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Missouri woman celebrates 90th birthday with 10,000 ft. skydiving plunge: ‘Close to heaven up there’

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Missouri woman celebrates 90th birthday with 10,000 ft. skydiving plunge: ‘Close to heaven up there’


When God gives you 90 years, why not try and cheat death just a bit more?

A Missouri woman seemed to think just that when she celebrated her 90th birthday by going skydiving, hurling herself from a plane 10,000 feet in the air as her family looked on.

“You’re kind of close to heaven while you’re up there,” Eleanor Mann told KODE after her recent trip back down to Earth.

Eleanor Mann, 90, skydived for her birthday as family watched below. KODE

And the hair-raising leap was only her latest — 20 years ago, she went skydiving for the first time on her 70th birthday.

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Mann enjoyed it so much, she promised herself if she made it to 90 she’d go again.

“I just thought it was an interesting thing to do, and I loved it. Before just floating down through the air, it was just wonderful,” she said.

Three generations of her family — her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren — stood close at hand and cheered her from the safety of the ground.

“[It’s] a blessing that they love me so much that they would take their time and drive so far,” Mann told KODE.

“I just appreciate it so much.”

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The owner of Ozarks Skydive Center, the organization Mann jumped with, said seeing older clients make the jump is one of the best parts of the job.

The Missouri woman jumped 10,000 feet. KODE
“I just thought it was an interesting thing to do, and I loved it. Before just floating down through the air, it was just wonderful,” she said. KODE

“We love it. As much as we enjoy sharing the sport with everybody, we love to see those folks come out. It’s kind of a special thing for them,” owner Bryan Wolford said.

“And when we can share it with somebody at 90, that’s pretty, pretty neat,” he added.

Mann wasn’t even the oldest client they’ve seen — they once had a 96-year-old do a jump.

The oldest person to ever go skydiving is Alfred “Al” Blaschke, a Texan who made a dive at 106 years old in November, according to the Guinness World Records.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott even joined Blaschke for the jump to mark the occasion.

Blaschke previously set an age record for jumping at 103 in 2020.



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Patrol reports 11 arrests across north Missouri May 29-June 1, 2026

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Patrol reports 11 arrests across north Missouri May 29-June 1, 2026


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The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested eleven people in north Missouri between May 29, 2026, and June 1, 2026. The arrests involved a variety of alleged offenses, including driving while intoxicated, felony drug possession, resisting arrest, and outstanding felony warrants. Arrests were reported in Grundy, Clinton, Caldwell, Shelby, Marion, Ralls, Monroe, Clark, and Macon counties.

It is important to note that, while all the individuals listed below have been reported as arrested, they may not have been physically transported to a detention center. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may be issued a summons, which includes a court date. When the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a summons with a court date, it is considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically transported to a detention center.

Diego G. Gavilanes-Tigse, 31, of Trenton, was arrested in Grundy County at 6:36 p.m. on May 29, 2026. He was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and failure to signal. Gavilanes-Tigse was held at the Grundy County Law Enforcement Center and was placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.

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Heather S. Starchman, 37, of Kansas City, was arrested in Clinton County at 7:52 p.m. on May 29, 2026. Authorities reported she was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of a synthetic narcotic, felony tampering with evidence, felony resisting arrest, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with a prior offense, cutting in on an overtaken vehicle, failure to yield, failure to register a motor vehicle, no insurance, no valid driver’s license, and failure to wear a seat belt. Starchman was taken to Cameron Regional Medical Center and later released.

Alcides Blazimiro Sagastume Gonzalez, 52, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was arrested in Shelby County at 6:50 p.m. on May 29, 2026. He was charged with driving without a valid license and driving while intoxicated. He was held in Shelby County before being released.

Ernesto J. Carames Lopez, 27, of Kansas City, was arrested in Clinton County at 4:03 a.m. on May 30, 2026. Troopers reported he was wanted on a Clarke County, Iowa, felony warrant for larceny and was also charged with careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident. He was held in Clinton County and was listed as bondable.

Mariah R. Vandervelden, 31, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was arrested in Marion County at 2:56 p.m. on May 30, 2026. She was charged with driving while intoxicated and was held in the Marion County Jail before being released.

Chad A. Woolfolk, 46, of Hannibal, was arrested in Marion County at 3:50 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, and no insurance. Woolfolk was held in the Marion County Jail and later released.

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Jo A. Kennedy, 62, of Louisiana, Missouri, was arrested in Ralls County at 5:35 p.m. on May 30, 2026. Troopers charged her with driving while intoxicated involving alcohol and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. Kennedy was held by the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office before being released.

Ethan Z. White, 25, of Huntsville, was arrested in Monroe County at 5:40 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with felony resisting arrest, two counts of speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving on the left side of the roadway when the view was obstructed, driving while intoxicated involving alcohol, and consumption of alcohol while driving. White was taken to the Randolph County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold.

Brian D. Brooks, 66, of Keokuk, Iowa, was arrested in Clark County at 9:53 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with felony driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, no valid license, and failure to comply with ignition interlock requirements. Brooks was held by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.

Justus Garway, 30, of Altoona, Iowa, was arrested in Macon County at 11:30 a.m. on May 31, 2026. He was charged with felony driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, failure to comply with an ignition interlock system, failure to secure a child younger than 8 years old, and speeding. Garway was held in the Macon County Jail on a 24-hour hold.

Justin L. Bittiker, 44, of Independence, was arrested in Caldwell County at 8:22 a.m. on June 1, 2026. Troopers charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, and turning from a direct course when unsafe. Bittiker was held at the Caldwell County Detention Center on a 24-hour hold.

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Kansas City, Missouri, police investigating Monday evening homicide near 12th, Askew

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Kansas City, Missouri, police investigating Monday evening homicide near 12th, Askew


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred Monday evening.

The incident happened near 12th Street and Askew Avenue just after 6:40 p.m.

No word on what led to the violence.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.





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Multiple power outages reported across mid-Missouri

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Multiple power outages reported across mid-Missouri


Many mid-Missouri residents are left without power due to storms continuing across the area. 

Over 1,100 Cole County residents are left without power as of 6:00 a.m., according to the Missouri Power Outage website.

444 residents in Osage County, along with 171 residents in Boone County are also left without power, according to the website. 

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Over 14,000 customers in the state of Missouri are without power, according to the website. 

A First Alert weather day has been issued on KOMU 8’s website until 9 a.m.

Flash flooding, heavy rain, damaging wind gusts, and small hail are possible across mid-Missouri, according to KOMU 8’s weather team.



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