The St. Joseph YWCA is invited the public to its annual meeting this week.

The YWCA will be holding its Annual Meeting on April 12th from 4-6 p.m. Attendees will learn about the new national YWCA USA branding campaign, “On a Mission,” and see milestones from 2015 accomplishments. The meeting is free to attend.

The meeting will begin with a brief social time running from 4-4:30 p.m. followed by a time for special awards and announcements beginning at 4:30 p.m. YWCA leadership will recognize members who are retiring from the YWCA Board as well as elect and install new Board members. They will also be honoring staff members for their service milestones. Corporate and volunteer partners will also be named and recognized during the meeting.

“This is a time of celebration and sharing of achievements during the past year, and a time for YWCA Members and guests to hear how this work is impacting St. Joseph and surrounding area residents,” said Jean Brown, YWCA St. Joseph executive director.

Here are some highlights from 2015 across YWCA programs:
· Sheltered 225 women and 188 children from abuse or homelessness

· Provided extended housing for 42 women and 37 children who are making a new start

· Partnered over 50 percent of JUMP teens with an adult mentor

· Partnered 48 7th grade girls with an adult MWSU Athletic Department mentor through the CHOICES program

· Provided licensed childcare to 63 children so parents could continue working on their education or improving their employment opportunities

· Coordinated nearly 300,000 nutritious meals served to children in the area

· Helped provided emotional support to 16 moms through Mom’s Times sessions

· Equipped 65 individual parents through Parenting Classes

“Day by day at the YWCA we are working to eliminate racism and empower women. We’re excited about how we align with the new YWCA USA ‘On a Mission’ campaign. Meeting our goals takes many forms and we want to let St. Joseph residents see how we’re impacting our community,” Brown said.

For those planning to attend the meeting held at the YWCA on April 12th, an RSVP can be sent to Erica Fattig either by phone at 816-232-4481 or by email: effatig@ywcasj.org

An accident in Harrison County early Sunday sent a Bethany man to the hospital with moderate injuries.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says David Parkhurst was driving along Missouri Highway 13 when he lost control of the vehicle. According to the crash report, the Jeep Cherokee left the highway and hit a guardrail, then returned to the road and ran off the other side of the highway, hitting a bridge wall.

Mr Parkhurst , 43, was transported to Harrison County Community Hospital with what were described at the scene as moderate injuries.

A locally-owned health food and supplement store is closing after being in business for more than 20 years. A to Z’s Fresh Air Fare, in the Missouri Theater Annex at 112 S. 8th Street, will close early next month.

In an E-mail to regular customers, A to Z’s owners James Fly and Connie Saxton said “it all began with a jar of peanut butter, 40 years ago, and ends now with a healthy farewell.” The store was closed for over a year by a fire in the Missouri Theater Annex in 2011.

“When we re-opened in 2012, we had been planning to operate the store for only a few years,” according to the E-mail.

The pair says Jim turns 65 this summer, and the couple will pursue other interests and goals. Mr. Fly is a Certified Health Coach, and says he is excited about accepting a limited number of clients after A to Z’s closes.

“It really did begin 40 years ago with a jar of peanut butter, because Mary Carol Prince couldn’t find a healthy jar of it in St. Joseph,” Fly said in the announcement. Ms Prince opened the store while Mr Fly was a journalism student in California.

“Today, of course, you can find a jar of natural peanut butter in just about any grocery store. In time, Mary expanded her offerings to include vitamins, supplements, bulk herbs, fresh carrot juice, and organic produce, to name a few. Mary, who still lives in this area, truly was a pioneer of the natural health movement in St. Joseph.”

Some of those products have been sold to two local businesses who will continue to carry particular products and product lines. One of them may surprise you. The AZ brand of supplements will be sold to SYDKO Enterprises, of St. Joseph, Missouri, otherwise known as Kovac’s Fireworks! Fly says Kovac’s Fireworks owner Becky Thomas has been a regular customer and fan of this line and couldn’t bear to see it not be available locally.

“Yes, the “hottest” new item at Kovac’s Fireworks will be AZ vitamins and supplements,” Fly says. The AZ supplement line will be sold at the Kovac’s King Hill Road location beginning May 15. The store’s line of essential oils has been sold to Jamie’s Secret Garden (811 North Woodbine).

For those who want to stock up, Fly says they will take special orders, paid in advance, through April 22. The store, located at 112 S. 8th in downtown St. Joseph, is currently liquidating stock with significant discounts. They will also sell a lot of the fixtures, including freezers, refrigerators, display cases, some antiques and other items.

A man walking along the upper deck of I-229 in St Joseph was killed early Sunday morning when he was hit by a vehicle.

St Joseph Police Traffic Supervisor Sergeant Chris McBane says the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sgt. McBane says officers were called to the area at 1:48 a.m. Sunday. He says they are not releasing the name of the victim, or additional circumstances of the crash, pending notification of relatives and their continuing investigation.

The investigation prompted police to shut down northbound traffic on the interstate between U.S. Highway 36 and St. Joseph Avenue for nearly five hours.

The St. Joseph Museum is hosting a summer trip to the Henry Doorley Zoo and Aquarium® in Omaha, Nebraska.

The museum said children are invited to grab a parent(s) or grandparent(s) and join in this adult/child getaway, which takes on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30.

Participants will enjoy a sleeping bag safari inside the Scott Aquarium/Shark Reef on the evening of July 29. The visit will include drinks, snacks, an animal visit, and breakfast the following morning. Trip participants will also receive a campout patch and t-shirt. The next morning, campers are free to experience the Henry Doorley Zoo at their own pace until 3 p.m.

The first day of the trip will include dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in the Old Market section of Omaha. From there, trip participants will check in at the Henry Doorley Zoo Scott Aquarium where the group will enjoy a visit from one of the many animals that live at the zoo.

The motorcoach will leave from the St. Joseph Museum, 3406 Frederick Avenue, at 1 p.m. on July 29 and return to the museum at 5:30 p.m. on July 30. The cost will be $150 per participant, which includes luxury motorcoach transportation, dinner buffet at the Spaghetti Factory, a visit to the Hollywood Candy Warehouse, drinks, snacks, animal visit, camp t-shirt, camp patch, and admission to the Henry Doorley Zoo. So bring your air mattress or sleeping bag, a pillow, and a toothbrush to join the fun! Space is limited and reservations can be made at the St. Joseph Museum admission desk or by calling 816-232-8471. Pre-paid reservations are due by June 28.

The City of St. Joseph Landmark Commission will announce the 2016 Historic Preservation Awards later this month.

A ceremony will be held Sunday, April 24, 2016 at The Dome (First Church of Christ Scientist) located at 1201 Felix Street, St. Joseph from 2:00-4:00 pm. Refreshments will be served and the event is open to the public.

The awards ceremony recognizes citizens for recent accomplishments toward restoring and maintaining St. Joseph’s historic homes and businesses as well as individuals or groups who have made contributions towards historic preservation. Projects completed within the last two years, or near completion, are eligible for an award. The most endangered structures will also be recognized at the ceremony, to raise awareness that a number of architecturally and historically significant structures are at risk.

Isobel McGowan, Chair of the Landmark Commission, will be the ceremony’s emcee. Cole Woodbury, local historian, will deliver the keynote speech.

For information about the city’s Historic Preservation Awards contact Scott Des Planques, Historic Preservation Planner at the City of St. Joseph at (816) 271-4797.

The St. Joseph Museum is hosting a Mah Jongg party to benefit the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

The party will be held at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, 1100 Charles Street, on Thursday, May 26, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. The event will begin with a luncheon. The afternoon will also include party favors, door prizes, and a boutique area for shopping. This is the seventh year for the event, which is a benefit for the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

Party guests are invited to explore the mansion during the afternoon event. The interior highlights Victorian-era décor, and period photographs give guests an added visual of what it would have been like to visit the home at the turn of the 20th century. The mansion features woodwork, ornate patterned floors and hand-painted ceilings with images of cherubs and clouds. Each of the three floors of the ornate 1879 mansion is dedicated to one or more of the historical exhibits, the newest of which is titled “Confluence: The Great Flood of 1993.” The exhibit addresses the flood’s physical, economic and social effects on the surrounding area.

The Mah Jongg Party at the Mansion will take place at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, 1100 Charles Street, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26. Due to the number of groups that attend, participants are required to bring their own Mah Jongg set. The cost of the event is $25 per person/$100 per table. Space is limited to twenty-two groups and pre-paid reservations are required by May 23. To reserve a table, send the fee and the names of the players to the St. Joseph Museum, PO Box 8096, St. Joseph, Missouri, 64508 or call 816-232-8471.

The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating after a man allegedly threatened a victim with a knife while trying to steal items from a car Friday morning.

Police responded to the 1600 block of Frankie Ln. in reference to a vehicle larceny/robbery just before 6 a.m.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said an individual saw a man breaking into a vehicle and confronted the suspect.  The man then allegedly brandished a knife and threatened the victim.

“Suspect then jumped into a Chevy truck (red, with extended cab, 90’s model) and fled,” Capt. Wilson said. “Unknown who suspect is at this time.  Suspect was described as wearing baggy clothing with a dark hat on.”

No one was injured.  Several personal items and cash was reported taken as a result of the incident.

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

(Story changed to not identify gender of the victim. Police reports indicated one way and alleged victim indicated otherwise.)