15-year-old Dylan Golden got a chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer Tuesday in St. Joseph with the help of local law enforcement officials.

“About 10 years,” Dylan said.

That’s how long he said he’s wanted to be a law enforcement officer.

Dylan was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome and battles a number of problems related to the disease. Retiring St. Joseph School District Principal, Mike Otto said he first met Dylan when he was attending school at Oak Grove Elementary. Dylan is now attending home school because of his condition.

“I followed him ever since he left elementary school and he’s got a lot of challenges in life. He always talked about police. He wanted to be a police officer” Otto said. “I called my good friend Joe Herrera who’s an SRO (School Resource Officer) with the district and Joe took it from there.”

Officer Devin Kallauner with the St. Joseph Police Department took his patrol car over to meet Dylan Tuesday afternoon at Oak Grove Elementary. Dylan was unaware of the activities planned for the day at the time. Kallauner said when the officers learned about Dylan several weeks ago, they got together to try to figure out what they could do.

“We put our resources together and came up with what we did today,” Kallauner said. “I took him for a ride. We were going to Word of Life, he didn’t know what all was here. We pulled in and when he saw all the squad cars and people in uniform and the BearCat he got really excited.”

Law Enforcement Officers from the St. Joseph Police Department, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, Special Response Team, School Resource Officers, Traffic Unit and others came out to participate in the event at the Word of Life Church parking lot. Dylan was made an honorary officer by Police Chief Chris Connally, he was bestowed with uniform shirts from both the police department and sheriff’s department with his name on them, took a ride in the BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck), and got a chance to sit on a police motorcycle with the sirens blasting.

Dylan said his favorite part about being an officer is, “Chasing the bad guys.”

In response to the surprise Dylan said he wanted to thank the officers.

“Thank you,” he said. “I enjoyed it a lot.”

The St. Joseph School District is replacing and increasing its special education bus fleet at a price officials said came in below budget.

Roy Lashbrook, purchasing manager with the district said the effort originally started out with the current budget allotment for the year of around $100,000.  He said the goal was to try to find a new or used bus, or a couple of used buses to try to replace some that were extremely old.

“This effort kind of blossomed into a little more creative purchasing route,” Lashbrook said. “We decided to purchase them on a capital lease purchase program. Basically, take our current budget year money and the next four years, actually five as it turned out to see if we could stretch that without spending any extra money moving forward year-to-year.”

The district ended up purchasing 10 new buses; nine of those arrived at the district Friday morning.

“Five years, six payments, because we had six years of budget money to work with. It was $594-thousand and change is what it came to. So we’re actually spending less than what we would normally have budgeted year-to-year for this outlay and we quintupled the number of buses that we were able to have access too immediately,” Lashbrook said.

While the district contracts with Apple Bus to transport most students in the district, Lashbrook said the new buses are part of the SpEd fleet which is used for preschool, special needs, and transportation for homeless students. He said, previously the fleet consisted of several buses as old as the late 90s with over 300,000 miles and some without air conditioning.

“We also, were able to make sure that through this deal that all of our on-board camera and monitoring systems were updated…Then we’re going to update the rest of the feet to that standard over the rest of the summer of the existing buses that we have in the fleet,” Lashbrook said.

The addition of the 10 new buses brings the district’s fleet up from 19 to 23 after trading in six of the old buses. Two of the new buses also came with wheelchair lifts, a feature Lashbrook said was only available on one bus prior.

He said the new buses will also save the district money on maintenance.

“One of the reasons we couldn’t trade in our sixth bus was because it was out at a third party service provider just getting back to where it would be roadworthy enough to trade in,” Lashbrook said.

The final new bus is expected to arrive next month.

The 2017 St. Joe Pride Fest will kick-off two days of activities starting Friday in downtown.

It’s the second year the Midland Empire Equality Coalition has hosted the event, which coalition president Daniel Ramming said actually started five years ago in St. Joseph. Ramming said the purpose is to bring awareness of the LGBT community.

“It’s family-friendly. We have some events for the kids,” Ramming said. “We’re just your neighbors and co-workers and family and friends.”

Felix Street Square will be the site of live music, a drag show, vendors, and various entertainment acts. Friday, the event will start at 6 p.m. with several drag performers, followed by a theater performance and live music as well as vendors, food and drink.  Then Saturday, a parade will start at noon at 3rd and Felix and follow a route downtown to end at Coleman Hawkins Park.

Ramming said the MEEC received official non-profit status last year and is serving people in northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. According to its website, MEEC is dedicated to the education, outreach and edification of all members of the LGBQT community and their allies.

“I’ve had lots of people ask, ‘Why does it have to be so public? Why don’t you just keep quiet about it?’ That’s like asking Rosa Parks to sit in the back of the bus. If people don’t know you exist you don’t get rights,” Ramming said.

He said, recently, a lot of the political climate seems to be sort of a backlash against some of the progress the LGBT community has made.

“We’re trying to make sure the community knows we’re not going to back down and we’re still going to be there to support them,” Ramming said. “There are people who seem to be having a rougher time at work. A lot of people don’t understand that even though we have marriage equality…People in Missouri except for some of the bigger cities don’t have a non-discrimination ordinance so they can be fired just because their boss thinks they’re gay or lesbian or bi-sexual or transgender.”

He said anyone in the region who needs assistance or wants to get involved with MEEC should come out to the Pride event or check out the coalition’s Facebook Page.

(Update) – The case of a teenager who went missing nearly 13-years-ago from St. Joseph remains open after authorities conclude a search of several properties on the north end.

As we previously reported, on Tuesday The St. Joseph Police Department in connection with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children began conducting an operation related to the ongoing missing person’s investigation of Ashley Martinez. The operation originally began in the area of Huntoon Road and West Highland Avenue and later moved to several acres of private land. Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said the operation was based on historical information related to the case.

“Investigators with the assistance of search experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children conducted a ground search of several properties utilizing specialized equipment and cadaver dogs,” Wilson said. “The search was of value to investigators, but at this time the case remains open with investigators continuing to conduct follow up related to the investigation.”

According to past reports in the case, Martinez was last seen on July 6, 2004 when she was dropped off at a public pool in St. Joseph. The Center for Missing and Exploited Children said Martinez was 15-years-old when she went missing, she would now be 28-years-old.

Authorities will be investigating an area on the north end of town Tuesday in reference to a child who was reported missing in 2004.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said the St. Joseph Police Department in connection with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will be conducting an operation related to the ongoing missing person’s investigation of Ashley Martinez from St. Joseph. The operation will be held in the area of Huntoon Road and West Highland Avenue. Wilson said the operation is based on historical information related to the case.

According to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Martinez was last seen on July 6, 2004 in the St. Joseph area when she was 15-years-old. She would now be 28-years-old. According to the the missing person’s flyer Martinez may still be in the area or she could have traveled to Nebraska or Washington.

Wilson said authorities will start investigating the area of Huntoon and Highland around 6 a.m. Tuesday and will cease Wednesday afternoon. He said officers on scene would not be answering questions but authorities may hold interviews at a later time.

The St. Joseph Public Library system is asking voters to renew a portion of its operating levy this summer.

A special election will be held Aug. 8 for voters to decide whether to continue a .15 cent levy for a period of 20 years for the St. Joseph Library to operate and maintain facilities. If approved, the levy would continue in 2020. Library Director, Mary-Beth Revels said the levy was initially approved by voters in 1999.

“Continuing the levy for another 20 years will provide for daily operating costs including utilities and payroll at the four branches. It will allow us to update computers, the technology infrastructure and internet and wireless access at the branches. We will be able to purchase more books, audio books, movies and other materials Provide more resources for entrepreneurs, small business and job seekers,” Revels said. “We’ll increase programming and outreach for all ages.”

The total library levy is .42 cents, of that .27 cents is permanent.  Revels said the in total it generates about $3.2 million a year. She said the library realizes the community appreciates the inclusion of a sunset clause so the .15 cents is up for renewal every 20 years.

“Part of that money right now is being used to pay for debt because we renovated three libraries and built the East Hills Library,” Revels said. “Right now, that .15 cents is used for operation and for a debt payment.  The reason we’re saying continuing that levy for another 20 years is going to increase services is because we’re going to be able to funnel more of that money into maintaining the buildings not just paying the debt.”

Revels said the renewal will also help to restore operating hours that were cut in 2008. She said the goal is to return to seven days a week service at the Downtown library, and six days a week service at Carnegie and Washington Park libraries.  If the levy doesn’t pass the library will have to look at cuts.

“If it doesn’t pass then we’ll have to make some really tough decisions about services and hours and cuts even further,” Revels said. “We’re actually supported almost exclusively with local taxes.”

 

A man appeared in Doniphan County court Thursday in connection with the alleged theft of a vehicle belonging to a St. Joseph man whose body was found in the Missouri River.

Christopher Colhour, 40 of St. Joseph made his first appearance before Judge Roy Roper on a level 7 felony charge of theft. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for June 27th.

As we previously reported, officials with the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office began searching the Wolf River for a missing St. Joseph man on May 22. Five days later, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office said the body in reference to a death investigation was recovered in the Missouri River just south of St. Joseph. The body was identified as 64-year-old Daniel Purvis.

Colhour was charged with the theft of a vehicle belonging to Purvis and KBI said further charges are pending. As of Thursday no additional charges have been filed. We have placed a call to the Doniphan County Attorney’s Office to see if any further information regarding charges can be released at this time and are waiting to hear back.

A 40-year-old Christopher D. Colhour appears to have a criminal history in Buchanan County including two guilty pleas to felonies of failure to register as a sex offender stemming from 2009 and 2010.   In 2012, he was sentenced to serve three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections in each of those charges.  According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Sex Offender Registry, in April and September of 1999 Colhour attempted indecent liberties with a child in the Kansas towns of Elwood and Troy.

Missouri online court documents show most recently, in December of 2016 Colhour was charged with a first-degree felony of tampering with a motor vehicle in Buchanan County and pleaded guilty in March.  According to a probable cause document filed in the case, Colhour was in possession of a stolen vehicle belonging to Advanced Auto reported taken from Independence two days prior. Court documents stated in December that Colhour had been homeless for the past eight months. Detective C. Davis with the St. Joseph Police Department said in the PC statement that Colhour had previous arrests for failure to appear, shoplifting, burglary, criminal damage to property, aggravated criminal sodomy and stealing.  Det. Davis said Colhour also had a conviction for burglary and arrests in Nebraska. Sentencing in the case was supposed to take place May 22 in Buchanan County but court documents state the defendant failed to appear, that was the same date KBI said Colhour was arrested in Kansas.

Colhour remains without bail in the Doniphan County Jail.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department is looking at restructuring personnel in an effort to fill positions.

Commander Mike Donaldson oversees administration for the sheriff’s department. He said hiring and staffing for law enforcement officers is difficult in the county.

“We’re looking to hire Detention Officers. These will be people that will initially start in the jail and the goal is to get the jail fully staffed so we can make some other moves within the department,” Donaldson said. “That will enable us to move some of our sworn commissioned deputies from the jail out to the road.  That will then, enable us to move some of our more experienced deputies that have been working for awhile into investigations or Drug Strike Force.”

Donaldson said even with restructuring there will continue to be a certain number of commissioned officers in the jail.  He said they are still about nine employees short.

“Even then we’re already still behind.  So we’re going to have to start another hiring cycle soon,” Donaldson said.

He attributes the shortfall to a number of factors, the anti-law enforcement rhetoric around the country and low pay in the county.

“There’s a lot of factors that are combined to create this shortage,” Donaldson said. “Our deputies are paid lower than other law enforcement professionals in the area… The truth is everyone knows getting into this job you’re not going to get rich but we’re always kind of behind the curve compared to non-law enforcement jobs.”

Donaldson said part of the issue is the starting pay is lower then other agencies, another part is the longevity pay is lacking.

“Currently, an officer with one year on our department makes the same as an officer at 30 years on,” Donaldson said. “The incentive for staying long-term isn’t there as it is in other departments.”

Donaldson said Sheriff Bill Puett is working to try to increase pay and getting longevity pay for deputies.

A mumps case has been reported in St. Joseph.

According to a news release Wednesday from the St. Joseph Health Department, it was notified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services State Public Health Laboratory of a confirmation of a single case of mumps of a person in St. Joseph.

“A single case of mumps does not typically pose an imminent threat to the community at large,” the health department stated. “The City of St. Joseph Health Department continues to monitor the situation and share relevant information with health care providers.”

Connie Werner with the St. Joseph Health Department said they are just telling people to monitor themselves for symptoms of mumps.

“The symptoms at first, unfortunately are very common symptoms.  The fever, body aches, just generally not feeling well.  The swelling of the cheeks, which are actually the swelling of the salivary glands.  Those tend to be when people start thinking mumps,” Werner said. “Certainly if you see those symptoms stay home and call your doctor.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Missouri is one of three states experiencing between 100 and 299 cases of mumps this year.

“The vaccine is really the only preventable measure we can give people to offer protection.  On average it gives 88 percent protection,” Werner said. “Even if you have been fully vaccinated if you have symptoms that can be consistent with mumps… We would still want you to isolate yourself and contact your doctor.”

Mumps symptoms usually appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range anywhere from 12 to 25 days after infection.

It’s the first mumps case recently reported in St. Joseph. However, in the past year mumps cases have been reported at surrounding areas including at the University of Missouri, University of Kansas and Kansas State University. In January, the South Harrison School District also warned of a possible mumps exposure. Werner said the risk for flare-ups of mumps increases in crowded environments.

“Anytime you have a confined area there is an increased risk of having increased cases of mumps.  Not only in Missouri but throughout the country we have seen increased cases, typically in institutes of higher learning,” Werner said.

Since January, Werner said the CDC has reported an increase in the mumps virus throughout the state of Missouri.  She said in in the northwest part of the state it appears to be slightly lower then other regions.

An event is being held in St. Joseph Sunday in an effort to raise funds to help the families of four boys who were killed and another who was critically injured last week in a crash on Riverside.

As we previously reported, four people died and three others were injured after a crash Friday morning on Riverside near the Cook intersection.

A fundraising event titled, “One City One Family” will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at No Place located at 3414 S. 22nd St.  (Correction): Kelly Supple, is a friend of the family of one of the victim’s and is helping to coordinate things.  She said funds raised will be split-up to benefit the families of the four teens who died: Karlo Ginn, Dayton Crockett (corrected), Dasean Darden and Javion Thompson. Funds will also go to benefit a fifth boy who is still hospitalized in critical condition.

“Anything will help. The funds are pretty much going to go for funeral expenses, a tombstone if they need one.  Anything that the families would need the extra money for,” Supple said. “Obviously in a time of need like this the last thing you want to worry about is the expenses to bury your child.”

During Sunday’s event, participants will be able to listen to live music, take part in a silent auction, a raffle, and view a performance by dancers of Truth Academy and more. Supple said a donation entry fee is requested.

“I’m born and raised in St. Joe, I know the community very well and I’m so proud that St. Joe has come together like they have for these kids,” Supple said. “Even if you didn’t know any of them it’s a tragedy for everybody.”

As of Wednesday, more than 300 people had already RSVP’d to the event on Facebook.  For more information CLICK HERE.