A former northeast Kansas tribal casino employee pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzlement.

Donald M. Collins, 32, Wetmore, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization. In his plea, he admitted the crime took place while he worked as a Players Club Representative for the Sac and Fox Casino, which is owned by the Sac and Fox Nation of Kansas and Nebraska.

Collins made counterfeit player cards and placed unearned free play on player cards belonging to his friends. Collins and others played the cards. The value of the counterfeit cards, along with winnings generated by the cards, caused a total loss to the casino of $30,766.

Sentencing is set for July 7. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Hy-Vee is voluntarily recalling Maytag Raw Milk Blue Cheese across its eight-state region including Missouri due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.

The recalled cheese was sold in whole wheels and cuts, and re-packaged in foil or clear plastic wrap with scale labels in various weights. Blue cheese crumbles were also sold in plastic containers. All product was labeled as “Maytag Blue Raw Milk,” “Maytag Blue” or “Maytag Iowa Blue Cheese” and with PLU numbers beginning with 854089001 and with “use by” dates between Jan. 20, 2016 and May 3, 2016. The product was sold from cheese cases in all of Hy-Vee’s 240 stores, located in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, between Nov. 20, 2015 and March 2, 2016. Out of an abundance of caution, Hy-Vee is recalling all sizes and forms (wheels, wedges and crumbles) of Maytag Blue Cheese products from all of its stores.

The potential for contamination was discovered after testing by the State of Iowa revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in two lots of product. Maytag Dairy Farms has voluntarily suspended production and distribution while the company collaborates with FDA and the State of Iowa to determine the cause of the problem.

Customers who purchased this product should discard it or return it to their local Hy-Vee store for a full refund.

Almost two weeks after their deaths authorities have officially released the names of the victims of a homicide investigation in Edgerton.

Wednesday the Platte County Sheriff’s Office said the four victims from the Feb. 19th fire at 4170 Buena Vista Road in Edgerton have been formally identified by the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victims are; Russell Denham,82, his wife Shirley Denham, 81, their granddaughter Heather Ager, 32, and Heather’s 3-month-old son, Mason Schiavoni.

When Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived at the location on February 20, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Deputies saw three bodies in the front yard, two adults and one infant.  A dog was also dead in the yard.  All of the bodies had been burned.

A male body was found by an out building east of the home.  The body was laying on its back and was badly burned.

A red plastic gas container was found approximately four to five feet from the body.

Family members had previously identified the victims, however authorities had been awaiting the examination of dental records before confirming the identities.

The elder Denham’s grandson and Heather’s brother, Grayden Denham, later was arrested in Arizona and has been identified as a person of interest in the deaths, though he has not been charged with them.

The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce says a Leap Day Visioning Luncheon was a success as participants looked at ways to improve the community.

More than 40 people were in attendance at the luncheon held Monday at the Savannah School District Office.

Participants included individuals from the City of Savannah, Andrew County Government, the Andrew County Museum, Savannah School District, Andrew County Ambulance District, MWSU, Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation, Healthcare, Insurance, Finance and Utility Industries, and many other local businesses, non-profits, and residents.

Mary Ingersoll, Chamber Dir. said participants were challenged to make the most of the extra day in 2016 by casting a vision for the next Leap Day in 2020. She said they were asked, “Where do you want to be in your personal life, your business and as a community?”

The group was asked to discuss their community’s Best Kept Secret. This conversation led to a listing of the top four existing community assets. These were first, our people, sense of community & community events. The second asset identified was our strong schools. Third was the town’s location and proximity to many big city amenities including an international airport and world-class professional sports teams. The fourth asset recognized was the local amenities & services including parks, museum, library, emergency services & more.

Five issues & projects were identified. First the group wants to do a better job of welcoming newcomers and visitors and marketing the community. Second there was a strong emphasis on the need to improve community collaboration for growth. The third initiative recognized was the need for rehabilitation of the Savannah town square. Fourth was a renewed focus on cleaning up the town and code enforcement. Fifth on the list of action items was development of a Performing Arts Center and Recreation Center.

Participants made commitments to the issues or projects that they would most like to pursue and encourage. Ingersoll said the next step will be getting started on each of the five groups together in meetings scheduled in March.

St. Joseph, Mo. —Missouri Western State University will confer its highest honor, an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, on Dr. Mark Laney, CEO of Mosaic Life Care, during the Spring Commencement ceremony May 7.

Missouri Western’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the honor during their regular meeting Feb. 25.

“Since his arrival in the community seven years ago, Dr. Laney has been a remarkable champion for this university and community,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “His contributions and service to Missouri Western are numerous: he and Mary-Margaret Laney have served with Dan and Dale Boulware as co-chairs of our Centennial Capital Campaign, and Mosaic has generously supported our science and health programs. He has also been a champion of our entire community, including his support of downtown revitalization by the relocation of Mosaic Life Care facilities there.”

Missouri Western’s Spring Commencement will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the newly renovated Spratt Memorial Stadium.

Sobriety checkpoints have been announced for Buchanan County during the month of April.

The Northwest Missouri DWI Task Force said it will be holding checkpoints on Buchanan County Roads sometime during the month of April.

“We appreciate the cooperation of motorists that find themselves passing through a checkpoint. Our goal is to take impaired drivers off the road making them safer. If you find yourself in a checkpoint please pay extra attention to the posted signs and officers working to make your community safer,” the St. Joseph Police Department said in a news release.

Checkpoints for March have already been announced. The St. Joseph Police Department previously said it plans to take part in National St. Patrick’s Day Holiday Crackdown to reduce drunk driving fatalities. That enforcement will be held throughout St. Joseph from March 17-20.