A new store featuring western apparel and decor held its grand opening Friday in St. Joseph.
The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of The Fort located at 3800 S. Belt Highway.
A spokesman for the store said the building is historic to the area and has been completely remodeled and boasts 25,000 sq feet. Cars filled the parking lot Friday morning as shoppers turned out to check out the business.
Persistent decreased relative humidity values, dry fuel moisture, and gusty winds will contribute to elevated fire weather concerns Friday. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. In addition, please exercise proper precautions to prevent accidental fires. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 73. South southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind 3 to 6 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 6 to 11 mph.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 3 a.m., then a chance of showers after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Washington’s Birthday: Showers likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Thursday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary B. McCord of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas made the announcement.
Evidence at trial established that Zhang worked as a rice breeder for Ventria Bioscience in Junction City, Kansas. Ventria develops genetically programmed rice to express recombinant human proteins, which are then extracted for use in the therapeutic and medical fields. Zhang has a master’s degree in agriculture from Shengyang Agricultural University in China and a doctorate degree from Louisiana State University.
According to trial evidence, Zhang acquired without authorization hundreds of rice seeds produced by Ventria and stored them at his residence in Manhattan. The rice seeds have a wide variety of health research applications and were developed to express either human serum albumin, contained in blood, or lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found, for example, in human milk. Ventria used locked doors with magnetic card readers to restrict access to the temperature-controlled environment where the seeds were stored and processed.
Trial evidence demonstrated that in the summer of 2013, personnel from a crop research institute in China visited Zhang at his home in Manhattan. Zhang drove the visitors to tour facilities in Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. On Aug. 7, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found seeds belonging to Ventria in the luggage of Zhang’s visitors as they prepared to leave the United States for China.
St. Joseph School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart says the resignation of school board member Chris Danford on Thursday took him by surprise.
“It blind-sided me,” Newhart said during a media availability Thursday afternoon in his office. “Yeah, it blind-sided me.”
“Chris is a fighter, she’s a worker. Obviously she has her reasons that I’m completely unaware of.”
Danford issued a terse resignation letter to Dr. Newhart and the board president Thursday that read simply “This letter is to inform you of my resignation from the SJSD school board effective immediately.”
Danford issued a news release to the media that offered a list of specific problems, ranging from students who can’t read and declining test scores to improper use of the home-schooling option for problem students, which she said inflates the district’s graduation rate, and changes funding based on the district’s average daily attendance.
Newhart took issue with that. “There were some issues there at the alternative school, in regards to home school students,” Newhart said. “We have put a control on that in place. We’re well on our way to some improvements at the alternative school,” he said.
“That’s not to say parents cannot still request to home school students,” Newhart said.
Newhart says the finance and HR departments are well on their way to being accountable, prudent and successful, and he says Danford was instrumental in that process.
In her news release, Danford also complained about “tumbling test scores.” She said the district’s focus recently shifted “from the trenches to administrators,” and our schools “became fodder for doctoral research programs.”
“Local students performed above the state average before 2005 and since that time test scores have continued to descend below the state average,” Danford said. “The 16th largest school district in the state slipping into the bottom half, sometimes the bottom third, is completely unacceptable.”
Newhart responded by saying the district has stabilized test scores.
“Is there room for improvement?,” he asked. “Oh you bet, you bet. Have we seen growth? Yes we have. And it’s continued growth that we’ve got to see.””
“We’re not about test scores,” he said. “We’re about daily instruction and improvement. That has got to be your foundation and base.”
Danford complained that the investigative report on retaliation against whistle-blower and former CFO Beau Musser will remain private, because the board voted to keep it that way. Newhart says he can’t simply release it without board approval. He said he agrees with that, personally, because investigators offered confidentiality in some interviews, and releasing the report would violate that agreement.
Dr. Newhart says the district must move forward. The board will formally accept Danford’s resignation during the board meeting February 27 and then begin the process of filling the vacant seat.
“There will be an open application process,” Newhart said. “They’ll set the framework for the open application process. And then they’ll name somebody through that process, select somebody after interviews, etc, for the remainder of her term through April of 2018.”
“Chris was the watchdog,” Newhart said. “That’s going to have to fall to others now, because we need that piece. The arena needs to be in the boardroom.”
St. Joseph School District Board of Education member Chris Danford on Thursday submitted her resignation from the board.
The letter to Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart and the chairman of the school board was simple: “This letter is to inform you of my resignation from the SJSD school board effective immediately.”
In a news release, Danford included a long list of problems in the district, ranging from what she called “disappointing financial progress” to plummeting student achievement and rising numbers of students who can’t read.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart responded Thursday afternoon in an impromptu news conference in his office. Newhart said he was surprised by the resignation, which he called a “curve ball.” He called Danford “a fighter,” and a watchdog. (Click here for more from Dr. Newhart)
The release also included a reference to “community engagement that isn’t.”
“The board discussed community engagement at a work session last Monday. That plan is really tax marketing strategy. Though we must keep moving forward, we will have missed an opportunity to pause and honestly listen to citizens. Listen. It seems we mainly reach out when we want more money,” according to the letter.
Danford says she will not support any tax initiative that includes a lease purchase program for capital improvements. Danford was the board member who first brought to light the administrative stipends that landed the district in hot water for the last couple of years. Her resignation comes almost two years to the day after the report from the State Auditor was released to the public.
Danford says district taxpayers deserve to know what the $100,000 spent investigating retaliation against former CFO Beau Musser “and other district shenanigans.” Danford called for the report to be released.
She said in the resignation letter that her minority position on the board prevents her from changing the important academic and financial issues she highlighted.
The school district administration had not issued a formal reaction statement.
The last time a vacancy occurred on the board was with the resignation of Dr. Dan Colgan, the former superintendent who is currently serving prison time for inflating his retirement income from the district.
We reached out to Danford as well, but she was on her way to the school district offices to deliver her resignation. You can read the entire resignation letter here.
The school board is expected to formally accept Danford’s resignation at its meeting Feb. 27, at which time they will set the wheels in motion for an open application for the seat from members of the public. Dr. Newhart suggested the seat could be filled within about 45 days.
A Kansas man is charged with federal robbery and firearms charges after a string of seven armed robberies.
According to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall, Brandon V. Wells, 22, Wichita, Kan., is was named in an indictment released Wednesday.
Wells was arrested after a robbery at one store prompted surveillance at another, where police said they spotted Wells and another suspect leaving another robbery.
The charges include:
*Count one: Robbing Circle K at 1250 S. Rock on Jan. 27, 2017.
*Count two: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4818 E. Lincoln on Jan. 28, 2017.
*Count three: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4635 S. Broadway on Jan. 30, 2017.
*Count four: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4130 W. Central on Feb. 4, 2017.
*Count five: Robbing Auto Zone at 3320 N. Rock on Feb. 5, 2017.
*Count six: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 3109 E. Pawnee on Feb. 6, 2017.
*Count seven: Brandishing a firearm during the Feb. 6, 2017, robber at O’Reilly Auto Parts at 3109 E. Pawnee.
*Count eight: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4818 E. Lincoln on Feb. 6, 2017.
*Count nine: Brandishing a firearm during the Feb. 6, 2017, robbery at O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4818 E. Lincoln.
As we reported earlier, after a robbery at one of the O’Reilly locations, police set up surveillance on another O’Reilly store, and that’s where they arrested Wells.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each robbery count, and not less than seven years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of brandishing a firearm. The Wichita Police Department, the FBI and the Safe Streets Task Force investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
A U.S. Grand Jury returned an indictment against a man being held for a bank robbery in Kansas City, Kansas.
Andre U. Randle, 36, who is in custody, is charged with one count of bank robbery, according to U.S.Attorney Tom Beall. The indictment alleges that on Feb. 1, 2017, he robbed the U.S. Bank at 10959 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan.
According to court documents, he gave a clerk a note saying, “I have 2 guns. Don’t make me use them,” before leaving the bank with stolen cash in a purple pillow case. Officers of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department stopped his car in the 6900 block of Troop and arrested him. He remains in custody.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging an Olathe man who worked at a store catering to runners with stealing more than $250,000 in merchandise.
Craig W. Sullivan, 41, Olathe, Kan., is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said. The indictment alleges the crimes occurred while Sullivan worked for Garry Gribble’s Running Sports, which has five locations in the Kansas City area.
Sullivan oversaw merchandise arriving at the main store in Overland Park. He was responsible for distributing merchandise to the other locations.
The indictment alleges Sullivan stole merchandise — mainly Garmin GPS running watches – and sold them to an individual in California who operated an online business on eBay. Sullivan shipped the stolen merchandise to California via the U.S. Postal Service and received payment via PayPal. The indictment alleges he received 51 payments totaling about $275,780.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Doniphan County Commissioners are looking into rezoning for a local resident to start up a meat locker for processing in Troy.
According to County Commission Meeting minutes from February 13 Troy resident Pete Duncan asked the Board of County Commissioners if a decision has been reached on the Hegarty zoning change request from A-1 Agriculture to Mixed Used for property located at 1187 Last Chance Road, Troy, Kan. Chairman Collins stated the Board of County Commissioners will take up the matter at their regular meeting on February 27, 2017 at 9:00 A.M. In the meantime, Chairman Collins plans to meet with Northeast Kansas Environmental Services to discuss waste management control for the meat processing building, should the zoning change be granted.
Julie Meng, Doniphan County Planning & Zoning Administrator said a local gentleman is hoping to open up the meat locker for area residents to bring their livestock for processing. She said he is hoping to open it up on a part-time basis. Meng said right now people have to take their deer, cows, or hogs for processing in St. Joseph to Clark’s Custom Meat or to a meat locker in Hiawatha.
One of four people allegedly involved in a road rage incident that led to shots fired earlier this week has been charged.
Jerad Carr-Green, 32 of St. Joseph is charged in Buchanan County with a second-degree felony for assault.
As we previously reported, Tuesday officers responded to what was initially reported as an accident on Easton Road near 29th St. shortly after 7:30 a.m. Sgt. Kevin Cummings said when officers arrived they began investigating it as a road rage incident involving shots fired. Sgt. Wayne Byrom said someone in a black Dodge Avenger fired at a Chevrolet S-10 pick up truck. The vehicles then collided resulting in a crash. No one was hit by bullets in the incident.
According to court documents, Carr-Green was driving the truck at high speeds while chasing and ramming the car knowing his ex-girlfriend was inside.
“According to the witness, the car involved in the crash was being chased, at high speeds by the truck which also crashed and rolled over. Three occupants from the car fled on foot, two of which were later caught by police,” said Det. Doug Howard with the St. Joseph Police Department. “Shots were fired from the car prior to both vehicles crashing.”
Following the crash police said Carr-Green was transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of minor injuries. One of the two women taken into police custody after allegedly running from the scene was also taken to the hospital for evaluation of an injury. The man driving the dodge has not been taken into custody.
Carr-Green is being held on $25,000 bail. An arraignment is set for Friday.
As of Wednesday morning no additional charges have been filed in this case.
