The Missouri State Highway Patrol joins agencies from across the country in a nationwide effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to boating under the influence. It’s called “Operaton Dry Water,” and runs today through Sunday. The effort is held annually on the weekend before Independence Day.
The National Association of Boating Law Administrators offers this information on its Web site:
Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Alcohol use was the leading factor in nearly one-fourth (21%) of recreational boating deaths in 2014. From 2012 to 2013, there was a 31% decrease in the number of recreational boaters’ deaths where alcohol use was the known primary contributing factor, the largest decrease in the number of alcohol-related recreational boater deaths in the past five years.
The experts say alcohol use can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. Alcohol use can also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion —“stressors” common to the boating environment— intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications. Alcohol is dangerous for passengers too. Intoxication can cause slips, falls over board and other dangerous accidents.
If you boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol you are endangering your life and the lives of others. If you get caught boating under the influence your voyage may be terminated, the boat may be impounded and the operator may be arrested. Penalties vary by state but can include fines, jail and loss of boating or even driving privileges.
A severe storm blew through Northwest Missouri overnight, leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. The storm packed winds of up to 80 miles per hour in some areas, downing tree limbs, power poles and power lines.
In St Joseph there were more than 1,100 KCP&L customers still in the dark by 3am.
In the Kansas City metropolitan area, more than 160,000 customers were left without electricity.
At least one home in St Joe was struck by lightning. Officials said there was some electrical damage for no fire.
According to the National Weather Service more than 1.3 inches of rain fell early Friday morning in St Joseph, with .95″ of that falling between midnight and one am. The weather service said a strong bow echo produced widespread wind damage and winds up to 80 mph in parts of the KC metro. 80 mile per hour wind gusts were reported in the Riverside, Missouri area. Many spotters reported winds over 65 mph.
We have no reports of any injuries due to the storm.
The St. Joseph Health Department plans to hold a free testing for HIV Friday for the twentieth years in a row.
The City said new HIV infections have remained at about 50,000 in the United States for more than a decade. One-half of these new infections occur in persons under the age of 25.
On June 27, 1995 the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) organized the first National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) in partnership with other national and local entities. This unique initiative sends the message that there are powerful reasons for learning one’s HIV status.
The theme for 2015 is “TAKE THE TEST, TAKE CONTROL”, which promotes selfawareness and personal responsibility, encouraging everyone to get tested and have a conversation about being safe. The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is to get tested.
The City of St. Joseph Health Department and Northwest Missouri community partners will celebrate twenty years of hosting the free annual HIV Testing event on Friday, June 26th. HIV testing will be offered on a walk in basis at the St. Joseph Health Department from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
“We’re hopeful that people will take the time to stop by Patee Market and get tested. It only takes a few minutes to take control of your health,” said Kelly Kibirige, supervisor of the Community Health division of the St. Joseph Health Department.
The city said a great deal has changed since HIV testing began over 25 years ago. The CLEARVUE rapid HIV antibody test is 99.98% accurate and provides preliminary results in 15 minutes. Taking the test, and taking control of this aspect of a person’s overall health, is a matter of a small prick to a fingertip to collect a blood sample, and a fifteen minute wait.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and nearly one in seven of those are not aware they are infected. As with many threats to health, early diagnosis allows a person to fully benefit from available life-extending treatments. Among those initially diagnosed with HIV infection during 2012, one-quarter were simultaneously diagnosed with AIDS, indicating they were likely infected for many years without seeking confirmation or treatment.
HIV testing is available at the St. Joseph Health Department, 904 S. 10th Street. Aside from the free, walk-in testing on Friday, June 26th, the department offers testing by appointment Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (816) 271-4729 to schedule an appointment.
St. Joseph, Mo. —June 25, 2015—The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University adopted operating and auxiliary budgets for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The Board also authorized a $13.7 million bond issue and elected new officers for the coming fiscal year.
The operating budget for 2015-2016 totals approximately $53.5 million, down slightly from the current year’s estimated budget of $54 million. The auxiliary budget totals approximately $13.2 million, up slightly from the current year’s estimated budget of $12.9 million.
On the revenue side, the operating budget includes a 1.21 percent increase in state appropriations because Missouri Western hit all five of its performance funding measures, and a tuition increase of less than one percent for in-state undergraduate students. Expense increases include a 2 percent salary increase for all employees and an anticipated increase of up to 10 percent in health insurance costs.
Auxiliary budget revenue increases include a rise in room and board rates approved by the Board of Governors in March. Expense increases include the salary and fringe benefit increases for employees, the addition of a full-time Title IX coordinator position, and the Spratt Stadium renovation project.
Bond Issue
The Board also approved a bond issue of approximately $13.7 million to finance the Spratt Stadium project and refinance a 2010 bond issue.
The project to improve Spratt Stadium was initially approved by the board last November. The board awarded a contract of approximately $7 million to E.L. Crawford on April 27 and construction began last month.
The stadium project includes the demolition of the existing concourse, concessions area, restrooms and press box; construction of a new concourse, concessions area, restrooms, press box and club level, including suites; repairs and improvements to the home grandstand seating; removal of the old track and relocation of the field closer to the home stands; relocation of the visitors’ side grandstands to be closer to the relocated field; and new field turf. Construction began
The 2010 bond issue is itself a refinance of a 1998 bond issue, which in turn refinanced earlier bond issues to fund housing and recreation construction in the early 1990s and funded an expansion of the Blum Student Union. The refinancing allows the university to achieve interest savings and bonding flexibility.
Board Officers
Gregory Mason Western ChairDavid Liechti Western Vice-Chair
The Board of Governors accepted the recommendation of the nominating committee and elected Brig. Gen. Gregory Mason as chair and David Liechti as vice-chair of the board for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Gen. Mason has served on the board since 2012 and Liechti joined the board last year.
A Kansas City man has been sentenced in Platte County to 6 years in prison after he killed another man while speeding and under the influence of a cocktail of prescription drugs.
Anthony J. Battaglia, 30, received the sentence on June 25 after pleading guilty in April to involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “No one should ever get behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle while under the influence, whether it’s because of alcohol, illegal drugs, or even prescription drugs. As this case tragically proves, the consequences can be deadly.”
On February 10, 2014, Battaglia’s GMC Yukon left the road and rear-ended a Chevrolet Malibu parked on the shoulder near I-435 and Missouri 152.
The driver of the Malibu, Donald G. Rippy, was transported to North Kansas City Hospital and pronounced dead. The passenger of the Malibu was also transported to North Kansas City Hospital for treatment.
Highway patrol officers noted that Battaglia appeared disoriented and confused at the scene. Battaglia was arrested and investigators obtained a search warrant for his blood.
An investigation by the Highway Patrol’s Major Crash Investigation Unit showed that, according to the vehicle’s “black box,” Battaglia’s vehicle was travelling at 82 miles per hour just before the impact, and at 78 miles per hour at impact. An analysis of Battaglia’s blood showed it contained amphetamine, alprazolam, carisoprodol, hydroxybuproprion, and meprobamate. All of those substances are contained in legal prescription medications, but Battaglia did not have a prescription for alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax.
Zahnd’s office recommended 10 years in prison during a sentencing hearing earlier this month. Battaglia’s attorneys sought a sentence of just 120 days in prison to receive treatment followed by probation. Platte County Circuit Judge Thomas Fincham pronounced the sentence of 6 years after considering the case for two weeks.
“We always believed prison was appropriate in this case,” Zahnd said. “While the defendant did not mean for anyone to die that night, we need to send the message that if you drive under the influence and kill someone, you will
Gov. Nixon meets with veterans in Cameron. Photo courtesy Scott Holste
CAMERON, Mo. –Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon spoke at a home for military veterans Thursday in Cameron, Mo. about bills signed regarding Missouri military vets and those currently serving in armed forces.
The Governor was joined at the event by veterans and veterans’ groups.
“The men and women who have served our country in the military deserve both our thanks and our continued commitment honoring that service,” Gov. Nixon said. “The bills I have signed today represent our ongoing bi-partisan effort to fulfill that promise to our veterans and those active military members.”
He said Senate Bill 34 will help ensure that military and certain overseas voters wanting to vote in Missouri elections are able to vote in state, as well as federal, elections. The bill also provides safeguards for domestic violence victims participating in the Safe at Home address confidentiality program administered by the Missouri Secretary of State by permitting them to vote by absentee ballot.
In addition to the bills signed in Cameron, Gov. Nixon earlier today signed four bills that deal with honoring veterans and members of the military with the name designation of highways, bridges and interchanges. The bills are Senate Bill 156, Senate Bill 318, Senate Bill 474 and House Bill 522.
Among the roadways designated are portions of Mo. Hwy. 10 in Carroll and Ray counties as the Ray-Carroll Veterans Memorial Highway; a portion of U.S. Hwy. 54 in Camden County as the Veterans Memorial Expressway; a portion of U.S. Hwy. 160 in Ozark County as the Jerry Corp Memorial Highway to honor a Missourian killed during the Vietnam War; a portion of U.S. Business Hwy. 71 in Andrew County as the Randy Bever Memorial Highway to honor a combat medic in the Missouri National Guard who died in a civilian helicopter crash while working as a medical flight nurse; and a portion of Mo. Hwy. 21 in Reynolds County as the Donald Lee Cook Memorial Highway to honor a Missouri veteran of World War II.
Gov. Jay Nixon signs bills impacting Missouri veterans. Photo courtesy Scott Holste
At the Cameron Veterans’ Home, Gov. Nixon also discussed three bills he signed into law earlier this month – House Bill 17, House Bill 18 and House Bill 19 – that will help provide funding for capital improvement projects around the state, including more than $33 million for repair and renovation projects at Missouri’s seven veterans’ homes. At Cameron, the funding will help replace sprinkler pipe systems, a chiller, water softeners, cooling tower, boilers and exterior doors, and make electrical upgrades.
“We need to ensure our veterans receive the best care we can provide, and we are delivering on our promise to them,” Gov. Nixon said. “This past January, I called on legislators to finish the job they started last year when they authorized additional bonding capacity by passing the necessary bills to get these projects underway, and I appreciate the bi-partisan fashion in which they accomplished this. And because of the strong AAA credit rating that reflects our strong record of fiscal responsibility, Missouri taxpayers are going to save up to $30 million over the life of those bonds.”
Missouri is home to more than 494,000 military veterans, and has veterans’ homes to serve older and disabled veterans in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis and Warrensburg. In addition to the projects at Cameron, projects at the other veterans’ homes include:
– Cape Girardeau Veterans’ Home – Renovate nurses’ stations, kitchenette and restrooms, and replace nurse call and fire alarm systems, boilers, water heaters, sump pump and hot water circulating pumps, and exterior doors;
– Mexico Veterans’ Home – Renovate bariatric shower rooms, and replace nurse call and fire alarm systems, chillers, water softener, cooling tower and flooring;
– Mount Vernon Veterans’ Home – Renovate kitchen hood and system, and replace hot water circulating pumps, pool pack, water heaters, chillers, cooling tower, backflow preventers, pump pack, sprinkler system and boilers;
– St. James Veterans’ Home – Interior renovations including a solarium, and replace nurse call and fire alarm systems;
– St. Louis Veterans’ Home – Renovate the front entrance and lobby, construct storage building, upgrade lighting, and replace air handlers, water heaters and anti-scald devices;
– Warrensburg Veterans’ Home – Replace nurse call and fire alarm systems, sprinkler pipe systems, exterior doors, chillers, boilers and water softeners, and make electrical upgrades.
The funding also will allow the state to make improvements statewide at the homes in the areas of electronic medical records and anti-wander systems, and have funding for critical maintenance and repair. Approximately $700,000 will be available for improvements to state veterans’ cemeteries in Jacksonville, St. James and Springfield.
In addition to repair and renovations at the veterans’ homes, the three bills contain funding for capital improvement projects at a variety of higher education campuses around Missouri; state buildings, including the Capitol; and state parks.
McPHERSON, KAN. – A married couple from India who themselves are unlawfully in the United States have been arrested on an indictment charging unlawful employment of aliens, document fraud, bank fraud and making false claims of U.S. citizenship, U. S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Weednesday.
Arrested were Satishkumar “Sam” Patel, 47, and his wife, Daxaben S. Patel, 36, both of McPherson, Kan., who are in federal custody and scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. today in U.S. District Court in Wichita. The indictment also charges four other aliens from India who allegedly were employed by the Patels, as well as Nitin B. Patel, 53, a Lawrence, Kan., business partner of Satishkumar Patel’s, and two companies owned by the defendants.
The investigation was led by the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Office of Special Investigations and Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, and Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, the McPherson Police Department, the Kansas Department of Labor and the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The indictment unsealed Wednesday contains 45 counts arising primarily from the Patels’ operation of a gas station and convenience store at 115 W. Kansas in McPherson called Route 56 Express. The indictment also seeks criminal forfeiture of money and property related to the alleged crimes, including the business, real estate, cash, and money held in bank accounts controlled by the Patels. Many of those assets were seized today, Grissom said.
According to the indictment, Satishkumar and Daxaben Patel unlawfully entered the United States in the 1990s and have never had any lawful status here, but were able to obtain Social Security numbers by claiming to be aliens authorized to work. Since then, the indictment alleges, the Patels have pretended to be U.S. citizens, buying a home in McPherson and engaging in business activities that didn’t result in checks of their citizenship or immigration status.
They obtained Kansas driver’s licenses using their Social Security numbers and swearing they were lawfully in the U.S., according to the indictment, resulting in charges of document fraud and use of a fraudulently obtained Social Security number, all felonies. Sastishkumar and Daxaben Patel also are charged with multiple counts of harboring aliens unlawfully in the United States, both by employing them and by providing housing at the Patel’s McPherson home.
The indictment alleges the Patels were able to obtain a mortgage loan to buy the home by falsely claiming on the mortgage loan application that they were United States citizens. Satishkumar Patel also is charged with wire fraud for allegedly filing false quarterly unemployment insurance reports with the Kansas Department of Labor that listed only one employee, Daxaben Patel, for the McPherson gas station when, in fact, at least four other employees worked there.
The charges against Satishkumar Patel and Nitin B. Patel arise out of their ownership of a liquor store in Lawrence in which Satishkumar’s unlawful status in the U.S. and his ownership of the store allegedly were not properly disclosed to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Foreign nationals are not permitted to obtain a retail liquor license in Kansas, and the identities of all owners of liquor stores are required to be disclosed.
The defendants face a maximum of five years in prison on the alien harboring and Social Security fraud charges, as well as the wire and mail fraud charges. They face a maximum of three years in prison on the false claim of citizenship charges, 10 years in federal prison for document fraud, and 20 years in prison for bank fraud. As in any criminal case, a person charged with a crime is considered innocent until and unless proven guilty. An indictment merely contains allegations of criminal conduct.
The Remington Nature Center of St. Joseph will host a Native American Artifact Show from 10am until 3pm on Saturday, June 27. Guests can view thousands of artifacts found in the Midwest and collected by local enthusiasts.
The Remington Nature Center also has over 1,500 Native American artifacts on display.
Patrons are encouraged to bring in their own finds for identification. The show will focus on the enjoyment of the hobby, however, and buying and selling of artifacts will not be permitted.
Exhibitors for the show are still being accepted. There is no cost to exhibit; show setup time is from 8am until 9:45am. All exhibitors need to register in advance. Lunch, admission to tour the nature center, and a show ribbon are included.
Doors to the show will open at 10am. Adults are $3, seniors 60 and older are $2, and youth ages 4-15 are $1. Children three and younger are free of charge. Children need to be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, contact Andrea McCoy, nature center manager, at 816-676-3204.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is encouraging St. Joseph Mustangs fans to bring their dogs to the 2015 “Bark in the Park” event at Phil Welch Stadium on Friday, June 26.
The night will allow Mustangs’ fans and their canine friends to take part in an evening of “dog-friendly” activities as the Mustangs take on the Clarinda A’s.
The game starts at 7:00 p.m. with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. for a pet parade – prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners. The first 500 people who arrive at the game will receive a special gift from BIVI.
“As a company comprised of animal lovers, supporting the “Bark in the Park” brings the community and their four legged-family members together for an evening of baseball,” says Dr. Bernd Eichenmueller, vice president of operations at BIVI. “We believe in supporting activities that encourage and promote the strong connection between people and their pets.”
The Friends of the St. Joseph Animal Shelter will hold a ‘pet preview’ during the event from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Ticket-holders interested in adopting a pet, can meet some of the pets available for adoption at the St. Joseph Animal Shelter.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol joins agencies from across the country in a nationwide effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to boating under the influence. It’s called “Operaton Dry Water,” and runs today through Sunday. The effort is held annually on the weekend before Independence Day.
