(News Release) TARKIO, Mo. – Plans are underway to replace the bridge on U.S. Route 136 over the East Fork of the Little Tarkio Creek. The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold two community briefings on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. The first will be from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Tarkio R-1 School. The second will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at the West Nodaway R-1 School in Burlington Junction. Designers and engineers from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be on hand at both locations to discuss the construction plans for the new bridge and gather public input. The public may choose to attend either session.

These are open-house style meetings; no formal presentation will be made. The public is invited and encouraged to offer comments at any time during either meeting. Participants will also have the opportunity to document their comments and sign up to be included on project updates via email.

The bridge over the East Fork of the Little Tarkio Creek is in Atchison County, but very near the Nodaway County line. Built in 1929 and carrying approximately 1,200 cars per day the bridge has exceeded its intended lifespan. Most of the state’s 10,376 bridges were designed and built to last 50 years. The bridge will be closed during its replacement. The project is currently scheduled to go out for bid in June 2017.

A St. Joseph gym has plans to show off $6-million in renovations with a grand opening Saturday, nearly four years after purchasing the facility.

According to a news release, Genesis Health Clubs purchased the St. Joseph Tennis and Swim Club in November of 2013. The business invested $6 million to remodel and add onto the building. The facility now features an indoor pool, running track, exercise studios, kids club, cardio, weights, group exercise, personal training, and more.

The club said in celebration of the grand opening, it will be hosting a grand opening celebration, featuring free classes, food, prizes and activities and will be waiving enrollment fees for all in attendance. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday with Mayor Bill Falkner.

“This is an exciting time for our company,” said Rodney Steven II, Owner/President of Genesis Health Clubs, “We are so excited to bring this facility to the community of St. Joseph. The greater Kansas City area is now our largest market.”

The grand opening will be held Saturday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the new facility at 3107 N Belt Hwy, Saint Joseph, MO 64506.

A St. Joseph man who claimed he was exempt from Missouri law because he is a “sovereign citizen” was sentenced Thursday for assaulting a police officer. During his nearly 90 minute sentencing hearing, Marcus Paden represented himself, and did most of the talking. But in the end he did not persuade the judge to let him walk free.

As we reported, Paden, 28, was found guilty after a bench trial in November before Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg.

He initially challenged the jurisdiction of the court, saying he should be tried under maritime law. He also complained about the fringe on the American flag in the courtroom. Last year, a judge ruled that Paden was not mentally competent to stand trial, but a subsequent examination report cleared the way for court proceedings.

At sentencing Paden said the case had nothing to do with “sovereignty,” but was instead about self defense. He also said he was sorry.

Paden was arrested after a traffic stop last May near Gene Field Road and Ashmat Lane in which officials say he refused to cooperate with officers. St Joseph Police Officer Steve Smith suffered severe injuries as he was pulling Paden out of the vehicle. Smith said in a written statement to the court that he still suffers from short-term memory loss from the concussion he suffered trying to arrest Paden. He also has limited use of his right thumb, also injured during the arrest. Officer Smith asked for the maximum sentence.

“He has no place as a free man in our community or any other community,” Smith wrote in the statement.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ron Holiday also called a witness, a confidential informant who shared a cell in the county jail with the defendant. The informant says Paden threatened to kill the victim. The informant also said Paden asked for the addresses of both the judge and the prosecutor and threatened them, as well as another assistant prosecutor.

Paden interrupted the proceedings several times to protest his innocence and to assert that the informant was lying. He also called the judge a liar. Paden claims that officer Smith “charged” him, opening the door of his vehicle and grabbing Paden by the arm.

“He pulled me out…I was choked, maced and tazed,” Paden said. “He charged me, I didn’t charge him. All I did was record him.”

“What am I supposed to do, become just another black man to die at the hands of a police officer?”

Prosecutor Holiday and Judge Kellogg endured many taunts and pointed questions from the defendant. Paden said he had nothing more to say but then continued to resume his complaints about the police, the informant, the judge, the charges, and the system.

In the end, Judge Kellogg sentenced Paden to seven years in the Department of Corrections, plus a concurrent two-day term for driving 41 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone.

“I don’t know why you didn’t just comply when they asked you for your license,” said Judge Kellogg, “then you would have paid a small fine and we wouldn’t even be here.”

“The bottom line is if we have laws, we have to follow those laws.”

Charges have now been filed against four people after a manager at the St. Joseph Rally House reported multiple employees for theft.

As we previously reported, a probable cause statement in September a manager at the store located at 3702 Frederick reported a loss of $7,455.93 due to employee theft by four of her employees.

Karleigh Eckhardt, 21 of St. Joseph was charged last week in Buchanan County with a misdemeanor for stealing.

Delaney Colvin, 21 of St. Joseph, Kristen Olsson, 23 of Warrenton and Madison McKinley, 20 of St. Joseph were each charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor for stealing in connection with the Rally House theft investigation. Court documents filed for each said the individuals made fraudulent merchandise returns and appropriated merchandise and currency from the store with the intent to retain possession of it and not pay for it.

The three newly charged in the case are scheduled for an arraignment Jan. 30.  Eckhardt is slated to appear in court Jan. 23.