The Trenton Police Department is investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian earlier this week.

According to police, a 48-year-old Trenton woman was killed Wednesday after she was hit by a truck in front of the Plaza Apartments on Main Street around 9:30 p.m.

Police said according to the investigation and witness statement, the woman walked into the path of a westbound 2003 Ford F-150, and was hit by the truck. The truck was driven by a 36-year-old Trenton man.

The woman was transported to Wright Memorial Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Police said Thursday that at this time the incident is still under investigation.

A Bald Eagle was returned to its handler earlier this week after landing in the front yard of a St. Joseph City Councilmember’s home.

Kent O’Dell said on July 3rd he got a Pre-Independence Day surprise like no other.

“We noticed this eagle landing in the front of my house in the yard. We walked up there and here’s this fully grown 15-year-old, 9 lbs Bald Eagle,” O’Dell said.

O’Dell said he noticed leathers on the bird’s talons and deduced the eagle came from Phil Welch Stadium from the St. Joseph Mustangs and he started making calls.

“I said, ‘Man I got your bird up here, I’m pretty sure it’s your bird.’ Next thing you know he said, ‘Man we’re on our way up,'” O’Dell said. “The handler was very emotional because the transmitter had gone dead at that instant that afternoon and he literally thought he had lost his Bald Eagle.”

A group of handlers came out to retrieve the bird from O’Dell’s house which was about a block away from the stadium.

According to the St. Joseph Mustangs’ Facebook Page in a comment, the eagle took a detour during his flight at the game Monday but was recovered safely due to some help from a family where the bird landed. O’Dell said the eagle’s detour was the most magnificent thing he has ever seen.
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The City of St. Joseph is celebrating 90 years at its current City Hall location with a public photo gallery display.

According to a news release, the building is of an Italian Renaissance Revival style and features a concrete balustrade loggia on the second level, engaged columns, arched openings, and a red tile hipped roof. The marble used was quaried in Missouri. The pink marble came from south of St. Louis and the gray from Carthage. The walls of the building are 12 inches thick and there are 12 vaults located in the building. The fixtures are solid bronze as are the six entry doors on the north and south sides of the building. Construction of the building started in 1926, took approximately 16 months to build, and was designed by the architectural firm of Eckel & Aldrich.

The old City Hall building was located in Market Square. On July 7 1927, a parade of around 400 people walked from the old building to the current location at 1100 Frederick Avenue as part of a dedication ceremony.

The city said a photo gallery will be on display in the lobby of City Hall beginning Friday and be up through July 28. After that, the framed photos will be permanently hung along the hallway of the second floor of City Hall.

Qcountry’s Brent Harmon, better known to many as “Brother B” is celebrating four decades on airwaves in St. Joseph.

Harmon started his career with Eagle Radio on July 6, 1977 after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University two years prior.

“A friend of mine, who I went to college with at Northwest, told me there was an opening here for the all-night show on KFEQ,” Harmon said. “When I started here we were playing vinyl 45 records and then we went to cartridges, then we went to CDs and now everything is digital.”

Eagle Radio launched Qcountry on Oct. 1, 1991. Harmon said he eventually took on a radio announcer role on Qcountry in the late 90s.

“When I started with KFEQ it was and still is an agricultural oriented station but we played country music. As country music or music in general went to the wayside on the AM dial we went to all talk and I was just sort of running the board for several years and doing production on KFEQ,” Harmon said. “When Qcountry came about…and we moved into this new building, I got to do a live show on Qcountry.

Harmon said he’s heard similar discussions about the sound of country music throughout the years.

“People complain these days about, ‘that doesn’t sound like country music’ and that argument has always been there,” he said. “I remember back in the day people said that about John Denver and Olivia Newton-John.”

Harmon said he’s had a lot of listeners that have been with him throughout his career.

“That’s a good feeling to know people stick around for you,” Harmon said.

During his career he has met numerous artists including George Strait, Thomas Rhett, Charlton Heston,  Kelsea Ballerini,  and Barbara Mandrell.  He said his passion is music of all sorts, and has seen the Rolling Stones in concert at least a dozen times.

“My wife and I love going to concerts. We love live music. I think I’ve seen them (the Rolling Stones) maybe 12 or 13 times. I saw the Beatles when I was a kid. I’ve always loved all kinds of music,” Harmon said. “It’s just kind of a hobby. Some people build tables or what have you, we go to concerts.”

Listeners can hear Brother B middays on Qcountry 92.7.

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(Update 3:40 p.m.) – Components of illegal fireworks were believed to have been found by ATF agents at the scene of a house explosion that took place on Independence Day in the 1100 block of Prospect Ave.

ATF Spokesman John Ham said the components will be sent to the ATF Explosives Laboratory for evaluation.  He said results could take four to six weeks.  Agents have cleared the scene and no longer believe that there is any threat to public safety.

(Update 10:51 a.m.) – The St. Joseph Police Department has taken a man into custody in connection with a home explosion on Independence Day that destroyed a north end home.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said Wednesday that a 53-year-old man is in custody in reference to the incident. As of 10:46 a.m. charges have not been filed. Wilson said the investigation continues.

As we previously reported, three people were taken to the hospital Tuesday for treatment of what was described as non life-threatening injuries after a large explosion at a home in the 1100 block of Prospect Ave. Several smaller explosions were also heard on footage taken from the scene. Two men and one woman were transported to the hospital. The St. Joseph Police Department, Fire Department and ATF are conducting an investigation.

Wilson said there is no other information to release at this time.

The deadline to register a tractor for the 2017 Keep Missouri Farming Tractor Cruise is nearing.

According to the Missouri Farm Bureau, people who want to participate need to register by July 7th to qualify for door prizes. The 32-mile journey through Holt County will take place July 15th.

Vernon Hart with the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation said the tractor cruise is a way to raise funds for agriculture awareness.

“It will be a way to raise funds for northwest Missouri,” Hart said. “A lot of people like old tractors and it’s been pretty successful so far.”

Greg Gaines with the Missouri Farm Bureau said the foundation was set up in 1996.

“Over the years we’ve tried several different ways to raise funds and awareness for the foundations. We’ve had golf tournaments, we’ve had trap shoots, we’ve had banquets and different things. But, this antique tractors cruise that Vern’s been spearheading has been one of the most successful efforts we’ve had, even in the whole state,” Gaines said.

Hart said the tractors will meet July 15th at 8 a.m. in Mound City on the northwest Corner of Junction I-29 and Highway 118.

“From there we’re going 16 miles one way to Oregon, Missouri. There we’ll stop and have a lunch break at the Methodist church there in the basement and we’ll have the tractors parked on the square,” Hart said. “We invite people to come and have lunch with us, adults $8, children $4. They can view the tractors and have lunch with us.”

A requirement of entering a tractor is that all tractors have to be 1985 or older and able to go at least 10 miles per hour. The cost to enter a tractor is $35 for open-stations tractors or $50 for air-conditioned cab tractors. CLICK HERE for more information.

Independence Day is the busiest day of the year for fires according to the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.  The state agency is asking residents to consider viewing fireworks at public shows to try to prevent firework related incidents.

According to a news release, July 4th is the busiest day of the year for fires; or that almost one-half of those fires are related to fireworks.

The Division of Fire Safety reminds Missourians that safety should be the top priority during the July 4th holiday – and that public fireworks shows are the safest, and provide the most spectacular displays.

“We are all excited to celebrate a safe Independence Day with families and friends, and remind Missourians that public fireworks displays put on by trained professionals offer the most exciting sights and sounds,” State Fire Marshal J. Tim Bean said. “They are the safest way to enjoy fireworks. Remember, even sparklers and smaller fireworks pose a serious risk of injuring a child and causing a fire. In addition to an increase in medical emergencies caused by fireworks, there are about twice as many fires on July 4th as on an average day. Put safety first on the Fourth.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association:
· Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.

· In 2015, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 11,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 51 percent of those injuries were to the extremities and 41 percent were to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for 26 percent of the estimated 2015 injuries.

· Novelty fireworks like sparklers and fountains can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees, and are responsible for more than one-third of all emergency room fireworks-related injuries.

Fireworks sales at licensed seasonal retailers are legal in Missouri from June 20 to July 10. Through June 26, the Division of Fire Safety licensed 1,349 seasonal retailers. State permits should be displayed at all seasonal retail locations. Missourians who choose to use consumer fireworks should be aware of any local ordinances related to fireworks, and should follow these safety tips:

· Always keep you children away from fireworks. If teens are permitted to handle fireworks, they should be closely supervised by an adult.
· Only light fireworks one at a time; never try to re-light fireworks that have malfunctioned
· Make sure to have a garden hose or a bucket of water nearby in case of a fire.
· Dispose of fireworks by soaking them in water and leaving them in a trash can.
· Purchase fireworks only from a properly licensed retailer.
· Make sure fireworks are legal in your locality before buying them.
· Only use fireworks in a large open space that has been cleared of flammable materials. Never shoot them off in a glass container.
· Never use fireworks while consuming alcohol.