Fundraising efforts are once again underway to help The Open Door Food Kitchen serve up meals to the hungry.

Carlene Makawski with the Open Door Food Kitchen said it’s an effort that’s been going on for the past 32 years in St. Joseph.

“June of 1984 the first meal was served. They met first in the Salvation Army building. The first meal served was for 25 and it has grown from then,” Makawski said.

Makawski said the Food Kitchen also acts as a meeting place.

“For a lot of these people, this is their social gathering. This is where they meet their friends. It’s a good thing to have not only for the food aspect, but also for the social aspect,” Makawski said.

Leanne Smiley with The Open Door Food Kitchen said an annual fundraising banquet for the agency is coming up later this month.

“It’s the only fundraiser that we really do as far as a wide community involvement. We rely pretty heavily on that to fund us for a good portion of what we need to be successful,” Smiley said.

Reservations are being accepted until June 17th for the banquet.

“Reservations are needed so we know how much food to prepare,” Smiley said. “June 17th is the deadline to get reservations in. You can call The Open Door Food Kitchen to make those reservations.”

The upcoming banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 23rd, at The Knights of Columbus. Reservations are $35 per person. For more information call (816) 364-1085.

The Performing Arts Association of St. Joseph is beginning its 2016-2017 season.

The music of George and Ira Gershwin will start the season off in September. A variety of performers from comedians and magicians to tribute bands will comprise the season.
Single ticket sales begin Monday, June 13th and continue throughout the year.

For more information click here.

Benedictine College has been recognized as one of the top U.S. Catholic colleges by The Cardinal Newman Society.

Benedictine College President Stephen D. Minnis said the appeal of Benedictine is a combination of things.

“Here at benedictine College, our mission of community, faith and scholarship creates a perfect blend of authentic faith and college experiences that today’s young Catholics are looking for, ” Minnis said.

The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, a resource published by the society, highlights Benedictine on the cover of their 2016-2017 edition.

Click here to view the guide.

 

Letter carriers are asking the community for help collecting food for the hungry this weekend.

Local efforts for Stamp Out Hunger, a nationwide food drive will take place Saturday in St. Joseph.

Second Harvest has partnered with KCP&L, area Hy-Vee stores, Feeding Missouri and the National Association of Letter Carriers to collect food.

Stamp Out Hunger is the largest single-day food drive in the nation according to Second Harvest.

“The letter carriers are delivering the sacks door-to-door,” said Chad Higdon, Second Harvest Ex. Dir. “Individuals will put food in the sacks and leave them out by the mailbox on Saturday. The letter carriers will collect them and Second Harvest will distribute the food to our networks.”

Recommended donation items include soups, rice, and pasta as well as proteins like peanut butter and canned fish.

For more information contact The Second Harvest Community Food Bank at 816-364-FOOD

School consolidation was considered by the St. Joseph School District Wednesday evening.

The board of education reviewed QLEO (CLEE-Oh) Analysis results. The analysis concerns the consolidation of several St. Joseph schools under different scenarios. QLEO was prepared by BLDD Architects.

Sam Johnson, Principal of BLDD Architects said the analysis will help SJSD make the best decision with regard to saving money.

“QLEO analysis will essentially tell them which investment, moving forward, provides the best return on their dollars,” Johnson said.

Johnson said his team looked at some specific proposals the district are considering.

“They want us to do an analysis to understand if they were making a good decision in the long run,” Johnson said.

St. Joseph School Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart said the consolidation plans are not set in stone.

“There’s been nothing decided. What the community desires helps lay out the vision we are looking for,” Newhart said.

Newhart said the plans will take some time to be put in action.

“It’s going to take several years to really get this in place. This is a road map laying out a vision for the school district and the community,” he said

The Salvation Army is celebrating National Salvation Army Week starting Tuesday.

Major Abe Tamayo with the St. Joseph chapter said National Salvation Army Week began in 1954.

“It was brought under president Eisenhower. It was in recognition of the army’s work in the United States,” he said.

Tamayo said the celebration is a way to show gratitude to the community.

“We are glad to provide our services and to say ‘thank you’ to the community and to serve those in need,” he said.

The Salvation Army has been serving St. Joseph for over a century.

“In 1886 we opened our doors up here in St. Joseph, Missouri. 130 years out of 150 years in existence is pretty phenomenal,” Tamayo said.

The St. Joseph Salvation Army will host a cookout and open house on Sunday, May 15th from 2-4pm at their downtown location.

“It’s an open house for people to come in. Supporters, volunteers, donors and people who need help can come and enjoy a grill-out. That’s happening at our location at 602 Messanie St. here in St. Joseph,” Tamayo said.

The Salavation Army of Buchanan County can be reached at (816) 232-5824

A candidate in the race for Buchanan County Sheriff has withdrawn from the primary.

Pat Grove has withdrawn his name from the Republican ballot in the race for sheriff on the primary election in August.

“It just seemed like it was the right thing to do. I’m just loking forward to trying to save the taxpayers money and move my candidacy in a different direction and to alleviate headaches for everybody,” Grove said.

A civil complaint questioning Grove’s qualification at the time of filing was brought against him last week by the Current Undersheriff Bill Puett, also a candidate for the office.

“There is an issue of licensing,” Puett told us last week in an interview. ”You have to have a license when you file as a peace officer. Only a person with standing, meaning another candidate can bring that forward.”

Puett said it’s a legal issue.

“We’re asking the court to look at it and determine whether everybody is eligible to run for sheriff,” Puett said.

After meeting with his campaign team Grove decided that pulling out of the primary was the best way forward.

“I am going to file as an independent candidate which will allow me to be on the November general ballot,” Grove said.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A Joplin man has pleaded guilty to setting a fire that destroyed a mosque and attempting to burn down a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Monday 32-year-old Jedediah Stout pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield.

The building for the Islamic Society of Joplin burned in August 2012. That fire came about a month after an unsuccessful attempt to burn the building.

Stout confessed to setting fire to the mosque after he was arrested in 2013 for twice trying to burn down the Planned Parenthood clinic in Joplin. Prosecutors said he threw a backpack containing flammable liquid onto the clinic’s roof and lighted a rope attached as a fuse. The clinic doesn’t provide abortions.

He will be sentenced after a pre-sentence investigation is completed.