Frank Facio celebrated his last day as an employee of the U.S Postal Service ahead of his retirement April 30 With a postal service career spanning more than 40 years he was forced to adjust his work and lifestyle when he began to lose his eyesight in his twenties As one of only a few blind employees at the USPS switching between various roles through the years He said he hopes his perseverance can be a testament to the possibilities and an inspiration for others with disabilities to break down walls in the working world moving forward The Phoenix native moved to Springfield two years ago to be closer to his grandkids after spending 25 years in San Diego brought home a flyer advertising jobs at the post office in 1982 starting out as any other sighted postal employee at the time — reading addresses and typing in codes within a second Finding new ways to workFacio was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 17 years old when little was known about the eye disease With his eyesight deteriorating at the beginning of this postal career Facio learned to adjust — he learned braille was taught to use a cane and later used the support of guide dogs it became increasingly harder for him to read the addresses quickly "That's all I wanted to do — I wanted to be equal with everybody else," Facio said "I didn't want to be above them or below them I wanted to be part of them and equal with everybody else in doing my job." He transitioned through several positions to be able to contribute to the postal team Facio also got support working with a partner to sort mail before working in marketing with Express Mail Corporate Accounts USPS was able to offer different accommodations to ensure Facio was able to continue working But he was eager to get back to the floor of the post office they did trial runs and found a way for him to operate the Delivery Bar Code Sorter Braille markers were added to allow Facio to better navigate the machine "No one blind has ever done this job before especially when you're around moving parts," he said I had to prove myself that I could do this job." Facio has done this same job for the past 32 years — a proud highlight of his career his guide dog that he got through the Guide Dogs for the Blind and his four predecessors helped Facio navigate the post office floors throughout the years and ensure his safety he said the DBCS is "like a friend" and working on it has become routine "I joke around with some people saying 'I'm the GOAT [Greatest of All Time] of the post office,'" Facio said I've walked over 10,000 miles on my machine in 32 years Those are just some incredible highlights that you don't think about because you work it every day." president of the American Postal Workers Union Springfield said she was skeptical when she heard about Facio's plan to join the Springfield team "He can make those machines hum in there." Facio still clocked in early in the morning and worked a full shift More: 'More than swings and slides': New Fellows Lake playground makes play accessible for all While Facio said it feels "surreal" for so many years to have passed — he doesn't feel like a 67-year-old — he is looking forward to joining a band in his retirement He was a singer and bass player in a country western band before but hasn't had much time for that hobby after his move to Springfield Facio admits it will be an adjustment to leave the post office behind him I love this place — this place has been a part of my life for 43 years I appreciate the patience the post office has had to endure because of me being blind," he said I did my share of making sure the people got their mail .. and I don't know what I'd be doing if not for the Postal Service." Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader Memorial Fund - Established in 2024 to honor the memory of a beloved Springfield College alumna She worked as a Physician Assistant and also battled her own illness with cancer.    Listed below are submitted obituaries from April 1 Christopher Haynes (Retired Faculty) - Read Full Story... Sally Plummer Keene '69 - Read Full Obituary... Frederick V. DeMarinis Jr. '74 - Read Full Obituary... Anne Taylor Barrett '62 - Read Full Obituary... Thomas A. Stearns '62 - Read Full Obituary... Thomas Argir '65, G'66 - Read Full Obituary... Jeffrey W. Forman '75, G'76 - Read Full Obituary... Professor and Administrator - Mary Healey '78, G'80 - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from February 1 John P. Kyriacopulos '72, G'73 - Read Full Obituary... Friend of the College - Mr. Gregory L. Contos - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from December 1 Jerry G. Lawton '48 - Read Full Obituary... Joseph R. Altott '53 - Read Full Obituary... Richard J. Ryan '54 - Read Full Obituary... Timothy R. Wright '69, G'72 - Read Full Obituary... Joseph R. DiMatteo Jr. '78 - Read Full Obituary... Ron Abdow (Friend of the College) - Read Full Story... Listed below are submitted obituaries from October 31 Michael W. Mello '68 - Read Full Obituary... Linda Calkins Janes '68 - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from September 30 Beverly DeNadai DeSantis '58 - Read Full Obituary... William R. "Skip" Earle '70, G'71 - Read Full Obituary... Dr. Susan Langlois G'80, DPE'90 - Read Full Obituary... Mary Holly Blalock '84 - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from August 31 Richard O. Dietrich '51 - Read Full Obituary... Walter Leo Zimmermann '64, G'68 - Read Full Obituary... Margaret "Peg" McCarthy Dineen '83, G'00 - Read Full Obituary... David M. Sunkes Jr. '00 - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from July 31 Mike DeMichele (Staff) - Read Full Obituary... Donald E. Snyder '49 - Read Full Obituary... Beatrix Clarkson Fleer '49 - Read Full Obituary... George R. Hamilton '58, G'63, - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from June 30 Marguerite C. Courtney G'91 - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from May 31 Lewis A. Wells '64, G'65 - Read Full Obituary... Irene Graves - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from April 30 Gilbert L. Hansen '57 - Read Obituary... Michael C. Gessford '64 - Read Obituary... William R.  "Skip" Earle '70, G'71 - Read Obituary... Robert A. Reilly G'76 - Read Obituary... Jon Jeffrey Nauman '76 - Read Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from March 29 James A. Henderson G'51 - View Full Obituary... Barry B. Brooks '64 - View Full Obituary... Elizabeth Hand '96 - View Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from February 29 Stanley C. Jekanoski '60 - View full obituary... Kenneth M. Baldwin '64 - View full obituary... William Spelman III '65 - View full obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from January 29 Leon Nicoliello (retired staff) - Read full obituary... Keil '53 - Charlie will be remembered with his roommate Don Ho as the Horse Comedy Team with the first-year exhibition team.  Beverly Nuccio '54 - Read full obituary... Chester V. Pilatowski '54, G'57 - Read full obituary... Philip E. Ness '55 - Read full obituary... whose wife Susie passed away on February 3 Jan Luchsinger ’72 - Originally from Kansas Jan was a proud student-athlete at Springfield College competing on the field hockey team as well as playing softball for Coach Diane Potter ’57 Jan is fondly remembered by Coach Potter as she and her teammates were part of the inaugural trip to compete in Holland a journey that paved the way for future Springfield College students to experience Jan's classmates Barbara Coleman and Pam Prentiss Perrone recall her as a very talented musician which she accompanied with her great singing voice She shared her musical talents with her friends playing in the residence halls and on team trips. Following graduation Jan lived in Massachusetts eventually moved to Oregon New Mexico area where she was the landscaper and head gardener on a large estate. She will forever be remembered by her family and teammates as a kind and generous soul who always made people smile with her great laugh Listed below are submitted obituaries from December 22 Listed below are submitted obituaries from November 27 Teresa Harris G'61 - Read Full Obituary... Joseph F. Szabo Jr. '71 - Read Full Obituary... Brenna Moriarty Salay '04 - Read Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from October 28 Caroline Hills '52 - Full Obituary... Thomas H. Bosworth '53 - Full Obituary... Jennie Bashista G'56 - Full Obituary... John G. Douglas G'63 - Full Obituary... Katharina Decas '63 - Full Obituary... James K. Tillotson G'67 - Full Obituary... Alan V. Duncan '67 - Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from September 22 Julia A. Orfanello '67 - Full Obituary... Dennis P. Walsh '67 - Full Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from August 15 Mary Jane Mackey Thomas '64 - Full obituary... Edward T. McDonough III '76 - Full obituary... Susan J. Loftus '85 - Full obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from July 15 Barbara Giard Moffat G'78 - Read Obituary... Listed below are submitted obituaries from June 15 Walter S. Umberfield '52: Read Full Obituary... Alice Melaven G'55: Read Full Obituary... D. J. Bodin '55: Read Full Obituary... General Robert Winglass '57: Read Full Obituary... Paul E. McDonald '62, G'65: Read Full Obituary... John T. Reardon, Jr. '63: Read Full Obituary...  George P. Turcotte '63: Read Full Obituary... Robert Jonathan Stansfield G'66: Read Full Obituary... David C. Anifant G'67: Read Full Obituary... Jon Howard Rose '69: Read Full Obituary... David B. Allen '69, G'70: Read Full Obiturary... Linda K. Beres G'77: Read Full Obituary... Lisa Kibbe Chambers '78, G'81: Read Full Obituary... Carol M. Mathison G'84: Read Full Obituary... David B. Ferguson '85: Read Full Obituary...  MA 01109-3739 (413) 748-3000      Copyright © 2025 Springfield College 413-748-3000 Have you ever wondered how much money the City of Springfield pays in salaries The State Journal-Register took a look at the salaries from 2024 and identified the higher earners 373 city employees in Springfield earned $100,000 or more in 2024 Here are the top 10 highest salaries for City of Springfield employees from 2024 More: Springfield's fire chief chooses to focus on family matters, announces retirement Of the 373 employees earning over $100,000: Other departments showed a handful of employees earning in that range More: Springfield mayor 'definitely believes' next police chief will come from command staff Other top salary earners and figuresHere are the next highest salaries the salaries from 2024 add up to nearly $112 million 1,359 people are listed in the salary report City Council Member positions earn the least Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSPRINGFIELD MA (WGGB/WSHM) - One Springfield resident continues to clean up from Saturday’s storm “It got really dark and it was sitting in my living room My son came piling up from downstairs,” said Barbara Flaherty of Springfield As we traveled through Wilbraham into Springfield our Western Mass News crews saw less damage but Flaherty told us that Saturday’s storm spread branches all around her yard and neighborhood It may have just been a minute or two for some but the storm left plenty of fallen trees and branches so we had to come out in the pouring rain before it stopped to get it out the road There was some in the road over there,” Flaherty explained As our crew made their way through the neighborhood Flaherty’s husband was still working to clean up tree branches especially ahead of the expected rain this week but it’s supposed to rain the next four days so it will take us a while to get rid of it if anyone wants free fire wood,” Flaherty said. a homeless shelter for single men in Springfield is resuming 24-hour operations after months of reduced hours This change comes as the city clears a large homeless encampment from Snyder Park said the shift back to full-time care is funded by a $300,000 allocation from the city and is driven by a rising need for shelter in the community "The reopening with extended hours comes just as the city of Springfield plans to clear an encampment of homeless people from Snyder Park due to safety and health concerns Hartley House currently has room to provide shelter for some of those impacted," Browning said and other organizations were present at Snyder Park to clear the area and offer resources Springfield Mayor Rob Rue stated that their team connected with eight unhoused individuals and offered sheltering services "We make every effort to approach these situations with compassion and care dignity and connecting displaced individuals to the support they need," Rue said The mayor's statement also noted that a full cleanup of leftover debris in Snyder Park will occur over the next two months Springfield Police Department Springfield Police Academy Graduates 49 Recruits — Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E Sarno and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi are pleased to announce that 49 recruits graduated from the Springfield Police Academy Thursday May 1st The graduation ceremony was held at Blake Arena on the Springfield College Campus Academy Class #0525 began their 23 weeks of training in November under the direction of Academy Director Deputy Chief David Kane and Springfield Police instructors The Springfield Police Academy recruits will join the Springfield Police Department (45) and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department (4) Springfield City Clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez read the recruits their oath and swore them in Springfield Police Chaplain Father Bill Hamilton provided a prayer Academy Instructor Lieutenant Eleni Barbieri Sheriff Cocchi and Mayor Sarno provided remarks Springfield Police Superintendent Akers states “I’d like to thank Deputy Chief Kane and his Academy instructors for spending their last six months training our future officers Their dedication and professionalism play an integral role in developing these young men and women as they begin their careers in law enforcement I’d like to congratulate these 49 recruits who have successfully made it through this arduous process and I promise the 45 new Springfield Police Officers that I will provide them with the tools and support needed to flourish as police officers I wish them continued success throughout their careers.” “Congratulations to all of the graduating officers of our Springfield Police Academy Class #0525 Superintendent Larry Akers and I want to thank and congratulate not only those graduating but their families as well Being a police officer is still an honorable and noble profession and the dedication and sacrifices made to protect and serve our community is deeply appreciated Under the leadership of Academy Director Deputy Chief David Kane the 49 law enforcement officers graduating have the training and skills necessary to join their respective departments with the utmost professionalism Congratulations and on behalf of the city of Springfield wishing you continued success and Godspeed.” and a commitment to public service that will serve them well as they step into their new roles I’m especially proud of the four individuals graduating to join the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office They are entering a department built on empathy and second chances—and I know they will rise to meet that mission and your communities are counting on you.” The Springfield Police Academy Recruit class was under the direction of Academy Director and recently promoted Deputy Chief David Kane This will be the 5th and final class that Deputy Chief Kane oversees The new Springfield Police Officers will begin their assignments on Sunday working with veteran officers in our Uniform division as part of the new Field Training Officer program Copyright © 2025 Springfield Police Department All rights reserved. • Site Design by John Guilfoil Public Relations, LLC Branded Content has long been a favorite for a quick day trip and you’ll find this historic capital city has more than enough to fill a memorable multi-day getaway.  Springfield is ready to show you why one day just isn’t enough.  Here’s how to make the most of a three-day adventure that blends history and relaxation—all just a short drive away Start your Springfield journey where history comes alive: the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Begin at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum a world-class destination that offers immersive exhibits and engaging stories about the 16th president’s life Then, walk a few blocks to explore Lincoln’s Home National Historic Site preserved to feel just as it did when he lived there a guided tour that blends folklore with fascinating history for a truly unique experience.  See Visit Springfield Illinois’ Abe’s Perfect Journey itinerary to get the full Abraham Lincoln experience Springfield is a must-stop on historic Route 66, and you can spend at least a day celebrating the golden age of American road travel. The route is full of historic eateries such as Mel-o-Cream Donuts serving up some of Springfield’s favorite doughnuts since 1932 and making it the perfect start for your day Enjoy a classic lunch while surrounded by Route 66 artifacts and traveler tales For shopping, stop by Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill & Museum where you’ll find a fun collection of automotive memorabilia Cap off your day with dinner and drinks while taking in the sights of vintage cars and neon signs that pay tribute to America’s most famous highway Don’t miss any of the iconic stops along Route 66 with Visit Springfield Illinois’ full itinerary After two full days of history and nostalgia, ease into your final day with a bit of Springfield’s cultural and natural beauty. Start your morning with a walk through Washington Park one of Springfield’s most beautiful green spaces and home to the botanical garden For lunch, pack a picnic or stop by a local favorite such as Engrained Brewery & Restaurant, known for its farm-to-table fare. In the afternoon, visit Adams Wildlife Sanctuary where you can hike peaceful trails and enjoy birdwatching among native Illinois landscapes Wrap up your outdoor day with a visit to Southwind Park an innovative and inclusive park with paved trails and a tranquil pond—perfect for a breath of fresh air before heading home Springfield has long welcomed visitors from St Louis for a quick taste of history or nostalgia you’ll discover that Springfield is more than a destination—it’s an experience This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. Go to VisitSpringfieldIllinois.com to start planning your trip today. Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here St. Louis Daily Get news and recommendations from the local arts scene sent to your inbox weekly. Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want. Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news Danielle O'Neil was named 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year for Springfield Public Schools The event hosted by Foundation for Springfield Public Schools celebrated educators and support staff in the state's largest district is a physical education teacher at Sherwood Elementary Missouri native started her career with SPS in 2016 and taught at Pershing Middle School until 2018 She then taught for a year at Delaware Elementary from 2018-2019 before transitioning to her current role at Sherwood "I believe that movement is for everyone and PE should be a bridge between school I want my students to know that they are seen and I want their families to feel that same sense of belonging," she said I aim to create a culture where all students — regardless of background or ability — see physical activity as an essential and enjoyable part of life." She has a bachelor's degree in physical education from Missouri State University and a master's degree from the University of Arkansas More: SPS Teacher of the Year finalist Danielle O'Neil strives to be a 'light' for students Four finalists were also celebrated during the event: Amanda Brown third grade teacher at Sunshine Elementary; Rachelle Peak communication arts teacher at Launch Virtual Learning; Tanner Schmidt second grade teacher at Jeffries Elementary; and Heidi Stagner O'Neil will compete in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s regional competition Winners at the regional level will advance to the Missouri State Teacher of the Year competition Mayor Misty Buscher is recommending a new police chief and a new fire chief to the Springfield City Council Assistant Police Chief Joseph Behl and Assistant Fire Chief Nicholas Zummo are up for promotions Buscher made the announcements via a May 2 news release More: Springfield's police chief announces retirement after 27-year career Both Behl and Zummo require city council approval Buscher also announced she is promoting Captain Julie Plunk to Assistant Fire Chief and Commander of Field Operations Ryan Leach to Assistant Police Chief Police Chief Ken Scarlette announced April 9 he was retiring after 27 years with the department Less than a week later, Fire Chief Ed Canny announced that he would be retiring capping a 28-year career with the department Scarlette's last day with the city is May 30 “These appointments symbolize a bold step in our mission to enhance public safety in Springfield,” Buscher was quoted in the release “I firmly believe that Chief Scarlette and Chief Canny's leadership will persist in the new leadership team and Commander Leach are committed leaders dedicated to serving the citizens of our community as well as the members of our fire and police departments.” Zummo is a 24-year veteran of the fire department and has been involved in several initiatives focused on firefighter safety He was named Springfield Firefighter of the Year in 2008 and receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the department in 2017 Zummo served for 20 years in the Illinois National Guard “I’m honored and humbled by this opportunity to lead the Springfield Fire Department,” Zummo said I look forward to working alongside Captain Plunk and the entire SFD team as we continue to adapt grow and deliver exceptional service to the community.” Zummo's father and brother both served as driver engineers for the department Behl brings over 18 years of experience with the police department More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the State Journal-Register app He graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico The internationally recognized program provides training in leadership preparing law enforcement professionals for executive roles Behl has been a member of the Street Crimes Unit a training sergeant and as commander of the emergency response team He is a recipient of the Springfield Police Department Silver Suarez Award which recognizes a uniformed officer for most distinguished police work “I’m incredibly grateful for the trust that’s been placed in me,” Behl said “It’s been an honor to serve alongside the dedicated men and women of this department for the past 18 years and I carry that experience--and the lessons I’ve learned from this community--into this new role Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X the city is waiving brush fees and expanding yard waste operations throughout the weekend According to a CU news release Friday afternoon more than 90% of the resulting outages had been restored CU warned in the release to be way of scammers in the area misrepresenting themselves as working with City Utilities which is common after a storm of this magnitude CU and its contractors will never request payment to restore service or remove debris Customers are encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling 911 CU CEO Dwayne Fulk said at a media briefing May 1 that more than 300 utility personnel were working around the clock to restore power to those still without it These crews include contractors and others helping out through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance and its member cities "As we move into more localized restoration efforts I know that progress may appear slower," he said "These remaining outages are often more complex and time consuming to fix I want to assure you that our teams are working just as hard on the last outage as they were on the first." CU's vice president of electric operations said 66 electrical poles had been replaced so far with more expected to be switched out as damage continues to be assessed He said there had been significant damage to electrical infrastructure requiring more complex and time-consuming repairs involving two substations multiple segments of high voltage transmission line and several distribution facilities throughout the system Liberty Utilities reported 4,800 customers still remained without power as of 3 p.m Liberty saw a peak of 23,000 customers without power Greene County Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon said He said roughly 50 structures had been impacted by downed trees across the county Brooks said the timeline of power restoration is continuously changing making predictions about full recovery hard to determine As crews focus their efforts on areas where outages are less concentrated Brooks noted that CU is well-stocked with supplies and equipment and does not anticipate shortages will affect restoration efforts residents are encouraged to visually inspect their weatherheads for damage This is the area where electric service connects to the home often located on the roof or the side of house it must be repaired by a licensed electrician before CU can restore power customers should contact CU at 417-863-9000 and press 1 to report that the work is complete and request power restoration When will Springfield schools have power?Nine Springfield schools remained closed Thursday due to power outages Brooks said CU expects Mallory Early Childhood Center and Study High School to have their electricity restored by the end of the day were expected to be restored by Friday evening More: 'Tight-knit' York Elementary staff come together to feed families after severe storm When does food need to be thrown out if you lose power?Jon Mooney the assistant director of health at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department warned that food not kept at proper temperatures can be at risk for bacteria growth While bacteria will be undetectable by sight or smell especially since not all of the bacteria can be killed by cooking the food fully For residents who went without power for four to six hours it should be safe to consume the food in their fridge Anyone who has gone without power for six hours or more should dispose of food in particular potentially hazardous foods like meat Freezers that are full are safe for 48 hours, Mooney said, while half-full freezers should be safe for 24 hours. Additional information about foodborne illness and food safety can be found on the SGCHD website Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief is operating a food truck to assist those experiencing power outages Residents can pick up a free meal from 4:30 p.m May 1 at the American Red Cross building located at 1545 N They should enter in the driveway off Division Street behind the former service station Ozarks Food Harvest is also offering help to anyone struggling with food access. Families can visit Ozarks Food Harvest partners like Crosslines–SGF, Least of These, and the Salvation Army for short-term food needs. A full list of locations is available on the Ozarks Food Harvest website According to an email update from the Ozarks Food Harvest seven local Dollar General stores donated more than 13,000 pounds of refrigerated and frozen food to save it from spoiling due to power outages Tyson Foods also donated nearly 39,000 pounds of protein to help families facing hunger tree limbs be taken in Springfield?In response to the increased number of tree limbs and brush debris across the city the operating hours at the Yardwaste Recycling Center and Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill have been expanded throughout the weekend brush disposal fees have been waived to allow community members to dispose of debris free of charge Both facilities will be open for expanded hours this weekend While the Yardwaste Recycling Center is typically closed on Mondays To address the increased traffic as a result of the storms Environmental Services Director Errin Kemper said operations will be scaled up to make the process more expedient as residents clean up their yards Kemper said those collecting smaller loads of debris from residential sites should visit the Yardwaste Recycling Center at 3790 S large diameter trees and root balls are directed to a burn site at the landfill at 3545 W Which roadways have been affected?Motorists can expect continued traffic impacts as restoration efforts continue and some roadways are still blocked by debris Public Works Director Dan Smith said 172 of 200 reported blockages to the city's right-of-way have been cleared trees initially on the roads have been moved to the side or sidewalk; crews will return later to pick these up and discard them Nine traffic signals in Springfield are still without power with the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southwest Region said two of MoDOT's signals are still dark as of 3 p.m operating as all-way stops: the Interstate 44 westbound ramp at Route B and at Route MM and Haley Street Five traffic signals are also without power but are operating on generators Route B is closed to allow CU crews to work on restoring power Reese said some roads may still be too wet for crews to clear the debris out of ditches but those efforts will continue as the weather is dryer Dixon said county-managed roadways are expected to all be cleared of debris by the end of the day Friday A Public Information Call Center can be reached 8 a.m More: Tornadoes hit Nixa, Aurora during Tuesday's storms, NWS says Those needing assistance in cleaning up debris on their property should first check with their neighborhood association for cleanup events and volunteer coordination Those who can lend a chainsaw, a truck or simply want to help should visit www.voluneerozarks.com to find volunteer coordination sites that can further point to particular properties in need of help This story has been updated with more recent outage numbers Colleges and universities in the Springfield area will award thousands of diplomas in May The earliest commencement ceremonies were May 1 for Evangel University and May 2 for Mission University the faith-based institutions kicked off a series of celebrations for graduates and their families will celebrate its 118th commencement ceremony at 10 a.m community pastor at Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas and alumnus of the college The spring commencement for Cox College is set for Friday Drury University will have two commencement ceremonies in the O'Reilly Family Event Center The ceremony for Drury GO and Graduate School students will be at 6:30 p.m executive director of Leadership Springfield a non-profit organization centered on encouraging leadership development She also spent a decade in the healthcare field serving as chief operating officer of Ozarks Community Hospital The Day School students will graduate at 11 a.m The speaker will be Springfield chocolatier Shawn Askinosie the owner of Askinosie Chocolate since 2006 he is also an author and the co-founder of Lost & Found Grief Center Missouri State University will have three commencement ceremonies May 9 at Great Southern Bank Arena ceremony will celebrate graduates for the McQueary College of Health and Human Services and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences graduating senior and former student representative on the Board of Governors ceremony is for graduates of the Reynolds College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Education Student Body President and graduating senior ceremony will celebrate graduates of the Darr College of Agriculture and the Interdisciplinary Academic Programs a retired sergeant major and decorated military veteran and Native American historian will be presented the Honorary Doctorate degree at the ceremony He led efforts to lobby Congress for the Code Talker Recognition Act and was the first — and only — Native American Ambassador for the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame More: Native American historian, decorated military veteran to be honored by Missouri State Ozarks Technical Community College will have two commencement ceremonies on Thursday Southwest Baptist University will have two commencement ceremonies Friday at the Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center Springfield-area diners preferred an old standby in a recently wrapped-up poll on favorite Mexican restaurants which has been part of the Springfield restaurant landscape since 1968 easily outdistanced its competitors in a poll that ran from April 25 to May 1 More: Who has the best Mexican food in the Springfield area? Vote now in our poll The family-run franchise with three locations in Springfield--975 Clocktower Drive East--plus locations in Jacksonville and Taylorville was the runner-up with just over 27% of the vote Nineteen Springfield-area Mexican restaurants were part of the poll It isn't surprising there are so many to choose from Pew Research Center reported that 85% of counties in the U.S This trend reflects an expanding Mexican American population, with 37.2 million people or 11.2% of the U.S. population tracing their ancestry back to Mexico Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X Looking for the latest on Springfield's massive power outage? Find it here As of 4 a.m. Thursday, May 1, about 13,700 City Utilities customers in Springfield were still without power due to Tuesday's storm down from a high of nearly 50,000 on Tuesday More than 140 CU lineworkers, including tree crews, contract and mutual aid crews, were working to restore power, according to CU with crews prioritizing crews "outages to critical community facilities and those supporting public safety and health." In a 4:30 p.m. update Wednesday, April 30, City Utilities said that it could take multiple days before all power is restored due to widespread outages "While we expect to have made significant progress by Saturday there may be prolonged outages in some areas due to the extent of the damage," CU said in the release "Restoration efforts are expected to continue into next week." If you're without power and clearing debris residents also should visually inspect their weatherheads — the location where power lines connect to their home or business hood-like metal cap on top of a conduit pipe — for any signs of damage Damaged weatherheads must be repaired by a licensed electrician before service can be restored operate it outside your home and garage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning which could back-feed power lines and injury electrical line workers plug necessary items directly into the generator More: Need help after Tuesday's storm? Here are resources in Greene County for home, tree damage What do I do if there's a new power outage?CU customers can report outages through the City Utilities MyAccount app, online at www.CityUtilities.net or by calling 888-863-9001 Power outages can cause issues related to food quality, as well as food safety Each time you open it when your power is out cold air escapes and your chances of food reaching room temperature increases According to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department you should throw out perishable food that's been in your refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours without power and throw out food that's been above 45 degrees Fahrenheit for longer than 2 hours SGCHD says you can re-freeze food in the freezer that is below 40 degrees or still has ice crystals You can also add bags of ice or dry ice to the freezer if it seems like the power will be off for an extended period of time do not taste food to try to determine if it's safe but can harbor an amount of bacteria able to cause foodborne illness if it's been left at room temperature for longer than two hours (This story was updated with additional information) Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Please Support Continuous Local Covid-19 Coverage on MoreThanTheCurve The 2025 Truist Championship will be held from May 5-11 at The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course in Flourtown (6025 W Valley Green Road) Normally based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the tournament announced its temporary move in August 2024 Masters champion Rory McIlroy is expected to compete in the tournament and up to 10,000 spectators are expected to attend along with 2,000 volunteers/workers on site and 70 professional golfers and their staff.  Truist plans to generate $2.5 million in charitable impact through partnerships with area nonprofits including a five-year partnership with the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia a nonprofit that focuses on youth development through the game of golf Springfield Township announced today that the only road closure for the event is West Valley Green Road (Whitemarsh Township) from Cricket Road to Hunt Lane from 6:00am to 7:00pm each day of the event Residents will continue to have access to their properties.  “Satellite parking is available in multiple locations in Springfield Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin Townships,” the announcement said “Springfield residents should be prepared for increased traffic on Bethlehem Pike and adjacent roads in Flourtown particularly from Wednesday through Sunday.” The announcement continues: There are two parking locations that have the potential to impact traffic patterns in the Township the first is behind the Flourtown Fire Company 1526 Bethlehem Pike and the second is the Flourtown Picnic Area of Fort Washington State Park The fire company lot will be reserved for volunteers while the state park lot will be used by the Cricket Club A recap of an update given by Whitemarsh Township Emergency Management regarding preparations for the tournament can be viewed below: Rain: 7am to 7am: .00  Month: 1.51 Year: 25.00 Recorded temps:  High: 68 Low: 46 Photo courtesy of Bakersfield Lions Baseball Monday’s schedule includes two games at separate locations for Bakersfield The Lions will first travel to Mountain View-Liberty for an 11:00 outing They will later go to Springfield for a special Senior Day event Bakersfield will take on Thayer at 5 at Hammons Field the home venue for the Springfield Cardinals the senior players for both baseball teams and Bakersfield’s softball squad will be recognized starting at 4:45 Admission will be $5 at the gate with cash or cards accepted Concessions will be available with cards only Gainesville hosts Blue Eye for Senior Night The 90 mph winds that struck the Springfield area the morning of April 29 caused the most power outages since the ice storms of 2007, City Utilities representatives said during a media briefing Tuesday afternoon vice president of electric operations for CU said that more than a third of CU's customers were affected "We haven't had a situation like this in many the ice storms of that period," said Joel Alexander assisted by contractors and mutual aid agencies had restored power to more than half of that number within 24 hours but the utility warned that it could be multiple days before all customers were back online CU reported that about 18,000 customers remained without electric service and cautioned that some likely would be without power for several more days The utility encouraged residents still without power to be wary of downed power lines while clearing debris and to be mindful of crews working in the area CU said residents should visually inspect their weatherheads — the location where power lines connect to their home or business A firm number on the damage to the CU infrastructure is still a few days away "This will be a prolonged restoration and repair event significant damage to our distribution and transmission facilities and multiple trees down in our territory," Brooks said "We'll be working around the clock to make repairs and restore power as quickly as possible this event has left significant damage and it will take several days Liberty Utilities reported about 15,000 customers without power in its service area and 111 poles damaged by the weather "This (damage) is extensive and the restoration is likely to be prolonged," Price said "We are expecting roughly in the 24 to 48 hour (range) for service restoration." Liberty Utilities also provides water service in the Aurora so the company is bringing in generators for the well sites Customers are asked to conserve water when they can and if customers experience low water pressure they should report that by calling 800-206-2300 Customers of either utility company can find updated information on social media Greene County Commissioner Bob Dixon said that there were more than 100 different locations where trees were blocking travel either partially or completely on county roadways The western and northern portions of Greene County saw the most impact from the storms Dixon said highway crews used snowplows to push debris off some roads and chainsaws to clear others "We anticipate having all the primary roadways re-opened by the time those crews leave and we'll re-assess roadway obstruction tomorrow morning," he said Springfield Police Department and the Springfield Fire Department services returned to normal operations after hours of responding to storm-related calls April 29 Quigley also shared statistics about some of the response to the storm: Neither Mercy nor CoxHealth have reported any injuries as a result of the damage More: Use our interactive map to see storm impacts in Springfield CU customers can report outages through the City Utilities MyAccount app, online at www.CityUtilities.net or by calling 888-863-9001 Liberty Utilities customers can report outages through their MyAccount app or by calling 800-206-2300 What do I do if there's a gas leak?If people smell gas or suspect a gas leak they are advised to leave the area immediately and to call 911 or City Utilities at 417-863-9000 do not touch anything electric or make a phone call from that area CU advises people to always treat downed power lines as energized and to stay far away and report them immediately at 417-863-9000 or 911 People can call the Greene County Public Information Call Center at 417-829-6200 to report downed trees and other storm damage across the county The Greene County Highway Department can be contacted about downed trees and other debris on county roadways at 417-831-3591 or 911 as a backup city and county emergency management staff noted that severe weather in the forecast overnight could include lightning and flooding risks along with "a conditional risk for strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and a brief tornado or two being the main hazards though hail up to quarters are also possible." "Another round of showers and thunderstorms is forecast to move through Wednesday afternoon and evening with damaging winds being the main hazard Hail up to quarters and a brief tornado or two cannot be ruled out Additional scattered showers and thunderstorms will bring additional rainfall and lightning risk to the region through Thursday." due to some storm sirens being damaged or without power due to earlier weather the county emphasized the need for residents to have alternate ways to access severe weather warnings Possible tornadoes and severe winds knocked out power for nearly 50,000 City Utilities customers, according to the utility company. While CU works to restore power, the National Weather Service will be assessing damage the meteorologist in charge at the Springfield office But the threat of severe weather isn't over yet Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms over the next few days could bring flooding to the area "We have chances for showers and thunderstorms that continue through Thursday the potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms through Thursday," Angle said we'll also have to monitor the potential for flooding very closely as well." The morning of Tuesday, April 29, the NWS Facebook page reported likely tornadoes on the ground northeast of Freemont Hills moving toward Rogersville at 9:38 a.m "With the winds that we've had across the area particularly Springfield and Greene County some trees uprooted and any tornado damage is going to be very We'll be doing damage assessments accordingly," Angle said Angle encouraged people to continue to monitor multiple channels of weather information "It's important as we head through spring and the early summer months that you maintain weather awareness. Ways to do that are through the National Weather Service website, through radio and television, and NOAA Weather Radio," Angle said "It's important to have multiple ways to receive the warning information so that you can keep yourself and your family safe." Nearly 50,000 City Utilities customers are without power due to "a severe storm system with extremely high winds," according to a CU press release though the utility company is "continuing to assess the full impact of this event." some customers may be without power for a prolonged period of time as CU works to restore power Customers can report outages through the City Utilities MyAccount app online at www.CityUtilities.net or by calling 888-863-9001 that officers are responding to "blocked roadways that may cause traffic safety concerns as well as any damaged structures where someone may be injured" and asked citizens to stay home "We can confirm the Fire Department is responding to situations that are to be expected with a storm of this size That includes: downed power lines and fire response," said Cora Scott "Springfield Police Department is responding to blocked roadways and damaged structures (This story was updated with additional information.) ILLINOIS — The skeletal remains for the man who went missing nearly one year ago have been recovered Jeremy Register's remains were found on April 18 near a wooded area in the 1700 block of North Milton in Grandview Jim Allmon said his office had to take scientific measures to identify Register The cause of the Virden native’s death is still unknown and requires additional studies Register’s family said they haven’t heard from or seen him since May of 2024 They say Register went missing in Springfield and reported it to the Springfield Police Department five months later in October The family claimed it was out of character for Register to go without contacting them the Sangamon County Crime Stoppers stepped in and asked the community for help in searching for him The Sangamon County Coroner's Office and the Springfield Police Department are currently investigating Register's death We will continue to bring more coverage as additional information becomes available John Deere Reman Core Center in Strafford will hold a groundbreaking at 10 a.m May 5 on its $13.5 million expansion that will add 120,000 square feet to the facility at 601 S and electronics products to deliver like-new performance at a lower cost The company employs more than 500 people and operates out of five different locations in the area The expansion project will be managed by Q & Company The design team includes Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective OMB Bank announced that Courtney McMonigle has joined its compliance team as its new BSA/AML officer while Katie Bradford recently joined the bank’s mortgage team in Springfield as a mortgage loan officer McMonigle began her banking career in 2003 as a senior personal banker for Bank of America in Chesterfield She joined Regions Bank in 2004 as assistant vice president and branch sales manager in St Louis and National City Bank as AVP/banking center manager in 2007 In 2009 she joined UMB Bank in Overland Park In 2024 she made the jump to bank compliance as a financial crimes investigator for Hawthorn Bank in Lee’s Summit She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and holds certificates in fraud prevention and BSA and AML compliance from the American Bankers Association began her mortgage career in 2000 with H& R Block Mortgage In 2008 she was promoted to mortgage loan officer for Quicken Loans before joining Great Southern Bank as a mortgage loan processor in 2011 In 2015 she joined Simmons Bank as a mortgage loan closer and In 2017 she helped Origin open its local Springfield branch and began originating mortgage loans as a mortgage loan officer In 2019 she opened a branch with Hometown Lenders and Supreme Lending where she served as both branch manager and a producing loan officer She was most recently a mortgage loan originator for Stockmens Bank Walsh joins Care to Learn as VP of development Care to Learn announced the appointment of Rachael Walsh as its vice president of development Walsh will drive Care to Learn’s comprehensive and results-oriented fundraising strategy by cultivating donor relationships and expanding philanthropic support through donor gifts Walsh comes to Care to Learn from United Way of the Ozarks where she most recently served as vice president of resource development she is also a Leadership Springfield alumna currently serves on the board for Better Block SGF and is an active member of Southeast Rotary United Way of the Ozarks announced the selection of Janelle Mitchell as its next vice president of resource development who has served as director of resource development since 2023 will be promoted to the role effective May 22 Mitchell previously served as associate director of the Burrell Foundation an outreach group supporting single mothers that is now part of a national organization "Serving our community has been one of the greatest privileges of my career and I am honored to step into the role of Vice President of Resource Development,” said Mitchell “It’s an exciting time at United Way of the Ozarks and I look forward to building strong partnerships that fuel positive change we will create lasting impact by helping children succeed and opening pathways to a brighter future for our entire community." Stainless Fabrication Inc. celebrates 40 yearsStainless Fabrication Inc (SFI) its 40th anniversary in business on May 6 The stainless-steel tank manufacturer services multiple industries including food; chemical; beverage; healthcare & pharmaceuticals; ethanol; and dairy producing small portable vessels all the way up to 750,000-gallon tanks The company currently operates with more than 90,000 square feet of production floor and about 200 employees “Reaching 40 years in business is a great milestone of which I am extremely proud," said Claude “Butch” Mizell "To all of our hard-working employees and SFI’s loyal customers I am truly grateful for the role that you play in making SFI what it is today.” The company plans to mark the anniversary with commemorative apparel and other items as well as a June celebration to include food and fireworks at Hammons Field with about 500 current and former employees and their families announced it is expanding and offering special promotional discounts on new units is adding 63 non-climate-controlled units to its existing campus on South Enterprise Avenue The expansion includes both 10x5’ and 10x10’ units Customers who rent one of the new 10x10’ units during the month of May can do so at a rate of $60 per month, a $30 monthly savings on the standard price of $90 per month. This offer is valid while supplies last and cannot be combined with other offers. Visit EnterpriseSelf-Storage.com or call (417) 430-5636 for more information and to rent a unit Better Business Bureau offers scholarshipsBetter Business Bureau Springfield is accepting applicants for its Student of Ethics Award with the opportunity to win a $2,500 scholarship The Student of Ethics Award recognizes an exceptional high school student who demonstrates ethics through leadership personal integrity and academic achievement Southwest Missouri high school juniors graduating in spring 2026 are eligible to apply for the award The winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship to the accredited college or trade school of their choice and be recognized at BBB’s Oct To apply, students must submit a copy of their high school transcript, a letter of reference and a 300-word essay. Applications are due by May 30, 2025. Students may apply online at BBB.org/stlsoe or contact BBB Executive Coordinator LaToya Montgomery at (314) 584-6737 for more information a construction and development firm based in Davenport has completed the acquisition of Springfield-based O’Reilly Build The acquisition follows Russell’s expansions into St The combined team is already working together on a housing project in Springfield with a groundbreaking planned later this spring The company's previously had worked together on a project in the St “We are thrilled to continue the O’Reilly Build legacy with their team “O’Reilly team members joining Russell fits with our continued growth strategy to hire great talent and build relationships alongside them.” 104.7 The Cave renews Chiefs Radio Network partnershipRadio station 104.7 The Cave announced the renewal of its partnership with the Chiefs Radio Network through the 2030 NFL season The renewed agreement ensures fans will continue to find a variety of Chiefs coverage on the station “We couldn’t be more excited to continue flying the flag for the Kingdom,” said Mike The Intern at 104.7 The Cave we’re honored to keep bringing that excitement directly to the fans across the Ozarks every single day.” Listeners can expect ongoing daily coverage keeping them closer than ever to their favorite team Arvest Bank has promoted Jared Howery to the position of branch sales manager at its Sunshine branch in Springfield who has over eight years of experience at Arvest previously worked as a relationship banker serving customers across the Springfield region Howery will be responsible for overseeing branch activities and working with associates across different divisions to deliver quality customer service and customized financial solutions “Jared has been an incredibly valuable member of our team during his time at Arvest,” said Mindy Thompson “His industry experience and insight will remain essential as he steps into his new role and we look forward to seeing him thrive as branch sales manager.” A highlight of Tony Melendez's life came in 1987 when Pope John Paul II watched him play at a youth event in Los Angeles Melendez said the pontiff came onto the stage greeting and thanking him for his stirring performance .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Staasi Heropoulos | Special to The RepublicanSPRINGFIELD — When Tony Melendez sings and plays the guitar at St Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield this week his audiences will see how he inspired a pope to embrace kiss and thank him for bringing hope to the world was born without arms but has been inspiring millions by singing a mix of secular and 2 to 3 toes on the strumming side,” he told The Republican during an interview from his home in Branson Melendez began learning how to play the guitar when he was 16 Watching his father perform with two hands because he said everyone thought it was impossible for him to play the stringed instrument “I didn’t go to anyone because they would look at me and just say ‘How?’ because I didn’t have hands,” he said I was able to figure out notes and chords naturally Melendez has performed in every state in America and more than 40 countries won an inspirational hero award from the National Football League and performed the national anthem at a Major League Baseball World Series game ‘My wish for you is that you continue giving hope,’” Melendez said inspirational and Christian music while playing the guitar with his feet Melendez said he was born without arms because his mother was taking thalidomide a drug used to ease morning sickness during her pregnancy but later was found to cause birth defects He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua “I could use my feet so much more,” he said Melendez is one of four siblings in a family that went to church often but wasn’t especially religious “I wouldn’t say we went to church every day My grandma always had ladies at her house doing the rosary,” he recalled The Missouri man said he wanted to become a priest but could not because of his disability Turning to music has helped him find his purpose and place in the world — a way he could serve his church and humanity “I honestly thought I needed the collar to do my ministry I started ministering throughout the world I was in a room playing the guitar for someone dying at a hospital in Mexico there were babies with AIDS in cribs,” he said Melendez said he plays up to a dozen times a month in different venues from churches and schools to outdoor events and conferences he said one of his most spiritual moments came sitting next to a young girl at one of his concerts She came with a friend who was translating the concert into her hands,” he said Melendez said he took a break during the performance sat on stage with the girl and let her touch his guitar while he played just for her The girl had one of her hands on my guitar I felt honored she was there with me,” he said While Melendez has brought hope to countless people he turned his message inward when this father of two adult children lost a third child three years ago I needed that help and little glimmer of light for my heart,” he said Michael’s Cathedral in the city Tuesday in English and Wednesday in Spanish Admission is free and seating will be on a first-come Contact stmichaelscathedral@diospringfield.org or visit diospringfield.org/events for more information Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices A charity event for members of the Haitian community will happen in Springfield on Saturday at the John Legend Theatre will host the benefit for the Haitian Support Center which helps refugees and immigrants with housing WOSU’s Debbie Holmes spoke with Brun about the event Debbie Holmes: Tell me about the Haitian Support Center Michael Brun: I first met the Haitian Support Center sometime last year I thought it was so important for Haitian immigrants in Ohio and also just in general for any immigrants that were looking for information on ways to integrate into their communities And I feel like what Violet Rose and the rest of the team were doing was really important work and I wanted to be able to be of assistance tell me how it helps refugees and immigrants in this country the work that they do is in helping them with job allocations and figuring out the process of being able to build a resume and if there's any translation services or educational services that are helpful in just assisting the transition from a newly arrived Haitian They worked really hard on making sure that it's the most seamless transition possible as they enter into new communities And I feel like that's such an important aspect of the immigration process that usually isn't really touched on too much Debbie Holmes: And how long has this benefit been held Michael Brun: This event is actually a first I know that we had started discussing it last year when I did a conversation with John Legend at Rose Goute Creole we felt that it would be a really nice opportunity to continue that story from last year and continue to support the works that they had been doing Debbie Holmes: What do you know about the Haitian immigrants in Springfield and the pressure they're feeling from the Trump administration and others I've spoken to members of the Haitian Support Center themselves I myself am an immigrant and I think that in general the immigrants that are there that have applied to legal programs that are doing their best to be citizens that are contributing to their communities and are working very hard to be present and just do the best things they can with their lives and a lot of them are unsure of what's happening And just that you know whenever laws are changing or things are changing so rapidly it's really hard to know exactly what's real and what's not so I feel like the most important thing right now is just to have accurate information And I know that all these immigrants that I've spoken to want to be contributing members of society and I think it's important to highlight their stories Debbie Holmes: So you've spoken to them directly when I had this conversation with John Legend was actually the founder of the restaurant And she came in under an immigration program and was able to build this restaurant and have a successful business and is doing everything the right way And I feel like her story is an example of a great immigrant story that I think that for the community it's important to see that there's value coming in Debbie Holmes: So tell me about the event and what's going to be happening Michael Brun: So the event is a really good mix of music and social support And I think that the lineup that the team had prepared was there's a historian And I know that some members of the team are probably going to be speaking there as well And it's also really cool to be able to do it at the John Legend Theater after we worked together on music and where (there's) mutual support for the Springfield community and the Haitian community in Springfield I think if you're at all interested in finding out more about the work that the Haitian Support Center does and also just how the Haitian community contributes in a positive way to the community come and check it out if you want to learn more about Haiti Cryptocurrency scams are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated prompting law enforcement to issue a warning the Springfield Police Department received 53 reports of crypto-related scams About $109,000 was recovered during the year by detectives from the department's financial crimes unit “Many victims feel ashamed for falling for a scam and will choose to quietly suffer,” Financial Crimes Detective Mark Stewart said in the release SPD warns residents to stay vigilant and be cognizant of common warning signs Anyone who suspects they may have been a victim of a cryptocurrency scam is encouraged to act quickly and report the crime Earlier action can increase chances that authorities can help More: Decades-old reporting, new DNA testing connect to 35-year-old Springfield homicide case Victims can file a report by calling 417-864-1810 or visiting police headquarters from 7 a.m.-5 p.m Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Springfield Police have arrested three people and seized two illegal guns following a month-long investigation State Police conducted a search warrant on Salem Street after learning about crack-cocaine being sold out of an apartment where guns were located                 Police arrested 40-year-old Darin Smith and a 17-year-old boy while a 16-year-old boy jumped out a window and fled He was later taken into custody on Maple Street                 as well as crack-cocaine and more than $450 in cash while the charges and names of the teens remain unreleased due to their ages An advisory committee studying middle school boundary lines in Springfield Public Schools went slightly off-script suggesting the district expand busing in grades 6-8 and rethink the use of an intermediate school building The 31-member volunteer group stopped short of making any specific recommendations related to boundary lines arguing with so much change happening at the middle school level this was not the time to redraw attendance boundary lines during a time of significant change in the district provided an overview of the work — and some out-of-the-box ideas generated by the group — during the April 28 school board meeting He said the district brought the group together because the issue of middle school boundary lines has been "We felt like we needed to get a lot of different ideas in place in front of us so we could determine was there a next step," he said Shaw emphasized that while the group met in 2025 it was asked to look at any changes that might be needed during the 2026-27 school year or beyond "We wanted to make sure that they understood this wasn't going to be immediate," he said "We needed to look into the future but also to make sure that if something was going to come to the board that you had plenty of time to make those decisions." Jarrett Middle School was rebuilt on a new campus as part of the 2019 bond issue and the $220 million bond issue approved in April 2023 includes multiple middle school projects The first was to rethink the way Wilson's Creek Intermediate School will be used in the future It serves students in grades 5-6 and was built to alleviate crowding in the southwest part of the district the group decided to pause before making any specific recommendations noting the administration should continue to monitor the middle school boundaries and reconvene the group if needed in the future "One thing that really stood out to this group was that when we made the changes to our boundaries for a couple of elementaries it was really due to utilization as well as overcrowding," Shaw said "There just wasn't that sense of urgency right now with the middle schools." "They wanted us to explore adjusting Wilson's Creek from being a (grade) 5-6 intermediate school to a (grade) 6-8 middle school," Shaw said He said if the district opts to pursue that option "That recommendation has a lot of complexities and really no way that could (happen) for the 2026-27 school year," he said "You are talking about expanding a building you are talking about adding grades to their elementary feeder (schools) and so the commitment is to look at it." The other overarching suggestion from the group was to create "pure feeder patterns." specific elementary schools would feed into a specific middle school and then a high school More: SPS middle school attendance boundary group to develop framework for future changes students from one middle school might feed into two high schools The splits happen for a variety of reasons including the capacity of the schools involved and the size of an attendance area and specific neighborhoods located within it The group also offered suggestions related to busing They were interested in increasing eligibility for middle school students "They want us to continue looking at that for middle school students," he said Shaw said there was also talk about the need to provide busing for students involved in extracurricular activities "A lot of students simple don't participate in activities because they don't have a way to get home and so that was something the group said 'We'd like for you to look into that.' What is that going to take "And so those are some of the considerations that we will move forward and look at and then bring back to our cabinet and have those discussions." Approximately 50,000 people lost power in Springfield after severe winds and tornadoes swept through the area Tuesday morning Downed trees blocked about 100 Greene County roads and an unknown number of homes and cars were damaged Many people were still without power a day later and others were picking up the pieces and assessing damage Here are some Greene County resources to assist with home damage the Southern Missouri Red Cross chapter's disaster teams have been working to determine the extent of the damage to buildings Those who need assistance should call 800-733-2767 U-Haul locations are offering 30 days of free self-storage for new storage and use of their U-Boxes which are portable storage and moving containers Call the following locations to check on availability: homeowners should consult a professional if removal "requires you to leave the ground or if the tree is more than 20 feet tall" and not to attempt tree work from a ladder Some homeowners insurance may cover tree removal if the tree damaged your property, according to Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. If there are downed tree limbs in your yard, you can take it to the Springfield Yardwaste Recycling Center sticks and limbs less than 10 feet long and less than 10 inches in diameter people within Springfield city limits are reminded that open burning of yard waste is not allowed Those living outside city limits may burn yard waste said City of Springfield spokesperson Cora Scott but they should check with their local fire districts before doing so More: View real-time storm damage reports they are advised to leave the area immediately and call 911 or Springfield City Utilities at 417-863-9000 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Rachelle Peak was raised in Springfield by teachers and she initially resisted following in their footsteps "Now it's the best compliment to say 'I am turning into my parents,'" said Peak This is the Springfield native's 24th year in education She spent 12 years as a librarian and the past four teaching communications online through the Launch Virtual Learning program Her students are a mix of local youth and those in different parts of the state She has a bachelor's degree from Evangel University and a master's degree in library sciences The communication arts teacher with Launch Virtual Learning is one of five finalists for Springfield Teacher of the Year In 2023, her triplets — Hannah, Johnathan and Travis Peak — were co-valedictorians at Glendale High School The News-Leader recently interviewed each of the finalists — the winner will be announced May 2 — to learn more about why they became teachers how they deal with challenges and what inspires them Peak started her career in the corporate world but quickly realized "working in a cubicle was not for me." "I enjoyed people and teaching was a way to have more interaction with students It is different every day and that was something that really appealed to me," she said She majored in communications and worked for the City of Springfield for a while while living and working in the corporate world in Texas she pursued teaching through an alternative certification program said she considers it a privilege to interact with students and to help them grow and learn "When you have those 'aha moments' with students or ask questions you can see that they're really questioning and thinking and becoming more independent in their learning "A good day is when students are participating actively Peak loved to take students to the school or public library and help them get connected with the resources available there she offered extra credit to students who sent a photo of their library card Peak said that request sparked interesting conversations in her virtual classroom with students sharing book suggestions and talking about what they like to read She had a student who was struggling with academic honesty which can be a challenge when learning virtually Peak said she stressed how much she wants to see the student's "original thoughts and ideas." "He's done a 180-degree turnaround and realized I'm a real person Peak said the teaching profession changes and evolves but kids are still the same and she tries to remember that if she faces a challenge "They still want someone to listen to them "The challenge to me is to ignore all the other distractions and just focus on those kids and help them find their voice and help them learn in the best way for them." Peak said reading and writing are the foundation of education and her goal is guide students so they are thinking independently processing what they learn and creating something of their own Q: What inspires you?"I like a classroom because it brings together a group of unlikely people with the same goal in mind — to learn — and we all come at it differently and we all bring something different to the learning," she said students process what they're reading through the lens of their prior knowledge "We are thinking about it at different places and then leaving with different realizations along the way," she said that's one of my favorite things to do as an English teacher." Peak said her mentor in Texas suggested "changing jobs every six years," which she has followed "I thought that was the craziest thing I've ever heard because I am going to be a teacher for the rest of my life," she recalled "But then I realized what she was saying and it has been exactly what I have done She said by continuing to evolve within her profession it "keeps things fresh" and she is constantly learning and growing "There are so many different paths you can take different teaching teams you can be part of," she said Peak said she is a "huge fan of picture books even with older students" and she reads one on the first day Q: What is your hidden talent or something students might be surprised to learn about you?"I am a good writer the five finalists for Springfield Teacher of the Year will be honored and a winner will be named third grade teacher at Sunshine Elementary; Danielle O'Neil physical education teacher at Sherwood Elementary; Rachelle Peak communication arts teacher with Launch Virtual Learning; Tanner Schmidt MA (WGGB/WSHM) - There’s good news for music lovers as MGM Springfield brings back its Free Music Friday concert series Every Friday from May 23 through September 5 some of the area’s most popular bands and national artists will perform on The Plaza at MGM Springfield for free Kicking off this year’s series will be “The Eagles Experience,” a tribute band to The Eagles A Springfield man pleaded guilty to a string of vehicle burglaries in hotel parking lots in Sangamon County on Friday but is believed to be linked to over 100 thefts and burglaries across the region over the last two years of Springfield pleaded guilty to the burglaries and was sentenced to 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections Capital City Now reports that Springfield Police identified Halberstadt in the series of burglaries in lots in the area of Dirksen Parkway between South Grand Avenue and Stevenson Drive The incidents involved criminal damage to vehicles and theft of Milwaukee and Dewalt tools back in January Officers arrested Halberstadt on 8 charges on January 31 and he’s been residing in the Sangamon County Jail since A news release from Springfield Deputy Chief Sara Pickford says that Halberstadt is also suspected to be involved in over 100 burglaries to vehicles in 2024 including several in Jacksonville Decatur and in other locations in Sangamon County Anyone with information concerning this investigation is being asked to call the Springfield Police Department at (217) 788-8311 or leave a tip with the Sangamon-Menard Crime Stoppers The jackpot prize was won off of the game Gold Stacks 88 at MGM Springfield which led to a prize of $11,551.06.MGM Springfield .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Heather Morrison | hmorrison@masslive.comA lucky MGM Springfield casino player won thousands of dollars after betting less than $3 on a spin Thursday The jackpot prize was won off of the game Gold Stacks 88 Foxwoods Resort and Casino and Mohegan Sun There are over 1,500 slot machines at MGM Springfield MGM Springfield paid out over $9,900,000 in jackpot prizes There were also 56 jackpot prizes won in March The largest slots prize won in March was worth $110,918.46 It was won on March 10 playing the game Lightning Link For those who need help with responsible gaming, call the helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or go to GameSenseMA.com Learn more about our gaming editorial staff If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist to receive support Services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential \n LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234\n Looking for ways to honor your matriarch this Mother’s Day The following local businesses have cooked up these specials to assure mom doesn’t have to spend May 11 in the kitchen The Farmhouse Restaurant at Harvest MarketThe Farmhouse Restaurant at Harvest Market is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch buffet from 9 a.m as well as an array of breakfast items like scrambled eggs A dessert table will be filled with cakes and cookies More: Springfield restaurant raising prices on egg dishes to combat inflated costs Children 4 and younger eat for free when accompanied by an adult first served at the 3000 Veterans Parkway eatery in White Oaks West three-piece fried chicken dinner at The Dublin Pub The scratch-made dinner comes with mashed potatoes Incredibly Delicious is highlighting classic French cuisine in its special Mother’s Day brunch menu Saturday The special menu features everything from French onion soup to a country pate plate with assorted salads to two types of quiche – garden vegetable and ham and Swiss hard boiled eggs and croutons) even comes with a Champagne vinaigrette Dessert selections include a variety of tarts toasting spring flavors – like fresh fruit There also will be assorted macarons and noix de coco The brunch menu also is available for takeout by calling 217-528-8548 More: Get a taste of summer with these two blueberry-based cocktails It’s also not too late to place an order for Mother’s Day treats to take home. Orders must be placed online at incrediblydelicious.com before midnight May 4 Featured 8-inch cakes are a black forest or white chocolate-raspberry for $62 or a flourless chocolate cake for $32.50 Opt for the dessert box with a slice of the flourless chocolate cake fresh fruit tart and noix de coco for $38.50 Other delectables include the classic croissant box ($20) and cinnamon rolls (3 for $18) Other features include an assortment of artisan breads and rolls (ranging from $3 to $7.75) $25.95/quart) and quiche ($28.50/half quiche $59/whole) available in three varieties – Lorraine sausage and cheddar or spinach-roasted red pepper-goat cheese Portillo'sPortillo’s lets you show mom your love with a heart-shaped cake The single-layer cake is available in Portillo’s traditional chocolate cake or lemon. Pre-orders can be made at portillos.com through May 8 with choice of pick up at the Portillo’s store at 3400 Freedom Drive or delivery Village Tea Room & Gift ShopTake mom to tea at the Village Tea Room & Gift Shop Mother’s Day Each participant will receive a three-tier tray topped with a choice of tea sandwiches The meal comes with a choice of flavored iced tea A special children’s menu also is available Mimi’s Kitchen in Divernon is celebrating mom with an all-you-can-eat buffet fresh fruit and an assortment of scratch-made desserts More: Popular Springfield restaurant closing for good; The Railyard announces opening date Cost is $20.99 for adults; $10.99 for children 12 and younger The Wild Hare Cafe’s signature Mother’s Day salad is the daily special at the Elkhart eatery The menu features the strawberry and herbed grilled chicken salad on mixed greens with the house-made raspberry viniagrette An assortment of scratch-made desserts are available for $6.99 and drink selections for $2.99 Reservations required and should be made by May 8 The Wild Hare Cafe is located in Horsefeathers Antiques and Gift Shop at 104 Governor Oglesby St Ollie’s Diner & Candy Shoppe in New Holland is letting mom customize her own horseshoe with a build-your-own brunch buffet from 9 a.m The spread features a variety of toppings to craft both breakfast ‘shoes as well as the more traditional open faced sandwich Dessert options also will be featured on the buffet Cost for the all-you-can-eat buffet is $16 for adults or $10 for senior citizens 65 and older or children 10 and younger Ollie’s also is taking pre-orders for baked goods and hand-dipped chocolates for those whose matriarch has a sweet tooth mixed cookie box for $20 or a mix and match chocolate and cookie box for $25 (3 dozen cookies To place orders or make reservations call or text 217-870-7880 or email olliesdiner@hotmail.com Natalie Morris is a freelance correspondent The Capital City’s latest chicken chain has opened on Springfield's west side Dave’s Hot Chicken a little more than a year after MOD Pizza’s departure one of the country’s fastest growing restaurant brands is known for hand-breaded chicken flavored to order Dave’s Hot Chicken is the latest contender among national chains claiming the best cluck for the buck The busy Wabash Avenue/Veterans Parkway interaction alone touts Chick-fil-A Popeyes Louisiana Chicken and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers More: Two popular fast-food chicken restaurants opening soon in Springfield And while the Colonel flew the coop at 1850 W the regional brand Pop-Up Chicken Shop is set to open in the former Kentucky Fried Chicken address this summer The star of Dave’s Hot Chicken is the Nashville hot chicken that comes in seven spice levels The chicken tenders can be purchased with a slice of bread on a potato bun with kale slaw and pickles The same lineup is available with a vegetarian option substituting chicken with fried cauliflower topped milk shakes crowned with everything from Lucky Charms to Oreos and Slushers – a slushie version with flavors like Hi-C fruit punch and orange creamsicle to go service and online orders via the Dave’s Hot Chicken app is the franchisee behind the Springfield location which operates a dozen Dave’s Hot Chicken throughout Illinois and Indiana a Naperville-based franchise and real estate development group with a portfolio that includes 50 locations across multiple states that also operate as Dunkin This is The Hari Group’s first Springfield holding and only the second Dave’s Hot Chicken in Illinois south of Interstate 80 More: One of the country's fastest growing restaurants is slated to open in Springfield Dave’s Hot Chicken’s origins story begins with a group of friends who pooled $900 to buy a fryer and open a pop-up food stand in East Hollywood in 2017 An EATER/LA feature declared the “hot chicken stand might blow your mind” and quickly resulted in block-long lines The first brick-and-mortar opened a year later the chain touts 283 locations across 32 states as well as international locations in Canada and Dubai New seafood restaurant opening in GrandviewTatoya Steward always knew when she began selling her expansive line of seasoned butter sauces in Houston Texas four years ago that the brand would eventually evolve into a restaurant And that said restaurant would get its start in Illinois More: What makes this fish fry the best in the Springfield area? Betcha Catcha Crab opened at 2112 North Grand Ave I mix my own sauce and bring it along,” Steward said of her Betcha Catcha Crab sauce line ‘Do you know you’ve turned what you’ve always been doing into a business?’ “But I always knew when I started (selling the sauces) it would eventually be a restaurant And I always knew I wanted to come back home to open my business.” who lived in the Springfield area before a brief stint in the Lone Star state previously owned and operated Essential Services Solutions This is her first venture into the dining industry will initially offer crab boils with snow crab and shrimp complete with corn Six of Steward’s 21 seasoned butter sauces will be available to season the dish Springfield diners got a sneak peek at McDonald’s first permanent new menu item to debut in the United States since 2021 The new McCrispy Strips were available for purchase in the Capital City beginning April 29 – six days before this latest incarnation of the Golden Arches' take on the dish becomes available nationwide May 5 The McCrispy Strips are described as all white meat coated with crispy golden-brown breading with a bold black pepper flavor The new offering even comes with its own signature sauce The McCrispy Strips are available in three-piece ($4.99) or four-piece servings ($5.99) McDonald’s has long been known for its Chicken Nuggets But the fast-food chain struck a fan favorite with the introduction of its Chicken Selects that were a part of the permanent menu from 2004 to 2013 Buttermilk Crispy Tenders enjoyed a short run from 2017 to 2020 before being eliminated during the pandemic Toasty’s sandwich offerings remain toasted But the ingredients tucked between the two slices of warm bread are all new plans to reopen after a brief closure while the business undergoes an entire menu revamp The change comes around Toasty’s first anniversary at its new home More: Springfield sandwich shop rebranding after changing ownership “Ever since we moved to our new location the (original) menu hasn’t been performing as great,” owner Navee Singh said “We decided to make the bold change to adapt and capture a new market.” So the business’s standards like the Italian Stallion Classic Cubano and The Toasty Club have all been retired The new lineup features Indian street food such as chaats pizzas with flavors inspired by traditional Indian dishes fresh-squeezed juices and hand-dipped milkshakes All sandwiches will still be toasted in a press Indian pizzas will be served on a scratch-made hand-tossed dough that features a butter sauce in lieu of traditional marinara and topped with protein options and vegetables Subway reopensThe Subway at 1827 W. Jefferson St. reopens May 5, the third to be revived after being acquired by ECI Investments still shuttered Springfield shop at 417 South Grand Ave is expected to be back in business in the third quarter 2025 ECI Investments reopened the national sandwich brand at 607 E More: Multiple Springfield Subways reopening under new ownership. Here's what you need to know Operating hours at all three sites are 7 a.m All four Springfield stores – previously owned by VCM Inc The franchise management said there are no plans to revive VCM Inc.’s former Subway in Sherman Editor's note: Toasty's was initially going to reopen on May 3 (This story has been updated with new information.) The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings as well as personnel changes and business news Natalie Morris can be reached at 217-737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com A sandwich restaurant in Springfield is shifting sales away from hot-pressed homemade sandwiches to a taste of marsala and spices took to social media to announce a change in management from the current partnership between Navee Singh and Joe Ryan Toasty’s will reopen to serve Indian street foods More: Want to own a historic piece of downtown Springfield? It'll cost you nearly $2M The location closed on April 28 and will reopen on May 1 as a new restaurant The menu will include masala spiced sandwiches a pick and eat snack dish with puffed rice pastry bread slathered with chutney spice and meats or greens Toasty's has seen its fair share of ups and downs since the beginning of 2024 The restaurant was forced to move locations after a pipe burst on Jan which caused the restaurant to close for several months before reopening in August 2024 The restaurant announced plans to move locations in May 2023 citing a need for more space growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted