The Heartland Health Business Plaza plans to resume normal operations Friday after an electrical fire forced it to close its doors earlier this week.

On Tuesday the fire was reported to have been confined to one cubicle, which received minor damage.  Mosaic said the fire was quickly extinguished by a caregiver and all caregivers were evacuated from the building and emergency crews responded immediately.

Approximately 400 caregivers were evacuated after the fire.

No injuries were reported.

However, due to the amount of smoke and debris the fire created, HHBP caregivers were sent home or relocated for safety.

A news release issued by Mosaic Life Care said HHBP plans to return to full occupancy Friday and will be open to the public with normal operating hours.

Mosaic said since undergoing thorough cleaning, ventilation and restoration efforts, the building passed air quality and fire–safety checks and is safe for public use.

“It is during times like these (and thank goodness they don’t happen on a regular basis) that the strength of our community and our team shines through,” said Mosaic Life Care President and CEO Mark Laney, MD. “Our HHBP caregivers were quick to respond, and we have to thank the St. Joseph Fire Department as well as other emergency management services personnel as well as countless caregivers who were able to redirect systems to continue serving the public.”

Services have been redirected to Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph, Medical Center since Tuesday.

An 80-year-old man has been charged in connection with the theft of historic gold coins taken from the Pony Express Museum.

Richard L. Follett, 80 of Stewartsville, Mo. was charged Tuesday with felony theft/stealing.

According to a probable cause statement a witness saw Follett enter the Pony Express museum and force open a display case containing rare gold coins valued at over $7,000.

Six coins dating back to the 1800s were found missing from the Pony Express Era Coin display last month.

Pony Express Museum Dir. Cindy Daffron told the St. Joseph Post the museum has not had those coins returned.

“Prosecutors said they have no coins at this time,” Daffron said. “At this point all the board wants the world to know is we just want them back.”

According to court documents Follett has a criminal history and has been arrested in the past for endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and violation of an order of protection.

Online court documents show Follett has been released on bail.  An arraignment is scheduled for Friday.

 

The public is being asked to help staff two areas of the St. Joseph Police Department that relies on volunteers.

According to Sgt. Greg Gilpin volunteers are being sought to fill roles as lobby assistants at police headquarters and to aid in the city’s Trail Watch Program.

“They certainly help to supplement the things we do here,” Gilpin said. “We like to get the people involved and get them so we know them and they know us and if people have questions about about the department they have the answers.”

Gilpin said volunteers are needed to help staff the lobby during the work week.

“When visitors come into the law enforcement center they can help direct them where they need to go and answer phones, there could be some data entry but we have most of that covered,” Gilpin said.

The police department also plans to kick off its Trail Watch Program that depends on trained volunteers to patrol the hike and bike trails throughout the city.

“I have a pretty good group there but I’m always interested in anybody who wants to do that,” Gilpin said. “Basically they’re just an extra set of eyes and ears for the department.”

Gilpin said the Trail Watch Program is kicking off its 10th year this spring.

“We started it in 2005 and we’ve have quite a few volunteers through the years,” Gilpin said. “They go out and ride the golf carts on the trails and if they see something that doesn’t look right they call that into the comm center and we send the regular officers.  They routinely pick up trash, they look for any vandalism to city property, or if a tree falls over the trail after a storm they call that in and we get that taken care of.”

Gilpin said he is looking for volunteers that are 21 or over for the trail program but if someone under 21 is interested in helping staff the lobby Gilpin said he would consider it.  Background checks are also conducted.

Anyone interested is asked to contact Sgt. Greg Gilpin at (816) 236-1473

Update 12:21 p.m. – Cheyenne Griswold found safe.

 

————

(12:05 p.m.) The St. Joseph Police Department is asking for help locating a missing woman.

20-year-old Cheyenne R. Griswold has been missing since last Friday.

She’s described as a white female, 5’2″ blond hair with blue eyes.

She was last seen driving a black Nissan Maxima with Missouri license plate numbers SG6-Y6V

If anyone has information they are asked to contact the detective division at 816-271-5336.

A Kansas City man has pleaded guilty to killing another man while speeding and under the influence of drugs.

Anthony J. Battaglia, 30, pleaded guilty on April 9 in Platte County Circuit Court to involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance after allegedly driving at more than 80 miles per hour while on several different prescription drugs.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “Even though the drugs in this defendant’s system are legal when prescribed, it’s still illegal to drive when impaired by them. Sadly, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather is dead because of the defendant’s irresponsible actions.”

On February 10, 2014, Battaglia’s GMC Yukon left the road and rear-ended a Chevrolet Malibu parked on the shoulder near I-435 and Missouri 152.

The driver of the Malibu, Donald G. Rippy, was transported to North Kansas City Hospital and pronounced dead. The passenger of the Malibu was also transported to North Kansas City Hospital for treatment.

Highway patrol officers noted that Battaglia appeared disoriented and confused at the scene. Battaglia was arrested and investigators obtained a search warrant for his blood.

An investigation by the Highway Patrol’s Major Crash Investigation Unit showed that, according to the vehicle’s “black box,” Battaglia’s vehicle was travelling at 82 miles per hour just before the impact, and at 78 miles per hour at impact. An analysis of Battaglia’s blood showed it contained amphetamine, alprazolam, carisoprodol, hydroxybuproprion, and meprobamate. All of those substances are contained in legal prescription medications, but Battaglia did not have a prescription for alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax.

Zahnd said his office would recommend Battaglia serve 10 years in prison for his crimes. Battaglia’s defense attorneys could ask the court to impose any lesser sentence, including probation. Battaglia remains in custody with bond set at $50,000 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11.

“It’s appropriate that this man serve time in prison for his crimes,” Zahnd said. “Even though the defendant did not intend on killing anyone, the fact remains that Mr. Rippy was tragically taken from his family because the defendant chose to drive well over the speed limit while under the influence of a cocktail of prescription drugs.”

The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark L. Gibson and Assistant Prosecutor Amy Ashelford.

The city of Gentry is under a boil advisory until Friday afternoon.

According to Bobbi Gladstone with the Public Water Supply District of Worth County water was shut off to the town for around an hour Wednesday.

“Anytime there’s reduced pressure you have to be on a boil advisory,” Gladestone said.

The boil advisory is expected to be lifted by 3 p.m. Friday.

Income guidelines for the Missouri Women, Infants and Children program have gone up.

According to the St. Joseph Health Department new WIC guidelines increased slightly over last year.

WIC provides breastfeeding support including education, peer counselors, and support groups; nutrition education, referrals to appropriate health agencies; and nutritious food options for eligible participants.  Pregnant women, breastfeeding women (up to one year after delivery as long as they continue breastfeeding the baby), non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after delivery/end of pregnancy), infants from birth up to one year of age, and children up to their fifth birthday.

In order to qualify applicants must live work or receive medical care in the State of Missouri, meet nutritional risk factor(s) supplied by WIC and meet income guidelines.

These guidelines are effective April 1, 2015.

 

 

Click here to see the full release with the revised guidelines.

Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 23 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a northwest wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 8 to 13 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 67. West northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. South southeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University spring 2015 graduating class will hear from one of the school’s own during commencement.

Thomas Sanchez is the founder and CEO of Social Driver and was named a 2015 Minority Business Leader alongside BET co-founder Shelia Johnson by the Washington Business Journal.  Social Driver was also been celebrated as a “50 on Fire” winner by DCInno in 2013.  Sanchez grew up on a farm in DeKalb County, Mo. and graduated from Northwest in 2002.

“We are excited for spring graduates as they’ll hear from a passionate Bearcat,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said. “Thomas runs a compelling company driven by values, focused on people and not satisfied with being passengers – they are drivers. This Bearcat spirit is playing out vividly as the company’s growth and multiple successes show how Bearcats connect.”

Social Driver is a company that delivers creative digital and social media solutions for leading companies including Honda, Salesforce.com and Cerner.

Northwest will honor degree recipients of the graduate school and the Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth College of Business and Professional Studies during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Degree recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Human Services will be honored during a 2 p.m. ceremony. Both ceremonies are in Bearcat Arena.

More than 940 students are expected to graduate during Northwest’s spring commencement ceremonies. More than 640 students from Northwest’s three colleges will receive bachelor’s degrees while an additional 300 candidates are expected to receive master’s degrees, education specialist degrees or certifications through the University’s graduate school.

Due to the number of graduates, tickets are required for admission to the ceremony. Graduates will receive six tickets. To accommodate guests unable to attend the ceremony, Northwest will offer a live online stream of the ceremony, which will be accessible at www.nwmissouri.edu/live.

Southwest Airlines officially launches its new daily nonstop flights between Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and New York – LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

The first flight from Kansas City is scheduled to depart at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday from Southwest’s Terminal B gates.

Southwest announced in November that the carrier will begin service to New York – LaGuardia, ranked 10th in daily passengers each way from KCI.

Southwest will operate the flights on modern Boeing 737-700 equipment.

“Southwest’s new service to New York City will benefit both business and leisure flyers in Kansas City and the surrounding region,” said Director of Aviation Mark VanLoh. “Over the last three years, Southwest has shown their commitment to Kansas City by adding seven new nonstop routes from Kansas City, including Washington, Houston, Minneapolis and Ft. Myers, among others.”

Southwest Airlines currently operates 68 daily departures from Kansas City with nonstop service to 24 destinations.