Students in the St. Joseph School District headed back to the classroom Monday morning.

More than 11,000 students are attending school this year in the district.  Many of them were greeted by new Interim Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart.

He welcomed students this morning at Central High School and Eugene Field Elementary School.

Newhart officially began his position July 6.  He was unanimously voted to take on the position by the Board of Education.  He’s the third superintendent for the district so far in 2015.

This fall’s first quarter will end October 16. The second quarter will end December 18, just in time for Christmas break.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.  – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Aug. 17 – 23, from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Many projects will include lane closures, and delays can be expected. MoDOT reminds the public to buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.

Andrew County

Interstate 29 – Spraying, Aug. 17 – 21

I-29 – Northbound from 1.5 miles south of Route O (Buchanan County) to Business Route 71; resurfacing project, Aug. 18 – 22, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.  Night work only.  No work will occur Friday nights throughout the duration of this project.

Atchison County

Route E – Pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 18

Various routes – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 21

Route D – Pothole patching, Aug. 19

Route B – Pothole patching, Aug. 20

U.S. Route 275 – Pothole patching, Aug. 21

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 169 and Route 31 – Drainage work, Aug. 17 – 20

U.S. Route 59 – CLOSED at the Bankers Crossing Bridge; new bridge construction,Aug. 17 – 21

I-29 – Spraying, Aug. 17 – 21

Route 371 – From Route H to Route A; culvert replacement, Aug. 17 – 21

Route JJ – At the Route V intersection; drainage work, Aug. 17 – 21

Routes E, H, M and 116 – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 21

U.S. Route 36 – At the Platte River Bridge; bridge deck replacement, Aug. 17 – 23. Traffic is head to head in the eastbound lanes with a 14-foot width restriction.

I-29 – Northbound from 1.5 miles south of Route O to Business Route 71 (Andrew County); resurfacing project, Aug. 18 – 22, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.  Night work only.  No work will occur Friday nights throughout the duration of this project.

U.S. Route 36 – Westbound from 10^th Street to 15^th Street; surface treatment, Aug. 19 – 21.  Night work only.

Caldwell County

Route 116 – From Route 33 (Clinton County) to Route D ; resurfacing project, Aug. 17 – 22. A pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.

Route U – Pothole patching, Aug. 19 – 21

Carroll County

Routes D, T and W – Sign operations, Aug. 17 – 21

Routes C, U and Z – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 21

U.S. Route 65 – At the U.S. Route 24/Route 10 Bridge; bridge maintenance, Aug. 17 – 21

Route 139 – From Locust Street to County Road 120; drainage work, Aug. 18 – 19

Chariton County

Routes E, TT and 139 – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 19

Route 139 – From Sumner to U.S. Route 36 (Linn County); pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Route O – From Route 5 to Route 129; pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Route 129 – From U.S. Route 24 to Route P; pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Route E – From Route 139 to Route 11; pothole patching, Aug. 20

Clinton County

Route 116 – From Route 33 to Route D (Caldwell County); resurfacing project, Aug. 17 – 22. A pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.

Route H – From one mile west of Turney to one mile east of Turney; drainage work,Aug. 18 – 21

Route Y – Pothole patching, Aug. 18 – 21

U.S. Route 69 and Routes A, C, H, J and 121 – Mowing, Aug. 18 – 21

Daviess County

Route 6 – From I-35 to the Grundy County line; pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Route B – At the I-35 Bridge; bridge maintenance, Aug. 17 – 21 (16-foot width restriction)

Route J – CLOSED from Holly Street to 5^th Street in Kidder; culvert replacement, Aug. 19, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Route 6 – CLOSED at Santa Rosa Road; culvert replacement, Aug. 20.  Access to Santa Rosa Road will be closed during this time.

DeKalb County

Route J – Pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 18

I-35 – Striping, Aug. 17 – 20

Routes A, E, D and WW – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 20

U.S. Route 169 – Shoulder work, Aug. 18 – 19

Gentry County

U.S. Route 169 – Shoulder work, Aug. 18 – 19

Route M – From U.S. Route 169 to Route J (Nodaway County); chip seal, Aug. 21.  A pilot car will direct traffic through the work zone.

Grundy County

Route E – From Route 6 to Laredo; pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 20

Route E – Drainage work, Aug. 17 – 21

Routes A, B, Y and Z – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 21

Route A – From Route C to U.S. Route 65; pothole patching, Aug. 20 – 21

Route 6 – Just east of the Muddy Creek Bridge in Trenton to Route 5 (Sullivan County); resurfacing project, Aug. 17 – 22, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The road will be narrowed in two-mile sections with a pilot car.  An 11-foot width restriction will be in place.

Harrison County

Route 146 – From U.S. 136 to Route CC; mowing, Aug. 17 – 21

Route H – From I-35 to Route 146; chip seal, Aug. 18 – 19.  A 12-foot width restriction will be in place and a pilot car will direct traffic through the work zone.

Route 46 – Mowing, Aug. 20 – 21

Holt County

I-29 – Northbound at the exit 84 off ramp; pavement repair, Aug. 17 – 21

U.S. Routes 59, 159 and Routes B, H, 118 and 120 – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 21

U.S. Route 59 – CLOSED at the I-29 overpass; bridge deck replacement.  Closed through November 2015.

Linn County

Route 139 – From Sumner (Chariton County) to U.S. Route 36; pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Routes TT, Y, YY, 130 and 139 – Mowing, Aug. 18 – 20

Route 130 – Pothole patching, Aug. 19 – 20

 

Livingston County

Route U – Pothole patching, Aug. 17

U.S. Route 65 – From Route 190 to the Grundy County line; mowing, Aug. 17 – 19

Route A – Pothole patching, Aug. 18 – 19

Route Y – Pothole patching, Aug. 20 – 21

U.S. Route 65 – From U.S. Route 36 to the Carroll County line; mowing, Aug. 20 – 21

Mercer County

U.S. Route 136 – Striping, Aug. 17 – 20

U.S. Route 65 – Pavement repair, Aug. 17 – 21

Routes K and M – Drainage work, Aug. 17 – 21

Various routes – Sign operations, Aug. 17 – 21

Nodaway County

Route P – Pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 18

Various routes – Mowing and pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Route 148 – From Route NN to 130^th Street; drainage work, Aug. 18

Route 246 – From Route 148 to Route AC; drainage work, Aug. 18

Route A – Pothole patching, Aug. 19

U.S. Route 71 – The passing lane will be closed from 390^th Street to Route M; drainage work, Aug. 19 – 20

Route Y – Pothole patching, Aug. 20

Route M – From U.S. Route 169 to Route J (Nodaway County); chip seal, Aug. 21.  A pilot car will direct traffic through the work zone.

Route V – Pothole patching, Aug. 21

Putnam County

Routes FF and W – Pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

U.S. Route 136 and Route 5 – Drainage work and spraying, Aug. 17 – 21

Route 139 – CLOSED from 140^th Street to Route E; culvert replacement, Aug. 19, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route T – CLOSED from the Iowa state line to 120^th Street; culvert replacement, Aug. 20, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route EE – CLOSED from Route BB to 180^th Road; culvert replacement, Aug. 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sullivan County

Route O – CLOSED from Engle Drive to Route UU; culvert replacement, Aug. 17, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Routes J, N, M, Y, AB and YY – Pothole patching, Aug. 17 – 21

Route 6 – Just east of the Muddy Creek Bridge in Trenton (Grundy County) to Route 5; resurfacing project, Aug. 17 – 22, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The road will be narrowed in two mile sections with a pilot car.  An 11-foot width restriction will be in place.

Route 129 – Drainage work, Aug. 18 – 19

Worth County

Route F – From Route 46 to one-half mile north of Route 46; drainage work, Aug. 17 – 18

Routes 46 and 246 – Mowing, Aug. 17 – 19

The Friends of the St. Joseph Public Library is holding a book sale of gently used science fiction and fantasy hardbacks and paperbacks.  

The sale will run for two weeks beginning Sunday, August 16 through Saturday, August 29.  

The sale will take place in the lobby of the East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine Road during regular library hours.   The first week of the sale, all hardcover books are $2 each and paperbacks are $1 each.  The second week of the sale, all items are half price. Cash, checks and credit are acceptable forms of payment.  

The hours for the East Hills Library are:

Sunday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Friends of the St. Joseph Public Library is a non-profit organization that supports literacy in the community and the public library system.  Proceeds from the sale help fund Summer Reading Programs for all ages at the four library branches, as well as book clubs, adult programs and BookPage, a monthly magazine for readers, free to pick up at any library branch.  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A resurfacing project on Interstate 29 in Andrew and Buchanan counties has been reset again after having been delayed a few times, due to weather.

Contractors working with the Missouri Department of Transportation will now begin milling and repaving the northbound lanes of I-29 between 1.5 miles south of Route O in Buchanan County and Business Route 71 in Andrew County on Tuesday, Aug. 18. All work is planned to begin no earlier than 6 p.m. each evening, after peak travel times, and should be completed each day by 6 a.m. One lane in each direction will remain open throughout the project, which will continue through November.

The shoulders and on and off ramps will also be resurfaced throughout this section of interstate. Every effort will be made to keep all ramps open during the work, but some closures may be required to ensure the safety of both motorists and workers. If a ramp closure is planned, advance notice will be provided.

Motorists should be alert and follow all construction signs and message boards. All work is weather permitting and schedules are subject to change. MoDOT encourages all motorists to slow down, buckle up, eliminate distractions and drive safely through work zones to ensure everyone is able to Arrive Alive.

St. Joseph Public Library is hosting local authors today.

A local author showcase is being held at the East Hills Branch located at 502 N. Woodbine Road from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The library says it’s an opportunity for area authors to discuss their books, writing process and to meet other area authors. Authors showcased may sell copies of their books. This event also provides an opportunity for the public to meet some of the talented writers in the St. Joseph area and to learn steps they can take to penning their own book.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University, which has served as the state arboretum since 1993, recently was named one of the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.” by BestCollegesOnline.org.

“As one of the 50 locations selected for our list, Northwest Missouri State University’s Missouri State Arboretum caught our attention because of its unique distinction of being the state’s official arboretum,” Joy Warner, the website’s editor, said.

The list was created by assigning points for criteria such as national or regional recognition, the amount of species represented, endangered plant species, educational outreach programs, LEED green buildings, a connection to degree programs and an overall wow factor.

Northwest’s campus, which also serves as a research laboratory for students studying in fields such as agriculture science and natural science, features more than 130 species and more than 1,700 trees. Ten employees in Northwest Facility Services are directly involved in managing and caring for the Missouri Arboretum.

“The Arboretum is one of many things that sets Northwest apart from other colleges and universities,” said Travis Stokes, who oversees the Missouri Arboretum as Northwest’s landscape and sustainability manager. “We have a lot of great things at Northwest and being the Missouri Arboretum is one of those things that makes us unique. Being on a top 50 list is really validation that we are doing the right things and heading in the right direction. I always tell my team we are the first and the last impression for any potential student, or a visitor, so let’s make it a good one.”

The Missouri State Legislature named Northwest the official Missouri Arboretum in 1993. The idea for the arboretum began with former faculty member Dr. Johanne Wynne Fairchild, who worked with horticulture students to tag trees on the Northwest campus. Fairchild also published a series of “Tree Walk” pamphlets with listings of all the trees on campus and Northwest’s tree history.

The University has deep roots in caring for their trees. Before the institution’s founding in 1905, 85 acres of the 330-acre campus were part of a tree farm and nursery established by Thomas Gaunt in 1857. In later years, fast-growing, short-lived trees and slow-growing, long-lived trees were planted. As the University grew, so did the slow-growing trees and with that the short-lived trees were removed.

President Uel Lamkin brought gingko trees from China between 1921 and 1945, and they still stand today at the southwest side of the Administration Building. In the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, graduating classes donated trees. Flowering crabapple trees planted behind Colden Hall were donated in memory of President Robert Foster’s mother.

Maintaining the campus trees has had its challenges as well. In the 1970s, Dutch elm disease wiped out all but one of the American elm trees on the University campus. A December 2007 ice storm ruined more than 40 percent of the trees on campus and an August 2011 “super storm” brought winds in excess of 80 mph while defoliating nearly 80 percent of trees, stripping off bark and severing limbs; 24 trees had to be removed. Drought conditions also have caused the groundskeepers to alter their irrigation practices to ensure the trees’ longevity.

Most recently, Northwest partnered with the city of Maryville on the Fourth Street Improvement Project, which extended the Missouri Arboretum east from the University entrance along Fourth street to downtown Maryville.

This fall, students also will see a refreshed landscape in the areas surrounding the new Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center, the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza, Martindale Hall and the Lamkin Activity Center. The area occupied by the recently demolished grounds and transportation shops also is being transformed into a new green space.

A commemorative tree program continues today and allows anyone to donate $300 for the purchase of one tree, its planting and a lifetime of maintenance. The donor’s name, or the name of a friend or loved one, also is included on a plaque next to the tree. To learn more about the Missouri Arboretum and the commemorative tree program, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/arboretum/.