The 2013 valedictory address at Benedictine College is one of the best in the nation, according to Parade magazine.

Alexander Michael Urban of Golden, Colorado gave the speech in May at the Atchison college.

 Now Parade, the popular Sunday newspaper publication, has placed it in the top 10 after viewing videos from across the country.

Urban had no idea he was under consideration by Parade.

“This is indeed an honor,” he said. “Thank you to whoever nominated me. This is proof that a 4.0 GPA really can take you places.”

You can watch the speech here.

A northwest Missouri man is recovering from serious injuries after an accident that shutdown I-35 near Cameron Wednesday.

60-year-old John Sciortino was taken to the Cameron Regional Medical Center after his truck crashed into a semi

The accident happened around 7:30am when a 2014 Kenworth was traveling southbound.  Scoirtino lost control three miles north of Cameron according to the Highway Patrol, and his  2008 Chevrolet truck crossed the median and struck the drivers side of the semi.

The accident closed Interstate 35.

MoDOT announced the highway was reopened just after 2pm Wednesday afternoon. MoDOT contributed the closure to the incident involving livestock on the road and a fuel spill. Both men were wearing a seat-belt.

A St Joseph man was killed in a one vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon along Interstate 229.

50-year-old Alan Walker died when his 2005 Chevy truck went off the northbound lanes and overturned near mile marker one just before 5pm Tuesday.

The driver lost control and the truck skidded off the highway and overturned, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Walker was not wearing a seat belt.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Buchanan County Deputy Coroner Richard Shelton.

Kansas City Power and Light will no longer work with a St Joseph company as part of its solar energy rebate program.

The utility said Monday an audit found numerous systems installed by U.S. Solar provided less power capacity than customers were promised. The company then allegedly overcharged those customers and collected more rebates than justified.

A St Joseph resident confirmed just that.

Richard Sharp of St Joseph had an installation  of solar panels done by U.S. Solar at his home.  The contract he has and the contract U.S. Solar reported to KCP&L are different, Sharp said.

“72 panels went to KCP&L, my contract says 36. My system says eight, their system says 16. KCP&L was given a P.O. Box for the rebate check and my contract has my address,” Sharp said.

Sharp received a copy of the contract US Solar sent to KCP&L.

The owner of U.S. Solar, Trevor Dryden, said in reports provided by the Associated Press, the allegations are wrong. He said the company reduced the number of panels in some systems but larger panels provided the capacity that was promised.  An attempt to contact Dryden Tuesday morning by St Joseph Post was unsuccessful.  

KCP&L reported the audits were completed by wattage, not by the number of solar panels.

Sharp had reported problems with his system after installation to U.S. Solar.  Someone would come look at the system, but no repair work was ever made, according to Sharp.

KCP&L and Sharp have said the FBI is investigating.   Sharp, who is holding off an a civil lawsuit, was questioned by the FBI months ago when he started to proceed with the civil suit.

When I initiated that and I went down to talk with city police, the FBI was there to question me,” Sharp said.

Tuesday kicks off the 8th annual Missouri River 340, a 340 mile canoe and kayak race down the Missouri River starting at Kaw Point in Kansas City.

It’s no float trip, its a grueling marathon style race that must be completed in 88 hours. Organizer Scott Mansker says you must reach checkpoint on time as well.

The race kicks off early, around 7am as long as the weather allows. After the start, racers have to be in Lexington by 5:00pm. That’s a pace of roughly five miles an hour and the river flows around three miles per hour.

And, it’s grueling, an ultra marathon, the largest non-stop paddle race in the world.

“If you just floating you will not make the first checkpoint in Lexington,” Mansker said. It’s a pretty aggressive pace during the day, we dial the pace back a little bit in the night, but the top competitors are going to finish this race in 38 hours across the state of Missouri, they’re not going to get out of the boat, they are going to paddle night and day.”

The race started in 2006, with 11 boats. It’s grown to more than 300 boats a year. It grew largely from online promotion and word of mouth. Now, this years race is sponsored by Missouri American Water.

And to finish the race, now that, Mansker says, is a big accomplishment.

“Just finishing this is a big, big deal,” Mansker said.

Second Harvest announced Monday Chad Higdon is now the food bank’s  Executive Director.

Higdon was serving as an interim director after former director David Davenport’s contract was not renewed.

Higdon was selected after a five month search netting more than 100 applicants. He is a lifelong resident of St Joseph and a Missouri Western Graduate. He has previously served as the chairman of the food banks board of directors.

“I look forward to continuing my work with Second Harvest’s very talented and dedicated staff as I move into this new role, knowing the work being done is benefiting many individuals who truly need our support,” said Higdon.

Around the same time Davenports contract was not renewed, an age discrimination suit was filed against Second Harvest from a woman who once worked at the food bank, and applied for a higher position. The lawsuit names Second Harvest and Davenport and is set for a jury trail early next year.

Former St. Joseph Schools superintendent Melody Smith has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Agri-Business Expo Center.

“Dr. Smith brings much talent and experience to our board room,” said Marty Grey, chairman of the board for the Agri-Business Expo Center. “Her background in education and her refined spirit of cooperation will serve us well.”

Dr. Smith   served as superintendent of schools from the St. Joseph School District until retiring this summer.  She holds a doctor of education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and specialist and master’s degrees in education from Northwest Missouri State.

In addition, she is a partner in Moss Properties, a family farm business, and Patron Insight.

She was named the YWCA Woman of Excellence in 2013 and received the Patriot Award for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

The Agri-Business Expo Center is governed by a volunteer board of directors who are leaders in the public and private sector.