KENDALL, Kan. (AP) — This weekend’s time change can be rough on some people. But consider Ron and Sherry Finlay.
Their home near Kendall in western Kansas sits on the line that divides the Mountain and Central time zones, about 1½ miles from the Kearny County line. So, when a person walks through the Kendall’s east door, it’s Central Time. Go through the west door, and it’s Mountain Time.
The Hutchinson News says the confusion’s nothing new. It’s been going on since mid-1980, when Kearny County asked the U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees the nation’s time zones, to change from Mountain to Central time.
Sherry Finlay says her family has adapted but the change can confuse visitors.
Currently, only Hamilton, Greeley, Wallace and Sherman counties in Kansas remain on Mountain Time.
St. Joseph, Mo. – The homeless population in St. Joseph saw a huge decrease during the month of January according to the latest homeless point-in-time count.
The St. Joseph Continuum of Care for Homeless Services (CoC) has surveyed the homeless population since 2003. CoC is required by HUD to conduct a survey once at least every two years. However, in St. Joseph the CoC does a count every year on the last Wednesday night of January which is referred to as a “point-in-time” count.
According to the latest data released, on the night of January 28th, 2015, St. Joseph had 88 people in Emergency Shelter beds. Emergency Shelter beds are located at the YWCA Shelter, Salvation Army Booth Center and Community Missions Cold Weather Shelter. This number is a significant decrease from previous counts. In fact this is the first time since January of 2005 that we have had fewer than 100 people in Emergency Shelter. In January of 2014 there were 113 people in Emergency Shelter which has been a typical number of Emergency Shelter beds utilized for the last 3 years of counts.
Several factors contribute to the lower than expected shelter numbers. Shelter usage is often cyclical in nature. Some times of the year are busier than others. December 2014 had much milder weather than 2013 so some people delayed seeking shelter. We also have had more options for housing and case managers at all agencies have been working to place people in housing programs that offer longer term solutions. Several people that have typically been part of Emergency Shelter counts in past winters were housed and may have offered a place for others to stay on a temporary basis.
In the month of February, all three shelters have seen an increase in census for their Emergency Shelter beds. If the count were held now, we would be much closer to the 110-115 range which is more normal for a winter count of Emergency Shelter beds.
We also had fewer people in Transitional Housing programs. Most of the decrease there was in a veteran only Transitional Housing program that was at 50% capacity on the night of the count. That program has also seen an increase in census since the count date.
For the Unsheltered count we saw a slight increase over 2014 but the number overall is in line with expectations. We found 8 people who said they slept in places not meant for human habitation. This can be a car, an abandoned building, a tent, etc. We realize that there are likely people on the streets that we did not find or identify. Some people may be using vehicles to sleep in or are very hidden and difficult to locate and engage.
Chronic homelessness remains a problem in our community. These are people who are considered the most difficult to engage, house and stabilize. Mental illness and substance abuse play a large role in this population and contribute to the difficulty that these people have in maintaining stability. We counted 51 people who were in Emergency Shelter, Safe Haven or Unsheltered that would be considered chronically homeless.
Domestic violence is one of the primary causes of homelessness for women. Although some of the women seeking shelter at the YWCA do not report recent domestic violence as the precipitating factor leading to homelessness, the vast majority have been past victims of domestic and/or sexual violence. National statistics indicate that 92% of homeless women report having experienced severe physical and/or sexual assault at some point in their lifetime. It is clear that without access to safe shelter and housing, women and children are at extreme risk for victimization. In this count 38 people reported being the victims of domestic violence.
The St. Joseph Continuum of Care is a local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. The CoC is comprised of social service agencies, local, state and federal government entities, law enforcement, and community members.
Multiple fire stations in Doniphan County responded to a house fire Tuesday evening near White Cloud, Kan. to find flames shooting from the roof.
“White Cloud station was the first one there and there was fire showing from several different placed in the house,” said Joe Florence, Highland District 2 Station Chief.
Florence said the call went out around 6 p.m. Tuesday and fire crews from White Cloud, Highland, Troy, and Iowa Tribe responded to the home located at 2393 Hwy 7 between Iowa Point and White Cloud.
However, because of the rural location water supply was a major issue.
“They made an attack on it and tried to control the fire but with a limited water supply basically they ran out of water,” Florence said. “White Cloud had a tanker, Highland brought another truck with water and a tanker but in rural areas obviously there’s no water supply unless you can bring it with you and if you can’t overcome the fire with the water you brought it can’t go out.”
No one was injured in the fire but the home is estimated to be a complete loss.
Fire crews ended up having to let the fire burn itself out and monitored the area to make sure it didn’t spread.
“The area surrounding the house had quite a few trees but we didn’t have any problem with grass or anything catching on fire or extending into the woods,” he said.
Florence said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but believes it may be tied to electrical issues.
“The owner said he had some electrical problems when he came home yesterday sometimes before the fire and reset some breakers and went outside to do some work,” Florence said. “When he came back the house was on fire.”
A Northwest Missouri State University student was charged Tuesday with multiple counts of rape.
22-year-old Abraham Acosta of Sibley, Iowa has been charged with 1st degree felony rape or attempted rape and 2nd degree rape which allegedly took place Saturday in Maryville.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jake Angle said both the victim and Acosta were students at Northwest.
Acosta was arrested Monday.
He is currently being held on $35,000 cash or corporate surety bond in the Nodaway County Jail.
The MSHP said the arrest was the result of a joint investigation between the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, Maryville Department of Public Safety, Northwest Missouri State University Police Department, and the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department.
A standing room only crowd turned out for the listening session to discuss the proposed cutting of up to 5,400 jobs at Fort Leonard Wood. Photo courtesy Missourinet
(Missourinet) – Missouri’s top elected officials, more than a third of its state legislature, and some 2,000 Missourians turned out at Fort Leonard Wood Monday night to urge the Army not to cut up to 5,400 military and civilian jobs there by 2020.
“Hard to match this anywhere else,” U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R) told the assembled. “The support for this facility in the community is truly second to none anywhere in the country.”
Blunt said the Fort is the 5th largest employer in the state with more than 36,000 direct and indirect jobs, and presents a unique set of efficiencies.
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, agreed.
“This is the least expensive in direct costs for training for any of the facilities in the country, so if we’re trying to save money, why in the world would we diminish this facility? We should be adding to this facility, not diminishing it, because it is so cost-effective for the Army.”
The proposed cuts are part of a reduction of about 70,000 jobs across the Army.
U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler, who sits on the House Armed Service Committee, says work continues in Congress to find money to reduce those cuts, but argued that regardless, Fort Leonard Wood should be spared.
“Here, every mission and every [person] serving at Fort Leonard Wood is vital, is needed, and needs to stay,” said Hartzler.
Governor Jay Nixon (D) said Missouri is a military-friendly state offering “unique competitiveness and advantages.”
“Our central location, our low energy costs, our robust and diversified transportation system, quality schools,” Nixon cited, as well as state programs to support military members including the Show-Me Heroes program that promotes the hiring of veterans.
The Fort will already lose about 1,200 jobs by October under a proposal that two years ago would originally have cost it 3,900 jobs.
A decision on additional cuts is expected later this year.
A Kansas City man has been charged with possessing more than 35,000 prescription pills from India and Thailand and distributing them throughout the United States. Brian S. Hoskins, 29, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it and acting as a wholesale drug distributor without a license.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said the charges were filed March 2, following an extensive investigation by officers with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Border Patrol, and the Department of Homeland Security.
According to court documents, in June 2014, investigators with the Border Patrol seized a package containing a large amount of controlled substances at JFK Airport. The parcel was being shipped from India to Hoskins at a downtown Kansas City post office.
On July 7, 2014, Kansas City Police Department officers were conducting surveillance at the post office when Hoskins retrieved six parcels and placed them in his backpack. After being approached by an officer, Hoskins gave consent to search to search the backpack, which revealed approximately 8400 prescription pills shipped from India.
Court documents indicate Hoskins spent approximately six years in Bangkok, where he gained contacts to ship prescription pills to the United States. After returning to the United States, Hoskins used Skype and Google to contact pill distributors in India and Thailand, giving them addresses to ship the pills to him in the United States.
Hoskins would then repackage the pills at his Platte County apartment to mail throughout the United States. A search of Hoskins’ bedroom revealed approximately 20,000 pills along with various shipping supplies. Other packages intercepted by investigators contained thousands of more pills.
Hoskins is being held in the Platte County jail in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond. He is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and acting as a wholesale drug distributor without a license. If convicted of all counts, he faces up to 36 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Nick Hinrichs.
The charges against Hoskins are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Submitted photo. SAN DIEGO (Feb. 27, 2015) Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Admiral Thomas S. Rowden (center) poses for a photo with Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (Sea) Sailor of the Year Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) First Class Petty Officer David C. Dysart (right) and Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (Shore) Sailor of the Year Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 1st Class Petty Officer Joseph C. Mathews (left). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Bell/Released)
SAN DIEGO (NNS) — The staff of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SURFPAC) announced the 2014 SURFPAC Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year (SOY) during a banquet at the Admiral Kidd Catering and Conference Center in San Diego, Feb. 27.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Petty Officer (AW/SW) David C. Dysart, USS Makin Island (LHD 8); was named the Sea SOY, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 1st Class (AW/SW) Joseph C. Mathews, USS America (LHA 6), was named Shore SOY.
Spouses, command leadership teams, distinguished military guests and community supporters attended the ceremony where the Senior Sailors of the Year for each SURFPAC sea and shore commands were also recognized during the event which was sponsored by the Surface Navy Association.
Dysart hails from St. Joseph, Missouri, and entered the Navy on Nov. 17, 2003. He completed the Airman Apprenticeship Training Core Course in Pensacola, Florida, and began his shore tour at instructor duty with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 at Naval Station North Island. His sea commands includes USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Makin Island (LHD 8), where he is currently assigned as the Air Department leading petty officer (LPO).
“The Sailors that I lead and the Sailors who helped me to this position are the main reason I have won this great honor,” said Dysart. “I never thought I would make it this far as a three year airmen, I am just elated to have come this far in my career and be blessed with such a high honor.”
Mathews, a native of Hayward, California, entered the Navy in June 2003. He graduated from “A” School in October 2003 at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Florida. His shore tour includes an assignment to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as the Fuels LPO. His sea commands include USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS America (LHA 6), where he is currently assigned as the Air Department LPO and V4 Division’s Maintenance LPO.
“It’s amazing to be able to represent my command; I feel great about it and it has been such a humbling experience,” said McArthur. “I am ecstatic at having won and it is an absolute honor going forward and representing the eight individuals who were my competition but who are now my friends.”
Seven finalists took part in board interviews, command events and a series of community outreach activities, which included meeting with Pearl Harbor survivors, a visit to USS Midway Museum, and the San Diego Zoo. The finalists also attended professional development sessions at SURFPAC headquarters.
“We are here to recognize these Sailors’ outstanding service,” said SURFPAC Force Master Chief Jason Wallis. “They should be extremely proud of their accomplishments and the fact that their commands recognized their hard work and have lead them to this path puts them one step away from putting on anchors.”
Dysart and Mathews will now compete in Hawaii against Pacific Fleet nominees vying for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) Shore and Sea SOY titles. The sea and shore-based commands of COMPACFLT represent more than 200,000 Sailors. The top COMPACFLT Sea Sailor will be eligible for meritorious promotion to chief petty officer and the Shore SOY will move on to competition in Washington, D.C., for possible designation as the 2014 Chief of Naval Operations Shore SOY
The presentation of the President’s Challenge award ceremony (l-r) Gail McGovern, American Red Cross President, Suzanne Jackson- Regional Chief Development Officer, Georgia, Chuck Weitschat- Executive Director, Northern Michigan, Angie Springs, Norwhest Missouri and Neal Litvack, Chief Development Officer. Photo courtesy Red Cross
KANSAS CITY, Mo, March. 3, 2015 — Angie Springs, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri, has returned from Washington, D.C. where she received a national award for her efforts in generating blood drives.
The President’s Challenge encouraged Red Cross fundraising teams to generate blood drives. The recognition was based on the number of leads, bookings and units of blood collected.
Nationwide, the goal was to reach 500 new prospects for blood drives. Among the 135 contributors from 66 chapters, Springs placed second in the nation with 46 leads for blood drives.
Springs said, “I was honored to be part of a life-saving effort that resulted in more than 2,200 units being collected from 81 blood drives.” She said, “The good news is that even more precious units will be collected in the coming months as prospects continue to develop and blood drives are scheduled.”
Two people were sent to the hospital Monday morning after a fire destroyed an apartment complex in Elwood, Kan.
“I was seven blocks away and I could see the fire going through the roof,” said Elwood Fire Chief Al Wood.
Fire crews from Elwood, Wathena and Rosecrans responded to the Birch Apartments located near 13th and Connecticut in Elwood just before 2:30 Monday morning.
Wood said two people, an older man and a woman in her 40s were transported to Mosaic Life Care with non-life threatening injuries suffered from smoke inhalation.
Eight people in total were displaced by the fire that caused major damage to the four unit apartment complex.
Wood estimates more than $100,000 in damage was caused.
The Red Cross of Northwest Missouri is assisting.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
KENDALL, Kan. (AP) — This weekend’s time change can be rough on some people. But consider Ron and Sherry Finlay.
