Voters in Elwood, Kansas on Tuesday narrowed the field of candidates vying for seats on the City Council.

Dennis Smith, Mickey Meers, Dennis Muse and Peggy Wood will be on the ballot in November for two seats on the council.

Voters on Tuesday eliminated incumbent Tim Hontz, as well as two other candidates, Paula Hunsaker and Ronnie Young.

Just 15% of eligible voters turned out for the voting, according to the Doniphan County Clerk’s Office.

Here are the vote totals:
Tim Hontz 9 votes
Paula Hunsaker 11 votes
Mickey Meers, 38 votes
Dennis Muse, 38 votes
Dennis Smith, 42 votes
Peggy Wood, 24 votes
Ronnie Young, 15 votes

The annual sales tax holiday in Missouri begins Friday and continues through Sunday.

The program allows you to make certain back-to-school purchases without paying the state sales tax. According to the Missouri Dept. of Revenue, Buchanan County and the City of St. Joseph are both participating, meaning you can save the local sales tax as well. You can buy clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, and not pay the sales tax.

Find out which cities, counties and districts are taking part at the DOR Web site here. You do not have to be a Missouri resident or student to participate.

By state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. This year, it begins at one minute after midnight Friday morning, August 4, and runs through Sunday, August 6.

The City of St. Joseph said water was shut off Wednesday at the dog park due to a water leak.

According to a news release, a water leak was recently discovered at the dog park located at 22nd and Marion streets while excavation work was being performed for the nearby ball fields. As a result, the city said the water has been shut off at the park until the leak can be repaired.

A Horton, Kansas, man has died after a semi hit the car he was a passenger in on U.S. 75 in Brown County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a semi, driven by Joseph C. Little of North Dakota, was traveling south on U.S. 75 shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday, when the semi hit a Ford Focus stopped and preparing to turn onto K20.

According to the crash report, 48-year-old Joseph A. Taisipic of Horton, a passenger in the Focus, died in the crash. The driver of the Focus, 46-year-old Ronald K. Brook of Willis, Kansas, was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital for treatment of possible injuries.

All were reportedly wearing seat belts.

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A man allegedly caught in the act of burglary by the property owner remains in custody after his initial court appearance Tuesday.

Kenneth Griffin, Jr. appeared by video on one count of second-degree burglary before Judge Keith Marquart, who scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing docket call August 18 at 11 a.m.

In court documents, police said a property owner spotted Griffin leaving his property July 29. As we reported, the victim and his son chased the suspect to an apartment where they held him for police.

They recognized numerous items that belonged to them inside the apartment, according to court documents.

Bail remains as set earlier at $5,000 with a $1,000 cash deposit. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Bachman told the judge Griffin has an extensive criminal history. Officials say Griffin was paroled from his sentence for tampering and was released from prison July 10. Bond remains as set earlier at $5,000 with a $1,000 cash deposit.

Police do not recommend the public’s pursuit of burglars. Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department recommends the public call authorities for assistance.

A St. Joseph man is facing a felony after allegedly assaulting a woman he didn’t know in a convenience store.

Robert Rodgers, 44 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of third-degree assault.

According to court documents, the incident allegedly took place Saturday around 7 p.m. at 2420 Frederick, which is listed as the address for Speedy’s Convenience.

Det. Greg Ogdahl said Rodgers is accused of slapping the woman causing her to fall into a display rack, then grabbing her and throwing her against a glass cooler.

“He followed the victim into the store engaging in an argument with the victim before assaulting her. The suspect and the victim are unknown to each other,” Ogdahl said.

Rodgers is currently out on $7,500 bail. He’s due in court Friday for an arraignment.