Missouri
Tornado with winds over 100 mph destroys small Missouri town in the middle of the night
A small Missouri community is recovering after a nocturnal tornado swept through town Friday, destroying everything in its path.
The Edina Sentinel editor Echo Menges, who has been reporting from the scene, said officials from the National Weather Service told her that “without question, it was a tornado.”
According to the NWS, a survey team found damage that is consistent with at least an EF-2 tornado and the assessment is ongoing.
That rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale means the twister had winds of at least 111 mph.
NWS storm surveyors found evidence of peak winds up to 122 mph along the 1.64-mile path of the twister.
No fatalities or severe injuries occurred as a result, Knox County Emergency Manager Bill Whiles said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
Only minor injuries have been reported.
Of the town’s 124 residents, as many as 14 people were rescued from their destroyed homes in Baring just after 11 p.m. on Friday, Menges told FOX Weather. Residents in a senior housing complex were among the many seeking help.
Terry Fast was among those displaced in the middle of the night.
He said he was in bed and suddenly awoke to the ceiling falling on him.
“I didn’t hear (any) sound or nothing,” he told The Edina Sentinel. “I didn’t know what was going on. I tried to do the best I could. Everything was raining on me.”
With his face bloodied and scratched, Fast said paramedics had to kick open his door to free him from his home before an ambulance shuttled him to a nearby community center following the disaster.
As the powerful line of thunderstorms developed over Knox County, several residents in Baring reported that their tornado siren failed to go off, according to Menges.
Emergency personnel also said they did not receive any notifications on their weather radios.
Among the buildings destroyed were the town’s post office and fire station.
Menges said there is damage to numerous vehicles and large items like shipping containers and feeders spread throughout the town.
Whiles told The Edina Sentinel that emergency personnel also responded to several hazardous materials leaks from tanks full of anhydrous ammonia and propane in the damaged area.
Knox County Sheriff Carl Knoche told the newspaper that power to the town had to be turned off during the emergency response.
He also asked everyone to refrain from visiting the town for now as emergency and clean-up efforts are still underway.
The Red Cross will be in nearby Edina to assist displaced residents with emergency needs Saturday.
A tornado was also reported earlier Friday on the opposite side of Missouri near the town of Richmond.
The Show Me State has already been pounded by torrential rain and dangerous storms several times this week.
In many cases, the storms trained – moved over the same area multiple times – and led to very high rainfall amounts.
Missouri
Public safety, tax cuts, abortion highlight 2025 priorities for Missouri lawmakers
Missouri
Justin Bensley selected as December 2024 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Team Member of the Month
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JAN. 8, 2025 – Justin Bensley, an archeologist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Missouri State Parks, has been selected as the department’s Team Member of the Month for December 2024. He was selected for his service to the department and his efforts while reviewing cultural resource impacts related to projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
In January 2024, Bensley’s section learned of approximately 20 American Rescue Plan Act projects that needed to be reviewed for cultural resource impacts. Most of the projects were for water and wastewater improvements, so each one also need an architectural survey. All of the projects had to be reviewed and any issues resolved so they could go out for bid by the end of the fiscal year, which was June 30, 2024.
“Justin turned out to be a miracle worker,” said Kim Dillon, a natural resources manager who nominated Bensley for the award. “His work resulted in most of the projects being reviewed, modified and approved just before the end of the fiscal year.”
Due to a vacancy, Bensley was the only staff archeologist at the time, so he was tasked with evaluating each of these projects on his own or with archeological contractors on the larger jobs. In addition, he had to consult with the Osage Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office on the projects, which was a new process. Completing the reviews required Bensley to coordinate between each facility, archeological contractors, planners and the Missouri Office of Administration while also holding many meetings, making countless phone calls and preparing numerous documents.
“I honestly don’t know how he did it, but we are so thankful that he did,” said Dillon.
Bensley joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in March 2021 and resides in Columbia.
Missouri
Freeman puts up 18 in UIC’s victory against Missouri State
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Tyem Freeman had 18 points in UIC’s 80-63 win over Missouri State on Tuesday night.
Freeman also had five rebounds for the Flames (11-5, 3-2 Missouri Valley Conference). Filip Skobalj shot 6 for 6, including 5 for 5 from beyond the arc to add 17 points. Ahmad Henderson II had 12 points and shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc.
The Bears (7-9, 0-5) were led in scoring by Zaxton King, who finished with 17 points. Missouri State also got 10 points from Michael Osei-Bonsu.
Freeman led UIC in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put the Flames up 36-27 at the break. Skobalj scored a team-high 14 points after the break.
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