St. Joseph, Mo. —Dec. 15, 2014—A longtime professor and administrator at Truman State University has accepted the position of associate provost of research, planning and institutional effectiveness at Missouri Western State University. Dr. Douglas Davenport will begin his duties Jan. 5.

“I am excited about the many strengths and the enthusiasm Dr. Davenport will bring to this position,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice-president for academic affairs. “He has provided institutional leadership for strategic planning and assessment, for institutional regional accreditation and for the development of internal and external collaborative relationships, experiences that will be a tremendous asset for Missouri Western.”

“I am so pleased to have the opportunity to join the Missouri Western community,” Dr. Davenport said. “This university has a strong track record for innovation and effective advancement of Missouri public higher education and I look forward to serving Missouri Western in the days ahead.”

The associate provost assists the Division of Academic Affairs and the university in the areas of accreditation, strategic planning, applied learning, research, grant management and strategic partnerships.

Dr. Davenport is currently chair of the Department of Justice Systems at Truman State. He previously served as dean of the School of Social and Cultural Studies and interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Social Science. He chaired Truman’s Higher Learning Commission Leadership Team, co-chaired a Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, and led several other accreditation and assessment efforts.

Dr. Davenport earned a Bachelor of Arts from Central Bible College (now Evangel University) in Springfield, Mo., and a Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from Texas Tech University.

A grant is giving Robidoux Middle School students technology tools for advancement.

According to the St. Joseph School District Todd Brockett, Project Leader the Way teacher at Robidoux recently received a grant from the Verizon Foundation for the PLTW Gateway Introduction to Computer Science pilot.

The pilot program incorporates app development into the PLTW Gateway curricula.

The grant will provide Robidoux Middle school with an equipment and service donation of 27 4G LTE enabled Android tablet devices, with no monthly access fees and a 5GB monthly data allowance per device.

The school district said the donations is worth almost $50,000.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H will take part in a statewide DWI enforcement campaign over Christmas and New Year’s.

Captain James McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph announced Monday that Troop H officers will join with other officers across the state to take part in enforcement efforts from now until January 1.

During that time period enforcement efforts will be increased and will focus on reducing deaths and injuries caused by impaired drivers. Troopers will also be participating in the C.A.R.E. Life Saver weekend from December 19, 2014 through December 22, 2014.

“The holiday season is a time for many celebrations, some of those celebrations may include alcohol,” McDonald said. “Losing a loved one during the holiday season is a tragedy no one should have to endure. If drinking alcohol is a part of your plans, be responsible and choose a sober driver.”

UPDATE:  CLAY COUNTY, Mo. -Law enforcement authorities in Missouri say an arrest has been made in connection with the Saturday night shooting of a Pleasant Valley, Missouri police officer.

Two suspects, a man and woman, were taken into custody on Sunday morning in Kansas City, Kansas. The shooting remains under investigation. The injured officer remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Kansas City Police chief Forte reported via twitter that the Pleasant Valley Mayor said the officer is “alert, talking and surrounded by family and law enforcement officers from throughout Kansas City.

 

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On Saturday, December 13, 2014, at 11:30 pm, a Pleasant Valley Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a passenger vehicle on southbound Interstate 35 just north of Interstate 435.  When the suspect vehicle pulled to the shoulder the driver immediately exited his vehicle and began shooting towards the Pleasant Valley officer.  The officer was struck in the face from one of the rounds.  The suspect then fled the scene in his vehicle.  The vehicle was a described as a green Honda Accord, bearing Tennessee registration M1863K.  The highway patrol is currently looking for the vehicle and is asking anyone who has seen it to contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop A Headquarters at 816-622-0800.

The officer involved shooting is being investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control at the request of the Pleasant Valley Police Department.

AFL-CIO Community Services plans to stay open extra hour to help catch up on its Adopt-A-Family program.

As of Thursdays evening only 440 out of 866 families that applied for assistance from the Christmas program had been adopted.

“Most of them try their best to manage their finances to make it day-to-day but to find extra dollars to purchase Christmas gifts is near impossible for them,” said Penny Adams, AFL-CIO Ex. Dir. “Many of them the only way they could do it is not pay their rent, or utilities…and then that gets them in a deeper hole than they’re already in.”

With more than half of the families left to be adopted the AFL-CIO is extending its hours of operation.

The agency will stay open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday- Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at its location on 1203 N. 6th Street.

For information on adopting a family or to make a donation contact the agency at (816) 364-1131 or stop by the office during business hours.

Sergeant Richard Ketchem has retired from the St. Joseph Police Department after more than 25-years of service.

According a a biography release by the Saint Joseph Police Department on Facebook Friday, Ketchem is retiring from his position with the department as the Traffic Unit Supervisor.

Ketchem was hired in 1989 and was promoted to rank of Sergeant in 1999.  During his time with the department he held many roles including Patrol Supervisor and Crime Prevention Officer.

Friday, Dec. 12 was Ketchem’s last day as an officer with the St. Joseph Police Department.

 

 

The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Dec. 15 – 21 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. MoDOT reminds the public to buckle up, slow down and drive with extreme caution through work zones.

Andrew County

U.S. Hwy 59 – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Atchison County

Interstate 29 – Pavement repair, Dec. 15 – 19

Route 46 – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Buchanan County

U.S. Hwy 59 – From I-229 to Middleton Avenue; pavement repair, Dec. 15 – 19 (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. 15 – 19 (Includes a 10-foot width restriction.)

Loop 29 – Belt Highway from County Line Road to Ashland Avenue; grading and dirt work, Dec. 15 – 19

Route H – From Route 371 to Route E; shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Caldwell County

Route A – From U.S. Hwy 36 to the Ray County line; shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 15 – 19

Carroll County

Route V – From U.S. Hwy 24 to Route O; drainage work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Chariton County

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Clinton County

Route 121 – From NE Jones Road to the Deer Creek Bridge; drainage work, Dec. 15 – 17

Route PP – From Route 33 to the New Hope Creek Bridge; drainage work, Dec. 17 – 18

DeKalb County

Route 6 – At the entrance to Sharp Road; drainage work, Dec. 15

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Route 31 – At the entrance to Rogers Road; culvert maintenance, Dec. 17

Gentry County

Route AA – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Grundy County

Routes W, WW, F, U and A – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Routes A, E, Z and Y – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Routes E, V, M, JJ and 139 – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Holt County

Route 113 – From Route A to the Atchison County line; shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Linn County

U.S. Hwy 36 – At the Higgins Creek Ditch Bridge; bridge maintenance, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

U.S. Hwy 36 – From U.S. Hwy 65 (Livingston County) to Route W; sealing, Dec. 17 – 19

Livingston County

Routes V, K, KK and BB – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 17

U.S. Hwy 36 – From U.S. Hwy 65 to Route C; pavement repair, Dec. 15 – 17

U.S. Hwy 36 – From U.S. Hwy 65 to Route W (Linn County); sealing, Dec. 17 – 19

Mercer County

Route JJ – CLOSED from Route J to Route Y; culvert replacement, Dec. 15 – 19, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Route P – CLOSED from Route B to U.S. Hwy 136; culvert replacement, Dec. 16 – 19, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily

Nodaway County

Route 148 – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Brush cutting, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Route C – At the Moss Branch Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, Dec. 16 – 17 (Includes a 12-foot width restriction.)

Putnam County

Routes 129 and 149 – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

Sullivan County

Various routes – Sign operations, Dec. 15 – 19

Worth County

Various routes – Drainage work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Shoulder work, Dec. 15 – 19

Various routes – Pothole patching, Dec. 15 – 19

The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating after a domestic disturbance escalated in the 3600 block of Gene Field Road.

Officer said a woman may have been hit by a vehicle around 10:30 p.m. Thursday during a dispute with her ex-boyfriend.

Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.