ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Work to the expansion joints will close a ramp in downtown St. Joseph this week.

The ramp from southbound Interstate 229 to Felix Street will be closed Monday, March 20, 2017, at approximately 7:30 a.m. and will remain closed through the afternoon of Friday, March 24, 2017.

Motorists will need to use an alternate route during the closure. All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

The first in a series of public meetings will be held later this month to talk about a watershed project set to impact portions of several counties in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.

Mo-Kan Regional Council (MKRC) in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MNDR) will be hosting a series of meetings in St. Joseph and Platte County to share information and gather input on the Independence-Sugar Watershed.

All watershed residents from urban to rural landowners to city and county officials are encouraged to attend. Mo-Kan said the goal is to learn about local watershed priorities, help to identify resources to achieve these goals and build important partnerships between all watershed residents.

The Independence-Sugar Watershed encompasses portions of Andrew, Buchanan, Platte and Clay counties in Missouri and Atchison, Doniphan, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and includes the cities of Kansas City, St. Joseph, Atchison and Parkville, among others.

Watershed boundaries are not manmade, but rather defined by the land area that all drains into a particular water body, in this case the Independence-Sugar. Crossing over eight different counties the planning process will engage county officials, residents, business owners, farmers, and all those interested.

Meeting Schedule:
Monday, March 27, 2017
9:00 – 11:00 am Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64501
6:00 – 8:00 pm Platte County YMCA, 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152

Monday, April 24, 2017
9:00 – 11:00 am Platte County YMCA, 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152
6:00 – 8:00 pm Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64501
Monday, May 22, 2017
9:00 – 11:00 am Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64501
6:00 – 8:00 pm Platte County YMCA, 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152

The Independence-Sugar Watershed covers an area of 1,042 miles and contributes to the Missouri River.  The watershed is largely rural, yet impacts many of the communities along the river as well as those impacted by development.

Planning Project Objectives:
Research and provide information about the watershed.
Assemble a Committee representing a broad cross-section of watershed residents.
Coordinate and host a series of six watershed advisory committee meetings.
Document the identified watershed priorities with actions being suggested.
Assist in compiling information gained during the planning meetings to develop a Healthy Watershed Plan.
Communicate watershed information; promote watershed protection, preservation and enhancement.

This project is part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Our Missouri Waters Watershed Collaborative. The goal of this effort is to engage local residents in identifying water resource related issues within the watershed, then work cooperatively with partners to develop solutions, and focus available resources.

The project is being funded through a Joint Funding Agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to support the planning efforts for a period of 15 months from January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

The City of St. Joseph has approved dates for spring open burning season for April.

Beginning Monday, April 3 and running through Sunday, April 23 residents are permitted to burn under the following guidelines:

• Burning of yard waste of residential properties only – ONLY dry yard waste
such as leaves, brush and logs grown on the property can be burned. NO
trash, paper, lumber or building debris may be burned.

• Burning is allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

• All fires must be in an upright cylindrical metal container with a volume equal
to no more than 55 gallons. Containers must be located at least fifteen (15)
feet away from any building. Only one burn container per residence.

• All fires shall be monitored from a point on the property where the fire is
located, by a person capable of containing a fire, should containment become
necessary.

• Fire-fighting material, including but not limited to, a garden hose or a
container of water sufficient to contain any fire started shall be at the site of
the fire.

• If weather conditions such as high winds indicate the safety of the
community or the public may be endangered or if open burning may create a
health hazard, the Fire Chief or Health Director may invoke a temporary
burning ban.

Any violation of the open burning restrictions may result in a summons to appear in
court for a misdemeanor violation.
Residents are encouraged to explore alternatives to open burning. Many options for
disposing of yard waste are easy, do not contribute to air pollution, are not dependent
on time restrictions or the weather, and provide the healthy benefit of physical activity
while doing yard work instead of breathing acrid smoke from a waste fire. Such activities
include mowing leaves into fine particles and leaving them lay to fertilize the lawn, or
incorporating leaves into a mulch container to decompose into humus for use in
vegetable and flower gardens or for use on lawns as a soil amendment. Larger wood
brush that can be chipped makes excellent mulch around trees and shrubs. Family and
friends with gardens may want additional yard waste to use as mulch.
If you choose to burn, please do so within the days provided, as open burning session
will not be extended due to weather blackout dates.

After a week-long delay the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday at noon in St. Joseph.

The event was postponed from last weekend due to snow chances and cold temperatures.  With sunny skies now in the forecast the 31st annual parade will officially begin at noon at Noyes and Frederick and travel to Felix St. downtown.  Floats will be judged on four categories according to the St. Joseph Ancient Order of Hibernians.  Those categories include Irish theme, creativity, number of people participating and Irish music provided by the entry.

Shane McDonald with the Ancient Order of Hibernians said registration for participating in the parade is appreciated but not required. The entry fee is $50 and part of the proceeds will benefit various causes the Ancient Order of the Hibernians supports including Catholic education and the Second Harvest Food Bank.

For more information about the parade CLICK HERE.

JCPenney has released a list of 138 store locations it plans to close over the next few months.  Included in that list is its Maryville location.

As we previously reported, JCPenney last month announced it will be closing anywhere from 130 to 140 stores as well as two distribution centers over the next several months as it aims to improve profitability in the era of online shopping.  The closing list released Friday included only one store in Missouri.  The JCPenney located in the Maryville Center is expected to begin the liquidation process on April 17.

Around 5,000 positions nationwide will be impacted by the store closures. To view the list of upcoming closures in full CLICK HERE.

Two parents in Andrew County are facing numerous felony charges after four children were found walking along a highway earlier this week.

Jenna and Brian Eaton of Rosendale are each charged with four felonies of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and four felonies for abuse or neglect of a child.

According to court documents, on Wednesday shortly after 7:30 p.m. the Andrew County Sheriff’s Office was notified of four kids walking on 48 highway with blankets.

“The caller stated he will follow the kids.  He located them at the River Bridge on 48 hwy west of Rosendale.  He picked them up and waited at the Rosendale Post Office,” said Deputy Robert Elam with the sheriff’s department.

The children allegedly told the deputy Jenna had been drinking and was in bed when their step-father, Brian kicked them out of the house and told them not to come back. Brian also admitted to drinking that evening in court documents.

“He locked them down stairs with a gate and a large piece of plywood.  He stated it was because they steal food,” said Elam. “Jenna Eaton allowed the children to be locked down stairs.”

Jenna allegedly said she knew the area where she and her husband forced the children to live was bad but that she let Brian handle that.

Brian and Jenna are each being held on $30,000 bail in the Andrew County Jail.  A court date was not yet listed on online documents.