06/20/2025
Please keep a good vendor friends family in you thoughts and prayers 🫶🏼🤍
PRAY FOR SCARLETT - A special time of prayer was held Friday night, June 20, at Gainesville, Ava and Mansfield communities for Scarlett Hall. Area residents who couldn’t make the gatherings were also invited to join in prayer from wherever they were.
Scarlett is a former student of Gainesville Elementary School, soon to enter the fifth grade, who has a wide network of friends and loved ones in and around Ozark County. She is the daughter of Clint Hall, who served as Gainesville High School Principal from 2021-23, and his wife, Shelby.
Scarlett was airlifted to an area hospital in critical condition and was later transferred to St. Louis hospital after being sucked in and lodged underwater in a creek bridge culvert off PP Highway in Douglas County yesterday, June 19. Her mom has shared a post saying doctors are working today to gather information about the extent of Scarlett's injuries.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Department said in a Facebook post that Deputy Jesse Three Eagles responded to the scene, along with the Goodhope Fire Department, Cox Ambulance and numerous citizens, after responders were made aware of the situation.
As rescuers were trying to reach Scarlett from the downstream side, off-duty Ozark County dispatcher Branetta McNece attempted to plug the culvert on the upstream side to cut off the water flow.
McNece was partially swept into the culvert and began yelling for help. Deputy Three-Eagles grabbed her and partially pulled her up before the suction drug him into the culvert, where he collided with Scarlett, who was pinned inside the tube by debris. The collision knocked Scarlett loose, resulting in both her and Deputy Three-Eagles pushing through to the other side of the culvert into the creek. McNece was also sucked into the culvert but made it safely to the other side.
Deputy Three Eagles and first responders immediately began life-saving measures on the child.
Both Deputy Three-Eagles and the McNece sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital as well. They were released late last night.
As we join in prayer tonight, near or far, let’s lift up Scarlett, her family and the brave first responders and others who acted with courage and love. May hope and healing surround them all in the days ahead.
