Northwest Missouri State University’s Homecoming celebration continues through the weekend.  “A Trip Down Bearcat Lane,” Oct. 12-19, includes  activities and events planned for students, employees, alumni and friends of the university.

“Homecoming is a great opportunity for alumni, faculty, students and staff to come together as one to honor our past, celebrate our present and look forward to our future as Bearcats,” said Brooke McBride, interim director of Campus Activities.

Here’s the schedule for the remaining events:

Thursday, Oct. 16
7 p.m. – Variety Show (Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts)
9 p.m. – Royalty Crowning (Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts)
8-11 p.m. – SAC event: Paint U (Student Union, Towerview Room)

Friday, Oct. 17
(Walkout Day)
8 a.m. – Bell Ringing (Bell of ’48, south of Administration Building)
9 a.m. – Golden Years Class Reunion: Honoring the Class of 1964 ($20 per person, Alumni House)
11 a.m. – Walkout Day Celebration (Colden Pond)
11:30 a.m. – Golden Years Luncheon (J.W. Jones Student Union)
Noon – Homecoming Golf Classic ($45 per person, Mozingo Lake Golf Course)
2 p.m. – International Flag-Raising Ceremony (Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza)
5 p.m. – Golden Years reception (Alumni House)
6:30 p.m. – M-Club Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony ($20 per person, J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom)
7 p.m. – Variety Show (Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts)
10 p.m. – Comedy Mentalist Sean Bott (Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts)

Saturday, Oct. 18
8 a.m. – Homecoming Welcome (Alumni House)
9 a.m. – Parade (starts at the corner of Ray and College avenues)
Noon – Bearcat Zone/Homecoming barbecue ($6.75 per person, College Park Pavilion)
2 p.m. – Bearcat football vs. Pittsburg State ($20 for adult reserved seating, $12 for adult general admission, $10 for K-12 and visiting students with a valid school ID, free for Northwest students with valid University ID, Bearcat Stadium)

Sunday, Oct. 19
11 a.m. – Awards ceremony (Charles Johnson Theater)

A south side break-in early Thursday morning led Saint Joseph police on a foot chase that ended in two arrests and the recovery of several stolen items. Sergeant James Langston says officers on patrol discovered the breakin shortly after it happened at 59 Auto, 6501 59 Highway.

The officers noticed two men in the area. The men took off on foot and were caught a short time later. Sergeant Langston says all stolen items were recovered. Both suspects were arrested for investigation of burglary.

Missouri Western State University celebrates homecoming next week. The theme is “Griffons Around the World.”

One highlight of Homecoming every year is the parade in downtown St. Joseph. This year, the parade’s route is somewhat shorter than in years past.

It will start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Faraon and Frederick, in front of City Hall, proceed southwest of Frederick to Francis Street, west on Francis to Sixth Street, south on Sixth to Felix Street, and east on Felix to 10th Street, where the parade will end.

 

Other Homecoming Week activities include:
Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 21 and 22
· Community Blood Center blood drive, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum 218-219. Drop in, or schedule an appointment by going to savealifenow.org and entering sponsor code “MWSU.”

Friday, Oct. 24
* Alumni Golf Tournament, 10 a.m., Fairview Golf Course. Registration is $45 per person or $180 per team. Advance registration is required by calling 816-271-5646.
* Griffon women’s soccer vs. Central Missouri, 4 p.m., Spratt Stadium
* 32nd annual Alumni Awards Banquet, 5:45 p.m. reception, 6:15 p.m. dinner, Fulkerson Center. The cost is $30 per person. Advanced registration is required by calling 816-271-5646.
This year’s honorees are:
* Distinguished Alumni Award: Bob Vecchione ’75 and Keith Hoskins ’88
* Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD): John Fabsits ’04
* Distinguished Faculty Award: Dr. Susie Hennessy, professor of French and chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages
* Herb ’35 and Peggy Iffert Service to the University Award: Dr. Carlos and Mrs. Carol Moya.

* Griffon volleyball vs. Missouri Southern, 7 p.m., Looney Complex
* Pep rally and bonfire, 8:30 p.m. (after the volleyball game), Looney Complex

Saturday, Oct. 25
* Homecoming Parade, 9:30 a.m., downtown St. Joseph
* Arts, Beats & Treats, 10:30 a.m., Remington Hall atrium. Bring the kids after the parade to enjoy several craft projects, run an awesome obstacle course provided by MegaGymnastics, play games, visit the Planetarium and more.
* Black and Gold Renewal Tailgate, 11:30 a.m., Lot H near Baker Fitness Center. Meet the Deans from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Professional Studies, the Craig School of Business, the School of Fine Arts and the Graduate School as the alumni board grills up tailgate favorites. Free and open to alumni, employees and their families.
* Football reunion and tailgate, 11:30 a.m. in Lot I. The cost is $10 per person and advance registration is strongly encouraged. Call 816-271-5646.
* Griffon football vs. Emporia State University, 2 p.m., Spratt Stadium
* Homecoming Queen and King will be crowned at halftime. Candidates are: Julia Buescher of Shawnee Mission, Kan.; Kendra Greer of Independence, Mo.; Savanna Law of Atchison, Kan.; Nerissa Lee of Kansas City, Mo.; Sharon Rodriguez Benarroch of Les Escaldes, Andorra; Turki Alqahtani of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Zac Covault of Kansas City, Mo.; Tony Dougherty of Leavenworth, Kan.; Jacob Dowell of St. Joseph; and Janis Matulis of Wichita, Kan.
* Griffon volleyball vs. Central Oklahoma, 7 p.m., Looney Complex

Student organizations will also compete in a series of competitions throughout the week. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.missouriwestern.edu/homecoming.

A detainee who died this week at the Buchanan County Jail died of natural causes.

Detective Captain Mark Brock says preliminary autopsy results show Roger Pankau died from what was described as a “massive cardiac incident.”

Officials say Pankau was discovered unresponsive during a routine cell check on Tuesday morning.

Governor Jay Nixon came to St Joseph Wednesday to honor a local animal nutrition company with the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement.

BioZyme manufactures natural feed additives for livestock producers and feed formulators across the country. Nixon was joined by Missouri’s Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce in a tour of the company’s newly expanded facility. The company employs 65 workers in St Joseph, which marks a 70% increase in employment over the last ten years.

The Governor praised the company for the strength of its exports, which have increase 24% over last year.

“The more products that BioZyme sells overseas, the more jobs they can create here at home, and that’s why my administration has made boosting Missouri’s exports a top priority,” Nixon said.”

“In fact exports of Missouri agriculture products are up nearly 20% over just the last year. From soybeans and cattle to specialty meats and animal-feed additives, it’s no surprise that demand for Missouri-raised, Missouri-grown, and Missouri-made agriculture products has exploded.”

Among other products, BioZyme produces “Amaferm,” a fermented, fungus-based, feed additive that produces more energy and better results when fed to livestock. Biozyme is a participant in the Esxport Missouri initiative, an effort by Governor Nixon to help match Missouri-made goods with qualified buyers in the global marketplace.