Members of law enforcement, Fire Department, Sheriffs Department, City of St Joseph and community members turned out to remember 9/11 this morning. Full story later this afternoon.

Nodaway-Holt R7 school was forced to cancel school Wednesday after overnight storms caused major damage to the building, including several inches of flood waters in classrooms and hallways and removed a large section of the roof.

“It’s just really scary to see everything we have gone,” Nodaway-Holt R7 Sophomore Rachel Farmer said. “It’s a million times different. I mean everything is trashed.”
“It’s like flooded everywhere, everything is ruined,” Junior Ashley Brashears said.

According to the National Weather Service Tuesday night’s supercell thunderstorms produced a total of four tornadoes across portions of Northwest Missouri as well as numerous reports of straight line wind damage.

Nodaway-Holt Superintendant Karma Coleman said she can’t speculate on wether the damage to the school was from a tornado or just from the strong storm system.

“I do know that a tornado was spotted west of here in Maitland which is also in our district and that we have significant wind and water damage,” Ms. Coleman said. “However, I am not equipped to say.”

Students said they are concerned about the state of the school with homecoming scheduled for the end of the week. But Ms. Coleman said with the extend of damage to the building right now she is not sure when they will be able to head back to class.

“At this point in time it’s not looking real promising to have school tomorrow,” she said. “We are trying. It’s our homecoming week so we are making an effort but right now it’s just too soon to tell.”

Buchanan County Emergency Manager Bill Brinton reports several road closings in the area due to flooding and said he will keep monitoring road conditions as the Platte River continues to rise.

Roads still closed include:

Kemmerer Road

Saxton/Easton Road

Blair Church Road

Rock Creek Road

SE 112^th Road

NE 135^th Road

Missouri State Highway Patrol rescued 8 motorists on Interstate 29 between the 86 and 88-mile markers Tuesday evening after flood waters caused flash flooding.

Troop H officers along with the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Holt County Sheriff’s Department, Andrew County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph Fire Department took action to rescue eight motorists trapped in flash flooding.

A MoDOT front end loader and road grader was used to enter the swift flood waters over I-29 to rescue seven of the motorists trapped on top of their vehicles

An eighth motorist was rescued by boat after the driver’s vehicle became disable in the flash flood waters on Missouri Route N north of Mound City.

The Interstate was closed during that time and reopened just after 6:30 a.m.

Nodaway – Holt R7 was forced to close it’s doors to students Wednesday afternoon overnight storms caused major storm damage. Major flooding in school rooms, ceilings falling in and part of the roof torn off. Full story coming later this afternoon. 

The St. Joseph School District released a new Public Service Announcement today regarding the importance of school attendance. The PSA, “Minutes Matter,” was produced for Attendance Awareness Month, which began September 1.
Student attendance is counted by the minute, not by the day or partial day. “The goal for each student is to maintain a 95% or higher attendance percentage per year,” said Dr. Fred Czerwonka, Superintendent of Schools. “Medical appointments are important, and we ask parents to work with us and schedule those after school, or plan to return to school immediately following the appointment. Each minute counts, and missed school time can add up quickly to affect a student’s learning process,” said Czerwonka.
To support this goal:
• Parents are encouraged to be mindful of attendance when scheduling medical, dental, orthodontist and all appointments during the school day;
• Be aware of student attendance when scheduling family trips when school is in session;
• Make school attendance a high priority; students miss out on learning opportunities when absent from school.
Every minute counts! Attendance Awareness Month is a nationwide event recognizing the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. The goal is to promote the value of good attendance and taking concrete steps toward reducing chronic absence. The St. Joseph School District Public Service Announcement can be viewed on the St. Joseph School District website, www.sjsd.k12.mo.us .

58-year-old David M. Bush Sr. has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with an early Tuesday morning standoff.

The St. Joseph Police department responded to 2000 block of Elm Street in St. Joseph Monday Evening on a domestic disturbance call.  When Mr. Bush allegedly refused to come out the Special Response Team was called.  Police Sgt. Brett Kelly told the St. Joseph Post that firearms were in the home.

Sgt. Kelly said after a negotiator began talking to Mr. Bush other family members were allowed to leave the residence.

Shortly after midnight officers breached the door and administered pepper spray on Mr. Bush who then surrendered.

No shot were fired and no injuries were reported.

Mr. Bush has been denied bond.

The National Weather Service In Pleasant Hill Mo Has Issued A Flood Warning For The Following Rivers In Kansas…Missouri…
Missoui River At St Joseph Affecting Doniphan…Andrew And Buchanan Counties.
The National Weather Service In Pleasant Hill Mo Has Issued A
* Flood Warning For The Missouri River At St Joseph.
* From This Afternoon To Sunday Morning.
* At  2:30 Am Wednesday The Stage Was 12.5 Feet.
* Flood Stage Is 17.0 Feet.
* Minor Flooding Is Forecast.
* Forecast…Rise Above Flood Stage By Late This Afternoon And Continue To Rise To Near 20.5 Feet By Early Friday Morning. The River Will Fall Below Flood Stage By Late Saturday Morning.
* At 17.0 Feet…Lowland Flooding Upstream And Downstream From St.
Joseph Occurs.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jason Angle said Interstate 29 is back open. The highway had been closed due to water over the Interstate at the 86 mile marker to the 88 mile marker near Mound City, Missouri.  The closure was due to torrential rain fall associated with last night’s storms.