A former finance director at Progressive Community Services has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the agency.
43-year-old Sarah Ellen Morgan has been charged with felony stealing. According to a probable cause statement witnesses said Morgan stole $7847.83 with the intent to deprive the owner without their consent by means of deceit. The theft took place over a two year time span.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Morgan first started to work for the agency in August of 2010.
Progressive Community Services is a nonprofit agency that helps developmentally disabled individuals.
According to online court documents a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Morgan for Jan. 30.
Gov. Jay Nixon speaks to the Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations. Photo courtesy Missourinet
Governor Jay Nixon said Monday he wants to help Missouri’s veterans by reducing the wait list at the state’s veterans’ homes.
“For every veteran receiving quality medical care and services at one of our veterans’ homes, there’s a veteran who is on the waiting list because there’s not enough space,” said Nixon.
Each home has registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day, provides physician care, therapy, and social services for residents. The homes also have special care units reserved for veterans suffering from dementia. Missouri Veterans Commission spokesman Daniel Bell says there are about 2,000 veterans waiting to get into one of the state’s seven homes.
“Right now, the wait times to get into the homes can run anywhere from six to eighteen months based on the level of care needed.” said Bell.
The governor outlined his proposal to the Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations. The plan calls for $14.5 million dollars to repair and renovate four of the existing homes and to build a new one.
“With our AAA credit rating and low interests rates, a bond issuance is a prudent, responsible way to make these kinds of needed improvements,” said Nixon. “Because the legislature took the first step last year by authorizing additional bonding capacity for improvements to state buildings, that means we can move forward quickly this year to get these repair and renovation projects underway.”
There are nearly a half a million veterans currently living in Missouri. Nixon said as more Vietnam veterans retire, this is the time to move forward with additional veterans’ housing. Nixon is proposing that the new veterans’ home be part of a bond issuance for new construction, with an estimated cost of $45 to $50 million
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The ramp from westbound U.S. Hwy 36 to southbound Interstate 29 will be closed on Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28, 2015, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. A bridge maintenance project will close the ramp to all traffic from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days. Motorists will need to use an alternate route during the closure.
MoDOT apologizes for any inconvenience that this necessary road work may cause and encourages all motorists to drive safely through work zones to ensure everyone can Arrive Alive.
For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636).
United Way Partner Agency InterServ is now accepting appointments for free tax preparation services for seniors. They will be offering services beginning February 1 through the filing deadline of April 15. Seniors age 60 and older with a household income of less than $52,000 in 2014 may qualify for free tax preparation assistance. InterServ is not able to accept walk-ins so individuals must schedule an appointment. To schedule an appointment, call InterServ at 232-7779.
During the 2014 tax season, more than 1,100 individuals received tax assistance through United Way Partner Agencies. Preparers filed 212 Earned Income Tax Credit returns for a total of $184,000, plus over 1.1 million dollars were received locally through tax refunds. Free tax preparation services help people keep and save their own money.
The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce issued a news release Tuesday endorsing the consideration of additional Sewer Revenue Bonds up for vote in February’s election.
On February 3, voters will be asked to consider additional sewer revenue bonds, a $190 million bond issue for improvements to St. Joseph’s collection and wastewater treatment system required to meet federal and state regulations by reducing combined sewer overflows and to meet new treatment requirements.
The projects will be built no matter what, however a yes vote would mean a lower interest rate for the bonds. If voters vote no the city would have to support a higher interest rate for lease-purchase bonds.
According to the City of St. Joseph, without voter approval for the lower interest rates, the City Council will be required to issue lease-purchase bonds, which will increase sewer rates higher than required. Based on current interest rates, the savings would be an estimated $53 million over 20 years.
“The approval of the proposed bonds is important to the community’s long-term economic development efforts,” said R. Patt Lilly, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “Not only is it important to have up-to-date sewer infrastructure, but having competitive rates that the bonds will allow is critical to attracting new business to St. Joseph.”
Bonds will be paid through sewer user fees, based on water usage, not as an increase in property taxes. Increased fees will last the life of the 20-year bonds and will be paid by residents connected to public sewers. Fees will increase gradually as bonds are solver over two to six years.
The St. Joseph Police Department along with the Northwest DWI Task Force will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint in St. Joseph during the month of March.
Police released the information to warn motorists they may encounter a sobriety checkpoint in St. Joseph around that time.
“We appreciate the cooperation of motorists that find themselves passing through a checkpoint,” the released stated. “Our goal is to take impaired drivers off the roads making them safer. If you find yourself in a checkpoint please pay extra attention to the posted signs and the officer working to make your community safer.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people every year. On average in 2012, one person was killed every 51 minutes in alcohol impaired driving crashes.
Police encourage the use of a designated driver or a taxi cab if you are going out. An exact day, time and location were not released. For more information contact: Officer Brad Kerns with the St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-5359.
2014 FILE Photo: SJPD on crash at 22nd and Frederick.
Vehicle thefts were up last year in St. Joseph according to a report released by police Monday.
The St. Joseph Police Department released its 2014 Annual Crime Summary Report which shows there were 10,517 crimes reported last year, a decrease of 425 from 2013. It’s a decrease of 2-percent overall.
While many categories saw a drop in the number reported, Motor Vehicle Thefts rose 8-percent. The report shows there were 348 last year, that’s up by 26 reports.
All violent crime was up by around 4-percent which the police department attributes to an increase in the Simple Assaults category up 6-percent from 2013. There were three murders reported in 2014, two more than 2013.
Stealing reports were also slightly higher, an increase of 1-percent from 2013 with 3324 reports. Shoplifting crimes increased by 30-percent over 2013 with 33-percent of all stealing reports falling in the shoplifting category.
UPDATE 4:12 : The St. Joseph Police Department has located 17-year-old Hailee M. Wilson.
A Nixle message was sent out just after 4 p.m. to notify the public that she had been located.
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17-year-old Hailee Wilson (Click to enlarge)
12:53 p.m. The St Joseph Police Department has issued a missing persons alert for 17-year-old Hailee M. Wilson.
She is described as a white female of around 5’08 and 260 lbs with Brown hair and Brown eyes.
Wilson was last seen on Friday, 01/23/2015 at Lafayette High School around 12 p.m. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, black crew neck sweatshirt with a Batman symbol it and green & white checked DC brand tennis shoes.
Police ask anyone who knows of Hailee’s whereabouts to contact the St. Joseph Police Department at (816) 271-4777 so they can check her wellbeing.
According to a news story written by KSHB 41 on August 4, 2014 Hailee also went missing in August, of 2014 and was found in Chillicothe, Mo.
KSHB reported that Hailee suffers from Aspergers and Tourettes.
34-year-old Daron Simpson has been charged with second degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a man early Saturday morning in Faucett, Mo.
Law enforcement official are investigating after 36-year-old Andrew Clary was shot and killed early Saturday morning at a home located in the 12000 Southeast State, Hwy A in St. Joseph, Missouri.
33-year-old Amanda Simpson was also shot and was initially taken to Mosaic Life Care in critical condition but has since been transported to a Kansas City Hospital.
According to Buchanan County Under Sheriff Bill Puett Daron allegedly drove a vehicle into the garage door then entered the residence where Clary and Amanda Simpson lived and into their bedroom where he fired a handgun at the victims just before 2 a.m.
“Upon arrival patrol deputies observed an overhead garage door that appeared to be struck by a vehicle completely knocking the door from its rails,” said Puett. “This appeared to be the point that allowed the suspect, identified as Daron Simpson to enter the residence.”
Daron turned himself into police custody less than an hour later.
He is being held on $70,000 bond, $5,000 cash.
Online court documents show that Daron and Amanda were divorced February of 2013.
Family members submitted this photo of Amanda Simpson and Andrew Clary
Family members of Clary who did not wish to be identified said that Daron had already remarried.
Clary and Amanda have been dating since early 2014. Clary was raised in Troy, Kan. Where his mother and many extended family members currently reside.
Puett said Amanda is currently in stable condition and is expected to live.
FAUCETT -Law enforcement officials are investigating after 36-year-old Andrew Clary was shot and killed early Saturday morning at a home located in the 12000 Southeast State, Hwy A in St. Joseph, Missouri.
33-year-old Amanda Simpson was also shot and was initially taken to Mosaic Life Care in critical condition but has since been transported to a Kansas City Hospital.
According to Buchanan County Under Sheriff Bill Puett the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Daron Simpson allegedly drove a vehicle into the garage door then entered the residence where Clary and Amanda Simpson lived and into their bedroom where he fired a handgun at the victims just before 2 a.m.
“Upon arrival patrol deputies observed an overhead garage door that appeared to be struck by a vehicle completely knocking the door from its rails,” said Puett. “This appeared to be the point that allowed the suspect, identified as Daron Simpson to enter the residence.”
Daron turned himself into police custody early this morning and is being held under investigation of murder.
“The investigation is ongoing, we’ve had officers and investigators out all night,” said Puett. “The case will be submitted to the prosecuting attorney this afternoon and the prosecutor will review that.”
Daron was identified by family members of Clary who did not wish to be identified as Amanda’s Ex-Husband. Family also said that Daron had already remarried.
Family members submitted this photo of Amanda Simpson and Andrew Clary
Clary and Amanda have been dating since early 2014. Clary was raised in Troy, Kan. Where his mother and many extended family members currently reside.
Puett said Amanda is currently in stable condition and is expected to live.
A former finance director at Progressive Community Services has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the agency.
