Two St. Joseph agencies received recognition in making area roadways a safer place during the 2014 Blueprint for Safer Roadways Conference.

The Conference was held in St. Louis Sept. 29-Oct. 1.  Organizations from across the state of Missouri took part in the conference sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, whose goal is to reduce fatalities and disabling injuries on Missouri roads.

“We very much appreciate the efforts of all who are involved to encourage safe driving, and we will continue to work towards the ultimate goal of losing zero lives on Missouri roads,” said Leanna Depue, Ph.D., director of highway safety for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

 

The MO Coalition for Roadway Safety oversees seven regions that work closely with communities to identify opportunities to reduce fatalities and disabling injuries on Missouri roads. Each region selected an Arrive Alive Award recipient and a Show-Me Safety Award recipient. 

Northwest Regional Arrive Alive Award winner is the “I’m a Safe Driver” program, sponsored by the St. Joseph Police Department.

Northwest Regional Show-Me Safety Award winner is Safety Town, sponsored by the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council.

Cities and counties receiving funding under a Kansas Department of Transportation program designed to reduce the number of deficient bridges on local road system have been selected. The recipients of 77 local bridge projects were announced by KDOT Secretary Mike King today in Hays.

Seventy-five counties and two cities will receive a combined total of more than $10 million in state funding under the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program. Under this new program, the state contributes 90 percent of the total project cost, and the local public authority contributes 10 percent. The state funds are capped at $120,000 or $160,000 if the local jurisdiction chooses to remove a second structure.

KDOT is providing funding to improve, replace or rehabilitate locally-owned, deficient bridges in order to improve the overall transportation system in Kansas. This bridge program targets bridges with a daily vehicle count of less than 100 and a length of 20 to 50 feet.

“This program proved to be extremely popular,” Secretary King said. “Every local community that applied for funding and was qualified is receiving funding.

“These bridges might have low traffic numbers but they are important to the farmers that use them to get their equipment to fields and crops to market.”

There are approximately 20,000 bridges on Kansas’ local road systems and about 18 percent of those are structurally deficient. Of those, about 1,800 to 1,900 bridges fall within the target range for length and traffic.

Shana Meyer, vice president for student affairs at Missouri Western State University, has been named Director-Elect to the Board of Directors of NASPA, the leading organization for professionals in student affairs.

Meyer will be Director of the Professional Standards Division when she begins her two-year term on the Board of Directors next March. She currently serves as a regional representative in the division, representing the 10 states of Region IV-West.

The Professional Standards Division focuses on the promotion and advocacy of professional standards, ethics, and student affairs competencies for the Association.

Meyer joined Missouri Western in 2013. Previously, she served as a student affairs professional at Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University at Salina, and Kansas State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in English/Journalism and Master of Science in Counselor Education from Emporia State University.

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North northwest wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 63. North northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 67.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 62.

Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill Mo has issued a 
flood warning for the following rivers in Missouri...

  Platte River near Agency affecting Buchanan County.
  Platte River At Sharps Station affecting Platte County.
  Platte River near Platte City affecting Platte County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Do not drive through flowing water. Nearly half of all flood 
fatalities are vehicle related. As little as 6 inches of water may 
cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Two feet of water will 
carry most vehicles away.

 

State officials are working out the details for including same-sex couples under state health insurance and retirement plans. A Kansas City Circuit Court ruling cleared the way for the state to recognize the unions of same-sex Missouri couples married in states where same-sex marriage is legal. 680KFEQ’s Barry Birr reports on the latest in the debate over healthcare coverage for same-sex couples.

The Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has given the St. Joseph School District an A+ rating.

In a news release from the district it says the rating was assigned for the school issuer credit rating for the 2014 general obligation of school building bonds.

“The rating rationale affirms the District’s bond rating and outlook,” said Todd Goffoy, Manager Dir., Public Finance Investment Banking Piper Jaffray & Co. “S&P continues to view the District favorably and recognizes the stable economy, strong fund balances, strong financial management and low debt burden.”

The A+ ICR took into consideration the District’s creditworthiness in diversifying economy, cash balance, financial management and net debt burden.

According to the district bonds also received an enhanced bond rating of AA+ through participation in the Missouri Direct Deposit Program.

The bonds are the final series of $42-million approved by voters in 2012 for the construction of two elementary schools and air-conditioning improvements at other district facilities.

Shatto Milk Company is releasing Chai Latte as a new special edition flavor.

Only 4,000 bottle will be made. The flavor will only be around as long as supplies last and will hit store shelves October 13.

Shatto Milk said the new flavor can be consumed hot or poured over ice.

HyVee and Apple Market in St. Joseph will both carry the new flavor.

Shatto Milk Company is a local family dairy farm located just north of Kansas City.

The YWCA is hosting a “Week without violence” with special speakers to bring awareness to issues in the community.

This week numerous events will take place around St. Joseph addressing violence issues and prevention.

Violence Prevention Specialist, Speaker Jeffery Bucholtz will make numerous appearances around town to talk about the impact of sexual and domestic violence and ways the community can contribute to preventing it.

The community is invited to attend Bucholtz’s first appearance which is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Church.  The issue of sexual and domestic violence and how to prevent it through the examination of ideologies and attitudes will be addressed during the presentation.

Bucholtz will also be talking to students at every public high school in St. Joseph this week.

Take Back The Night will wrap up the “Week without Violence”, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Missouri Western.

Columbus Day: Occasional showers. High near 57. Breezy, with a north wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Tonight Occasional rain. Low around 50. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday A chance of rain, mainly before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 21 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. North northwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 64. North northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 69.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Sunday A chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 30%.