According to a recent report, Buchanan County’s poverty level for young children is higher than both the state and the national averages.

The 2016 State of the State: Poverty in Missouri Report was released Feb. 4th.  The report is a comprehensive resource of statewide poverty information.

Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph said recent data indicates that 31% of children age 0 to 5 living in Buchanan County are living in poverty, which is 5% higher than the state average and 7% higher than the national average.  It said Buchanan County has also experienced an overall increase in households in poverty, increasing from 12.67% in 2009 to 16.52% in 2013.

Seniors living in Andrew County also saw an increase in poverty from 8% to 16.7% over a four year period.

Click the link to view the Missouri Poverty Report Press Release- CAP St. Joseph.

A Chillicothe man is facing additional charges in a child sex investigation.

On Thursday, Adam M. Woodworth, 37 was charged with 11 counts of class D felony incest.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said Woodworth was originally charged in Aug. of 2015 in Livingston County with sex offense related charges and that part of this case has been assigned by the Missouri Supreme Court to Circuit Judge David Miller. All of this stems from the same initial investigation by the LCSO, Missouri State Technical Assistance Team, Child Advocacy Center, Children’s Division, and Juvenile Office.

Woodworth has posted bond on the charges from August 31, 2015 but is currently incarcerated in Ray County per Court order and is being detained on the additional charges from February 18, 2016.

Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney Annie Gibson was assigned to this original investigation and filed the additional charges on February 18, 2016.

St. Joseph, Mo. —Dr. Paul Orscheln has been named associate vice president for enrollment management and student retention at Missouri Western State University. Orscheln, currently vice president for student services and enrollment management at Colorado State University-Pueblo, will begin his duties at Missouri Western Feb. 23.

“In 17 years of enrollment management experience, Dr. Orscheln has a proven track record of success,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “He knows Missouri well, having grown up, attended college and started his career in the state. I’m confident that his dynamic, positive approach will provide great leadership for Missouri Western’s effort to address enrollment management in a comprehensive, systematic way.”

Dr. Orscheln has been at CSU-Pueblo since 2013. Previously, he served enrollment management positions at Northern Kentucky University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Central Missouri. Under his leadership, CSU-Pueblo saw a 15 percent increase in freshman enrollment in the fall of 2014, and the prospective student inquiry pool increased by 42 percent in just two years. Northern Arizona enrolled the three largest and most academically qualified freshman classes in the institution’s history while Dr. Orscheln was there.

At Missouri Western, Dr. Orscheln will work collaboratively with colleagues across campus to provide leadership in the development, implementation and ongoing assessment of an aggressive and comprehensive strategic enrollment management plan to attract and retain successful students. He will report to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

A high-tech investigation by international, national, and local law enforcement agencies has led to a 135-year prison sentence for a prior sex offender who created a series of child pornography images while repeatedly abusing a young girl.

Charles R. Burge, 36, of Kansas City, received the prison term on Thursday in Platte County after earlier pleading guilty to three counts of first degree statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “This man was brought to justice following a complex, high-tech investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies. The message from this case to child predators is simple: We are hunting for you, we will use the power of technology to find you, and we will bring you to justice.”

The investigation involving Burge began with a request to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from a foreign law enforcement agency to help identify a series of child pornography images known as the “Lexie” series.

As a result of that request, investigators with the Department of Homeland Security in Boston began attempting to identify the victim depicted in the images in March 2014.

The “Lexie” series consists of about 140 images which chronicle approximately four years of abuse of a girl between the ages of eight and 11. The images had been altered using Photoshop or a similar program to hide things in the images that might reveal the perpetrator’s identity or location.

After an extensive investigation by Homeland Security agents from Boston and Kansas City utilizing cutting-edge computer forensic methods, authorities identified the victim in the photos as a girl living in Platte County.

Law enforcement officers served a search warrant at a Kansas City residence in Platte County on October 3, 2014. Burge and the girl depicted in the photos were both present at the residence when the search warrant was served. Investigators also found numerous items that matched backgrounds in the “Lexie” series.

Burge was immediately arrested, charged the next day, and has remained in the Platte County jail since. He had been convicted of a 1996 rape of an eight-year-old child in Arkansas. At the time of his 2014 arrest, he was on probation in Platte County for failing to register as a sex offender.

Circuit Judge Tom Fincham sentenced Burge to 30 years in prison on each of three counts of first degree statutory rape, 25 years for sexual exploitation of a minor, 20 years for enticement of a child, and 10 for endangering the welfare of a child. Fincham ordered the first five sentences to run consecutively, resulting in a 135-year sentence.

Zahnd said, “Some judges in other jurisdictions have suggested that child pornography is ‘just pictures’ and complain that long sentences for possessing child porn are unjustified. But this case proves that the demand for child pornography fuels horrific sexual abuse of actual children. The real victim in this case happened to be an elementary school student from Platte County, but her abuse was promoted by perverts around the globe. Unlike some judges elsewhere, Judge Fincham fully recognized the clear and present danger presented by child pornography.”

A massive grass fire in Platte County forced several road closures Thursday.

The Missouri Department of Transportation began warning drivers around 12:30 p.m. on Twitter of road closures.

#Breaking: K-92 is closed to traffic in Platte Co due to large grass fire. Closure from 45 Spur to Beverly. #besafepic.twitter.com/knGWRQLR5Y

— MoDOT Kansas City (@MoDOT_KC) February 18, 2016

#Breaking: Another view of the large grass fire that has shut down Rte 92 south of Weston in Platte Co. #besafe pic.twitter.com/cjDX1W5d0r — MoDOT Kansas City (@MoDOT_KC) February 18, 2016

#Breaking: Dangerously high winds have fueled a large grass fire shutting down Rte 92 south of Weston in Platte Co. pic.twitter.com/yEFeCAq1MH

— MoDOT Kansas City (@MoDOT_KC) February 18, 2016

#Breaking: Centennial Bridge commuters Rte 92 from 45 Spur to Beverly in Platte Co is closed due to large grass fire pic.twitter.com/nET14E95jq — MoDOT Kansas City (@MoDOT_KC) February 18, 2016

Several Kansas City News agencies were also tweeting about the grass fire.  Natalie Davis with KCTV5 said around 100 firefighters were on scene.  

Fire crews keeping media a safe distance away from massive grass fire. About 100 firefighters, 6-7 agencies @KCTV5pic.twitter.com/c09MsHNqsF — Natalie Davis (@NatalieKCTV5) February 18, 2016

Fox 4 News is reporting the fire spreads over 50 acres.

Fire crews battle major 50-acre grass fire in Platte County https://t.co/UVT0RoHLOwpic.twitter.com/vUBjVb0ZOJ

— FOX 4 News (@fox4kc) February 18, 2016

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning until 8 p.m. Thursday.

St. Joseph, Mo. —Financial aid professionals from Missouri Western State University will offer free assistance to families filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, during a “FAFSA Frenzy” event from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28 inside Remington Hall.

“In 2013-2014, Missouri college students received $3.8 billion in financial aid from the federal government and other sources,” said Marilyn Baker, Missouri Western director of financial aid. “The first step in accessing that aid is filling out the FAFSA, and we are happy to be able to help.”

Families who bring their completed 2015 income tax returns will be able to complete their 2016 FAFSA on-site. Those who haven’t completed their tax returns will still learn valuable information to help them finish the FAFSA at home.

Students attending one of nearly 100 FAFSA Frenzy events across the state can enter for a chance to win a scholarship for the 2016 fall term at a Missouri college, university or other postsecondary education institution.

The FAFSA deadline for Missouri is April 1. However, the priority deadline for Missouri Western is March 1, so Baker encourages students to apply early.

For additional information about Missouri Western’s FAFSA Frenzy event, call the Office of Financial Aid at 816-271-4361.

This is the 13th year that Missouri has participated in College Goal Sunday, a national effort to help students apply for financial aid. Since 2004, FAFSA Frenzy has helped more than 16,000 Missouri students complete the FAFSA.

Several area residents reportedly heard a loud boom Thursday morning in the Deer Park neighborhood.

“It felt like a loud boom and it kind of shook the house a little bit,” said Aimee Wilson who lives on Ivy Court. “Kind of like during the 4th of July when people do the really big fireworks and it just kind of shakes a little bit but it was just one big boom and the lights flickered a little bit and that was kind of it.”

Wilson said it happened shortly after 6 a.m.

“My grandma lives two houses down and she had sent me a message to see if I heard it and it had actually work her up,” Wilson said.

Ruthie Pistole told us it sounded like an explosion and it vibrated the house.

We called  Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department who said he hadn’t seen any reports of anything.   We also called Altec Industries which is near the neighborhood and the operator said they didn’t feel anything.  The St. Joseph Fire Department said they did not have any reports either.

A commenter on our Facebook page may have the answer.  Chris Beaver said, “electricity went out at Altec this morning when the transformer up on the pole blew. The poles above the parking lot between Altec Specialty Products plant, and Deer Park (walking trail area right off Riverside Rd.)”