A St Joseph man will remain behind bars without bail as he awaits a hearing on charges stemming from an 11-hour standoff at the Motel Six last month.

A judge on Thursday overruled a motion to set bond for Roderick Ellis.

Ellis, 44, is charged with first-degree domestic assault, kidnapping and armed criminal action for the events October 14.  He is accused of kidnapping a St Joseph woman, forcing her at gunpoint to drive her to the motel, and then, when she cried for help, shooting her in the arm.

Investigators say he then forced the woman into a room at the motel for more than 11 hours.  The standoff prompted evacuations and lockdowns, as well as business and highway closures.

Detective Jeff Pearl with the St. Joseph Police Department said in court documents the defendant held the victim at gunpoint, denying her access to medical care for her gunshot wound and threatening to kill her several times. When officers attempted to rescue Urban, Pearl said Ellis shot several times through the door and window nearly hitting several officers outside.

A preliminary hearing on the charges had been scheduled Thursday, but the defendant requested a continuance. Judge Rebecca Spencer refused to set bail in the case, and rescheduled the preliminary hearing December 11.

A Cameron woman was ordered to serve four years in prison for her guilty plea to Involuntary Manslaughter charges. Jacqueline Marie McQuinn was charged in connection with a traffic fatality in August of last year.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, Ms McQuinn rammed her vehicle into a UTV entering US-69 south of Cameron from private property near County Road 336.

Investigators say she was driving drunk and had a prior DWI conviction.

The driver of the UTV was 74-year-old Charles O. Cooper of Cameron. Mr Cooper was killed in the crash.

Judge Daren Adkins ordered Ms McQuinn to serve four years in prison, pay a fine of $5,000.

The Community Medical Center in Falls City, Nebraska is one of 37 health care providers nationwide to receive grants totaling $14 million for new equipment. The Helmsley Charitable Trust is giving the CMC $400,000 for the purchase of a new CT scanner.

The 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner provides essential diagnostic images of structures inside the body. A new CT scanner will allow for faster scans that produce high-quality images, allowing medical staff to quickly determine health status and course of treatment while giving patients access to up-to-date healthcare technology close to home.

“We are deeply honored and delighted to have received this grant, allowing us to upgrade our CT imaging technology, which supports our protocols for stroke and brain injury and lets us perform new tests that patients previously needed to drive hours to receive,” said Ryan Larsen, CEO of Community Medical Center. “This is a big win for our community.”

Community Medical Center is one of 37 grant recipients across the region to benefit from funding to purchase CT scanners. The Rural Healthcare Program of the Helmsley Charitable Trust is granting nearly $14 million over the next six months to support the purchase of new, 32-slice or higher CT scanners at Critical Access Hospitals in a seven-state region.

The Johnson County Hospital Foundation in Tecumseh, Nebraska also received a grant, as did seven other health care providers in Nebraska.  Here’s a list:
Henderson Health Care Services, Inc. – Henderson, NE
Niobrara Valley Hospital Corporation – Lynch, NE
Avera Creighton Hospital – Creighton, NE
Community Medical Center, Inc. – Falls City, NE
Franklin County Memorial Hospital – Franklin, NE
Gordon Memorial Health Services – Gordon, NE
Johnson County Hospital Foundation – Tecumseh, NE
Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital – Central City, NE
Osmond General Hospital, Inc. – Osmond, NE

“Our goal is to ensure that people who live in rural America have access to quality healthcare as close to home as possible,” said Walter Panzirer, trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “To achieve this, rural hospitals need to be viable and they need to have up-to-date equipment, so patients can receive essential healthcare services locally. This initiative is one of many that aims to improve healthcare access and health outcomes across the upper Midwest.”

The funding initiative was the result of a survey of Critical Access Hospitals in the Rural Healthcare Program’s seven-state funding region. Capital equipment, particularly CT scanners, was identified as a top need by many hospitals. In addition, a new Medicare policy will go into effect January 1, 2016 that may reduce reimbursement for certain studies on CT scanners that do not meet specific radiation dose requirements.

High winds have once again prompted the cancellation of outdoor burning in St Joseph.

The National Weather Service forecast is calling for windy conditions again Thursday.  NWS predicts west-northwest wind of from 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph in St Joseph.

Open Burning season in St. Joseph this fall runs until Nov. 22.

A Northwest Missouri State University student has been taken into police custody in connection with threats allegedly made on social media to harm others.

According to the Northwest Missouri State University Police this morning a male student suspected of making threats on social media overnight was apprehended. He was arrested at about 11 a.m. at his residence hall on the campus.

University Police received a report that the suspect made threats on Yik Yak, a social media application, to harm others. Police said they immediately began to investigate.

University Police issued an email notice to students and employees at about 8:30 a.m. today, notifying the campus community of the threats and investigation.

University Police Chief Clarence Green said safety remains Northwest’s top priority and the University is working to ensure the campus remains safe.

Anyone with additional information about the threats or others is encouraged to call University Police at 660.562.1254.

The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department has released a mugshot of a 19-year-old from Blue Springs being held in the Nodaway County Jail in connection with the investigation.  However, it’s our policy not to release the name and photos of an individual until charges are filed.

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce kicked off its ninth annual Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program today, Wednesday, Nov. 11. The shopping program, designed to encourage residents to do their holiday shopping in St. Joseph, concludes on Dec. 21 with one lucky shopper winning a $10,000 grand prize. Shoppers also have a chance to win second-chance prizes from some participating merchants.

So far, the program is up to 93 merchants, which is up from 55 in 2014.

“Shop St. Joseph is the Chamber’s way to help keep holiday spending in St. Joseph,” said Natalie Redmond, Vice President of Membership for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “We hope you all spend your dollars with the participating merchants as a thank you for supporting this program.”

No purchase is required to win. Customers may receive one free ticket for visiting any participating merchant and one additional ticket for every $10 increment of purchase. A maximum of 100 tickets may be issued per transaction. To see a full list of rules, visit www.saintjoseph.com, and click on the Shop St. Joseph icon. The St. Joseph News-Press is the presenting sponsor for Shop St. Joseph in 2015.

A winning ticket will be announced at 5 p.m. on Dec. 21. It will be announced through KQTV, Eagle Radio, the St. Joseph News-Press, FOX 26 KNPN, as well as posted on the Chamber’s website and the office door. Once a ticket has been announced for the grand prize, the winner has 24 hours to claim their prize before another number is announced. Shoppers are encouraged to keep their tickets. Many merchants are offering second chance prizes, so even if you don’t win the $10,000 prize, you may be a winner of another prize. The second chance prizes will be listed on the Chamber’s website when the complete list is available. Only one number will be drawn for secondary prizes. Participating merchants to date include:

 

AUTO

Castrol Premium Lube Express

3302 Pear St.

House of Sound

1112 S. Belt Highway

Summers Motors

510 N. Belt Highway

T.B.A. and Service LLC

405 S. 36th St.

 

BEAUTY SALONS

BeautyFirst Professional Products & Salon

3833 Frederick Blvd.

Covenant Medical Spa

4906 Frederick Ave.

Great Clips

East Hills Shopping Center

Loox

214 S. Belt Highway

Mastercuts

East Hills Shopping Center

Regis Salon

East Hills Shopping Center

 

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Goetz Credit Union

1905 Howard St.

United Consumers Credit Union

724 N. Belt Highway

World Finance

2905 S. Belt Highway

 

FLORISTS

Butchart Flowers, Inc.

3321 S. Belt Highway

 

FOOD RETAIL

Country Cookie

206 S. Belt Highway

Delish Bakery

114 N. Seventh St.

Topsy’s

East Hills Shopping Center

 

FURNITURE

Colony House Furniture & Bedding

Frederick Boulevard & Riverside Road

Home Style Furniture & / America’s Mattress Gallery

302 S. Third St.

 

GROCERY STORES

Apple Market

3734 Pear St.

2300 Mitchell Ave.

903 N. 36th St.

7014 King Hill Ave.

Cash Saver

2202 Frederick Ave.

Hy-Vee St. Joseph

201 N. Belt Highway

Ray’s Green Hills

3225 N. Belt Highway

 

JEWELRY

Creviston & Son Jewelry

510 N. Belt Highway

Kay Jewelers

East Hills Shopping Center

Niche of Time Jewelry

2221 N. Belt Highway, Suite C

Zales

East Hills Shopping Center

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Merry Maids

1006 Pacific Street

Palm Beach Tan

1815 N. Belt Highway

Praxair Distribution Inc.

3924 Pettis Road

St. Jo Frontier Casino

777 Winners Circle

St. Joseph Museums

3406 Frederick Ave.

Title Boxing Club

139 N. Belt Highway, Ste. M.

Weaver Overhead Door

2324 Locust Street

Worth 1000 Words Studio

East Hills Shopping Center

 

OPTICAL

Dr. Rosenak’s Optical Options

2229 A N. Belt Highway

Vision Works

East Hills Shopping Center

 

RESTAURANTS

Cabana Grill

2131 St. Joseph Ave.

Five Guys

3700 Frederick Ave.

Fredrick Inn Steakhouse

1627 Frederick Ave.

Lino’s Original Pizza

East Hills Shopping Center

McAlister’s Deli

3815 Frederick Ave.

Pappy’s Grill & Pub

2501 Messanie St.

Planet Sub

5301 N. Belt Highway, Ste. 115

Pronto Cafe

2513 Frederick Ave.

Rib Crib BBQ

3704 Faraon St.

Texas Roadhouse

925 N. Belt Highway

 

RETAIL

Books Revisited

1908 B North Belt Highway

Brown Shoe Fit St. Joseph

1403 N. Belt Highway

East Hills Shopping Center

3702 Frederick Ave.

The Buckle

Champs

Charlotte Russe

Charming Charlie

The Children’s Place

Christopher & CJ Banks

Claire’s

Dillards

Family Christian Book, Gifts and Music

Go Calendars, Games & Toys

J.C. Penney

Journeys

Leibowitz Fine Menswear

Maurices

Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse

Party City

Pony Express Sports and More

Rally House

Rue 21

Sears

Spencer’s Gifts

Stitches Alterations

The Sweet Spot

T-Mobile

Gypsy’s Jewelry & Gifts

3302 Mitchell Ave.

Home Depot

5201 N. Belt Highway

Hunterland Antique Mall

3201 S. Belt Highway

Jamie’s Secret Garden

811 N. Woodbine Road

Jesse James Antique Mall

& Rusty Chandelier

Exit 53 at Interstate 29 & Highway 71

Keeping Good Company

114 S. Seventh St.

The Lucky Tiger

718 Francis St.

Moffett Nurseries, Inc.

6451 State Route 6 N.E.

PBE’s Toys and Dolls

2241 N. Belt Highway

Red Barn Yarn Farm

1311 N. Belt Highway, Ste. E.

Sleep Number

5307 N. Belt Highway

St. Joe Boot Co.

3749 Pacific St.

St. Joe Guns

6701 59 Highway

St. Joe Harley-Davidson

4020 S. Highway 169

St. Joseph Auction & Antique Mart

3600 S. Leonard Road

Stetson Outlet Store

3601 South Leonard

UPCO

3705 Pear Street

One rear-end collision on I-29 leads to another, as well as the arrest of one of the drivers.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 22-year-old man from Platte City drove his Chevy Cruze into the rear of a semi on I-29 at the 52.8 mile marker at about 10:35am.   He suffered minor injuries in the crash. The patrol arrested the driver but released him for hospital treatment.

An online arrest report lists possible charges of 2nd-Degree Assault with a DWI and Careless & Imprudent Driving involving an accident.  No formal charges have been filed against the driver, identified in an online arrest report as Dakota Hipps.

About 15 minutes later, an SUV plowed into a Buick that had stopped for the previous accident. Officials say 77-year-old Carolyn Scott of Louisiana, Missouri was transported to Mosaic Life Care with minor injuries.

According to the crash reports, the other two drivers were no injured.