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Decades-old oak tree cut down in contractor scam just days after couple buys new home
Summary by The Midland Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Jordyn Burrell, Jordan Gartner , as published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
· August 4, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Jordyn Burrell, Jordan Gartner, as published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 4, 2026 Indexed here Aug 4, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The tree's removal was discovered after the couple received a text message from a neighbor.
A Missouri couple's new home was affected by a contractor scam. The couple, who had recently purchased the property, returned to find a decades-old oak tree in their front yard had been cut down. The tree's removal was discovered after the couple received a text message from a neighbor.
They initially suspected the previous homeowner or the city, but began investigating by calling local tree companies. Further details about the incident, including the couple's efforts to identify who was responsible, are available from the source. The couple's experience is an example of a contractor scam, although specific details about the scam are not provided here.
Why this matters
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About this story
As published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) . The Midland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: August 4, 2026 ·
Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Missouri couple's new home was affected by a contractor scam. The couple, who had recently purchased the property, returned to find a decades-old oak tree in their front yard had been cut down. The…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 4, 2026 by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jordyn Burrell, Jordan Gartner at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). To learn more about how The Midland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Midland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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