MARYVILLE, Mo. – The public is invited to celebrate Regency England during the sixth annual Evening of English Country Dancing, Friday, Feb. 27, in the gymnasium of Horace Mann Laboratory School, located in Everett Brown Education Hall at Northwest Missouri State University.

The evening will include dance instruction with dance caller Dr. Jerome Grisanti and dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. Refreshments also will be available, and participants are invited to dress in period costumes.

The event is free and sponsored by the Department of English and Modern Languages.

English country dancing dates back to the Renaissance, along with the Regency period. English country dancing is often portrayed in Jane Austen movies.

“This event allows people to experience a literary world in a new way by entering the Regency period for an hour or two and getting a taste of what a dance in a Jane Austen novel might be like,” said Dr. Jenny Rytting, an assistant professor of English who organizes the annual event.

For more information, contact Rytting at rytting@nwmissouri.edu or 660.562.1741.

680 KFEQ’s Barry Birr takes a deeper look into audit findings of the St. Joseph School District.  The only “Poor” rating given to a school district since Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich took office.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University and the St. Joseph Public School District Wednesday celebrated their newly established partnership involving the University and Hillyard Technical Center to serve students pursuing careers in radiologic technology.

The 2+2 degree completion program provides an opportunity for Hillyard students to complete their coursework at Northwest, culminating in a certificate in radiologic technology from Hillyard and a Bachelor of Science degree in radiologic sciences from Northwest. Students also may begin their studies at Northwest in the radiologic science program and complete the professional radiology requirements through Hillyard to finish their bachelor’s degree.

Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski noted the growing importance of health care and the University’s emerging role in providing pre-professional education in a variety of health science fields.

“The aging baby boomer generation, increasing lifespans, new technology and cultural changes in our approaches to health have made the health care industry one of the fastest-growing sectors in our economy,” Jasinski said. “Students in our region are interested in finding their place in that industry, including radiology. The 2+2 partnership is magical because it sets the stage for lifelong learning, significant professional advancement and a fulfilling life.”

Dr. Jake Long, acting superintendent for the St. Joseph Public School District, said the school district and Hillyard look forward to nurturing the partnership to benefit students as well as the community and region.

“It’s an honor to welcome a distinguished school such as Northwest as our partner with Hillyard Technical Center and the radiology department,” Long said. “This partnership ensures our students a high-quality education and hands-on experience. When we offer these programs to our students, everyone benefits. Educated and informed students guarantee a healthy workforce and our community thrives.”

Under the agreement, students who meet admission standards will matriculate to Northwest and complete a specified program, including general education and institutional requirements. Students completing specified hours at Northwest must also meet competitive admission requirements specified by Hillyard. Financial assistance for the program also is available through Northwest and Hillyard.

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science from Northwest, students must have been admitted to Hillyard and complete the 57-hour upper division radiologic technology program in good standing. Faculty and staff members from both institutions will advise students regarding their academic preparation for admission to Hillyard and toward completing radiologic technology certification.

The 2+2 degree completion program with Hillyard in radiologic technology adds to Northwest’s strong field of programs in health sciences, which also include a 2+2 completion program with Saint Luke’s School of Radiologic Technology in Kansas City. Northwest also offers pre-professional programs in pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, pre-medical, pre-chiropractic, pre-dental, pre-optometry, pre-physician assistant, pre-veterinary.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI), a global leader in the animal health industry headquartered in St. Joseph, to announce that Missouri export sales reached $14.1 billion in 2014, the second highest year on record after 2012. Exports of Missouri products were up 9 percent over the previous year.

“This is great news for our economy and another testament to our efforts to sell the Made in Missouri brand worldwide,” Gov. Nixon said. “The world wants what Missouri makes, and there is no better example of how Missouri is competing and winning in the new global economy than Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s continued expansion right here in the Heartland. The more products companies like this one sell overseas, the more jobs they create at home – and that’s why increasing exports will continue to be a top priority.”

BIVI, a subsidiary of the global Boehringer Ingelheim Corp., has been headquartered in St. Joseph since 1981. The company is a worldwide leader in biological research, development, and manufacturing for the animal health business, with the St. Joseph location dedicated to the production, distribution and administrative operation for animal vaccines. Approximately 60 percent of the animal-health products manufactured at BIVI in St. Joseph are exported globally.

Because of increased global demand for its products, the company has increased its workforce by 484 since 2008 and invested approximately $173.3 million since 2009. In 2012, BIVI announced a $79 million expansion that is creating 115 jobs and included construction of a new $28.7 million, 300,000-square-foot packaging and distribution warehouse.

“It’s St. Joe companies like Boehringer and Triumph Foods that are seizing opportunities for growth beyond our own borders and establishing a larger customer base,” said Patt Lilly, President of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “This activity strengthens the Northwest region of our state and contributes to our successful business environment.”

Missouri’s top export products are transportation equipment, chemicals, food and kindred products, machinery and electrical components. The top markets for Missouri exports are Canada, Mexico, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The company has more than 950 Missouri-based employees and 2,000 employees in the U.S. With its animal health national headquarters located in St. Joseph, the company manufactures and markets an extensive line of high-quality biological and pharmaceutical products for cattle, swine, horses, and pets for a worldwide network.

“We are very proud to contribute to Missouri’s economic success, especially when it comes to exports, which continue to be an important driver of our growth,” said Dr. Albrecht Kissel, President and CEO of BIVI. “With a highly skilled workforce, sound transportation infrastructure, an outstanding quality of life and a business-friendly climate, Missouri and the KC Animal Health Corridor provide an ideal location for BIVI to serve a worldwide customer base. We thank the Governor and the state of Missouri for their ongoing support of our company, and the commitment to enhancing Missouri’s global competitiveness.”

The Chillicothe Fire Department rescued a small child and her parents from the second floor of an apartment complex Tuesday night.

According to a report on social media by the Livingston County Emergency Management/Chillcothe Fire Department firefighters responded to 19 Webster Apartment just before Midnight.

When fire crews arrived on scene they found smoke coming from the northeast corner of the second floor of the building.

Fire crews deployed a ladder to rescue a small child from the second floor window from the arms of her parents.

Crews then entered the building and helped the child’s parents make it down the stairwell and to safety.

Another individual was found laying in the hallway outside the room on fire. That occupant was transported to the hospital along with a neighbor for further care.

There was reported to be extensive fire damage to Apartment #7 as well as smoke and water damage throughout the Apartment complex.

All residents were told to find another place to stay for the night and power was disconnected from the building.

The State Fire Marshal was called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

The City of St. Joseph has announced that the February City Talk meeting will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

Community members can meet and talk with mayor Bill Falkner, councilmember at-large Ken Beck, and other council members.

The meeting will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church, located at 4715 Frederick Boulevard.

Participants are asked to enter through the main doors and follow signage to the meeting.

The city said the open forum is for the public to voice their questions and concerns to the mayor and council and begins at 7 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided at 6:30 p.m., allowing for residents to visit with council members.

For more information, contact the public information and communications division at (816) 271-4610.

The St. Joseph YWCA is now taking nominations for the 2015 Women’s of Excellence Awards.

The public can nominate women in several categories. Women in the Workplace, Women in Volunteerism, Women in Support Services, Emerging Leader (women under 40) and Employer of Excellence.

Click here for more information on how to nominate a Woman of Excellence.

Future Leader include girls in their senior year of high school can be nominated by their school counselors.

Nominations will be accepted from now until March 13.

The YWCA said a panel of community members will judge the nominations with the nominees’ names removed to select the winner from each category.

All nominees will be invited to attend a reception and have their profile in the program book at the Women of Excellence event which will be held June 18 at the Civic Arena from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year’s featured guest speaker is Grammy-Award Winning Performer Melissa Manchester.

For reservations to the Women of Excellence event, contact the YWCA at 816-232-4481 or email efattig@ywcasj.org.

Full audio from SJSD Audit report given by Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich. Video overlay. Video does not coincide with the sound, just footage from the event.

Click here to view the live stream of the SJSD Audit findings by State Auditor Tom Schweich.

The final report will be released at 5pm today in a public meeting at Oak Grove School, 4901 Cook Road.

The meeting is open to the public.

Release of the initial report from the auditor’s office, presented to the Board of Education behind closed doors last month, prompted the board to place two top district officials including the superintendent on paid administrative leave.  There have been no comments from officials as to why Dr. Fred Czerwonka and Rick Hartigan were suspended.

Full story will be posted following the audit findings release.