January 2014 – Page 76 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Benedictine women move up to No. 14 in latest Top 25 poll

Posted on January 9, 2014January 9, 2014

After going 3-1 since the first regular-season NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll was released in December, the Benedictine women’s basketball team moved up when the second regular-season poll was released on Tuesday.

Benedictine (11-4) moved up to No. 14 from No. 15 and remained the second-highest member of the HAAC ranked in the Top 25.

Only two schools from the HAAC are currently ranked, with everyone chasing No. 5 MNU. The Pioneers moved up from No. 6 to a tie for No. 5 this week.

Baker University, the Ravens Thursday night opponent, along with Central Methodist University, were each listed in the others receiving votes category.

Heading into their fourth HAAC game of the season, the Ravens rank No. 9 in NAIA Div. I in total 3-pointers with 112. They ranked No. 12 in total scoring offense with 1,150 points, No. 14 in total assists with 221 and No. 15 in 3-pointers per game with an average of 7.5.

Individually, Justice Payne is currently ranked fifth in NAIA Div. I in total 3-pointers with 46 and is sixth in 3-pointers per game with an average of 3.1.

Chayla Rutledge is ranked No. 14 in field goal percentage with an average of 51.3 percent.

Benedictine hosts Baker at 5:30 p.m. Thursday before hitting the road on Saturday for a 2 p.m. Top 25 showdown with MNU in Olathe.

— BC Sports Information —

Grant will fund licensing, fixing of KC pit bulls

Posted on January 8, 2014

(AP) A nonprofit group is giving Kansas City a $100,000 grant to provide free licensing, vaccinations and spaying or neutering for pit bulls and pit bull mixes in two ZIP codes.
The donation announced Wednesday comes from PetSmart Charities, an animal welfare group created by the founders of the PetSmart chain of pet product stores.
Kansas City’s Animal Health and Public Safety Division says the two ZIP codes were chosen because they have an estimated 1,400 unaltered pit bulls and pit bull mixes and large numbers of low-income residents.
Animal control officers will talk to residents about getting their dogs altered or vaccinated at one of three participating veterinary clinics. There’s a limit of four dogs per household, and the services will be offered until the $100,000 grant is exhausted.

Northern lights may expand south next couple days

Posted on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — Northerners thawing out from a bitter freeze may get rewarded with shimmering northern lights the next couple days.

Federal space weather forecaster Joe Kunches said the sun shot out a strong solar flare late Tuesday, which should arrive at Earth early Thursday. It should shake up Earth’s magnetic field and expand the Aurora Borealis south, possibly as far south as Colorado and central Illinois. He said best viewing would probably be Thursday evening, weather permitting.

The University of Alaska’s Geophysical Institute predicts much of Canada and the northern fringes of the U.S. should see the northern lights. Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Des Moines might see the shimmering colors low on the horizon.

The solar storm is already diverting airline flights around the poles and may disrupt GPS devices Thursday.

Gov. Nixon follows through on Cotton Bowl Wager

Posted on January 8, 2014

(AP) Governor Jay Nixon presented donated meat to the Food Bank fpr Central and Northeast Missouri Wednesday.

The donation was made as part of a Cotton Bowl wager between Nixon and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin.

The terms of the wager stated the losing governor must donate 50 pounds of local meat to a food bank in the winning state.

Nixon presented ham and smoked turkey from Burger’s Smokehouse, despite his winning the bet. He said he wanted to balance the Oklahoma meat with “outstanding food from Missouri.”

Oklahoma will deliver its meat to the the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri later this week.

The Missouri Tigers won the Cotton Bowl Jan. 3.

Fort Riley soldier dies in motor pool incident

Posted on January 8, 2014

(AP) — Officials at Fort Riley say a soldier has died at the northeast Kansas Army post in what was described as a vehicle-related incident.

The soldier was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Spc. Ryan T. Christensen, of Layton, Utah. Christensen was a petroleum supply specialist assigned to Company A, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

Officials issued a brief statement saying Christensen died Tuesday at a motor pool at Fort Riley. The incident is under investigation, and no other details were released.

Nixon hopes renew prescription program

Posted on January 8, 2014

(AP) Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon wants to continue a prescription drug program that is due to expire later this year.

Nixon traveled to Springfield on Wednesday to announce that his budget proposal will include nearly $24 million to continue providing prescription drug coverage for some low-income seniors and the disabled.

The Missouri Rx program is due to expire Aug. 28 _ less than two months after the new state budget takes effect.

The state program pays half of the out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses for people covered through the federal government’s Medicare Part D plan. To qualify, individuals must have an annual income of less than $21,660, or $29,140 for married couples.

More than 227,000 people are enrolled in the program.

Will Mo. Senate block parole appointee?

Posted on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

(AP) Republican senators plan to block the gubernatorial appointment of a former Missouri GOP lawmaker to the state parole board because he voted against an income tax cut that had been a Republican priority.

As Missouri’s Legislature opened its session Wednesday, several Republican senators told The Associated Press that they won’t allow the chamber to confirm the appointment of former Rep. Dennis Fowler to the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.

Fowler served for less than a year as a representative from the rural southeast Missouri town of Advance. He was one of 15 House Republicans who broke ranks and voted in September to sustain Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of the income tax cut legislation.

Nixon appointed Fowler to the parole board in December. As a result, Republicans now hold 108 House seats _ one shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override gubernatorial vetoes.

Fowler resigned from the House upon his gubernatorial appointment and already is working in the new, higher-paying position. But he cannot remain in the job without Senate confirmation.

Sen. Brad Lager said Wednesday that he believes the appointment was “a political payoff for Rep. Fowler voting against the veto override.”

“I don’t want to say that he’s getting bought off, but that’s sure what it looks like,” said Lager, a Republican from Savannah. “I just don’t think there’s a place for that, and I intend on stopping it.”

Fowler did not immediately return telephone messages left Wednesday by the AP.

Fowler, 65, is a Navy veteran who spent 38 years working in law enforcement before becoming a lawmaker in January 2013. He told the AP in December that he accepted the parole board appointment because it provided an opportunity “to get back into the business I know.” The job also significantly boosts his salary and pension benefits during a six-year appointment that could carry him through to retirement.

Nixon’s spokesman, Scott Holste, said in an email Wednesday that “Dennis Fowler is eminently qualified to serve on the Board of Probation and Parole.”

Like other nominees for state boards, Fowler must win the support of the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee before his appointment can be considered by the full Senate. Lager is a member of that Senate committee and plans to halt Fowler’s nomination there.

Two other committee members _ Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph _ also told the AP they would oppose Fowler’s confirmation to the parole board because of his vote on the income tax legislation.

“Republicans need to act like Republicans, and I’m tired of rewarding Republicans who don’t act like Republicans,” Richard said.

Schaaf said he had told several House members before the veto session that anyone voting against the income tax cut legislation should not expect to later win confirmation for a gubernatorial appointment. But Schaaf said he had not talked specifically to Fowler.

“We can’t be allowing our own members to be cherry picked off and destroy our supermajority in this manner,” Schaaf said Wednesday. He added: “This is just us policing our own.”

Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, who is chairman of the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee, said has not decided whether to join colleagues in blocking Fowler’s confirmation and first wants to talk with the former lawmaker.

Missouri lawmakers receive a salary of $35,915 annually, plus daily expense allowances when they are at the Capitol. Probation and Parole Board members make about $83,000 annually.

Obituaries for January 8, 2014

Posted on January 8, 2014

Beverly “Bev” Elaine Powers, 84, passed away from this life on Monday, January 6, 2014 at her home to be with her heavenly father and Jesus.
Beverly was born on November 15, 1929 to Arthur and Angeline Wilson in Wolfpoint, Mont. The family moved to the farming area of King City, Mo., when Beverly was 7 years old. She attended country schools and King City High School. She was active in school activities. She graduated from King City in 1947. After high school, she attended the St. Joseph Cosmetology School, after graduation, she purchased Gladys’ Beauty Shop in King City.
On November 12, 1950 she married George T. Powers at the King City Methodist Church. What a blessed union, they loved each other very much. They loved to travel together with family trips to all 50 states. In later years, they began cruising with family and very dear friends.
Beverly was very active in Stonecraft Ministries, travelling throughout Missouri and Kansas speaking to groups of ladies and winning them to the Lord. She was an active member of Brookdale Presbyterian Church, serving as Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. She volunteered at Mark Twain Grade School as a mentor and tutor. She was a devoted caring, loving, wife, mother and grandmother. To know Beverly was to love her.
She had the gift of hospitality and loved to cook and entertain. She was known for her Cream Puffs. She always had a smile and encouragement for everyone she met, was always willing to share her time and talents to help others, but the trend that most stands out in the minds of those who knew Beverly was her love for prayer. She was a prayer warrior.
Preceding Beverly in death were her parents, Arthur and Angeline Wilson; brother-in-law, Walter Miller, of Stanberry, Mo.; and George’s six brothers and five sisters.
Beverly is survived by husband, George; son, G. Brent Powers and wife, Susan Cornelius Powers; and daughter, Susan G. Fisher and husband, Edd Fisher; grandchildren, Max Powers, Boyd Powers, Andrew Fisher, Caleb Fisher, Nathan Fisher and Anna Fisher; great-granddaughter, Roslynn Fisher; sister, La Nelle Miller of Stanberry; and several nieces and nephews.
The family is very grateful to the staff of Comfort of Home and Hands of Hope Hospice for their loving care and support of Beverly and George in the months prior to her death.
Services 2 p.m., Thursday at Heaton-Bowman-Smith and Sidenfaden Chapel. Interment Mount Calvary Cemetery, Stanberry, Missouri.
Visitation will begin after 12 Noon Wednesday, at our chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday evening. The family suggests memorial contributions to Brookdale Presbyterian Church Deacon Fund or Young Life.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Patience Ruth Bagley, 90, formerly of Elmo, Mo., died Sunday, January 05, 2014, at Golden Living Center, Maryville.
Patience was born April 1, 1923, in Maryville. Her parents were Floyd Marcus and Margaret Ruth (Hopper) Bagley. They lived in Leoti, Kan., but Margaret came to her parents in Maryville to have the baby because of the distance to the Hospital in Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her three year old sister Frances Marilla Bagley. The family moved to Elmo, in 1931. Patience graduated from Elmo High School in 1941. She went to Maryville and took a county test and taught school the next year in the rural grade school, Union Grove that was located directly across the road from her parent’s home. She attended Northwest Missouri State University for two years and South West Missouri State University for one year and later graduated from Colorado State University at Greeley, Colo. Patience was a teacher, retiring after 32 years in the teaching profession, having taught at Elmo; Jewelsburg, Colo.; Mitchell, Neb.; Clearmont, Mo.; Albany, Mo.; and Union Star, Mo., where she spent twenty five years.
Patience was a lifetime member of the Elmo United Methodist Church, where after retirement she taught Adult Sunday School Class for many years. She had also served four years as President of United Methodist Women. Other groups included the Missouri Teachers Association and Missouri Retired Teachers Association, and the Nodaway County Historical Society.
Survivors include several cousins, one of which is Wayne (Dixie) James of Elmo.
Visitation 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014, United Methodist Church, Elmo. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the United Methodist Church, Elmo, with burial following in Braddyville Cemetery, Braddyville, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church, Elmo, in Patience’s name. Arrangements by Price Funeral Home www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com

ST. JOSEPH – Richard Eugene Brooks, formerly known as Ricky Lynn Best, 60, passed away Monday, January 6, 2014 in a ST. Joseph, hospital. He was born May 3, 1953 in St. Joseph, and the son of LaDonna and Robert Best. He married Patty Jennings on November 24, 1978 and she survives of the home. He served in the Marines and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He worked at St. Joe Structural Steel, AJ Mueller, Johnson Controls, and Sara Lee as a Fitter Welder.
He loved working with his hands, he was very history oriented, and loved reading Civil War books, he enjoyed horses, but most especially spending time with his grandchildren, and he was a Christian. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and step-mother, Shirley Best.
Survivors include, wife, Patty Brooks, of the home; son, David Brooks; and companion Kim Sparks of St. Joseph; daughter, Windee Brooks and husband Steven Bowden of Union Star, MO, grandchildren: Jourdain, Carson, Ayden, Ebonee, Mahoganee, Darwin, and Beatrix; three brothers, Robert Best Jr., David Johnson, and Ernie Best; five sisters, Debbie (Denny) Baskins of Troy, Kan., Christina (Steve) Hess of Amazonia, Mo., Toni (Robert) Curry of Tuscan, Calif., Cindy Best, and Mona Best of St. Joseph; and mother-in-law, Peggy Jennings of St. Joseph.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Inurnment will be at the Leavenworth National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are requested to the Richard Brooks memorial fund in care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

EASTON, Mo. – Kaiber Lee Williams, 20 month old son of Alicca and Jarred Williams of Easton, passed away Monday, January 6, 2014 in Kansas City, Mo, at the result of an automobile accident. He was born April 30, 2012 in St. Joseph. Kaiber was preceded in death by paternal grandmother, Maureen Williams, paternal great grandparents, Charles and Donna Runnels.
Survivors include, his parents of the home; maternal grandparents, Shannon and LeeAnn Anderson of Easton; maternal great-grandparents, Carl and Patricia Anderson of Platte City, Mo,; maternal great grandfather, Wayne Isley; maternal great-grandmother, Sandra Shearrer, both of Excelsior Springs Mo.;, paternal grandfather, Gerald Williams Jr. of Easton; paternal great grandmother, Joyce Williams of Savannah, Mo.; paternal great-grandfather, Gerald Williams Sr. of St. Joseph; and several, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., on Friday, January 10, 2014 at Rupp Funeral Home, with Pastor Ben Morgan officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Hurlingen, Mo. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – William “Bill” Blakley, 66, passed away Friday, January 3, 2014 at his home. He was born January 18, 1947 in Leavenworth, Kan., son of Louella and Robert Blakley. He graduated from DeKalb high school. He served in the Army serving two tours in the Vietnam War, serving in the 101st Airborn, had 59 jumps, and was a combat engineer, and a recipient of three Purple Hearts, four Bronze Stars, Vietnam Service Medal. He was a Christian.
Bill was preceded in death by his father Robert E. Blakley Jr.; mother, Louella Teaney; step-father, W.E. Teaney; brother, Milton “Pete” Lee Blakley; sister, Mary Moore.
Survivors include, two brothers, Ray Blakley of Va., and Robert “Bob” E. Blakley Jr. of Fla.; two sisters, Joyce Johnson of Calif., and Carol J. Dawkins of Hallsville, Mo.; step-son, Stephen Gaudreau; and step-daughter, Barbara Simpson; as well as several, nieces and nephews; best friend and neighbor, Ed Groce.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Rupp Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., on Saturday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Armstrong Cemetery Rushville, Mo. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – Rodger Franklin Meade, 63, passed away Tuesday January 7, 2014. Born February 16, 1950 in St. Joseph. He served in the Army during the Vietnam. He was a member of Union Local 83 Boilermakers of Kansas City, Mo. Preceded in death by parents, Kenneth Meade and Vera Root, and brother, Joe Meade.
Survivors include three sons, Rodger Hines, James Meade, and Phillip Bish; and brother, Everett Meade. He will be cremated under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. There are no scheduled visitation or memorial services at this time. The inurnment will be a later date. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – Rodney Dean McCarver, 64, passed away Tuesday January 7, 2014. Born June 15, 1949 in Oregon City, Ore. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Preceded in death by his parents Donald McCarver, and Bernice Krueger and brother Ralph.
Survivors include two sons, Robert and Marcus McCarver; daughter, Dawn MacCarver; three, grandchildren; two brothers, William and Allen; two sisters, Barbara Dipple, and Kathleen Miller. He will be cremated under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. There are no scheduled visitation or memorial services at this time. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

“Nancy Grace” Revisits St Joseph Tragedy Tonight

Posted on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

“Nancy Grace” on the HLN network will feature a St Joseph tragedy tonight (1/8 7pm).

Our own John P Tretbar was called in, for some reason, and will appear by telephone on the program.

“I got one oddly-constructed sentence in and they went to the experts,” Tretbar said.

The program segment will examine the recent drowning death of a local toddler.

School bus driver pleads in Oct. crash case

Posted on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

(AP) — The driver of a school bus that was swept into a south-central Kansas creek has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges.

All 10 children aboard the Douglass School District bus were rescued unharmed from Muddy Creek on Oct. 31 after climbing out through an emergency exit. The driver, 64-year-old Morris Peterson, suffered a minor back injury and later lost his job.

Peterson pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Butler County District Court to charges of misdemeanor child endangerment and reckless driving.

Peterson told Kansas Highway Patrol troopers he saw water flowing over a low-water bridge but decided to cross it. Investigators concluded Peterson misjudged the edge of the bridge’s railing, sending the bus into the rain-swollen creek where it flipped on its side.

Peterson is free on $1,500 bond.