(news release) JEFFERSON CITY – To prepare for the winter months the Missouri Department of Transportation is stocking salt and preparing equipment. To test crews’ readiness, MoDOT will hold a statewide drill on Thursday.

The drill tests MoDOT’s winter battle plan to ensure its readiness to get travelers back on Missouri roadways as quickly as possible after winter storms.

“Over 3,200 MoDOT employees are involved in our winter operations, including every maintenance crew across the state,” said State Maintenance Engineer Becky Allmeroth. “The annual drill helps to make sure we all know our roles during a storm, and we can do our jobs successfully.”

During the drill, MoDOT employees will react to a simulated forecast of significant snow for the entire state. The department’s emergency operations centers will activate and maintenance employees will be deployed to MoDOT’s 1,500 trucks. Emergency communications systems will also be tested.

“One of the most valuable parts of the drill is to measure our snowplow assignments by driving routes we may have modified since the previous winter season. As we open new roads and lanes we must modify our snow removal plans.” said Allmeroth. “It also allows our newest snow fighters the opportunity to drive a snowplow over some of their proposed routes so they are aware of obstacles and obstructions that might be hidden in a storm by snow or ice such as curbs and raised islands.”

Motorists may notice increased numbers of MoDOT vehicles on state routes during the drill. In rural areas, crews will deploy after 8 a.m. In urban areas, the drill will not begin until after 9 a.m. The exercise should be completed by 3 p.m.

The drill isn’t the only element to MoDOT’s winter weather operations. All maintenance employees complete an annual winter skills training that serves as a refresher course for plowing snow. The training assures that proper equipment operation, plowing techniques and safety measures are fresh on employees’ minds as winter approaches. Every piece of equipment – every truck, motor grader, snow blower, and tractor – is inspected to ensure proper operation.

“Our ultimate goal is to handle the first snowfall like we’ve been plowing snow all year,” said Allmeroth. “Careful planning and preparation mean our crews can mobilize when needed and our equipment will be ready.”

The Missouri Department of Transportation annually spends an average of $45 million to keep roads clear in the winter and help ensure motorists get to their destinations safely and quickly. For information on road conditions across the state, safe traveling tips, and other winter weather information, visit www.modot.org.

(News release) – The sixth annual Walk for the Homeless will be held on Friday, Nov. 3 in downtown St. Joseph. Registration begins at 4 p.m. at Sixth and Messanie Streets, with the walk beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The walk will follow the migration path followed by the homeless to access services in downtown St. Joseph. The walk raises awareness and funds for the Social Welfare Board’s Home Unit to help the homeless in our area with transportation costs, medical expenses, job searching and miscellaneous needs.

Register in advance by visiting www.socialwelfareboard.org and clicking on the Walk for the Homeless link at the bottom of the page. Participants donating $15 or more will receive a t-shirt.

The Walk for the Homeless is co-sponsored by the Missouri Western State University Organization of Student Social Workers; Missouri Western’s Department of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies and Social Work; and several community organizations and businesses.

A jury trial has been set in Clinton County for one of two men accused of murdering a man they allegedly thought to be a “snitch”.

As we previously reported, Joseph “Chaos” Seward and Micha Wynes are each charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Donald “DC” Hadden. Seward is also charged with armed criminal action.

Earlier this year, skeletal remains of Hadden were found by a resident near Cannonball Road and Missouri Highway 33 in Clinton County. Hadden was reported missing in 2015. According to court affidavits, the victim was a heroin user who was believed by his accused killers of being a confidential informant, a “snitch.” They believed Hadden stole identification, cash and drugs from fourth man, while that man was suffering from a heroin overdose. The defendants allegedly offered to “get DC to a bus station to get him out of town,” but “DC responded that he wasn’t going anywhere” and that “he wasn’t going to run.” Then, according to the affidavit, they drove around “in the middle of nowhere” until they ran out of gas. In an interview with investigators, Seward allegedly told authorities he saw Wynes shoot Hadden.

According to online court documents, last week a jury trial was set for May 2, 2018 for Wynes. Friday, a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Seward for Dec. 6.

A two-vehicle crash in Daviess County resulted in the death of a 63-year-old Rogersville man Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jay Williams was driving a 2003 Dodge Ram eastbound on Elmwood Ave. in Pattonsburg around 3:20 p.m. and Greg Linthacum, 52 of Ridgeway was driving a 1998 Peterbilt northbound on US 69. The Patrol said Williams tried to cross US 69 and his vehicle was hit on the passenger side by the semi. Williams was transported by ambulance to Harrison County Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased less than two hours later. Williams was not reported to be wearing a seat belt. No injuries were reported for the other driver.

(News release) – Open burning for fall 2017 has been approved for Monday, November 6, 2017 through Sunday, November 26, 2017 by the Chief of Enforcement Section of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Open burning is permitted on these days within the City of St. Joseph under the following guidelines:

• Burning of yard waste of residential properties only – ONLY dry yard waste such
as leaves, brush and logs grown on the property can be burned. NO trash, paper,
lumber or building debris may be burned.
• Burning is allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• All fires must be in an upright cylindrical metal container with a volume equal to
no more than 55 gallons. Containers must be located at least fifteen (15) feet away from
any building. Only one burn container per residence.
• All fires shall be monitored from a point on the property where the fire is located,
by a person capable of containing a fire, should containment become necessary.
• Fire-fighting material, including but not limited to, a garden hose or a container
of water sufficient to contain any fire started shall be at the site of the fire.
• If weather conditions such as high winds indicate the safety of the community or
the public may be endangered or if open burning may create a health hazard, the Fire
Chief or Health Director may invoke a temporary burning ban.
Any violation of the open burning restrictions may result in a summons to appear in
court for a misdemeanor violation.

Residents are encouraged to explore alternatives to open burning. Many options for
disposing of yard waste are easy, do not contribute to air pollution, are not dependent
on time restrictions or the weather, and provide the healthy benefit of physical activity
while doing yard work instead of breathing acrid smoke from a waste fire. Such activities
include mowing leaves into fine particles and leaving them lay to fertilize the lawn, or
incorporating leaves into a mulch container to decompose into humus for use in
vegetable and flower gardens or for use on lawns as a soil amendment. Larger wood
brush that can be chipped makes excellent mulch around trees and shrubs. Family and
friends with gardens may want additional yard waste to use as mulch.
If you choose to burn, please do so within the days provided, as open burning session
will not be extended due to weather blackout dates.

(news release) ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Electrical work on U.S. Route 36 near 9th and 10th Streets will briefly close those ramps next week.

Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will close the ramps on eastbound U.S. Route 36 at 9th and 10th Streets on Tuesday, Oct. 31 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to perform routine electrical maintenance. Motorists should use an alternate route during the closure.