A Buchanan County Drug Strike Force Investigation which began in the fall of 2014 resulted in a search warrant being served Tuesday.

The Drug Strike Force assisted by the Special Response Team served a search warrant in the 3000 block of Seneca Street at approximately 09:00 AM. 

The Special Response Team was called to assist to secure the residence to ensure the safety of the community and the suspects.  The investigation led to the possibility of weapons present in the residence. 

The residence was secured without incident.  A 25 year old white male was taken into custody.  Suspected illegal narcotics, an alleged stolen firearm, and cash were seized along with other items of paraphernalia.  A Pit Bull Terrier was also present at the time of the warrant service.  No civilians, officers, suspects, or animals were injured in this operation. 

Northwest Missouri State University joined the Northland CAPS in Kansas City Tuesday as an Innovation Education Partner.

The Northland CAPS Innovation Partnership consists of six Missouri K-12 School Districts (Kearney, Liberty, North Kansas City, Park Hill, Platte County and Smithville), MCC, Northwest and Missouri-based business partners, including BankLiberty, Cerner Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Holland 1916, Liberty Hospital and North Kansas City Hospital.

Gov. Jay Nixon was on hand to address the Innovation Education Partnership designation and announced the award of a Missouri Campus Collaborative Missouri Innovation Campus Grant funded by USA Funds and provided to the state of Missouri.

“Missouri’s Innovation Campus initiative has become a national model for providing our future workforce with more skills, in less time and at a lower cost,” Nixon said. “The Northland CAPS Innovation Campus is already putting hundreds of students on a fast-track to success in future careers, and this official designation will ensure that hundreds more will have this opportunity in the years ahead.”

Nixon added, “I appreciate the strong corporate partners, including Cerner, Ford Motor Company, Holland 1916, BankLiberty, Liberty Hospital and North Kansas City Hospital, for their leadership in working with local schools and colleges to strengthen our workforce and economy.”

The designation is a next step in the Northland CAPS collaboration. CAPS is a nationally recognized, innovative high school program producing internships, immersive experiences, student-held provisional patents and student-owned businesses. Launched in 2013, Northland CAPS enrollment in 2014-2015 across the six school districts totals more than 300 students with significant growth being projected in 2015-2016 and beyond. Students enrolled in the program receive college credit through MCC and Northwest.

The grant announcement by Gov. Nixon comes through support from USA Funds awarding $450,000 to the Northland CAPS Innovation Partnership. The competitive grant process was administered through the Governor’s Office and MDHE.

Mosaic Life Care is blaming four deaths on the influenza virus.

“People take flu for granted and everyone got so concerned with Ebola when it only killed one United States person,” said Doctor Cynthia Brownfield with Mosaic. “When you think about flu… it’s killed four people at Mosaic Life Care already.”

Brownfield said the adults who died from the flu at Mosaic had other factors that put them at an increased risk.

“That’s why it’s very important for people with diabetes, heart disease, people who have cancer or the elderly get their flu vaccine to keep them more protected,” said Brownfield.

She said the flu season peaked here in Northwest Missouri around Thanksgiving and into the month of December.

“For our local area it seems like it’s declined a little bit but we still have what’s considered widespread flu activity but I have even noticed in our office that we don’t see quite as many cases as we were seeing three weeks ago,” said Brownfield.

New numbers released Monday from the Centers for Disease Control show 43 states are experiencing high or widespread flu activity mostly resulting from circulation of H3N2 viruses.  21 flu pediatric deaths have been reported this season.

“The children that have passed away some do have high risk situations that put them at increase risk,” said Brownfield. “But others were completely healthy normal children who unfortunately did not receive a flu vaccine and passed away from the flu.”

Most cases of this year’s flu have been caused by a strain that the vaccine does not protect against as well as others. But vaccination still can prevent flu or lessen its severity, so state and federal officials have continued promoting the flu shot and nasal mist, while also urging health care providers to dole out flu treatment drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza to high-risk patients as soon as they display symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation.

“There’s so many places for vaccinations now,” said Brownfield. “You can go to the health department, pharmacies, your  grocery store and obviously your doctor’s office.  We really want to promote easy accessibility to the flu vaccine.”

Even though the vaccination does not protect as well against all of the flu strains this year, Brownfield is urging people to get their flu shots because it could save a life.

“Nationwide it can kill anywhere between 14 up to 50,000 people per year depending on its various season and this is definitely proving to be a more severe season,” she said.  “It may not protect you 100% but usually you’ll still do better because you did get the flu vaccine.”

Update: Classes are cancelled Wed., Jan 7 due to extreme cold. District offices will remain open. Staff is directed to follow cold day procedures.

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The St. Joseph School District plans to hold classes Wednesday even as temperatures drop below zero and wind chills drop below
“We know that it’s going to be close to that threshold tonight but we also know we have 27 attendance locations that are warm that will have hot meals, warm meals for our students and so we feel like our school for many of our students are the best places to be when it is so cold,” said Dr. Jake Long, Deputy Superintendent and Dir. of Student Services for the district. “We’re really advising our parents to make sure that children have hats, coats, gloves, all exposed skin is covered.”

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory that will be in effect from 3 a.m. Wednesday until 9 a.m. Thursday.  Winds are forecasted at 15 to 25 below zero with the coldest wind chills Wednesday morning and again early Thursday morning.  Temperatures will also be below 0 and 5 below zero Wednesday morning and not make it out of the single digits Wednesday afternoon.

The impact combination of the bitter cold temperatures and strong winds will cause dangerous conditions.  The Weather Service said frostbite can occur in 3o minutes or less if skin is exposed.

Long said the district is urging parents to make sure their kids are bundled up.

“Regardless it’s going to be cold,” said Long. “There is a threshold to guide our decision making but it’s not as clear-cut as it may seem.”

Long said unless the forecast changes early Wednesday morning for parents to plan on sending their kids to school tomorrow.

“We’ll try to make the call as early as possible to give our parents as much time as possible,” said Long. “But certainly until something is decided parents need to plan on dressing their children warm and going to school tomorrow.”

Long said the district has been in contact with Apple Bus Company to make sure the buses are in working condition for the morning and asks that parents make sure their kids are on time at the bus stop because one late person can cause the bus to be late down the road which could lead to kids spending more time outside in the cold.

 

JEFFERSON CITY – As students get back to class after the new year, teachers are reminded the deadline for entries in the 2015 International Aviation Art Contest is just a few weeks away. Get out your art supplies and create a piece capturing the excitement of looping and spinning planes, diving hang gliders and colorful hot air balloons. Young people throughout Missouri are invited to illustrate the competition aviation events of the 2015 FAI World Air Games in Dubai, UAE, in the 2015 International Aviation Art Contest.

Sponsored by several national and international organizations and supported by the Missouri Department of Transportation, the contest inspires youth to explore aeronautics, engineering and science as they illustrate the theme, “World Air Games.”

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 can participate. Entries are judged in three age classes for creative use of the theme. Entries from Missouri youth will be evaluated by MoDOT employees. The winners will advance to national and possible international levels of the contest.

All artwork for the state competition must be postmarked by Friday, Jan. 23, 2015. Missouri students submitting artwork should mail it to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Attn: Teresa Hall, PO Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102. For more information, call (573) 526-2169, send an email to s.hall@modot.mo.gov or visit the national sponsor’s site, http://www.nasao.org/test/center/internationalaviationartcontest.aspx

The new St. Joseph YMCA opened its doors Monday for the first time.

The 8,000-square foot fitness center took more than a year to build at its location near the North Shoppes.

“It’s a lot closer to my house,” said Y member Spencer Neal. “I really like it. All the equipment is very nice, up to date.”

The fitness center offers cardio, strength and free weight equipment.

“I was a long-time Y member when I lived downtown,” said Denise Kerns. “Now this is much more convenient so I’m excited about being able to be a member again.”

There will also be a spa area which includes a steam room, sauna and therapy pool.

Kerns said she plans to utilize some of the special offerings the Y plans to offer.

“I know they’re going to do demonstration on Friday and I plan to be back for that and I’m interested in trying a spinning class,” said Kerns.

An official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Friday at 11 a.m.

The community will also be allowed to use the Y for free that weekend.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that there were nine fatalities during the New Year’s holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2015. Troopers investigated 344 traffic crashes with 116 injuries. In addition, troopers made 90 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the 102-hour counting period. There were no boating or drowning incidents during the New Year’s holiday counting period.

During the 2014 New Year’s 30-hour counting period, troopers investigated 116 traffic crashes with 42 injuries. There were zero fatalities reported statewide last year. In addition, troopers made 47 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the shorter 2014 counting period.

Five of the fatalities occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area; two fatalities occurred in the Troop H, St. Joseph area; and one fatality occurred in each of the Troop A, Lee’s Summit and Troop E, Poplar Bluff, areas.

Two people died on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2014. Jackie O. Cheatom, 54, of Columbia, MO, died when he was struck by two vehicles as he tried to walk across Stadium just south of Worley in Columbia, MO. The crash was investigated by the Columbia Police Department.

Xander Wohlstadter, 20, of St. Louis, MO was killed when another vehicle violated a red electric signal and struck the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle that struck Wohlstadter’s vehicle also struck two additional vehicles. The crash occurred at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis, MO. The crash was investigated by the St. Louis Police Department.

Four people died on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2015. Aaron R. Thomas, 24, of Kansas City, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger traveled off the left side of the roadway. After the driver overcorrected, the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, overturned, and came to rest on its wheels in a pasture. Thomas was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Buchanan County Coroner Richard Shelton pronounced Thomas dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred in Buchanan County on U.S. Highway 169 south of St. Joseph, MO. The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the crash; he was wearing a seat belt.

Michael L. Derousse, 31, of Park Hills, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed a low point in the roadway and the undercarriage struck the roadway. Derousse then lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck an embankment before overturning. Ste. Genevieve County EMS personnel pronounced Derousse dead. Derousse was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, which occurred in Ste. Genevieve County on Straughn Road north of Missouri Route EE.

William E. Lyles, 22, of Troy, MO, and Austin M. Moore, 20, of St. Charles, MO, died when Moore’s vehicle attempted to pass a second vehicle and Moore lost control. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Neither Lyles or Moore were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and were ejected from the vehicle. St. Charles County Ambulance personnel pronounced Lyles and Moore dead at the scene. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Missouri Route C north of Silvers Road.

One person died on Saturday, January 3, 2015. The crash was investigated by the St. Joseph Police Department. No other information is available.

Two people died on Sunday, January 4, 2015. Gunner W. Petty, 19, of Lawson, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the road, struck a drain culvert, and overturned. Petty was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Ray County Coroner Toby Polley pronounced Petty dead at the scene. The Ray County Sheriff’s Department, Wood Heights Fire Department, and Ray County Ambulance Service responded to the scene. The crash occurred in Ray County on Missouri Route M north of Clevenger Road.

Tyson D. Lorance, 26, of Ste. Genevieve, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve to the right, the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Tyson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Ste. Genevieve Emergency Medical Services pronounced Lorance dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Ste. Genevieve County on Missouri Route C west of Sprott Road.

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 21. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Light south wind becoming south southeast 9 to 14 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. South wind 13 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 19. Wind chill values between -3 and 7. North northwest wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Tuesday Night: Scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. Wind chill values between -2 and -12. North wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny and cold, with a high near 5. North northwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -3.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Breezy.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 20.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29.

Trails West!® is asking for art and vendors to apply for the 2015 festival.

The Allied Arts Council is now accepting entries for the 2015 Trails West!® artwork competition through January 30, 2015.

The winning artist receives a $500.00 cash award. The winning artwork should embody the spirit of the Trails West!® 2015 theme: “heART for the City.” It becomes the visual identification, or “logo,” for Trails West!® and the property of the Allied Arts Council of St. Joseph Missouri, Inc. The 2015 festival marks the 23rd anniversary of the Trails West!® festival.

The winning artwork will be featured on festival buttons, merchandise and promotional materials including posters, brochures and billboards.

Entries must be received in the Council office by 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2015. Judging of entries will take place in February. Entrants will be notified when judging is completed. Winning artwork and artist will be announced to the media at a later date.

The complete rules and application form are available online at www.trailswest.org or call Ashley Jones at the Allied Arts Council, 816-233-0231, to have an entry form mailed to you.

Applications are also being accepted for Fine Artist, Fine Crafters, and Food Vendors until April 16, 2015

Notifications will be mailed on or before June 1, 2015
Refund deadline June 17, 2015

Trails West!® is an outdoor arts festival celebrating the unique cultural heritage of St. Joseph, Missouri. Now in its 23rd year, the festival features fine arts, fine craft and unique foods. This is a juried festival with room for approximately 60 fine artists and crafters and 30 food vendors.

…Snow And Blowing Snow Arrive This Evening…
.As The First Wave Of Precipitation Exits Into Illinois A Lull In The Weather Will Occur Through Mid Afternoon. With Afternoon Temperatures Above Freezing Only Patchy Rain And Drizzle Are Expected. By Late Afternoon The Second Phase Of The Winter System Will Arrive. Initially Rain Will Spread Quickly East Into West Central Missouri But Soon Mix And Then Change Over To Wet Snow. A General Area Of 1 To 2 Inches Of Snow Is Expected This Evening With The Snow Quickly Tapering From West To East By Early Sunday Morning.
Areas Of Blowing Snow Are Also Expected Across Northern Missouri And Far Northeast Kansas Tonight As Brisk Northwest Winds Surge Into The Region After 10 Pm.
…Winter Weather Advisory Remains In Effect From 6 Pm This Evening To 6 Am Cst Sunday…
A Winter Weather Advisory For Snow And Blowing Snow Will Be In Effect From 6 Pm This Evening To 6 Am Cst Sunday.
* Location…Parts Of Northern Missouri.
* Timing…Snow Will Develop From West To East Between 6 Pm And
9 Pm This Evening…And Will Continue Through Early Sunday Morning. Brisk Northwest Winds Will Surge Into The Area By 10
Pm…And Will Result In Periods Of Blowing Snow From 10 Pm To
6 Am Sunday.
* Snow Accumulations…Snow Accumulations Averaging Around An Inch Are Likely.
* Impacts…The Expected Snowfall Will Create Some Travel Difficulties…Especially On Less Traveled Roadways. Blowing Snow May Reduce Visibilities To A Half Mile Or Less At Times…Making Travel Hazardous.
* Other Impacts…The Rapid Onset Of Frigid Temperatures This Evening Combined With Wet Pavement May Result In The Formation Of Black Ice. Should This Occur Very Dangerous Driving Conditions Would Result. The Gusty Northwest Winds Tonight And Sunday Morning Will Send Temperatures Into The Single Digits To Lower Teens…Resulting In Wind Chill Readings From 10 To 20 Below Zero.