UPDATE: Southeast Kerns Road and State Highway 31 are back open according to a Nixle alert issued at 9:15 a.m.

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St. Joseph Police are advising motorists to avoid Southeast Kerns Road and State Highway 31.

According to a Nixle alert at 7:20 a.m. Friday, there is current traffic congestion due to an accident with power lines and that there are power lines down in the area.

A local company admits no wrongdoing but agrees to a $112,684 civil penalty in a settlement with the EPA over pesticide violations.

In a consent agreement, EPA Region 7 staff lay out a list of 21 counts stemming from a 2013 inspection at Albaugh, LLC, at 4900 Packers Avenue in St. Joseph.

There were five reported instances of pesticide ingredients not matching the confidential statement of formulation. According to the consent order, an analysis of one pesticide product, which was ready for distribution at the time, exceeded 125 percent of the label claim for the active ingredient Clopyralid.

There were 21 instances of missing or obscured labels on pesticides.  Four of the counts related to a sticker that obscrued the “Keep out of Reach of Children” label.

EPA proceeded against Albaugh pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.  EPA officials say the use of pesticides that do not match the confidential statement of formulation can create risks to human health and the environment, as well as to plants and animals.

Another suspect has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a drug robbery near 22nd and Frederick that ended with the shooting death of Skylar Powell. Jay’Den Maynard pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery, a class-B felony.

Circuit Judge Patrick Robb scheduled sentencing Dec. 12.

Judge Robb released Maynard on his own recognizance, with a lengthy list of conditions. Those include that he stay with his mother in Kansas City, not return to Buchanan County except on court business, and not leave the State of Missouri. Judge Robb ordered Maynard to follow a curfew, to stay off of social media, and not to have contact with the victim’s family or the other co-defendants.

As we reported earlier, Four of the original six co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing, also scheduled Dec 12. Judge Robb rejected an attempt to plead guilty by the sixth co-defendant, Justin Smith. His case was also scheduled Thursday, but was continued to Oct. 26.

Prosecutors believe Powell was killed during a drug transaction in which he tried to rob his co-defendants on May 17. His body was found in a parking lot in the area of 2200 Colhoun.

Transportation officials and area law enforcement are warning that this is the time of year when they see a spike in the number of crashes involving deer. Mating season and the quest for more secure habitat have deer on the move at this time of year, increasing the chances of vehicle collisions.

A close look at the numbers indicates that drivers in Missouri are a little better than their counterparts in Kansas at avoiding such crashes. There were more crashes last year in Missouri than Kansas, but there were fewer crashes here involving deer.

Sergeant Jake Angle of the Missouri State Highway Patrol says there were a total of 148,625 vehicle crashes reported across the state last year. Of those, 2.5%, or 3,732 involved deer. There were 60,340 vehicle crashes reported last year in Kansas, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. Of those, 9,982 crashes involved deer, 16% of the total.

Here in Troop H in Northwest Missouri there were 5,047 crashes last year, with 4% or 204 involving deer, Angle said.

Wildlife officials say the greatest number of deer-vehicle crashes typically occur in mid-November when the rut, or mating season, peaks. In addition to the rut, deer are also on the move in mid-fall seeking new food sources and shelter as crops are harvested and leaves fall from trees and shrubs, leaving them less secure than in their summer habitats. Summer rains have added a new wrinkle, too.

“We have just experienced a summer rainfall pattern that has produced excellent growth of deer habitat,” said Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism biologist Lloyd Fox. “Unlike the years of drought, we should expect more fawns this fall. Young animals of all species are prone to making mistakes. That includes mistakes crossing roads. Be extra careful.”

The Kansas Highway Patrol cautions drivers to refrain from making exaggerated maneuvers to avoid a deer in the road, lest a bad situation become even worse.

“If you are unfortunate enough to have a deer enter the highway in front of your car, it is best to hit the animal and not swerve to avoid it,” said the KHP’s Lt. Adam Winters. “Often we find more serious crashes occur when you swerve to miss the deer, potentially losing control of your vehicle, leaving the road or veering into oncoming traffic.”

Other tips to avoid deer collisions include:
*Be especially watchful at dawn and dusk when deer are particularly active.
*Watch for more than one deer, as they seldom travel alone.
*Reduce speed and be alert near wooded areas or green spaces such as parks or golf courses and near water sources such as streams or ponds.
*Deer crossing signs show where high levels of deer/vehicle crashes occurred in the past.
*Use your bright lights to help you detect deer as far ahead as possible.
*Always wear a seat belt and use appropriate child safety seats. Even if you are waiting in your car, it is best to wear your seat belt, and have your children in car seats.

If you do hit a deer, here are some additional tips:
*Slow down, pull onto the shoulder and turn on the emergency flashers.
*Don’t worry about the animal. Law enforcement will arrange to have the animal removed from the road when they arrive. Tell the dispatcher if the deer is still in the road when you’re calling for help.
*If possible, remain buckled up in your vehicle, protecting yourself in the event there is a secondary crash involving another vehicle.
*If you must be outside your vehicle, stand as far off the road as possible; make sure hazard lights are activated; don’t stand between your vehicle and another vehicle; and make sure children are kept properly restrained in your vehicle.

Ongoing construction in downtown St. Joseph has led to a slight change in the route for Missouri Western State University’s annual Homecoming Parade, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

The staging area will still be at Union and Frederick Avenues. The floats, dignitaries and other participants will travel southwest on Frederick, and will be joined by the Golden Griffon Marching Band and high school bands at City Hall.

The parade will proceed west on Jules Street to Fifth Street, then south on Fifth to Francis, and west on Francis to Tenth Street, where it will disband.