The St. Joseph School District Board of Education moved to closed the Colgan Alternative Resource Center Monday evening.
The board carried the motion in a vote of 6-1 during its regularly scheduled board meeting Monday. Lori Prussman voted against the closure.
Many board members cited the expense of running the center as a concern. The district will be going into the next school year with an $11-million deficit budget. Board members are looking to utilize the space at other schools.
The board voted to close the Colgan Center and move operations to Webster Learning Center. They talked about looking at ways to distribute students to other locations using existing space in surrounding schools in the district.
St. Joseph, Mo. —The Winter Commencement Ceremony for approximately 300 graduates of Missouri Western State University will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 in the arena of the M.O. Looney Complex.
The ceremony will feature guest speaker Obie Austin, the closing of the Centennial time capsule, and the presentation of a diploma to an alumnus who had to miss graduation in 1943 because he was serving in World War II.
The MWSU Alumni Association will host a free reception for graduates and their families after the ceremony in the Looney small gym. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
Obie Austin graduated from Missouri Western with a nursing degree in 1995. In many ways he epitomizes the theme of Missouri Western’s centennial celebration, “100 Years of Transforming Lives.” Arriving at Missouri Western from difficult life circumstances in the inner city of Kansas City, Austin worked more than seven years to complete his degree. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, served as a nurse practitioner, and is currently a commander in the United States Navy Reserves and the vice-president of general medicine at the KC CARE Clinic.
Ida Haefner, student body president from Hillboro, Missouri, and Lionel Attawia, student governor from Kansas City, Missouri, will ceremonially close the student celebration of Missouri Western’s centennial by placing the final items in a time capsule. The time capsule will be displayed on campus and opened for the university’s sesquicentennial in 2065.
Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president, will present an Associate of Science degree to Arend William “Bill” Thedinga, who was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1943 before he could receive his diploma from St. Joseph Junior College. After returning from World War II, Thedinga earned his bachelor’s degree in history and education from Indiana University and returned to St. Joseph to begin his teaching career at Edison Elementary School. He earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Missouri and went on to serve as principal at both Benton and Lafayette High Schools.
Two suspects are in custody after an attempted burglary led to a police pursuit in St Joseph. Officers were dispatched to the Auto Medics facility at 3961 Sherman after someone inside the business reported someone trying to break in. According to Sergeant Brett Kelly, when officers arrived the suspects fled.
The pursuit continued until officers deployed spike strips along Frederick Avenue near Bishop LeBlond High School. The vehicle spun out and stopped. The two suspects then fled on foot, but were soon apprehended.
Sergeant Kelly says the vehicle they were driving was stolen, and there were other items in the vehicle that investigators believe were also stolen.
The pair were taken into custody as the investigation continues.
Sasha Joann LizarA judge told Sasha Lizar Monday that she had no business raising a child.
Ms Lizar was sentenced on charges stemming from the death of her baby boy after she pleaded guilty November 2 to one count of child endangerment.
Judge Patrick Robb ordered Ms. Lizar to serve seven years in prison. The judge ordered this sentence to be served consecutively to the sentences forthcoming on other felony convictions.
Officials say there are several cases in which Ms. Lizar faces prison time for parole violations.
Judge Robb told the defendant that while she might know that methamphetamine made it impossible for her to provide a safe and secure home for her child, she continued to take the drug, and hang out with other people who took it.
Court documents assert that Lizar used methamphetamine while caring for her child and left him with others who had also taken the drug. One of them, Roy Miller, is charged with child abuse resulting in death for allegedly shaking young Carter Lizar violently. Investigators say that caused massive brain trauma that killed the infant.
One of the three suspects was sentenced Monday on charges of killing a St. Joseph man and dumping his body into the Third Fork of the Platte River.
Kelli Hoard, 44, of Elwood, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder in connection with the death of Richard Berry. It was part of a plea bargain offered by the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Judge Patrick Robb ordered Ms. Hoard to serve 20 years in prison.
A co-defendant, Sean Liechti of St. Joseph, is serving a ten-year prison term for his guilty plea. The third co-defendant, Primalton Peterson, did not except the plea offer, and is scheduled for trial next year on charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse.
Investigators say the trio stabbed the victim repeatedly after a failed robbery last April, and then dumped his body in the river.
Cass County Sheriff’s Office issues warning of fake Walmart check scam.
Fraudulent Walmart checks are prompting warnings from authorities.
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to stay vigilant of a new scam involving fake checks from Walmart.
Sheriff Steve Cox on Friday shared a post from the Cass County Sheriffs Office on Facebook that said the Cass County Sheriffs Office has received reports of citizens receiving fraudulent checks that appear to come from the Wal-Mart head office in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said the checks are designed to scam the victims into sending funds over the internet.
“I am confident these will also be showing up in Livingston County,” Sheriff Cox said. “Just an FYI to be prepared.”
When we called the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department Monday morning Capt. Mark Brock said he had not heard of anyone in Buchanan County that has fallen victim to this particular scam nor received any recent reports of it at this point in time.
For more information on the scam visit Walmart’s scam information page CLICK HERE.
The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign is only at 31 percent of its 2015 $375,000 goal with 12 days of Christmas counting down.
“Christmas is the largest, single fund drive for The Salvation Army, providing the means to providing thousands of critical services to local families,” said Major Abe Tamayo, Corps Officer. “We here at the army depend on Christmas approximately one-third of its 1.2 million dollar operating cost, providing us with the financial resources to run our 24 hour operations, serving the poorest of local families.”
He said Salvation Army services include Saint Joseph’s only family shelter, housing parents and children, single men and women, and veterans, providing rooms, food, clothing, hygiene products and quality case management, helping to build a bridge out of poverty. Other services include food pantry and clothing vouchers for those in need.
The army’s community center also provides proactive programs for children and adults. Classes range from character development and investment to cooking and Bible lessons for children. Adults enjoy and benefit from mature instruction and service through a variety of programs. The center is also available for outside groups to use to facilitate their programs and services.
Toys are also in critical need. New, unwrapped toys are needed and may be dropped off at Salvation Army Angel Trees or at the Salvation Army at 602 Messanie. During this Christmas season 660 plus children will receive new toys and food vouchers providing a Christmas dinner will be distributed as well.
Red Kettle Bell Ringers will be out Monday-Saturday until Christmas Eve at location throughout the Belt. The Salvation Army said postal mailed and walk in donations can be sent to:
The Salvation Army
PO Box 1417
602 Messanie
Saint Joseph, MO 64502
For more information on how to give or volunteer call LeeAnn at 816.232.5824.
Atchison County posted on twitter that US Hwy 59 between Tarkio and Fairfax is being closed due to flooding. Motorists are urged to find alternative routes.
