(News release) – Missouri Western State University’s Strategic Plan Steering Committee is seeking public input for its strategic plan for 2017 to 2022.

The committee is asking faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members to help identify Missouri Western’s key strengths, challenges and future initiatives. University stakeholders are asked to provide their feedback online at missouriwestern.edu/strategicplan/ by Sept. 30.

Missouri Western formally initiated a five-year strategic planning process in 2002. The 12-member Strategic Planning Committee includes staff, faculty and student representatives led by Dr. Doug Davenport, associate provost for research, planning and institutional effectiveness.

The strategic plan is intended to guide major Missouri Western decisions for the next five years. The committee has conducted a comprehensive environmental analysis and created university and student profiles that are available for review on the strategic plan website. Also available are previous strategic plans.

CONCEPTION, Mo. (AP) — A northwest Missouri abbey has reached a $415,000 settlement in a lawsuit alleging it covered up a former monk’s sexual abuse of boys.

The Kansas City Star reports the lawsuit filed in 2011 was settled this month. The defendant’s attorney, Rebecca Randles, confirmed the settlement amount.

Former choirboy Jim Luke said in the lawsuit that Bede Parry, a Benedictine monk, abused him for 18 months in the early 1980s. Parry taught Luke piano and also led the boys choir.

The lawsuit alleged abbey leaders knew Parry had sexually abused other students before Luke but kept it quiet.

In a 2011 interview with The Star, Parry admitted having inappropriate sexual contact with several members of the choir when he directed the group from 1982 to 1987. He died in 2013.

Prostate cancer education and screenings are issues Mosaic Life Care is tackling this week and hundreds of people are signing up for free screenings.

Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Mosaic’s Exploratorium a seminar will be held on screening recommendations, common misconceptions and the latest treatment options for prostate cancer. Doctors will also tackle risk factors, such as age, race and family history.

Then on Friday, a free prostate screening will be held for the first 300 men that register. Dr. Gopichand Pendurti with Mosaic said the test is a blood draw to determine Prostate Specific Antigen.  He said no physical exam is required.

“It’s just a simple blood draw.  It takes 15 minutes,” Dr. Pendurti said. “The screening is mainly to catch people early in the course of the disease.”

Mosaic said spots for the free screenings have been filling quickly.  The hospital is recommending prostate screening for men over 40.  CLICK HERE for more information about the seminar and screening.

The St. Joseph Police Department is continuing to investigate after a man was shot in the leg over the weekend.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said officers responded shortly before 7:15 p.m. Sunday to a home in 700 block of S. 18th Street. A 28-year-old man was found with a gunshot would to his leg. The man was taken by ambulance for treatment.

“At this point in the investigation information from the victim has been limited,” Wilson said. “We do not have any suspects in custody at this time.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police or the Tips Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of Sept. 25 – Oct. 1 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, bridge maintenance, striping, brush cutting, guardrail repairs and other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. All scheduled maintenance and construction projects are subject to change.

MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.

Andrew County

• Interstate 29 – The off ramp at northbound I-29 to Route CC/K will be CLOSED for guardrail installation, Sept. 26, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• I-29 – The on ramp from Route CC/K to northbound I-29 will be CLOSEDfor guardrail installation, Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Atchison County

• U.S. Route 136 – CLOSED at the Little Tarkio Creek for a bridge replacement project. The road will remain closed through December.
• Route M – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 150^th Street to U.S. Route 136, Sept. 27 – 29, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Buchanan County

• Route DD – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the bridge over I-29 at Faucett at Exit 35. The bridge will remain closed through October.
• I-29 – The on and off ramps at northbound I-29 will be CLOSED for the Route DD Bridge replacement project. Sept. 25 – Oct. 1. During this closure motorists will not be able to access the outer road (SE 45^th Road) or Route DD on the east side of the bridge.
• U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance at the Route 759 Overpass Bridge, Sept. 25 – 27. This includes an overnight lane closure.
• U.S. Route 59 – Pothole patching from just north of Karnes Road to Country Club Village, Sept. 25 – 28
• Route 759 – Shoulder work, Sept. 25 – 29
• Route 752 – Bridge maintenance at the I-229 Overpass Bridge, Sept. 28 – 29. This includes an overnight lane closure.

Carroll County

• U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance near Carrollton, Sept. 25
• U.S. Route 24 – Bridge maintenance at the Missouri River Bridge, Sept. 25 – 28
• Route UU – Bridge maintenance at the Big Creek Bridge, Sept. 26

Chariton County

• Route F – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from U.S. Route 24 to Lewis Clark Road, Sept. 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Clinton County

• I-35 – Pavement repair northbound at mile marker 40.8 near Lathrop, Sept. 25 – 26. This includes an overnight lane closure.
• I-35 – Pavement repair northbound at mile marker 43.2 south of Cameron, Sept. 26 – 28. This includes an overnight lane closure.

Daviess County

• Route 6 – Milling and pothole patching, Sept. 25 – 29

DeKalb County

• Route 31 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 36 to U.S. Route 169 (Gentry County), Sept. 25 – 30

Gentry County

• Route V – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 470^th Road to 480^thRoad, Sept. 25, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• U.S. Route 169 – Shoulder work from Route 31 to Stanberry, Sept. 25 – 30
• Route 31 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 36 (DeKalb County) to U.S. Route 169, Sept. 18 – 23
• Route AA – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 430^th Street to 440^thStreet, Sept. 26, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Grundy County

• Route K – From Route E to Route KK (Livingston County), Sept. 25 – 29
• Route 6 – Sealing project from Iowa Boulevard to Route Z, Sept. 27 – 29
• Route O – Pothole patching, Sept. 27 – 29

Harrison County

• Route TT – CLOSED for a resurfacing project, Sept. 25, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route P – CLOSED for a resurfacing project from Route ZZ to Route TT, Sept. 26, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
• Route P – CLOSED for a resurfacing project from Route TT to Route BB, Sept. 27, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route P – CLOSED for a resurfacing project from Route BB to U.S. Route 69, Sept. 28, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Holt County

• Route 118 – The ramp from Route 118 to southbound I-29 is CLOSED for the Davis Creek Bridge replacement project through mid-December.
• Route 120 – CLOSED for a resurfacing project, Sept. 25, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• I-29 – Bridge replacement project at the Davis Creek Bridge near Exit 84, Sept. 25 – Oct. 1.   I-29 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction. This includes a 12-foot width restriction. The lane closures will remain in place overnight.
• U.S. Route 59 – Chip sealing northbound from the city limits of Oregon the city limits of Craig, Sept. 26 – 27.
• Route 111 – Resurfacing project from the Tarkio River Bridge to Route W in Corning, Sept. 27 – 29. A pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.
• Route C – Pothole patching from Route N to Route D, Sept. 28
• Route 111 – CLOSED for a resurfacing project from the Tarkio River Bridge to Spur 111 in Craig, Sept. 29 – 30, daylight hours. Route 111 will be closed in two-mile increments beginning at the bridge and proceeding south.

Linn County

• U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance, Sept. 25 – 28

Livingston County

• Route K – Pothole patching from Route KK to Route E (Grundy County), Sept. 25 – 29

Mercer County

• U.S. Route 136 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 65 to the city limits of Ravanna, Sept. 25 – 29

Nodaway County

• U.S. Route 136 – Pavement repair from the west city limits of Burlington Junction to Route PP, Sept. 25 – 29
• Route M – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 71 to Route N, Sept. 27 – 28
• Route V – Pothole patching from Route H to Route 113, Sept. 29
• Route M – Bridge maintenance at the One Hundred and Two River Bridge, Sept. 29

Sullivan County

• Route 5 – Pothole patching, Sept. 25 – 29

Worth County

• Route B – CLOSED for a resurfacing project, Sept. 29, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Amazonia Road will be closed starting Monday where it connects to Myrtle Avenue for new intersection work at that location.

In conjunction with that work, Myrtle Avenue will be removed from Amazonia Road to St. Joseph Avenue and will not be replaced. Amazonia Road will connect directly into Krug Park Drive. The side road that parallels Krug Park Drive on the south will also be removed during construction and will not be replaced.

The city said the work should take approximately 3-4 weeks, weather dependent, to complete and is associated with the Cook Road Extension Project. As part of the completion of this work, Krug Park Drive will be cold milled and overlaid into the park area at the circle and approximately 100 feet each direction into the park entry and exit.

The city asks people to exercise caution while in work zones to ensure their own safety and that of crews working.

The Salvation Army in St. Joseph is asking for coat donations ti distribute to those in need.

According to a news release, throughout the month of October the agency will be collected gently used coats to give to the disadvantaged in the community this winter season. The Salvation Army said coats of all sizes are needed, especially children’s sizes.

The agency said the coats must be clean and ready to wear. They ask that you donate coats that don’t need buttons sewed on or repaired and that they have working zippers. Gloves, mittens and hats are also needed. Winter items can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Corps Community Center 7th and Messanie, St, Joseph, MO. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The warm clothing will be distributed Saturday, November 4th at The Salvation Army Corps Community Center from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information, call The Salvation Army at (816) 232-5824.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University will host its fifth annual disaster response field training exercise Oct. 13-15 and invites students, community members, and local and state responders to work in volunteer roles during the exercise.

The Missouri Hope 2017 Disaster Response Field Training Exercise, an intensive three-day domestic disaster relief training exercise that is required for students studying majors or minors in emergency disaster management (EDM), takes place at Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area (MOERA) and the Mozingo Youth Camp.

Volunteers of all ages are needed to play the roles of disaster victims and spontaneous volunteer community members as well as apply moulage and assist behind-the-scenes. Individuals interested in volunteering should register online at https://goo.gl/forms/DWJj8wnY2JDK6vW32.

Missouri Hope is a full immersion field training exercise sponsored each fall by Northwest’s Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education. Partner agencies include Maryville Public Safety, Nodaway and Buchanan County Emergency Management, Nodaway County Ambulance District, LifeFlight and LifeNet Air Ambulances, SEMA Region H Marine Hazmat Team, the 1-129th Field Artillery Battalion Missouri Army National Guard and the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri National Guard. The exercise also attracts students from colleges and universities throughout the country.

Participation in the hands-on disaster response training is available to all Northwest students, regardless of major or minor. Students do not need to receive academic credit to participate, but credit may be earned by any student who desires it.
The domestic disaster response exercise challenges students to overcome fears and hone skills as emergency responders. Students work together with teams in mass casualty situations, high-angle rescues and water rescue operations.

Participants are expected to attend the entire exercise. Participants are assigned to disaster response teams and will rotate leader and follower roles.

(12:41 p.m. Update) – A murder charge has been filed against a St. Joseph man in connection with the death of his 77-year-old grandmother.

Robert Ray Forrester, 28 was charged Friday with a class-A Felony of second-degree murder.

The St. Joseph Police Department said Thursday around 10:30 p.m. officers responded to the 312 Yale St. in reference to a disturbance call. After arriving they found Beverly J. Forrester deceased and began investigating the death as suspicious. It has since been ruled a homicide investigation.

According to court documents filed in the case, when officers entered the home they found Robert inside with what appeared to be blood on his person.

“Officers interviewed a civilian witness who earlier made a 911 call reporting the suspect assaulting the decedent,” said Det. C. Davis with the St. Joseph Police Department.

Court documents state Robert has a criminal history that includes two convictions of second-degree assault and more then half a dozen arrests.

Robert is currently being held in the Buchanan County Jail.  He’s scheduled for an arraignment on Tuesday.

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(9:47 a.m. Update) – Police are now investigating the death of a 77-year-old woman on St. Joseph’s south side as a homicide.

Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said the victim found deceased at a home located at 312 Yale St. Thursday night has been identified as Beverly J. Forrester. Initially the case was being investigated as suspicious, but police have since ruled it a homicide investigation.

Wilson said the woman’s 28-year-old grandson has been taken into custody in connection with the investigation.

As we learn more we will update this post.

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(Update 9:30 a.m.) – A man is in custody following a suspicious death investigation on St. Joseph’s south side.

As we previously reported, Thursday around 10:30 p.m. officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to the 300 block of Yale St. in reference to a disturbance call. After arriving they found a deceased 77-year-old woman and began investigating the death as suspicious.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said more information in the investigation will be released to the public later today.

As we learn more we will update this story.

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(6 a.m. Friday) – The St Joseph Police Department is investigating a suspicious death.

Sgt. Brad Kerns said officers responded to the 300 block of Yale around 10:30 Thursday on a disturbance call. After arriving, they located a deceased 77-year-old woman. Kerns said the death is being investigated as suspicious. The woman’s name is being withheld until next of kin are notified. Friday morning, Kerns said officers were still on scene.