Month: May 2018

It is with a heavy heart today that we announce that our dear friend and colleague Jim Sellars N0UAM has passed away. As you may know, Jim has been off the air for several months and has been in the hospital.

Please keep Jim’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Prior to passing, Jim penned his own obituary. Click here to read it.

Here are Some media articles commemorating Jim’s life and his service to our community:
KTTS 94.7 FM
Springfield News-Leader
Daily Mail
Detroit Free Press
RepublicanAmerican
Salina Post
New York Post
MSN News

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Springfield, Missouri is confirming that two EF-1 tornadoes of around equal strength hit Polk County, Missouri during the early evening hours of Saturday, May 19, 2018. The first tornado touched down around 2 miles northwest of Pleasant Hope at 6:25 p.m. It traveled about 2.3 miles and was nearly 100 yards wide with estimated peak winds of around 100 miles per hour. The second twister touched down about 3 minutes later approximately 3 miles north-northwest of Pleasant Hope. It traveled about 2 miles and also had estimated peak winds of 100 miles per hour and a width of around 100 yards.

The first tornado uprooted and damaged numerous trees and damaged several outbuildings before tearing the roof off of one house. The second twister destroyed two barns and damaged the roof on a third. It also uprooted several trees.

Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Forecasters say the severe weather on May 19th and 20th was spawned by several waves of upper-level energy that interacted with instability and a little bit of shear. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms errupted throughout the entire Springfield Missouri County Warning Area also bringing many reports of wind damage and large hail. As much as 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in some areas as the storms “trained” (moved across many of the same locations) causing localized flooding.

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Springfield, Missouri confirms that 3 tornadoes struck our County Warning Area during the early morning hours of Thursday, May 3, 2018.

The first and the strongest tornado in this series, an EF-1 with peak winds near 95 miles per hour, hit Christian County at around 2:10 a.m. Surveyors say the tornado touched down around 2 1/2 miles north of Ozark with the damage path beginning near the intersection of North 3rd Street and Sunset Road where minor roof damage occurred (see photo to the left). The storm then moved northeast causing additional roof damage, snapping trees, and destroying outbuildings along its path before lifting near the end of Peartree drive. This tornado had a maximum width of 100 yards and spent around 3 minutes on the ground travleing a total of 1.2 miles.

The second twister clipped the southeastern corner of Greene County at about 2:17 a.m. This EF-0 tornado had peak winds of around 80 miles per hour and spent only a minute on the ground leaving a path just 50 yards wide and about one-quarter of a mile long. A barn was destroyed and trees were uprooted near the intersection of East Farm Road 186 and Farm Road 241 just west of Rogersville.

The third tornado hit Douglas County around 1.5 miles northeast of Squires at around 2:45 a.m. This EF-1 twister had peak winds around 90 miles per hour. It spent about two minutes on the ground traveling a total of three-quarters of a mile with a maximum width of around 75 yards. This tornado destroyed one outbuilding and blew the roof off of a new cattle feeder. Several trees were reportedly uprooted and snapped.

Forecasters say the severe weather came in two waves. The first one hit late in the evening of May 2nd into the early morning hours of May 3rd. This line affected mainly portions of west-central into central Missouri dropping hail up to 1 inch in diameter in St. Clair County. The second line of storms started moving into extreme southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri just before midnight with several damaging wind reports. It was this second line of storms that sparked these brief spin-up tornadoes. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

The benefit concert on April 26th in Houston, Missouri featuring Country music band Farewell Angelina was a huge success with a near-sellout crowd in attendance. The four-member all-female band performed several songs including covers of classic hits made famous by The Eagles and The Animals as well as a cover of an appropriately-titled song: “Radioactive” made famous by Imagine Dragons. Make no mistake, though, the sounds and harmonies were pure Country from start to finish. Cheers and applause from the enthusiastic and energetic crowd were unbridled throughout the evening.

The Melba Performing Arts Center in Houston served as the venue for the concert. The sound quality throughout this intimate yet modern theater was crisp and clear. Several organizations throughout Houston and Texas County use this theater for a variety of events. All of us with Southwest Missouri Regional Skywarn are thankful for the use of this facility.

Houston-area business Pizza Express served as the location of the VIP After Party. Several dozen folks attended and enjoyed delicious eats along with photo opportunities with the band. Pictured to the right with members of Farewell Angelina are Michael, N0NQW, and Richard, KB0MPO.

Special thanks to Richard, KB0MPO, and Pizza Express for sponsoring this benefit concert. All net proceeds will help pay for tower climbing services needed for a complete overhaul of the 145.490 MHz. repeater in Fordland, Missouri. We also thank everyone who attended this event for their support. Finally, a big thank you to the four talented ladies who are Farewell Angelina! We love your music, and we will be listening to the “3 meter band” and online for your music.