Some of the new sculptures in this year’s sculpture walk are already in place, and some are in progress.

There’s a new platform on the sidewalk north of Felix & 8th Streets that will eventually be the site of one of the new sculptures, but for now, it’s being used for skateboarding.

The winner of last year’s People’s Choice award has been moved to a semi-permanent location near the library at 927 Felix. At least two of the new sculptures have been installed.

A reception is planned Friday to introduce the artists. (click for more)

A prisoner at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron died early Monday morning.

Officials say 70-year-old William McCallister was pronounced dead at 3:19 am Monday. The Corrections Department says McCallister died of apparent natural causes.

He was serving a 20 year sentence from Jasper County for first degree assault resulting in serious physical injury. He entered the Department of Corrections in March of 2013.

St. Joseph, Mo. —Missouri Western State University’s Craig School of Business has announced that three Missouri Western alumni will have the chance to own and operate their own business.

Ross Theesen, Ernest Chamblee and Mindy Schimming have been awarded stores.

“The program continues to grow and get better, and this may have been the best competition we’ve ever had,” said Steve Craig, benefactor of the Craig School of Business.

Theesen, Chamblee and Schimming were among students in a senior-level applied entrepreneurship class this spring. The students created business plans for a store and presented their plans today to an interview panel made up of Craig, Missouri Western graduates who won franchises in previous years, Missouri Western faculty members, other business leaders and representatives of franchise companies, including Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Theesen graduated last month with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He has owned his own mowing business since 2010 and has been a warehouse manager for Red Wheel Fundraising since 2008. Theesen will receive a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Store.

Chamblee graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2011. Since graduation, he has served as an officer in the United States Army. While at Missouri Western, Chamblee was very active, including a term as vice president of the Student Government Association. Chamblee will manage the St. Joseph Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Aspen Leaf Yogurt stores until another ownership possibility becomes available.

Schimming graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2014. She has worked in the business office of Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory since 2009. Schimming has ownership opportunities in Missouri and Wisconsin. Two of Schimming’s brothers previously won store ownership opportunities through the entrepreneurship program.

The businesses owned by Theesen, Chamblee and Schimming will join 16 other “program stores” in 11 states. Several of the program’s alumni have gone on to a second franchise opportunity, with more expected to open this year.

The program to present Missouri Western graduates with this unique opportunity was founded in 2009 by Craig, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Missouri Western to offer entrepreneurship opportunities to graduating seniors.

In 2012, the program partners announced a significant expansion, allowing any alumni of the Craig School of Business to take the class and compete for a business, no matter when they graduated. Other franchise companies have joined Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the program as well.

The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store’s proceeds back to the University.

At a dinner the night before the competition, Craig, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory founder, president and CEO Frank Crail, and Rocky Mountain field consultant Casey Crail received the first Champion of Entrepreneurs Award.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – One more route closed Monday morning due to flooding, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Motorists will need to use alternate routes. MoDOT encourages everyone to pay attention to barricades and Turn Around! Don’t Drown!

The following routes remain closed until further notice:

Carroll County:

Route 10 between County Road 231 and County Road 221 (Moss Creek)
Chariton County:

Route E one-quarter mile east of Rothville (East Yellow Creek)

An ATV crash north of Forest City claimed the life of an Oregon, Missouri man. The Missouri State highway Patrol says Patrick Meyer was driving along 270th St in Holt County when the right front tire of his four-wheeler rolled into a rut, causing the vehicle to overturn.

According to the crash report, the vehicle ejected Mr Meyer and landed on top of him.

The accident is believed to have occurred between 2:00 and 3:35pm Sunday. Meyer was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger suffered serious injuries after a motorist fell asleep while driving along a Nodaway County road early Sunday morning.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the driver, Joshua Wideman, 22, of Guilford, was charged with DWI, Careless and Imprudent Driving and 2nd Degree Assault for a DWI resulting in injuries.

Passenger Michael Medsker, 21, also of Guilford, suffered serious injuries when the pickup truck left Lion Avenue southwest of Guilford and overturned. Medsker was transported to St Francis for treatment. Wideman was not injured.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.  – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of June 8 – 14, from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Many projects will include lane closures, and delays can be expected. MoDOT reminds the public to buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT(888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.

Andrew County

• Interstate 29 – NIGHT WORK from U.S. Route 71 to Route O (Buchanan County); pavement repair, June 8 – 11, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Includes work on the driving lanes and a 15-foot width restriction.
• I-29 – Sign operations – June 8 – 12

Atchison County

• Route CC – Pothole patching, June 8
• Routes CC, T, W and OO – Striping, June 8 – 12
• I-29 – Sign operations, June 8 – 12
• Route U – Pothole patching, June 9 – 10
• Route E – Pothole patching, June 11 – 12
• Various routes – Mowing, June 11 – 12

Buchanan County

• U.S. Route 36 – Westbound ramp to 10^th Street; bridge maintenance, June 8 – 10 (12-foot width restriction)
• I-29 – NIGHT WORK from U.S. Route 71 (Andrew County) to Route O; pavement repair, June 8 – 11, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Includes work on the driving lanes and a 15-foot width restriction.
• Interstate-229 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, June 8 – 11
• I-29 – Striping, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 36 – Striping and spraying, June 8 – 12
• Route 371 – Two hundred feet north of Route DD; driveway entrance repair and drainage work, June 8 – 12
• Route MM – One mile south of Route H; drainage work, June 8 – 12
• Business Loop 29 – Belt Highway from County Line Road to Ashland Avenue; sidewalk project, June 8 – 12. Various lanes will be closed at different times, including lanes on side streets.
• I-229 – From just after the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp to just before U.S. Route 36; bridge maintenance, June 8 – 12 (10-foot width restriction)
• U.S. Route 59 – At the Bankers Crossing Bridge; new bridge construction,June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 36 – At the Platte River Bridge; bridge deck replacement, June 8 – 14. Traffic is head to head in the eastbound lanes with a 14-foot width restriction.
• U.S. Route 36 – Eastbound ramp to 10^th Street; bridge maintenance, June 10 – 11 (12-foot width restriction)

Caldwell County

• Route E – Pothole patching, June 8
• Route 13 – Mowing, June 8 – 10
• U.S. Route 36 – Spraying, June 8 – 12
• Route KK – From Route A to Route D (Carroll County); pothole patching,June 9 – 11
• Route 116 – Mowing, June 11 – 12

Carroll County

• Route C – From Route Z to Route D; pothole patching, June 8 – 9
• U.S. Route 65 – From the Carroll County line to U.S. Route 36 (Livingston County); mowing, June 8 – 10
• Route D – From Route C to U.S. Route 36 (Livingston County); pothole patching, June 8 – 10
• Various routes – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• Route KK – From Route D to Route A (Caldwell County); pothole patching,June 9 – 11
• Route D – From Route DD to Route C; pothole patching, June 10 – 11

Chariton County

• Routes JJ, E, YY and 139 – Mowing, June 8 – 11

Clinton County

• U.S. Route 36 – Spraying, June 8 – 12
• Route K – CLOSED from 348^th Street to 354^th Street; culvert replacement,June 9 – 10, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Route K – CLOSED from 348^th Street to 338^th Street; culvert replacement,June 11 – 12, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Daviess County

• Interstate 35 and Route 6 – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• I-35, U.S. Route 69, Routes 6 and 190 – Pothole patching, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 69, Routes 6, 13 and 190 – Brush cutting, June 8 – 12
• Various routes – Spraying, June 8 – 12

DeKalb County

• U.S. Route 36 – Eastbound from Route C to U.S. Route 69; pavement repair, June 8 – 11 (14-foot width restriction.)
• Route D – From Route E to Route 6; pothole patching, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 169 – From the Dekalb County line to Route M (Gentry County); shoulder work, June 8 – 12

Gentry County

• Route W – CLOSED; resurfacing project, June 8 – 9
• Route U – CLOSED; culvert replacement, June 8 – 11, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• U.S. Route 136 – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 169 – From Route M to the Dekalb County line; shoulder work,June 8 – 12
• Various routes – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• Route A – Four miles south of Albany; pothole patching, June 10
• Route UU and Spur UU – CLOSED; resurfacing project, June 10 – 11
• Route T – CLOSED; resurfacing project, June 12

Grundy County

• Route E – CLOSED from Route V to Route K (Medicine Creek Bridge); culvert replacement and bridge maintenance, June 8 – 9, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily
• Routes E, M, V and JJ – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 65 and Route AA – drainage work, June 8 – 12
• Route W – CLOSED at the Gees Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, June 10, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Route W – At the Hickory Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, June 11

Harrison County

• Route F – CLOSED at the Little Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through July 2015.
• Route H – Pothole patching, June 8 – 9
• Route 146 – Pothole patching, June 10 – 12
• U.S. Route 136 – From Route D to the Mercer County line; mowing, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 136 – From the Mt. Moriah city limits to the Mercer County line; pavement resurfacing project, June 8 – 12 (10-foot width restriction)

Holt County

• I-29 – CLOSED at U.S. Route 59 (Exit 75); bridge deck replacement. Closed through June 2015. Traffic is being rerouted to the on and off ramps. No access to U.S. Route 59 via Exit 75.
• U.S. Route 59 – CLOSED at I-29; bridge deck replacement. Closed through June 2015. No access to I-29.
• I-29 – Signing, June 8 – 12
• Route C – From Route D to Route N; pothole patching, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 159 – From U.S. Route 59 to the end of state maintenance; mowing, June 8 – 12
• Route 118 – From U.S. Route 59 to Route 111; mowing, June 8 – 12
• Route P – Striping, June 8 – 12

Linn County

• Route C – At the Long Branch Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, June 8 (12-foot width restriction.)
• U.S. Route 36 – From Route F to Route 129; pavement repair, June 8 – 9
• U.S. Route 36 – From Route W to U.S. Route 65 (Livingston County); mowing, June 8 – 10
• Routes 129, 130, 139, U, MM, WW and ZZ – Mowing, June 8 – 11
• Route 139 – At the Parson Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Route 36 – At the Mussell Fork Bridge; bridge maintenance, June 9 (12-foot width restriction.)
• U.S. Route 36 – From the Macon County line to Route 129; pavement repair, June 10 – 11

Livingston County

• Route Z – From U.S. Route 65 to the Carroll County line; pothole patching, June 8 – 7
• Route D – From U.S. Route 36 to Route C (Carroll County); pothole patching, June 8 – 10
• U.S. Route 36 – From U.S. Route 65 to Route W (Linn County); mowing,June 8 – 10
• U.S. Route 65 – From U.S. Route 36 to the Carroll County line; mowing,June 8 – 10

Mercer County

• Route JJ – Pothole patching, June 8 – 12
• Route M – Drainage work, June 8 – 12
• U.S. Routes 65 and 136 – Sign operations, June 8 – 12

Nodaway County

• Various routes – Mowing, June 8 – 12

Putnam County

• Route 139 – CLOSED from 147^th Street to 160^th Street; culvert replacement, June 8, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Routes H, E, DD, EE, Z and 149 – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• Route 5 – Shoulder work, June 9
• Route  F – CLOSED from Route 5 to 290^th Road; culvert replacement, June 10, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Route K – CLOSED from U.S. Route 136 to 190^th Street; culvert replacement, June 11, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sullivan County

• Route AB – CLOSED from Route 129 to Jamboree Road; culvert replacement, June 8, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Routes 139, DD, EE, KK, MM and Z – Mowing, June 8 – 12
• Routes DD, MM, U and Z – Pothole patching, June 8 – 12
• Route E – CLOSED from Belfry Drive to Mission Road; culvert replacement, June 9, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route U – CLOSED from Valley Road to Vickers Road; culvert replacement, June 10, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route Y – CLOSED from Route N to Neighbors Road; culvert replacement, June 11, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Worth County

• U.S. Route 169 – From the Iowa state line to the Gentry County line; spraying, June 8
• Route 46 – At the West Fork of Grand River Bridge; bridge maintenance, June 8 – 12
• Route 46 – Mowing, June 10 – 12

The United Way is offering a new informational program this year called “Taste of United Way” in an effort to educate the community on United Way programs and partner agencies.

On Wednesday, June 10 at 11:45 a.m. the agency will hold a free luncheon to talk about one of its partner agencies, the Boy Scouts of America Pony Express Council.  The event will be held at 1704 Buckingham St. (Scout Office)

While there is no cost to attend, the agency said space is limited.  Reservations can be made by calling (816) 364-2381.

Taste of United Way events will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 11:45 a.m. and the locations will change each month.

July 8- Catholic Charities
August 12- St. Joseph Safety and Health Council
September 9- NW MO Community Services
October 14- Community Missions Corporation
November 11- YWCA
December 16*- Family Guidance Center

Eagleville, Mo. – A free Prairie Days event on June 26 and 27 will celebrate Missouri’s rich grassland heritage at Dunn Ranch Prairie and Pawnee Prairie Natural Area in Harrison County. Sponsors are the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other conservation partners. Visitors can enjoy grassland birds and butterflies, wildflowers blooming on remnant prairies, and bison grazing on native grasses. Experts will discuss conservation efforts for species such as prairie chickens and the value of upland streams with fish such as the endangered Topeka shiner minnow.

Prairie Days will kick off on Friday, June 26, with an 8 p.m. social gathering at TNC’s Dunn Ranch headquarters, 16970 W. 150th St., Hatfield, Mo. The headquarters is west of Eagleville, Mo. Biologists will talk about prairie history, grassland management and projects such as prairie chicken restoration. Movies about prairie will be shown at dusk including “Blooming Secrets” and “Missouri’s Tallgrass Prairie: An American Original.”

On Saturday, June 27, the day will begin 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. with birding hikes at MDC’s Pawnee Prairie Natural Area. Participants should bring their own binoculars, cameras and field guides. This prairie is rich in native wildflowers and grassland birds.

Activities will shift to Dunn Ranch morning and afternoon. A highlight will be tours of TNC’s bison herd and discussions about their role in prairie ecology. Educational conservation sessions will be offered including plant identification, grazing nutrition, prairie headwaters, rare prairie species, pollinators, reptiles and amphibians, fire ecology and mammals of the prairie.

Camping will be available at Dunn Ranch without hookups, or visitors can camp at Harrison County Lake with some hookups and primitive sites. Motel lodging is available in Eagleville and Bethany. A local non-profit group will operate a food concession. Booths or demonstrations will be offered by Missouri Prairie Foundation, Missouri River Bird Observatory, Pure Air Natives, Inc., Missouri Master Naturalists and Hamilton Native Outpost.

Prairie Days will also highlight the conservation efforts underway in the Grand River Grasslands, a partnership between MDC, TNC, Iowa conservation agencies, private landowners, and private, non-profit groups. MDC’s Pawnee Prairie and TNC’s Dunn Ranch offer high quality habitat in the heart of the Grand River Grasslands. MDC and partners are working to restore a functional grassland ecosystem over a broad geography that supports both production agriculture and nature. The goals include restoring Missouri’s endangered prairie chickens. An overview is available at http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2010/10-0/grand-river-grasslands.