Sinkhole may have silver lining

Joplin Metro

Related Photos

Discussion

June 5, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Fri Jun 05, 2009, 08:36 PM CDT

By Dustin Shipman

dshipman@joplinglobe.com

If one has the bad luck to find part of his or her back yard disappearing into a sinkhole, one should hope for the good luck that it is related to the Joplin area’s mining history.

If the latter turns out to be, then the state is authorized to spend federal funds to hire a contractor to fix the problem.

For Carrol and Jean Allgood, the good fortune likely will balance out the bad.

Officials from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on Friday were at the Allgood home at 318 S. Forest Ave. in Joplin investigating a large hole that had converted an above-ground swimming pool into an in-ground pool.

The officials say there are indications that the hole was created by the collapse of a former mine shaft.

“When we first got the call, we looked at historic mining maps and old topographical maps,” said Mitch Roberts, an environmental specialist for DNR.

“When you are looking into it,” he said, “you can see chat, which is old waste material from lead and zinc mining. So seeing that and what we saw on the maps, we believe that it is mining related.”

Jean Allgood discovered the hole forming on Tuesday.

“It seems like it has grown since then,” Carrol Allgood said.

More tests still need to be performed, but Roberts said authorities are relatively confident that the hole was created by a shaft.

“From what we saw on the mining maps, this was an isolated location and likely a shaft opening,” Roberts said. “If we find out that it is in fact mining related, then we are allowed to use federal funds to hire contractors to fix the problem through plugs or backfilling, depending on the instance.”

Neil Elfrink, a geologist with the DNR, said his research of old mining maps suggests it was a zinc-mine shaft that belonged to the Cora Lotta Mining Co.

Richard O’Dell, an environmental specialist with the DNR, said Southwest Missouri, especially Joplin and Webb City, are known for sinkholes related to the former lead and zinc mining activity.

“We fix these types of holes, but they have to be mining related and they have to be a safety issue,” O’Dell said. “Just because people have a hole doesn’t mean it is a problem that we deal with; this one appears to be actively moving and potentially dangerous.”

Text Only

Joplin Metro

Longtime Democrat dies at 81
Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

August 9, 2010 1 Photo
Motivational speaker offers free marriage course
Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief.

January 12, 2012
District sends faculty, administrators on site visits
With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

January 11, 2012
Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated
A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

January 10, 2012 4 Photos
Carl Junction chamber creating new committees
The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

January 9, 2012
Body of missing Joplin man found
The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

January 3, 2012
Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant
The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

October 21, 2011
Joplin shooting victim’s name released
The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

October 21, 2011
Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

October 21, 2011
Extreme Makeover releases names of families
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

October 19, 2011
More Joplin Metro Headlines

Water company cites reconnections

Joplin Metro

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Sinkhole may have silver lining

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Site Map

Contact Us