Northwest Missouri State University paid tribute to its ninth president, Dr. Dean Hubbard, and former first lady Aleta Hubbard Saturday morning with a ceremony to mark the renaming of its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in their honor.

Hubbard led the University from 1984 until his retirement in 2009 and helped place Northwest as a leader in Missouri higher education, in addition to leading the University to national recognition for its “Culture of Quality” initiative, which fostered continuous improvement in all aspects of University operations. During Hubbard’s presidency, Northwest won the Missouri Quality Award four consecutive times – in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2008 – and is the only educational institution in the state to have done so.

But it was Hubbard’s vision to provide unparalleled learning and research opportunities for Northwest students and faculty in a wide range of disciplines that led to the development of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Recalling that vision Saturday, Hubbard said the University set three goals.

“One was to provide a place where students could be introduced to the latest innovations in science, mainly nanotechnology, working with matter at the sub-atomic, sub-molecular level,” Hubbard said. “The second goal was to provide an opportunity for faculty to do research in these areas and to innovate. The third one was to provide a space where companies could take those innovations and develop products that would improve the human condition. So that’s what we set out to do, and I am very pleased with watching the progress of the center.”

In December 2013, Northwest’s Board of Regents approved the renaming of the facility to the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The University chose Saturday, as part of its Family Weekend activities, to make the renaming official. Hubbard’s family and several friends were in attendance as well as a number of current and former faculty and staff members, including members of Hubbard’s cabinet.

“Our family will be forever grateful and honored that you’ve chosen to put our names on this facility,” Hubbard said. “We all bleed green, and Northwest is part of our conversation all the time.”

Hubbard’s presidency also involved making Northwest the first comprehensive electronic campus in the United States in 1987, and he supported the expansion of Northwest’s pioneering alternative fuels program. The alternative fuels program transforms recycled cardboard, paper and agricultural wastes into energy to heat and cool the campus, and it saved the University more than $10 million dollars during Hubbard’s tenure compared to the cost of purchasing natural gas.

Hubbard’s successor and current Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski called Saturday “a momentous day” and acknowledged the many contributions – known and unknown – Dean and Aleta Hubbard provided to Northwest through their leadership and actions.

“Your service, your spirit, your passion, understanding of all that is good with higher education and certainly understand the challenges as well,” Jasinski said. “Dean and Aleta had an undying thirst for making Northwest better – across all fronts – and that truly is the legacy build – something that is carrying on.”

Northwest alumnus Melvin Booth spoke of his friendship with Dr. Hubbard and their shared vision to enhance Northwest’s business programs and international enrollment to compete on a global level. Booth commended Hubbard for his leadership and his focus on doing what was best for students.

“Dr. Hubbard’s commitment to quality is beyond anyone that I’ve ever met in my whole career,” Booth said. “He’s internationally recognized for his work in the field of quality management, for the culture of quality. He had an initiative that really fostered and continued to improve all aspects of the University’s operations.”

The CIE opened in 2009, and today it stands among the top business incubators at universities worldwide. In June, the University Business Incubator (UBI) Index ranked the Northwest CIE at No. 21 globally, and it is one of just three business incubators in the United States to be ranked among the top 25. The CIE also was awarded designation as a Missouri Innovation Center by the Missouri Technology Corporation.

Located on the north edge of the Northwest campus, the 46,679 square-foot CIE is a mixed-use incubator with emphasis on technology-based, start-up companies. It also provides assistance to existing small businesses and encourages development of new small businesses. It includes three lab analysis research areas, a shared scientific instrument room and 9,000 square feet of tenant office space, while the academic wing contains more than 16,000 square feet of highly specialized teaching and research labs and offices.

The facility is positioned within a two-hour driving radius of Kansas City, Des Moines and Omaha to provide companies with access to more than 1.5 million people. At the same time companies located at the CIE enjoy the benefits of a consistently strong work-ethic and business friendly environment in a smaller rural setting.

A ribbon cutting was held Friday to mark the opening of the YMCA Children’s Learning Campus and Early Learning Laboratory at Oak Grove Elementary School.

The Y’s new Children’s Learning campus is located in a 6,000 square foot wing in the Oak Grove Elementary School.

“It was designed based on visits to 10 other early learning centers in New York, Missouri and Kansas,” said YMCA Executive Director Mark Cartledge.

The new learning center was created based on a partnership between the St. Joseph School District, Missouri Western State University and the YMCA.

“The partnership is built on the idea of making sure our children are absolutely ready for Kindergarten, and also making sure that Missouri Western students have some of the best field study available,” Cartledge said.

It’s the third YMCA Early Learning Center located in St. Joseph.  However, a duel curriculum with the St. Joseph School District is a different feature included with the new center.

“Once they reach preschool age of 4-years-old typically, where they would go into Kindergarten the following year they’re in a duel curriculum,” Cartledge said. “They actually spend three hours a day in the St. Joseph School District part-day preschool program that has a high school curriculum.”

72 children is the capacity for the new facility and there are still many openings.

The Clinic at Wal-Mart, operated by Heartland Clinic, will be closing on Friday, October 31, 2014. Their new hours until the closing date are Monday – Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and closed on Thursday.

The future of health care is the patient-centered health home, which provides the highest quality of health care, with the most efficient cost. Heartland Health continues to fulfill its mission of delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place, at the right cost with outcomes second to none. The patient/provider relationship is important. Seeing providers for one-time periodic illnesses, does not translate into effective continuity of care, nor the detection of possible preventive wellness interventions for the good of the patient well-being. We have primary care providers accepting new patients within our patient-centered health homes. To find a new provider, please call 800.447.1098.

In order to address changing, health-care delivery within our community, Heartland Health and Mosaic Life Care continues to develop key partnerships with other health-care providing agencies and institutions, as well as evaluate, plan and develop better patient access to services. Our Urgent Care, located at 1115 N. Belt Highway, is available for urgent needs, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday.

As these shifts occur to improve quality of delivery, the patient experience as well as to control costs, staffing needs also shift. Heartland Health as an employer of choice, values all caregivers. The Heartland Health Talent Agency works closely with all caregivers to help them achieve their education and workplace, goals and dreams. During this time of transition, the Talent Agency will be expanding their efforts, focused on helping to retain and expand, work and educational opportunities for caregivers.

Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel stopped in at Carden Park Elementary School Friday afternoon to talk to students about saving for college.

Zweifel spoke to the fourth and fifth grade students about taking steps to save now so when they grow up they have the opportunity to make their dreams a reality.  He spoke about the state’s MOST program, Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan which is sponsoring a poster content.  Two winners in the program will receive a $1,500 contribution in a MOST 529 savings account.

“My goal with Missouri MOST is to make sure we’re touching every child in this state, that we’re giving those parents and opportunity to learn how to save for college, giving them the tools to do so and helping them along in the process,” said Zweifel.

To win, students must draw a picture depicting what they want to be when they grow up.  For more information check out MissouriMost.org.

 

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon stopped in at Rosecrans Air National Guard base Friday and touted the release of $2 million for repair and improvements to levees along the Missouri River.

“Repairing and improving these levees is critical to the safety and economic vitality of this region, and thanks to the successful bipartisan effort to sustain my vetoes last week, the resources are available to help this project move forward,” Gov. Nixon said. “I appreciate the General Assembly for working across the aisle last week to protect our ability to make this important investment.”

The $2 million state funding released last week, coupled with local resources, will enable construction to begin in the 2015 construction season on replacement of control structures, a few relief wells and expanded under-seepage berms. This funding will serve as a portion of the local share for a larger construction project to improve the levees involving federal funding through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Design work on the larger levee improvement project has been completed, and the state investment will allow for the first significant construction on this project to get underway.

“I thank Sen. Schaaf, as well as the City of St. Joseph and Buchanan County, for making this project a top priority, and I am happy that the State can partner with the community to see it get underway,” the Governor said.

According to Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department Detective Captain Mark Brock a man who was about to be sentenced this morning in the Buchanan County Courthouse took off running.

Brock said a court security deputy fired her taser and struck him with her taser.

The man was taken back  into custody

An investigation is underway

Healthcare officials urge the use of common health safety tips with the outbreak of Enterovirus D68

“What parents should remember is that any virus can cause somebody to be sick,” said Heartland Dr. Cynthia Brownfield. “It’s important to really teach kids to wash their hands frequently, not touch their face or their eyes or their nose, and cough and or sneeze into their sleeve because prevention is the key.”

According to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 153 people from 18 states were confirmed to have respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. Those states include: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Children’s Mercy in Kansas City is reporting that cases of Enterovirus 68 are dropping. The hospital reported Monday that it is back to a normal number of patients in the hospital.

“This is a relatively rare virus, it does have clusters around the world here and there but this is the first time it’s been here in quite some time,” said Dr. Brownfield. “I’ve seen several cases where I could completely suspect that the child was suffering from D68 however, it’s not recommended to test any child that walks into the clinic.”

Dr. Brownfield said only patients who are severely ill are tested, which is why all of the statistics on the illness come from Children’s Mercy.

“It’s simply a virus, just like the common cold and most kids or most adults who are healthy will do just fine” said Dr. Brownfield. “However, it can present with pretty significant respiratory symptoms.”

The CDC expects to see an increase in confirmed cases of D68 because of delayed lab results. According to the CDCs website, it can take awhile to test specimens and obtain results due to a complex and slow testing process. As the backlog is processed the number of states with confirmed cases will likely increase.

Blue Sun has received BQ-9000 Producer status from the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission and National Biodiesel Board. There are fewer than 50 companies that have achieved this milestone recognition.

“We have always been focused on producing the very highest quality fuel. This recognition of Blue Sun as a BQ-9000 Producer validates the focus and attention to quality fuel that our team gives every day,” said Leigh Freeman, CEO of Blue Sun.

The NBAC’s National Biodiesel Accreditation Program, BQ-9000®, is a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of producers and marketers of biodiesel fuel. The program is a unique combination of the ASTM standard for biodiesel, ASTM D6751, and a quality systems program that includes storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.

The Blue Sun process includes a biodiesel distillation step, which further elevates the quality of the fuel. Blue Sun fuel exceeds ASTM D6751, particularly in low contaminants including very low monoglycerides (below 0.1%) and excellent cold soak performance.

“Blue Sun consistently demonstrated for BQ-9000 accreditation high quality in all samples received and tested by Gorge Analytical,” said Jeff Fetkenhour, President of Gorge Analytical, LLC.

The Blue Sun St. Joe Refinery is a 30 million gallon per year facility centrally located in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

“From the first day of production, the St. Joe plant has followed the principles of the BQ-9000 program. Quality is important because quality leads to outstanding fuel performance, which leads to a comfort level for our customers with Blue Sun biodiesel,” said Sean Lafferty, Vice President Technology and New Business.

BQ-9000 status represents yet another achievement for Blue Sun, the company that established the first high-quality biodiesel specification and in 2004 introduced the most advanced biodiesel under the brand Fusion™.

The refinery completed their first-of-a-kind enzymatic transesterification process in late 2013. Blue Sun specializes in identifying promising technologies in renewable fuels and taking them to commercial reality.

The Kansas state highway system is ranked the nation’s fifth best in overall highway performance and efficiency in a report released today by the Reason Foundation.

The 21^st Annual Highway Report, which is based on 2012 data, ranked Kansas number one in the category of rural interstate pavement condition, third in urban interstate congestion and fifth in rural arterial pavement condition.

The state-controlled highway system, which is the 27^th largest system in the country, has consistently placed in the top tier of Reason reports. Kansas’ overall rankings in recent reports are third in 2011, second in 2009, third in both 2008 and 2007, fifth in 2006, and third in 2005. There is no report for 2010.

“Kansans and their leaders should be proud of the highway system they have supported through long-term funding programs since 1989,” said Transportation Secretary Mike King.

“We’ve built a system that effectively and efficiently serves Kansas families and businesses. And we continue to make improvements that strengthen the state’s freight networks, boosting the Kansas economy.”

The Kansas Department of Transportation is currently in the fourth year of the 10-year T-WORKS transportation program. In 2010, Kansas highways were ranked the nation’s best in a report published in Reader’s Digest magazine.

Reason Foundation’s most recent top 10 rankings based on overall performance and cost- effectiveness:

1. Wyoming
2. Nebraska
3. South Dakota
4. South Carolina
5. Kansas
6. North Dakota
7. New Mexico
8. Mississippi
9. Montana
10. Kentucky

 

The full report is posted on the Reason Foundation website.

A growth in the School to Business Partnership Program with the St. Joseph School District has the district looking at a higher level of community participation.

“it’s just a positive thing,” said SJSD Partnership Coordinator Mike Buckler. “That way you get people from the community actually in our doors and they see what’s going on.”

The Business Partnership Program has been a part of the school district for around 15 years. Partnerships include many activities from employees taking part as volunteer mentors, internship opportunities for students, financial assistance for field trips, and student rewards. Currently the district has 157 business partners which Buckler said is an increase of 16 from last year, nine of which signed up in the past three weeks.

“The very first thing that I never do is go out and ask for money,” said Buckler. “We want businesses to be involved with our students and our staff by their time with mentors, their efforts in coming by and reading to our kids over lunch or doing field trips out to their businesses.”

Buckler said there’s many opportunities for businesses to become a business partner with the district. Buckler said he’s always looking for business partners.

“The nice thing about our business community is they step up and help out any way that we ask,” he said.