ST. CLAIR, Mo. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Missouri are trying to determine just how many trucks were stolen in a theft ring that struck several Missouri towns along Interstate 44.
The Washington Missourian reports that police now believe at least 20 trucks were taken, mainly from used car lots, repair shops and body shops. Vehicles have been stolen from suburban St. Louis to as far west as Phelps County.
Two St. Clair men are charged, but the investigation is ongoing. Police say they’re investigating along the I-44 corridor to see if more cases are linked.
The thefts occurred over the past three to four months, primarily involving Dodge and Ford pickups. Recovered vehicles are being returned to their owners, but some were cut up for parts or dumped in a river.
.AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP INTO THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT
RANGE ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST KANSAS AND NORTHWEST MISSOURI. SOUTHWEST
WINDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS…COMBINED WITH THESE DRY
CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN VERY HIGH TO EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL
TO THESE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. ANY FIRES THAT IGNITE THIS AFTERNOON
WILL HAVE THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS…INCLUDING DRY FUELS…TO
SPREAD VERY QUICKLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED TODAY.
* IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF THE DRY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS
WILL BRING VERY HIGH TO EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL TO THE
AREA. ANY FIRES THAT IGNITE THIS AFTERNOON WILL HAVE THE
NECESSARY INGREDIENTS…INCLUDING DRY FUELS SUCH AS NATIVE
GRASSES AND BRUSH PILES…TO SPREAD VERY QUICKLY. OUTDOOR
BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED ON MONDAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.
Courtesy National Weather Service
Today Sunny, with a high near 73. South southwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Southeast wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 51. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Friday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 63.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
A woman was seriously injured Friday night after a crash in Harrison County south of Eagleville.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Rhonda Boggs, 42 of Ridgeway was seriously injured as she was traveling on County Road 240 and over-corrected the vehicle. This caused her car to go off the side of the road and into a field where it overturned before it came to a rest on the driver’s side.
Boggs was transported to the Harrison County Community Hospital where she then had to be transported to Liberty Hospital by Lifeflight.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of March 30 – April 5 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.
Interstate 29 – From U.S. Hwy 59 (Holt County) to Business 71; pavement repair, March 30 – April 4 (Includes a 16-foot width restriction.)
Routes DD, T, K, H and U.S. Hwy 59; brush cutting, March 30 – April 3
Atchison County
Route EE – Pothole patching, March 30
U.S. Hwy 136 – Sign operations, March 30 – April 3
Route N – Pothole patching, March 31 – April 1
Route 46 – Pothole patching, April 2 – 3
Buchanan County
Loop 29 – Belt Highway from County Line Road to Ashland Avenue; sidewalk project, March 30 – April 3 (Will include various lane closures.)
I-229 – From just after the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp to just before U.S. Hwy 36; bridge maintenance, March 30 – April 3 (Includes a 10-foot width restriction.)
U.S. Hwy 59 – At the Bankers Crossing Bridge; new bridge construction,March 30 – April 3
U.S. Hwy 759 – Shoulder work, March 30 – April 3
U.S. Hwy 36 – At the Platte River Bridge; crossover construction, March 30 – April 3 (One lane will be closed in each direction. Includes overnight lane closures.)
U.S. Hwy 36, I-29 and I-229 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, March 30 – April 3
Route DD – Chipping brush, March 31 – April 3
Caldwell County
U.S. Hwy 36 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 1
Carroll County
Routes C, T and W – County road approach repairs, March 30 – April 3
Various routes – Sweeping and flushing bridges, March 30 – April 3
Routes D, DD and J – Sign operations, March 30 – April 3
U.S. Hwys 65, 24 and Route 10 – Litter pickup, March 30 – April 3
Route KK – From County Road 111 to County Road 121; drainage work, April 3
Chariton County
U.S. Hwy 24 – Shoulder work, March 30 – April 3
Routes BB, F, M and Y – driveway entrance repairs, March 30 – April 3
Routes JJ and E – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 1 – 3
Clinton County
Route BB, U.S. Hwy 69 and I-35 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, March 30 – 31
U.S. Hwy 169 – From Route O to one-half mile north of Route O; culvert replacement, March 31
Route 121 – One mile west of Route HH; drainage work, April 1
Daviess County
U.S. Hwy 69 and Route BB – Sweeping and flushing bridges, March 30
I-35, U.S. Hwy 69, Routes 6 and 190 – Pothole patching, March 30 – April 3
Routes DD, K, KK, P and V – Sealing bridge ends, March 30 – April 3
Route E – Chipping brush, March 30 – April 3
Route BB – From U.S. Hwy 69 to 100th Street; culvert replacement, March 31 – April 1
Route M – CLOSED from Yale Avenue to 310th Street; culvert replacement,April 2, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
DeKalb County
U.S. Hwy 36 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 2
Gentry County
Route C – From U.S. Hwy 136 to Route FF; sealing, March 30 – April 3
U.S. Hwy 136 – From Route N to Route P (Nodaway County); brush cutting, March 30 – April 3
Route M – CLOSED from County Road 445 to Route UU; culvert replacement, April 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Grundy County
Routes BB and J – North of Route 6; drainage work, March 30 – April 3
Route J – CLOSED from NE 76th Street to Route BB; culvert replacement, March 31, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harrison County
Route F – CLOSED at the Little Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement. Closed through July 2015.
Route H – From Route 13 to Route 146; sealing, March 30 – April 3
Route A – From Route T to Route B; drainage work, March 30 – April 3
Route W – From Route F to Route M; brush chipping, March 30 – April 3
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.
Interstate 29 – From U.S. Hwy 59 to Business 71 (Andrew County); pavement repair, March 30 – April 4 (Includes a 16-foot width restriction.)
Route 111 – From Route 159 to Oregon; pothole patching, March 30 – April 1
Route 111 – CLOSED at the Tarkio River Bridge; bridge maintenance,March 30 – April 2, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
U.S. Hwy 59 – From the Oregon exit to Mound City; shoulder work, March 30 – April 3
Route 113 – From Route A to U.S. Hwy 59; shoulder work, March 30 – April 3
Route N – From the Atchison County line to U.S. Hwy 59; April 1 – 3
Linn County
Route 11 – From Husk Road to U.S. Hwy 36; pothole patching, March 30 – 31
Route V – One mile south of Route C; drainage work, March 31
U.S. Hwy 36 – From Route 11 to the Macon County line; pothole patching,April 1 – 3
Routes WW, TT, DD, B, M, V, U, F, C, 129 and 139 – sweeping and flushing bridges, April 1 – 3
Livingston County
Route Z – From U.S. Hwy 65 to Route C; drainage work, March 30 – April 1
U.S. Hwy 65 – From Route 190 to Route K; brush cutting, March 30 – April 3
Route N – From Route O to the end of state maintenance; drainage work,April 1 – 3
Mercer County
Routes B, J, JJ and 145 – Pothole patching, March 30 – April 3
Routes V, N, P, D, K and BB – Sweeping and flushing bridges; March 30 – April 3
U.S. Hwy 65 – Brush cutting, March 30 – April 3
Nodaway County
Routes PP, V, AC and N – Pothole patching, March 30 – April 3
Route 246 – CLOSED from Leopard Road to Lion Road; March 30 – 31, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily
Route AF – Drainage and shoulder work, April 1 – 3
Putnam County
Route E – CLOSED at the Medicine Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement. Closed through May 2015.
U.S. Hwy 136 – CLOSED at the Shoal Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement. Closed through May 2015.
Route W – Drainage work, March 30 – 31
Routes FF, V, W and 149 – Pothole patching and sign operations, March 30 – April 3
Sullivan County
Routes 5, 6, K and ZZ – Brush cutting and pothole patching, March 30 – April 3
Routes 5, 6, B, PP and WW – Shoulder work, March 30 – April 3
Route T – CLOSED from Route 5 to Ember Drive; March 31, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Route OO – CLOSED from Noble Road to Daisy Drive; April 1, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Worth County
Route C – From Route 46 to Route M; sealing, March 30 – April 3
St. Joseph, Mo. —March 27, 2015—Public showings of “Cronkite,” a live multimedia performance about legendary journalist Walter Cronkite, have been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31 and 2 p.m.Sunday, April 26 in the Kemper Recital Hall, adjacent to the award-winning Walter Cronkite Memorial inside Spratt Hall on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Shows are free and open to the public, but those wanting to attend are asked to call 816-271-4100 to reserve a seat.
“Cronkite” is a one-man show adapted from an appearance by the legendary newsman on CNN’s “Larry King Live” in September 2002. In just 24 minutes, the show evokes memories of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and other major events Cronkite covered, including World War II, the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The show incorporates audio, video and still photographs to bring those historic events to life.
The part of Cronkite is played by Jim Korinke, a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. Korinke has been a professional actor for 42 years, having performed in more than 120 stage performances. He has also appeared in some two dozen feature films and hundreds of commercials for such clients as the U.S. Army, Coca Cola, McDonalds, Hy-Vee and Honda. He was the voice of Walmart for four years.
The show was conceived and edited by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. The Walter Cronkite Memorial was the vision of Dr. Vartabedian, who sought to create a fitting memorial to St. Joseph’s beloved native son and one of the most important and trusted voices in the country. To secure the memorial’s future, Drs. Robert and Laurel Vartabedian have designated their recent $100,000 gift to establish a permanent, endowed fund to support the memorial.
“Cronkite” is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts. Dr. Willenbrink holds a Ph.D. in theatre from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a Master of Arts from Morehead State University in Kentucky. He has directed more than 80 productions of various styles at numerous venues.
In addition to the live showings currently scheduled, performances can be arranged for tour groups and field trips by calling 816-271-4100.
Walter Cronkite was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1916. The Walter Cronkite Memorial, in the atrium of Spratt Hall on the Missouri Western campus, was dedicated in 2013 on what would have been his 97th birthday. The 5,000 square-foot display features images and videos of Cronkite’s life and the many historic events he covered as a journalist. In 2014, the Missouri Division of Tourism honored Dr. Vartabedian and Missouri Western with the Spotlight Award, which recognizes significant contributions in promoting tourism in Missouri by an individual, business or organization that is not normally considered to be part of the tourism industry.
The Walter Cronkite Memorial is open daily except Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter, and admission is always free. For more information, visit www.waltercronkitememorial.org.
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon is encouraging Missourians to give special recognition and honor to veterans of the Vietnam War on Monday, March 30, which will mark the third observance of Vietnam Veterans Day in Missouri.
In 2012, Gov. Nixon signed into law a bill designating March 30 as Vietnam Veterans Day in Missouri. The day is designed to encourage Missourians to observe the day with appropriate events, activities and remembrances in honor of those who served during the Vietnam conflict.
“Vietnam veterans are valued and vital members of our communities who, through their selfless service and sacrifice, have earned our deepest respect and admiration,” Gov. Nixon said. “I encourage all Missourians to join me in honoring these soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen for their bravery, patriotism and service on our behalf.”
Missouri GOP Chairman John Hancock. Photo courtesy Missourinet
(Missourinet) – The Chairman of Missouri’s Republican Party has said he’s not stepping down, and that he is ready to move on from the controversy that has surrounded him since the death of Auditor Tom Schweich.
John Hancock has been accused of having been part of a whispering campaign saying Schweich was Jewish, that Schweich believed was intended to hurt his race for governor and that allegedly contributed Schweich taking his own life.
Hancock says that has been disproven.
“We now have a police report that says there was no whisper campaign,” Hancock told Missourinet. “Nobody has come forward … if there’s a whisper campaign, you’re going to have dozens of people out there that were whispered to. By definition, that’s a whisper campaign. There clearly was no whisper campaign.”
Hancock says he’s tired of talking about the controversy.
“I’m ready to move on and move beyond it and get to work,” Hancock said.
Not preparing to step down
Hancock made statements last week during an interview on KMOX radio in St. Louis that some believed hinted he was leaning towards stepping down, as some have called for him to do. He told Missourinet the “soul searching” he said he had to do was to consider whether he could be an effective leader for the party.
“I have taken into account all that has happened and all that lies in front of us, and as long as I can do this job and do it well, and lead this party well, I intend to keep doing it,” said Hancock. “The only thing at this point that would cause me to step down is if I came to the conclusion that the Republican party in Missouri would be better off without me, and I just don’t think we’re there yet.”
He also said his reputation has been damaged in the past month, and he had to consider that.
“I’ve got to be in a position to where I can still support my family, and that was a principal concern. I’m feeling better about that possibility now, and I’m feeling better about the party moving forward and I think most people are ready to put this sad chapter behind us,” said Hancock.
Hancock said fundraising for the party has been strong, and he sees that as a sign that he has support from Republicans and the controversy is subsiding. See Hancock’s statements regarding fundraising:
“We have raised enough in commitments already to eradicate the debt that had been in place and then add some more money in. We’re waiting on the checks to roll in now,” said Hancock. “We have raised north of $100,000 in the last four weeks, and really, there was a couple of those weeks where we really weren’t able to do much, so I’m very gratified with the response of our donors.”
“I always believed that once the truth came out, and I believed the truth would come out … that we would be fine to move forward. Well, the truth is starting to come out,” said Hancock. “The police department has said what they have said, the facts that have been presented don’t support a whisper campaign.”
What can be learned from past month about religion, ethnicity in Missouri politics?
Hancock has said that he might have mistakenly said Schweich was Jewish because he thought that was true, though he denies ever saying it to hurt Schweich politically or with a bigoted connotation. He said his belief that Schweich was Jewish was an assumption on his part, and one he calls, “stupid.”
“I need to be a lot more careful about making assumptions about people. I can assure you I have learned that less through this process,” said Hancock when asked what can be learned from the past month about the role of religion or ethnicity in politics. “Number two, I think we need to get to know our candidates and need to get to know them well. We need to know what their core convictions are, where those come from, how they’re able to articulate those.”
“Out of this tragedy, if it results in us maybe being a little bit more careful and a little bit more thoughtful in the way that we do politics, then that will be a small blessing to come out of this horrible event,” said Hancock. What to do about attack ads in campaigns?
Asked whether he has changed his focus in campaigning, in light of criticism directed at an ad not connected to Hancock that compared Schweich’s appearance to the television character Barney Fife and said he was easily manipulated and could be squashed like a bug, Hancock says he hasn’t because he already doesn’t condone such tactics.
“I never supported these personally destructive kinds of campaigns. I don’t think there is any place for them,” said Hancock. “I don’t think they work. I don’t think the voters buy them. I think the voters are disgusted by them … I’ve never been supportive of that. I’m supportive of contrast, pointing out differences between two competing visions. That’s an essential and vital part of public discourse in this country.”
JEFFERSON CITY – Missourians from every corner of the state are asked to do spring cleaning outdoors and help fight litter through the state’s annual No MOre Trash! Bash throughout the month of April. The Trash Bash is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) as part of their ongoing No MOre Trash! statewide anti-litter campaign.
The annual Trash Bash encourages people to clean up litter across Missouri from roadsides, parks, neighborhoods, rivers, streams, trails and other places. Trash Bash activities in April also include educational efforts in schools, community events and Earth Day celebrations.
Each year, MoDOT alone spends about $6 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. Annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri highways are valued at $1 million.
Last year, more than 1,200 groups involving 14,000 volunteers participate in the Bash. Additionally, 157 educational events were held to emphasize the importance of not littering. Some participate through Adopt-A-Highway and Stream Team litter cleanup events. Missouri Stream Team Program volunteers removed 688 tons of litter from waterways and dedicated over $3.4 million dollars’ worth of volunteer time to litter removal statewide.
“Litter is a big problem because it’s unattractive, costly, and harmful to the environment,” said Stacy Armstrong, MoDOT No MOre Trash! coordinator. “If more people would keep their trash and properly dispose of it, or, better yet, recycle it, we would reduce the amount of litter we need to pick up in the first place.”
Littering isn’t just ugly, it also hurts wildlife and Missouri outdoors.
“Birds, fish, turtles and other animals get tangled in litter, such as plastic six-pack holders and fishing line, and it can kill them,” said Conservation Department No MOre Trash! Coordinator Joe Jerek. “Litter poisons fish, birds and other wildlife and can cost a litterer up to $1,000 in fines and one year in jail.”
Volunteers are needed across the state to participate in litter cleanup activities. Participants can report their cleanup efforts and will receive a thank you No MOre Trash! pin. For more information and to learn how to participate, visit http://www.nomoretrash.org/ or call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A food safety manager at Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums in Kansas City says he was fired after complaining about dirty conditions.
Jon Costa shared with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” a letter that he said came from his former employer, Aramark. The March 17 letter said Costa was being fired “for cause” for several reasons, including that he violated the company’s media policy by taking his concerns public.
ESPN says Costa’s complaints prompted a Nov. 3 inspection that found violations at 20 out of 26 food stands. The stadiums later passed a follow-up inspection.
Aramark said in a written statement that it considers personnel matters confidential. It added that food safety is “a top priority.” Costa’s attorney, Ryan McClelland, didn’t immediately return phone or email messages from The Associated Press.
