The Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Operation Lifesaver have declared September 29 through October 3, 2014, as Missouri Rail Safety Week.  These three agencies along with local law enforcement and railroad companies are partnering together to raise public awareness about the dangers of disregarding railroad crossing laws and trespassing on railroad property.

            “Collisions between vehicles/pedestrians and trains are preventable,” said Missouri Operation Lifesaver Executive Director Rick Mooney.  “Missouri law enforcement agencies and railroad special agents will be out monitoring railroad crossings during Missouri Rail Safety Week.  We are hoping to change the public’s mindset regarding rail safety.  Rail Safety Week is a great opportunity to get our message out there!”

            Missouri Operation Lifesaver will also air radio messages across the state for the next two months to stress the fact that it is “no contest” to try to beat a train or even to share a walkway with trains. These ads focus on the new safety campaign theme of “See Tracks? Think Train!”  Enforcement events are scheduled to deter violations of crossing safety laws and to curb trespassing on the railroad tracks.  Other safety events have been held during the past couple months around the state to promote this new theme.

             “We are constantly striving to reduce crashes and eliminate deaths and injuries with both crossing collisions and trespasser incidents,” said Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information and Education Director Captain Tim Hull.  “We encourage everyone to take these warning devices seriously and pay attention at all railroad crossings.  Also please remember railroad tracks are private property and trespassing is dangerous and illegal.”

               In 2013, there were 64 crossing crashes and trespass incidents resulting in 14 fatalities and 38 injuries in the state of Missouri.

            “MoDOT works with the railroads to upgrade public crossings with lights and gates, LED lights, and more reflective signing.  With our limited funding, we do 30-35 signal upgrades per year,” said Missouri Department of Transportation Railroad Administrator Eric Curtit. “MoDOT continues to work with local communities and railroads to reduce the number of railroad crossings to improve safety. A closed crossing is the safest crossing.”

Enrollment at Northwest Missouri State University this fall is 6,720 students and is up 3.6 percent, the University announces this week after completing its fall census.

The total headcount is comprised of 5,491 undergraduate students and 1,229 graduate students. Graduate enrollment is up 30 percent from the same time last year.

The headcount also includes 1,297 first-time freshmen, a 3 percent increase from last year’s freshmen headcount. At the same time, about 71 percent of Northwest’s fall 2013 freshmen returned to the University this fall – an increase from last fall that places Northwest’s freshman retention rate above the national average.

“Students recognize our emphasis on helping them succeed, and our enrollment numbers are indicative that Northwest Missouri State remains a top destination for a comprehensive academic experience that is high-quality and affordable,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said.

Northwest also recorded a substantial increase in enrollment of international students. The University’s enrollment includes 708 international students, a 98 percent increase from last fall. They represent 31 countries with the majority of those students coming from India, while China, Nepal and South Korea are also well represented.

Additionally, Northwest’s student body remains increasingly diverse with 1,498 students, or 22 percent, coming from an underrepresented domestic group or another country. Northwest’s total minority enrollment is 790 students, which represents 12 percent of the student body.

Thirty-seven percent of Northwest’s student body, or a total of 2,460 students, hail from beyond the Missouri border. Out-of-state enrollment is up 25 percent from last year, including an 87 percent increase among graduate students. In all, Northwest students represent 46 states this fall.

Northwest – a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs – is ranked as the top moderately selective regional university in Missouri on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “2015 Best Colleges.”

It boasts a 59 percent graduation rate, which is about 20 percent higher than the national average. In addition, 98 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation, according to the most recent data.

Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the state, saving students an estimated $7,200 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.

Northwest students are strong academically with an average ACT score of 22.8, and students enrolled at the University this fall carried an average high school grade-point average of 3.35.

The Smithville School District has issued a list of charges against Smithville High School Principal Dr. Rudy Papenfuhs.

Papenfuhs was placed on administrative leave Sept. 9 after an investigation began into the principal’s actions.

According to the Statement of Charges against Papenfuhs he has violated Board policy.  (click here)

It states Papenfuhs provided unknown medications to a male student on several occasions, added a student to his vehicle insurance policy, purchased gifts including a hockey jersey and football tickets for a student and engaged in a text message conversation with a student in which he told a student “There is nothing I don’t love about you…”

A news release from the school states “The Smithville School District takes all allegations of staff misconduct seriously, investigates them thoroughly, and takes prompt and effective remedial action as necessary. The primary consideration in making District decisions remains the welfare of District students and staff. The District profoundly appreciates the support of the community, staff, and students during this difficult, yet necessary, process.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is invite the public to take part in a survey regarding safety and security, officers’ attitudes and competency, overall agency performance and concerns regarding crime and social issues.

The Highway Patrol said a documented survey of citizens attitudes and opinions is collected at least once every three years.

The Public Opinion Survey is located on the Patrol’s website.  Click here to participate.

The driver of the school bus that crashed into a utility pole Tuesday afternoon on St. Joseph Ave. is in good condition according to hospital officials.

According to the St. Joseph Police Department, 57-year-old Philip N. Henderson of St. Joseph doesn’t recall the accident even taking place.

Henderson was transported by ambulance Tuesday after crashing his school bus into a utility pole in the 4100 block of St. Joseph Avenue around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday.  No children were on the bus at the time of the accident.

SJPD Sgt. Richard Ketchem said Henderson did not seem to sustain any injuries from the crash but must have blacked out for an unknown medical reason.  He said Henderson made no attempt to brake before his vehicle struck the pole.  Bystanders on scene told the St. Joseph Post when they pulled Henderson from the bus he was unconscious, still buckled in and his foot was still on the accelerator.

Officials with Heartland Health told the St. Joseph Post Henderson is in good condition.

Missouri Western State University Board of Governors has postponed a planned telephone poll to consider recommendations to refund tuition to students.

The board was supposed to meet this morning to consider the recommendation made by Western Administration to refund a 1.74% ($3.35 per credit hour) tuition increase charged to resident undergraduate students this fall and permanently remove the tuition increase going forward.

A bus driver was transported to the hospital after he ran his bus into a utility pole just off of St. Joseph Avenue a little after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Bystanders told the St. Joseph Post they pulled the unconscious bus driver out of his vehicle to try and stabilize him in time for paramedics to make it on scene.

“We heard the crash and saw the power lines bouncing we came down to see what was going on and noticed it was a bus so me and my friend ran over here and somebody was prying the doors open,” said 25-year-old, bystander Jason Blanchard of St. Joseph. “We got up on the bus and I checked his pulse and we checked to make sure there were no kids on the bus and we got him out of the seat and laid him down and made sure his head was tilted to the side.”

28-Year-old Chris Kean of St. Joseph was with his friend Blanchard and said the driver’s foot was still on the accelerator when he helped Blanchard and another man pull the driver out of the smoking bus.

“One guy was trying to pry the doors open when I got enough room I jumped in,” said Kean. “We unbuckled him and laid him down in the isle.”

Blanchard said once they got the bus driver off of the bus he seemed to have regained consciousness for a little while.

St. Joseph Traffic Officer Scott Gary said the bus had been traveling Northbound on St. Joseph Avenue when he had a medical issue that caused him to drive into the utility pole.

“Thankfully there were no kids on the bus,” said Gary. “This could very easily have been worse.”

Gary said the bus driver was conscious when he was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Traffic was diverted on St. Joseph Avenue from Karnes to Savannah Road, and power was cut off to many locations around the area due to the damage from the utility pole. Gary said Kansas City Power & Light is working to replace the pole and restore power. During that time the road will remain partially closed.

Between October 6-10 (weather permitting) the corner of 10th & Felix will get a little brighter with the Allied Arts Council’s third traffic box installation. This is the first themed project, but the committee felt a literary theme was appropriate as the traffic box is right next to the library.

After reviewing multiple submissions, the selection committee chose Grace McCammond, from St. Louis, MO, as the artist for the third traffic box (submitted artwork above). The committee included Jody Carlson, City of St. Joseph Director of Public Works & Transportation; Mary Robertson, City of St. Joseph Communications Manager; Amy Heath, Co-owner of Lucky Tiger; Mary Beth Revels, St. Joseph Public Library Director; and Rhabecca Boerkircher, Executive Director of the Downtown Partnership.

“I found myself thinking about the continuity of literacy thru the ages and the connection between past and present and how they weave together, the past informing the present and the present illuminating the past. The imagery of the open book, parchment, quill and ink, and hurricane lamp interwoven with books on shelves- the bright colors and bold lines linked in a style reminiscent of stained glass- is meant to convey a sense of the past and the present literacy as both a continuum and interconnected. Using St. and Joseph as book titles is a way of grounding that concept to a sense of place and indicating St. Joseph exists as part of and within that continuum of past and present,” said McCammond.

McCammond is not new to the public art scene. She began in the mid 80’s as a photo retoucher and B/W lab technician, and returned to school in 1993 completing her BA from the University of Montana. In 1997, hoping to pursue art full time she moved in St. Louis, and purchased and rehabbed a building with friends opening Signature Arts. McCammond has a long list of professional artwork ranging from beer labels, several traffic signal boxes, murals and much more.

“Some artists create great art that make people think, make a statement or comments on important issues of the day and I think that is a wonderful use of art. But, for me, I view my work as acting on a much more modest scale… public art becomes part of our daily lives and engages us as we move through our day… public art can be like a friend seen on the street, we may not have time to stop and visit long but we can wave, say hi and move on with a smile. And that’s what I try to do with public artwork that I create,” said McCammond.

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today a Maryville, Mo., woman has been charged in federal court in a murder-for-hire scheme in which she negotiated with an undercover federal agent and, without realizing it, her intended victim.

The federal criminal complaint charges Swinford with contacting two individuals to kill the wife of her ex-boyfriend. Her intended victim is identified in court documents as “AM.”

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Swinford met three times with an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to negotiate the murder-for-hire. Following her third meeting with the ATF agent, the affidavit says, Swinford also negotiated via Facebook with another person, without realizing that she was actually communicating with her intended victim, who had created an online profile under another person’s name.

Kristina M. Swinford, 32, of Maryville, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. Swinford was arrested on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014.

On Aug. 25, 2014, a cooperating source in Taylor County, Iowa, reported to law enforcement authorities about traveling to Maryville and having a discussion with Swinford. According to the affidavit, Swinford complained about AM and made it clear she wanted AM kidnapped, killed or gone. AM had gone through a brief separation from her husband, the affidavit says, and during that time he was involved in a relationship with Swinford. AM and her husband had been granted ex parte orders of protection in an effort to keep Swinford from stalking or harassing them.

The cooperating source was instructed to meet with Swinford again and provide her with the contact information of an undercover ATF agent if she still wanted someone to kill AM. The undercover agent contacted Swinford on Aug. 28, 2014, and arranged to meet.

Swinford allegedly met with the undercover agent on three separate occasions, each time sitting in a vehicle in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Bethany, Mo., and discussed several scenarios for killing AM. Swinford allegedly agreed to pay $10,000 prior to AM being killed and another $10,000 afterward. She provided the undercover agent with a photo of AM, a map of her house and other information, the affidavit says. Swinford allegedly paid the undercover agent $150 for his expenses. At the third meeting on Sept. 10, 2014, the affidavit says, the undercover agent told Swinford he could pick up AM after she dropped her kids off at school, then kill her and cut off her hands and head and toss them into the river to make it look like Mexican drug dealers. Swinford allegedly agreed with this plan and the undercover agent told her to get a hold of him when she got the money.

On Sept. 19, 2014, AM reported to local law enforcement authorities that Swinford had been discussing AM’s murder on Facebook. According to the affidavit, AM had created a false Facebook account for a real person she knows, who is identified in the affidavit as WB. AM told authorities she created the account because her husband had blocked his Facebook account so she could not view her husband’s Facebook page.

AM reported that on Sept. 18, 2014, she had logged in to delete the fake account but found a message from Swinford from Aug. 9, 2014, addressed to whom Swinford clearly thought was the real WB. AM used the false Facebook account to engage Swinford in a lengthy conversation. During the conversation, the affidavit says, Swinford expressed her dislike for AM. According to AM, further in the conversation, she and Swinford discussed WB (the real person but fake Facebook account) harming her (AM).

AM told police that she was terrified and had no way of knowing if Swinford had spoken to anyone else about having her hurt or murdered. ATF agents had not notified AM or her husband that ATF had been conducting the investigation into Swinford hiring the undercover agent.

Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maryville, Mo., Department of Public Safety.

The St. Joseph Public Library is holding a photo contest at its Downtown location for individuals to submit their best works of fall.

The “Awesome Autumn: A Festival of Colors” content is open to all ages with judging divided into two age categories – youth to 17-years of age and adults 18-and-older.

Each participants can enter up to 5 photos depicting their ideas of the fall season.

The library will award prizes of $50 for first place, and $25 for second place in each division. Prizes will be awarded October 21st at 7 p.m.

To enter check out the Downtown Library at 927 Felix Street by Wednesday October 8th.