Two local truck drivers face charges related to commercial sex trafficking of a child.

54-year-old Tony Eugene Wardlow of St. Joseph, and 48-year-old Thomas Farrell of DeKalb were charged in a six-count indictment announced Wednesday by US Western District attorney Tammy Dickinson.

The federal indictment alleges that Wardlow caused a child to engage in prostitution between Aug. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2011. Wardlow is also charged with enticing a minor to engage in prostitution and transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution.

Farrell is charged with enticing the victim to engage in prostitution and transporting the victim across state lines.

Wardlow is a registered sex offender who was convicted in Nodaway County of sexual misconduct involving a minor and endangering the welfare of a child. Wardlow is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Wardlow is self-employed as a commercial truck driver, doing business as Prideco, LLC. Farrell is also self-employed as a commercial truck driver, doing business as Farrell Trucking & Hay, LLC.

According to the announcement, Wardlow allegedly pointed out rivers as he transported the child victim across the country and told her that if she ever told law enforcement, he would dump her body in those rivers.

With the potential threat of severe weather this week, the local Red Cross Chapter wants to remind northwest Missourians, if there’s a tornado in the area, there’s an app for that.

The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross urges residents to be prepared for severe weather.

One way to do that is to download the Tornado App on your smart-phone. The phone application sends a tornado warning alert to your phone if a warning is in your area.

It uses locations based technology to deliver the alerts. It includes tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm and flood warnings.

Other Features include enhanced weather maps by Weather Underground and an “I’m Safe” feature allowing users to access social media to let friends know they are safe. The application has pre-loaded safety content and a tool kit that features a flashlight and Red Cross shelter locations.

“If a tornado is threatening your area, listen for alerts and warnings, grab your emergency preparedness kit and head to your designated safe area,” Long added. “Be prepared to evacuate if necessary.”

A man from northwest Missouri pleaded guilty in federal court for defrauding an elderly couple.

42-year-old David McConkey of Albany pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges, admitting he defrauded a Maryville couple in a year long fraud scheme.

McConkey told the couple that he was aware of an incident involving their adult daughter that allegedly occurred approximately 28 years ago in the state of Iowa. McConkey told them that if they would pay him $119,950 he would keep their daughter from going to prison.

This representation was false, and known by McConkey to be false. The Maryville couple gave McConkey a $119,950 cashier’s check, which he used for his own personal benefit.

Under federal law McConkey could face up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution.

 Five are in custody after Atchison Kansas Police intercepted a drug trafficking exchange at the Amelia Earhart Airport.

Police developed a lead that an exchange was expected sometime Wednesday afternoon.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says they started surveillance late in the afternoon and observed a plane of interest around 6pm.

Police seized 42 pounds of high-grade marijuana, a 1952 Beechcraft airplane and an 2008 SAAB vehicle. Three people in the aircraft and two in the car were all taken into custody for possession with the intent to distribute.

“We believe from the investigation so far, that the marijuana was transported here by aircraft from Colorado, it was intended to be transported then to Kansas City Missouri before we intercepted it here at our airport.”

Wilson says when police made the arrest they were very prepared.

Four have given police addresses from Colorado, and the fifth suspect gave police a Kansas City address.

The investigation is ongoing. Chief Wilson expected charges to be formally filed sometime today.

A St Joseph man faces charges stemming from a December Murder.

Online court documents from Wednesday show 32-year-old Kim D. Keith was charged with 2nd Degree Murder from December 8th.

57-year-old Clinton Justice was found dead in his apartment by his daughter who had to force her way in. The investigation has been ongoing, and police recovered a weapon in January thought to possibly connected to the murder.

Keith is being held on a $250,000 bond. Arraignment is scheduled for April 9th.

Two others connected to the case were charged with tampering with evidence. 44-year-old Angel Henderson and Joshua Mollett were each charged with a class D felony.

A minor change is coming to a St Joseph Transit route starting next week.

The city announced Wednesday the changes will start Monday for the #12 Lovers Lane route to accommodate students at the new Vatterott College location.

A new stop will be located at the entrance to Vatterott on Rochester Road. The bus will arrive outbound, towards Walmart, on the hour and inbound, towards downtown, 15 minutes past the hour.

St Joseph Transit Manager Mary Gaston says Vatterott inquired about the bus service. “Vatterott inquired about service to their new location for students and clients,”  Gaston said.   “They had bus service in their previous location and it was well used by students.”

The change is being made at no additional cost.

 

Law Enforcement officers in Livingston county are seeking information regarding an accident last week.

They are trying to track down someone involved in the accident who they believe ran from the scene.

Officers responded to the accident Friday morning around 6:45 on Livingston County Road 233. A deputy found a male at the scene suffering from serious injuries and was reported to be very cold. He was taken to the hospital in Chillicothe.

22-year-old Lance Surber of Chillicothe was identified as the driver, according to a Missouri Highway Patrol crash report.

The investigation has led law enforcement to believe another person may have left the scene of the accident without calling 911. A passing motorist called 911 a short time after the accident.

The Livingston County Sheriffs office is seeking information on the rest of the story from the other possible occupants in the car. If you have information, you’re asked to call Chief Deputy Micheal Claypole or Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox.

The St Joseph School District received an AA+ from the Standard & Poors ratings service for a bond sale.

The rating, announced Tuesday, is for the sale of more than $21 million in general obligation bonds.

The bond sale was authorized by voters last spring as part of a $42 million bond issue. 65% of the voters approved the issue, paving the way for two new elementary schools in St Joseph. The school board is expected to award two construction contracts next week.

The S&P ratings service also affirmed its A+ rating of the school districts general creditworthiness.

“This is great news for the school district,” said Janet Pullen, SJSD’s Chief Financial Officer. “It sends a strong message to the bond market as to our financial stability and health as we attempt to sell nearly $22 million in bonds. Similarly, SJSD patrons can take comfort in the fact that the S&P Ratings Services believes that the District’s finances are well-managed.”

The rating service stated the districts financial position is strong, noting the $3 million in budget cuts recently approved and also noting addition cuts will be necessary if the 63-cent temporary levy will not be renewed. A sunset clause has the levy ending in 2015.

A land donation to Benedictine College in Atchison will likely be used for a sports complex.

Groundbreaking for the new Asher Sports Complex could come as early as next month.

James and Pat Asher have donated more than seven acres of land adjacent to Benedictine College’s Larry Wilcox Stadium, allowing the college to expand. The property could become a new baseball and softball stadium.

Additional fund raising will be necessary to complete the construction.

Jim Asher, a retired Atchison hospital administrator and his wife, Pat, a retired Benedictine College employee, sent all seven of their children to Benedictine College.

“It was by no accident we chose the current location to live when we moved to Atchison almost 50 years ago,” said Pat Asher.  “The cross above the Abbey Church beckoned to us when we strolled through the neighborhood in search of a place to build our home. That cross throughout the years has continued to deepen our appreciation of the Benedictine monks and sisters with whom we’ve been associated since moving to town.”

Missouri Western has named a new dean for the universities College of Professional Studies.

Dr. Kathleen O’Connor will take the new position July first.

She has served with the universities nursing faculty at Western since 1980.   She became an assistant professor in 1987, then an associate professor and chairperson of the department of nursing in 1998.

The College of Professional Studies includes the departments of criminal justice, legal studies and social work; education; engineering technology; health, physical education and recreation; military science; and nursing and allied health.