The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce has released the 2016 Parties on the Parkway schedule.

The series starts in St. Joseph’s South Side in May and works its way up the 26-mile Parkway system through August. Rockin’ on the River is an encore to Parties on the Parkway, which ends the summer with a bang, with fireworks and two bands.

The Parties on the Parkway line-up for 2016 is as follows:

Thursday, May 12, Phil Vandel, Country — S.W. Parkway and King Hill Drive near Benton High School. The rain date is May 19.

Thursday, June 9, OxyMoron, Rock — S.W. Parkway and 28th Street. The rain date is June 16.

Thursday, July 14, Tracy Huffman and the Walking Sticks, Folk Rock — S.W. Noyes and Messanie, Parkway A. The rain date is July 21.

Thursday, Aug. 11, Money for Nothin’, Alternative Country — across from Corby Pond. The rain date is Aug. 18.

“Parties on the Parkway is a great way to get to know a little of our city with friends, family and colleagues,” said Natalie Redmond, Vice President of Membership with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “Come out and enjoy the Parkway, hear live music from local musicians, and eat and drink with your friends.”

All parties are from 5 to 8 p.m., and are free and open to the public. The Chamber said it’s a family-friendly event, with one or more food and drink vendors available and a balloon artist for the kids.

Rockin’ on the River will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, near the Remington Nature Center along the Missouri River.

This year also will feature a special event at Felix Street Square called Rock the Park. This free event is from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20. Kick off the summer’s live music scene downtown at this special event that officially opens the new concession stand at Felix Street Square and celebrates downtown. Soca Jukebox and Under the Influence will perform.

Caregivers at Mosaic Life Care showed support for sexual assault victims through a pair of jeans Thursday that will be given to the St. Joseph YWCA.

The hospital said in an effort to bring awareness to the plight of sexual assault victims, Mosaic Life Care and the State of Missouri took part in Denim Day.

It said in 1992, an 18-year-old in Italy was picked up by her driving instructor to begin a driving lesson. Soon after, the instructor raped her on the side of the road. She pressed charges and won her case. The instructor appealed, and the case when to the Italian High Court.

In 1999, the court overturned the conviction. One member of the High Court declared that, since the girl was wearing very tight jeans, the instructor could not have removed them by himself, and the girl must have been a willing participant. Women of the Italian legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest. In April 1999, the state of California established the first Denim Day in the United States.

Mosaic Life Care Caregivers displayed their support to these people by signing a pair of jeans that will be given to the YWCA battered women’s shelter.

“There is a national push to increase awareness and talk about this [sexual assault],” said Natalie Maupin, Mosaic Life Care’s forensic trauma program coordinator. “let’s give people a voice.”

Mosaic Life Care said years ago, all Emergency Department (ED) caregivers who provided one-on-one treatment to patients received training to deal with sexual assault victims and the special issues they present both physically and psychologically. With the encouragement of ED Team Leader Sarah Cassity, Natalie became a certified to teach care for sexual-assault victims, including the collection of valuable medical-forensic evidence. She teaches this 60-hour class about twice a year.

The hospital said Natalie’s next goal was building a team to respond — on an on-call basis — when a victim of sexual assault comes in. Natalie requested $35,000 from the Auxiliary to develop the forensic trauma program and pay for equipment, technology and software, education and training, and patient resources.

She found a group of 15 ED caregivers that are available on an on-call basis so that caregivers are not taken out of the normal care process and gives the victim undivided attention for what could take hours to complete.

“It allows us to spend lots of time discussing what happened with the victim. We tell them they are in a safe place, and that it is safe for them to tell us what happened,” she said. “We are one of the first people to come in contact with victims.”

The National Military Heritage Museum plans to officially close its doors in St. Joseph only weeks after reopening.

The Board of Directors made the announcement in a news release Wednesday.  It said the closure is for the foreseeable future due to museum insurance costs and attendance.  The board plans to close the museum located at 701 Messanie St. effective May 1.

CLICK HERE to read the release in full.

It said the insurance cost is increasing by almost $3,000.  Over 3/4 of it is for coverage on the liability of the property and not the actual artifacts.

Also, it said attendance in the last eight weeks since reopening hasn’t been sufficient to keep up with utilities, maintenance and day-to-day operations.

“Our opening month, we had 135 visitors including our grand re-opening, netting $600 in Admissions and $180 in donations. April has been substantially less, as of April 27th, we have had 23 visitors. 8 of the 14 days of operation so far for the month have had zero attendance,” the release said.

The board still plans to open an exhibit at the East Hills Mall to showcase the museum.  Also, the board is talking about plans to make the Museum exhibits mobile.

The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating a report of shots fired Wednesday night in St. Joseph.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said officers responded to the area of 18th and Charles streets in response to a call of shots fired just before 10:30 p.m.  He said several shell casings were found.

“There are no suspects at this time and very little information as to what occurred,” Wilson said. “We encourage anyone with information to contact the police department.”

Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

A dispute between two candidates in the race for Buchanan County Sheriff is going to court. Current Undersheriff Bill Puett, a candidate for the office, has filed a civil complaint against Pat Grove, one of his opponents in the Republican Party primary.

“There is an issue of licensing,” Puett said in an interview,”you have to have a license when you file as a peace officer. Only a person with standing, meaning another candidate can bring that forward.”

“Obviously my job as a law enforcement officer is to bring alleged violations of the law to the court, and have the court look at it. That’s all we’re asking. This is a legal issue. We’re asking the court to look at it and determine whether everybody is eligible to run for sheriff.”

Mr. Grove says he was unaware of a law requiring candidates to have a valid peace officer license at the time they file for office. He says the list of requirements posted on the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office Web site has changed since the filing period ended. That Web site now lists the certification requirement, as well as a notice that reads, in part: “Candidates are responsible for researching the full requirements and
responsibilities of the particular office they seek.”

Grove says the list has changed and he was certified at the time he filed.

“I don’t believe I made a mistake,” Grove said in an interview. “I followed the rules, and listed everything that I was supposed to when filing, and was certified by the clerk, at that time, eligible to file.”

A Buchanan County judge has scheduled the matter of Puett versus Grove for a trial setting on July 27.

Traffic was diverted in the area of Ashland and Noyes while crews worked to remove storm debris.

St. Joseph Post’s Rob Horning reported at 5:28 p.m. Wednesday that crews are working to remove a downed tree in the area of Douglas and Ashland.  He said while crews are removing the tree traffic was being diverted at Noyes and Ashland and Douglas and Ashland.

Wednesday afternoon several thunderstorms moved through the area with reports of strong winds and hail.