The Salvation Army of St. Joseph is helping area families provide a Christmas of their own for families who may not have one otherwise.
With eight days left until Christmas the Salvation Army held its annual Toy Distribution Thursday at the Community Center gym at 602 Messanie St. for parents to shop for their children’s gifts.
“We want to make sure no child goes without a present during this wonderful season of giving,” said Major Abe Tamayo. “With the generous support of individuals, service clubs and businesses in our community, we will make sure every family has a very merry Christmas this year.”
More than 600 children or 200 families have applied for Christmas assistance this year.
Fundraising efforts at the Salvation Army are also still underway. Tamayo estimates the agency is only at about 34-percent of it $350,000 campaign goal. Bell ringers will be out at various locations around town helping to raise funds for Salvation Army operations until Christmas. The campaign itself will run until Jan. 15th.
The K-JO 105.5 Toyland Express made its trip to the Noyes Home for Children Wednesday night to bring some holiday cheer to 41 kids.
Gregg Lynn with K-JO said it was the largest distribution in the history of the program. More than $4,500 worth of toys and clothes were gifted to the the children at the Noyes Home with help from the community. The Noyes Home, located at 801 N. Noyes Blvd. is a place for children from families dealing with a situation or crisis to stay until the families can get back on their feet.
The Toyland Express left the K-JO studio and made its way down Frederick to Noyes and arrived at the Noyes Home where Santa, Rudolph, the Army Reserve, St Joseph Fire Department and many others helped to celebrate the Christmas holiday with the children staying there.
Olive Garden also catered dinner for the children and JCPenney chipped in with an additional gift for each of the kids.
Lynn said this year there were about 10 more kids than last.
A man arrested on a parole violation after a police pursuit in St. Joseph is facing a theft charge.
Michael Miller, 25 of St. Joseph was charged Tuesday in Buchanan County with a felony for theft/stealing stemming from an incident court documents said took place Nov. 12.
According to court documents on Nov. 10th a homeowner reported the theft of a maroon 2005 Ford Excursion and several other items taken from the 4000 block of S.W. Christie Lane. Two days later the victim allegedly saw his stolen vehicle in the 1700 block of Garfield Ave. with people unloading items from inside the vehicle.
“The victim immediately contacted the Buchanan County Sheriff’s who responded to 1729 Garfield Avenue and made contact with the residents. Upon the arrival of sheriff’s deputies, the maroon 2005 Ford Excursion had already left,” Investigator Michael Hess with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department said in a sworn probable cause statement.
After investigating, deputies said they located several items including a welder, welding mask, compressed air tank and a cordless drill that has been reported stolen.
“The above listed items were found to have been sold by Mr. Michael J. Miller, who arrived at the residence driving a maroon 2005 Ford Excursion,” Hess said.
Miller is currently being held on $10,000 bond, an arraignment is set for Friday.
“Mr. Miller has on at least two separate occasions fled from law enforcement in a vehicle while attempting to elude capture,” Hess said. “During these occasions, Mr. Miller placed not only law enforcement but the surrounding community, at risk for potential harm by his actions.”
Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department confirmed Miller was arrested on a parole violation warrant after a police pursuit Tuesday.
As we previously reported, two suspects were taken into custody after an attempted burglary led to a police chase in St Joseph. Officers were dispatched to the Auto Medics facility at 3961 Sherman after someone inside the business reported someone trying to break in Tuesday morning. According to Sergeant Brett Kelly, when officers arrived the suspects fled. The pursuit continued until officers deployed spike strips along Frederick Avenue near Bishop LeBlond High School. The vehicle spun out and stopped. The two suspects then ran away on foot, but were quickly arrested.
Charges have not been filed in this investigation.
Two men are being sought in connection with the shooting of a St. Joseph man Tuesday near the Hillcrest Transitional Housing Apartment Complex.
Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said 23-year-old Trevor L. Keith sustained a very serious injury from a gunshot wound. Officers responded to 3000 Parkway A around 3:28 p.m. to find Keith with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment.
Police said they are searching for two suspects, both described as black men, one seen wearing a red jacket with a dark lining underneath, the other with a grey hoodie with a dark colored puffer vest over. No further details to their descriptions were provided at this time.
Hillcrest Transitional Housing released a statement Wednesday morning to let the public know the shooting that took place was determined to be in no way related to the residents or staff at Hillcrest.
“Upon investigation, law enforcement determined that the parties involved in the incident were in no way related to the residents or staff at Hillcrest Transitional Housing,” said Shannen White, Affiliate Dir. of Hillcrest Transitional Housing of Buchanan County. “The criminal activity was performed in the alley that is located on the property of Hillcrest, a local non-profit agency that helps the homeless of the community to regain self-sufficiency through a strict and accountability driven 90-day program”
Police are still investigating the situation.
“I thank God that none of our residents or staff were hurt,” White said. “They are shaken up, but no one is hurt from Hillcrest.”
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the St. Joseph Police Department at (816) 271-4777 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS
Candidates are now declaring their intentions to run in the 2016 election for the St. Joseph School District Board of Education.
The St. Joseph School District said Eric Bruder and Maggie Elder have placed their names in the running Tuesday, the first day declarations were accepted.
Individuals interested in running can file at the superintendent’s office located at 925 Felix St. during regular businesses hour from now until Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. There are two positions available with three-year terms.
Joey Austin with the district said Bruder filed first-thing Tuesday morning. Bruder filled the vacant spot in April left by the resignation of Dan Colgan whose term was set to expire in 2016. Board President, Brad Haggard’s term is also up in 2016.
The Final Certification Date is January 26, 2016. Candidates in the running for a position with the school board will be placed on the April 5, 2016 election.
Bond has been raised for a St. Joseph man charged with shooting and killing another man at a home on Felix St.
During an arraignment Tuesday morning in Buchanan County Court Judge Keith Marquart raised bond to $100,000 for 36-year-old Scott L. Hollandsworth. Hollandsworth was charged last week in Buchanan County with a class B felony of voluntary manslaughter and a felony for armed criminal action in connection with the shooting death of Shawn M. Martin, 33 of St. Joseph. Bond was originally set in the amount of $50,000 on Dec. 10
According to court documents Hollandsworth got into a verbal altercation with Martin last Monday which turned physical.
“While the two subjects were in the physical altercation the suspect struck the victim in the head with an object,” Officer Greg Ogdahl with the St. Joseph Police Department said in a sworn probable cause statement. “While the two subjects were in the physical altercation the suspect struck the victim in the head with an object. The suspect then shot the victim at least one time causing fatal injuries to the victim.”
Hollandsworth turned himself into Riverside police custody two days after St. Joseph Police found Martin dead inside of the bathroom of the home located at 1519 Felix.
A counsel status hearing is set for Jan. 8 and a preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 15.
Buchanan County has several roads and homes impacted by flood waters Monday morning after heavy rainfall hit the area over the weekend.
“At the present time, Buchanan County is experiencing some flooding from the Missouri and Platte River,” said Bill Brinton, Buchanan County Emergency Management Dir.
“With our levee system, we are not anticipating any problems,” he said. “We have notified the two houses that may be surrounded by water and will continue to monitor the river levels.”
As of 10:39 a.m. the Missouri River is at 18.73′ and is expected to crest at 24.7′.The Platte River is at 24.26′ and is expected to crest at 27.5′.
“We do have several county roads that are closed,” Brinton said.
Closures include: SE Rock Creek Rd., SE 115th Rd., SE Horn Rd., SE 80th Rd.; SE Saxton Easton Road, SE Kemmer Road’ SE 123rd Rd., SE 112th Rd; SE 68th Rd. and SE Mitchell Road.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of Dec. 14 – 20 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, mowing, spraying, brush cutting, guardrail repairs and other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones.
Andrew County
U.S. Route 71 – From Route 48 to Route B; pothole patching, Dec. 14 – 16
Buchanan County
Route V – One-half mile south of Route 116; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 18
Caldwell County
Route 116 – From Route A to Route D; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 18
Carroll County
Route JJ – From County Road 280 to County Road 290; drainage work,Dec. 14 – 15
Route 41 – CLOSED at the Wakenda Chute Bridge; bridge maintenance,Dec. 14 – 18, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.
Route 139 – From County Road 210 to County Road 220; drainage work,Dec. 16 – 17
Chariton County
U.S. Route 24 – From Route F to Route KK; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 18
Route 5 – From U.S. Route 24 to Route E; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 18
Daviess County
I-35 – From Route T to Route AA/H; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 18
Route E – CLOSED from U.S. Route 69 to 140th Street; culvert replacement, Dec. 15, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route B – CLOSED from Route UU to 242nd Street; culvert replacement,Dec. 16, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DeKalb County
U.S. Route 36 – At the I-35 Overpass; bridge maintenance, Dec. 14 – 18. The work zone will be left up overnight with 14-foot width restriction.
Gentry County
U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED at the Linn Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement. Closed through mid-January.
Route F – From Saddle Soap Hill Trail to County Road 300; slide repair, Dec. 14
Route O – From one mile west of Route F to County Road 495; culvert repair, Dec. 15 – 16
Harrison County
U.S. Route 69 – From U.S. Route 136 to the Daviess County line; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 16
U.S. Route 69 – From Eagleville to Route 46; drainage work, Dec. 14 – 18
Route 146 – From U.S. Route 136 to Route CC; shoulder work, Dec. 17 – 18
Linn County
Route B – From U.S. Route 36 (Livingston County) to Route 139; pothole patching, Dec. 14 – 18
U.S. Route 36 – From Route 139 to the Macon County line; pothole patching, Dec. 16 – 17
Livingston County
Route B – From U.S. Route 36 to Route 139 (Linn County); pothole patching, Dec. 14 – 18
Nodaway County
Route A – From U.S. Route 71 to Maitland; shoulder work, Dec. 14 – 16
Route V – From Hawk Road north to Hawk Road south; drainage work,Dec. 14 – 18
Sullivan County
Route DD – CLOSED from Route MM to Violet Road; culvert replacement, Dec. 14, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The St. Joseph School District said employees could be working longer hours over the next several days trying to compile paperwork for the newest subpoena in an ongoing FBI investigation, but this time it’s just pertaining to one of the district’s programs.
A seventh grand jury subpoena was received but the St. Joseph School District Monday morning. This time, the district only has until 9 a.m. Tuesday to produce the documents for review
“Something interesting is the fact that it’s some of the same request that we received in subpoenas in 2014 and the issue is making sure that we submit any and all records,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, Superintendent. “We’re doing the best we can we have four different groups going at it right now and again we fully intend to comply.”
The latest request is for additional documents is pertaining to just one program in the district however, Newhart decline to comment on which program other than that it is a federal program due to the ongoing investigation.
“What I think they’re trying to do it making sure everything is matching up in prior requests on information,” Newhart said. “In my own determination in trying to piece things together, maybe, I do believe there is a question of variances in what we supplied and what have been previously supplied and they’re wanting to just double check to make sure we submit any and all information as required by the subpoena.”
Due to the short turnaround time on the newest request Newhart said there is potential staff could be working extra hours this weekend.
“Some of the prior subpoena requests that I’ve been involved with have been a lengthier period of time to allow us to collect the information,” Newhart said.
Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board yield little information as to why a plane went down in northwest Missouri earlier this week.
Kenny Stoner of Rideway was reported to be flying solo in the Cessna 182C single-engine airplane when it went down in terrain near Pattonsburg Sunday. Stoner died in the crash and the plane was destroyed.
The airplane left the Northwest Missouri Regional Airport in Maryville around 3:50 p.m. Sunday and was destined for the Bethany Memorial Airport in Bethany but never made it. The report said the crash took place around 4:30 p.m., less than an hour after its observed departure.
According to local authorities, the pilot was planning a flight to Bethany after picking up his airplane from a completed annual inspection. There were no recorded communications between the pilot and air traffic control services.
Preliminary findings of the examination of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted in wooded terrain. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. Tree impacts and damage to the airplane were consistent with a nose low, near vertical impact.
It took nearly two days for search crews to find the wreckage location. Local search and rescue crews found it around 9 a.m. on Dec. 8th. The report said the emergency locator transmitter was found destroyed during an examination of the site.
