Severe Weather Possible This Evening and Tonight

The National Weather Service says be on the lookout for severe storms this evening into the overnight hours as a front moves in from the west. All modes of severe weather are possible -- including large hail, damaging winds, and even tornadoes. Keep updated on the weather throughout the day. Looks like it could get nasty later this evening.

April Election Night Live Blog

6:55 p.m.: I just came back in from voting and am getting prepared to watch the election night results... also American Idol. Oh the horror of having to choose!

7:26 p.m.: No results yet, and that is really no surprise. If you are wanting a really fascinating perspective from one Springfield City Council candidate as results are being announced, check out Life of Jason's blog.

7:42 p.m.: With a few initial results coming in and the race for Springfield mayor have Jim O'Neal with a 500 vote lead Christopher Donegan (with 13% of the results in).

7:52 p.m.: Absentee ballots are all in from the Neosho District and the R-5 bond issue has 63 votes for it and 61 votes against it. Wow... very close. Also, unless there is a major swell, with 46% of the vote in Jim O'Neal has a little more than a 1,000 vote lead on Donegan.

7:59 p.m.: While it is not looking good for the Neosho Bond Issue (now losing by almost 200 votes), KOAM has a good report on what the bond issue would (maybe would have) do/done.

8:07 p.m.: According to the Neosho Daily News, Richard Davidson and Heather Bowers have been elected to the Neosho City Council.

8:26 p.m.: Paul Ferguson has been elected the mayor of Granby. Plus, with 97% of the votes in inside Springfield voter turnout is only 8.7%.

8:35 p.m.: A few more election results from across the Ozarks:
Buffalo Mayor - Jerry Hardesty
Weaubleau Mayor - Richard Thompson

8:51 p.m.: I will be back in a few minutes with more details. The news is breaking on The Turner Report that MSSU has cut its tennis team. I am following up with some of my contacts.

9:17 p.m.: More updates for you:
Camdenton Mayor - Dennis North
Lake of the Ozarks Lodging Tax - FAILED
Ava Mayor - Leon Harris
Pierce City School Bond - FAILED
Monett School Board - Jerry Roberts and Mark Coatney

9:34 p.m.: The Briarbrook Issue from Carl Junction has FAILED.

9:41 p.m.: If you are disappointed in the low voter turnout, you are not alone. The Springfield News-Leader has a story about how few people participated in the election process today.

9:45 p.m.: It is time for me to wind up my live blog. If you need a link to a very comprehensive look at election results in the Ozarks, please check out the KSPR list. It is by far the easiest on the eyes.

Turnout Light In Many Places, But Not In Carl Junction

Many locations across the Ozarks are reporting light voter turnout today. Cities where light voter turnout has been reported include Joplin, Carthage, Neosho, Monett, Springfield, and Bolivar.

One community in the region is bucking that trend. Carl Junction is reporting heavy voter turnout, according to the Joplin Globe. In fact, turnout is as heavy as the 2008 Presidential election. That is quite a significant response. The big issue there: a service levy to help fund the purchase Briarbrook's Golf Course and Country Club.

It is good to see one community fired up about an issue.

Don't Forget To Vote

Today is election day. Many local issues are at stake. While today is likely to have lower voter turnout, this election is just as important. Many times, city and county issues can affect the average citizen just as much as statewide or national elections. So take five minutes (or maybe even less) and go vote.

Show-Me Opinions will provide blogging this evening concerning election results as they come in.

I’m Scared To Death

On Monday over 120 high school students from across Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas will convene at the Holiday Inn in Joplin for the Carver-Truman District Student Congress contest. The top students at the competition will advance to the national congress contest in Birmingham, Alabama in June.

Why should that bother me? The honest answer: I am scared to death because I am in charge of the competition. The former chair of the competition is no longer on the competitive circuit and I volunteered to organize the event. That was noble of me, right?

Well, noble or not, the task of the Student Congress competition is overwhelming. I have most of the work completed and I don’t think that I am forgetting about anything, but I have this knot in the pit of my stomach. I want the competition to go off without a hitch. Combine my new status as chairperson with a new location and I am on edge.

I know that if something goes wrong we will work it out, but the fear of the unknown is what gets me. I guess the best news in all of this: it will be over 48 hours from now.

Happening Now: Dangerous Structural Fire In Monett

Fire has erupted in an old tire shop on the north side of town. Fire fighters from surrounding cities have been called to the scene. Houses around the building are being watered down as high winds are making this an increasingly tense situation.

Newsy is on the scene and will be bringing updates to this dangerous situation shortly.

Update: Approximately a 6 block area has been evacuated: Sycamore on the North, Cleveland on the South, 12th street on the East, 9th street on the West.

Update 2: This is Newsy... just back from the scene. The fire is winding down, but the scope of the damage is not completely known. The smoke is so thick you can't see anywhere near the structure. Several on the scene are reporting that a house near the building is also on fire, but I can't confirm that. It seems the entire town is on the scene.

Update: Joplin Student Arrested For Text Message Hoax

Following up on the story we brought to you earlier this week regarding a text message hoax that kept Joplin students on edge, we have learned that a juvenile student has been arrested for making those threats.

The blog Crime Scene has followed up on this story and reports that a juvenile has been arrested. The investigation also continues in to whether or not anyone else was involved in the text message hoax.

One has to wonder if this text message wasn't inspired by the earlier rumors about gang shootings at Walmart, which also turned out to not be true. There is a lot of information we will likely never know because of the suspect's classification as a juvenile.

Even A Presley Twitters

First it was David Catanese... then it was Claire McCaskill... somewhere along the line I got involved. Now Branson mayor Raeanne Presley is getting in on all the twitter action. If you would like to follow the mayor, you may find her at www.twitter.com/bransonmayor . What is next? Will Life of Jason or SugarBritches join the mix?

Oh wait... they already have.

American Idol: An Unhealthy Addiction

My friends tell me that I have been locked under a rock for the past 7 years. I say that I am just a busy guy. Whatever the case may be, this is the first season I have watched American Idol and am I ever addicted!

What can I say? I love to sing and love music in general. Combine that with my love for competition and we have a show tailor made for me. I even enjoy the bantering between Simon and Paula.

It has caused problems for me though. It has consumed my thoughts and all I ever want to talk about is American Idol. I am sure that isn't healthy.

My favorites on the show are Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta. So... do you watch American Idol? Is the show "so last year" by your standards? Do you hate the show?

Sound off!

Happy April Fool's Day

I am too tired tonight to even try to fool anyone. So, did anyone have a great April Fool's prank played on them or did you pull a fast one? Looks like Life of Jason is the winner of this award for 2009. :-)