The City of St. Joseph Health Department hosts the fifth in a series of public meetings on “Bicycle Friendly Communities” Wednesday night. The meeting will focus on education, teaching bicycling skills, safe riding habits, and how to reach out to the driving public with relevant messaging.

This is the 5th in a series designed to inform the public on the attributes of becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community.

The open-format meetings began last September and have been informational for attendees as well as a place for planners to gather feedback from the public regarding the concept of St. Joseph becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community.

The public is encouraged to attend. Bicyclists have an obvious interest, but becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community will impact everyone who uses the streets and hike and bike trails in St. Joseph. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the 2nd floor conference room of the health department. After entering the front door of the health department, take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor and enter Suite E; the conference room will be on your right. For more information, call (816) 236-1491.

Missouri Western State University’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation will offer two opportunities for youth to learn recreational skills that can be used throughout life for fun, health and fitness.

The Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy, for children ages 8-12, and the Adventure Sports Academy, for children who have completed grades 6 through 8, will be held June 6-10.

The Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy began in 1973. Instruction is offered from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ages 8-10 receive introductory instruction in a number of lifetime sports. Ages 11 and 12 receive intermediate instruction, with an emphasis on outdoor adventure activities. Activities include canoeing, rappelling, fishing, archery, obstacle course, pickle ball, racquetball and many others.

Registration is limited to 125 students. The cost is $80 for the first child in a family and $70 for each additional child. For more information, call 816-271-4491 or visit www.missouriwestern.edu/hper/childrens-lifetime-sports-academy/.

The Adventure Sports Academy started in 2015 as a way to build on the success of the Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy. Instruction is offered in canoeing, scuba diving, ropes courses, martial arts, rappelling and skeet shooting. The week culminates with an overnight outdoor camp experience. Classes are held from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 5:30 p.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. Friday.

Registration is limited to 25 students. The cost is $125 for the first child in the family and $135 for each additional child. For more information, call 816-271-4491 or visit www.missouriwestern.edu/hper/adventure-sports-academy/

(News Release)

A St. Joseph man made his first court appearance Tuesday after a manhunt last week in Buchanan County.

Christopher Kennedy, 42 was charged Friday in Buchanan County with a felony for resisting arrest stemming from an incident that took place early last week. Tuesday, Kennedy appearance by video conference for an arraignment.

As we previously reported, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area of 135th Rd/SE Nuckols Rd. Tuesday near Easton and searched the area for nearly three hours after authorities said a deputy tried to stop a vehicle for speeding on 36 highway and a chase began.

According to court documents, Kennedy is accused of speeding, traveling through residential driveways, through several fences and then fleeing the area on foot.

A counsel status hearing has been slated for June 3, a preliminary hearing is set for June 10.  Kennedy remains behind bars on $5,000 bail.

One person is dead and another seriously injured after an ATV crash in Platte County.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office along with Fire and EMS responded to an ATV accident at 1:55 a.m. on Sunday North of Kisker Road.

The driver of the ATV, 42-year-old Daniel J. Belk of Platte City was deceased at the scene. The passenger on the ATV, 41-year-old Donita L James, also from Platte City, was transported by life flight from the scene with serious injuries.

The ongoing accident investigation is being completed by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office Crash Team.

St Joseph Fire Department crews had their hands full in the 2400 block of South 16th Street Tuesday afternoon.

What started as a “check for trouble” and a “9-1-1 hang up” became a “debris fire” and then finally a fully-involved “structure fire.”  Crews were hampered putting out the fire by a malfunctioning or broken fire hydrant.  The house is about three blocks from a fire station.

At least one person was checked out by paramedics.  It was not immediately known if the woman was taken to the hospital.  She was talking with paramedics at the scene.

Crews removed a section of the roof to gain access to the rear of the home at 2404 S. 16th, and once they secured a water source, were able to aggressively fight the blaze.

A fire investigator was expected at the scene.

Refresh this post for updates as soon as they become available.