Post Staff – Page 517 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Windy & mild with rain on the horizon; Here’s today’s forecast!

Posted on March 1, 2016March 1, 2016

Temperatures will warm up briefly on Wednesday with highs in the upper 40s to lower 60s. Another cold front will move through the area Wednesday night bringing the chance for showers and cooler temperatures on Thursday with highs in the lower 40s to mid 50s.

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 41. North northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 25. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a light south southeast wind becoming south 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Wednesday Night

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday

Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 50. North wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 60.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Sunday

Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Monday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

St. Joseph man gets life for girlfriend’s beating death

Posted on February 29, 2016March 1, 2016

James Earl Eackles was sentenced to life in prison Monday for beating his longtime girlfriend to death last year.

Eackles, 46 pleaded guilty in Buchanan County Court to felony second degree murder.

As we previously reported, in February of 2015 officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to the 2200 block of S. 15th St. to find Carol Cunningham, 40 dead in the home

The probable cause statement said Eackles admitted to striking his girlfriend several times. Officers found her with significant injuries to her face and body which resulted in her death. Eackles and the victim have lived together for several years.

Obituaries February 28-29

Posted on February 29, 2016March 3, 2016

Franklin Thomas “Tom” Willits, Jr.
1944-2016

Franklin Thomas “Tom” Willits, Jr., 71, Easton, Missouri passed away Sunday, February 28, 2016 at Mosaic Life Care.
He was born December 1, 1944 in Los Angeles, California.
Tom married Karen Courter on May 4, 1985.
He proudly served in the United States Army National Guard for six years and worked as a service technician for Southwestern Bell for 35 years until retiring in 2001.
Tom was a member of ATT Pioneers, past President of the St. Joseph Bow Hunters and attended Culbertson Chapel United Methodist Church in Stewartsville, Missouri.
He enjoyed crappie fishing, hunting for morel mushrooms, deer hunting and camping.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin Sr., and Crystal (Cutler) Willits; and daughter, Tina Marie Willits.
Survivors include wife of 30 years, Karen; son, Corey Willits, Pawleys Island, South Carolina; twin brother, Charles Willits (Anita), St. Joseph, Missouri; sister, Mary W. Sears (Peter), Lincoln, California; special cousin, Karen (Cutler) Zirger (Ron), Highland Ranch, Colorado; and numerous extended family and friends. Tom was loved by many for his kind and generous ways and will be greatly missed.
Graveside Farewell Services & Inurnment 10:00 A.M. Thursday, Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Culbertson Chapel United Methodist Church, Stewartsville, Missouri or to Karen for a special gift to the Mosaic Life Care Nursing Staff for their wonderful care of Tom. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Muriel Oris French
1925-2016

Muriel Oris French, 91, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Sunday, February 28th, 2016 at Mosaic Life Care.
She was born to Carl Arthur Johnson and Oris Marion Pearson in Denver, Colorado, and then grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Beginning early in her life, she developed a love of art. When she was in 3rd grade, she began taking the bus by herself to Joslyn Art Gallery, which was one block from her home. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from University of Minnesota, and worked at the University Of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
She met her husband, Ivan M. French, M.D. at this hospital. They married on October 4, 1947. They moved to Wahoo, Nebraska, a small town near Omaha, where Ivan practiced family medicine and Muriel was an exemplary homemaker. They attended The First Presbyterian Church of Wahoo, and were members of a couple’s bridge club for 50 years.
They had four children: Richard D. French, M.D. (Linda), James E. French, M.D. (Virginia), Marcia (Mrs. Rick D.) Gilmore, and William A. French (deceased). All of their children graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. Muriel started commuting to NWU and earned a second bachelor’s degree in Art History while her daughter was a student there. One of her paintings was purchased for the private collection of NWU. Her drawings were published in a book of activities for children with speech impairments.
In 2002, Muriel moved to St. Joseph. She resided at Corby Senior Living (The Fountains) and was active in their bridge club, book club, the American Association of University Women, and the First Presbyterian Church. She lived here until God called her Home. She was known as “Grammie” French to her beloved grandchildren: Jon French, Michelle (Paul) Thyren, Elizabeth (Jeremiah) Miller, Steven French, Katie (Joe) Lane, Rachel (Bryce) Szczepanik, and Chris (Marilyn) Gilmore. She has seven great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Her family will remember her for her unending wisdom, love, and support. She was a shining example of generosity and selflessness, always putting others before herself. She had the incredible ability to make everyone feel special, and she was the most special of all.
Farewell Services 4:00 P.M. Saturday, First Presbyterian Church. Interment 11:00 A.M. Monday, Sunrise Cemetery, Wahoo, Nebraska. The family suggest memorials be sent to First Presbyterian Church of Wahoo, NE, or the church of their choice. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

George Butler Scott
1938-2016

George Butler Scott, 78, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Sunday, February 28, 2016.
He was born February 11, 1938 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mary (Butler) Scott.
Survivors include children, James Otis Scott, Rhlonda Carrie Potts and Renae Elizabeth Scott; and two grandchildren.
Natural Farewell, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family suggests donations to Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory to help defray funeral expenses. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Leroy E. Mix
1948-2016

Wathena, Kansas Leroy E. Mix, 68, of Wathena, Kansas passed away Monday, February 29, 2016 at the Mosaic Life-Care of St. Joseph, Missouri. Leroy was born on January 29, 1948, on the farm near Bendena, Kansas to Harley L. & Cynthia M. (Bullock) Mix. He attended Oakland & Bendena grade schools, Midway High School & graduated in 1966. He then attended US Trade School in Kansas City, Missouri. Leroy joined the U.S. Army. After his discharge, he farmed until 1997 and worked for Caterpillar as a technician for 25 years. However, Leroy was always a farmer at heart. He was a member of the American Legion Post #161 of Wathena. Leroy married Carol Weythman on June 23, 1984 in Troy, Kansas. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by his parents. Additional survivors: children, Debbie May, Kansas City, Missouri Michael Clifton, St. Joseph, Missouri Stacy Herrington, Kansas City, Kansas Angel Mix, Helena, Missouri Ted Mix, St. Joseph, Missouri 3 step-grandchildren & 2 step-great-grandchildren Sisters, Cynthia Alley (Bob), Wetmore, Kansas Dessie Costello (David), Atchison, Kansas 3 nephews, 1 niece & several cousins Funeral service: 10:30 A.M. Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Wathena, Kansas. Visitation: 7-8:30 Thursday evening at the funeral home, where friends may call after 9 A.M. Thursday. Burial: Courter Cemetery, Troy, Kansas, where there will be military honors under the auspices of the American Legion Post #161. Memorials: FFA of Wathena or the American Legion Post #161 www.harmanrohde.com

Charles M. Schaible
1917-2016

FAIRVIEW — Charles M. Schaible, 98, of rural Fairview, died early Monday morning, February 29, 2016, at Vintage Park Assisted Living in Hiawatha.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha.

Ron Hibbs
1940-2016

Curtis Ronald (Ron) Hibbs, 75, Forest City, Missouri died unexpectedly Monday, February 29, 2016.
Ron was born August 18, 1940 at McFall, Missouri. The son of Maurice and Lenora (Boyd) Hibbs.
He attended McFall Schools and graduated from Pattonsburg, Missouri High School in 1958. Ron graduated from Highland Community College in 1960, where he exceeded in basketball, baseball, and track. He was a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a B.S. Degree.
Ron was a former teacher and coach at Union Star and North Andrew High Schools. He retired from Weyerhauser Corp.
Ron was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman, during his life and active with youth hunting groups.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include son, Randy (Colette) Hibbs, Savannah, MO; daughter, Jodie (Clayton) Runnels, Stewartsville, MO; granddaughter, Adrian (Riley) Cary, Stewartsville, MO; great-grandson, Quincy Cary, Stewartsville, MO; brother, Clifton (Janis) Hibbs, Clarksdale, MO; former wife, Carolyn Mikes Myers, Stewartsville, Missouri.
Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Thursday, Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg, Missouri. Interment McFall Cemetery, McFall, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, St. Joseph, Missouri and the family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service, Roberson Funeral Home. Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Loud night-time booming noises have Trenton Fire Department investigating

Posted on February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

The Trenton Fire Department said it is not yet for sure what is causing unexplained booming noises at night in the Trenton area.

“To put it bluntly, we do not know what is causing them – and neither does anybody else,” the department said Monday on Facebook. “This also does not appear to be a local phenomena- these sounds have been reported in different areas of the US for a while now.”

Fire Chief Rick Morris said the noises started about three weeks ago.

“They’re bigger than an M-80 that’s fore sure. They’re more like an M-100 or an M-500,” Morris said. “We’re trying to triangulate it down and we think that we’re close then all of a sudden they appear to come from another direction too. So it’s mobile like somebody’s driving around or someone is moving around.”

Morris speculates that the noises are due to illegal fireworks.

“It’s a ground burst it’s not up in the air,” Morris said. “If we have some illegal fireworks out there we want to confiscate them and stop this because somebody could hurt themselves or hurt somebody else.”

At this point Morris said he has not yet even found a residue of the blast or any leftover markings on the ground.

“I’ve been suspicious it might be what they call a sparkler bomb,” Morris said. “The thing is usually there’s debris leftover from that like wire and stuff but we haven’t even found that.”

He said the loud noises are happening randomly and all over town.

“The first ones seemed to appear in the northern part of the city and then we had one over in the extreme eastern side,” Morris said. “I go out at night whenever I hear them and drive around and I’m suspicious of any cars that are leaving the area quickly but we’re not finding any location.”

The department said on Facebook that it’s just as curious as the public to the explanation of the sounds and they plan to post any information that becomes available.

Gas prices rising quickly as refinery maintenance and production cuts begin

Posted on February 29, 2016

AAA said Monday that the national average price of gas has increased for six consecutive days for the first time since early November.

The company is attributing the higher moving gas prices to refinery maintenance season and some refineries cutting production in response to abundant supplies.

The national average for gas has climbed by four cents per gallon in a week to around $1.75/gallon. Prices are likely to continue to rise as the spring refinery maintenance season ramps up. Monthly and yearly savings persist and drivers are saving five cents on the month and 65 cents on the year.

In Missouri the average is $1.59/gallon, 14 cents higher than last week. St. Joseph’s average is up 11 cents to $1.60/gallon.

AAA said global crude oil supply remains front of mind and the price of oil continues to swing in response to shifting expectations of future supply and demand. The world’s top oil producing nations recently have considered potential agreements that would freeze production levels to stabilize prices. Despite these discussions, many of these countries rely on oil profits to finance national operations and social programs, and thus any agreement faces significant headwinds as countries look to fill budget deficits by producing oil at higher levels. Both global benchmarks, Brent and West Texas Intermediate, managed to post weekly gains, though market fundamentals continue to point to abundant supplies.

Teen artwork to be displayed at Congressman Sam Graves’s Offices

Posted on February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Artwork by northwest Missouri high school students recently adorned the walls of Northwest Missouri State University-St. Joseph as part of the sixth annual art competition sponsored by the University and Congressman Sam Graves, who represents the Sixth Congressional District of Missouri.

A panel of artists, in coordination with Northwest Professor of Art Phillip Laber, selected the following winners of this year’s contest:

· First place: Amanda Rader, Lathrop High School; “Union Station” (chalk)

· Second place: BreeAnna Saur, Lathrop High School; “Working Hands” (pencil)

· Third place: Abi Painter, Lathrop High School; “Silverware” (charcoal pencil)

· Honorable mentions:

o Simaran Singl, Fort Osage High School; “Underground” (print)

o Linsey Brewer, Winnetonka High School; “Classmate” (charcoal)

o Alexandra Eblen, Blue Springs South High School; “Discovery” (photography)

The contest winners were honored Feb. 1 at a reception at Northwest-St. Joseph where Graves presented the awards. As the first place winner, Rader receives two round-trip tickets to Washington, D.C., to attend a ceremony with other winners from across the United States and see her artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capital. She also received a $500 scholarship to attend Northwest.

Additionally, Graves will display Saur’s work at his Kansas City office and Painter’s work at his St. Joseph office.

Burn ban continues for Doniphan County

Posted on February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

Doniphan County has extended its burn ban as dry and windy conditions continue Monday afternoon.

Doniphan County’s Emergency Mangement Dir, Julie Meng said a burn ban has been extended until further notice. The county first issued a ban Saturday at 7 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions for parts of the region from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday for low relative humidities and windy conditions. Winds are anticipated to be sustained at 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph with the stronger winds across extreme northeast Kansas into far northwest Missouri.

Red Flag Warning issued due to critical fire weather conditions

Posted on February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

National Weather Service watches/warnings map

…DRY AND WINDY THIS AFTERNOON…

.WHILE HUMIDITY VALUES AND WIND HAVE BEEN RATHER BENIGN THIS
MORNING…COMPARED TO THIS WEEKEND…BY THIS AFTERNOON BOUNDARY
LAYER MIXING WILL ONCE AGAIN LIKELY INDUCE CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS
FOR A FEW HOURS. FOCUS FOR THE DRIEST AND WINDEST AREAS WILL BE
ACROSS EXTREME NORTHEAST KANSAS INTO FAR NORTHWEST MISSOURI…AREAS
ALONG WEST AND NORTH OF I-35.

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM
CST THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND WINDY CONDITIONS FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES EASTERN KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING.

* WIND…SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED AT 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO
30 MPH EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ACROSS
EXTREME NORTHEAST KANSAS INTO FAR NORTHWEST MISSOURI.

* HUMIDITY…MINIMUM HUMIDITY VALUES WILL RANGE BETWEEN 20 AND 30
PERCENT ALONG THE KANSAS-MISSOURI BORDER THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY.

Two injured in Brown County crash

Posted on February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

Two people were hurt in a crash Saturday near Fairview, Kansas in Brown County.

State troopers say an SUV driven by 22-year-old Zachary Sandeffer of Atchison failed to yield the right of way at an on ramp onto US highway 36 west of Fairview shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday.

The vehicle hit the driver’s side door of an SUV driven by Jeni Lanter, age 20, of Hiawatha.

Sandeffer was transported to Hiawatha Hospital, and Lanter went to Sabetha hospital for treatment.

Two killed in SE Kansas crash

Posted on February 29, 2016

Two people were killed in a head-on crash in southeastern Kansas Sunday evening.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a Grand Prix driven by 17-year-old Derek Brumbaugh of Pittsburg crossed the center line along US highway 69 north of Arma, Kansas at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday.

His car crashed into a pickup truck driven by Dvid Kessler of Kearney, Missouri. Both drivers were killed. A 16-year-old girl in Brumbaugh’s car was injured, and was taken to Via Christi Hospital for treatment.