St. Joseph figure skaters are gearing up for performances of the “Wizard of Oz on Ice.”

The St. Joseph Figure Skating Club said the spring show will be held Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9.

There will be three show times that will feature 59 local performers from the St. Joseph Figure Skating Club and the city of St. Joseph’s Learn to Skate Program at Bode Ice Arena.

Audiences will see elaborate sets and high-energy skating routines featuring iconic characters such as Dorothy, the lion and the scarecrow, as well as lots of munchkins and flying monkeys.

“There will be a lot of skating, and a lot of group skating on the ice,” said Debbie ColeGerber, the show director. “It’s a huge production. There’s not another club within 300 or 400 miles that does a show with this kind of theatrics.”

Cole-Gerber said the production is based on the 1998 Wizard of Oz musical and includes the jitterbug character that was cut from the 1939 film.

Special performers will include both developmental and advanced synchronized skating teams from St. Joseph, as well as individual routines from Claire Palmer and Grace SlaterPinnick. The two high school seniors are advanced skaters featured prominently in the show.

The production also highlights 15-year-old Ian Smith, of St. Joseph. He was one of 36 skaters to advance to sectionals in the intermediate level of national competition last year.

Cole-Gerber called “Wizard of Oz on Ice” a family friendly event that costs less than a movie at many theaters. Audience members, both young and old, are encouraged to add to the
fun by dressing as characters from the Wizard of Oz.

All performances are held at Bode Ice Arena, 2500 Southwest Parkway, in St. Joseph.  Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, May 9.
Tickets are $7 for ages 13 on up, $3 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for anyone age 3 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling 816-271-5506 or at Bode the day of the show.

(Update:) Delays in materials deliveries prompted crews to put off the start of this project until Tuesday, April, 21.

PLATTE COUNTY – Motorists should prepare for delays as crews work to rehabilitate 12 bridges along the I-29 corridor between I-435 and I-635 beginning April 20 and continuing for 6 months.

Work will cause lane reductions, narrow lanes, and ramp closures. Motorists should use alternate routes such as I-435 and US 169. The following impacts will be underway;

· Two lanes of I-29 will be maintained in each direction between 112th Street and Route 45 (64th Street).

· I-29 will be reduced to one lane at Route D (Cookingham Drive) for each direction for 80 calendar days.

· The ramp from eastbound Route 152 to southbound I-29 will be closed for the duration of the project.

· I-29 lanes will be narrowed at the bridge locations.

· Temporary lane closures may be encountered on Route D (Cookingham Drive), 112th Street, Tiffany Springs Parkway, Barry Road, 72nd Street, and Route 45 (64th Street) during off peak hours.

Motorists who are utilizing Kansas City International Airport (KCI) should make the appropriate adjustments to meet departure and arrival times. All work is weather dependent.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of April 20 – 26 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Weather conditions may cause postponements in planned work schedules. Other construction or maintenance work may occur on other roadways throughout the area. Many projects will include lane closures and delays can be expected.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.

Andrew County

Various routes – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 24

Interstate 29 – Northbound from mile marker 60 to mile marker 67 (Holt County); milling and resurfacing, April 20 – 25. Includes work on the driving lanes, entrance and exit ramps and a 16-foot width restriction.

Atchison County

Route B – Pothole patching, April 20 – 21

U.S. Hwy 136 – From Tarkio to Route M; shoulder work, April 20 – 22

Various routes – Striping and sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 2419

Route AA – Pothole patching, April 22 – 23

Buchanan County

U.S. Hwy 36, I-29 and I-229 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 23

Loop 29 – Belt Highway from County Line Road to Ashland Avenue; sidewalk project,April 20 – 24. Various lanes will be closed at different times, including lanes on side streets.

I-229 – From just after the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp to just before U.S. Hwy 36; bridge maintenance, April 20 – 24. (10-foot width restriction)

U.S. Hwy 59 – At the Bankers Crossing Bridge; new bridge construction, April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwy 371 – From Route H to one-quarter mile south of Route H; guardrail repair,April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwy 36 – At the Platte River Bridge; bridge deck replacement, April 20 – 26. Traffic is head to head in the eastbound lanes with a 14-foot width restriction.

Route DD – Chipping brush, April 21 – 23

Caldwell County

Route 13 – From U.S. Hwy 36 to the Ray County line; brush chipping, April 20 – 24

Carroll County

Routes Z, T and C – Approach repairs, April 20 – 24

Routes JJ, D and W – Sign operations; April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwys 64 and 24 and Route 10 – Litter pick up; April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwy 24 – From County Road 231 to County Road 241; drainage work, April 22 – 24

Chariton County

U.S. Hwy 24 – Through the city of Brunswick; cleaning gutters, April 20 – 24

Route O – Pothole patching, April 20 – 24

Clinton County

U.S. Hwy 69 – From Shoal Creek to I-35; bridge maintenance, April 20 – 23

Route NN – From Route 33 to Braley Road; culvert repair, April 21 – 23. Signals will guide motorists through the work zone.

Daviess County

Route TT – One half mile east of Route BB; drainage work, April 20 – 21. (10-foot width restriction)

I-35, U.S. Hwy 69 and Routes 6 and 190 – Pothole patching, April 20 – 22

I-35 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 24

Route 13 – In the city limits of Gallatin; drainage work, April 20 – 24

I-35 – From U.S. Hwy 69 to Route H; litter pick up, April 20 – 24

DeKalb County

U.S. Hwy 36 – From Route C to the Castile Creek Bridge; pavement repair, April 20 – 23. (12-foot width restriction)

Route 6 – From Sheridan Road to Route EE; bridge maintenance, April 20 – 23. (14-foot width restriction)

Gentry County

Route J – From Route C to Route EE; drainage work, April 20 -21

Route C – Shoulder work, April 20 – 22

Routes M and UU – Pothole patching, April 20 – 24

Route P – From one mile east of Route A to County Road 572; culvert repair, April 21

Route FF – From Route C to Route EE; drainage work, April 22 – 24

Routes 85 and A – Shoulder work, April 23 – 24

Grundy County

Route 6 and U.S. Hwy 65 – Sweeping and flushing bridges and litter pick up, April 20 – 24

Route 146 – North of Route 6; shoulder work, April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwy 65 and Routes 146, U and WW – Sign operations, April 20 – 24

Route A – CLOSED from County Road NW 60^th to NW 70^th; culvert replacement, April 21, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Harrison County

Route F – CLOSED at the Little Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through July 2015.

U.S. Hwy 136 – From Route 146 to Route B; sealing, April 20 – 21

U.S. Hwy 136 – From the Bethany city limits to the Mercer County line; resurfacing project, April 20 – 24

Route 46 – From the Worth County line to U.S. Hwy 69; pothole patching, April 22 – 24

I-35 – At the bridges over Pole Cat Creek and U.S. Hwy 69; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 23 – 24

U.S. Hwy 136 – From I-35 to 220^th Avenue; drainage work, April 23 – 24

Holt County

Route 111 – CLOSED at the Kimsey Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

U.S. Hwy 59 – CLOSED at the Squaw Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

I-29 – Northbound from mile marker 90 to mile marker 95; brush chipping, April 20 – 24

I-29 – From Mound City to the Andrew County line; sweeping and flushing bridges,April 20 – 24

Interstate 29 – Northbound from mile marker 60 (Andrew County) to mile marker 67; milling and resurfacing, April 20 – 25. Includes work on the driving lanes, entrance and exit ramps and a 16-foot width restriction.

U.S. Hwy 59 – One mile north of Craig; drainage work, April 22 – 23

Linn County

U.S. Hwy 36 – Eastbound from Route F to Route 5; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20

Route 129 – CLOSED from Marco Road to Lama Road; culvert replacement, April 20, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

U.S. Hwy 36 – Westbound from Route 5 to Route F; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 21

U.S. Hwy 36 – Eastbound from Route 5 to the Mussell Fork Bridge; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 21 – 22

U.S. Hwy 36 – Westbound from the Mussell Fork Bridge to Route 5; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 22

U.S. Hwy 36 – From Route 139 to the Macon County line; pothole patching, April 22 – 24

Route 5 – From the city limits of Browning to Delco Road; drainage work, April 23

U.S. Hwy 36 – From U.S. Hwy 65 (Livingston County) to Route 139; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 24

Livingston County

U.S. Hwy 36 – From U.S. Hwy 65 to Route C; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 23

U.S. Hwy 65 from Route 190 to Route K; brush cutting, April 20 – 24

Route V – From Route K to the city limits of Chillicothe; pothole patching, April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwy 36 – From U.S. Hwy 65 to Route 139 (Linn County); sweeping and flushing bridges, April 24

Mercer County

U.S. Hwy 136 – At the West Muddy Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, April 20 – 24

U.S. Hwys 65 and 136 – Litter pick up and sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 24

Route D, P and O – Drainage work, April 20 – 24

Nodaway County

Route A – In the city limits of Maitland; drainage work, April 20

U.S. Hwy 71 – From the city limits of Maryville to Route A; litter pick up, April 20 – 21

Routes M and AE – Pothole patching, April 20 – 24

Various routes – Bridge piling painting and sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 24

Route M – From U.S. Hwy 71 to Route AH; pothole patching, April 21 – 24

U.S. Hwy 136 – From U.S. Hwy 71 to Route J; littler pick up, April 22 – 24

Putnam County

Route E – CLOSED at the Medicine Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

U.S. Hwy 136 – CLOSED at the Shoal Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

Routes 5, H, B and HH – Sign operations, April 20 – 24

Routes E, EE, U, 5 and U.S. Hwy 136 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 24

Routes 149, V, W and FF – Pothole patching, April 20 – 24

Route 5 – Drainage work, April 23 – 24

Sullivan County

Routes 5, 6, 129, FF and D – Pothole patching, April 20 – 24

Route 129 – CLOSED from Sultan Road to Saffron Road; culvert replacement, April 21, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Route 129 – CLOSED from Route C to Rose Road; culvert replacement, April 22, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Route 129 – Driveway entrance repairs and drainage work, April 23

Worth County

Various routes – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 20 – 21

St. Joseph, Mo. —Four days before a significant case on same-sex marriage is argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, two staff members from the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri will speak at Missouri Western State University at noon on Friday, April 24 in the Enright Community Room, Spratt Hall 216. “Marriage Equality: The Road to Obergefell vs. Hodges” is free and open to the public.

Gillian Wilcox, staff attorney, and Sarah Rossi, policy and advocacy director, will discuss the evolving marriage equality cases, what is being argued in front of the Supreme Court, and what may be done to advocate for equality in the future. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on April 28 in Obergefell vs. Hodges, a consolidation of four lawsuits challenging states’ refusals either to license same-sex marriages or recognize same-sex marriages licensed in another state.

The talk is co-sponsored by the Missouri Western PRIDE Alliance and the Department of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies and Social Work.

The Friends of the St. Joseph Public Library are holding a used book sale.

Most of the books being sold will be fiction of all kinds, including romance, mystery, science fiction and fantasy.  Also for sale will be large print and children’s through young adult titles.

The sale will take place in the lower level of the East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine Road beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 24.  All hardcover books are $2 each and paperbacks are $1 each.  There will be a half-price day and on the last day of the sale where you can fill a bag for $3 and a box for $6.

The hours for the spring sale at the East Hills Library are:

Friday, April 24 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 26 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Monday, April 27 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Half Price Day! Tuesday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Bag and Box Day! Wednesday, April 29 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Proceeds from the sale help fund Summer Reading Programs for all ages at the four library branches, as well as book clubs, adult programs and BookPage, a monthly magazine for readers, free to pick up at any library branch.

For more information contact Debbie Gentry or Crystal Stuck at the East Hills Library at 236-2107.

 

KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to get a hands-on, outdoors’ skills lesson in basic pistol shooting. A mandatory classroom session will take place on Tuesday, May 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the MDC Northeast Regional Office, 3500 S. Baltimore in Kirksville. A mentored shooting practice will take place the following day, Wednesday, May 6 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Sugar Creek Conservation Area (CA) shooting range in Adair County. The class is free, but registration by May 1 is required.

The course introduces participants to the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for owning and using a pistol safely. Participants will learn about pistol parts and operation, ammunition, gun safety, and pistol shooting fundamentals. Firearms and ammunition will be provided. The event is limited to 15 women.

“This class is a great introduction to handgun shooting,” said MDC Outdoor Skills Specialist Rob Garver. “Target shooting is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by women of all ages.”

Attendees should dress for the weather (no open toe sandals), bring a hat, and a water bottle.

The class is open to women 14 and older; 14-to 17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. To register or for more information, contact Garver at Rob.Garver@mdc.mo.gov or 660-785-2420.

Sugar Creek CA is located four miles southwest of Kirksville. From Kirksville, take Highway 11 west 4 miles, then Route N south 0.25 miles to the area.

For more information about this event and other Discover Nature programs in Northeast Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is warning motorists to be on the lookout for reckless drivers.

According to the department last week a deputy and a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol caught different drivers traveling too fast through Livingston County.

In a press release issued earlier this week the department said just before noon on April 9 a MSHP Trooper was on U.S. 36 west of Chillicothe and caught a Livingston County man allegedly driving 107 MPH.

The county said additional charges are pending based on continued investigation by the MSHP and LCSO.

Then around 8:00 p.m. on the evening of April 10 a deputy checked a west bound vehicle on U.S.36 east of Chillicothe at Liv 259 at allegedly 96 MPH. The Illinois driver posted bond on that speeding violation and his Wisconsin passenger posted bond for alleged Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The department is asking drivers to slow down and keep an eye out for other drivers on the roadway.1818

MARYVILLE, Mo. –Students got a chance to impact the lives of New Orleans and Puerto Rico residents through Northwest Missouri State University’s Alternative Spring Break last month.

The university said 20 students volunteered in the program during the week of March 23-27.

ASB annually gives Northwest students the opportunity to participate in a week of service-learning and volunteering within a different environment. The school said the mission of the organization is to progressively improve the experience of true service-learning for Northwest students and successfully incorporate classroom learning in real-world situations.

This year, students traveled to New Orleans to work with the United Saints Recovery Project. The project involved demolishing a fire-damaged house, painting the exterior of a house, working at a community garden and rehabilitating a railing at the volunteer facility where the students stayed.

Students who traveled to Puerto Rico worked at the Boys and Girls Club, picked up trash on the beach and worked at Cabezas de San Juan Environmental preserve.

“I am glad that Northwest’s Alternative Spring Break group and I were able to help and make a difference in New Orleans,” ASB President Danielle Hogan, a senior elementary education major from Richmond, Mo., said. “It was really devastating to see parts of the city that are still in despair from Hurricane Katrina. Going to a place like New Orleans helped me remember how blessed I am, and that makes me want to give back and help others more.”

Bobbie Patten, a senior psychology and sociology major from Orient, Iowa, said interacting with children at the Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico was a highlight for her.

“Even though there was a language barrier, we were still able to communicate and interact with the children in other ways,” Patten said. “Because of this trip, I have even more respect for our beautiful environment and for protecting it. I will be able to take this experience into my future career by being able to better communicate and relate with people from other cultures.”
ASB chose Puerto Rico and New Orleans as this year’s destinations because of the immense need for service in those areas.

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme will take center stage during a cooking program next weekend at the St. Joseph Public Library.

St. Joseph Herb Gardener’s Club member Julie Schmitt will hold the Cooking with Herbs program at the Downtown Library located at 927 Felix St. Saturday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m.

She plans to talk about both growing and cooking with herbs and will give tips on creating your own kitchen garden. Schmitt will also demonstrate how to make a pesto and a salsa as well as give suggestions on what herbs compliment various dishes.

No registration is necessary.

The program will run about an hour.  The library plans to have its collection of books on cooking and herb growing on hand for checkout.

Please call the Downtown Library at 232-7729 with any questions.