Demolition and salvage operations continued on Tuesday in the 300 block of S. 3rd Street in downtown St Joe. But the owners of the Home Style Furniture and America’s Mattress are still waiting for word on whether they can remain in the building.
As we reported, Bob and Deana Hand sold all of the inventory already in the store to a salvage company. The firm was busy hauling it away Tuesday. Outside the building, the Hands huddled with engineers, adjusters and lawyers as an inspection continued. The south wall of their store may have sustained structural damage during the fire at the Mitchell Seed building next door just over a month ago.
The couple expects to find out soon just how bad the damage to their facility is, and whether they can continue to occupy the building. Meanwhile, they are searching for a new location, just in case.
“We’re looking,” said Deanna Hand. “But, it will be hard to replace this building.”
A Fillmore man is facing several felony charges after allegedly firing a rifle at a home in Andrew County.
Cody Martin, 31 is charged with two felonies for first-degree assault, a felony for discharge/shooting firearm at a structure, a felony for unlawful use of a weapon, a felony for armed criminal action, and a felony for first-degree property damage. All of the charges allegedly stem from an incident that took place early Monday morning in the 8800 block of County Road 58 in Savannah.
According to court documents a man reported his home had been shot at shortly before 2:30 a.m. waking up himself and his wife. Deputy Grant Gillett with the Andrew County Sheriff’s Office reported in court documents to finding several apparent bullet holes in the front door and front window.
“Andrew County Deputies and members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol later located several spent shell casings on County Road 58. It was also discovered that the post for the mail box had been hit, along with a business sign that would have possibly caused damage to the suspect vehicle,” Gillett said.
The victim allegedly told officers he believed it was Martin who shot his house up due to an ongoing feud. Another deputy allegedly responded to the house where Martin lives in Fillmore a little before 4 a.m.
“Deputy Hudson did make note that a maroon Ford F-150 sitting in the driveway was still warm in the engine compartment, and the windows did not have frost on them,” Gillett said. “Cody invited him into the residence. While speaking to him in the living room, he noticed a rifle sitting next to a chair, along with two other firearms.”
Gillett said he then responded to that location.
“Cody gave written consent to officers to search his residence and his Ford F-150 sitting in the driveway. During the search two .22 rifles were seized one being the gun Cody stated he was shooting earlier in the night,” Gillett said.
Officers allegedly recovered shell casings in the truck that matched shell casings found at the scene of the shots fired.
“Cody stated that he was just so mad that his life was ruined…and that he just wants some justice done,” Gillett said in a probable cause statement. “Cody stated that he was the sole person in the vehicle and that he never planned this, it just happened.”
Martin is currently being held in the Andrew County Jail on $50,000 bail. A court date is not yet shown on online court documents.
A Platte City teenager charged as an adult was bound over for trial in Buchanan County court Tuesday on charges stemming from a series of home invasions in August in St. Joe.
As we reported earlier, Te’Avion Hawkins was charged last week with felony first-degree burglary. Hawkins was certified as an adult Friday and charges were filed after the certification order was issued by Judge Patrick Robb.
According to court documents, on August 15th, officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to a home in St. Joseph after two men allegedly forced their way in and stole items after displaying a firearm to the victim.
“The victim stated she knew the male who knocked on the door as Te’Avion (T-Man) Hawkins,” Det. Doug Howard said in court documents. “Other co-defendants in this case also stated Te’Avion Hawkins was with them at the time of the burglary.”
Hawkins waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the case and was bound over for trial. Associate Judge Rebecca Spenser scheduled Circuit Court arraignment January 26 at 8:30 a.m.
Four people were arrested in the investigation. Jabin Bullock pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing this week. Another adult is being sought by police, and was identified as Gregory Allen Hayes. Court records do not reflect an arrest. A 15-year-old was charged and is being adjudicated as a juvenile.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says motorists should be ready for anything as the winter driving season approaches. As we reported earlier, a patch of ice in the road contributed to a serious crash Monday morning on Missouri Highway 6 in Dekalb County, and authorities say we can expect a lot more similar crashes as cold weather moves in.
Missouri’s weather forecast changes regularly, especially when winter is approaching. Depending on where you live in Missouri, the weather may be sunny, foggy, or include rain, hail, sleet, ice, or snow! The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages motorists to plan ahead and drive safely or not at all during inclement weather. Winter weather will affect driving conditions and traffic patterns. Please remember to buckle up, stay alert, be courteous, and obey all traffic laws.
Section 304.012 RSMo. directs motorists to exercise the highest degree of care while driving on Missouri’s roadways. When inclement weather hits, please adjust how you drive, so that you continue to “exercise the highest degree of care.” For instance: Stopping quickly in the winter on snow-covered or icy roads is next to impossible. Use care by increasing your following distance as you drive. Ask yourself if the speed you’re traveling is safe for the weather conditions. Slow down when driving in snow or on ice. Driving the speed limit may not be “exercising the highest degree of care” during inclement weather; driving over the speed limit never is.
Take time to make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before winter arrives and before you travel. The Missouri State Highway Patrol suggests keeping your fuel tank at least half full. Place an ice scraper, tire chains, battery booster cables, blankets, extra coats, gloves, water, non-perishable food, flashlight, and a bag of sand or cat litter in your trunk. Emergencies cannot be predicted, but planning ahead can help you if one should arise. Missouri’s Road Condition Report (1-888-275-6636) can help you plan your route–before you leave. You may also view MoDOT’s Road Condition Map by going to the Patrol’s website www.mshp.dps.mo.gov and clicking on the Road Condition icon. When road conditions become slick from ice and snow the Patrol encourages motorists to refrain from driving unless absolutely necessary.
Take the time to make sure the windows are completely cleared to ensure visibility. Clear your driveway so that your vehicle enters the roadway safely. Allow extra driving time for you to reach your destination at a slow, safe speed. Remember: Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on. It takes only a second to turn on your vehicle’s headlights. That second could make you more visible to other drivers and prevent a traffic crash.
If you have a cell phone, make sure it’s fully charged and with you when you travel. Please do not use your cell phone when you are driving; park your vehicle well off the roadway or in a parking lot before placing a call. The Missouri State Highway Patrol emergency number is 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). These numbers ring at the nearest troop headquarters.
Scott Gilbert
An escaped inmate involved in a shootout with police in Platte County now awaits sentencing on the escape charge in Kansas.
Scott Gilbert, 53, has already been sentenced to 128-years in prison in Missouri after a Platte County jury found him guilty of ten felonies including firing at a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest
Gilbert was also charged in Leavenworth County with aggravated escape from custody. He waived his right to a jury trial, acted as his own lawyer, and did not contest the evidence offered against him. Prior to the bench trial, Gilbert was denied his motion to dismiss based on the Interstate Agreement Detainers Act (an act in which a person in custody can request a trial or hearing within 180 days if they are in the custody of another jurisdiction).
A judge found him guilty on the escape charge and scheduled sentencing for December 19.
In 2010, Gilbert was convicted in Sedgwick County for burglary and theft and was serving time at the Lansing Correctional Facility. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson says Gilbert, along with two others, escaped the Lansing Facility on May 5, 2013. Randy Riddens fled Kansas and into Missouri on that day before law enforcement could apprehend him. Riddens previously plead guilty to the same aggravated escape charge. Riddens was found in Topeka. He received 122 months sentence for this crime. Allen Hurst still awaits trial for the aggravated escape.
An 18-year-old St. Joseph man appeared in court Tuesday on charges stemming from an alleged assault last week.
Byron Brown is charged with 3rd degree assault, a misdemeanor. Judge Rebecca Spencer set the case for a preliminary hearing December 15.
Police say another teenager, Zachary Taylor, was invited to a home in the 2200 block of Monterey Drive on the night of November 30.
There, he was allegedly met by five people and assaulted, according to the victim. As we reported earlier, police say Brown was one of five peoplenamed during by Taylor during the investigation.
Brown remains in custody in the Buchanan County Jail, unable to post $7,500 cash bail.
A St. Joseph woman was seriously injured in a one vehicle crash Monday morning around 8:45.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 24-year-old Hope M. Wicks was traveling west on MO 6 in DeKalb County, one mile east of Oak in a Ford Fusion when she hit a patch of ice while driving around a curve in the road. The vehicle went off the south side of the road, hit an embankment and overturned, coming to rest on the drivers side.
Wicks was transported by to Mosaic Life Care with serious injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt.
Light snow is possible beginning early Wednesday afternoon through the late evening hours. Accumulation is not expected to exceed 1 inch for most areas, though locally higher amounts are possible. This activity during peak travel times may create slick roadways and cause delays during the evening commute. Frigid conditions will then settle over the region with wind chill values below zero degrees possible Thursday morning. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 36. West northwest wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 24. West wind 3 to 7 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of snow, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 29. North northwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 24. Northwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 11.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.
There’s still time to help out families in need here in St. Joe during the Christmas season.
“We learned today that some families had missed the deadline, but as of today, 738 families applied to be adopted,” says Penny Adams of the AFL-CIO Community Services Adopt A Family program.
“Of those 738, we have 416 that are not yet adopted, so we’re going to concentrate, and do our best to get those folks taken care of.”
The program matches up needy families with donors, who supply Christmas gifts in a number of ways.
“If they want to actually look at families and review them, they can give us a call, or email us,” Adams says. “They can choose whether to go shop for them or give gift certificates. They can buy individual gifts while they’re shopping. ”
“If they want to meet the families they can do that, or they can remain anonymous. Or they can give monetary donations.”
You can call AFL-CIO Community Service at (816)364-1131. Or go to their Web site here.
The Albrecht-Kemper Musuem of Art plans to re-open this weekend after a fire forced the museum to close last month.
As we previously reported, an electrical fire forced the museum to close last month after a large amount of smoke spread through the building. The fire took place in the loading dock area but no active flames were reported and it was quickly contained. Since Nov. 13 a professional cleaning service has been assisting with clean-up.
A re-opening is scheduled for Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m for two new exhibits. Jane Graves with the museum said public is invited to the reception for “Printmaking in Kansas City: The Moffett Collection” and “Wish You Were Here: Postcards Reconsidered.” There is no charge to attend the opening
AKMA Cafe will reopen for lunch on Wednesday and Thursdays starting Dec. 14.
Conservators are still working with the permanent collection so Graves said the lower level of the museum is temporarily closed until that job is complete.
