The Appellate Judicial Commission announced today that it is accepting applications for judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. The panel hopes to forward three names to the Governor in June.

Citizens are encouraged to nominate well-qualified candidates for the commission’s consideration. The Missouri Constitution requires that a judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a United States citizen for at least 15 years and a qualified Missouri voter for at least nine years preceding selection.

Nominations should be submitted to the commission by mail to Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District Judge Vacancy, P.O. Box 150, Jefferson City, MO 65102.  You may also submit names via e-mail at WDJudgeVacancy@courts.mo.gov.  The nomination form an instructions are available online here.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, April 29, 2016.

The commission expects to meet Monday and Tuesday, June 6 and 7, 2016, at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District at 1300 Oak Street in Kansas City, to interview applicants and select a panel of three nominees for the governor’s consideration. The interviews will be open to the public. The names of those to be interviewed and information relating to the number and characteristics of all applicants will be released publicly prior to the beginning of the interviews.

The vacancy on the court was created by the retirement of Judge Joseph M. Ellis. Judge Ellis retired on March 1 after nearly three decades of judicial service, including the last 23 years on the appeals court. He was in the private practice of law in Macon from 1972 – also serving six years as the municipal judge for the city of Macon – until his August 1993 appointment to the appeals court. He served as the court’s chief judge from July 2002 through June 2004 and served as chair of The Missouri Bar’s division of judicial administration since 2004. Judge Ellis also served on the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline from 2007 to 2012 and was the commission’s chair in 2011.

Gerber is voluntarily recalling two organic baby foods.

The company said as a result of packaging defect, some of the packaging used in two batches of GERBER® Organic 2ND FOODS® Pouches – Pears, Carrots & Peas and two batches of GERBER® Organic 2ND FOODS® Pouches – Carrots, Apples & Mangoes with best by dates of July 12, 2016, July 13, 2016, July 14, 2016, may be susceptible to spoilage during transport and handling.

It said as a result in some cases the pouches are bloated or the product inside could have an off taste or odor.

It recommends not using the recalled products.

For more information CLICK HERE.

A St. Joseph businessman and lifelong resident has been elected to lead the Ag Expo directors and guide organizations progress.

Kent Brooner was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors during the Annual Meeting of the Agri-Business Expo, held March 10. He’s been involved with Ag Expo since its inception and currently chairs the Ag Expo Property Committee.

A lifelong St. Joseph resident, he is president of Brooner Construction and Crane, a commercial general contractor and crane service established in 1961.

Volunteers are being sought to help out with a Special Olympics powerlifting meet in St. Joseph.

The Special Olympics Missouri North Area will host their 2nd annual powerlifting meet on Sunday, April 3rd at HiddenGym HQ located at 4410 S. 40th St. Athletes will weigh-in at 9 a.m. and opening ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m. Events will start immediately after.

Athletes from Saint Joseph, Kansas City, Richmond, and Southwest areas will compete in bench press, dead lift, and combination lifts.

Volunteers are being sought to help rack weights, record scores, and hand out awards.  SOMO said individuals with a powerlifting background are especially urged to lend a hand.  Anyone interested should call 816-233-6232 or email Humphreys@somo.org.

This area meet will give these athletes the opportunity to advance to the State Summer Games in Springfield, Missouri on May 20-22.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – A road closure planned for Route 46 in Nodaway County has been postponed due to weather.

Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation planned to close Route 46 between Burr Oak Road and Route PP from 8am to 3pm for a culvert replacement.

Due to weather, that closure has been postponed until Friday, March 25 from 8am to 3pm.

All work is weather permitting and schedules are subject to change.

Severe weather blew through our area, packing hail and high winds.  No injuries or structure damage have been reported.

Storm reports include at least one downed tree east of Tarkio, where officials reported dime to penny sized hail in drifts up to a few inches deep in places. Skidmore officials reported hail the size of quarters.

A tree hit by lightning south of Cameron blocked traffic briefly on 69-highway. High winds in that area blew a semi off the road and into the median.

Harrison County officials reported hail the size of nickels in Gilman City, and at least one tree blown down along 146-highway in the southeastern part of the county. Pea to dime sized hail was reported near Trenton.

Here is St Joseph, weather watchers confirmed pea sized hail and wind gusts up to 59 miles per hour.