Python up for adoption at the St. Joseph Animal Shelter. Photo by Sarah Thomack.
A python found outside a local business last week is available for adoption at the St. Joseph Animal Shelter.
Employees at First American Title found the large snake outside their office Wednesday afternoon and called the St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue. According to Animal Control and Rescue Senior Officer Stephen Norman, the ball python was docile and easily caught.
No one has claimed the python and he is at the Animal Shelter awaiting adoption. Bids for adoption will be accepted until 2 p.m. on Thursday. According to Humane Educator Jenna Keyes, anyone interested in adopting can stop by the shelter and submit a dollar amount they would be interested in paying for the python. That amount is placed in a sealed envelope which will be opened, along with any other envelopes, after 2 p.m. on Thursday. The person with the highest bid will have the first opportunity to adopt.
Keyes said if the python doesn’t get adopted on bid day, they will keep him there and continue looking for a home for him and possibly reach out to reputable reptile rescue organizations for any resources they may have available.
For more information on the python or other animals at the shelter, call (816) 271-4877.
Soles for Christ shoe distribution at the AFL-CIO Community Services building. Photo by Sarah Thomack.
The annual Soles for Christ shoe distribution began Monday morning with people lining up outside the AFL-CIO Community Services building at 11 p.m. Sunday.
The program has been helping students start off their school year with new shoes since 2003.
Last year, Soles for Christ provided shoes for 1,179 children and about 1,200 are expected this year. By 10:30 a.m. Monday morning, over 100 shoes had been distributed and the line of people was still out the door and around the building.
Volunteers distributing shoes at the Soles for Christ distribution at the AFL-CIO Community Services building. Photo by Sarah Thomack.
One mother was waiting with her children for about two and a half hours before they were able to try on and receive shoes. She said the wait is worth it because receiving shoes helps take the burden off their family.
“Otherwise when you can’t pay your bills, you have to take money from your bill money to pay for new shoes,” she said. “And they have pretty decent shoes (here), I mean, they have name-brand shoes and sometimes you can’t afford those in the store.”
Shoe distribution takes place until 4 p.m. on Monday and from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday at the AFL-CIO Community Services building at 1203 North 6th Street. For more information, call (816) 364-1131.
A program providing students with new shoes for the school year takes place this week.
The Soles for Christ Shoe Program has been taking in shoe donations from the community for some time and distribution starts Monday.
AFL-CIO Community Services Executive Director Penny Adams said the program started in 2003 because teachers noticed students starting school without a good pair of shoes.
“I can remember as a child having new tennis shoes and a new notebook and I was all excited to go back to school,” Adams said. “When you don’t have the basics to start school it’s kind of hard to even want to go back so we hope this will encourage them and lighten their spirits and get them ready to learn again.”
The program serves children entering preschool up to 12th grade in Andrew and Buchanan Counties in Missouri and Doniphan County in Kansas. This includes public and parochial children.
There are no income guidelines but proof of residency and child’s age are required. Parents or guardians should also bring a pair of socks for the child to try on shoes.
Last year, Soles for Christ provided shoes for 1,179 children and about 1,200 are expected this year.
Shoe distribution takes place from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday and from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday at the AFL-CIO Community Services building at 1203 North 6th Street. For more information, call (816) 364-1131.
Signage for lounge door courtesy East Hills Shopping Center
(Update 4:40 p.m.) – Since this article ran East Hills Shopping Center has updated its plans for the future of the breastfeeding lounge due to public input and issued this statement:
“After several complaints, East Hills Shopping Center has decided to remove both the adult and children’s size toilets from the new breastfeeding lounge. This space will solely be used for the purpose of breastfeeding and not a restroom facility. The photo shown was a preview of the space, which has yet to be finalized. The room will also feature an activity table for children, a diaper changing station and breastfeeding pamphlets. As stated in the article, the final project will be unveiled on Saturday. East Hills Shopping Center would like to specify that we support all breastfeeding mothers. Due to requests from our customers and employees, we decided to offer a private space for mothers who might be more comfortable in a lockable space away from the public instead of in their cars or in a restroom stall. It is still a mother’s right to breastfeed in public anytime, anywhere. That is why we have hosted the Big Latch in our shopping center for several years. We are hoping this new space is a step in the right direction of normalizing breastfeeding and supporting our local breastfeeding mothers.”
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The new breastfeeding lounge at East Hills Shopping Center.
(11:39 a.m.) – East Hills Shopping Center announces a new feature for breastfeeding moms who work or shop at the St. Joseph location.
A new breastfeeding lounge will be unveiled at East Hills this weekend as a part of World Breastfeeding Week.
East Hills Marketing Manager Regan Lyons said they’ve been working with La’Sherrie Tyes at the Department of Health to become a Gold Level Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite.
“We saw the need and we’d been talking about it for quite awhile,” Lyons said. “I know two of us in the office were breastfeeding mothers for over a year and we saw different employees of our stores needing a place and we had several shoppers asking for it. So that’s why we decided to meet that need.”
Lyons said the lounge, located near the restrooms by the food court, includes a comfortable bench, an end table, plugs for breast pumps, a diaper changing station and a sink and a toilet.
East Hills will unveil the new lounge after the St. Joe Latch from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Hospitality Manager Austin Miller demonstrates the Digital Refresh Station.
Hospitality Manager Austin Miller demonstrates ordering a customized meal on the kiosk.
Endless fries basket.
Franchise owner and operator Chris Habiger speaks at press event Wednesday.
Customizable dessert menu.
Inside the McDonald’s location at 3417 N. Belt Hwy.
Digital game screens in the playroom.
Endless fries are coming to St. Joseph this week as part of a grand opening promotion at one McDonald’s.
According to franchise owner and operator Chris Habiger the concept for the “McDonald’s of the future” began years ago. Construction on the St. Joseph location began in March.
“We’re so excited to bring a modern, progressive burger and breakfast destination to St. Joe,” Habiger said. “It has tremendous amenities from interactive play for kids of all ages to customization where you can build a burger or chicken sandwich of your dreams.”
According to Habiger, the way the endless fries promotion works is when a customer orders a burger or chicken sandwich and makes it a meal the fries are endless. The promotion will last for two months or possibly longer depending on how it goes. Fries are served in a basket so employees know to refill the fries while the customer is in the restaurant.
Habiger said even with it being a more digital experience, at this new location they had the opportunity to hire more than 100 people.
“This restaurant will have our highest staffing levels of any of our restaurants,” Habiger said. “Even with the kiosks, we have individuals, our concierge service, to guide our customers through that digital experience. The kiosks really are more about giving customers choice through the process on how they can pick their own ingredients, they’re not there to replace our employees, it’s really about helping give our customers the kind of choices they want at McDonald’s.”
At 10 a.m. Thursday the St. Joseph McDonald’s location at 3417 North Belt Hwy will officially open to the public.
Final results show Col. Bill Puett beating out Ed Sexton with 70.82% of the Republican vote for the Buchanan County Sheriff’s spot on the November ballot.
Puett said he’s going to continue work hard to push a positive message ahead of November elections.
“I’d really like to thank everyone – family, friends, supporters – everyone that worked really hard to get us here,” Puett said. “All the support of the citizens who voted and showed a great deal with their vote – it’s just very overwhelming and humbling.”
In November, Puett will face Democratic challenger Ron Fisher and Pat Grove who previously said he plans to file as an independent candidate.
Businessman Scott Burnham has won the spot on the November ballot for Eastern District County Commissioner.
Burnham beat out incumbent Dan Hausman with 62.31% of the vote.
“It was a great win,” Burnham said. “It was a hard fought race and it’s been a great experience, a very humbling experience and I’m just extremely excited and proud of the support that I got here from the voters in Buchanan County.”
Burnham said he’s soaking in Tuesday night’s win but will continue working now until the November election.
“I don’t know that there’s going to be a lot of change in my game plan,” Burnham said. “We just went out and we talked to the people, knocked on a lot of doors and made some phone calls, just out visiting, getting information, ideas and beliefs from different people in our community. We listened to them and we shared our message and tried to stay on message and that was bringing honesty and integrity and accountability to the courthouse.”
Burnham faces Democratic challenger Tom Archdekin in the November election.
A change of venue and voting on changes are themes Tuesday morning during the first hours of the Primary Election.
According to the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office, because of construction work and some security issues at the Missouri National Guard Armory location, the polling place was moved. Locations in that area include Our Lady of Guadalupe at 4503 Frederick Avenue, Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church at 5502 Frederick Avenue and Bible Baptist Temple at 5401 Mitchell Avenue.
County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey is predicting a voter turnout of around 28%. Members of the Eastside Lion’s Club working at the Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church location said so far this morning, voter turnout has been better than previous years.
New Teacher Institute Luncheon 2016. Photo by Sarah Thomack.
With about two weeks left before school starts, the St. Joseph School District kicked off their New Teacher Institute Monday morning.
The three-day event for new teachers includes various sessions to help teachers get acclimated to the district and get ready for their first day of class.
A luncheon, hosted by the St. Joseph Women’s Chamber of Commerce was held Monday at the Moila Shrine Temple. The luncheon celebrated not only the 145 new teachers there but all the teachers getting ready for a new school year in St. Joseph.
Melissa Schubert is a first grade teacher for the St. Joseph School District and was Co-Chair for the luncheon this year. She said she’s excited to begin classes with a new group of students.
“I am super excited just to meet my new kids,” Schubert said. “It’s so fun every year to meet them and build relationships with them and to watch them grow and learn and there’s nothing better than to see them ‘get’ something for the first time.”
One of the speakers at the luncheon commented on the excited atmosphere in the room and Schubert said the district is ready to move forward into a new school year.
“The school district, as a whole, is really trying to move forward and move past things that have maybe happened in the past,” Schubert said. “So just trying to keep that positive attitude going into a new year and focusing on our students and doing what’s best for them and making steps to make progress from where we have been in the past.”
The first day of school for the St. Joseph School District is Monday, August 15th.
Police are still investigating after a man was injured during a shooting Sunday night in the area of Bon Ton and Union.
According to the St. Joseph Police Department, the shooting occurred at 11:45 p.m. and stemmed from a disturbance between several people. A 24-year-old man ended up being shot in the upper leg once. It was a non-life threatening injury and he was transported to Mosaic.
Captain Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said the suspect is a 30-year-old black male who fled the scene in a vehicle before police arrived.
Detectives are still searching for the suspect and working on leads into the case. Wilson said neither the victim or the suspect are St. Joseph residents.
