St. Joseph residents will soon see new signs up around town identifying the city as as National Weather Service Storm Ready Community.

“What it means is we’re somewhat prepared as a community if we have Tornadoes, or severe weather come up,” said St. Joseph Fire Department Captain George Albert. “A lot of it deals with our notification.  How we notify people about the weather, educating the public on storms and how to be prepared for those.”

This year the city applied for the recognition with the National Weather Service.  Albert said officials with the National Weather Service reviewed the city’s severe response plan and equipment before approving the city as a Storm Ready Community.

“If we actually have a tornado, weather warnings and watches that come in and we’ve told you to take cover that’s the biggest thing,” said Albert.

Even with the recognition the city is continuing to make improvements to its weather system with the addition of a new tornado siren.

“It’s being donated to us and it’s going to add into the coverage of our area,” said Albert.

He said the new siren has been installed near the area of Riverside Road and 36 Highway and should be fully operational in a matter of weeks. In total the City of St. Joseph now has 22 tornado sirens and two private sirens for use in the event of an emergency.

Albert said the Storm Ready Community signs will be installed within the next three weeks.

 

The St Joseph School District defends its practice of charging for copies and research time associated with large requests for documents under the Missouri Sunshing Law, even if the person making the request is a member of their school board.

School board member Chris Danford made such a request and last week received notice that she would be charged nearly $150.  Danford has been a vocal critic of recent practices by the district administration relating to secret and unapproved stipends, insider promotions, and contracts with outside consultants.

The school district’s Director of Communications Joey Austin says charging Danford for the documents is appropriate.

“We have received many Sunshine requests in the past few months,” Austin said in an interview.  “So if it is information that we can email to a citizen who requests that we will certainly do that at no charge.

“When we get a Sunshine request and it is extensive, and it does take time to research, and make copies, scan those copies and then send, it has become appropriate for us to pass those charges on, no matter who requests the documentation.”

Even though this is a member of the school board?

“Any citizen can request information under the Sunshine Law,” Austin says.  “Again, no matter who requests the information, if it is deemed excessive, if we take hours to fulfill it, if it is a large amount of copies that we need to pass that charge on, we will pass that charge on.”

Increasing the awareness of asthma, generating funds to support two area hospitals – St. Francis Hospital and Health Services in Maryville and the University of Kansas Hospital – and remembering a Northwest Missouri State University alumna are the goals of the upcoming seventh annual Jennifer Shaw Suhr 5K Memorial Run/Walk in Maryville.

The event begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion, just west of Bearcat Stadium on the Northwest campus. The registration fee is $20 for adults and $10 for students and children. Each participant will receive a T-shirt and complimentary brunch.

Participants may register the morning of the event, beginning at 8 a.m., or in advance by visiting www.runforjennifer.com or contacting Julie Shaw at 816.591.0788 or Taylor Deen at 660.528.1528. Pre-registration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at College Park. Registration forms also are available at the Maryville Community Center and at several locations on the Northwest campus, including the Northwest Fitness Center, the Student Recreation Center, the Office of Campus Activities and Roberta Hall.

In addition to participating in the 5K event, individuals and businesses are invited to become a sponsor (for $250) or contribute items for a raffle and participant “goody bags.” Individuals wishing to make a donation may send a check, payable to KU Medical, to Tim Shaw, 8104 NE 74th St., Kansas City, MO 64158.

Proceeds from the Jennifer Shaw Suhr 5K Memorial Run/Walk will benefit St. Francis Hospital’s respiratory therapy department to purchase a new screening device for lung conditions, including asthma. Proceeds also benefit the University of Kansas Hospital’s asthma unit.

Members of Northwest’s Phi Mu sorority are once again playing a significant role in organizing the event and will assist on race day. Representatives from the University of Kansas Hospital and St. Francis Hospital will be present to provide information about asthma. Free asthma screenings also will be provided.

Jennifer Shaw Suhr, who cherished being a mother and wife, led an active and healthy lifestyle. She enjoyed running, water skiing, playing softball and bicycling, was a member of Phi Mu sorority and graduated from Northwest in 1992. However, in December 2000 she died as a result of asthma, a disease she had battled her entire life. At the time of her death, she left behind a husband, Troy, also a Northwest graduate and member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and a 2-year-old son, Wyatt.

“By planning and participating in the upcoming event, those of us who knew Jennifer have the opportunity to reminisce about the special times we had with her, and that keeps her spirit alive,” said Tim Shaw, Jennifer’s brother and one of the event organizers. “At the same time, we realize not everyone taking part in the 5K knew Jennifer, so we hope to bring awareness and educate others on how deadly this disease can be.”

Last year’s event attracted more than 200 participants and raised more than $5,500, all of which was used for asthma awareness and education initiatives.

For additional information, contact Julie Shaw at [email protected] or 816.591.0788.