enough people complained that Columbia Police conducted an undercover operation at a motel and arrested 5 women. One woman was arrested when she showed up with her two children
—55th Governor is Sworn In: Gov. Nixon takes over with the state facing a projected $342 million budget shortfall and an unemployment rate near it’s highest since 1991
—Competitive Bids for License Bureaus: Nixon starts seeking competitive bids to run the state’s vehicle and driver’s license offices
—Holts Summit Fatality Fire: 2 children die in a mobile home fire, 5 year old and 3 year old sisters. Investigators centering on wood burning stove or fireplace in the living room.
—Mayor Hindman in D.C.: Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman returns from the Winter U.S. Mayors Conference held in Washington D.C. where he told The Eagle 93.9 that the mayors worked on the “Ready To Go” report for job creation
—Busted Water Pipes at School: It was a day off from school for students at Millcreek Elementary when a water pipe burst causing several inches of water to flood a classroom and hallway.
—Columbia Fatality Shed Fire: Firefighters thought they were called to a routine shed fire behind a home on Rock Quarry Road. They discovered a body in the rubble. Homeowner, a Columbia attorney, lived in a trailer behind her house and allowed homeless people to live on her property, according to fire officials. Victim was positively identified a month later
—MOHEELA Money: Gov. Nixon stops millions of dollars of planned mid-Missouri college construction that was to be funded with money from Missouri’s student loan authority.
—Investment Fraud Conspiracy Guilty Pleas: 2 former residents plead guilty to a $3 million investment fraud conspiracy through their company United Management Inc.
—Cut Throat Gang Indictment: In a 34-count indictment, 16 members of the Cut Throat Gang are behind bars
February 2009
—Columbia Sprinkler Task Force: This task force met to study issues surrounding the use of fire sprinklers in fraternities, sororities and other off-campus student housing.
—Police Chief Search Reduced: The search for the next Columbia Police Chief is cut to two finalists, Chief Kenneth Burton and Major Christine Laughlin
—Boone County Utility Crews Sent to Help: Columbia, Boone Electric Cooperative and Centralia utility crews make trip to West Plains, Hayti and Sikeston to help restore power in a massive outage
—Inmate Reimbursement Rally: 300 county officials rally at the state capitol to raise claims that the state is short-changing counties on inmate re-imbursements.
—Gatehouse Drug Bust: A drug bust at this Columbia apartment complex nets the arrest of 3 people and the discovery of crack cocaine
—Molly Bowden Memorial Ceremony: 4th anniversary of the death of Columbia Police Officer Molly Bowden killed in the line of duty. Ceremony of remembrance held at her memorial on Nifong
—Clinch Murder Indictment: Boone County Grand Jury indicts Hallsville man William Clinch for 1st Degree murder in the 2007 shooting death of his ex-brother in law. Initial charges were dismissed and refiled immediately at Clinch’s first trial, necessitating the indictment and new court appearance
—ABB Cuts: One of Jefferson City’s largest factories lets another 90 workers go
—Murder of Corey Brown: 18 year old Columbia man died from gunshot wound in a residential area behind Ballinger Liquors.
—Fayette Pit Bulls Banned: An animal control ordinance that bans the acquisition of new pit bulls, and requires all dogs to be registered, goes into effect in Fayette.
—Daniel Sanders Trial Delay: Judge grants a delay in the trial of Columbia teenager Daniel Sanders who’s charged with 2nd degree murder and evidence tampering in the August 2008 death of his mother. Her body was found in the trunk of his car during a traffic stop.
—Columbia School Superintendent Chosen: Dr. Chris Belcher of Kearney is chosen over Skip Deming, a former Columbia assistant superintendent
—2 Fort Leonard Wood Soldiers Die of Meningitis: Both deaths ruled “Pneumococcal Meningitis”
—Columbia Police Chief Selected: Ken Burton is named the city’s new police chief although his official start date is in April
—Bong causes MU Frat Fire: Evacuation at Mu Fraternity Sigma Chi on College Avenue. The fire was in the bedroom next to the one where a fatality too place there almost 10 years ago. Investigators rule that the fire was caused by an unattended bong, but the fraternity president says it was a small piece of charcoal left on a windowsill, not a bong that started the blaze.
—Mid-Missouri Grain Fraud: Initial details emerge as state regulators take control of an Audrain County trucking company’s assets after audit reveals financial irregularities.
March 2009
—Clooney Movie Films in St. Louie: “Up In The Air” begins filming at Lambert. Film makes use of more than 50 locations in St. Louis, creates about 500 jobs, produce 6,000 hotel bookings and create an economic impact of $5 million
—Tiger B-Ball Bus Wreck: Charter bus carrying our Mizzou Tigers is struck in Kansas. No injuries. Team was returning to an Overland Park hotel after practicing in Lawrence. One car hit another car and it was that 2nd vehicle that struck the Tiger bus. Mizzou lost later that day to Kansas 90-65
—Boy Scout Food Drive: 24% more food is collected this year as compared to 2008 totals in the “Will Scout For Food Drive”. 2,400 boy scouts took part
—Hidden Pot Rooms: 2 large marijuana growing operations are discovered at homes in the Vanderveen subdivision. 450 pot plants are found. The operations in both homes were hidden in rooms by false walls
—Tea Party at Flat Branch: The Eagle 93.9 hosted a tea party at Flat Branch park
—O’Neal Lawsuit Settlement: University of Missouri settles a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of a former player who collapsed on the football field in 2005 in a pre-season work-out.
—MU 2-Alarm Fire: A worker using a cutting torch on the roof of the Engineering Building may have started the fire. Crews found flames under the surface of a roof on new construction
—Truck Explosion: Truck exploded while the pick-up was parked in front of the owner’s home in northwest Columbia.
—Bentley Murder Plea: 17 year old Quillan Jacobs of Columbia pleads guilty to 2nd degree murder in the June 2008 shooting death of 22 year old Nathaniel Bentley. Jacobs will testify against 4 co-defendants.
—Tracking Stimulus Money: Governor Nixon signs legislation creating 2 new state funds designed to make it easier to track how Missouri spends federal stimulus money.
—Columbia Bank Robbery at Gunpoint: Boone County National Bank is robbed at gunpoint
April 2009
—Maguire Groundbreaking: Groundbreaking ceremony on a project that’ll help allieviate traffic tie-ups around Lemone Industrial Boulevard which has no outlet. Maguire will be expanded to the east end of Stadium. Thousands of vehicles exit at New Haven
—Ryan Ferguson Appeal Denied: Another court says “no” to an appeal for the Columbia man in prison for murdering a Columbia Tribune sports editor
—MAIC Report: Republican Party and the ACLU are outraged by a recently leaked report by Missouri’s Law Enforcement Fusion Center
—Bentley Murder Plea: A 2nd defendant pleads guilty in the shooting death of Nathaniel Bentley in Columbia. 18 year old Michael Jaco pleads guilty to 1st Degree Murder
—Mexico Fire Fatality: A 58 year old man dies in a Mexico accidental house fire
—Vice President at ABB: Vice President Joe Biden visits Jefferson City’s ABB plant. Columbia Mayor Hindman meets with the VP also. Biden will visit the ABB plant and highlight how the federal stimulus law has created a market for the company’s transformers for wind power plants.
—Jefferson City Tea Party: Another tax protest was held, this time at the state capitol
—Holts Summit Fatality Fire: 3 children died in an early morning house fire
—City Employee Resigns: An aide to Columbia’s city manager resigns after she and her husband were arrested on suspicion of giving alcohol to MU students at their Fulton home.
—Pickens at MU: Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens came to MU and touted his plan to increase wind power. The 80 year old billionaire was the keynote speaker at the Missouri Energy Summit
—NO Callaway Two: Ameren U.E. suspends plans to build a 2nd nuclear plant at its Callaway power plant
—Clooney’s movie “Up In The Air” finishes filming at Lamber Airport
—Whooping Cough: Whooping cough is on the rise in Boone County. At this point in 2008, only one case was diagnosed. In this month, 44 cases had been diagnosed.
—Mom Convicted of Hiding Daughter: A late-night conviction for a New Bloomfield woman when a jury says 38 year old Rebecca Albrecht is guilty of kidnapping her 11 year old daughter and hiding her in the crawl space of her home. The girl was kept under the floorboards from July 29, 2008 to August 20th, 2008.
—Carl Edward Car Flips: 7 fans were injured when the race car of Carl Edwards soared 15 feet off the track, scraped the fence and then bounced back onto the track in flames, sending debris into the stands at Talladega in the last lap. Edwards car came eerily close to flying into the grandstands
—Zoo-Too Winners: The Central Missouri Humane Society is the winner of a million dollar make-over contest
May 2009
—Swine Flu in Missouri: 4 cases confirmed in the state with 2 of those in Howard County
—Home Invasions Increase: Columbia Police receive increase in similar home invasion robberies
—Swine Flu Cases: Number of H1N1 cases increases in Missouri to 6
—Letter Carriers Food Drive: Single, largest national food drive takes place in all 50 states.
—Southern Missouri Storms: Massive storms ripped through southern Missouri. 3 days later, thousands still didn’t have power.
—Boone Hospital Center Groundbreaking: Boone Hospital Center breaks ground on its new patient tower.
—Westboro Baptist Church Visits: Members of the controversial church travel to Columbia to protest the city’s “domestic partnership registry”.
—New Columbia Police “Downtown Team”: The Downtown Police Team is formed and hits the streets
—Jim McNabb Steps Down: Jim McNabb steps down as Columbia’s director of Emergency Management and the 911 Center
—Home Invasion Robbery Arrests: 6 suspects are arrested for a string of home invasion robberies and assaults from April and this month
—Chrysler Franchises: Nearly 800 dealerships are losing the Chrysler brand and that includes 4 in mid-Missouri
—Pipeline Rupture north of Rocheport: Repairs are made on a natural gas pipeline that ruptured in Howard County.
—Pepper & Friends Ends: Announcement is made that the long-running local t.v. show is ending at KOMU
—Cut Throat Gang Guilty Plea: A Columbia man pleads guilty in federal court to gang-related shooting and for drug sales as part of the Cut Throats Gang
—Sentence for Mom Who Hides Daughter: 3-year prison sentence for the New Bloomfield woman who was convicted of hiding her 11 year old daughter in her house’s crawl space.
June 2009
——Columbia‘s Economic Development Director Hired: Mike Brooks is hired as the city’s economic development director. He comes on board in July 2009
—Wadlow Cuts Deal: 16 year old Nickolas Wadlow cuts a deal in the February shooting death of 18 year old Corey Brown who was shot at Ballinger Liquors. The teen’s 2nd degree murder charge is reduced to attempted robbery
—Columbia Storm: A downpour shattered a basement apartment window and the basement at Paquin Towers as well as flooding drains and streets.
—Churchill Memorial Vandalism: Vandalism damages the historic memorial in Fulton
—ABB Layoffs: 25 people laid off at the Jefferson City manufacturing plant
—Honor Flight Broadcast: KOMU broadcasts a special as part of its fundraiser for the Central Missouri Honor Flight
—MIAC Report: State lawmakers being investigating the leaked MIAC report
—Fair Tax Rally in Columbia: Midwest Fair Tax Rally was held at the Boone County Fairgrounds with appearances by Neal Boortz, John Linder and Joe the Plumber
—Boone County Fatality House Fire: 68 year old man dies in a house fire on O’Rear Road, north of Columbia
—Digital T.V. Deadline: All T.V. stations across the country switch over from an analog signal to a digital signal
—Hobby Lobby Robbery: While customers are in the store, a woman is forced at gunpoint into the back office for a robbery
—Harassing Cyclist: Columbia City Council passes an ordinance that makes it misdemeanor to harass bicyclists in Columbia
—Geographic Patrolling in Columbia: Police switch to geographic policing. The system will increase response times by keeping officers in their specific beat
—Columbia‘s Jobless Rate: A national economic forecaster names Columbia one of the first 6 areas across the country to take a good bounce from the recession
—Columbia School Budget Balanced: For the 1st time in 8 years, the Columbia School Board has a balanced budget
—Centralia‘s Accessibility Committee: Based on frustrations with the mayor and city council, citizens form an accessibility committee to highlight the need handicapped compliance and to search for state and federal revenue streams.
—Howard County Inmate Escapes: After a jailbreak, a New Franklin man slips away from the Howard County Jail. Inmate put something into the cell door latch. He was captured days later
—Cole Camp Triple Homicide: Husband and wife and their 15 year old granddaughter found gunned down inside their home
—School Scaffolding Collapse Ruling: A new federal report says a fatal scaffolding collapse at a Columbia school under construction was caused by equipment failure.
—Moberly Taser Settlement: The city of Moberly agrees to pay $2.4 million to survivors of a man who died in 2008 after police fired a taser at him several times
—Boone County Fatality Fire: 1 man is killed in a rural Boone County trailer fire east of Pierpont in a remote area
—Obama Sends 1st Pitch in St. Louis: National attention to St. Louis when President Obama throws the first pitch at the All-Star game in St. Louis
—Toddler Found Crawling on I-70: a 2 year old boy is safe after a trucker spotted him crawling along the outer road of I-70 west of Kingdom City
—Knock Out King: Columbia man injured in a parking garage attack
July 2009
—Audrain County’s New Prosecutor: Jacob Shellebarger is named Audrain County’s new prosecuting attorney
—3-Alarm Mexico Plant Fire: Everlast Dog Food Plant is Mexico is the site of a 3-alarm fire
—Red Light Cameras Activated: Columbia’s red light cameras are activated with only warnings issued in the first month
—Myspace Conviction Thrown Out: A federal judge throws out the conviction of Lori Drew, the St. Charles mom conficted of accessing computers without authorization in the death of a 13 year old neighbor girl
—Cole County Fatality Fire: A Lohman woman is found dead in a Cole County house fire
—Cut Throat Gang Guilty Pleas: 3 more members of Columbia’s Cut Throat Gang plead guilty to drug charges
—Dog Fighting Ring Busted: 350 dogs are seized and about 30 people arrested in raids across 5 states, including Missouri
—Murder Re-trial: Jury selection begins in the retrial in the 2003 Columbia shooting death of an MU student. Taron Crawford gets a new trial based on a judge’s ruling that Crawford received ineffective council the first time. Victim was shot at a Columbia party when gunfire rang out
—Father and Son Sentenced for Sex Crimes: Ashland man is sentenced to 3 years in prison for sexual misconduct involving an 8 year old girl his wife was babysitting. His 19 year old son was sentenced in May to 10 years in prison on sexual abuse charges involving the same little girl
—Columbia Police Review Board: Council City Council members unanimously agree to start this citizens group
—Columbia Population: Census figures say Columbia is gaining about 2,000 new residents each year.
—E-Coli Reports Held Back: A report on dangerously high levels of E Coli in the Lake of the Ozarks isn’t released
—Colt Bridge Groundbreaking: A safer route is coming. Construction begins on a bridge project over the Colt Railroad crossing on Highway 63, north of Columbia
August 2009
—Teen Crime: Columbia City Council is studying juvenile crime and a proposed curfew
—Police Review Board: Applications accepted to be the first members of the city’s Police Review Board
—Truman V.A. Hospital Groundbreaking: Groundbreaking is held for a $25 million renovation at Truman Memorial V.A. Hospital in Columbia. It’s the first significant renovations since it opened in 1972
—Columbia Drowning: A Columbia teenager drowns after rescuing a younger boy who had been swept away by the Missouri River current in Boone County
—Highway Worker Killed: A Boonville woman is arrested in a fatal accident that left a highway construction worker dead in Boonville. Driver is arrested for DWI as a prior offender as well as for involuntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and assault with a motor vehicle
—Crawford Sentenced: Taron Crawford is sentenced to 30 years in prison after his second conviction for the 2003 shooting death of an MU student at a Columbia party
—McCaskill’s Health Care Forums: Senator Claire McCaskill held health care forums in Moberly and Jefferson City to sometimes angry crowds.
—Boone County Fire District Chief Review Panel: A 9-member review board is named to interview the candidates for fire chief
—Haven Road Fire: An 8 year old girl is a suspect in a weekend Columbia house fire that caused $60,000 in damages and killed a dog
—Beer Can Colors: The promotion stops when some schools, including the University of Missouri, say special school colors on the Anheuser-Busch Inbev cans promotes underage drinking
—Longtime Columbia Mayor Not Running: Mayor Darwin Hindman announces that he will not run for a 6th term
—Texting Laws: A new law makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to text and drive
—Fulton Airport Shooting: A bizarre and potentially deadly situation when a Fulton woman fires a gun at a plane at the Fulton Airport
September 2009
—Lumpkin Trial: Keyonda Lumpkin convicted in the 2008 beating death of her 2 year old son
—Tour of Missouri goes through Jefferson City: Race begins in St. Louis and ends in Kansas City
—Ignition Interlock: If you’re a repeat drunk driver, you’ll need to comply with a new state law. 66,000 Missouri motorists with drunk driving convictions are ignoring a new state law requiring them to install alcohol-breath test devises in their vehicles
—Honor Flight: Another Honor Flight leaves Columbia for Washington D.C.
—Cash For Clunkers: Mid-Missouri car dealers take part in “Cash For Clunkers”
—Truck Lanes Only: Federal officials approve a proposal to rebuild I-70 to include lanes for trucks
—Andre Lee Pleads: The 21 year old Columbia man pleads guilty to a reduced charge in the February shooting death of 18 year old Corey Brown. The shoot-out took place behind Ballenger Liquors
—Keep Columbia Safe: Karen Taylor and her son Adam start a petition drive to get mobile cameras placed downtown after Adam’s June attack inside a parking garage.
—Pot Growing Operation: Boone County deputies uncover a large pot growing operation when they discover that an entire 12-hundred foot duplex is filled with nothing but pot plants.
—Boone County Fire Chief Candidates’ List: It’s down to 2 candidates
—Last Day for Pepper and Friends: Sept. 18th was the last day on the air for “Pepper and Friends” on KOMU
—Columbia City Budget Approved: Council approves budget of $403 million
—Corey Brown Murder Pleas: 2 more suspects plead guilty in the shooting death of 18 year old Corey Brown who was killed in a shoot-out behind Ballenger Liquors in February
—Millersburg Plane Crash: An Alaskan was killed when the plane he had just purchased in Pennsylvania crashed in the Millersburg area.
—Roots-n-Blues: The festival comes back to downtown Columbia with a few changes.
—Jefferson City Double Homicide: Couple found shot to death in the woman’s apartment. Neighbor arrested 7 hours later in Oklahoma
—Skid Loader Death: A Rocheport man is killed under a skid loader at his home
—Warren Funeral Home Indictment: A Boone County Grand Jury indicts a former Columbia funeral home director accused of keeping rotting bodies in the funeral home basement
—33 Year Old Murder Arrest: 65 year old Johnny Wright is arrested in Georgia for the 1976 murder of a Columbia waitress.
October 2009
—Cut Throats Plead: 2 more members of Columbia’s Cut Throats Gang plead guilty to a gang-related drive-by shooting
—Crane Collapse: A Watkins Roofing Company crane flips over onto an adjacent building, damaging the Niedermeyer Apartments on Cherry Street.
—Sprinkler Damages Historic Documents: In an isolated, freak accident, a sprinkler head sprays water on historic documents at the State Historical Society in Columbia
—Westboro Returns: Members of the controversial Topeka church protest around Columbia when a play about a murdered gay man is presented at Stephens College.
—Columbia Catholic School Named: No groundbreaking yet, but the new Catholic high school will be named the Father Augustine Tolton Regional Catholic High School to commemorate the first black priest in the U.S.
—Callaway Courthouse Fire: $12,000 in damages to the Callaway County Courthouse. The fire may have been started by construction
—Cut Throats Plead: 2 more members of the Cut Throats Gang plead guilty
—Apache Flats Murder: During a home invasion robbery, one of the robbers is shot and killed
—Lumpkin Sentenced: Keyonda Lumpkin is sentenced to 24 years in prison for the beating death of her 2 year old son.
—TIF Approved: Columbia City Council agrees to Tax Increment Financing for the Tiger Hotel
—New Director for Emergency Management: Police Captain Zim Schwartz is named the new permanent director of Columbia’s Emergency Management and the director of Public Safety Joint Communications
—Columbia Murder at Red Roof Inn: Body of 26 year old Nicole Crumby is found on the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn. She died of traumatic head wounds.
—Linn Fire Fatality: A student dies in Linn fire and his neighbors are arrested for having a meth lab in their apartment.
—Honor Flight and Honor Ball: Last of the Honor Flights leave Columbia. Organizers plan the Honor Ball
—Boone County’s H1N1 Doses: Boone County’s 1st doses of H1N1 vaccine arrive
—Black & Gold Stabbing: A stabbing takes place at the Black and Gold when two men fight over the music playing on the jukebox
—Clinch Trial Begins: William Clinch charged with 1st degree murder in the shooting death of his ex-brother in law gunned down on the McDonalds parking lot on Clark Lane
—Columbia and Jefferson City Energy Project: Columbia and Jefferson City officials, along with Governor Nixon, unveil a project that’ll use methane gas fro a landfill to provide electricity for homes in Columbia and hot water for prisoners in Jefferson City
—Bike Ordinance Expanded: Columbia City Council members expand the bike harassment ordinance to wheelchair users and walkers
—Airport Plan Okayed: Grants will pay for 95% for the first 5 years of a $65 million mast plan for Columbia Regional Airport
—St. Martins Child Murdered: 9 year old Elizabeth Olten found 2 days after she was killed. Her 15 year old neighbor led investigator to the body saying she killed the child because she wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone
—Boone County Fire Chief Named: Scott Olsen is named Chief of the Boone County Fire Protection District
November 2009
—Jeff City Trash: Mandatory recycling is put into place in Jefferson City
—Renns Lake Flooding: Due to recent rains, part of the dam gives way causing flooding around Renns Lake south of Jefferson City
—Police Review Board: The first-ever Columbia Police Review Board is in place. The city council approves the members
—Bentley Murder Trial: Damon Williams of Ashland is convicted of the 2008 shooting death of Nathaniel Bentley of Columbia
—Bridge Repairs: Missouri completes work on 107 of the 802 worst bridges in the state
—Nordyne Job Losses in Boonville: Nordyne announces that 110 jobs will be cut next year
—Stray Bullet Strikes Child in the Head: 3 year old Owensville girl is killed when a neighbor’s stray bullet from target practice strikes her in the temple as she’s walking in her back yard
—Possible Hostage Situation at Jefferson City State Building: Large office building locked down for possible hostage situation that wasn’t
—Mohler Sex Crimes: 3 brothers, including a Columbia man, their father and their uncle are arrested for sex crimes against children
—Warren Pleads Guilty: Harold Warren Senior, the former owner of the Warren Funeral Chapels, pleads guilty to intentionally giving 3 families he wrong cremated remains
—Fulton Councilman Arrested for DWI: After a car crash, Steve Moore is arrested for DWI, driving on the wrong side of the road and 3 counts of assault for injuring his passengers. The wreck happened on Highway 94 in Callaway County
—Williamsburg Fatal Explosion: A young mother and her 4 month old son are killed in a home explosion
—Jaco Sentenced: A Columbia teenager, 19 year old Michael Jaco, is sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2008 shooting death of Nathaniel Bentley in Columbia. He was shot in his bedroom during a home invasion robbery
—Providence Extension: A new extension to a popular Columbia road. Providence Road is extended 4,100 feet from Vandiver Drive to Blue Ridge to boost traffic flow
—Off Campus Parties: New limits are put on off-campus parties after 2 sexual assaults and a bus accident at a Boone County winery
—Humane Society Director Resigns: Patty Forrister resigns as the director of the Central Missouri Humane Society
—Election Day Murder Conviction: Grady Dortch is found guilty of 1st degree murder in the shooting death of Miles Heard who was gunned down in Douglas Park on Election Day 2008
—Gieseker Pleads: Former Martinsburg Grain Dealer Cathy Gieseker pleads guilty to mail fraud in what prosecutors call the largest grain fraud scheme in Missouri history. Prosecutors accuse her of defrauding 180 mid-Missouri farmers out of at least $27 million
December 2009
—Horace Johnson Trial: Johnson is convicted of second degree murder in the beating death of his 2 year old son, Cortez
—Jefferson City Pedestrian Dies: The victim died after being struck last month by a Jefferson City police officer who was responding to a stalled vehicle on Highway 50 West
—MoDot Layoffs: Mo-Dot announces that it’ll lay off 100 people statewide
—Palin in Springfield: Sarah Palin brings her book tour to Springfield for a speech
—Lawmakers React to Climate Change Conference: Our lawmakers visit with The Eagle 93.9 about the Climate Control Conference going on in Copenhaven
—New St. Mary’s Health Center: The board of directors give the go-ahead to build a new hospital
—Downtown Cameras: City Council says “no” to downtown cameras
—Storm Fatalities: First winter storm blankets northern and central Missouri. 3 people are killed in traffic accidents
—Hypothermia Death: 30 year old Columbia man died of hypothermia in his home
—Columbia Taser Settlement: City of Columbia gives $300,000 to Phillip McDuffy who was tasered last year when he threatened to jump off an I-70 pedestrian bridge.
—Clinch gets Life: William Clinch sentenced to life in prison for the shooting death of his ex-brother-in-law
—One for One Food Drive: Zimmer Radio Group stations proudly helped sponsor this holiday food drive
—South Butt Suit: Lawsuit filed against the University student in Columbia for his “South Butt” line of apparel
—Wal-Mart Shooting: An employee at Wal-Mart on Conley Road in Columbia is shot by 2 men when the victim is on break
—Dortch Gets Life: Life in prison is the sentence for a Columbia man convicted of killing a Columbia man
—Audrain Murder: Body of Ohio man found in refrigerated unit of semi in Audrain County
—Health Care Votes: Senate approves the president’s health care reform bill
—Keeping 9 Congressional Seats: A review of the latest U.S. Census shows that Missouri will likely keep our 9 congressional seats
—Trooper Killed in the Line of Duty: A 49 year old Missouri State Highway Patrolman is killed while working a minor accident on I-44 near St. Louis when he’s struck by an out of control SUV on snowy roadway
—Christmas Eve Break-ins in Columbia: On Christmas Eve 21 homes are burglarized in Columbia, 13 homes on the same street
