MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular meeting Friday approved the University’s fees for the 2018-2019 academic year.

According to a news release, the fees consist of Student Senate-approved designated fees aimed at improving organizational viability and miscellaneous fees for revenue-generating services and internal services provided by University departments.

The designated fees approved Friday by the Board and approved April 3 by Northwest’s Student Senate consist of an increase of $1 per credit hour to support the operational needs of Safe Ride Home and expand its service times; an increase of $1.75 per credit hour to support Northwest’s student employment program, help cover minimum wage increases and increase the number of positions available on campus; and an increase of $2.50 per credit hour to enhance technology security and access needs.

Presenting the fee proposals to the Board, Northwest Vice President of Finance State Carrick said administrators offer multiple options for the Student Senate to consider. She said students requested the highest fee option for Safe Ride and a fee increase to student employment beyond the University’s proposal.

“Our students do a very good job of engaging and understanding what we’re bringing forward and push us in areas where they see value in programs,” Carrick said.

Northwest’s miscellaneous fees include items and services such as athletics tickets, facility rentals, parking, and caps and gowns for the University’s commencement ceremonies. Carrick explained the University’s finance department works with other departments throughout the year to evaluate revenues, expenses and fees for various programs and services.

The Board’s approval of the student-approved fees follows its vote last month to book a 2.1 percent tuition increase for undergraduate students in 2018-19, based on the allowable Consumer Price Index (CPI) and a Missouri statute that limits the state’s colleges and universities from raising tuition above CPI. The booked 2.1 amount is subject to the amount of state appropriations approved in the final budget and actual state appropriations awarded throughout the fiscal year.

Regents last month also approved discipline-specific program fees and an increase to room and board by an average of 2.5 percent, depending on the residence halls and meal plans students select.

In other business, the Board approved a multiyear contract with Jetz Service Company for new residential laundry equipment to be installed in residential buildings on campus prior to the start of the fall trimester. The contract also includes maintenance and repair services.

The Board also approved candidates due to receive bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees during the University’s spring commencement ceremonies April 27-28 and faculty appointments for the summer trimester.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.

This year, for the first time ever, there are more than 100 Missouri communities participating in Tree City USA, representing 45 percent of the state’s population.

Some of those communities include St. Joseph, Savannah, Maryville and Chillicothe.

According to a news release, Tree City USA is a national recognition program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and administered in the state by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). It provides a framework to help communities establish a healthy, sustainable urban forestry program.

“We are thrilled to see 104 communities in the program this year,” said Russell Hinnah, MDC forestry program supervisor. “Trees bring so much value, and this program helps communities increase that value and keep trees healthy through good tree stewardship.”

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees yield three to five times their cost in overall benefits to the cities that manage them. Trees can lower costs for storm water management and help reduce energy consumption. Research also has shown the positive impact trees have on people, from improving their health to boosting their property values.

Tree City USA requires communities to meet four fundamental standards. Each community must maintain a tree board or department, establish a tree-care ordinance, develop a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and celebrate Arbor Day each year.

“The Tree City USA program is flexible enough that communities of any size can participate, and we encourage city leaders to contact us to learn more about it,” said Hinnah. “Our foresters are ready to assist any municipality interested in joining the program.”

Kansas City is the biggest Missouri community in the Tree City USA program, with a population of 441,000 people. Glen Echo Park is the smallest, with 159 people. Several communities have participated for more than 30 years, including: Brentwood, Des Peres, Ellisville, Fenton, Kansas City, Mexico, Rock Hill Springfield, St. Louis, University City, and Webster Groves. Communities who joined Tree City USA this year include: Paris, Frontenac, Pineville, Pleasant Hill, Farmington, Bel-Nor, Pine Lawn, Bel-Ridge, and Glen Echo Park.

In 2017, Missouri Tree City USA communities invested over $24 million in tree and forest management, including tree inventories, pruning, planting, hazard assessments, education, and planning.

For more information about the Tree City USA program, including a list of all participating Missouri communities, click here.

Area residents can safely dispose of unused or expired medications at an event this weekend.

A Prescription Take Back event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the East Hills Parking Lot by the former Sears store.

Anyone can bring controlled, non-controlled, over-the-counter substances and sharps.

The event is sponsored by The St. Joseph Youth Alliance, the Drug Free Community Coalition, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph Police Department.

The East Hills Library is looking for volunteers to help out with their summer reading program and more.

Applicants must be 12-18 years of age and be able to work at least one shift a week for a minimum of five weeks between June 1 and August 1.

East Hills Library Youth Services Manager Jess Gould said the youth volunteer program was started a few years ago and not only helps out the library, but also benefits the students volunteering.

“I think we live in a community where you can really make changes in your community if you put forth the effort and time to become involved,” Gould said. “Not only does this help kids prepare for future employment by having sign-in procedures, customer services skills, working with other teenagers that they might not know, having that opportunity to be in a professional environment outside of school will really benefit them in the long run. In addition to that, I think, just fostering the appreciation for giving time and energy to our community is a skill that all teenagers and adults could benefit from.”

Applications are posted on the St. Joseph Public Library website and paper copies are available at the library. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. Gould said there is an orientation volunteers need to attend before the program starts.

For more information, contact Jess at the East Hills Library at (816) 236-2136.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University on Thursday approved tuition and room and board rates for the 2018-2019 school year.

According to a news release, for undergraduate, in-state students, tuition will rise 1 percent, from $204.14 per credit hour to $206.37. The increase is below the 2.4 percent allowed by state statute.

Missouri’s public universities have agreed with state lawmakers to limit tuition increases to 1 percent if higher education funding is steady this year. If Missouri Western faces a significant cut in the state appropriation, the Board approved increasing in-state undergraduate tuition by up to $4.90 per credit hour, to $209.04.

The board voted to keep online undergraduate tuition the same. All other rates, including graduate tuition, out-of- state undergraduate tuition, and tuition at locations other than the St. Joseph campus, will rise from 1.1 percent to 2.7 percent.

Room rates will increase between 1 and 3 percent, or $23 to $98 per semester, depending on the hall chosen. The board rates will change based on the flex dollars available for students to use in retail locations across campus, with costs ranging from $900 to $2,144.

For an in-state undergraduate student taking 15 credit hours and living in Scanlon Hall with an all-access meal plan, the semester cost will increase about $156 per semester, or 2 percent.

PLATTE COUNTY — A St. Joseph woman died in an accident just after 9 p.m. Wednesday in Platte County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Peterbilt semi driven by Carl E. Doty, Jr, 71, Missouri Valley, IA., crossed the median from southbound to northbound lanes of Interstate 29 at Route HH. As the driver attempted to make a U-turn to travel back northbound, a 2004 Cadillac driven by Herbert D. Humphrey, 67, St. Joseph, rear-ended the semi.

A passenger in the Cadillac, Cynthia J. Humphrey, 66, St. Joseph, was transported to Mosaic Life Care where she was pronounced dead at 10:43 p.m.

EMS transported Herbert Humphrey to Mosaic in serious condition, according to the MSHP. Doty was not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

An apartment house was destroyed, but no one was injured in a Wednesday morning fire.

According to St. Joseph Fire Department Fire Inspector Mindy Andrasevits, the fire at 122 North 13th St. was reported at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Two people were at the five-unit apartment at the time of the fire but they, along with pets, were able to get out of the building safely.

Andrasevits said fire crews were on scene until 3:50 p.m. and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Andrasevits said the house is on the historic registry and was built in the 1800s.

For the 11th year, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s are engaging women nationwide to work together to build Habitat homes during this year’s National Women Build Week.  

According to a press release, in preparation for build week, May 5-13, St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s will host a “how to” clinic to equip volunteers with knowledge and skills in construction and home interior, basic safety techniques and what to expect when building a Habitat home.

“We’re excited to partner with Lowe’s to educate, inspire and empower women to advocate and help Habitat homeowners love where they live through building or improving an affordable place they can call home,” said Cate Manley, Executive Director of St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity. “We want to engage women of all skill levels to join their friends, families and neighbors to build up their communities and volunteer where women will gain invaluable skills to bring back and use in their everyday life.”

The clinic, “How to Safely Use Hand and Power Tools” will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, at Lowe’s in St. Joseph at 3901 N. Belt Hwy.

For more information or to sign up for a clinic, contact St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity at (816) 279-2552.

National Women Build Week, a nationwide initiative created by Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s in 2008, has brought together more than 117,000 all-women construction volunteers to build or repair homes with nearly 5,000 families over the past 10 years. This year, Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to Habitat for Humanity to support the 2018 National Women Build Week, which is set to take place in 300 communities nationwide.

To learn more about National Women Build Week, visit Habitat.org/wb.