ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Interstate 229 Bridge rehabilitation project continues next week with additional lane closures, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Beginning Monday, Dec. 15, contractors will begin work in the northbound lanes of I-229 from just after U.S. Hwy 36 to just before the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp. Due to the nature of the work, one lane of southbound I-229 will also be closed in this section. There will be a 10-foot width restriction in place throughout the project in both directions. Crews are planning to work during daylight hours on weekdays. Currently, no weekend work is planned.

This bridge rehabilitation project, which began in November, will be suspended when temperature and weather prohibits further work. The contractor will resume work when temperatures permit in the spring. All work schedules are weather permitting.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will graduate 31 troopers from the Patrol Law Enforcement Academy next week, including one from St. Joseph.

The ceremony is set to take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19 in the Highway Patrol’s Academy gymnasium. Troopers first reported to the Academy on July 1, 2014. The graduates will be assigned to their new duties at troops all across the state on January 5, 2015.

Joshua Hainey of St. Joseph is among those graduating.  Hainey will be assigned to Troop H covering Harrison and Gentry Counties.

Governor Jay Nixon will address the class and Chief Jon Belmar, St. Louis County Police Department will give the keynote address.

Listed below are the names, hometowns, and first assignments for members of the 99th Recruit Class:

Name/Hometown/First Assignment

Kyle E. Alcorn, Lake Sherwood, MO, Troop C, Ste. Genevieve & Perry Counties

Kenneth R. Bechaud, O’Fallon, MO, Troop C, St. Charles County

Michael L. Bradley, St. Louis, MO, Troop B, Marion & Ralls Counties

Kyle R. Copeland, Centertown, MO, Troop D, Stone & Taney Counties

Jack W. Cotter, Blue Springs, MO, Troop H, Holt & Atchison Counties

Issac A. Cox, Jackson, MO, Troop I, Phelps & Maries Counties

Robert L. Crafton, Kennett, MO, Troop I, Phelps & Maries Counties

Austin G. Darnell, Villa Ridge, MO, Troop C, South St. Louis & Jefferson Counties

Allison R. Enderle, Wentzville, MO, Troop F, Moniteau & Morgan Counties

Joshua E. Hainey, St. Joseph, MO, Troop H Harrison & Gentry Counties

Michael K. Halim, Imperial, MO, Troop C, Franklin County

Ethan T. Hobbs, Anderson, MO, Troop I, Pulaski & Maries Counties

Gregory A. Jackson Jr., St. Charles, MO, Troop C, North St. Louis County

Christopher R. Kottwitz, St. Joseph, MO, Troop B, Clark & Scotland Counties

Brian J. Magnan, Crystal City, MO, Troop C, Jefferson County

Andrew W. Marbaker, Jefferson City, MO, Troop F, Callaway County

Houston M. McDaniel, Carl Junction, MO, Troop F, Miller County

Jerrick W. Myers, Jackson, MO, Troop E, Bolinger, Cape, & Scott County

Matthew D. Obert, Lamar, MO, Troop H, Harrison & Gentry Counties

Brandon S. Pearson, Green City, MO, Chariton & Linn Counties

Jonathan W. Pengress, Jonesboro, IL, Troop C, Jefferson County

Nicholas A. Perez, Lexington, MO, Troop A, Saline County

Tyler D. Pond, West Plains, MO, Troop G, Southern Howell & Oregon Counties

Scott T. Roettger, Imperial, MO, Troop C, St. Louis & Jefferson Counties

Tyler L. Shupe, Kansas City, MO, Troop H, Holt & Atchison Counties

Holly R. Stevens, Lincoln, MO, Troop A, Bates County

Emilio J. Villanueva, Springfield, MO, Troop A, Cass County

Jacob H. Vislay, Jefferson City, MO, Troop F, Boone County

Christopher C. Wakefield, Bismarck, MO, Troop E, Mississippi, New Madrid, & Scott Counties

Geoffrey N. Wensel, Plato, MO, Troop I, Pulaski & Maries Counties

Travis N. Ziegler, Joliet, IL, Troop C, St. Charles County

ATCHISON – A St. Joseph man was injured in an accident just before 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Mack trash truck driven by Steven Lee Guyer, 41, was traveling northbound on Kansas 7 seven miles north of Atchison.

The truck left the roadway, rolled multiple times and struck utility pole.

Guyer was transported to Mosaic Life Care.

The KHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

 

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A trash truck rollover on Highway 7 South of Troy is causing power outages.

Just before 1 p.m. Thursday a trash truck went off the road and hit a pole.

The truck caused power outage across parts of Troy.

injuries are unknown at this time.

At 1 p.m. Doniphan County Electric told Eagle Radio Communication it anticipated power would be out for around an hour.

 

ATCHISON – Authorities are responding to an explosion just outside Atchison, Kan. city limits.

According to officials with the Atchison Police Department the explosion is just off of US 59 highway and 258th Road.

According to the Atchison County Sheriff the explosion took place in a metal building used by GBW Rail Services to clean out railcars. There were 7 people injured out of around 15 people working in that building at the time. The Sheriff said most were minor burn injuries however, two individuals have reportedly been transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The Kansas Fire Marshal’s office is currently on scene investigating.

Lake Oswego, Oregon-based GBW manufactures freight cars and barges for use in North America and Europe.

Missouri Western State University’s Board of GOvernors approved a general outline of a new campus master plan during a meeting held Thursday afternoon.

The Plan is to guide Western’s physical growth and is being created by the architectural firm Clark | Huesemann of Lawrence, Kan.

The board authorized the firm to proceed drafting a final plan with six major goals:

· Address basic and urgent needs

· Enhance the educational experience

· Strengthen connections to the community

· Develop a cohesive university community

· Build financial sustainability

· Create a pride of place

Clark | Huesemann presented what it called a “modified infill” concept, with new construction generally taking place within the current footprint bounded by Downs Drive. Plan elements include spaces for student recreation, performance venues, dining space, stadium replacement, additional housing, a new business school, and other deferred maintenance and renovations.

The Board of Governors contracted with Clark | Huesemann to begin the planning process in June. Since then, Steve Clark and Jane Huesemann have visited campus several times, assessing each facility and meeting with faculty, staff and students in three campuswide forums as well as numerous smaller gatherings.

The architects are expected to finalize the master plan and bring it back to the Board of Governors for acceptance early next year.

Click here to see MWSU MASTER PLAN CONCEPT

Missouri Western State University announced Thursday that Ann Rahmat has been named director of international recruitment and global engagement.

“Missouri Western has made tremendous strides in growing our international student population and this position will help us keep that momentum going,” said Shana Meyer, vice president for student affairs. “Ann has the experience and the skills to enhance our international outreach, and I’m pleased to welcome her to Missouri Western.”

Rahmat will begin her duties Jan. 15.

“As a first-generation college graduate, an international student and a productive member of my adopted country, I have come full circle by assisting the next generation of international students reach for success,” Rahmat said. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to contribute to the growth of Missouri Western’s international community.”

Rahmat is currently senior assistant director for international recruitment in the Office of Admissions at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, a position she has held since 2009. The number of international students at Miami increased from 348 in 2008 to 934 in 2013, with a record number of 498 undergraduate international students, including 251 first-year degree-seeking students enrolling this fall.

Prior to working at Miami, Rahmat worked for 13 years at the University of North Texas in Denton, including two years as an international advisor and five years as director of international admissions.

Rahmat earned master’s and bachelor degrees in business administration from the University of North Texas, and an associate’s degree from MARA Institute of Technology in Malaysia.

At Missouri Western, Rahmat will serve as the primary international recruiter and oversee the international student services area directed by Amy Kotwani. An initial important task will be to develop a strategic plan in conjunction with the International Strategic Enrollment Team.

The Mercer County Fire Department was called out to an early morning house fire Thursday.

According to a social media post by the Mercer County Fire Protection District mutual aid was provided to Spickard Fire Department for a structure fire west of Spickard early Thursday morning.

Grundy County Rural fire was also requested.

Nine firefighting units in total responded.

Firefighters entered the building but had to pull back due to deteriorating conditions.

An evacuation order was given shortly before a flashover and the roof collapsed.

The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family with disaster relief.

Happy Heart Daycare in St. Joseph is being awarded by the State of Missouri for its support of Breastfeeding in the workplace.

The Daycare, located at 2739 Mitchell Avenue will receive the Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite award Friday during a presentation scheduled to take place at 9 a.m.

The Daycare is being recognized by several state partnerships including the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

According to a news release from the St. Joseph Health Department, Happy Hearts application to the coalition was accepted based on its pro-active approach to encourage mothers to make healthy choices in infant feeding.

33-year-old Jessie Edwards was taken into custody by the St. Joseph Police Department after a multi-county vehicle pursuit.

According to Sgt Jake Angle with Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H the pursuit began in Troop A when the suspect was located in a brown Jeep Cherokee and was initially pursued for traffic violations. Angle said deputies with the Platte County Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement officials around Gower Missouri took part in the chase but later broke off near Edgerton on I-29.

St. Joseph Police Department Captain Jeff Wilson said Edwards was taken into custody in the north end of St. Joseph after causing several accidents including one at Frederick and 22nd street. Edwards was arrested on a warrant while on foot in the area of Randolph and Newport roads around 11 a.m.  Wilson said Edwards did not resist arrest and was cooperative at that point.

He is currently being held in the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center awaiting charges.

The vehicle he had been driving that wrecked has also been towed into evidence.

Here’s St. Joseph Post’s Nadia Thacker with Wednesday’s news updates.

HONOLULU (AP) — A 67-year-old boater missing at sea for 12 days is on his way to shore after being found uninjured 64 miles south of Honolulu. Click Here to read more.

St Joseph Police are investigating two vehicle thefts Wednesday morning, and they believe the same suspect may have been responsible for both. Click here to read more.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is taking some whole grains off the school lunch line. Click here to read more.

The Salvation Army’s 2014 Red Kettle Campaign in St. Joseph is about 75% behind on its goal. Click Here to read more.