Post Staff – Page 226 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Anglers warned of discarding line after owl injured in Platte County

Posted on March 28, 2017March 29, 2017

This barred owl's wing became entangled in discarded fishing line that was also tangled on a tree limb over a private fishing lake. Luckily, the owl was rescued and is expected to be released back to the wild. But anglers should be aware that it is important to recycle or carefully dispose of used fishing line, don't leave it on the bank or in the water. Littering is harmful to people and wildlife. Photo submitted by Daniel Haus/Courtesy MDC — This barred owl’s wing became entangled in discarded fishing line that was also tangled on a tree limb over a private fishing lake. Photo submitted by Daniel Haus/Courtesy MDC

Conservation officials are asking anglers to carefully dispose of used fishing line after an owl was injured in Platte County when it became entangled.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Saturday a barred owl was found with fishing line wrapped around its wing, hanging helplessly from a tree limb at a private fishing lake.

Daniel and Debbie Haus of Kansas City are Missouri Master Naturalists and volunteers at the Lakeside Nature Center in Swope Park, which does wildlife rehabilitation. According to a news release, the volunteers answered the call for help and rescued the barred owl. Officials are hopeful that the owl escaped serious injury and can soon be released back to the wild.

“Not all wildlife is as lucky, though. Birds, mammals and reptiles that frequent lakes and streams can become entangled in fishing line and suffer severe injuries or death. Anglers are urged to dispose of used fishing line carefully, and any littering is a disservice to people and wildlife. Some fishing spots have bins to collect old fishing line so it can be recycled,” the MDC said.

For more information on fishing line recycling programs in Missouri, visit http://www.mostreamteam.org/mrrp.asp

Update – RadioShack displays closing sign in St. Joseph

Posted on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017

(Update) – St. Joseph’s RadioShack has displayed a store closing sign several weeks after the chain announced it plans to close around 200 stores.

Previously we reported an employee at the St. Joseph location did not believe the store would be part of the latest round of closures. However, Tuesday a store closing sign was displayed out front. We are currently awaiting a call back from a spokesman for further information. Signs in the window show a discount of up to 50% off.

According to a news release, General Wireless Operations Inc. doing business as RadioShack announced at the beginning of March that the Company has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

The Company said RadioShack.com, stores and dealer locations across the country are still currently open for business and serving customers. According to the company, it and it’s advisors are currently exploring all available strategic alternatives to maximize value for creditors, including the possibility of keeping stores open on an ongoing basis.

Man accused of fleeing from officers appears in court

Posted on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017

A man charged with resisting arrest by fleeing from Strike Force officers appeared in court Tuesday. As we reported , Jay Baskett was charged after an incident March 10.

In a court affidavit, officials said investigators tried to pull over a silver Lexus near Savannah Ave. and Middleton Street, but the driver took off at a high rate of speed. Authorities say they called off the pursuit when the vehicle passed two vehicles on a two-way street and nearly ran one motorist off the road.

Investigator Stephen Clark of the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force says he believes the suspect led officers on a pursuit because he had an active warrant for his arrest.

Baskett is being held in lieu of $2,500 bail on a class-e felony charge of resisting arrest by fleeing. During his first appearance Tuesday, Associate Judge Keith Marquart scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing April 21. Baskett will apply for a public defender.

Platte County releases March checkpoint results

Posted on March 28, 2017

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released the results of a checkpoint held earlier this month.

A DWI checkpoint was held Friday, March 17 on MO 273 Highway and Sexton Road in west central Platte County. A total of 578 vehicles were checked from around 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. During that time nine arrests were made. Three arrests were made on suspicion of DWI. The remaining arrests were for Driving While Suspended/Revoked (three), operating a motor vehicle without a valid license (one), an interlock violation (one), and one arrest for minor in possession of alcohol.

(Update) – Teen facing misdemeanor denied bail in assault case

Posted on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017

(Update) – A St. Joseph teen facing a misdemeanor charge remains behind bars without bail on accusations of holding a group of people at gunpoint demanding they return stolen drugs.

As we reported, Dakota Polley, 18, was charged with misdemeanor assault after the incident March 23 at Hyde Park. In a court affidavit, St. Joseph Police Detective Chase Cotter said Dakota Polley accused a group of people of stealing his narcotics.

Cotter said a firearm identical to what a witness described was located at the scene.

Family members told the St. Joseph Post that there are more facts to the case that have not yet come to light and that they believe the information presented in the court documents does not reflect events as they actually took place.

During his initial court appearance Tuesday, Associate Judge Keith Marquart entered a plea of not guilty and overruled a motion to set bond in the case. Judge Marquart scheduled the matter for a hearing April 5.

Shooting suspect makes court appearance

Posted on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017

A man accused of shooting a woman over the weekend made his first court appearance Tuesday.

Dion Clark, 37 of Kansas City, Mo. is charged in Buchanan County with a class-a felony of first-degree domestic assault.

As we previously reported, Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said officers responded to Mosaic Life Care shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday after a 30-year-old Kansas City, Mo. woman was admitted for a serious injury from a single gunshot wound. The victim remains hospitalized in critical condition.

According to charging documents, Clark is accused of shooting the woman in her torso with a 9mm handgun at 210 N. Belt Highway, the location of the Belt Sports Complex. Witnesses allege in documents that the incident happened Sunday between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m.

Clark is scheduled to return to court next month, after Associate Judge Rebecca Spencer scheduled a preliminary hearing for April 11.

Clark is being held without bail in the Buchanan County Jail. If convicted he faces a prison term of 10-to-30 years or life.

2nd suspect pleads guilty in Krug Park murder

Posted on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017

A second suspect has pleaded guilty in the murder of Kaytlin Root at Krug Park last fall.

Sebastian Dowell, 18, admitted stabbing Root, but denied strangling Root, as asserted by co-defendant Amanda Bennett. Dowell said Bennett knocked the victim on the ground and began strangling her.

Bennett pleaded guilty in February. She told a judge that the killing was part of what she described as a demonic sacrifice.

Root was found by a runner near one of the trails at Krug Park on Oct. 16, 2016.

Dowell is scheduled for sentencing on May 4. Bennett’s sentencing is scheduled May 9.

Patchy fog with temps in the 50s

Posted on March 28, 2017

Unsettled weather returns to the area Wednesday into Thursday. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming east northeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Tonight: Showers likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 49. East northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers. High near 54. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 47. East northeast wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 54. North northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: Showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday: Showers. High near 63. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

SE Nebraska man sentenced for second child porn conviction

Posted on March 27, 2017

A southeastern Nebraska man was sentenced to serve ten years in prison for his second conviction on charges of possessing child pornography.

Officials say Scott Wellensiek was on supervised release from the first conviction when he was arrested for the second.

Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced that Wellensiek, 43, of Dunbar, was sentenced by Chief Judge Laurie Smith Camp to 10 years of imprisonment. After his release from prison, Wellensiek will begin a 15-year term of supervised release.

Wellensiek was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in federal court in Wyoming. He was sentenced to 7 days of imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. While on supervised release, he moved to Dunbar, Nebraska.

In September 2016, investigators with the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office downloaded images of child pornography from a computer at Wellensiek’s residence. A search warrant was executed on October 3, 2016. Wellensiek admitted to downloading child pornography while on supervised release for a child pornography offense. He deleted the child pornography after downloading and viewing. The images downloaded by law enforcement from Wellensiek’s computer involved prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity with adults.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

St. Joe man faces felony charge for high-speed flight from officers

Posted on March 27, 2017March 27, 2017

A man charged with resisting arrest by fleeing from Strike Force officers is now in custody in the County Jail.

Jay Baskett, 29, is charged with a class-e felony for the incident March 10. In a court affidavit, Investigator Stephen Clark of the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force says he believes the suspect led officers on a pursuit because there was an active warrant for his arrest.

According to the affidavit, investigators tried to stop a silver Lexus in the area of Savannah Avenue and Middleton Street.

The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed through the neighborhood and on highways.

“The pursuit last approximately 14 minutes until the vehicle passed two vehicles on a two way street going head on with oncoming traffic,” states the affidavit, “An oncoming vehicle had to veer to the side of the road to avoid being crashed into by the fleeing vehicle.”

The officers terminated the pursuit, but they say they identified Baskett as the driver of the fleeing vehicle. Baskett was arrested on the parole violation warrant the next day, but online court records show the warrant for resisting arrest was not served until Friday.

Baskett is being held in lieu of $2,500 bail awaiting his first court appearance Tuesday, March 28.