The Remington Nature Center is hosting a traveling exhibit this month on conservation.

Called, “A Legacy of Conservation,” it celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Missouri Conservation Department.

The exhibit includes graphic panels and documents on wildlife management and restoration. It features information on hunting, fur trade, settlers and timber. This is the first traveling exhibit for the Remington Nature Center.

“We are thrilled that it will feature the Missouri Department of Conservation,” nature center manager Andrea George said. “We enjoy our good relationship with MDC, and this display will showcase their 75-year legacy of preserving the state’s most precious resources.”

Provided by the Missouri State Archives, the exhibit will remain in St Joseph until March 27th.

Also featured is artwork by local artist Bill West.  Those 14 paintings include images of the parkway system, stockyards and the Pony Express.

The Remington Nature Center is open 10-5 weekdays and 1-5 on Saturdays.

Missouri Western named Shana Meyer the vice president for student affairs Monday afternoon.

Meyer, who currently is the assistant vice president for student affairs at Fort Hays State University, will start next month.

At Fort Hays State, Meyer led student activities, Greek life, student publications and residential life.

She holds a Journalism degree and a Master of Science in Counselor Education and is working on her doctorate in student affairs in higher education from Kansas State University.

Meyer succeeds Dr. Judy Grimes, who has served as interim vice president for student affairs since last April.

 “I am excited to join the team at Missouri Western,” Meyer said. “In my interactions with staff, faculty, students and alumni, pride in the institution and a true sense of community were described repeatedly.”

 

A Missouri man faces charges for attempting to rob a bank in Trimble with a fake gun.

Western District US prosecuting attorney Tammy Dickinson announced Monday 34-year-old Michael Stephen Oliva remains hospitalized with a gun shot wound from the incident.

He allegedly entered the First Security Bank in Trible Friday afternoon and pointed a fake gun at an employee and demanded money.

As employees were attempting to get away from the man and yell help, another employee grabbed a Smith and Wesson .357 revolver and fired two shots, hitting Oliva in the jaw, according to court documents.

The suspect then left the bank, leaving a blood trail to a parking space. Police allegedly located Oliva’s vehicle and a pursuit made it’s way down I-435 where he hit stop sticks was was arrested. The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment following his arrest.

74 Red Cross Heroes from northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas are attempting to raise $1,000 each.

The money will fund local Red Cross services for house fires, disasters and Armed Forces Emergency Services.

On average, over 70 people get help each day in the area from the Red Cross, according to Midland Empire chairman Sharon Kennedy.

“Most people would give $50 to help a family after a fire and give $25 so military families can have emergency services; they just have to be asked.  Twenty people donating $50 or 40 people donating $25 meets the $1,000 goal,” Kennedy said.

The Red Cross needs to fund-raise $350,000 a year in addition to fund received as a United Way agency. The Heroes Campaign kicks-off with a breakfast on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. and the campaign will end April 20.

St Joseph School districts officials confirm today they have hired the superintendent from West Plains to take over in St Joseph.

Dr Fred Czerwonka will succeed Melody Smith as superintendent in St Joseph starting July first.

Czerwonka will make $190,000 a year, including a $500 a month car allowance, benefits package and a “normal staff benefit package.”

His current school district, in southwest Missouri, announced to local media there last night Czerwonka will leave for St Joseph.

The St Joseph School District made the official announcement this morning.

A St Joseph woman has pleaded guilty for her part in a scheme to help illegal aliens obtain licenses.

62-year-old Isabel Ramirez Mendoza pleaded guilty Thursday in US District Court in Kansas City.

US District Attorney Tammy Dickinson says Mendoza helped well over 100 illegal aliens obtain a license at the St Joseph License office. Mendoza and others, including four family members, served under the guise of translators.

Mendoza charged typically $100 for assisting the illegal aliens. They also charged $500 or more to obtain stolen identification documents. Mendoza must forfeit $125,000 to the government and several vehicles that were seized.

Mendoza is subject to a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated running consecutively to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000.

After a nationwide search, the St Joseph Chamber of Commerce announced today a former St Joseph City Manager will lead the organization.

Patt Lilly was named the chamber president today. Lilly will end work at Triumph foods on March 8th and start work at the Chamber on March 11th.

Former chamber president Ted Allison Resigned last August to return to Oklahoma. Senior vice president Steve Hamilton served as the interim president.

Lilly previously served the Chamber as president and CEO from 1996 to 2006.

A boil advisory is likely to remain in effect for Maryville until Thursday morning.

The city issued a boil advisory Monday evening due to a ruptured water line at the city water plant.

The ruptured line caused the water system to lose pressure.  Repairs were made, and workers were re-pressurizing the water system Monday evening.

The advisory is a precautionary measure as city officials cannot guarantee the safety of water due to potential back-siphoning occurring.

The city has advised residents to boil water used for consumption while the until the advisory is lifted.

 

A jacked-knifed semi closed down a portion of southbound Interstate-29 this morning.

The Missouri Highway Patrol closed southbound I-29 at mile marker 37.5 this morning south of St Joseph and re-routed traffic.

By 10:00 this morning, the roadway was no longer blocked and traffic was starting to move again, according to the Highway Patrol.

Traffic was rerouted to I-229 southbound to Route 371 south to Route DD east to Interstate 29 for a short time while wreckers worked to open a lane of traffic.

Meanwhile, MoDOT crews continue their work to clear off all of Northwest Missouri’s roads today after yesterday’s snowstorm.   Crews will continue to work around the clock until all roads are clear.  

The majority of Missouri’s most-traveled routes, such as interstates and U.S. highways, are returning to mostly clear or normal driving conditions.

“We are working as fast as we can to get roads clear of snow and ice, and we will stay with it until all roads and bridges in Northwestl Missouri are safe and passable,” said Northwest District Engineer Don Wichern. “We want to thank motorists for their patience and understanding as we continue our work.”

 

The winter weather has stalled travel and forced closures on interstate 70 in Kansas and delays in Missouri.

MoDOT says across the state, avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

Today’s winter storm brought inches of snow to our corner of the region and throughout Missouri.  MoDOT is advising motorist to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

MoDOT Chief engineer David Nichols says the storm has affected almost the entire state and most highways are covered or partly covered.

Governor Nixon has declared a state of emergency, statewide, because of the winter storm sweeping across Missouri. He spoke on The Weather Channel earlier today.

“Precipatations moves from snow to ice to freezing rain, it makes for isolated pockets of signifcant danger for drivers,” Nixon said.

MoDOT says if you must travel, take your cell phone and winter survival supplies.  If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle and call 911.

The Kansas Department of transportation reported I-70 is closed from Hays to Salina as of 11:30 this morning.

In central Missouri, MoDOT’s Central district several closures along I-70 for stalled vehicles.

Find Kansas road condition here.

Find Missouri road conditions here.