The Red Cross will help area residents take a small, but important safety measure by installing free smoke alarms throughout northwest Missouri.

The Sound the Alarm campaign is a national campaign of the American Red Cross. The goal in the northwest Missouri area is to install 300 alarms between April 27th and May 12th.

“It’s something that’s so simple and can save lives,” said Julie Pedrosa with the Northwest Missouri Chapter of the Red Cross.

Pedrosa said smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years.

“They do have an expiration date, a lot of people don’t know that. Generally, when the fire department or someone is installing your alarm, your alarm should have a date in there, to let you know how old it is, and if it’s older than 10 years, or it’s approaching that 10 year mark, you need to get the whole alarm replaced, not just the battery,” Pedrosa said. “Another clue is, if you don’t have a date or don’t really see it, if your smoke alarm looks yellow, it’s probably time to get it replaced.”

The Red Cross and its partners will install free smoke alarms for those who can’t afford to purchase smoke alarms or for anyone physically unable to install a smoke alarm. In northwest Missouri, volunteers will assist in installing free smoke alarms in homes on April 20 in Maryville and on April 27 in St. Joseph.

To set up an appointment, visit getasmokealarm.org or call the Red Cross at (816) 841-5204.

Pedrosa said they are also recruiting volunteers to help with installs. Click here for more information.

By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post

American Red Cross is partnering with local disaster assistance organizations to offer information on resources for those impacted by recent flooding.

Buchanan County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Brinton said the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) is a location where state agencies and local agencies will come and meet with victims of a disaster.

“It’s a standard procedure following a disaster. They will tell them what different kinds of resources are available to help them get their lives back in order,” Brinton said. “They will check you in, and you will go from station to station to find out what type of help is available for you. They even have a place for children where they can play games and stuff. It’s kind of in a stress-free environment where people can find out what kind of help is out there for them.”

The Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will be open at the following locations and dates from noon to 7 p.m. each day:

4/8/19 Atchison County, Velma Houts Building, 201 E. Hwy 136, Rock Port, MO

4/9/19 Buchanan County, The Keys Christian Church Gymnasium, 6001 S. 9th St., St. Joseph

4/10/19 Holt County, Mound City R2 Multipurpose Room, 708 Nebraska St., Mound City, MO

 

The Red Cross, along with representatives from government, nonprofit, and religiously-affiliated disaster relief organizations will be on hand at the MARC to assist those impacted.

Individuals and families applying for assistance are required to bring identification showing address and proof of residence to be eligible for assistance from some agencies.

Brinton said anyone who has been impacted by the flood should come to one of the Resource Center locations next week.

“We did damage assessment on 61 homes in Lewis and Clark Village and I think that the City of St. Joseph did damage assessment on approximately 10 houses, so there’s at least 71 different families who should be attending this.”

Brinton added he anticipates 59 Highway could possibly open on Monday but they are continuing to monitor conditions on a day-to-day basis.

By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post

Second Harvest Community Food Bank is implementing a change they hope will ultimately serve more food insecure families in the area.

Second Harvest plans to transition it’s Fresh Start program to holding a weekly Mega Mobile.

Second Harvest Communications Coordinator Blake Haynes said Fresh Start is on-site pantry for non-perishable goods as well as meat, dairy and more. Haynes compares the Mega Mobile, which was first held in December, to a fresh mobile pantry. They distributed fresh produce, lean proteins, milk and more to the general public.

Two other separate Mega Mobiles were held in February and March, providing over 21,000 pounds of fresh produce and more.

“Having this transition, we think, is going to better serve our members that utilize our services,” Haynes said. “It also opens it up to other members that may be on the income guideline, right there on that threshold, that aren’t able to utilize our services because they make, maybe, $50 more than what is allowed, so it opens this program up to them. It’s going to be able to allow us to reach more of those that are in need.”

Effective May 6th, Fresh Start will only be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“This is going to lead into a weekly Mega Mobile that will take effect July 1st, so the Fresh Start program is going to be transitioning into a weekly mobile there on site at Second Harvest, at 915 Douglas. We’re reaching those that we’re not currently reaching through the Fresh Start pantry,” Haynes said. “Another thing is… it addresses some weather, health and safety concerns. Now with the Mega Mobile, you’re in your car, you’re not out in the elements, you’re driving right up getting your product.”

Haynes said, moving forward, with the Mega Mobile being open to the general public, it will eliminate the need for a pantry card to utilize those services. To obtain a pantry card, members have to apply on-site and have access to their personal identification documents, which not all can provide.

Dates and times for each Mega Mobile will be sent out through Second Harvest’s text message notification system, TextCaster. To register for TextCaster, contact Second Harvest at (816) 364-3663.

Eleven people were transported to the hospital after a crash Thursday afternoon in St. Joseph.

According to Sgt. Chris McBane with the St. Joseph Police Department, shortly before 2 p.m., a Chevrolet Tahoe turned in front of a 15 passenger van at King Hill Ave. and Alabama St. and was hit by the van. McBane said 13 people were in the van and 11 were transported to Mosaic Life Care with minor injuries.

No injuries were reported for the driver of the Tahoe, who was issued a traffic summons for failure to yield.

By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post

Tuesday’s General Municipal Election ballot is short, but Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey is predicting a 40% turnout at the polls.

“I think people are going to show up, it’s going to be a nice day and I just think this election is pretty darn important and I think they’re going to show up and cast their votes,” Baack-Garvey said.

Voters will cast a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote on the proposed 61-cent tax levy and they will be deciding on who will fill two open seats on the St. Joseph School District Board of Education.

Baack-Garvey said voters need a form of ID to get checked in to vote at their polling place.

“If they’re unsure as to where they need to go to vote, they should call our office and we will direct them to the correct polling location,” Baack-Garvey said. “Any questions that they have, I advise they should call us.”

Visit the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office website or call (816) 271-1412.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post

Opening Day will be Friday for a renovated movie theater in Atchison.

Atchison Chamber of Commerce President Jacque Pregont said the Fox Theatre Atchison underwent a restoration project and there are three individual theaters within the building.

“There’s one downstairs and there’s another one upstairs and those both seat 120-140 people and then there’s a real small theater that just seats about 20… we’ll have three films in it this Friday when it opens, but it can also be used for a private event,” Pregont said. “(It has) fantastic comfortable seats, it’s just beautiful to see an old building brought back to life and we’re so excited to have a movie theater open again in town.”

Showing this weekend will be Dumbo, Captain Marvel and How to Train Your Dragon 3. For more information about Fox Theatre Atchison, visit their Facebook page.