Keynote Speaker, Shelbe King, shares her Red Cross stories to encourage the Heroes to go forth and do good during the Heroes Campaign. (Photo courtesy Angie Springs)
Volunteers will be out from now until the end of April raising funds for the American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri.
The agency kicked off its 2016 Heroes for the American Red Cross campaign Tuesday morning in St. Joseph. This year’s goal is to raise $130,000. Angie Springs is the Ex Dir. with the Red Cross and said more than 80 local volunteers are helping to raise funds this year.
“This is our only non-disaster driven fundraiser that we do throughout the year that helps fund the services and programs that we do right here in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas,” Springs said. “All of the money that is raised by this campaign is used to provide assistance to families who have lost everything following a home fire, the ensure that emergency messages are received and delivered to members of our armed forces and also to guarantee that lifesaving CPR and First Aid classes are taught and that lifesaving blood donations are collected.”
Springs said each volunteer has a donation page set up to collect funds online, also many of them will be taking part in numerous fundraising efforts in the community throughout the months of March and April.
Two out-0f-state residents are facing felony drug charges in Andrew County after the Missouri State Highway Patrol said it pulled a vehicle over for speeding on I-29.
It’s the third drug bust on I-29 in Andrew County the St. Joseph Post has reported on since Feb. 1.
Thomas Aaron Harper, 30 and Dennis Carl Moss Jr., 27 both of Portland, Oreg. are each charged with a felony for distribution, three felonies for possession , a misdemeanor for possession and a misdemeanor for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Harper is also charged with a misdemeanor for exceeded posted speed limited.
According to court documents on Monday just before noon Cpl. A. Webb with the MSHP said he was notified of a careless and imprudent driver with California plates traveling northbound on I-29 near the 52 mile marker.
“I observed the suspect vehicle traveling north and I checked the vehicle speeding at approximately the 58 mile marker,” Cpl. Webb said. “I immediately detected a strong odor of green marijuana from inside the vehicle.”
Webb said a search of the vehicle lead to the discovery of four bottles containing marijuana, three sets or rolling papers, one wrapper of a brown substance with an indication it contained THC, one partial bottle of a liquid labeled it contained THC, one tin of cream labeled that it contained THC, a cup of numerous partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and $2,900 cash.
Harper who was identified as the driver and Moss who was a passenger in the vehicle were both arrested at the scene and booked into the Andrew County Jail.
Both are being held on $100,000 bond. An arraignment for Harper has been set for April 5th. Online court documents do not yet list a court date for Moss.
Three St. Joseph School District administrators were honored at the Northwest Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.
Dr. Tyran Sumy, Lafayette High School Principal was awarded the Consummate Professional Award. Dr. Lara Gilpin, Spring Garden Middle School Principal, was awarded Middle School Principal of the Year, and Michele Thomason, Benton High School Assistant Principal, was awarded the Assistant Principal of the Year award.
“I am extremely proud of these three well-deserving educators,” said Sandy Steggall, Director of Education for the St. Joseph School District. “All three are exceptional educational leaders and role models for their buildings and have contributed many years to our district.”
Tyran Sumy
Dr. Tyran Sumy received the Consummate Professional award. She has served at Lafayette High School for nineteen years, starting there in 1996 as vice principal and becoming principal in 2000. The Consummate Professional Award recognizes a practicing administrator who makes contributions to school and community; demonstrates leadership in improving student achievement; demonstrates leadership to principals and MASSP; ensures the school climate is positive and reflects high staff and student morale; is respected by students, colleagues, parents and the community at large; and serves as a mentor to other administrators.
Dr. Lara Gilpin received the Middle School Principal of the Year award. She has been principal at Spring Garden since 2002, previously
Lara Gilpin
serving as assistant principal of Robidoux Middle School from 1999 – 2001 and assistant principal at Truman Middle School from 2001 – 2002. Gilpin joined the district as a physical education teacher at Spring Garden in 1993, where she taught for six years. She has been with the district for twenty-two years.
Thomason Michelle
Michele Thomason received the Assistant Principal of the Year award. She has served as the Benton Assistant Principal since 2013. Previously, she served as assistant principal, then principal at the Colgan Alternative Resource Center, as an instructional coach at Bode Middle School, and as a math teacher at Spring Garden and Bode middle schools. She first began teaching in the SJSD in 1996.
Award recipients will go on to represent the Northwest Missouri District at the statewide conference. The Consummate Professional Award will be celebrated at the spring conference in March, and the Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year awards will be recognized and celebrated at the fall conference.
The Friends of the Animal Shelter is gearing up for its 2nd annual run/walk for the Paws 5k and funds raised from the event could go towards the beginnings of a new shelter in St. Joseph.
“The Friends of the Animal Shelter are going to benefit from this walk,” said Kappy Hodges with the Friends of the Animal Shelter. “The person putting it on wants it to go into a capital fund for a new animal shelter. Friends of the Animal Shelter have been thinking about trying to raise money for a new animal shelter for some time and it looks like it’s going to happen.”
Hodges said the current animal shelter located at 701 SW Lower Lake Rd. is difficult to find and needs some upgrades.
“Our shelter is kind of old and it’s been around awhile and it has just basic stuff that you need. It’s not dirty but it’s not advanced in any way,” Hodges said. “There are so many improvements in animal shelters in the many years since that was built.”
She said it will take millions of dollars to build a new shelter. Also the location of where to put the new facility is still in the works.
“We’re scouting out new sites. If you are out there and you know an awesome site for a new animal shelter send us an email,” Hodges said. “Or if you know somebody who wants to give us the space that would be even better cause then we could use the money for the shelter itself instead of buying the land.”
She said an easy to find location is preferred.
“The current one we have people can’t find,” Hodges said. “I can’t tell you how many people I’ve given directions and they’ll drive up and back and forth on the main street right in front of it and they still can’t see it.”
The Paws 5K will be held April 16th at 9 a.m. outside Bode Ice Arena on the Southwest Parkway. Individuals interested in taking part can enter the event by CLICKING HERE. Hodges said participants are encouraged to bring their dogs along the day of the event.
Lawrence W Logan Missouri Department of Corrections
A inmate in the Western Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in St. Joseph has been charged in connection with stabbing a fellow inmate to death.
Lawrence Logan, 39 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for murder in the second degree.
According to court documents on Dec. 9 at 9:09 the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the WRDCC to investigate the death of an inmate, Christopher DeBoe, 39 after he was stabbed multiple times.
“The suspect,” said Corporal D. L. Lyle. “Was observed by a staff member with what appeared to be blood on his pants.”
Lyle said Logan was then seen inside a dayroom bathroom a short while after where blood covered items and a sharpened metal object was found.
“Metal object which appeared to have been shaped into a knife like weapon. The object also had what appeared to be blood on it,” Lyle said.
An autopsy determined DeBoe’s death as a homicide from multiple stab wounds.
The charge of second degree murder carries a sentence of 10-30 years or life if convicted.
Three men are facing numerous felony charges after a drug bust on I-29 in Andrew County.
Kyle Landaverde, 22 of Oregon, Cody Casada, 24 and, Christopher Muse, 24 both of Kentucky are each charged in Andrew County with three felonies for distribution, two felonies for possession, one felony for unlawful use of a weapon, a misdemeanor for possession, and three misdemeanors for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
According to court documents on Tuesday just before 12:30 p.m. Sgt. M. Wilhoit with the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped a 2012 Nissan Maxima on southbound I-29 just past the 59 Hwy turnoff for speeding.
“Upon contact with the driver from the front passenger side window, I detected the odor of raw marijuana from inside the vehicle,” Wilhoit said. “I conducted a probable cause search of his vehicle.”
Muse was reported to be driving the vehicle with Casada as the front seat passenger and Landaverde seated in the left rear.
“I asked both passengers to step out of the vehicle and stand at the front. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed several different luggage bags with marijuana inside plastic containers that Muse and Casada admitted to purchasing in Colorado,” Wilhoit said. “I also located a container of pills and a folded sheet of wax paper which contained a large piece of manufactured THC shatter.”
Wilhoit said he found a Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun inside Casada’s bag.
All three are being held in the Andrew County Jail each on $100,000 bond.
A homeless man is accused of hitting a woman with a board and assaulting two kids Saturday in Downtown St. Joseph.
Therrell Jackson, 30 is charged with a felony for abuse/neglect of a child serious injury stemming from an incident that took place Saturday in the area of 15th and Charles streets.
According to court documents Jackson tried to rob a victim of money and pushed the victim against a car at 200 S. 14th St. but the victim refused and Jackson ran from the area.
“The defendant walked several blocks to the area of 13th and Charles and grabbed a small male juvenile victim around the head,” said Officer Jeff Peal with SJPD. “Another female juvenile attempted to help the male juvenile and was also struck by the defendant. The female’s mother saw the assault and attempted to help the two juveniles. While doing this the defendant grabbed a wooden board and struck the adult female in the face.”
Probable Cause Statement (Click to Enlarge)
Officers reported all three victims were injured during the assault.
“The adult female’s injuries required hospitalization,” Pearl said. “Officers arrived on scene and attempted to arrest the defendant.”
Pearl said Jackson resisted arrest by fighting with officers and tried to pull away several times.
“After the defendant was arrested a white crystal substance, consistent with a controlled substance, and three counterfeit dollar bills were located on his person,” Pearl said.
Jackson is scheduled for an arraignment for Tuesday. He’s being held on $25,000 bond.
Fatal Edgerton, Mo Fire now a Metro Squad Homicide Investigation
On February 19, 2016 at approximately 11:41 P.M. members of the Edgerton-Trimble, Camden Point, and Dearborn fire departments responded to a structure fire in the 4100 block of Buena Vista Road in rural Platte County. Upon arrival the fire departments’ located four individuals deceased at the scene. The unidentified individuals were two adult females, one adult male, and one infant. Due to the suspicious nature of the fire and the surrounding scene, this incident is now being investigated as a homicide. A Metro Squad has been activated for this case. The names of the four individuals will not be released until their identities are confirmed and the proper notifications are made. In order to avoid misidentification, we are asking that the members of the media not release any names that they may hear until the formal identification is confirmed and names released by authorities.
Hosea Elementary students will get their chance to shine Saturday night during the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.
In October, the orchestra gifted 30 ukuleles, through the Performing Arts Association. Those instruments were then donated to students at Hosea Elementary School. Music teacher Joshua Lock has been working with the students with the instruments and now they kids will be taking the stage with the Orchestra Saturday at the Missouri Theatre.
“This is just part of their educational outreach,” said Beth Sharp with the Performing Arts Association. “We have a lot of groups when they tour through St. Joseph they’ll do some sort of outreach and this was particular to this group in which they will send ahead Ukuleles so they kids can preform with them on stage.”
The St. Joseph School District said on Twitter Friday that students had their last practice Friday.
The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra will perform Saturday at the Missouri Theatre starting at 7:30 p.m. Sharp anticipates Hosea students will get their chance to perform after intermission.
Tickets range from $12-$42 and can be purchased through the Performing Arts Association at (816) 279-1225.
