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Second Harvest working to provide flood relief to surrounding communities

By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post

Second Harvest Community Food Bank is working to assist the surrounding communities being affected by the flooding.

Second Harvest Communications Coordinator Blake Haynes said some immediate donation needs include bottled water, easy-open cans, snack items and personal care items.

“We’ve delivered some water, self-stable items, also some produce up to Holt County, in Missouri, as well as donating some water to Atchison, Kansas, and we’re going to continue to do that to all the areas that are being affected by the flood,” Haynes said. “Some of the ways you can help is bring items to Second Harvest from 8 to 5, or what you can do is go online to shcfb.org, and make a monetary donation or you can do that on Facebook as well. Those funds will directly impact our disaster relief efforts and are greatly appreciated.”

Other suggested items to donate include peanut butter, rice, dry goods and baby food and formula.

Items can be donated between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Second Harvest, located at 915 Douglas in St. Joseph.

For more information, call (816) 364-FOOD. After 5 p.m., or over the weekend, call (816) 617-1003.

Gov. Parson returns to take a second look at northwest Missouri flooding; issues disaster declaration

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Gov. Mike Parson meets with Air Guard officials after his helicopter tour of northwest Missouri flooding.

Gov. Mike Parson returns to northwest Missouri for another flyover of widespread flooding from the Iowa border to south of St. Joseph.

Parson has issued an emergency declaration, the first step in requesting a federal disaster declaration for the region.

“Our number one priority is to keep people safe and to protect the property that is out there and to continue to keep people safe and monitor the situation,” Parson tells reporters during a news conference at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Parson says the total damage done by the flooding is unknown at this time. He says an assessment will be done when the waters recede so a disaster assistance request can be made to the federal government.

Missouri Agriculture Director Chris Chinn has surveyed the damage along with the governor during a helicopter tour from the border of Iowa to south of St. Joseph.

Missouri Agriculture Dir. Chris Chinn speaks during a news conference at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Chinn says no one can tell the extent of the damage done to farmland.

“Right now, it’s too early to asses the damage,” Chinn tells reporters. “We have to wait for the water to recede. However, the Missouri FSA office is going to be prepared and ready when that time comes to start accessing the damage.”

Then, Chinn says the state will put in a request for federal assistance to the USDA.

“So, until the water recedes, right now it’s going to be too early for us to tell what the damage is going to be, but we are ready and prepared to help our farmers in the weeks and days ahead to make sure that we are there to give them everything that they need,” according to Chinn.

The widespread flooding in northwest Missouri is rekindling a long-simmering dispute between the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Gov. Parson says he has not spoken to Army Corps of Engineers officials, yet.

But, the governor says the Corps needs to re-prioritize to put the safety of people and their property first.

“When you’re affecting states like Nebraska, like Iowa, and Missouri all at the same time, we need to re-evaluate what our priorities are for the Corps of Engineers,” Parson says.

The governor says he plans to meet with the Corps.

“I think there’s a long history with the state not being really happy with the Corps of Engineers, how they conduct this thing, how they’re doing these levees, and how they’re actually using the waterways in our state. So, it’s a concern.”

Parson says he saw much more destruction in his second flyover of flooded northwest Missouri.

Tyson recalls 69,000 pounds of chicken strips

WASHINGTON (AP) — Arkansas-based Tyson Foods is recalling more than 69,000 pounds (31,297 kilograms) of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strips because they may be contaminated with pieces of metal.

USDA courtesy image

The U.S. Agriculture Department said Thursday the products were produced on Nov. 30, 2018, and have a best if used by date of Nov. 30, 2019. The products have the establishment number “P-7221” on the back of their packages.

The USDA says it received two complaints about the metal, but there are no confirmed reports of anyone being injured.

The USDA is concerned the products could still be in freezers. Consumers should throw out the packages or return them to the place of purchase.

The recall comes after Tyson in January recalled some chicken nuggets because customers said they found pieces of “soft, blue rubber” inside.

(UPDATE) Mandatory evacuation issued for some areas in St. Joseph

Image courtesy City of St. Joseph, MO Government Facebook page.

(UPDATE 8:51 a.m. Friday) – The City of St. Joseph and Buchanan County are issuing a mandatory evacuation of the area behind the L-455 levee system on the Missouri side and the area protected by the R-471/460 levee on the Kansas side.

The forecasted crest is now expected to reach 32 feet between 1 and 4 p.m. today. According to City officials, while the federal levees are in good condition and operating as they should, precautionary measures need to be taken to ensure the safety residents. The area behind the L455 levee unit is essentially all areas west of Lake Avenue/US 59 Highway, between Contrary Creek on the south and Atchison street on the north. The area protected by the R-460/471 levee system is the entire area from the bluffs in Wathena to the Missouri River and to the airport on the north.

The City says residents and businesses should take steps to start the evacuation process immediately.

The St. Joseph Police Department is going door-to-door to notify those in the affected areas protected by the levee on the Missouri side.

==

10:55 p.m. Thursday – The City of St. Joseph and Buchanan County Thursday night issued a voluntary evacuation of areas behind the L-455 levee system on the Missouri side.

The area behind the L-455 levee unit is essentially all areas west of Lake Avenue/US 59 Highway, between Contrary Creek on the south and Atchison street on the north.

An evacuation shelter is in place at the Keys Church at 6002 South 9th St.

As of 6:30 Friday morning, the National Weather Service reported the Missouri River was at 31.45 feet. The projected crest is 32 feet. The record crest was reached in 1993 at 32.1 feet.

Missouri woman dies after 2 passengers ejected in crash

PLATTE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Thursday in Platte County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Jeep driven by Timothy V. Thomas, 22, Liberty, was northbound on Interstate 29 at Interstate 635.

The driver attempted to change lanes and overcorrected. The vehicle struck a guardrail, rotated several times and ejected both passengers.

Kara E. Tatum, 33, Kansas City, Mo., was pronounced dead at the scene. The Kansas City Fire Department transported Thomas and passenger Chad E. Tatum, 46, Sturgeon, to North Kansas City Hospital.

They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Former Missouri Lt. Gov. Bill ‘Full-time’ Phelps has died

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Former Missouri Lt. Gov. Bill Phelps has died.

William “Bill” C. Phelps-photo courtesy Ferry Funeral Home

Officials at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Missouri confirmed his Tuesday death. He was 84. No cause of death was given.

Phelps worked as a Kansas City attorney before being elected to the state House in 1960. He served as a state representative for 12 years until he was elected lieutenant governor in 1972. Voters re-elected him to another four-year term in 1976.

He earned the nickname “full-time” Phelps because of a campaign promise to serve fulltime as lieutenant governor, a job with few official duties. He gave up his work as an attorney after his election.

He lost the Republican nomination for governor in 1980 and later lost a bid for Congress in 1996 against former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton.

Benedictine defeats Westmont 90-85 in NAIA Tournament opener

The Benedictine men’s basketball team opened the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City Thursday with a 90-85 victory over Westmont (CA).

The Ravens advance to the Sweet 16 as they improve to 31-3 this season and Westmont ends its season 18-11.

Benedictine fell behind by as many as eight points in the first half before cutting the deficit to one, 38-37, at halftime. The Ravens then rolled in the second half as they eventually led by 14 points with about three minutes to go before hanging on for the five-point win.

BC was led by St. Joseph Central graduate Jaiden Bristol. The sophomore point guard scored a career-high 36 points, grabbed nine rebounds, had two assists and just one turnover. Adam Kutney added 17 points, Eric Krus scored 15 and Colby Nickels had 12.

Benedictine will play Pikeville (KY) in the second round Friday at 7:30 p.m. inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Pikesville defeated Talladega (AL) on Thursday 69-65.

Suspect in custody after Monday bank robbery

SJPD investigating bank robbery at Citizens Bank and Trust at 5305 North Belt.

A suspect was taken into custody Thursday in reference to a bank robbery Monday in St. Joseph.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, 38-year-old Nicholas Lehman was taken into custody regarding the bank robbery at Citizens Bank and Trust on Monday.

As previously reported, the suspect walked into the bank at 5305 North Belt and presented a note demanding money. He left on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. No one was injured.

Wilson said the investigation is still ongoing.

Trotter matches career record for MIAA wins as MWSU tops Northern State

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Softball head coach Jen Bagley Trotter earned career win No. 614, tying her for the most wins in MIAA softball history with former MWSU head coach Rhesa Sumrell in a 6-4 victory over Northern State (8-11) on Thursday.

Trotter’s Griffons (16-12) fought back to open the Hy-Vee Classic with the milestone victory, scoring a crucial run in the bottom of the fourth to break a 4-4 tie.

NOTABLES

  • Trotter hit her second milestone of the season, earning her 600th win on the second day of the 2019 season and moving one win away from becoming the winningest softball coach in MIAA history
  • A Gabi Carter RBI-single in the bottom of the fourth gave MWSU the winning run
  • Sydni Hawkins added an insurance run with an RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth
  • Carter went 3-4 in the game and drove in three of MWSU’s runs, including a two-run home run in the third
  • Northern State opened up a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings
  • Carter’s home run provided the first two of four runs in the bottom of the third that gave MWSU a 4-3 lead
  • Kaili Hinds improved to 9-3 on the season, allowing four runs on five hits
  • Lexi Kinnaird earned her first save of the season, going the final three innings and keeping the Wolves off the scoreboard on two hits

UP NEXT

  • The Griffons host Augustana (S.D.) in what will be the fifth game of the Hy-Vee Classic at noon on Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

 

Northwest softball splits two games Thursday at Hy-Vee Classic

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University softball team snapped a six-game losing streak by splitting a pair of games at the Hy-Vee Classic.

Northwest tallied a 10-5 win over Northern State, before falling to No. 17-ranked Augustana in extra innings, 5-4.

Game One | Northwest vs. Northern State
Northern State had a 4-0 advantage as the Bearcats came to bat in the third.

The Bearcats answered in the bottom of the third scoring four runs. Olivia Daugherty started things strong with an RBI bringing in Sheridan Thompson to score. Erin Keeney also had an RBI bringing in Daugherty. Next up, Kiana Baderdeen doubled to center field allowing Keeney to score. Sydne Brashear reached base on an error by the first baseman, which allowed Baderdeen to score tying the game at 4-4.

Northwest scored three more in the bottom of the fourth starting with two RBI from Kaitlyn Weis as she drove in Daugherty and Thompson. Moses scored on an error from the second baseman advancing the lead to 7-4.

The Bearcats scored two more in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI from Daugherty that plated Kenzi Sutton. Weis hit a sacrifice fly to score Thompson to push the lead to 9-4.

Northern State scored one in the top of the sixth but it wasn’t enough as the Bearcats scored another run in the bottom of the sixth on a home run from Baderdeen to get the win, 10-5.

Game Two | Northwest vs. No. 17 Augustana
Northwest score first with an RBI from Brashear bringing in Moses to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead over the Vikings.

Augustana answered in the top of the third with an RBI to tie the score, 1-1.

The Bearcats scored two in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI from Weis and an error from the right fielder allowing Moses and Daugherty to score advancing the score to 3-1.

Augustana knotted the contest at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Neither squad could score in the seventh and the matchup went to extra innings.

Augustana hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to take the lead, 5-3.

The Bearcats scored one in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI from Thompson allowing Brashear to score, but it wasn’t enough and the Bearcats fell, 5-4.

Up next for the Bearcats is day two of the Hy-Vee Classic Friday against Winona State at 2 p.m.

NOTES: Weis leads the Bearcats with a batting average of .408, four home runs, and 18 RBI … Moses is batting .396 on the season.

— Northwest Athletics —

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