The St. Joseph School Board of Education plans to announce its new interim superintendent Friday.

A press conference is schedule for 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Board of Education meeting room at 925 Felix St. to introduce the new interim superintendent.

Dr. Jake Long has been acting as interim superintendent since the board started the process to terminated former superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka earlier this year. However, as we previously reported, Long accepted a position in Arkansas and will be leaving the district to start his new position there July 1.

Czerwonka submitted his resigation last month and has also accepted a new position with a school district in Missouri’s bootheel.

The new superintendent will have a task ahead as the St. Joseph School District works to recover from a scathing state audit report that uncovered a staggering $25 million in stipends were paid over the last eight years that were “either unapproved, unauthorized or improper.” It was also estimated that total to be in excess of $40 million dating back to 2001.

St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 60th home Wednesday with a blessing.

A ribbon cutting ceremony and house blessing was held Wednesday morning at 723 S 14th Street to welcome the Griffith family into their new home.  Tiffany is the mother of three, Try-shon, Antonio and Harmony.  Habitat said she was employed with USA800 and was on her break at work when she found out she was going to be a Habitat homeowner.

“I was at a loss for words. I began to cry and was so overwhelmed and ecstatic at what this meant for my family,” Tiffany said.

Habitat Volunteer Coordinator, Rita Boyer said there were around 25 people in attendance at the blessing.

“It’s always great to see the family the day of the blessing,” Boyer said. “They’re so excited about getting in the home and knowing they’re always going to be able to wake up in the same place.”

In order for individuals to become Habitat home owners they have to go through an application processes, dedicate 400 hours of homeowner labor and purchase their home.

“We sell it to them with a no interest loan,” Boyer said.

Habitat is currently working on four more homes in St. Joseph including a home rehab.

Boyer said Habitat is always looking for volunteers.

“We look for anyone wanting to help us,” Boyer said. “Come with a great attitude, that’s all we ask.”

She said volunteers are needed on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and can take part in-between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Individuals or groups looking to volunteer can contact her at (816) 279-2552.

 

 

A two semi vehicle accident sent one man to the hospital in DeKalb County Wednesday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Marcus Sommers, 21 of Maysville, Mo. was driving his 2003 Peterbilt north on I-35 at mile marker 54 in Cameron, Mo. around 9:55 a.m. when he skidded out of control going off the west side of the roadway and into the median throwing mud and debris into the southbound lane.  The highway patrol said the debris ended up hitting a 2014 Peterbilt driven by Jason, Kylven, 41 of Duluth, Minn. and shattering his windshield.  Kylven was able to get his semi under control and stopped on the shoulder of the roadyway.  However, Sommers came to a stop in the median.  Both semis were towed away from the scene.

Sommers was transported by ambulance to Cameron Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

 

One person was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning with serious injuries after a five vehicle crash on I-229.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Deonna Johnson, 26 of Harrisonville, Mo. was driving her 1994 Oldsmobile northbound on I-229 one miles south of St. Joseph around 8 a.m. when she lost control of her vehicle in the inclement weather and hit the back of a 2004 Ford Expedition driven by Lorna Protzman, 49 of Savannah, Mo.  This pushed Protzman’s vehicle into the back of a 2008 Honda Accord driven by Kimberly Sansom, 52 of Kearney, Mo.  Johnson’s vehicle then spun 180 degrees to hit the Expedition again this time on the driver’s side then continued southbound in the northbound lanes and side-swiped a 2007 Ford Edge driven by Jordan, Carrick, 29 of St. Joseph and hit the front of a 2007 Toyota Tacoma driven by Greg Gelbolinga, 42 of Kansas City, Mo.  before coming to rest in the northbound driving lane facing the wrong direction.

Johnson was taken by ambulance with serious injuries to Mosaic Life Care.

Law enforcement officials tried to serve a warrant Wednesday morning and found an individual dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Drug Strike Force had just walked into the front door,” said Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong. “Never saw him just heard a shot.”

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, Drug Strike Force responded to Brookeside Apartments located at 1602 Brookeside Dr. just before 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Strong said they were attempting to serve a felony warrant on an individual.

After hearing the shot go off Strong said the Special Response Team arrived to make sure the area was secure.  After securing the area he said they found a 26-year-old man dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“We’re always cognizant of the fact that it could happen,” Strong said. “Anytime we serve a warrant we try to always prepare for the worst.”

Strong said the case is still under investigation.  The man’s identity is not yet being released.

 

Bond has been denied for a 69-year-old man accused of trying to entice a child to engage in sex.

Thomas Richard Demark, 69 of Kansas City, Mo was arrested and charged Saturday with a felony for Attempted Enticement of a Child under the age of 15.

As we previously reported, court documents signed by Detective Thomas Cates with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Dept. stated Demark arrived near the area of South 36th Street and Pickett Road in St. Joseph around 5 p.m. Saturday after days of extended electronic, internet based, enticing communications, with an individual he believed was a 13-year-old girl for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct.

It also said Demark brought instruments used during sex acts with him in a back pack including lubricants, condoms and sexual devices.

 

Demark made his first court appearance Tuesday in front of Judge Rebecca Spencer in the case.  Bond was denied and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 8.

Former St. Joseph School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka has been hired by a small school district located in the bootheel of Missouri.

An administrative assistant with the Caruthersville School District #18 has confirmed that Czwerwonka has been hired as the Director of Student Services.  Further details were not readily available.  The St. Joseph Post is awaiting a call back from J.J. Bullington, Caruthersville Superintendent of Schools.

Czerwonka submitted his letter of resignation to the St. Joseph School Board last month after the board voted in February to initiate the process to terminate his employment with the district.  The move came after the release of a state audit report that uncovered a staggering $25 million in stipends were paid over the last eight years that were “either unapproved, unauthorized or improper.” It was also estimated that total to be in excess of $40 million dating back to 2001.

Czerwonka was also one of three St. Joseph School District officials named in a lawsuit filed by Chief Financial Officer Beau Musser in which Musser claimed to have been placed on leave for continuing to question the practice of handing out stipends to administrators without the knowledge or approval of the school board.  That lawsuit ended up in a settlement of $450,000 in April.

In March federal investigators served a subpoena on Czerwonka and former SJSD Acting Superintendent Dr. Jake Long’s former employer, the West Plains Missouri R-7 School District for personnel records relating to an FBI investigation into the St. Joseph School District.

The KJO 105.5 Canned Film Festival kicked off Tuesday morning giving the community a chance to feed others and watch a movie at the same time.

Each week until July 29 two movies will be held at Hollywood Stadium 10 on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.  Admission is free with a canned food donation.

Tuesday’s showings kicked off with Annie and Nut Job.  Doors open at 9 a.m. and it’s on a first-come first-serve basis.

All of the donations will go to benefit the Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

Week 1 June 2-3: Nut Job (PG), Annie (PG)

Week 2 June 9-10: Earth to Echo (PG), Boxtrolls (PG)

Week 3 June 16-17: Paddington (PG), Turbo (PG)

Week 4 June 23-24: Rio 2 (G), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG)

Week 5 June 31-July 1: Mr. Peabody (PG), Book of LIfe (PG)

Week 6 July 7-8: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG), Penguins of Madagascar (PG)

Week 7 July 14-15: Madagascar 3 (PG), Dolphin Tale 2 (PG)

Week 8 July 21-22: Muppets Most Wanted (PG), Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible…(PG)

Week 9 July 28-29: The Lego Movie (PG), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (PG)

A Kansas City man has been charged in Buchanan County for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual conduct.

69-year-old Thomas Richard Demark of Kansas City, Mo was charged Saturday with a felony for Attempted Enticement of a Child under the age of 15.

According to court documents signed by Detective Thomas Cates with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Dept. Demark arrived near the area of South 36th Street and Pickett Road around 5 p.m. Saturday after days of extended electronic, internet based, enticing communications, with an individual he believed was a 13-year-old girl for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct.

The probable cause statement said Demark went through extensive communication and instruction with an underage female, instructed the female how to delete information from the communication device the female was using so as to destroy evidence of their communications.  It also said Demark traveled from the middle of Kansas City to take part in sexual acts with an underage target which they discussed during their communications.

Cates stated that Demark also brough instruments used during sex acts with him in a back pack including lubricants, condoms and sexual devices.

Demark was found to be armed with a pistol at the time of his arrest and allegedly tried to access it while being apprehended by law enforcement.

He is currently being held in the Buchanan County Jail on $10,000 bond. An arraignment has been set for Tuesday.

 

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce is making an effort to “Cash Mob” select downtown businesses Tuesday.

The Chamber said the purpose of a Cash Mob is to bring a large amount of customers into a business in a short amount of time, to help boost the business’ bottom line.

“In other communities, Cash Mobs are typically held at just one business. We wanted to put our own twist on that,” said Natalie Redmond, Vice President of Membership for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “For our first Cash Mob, we chose some Chamber members that are located near each other downtown. We thought that might draw more people by offering a variety of businesses with different offerings.”

The community is invited to participate in the Cash Mob, from 4 to 7 p.m., by spending at least $20 at one or a combination of the following businesses:

Delish Bakery, 114 N. Seventh St.
Keeping Good Company, 114 S. Seventh St.
The Lucky Tiger, 718 Francis St.
Mod Podge, 624 Francis St.
Spectacular Settings, 118 N. Seventh St. (This event decoration business will provide wine during the Cash Mob.)

Participants are invited to stay downtown and enjoy drinks and/or dinner at Chamber member businesses like Barbosa’s, The Bistro, Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood & Steaks, Bourbon Street Seafood & Steaks, Fosters Wine and Martini Bar, Fredrick Inn Steakhouse, Geneo’s Pizza & Pub, Hi-Ho Bar and Grill, il Lazzarone and Norty’s Bar and Grill.

This is the first Cash Mob, future mobs will be in different parts of town and will feature both original St. Joseph businesses, as well as locally-operated franchises.

“We really want to encourage residents to remember all of the great businesses we have in St. Joseph and to shop here instead of going online,” Redmond said. “A Cash Mob may help introduce customers to a business they’ve never been to before, and should help boost sales for members.”