Second Harvest Community Food Bank received a $45,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program to assist with providing nutritious food to area families. Specifically, this grant will positively impact the local community by providing for food acquisition and distribution in the 15 Missouri counties Second Harvest serves. Funding will assist with acquisition, storage, transportation and delivery of the food.

“We are excited to receive this support from the Walmart Foundation,” Chad Higdon, Executive Director of Second Harvest said. “Walmart’s support is sincerely appreciated and extremely valuable in helping us to fulfill our mission to nourish our neighbors through sustainable initiatives, education and advocacy.”

Second Harvest is a food bank that serves 19 counties in Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. It acquires and distributes to 100 partner agencies and through direct service programs. The programs are guided by four initiatives: Nourishing Families, Nourishing Children, Nourishing Seniors and Nourishing Neighborhoods. Second Harvest was founded in 1981 by a group of concerned citizens who saw a great need for food assistance in the region. Since then, Second Harvest has distributed over 65 million pounds of food to the service area.

The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

“At the Walmart Foundation, we understand that organizations such as Second Harvest Community Food Bank are essential to building stronger communities. They share our values and are committed to helping Missourians in need live better,” Anne Hatfield, Walmart Director of Communications said. “Through this donation, we are hopeful that residents in need in Northwest Missouri will benefit from the purchase and distribution of nutritious protein and low fat dairy foods.”

As part of Walmart’s $2 billion commitment to fight hunger through 2015, the 145 Walmart stores in Missouri donated a total of 23.7 million pounds of food, in fiscal year 2014, or the equivalent of 19.7 million meals. In fact, Walmart reached $260 million in cash and $2.6 billing in in-kind donations nationwide, delivering on its commitment one year early. Additionally, just in the last fiscal year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave $43.3 million to Missouri nonprofits.

 

Jerry Gentry has been named director of physical plant for Missouri Western State University and will begin his duties on Dec. 2. As director of the physical plant, Gentry will serve a leadership role at the University, and within the financial planning and administration division.

Gentry brings more than 10 years of experience in plant management and maintenance supervision to the role, as well as 15 years of experience in project management. He is currently the facility manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. Prior to Boehringer, Gentry worked at Heartland Health Systems, Schultz Electric Inc. and Nelson Electric Inc.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Jerry’s level of expertise fill this position,” said Cale Fessler, vice president for finance and administration. “His technical knowledge and extensive project management experience will serve the University well.”

As director of physical plant, Gentry will be responsible for the development and implementation of programs, policies and procedures related to the operation and maintenance of physical facilities. He will manage personnel, budgeting, planning, capital construction and renovation, environmental safety, and basic operations of buildings, mechanical systems, grounds, motor pool, mailroom and custodial services.

“I am excited about the opportunity to come and work for Missouri Western,” said Gentry. “Having grown up in St. Joseph, I know what a critical role the University plays in the community, and it will be an honor to come to work here every day.”

Gentry attended Missouri Western for two years before attending Hillyard Technical School to become an NJATC School Certified Electrician and earning his Master Electricians License. He has training and licenses in the areas of welding, HVAC and refrigeration, electrical, high-pressure boilers, ammonia plants, refrigeration plants and thermography.

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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 14 to 16 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Tonight A chance of rain showers, flurries, freezing drizzle, and sleet before 3am, then a chance of snow showers, freezing drizzle, and sleet between 3am and 4am, then a chance of flurries, freezing drizzle, and sleet after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 17 to 22 mph increasing to 24 to 29 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Veterans Day Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. North northwest wind around 11 mph.

Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 32. North northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 34.

Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 36

St. Joseph Fire fighters were called out Sunday night to a house fire on the Northend of town.

A home located in the 1000 block of 6th Avenue was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene.

According to the Communication Center crews had the fire under control by 8:15 p.m.

Bystander Danny Frans said he was driving by when he saw the house in flames.

He said be believed the home had been vacant.

As we learn more we will update this story.

 

 

Dr. L. Rex McAliley, an assistant professor of biology in Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Natural Sciences, will deliver this year’s Last Lecture, titled “Sex! What is it good for?” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the Tower View Dining Room in the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Sponsored by Sigma Pi Sigma, an honorary society for students who have received Presidential Scholarships, the annual event gives Northwest faculty members the opportunity to speak as they would during the last lecture of their careers. McAliley’s lecture will discuss the evolution of sex.

Admission is free and the lecture is open to the public.

“If there is any lecture to go to, it’s the Last Lecture,” Sigma Pi Sigma Secretary Alyx Stumpf said. “It’s not your regular lecture that you spend half your time trying to stay awake. The speaker chooses the material, as if it was the last lecture they would ever give. There’s a message and an impact.”

McAliley joined the Northwest faculty in 2013. He received his Ph.D. in biology with an emphasis in population and conservation genetics from Texas Tech University. McAliley also has a Master of Arts degree in biology with an emphasis on systematics and evolution, and he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology with an emphasis on aquatic ecology, both from Tarleton State University. Before joining the Northwest faculty, McAliley worked with energy companies helping to offset their impact on the environment.

 

Two men escaped a house fire in Agency Friday afternoon after it went up in flames.

Fire departments from Agency, Plattsburg, DeKalb and San Antonio responded to a home that was already fully involved with flames in the 100 block of main street around 1 p.m.

Firefighter Andy Peterson said there were two people in the home when the fire started.

“There were two males in the home and they attempted to put it out themselves,” said Peterson. “Then they escaped on their own.”

The home is estimated to be a complete loss at around $60,000.

“Our biggest concern was to try to put the existing house out but we also had two exposures we had to worry about with the wind,” said Peterson.

He said getting enough water was an issue they also faced.

“We had four tankers here within a half hour,” said Peterson.

A dump tank which is a portable water tank was used to unload the tankers.

Peterson said the cause of the fire is still under investigation

38-year-old Brenda Wilson of Leavenworth and 23-year-old Steven Thornington of Leavenworth have both been charged in Atchison, Kan. with one count each of felony burglary, felony theft, and misdemeanor theft.

Wilson and Thornington were arrested Wednesday morning in connection with burglaries made in Atchison, Doniphan and Leavenworth counties.  The suspects were taken into custody after driving into a corn field and running into the woods to hide from law enforcement officials overnight.

Wilson is being held on $20,000 bond and Thornington is being held on $10,000 bond.

More charges in the case are anticipated.

Atchison County Under Sheriff Joe Butner said the pair have admitted to committing several thefts including one that took place Tuesday night before they ran from deputies.

Butner said a stolen car battery and electric sensor that was stolen was recovered in their possession.

Items recovered from a burglary that was reported on Nov. 3 were also found including tools and a battery.

A third suspect is still sought in connection with the burglaries.  Butner said law enforcement is searching for a white man believed to be in his early 30s, about 6″ with dark hair and weighing 180 lbs.

He said Wilson and Thornington were working with investigators but have not been able to give authorities the man’s name.

“Sometimes in these cases the accomplices only know their first name, or a nickname,” said Butner.

He said the third suspect is not believed to still be in the area.

The group is believed to have caused numerous burglaries around the area over the past couple of months.  Butner said in Atchison county alone he is look at around nine unsolved burglary cases that fit the method the individuals were using to commit their thefts.

The Missouri Highway Patrol confirms one person died in a single-car crash in Buchanan County early Friday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 61-year-old Melville Johnson was killed after his vehicle hit an embankment on North Service Road 45 and then a guard rail causing it to roll over.

It happened on 116 Highway, near Interstate 29 in Dearborn, around 11:45 p.m.

A free Ice Hockey clinic will be held at Bode Ice Arena Saturday for the community to try out the winter sport.

“Give kids an opportunity to come out and try hockey at no cost to them,” said Dustin Ham, St. Joseph Hockey Association President. “It’s a neat sport that not all kids get a chance to try.”

The hockey class will be held 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bode Ice Arena.  Ham said the class is free and all equipment, including skates will be provided.

“It’s just unique. It’s a sport that’s not real mainstream around here,” said Ham. “It’s something different that’s good for the kids for building relationships and team work.”

The class is for kids age 4 up to adults who want to try out the sport.  Coaches and high school hockey players will be on hand to assist.

Ham said currently the St. Joseph Youth Hockey Association has around 60 members.