Investigators are asking for information after a man was assaulted in his own vehicle in Platte County.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office said on the morning of Saturday January 16th, 2016 between the hours of 7:15 AM and 8:00 AM an individual was assaulted in his vehicle on Jones-Myer Road just east of MO 45 Highway.

The victim described the two vehicles that were involved in the assault as a tinted out black Chevrolet Tahoe with Missouri license plates, and a dark (possibly black) 4 door sedan also with Missouri license plates.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who was on Jones-Myer Road on Saturday January 16th, 2016 between 7:15 AM and 8:00 AM to contact Detective Penrod through the communications center at 816-858-3521 with any relevant information.

A Savannah woman was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after her vehicle hit a utility pole.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Dale May, 46 was driving a 1998 Buick Le Sabre southbound on Route W around 9 a.m. when she lost control on a curve and traveled off the west side of the road and then hit a utility pole.

May was taken by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care for what was described as moderate injuries.

St Joseph police encountered a stolen vehicle on city streets Wednesday morning. The red Pontiac Sunfire was first seen by a patrol officer in the 1500 block of Hickory.

The officer took the driver into custody, with no high-speed pursuit or stop sticks, shortly before 7:30 a.m. today.

The arrest was conducted on 11th Street near Mitchell.

The USD 429 Board of Education has announced the selection of Pat McKernan, as the new Superintendent/Elementary Principal for the school district beginning on July 1, 2016.

A two year contract was unanimously approved by the Board of Education at a special meeting held the morning of January 15. McKernan will take the reins on July 1, 2016 after the retirement of Brian Harris at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.

McKernan has broad educational experience as a teacher, administrator, and as an educator. He has been Principal of Nemaha Central High School since 2001. From 1994 to 2001 he served as Principal of Oskaloosa High School and between 1992 and 1994 he was K – 12 Principal at Elwood. McKernan helped with the reconstruction and relocation of the Elwood Schools after the flood of 1993. Before becoming a school administrator McKernan was a teacher at Platte County R-III School District.

McKernan holds degrees from Kansas State University and Northwest Missouri State University. A graduate of Wathena High School, McKernan and his wife Renee have four children, three of whom are enrolled at Kansas State University and one who is a physical therapist. Renee is an elementary school teacher in the Nemaha Central School District.

Board President Warren Grable says that McKernan emerged from a very thorough search process as the right candidate to lead the District. “The Board is certain in our choice of Mr. McKernan and confident that under his leadership USD 429 will continue to be recognized for outstanding accomplishments, to be student centered, and to be widely supported by the Troy patrons. As a board team we feel we made the right selection to serve our students and our community.”

The Board selected two finalists from a broader pool of applicants who were interviewed by the Board of Education members.

The Special Olympics Missouri North Area Basketball Tournament will bring more than 250 athletes from across the northern Missouri to Maryville.

This area-level event takes place January 30th, on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University.

Opening Ceremonies will begin at 9am in Bearcat Arena and consist of entertainment provided by NWMSU as well as Special Olympics cheer squads, the running of the Special Olympics torch, and the athlete oath. Games will start at 10am and run until approximately 3pm. The court in Bearcat Arena as well the Rec Center courts will be utilized for this event.

Competition divisions consist of individual skills, team skills, 3 on 3, modified and regulation, and unified basketball. Volunteers for the event are being asked to email Humphreys@somo.org to volunteer that day. The public is also invited out to the free event to show support by cheering athletes on as “fans in the stands.”

(January 19, 2016) – Tumbling crude oil prices around the world have helped send the national retail average price for gasoline to its lowest mark since February 2009.

According to AAA, retail averages have fallen for 63 of the past 74 days, for a total savings of 34 cents per gallon, reaching Monday’s price of $1.88 per gallon. Motorists typically enjoy falling gasoline prices in early winter due to decreased demand for gasoline and that also is helping to push prices downwards. Despite recent declines, the national average price of gas is only 18 cents per gallon cheaper than a year ago since prices also were very low in early 2015.

The price of crude oil has dropped more than 70 percent compared to the June 2014 high ($107.26 per barrel), and expectations that both global and domestic supply will continue to outpace demand are helping drivers to save at the pumps.

Missouri’s average came in at $1.61 a gallon and St. Joseph’s average was slightly lower at $1.59 a gallon.