Due to an abundance of cat and kittens in the St. Joseph’s Animal Control and Rescue shelter the City is temporarily reducing adoption fees for felines.

The City said, because the shelter is at “Cat-pacity” and has approximately 50 cats available for adoption, the Friends of  the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph, LLC, is holding a feline special this weekend.
Half price for kittens and no charge for cats adopted this Friday, June 16th and Saturday, June 17th. Shelter hours are 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days.

There will be a limit of two cats (including kittens) per individual and the adoption must take place in person at the shelter during business hours. To adopt a shelter cat or kitten, an application must be completed. It can be filled out at the shelter or found on the City website by clicking on “Health Department” under “Government”, then use the left hand column to go to the “Animal Control & Rescue” page, where a link to the adoption page can be found. The fees associated with adopting a pet vary, depending upon the size of the animal and whether it is spayed or neutered.

The Friends of the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph, LLC’s, Facebook page has photos of available animals, as does the animal shelter web page CLICK HERE.

Hours this week are:.
Thursday, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Authorities will be investigating an area on the north end of town Tuesday in reference to a child who was reported missing in 2004.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said the St. Joseph Police Department in connection with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will be conducting an operation related to the ongoing missing person’s investigation of Ashley Martinez from St. Joseph. The operation will be held in the area of Huntoon Road and West Highland Avenue. Wilson said the operation is based on historical information related to the case.

According to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Martinez was last seen on July 6, 2004 in the St. Joseph area when she was 15-years-old. She would now be 28-years-old. According to the the missing person’s flyer Martinez may still be in the area or she could have traveled to Nebraska or Washington.

Wilson said authorities will start investigating the area of Huntoon and Highland around 6 a.m. Tuesday and will cease Wednesday afternoon. He said officers on scene would not be answering questions but authorities may hold interviews at a later time.

(News release) – The Missouri Department of Transportation said sidewalk projects on Frederick are currently underway with additional projects planned later this year in St. Joseph.

MoDOT said sidewalk improvements throughout St. Joseph continue with a project on Route 6 (Frederick) spanning from Woodbine Road to Route AC. The project, which is already underway, is partially funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program with MoDOT providing a 20 percent match. According to MoDOT, these federal grant funds help pedestrians in St. Joseph enjoy safer walking, visiting restaurants and shopping. The project will also bring improvements to intersections in the area of the projects to ensure they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

After the sidewalk improvement project is complete, the surface of the roadway will be milled and resurfaced between Route AC and Interstate 29. This resurfacing is scheduled to begin in September. The roadway will remain open, but one lane could be closed in each direction. Some or all of the resurfacing work could occur at night.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution during both the sidewalk and resurfacing projects, as crews will be working in close proximity to the traveling public.

The St. Joseph Public Library system is asking voters to renew a portion of its operating levy this summer.

A special election will be held Aug. 8 for voters to decide whether to continue a .15 cent levy for a period of 20 years for the St. Joseph Library to operate and maintain facilities. If approved, the levy would continue in 2020. Library Director, Mary-Beth Revels said the levy was initially approved by voters in 1999.

“Continuing the levy for another 20 years will provide for daily operating costs including utilities and payroll at the four branches. It will allow us to update computers, the technology infrastructure and internet and wireless access at the branches. We will be able to purchase more books, audio books, movies and other materials Provide more resources for entrepreneurs, small business and job seekers,” Revels said. “We’ll increase programming and outreach for all ages.”

The total library levy is .42 cents, of that .27 cents is permanent.  Revels said the in total it generates about $3.2 million a year. She said the library realizes the community appreciates the inclusion of a sunset clause so the .15 cents is up for renewal every 20 years.

“Part of that money right now is being used to pay for debt because we renovated three libraries and built the East Hills Library,” Revels said. “Right now, that .15 cents is used for operation and for a debt payment.  The reason we’re saying continuing that levy for another 20 years is going to increase services is because we’re going to be able to funnel more of that money into maintaining the buildings not just paying the debt.”

Revels said the renewal will also help to restore operating hours that were cut in 2008. She said the goal is to return to seven days a week service at the Downtown library, and six days a week service at Carnegie and Washington Park libraries.  If the levy doesn’t pass the library will have to look at cuts.

“If it doesn’t pass then we’ll have to make some really tough decisions about services and hours and cuts even further,” Revels said. “We’re actually supported almost exclusively with local taxes.”

 

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 June 12 – 18 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.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT or visit www.modot.org/northwest/.

 

Atchison County

Routes B, D, U and Z – Pothole patching, June 12 – 16

Routes O, Y and AA – Sealing, June 14

Buchanan County

Cook Road Bridge over Interstate 29 – CLOSED for bridge maintenance. The road will be closed overnight beginning Monday, June 12 at 7 a.m. and will reopen Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m.

U.S. Route 36 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, June 12 – 15

Route H – From Route 371 to Route A for drainage work, June 12 – 15

U.S. Route 36 – One mile east of Route AC for a bridge project, June 12 – 16

Route 6 – From I-29 to Woodbine Road for a sidewalk improvement and resurfacing project, June 12 – 16

Carroll County

Route YY – Pothole patching, June 12 – 16

Chariton County

U.S. Route 24 – From Route 5 to the Randolph County line for a resurfacing project, June 12 – 16. Includes a 14-foot width restriction.

Route 129 – Pothole patching, June 12 – 16

Clinton County

U.S. Route 169 – Access to 240^th Road will be CLOSED for a culvert replacement, June 13, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Route T – Pothole patching, June 14 – 16

Daviess County

Route 190 – Within the city limits of Jamesport for drainage work, June 12

Route J – From the city limits of Kidder to Route 6 for pothole patching, June 12 – 14

Route 190 – From Route 6 to Route U for a resurfacing project, June 12 – 16. A pilot car will be in place to help guide motorist through workzone.

DeKalb County

U.S. Route 169 – From Route 31 to north of the city limits of Stanberry (Gentry County) for a resurfacing project, June 12 – 15

U.S. Route 169 – Shoulder repair, June 13 – 15

Gentry County

U.S. Route 169 – From north of the city limits of Stanberry to Route 31 (DeKalb County) for a resurfacing project, June 12 – 15

Grundy County

Routes U and W – Pothole patching, June 12 – 16

Harrison County

Route DD – CLOSED for a chip seal, June 12 – 13, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily

Route D – CLOSED from Route 46 to Washington Center for a chip seal, June 13 – 14, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily

Holt County

Route D – CLOSED for sealing, June 12, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route A – At the Nodaway River Bridge for maintenance, June 14 – 16

Linn County

Routes Y and DD – Pothole patching, June 12 – 13

U.S. Route 36 – From the city limits of Brookfield to the Macon County line for bridge maintenance, June 12 – 15

Livingston County

U.S. Route 36 – At Blackwell Creek Bridge for maintenance, June 12 – 14. Includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Route A – Pothole patching, June 14 – 15

Routes N, O and CC – Pothole patching, June 14 – 16

Mercer County

Route B – From the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 136 near Princeton for a resurfacing project, June 12 – 16. Includes a 10-foot width restriction.

U.S. Routes 65 and 136 – Pavement repair, June 12 – 16

Nodaway County

Route KK – CLOSED from 120^th Street to 135^th Street for a culvert replacement, June 14, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

U.S. Route 136 – At the Mozingo Bridge for maintenance, June 12 – 13. Includes a 9-foot width restriction.

Route E – CLOSED from Route 246 to the Iowa state line for sealing, June 13, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Routes FF and ZZ – Sealing, June 13 – 15

Putnam County

U.S. Route 136 – At the Elm Branch Bridge for maintenance, June 12. Includes a 10-foot width restriction

Route W – From U.S. Route 136 to Route 149 for pothole patching, June 12 – 16

Route 129 – At the Blackbird Creek Bridge for maintenance, June 13 – 14

Route 129 – At the South Blackbird Creek Bridge for maintenance, June 15 – 16

Sullivan County

Routes O, Z, MM and UU – Pothole patching, June 12 – 16

Worth County

Route 46 – CLOSED at the West Fork of the Grand River for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through June.

Route 246 – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through September.

Route O – Pothole patching, June 12 – 13

Route 246 – From Route E to city limits of Sheridan for pothole patching, June 13 – 14

Route 46 – From the city limits of Grant City to the city limits of Parnell for pothole patching, June 15 – 16

 

A nationwide day encouraging people to ride their local public transit system takes place this week.

St. Joseph Transit General Manager Mary Gaston said Dump the Pump Day is Thursday, June 15th. 

“It’s the only day of the year that we offer free rides on the entire system to anybody,” Gaston said. “They can ride all day as much as they want to, whichever routes they’d like to. It’s a great day to get out and explore the system, try using the bus if you have not used it ever before or maybe you haven’t used it in a long time. It’s a good day to get out and give it a try.”

Gaston said deviations still cost 50 cents but regular fairs are waived for the day. 

For more information, call the Transit Office at (816) 233-6700.