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Police search for suspects in home invasion

sjpdThe St. Joseph Police Department is investigating a home invasion that took place early Tuesday morning.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said police responded around 2:50 a.m. to the 1500 block of Jules. A man and a woman were inside the home at the time of the incident.  Wilson said the man reported that he got up to check out a loud noise and found two men wearing dark clothing inside his home. The suspects were allegedly armed with handguns and took misc. personal items from both victims. No injuries were reported.

Wilson said they have individuals believed to be persons of interest in the case. As of 9:30 a.m. police did not have anyone in custody.

Volunteer orientation begins soon for United Way Allocations Process

United Way FeatureVolunteer orientation for the United Way allocations process begins soon and volunteers are still needed.

Through the Allocations Process, United Way Partner Agencies are evaluated and allocation funding recommendations are made by groups of volunteers.

United Way of Greater St. Joseph President Kylie Strough said volunteers can expect to spend 10 to 15 hours between March 1st through the middle of May on a team reviewing three United Way partner agencies.

“It is a big responsibility and I hope people also view it as a real privilege because you get to be inside the agencies, learning really intimately about the work that they do,” Strough said. “So often we have a peripheral view of, ‘Oh this agency helps with homelessness or this agency helps with meals…’ but when you get to spend an hour and a half or two hours in a small group setting learning about all the programs that the agencies do and how they take the resources they’re granted and use them to best improve lives in the community, it’s a really neat experience.”

Strough said volunteers can set up times that work with their schedules and their teams will make visits to the agencies.

“(They will) hear from agency staff and board about the work they do, how they utilize United Way dollars in their organization and what their need for dollars is going forward,” Strough said. “Then the teams come back together and deliberate over all of that information and make recommendations to United Way’s Board of Directors about how many dollars they think each agency should receive going forward.”

Strough said orientation starts in February. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Jodi Bloemker at United Way at 364-2381 or jodi.bloemker@stjosephunitedway.org. 

Temps in the 50s today, chance of snow tomorrow

weather-1-24Breezy southerly winds will allow temperatures to warm into the mid 50s to lower 60s across the Metro and central Missouri however, cloud cover and the chance for showers will keep temperatures in the mid 40s across northern Missouri. A cold front will move through the area tonight and temperatures will be much cooler tomorrow and through the rest of the week with highs in the lower 30s to near 40. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: 

Today: A slight chance of rain, snow showers, and sleet before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of rain after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. East southeast wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: A chance of rain, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. South southeast wind 11 to 16 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 2 p.m, then a slight chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 35. West northwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. West northwest wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 35.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Man who said he’d rather be in prison than go back home to wife pleads guilty to bank robbery charge

USDOJ coin
A Kansas City man who told investigators he preferred jail to living with his wife pleaded guilty Monday to a federal bank robbery charge.

U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said, Lawrence John Ripple, 70, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery.

A criminal complaint in the case alleged that on Sept. 2, 2016, Ripple sat down in the lobby and waited for police after robbing the Bank of Labor at 756 Minnesota Ave. in Kansas City, Kan. He told investigators that after an argument with his wife he felt he would rather be in prison than go back home.

Sentencing will be set for a later date. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Revenue Department to replace incorrect tax forms

kansas-department-of-revenueOfficials in Topeka are shuffling to correct an error on some key tax forms.

The Kansas Department of Revenue on on Monday announced that taxpayers receiving a 1099G form will soon receive a corrected document in the mail.

Department officials discovered some of the 1099Gs sent out for the tax year 2016 listed refund amounts that did not match the amount the taxpayer actually received.

The department has confirmed a small number of taxpayers received forms listing incorrect refund amounts, but to ensure accuracy all of the approximately 380,000 forms will be reissued.

Only the forms mailed to taxpayers were incorrect, the information sent to the Internal Revenue Service was accurate, according to the announcement.

Revenue Department officials say that the file sent from the department to the Kansas Office of Printing and Mailing contained accurate information, and that the error occurred later in the process.

Taxpayers who received a 1099G from the Kansas Department of Revenue should destroy the form; they will receive a new and corrected form in the mail automatically. The new forms will be marked CORRECTED on the form and envelope and will be mailed by Monday, Jan. 31, officials said.

Taxpayers receive a Kansas 1099G if they received a payment or compensation from the state such as unemployment, refunds, credits, or offsets. Those who received a 1099G from the Kansas Department of Labor for unemployment payments are not affected by the issue.

Two plead guilty to charges stemming from armed bank robbery

USDOJ colorTwo Kansas men pleaded guilty Monday to brandishing or aiding and abetting another robber who brandished a firearm during a bank robbery.

U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said Raishat McGill, 35, and Elijah Shelton, 25, both of Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count each of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. In their pleas, they admitted that on June 13, 2016, they robbed the Carson Bank at 4461 E. Douglas in Wichita.

On that day, two individuals who were disguised entered the bank, one of them brandishing a firearm. The robbers demanded and received money before fleeing. The money they received contained a global positioning device that police used to track the defendants and arrest them.

McGill and Shelton are set for sentencing April 13. In both cases, the parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 84 months in federal prison. Earlier this month, co-defendant Andre Bryant, 30, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to the same charge. He is set for sentencing April 10.

Bridge inspections scheduled for next two weeks

wpid-modot-logo-200x150.jpgST. JOSEPH, Mo. – 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.

All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled.

Week of January 23:

  • Andrew County U.S. Route 169 bridge over the Platte River (shoulder closure)
  • Andrew County Route C bridge over the One Hundred and Two River (lane closure)
  • Holt County Route 111 bridge over the Tarkio River (lane closure)

Week of January 30 and February 6:

  • Buchanan County Interstate 229 bridges over U.S. Route 59 (shoulder closure)

For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT or visit www.modot.org/northwest.

 

Obituaries January 19-20

Carla Jo Idlet
1951-2017

unnamedCarla Jo Idlet, 65, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Friday, January 20, 2017 at her home. She was born August 12, 1951 in St. Joseph, Missouri daughter of Mary & Marvin Hawkins. She graduated from Benton High School class of 1969. She was involved in sports, and was the football and basketball homecoming queen. She worked at United Missouri Bank, Farmland – Omnium, and at the Lake Contrary School.
She enjoyed cooking and sewing. Carla was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Idlet, brother, Virgil Hawkins, and father, Marvin Hawkins. She is survived by her mother, Mary Hawkins of St. Joseph, MO. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Tuesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. She will be cremated under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home following the services.

Samuel Stephen “Steve” Wilson
1951-2017

Elwood, Kansas – Samuel Stephen “Steve” Wilson, 65, of Elwood, Kansas passed away January 20, 2017 at his home.
Steve was born on December 14, 1951 in Unionville, Missouri to Dale & Vera (Wells) Wilson. He worked as a self-employed trucker for Steve Wilson Trucking.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert Lee Wilson & a son, Tyler Dale Wilson.
Survivors: children, Jason Wilson of Troy, Kansas; Lori Wilson of Harris, Missouri; Jeff Wilson of Wathena, Kansas; Kim Schultz of Wathena, Kansas; Alyssa Wilson of St. Joseph, Missouri; Grandchildren, Kyle, Levi, Bryson, Emily, Jackie, Blane, Blayke, Riley, Hunter & Oakleigh; 10 great-grandchildren; Brother, Jack Wilson of Lucerne, Missouri; Sister, Darlene Wyant of Milan, Missouri; Numerous nieces & nephews; His dog, Yeller.
Graveside Service: 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 24, 2017
At the Lucerne Cemetery, Lucerne, Missouri.
Visitation: 6-8 Monday evening at the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Wathena, Kansas.
Friends may call after 12 noon Monday.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Lucerne Cemetery Fund or the Steve Wilson Memorial Fund.

Paul M. Litton
1933-2017

litton-paul-obitphotoPaul M. Litton, 83, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Friday, January 20, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care.
He was born September 1, 1933 to George and Rhoda (George) Litton, they preceded him in death.
Paul married Sandra Jeanne Manthey June 1, 1956,and were married 60 wonderful years, she survives of the home.
He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and worked for the Saint Joseph Police Department for twenty seven years. Paul also worked for the Buchanan County Sheriff Department for seventeen years.
Paul was a Boy Scout Leader and also coached Bantam Football and boys baseball. He was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War.
He was also preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.
Additional survivors include children, Lisa Steiner (Mark), Charles Litton (Sandra), Ronald Litton (Tricia), and Tony Litton (Bridgett); grandchildren, Taylor Litton (Tiffany), Anthony Litton (Ehren), Haley Meyer (Nathan), Alexandria Litton, and Blaine Filbert; great-grandchildren, A.J. Litton, Kennedy Litton and Grayson Meyer; one brother, Charles Litton (Susan); numerous nieces and nephews_.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to The Fraternal Order of Police. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Building imploded in Overland Park (VIDEO)

kdot-implosionThere was no public viewing area of the building implosion in Overland Park, so Kansas Transportation Officials offered a video of the event Sunday morning. The Van Trust Building was brought down to make room for an office campus called Overland One, at I-435 and Nall Ave., one of the most visible corners of the city.

KDOT Crews imploded the 10-story 162,000 square foot former Century Link building early Sunday morning. The site also included a three-story 56,000 square foot structure that crews demolished in December 2016.

The video and photograph were submitted by KDOT.

Lafayette, Oak Grove, and Hyde principals to retire

(News release) – Three long-time principals will be leaving the St. Joseph School District at the end of the 2016 – 2017 school year: Lafayette High School Principal Dr. Tyran Sumy, Hyde Elementary Principal Jeaneen Boyer, and Oak Grove Elementary School Principal Mike Otto.

“All three principals are excellent educators and have made large contributions to their schools and the district,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart. “We are proud of the years they have put in. We will miss them greatly, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors. These will be hard shoes to fill.”

Dr. Tyran Sumy, Principal of Lafayette High School, will retire after 21 years with the district, 26 years as an administrator, and 33 years as an educator. Dr. Sumy also taught courses at William Woods University from 2007 to 2013.

Jeaneen Boyer, principal at Hyde Elementary, has been an educator for 31 years. She began teaching in Kansas City Kansas at Central Elementary, where she taught fourth grade, then came to Hosea Elementary in 1990, where she taught fourth and fifth grade. In 1995, she became the principal of Hall Elementary, and in 2004, she became the principal of Hyde Elementary.

Mike Otto, principal at Oak Grove Elementary, has been an educator for 31 years, beginning as a physical education and special education teacher in 1986. He taught in the Park Hill School District for seven years before becoming a principal there. He has been a principal for 17 years, ten years at Park Hill and seven years for the St. Joseph School District. Otto became principal of Coleman Elementary in 2010 moved to Oak Grove when the school opened in 2014. He was also a professor for seven years at Park University, and continues to teach adjunct classes at Ottawa University.

To view the news release on the retirements in full CLICK HERE

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