Traffic Moving Slowly on I-70 between Kingdom City and Warrenton

JEFFERSON CITY – The combination of light snowfall and increased traffic volumes is causing traffic congestion on Interstate 70.

As of early afternoon on Wednesday, Nov. 26, traffic was moving slowly between Kingdom City and Warrenton, even though all lanes are open. While the snow has moved out of the area and that section of the interstate is mostly clear, motorists may experience additional delays throughout the afternoon and evening.

Motorists are advised to buckle up, keep their eyes on the road, and use caution as they travel to their destinations.

A pancake breakfast will be held Saturday by the Wathena Lions Club to help support area scholarships and community projects.

The Breakfast will be held Saturday, Nov. 29 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Wathena Community Center.

Free will donations will be used to support local scholarships and community projects hosted by the Wathena Lions Club.

The group’s next project will be held in December at the community building as the Wathena Lions are bring in a Pedia-Vision Eye Screener to Elwood, Wathena and Troy for children 6mths.-6yrs.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County will celebrate the completion of its eighth home and its new owner during a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

The new home is located at 220 E. Joy St. in Ravenwood. Rev. Jonathan Mitchel will lead the ceremony, which is open to the public. An open house at the property will precede the ceremony at 2 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County named the Billie Kneale family of Ravenwood as its 2014 partner family at the conclusion of an application process in December 2013. Construction on the home began last spring, and a Nov. 24 loan closing allowed Kneale and her family the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving in the new home.

Billie is a single mother of three boys – Dylan, 13; Dawson, 10; and Tucker, 4. She is connected to the community through church, employment at Northeast Nodaway School, and she manages her own cleaning business.

Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County is a non-profit, nondenominational Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and invites people from all walks of life to work in partnership to build houses with individuals and families in need. It offers partner families an opportunity to help themselves, to own a decent, affordable home of their own, which they pay for and maintain.

Partner families invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” into building their homes and the homes of others. The houses are sold at no profit and with no interest charged. Mortgage payments are placed in a revolving fund and used by Habitat for Humanity to finance additional houses.

Individual donors, churches and corporate sponsors provide the funding and materials to build Habitat houses. Volunteers provide the labor.

Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County – one of more than 50 affiliates and campus chapters in the state of Missouri – serves the communities of Maryville, Elmo, Clearmont, Burlington Junction, Quitman, Skidmore, Graham, Hopkins, Pickering, Ravenwood, Clyde, Conception Junction, Conception, Arkoe, Barnard, Guilford and Parnell.

To learn more or to donate to Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County, contact Joe Ford, president, at jvford43@gmail.com or(402) 631-3206, or visit www.nodawayhabitat.org.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced a DWI saturation will be held sometime during the month of December.

Troop H Commanding officer, Captain James McDonald said Troop H will conduct the saturation in Andrew County.

The actual day and location were not released however, areas selected for enforcement are based on a high number of drinking-related crashes, high number of contacts with drivers who have been drinking, and officers’ input as to probable contact with DWI violators.

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol is dedicated to removing intoxicated drivers from Missouri roadways,” said McDonald. “Anytime your plans include alcohol, please have a sober designated driver.”

Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer Troop H, St. Joseph, announces that Troop H will once again be participating in the Thanksgiving holiday weekend enforcement operations.

These operations’ objective is to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.

Throughout the holiday weekend, troopers within Troop H and throughout the state will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).  In addition to Operation C.A.R.E., Troop H will also be participating in the statewide 20-Mile Trooper project during the peak travel periods on Wednesday, November 26, and Sunday, November 30.

During this operation, troopers will be assigned to 20-mile stretches of Interstate 29.

Enforcement efforts on secondary roads will be conducted during the same time frame within Troop H.

Over the entire holiday weekend troopers will be vigorously enforcing all traffic laws and helping motorists in need of assistance.

 

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today issued the following statement regarding the announcement of the St. Louis County grand jury’s decision in the investigation into the death of Michael Brown:

While the 12 men and women on the St. Louis County grand jury have concluded their work, the rest of us have much more work to do in order to use the lessons we have learned these past four months to create safer, stronger and more united communities.

As we continue to await word on the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing investigation, I urge all those voicing their opinions regarding the grand jury’s decision to do so peacefully. I also urge everyone to continue working to make positive changes that will yield long-term social, economic and spiritual benefits for all our communities.

My commitment to the people of the region and state is this: I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and protect your right to speak.  We must also make a commitment to one another: to trust more and fear less, to hold ourselves to a higher standard of personal responsibility and mutual respect, and to keep working to extend the promise of America to all our citizens.

It is my continued hope and expectation that peace will prevail. The world is watching.  I am confident that together we will demonstrate the true strength and character of this region, and seize this opportunity to build a more just and prosperous future for all.

The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross is holding a disaster training for new volunteers.

The agency will host the one day training Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its location on 401 N. 12th St. in Downtown St. Joseph.

The course will focus on Disaster services and Shelter Fundamentals.

The course is needed for Red Cross Volunteers who want to assist in a local or national response when needed.

All disaster training courses are free.  For more information on how to become a Red Cross volunteer contact Teresa Cobb at (816) 232-8439 or by email at Teresa.cobb@redcross.org.  Registrations are due by Friday, Dec. 5.