This is the last weekend shoppers can collect tickets in the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s Shop St. Joseph campaign.

The shopping program is designed to encourage residents to do their holiday shopping locally. One shopper will win a $10,000 grand prize. Shoppers also have a chance to win second-chance prizes from participating merchants. The last day to collect tickets is Monday, Dec. 18.

No purchase is required to win. Customers may receive one free ticket for visiting any participating merchant and one additional ticket for every $10 increment of purchase. A maximum of 100 tickets may be issued per transaction. To see a full list of rules, click here.

The numbers will be drawn at the Chamber office (drawing is closed to the public) and then announced through KQTV, Eagle Radio, the St. Joseph News-Press, FOX 26 KNPN, as well as posted on the Chamber’s website, www.saintjoseph.com, and on the office door at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Once a ticket has been announced for the grand prize, the winner has 24 hours to claim their prize before another number is announced. Only one number will be drawn for secondary prizes and those numbers will not be released until the $10,000 is given away to avoid confusion.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ten area residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $5.4 million conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to a news release, Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, made the announcement Friday.

Michaela Joeanne Hernandez, 36, of Raymore, Mo., Brandy Michael Morgan, 44, of Kansas City, Mo., Anthony Dewayne Fifer, 46, of Mexico, Mo., Sharmyn Leanne Shryock, 27, and Jeffery Allen Jennings, 31, both of St. Joseph, Mo., Charlsie Kim Harris, 33, of Garden City, Mo., Eric Edward Ballard, 25, and Linda Kay Ballard, 65, both of Atchison, Kan., Brian Joe Russell, 36, of Amazonia, Mo., and Adrian Leon Madrigal, 27, address unknown, were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Nov. 16, 2017. The indictment has been unsealed following the arrests and initial court appearances of some of the defendants.

The federal indictment alleges that all 10 co-defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 1, 2015, to Nov. 16, 2017. The indictment alleges the distribution of more than 321 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. The five co-defendants are also charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

In addition to the conspiracy counts, Hernandez is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Hernandez allegedly was in possession of a Springfield Armory 9mm handgun and a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun between April 1 and Oct. 14, 2017.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hernandez has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require all 10 co-defendants to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy, including a money judgment of $5.4 million. This represents the amount of money received in exchange for the unlawful distribution of methamphetamine, the indictment says, based on an approximate sale price of $600 per ounce and distribution of at least 9,000 ounces (approximately 321.4 kilograms) of methamphetamine.

 

Larson said that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Plattsburg, Mo., Police Department; the Atchison County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department; the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and Sheriff’s Department; the Jackson County Drug Task Force; the Clinton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department; and the Clay County Drug Task Force.

A woman has been arrested in relation to an investigation into packages being stolen off porches in St. Joseph.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, around 1:30 Thursday afternoon, officers responded to the 4300 block of Hidden Valley Dr. in reference to multiple reports of packages being stolen from porches. After several hours of investigation, officers were able to gather a description of the suspect vehicle and later arrested a 52-year-old woman in the 900 block of N. 12th. As a result of the investigation, officers recovered a large amount of stolen packages.

The case is being further investigated by the Detective Division. At this time, all packages recovered remain in Police Evidence.

Capt. Wilson said if anyone thinks they may be missing a package, they can contact the police department to make a report at (816) 271-4777.