(News release) – In-depth under-bridge inspections are part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s program of inspection, repair and maintenance of the more than 10,000 bridges across the state. This program ensures the bridges are kept in the best possible condition for as long as possible for all those that travel across Missouri’s roadways.
Several bridges in Northwest Missouri are scheduled for under-bridge inspections over the next few weeks. Some of these work zones may be moving operations and motorists are advised to be alert for work zone signs and extra equipment on the roadways around these bridges and ramps. Please put down your phone and other distractions so you can give driving your full attention and give the crew plenty of room to safely do their work.
All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled.
Week of June 5:
Carroll County:
Route 41 at the Wakenda Chute Bridge (lane closure)
Route 41 at the Missouri River Bridge (lane closure)
Livingston County:
U.S. Route 36 east and westbound at the Grand River Bridge (shoulder closure)
U.S. Route 65 at the Grand River Bridge (lane closure)
Route 190 at the Thompson River Bridge (lane closure)
Mercer County:
Route D at the Weldon Fork Bridge (lane closure)
Week of June 19:
Chariton County:
U.S. Route 24 at the Chariton River Bridge (shoulder closure)
Route 129 at the Chariton River Bridge (lane closure)
Route 139 at the Grand River Bridge (lane closure)
Downtown St. Joseph Skyline. Photo courtesy St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce is praising the addition of more than 200 jobs and $10 million in payroll added to local companies since the beginning of 2017.
In a news release, the Chamber said It has been able to assist four local companies grow in St. Joseph adding around $85 million of capital investment into the local economy.
“It has been a very busy spring,” said R. Patt Lilly, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve been able to announce four expansion projects, we’re working on several others and anticipate another announcement this month.”
Lilly said the reason for the expansions is due to an uptick in the economy and is a signal of the local companies’ abilities to continue to grow in their respective markets.
“Many of our local businesses continue to benefit from the expanding local and global market growth,” Lilly said. “The result is in the addition of employees and investment in local facilities.”
According to the Chamber, the four announced projects include:
St. Joseph Petroleum – St. Joseph Petroleum expanded its distribution of oil lubricants for the food industry with the construction of additional square footage and the creation of three new jobs. Total capital investment was $110,000. The average annual wage of the three new jobs was $43,333. The project qualified for the Missouri Works program and the local Enhanced Enterprise Zone program on the real property improvements.
Triumph Foods – Triumph Foods is expanding its ham boning line through a capital investment of $1.5 million with new machinery and equipment. The capital investment will lead to the creation of 72 jobs with an average annual wage of $35,000. The project was eligible for the Missouri Works program.
Altec Industries, Inc. – Altec is investing a significant amount of capital in personal property improvements, manufacturing and nonmanufacturing machinery and equipment, as well as real property improvements. The investment will increase the efficiencies and improve quality through advanced manufacturing processes at the main campus and at leased facilities in St. Joseph. The project is expected to create a minimum of 105 new jobs over a three-year period. To encourage the investment in St. Joseph, various local incentives were offered including real property tax abatement under the Enhanced Enterprise Zone program and personal property tax abatement under the State of Missouri Chapter 100 program. The State of Missouri also provided incentives under the Missouri Works program.
Johnson Controls – Johnson Controls will do a significant expansion of almost $36 million to expand production of a new product line that was currently in proto-type production, due to the growing demand for Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. The expansion is a result of increased popularity of start-stop vehicles and increasing power needs. The project will create an estimated 51 new, full-time manufacturing jobs with an annual average wage of $48,000, plus benefits. The City will assist the expansion with the use of Chapter 100 for personal property tax abatement and enhanced enterprise zone tax abatement on the real estate improvement.
A man is facing a felony charge after allegedly planting and igniting an explosive device at a home in St. Joseph on Memorial Day.
The Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office said Edward W. Catron, 27 was charged Friday with a class-E felony of knowingly exploding.
According to court documents, on May 29 witness statement and video evidence indicate the defendant went to a home in the 2400 block of Northeast Parkway and planted and ignited an explosive device.
“The defendant is making explosive devices and has offered to sell them to witnesses in this case,” said Det. Frank Till with the St. Joseph Police Department.
As we previously reported, the St. Joseph Police Department began working with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms (ATF) after an explosion caused extensive damage to the front porch and entryway of a home in the 2400 block of Northeast Parkway. No injuries were reported.
Police said Catron was arrested Friday. The prosecutor’s office said an arraignment date and bond conditions are not yet known.
A Gower man accused of attacking a man with a baseball bat will be granted bail as his assault case moves through court, subject to some restrictions agreed on by the lawyers involved.
We reported May 31 that Chad Allison was arrested over the holiday weekend and charged with second-degree assault, a class-d felony. Investigators said in a court affidavit that Allison entered the man’s home in the 8000 block of South US 169 on the night of May 29 and attacked him with a baseball bat. In court documents, officials said the victim suffered serious injuries to his back and left arm.
The prosecutor and defense lawyer agreed on some specific bond restrictions. Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart ordered Allison to have no contact with the victim, and not to go to the address of the alleged assault. He also ordered Allison not to go to two local businesses.
Judge Marquart set bail at $25,000, for which Allison may deposit $2,500 with the court. The judge placed the case on the preliminary hearing docket June 16 at 11 a.m.
A St. Joseph man accused of the unprovoked beating death of his grandmother with her own hammer and then stealing her vehicle appeared in court Friday. A judge ruled Michael Courter competent to stand trial on charges of second-degree murder and vehicle tampering.
Courter, 41, has been in the custody of the Missouri Dept. of Mental Health undergoing a mental-health exam after his lawyer filed a motion for a competency examination in August of last year.
In court documents, St. Joseph Police described Courter as a violent and brutal man, who “without cause or provocation” violently killed the victim. “He previously assaulted his mother and received a felony conviction,” according to the affidavit.
Courts documents assert that Courter was pulled over by police in the stolen vehicle in Hobart, Indiana about 12 hours after the incident but before the alleged crimes were discovered. He was released on a summons, and was not taken into custody in Buchanan County until the about three weeks later.
As we reported, Courter is charged with second-degree murder and vehicle tampering for the death of his grandmother Clyda Spurgeon. The woman was found dead at her home at 108 E. Highland Ave on April 29, 2016. In court documents officials said that sometime between 8 p.m. April 28 and 8 a.m. April 29 Courter allegedly hit Spurgeon repeatedly with a hammer he borrowed from her.
Circuit Judge Patrick Robb reviewed notification from the Fulton State Hospital that indicated Courter was “not in need of further detention at DMH.” He declared the defendant mentally competent to understand the charges and help in his own defense. Judge Robb scheduled the case for a status review hearing August 7, at 2:00 p.m.
A two vehicle crash sent three people to the hospital Thursday evening on US 71 just north of Maryville.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, around 6:23 p.m. Michael Hall, 32 of Hopkins was driving a 1999 Dodge 1500 extended cab truck northbound on Business 71 and failed to stop at a stop sign. Jacki Thrasher, 58 of Clarinda, Iowa was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Impala northbound on US 71 and was struck on the left front by Hall’s vehicle and went off the roadway. The truck rolled over and ejected a passenger before coming to rest on the driver’s side.
Keren Ebrecht, 51 and Michael Ebrecht, 28 both from Hopkins and both passengers in the truck were transported for treatment of injuries. Karen was flown by Lifenet from St. Francis to Moasic Life Care for treatment of what was described as serious injuries. Michael was taken by private vehicle to St. Francis for treatment of what was described as a minor injury. Thrasher was taken by ambulance to St. Francis for treatment of a moderate injury. None of the occupants in the truck were reported to be wearing a seat belt.
The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating the death of a child under the age of one.
Commander Eric Protzman said officers and paramedics responded Thursday around 1 p.m. to the 1500 block of Mason in reference to an unresponsive child. The baby was transported to Mosaic Life Care and pronounced deceased.
Officers are investigating the death as required by state mandate. Protzman said anytime a child under the age of 17 dies police are required to conduct a death investigation as part of standard protocol .
It’ll feel very much like early summer around the area this weekend. Today through Monday, highs will generally be in the mid 80s with lows in the mid 60s which is about 5 degrees above normal. There will also be a slight chance for thunderstorms each day with the best chance coming on Saturday when there is a 30% chance for storms in the afternoon and evening. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind 3 to 8 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
22nd St. closed for crews to work on utility pole. Photo by John P. Tretbar
Crews are repairing a utility pole after a crash near 22nd and North Pass.
Around 4:41 p.m. Thursday the St. Joseph Police Department issued an alert to warn drivers to avoid the area due to a crash. It reopened by 5:27 p.m. Our reporter on scene said there were no serious injuries. However, a utility pole was damaged. Officers had the road blocked off while crews were on scene. The KCP&L Power Outage Map around 5 p.m. did not show any customers impacted in the St. Joseph area.
A man and a woman are facing charges of child neglect after a kid was found with bleeding feet earlier this year in St. Joseph.
Edward Maples, 48 and Margaret Maples, 52 are each charged in Buchanan County with a felony of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by creating substantial risk.
According to court documents, April 22 officers responded to a call of a child with bleeding feet and found the child to have severely infected toes on both feet. Detective Frank Till with the St. Joseph Police Department said the child had to be admitted to the hospital due to the seriousness of the infection.
“The defendant and a co-defendant committed the crime of child neglect by failing to provide necessary medical care to the victim,” Till said.
He said two children have been removed from the home several times in the past for child neglect.
According to the Buchanan County Inmate Inquiry Edward and Margaret were arrested Thursday. Each are being held on $2,500 bail. A court date was not yet listed in online documents.
(News release) – In-depth under-bridge inspections are part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s program of inspection, repair and maintenance of the more than 10,000 bridges across the state. This program ensures the bridges are kept in the best possible condition for as long as possible for all those that travel across Missouri’s roadways.
