The Platte County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for assistance regarding the damage to an expensive tractor that occurred between December 24 through December 25, 2014. The incident took place on private property near Weston, Missouri. The person(s) responsible for the crime took the tractor and drove it through a field, resulting in approximately $60,000 worth of damage to the tractor. In addition, other vehicles on the private property were also damaged. Sheriff Mark Owen is asking the public that if you know who is responsible for causing such a large amount of damage or if you have any information that may lead to the arrest of the responsible person(s), to please contact the sheriff’s office.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact Detective Richard Ford at the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, (816) 858-1804, or call (816) 474-TIPS.
A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday for his role in a conspiracy to burglarize the vehicles of at least 144 victims and sell the stolen items on eBay.
Nathaniel Dixon, 37, of Lee’s Summit, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to five years in federal prison without parole, which is the statutory maximum sentence. The court also ordered Dixon to pay $104,657 in restitution to his victims and to forfeit to the government $125,921, which represents the proceeds he obtained from the criminal conspiracy.
On May 27, 2014, Dixon pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. From Jan. 1, 2010, until Aug. 31, 2011, Dixon led a conspiracy to burglarize scores of vehicles in the Kansas City metropolitan area, in both Missouri and Kansas. They broke into the vehicles, removed entertainment/navigation systems (often MyGigs) from the dashboard, and stole other personal items such as computers, briefcases, purses, cell phones and credit cards from the vehicles. They also jacked up the vehicles to steal the tires and wheels, and would often use the victims’ landscaping blocks to prop the vehicles up after stealing the tires and wheels.
Dixon bought the stolen auto parts and electronics from his coconspirators, then posted the items for sale on his eBay account, listing the parts at prices lower than retail value. Dixon and his coconspirators caused a loss of approximately $476,000 to the victims. Dixon received payments through his PayPal account totaling approximately $125,921.
In a separate case, Nickalass King, 36, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a total of three years and three months in federal prison without parole for his role in the conspiracy and for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
A truck hitting a utility pole knocked out power for thousands on the south side of St. Joseph Tuesday.
Power was out for more than two and a half hour Tuesday after Kansas City Power & Light reported that a truck hit a utility pole causing around 4700 individuals and businesses on the South end of St. Joseph to lose electricity.
According to Rebecca Galati, a spokeswoman with KCP&L the outage was originally thought to be due to an equipment failure but once crews arrived on scene to investigate it was determined that the outage was due to an accident involving a utility pole.
The outage first occurred at 11:57 a.m. and was restored to all customers impacted by 2:45.
Neither Galati the Buchanan County Communication Center or the St. Joseph Police Department were able to provide a location of where the accident took place.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced Monday that he has granted pardons to eight men and one woman convicted of non-violent offenses. Each of the individuals has completed his or her sentence and has become a law-abiding citizen.
“The executive power to grant clemency is one I take with a great deal of consideration and seriousness,” Gov. Nixon said. “In each of the cases where I have granted a pardon, the individual has demonstrated the ability and willingness to turn his or her life around and become a contributing member of society, including two who served honorably in our nation’s military.”
Those granted pardons are:
Alphonso Johnson is a union electrician and a minister who mentors troubled youth. In the late 1970s, he was convicted in St. Louis City of two misdemeanor stealing charges and served a 12-day sentence and a five-month sentence;
Richard Owens served in the Missouri Army National Guard, the Georgia Army National Guard and the United States Army, and was decorated for service in Germany and Iraq before receiving a medical discharge. He joined the military after completing his probation for being convicted in Butler County of property damage and second-degree burglary for stealing a five-gallon water jug that was a quarter full of mixed change in 1993;
Orlando Rivera was deployed five times with the U.S. Army to Iraq and Afghanistan, winning several medals, including the Bronze Star. He also has been awarded the Purple Heart four times. He was placed on probation in 2006 after being convicted in Webster County of possession of marijuana;
Carol Shadden has been employed steadily in the restaurant industry, including in management positions, and has taken college courses. In 1987, she was convicted in Greene County of misdemeanor stealing for remaining on state assistance after she was no longer eligible and was given two years’ probation. She paid full restitution and successfully completed her probation;
Joseph Frye received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has been active in his community, including by serving as an alderman for the village of Hunnewell. He was discharged early from his probationary period after being convicted in Montgomery County of stealing and second-degree burglary in 1991for the theft of two aluminum storm doors and other miscellaneous items. He paid all court-ordered restitution;
Egial Hopkins is retired from the health care industry and has long been involved with volunteer work. In 1970, he was placed on two years’ probation after being convicted in Clay County of forgery for writing $74 in bad checks. Prior to sentencing, he paid restitution in full;
Steven Lusher has earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Missouri S&T, and has been a senior research specialist for several years. In 1989, he was convicted in Cole County of possession of marijuana and placed on five years’ probation;
Curtis Mullins has earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work, and his employment has included working as a teacher, a juvenile officer and as the executive director of an adoption agency. In 1969, he was placed on probation for one year after being convicted in St. Louis City of stealing a diamond ring; and
Bobby Covey has worked in construction and maintenance. In 1988, he was placed on five years’ probation after being convicted in Ray County of two counts of selling marijuana.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 12 people died during the Christmas holiday counting period–from 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 24, 2014 to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 28, 2014.
During this year’s 102-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 284 traffic crashes, which included 91 injuries and five of the fatalities. In addition, troopers arrested 66 people for driving while intoxicated. There were no boating crashes and no one drowned during the Christmas 2014 counting period.
Last year, during the 30-hour Christmas holiday counting period, there were 207 traffic crashes. In those crashes, one person was killed and another 79 were injured. The Patrol investigated 53 traffic crashes, which included 18 injuries and one fatality. In addition, troopers arrested eight people for driving while intoxicated last year. There were no boating crashes and no one drowned during the Christmas 2013 counting period.
Five of the fatalities occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area; two fatalities occurred in each of the Troop C, Weldon Spring, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, and Troop F, Jefferson City, areas; and one fatality occurred in Troop D, Springfield, area.
Two fatalities occurred on Christmas Day, December 25, 2014. Darrell J. McDowell, 45, of Malden, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the roadway, and struck a utility pole. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dunklin County Coroner James Powell pronounced McDowell dead at the scene of the crash. The crash occurred in Dunklin County on Dunklin County Road 222 south of Malden.
Shanica Burney, 22, of St. Louis, died when another vehicle violated a red electric signal and struck the vehicle she was driving. After impact, Burney’s vehicle struck the curb and overturned, coming to rest on its top. The other vehicle slid into a third vehicle, which was parked, and came to rest against vehicle three. Dr. Delucia pronounced Burney dead at University Hospital in St. Louis, MO. A passenger in Burney’s vehicle remains in stable condition at University Hospital. The driver and passenger in the vehicle that struck Burney’s vehicle fled the scene on foot. The crash occurred at the intersection of 14th Street and Cass Avenue in St. Louis. The St. Louis Police Department investigated the crash.
Two people died on Friday, December 26, 2014. Derek J. Schrimpf, 47, of Jefferson City, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, and overturned. Schrimpf was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Cole County Sheriff’s Department Captain John Wheeler pronounced Schrimpf dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Cole County on U.S. Highway 54 eastbound 100 feet east of Shepherd Hills Road.
Gregory A. Anderson, 29, of Columbia, MO, died when he walked into the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 63 and was struck by a vehicle. A representative of the Boone County Fire Department pronounced Anderson dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The crash occurred in Boone County on U.S. 63 at Missouri Highway 763.
Eight fatalities occurred on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Paul R. Brown, 48, of St. Ann, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned. Brown was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected. Medical Examiner Kelly Lovelace pronounced Brown dead at the scene of the crash. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on the southbound Interstate 170 ramp to westbound Interstate 70.
Danny L. Nelson, 49, of Kennett, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Dunklin County Coroner James Powell pronounced Nelson dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the crash; he was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Dunklin County on County Road 553 south of Kennett.
The Kansas City Police Department investigated a five fatality traffic crash. For further information, contact that department.
The Springfield Police Department investigated a single vehicle fatality. No further information is available pending notification of next of kin.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Dec. 29 – Jan. 4 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Weather conditions may cause postponements in planned work schedules. Other construction or maintenance work may occur on other roadways throughout the area. Many projects will include lane closures and delays can be expected.
The majority of construction work zones will not be in place from noon Thursday, Dec. 31 until the morning of Friday, Jan. 2. However, some work zones have lanes closed all the time that are unable to be reopened for the holiday. If a work zone is listed below for Dec. 29 – Jan. 2, please note there will be no work in that area on Jan. 1. MoDOT reminds the public to buckle up, slow down, eliminate distractions and drive with extreme caution through work zones.
Andrew County
U.S. Hwy 71 – Drainage work, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Route D – From County Road 195 to County Road 217; drainage work, Dec. 29 –Jan. 2
Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Buchanan County
U.S. Hwy 59 – From Interstate 229 to Middleton Avenue; pavement repair, Dec. 29 –Jan. 2 (Includes a 14-foot width restriction.)
I-229 – Just after the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp to just before U.S. Hwy 36; bridge maintenance, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2 (Includes a 10-foot width restriction.)
U.S. Hwy 36 – At the Platte River Bridge; bridge maintenance, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Loop 29 – Belt Highway from County Line Road to Ashland Avenue; grading and dirt work, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Caldwell County
Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Shoulder work, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Carroll County
Various routes – Drainage work, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Chariton County
Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
DeKalb County
Route 6 – At Rogers Road; approach repair to entrance of county road, Dec. 29 – 30
Route 6 – Sweeping, Dec. 31 – Jan. 2
U.S. Hwy 36 – At the intersection of Bob Griffin Road; milling, Dec. 31 – Jan. 2
Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 29 – Jan. 2
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has assigned four new troopers to the Troop H Region.
The newly assigned troopers were members of the 99th Recruit Class, which began training on July 1, 2014, at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City, Missouri, and graduated on December 19, 2014.
Trooper Jack W. Cotter has been assigned to Zone 1, which patrols Atchison and Holt counties. Trooper Cotter is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and a 2001 graduate of Rockhurst High School, in Kansas City, Missouri. Trooper Cotter served in the United States Marine Corps for four years where he attained the rank of corporal. Trooper Cotter is married to Andrea M. (Hoskins) Cotter and they have two children, Mason and Kennedy. His field training officer will be Trooper Joshua R. Zach.
Trooper Tyler L. Shupe has been assigned to Zone 1, which patrols Atchison and Holt counties. Trooper Shupe is a native of Independence, Missouri, and a 2010 graduate of William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri. Trooper Shupe is currently serving in the Missouri Army National Guard, where he maintains the rank of second lieutenant. Trooper Shupe is married to Elizabeth M. (Brawdy) Shupe. His field training officer will be Trooper Nicholas J. Greiner.
Trooper Matthew D. Obert has been assigned to Zone 3, which patrols Gentry and Harrison counties. Trooper Obert is a native of Lamar, Missouri, and a 2007 graduate of Lamar High School, Lamar, Missouri. Trooper Obert attended Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, where he majored in criminal justice. His field training officer will be Trooper Christopher J. Sullivan.
Trooper Joshua E. Hainey has been assigned to Zone 3, which patrols Gentry and Harrison counties. Trooper Hainey is a native of Saint Joseph, Missouri, and a 2010 graduate of Lafayette High School, Saint Joseph, Missouri. Trooper Hainey attended Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, Missouri, where he majored in criminal justice. His field training officer will be Corporal Benjamin R. Hilliard.
The new troopers will report for duty on January 5, 2015, at Troop H Headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, and will continue their training under the guidance of their field training officers.
August 6 – A proposed transportation sales tax has been defeated in Missouri again.
Voters rejected proposed Constitutional Amendment 7 to impose a three-quarters cent sales tax that was projected to raise at least $540 million annually over the next decade. It would have funded more than 800 state projects.
Among those was the widening of Interstate 70 to three lanes in each direction between Kansas City and St. Louis, and contributions to an effort to bring street cars back to Kansas City.
The measure drew opposition both from tax-hike opponents and from those concerned about using a general sales tax to finance highways instead of traditional user fees. For nearly a century, Missouri roads have been funded primarily by taxes on fuel and vehicles.
It’s been about two decades since Missouri raised its fuel taxes. Voters also defeated a transportation tax plan in 2002.
File:White-faced capuchin monkey Photo by Manuel Antonio
May 2 – Chillicothe police were forced to shoot and kill a rogue monkey after his owner failed five time to shoot the animal with a tranquilizer gun.
Authorities had warned the public that the White Faced Capuchin Monkey had escaped from its owner and was roaming around Chillicothe.
Police say the primate escaped from its cage and then achieved its freedom by squeezing through a vent. There were subsequent monkey sightings all around Chillicothe, and one school was placed on lockdown, according to broadcast reports.
A resident told KCTV-5 he’d had a close run in with the animal.
“I look over and seen this monkey going through the yard, and it took off running and the cops took off after it,” he told the reporters. KCTV-5 reported that the monkey belonged to a local businessman who is licensed by the USDA to breed and sell the monkeys. According to the police chief, businessman Bill Johnston has about 30 monkeys on his property.
The caper came to an end when Johnston tried to shoot the escapee with a tranquilizer gun. According to a news release from the Chillicothe Police Department, he tried and failed to tranquilize the monkey approximately five times before he authorized officers to put the monkey down.
There were several Inmate deaths this year in the Western Correctional Center in Cameron and several in the Buchanan County Jail. All of the deaths have been investigated by authorities.
July 2 – Two more inmates at the Western Missouri Correctional Center died in custody Monday night. According to news releases from the Missouri Department of Corrections, both died of apparent natural causes.
Gregory Eaton and Frank Troya are at least the fourth and fifth detainees to die in custody at the prison in Cameron, Missouri in the last four weeks. On Sunday, Nicholas Legrand, another inmate at the facility, was pronounced dead at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
Eaton, 60, was serving two, eight-year sentences on DWI charges, one as a chronic offender in St Charles County, and the other from St Louis County. He was received in the Department of Corrections on June 6, 2009. Officials say he passed away at 10:32 p.m. on Monday at the Western Missouri Correctional Center.
Troya, 58, was serving a ten-year sentence as a chronic DWI offender out of Clay County. He entered the department on December 20, 2011. Troya died at 6:45 p.m. on Monday at the infirmary at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.
Communications Director David Owen of the Missouri Department of Corrections says you can’t read a lot into what appears to be an unusually high number of inmate deaths lately.
“You really have to look at the case-by-case situation of the offenders that have passed away,” Owen says. “It really has to do with their medical condition, how they came into the institution, how long they’ve been incarcerated, and what kind of medical conditions they had.”
“Typically all offender records or conditions are closed pursuant to state statutes.”
Owen says if there is an incident, or an unexpected death, the department will conduct an autopsy. If the department suspects foul play was involved, an investigation will be started by the departments Inspector General’s Office. Those investigations are also closed.
“Once they’re completed we try to give that to the county prosecutor’s office, and they move forward with charges if they would like to,” Owen said.
At the Crossroads Correctional Center, also in Cameron, one inmate death is being investigated as a homicide. Larry Miller was pronounced dead at age 33 on June 9 at 6:33am. Dekalb County Coroner Heath Turner tells us Miller’s death is suspicious.
“It’s being investigated as a homicide until we prove otherwise,” Turner said in an interview. “We’re waiting for a formal autopsy report from the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, which conducted the autopsy.”
Oct. – An inmate of the Buchanan County Jail was found unresponsive during a routine cell check.
A deputy assigned to the jail pod where the inmate was housed immediately called for help.
Medical staff and Buchanan County Ambulance service provided medical care to the inmate, who was later identified as 46-year-old Roger Pankau, but were unsuccessful in reviving him.
According to court records Pankau was charged Oct. 4 with first-degree sexual misconduct and was being held on $5,000 bond. A trail setting was scheduled for Oct. 29.
The sheriff’s office is investigating, although no foul play is suspected.
Dec.- According to the Sheriffs Office 57-year-old Steven Criswell was found unresponsive during a routine cell check at 12:25 a.m. Dec. 18.
“At this time we believe it to be some form of a natural cause,” said Deputy Sarah Hardin, Public Information Officer with the sheriff’s office.
Hardin said the Buchanan County Ambulance service provided medical care but was unable to revive Criswell.
“He was actually just sentenced to DOC for stealing,” Hardin said. “Usually when an inmate is sentenced to the Department of Corrections they will return to the Buchanan County Jail until a travel order comes over to the courthouse from the judge.”
Hardin said she believes his travel papers were set to arrive this morning to serve a 2-year sentence in the DOC.
Nov. 12 – Heartland Health made the final transition into Mosaic Life Care Wednesday.
“In renaming the hospital our attempt is really to reinvent health-care and the way we care for people in St. Joseph,” said Tama Wagner, Mosaic Life Care Chief Brand Officer.
More than 100 people were in attendance at a ribbon cutting ceremony held in front of the Hospital Wednesday afternoon to mark the official name change.
All clinics, services and products throughout the organization’s service region of northwest Missouri, northeast Kansas, southeast Nebraska and Kansas City’s Northland will now operate under the name Mosaic Life Care.
The Missouri State Auditor’s Office gave the village a rating of “poor.”
The report takes issue with the way some revenues were spent, with the lack of independent oversight of the accounting work of the Village Clerk, with some actions taken behind closed doors by the Board of Trustees, and problems with recent budgets.
The report chastises village officials for not spending state motor vehicle fees and sales tax revenue on street-related expenses.
There appears to be a problem with the way the village’s half-cent sales tax was implemented. The Auditor’s Office asserts that the village did not retain the original ballot language from Apriol 1999, when the sales tax was approved, “…so it is unclear what the voters actually approved.”
“Minutes from one board meeting indicate the sales tax was to be restricted for road improvements, but minutes from another meeting make no mention of such a restriction,” the report states, “and the ordinance signed by the Board does not contain a restriction.”
“The proposed ballot language published in the newspaper in January of 1999 does not mention a restriction, but the language published in March and April of 1999 says the tax is to be limited to street repairs.”
Only $213,000 of the nearly $750,000 (in motor vehicle fees from the state and sales tax revenue) was clearly spent on street-related expenses according to the report. The balance (over $530,000) appears to have been allocated in an unallowable and/or unreasonable manner.
The longtime clerk of Country Club Village was escorted out of the Village Hall Monday morning by Police Chief Richard Scott. Observers say Scott was acting under orders from Chairwoman Carolyn Clemens of the Village Board of Trustees
Clerk Julia Elder offered her resignation last Friday effective December 24, but officials say she was terminated immediately. Elder was told she was no longer welcome at the Village Hall, where official had changed the locks.
She was escorted to her desk, asked not to turn on her computer, and told to collect her personal belongings.
Board chairman Clemens accused Elder of “releasing privileged information” to members of the public. Sources tell St Joe Post that information involved a legal opinion offered by Village Attorney Ron Holiday pertaining to the upcoming sales tax vote in Country Club Village. Holiday reportedly told the board that under statute they cannot earmark funds from the sales tax to the police department.
But “releasing privileged information” might be a little strong. Two private residents of the Village say they received that opinion in E-mails from members of the board.
Elder insists she did nothing wrong with what was in fact public information.
“She stated that I had given privileged information away, and that I had incited the residents,” Elder said in an interview. “She was referring to a letter on the half-cent sales tax, I believe, that was written by attorney Ron Holiday. It went out to board members and it was in the packet.”
“I did not release the information. I only released specific things that were asked of me, and nobody asked me for that opinion letter. I didn’t release it.”
Elder says her resignation had to do with what she called “horrible mistreatment and blatant disrespect.”
Saint Joseph City Council. Photo courtesy City of Saint Joseph
April 21 – New at large council members Ken Beck and Spanky O’Dell took their oaths, as did the entire council, along with Municipal Judge John Boeh.
Oct. 28 – St. Joseph City Council members Ken Beck and Spanky O’Dell are asking their fellow citizens to consider a passing a use tax and a fuel tax to finally solve the streets problem. Beck says it’s clear that residents want better streets, by a wide margin. 680 KFEQ’s Barry Birr has that story:
Dec. 9 – City Council member Kent L. “Spanky” O’Dell will serve one year of probation and 25 hours of community service for his guilty plea to misdemeanor charges of Driving a Motor Vehicle with Excessive Blood Alcohol Content.
April 8 – Smoking will soon be banned in most public places in St Joseph, where voters on Tuesday narrowly approved a clean-air initiative. Out of 16,200 people casting ballots, the margin was just 818 votes, or 5.5%. Voter turnout was 31.54%.
Sept. 5 – Mayor Bill Falkner says he’s heard a lot of complaints that the 3-month-old Saint Joseph smoking ordinance is not being enforced. Falkner says the city does not have the budget right now to add health inspectors. He adds, “I don’t know what more we could do unless they’re expecting Council to go out with badges and give tickets.”
Falkner says some bar owners have allowed customers to continue to smoke despite the new law. Other owners have started an initiative petition process to propose their own smoking ordinance, which Falkner says is the right way to do it.
Sept. 11 – There were at least 60 state highways across northern Missouri closed because of flooding Thursday morning, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation Traveler Information Map.
That’s more than double the number posted on the map Wednesday morning. Marty Liles of MODOT told reporters they continue to monitor the state’s roads, deploying flagging operations or barricades depending on conditions.
“As we continue to get some more rainfall, and as those floodwaters that were in the northern part of the state start heading south, we might see other routes that are affected as well,” Liles said.
Liles said each time big rain events happen there’s a certain amount of flooding that’s going to occur.
“Every day we go out there, after a rainfall event, and check those roadways, and close those down so we make sure we don’t have the travelling public going through those routes and into the flood routes.”
Sergeant Jacob Angle of Troop-H says the Missouri State Highway Patrol discourages anyone from proceeding if you see water over the roadway.
“Even if you think it’s just inches of water, it only takes inches of water to float a vehicle,” Angle said. “So if you see water over the roadway, don’t attempt to cross it.”
“You don’t think it’s very deep, and you get in it, the vehicle starts floating, you’re swept away, and it can be very rapid.”
That’s precisely what happened to several motorists near Mound City during the severe weather event Tuesday night. Squaw Creek flowed over its banks very quickly after the area received eight to ten inches of rainfall. Angle says the water on the highway was at least three feet deep. Three vehicles were swept into the median where the water was about twice that deep.
When rescue workers arrived, some of the occupants were perched on top of their vehicles. That’s when crews from Troop-H, MoDOT, the Conservation Department, St Joe Fire, and the Holt and Andrew County Sheriff’s offices took extreme measures. They used heavy construction equipment, and a boat, to navigate the fast-moving waters and pull eight victims to safety.
“Considering the area we were dealing with, and we had to get vehicles around the floodwater and navigate to get people there, traffic was backing up, you know we had a lot of variables to deal with,” Angle said.
“If you take all that into account, I would consider our response spot on, about as quick as it could have been,” he said.
“With that collaborative effort, we saved eight lives last night, in rapidly-rising flash-flood waters.” 2. Gas prices plummet
Dec. 23 – Gas prices in St. Joseph Fall to $1.95 per gallon.
Christmas is being marked with record breaking gas prices according to AAA after national gasoline prices have fallen for 89 consecutive days.
Tuesday the National Average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.37 a drop of .43 in a month. It’s the lowest level it’s been since May of 2009. This time last year gas you would have been paying an average of $3.25 to travel across the U.S.
Analysts said the low pump prices are a reflection of global oversupply of oil mostly from surging U.S. production and a decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries not to cut supply along with a lack of demand.
Dec. 26 – Gas prices are still$1.02 lower than this time last year according to AAA with Missouri’s average hovering around $1.98. In St. Joseph the current average is $1.97 a gallon for regular unleaded but many stations around town have been spotted selling at $1.99 as of 11 a.m.
The Chief Financial Officer of the St Joseph School District has filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming he was placed on leave for blowing the whistle on the district’s stipend mess.
The lawsuit was delivered by messenger to the civil clerk in the Buchanan County Courthouse Tuesday .
CFO Beau Musser claims in court documents he was placed on administrative leave during a meeting in March in which he was offered nearly $40,000 to quit his job and stop snooping into the stipends.
The St Joseph School District will not have to pay for the legal defense in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed this week. Neither will Superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka, Human Resources Director Doug Flowers, or school board member Dennis Snethen, who are also named as defendants.
Former Chief Financial Officer Beau Musser filed suit Tuesday in Buchanan County Circuit Court, demanding he be reinstated to his job, and seeking damages for slander and defamation of character.
The Saint Joseph School District and three officials being sued by the district’s former chief financial officer deny that he lost his job for blowing the whistle on stipends.
In an answer filed electronically on Friday, June 13, attorney Thomas Mickes offers what he calls the other side of the story. The defendants deny all of the contentious allegations in Beau Musser’s lawsuit, and level a few allegations of their own.
“Maybe for the first time there’s some balance to the discussion, and the board and the other defendants have an opportunity to present their side of the story,” Mickes said in an interview, “and, I hope people will withhold their judgment until they see all the facts.”
The law firm assigned to the St Joseph School District by its insurance carrier is withdrawing as the district’s legal counsel.
The district announced Wednesday it had received notice the law firm Mickes Goldman O’Toole, LLC will be withdrawing their representation of the district. According to the announcement, a potential conflict of interest was the reason given by the firm in withdrawing from the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Chief Financial Officer Beau Musser.
The lawsuit named as defendants the St. Joseph School District, Superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka, Human Resources Director Doug Flowers, and School Board Member Dennis Snethen.
The St Joseph Board of Education voted Sunday to retain a law firm to represent the board in matters regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Attorney Steve Briggs, who represents the school district on more routine matters, says the the firm of Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian will be retained to represent the board “as a unit,” and not necessarily the individual members of the board. The firm will not represent the defendants in the lawsuit filed by former Chief Financial Officer Beau Musser.
A trial date has been set in the wrongful-termination and defamation lawsuit filed against the St. Joseph School District by its former CFO Beau Musser. During a hearing Thursday morning, Buchanan County Circuit Judge Randall Jackson scheduled the trial September 21, 2015, and set a status hearing September 8, 2015.
Musser filed suit in May against the district, Superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka, Human Resources Director Doug Flowers, and School Board Member Dennis Snethen.
The St Joseph branch of the National Education Association has honored the St Joe School District’s Chief Financial Officer for integrity and courage. Beau Musser’s lawsuit against the St Joseph School District is still pending, but actions taken over the last couple of week’s indicate the district is angling to settle.
The St Joseph School District is trying to charge a school board member for her request for information under the state’s Sunshine Law.
Board Member Chris Danford, a vocal critic of district spending, has consistently demanded transparency in financial actions taken by the district. Danford recently asked the district for information on spending and contracting in seven areas.
On September 26, Danford received a letter from the school district’s lawyer Steve Briggs saying she would have to pay for the information.
The St. Joseph School District released a statement late Tuesday to announce that Beau Musser has been requested to return to work at the St. Joseph School District.
In an email released Tuesday the District said “Musser has been directed to report to work as the Chief Financial Officer of the St. Joseph School District on November 17.”
The St. Joseph School District received a subpoena Thursday to produce records to the United State District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
The school district said in a news release that the request is for personnel records, SJSD tuition reimbursement program documents, SJSD teacher certification reimbursement program documents as well as other documents.
It’s the third federal subpoena the district has received so far this year.
Robert and Phyllis Wood of St. Joseph found out they were the winners of a new furnace Wednesday morning after receiving a call from Q-Country and Comfort Heating and Cooling.
It’s the forth year for Comfort Heating and Cooling to team up with Q-Country to give away a furnace to a family in need.
The couple was nominated by their daughter, Janet Lines.
“My parents moved back to their house with my grandpa so they could take care of him,” Lines said in the nomination. “Currently my sister and her two girls, as well as my handicap uncle are living with my parents.”
Lines said her parents are retired and on a fixed income.
“Right now they have the furnace and at least two space heaters going to keep the house warm enough,” she said.
Greg and Shelley Kerns are the owners of Comfort Heating and Cooling and said it’s difficult to choose between all the applications.
“Just trying to help out the community by giving away a furnace to somebody who really needs it,” said Greg Kerns, Comfort Heating and Cooling Co-Owner.
The high efficiency furnace is valued at $3,380 and is being provided by Lennox and installed for free by Comfort Heating & Cooling.
“You read the stories and it wrenches at your heart and you want to help everybody,” said Shelley Kerns, Comfort Heating and Cooling Co-Owner. “We just can’t so we do our best to pick the one that seems most deserving and meets all of our qualifications.”
3. Flooding along I-29 and rescue efforts made
