ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Resurfacing work will begin on Route YY (Mitchell Avenue) in St. Joseph Monday.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc., working with MoDOT, will resurface Mitchell between the U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) and Route AC (Riverside Road). Crews will mill off the old surface and then lay down new asphalt through this area. Shoulder work is also included on this project.

On Monday, June 3, the contractor plans to close all westbound lanes. Only eastbound traffic on Mitchell will be permitted. This traffic pattern will continue until all westbound lanes are resurfaced, which should take one week.

On Monday, June 10, all eastbound lanes will close and only westbound traffic will be permitted. Turning from the Belt Highway, Riverside Road and all entrances along Mitchell will also be restricted. All work is scheduled to be complete by Friday, June 14.

Work will take place during daylight hours with crews working five days per week. Some work may occur on the weekends, if necessary, to complete the project on time. All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled.

Motorists are urged to use caution and obey all traffic control, including signs and flaggers. Delays are expected, so drivers may want to choose an alternate route during this project.

For more information, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map.

Seven people died in traffic crashes over the 2019 Memorial Day weekend.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, during the counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, May 24, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 27, 2019, the Patrol investigated 298 traffic crashes with 106 injuries. Troopers made 95 driving while intoxicated arrests and 93 drug arrests.

There was one boating fatality over the 2019 Memorial Day weekend. Marine operations troopers investigated six boating crashes involving three injuries. There were no drownings during the 2019 Memorial Day holiday. Marine operations troopers arrested nine boaters for boating while intoxicated and made 27 drug arrests.

William A. Gordon-Price, 27, of Overland Park, KS, died after he went swimming off his Sweetwater Pontoon vessel. He went under and did not resurface. The incident occurred in Camden County at the Lake of the Ozarks at the one-mile marker of the Grand Glaize Arm. Camden County Medical Examiner Dee Ballard pronounced Gordon-Price dead at the scene. Gordon-Price was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. The Patrol’s Dive Team, Osage Beach Fire Department, Mid-County Fire Department, Lake Ozark Fire Department, and Osage Beach Police Department assisted at the scene.

Troopers have investigated all seven traffic crash fatalities. Five fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area, and one each occurred in the Troop G, Willow Springs, and Troop I, Rolla, areas.

One traffic fatality occurred on Friday, May 24, 2019, during the counting period. Clarence E. McPherson, 67, of Virginia Beach, VA, died when he was struck by a vehicle. McPherson was in the roadway at the time of the crash, which occurred in St. Louis County south of Interstate 70 on Natural Bridge Road. Dr. Bokiej pronounced McPherson dead at SSM Health DePaul Hospital. The driver of the vehicle that struck McPherson was not injured in the incident; he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Berkeley, MO, Police Department assisted at the scene.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Maria I. Stone, 59, of Lebanon, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger struck another vehicle head on. The other vehicle was turning onto Missouri Highway 32 from Red Oak and entered the path of the vehicle carrying Stone. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 21 east of Lebanon. Dr. Eric Funk pronounced Stone dead at Cox North Hospital in Springfield, MO. The driver and two additional passengers sustained minor injuries; another passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash. Stone and all other people in that vehicle were wearing seat belts. The driver of the second vehicle was not wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries.

Robert M. Stump, 49, of Lake St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. He was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Missouri Highway 94 west of Howell Road. St. Charles County EMS personnel pronounced Stump dead at the scene. A passenger in Stump’s vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained minor injuries.

St. Charles County Police Department assisted at the scene.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Sunday, May 26, 2019. Delphine D. Stegall, 43, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving was struck in the rear. Stegall’s vehicle had experienced a flat tire and she was attempting to pull over to the right shoulder at the time her vehicle was struck. Stegall was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Interstate 270 at Missouri Highway 367. Christian EMS Paramedic Perry Schneider pronounced Stegall dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; he sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Colton Ogden, 14, of Licking, MO, died when the ATV he was operating left the roadway and went through a fence. Ogden was ejected and struck a tree; he was not wearing a helmet. The crash occurred in Texas County on Pigeon Creek Road northeast of Licking, MO. Dr. Zereik pronounced Ogden dead at Texas County Memorial Hospital.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019. Charles M. Wilcox, 60, of Ballwin, MO, died when he attempted to make a right turn and entered the path of another vehicle. The other vehicle struck the right side of Wilcox’s vehicle. Wilcox was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Missouri Highway 100 at Pond Road. Dr. Tzau pronounced Wilcox dead at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries in the crash.

The remaining fatality is under investigation. There is no further information available.

Last year, 16 people were killed in traffic crashes over the three-day weekend. In 2018, troopers investigated 294 traffic crashes, which included 124 injuries. Troopers also arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated and made 102 drug arrests over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend. There were 14 boating crashes which included 10 injuries and one fatality. Two people drowned over last year’s holiday weekend. Troopers arrested 17 people for boating while intoxicated over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend.

A Missouri man was found guilty on all charges in a sexual abuse case from 2016.

According to the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Joseph Sousley, who was charged with three counts of sodomy in the first degree and one count of sexual abuse in the first degree, was found guilty on all charges on May 7, 2019, by a Buchanan County jury in front of Division 4 Circuit Court Judge Kellogg.

As previously reported, Sousley was charged in 2017, for abusing a St. Joseph teenager in June of 2016.

According to a press release from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the victim in the case, who was 14-years-old at the time of the offense, testified for nearly four hours over the last two days.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristina Zeit called eight witnesses to testify during the course of trial. After deliberating for approximately two hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all four counts.

Joseph Sousley faces up to life in prison on each of the three sodomy charges and up to 7 years in prison on the sexual abuse charge.

Sentencing has been set for June 13, 2019.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of May 6 – 12.

Continued flooding may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. There may also be moving operations throughout the region such as pothole patching, striping, signal work, etc., in addition to the work mentioned below.

All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

Andrew County

Route O – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through the end of September. Click here for more info.

Business U.S. 71 – Resurfacing project from Main Street in Savannah to just south of Interstate 29, May 6 – 10. One lane, each direction, will remain open at all times. This project will continue, Monday through Friday, through mid-May. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.

I-29 – Bridge joint repair, southbound only, at the Nodaway River Bridge, May 6 – 12. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Route V – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route Z to Route UU, May 7, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Atchison County

Route CC – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE due to a damaged culvert under the roadway.

Route J – CLOSED at the Tarkio River Bridge for a bridge replacement project through the end of August. Click here for more info.

U.S. Route 59 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 136 to the Tarkio River Bridge, May 6 – 10

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 59 – Drainage work in the city limits of Halls, May 6 – 8

U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED at the ramp from westbound U.S. Route 36 to Route 759 through the end of May.

U.S. Route 36 – Milling and resurfacing on various ramps between the ramps at 22nd Street and the ramps at the Belt Highway, May 7 – 9

Caldwell County

Route B – Pothole patching from Soon Line Drive to the Ray County line, May 6

Route B – Pothole patching from Nettleton Road to Route U, May 9 – 10

Carroll County

Route C – CLOSED until further notice at the Branch of Turkey Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding.

Chariton County

U.S. Route 24 – Bridge maintenance at the Long Creek Bridge and Chariton River Bridge near Keytesville. The bridges will be narrowed to one lane with a 15-foot width restriction through May 31.

Route W – Pavement repair from Route 129 to Route U, May 6 – 7

Route 5 – Resurfacing project from the city limits of Marceline to the city limits of Keytesville, May 6 – 10. This includes a 10-foot width restriction.

Route WW – Pavement repair from Route KK to the end of state maintenance, May 9 – 10

Route YY – CLOSED for a culvert replacement just west of Pershing Road, May 10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Clinton County

U.S. Route 69 – CLOSED for bridge rehabilitation at the I-35 overpass through early June. Click here for more info.

Daviess County

I-35 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge and the Grand River Overflow Bridge, May 6 – 10. A 16-foot width restriction is in place.

DeKalb County

U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED at the Third Fork Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project through the early July. Detour along Routes 48 and M. Click here for more info.

Gentry County

U.S. Route 136 – Resurfacing project from just east of U.S. Route 169 to 0.5 miles west of Route C in Albany, May 6 – 8

Harrison County

I-35 – Resurfacing project from Eagleville to the Iowa state line, May 6 – 10. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.

Holt County

I-29 – Bridge joint repair, southbound only, at the Nodaway River Bridge, May 6 – 12. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Linn County

Route 5 – Shoulder work from Route C to U.S. Route 36, May 6 – 7

U.S. Route 36 – Pothole patching from the Macon County line to Route 139, May 6 – 10. This includes overnight lane closures.

Route 129 – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Mesa Road to Nutmeg Road, May 9, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Livingston County

Route C – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Shoal Creek Drain Bridge through late May. The bridge was closed after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration.

Nodaway County

Route 46 – CLOSED for core drilling at the Stream and White Cloud Creek bridges, May 6, 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and May 7 – 9, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily.

Route 46 – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 136 to the city limits of Parnell, May 6 – 7

U.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching, May 6 – 8

Route NN – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Platte River Bridge, May 6 – 10, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily

Route 46 – Pothole patching from the city limits of Maryville to Route 113, May 9

Route ZZ – Pothole patching, May 10

Route 148 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 71 near Maryville, May 6 – 12

Putnam County

U.S. Route 136 – Scrub seal project from the city limits of Mount Moriah to Route FF, May 6 – 10. This includes a 12-foot width restriction with a pilot car directing traffic through the work zone.

Route W – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 149 to Route FF, May 7, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sullivan County

Route PP – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020. Click here for more info.

Route ZZ – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Fork Locust Creek near Harris through mid-July.

Route BB – CLOSED for a bridge deck replacement project at the Rooks Branch Bridge through mid-June.

Route 6 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Locust Creek Bridge through early July. Click here for more info.

Route K – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route EE to Jewel Road, May 6, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Worth County

Route YY – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the Middle Fork of the Grand River after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2021. Click here for more info.

Route Y – Pothole patching, May 6 – 7

Route 46 – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 169 to Route W, May 6 – 10

Routes W and Z – Pothole patching, May 9 – 10

A 19-year-old was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for a 2017 robbery.

According to the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Kayron Lorenzo Keith was sentenced by Judge Daniel Kellogg to serve a term of 10 years for Robbery in the First Degree following an evidentiary probation hearing in Division Four of the Circuit Court.

As previously reported, Keith was charged in reference to his participation in an armed robbery at the Quick Stop convenience store at 2607 Frederick on May 22, 2017.

Two individuals entered the store, armed with a handgun, and held up the clerk. Keith originally was placed on probation by Judge Kellogg and granted a suspended imposition of sentence and further ordered to spend 120 days in the Department of Corrections as shock detention and to receive drug treatment.

The Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office filed a motion to revoke his probation in March with the court concerning numerous alleged violations of the order of probation of the court, including failure to report as directed, changing his address without permission, receiving stolen property, and resisting arrest.

Prosecuting Attorney Ron Holliday explained that Keith would have to serve a minimum of 85% of the sentence before being considered for parole because the offense is a “dangerous felony” in the State of Missouri. Therefore, Keith will be required to serve a minimum of 8 1/2 years in the Department of Corrections.

A joint law enforcement investigation led to the arrest of a Worth County man for sex trafficking and kidnapping.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 65-year-old Austin E. Myers of Denver, Missouri, was arrested  for kidnapping, sexual trafficking of a child, and sodomy.

The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Offices of Worth County, Missouri, and Columbia County, Georgia, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Nodaway County Juvenile Office, and with assistance of the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center, of St. Joseph, Missouri.

According to a MSHP news release, on Wednesday, April 24, the Worth County Sheriff’s Office was informed of the possible location of a runaway juvenile, by the Columbia County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office.  The juvenile was reported to have run away from her home in Georgia and possibly at a residence on Highway M, in Denver, Missouri. Upon arrival at the residence, officers made contact with the juvenile from Georgia and Myers, who was the resident of the home. It was later found out that the juvenile had not been at Myers’ residence willingly.

As a result of a search of Myers’ residence, investigators seized computer equipment believed to have been used during the crimes. Members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigative Unit conducted forensic examinations on the computer equipment seized. As a result of the investigation, Myers was arrested and transported to the Worth County Sheriff’s Office. Myers was charged with first degree kidnapping, second degree sexual trafficking of a child, and first-degree sodomy. Myers’ bond was set at $125,000.00.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control encourages internet users to promptly report to the Patrol or local law enforcement anyone who attempts to engage in unwanted, inappropriate, or sexualized communications with children. If you, or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave- please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at: 1-888-3737-888; or text 233733 (BeFree).

The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a body was found Friday morning in Caldwell County.

According to the MSHP, at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Friday, troopers responded just south of Polo at Hideaway Lakes, at the request of the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, after a body was located in the water. Troop H marine enforcement troopers recovered the body of a white male.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division Of Drug and Crime Control investigators are leading the investigation. An autopsy is pending and further information will be provided when it becomes available.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University approved tuition, room and board rates for the 2019-2020 school year.

For undergraduate, in-state students, tuition will rise 5.5 percent, or about $12.70 per credit hour, while all other required fees remain flat. A student taking 15 credit hours per semester will pay $191 more per semester in tuition and fees. The 5.5 percent increase is below the 6.17 percent allowed by state law.

All other rates, including online tuition, graduate tuition, out-of-state undergraduate tuition and tuition at locations other than the St. Joseph campus, will rise 5 percent.

Room rates will increase 2 to 3 percent, or $47 to $105 per semester, depending on the residence hall. The board rates will increase about 3 percent, or from $61 to $63, depending on the meal plan chosen.

For an in-state undergraduate student taking 15 credit hours and living in Scanlon Hall with an unlimited meal plan, total costs will increase $301 per semester.

Also at the Thursday meeting:

·         The Board of Governors approved the installation of variable volume dampers on fume hoods in Remington and Agenstein Halls. The Board approved a bid of $722,600 from IHP Industrial, Inc., of St. Joseph for the dampers, which will reduce energy consumption for an annual utility savings of up to $117,000.

·         The Board formally approved the naming of the “Drew H. Brown Arts Annex,” a proposed addition to Potter Hall. Brown, a St. Joseph resident, announced earlier this month a gift of $1 million to help fund the construction project.

·         Two new board members were sworn in. Al Landes and Rick Ebersold, both of St. Joseph, were appointed by Gov. Mike Parson last month.

– Missouri Western State University news release –