Post Staff – Page 794 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Fire destroys vacant Midtown home

Posted on December 31, 2014December 31, 2014

Fire destroyed a vacant house in Midtown St Joseph Wednesday morning. St Joseph Fire Department crews were dispatched at about 6:50am to the 2700 block of Olive Street.

Firefighters battled a high terrace, freezing temperatures, heavy smoke, collapsing walls and floors in putting out the fire. It was reported out shortly before 9am but crews were still pouring a lot of water on the house because of flareups and hot spots.

There were no reports of injuries. An investigation is underway to determined the cause of the fire. The fire produced thick clouds of smoke, which were visible across a wide area of St Joseph.

Structure fire reported in Midtown St Joe

Posted on December 31, 2014December 31, 2014

The St Joseph Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire in the 2700 block of Olive.

A number of fire crews are at the scene, currently working to put out that fire.

The fire was initially reported at 6:49am. Crews determined the power had already been shut off.

St Joseph police are directing traffic around the affected area. Crews at the scene reported one of the walls was buckling as they tried to put the fire out. They also reported the second floor had caved in.

A cloud of smoke from the fire was visible across a wide area of St Joseph.

Refresh this post for additional information as it becomes available.

Critics of Kansas science standards appeal ruling

Posted on December 31, 2014December 31, 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A nonprofit group that contends science standards for Kansas public schools promote atheism has appealed a federal judge’s dismissal of its lawsuit against the guidelines.

Citizens for Objective Public Education went Tuesday to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, along with parents and taxpayers opposed to the standards.

They’re seeking to overturn a decision earlier this month by U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree rejecting their claim that the standards violate the religious freedoms of students and parents.

Crabtree ruled that the opponents of the standards did not allege specific enough injuries from their adoption last year by the State Board of Education’s to allow the lawsuit to proceed.

The guidelines treat both evolution and climate change as key scientific concepts to be taught starting in kindergarten.

Chicago bids for Obama library at risk

Posted on December 30, 2014

JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
SARA BURNETT, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s two bids to host President Barack Obama’s presidential library have run into trouble.

The Barack Obama Foundation is currently screening proposals from Chicago, Honolulu and New York. But a source close to the foundation says there are serious concerns that could endanger both of Chicago’s proposals.

The source says the foundation’s board is alarmed that the University of Chicago can’t guarantee it can secure the land it’s proposing for the library. The Chicago Parks District controls the school’s proposed sites.

The city’s other bid comes from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The source says uncertainty about ongoing changes in university leadership have put that bid in jeopardy. The source wasn’t authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity.

The city of Chicago says it’s working to address the concerns.

Convicted murderer dies in custody

Posted on December 30, 2014

An inmate being held in a Cameron prison has died of natural causes.

The Missouri Department of Corrections tells us Stephen Daniels was pronounced dead on Monday at 5:47pm at the St. Mary’s Medical Center in Jefferson City.

The 36-year-old St. Louis man was serving a 47-year prison sentence at the Crossroads Correctional Center for second-degree murder and armed criminal action from St. Louis County and second-degree assault from Cape Girardeau County.

Mr. Daniels was received into the Department of Corrections on July 17, 1997.

Royals’ Gordon Undergoes Surgery

Posted on December 30, 2014December 30, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Royals outfielder Alex Gordon has had surgery on his right wrist, and the four-time Gold Glove winner should be ready for the season opener against the White Sox on April 6.

The surgery, an extensor retinaculum repair, was performed by Dr. Bruce Toby at the University of Kansas Hospital on Tuesday. It is not yet clear when Gordon will be able to start in spring training.

Royals trainer Nick Kenney says in a statement that Gordon reached out to the team about some wrist discomfort last week. Gordon traveled to Kansas City and underwent testing, and the surgery was scheduled immediately so that he would be ready for the upcoming season.

Gordon dealt with pain in the same wrist midway through last season but did not miss significant playing time. He aggravated the injury during his winter training sessions.

Obituaries for December 30, 2014

Posted on December 30, 2014

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Hazel Louise Milligan, 92, died December 29, 2014, at Parkdale Manor Care Center, Maryville.
Hazel was born April 18, 1922, in St. Joseph, to Hiram Ennels and Callie May (Owens) Hurst.
A 1940 graduate of the Graham High School, Hazel was a homemaker.
She married James Francis Kenney June 7, 1945. He passed away March 7, 1964. She then married John E. Milligan June 19, 1965. He passed away July 28, 1999. After his death she resided in Autumn House, prior to living at Parkdale Manor.
Hazel became a charter member of the Church of the Nazarene, Maryville in 1945. She enjoyed her church family and caring for children.
Preceding in death were her first and second husbands; her parents; brother, Lincoln Leroy Hurst; sister, Marguerite Atkins; and an infant brother.
Several nieces and nephews survive.
Visitation is from 1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2014, Church of the Nazarene, Maryville.
Funeral Services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday also at the Church, with burial following in Rose Hill Cemetery, Parnell, Mo.
Memorials may be made to the Church of the Nazarene, 1139 South Munn, Maryville, Missouri 64468.
www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com

ST. JOSEPH – Yoselyn Adilene Marin Presto,passed peacefully in the arms of her loving parents on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Yoselyn was born October 26, 2014. During her cherished short days here on Earth she touched many lives and was loved deeply by family and friends. Her life was a brief gift to us that will lived on as her light will shine down upon us all. Yoselyn is the daughter of Jerry and Luz Marin Presto of St. Joseph.
Additional survivors are: paternal grandparents, Vince and Jackie Presto, Toni Presto (Doug Rose); maternal grandparents, Bernardo and Amparo Marin; aunts, Ana, Angel, and Jordan; uncles, Joseph, Justin, Omar and Eden; as well as several other aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday December 31, 2014 at Rupp Chapel, Father Eric Schneider officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m., one hour prior to the service. The Interment will be at the Mount Olivet Cemetery. Memorials are requested to theYoselyn Presto memorial fund in care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.

Report: Police gun deaths up, still below average

Posted on December 30, 2014

AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A report says the number of law-enforcement officers killed by firearms jumped by 56 percent this year and included 15 ambush deaths. But gun-related police deaths still remain far below historic highs.

The annual report released Tuesday by the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund found that 50 officers were killed by guns this year. That’s far more than 32 such killings last year but the same as 2012.

In 2011, 73 officers were killed in gunfire, the most in any year in the past decade.

Of gun-related deaths among officers this year, the report found that 15 were ambush assaults, matching 2012 for the highest total of ambushes since 1995.

In all this year, 126 federal, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty.

Krug Park lagoon renovation set to begin

Posted on December 30, 2014

Crews will soon start draining and dredging the lagoon at Krug Park to restore depth and repair the limestone walls. The project was promised in the six-year Capital Improvements Program sales tax approved by voters two years ago.

Crews will also rebuild the island wildlife refuge and the waterfall. The project will cost $867,000.

According to an announcement from St Joseph City Hall, crews will begin draining the water from the pond just after the first of the year. That will be followed by the dredging operation. Once that’s complete they’ll go to work on the wshoreline walls and the waterfall. Officials expect that phase of the renovation to begin in early May, and the entire project should be done by next fall.

Rise in homeless students continues in Kansas

Posted on December 30, 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas education officials say the number of homeless students in the state’s schools continues to increase.

The Kansas State Department of Education reports nearly 10,400 homeless children attended public schools last year, a thousand more than a year earlier.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, public schools reported increases of 45 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Tate Toedman, the education department’s child homelessness program coordinator, said families are taking longer to recover from homelessness than in the past.

The federal government requires schools to track homeless students in order to receive support and service programs that help the children stay in school.