St Joseph police arrested a man Monday morning who they believe was breaking into cars.
Based on police radio traffic, the man was caught in the act by a passerby who called police. An officer deployed a taser during the arrest of the suspect in or near the 1500 block of Frederick.
Police Sergeant Brett Kelly tells us at least three cars were affected, although it’s not clear if property was stolen from all of them. In at least one case, nothing was taken.
It appears from radio traffic that the suspect may have taken a saw and a ratchet set, a set of jumper cables, and a lot of change. That investigation continues. No charges have been filed.
Weekend rain prompted flood warnings for our area. Included in the warnings are the Missouri River at St Joseph, which was expected to rise above flood stage Monday afternoon and continue to rise to near 23.3 feet by early Wednesday afternoon.
By 1:30 a.m. Monday, the Missouri had risen to 14.24 feet.
Levels are expected to drop below flood stage by Friday afternoon. Flood warnings also remain in effect for the Nodaway, Platte, Tarkio and 102 rivers.
* At 17.0 feet (Monday afternoon)…Lowland flooding upstream and downstream from St.Joseph occurs.
* At 19.0 feet (Monday evening)…Backwater from the Missouri River floods property along the Nodaway river at Nodaway, Mo.
* At 21.0 feet (Midnight Tuesday morning)…Riverfront Park in St. Joseph begins to flood.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said sobriety checks are planned sometime during the month of December in northwest Missouri.
Troop H announced Wednesday that Troop H will conduct a DWI checkpoint in Grundy County sometime this month. The areas selected for enforcement the troop said was based on a high number of drinking-related crashes, high number of contacts with drivers who have been drinking, and officers’ input as to probable contact with DWI violators.
On Friday another announcement was made, this one for Clinton County. The troop said sometime during the month of December, Troop H will conduct a DWI saturation in Clinton County.
“The Missouri State Highway Patrol is dedicated to removing intoxicated drivers from Missouri roadways,” said Captain James McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H. “Anytime your plans include alcohol, please have a sober designated driver.”
Bird Count Photo courtesy Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism1313
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is touting Christmas Bird Count traditions.
The department said Christmas Bird Count traditions provides a great way to spend time outdoors, learn about birds and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded birders.
It said birders of all skill levels are welcome to the events, where groups will spend time canvassing established circular census areas, recording species and numbers of birds observed. Information recorded at events is entered into regional and national databases and can show population and migration trends. Some Christmas Bird Counts have been conducted for more than 100 years, and more than 2,000 events are conducted across the U.S. each year, so databases are extensive. There are usually more than 50 events conducted in Kansas each winter between Dec. 13 and January 9.
To learn more about Kansas Christmas Bird Count locations, go to the Kansas Ornithological Society’s (KOS) website, www.ksbirds.org.
MERIL has been awarded as a “Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite.”
The City of St. Joseph Health Department WIC announced the accomplishment of MERIL last week as an employer joining a growing number of Missouri organizations being awarded a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award.
WIC staff presented the award to MERIL Wednesday in a brief recognition ceremony.
MERIL was recognized by the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The city said MERIL’s application to the coalition was accepted based on a pro-active approach to encourage and support mothers making a healthy choice in infant feeding.
“Lactation support programs are a growing trend in businesses today as a means of improving family services to employees. Employers that provide lactation support see a positive impact on their business’s bottom line in the way of improved employee retention, lower absenteeism, higher morale, greater productivity, and reduced health care costs. Breastfeeding friendly employers provide time, space and other benefits to maintain breastfeeding after a mom returns to work,” the city said in a news release.
A St Joseph man avoided injury when a vehicle next to his on an interstate highway sideswiped his car and then rolled over.
The Kansas Highway Patrol crash report indicates Russell Smith was driving northbound at mile marker 1.7 on I-635 in Kansas City, Kansas at 12:57 p.m. Saturday.
Deana Becken of Overland Park lost control of her vehicle because of equipment failure. The Jeep Cherokee sideswiped Mr Smith’s car and then rolled over.
Ms Becken, 47, was transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries.
As part of an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities area troopers will be taking part in C.A.R.E. Life Saver weekend.
Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph, announced last week that Troop H officers will be participating in the C.A.R.E. Life Saver weekend from December 18, 2015, through December 21, 2015. During that time frame enforcement will be increased in an effort to stop motorists from driving impaired this holiday season and to reduce injury and deaths caused by impaired drivers.
“The holiday season is a time to celebrate with friends and family. If those celebrations include alcohol be sure to have a sober designated driver,” McDonald said. ” No one should have to endure losing a loved one during the holiday season.”
St. Joseph, Mo. —The Golden Griffon Marching Band of Missouri Western State University will be a part of a holiday tradition in Branson, Missouri, leading Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade through Silver Dollar City Saturday
“This is the first time the Golden Griffon Marching Band has participated in the parade at Silver Dollar City, and we are really looking forward to it,” said Nathan Gay, director of athletic bands at Missouri Western.
Approximately 70 members of the band, Color Guard and Mystics Dance Team will travel to Branson Saturday, Dec. 12. They will arrive about the time the park opens at noon, and will be free to enjoy the park until it’s time to change into their uniforms and warm up. The Missouri Western marchers will lead the 7 p.m. parade that evening.
Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade travels through Silver Dollar City twice an evening during November and December, with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer serving as grand marshal. The parade includes nine lighted floats illuminated with 200,000 lights along with 33 colorful costumed characters, many from the popular Rudolph TV special.
Leadership St. Joseph. Photo courtesy United Way of Greater St. Joseph
25 adults graduated from the United Way Leadership St. Joseph program Thursday.
The graduation brings the total number of United Way Leadership St. Joseph graduates over the years to 800.
2015 United Way Leadership St. Joseph graduates are: LaRae Bird, Tiffany Burnes, Brad Campbell, Nikki Conroy, Beth Conway, Bryan Cook, Michelle Fagerstone, Sam Ghatasheh, David Grable, Tyler Hardie, Jordan Hiatt, John Hickman, Stacy Holmes, Tara Hushbeck, Jessica Jackson, Beth Keaveny, Bob Mallett, Travis Perkins, Mark Sander, Jeff Smith, Aaron Sorensen, Jennie Stewart, Jody Stewart, Stephanie Sutton and Michael Venenga.
At the event, Tom Richmond, alumnus of the 1994 class, was recognized as the 2015 United Way Leadership St. Joseph Distinguished Leader. The Distinguished Leader Award is given at the conclusion of each United Way Leadership St. Joseph year to an alum of the program who has gone on to use his/her leadership training as a volunteer for the betterment of our community in an especially beneficial way.
Leadership St. Joseph. Photo courtesy United Way of Greater St. Joseph
Richmond, Altec Manager of Parts Distribution and Sales, was selected to receive the honor in recognition of the community leadership he exemplifies. The award committee chose to recognize him in honor of his multiple and diverse community leadership roles spanning a few decades. Currently, among other leadership roles, he serves on the Board of Directors for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, is on the Board of Trustees for the Heartland Foundation, is active on the United Way Volunteer Center Advisory Committee, and was one of the expert presenters for this year’s United Way Leadership St. Joseph class as they were being trained. Other community involvement over the years has included volunteer and/or leadership work with: Specialty Industries (former Board member); Grace Evangelical Church; Missouri Western Foundation; Mosaic Quality Committee; St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development); Sunrise Optimist club; Valley Community Food Kitchen; United Way of Greater St. Joseph (former Board member and other leadership roles); and Young Life. Through his 1994 United Way Leadership St. Joseph training, he learned about then-current opportunities and challenges of the St. Joseph community and explored where he might fit as a leader. Since then, he has stepped out to apply what he learned to better our community.
Photo courtesy Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
The fee for lifetime licenses for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will increase in 2016.
KDWPT said lifetime licenses can be purchased through December 31, 2015 at the current price – $440. The new fee will be $500 for a lifetime fishing, hunting or furharvesting license, beginning January 1, 2016. A combination fishing/hunting combination license will cost $960.
The new fee for an annual fishing or hunting license will be $25. However, if you purchase an annual combination hunting/fishing license before February 1, the price is $40. After February 1, an annual combination hunting/fishing license will cost $45.
St Joseph police arrested a man Monday morning who they believe was breaking into cars.
