We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Near 50s heading our way

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. West wind 3 to 7 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49. South southwest wind 5 to 13 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Pizza delivery driver attacked

FILE PHOTO Wikipedia
FILE PHOTO Wikipedia

Two men robbed a pizza delivery driver Tuesday night after calling in an order to a vacant home.

According to the St. Joseph Police Department the driver arrived at a home on South 15th around 5:30 p.m. when he was assaulted.

The delivery driver was not seriously hurt.

The suspects made off with two pizzas.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Joseph Police Department (816) 238-TIPS

Man charged in Polo bank robbery

A Wisconsin man was charged in federal court today with robbing a Polo, Mo., bank.

30-year-old Oran Woodfin of Wisconsin, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo.

Today’s federal criminal complaint alleges that Woodfin stole $7,867 from Bank Northwest, 305 Main St., Polo, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Woodfin entered the bank, approached a bank teller and ordered her, “Give me your money.” He allegedly kept his left hand inside his jacket as though he had a weapon. The teller pleaded with him, “Don’t shoot me,” and placed the cash from her teller drawer on the counter. Woodfin allegedly picked up the money and walked out of the bank.

Bank surveillance photos indicated the robber was driving a red Dodge extended cab pickup truck with a black canvas tonto cover in the bed of the truck. A witness to the robbery observed the truck had a broken driver’s side taillight cover although the bulb was still functioning. Photographs of the robber and the pickup truck were disseminated to the media.

On the same day, the affidavit says, Woodfin checked into the Super 8 Motel in Richmond, Mo. Employees at the motel saw the surveillance photos on a television newscast, thought that Woodfin and his vehicle matched the descriptions from the bank robbery and the photos, and notified the police department.

Richmond police officers arrested Woodfin without incident outside his motel room. Officers executed a search warrant at the motel room and seized $7,145, a new computer, clothes and a container of alcohol. The pickup truck had been reported as stolen out of Clark County, Wisconsin. Woodfin had a warrant for his arrest out of Wisconsin for a probation and parole violation.

Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Venneman and D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Polo, Mo., Police Department, the Richmond, Mo., Police Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI.

Growers meeting attracts more than 100 area farmers

More than 100 attend Northwest Missouri Winter Grower Meeting held Tuesday at Stoney Creek Inn
More than 100 attend Northwest Missouri Winter Grower Meeting held Tuesday at Stoney Creek Inn

The Missouri Corn Growers Association held its annual Northwest Missouri Winter Growers Meeting Tuesday at Stoney Creek Inn to tackle issues impacting farmers in the region.

“When we first started out we were getting probably 50 people to come to this meet and that last few years they highest have been up to 140 or 150 people,” said Sam Creed, Missouri Corn Growers Association board member.

Around 110 farmers took part in Tuesday’s meeting. Presentations were given on numerous topics that have an impact on farmers.

The meeting kicked off with a legislative update from Congressman Sam Graves’ Office followed by a presentation on Missouri Agriculture Issue by Dir. RIchard Fordyce of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

“Just to get producers up to speed,” said BJ Bailey, Corn Growers Association board member and a farmer in Oregon, Mo. “New fertilizer techniques, what’s going on with markets and a weather update.”

Creed said the Growers meeting always takes place in St. Joseph because of how large of a venue is needed for the presentations.

“We have to have a large facility to fit more than 100 people,” said Creed.

Presentations were also given on termination of cover crops, and starter fertilizer as well as a market outlook.

Northwest Missouri prosecutor targets tax evaders

File Photo
File Photo

The Platte County Prosecuting Attorney’s office announced Tuesday that nearly a quarter million dollars from tax evaders was collected in 2014.

In a new release issued Tuesday, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said those efforts will continue in 2015.

“No one likes paying taxes, but it’s the price we pay for living in civilized society,” said Zahnd “Those who try to avoid paying taxes simply shift the burden to law-abiding citizens. That’s wrong, and we will continue to go after tax cheats.”

Under Missouri law, the Missouri Department of Revenue can ask local prosecutors to pursue collection of back taxes. In some instances, people failed to file Missouri income tax forms reporting their income. In other situations, people filed tax forms but failed to pay all taxes owed.

The office collected $220,000 in 2014, just slightly higher than the $215,000 it collected in 2013.

Zahnd’s office said it works with delinquent taxpayers to make arrangements to pay back taxes, but it also has the power to issue wage garnishments and property seizures.

“We all know it has been a tough economy,” he said. “In light of that, we will allow people to enter into payment arrangements to pay their delinquent taxes, but no one has a right simply to refuse to pay lawfully-owed taxes.”

Chris Poepping, Zahnd’s office administrator, is in charge of collecting delinquent taxes for the office.

“In addition to her many other responsibilities, Ms. Poepping leads the way in collecting unpaid taxes, which will help fund Missouri’s schools, transportation projects, and every other taxpayer-funded initiative,” said Zahnd.

Cirilla’s robbed overnight

 

Surveillance photo released by SJPD
Surveillance photo released by SJPD.  Click to view larger

The St. Joseph Police Department is searching for a man after a robbery at Cirilla’s Monday night.

According to Captain Jeff Wilson officers responded to the call at the adult novelty store on North Belt Highway around 10 p.m.

Wilson said the clerk told police that the suspect approached the counter with DVDs and then got behind the counter and demanded money from the cash register and safe.

The man is described as a black male of middle age and average height of around 5’8 to 5’11. He was wearing a black Under Armour hat, a blue hooded jacket, gray sweatpants and black shoes.

The man took the clerk to the bathroom and then ran from the store. Wilson said the clerk said she did not see a weapon.

Police said a small silver two door vehicle could have been used as his getaway car.

Investigators are looking at surveillance footage from the store.

The man made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Wilson said the DVDs were not taken.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tips Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

Warmer weather in store

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. East wind 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight: A chance of flurries after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. East wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Wednesday: A chance of flurries before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 31. South southwest wind around 6 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 40. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Humbolt Elementary adds greenhouse

Humbolt Elementary adds Greenhouse
Humbolt Elementary adds Greenhouse

A greenhouse will give students at Humbolt Elementary school more opportunities to learn about gardening.

The school just recently purchased a greenhouse for around $1,400 which was paid for as part of an almost $10-thousand dollar grant from the Heartland Foundation.

“The sixth graders last year were the ones who kind of got the ball rolling,” said Dana Gernter, Humbolt Family Involvement Coordinator. “They were very passionate about giving back to the community and had gone through a program at EmpowerU and came up with this plan to have a community garden.”

Gernter said the addition of a greenhouse will allow students to grown seedlings during the off season to plant in the community garden.

“What we intend to grow things such as radishes, onions, green beans, peas, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes,” said Gernter. “Things that will go far and feed several people.”

She said the surrounding community and students at the school are able to utilize the produce for free.

Humbolt Community Garden
Humbolt Community Garden

The community garden and greenhouse will mostly be taken care of by Humbolt fifth and sixth graders led by the school’s master gardener.

“She is able to lead us and guide us on when things should be planted and when we should be harvesting,” said Gertner.

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the greenhouse will be held at a later date.

Partnership planned for housing in St. Joseph

Hillcrest Transitional Housing and the St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity are partnering up for apartment renovations.

According to a news release from Habitat for Humanity an announcement will be made Thursday morning to talk about the two nonprofit organizations mission of helping families in need.

The release said work will begin on renovating a Hillcrest apartment to create a universal design livable space.

“Both programs offer a hand-up, not a hand out in that there are program requirements such as sweat equity, life skill classes and financial planning,” the release stated.

A St. Joseph Swinging of the Sledge Hammer and Ribbon Cutting will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at 3000 Parkway A, Apt. #1

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, call 816-689-1383, stop by the office at 3000 Parkway A.

Food services saves district money

FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO

The St. Joseph School District announced Monday that its nutrition services provider Opaa! has saved it hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It a new release Monday the district said that Opaa! has successfully closed the District’s &600,000 nutrition services loss and generated another $200,000 in revenue to be reinvested in nutrition.

“Hiring Opaa! has allowed us to stabilize our daily lunch cost,” said Rick Hartigan, Chief Operating Officer for the District. “It is a win-win for the District and students. We are able to
provide students with healthy, high quality food that meets federal requirements within our budget.”

Previously, the District ran its own nutrition services department, which led to a loss of $600,000 in 2012-2013 and $800,000 in 2011-2012. Nutrition services is funded through federal money, but any operating loss has to be made up through District operating funds.

“When the nutrition services department delivers positive financial results, local taxpayer funds aren’t required to subsidize operations,” said Jeff Roberts, Opaa! Area Director of Operations. “That means more resources are available for student education and activities. We are particularly pleased that we can operate the SJSD in the black, while offering the students a variety of menu choices and using high-quality name brand foods.”

Opaa! began service Oct. 22, 2013. According to the Distric the nutrition services provider has kept all of the nutrition staff employed by the District and has continued to hire nutrition staff locally.

Nationally, school lunch participation is down about 5% as students adjust to healthier food EDUCATING EACH CHILD FOR SUCCESS requirements. SJSD’s Opaa! lunches, which meet the federal requirements, are experiencing an
increase for the 2014-2015 school year

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File