The St. Joseph Police Department and the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office are now accepting applications for the 2015 joint Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy.

“We get the opportunity to show people what we do and why we do it and at the same time we get to hear feedback as well,” St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally said.

He said the program is more important now than ever because of perceptions of law enforcement that are not always accurate.

“Being defined by 24-hour news channels and prime time and things that we refer to as the CSI effect with hologram computers and things of that nature,” Connally said. “This is our opportunity to say what it’s really about.  For example, most of what we do is really service related.”

The academy will run for eight weeks, with participants meeting every Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. April 1 until May 20.

“People are surprised to realize just how functionally diverse law enforcement is and just how many aspects there are to a full-service police department,” Connally said. “They have an opportunity to ride along and see first-hand what it’s like to be an officer out on patrol.”

Upon completion of the course, each participant will receive a diploma at a graduation ceremony conducted by Connally and Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong.

There is no fee to sign-up, however space is limited to 30.

For more information or to sign-up call Sergeant Greg Gilpin at 236.1473.

The City of St. Joseph is introducing a program to help fill a void left behind by the elimination of the St. Joseph School District’s Summer Explorers program.

“Several folks, private and public both have wanted to help be sure that there are summer activities for our youth,” City Manager Bruce Woody said.

The Explorers program was cut in February because the school district was no longer able to get reimbursement from the state for the program. Now the city is introducing it’s own summer program called, REC Connect.

“It’s a summer youth program for kids ages six through 12,” Woody said.

The eight week program will be primary located out of the the City’s REC Center. It will start June 15 and run through August 7th, Monday to Friday with drop-offs starting at 7:30 a.m. and pick-up at 5:30 p.m. Woody said two meals each day will also be provided.

“We’ll have a ratio of recreations leaders of one leader to every 10 to 12 children,” Woody said. “This is the first time for our program so we will put a cap on the number of children in the initial program but if it’s successful and continues to grow there’s a strong possibility that we may continue to grow.”

Currently, Woody said the city is looking at capping the program at around 150 children, putting a large dent into the district’s Explorers program which averaged around 270 children.

Activities children will be able to take part in include utilizing the REC Center, Bode Ice Arena, visits to the Nature Center, Aquatic Park and other outdoor activities.

Woody said there will be a registration fee and weekly fees to support the program which have not yet been announced. He expects registration to start April 1.

For more information about the program contact the St. Joseph REC Center (816) 271-5512.

The list of candidates for St. Joseph School Board are growing every day as the deadline nears to submit letters of intent to fill the position left vacant by Dan Colgan’s resignation.

As of Thursday morning 11 St. Joseph residents have submitted their names.

The latest submissions include Mike Veale, Diane Slawson and Roy Kunkle.

Dennis Dornhoffer, William Church, Michael Dulcan, Eric Bruder, Matthew Brock, Jeff Bird, Brian Cronk and David Mason have also submitted their names.

Applicants wanting to apply to be considered for school board still have until Monday, March 23rd at 4 p.m. to submit their letters of intent to the Superintendent’s Office.

Individuals wanting to submit letters to the Board of Education can deliver or mail it to:

Debbie Consolver, Board Secretary
SJSD
925 Felix Street
St. Joseph, MO 64501

Consolver said after the closing date the Board will review all of the applicants at the April 13th Board Meeting.

She said once the board has reviewed the applicants they will conduct interviews to determine the best match for the vacancy. The term will end April 11, 2016.

Mosaic Life Care has announced recommendations for improvement made by a task force formed to evaluate its billing and collections processes that have been approved by its Board of Trustees.

“It is important to Mosaic Life Care to assist with aligning the poor and powerless with a path to help resolve their medical bills, even if that path is charity care. As an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), with a focus on population health, helping patients with their path is important so they feel comfortable in seeking care when it is needed, rather than perhaps letting a minor condition ultimately turn into a major, debilitating illness,” says Tama Wagner, chief brand/strategy officer.

In a news release issued Wednesday Mosaic said, “Even though Mosaic Life Care currently meets and exceeds state and federal laws and requirements pertaining to charity care and community benefit giving, the task force recommendations focus on expanding services for the poor and powerless. These efforts align with the innovation Mosaic Life Care pursues in transforming health care toward a more patient-centered experience. They are also in the best interest of the communities we serve in accordance with our organizational vision of making our service area the best and safest place in America to receive health care and live a healthy and productive life.”

The recommendations adopted unanimously by the Board of Trustees include:

• The organization is to place further resources, both internal and external, to become a more proactive navigator and improve the billing and collections experience for those we serve.
• Enlist an external review of financial assistance, billing and collections processes to ensure they are compliant with the recently clarified 501(r) regulations that are to be fully implemented by 2016. The organization is currently in compliance with a substantial portion of these new regulations, and will be fully compliant by that deadline.
• An external expert has been retained to look at the billing and collection policies and procedures of both the Medical Center as well as Northwest Financial Services and test the application of those policies and procedures against industry best practices.
• We have extended the ability for patients to take advantage of financial assistance resources by adding three more letters notifying them of this opportunity prior to accounts being sent into collections. Thus, patients will have a total of at least six months (180 days) from the time of their first statement to receive notification of our payment assistance option. Patients are still eligible to apply for financial assistance after being sent to collections for at least 240 days from first post–discharge billing statement.
• While it is in the best interest of consumers to resolve financial issues early by applying for charity care or other forms of assistance, interest will no longer be charged until or unless an account reaches the point of legal judgment, which is of course, always considered a last resort.
• Increase staffing for more support for patient assistance with completing financial assistance applications as well as Medicaid applications.
• Continue working on disability eligibility for persons who are in need of long–term assistance.
• Further enhance information, education and assistance on the front end of care rather than after care.
• Increase efforts toward public education of billing processes, statements and insurance navigation.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – A Kansas City Vet Center Readjustment Counselor will be available at Northwest Missouri State University to meet with veterans for readjustment counseling from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, and every third Friday of the month thereafter.

Counseling sessions will be available in Meeting Room E on the third floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union on the Northwest campus.

Beginning in April, counseling sessions will take place in the Mobile Vet Center, which will be parked at the Missouri National Guard Armory. The Armory is adjacent to the Maryville Community Center at 1407 N. Country Club Road, located beyond the northwest corner of the Northwest campus. The Mobile Vet Center will be parked just outside of the western entrance to the Armory.

Veterans interested in discussing readjustment concerns may call 816.753.1866 to set up an appointment. Counseling appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-in appointments are welcome, but scheduled appointments will take precedence over walk-in appointments.

For more information about Vet Center services, visit www.vetcenter.va.gov.

The Salvation Army marked the re-opening of its thrift store in St. Joseph Wednesday with a ribbon cutting.

The new store is located at 619 S. 5th St. next to The Salvation Army Corps community center and Booth Center Shelter for the homeless. It replaces The Salvation Army’s thrift store that existed at 810 N. 22nd Street, which closed in late January. With the opening of this new store, all Salvation Army services in St. Joseph are now all conveniently located on the same grounds.

The new Salvation Army thrift store will sell quality new and gently used clothing, appliances, furniture, household goods, toys and electronics, all at affordable prices.

Donations of items in good useable condition are welcome and may be dropped off at the store during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm.

The store is an important source of income for the funding of programs and services provided by The Salvation Army in St. Joseph, including feeding programs, emergency assistance, youth and senior programs and more.

“Our thrift store offers the opportunity for people to donate quality items they no longer need to help support important programs in our community,” said Captain Chuck Cook with The Salvation Army in St. Joseph. “It will be a great place for shoppers to find all the things they need at affordable prices or for that person who’s looking for a unique or vintage item for a special occasion.”

A Grand Opening event is set for Saturday, March 21st from 10 am to 5 pm, featuring door prizes, special discounts and complimentary hot dogs and drinks for the public.

For more information about the Salvation Army in St. Joseph or the new thrift store, contact Captain Chuck Cook, 816-232-5824.

A sobriety checkpoint in Buchanan County led to 10 arrests and 15 tickets over St. Patrick’s Day.

According to Capt. James McDonald, Missouri State Highway Patrol commanding officer of Troop H in St. Joseph a checkpoint was held from 8 p.m. to Midnight Tuesday with officers checking drivers of 843 vehicles through the checkpoint.

As a result officers arrested one person for driving while intoxicated, two on felon drug arrests, four for misdemeanor drug arrests and three for misdemeanor arrant arrests. Numerous tickets were also given including, one for failure to wear a seat belt, two child restraint violations, six for no driver’s license and six tickets for driving with a revoked license.

“There is no room for impaired drivers on Missouri roadways. If you choose to drink and drive, you will lose,” Captain McDonald said. “If your plans include consuming alcohol, have a sober designated driver.”