October 2014 – Page 97 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Missouri S&T to open Haunted Mine

Posted on October 7, 2014October 7, 2014

ROLLA, Mo. (AP) — Engineering students at Missouri University of Science and Technology will begin haunting visitors to their underground lair next week.

Students have been spooking Halloween-season visitors to the school’s Experimental Mine since 1997. The site near the Rolla campus includes an underground mine, quarry, classrooms and labs.

The Haunted Mine opens Oct. 17. Tickets cost $10 for those 11 and older and $8 for younger children, S&T students, veterans and active military. There’s a $2 discount for a donation of two canned goods.

Proceeds benefit mining engineering activities and student organizations.

Lackey, long balls lift Cards over Dodgers

Posted on October 7, 2014October 7, 2014

R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kolten Wong hit a two-run homer to snap a seventh-inning tie, Matt Carpenter went deep for the third straight game and John Lackey lived up to his big-game reputation as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five NL Division Series.

Facing elimination in St. Louis for the second consecutive postseason, the Dodgers will turn to ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest Tuesday night in Game 4. Shelby Miller makes his first career postseason start for the Cardinals, one win from a fourth straight trip to the NL Championship Series.

The Cardinals finished off Los Angeles in a six-game NLCS last fall, knocking out Kershaw in the fifth inning of a 9-0 blowout in the final game.

Two runners reached against Trevor Rosenthal in the ninth before he earned his second save of the series — with an assist from the grounds crew on a rainy night.

State Fair attendance hits 16-year high

Posted on October 6, 2014October 6, 2014

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State Fair manager Denny Stoecklein is crediting good weather and enticing entertainment for a boost in attendance at this year’s fair.

The Hutchinson News reports audited numbers announced Monday show 355,329 visitors attended the fair, which ran Sept. 5-14.

This year’s gate was up by about 15,000 people from 2013 and the highest in 16 years.

Stoecklein says it was also the fourth-highest attendance of all time — although that statistic is unofficial, because audited attendance only began in 1978.

The fair’s highest attendance was 361,647 in 1995. The lowest was about 283,000 in 2011, when the fair took place shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Medicare to improve nursing home ratings

Posted on October 6, 2014October 6, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says it’s launching a makeover for Nursing Home Compare, the government website consumers can turn to when a loved one needs long-term care.

Officials said Monday a key improvement will involve a new electronic reporting system to gather details on nurse and aide staffing directly from payroll records.

Staff-to-patient ratios are one of the most important predictors of quality, and currently the government relies on data reported by the facilities themselves.

Required by legislation, the payroll reporting system will take at least a year to implement. Meantime, more focused inspections and new quality measures will be incorporated into the nursing home ratings.

Separately, the administration proposed an update to regulations for home health agencies, the first major rules change since 1989. Improved quality is the goal.

Judge: Stop the ‘keep moving’ rule in Ferguson

Posted on October 6, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal judge in St. Louis has ordered Ferguson police to stop forcing peaceful protesters to “keep moving” or face arrest.
Police have used what some call the “five-second” rule to enforce a nighttime curfew during protests over the Aug. 9 fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old, Michael Brown, by a white Ferguson officer. The practice prompted a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry issued a preliminary injunction Monday halting the tactic. Perry said the practice violates protesters’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

But the judge also said Ferguson police may enforce Missouri’s refusal-to-disperse law, which makes it a misdemeanor to refuse an officer’s command to leave the scene of an illegal assembly or riot.

New Revenue Department center goes live on Tuesday

Posted on October 6, 2014October 6, 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Customers of the Kansas Department of Revenue are gaining access this week to a new online customer service center where they can access their accounts and make payments.

The department says the Kansas Customer Service Center will be accessible starting Tuesday from the Online Services link on the department’s website.

Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan says the change means customers will need to remember only one email address and password combination to access their accounts.

Because of the conversion all Department of Revenue accounts were offline on Monday so data could be moved to the new site. The accounts will be available again at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

Kansas same-sex couples denied marriage licenses

Posted on October 6, 2014October 6, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Sedgwick County Courthouse is turning away same-sex couples seeking to get a marriage license in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that clears the way for such unions.

Kerry Wilks and Donna Ditrani, along with their minister, went to the Wichita courthouse Monday to get a marriage license. After the clerk refused to give them paperwork to get a license, the couple said they would be happy to “join the cause” as plaintiffs in a lawsuit expected to be filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging the Kansas ban.

Aimee McCarter and Jennifer Kozushko say they’re disappointed after being refused a marriage license, although McCarter said they didn’t expect anything different. They walked away from the courthouse, holding hands.

Kansas man sentenced for bank fraud in apartment deal

Posted on October 6, 2014

United States Attorney’s Office

A Topeka man was sentenced Monday to 57 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud charges in connection with a plan to build an apartment complex in Junction City, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

John Wyatt Duncan, Jr., 53, Topeka, pleaded guilty to two count of bank fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of making false statements in documents required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act

In court documents, Duncan was alleged to have obtained a $15.2 million construction loan for the purpose of building Quinton Pointe Apartments in Junction City. He was required to provide $1,225,000 in collateral. He signed a letter to the lender, University National Bank of Lawrence, Kan., falsely stating that lumber for the construction of the apartment complex, representing collateral for the loan, was prepaid in full and being held by Schmidt Builders….a company for which he was chief executive officer. He instructed employees of Schmidt Builders to create a false invoice in an amount of more than $1.3 million to a company he owned called Blue Jay Properties LLC in order to create the false appearance that Blue Jay Properties had prepaid Schmidt Builders for the lumber.

In another count, Schmidt Builders acquired a $12 million line of credit loan from Kaw Valley national Bank of Topeka and agreed to provide the bank with monthly financial reports. Duncan submitted reports to the bank containing false information about the age of certain accounts receivable and the amount of inventory on hand.

Obituaries for October 6, 2014

Posted on October 6, 2014October 6, 2014

ST. JOSEPH – Jennifer Anne Crawford, 47, passed away Friday October 3, 2014 at her home unexpectedly.
She was born February 18, 1967 in St. Joseph, daughter of Anita and David Crawford. She attended North Andrew High School, and was a Homemaker. She was a loving mother, grandmother and sister who had many cherished nieces, nephews and friends. She never knew a stranger and she will be missed by all who knew her. Jennifer loved collecting Angels, and she is now with them as she loved so well. Jennifer was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Oneta and Delmer Stotts; paternal grandmother, Christine Davis; paternal grandfather, Charles “Ed” Crawford.
She is survived by her parents, David and Anita Crawford of St. Joseph; two daughters, Jessica (Richard) Hughes, St. Joseph and Lorena Wallace of Seattle, Wash.; a son, Curtis Brown of Seattle; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Dean (Vickie) Crawford of Conception, Mo.; two sisters, Patrea (Patrick) Phipps and DaNita Crawford both of St. Joseph; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
She will be cremated under the care of Rupp Funeral Home. There will be a graveside memorial service conducted at 3 p.m., Monday, at the Fillmore Cemetery, Fillmore, Mo. Memorials are requested to the Jennifer Crawford memorial fund in care of Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – Olga (Spencer) Bates, 83, St. Joseph, Missouri went to heaven on October 3, 2014.
She was born September 26, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mo., to R. Clay and Mabel Trussell.
She went to grade school and high school in Clarksdale, and Platte-Guard Business School in St. Joseph.
Olga married Darrell Spencer on March 9, 1951. They made their home in Clarksdale, moved to Columbia, Mo., in 1960 and then to Longmont, Colo., in 1971. She later married Joseph Bates.
Survivors: daughters, Cindy VanDuyne, St. Joseph and Ann Milewski, New Hampshire; grandchildren, Stacy VanDuyne, Colorado, Jesse Nichols, Colorado, Clovis Spencer, New Hampshire, Amanda Harvey (Mike), Arthur Maguire and Matthew Maguire, New Hampshire; great grandsons, Dylan and Jeremiah Jenkins, Colorado and Connor Joseph Harvey, New Hampshire; sister, Octa Enslow, Colorado; and brother-in-law, Dennis Spencer, Missouri.
She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother and aunt. Olga will be greatly missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clay and Mabel Trussell; husbands Darrell Spencer and Joseph Bates; sisters, Glenna Wood, Nita Trussell and J.W. Trussell; and son-in-law, Joseph Milewski.
Memorial Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Hawman Center, Clarksdale. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

ST. JOSEPH – Donald R. Wykert, 72, died Friday, October 3, 2014 at his home.
He was born November 16, 1941 in Highland, Kan., to Harold and Gladys (Harness) Wykert.
Donald married Janet K. Benner September 3, 1971. She survives of the home.
Mr. Wykert served in the United States Army. He had farmed in the Amazonia area. He was a member of the Amazonia Lions Club and former Mason and Shrine member.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Kelli Wykert.
Survivors: wife, Janet Wykert; two daughters, Kari Tyree (Dave) and Traci Wykert; two step children, Kenny Tanner (Debbie) and Kelly Walls (Jeffrey); two sisters, Dixie Meng (Bob) and Pat Masters (Terry); two brothers, Johnny Wykert (Nanci) and Jimmy Wykert; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services: 1 p.m., Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. The family suggests memorial gifts to Hands of Hope Hospice, Green Valley Baptist Church or Amazonia Lions Club. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

AMAZONIA, Mo. – Connie Lou (Allison) Black, 66, of Amazonia, Mo., passed away Thursday, October 2, 2014 at KU Medical Center.
She was born in Maysville, Mo., on July 1, 1948 to J.W. and Louise (Smith) Allison. Connie was a 1966 graduate of Benton High School and attended St. Joseph Junior College.
She married Victor L. (Buck) Black on September 12, 1970. Connie worked various jobs including Bill Kinney Drug Store, TSC, Riss Truck Lines, and Presto-x Pest Control. Co-Owner of Country Flowers & Gifts (Maysville), Owner of the Third Street Gifts and was currently Secretary and Vice President of Black Gunite Inc.
She was a member of the Amazonia United Methodist Church, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, Roubidoux Rebekah Lodge and manager of SAB LLC. She was active in the Amazonia community.
Connie was preceded in death by her father, J.W. Allison; and step father, Wayne McFee.
Surviving of the home is husband, Buck and granddaughter, Cayla; additional survivors include daughter, Buffy; grandsons, Remy and Tesla; granddaughters, Sophia and Iceland; mother, Louise (Allison) McFee of Maysville; brothers, Harold Allison (Jackie) of Weatherby, Ron Allison (Deb) of St. Joseph, Jim Allison (Joni) of Amazonia and Holley Allison (Shelly)of St. Joseph; sister, Donna Swope (Danny) of Maysville; father-in-law, Bill Black (Juanita) of Savannah; and sister-in-law, Janie Post (Rich) of Maysville.
Services: 3 p.m., Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Memorials may be made out to Camp Quality, Noyes Home for Children or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

WATHENA, Kan. – Karen Bittiker Eberhardt, 72, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2014, at Wathena Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Wathena, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Born February 16, 1942 in St. Joseph, she was the daughter of Anne Elizabeth Stiles Cole and Leman Joseph Bittiker. Karen attended Wathena School while helping her father raise her younger siblings. She worked many years as a waitress and especially enjoyed her last years at Hawkins Cafe, in St. Joseph. She also operated a daycare in her home for many years. In 1956 she was married to James W. O’Rourke, who preceded her in death in 1977. Karen later married Lyle Eberhardt, who remained a dear friend after their divorce, and survives in St. Joseph. Karen enjoyed baking and cooking homemade meals for her family, especially for holiday gatherings. She loved gardening and canning, and especially enjoyed her tradition of making homemade Christmas candy and fudge for friends and relatives.
She is survived by four daughters, Carrie Hampton of Parkville, Mo., April Arnett of California, Mo., Dawn O’Rourke of Trenton, Mo., and Terry Ebling of Kansas City, Mo.; one son, James W. O’Rourke of Gallatin, Mo.; one granddaughter, Lindsey Martin of St. Joseph, who Karen raised; one sister, Sherye Gibson of Pasadena, Texas; and two brothers, Ken Daley Bittiker of Fort Worth, Texas, and Gary Lee Bittiker of Wichita Falls, Texas; ten grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by both parents; four brothers – Lloyd Dean “Poochie” Bittiker, Wesley Lee Bittiker, Danny Joe Bittiker, and Larry Dean Bittiker; and one grandson, Christopher Martin Terry.
A memorial service for family and close friends will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, with visitation from 2 to 3 p.m. at Rupp Funeral Home, St. Joseph, MO. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – Rosella (Boner) Ross, 79, passed away Sunday October 5, 2014 at a local health care center.
Rosella was born on December 30, 1934 in Stanberry, Mo., to John Virgil and Anna Leora (Lint) Boner.
She worked as a sewing machine operator at the Stanberry Cap Factory and retired from the Bethany Cap Factory. She attended First Baptist Church in Stanberry and loved her family and attending family events.
Rosella was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Clifford, Hobert and Bill Boner; sisters, Gertrude Shaffer Messner, Mary E. Scott and Ola Williams.
Surviving family includes sons, Larry Collings and Albert (Gidge) Ross; daughters, Rose Anna (Gary) Hughes and Lora Lea Ross, all of St. Joseph; and Sandra (Richard) Parham, of Rushville, Mo.; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Services 10 a.m., Wednesday at Heaton-Bowman-Smith and Sidenfaden Chapel. Interment High Ridge Cemetery, Stanberry.
Visitation will begin after 11 a.m., Tuesday at our chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday evening.

HAMILTON, Mo. – Allen Dale Sauter, 53, passed away Sunday October 5, 2014 at his home.
He was born November 28, 1960 in Oceanside, Calif. He attended Benton High School, and worked on the construction and concrete field all his life. He was an avid Chiefs, Nascar and Royals fan.
Allen was preceded in death by his father, Dale Sauter; and brother, Larry Biggs.
He is survived by mother, Lois (Biggs) Sauter; and Mother, Charlotee Wells; a son, Allen Dale Sauter and his wife of Japan; two grandchildren; seven brothers: Ronald (Kelly) Sauter, Gary Wells, Brian (Shantell) Wells, all of St. Joseph; Randy Biggs of Florida, Tim Biggs of Arizona, and Ritchie Biggs of St. Joseph; three sisters, Monica (Eric) Shellenberger, Brenda (Bill) Goodwin of Amazonia, and Theresa Adkins of St. Joseph; and his special caretaker, Angela Mobley of Hamilton. A celebration of his life will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, October 18th, 2014 at the VFW Post 6760 at 306 Cherokee. He has been cremated under the care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – John David Kemmer, M.A.I., 86, died Sunday, October 5, 2014 at Heartland Regional Medical Center. He was born April 9, 1928 to Carl and Irene (Simms) Kemmer in St. Joseph.
John married Dona Richardson on October 6, 1951. She survives of the home.
Mr. Kemmer was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charles Lee, Louis and Joseph Kemmer; and sister, Helen Roth.
Additional Survivors: daughter, Kathy Schwamberger (Thomas), Clearwater, Fla.; son. John Christian Kemmer, Clearwater; grandchildren, Christian Thomas Schwamberger, Aaron Michael and John Robert Kemmer; great-grandchildren, Ashlynn and Maverick Schwamberger; sisters, Carolyn O’Brien and Patricia Clark (Mel); and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a member of Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post #359. He retired from the Missouri Department of Highway and Transportation, as a right of way appraiser during which time he was awarded designated membership in the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. After retirement from MODOT, he opened Kemmer Appraisals Incorporated.
He enjoyed restoring cars and was an avid model railroad hobbyist. Loving nature he gardened and enjoyed the birds in his yard.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m., Thursday, St. Joseph Cathedral Catholic Church, where he was a member. Burial at St. Joseph Cemetery, Easton, Mo. Parish Rosary 6 p.m., Wednesday, followed by visitation at Meierhoffer Funeral Home, where friends may call after 1:30 p.m., Wednesday. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

ST. JOSEPH – Elinor R. Greer, 87, formerly of Arizona, passed away peacefully Friday, October 3, 2014.
She was born February 7, 1927 to Theodore and Nanny Griffy in LaVeta, Colo.
Elinor married John Greer on May 30, 1951 in Phoenix, Ariz. He survives of the home.
Additional Survivors: sons, Tom, Larry (Becky) Mick, Ted and Darrell (Vanessa), Arizona; daughter, Becky Brooner (Kirby), St. Joseph; sister, Edith Carpenter; fourteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren
Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Services will be held at a later date. The family requests memorials to Hands of Hope Hospice or Community of Christ Church. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Kingston bridge to close due to “deterioration”

Posted on October 6, 2014

The bridge on Route 13 over Log Creek, just south of Kingston, is now closed, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. The bridge was closed following a regularly scheduled inspection that revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The closure is anticipated to last at least two weeks. The bridge will reopen once temporary support structures are built and inspectors determine the bridge is safe for motorists. A detour is in place over Routes HH, D and 116.

“The safety of the traveling public and our workers remains our number one priority at MoDOT,” said Northwest District Engineer Don Wichern. “The closure of the bridge while the temporary supports are installed, ensures that motorists are not at risk.”

The Log Creek Bridge was built in 1930 and carries approximately 2,500 vehicles a day. The bridge is currently scheduled to be replaced in 2017. All bridges throughout the United States are federally required to be inspected at least every two years. MoDOT’s Northwest District has more than 1,300 bridges among its 20 counties.