The St. Joseph Fire Department responded to a house fire just after 9 p.m. Sunday to a home engulfed in flames in the 200 block of W Nebraska St.
Fire crews worked to contain the fire but by the time crews arrived on scene the roof was already collapsing.
Fire inspector Jason Ziph told the St. Joseph Post the home was believe to be vacant at the time of the fire. He said no utilities were attached to the structure.
Ziph said the fire department believes the fire started at the back of the building, however a cause has not yet been determined.
Students at Humboldt Elementary School picked up a book to read to therapy dogs Friday afternoon.
“I liked it whenever the dog was listening to me,” said 8-year-old Adam Bradley.
Humboldt Librarian Stephanie Grable said she heard about the Reading-PUPS program and decided to bring the Domesti-PUPS in to work with students at the school who may be having a difficult time with their studies.
“Any child no matter what their reading ability needs to practice and work on their reading skills,” said Grable. “Reading to the dogs kind of helps them forget about some of their limitations, and it may help them kind of forget about peer-pressure as well and they can really concentrate on building up their confidence in reading.”
The Reading-PUPS program is an organization of local volunteers and dogs that have gone through special training to assist children with speech or reading difficulties. Friday was the first day students at Humboldt had a chance to read to the dogs. Grable said the Reading-Pups will be brought in on the first Friday of each month to work with a selected group of students.
“Any student who may be introverted, or may struggle here and there with reading and even the ones who don’t struggle with reading need a chance to kind of increase their skills and just work on it,” said Grable.
Bradley said he highly recommends reading to dogs.
“”That’s a good way to read,” said Bradley. “If the dogs are trained.”
The Walter Cronkite Memorial at Missouri Western State University received the Missouri Division of Tourism’s Spotlight Award at the 2014 Missouri Governor’s Conference on Tourism in St. Louis on Oct. 8.
“This memorial to one of our most distinguished Missourians is attracting national and international attention,” said Marci Bennett, executive director of the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, who nominated Missouri Western for the award.
Residents of 33 states and five foreign countries have visited the Walter Cronkite Memorial since it opened in November.
The Spotlight Award highlights significant contributions in promoting and “spotlighting” tourism in Missouri. It is presented to an individual, business or organization that is not normally considered to be part of the tourism industry.
Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president, accepted the award.
“We’re grateful to the Division of Tourism for this recognition. Tourism is an important part of the St. Joseph area’s economy, and we’re pleased to have added another attraction for visitors to the region,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “I am humbled to accept this honor on behalf of the many talented people who worked so hard to make the Walter Cronkite Memorial a reality and continue to improve and expand it. We thank the private donors who made the memorial possible, especially the David and Shirley Bradley Endowment. We also appreciate the gracious support this project has received from Walter Cronkite’s family and friends.”
Walter Cronkite was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1916. The Walter Cronkite Memorial, in the atrium of Spratt Hall on the Missouri Western campus, was dedicated last year on what would have been his 97th birthday. The 5,000 square-foot display features images and videos of Cronkite’s life and the many historic events he covered as a journalist. The Walter Cronkite Memorial is open daily except Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter, and admission is always free.
The memorial is already in its third phase of expansion, thanks in part to the large number of Cronkite artifacts that have been donated or loaned to Missouri Western, including a recent loan from the Cronkite family of personal memorabilia from the journalist’s life and career.
The memorial is complemented by a live, multi-media performance called “Cronkite,” conceived and edited by Dr. Vartabedian and based on a 2002 appearance by Cronkite on CNN’s “Larry King Live” one year after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Public performances of “Cronkite” are currently scheduled at 2 p.m. Oct. 19, 6 p.m. Oct. 23 and 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Admission is free, but reservations are requested by calling 816-271-4100. Learn more at www.cronkitelive.com.
The live show is also part of a field trip package that has been developed for schools, senior citizen groups and community organizations. Groups can enjoy a Cronkite-narrated presentation in Missouri Western’s Bushman Planetarium, then tour the Memorial and see “Cronkite.”
Missouri Western’s commitment to preserving the legacy of the legendary newsman extends beyond the memorial. Dr. Vartabedian has taught a one-credit class this fall titled “Walter Cronkite’s Enduring Legacy.” Next month, Missouri Western and the Media Ethics Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications will hold the inaugural Walter Cronkite Conference on Media Ethics and Integrity Nov. 2-4. Cronkite biographer and prolific historian Dr. Douglas Brinkley will be the keynote speaker at both the conference and Missouri Western’s 21st annual R. Dan Boulware Convocation on Critical Issues at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 in the Looney Arena on campus. The Convocation is free and open to the public.
SJFD puts out homeless fire in abandoned building in 2100 block of Angelique St.
The St. Joseph Fire Department responded to the 2100 block of Angelique around 10 a.m. Friday after a City of St. Joseph Maintenance employee reported seeing smoke coming from an abandoned building.
Fire Inspector Steve Henrichson said city workers also reported seeing an individual run out of the building.
“It looks like a homeless person was using it as a place to stay and had a little fire they were using to keep warm,” said Henrichson. “There was actually a small fire on a concrete floor.”
Henrichson said he does not believe there was any intent to burn the building down.
“There was gasoline sitting there if they wanted to actually intentionally burn the building they could have done it with other materials,” he said.
The St. Joseph Police Department was also called out to search for the man who ran from the scene. Henrichson said because these types of incidents are more common during the colder months people should make sure their buildings are secure when not occupied.
“Wither the doors are locked, boarding them up just something to keep people from getting into them,” he said. “Leaving the doors unlocked or broken windows is an invitation for people to get into them.”
Today A chance of showers, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. North northeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. North northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East southeast wind around 6 mph.
Sunday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. South southeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Columbus Day A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 65.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 70.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Photograph similar to the stolen tractor provided by Platte County Sheriffs Dept.
The Platte County Sheriffs office has returned a stolen tractor and auger after the equipment was located in rural Southern Buchanan County Thursday afternoon.
The 2002 green and yellow John Deere tractor was stolen from the area of Harpst Road and Kirks Botton Road, near Weston, Missouri on October 4 between 11 and 11:30 a.m. A witness observed a white male wearing a plaid shirt driving the tractor North on Mount Bethel Road. The male driver was described to be around 35-40 years of age with scraggly shoulder length blonde hair.
Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen said assistance with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office led to the recovery of the stolen equipment.
The stolen equipment was returned to the owner after it was processed for evidence. Currently the case is still under criminal investigation.
Central High School prepares to celebrate 150 consecutive years in existence Friday.
Assistance Principal Terry Godfrey said a lot of research has taken place on the history of the school.
“We spent some time going back and looking at history books and trying to determine just how old Central High School was,” said Godfrey. “In our research we found that we were 150-years-old and we determined that we were 150 consecutive years old.”
She said that the school is actually other than that but was shutdown for a short period of time.
“In 1861 the school was opened for about 3 months, then it shutdown for the Civil War and it didn’t reopen again until 1864,” said Godfrey.
Central High School Principal Deborah Stephens said she wonders what it would have been like back when the school was first formed.
“Going back to the Civil War,” said Stephens. “What that would have been like in St. Joseph to have all the students at home and not going to school. What that would have felt like for families.”
Central student body president and high school Senior, Joseph Kellogg said this year he has learned a lot about the history of his school.
“I was looking through the school board records from the 1800s,” said Kellogg. “It’s kind of cool knowing we’re in a school that was around in the 1800s and was so different then then it is now.”
The school is one of the oldest schools in the State of Missouri.
“We’re trying to determine through some research just exactly how many others are older,” said Godfrey.
Due to the age and lack of in-depth records Godrey said it’s hard to figure out just how many other schools that are still in existence in Missouri are older, but that it’s not many.
In recognition of 150 consecutive years in existence Central High School is celebrating Friday at 6 p.m. on the school’s front. The Missouri House of Representatives will make a proclamation, banners will be unveiled and the Falcons Sky Diving team will make an appearance. There will also be fireworks after the football game.
A donation of five string instruments will go to expand music careers of students attending the St. Joseph School District’s “Music In Our Schools” program.
K.C. String in Merriam, Kan. donated violins and violas to the program, a approximate values of $3,000.
“I would like to thank Mr. Anton Krutz and K.C. Strings for their generous donation that helps support quality music education for all students in the St. Joseph School District,” said Kevin Griffin, SJSD Secondary Fire Arts Coordinator.
While most families provide instruments for their children, some cannot afford the expense. Donations of wind, percussion, or string instruments allow the district to provide all students a chance to become a part of their school band or orchestra. The district said more than 300 instruments are available through the program but more than 90% of them have already been issued to students in beginning band or strings.
The St. Joseph School District also provides maintenance for each instrument to make sure it is in playing condition before screening and selecting students in need to use them who qualify to participate in the Music In Our Schools Program.
Schenkel recognized at event in Jefferson City, Mo.
Northwest Missouri State University dean of enrollment management, Bev Schenkel has been recognized for her work in helping to create the Reverse Transfer Program.
She was recognized at an event sponsored in Jefferson City, Mo., by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the Department of Higher Education to mark the statewide roll out of the Missouri Reverse Transfer Program.
The program was launched last month to allow students who have earned a minimum of 15 credit hours at a community college and have transferred to a four-year university to transfer credit hours back to the community college to receive a marketable associate degree.
Schenkel was recognized for her membership on the Missouri Reverse Transfer Steering Committee where she worked to implement the program between 2012 and 2014.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. David Pearce and Rep. Mike Thomson to create the Reverse Transfer Program was approved by the Missouri General Assembly in 2012.
In 2013, Northwest partnered with Metropolitan Community College as part of a statewide pilot of the program.
The St. Joseph Fire Department responded to a house fire just after 9 p.m. Sunday to a home engulfed in flames in the 200 block of W Nebraska St.
