An 18-year-old man from Tarkio, Missouri was seriously hurt in a single-vehicle crash Saturday.

The crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicates Thomas Gilliland swerved to avoid a deer along Missouri 46 highway about eleven miles west of Maryville.

His vehicle left the highway, hit an embankment and overturned several times, ejecting Mr Gilliland.

The victim was transported to SSM Medical Center in Maryville.

Troop D of the Water Patrol Division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated three deaths and one near-drowning over the weekend, all of them in Shoal Creek.

A five year old boy drowned after his kayak hit a submerged log and the boat overturned Saturday evening.  The Patrol identifies the victim as Anthony Martinez of Webb City, Missouri.

Investigators say the youngster was pinned underneath the log and the kayak.  He was flown by helicopter ambulance to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, where he was pronounced dead.

One man was killed when he lost his footing near a dam and disappeared underwater near the Lime Kiln Access. Another man who tried to rescue him was also caught in the undercurrent and drowned.  The first victim was identified as Juan Santellano of Neosho.  The patrol identified the other man as Danni Lopez of Neosho.  Both men were swept downstream where their bodies resurfaced

An unusual accident Sunday afternoon left a Neosho man in serious condition.  According to the official report, Kevin Everett swam too close to the dam and got pulled in by the dam’s hydraulics.  Everett, 52, was transported to Freeman Neosho Hospital.

 

 

The St. Joseph Public Library, Downtown branch, is hosting an amateur photography contest.

The theme is “Focus on a Hero.”

Contestants can submit up to five photographs depicting their interpretation of the theme to the Downtown Library, 927 Felix Street. The deadline for submitting pictures is 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015. The photographs may be framed or unframed and should be no larger than 8” by 10” inches.

The program is open to all ages with judging divisions divided into two age categories: youth up to 17 years of age and adults 18 years and older.

The photographs will be judged by professional photographers from the St. Joseph area. The first place winners in each age category will receive $50.00 and second place will receive $25.00. There will also be an overall staff pick award of $25.00.

Prizes will be awarded on August 18th at 7:00 p.m. at a reception at the Downtown Library.
Call 232-7729 with any questions.

Hundreds of volunteers are being sought to help collect and sort school supplies for area kids in need.

The United Way of Greater St. Joseph and the Salvation Army are partnering once again to collect donated school supplies and distribute them to area children whose families can’t afford to buy them.  The Stuff the Bus school supplies drive will be held August 7 and 8 at both Walmarts in St. Joseph to collect the supplies.

Jay Martin, United Way Program Dir. said around 350 volunteers are needed and so far the agency is only about halfway there.

“We’ll be handing out flyers at the doors and talking to people going into the Walmarts,” Martin said.

Other volunteers will help sort the donated supplies.

The drive is being held over the tax free weekend.  Martin said he hopes that gives shoppers an additional incentive to help out.

“Whatever money they might be saving on taxes maybe buy a little something extra with and donate it to our bus so kids in the area who cant afford supplies can get supplies donated to them,” he said.

To volunteer for Stuff the Bus call the United Way at (816) 364-2381.

 

Severe weather blew through Northwest Missouri Saturday night, but so far officials have not reported any major damage or injury.

 

Severe storms were reported in southern Buchanan County and eastern Andrew County.

Buchanan County Emergency Management Director Bill Brinton tells us he was out and about in the southern part of the county helping remove some downed tree limbs. Mr Brinton said residents in Rushvill, Dekalb and Lewis & Clark Village all lost electrical power because of damaged power lines.

By 10am Sunday, fewer than five people were still in the dark in Lewis and Clark Village, and about 294 were without electricity in an area from Rushville to DeKalb and Wallace, Missouri.

KCP&L crews were working to restore power, and told Mr Brinton they expected full restoration by about 11am Sunday morning.  (Click the graphic for the latest outage map from Kansas City Power and Light)

There was one unconfirmed report of a large tree limb landing on a car in Rushville.

There was a tornado warning in Andrew County Saturday night, prompted by a signature radar “hook” that indicated the possibility of a tornado. Weather spotters said the hook appeared over rural areas in eastern Andrew County. Observers offered no damage reports after the storm went through a relatively unpopulated area. Officials with the Andrew County Sheriff’s Office had not received any reports of damage by mid-morning Sunday.

Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph, announces that sometime during the month of August, Troop H will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in Andrew County and a DWI saturation in Buchanan County.

The areas selected for enforcement are based on a high number of alcohol-related crashes, high number of contacts with drivers who have been drinking, and trooper input as to probable contact with DWI violators.

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol is dedicated to removing impaired drivers from Missouri roadways,” stated Captain McDonald. “Anytime your plans include alcohol, please have a sober designated driver.”

Approximately 63 percent of Missouri fatal crash victims who are required to be restrained are NOT at the time of the traffic crash. The Patrol urges motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Join us in supporting the Drive To Zero Highway Deaths. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket.

A five-year-old St Joseph girl who was pulled from an area lake last week has died at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Authorities said Nevah Boston passed away early Saturday morning. The youngster was rushed to Children’s Mercy Hospital after an incident at the public swim area at Watkins Mill State Park Thursday afternoon.

The Missouri Highway Patrol said the girl was swimming in the public swim area about 3 p.m. Thursday. She was pulled from the water and rushed to Excelsior Springs Hospital then flown by medical helicopter to Children’s Mercy.

Boston and her family were at the beach when the incident occurred. A person unrelated to the family found her in the water and pulled her out.