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Griffon tennis falls to Northwest Missouri State 5-2

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western tennis team (8-5, 0-1 MIAA) lost its first match of the MIAA conference schedule on Thursday, as Northwest Missouri bested the Griffons 5-2 at Genesis Health Club in St. Joseph.

The Griffons were unable to pick up a win in the doubles, with two of their losses coming in close 6-4 decisions. Karolina Ström and Joanna Abreu Roman suffered just their second loss as a doubles pair in 13 duals this season.

All four of Missouri Western’s defeats in singles play came in two sets. However, both Ström and Bojana Vuksan scored points for the Griffons as they closed out the match with two victories. After dropping the first set on the number one courts, Ström took control in the following two sets to come away with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback win.

After splitting the first two sets on the number six courts, Vuksan won a back-and-forth third set by a score of 12-10, earning her sixth-straight victory in singles.

Missouri Western will travel to Arkansas Tech (4-3) for its next match on March 16.

MWSU VS. NWMSU
SINGLES
Karolina Ström (MWSU) def. Tania Teruel (NWMSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Irene Recuenco, Irene (NWMSU) def. Mireia Birosta (MWSU) 6-1, 6-0
Marta Ferrando, Marta (NWMSU) def. Joanna Abreu Roman (MWSU) 6-3, 6-1
Julia Aliseda, Julia (NWMSU) def. Ciara Gilmore (MWSU) 6-1, 6-4
Julie Rinderknech, Julie (NWMSU) def. Federica Salmaso (MWSU) 6-3, 6-0
Bojana Vuksan,Bojana (MWSU) def. Sara Grozdanovic (NWMSU) 2-6, 6-1, 12-10

DOUBLES
Ferrando/Teruel (NWMSU) def. Ström/Abreu Roman (MWSU) 6-4
Aliseda/Rinderknech (NWMSU) def. Salmaso/Vuksan (MWSU) 6-4
Grozdanovic/Recuenco (NWMSU) def. Birosta/Dunn (MWSU) 6-0

— MWSU Athletics —

Chiefs sign former Dallas LB Damien Wilson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the club has signed free agent linebacker Damien Wilson.

“We see a lot of potential in Damien,” Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach said. “He was a really good player in Dallas, and as we go through this transition with our defense we were in the market for a young, SAM linebacker. We feel really good about Damien and are excited to have him here in Kansas City.”

Wilson (6-0, 245) has played in 64 games (22 starts) in four NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2015-18). His career numbers include 98 tackles (69 solo), 2.5 sacks (-18.0 yards), eight tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

The Gloster, Mississippi, native, originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round selection (127th overall) of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Minnesota.

— Chiefs Press Release —

Missouri Western’s baseball series with Washburn moved to St. Joseph

ST. JOSEPH – The wait for Missouri Western baseball to play in St. Joseph will soon end. Weather in Topeka, Kansas has forced the relocation of a three-game series with Washburn to the MWSU Spring Sports Complex.

Due to field conditions at Missouri Western and the re-schedule, the series has been pushed back one day. Game one will come at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, followed by single games at 1 p.m. on March 17 and March 18. While the games will technically count as home games for Missouri Western, Washburn will play as the home team in all three games.

Missouri Western had five previous attempts at home openers either canceled or postponed to a later date. The Griffons were not scheduled to play at home again until March 29 when Central Oklahoma visited for a three-game series. Cold, snowy and wet conditions in St. Joseph forced the Griffons to twice due what Washburn will do this weekend, play on the road as the home team. The Griffons moved a series with Fort Hays State to Edmond, Oklahoma and a series with Northeastern State to Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

The Griffons are 9-7 and tied atop the MIAA standings with a 7-2 conference record. Missouri Western has won three-consecutive series over MIAA opponents. Washburn is 8-10 overall with a 3-6 record in MIAA play. The Ichabods were swept in a three-game series at Missouri Southern their last time out.

— MWSU Athletics —

Students spend spring break volunteering with Habitat for Humanity

Salem State University students Kelly Cryts and Kylie Capalbo paint a Habitat for Humanity house in St. Joseph. Photo by Sarah Thomack.

By Sarah Thomack
St. Joseph Post

The sounds of paint rollers and power tools are not typically what you would expect to hear during a college student’s spring break trip.

Twenty-one students from Salem State University in Massachusetts were part of an alternative spring break trip this week. The students were in St. Joseph helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity.

Kylie Capalbo is a freshman at Salem. Capalbo said the trip was put together and advertised on campus by Community Service Initiative.

“I thought it was a better option than sitting around, doing nothing at home,” Capalbo said. “It’s a lot of hands-on, it is hard work and you’re going to get dirty, but it’s so worth it at the end, seeing the results and knowing that you made a difference… It’s definitely been a good way to spend my spring break and I would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat.”

Twenty-one Salem State University students spent their spring break volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in St. Joseph. Photo by Sarah Thomack.

The rain and wind this week didn’t stop the students as the projects were based indoors. Habitat Construction Supervisor Harlan Woodward said the students are painting the inside of one house in the 1000 block of S. 16th Street and hanging sheetrock at another.

“We’re on the painting crew here and we’re having a good time,” Woodward said. “Working with these kids is a neat experience, they spend their spring break here instead of partying somewhere so I appreciate them coming and helping us.”

The students will wrap up work on the houses Friday morning.

Obituaries March 14th

Josephine Starcher
1934 – 2019

Josephine Starcher, 85, of St. Joseph, MO, passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at a local healthcare facility.

Josephine was born in St. Louis, MO on March 11, 1934 to Anthony and Charlotte (Mais) Cusumano and spent most of her adult life in Kansas City, MO. She moved to St. Joseph 8 years ago. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Pauline (Ken) Frederich, Geraldine Cusumano, Jean Allen, Genevieve Cusumano and Joyce Cusumano and brother, Herb Cusumano.

She is survived by daughters, Linda Brady, Gina Vega, Dana Lackey, Sandra Jinkens; son, Donald Starcher; brothers, Robert (Cathy), Raymond (Betty) and Michael (Kate) Cusumano; sister Rose Cusumano; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A special thank you to Jim Dugan, David Hurst and Bob Rzepkowski. Your kindness and compassion meant the world to our mother. She loved each one of you. God bless all of you.

Mass of Christian burial 10:00 AM Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Visitation will be one hour prior with Rosary at 9:40 AM. Celebrant Father Christian Malewski.

 

Robert L. “Bob” Steele
1948 – 2019

Robert L. “Bob” Steele, 70, of Hiawatha, passed away March 12, 2019 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca, Kansas. He previously had been a resident of the Crestview Manor in Seneca.

He was born on August 13, 1948 at the Horton Hospital, the only child born to Theodore and Dorothy (Felts) Steele. He lived all of his life in Hiawatha, Kansas where he joined the Boy Scouts and in later years, obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. Bob graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1966. He served in the US Army as a mechanic from January 1968 until being discharged in August 1969, at the rank of E-5 during the Vietnam War. Bob worked at the Chevrolet garage as a mechanic for many years until he retired. He had a passion for cars, motorcycles, remote control planes, and model trains. He loved working on engines of any size. When he was younger he raced cars and motorcycles. He has several trophies from his experiences. Bob’s biggest passion was Harley-Davidson Motorcycles the faster the better.

He married Dorothy Dale (Rosenberger) Lambert on February 24, 2014, she survives at home.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Theodore and Dorothy.

A visitation to Celebrate Bob’s life is planned for 1 until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha. Flag presentation a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

 

Eusona A. “Tony” (Field) Robinson
1930 – 2019

Eusona A. “Tony” (Field) Robinson, 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 11, 2019, at Living Community Assisted Living in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Tony was born February 4, 1930, in Forest City, Missouri, and grew up near Mound City, where she graduated high school.

After she married her beloved husband Jack E. Robinson on April 7, 1948, they moved to St.Joseph; the couple remained inseparable for 68 years. In addition to raising two sons, Tony worked in food service for the St. Joseph School District, retiring as Cafeteria Manager after 25 years.

Tony was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, she enjoyed going to antique stores, collecting teddy bears and crocheting in her free time.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Robinson; parents, George and Daisy (Hunt) Field; and brother, Rex Field.

She is survived by her sons, Richard Robinson (Catherine), Greg Robinson (Ganyapat); granddaughters, Jamie Gromatzky (Benjamin), Jada Pankau Brawner; great-grandchildren, Samuel and Jack Gromatzky; Rowyn and Kegan Brawner; a great-great-grandson, Mario Harris III; and sister, Virginia Thurnau.

Farewell Services will be held at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory on Monday, March 18, 2019. The family will gather with friends 11:00 am to 12:30 pm followed with services at 1:00 pm. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

 

Charlotte A. McDowell
1934 – 2019

Charlotte A. McDowell, 84, Easton, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

She was born December 27, 1934 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Charlotte married Harvey Wendell McDowell November 5, 1954. He preceded her in death November 25, 2017.
She was a member of Grace Evangelical Church. Charlotte attended Benton High School. She worked at American National Bank as a teller for many years, then later retired from East Buchanan School District, where she worked in food services. She enjoyed spending time with family, cookouts, golfing, bowling, cards and going out on their pontoon at Grand Lake in Grove, OK.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Thelma (West) Dykes; siblings, Larry, Dodie, Harold Dykes and Evelyn Edwards.

Survivors include children, Ronda Mann (Roger), Gower, Missouri, Jennifer O’Brien (Terry), Sally McDowell and David McDowell, all of Easton, Missouri; grandchildren, Jesse, Joshua (Melanie), Rachel (Derek), Shannon, Abbi (Danny), James, Everett (Kierstin), William (Haylee); 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Jim Dykes (Pat); and her beloved dog, Missy

Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Mount Auburn Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

 

Betty Lindquist-Leider
1926 – 2019

Betty Lindquist-Leider, 92, Savannah, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home.
She was born March 26, 1926 in Conception, MO.
Betty married Harold Lindquist June 11, 1943, while on a 3 day pass before he was sent overseas to war. They were married for 63 years; he preceded her in death May 8, 2005. She later married William Leider; who preceded her in death.

She was of the Catholic faith and attended Cathedral School. Betty enjoyed antiques, gardening, flowers; especially roses. She loved to dance and was one of the best fisherwomen around.

Betty and Harold were unable to have children, but had so much love to give, they went above and beyond to adopt their beloved daughters to make their family complete.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Emma (Steren) Leidy; sister, Alberta Johnson, and brother, Tom Leidy.

Survivors include her daughters, Terry Turbak (Bob), Sandra Crom (Robert); grandsons, Daniel Ray Crom, Thomas Allen Crom; 5 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and extended family.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 A.M. Monday, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery. Parish Rosary 5:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.

Senate rejects Trump border emergency; Blunt, Moran oppose President

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-run Senate rejected President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southwest border on Thursday, setting up a veto fight and dealing him a conspicuous rebuke as he tested how boldly he could ignore Congress in pursuit of his highest-profile goal. Kansas senior Senator Pat Roberts voted with Trump. Missouri Senator Roy Blunt and Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted against the measure.

 

The Senate voted 59-41 to cancel Trump’s February proclamation of a border emergency, which he invoked to spend $3.6 billion more for border barriers than Congress had approved. Twelve Republicans joined Democrats in defying Trump in a showdown many GOP senators had hoped to avoid because he commands die-hard loyalty from millions of conservative voters who could punish defecting lawmakers in next year’s elections.

With the Democratic-controlled House’s approval of the same resolution last month, Senate passage sends it to Trump. He has shown no reluctance to casting his first veto to advance his campaign exhortation to “Build the Wall,” and it seems certain Congress will lack the two-thirds majorities that would be needed to override him.

“I’ll do a veto. It’s not going to be overturned,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s a border security vote.”

Though Trump seems sure to prevail in a veto battle, it remains noteworthy that lawmakers of both parties resisted him in a fight directly tied to his cherished campaign theme of erecting a border wall. The roll call came just a day after the Senate took a step toward a veto fight with Trump on another issue, voting to end U.S. support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition’s war in Yemen.

In a measure of how remarkable the confrontation was, Thursday was the first time Congress has voted to block a presidential emergency since the National Emergency Act became law in 1976.

Even before Thursday’s vote, there were warnings that GOP senators resisting Trump could face political consequences. A White House official said Trump won’t forget when senators who oppose him want him to attend fundraisers or provide other help. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on internal deliberations.

At the White House, Trump did not answer when reporters asked if there would be consequences for Republicans who voted against him.

Underscoring the political pressures in play, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who last month became one of the first Republicans to say he’d oppose Trump’s border emergency, said Thursday he’d vote to support it. Tillis, who faces a potentially difficult re-election race next year, cited talks with the White House that suggest Trump could be open to restricting presidential emergency powers in the future.

Still, the breadth of opposition among Republicans suggested how concern about his declaration had spread to all corners of the GOP. Republican senators voting for the resolution blocking Trump included Mitt Romney of Utah, the party’s 2012 presidential candidate; Mike Lee of Utah, a solid conservative; Maine moderate Susan Collins and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a respected centrist.

Republicans control the Senate 53-47. Democrats solidly opposed Trump’s declaration.

Presidents have declared 58 national emergencies since the 1976 law, but this was the first aimed at accessing money that Congress had explicitly denied, according to Elizabeth Goitein, co-director for national security at New York University Law School’s Brennan Center for Justice.

Trump and Republicans backing him said there is a legitimate security and humanitarian crisis at the border with Mexico. They also said Trump was merely exercising his powers under the law, which largely leaves it to presidents to decide what a national emergency is.

“The president is operating within existing law, and the crisis on our border is all too real,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Opponents said Trump’s assertion of an emergency was overblown. They said he issued his declaration only because Congress agreed to provide less than $1.4 billion for barriers and he was desperate to fulfill his campaign promise on the wall. They said the Constitution gives Congress, not presidents, control over spending and said Trump’s stretching of emergency powers would invite future presidents to do the same for their own concerns.

“He’s obsessed with showing strength, and he couldn’t just abandon his pursuit of the border wall, so he had to trample on the Constitution to continue his fight,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Republicans had hoped that Trump would endorse a separate bill by Utah’s Sen. Lee constraining emergency declarations in the future and that would win over enough GOP senators to reject Thursday’s resolution.

But Trump told Lee on Wednesday that he opposed Lee’s legislation, prompting Lee himself to say he would back the resolution.

The strongest chance of blocking Trump remains several lawsuits filed by Democratic state attorneys general, environmental groups and others.

On Twitter, Trump called on Republicans to oppose the resolution, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., helped drive through the House last month.

“Today’s issue is BORDER SECURITY and Crime!!! Don’t vote with Pelosi!” he tweeted, invoking the name of a Democrat who boatloads of GOP ads have villainized in recent campaign cycles.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is backing Trump, went to the White House late Wednesday with other senators to see if some compromise could be reached that would help reduce the number of GOP senators opposing Trump, according to a person familiar with the visit who described it on condition of anonymity. The effort fell short.

The National Emergency Act gives presidents wide leeway in declaring an emergency. Congress can vote to block a declaration, but the two-thirds majorities required to overcome presidential vetoes make it hard for lawmakers to prevail.

Lee had proposed letting a presidential emergency declaration last 30 days unless Congress voted to extend it. That would have applied to future emergencies but not Trump’s current order unless he sought to renew it next year.

Thursday’s Closing Grain Bids

March 14th, 2019

 

St Joseph

 

Yellow Corn

3.56

White Corn

no bid

Soybeans

8.40 – 8.52

LifeLine Foods

3.63

 

 

Atchison

Yellow Corn

 3.64 – 3.72

Soybeans

 8.38

Hard Wheat

 4.21

Soft Wheat

 4.12

 

 

Kansas City Truck Bids

Yellow Corn

3.55 – 3.70

White Corn

3.81 – 3.87

Soybeans

8.45 – 8.71

Hard Wheat

4.21 – 4.66

Soft Wheat

 4.24 – 4.38

Sorghum

5.90 – 5.99


USDA Cash Grain Prices

For more information, contact the 680 KFEQ Farm Department.
816-233-8881.

Toyota investing $750M in Missouri facilities, 5 U.S. plants

BUFFALO, W.Va. (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. on Thursday announced it is investing an additional $750 million at five U.S. plants that will bring nearly 600 new jobs, including the production of two hybrid vehicles for the first time at its Kentucky facility.

It marks yet another expansion of the Japanese automaker’s U.S. presence, bringing to nearly $13 billion the amount it will spend by 2021.

The latest investments are at facilities in Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia. Those same facilities were part of a 2017 announcement by Toyota for a $374 million investment to support production of its first American-made hybrid powertrain.

Toyota Motor North America executive Chris Reynolds said the investments represent yet more examples of the company’s long-term commitment to build where it sells, irrespective of trade uncertainty due to tariffs.

“Our overarching manufacturing principle is if we can sell it here we need to make it here. That’s been true before any tariff uncertainty, it’s true during tariff uncertainty and it will be true after. Our investment cycles go beyond any particular political cycle,” he said during a conference call with reporters.

Toyota Motor North America CEO Jim Lentz said, “In a time when others are scaling back, we believe in the strength of America, and we’re excited about the future of mobility here in America.”

The automaker is spreading the additional investments among several plants.

Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky, facility will get a $238 million infusion to produce hybrid versions of Lexus ES 300 sedans starting in May and the RAV4 SUV starting in January 2020, the company announced.

The RAV4 production doesn’t signal a shift away from sedan production at the sprawling Kentucky plant, Toyota executives said. Instead, it reflects Toyota’s plan to build multiple vehicles at its plants to better insulate each facility from downturns in market cycles.

“Unlike some of our competitors, we think there’s value in the sedan market, while it may not be as big as it was,” Reynolds said.

The announcement also includes $288 million to increase annual engine capacity at Toyota’s Huntsville, Alabama, facility. The plant will add 450 jobs to accommodate new four-cylinder and V6 engine production lines. Last year Toyota and Mazda announced plans to build a $1.6 billion joint-venture plant in Huntsville that will eventually employ about 4,000 people.

Toyota also is spending $62 million on equipment to boost production of Toyota and Lexus cylinder heads at its Bodine Aluminum facility in Troy, Missouri, as part of its cost-saving New Global Architecture production strategy to share common parts and components among different vehicles.

A $50 million expansion and equipment upgrade at a Bodine plant in Jackson, Tennessee, will add 13 jobs and produce engine blocks while doubling the capacity of hybrid transaxle cases and housings.

And Toyota will add 123 jobs and spent $111 million to expand its plant and purchase equipment in Buffalo, West Virginia, to double the capacity of hybrid transaxles.

Previously, Toyota also announced a $600 million investment at its Princeton, Indiana, plant to increase the capacity of its Highlander SUV and to incorporate the new production strategy, and $170 million to launch the 2020 Corolla on a new production line in Blue Springs, Mississippi.

__

Peterson Warns RIN Market Reform Could Bog Down E15 Rule

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson warns the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts in connecting E15 with RIN market reform may “bog down moving forward on both.” The EPA regulates the Reid vapor pressure of gasoline sold at retail stations between June 1 and September 15.

During that time frame, gasoline blends with 15 percent ethanol are not allowed to be sold at retail stations. Now, the EPA is proposing to grant a Reid vapor pressure wavier for E15 fuels, allowing year-round sales, while also reforming the RIN market in the same proposal. Peterson calls the E15 proposal “long overdue,” but added he encourages the administration to find a “more efficient pathway process at EPA.”

Further, Peterson contends the proposal “doesn’t lessen the damage caused by the Administration’s misuse of the small refinery exemption.” The waivers allow refineries to avoid their blending requirements under the RFS. Before major changes are proposed to the RIN marketplace, Peterson says the EPA should address the overuse of these waivers.

U.S., EU Reach Tentative Beef Agreement

The United States and the European Union have reached an “agreement in principle” to allow U.S. farmers a share of the EU’s annual 45,000-ton quota for hormone-free beef imports. Politico reports the agreement has been sent to EU member nations for approval. The import quota was set in 2009 by the EU after the bloc lost a World Trade Organization dispute over its ban on hormone-treated beef.

However, other nations have largely served to meet the quota, crowding out U.S. beef producers. Negotiations to include the U.S. in the EU beef market started in September of last year, as the Trump administration is seeking a trade agreement with the European Union. Those talks have been slow going as the European Union has been reluctant to include agriculture in trade negotiations with the United States. Still, both sides are trying to move forward in the initial negotiation.

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