The St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy program will hold orientation classes this week for the high school equivalency course.

Orientation will be held October 7, 8, 9, and 10 at Webster Learning Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students will be required to attend all four sessions.

According to the St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy program The HSE, formerly known as the GED is geared toward participants 20-years or older looking to earn their high school equivalency diploma.

“During any given school year, we have approximately 1200 students that attend classes and in the neighborhood of 250 that take and pass their HSE test,” said Betty Wymore, AEL director.

At orientation students will be given an assessment to help staff know where to start their studies. Students will also be asked to decide when they want to attend classes. Morning or afternoon sessions are both an option.

“Students come from many different walks of life,” said Wymore. “Many ages are in our classes.”

The next enrollment/orientation begin October 21, 22, 23, and 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information contact the St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy program at (816) 671-4020

 

The Missouri Department of Transportation is launching a signs campaign to warn drivers to put down their cellphones.

MoDOT is using more than 250 message signs on interstate and major highways to warn drivers about the dangers of texting while driving.

According to MoDOT Last year, 757 people were killed in vehicle crashes on Missouri highways. Since 2014, there have been 550 deaths. The agency said speeding, impaired driving, not wearing seatbelts and distracted driving were some of the leading causes.

MoDOT changes the messages each month to focus on seasonal issues or campaigns. October’s will include messages like: Unbuckled? Seriously”, “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All, It Can Wait”, “If You Can’t See Trucks Mirrors, They Can’t See You”, and “Drinking and Driving Don’t Mix.”

According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field – blindfolded! Every two seconds your eyes are off the road, you are twice as likely to be in a crash.

“Messages like ‘Put Down Your Phone and Drive, It Can Wait’ or ‘Leave All Tailgating at the Game’ are designed to raise awareness of these driving behaviors,” said MoDOT Traffic Management and Operations Engineer Jon Nelson. “Driving is a serious task that demands your attention. We hope our sometimes humorous and interesting messages will remind drivers to refocus on the task at hand.”

The creation of a Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority was signed by Buchanan County commissioners Monday morning to give area residents more options for business expansion.

“There’s now a new economic development tool that will be available to the county to be used in connection with business that either wish to expand in Buchanan county or relocate in Buchanan County,” said Buchanan County Attorney Jim Bowers.

The I.D.A. will give businesses wishing to relocate or expand in Buchanan County the ability to approach the I.D.A. to seek revenue bonds for financing.  Bowers said the City of St. Joseph already has an Industrial Development Authority, however the addition of a County Authority is giving businesses a wider range of options

“They both have similar powers, and they both have similar jurisdictions, although the St. Joseph I.D.A. is restricted to St. Joseph,” said Bowers. “Buchanan County I.D.A. will have a larger restriction to include Buchanan County.”

He said, the East Hills Mall’s interest in the issuance of revenue bonds is the main reason for the formation of the I.D.A.

“The East Hills Mall is interested in using the Authority to issue industrial revenue bonds to refinance an existing debt that it has,” said Bowers.

The Industrial Development Authority which consists of five members will meet soon to begin organizing itself and taking applications.

 

 

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. West northwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

The addition of two new elementary schools in St. Joseph comes with the addition of two new mascots.

“It’s once in a lifetime that you get an opportunity to do this,” said Carden Park Elementary School Principal Lacey Adams.

Both Carden Park Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary school have selected a mascot and school colors. Carden Park unveiled the Titans as its mascot during a school carnival last week.

“A Titan is a person that is of exceptionable importance and reputation,” said Adams.

Oak Grove’s new mascot are the Grizzlies.

“It’s a Grizzly that’s not too mean looking and not too nice looking,” said Oak Grove Principal Mike Otto. “Means we’re tough, kinda like the Oak Tree, like Oak Grove it’s wise, hardworking, we’re not afraid to tackle anything. We’re bearable, no pun intended.”

Community members and students at both schools took part in selecting their new mascot. Adams and Otto said committee members took mascot suggestions and then narrowed those results down to a handful of options for students to vote on.

“They voted the Titans by a landslide,” said Adams. “It won overall.”

School colors have also been selected for each school.

“Our school colors are blue and silver,” said Otto. “Our school is a feeder school to Central High School so we wanted the major big blue color with just the Royal Blue.”

Carden Park took a different approach to selecting school colors because it feeds into many different high schools.

“We were really trying to pick a color that didn’t align us with necessarily just one of the high schools,” said Adams. “To pick a color that no other public school in town has was really exciting.”

Students at Carden Park got to vote between orange or purple and purple won out.

Spirit wear including t-shirts will soon be available at Carden Park and is already available at Oak Grove.

Northwest Missouri State University’s campus is now home to a friendly game of Cricket!

The school’s new cricket pitch, is the first in the region.  It’s located on the southwest corner of the campus, near the intersection of Fourth Street and Icon Road.

“This is an initiative and deployment of resources that proves our focus on student success,” Northwest Director of International Affairs Dr. Jeff Foot said. “We are student centered in our efforts, and this pitch highlights our ability to understand the new and varied needs of current Northwest students. It will aid recruitment and retention of new types of students, and it differentiates us from our peers.”

According to a news release from the school Northwest international students took to the pitch for the first time Sept. 26 and organized an Indian Student Association Cricket Tournament during the weekend. Northwest staff members, including Graduate Dean Dr. Greg Haddock and international recruiter Dr. Phil Hull, were on hand to welcome the students and present them, on behalf of Northwest and the Office of International Affairs, with playing equipment that included a bat, ball and gloves.

“We can’t express it in words, we’re so grateful,” said Siva Satyanarayana Daggubati, who came to Northwest from Guntur, India, to work toward a Master of Science degree in applied computer science.

Said Srujan Yaparthi, who also hails from Guntur and is studying applied computer science, “It means a lot. We didn’t expect to get a ground so this is huge for us.”
Northwest had discussed installing a cricket pitch on the Northwest campus for several years, Foot said, and the idea came to fruition over the summer through a collaboration of the University’s Office of International Affairs, Department of Athletics and Facility Services.

After identifying a location for the pitch and interacting with students to determine its orientation, Facility Services staff members worked throughout September to prepare the playing surface. Staff members removed grass and packed clay into the soil to ensure the area met students’ specifications before installing the pitch surface.
“We are thankful for the input from our faculty, staff and community in partnering with and supporting our students to provide this opportunity,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said. “This is yet to another engagement opportunity within a wide portfolio of experiences at Northwest and it supports our core value of intercultural competence.”

Much like American football, cricket is ingrained in Western culture and people flock to watch games whenever they are played. At Northwest, around 60 students regularly participate in pickup games of cricket, which until now were played regularly in a parking lot on the opposite corner of the campus.

“After we’re born, we’ll see cricket on the TV screens, we’ll see cricket in the streets,” Yaparthi said. “We’ll see cricket everywhere in India. You can find competition anywhere in India when it comes to cricket. People leave everything and come to cricket.”

In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, Oct. 6-10, Northwest Missouri State University Wellness Services will sponsor a variety of events and opportunities for students to interact with peers and counselors in Professional Development and Counseling Services while learning about mental illness.

“The purpose of these events is to encourage students to seek help when they need it, reduce the negative stigma around mental illness and inform students that counseling is available to them at no additional charge through Personal Development and Counseling Services at Wellness Services,” said Courtney Koch, a counselor in Wellness Services.

Events will include speakers who are educated about mental health, yoga and meditation classes, among many others.

Northwest encourages students who are struggling with mental health issues to visit with a counselor at Wellness Services. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students also may make an appointment by calling Wellness Services at 660.562.1348. In case of a crisis, during non-business hours, students should call University Police at 660.562.1254 or the Support Line at 888. 279.8188.

A complete list of Mental Illness Awareness Week events are below.

Monday, Oct. 6

“Coffee with the Counselors” (10 to 11 a.m., B.D. Owens Library, Novel Grounds on the first floor): Counselors from Northwest’s Personal Development and Counseling Center will conduct a discussion about mental health and students may ask questions about Wellness Services.

“Hidden Pictures: A Personal Journey into Global Mental Health Screening” (7:30 to 9 p.m., J.W. Jones Student Union Boardroom): Award-winning filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston, who grew up in the shadow of her dad’s schizophrenia, explores the hidden struggles faced by the 450 million people living with mental illness worldwide. Through deeply personal stories involving bipolar illness, depression, schizophrenia and anxiety in India, China, Africa, France and the U.S., “Hidden Pictures” reveals a global epidemic of silence around mental illness as well as moments of profound compassion and remarkable change. This event will include the one-hour documentary and 30 minutes to discuss reactions to the film.

Tuesday, Oct. 7

“Speaking Out for Mental Health” (5:30 to 6:30 p.m., The Station Center Room): Hy-Vee greeter Fred Mares, Professor of Psychology Dr. Carla Edwards, counselor Rhonda Lesley and health educator BK Taylor will share their stories, experiences and thoughts about mental health.

Wednesday, Oct. 8,

“In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness” (4 to 5 p.m., The Station Center Room): The National Alliance on Mental Illness Kansas City will present “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness,” a program focused on spreading the message of recovery by living examples. It provides hope and opportunity to both the audience and the presenters. Participants should sign up by emailing Wellness Services at health@nwmissouri.edu with the event name, the participant’s name and S number.

“A Time of Reflection and Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery” (5:30 to 5:45 p.m., Memorial Bell Tower): The Personal Development and Counseling Services will celebrate Mental Illness Awareness Week at the Bell Tower in honor of the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery. One counselor will discuss mental illness to promote awareness, and attendees will be invited to silently reflect or pray for mental illness recovery.

Thursday, Oct. 9

Wellness Fair (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Student Union Ballroom): Counselors will pass out free popcorn at the event. Rhonda Lesley, counselor and registered yoga teacher, will teach yoga and Counselor Mike Mattock will lead meditation.

Friday, Oct. 10

“Go Green Day”

In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, Northwest students, employees and community members are invited to wear green or lime green to support mental health awareness.

“How Are You Doin’?” (11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Union second floor)

In honor of National Depression Screening Day and World Mental Health Day, students can take a brief questionnaire to see how they are doing and receive a free sports water bottle.

 

Tonight: Patchy frost after 5am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 35. West northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Saturday: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West northwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 70.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Wednesday: Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Missouri Western State University has signed an agreement with Hillyard Technical Center in St. Joseph and North Central Missouri College in Trenton to offer a new Bachelor of Science in Technology concentration in the field of allied health. The agreement allows students who have earned a radiological technology certificate at Hillyard to seamlessly continue on to earn an associate’s degree from North Central Missouri College and a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Western.

“The Bachelor of Science in Technology program at Missouri Western is very career-oriented, allowing students to concentrate on fields of study that will be useful in their chosen profession,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We’re pleased that this cooperative agreement with Hillyard Technical Center and North Central Missouri College allows us to offer a seamless path to a bachelor’s degree in the field of allied health.”

Under the agreement, a student will earn 30 credit hours toward the Missouri Western bachelor’s degree by completing the Radiologic Technology Certificate of Completion at Hillyard, and 35 hours by completing the Associate of Applied Science in Radiology Technology at NCMC. To earn the Bachelor of Science in Technology (Allied Health), the student completes 60 credits at Missouri Western, including 30 in upper division classes (300 level or higher). Requirements include 21 credits in general education courses, nine credits in allied health pre-requisite courses, and 30 credits selected from allied health core courses.

In addition to health and general education courses, the degree program includes elective courses in business, communication, economics, mediation, management, marketing and psychology. The program is flexible, so that students can combine courses to form a second emphasis area that more exactly fits their career goals.

“Our Bachelor of Science in Technology Program is a great way for students to tailor a degree to meet their own needs, and we’re excited to partner with Hillyard and NCMC to offer this new concentration,” said Dr. Gordon Mapley, dean of the Western Institute. “

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Great St. Joseph is seeking Bigs. 680 KFEQ Barry Birr files this report.