The St Joseph School District announced another new hire on Friday. The new Activities Director at Central High School has strong ties to the community, to the school district, and to Missouri Western State University.

David Lau replaces Neal Hook as Activities Director. Hook is now an Assistant Principal at Central.

Lau was previously Director of Athletics at Montana Tech in Butte, Montana. He was responsible for their intercollegiate athletics program and fundraising campaigns for the athletics program.

Lau was also an Assistant Director of Athletics for Development/Special Events for Missouri Western State University, a position he held from October 1999-May 2014.

Lau also worked with the MWSU Gold Coat Club, MWSU Hall of Fame, assisted in game-day management operations and was a member of the administrative team for the Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU. Lau was an Assistant Baseball Coach from 1999-2003 at Missouri Western. He lettered in baseball three times at the university. He was inducted into the MWSU Hall of Fame in 2008.

He attended Central High School where he was a three-sport athlete. Lau then attended and graduated from Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education with Coaching Certification. He played professional baseball for three years and later received his M.S. in Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1994, with an emphasis in Athletic Administration. Lau’s salary will be $60,305.

Lenience in a child molestation case has a lot of you up in arms. You’re not alone.

A 20-year-old St Joseph man has been sentenced to 100 days shock time for Child Molestation, a class-B felony. Austin Orr was found guilty in June by a jury that recommended a much harsher sentence, five years in the Department of Corrections.

During the interim the court received dozens of letters from friends and letters vouching for Mr Orr’s character.

This week, Circuit Judge Patrick Robb imposed a five year sentence, but suspended that sentence and placed Orr on probation for five years. Judge Robb ordered Mr Orr to serve 100 days in the Buchanan County jail.

Testimony at trial showed that Mr Orr showed a five-year-old relative what was described as “the undies game.” The victim said he and the defendant then touched each other’s genitals.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kate Schaefer recommended the same five-year prison sentence suggested by the jury. Under Missouri Statutes, the sentence for a class-B felony can range from five to 15 years in prison. Schaefer and her boss, Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins opposed the more lenient sentence imposed by the judge.

“Child molestors need to go to prison,” Scroggins said in an interview. “That’s been our position from the very beginning.”

Parties on the Parkway comes to a close this weekend with “Rockin’ on the River.”

The event will feature two bands, multiple food and drink vendors, a car and motorcycle show, and nightworks.

The event runs from 4pm to 8pm near the Remington Nature Center at 1502 McArthur Drive in St Joseph.

Under the Big Oak Tree will open the musical performances with bluegrass. The headliner will be The Disappointments, with hits from the 1980s through today. The entertainment is sponsored by Pro Serv Business Systems, Inc. A Shine and Show for car and motorcycle enthusiasts will be held throughout the event.

Fireworks, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, will end the evening.

The Parties on the Parkway (and Rockin’ on the River) are presented by Nodaway Valley Bank. The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce coordinates the event with the cooperation of the City of St. Joseph.

Mayor Bill Falkner says he’s heard a lot of complaints that the 3-month-old Saint Joseph smoking ordinance is not being enforced. Falkner says the city does not have the budget right now to add health inspectors. He adds, “I don’t know what more we could do unless they’re expecting Council to go out with badges and give tickets.”

Falkner says some bar owners have allowed customers to continue to smoke despite the new law. Other owners have started an initiative petition process to propose their own smoking ordinance, which Falkner says is the right way to do it.

 

Elmore Family Dentistry and St Joe Cares is offering a free dental clinic Friday. If you’re 18 years old or older you can choose between a free x-ray and tooth extraction, a free x-ray and filling, or a cleaning.

The free clinic will be at 3921 Sherman Ave from 8am to 4pm. No appointment is required but the clinic is first come first served. You should bring a list of any medications you might be taking, and a medical history.

Find out more here.

Police in Cameron are hoping you can help identify two people wanted in a fraud investigation. The Cameron Police Department posted these photographs on Facebook.

If you can help identify and find these people you are urged to call the TIPS hotline at (816)632-8477. You may remain anonymous if you wish.

Democrat Chad Taylor has not given a reason why he pulled out of the US Senate race against Kansas incumbent Republican Pat Roberts. But there is speculation in the national press that Democrats convinced the Shawnee County District Attorney to pull out and support an independent candidate who has been a member of both parties.

In a blog at the Washington Post, unnamed Democrats say Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) spoke with Taylor about dropping out of the race in order to consolidate support behind independent candidate Greg Orman.

In a statement, Orman said “This is certainly an unexpected turn of events. Chad Taylor is a committed public servant. He ran an honorable campaign and worked hard, and I wish him and his family well.”

There has been national speculation that Senator Roberts would be more beatable in a one-on-one race. As you might expect, there’s been a lot of finger pointing from the GOP and Roberts’ campaign accusing Democrats of meddling.

Meanwhile, it is up to Kansas Democrats to decide how, or if, they will replace Taylor on the November ballot.