December 2014 – Page 21 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kan. man released after 3-hour standoff with police

Posted on December 24, 2014

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence police say there wasn’t probable cause to arrest a man after a three-hour armed standoff at an apartment complex.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the man was taken into custody Monday after police obtained a search warrant to enter his apartment.

Officers believed he was connected to an alleged aggravated assault in which a person’s car was taken and a man threatened the alleged victim with a handgun.

Police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley says officers determined there wasn’t enough probable cause to book the suspect into jail so he was released after briefly taken into custody.

McKinley declined to provide additional details of the standoff because of the ongoing investigation.

Kansas Legislature fills top administrative job

Posted on December 24, 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A longtime legislative liaison and manager for the Kansas commission that regulates utilities will oversee payroll, parking, secretarial and other services for state lawmakers, starting next month.

The Kansas Legislature’s top leaders Tuesday hired Tom Day as director of legislative administrative services.

The 61-year-old Day is from Lawrence and is acting executive director of the Kansas Corporation Commission. He has been its legislative liaison and a public service executive since 1999.

Day expects to start his new, $85,000-a-year job Jan. 7, five days before legislators open their annual 90-day session. He’ll replace Jeff Russell, who retired in September after nearly 17 years.

Day’s appointment had bipartisan support. Top lawmakers pointed to his experience both as a liaison and in handling personnel and building management issues with the KCC.

Oldest verified man in US dies at 110

Posted on December 24, 2014December 24, 2014

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — A northern Illinois resident recognized as the oldest man in the U.S. has died at 110.

The Rockford Register Star reports C. Conrad Johnson died Tuesday. The director of the funeral home handling Johnson’s arrangements also confirmed his death.

The Swedish-born Johnson worked as a carpenter and lived in Rockford most of his life.

On his 109th birthday, he told the Register Star, “I feel good and I haven’t been sick for a long, long time.” But he suffered a stroke a few months later.

The Rev. Jane McChesney of Tabor Lutheran Church knew Johnson. She described him as smart, good-humored, “a self-made man” and “very giving.”

Senior database administrator for the national Gerontology Research Group, Robert Young, says Johnson was the oldest verified American man. Several women are older.

Across US, after NYC deaths, a surge of support for police

Posted on December 24, 2014December 24, 2014

DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Rocker Jon Bon Jovi donned a New York Police Department T-shirt on stage. Well-wishers delivered cookies to police in Cincinnati. In Mooresville, North Carolina, officers were treated by residents to a chili dinner.

At a time when many in the nation’s police community feel embattled, Americans across the country are making an effort to express their support.

The immediate catalyst for the surge of support was the execution-style killings of two New York City police officers on Saturday. For many of those making appreciative gestures, there also was a desire to counter the widespread protests — steeped with criticism of police — that followed grand jury decisions not to charge white officers for their roles in the deaths of black men in Ferguson, Missouri, and in New York

Deputy who beat suspect could get Mo. retrial

Posted on December 24, 2014December 24, 2014

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri Supreme Court judges have reversed convictions against a deputy who reportedly assaulted a meth maker during an arrest.

Judges ruled Tuesday that St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force Deputy Christopher Hunt deserves a retrial after reportedly beating Phillip Alberternst.

Hunt was charged in 2009 and later convicted of assault, burglary and property damage for kicking open a trailer door and repeatedly hitting Alberternst during a sting.

The Supreme Court judges reversed the lower court’s convictions. They say police are protected from charges for burglary and property damage during an arrest.

The judges say Hunt had the authority to strike Alberternst, but he could receive a retrial to determine whether he used excessive force.

Four Chiefs selected to play in 2015 NFL Pro Bowl

Posted on December 23, 2014December 23, 2014

The National Football League announced on Tuesday that four members of the Kansas City Chiefs have been selected to participate in the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl, presented by McDonald’s. The below players have earned a spot on the NFL’s Pro Bowl Roster:

Jamaal Charles (Running Back) – 4th Nomination

Tamba Hali (Linebacker) – 4th Nomination

Justin Houston (Linebacker) – 3rd Nomination

Dontari Poe (Defensive Tackle) – 2nd Nomination

The Pro Bowl will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. This year’s all-star game features the new format adopted in 2014. The familiar AFC vs. NFC match-up that existed from 1971-2013 will no longer be in place. Instead, players were selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players. Players will be assigned to teams during the 2015 Pro Bowl Draft on NFL Network on Wednesday, January 21 at 7 p.m. CT.

Additional Information on Players Selected

Charles (5-11, 199) has started 14 games this season, recording 979 rushing yards on 193 carries (5.1 avg.) including nine touchdown runs. He has 38 receptions for 283 yards and five touchdown catches. With just 21 yards next week Charles will crack the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for the fifth time in his seven-year career. Most recently he eclipsed 9,000 yards from scrimmage, becoming only the second player in club history to accomplish that feat. He is currently the only back in franchise history to have four 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

A four-time Pro Bowl honoree (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014), Charles’ career numbers include 1,236 carries for 6,802 yards with 38 rushing touchdowns. He owns 260 receptions for 2,258 yards with 19 touchdown grabs. His 5.51 yards per carry average is the highest average in NFL history of any back with more than 1,000 carries, topping Pro Football Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown who averaged 5.22 yards per carry. The Port Arthur, Texas, native originally joined the Chiefs as a third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Hali (6-3, 275) has started all 15 games in 2014, logging 6.0 sacks (-40.0 yards) which ranks second on the team. He has added 57 tackles (45 solo), including seven for loss, 11 QB pressures, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He currently is a 2014 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide.

A four-time Pro Bowl nominee (2011-14), the Gbarnga, Liberia, native grew up in Teaneck, N.J. He has started all 140 games he has played in during his nine-year NFL career with Kansas City, marking the most starts by any active player on the current roster. He has amassed 79.5 career sacks (-513.5 yards), ranking third in team history for most career sacks. Hali also ranks second in team history with 31 forced fumbles. In his time in the NFL, he has accumulated 533 tackles (412 solo), 127 QB pressures, seven fumble recoveries with one for a touchdown, 15 passes defensed and two interceptions, including one for a touchdown. The Penn State product originally joined the Chiefs as the team’s first-round draft pick (20th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Houston (6-3, 258) has started all 15 contests at left outside linebacker, posting 63 tackles (54 solo), including 20 for loss, an NFL best 18.0 sacks (-78.0 yards), 22 QB pressures, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles. This season, Houston recorded his fifth 3.0-plus sack performance of his career in Week 8 against the St. Louis Rams (10/26/14). Houston has recorded at least 2.0 sacks five times this season, which is tied (J.J. Watt, Elvis Dumervil) for the most among all pass-rushers in the NFL. His 18.0 sacks this season ranks second in team history behind the late Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas who posted 20.0 sacks in 1990.

A Statesboro, Ga., native, Houston has played in 58 games (52 starts) since being drafted in the third round (70th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Chiefs. He has 243 tackles (211 solo), 44.5 sacks (-249.5 yards), an interception for 32 yards, 17 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and 64 QB pressures. He played collegiately at Georgia.

Poe (6-3, 346) has started all 15 games at defensive tackle in 2014, posting 43 tackles (36 solo), including three for loss, 5.0 sacks (-22.5 yards), seven QB pressures and one pass defended in his third season with the Chiefs. His 5.0 sacks are a single-season career-high while his seven QB pressures tie for a career-high. Poe earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl last season after registering a career-high 4.5 sacks and was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2013.

After the 2012 season, he received the Mack Lee Hill Award as the team’s top rookie or first-year player after recording 38 tackles (28 solo), including three for loss, three QB pressures and four passes defensed. Poe has started all 46 games he’s appeared in during his first three seasons with the Chiefs. He has 132 tackles (107 solo), including 11 for a loss, 9.5 sacks (-53.0 yards), nine passes defensed and 17 QB pressures. He has appeared in one postseason contest, recording one assisted tackle. A Memphis, Tenn., native, Poe was selected 11th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by Kansas City after starring collegiately at Memphis.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Missouri hires Barry Odom as Defensive Coordinator

Posted on December 23, 2014December 23, 2014

University of Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel has tabbed former Mizzou player and coach Barry Odom to become his next defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, as announced Tuesday.

Odom, 38, will join the team after the first of the year, as he takes over for Dave Steckel, who will leave to be head coach at Missouri State following the conclusion of Mizzou’s season. Details of Odom’s contract are being finalized, and will be released when available.

Odom has been defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Memphis for the past three seasons, where he has orchestrated an impressive body of work by the Tiger defense. Memphis just concluded a 10-3 season that was fueled largely by Odom’s defense which ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (17.1 ppg) and 22nd in total defense (343.3 ypg) heading into bowl season. That marked an astounding incremental improvement, as Memphis ranked 117th nationally in total defense in 2011 prior to Odom assuming the reins.

In 2012, Odom’s first year, the Tiger defense improved to 50th nationally in total defense (383.6 ypg), followed by a jump to 39th in 2013 (370.7 ypg). Memphis earned a share of the 2014 American Athletic Conference title, giving them a conference championship for the first time since 1971.

It’s a homecoming for Odom as he returns to his alma mater, where he starred as a linebacker for Mizzou from 1996-99 and later returned for a nine-year stint (2003-11) in a variety of roles for Pinkel’s staff. He first came back in 2003 as an administrative graduate assistant, and after one year in that role, Odom moved to director of recruiting for the 2004 and 2005 seasons and then served three years (2006-08) as director of football operations.

In 2009, Odom moved to the coaching side of the ledger, as Pinkel’s safeties coach for three seasons where he developed Kenji Jackson, Jarrell Harrison and Jasper Simmons into All-Big 12 performers for Tiger teams which won 26 games in those three years. Odom also played a significant role in recruiting, as he was the lead on many highly-regarded prospects who chose to attend Mizzou.

“We’re really excited to have Barry and his family back at Mizzou,” said Head Coach Gary Pinkel. “He’s done an outstanding job at Memphis these past three years. He’s coached with us before, and it’s great to see someone professionally advance himself and go do such a great job elsewhere. I know he was sought after by several other power five schools recently, so we feel very fortunate to have him with us,” Pinkel said.

“It goes without saying how excited I am to have this opportunity,” said Odom. “I have such a deep respect for the success that Coach Pinkel and his staff have had since I’ve been away. Transitioning to a new conference is very challenging, and all they’ve done is get better at everything. When you look nationally at winning percentage, APR, graduation rates, Mizzou is the total package and it’s absolutely one of the top football programs and athletic departments in the country. I’m excited to do my part to continue to add to that, and our family is excited to be part of it again,” he said.

“It’s always tough to leave a place that’s been as good to me as Memphis has, and I can’t thank Coach (Justin) Fuente enough for the opportunity he provided for me,” said Odom. “Being a part of this building process for the last three years has made me a better coach, and I’m proud to know that it’s in better shape now than what we came into,” he said.

Odom, a native of Maysville, Okla. who graduated from Ada High School, was a four-year letterman at linebacker for Mizzou from 1996-99. He was a key player on MU squads that went to bowl games in 1997 and 1998, and he ended his career ranked 5th on the school’s career tackles list, with 362 stops.

Odom graduated from MU in December of 1999, and served as a development intern for the Tiger Scholarship Fund, assisting with various fund raising projects for Tiger Athletics while earning his Master’s in education from MU. He returned to his home state of Oklahoma in July of 2000 to serve as an assistant coach for Ada High School, which finished that season as runners-up for a state championship.

Odom returned to Columbia in the spring of 2001 as head coach of Rock Bridge High School, and he quickly built the Bruins into a power, as they went 6-4 and won a conference championship that fall. He followed with an 8-4 campaign in 2002 that saw Rock Bridge reach the semifinals of the state championship playoffs.

— MU Sports Information —

Cardinals sign RHP Jordan Walden to new contract

Posted on December 23, 2014December 23, 2014

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Tuesday that they have agreed with recently-acquired right-handed reliever Jordan Walden on a two-year contract for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, thus avoiding salary arbitration. The new pact also includes a club option for the 2017 season.

Walden, 27, was acquired by the Cardinals on November 17 along with outfielder Jason Heyward in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. The 6-5, 250-pound Texas native struck out 62 batters in 50.0 innings pitched this past season and he had a 2.88 ERA to go along with three saves.

Walden, who has appeared in 50 or more games in three of the past four seasons, led the Braves with 20 Holds in 2014. His career mark is 12-13 with a 3.10 ERA and 38 saves in 231 games pitched, striking out 254 batters in 211.2 IP.

Walden led the Los Angeles Angels in saves with 32 in 2011 and was named an American League All-Star that same season when he finished 5th in the junior circuit in saves while also compiling a 2.98 ERA.

— Cardinals Media Relations —

Driver hospitalized after he falls asleep, car falls in Clinton Co. creek

Posted on December 23, 2014December 24, 2014

CAMERON – One person was injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Toyota Camry driven by David E. Miles, 36, Cedar Rapids, IA, was southbound on Interstate 35 three miles south of Cameron.

The driver fell asleep. The vehicle traveled into the median, down an embankment between two bridges and came to rest in Shoal Creek.

Miles was transported to Cameron Regional Medical Center.
The MSHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

FDA going after sellers of pure caffeine powder

Posted on December 23, 2014

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is building a legal case against companies that sell pure powdered caffeine, which can be fatal even in small doses.

The FDA warned consumers to avoid pure powdered caffeine this summer after the death of an Ohio teen. Some major retailers have stopped selling it in bulk, but the substance is still widely available on the Internet and in some stores.

Even a teaspoon of the powder, which is equivalent to 25 cups of coffee, can be lethal. Eighteen-year-old Logan Stiner of LaGrange, Ohio, died in May after consuming it. It was also linked to the death of a Georgia man this year.

FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor says it is “inherently irresponsible” to market such a potentially dangerous product.