MARYVILLE, Mo. – The community is invited to enjoy an evening of music and desserts when the Northwest Missouri State University Jazz Combo and First Christian Church host January Jazz and Divine Desserts.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at First Christian Church, 201 W. Third St. in Maryville. It is free and open to the public.
The Jazz Combo will perform music popularized by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Charlie Parker, and others. The combo is under the direction of Dr. Bill Richardson, professor of music at Northwest, and will consist of Nick Foster, alto saxophone; Benoit Gauthier, guitar; Michael Sears, piano; Daniel Bates, bass; and Nick Ubben, drums.
Desserts, provided by members of First Christian Church, will be served after the concert with coffee and hot cocoa. The church will provide child care.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wildlife biologists on the feral hog strike team have tallied up numbers for 2016. The year yielded a total of 5,358 feral hogs removed by MDC, partner agencies, and private landowners, which is a significant increase over efforts the previous year. In 2015, 3,649 feral hogs were removed from the landscape.
Some attributing factors in the increase include MDC’s “Report, don’t shoot” message to encouraging trapping, banning hog hunting on conservation areas, and a strong public awareness campaign.
Southeast Missouri trapped 2,941 feral hogs, which is where the highest density of feral hogs occurs. The Ozark region trapped 1,293 while the Southwest region trapped 1,006 hogs. St. Louis, Central and Kansas City regions all trapped fewer than 100 feral hogs each.
Alan Leary, MDC’s Wildlife Management Coordinator and leader of the Department’s feral hog eradication efforts said although the goal is to eradicate feral hogs in the state, a more immediate goal is to keep the feral hog population from spreading to those northern regions.
“We made significant progress in 2016,” said Leary. “The key to eradicating these destructive, invasive pests is cooperation with private landowners and partners in efforts to report hog sightings, continue trapping and deter hog hunting and the illegal release of hogs.”
In 2016, MDC partnered with other conservation groups, agriculture organizations, and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation to provide the state’s feral hog strike team with more trapping equipment for use on both private and public land, and to fund public education efforts on the dangers of feral hogs. MDC increased communication efforts, bolstering an already active feral hog communications campaign with statewide media efforts on agricultural news stations. Through this campaign, the public heard from private landowners who suffered hog damage and are working with MDC and USDA to eradicate feral hogs. They also helped spread the message to “Report, don’t shoot” feral hogs.
“The majority of land in Missouri is privately owned, so it’s crucial that we engage the public, educate them on the dangers of feral hogs and engage them in our trapping efforts,” Leary said. “Through our communications campaign, more landowners are learning more about feral hogs, asking for help and ridding their property of this invasive species.”
Landowners are also learning that it’s much easier to get rid of feral hogs if you trap the whole sounder, rather than allow hunting and only shooting one or two, he said.
While hunting is a very effective tool for managing populations of wildlife, feral hogs are not wildlife and the goal is to remove them. Killing feral hogs for sport hinders efforts to eradicate them for several reasons.
“Some hunters intentionally release feral hogs in new areas to establish populations to hunt and hunters usually only shoot one or two hogs out of the group, while the rest scatter across the landscape and become more difficult to catch,” Leary said. “Hunting actually compounds the problem.”
While trapping is an effective method for eradicating feral hogs, when it comes to the remaining few of a sounder they are difficult to eliminate. Feral hogs are great at noticing details that tip them off to avoid a trapping area. They have coloring that blends into the landscape and hide in thickets and dense cover. Therefore, in the winter when trees are bare, MDC occasionally uses aerial gunning to reach the ultimate goal of removing this elusive, invasive animal from the landscape. Through the combination of these different techniques, MDC’s feral hog team made significant progress in eradicating feral hogs last year.
“It’s vital we continue our efforts and get the feral hog population under control before it spreads any further,” Leary said.
Feral hogs are not wildlife and are a serious threat to fish, forests and wildlife as well as agricultural resources. Economic losses resulting from feral hog damage in the U.S. is estimated at greater than $1.5 billion per year. Feral hogs damage property, agriculture, and natural resources by their aggressive rooting of soil in addition to their trampling and consumption of crops as part of their daily search for food.
Feral hogs have expanded their range in the U.S. from 17 to 38 states over the past 30 years. Their populations grow rapidly because feral hogs can breed any time of year and produce two litters of one to seven piglets every 12 to 15 months. Feral hogs are also known to carry diseases such as swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, trichinosis and leptospirosis, which are a threat to Missouri agriculture and human health.
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens paid a visit to the Jefferson City maintenance facility on Monday, Jan. 16 to show his appreciation to all MoDOT and Missouri State Highway Patrol employees for their life-saving efforts during Winter Storm Jupiter.
“Thanks to the efforts of MoDOT and the Missouri Highway Patrol, there were fewer accidents and fewer fatalities than on an average dry day,” said Greitens. “The people of Missouri were counting on you. And today, because of the work you did, people are waking up with their kids and grandkids”
“Families are whole because of the work you did. You saved lives. And I just want you to know how incredibly impressed I was with the work that you put in,” he said
Matthew JackmanA man accused of rape in Clinton County could find himself back in jail to await trial, after allegedly making contact with the victim while out on bail.
Last August, a judge reduced Jackman’s $5,000 cash bail to allow him to post a 10% surety bond. At that time Judge Teresa Christian-Bingham ordered Jackman to stay away from the victim and her residence.
Earlier this month, Prosecuting Attorney Joe Gagnon filed a motion to revoke bond. The motion cites a bond violation report dated January 5, that said Jackman violated the conditions of his release by having contact with the victim. No hearing has been scheduled on the bond motion, according to online court records.
On Thursday, Judge Christian-Bingham scheduled a preliminary hearing March 15.
Jackman is also accused of bilking a Cub Scout group out of nearly $22,000. In court documents, police said when a new Pack Leader took over the group’s checking account, he discovered missing proceeds from popcorn sales and thousands of dollars in checks Jackman allegedly wrote to himself while he was Pack Leader. Police say Jackman was the only person with control of the account during the period from 2013 to 2015. According to a court affidavit, an auditor tallied the missing funds and improper checks during that period at $21,917.66.
Police said in court documents that the suspect denied ever taking any funds for personal use, and said he does not know where the missing money went.
Jackman is charged with one class-C felony count of receiving stolen property, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 24 in that case.
Dwight Scroggins, Buchanan County Prosecuting AttorneyThe Child Support Division of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reports a continued increase in child-support collections for 2016. For the first time in five years the total is over $13 million.
Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins said collections were up 5.17% over 2015, as over $13.5 million.
The Child Support Division has approximately 5,700 open cases involving approximately 8,000 children in Buchanan County.
“We take pride in what our Child Support workers are able to accomplish,” Scroggins said.
It is an extremely difficult task, and one which our folks accomplish better than anyone else, anywhere.”
Scroggins said the division established 314 paternity orders, 7,192 employment-withholding orders were filed, and 725 people who otherwise refused to support their children faced criminal prosecution.
Scroggins offered praise for the judges in the 5th Judicial Circuit.
“Without their dedication to these issues, our employees would not be able to accomplish what we have accomplished,” he said. “Judges (Keith) Marquart and (Rebecca) Spencer have approximately 700 cases each o probation for non-payment of child support, which are court supervised. Judge (Randall) Jackson and former Judge (Weldon) Judah have always allowed specific days set aside each month for our heavy caseload.”
“Without that ongoing focus by our local judiciary, these accomplishments would not be possible.”
Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street is hosting its annual Chocolate Crawl for a Cause event starting at noon on Saturday, February 4 in Downtown Lee’s Summit, MO. Again this year, participants are asked to bring a small donation, either monetary or non-perishable food items, to benefit Lee’s Summit Social Services this winter season.
Donation can be dropped off at GOT Art Gallery from 12-4pm on the day of the event. In return for the gift, the first 750 shoppers will be given a special Lee’s Summit chocolate bar (courtesy of MCC/Longview and Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce), an event wristband, and a downtown map.
The wristband allows for participation in promotions and discounts that day as a special thank you from Downtown Lee’s Summit shops and restaurants for the donation to our community. Participating stores will be highlighted on the downtown map given to shoppers so they can easily find the businesses providing promotions and discounts. Shoppers can use the map or follow the balloons for chocolate treats, discounts, and Valentine’s Day shopping.
Participating businesses and their promotion/discount are as follows:
@jolly’s: 10% off storewide
A Thyme for Everything: Tax free shopping
Advanced Sports & Family Chiropractic + Acupuncture – Lee’s Summit Location: Complete a spinal screening to receive in-store raffle for an Insignia 32″ TV. Donate $25 to LSSS in-store and schedule a free chiropractic exam.
Blue Heron Design: $10 off a purchase of $50 or more
The Browning Lee’s Summit: 10% off reservations made that day
Cameron’s Home Furnishings: In-store drawings
Courageouslifenow, KHL Design Studio, Celebrating Personal Treasures: raffle for 3 career/life coaching sessions and a 55 picture life celebration video / DVD package
Equity Bank: giveaways and drawings for gifts
The Eye Station Lees Summit: Enter a drawing for a free eye exam; 25% off sunglasses
Fringe Beerworks: $1 Chocolate Beer Tasters; $2 off full pours of select beers
Good Life Yoga and Tea: 20% off all Chocolate Teas
Grains & Taps: Chocolate beer specials
Henry’s Antiques & Collectibles: 30% off total purchase
KD’s Books: 10% off storewide
Lee’s Summit Social Services Thrift Store: 20% off storewide; Free hot chocolate
The Living Stone: 10% Off Total Purchase
Llywelyn’s Pub Downtown Lee’s Summit: 15% off
Luxxe Apparel: 10% off; enter to win a $100 gift certificate
Main Slice Pies & Pints: $3 domestic draws, $2.50 slices of pizza
Maria Estelle Brows + Skin: Raffle for a free “paparazzi” skin treatment; 15% off appointments booked for a later date
Neighborhood Cafe: $1 slices of chocolate cream pie and german chocolate pie
Poppy’s Ice Cream & Coffee House: 10% off total order
Razzberry Wimzy: 20% off Fabricut Fabrics
Red Door Wine Store: $5 chocolate and wine tasting from 12-3pm (2 chocolates & 2 wines)
Shining Light Music: 10% off total purchase
The Sports Scene (Lee’s Summit, MO): 10% off all merchandise; Buy one get one half off (equal or lesser value)
Summit Video Services: 14% Off Valentine’s Day Transfer Gifts (Video, Audio, Photos, etc.)
Third Street Social: Enter drawing for gift certificates
Timekeeper’s Clock Shop: Tax free shopping
Very Violet Boutique: $5 off a $20 purchase & enter drawing for a free class
Whistle Stop Coffee and Mercantile: Free samples of Chocolate Raspberry coffee and $1 off per pound of Chocolate Raspberry Coffee Beans
Xpressions Boutique by colorXpressions: 10% off total sale
Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street presents Chocolate Crawl for a Cause in partnership with MCC/Longview and the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce.
A Missouri man is set to appear in federal court in Kansas City, Kan. Monday on charges he and his accomplices scammed desperate homeowners with false promises to help them save their homes.
A federal indictment alleges the defendants used the U.S. Postal Service and the Internet to target victims with financial problems.
U.S. Attorney for Kansas Tom Beall said Tyler Korn, 27, St. Ann, Missouri, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and five counts of wire fraud.
Co-defendants Amjad Daoud, 32, Lutz, Fla., and Ruby Price, 72, Bonner Springs, Kan., already have appeared in federal court in in the case.
The indictment alleges Korn and Daoud used the address of a UPS store in Overland Park, Kan., to form Reliant Home Financial Group, a company they operated out of the St. Louis metro area. Price operated The Arize Group from rented space in Overland Park. Together, they devised a scheme to defraud homeowners with false promises of protecting them from foreclosure.
The indictment alleges the defendants fraudulently promised the victims to:
— Lower their interest rates.
— Lower their monthly payments
— Help them obtain loan modifications.
When victims received foreclosure notices, the defendants allegedly advised them not to worry about it.
If convicted, Korn faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count. The Department of Housing and Urban Development investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
(Update Sunday) NPG announced on its website that an agreement has been made.
(Update Friday 4:25 p.m.) – Station blackout may not end for fans to see Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
As we previously reported, AT&T* said it is calling on KNPN to end a local station blackout so fans can see Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
Since January 12, the FOX KNPN station has been unavailable to DIRECTV customers in the St. Joseph area as News-Press & Gazette and AT&T try to come to terms on a re-transmission consent agreement.
Chris Lester, Senior Public Relations Manager with AT&T said a letter was delivered to KNPN-FOX and KNPG-NBC’s general manager Eric Bradley Thursday afternoon.
“We rarely do public messaging in negotiations such as these. But we feel we must respond in this particular case,” Lester said.
AT&T provided the St. Joseph Post with a copy of the letter from Robert Thun, AT&T Senior Vice President, Content & Programming. Thun said he is asking that on Sunday, KNPN and its parent company, News-Press & Gazette, return KNPN to all DIRECTV customers living in the St. Joseph region for, at minimum, the duration of this game so customers can watch the Atlanta Falcons play the Green Bay Packers in NFL Playoffs.
Letter provided to St. Joseph Post (Click to enlarge)
“We agree to compensate News-Press & Gazette for KNPN’s entire day’s schedule rather than just the three hours for a typical game, and also apply any higher retransmission consent rate to which we eventually agree,” Thun said. CLICK HERE to read Thursday’s press release on the blackout from AT&T.
According to NPG’s website they will not be granting the request.
“Yesterday, DirecTV requested that NPG provide temporary retransmission rights in order for their subscribers to have access to the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday. We will not be granting temporary retransmission rights to DirecTV in order for their subscribers to receive the AFC and NFC championship games on Sunday,” NPG said in a statement. CLICK HERE to view the company’s latest update.
Suspect 1 (Click to enlarge)Suspect 2 (Click to enlarge)
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help to identify suspects who broke into a convenience store Thursday.
Sgt. Jeffrey Shanks said the burglary took place at the Trex Mart in Camden Point at I-29 and MO E Hwy around 1 a.m. He said four suspects forced their way into the store after hours and used a pry bar to remove an under counter safe. The suspects wore hooded sweatshirts and partially covered their faces. The suspects took the safe and left the area in a dark colored newer Jeep Grand Cherokee. The department has released photos of two of the suspects.
Anyone with information in regards to this crime, or who may know the identity of the four suspects is encouraged to contact the Platte County Sheriff’s Office via the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS, or submit a TIP via the Platte County Sheriff’s Office website CLICK HERE.
As we previously reported, the St. Joseph Police Department is also investigating a burglary that took place around 4:30 a.m. Thursday. The three suspects in that investigation were described to be wearing hoodies and drove away in a black Jeep after stealing a safe from the Speedys at Belt and Beck.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A subsidiary of Magellan Midstream Partners will complete $16 million in upgrades to pipelines and pay a $2 million fine as part of a federal settlement following pipeline ruptures in three states.
Federal officials said in a statement Thursday that the first incident occurred in February 2011, when a pipeline carrying petroleum ruptured north of Texas City, Texas, spilling hundreds of gallons. Later that year two lines were ruptured when struck by heavy machinery near Nemaha, Nebraska, causing more than 2,800 gallons of diesel and jet fuel to spill.
The third leak spilled about 1,800 gallons of diesel near El Dorado, Kansas, in May 2015.
Magellan is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The settlement is unrelated to a Magellan leak of anhydrous ammonia in Nebraska that killed a farmer last October.
