The Missouri Department of Transportation said work to make the intersection of U.S. Route 59 (6th Street) and Atchison Street safer will impact drivers in the area next week.

MoDOT said there are signal heads at that location which attach to the overpass. Currently they can twist in the wind, making them less visible to motorists navigating the intersection. Local crews from MoDOT plan to change the hardware on the signals next week so they can still sway in the wind, but will not twist, keeping them in view of motorists.

Beginning at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, until approximately 11:30 a.m., crews will close one lane at a time in each direction to allow them to change the hardware. During the work, a flagger will direct traffic through the intersection. Motorists may want to plan an alternate route during the work as there will be delays.

Larger vehicles will not be able to turn north from Atchison Street onto 6th Street. Any larger vehicles should turn south from Atchison Street onto 6th Street, find a safe place to turn around, then head north on 6th Street to continue their route.

In addition, vehicles coming off southbound Interstate 229 to go north on 6th Street should plan to go south, past the intersection, find a safe place to turn around, then head north on 6th Street.

The St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity is searching for a new Executive Director following the resignation of Melissa Koch.

According to a news release, Koch is leaving the organization to travel and spend more time with family. Her last day will be May 10.

Since becoming the executive director in June of 2010 Koch has helped Habitat to build 20 homes, helping 29 adults and 54 children. She also played a vital role in establishing the Habitat ReStore.

Habitat for Humanity said interested candidates to fill the role of Executive Director can send resumes to [email protected]

A St. Joseph man has been sentenced to serve 16 years behind bars after robbing a cell-phone store earlier this year on S. Belt highway.

Isaiah Williams pleaded guilty in February to a felony of first-degree robbery.

As we previously reported, Williams and co-defendant Shania Harness were accused of robbing the  Metro PCS cell-phone store at gunpoint in January.

Buchanan County Judge Daniel Kellog sentenced Williams on Thursday to serve 16 years for the crime.

Harness also pleaded guilty to a felony of first-degree robbery in March. Sentencing for Harness is scheduled for next week.

The Hunger Coalition will hold its Empty Bowls fundraiser next week to dish out soup to feed those in need.

The fundraiser will be held Tuesday, April 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wyatt Park Baptist Church located at 2902 N. Leonard Rd.

Marsha Rosenthal with the Hunger Coalition said in the northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas region there are 52,000 people who are food insecure, 17,000 of those are children.

“This issue of hunger in our community is growing not diminishing,” Rosenthal said. “The Hunger Coalition is a collaborative response to this issue.”

The coalition is made up of Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, InterServ, Open Door Food Kitchen and the Second Harvest Community Food Bank. Money raised from Tuesday’s Empty Bowls event will go to benefit the organizations in providing meals to those in need.

“Together these organizations have gathered around the table for 12 years, this is the 12th, to address the issue of hunger in our community,” Rosenthal said.

Participants at the Empty Bowls fundraiser will be able to sample soups from 10 to 15 vendors. The cost is $25 at the door or call 816-364-3663 or CLICK HERE to make a reservation.

Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins on Wednesday announced the results of the investigation into the death of a man last November after he was arrested by the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force. Scroggins says the man died of methamphetamine intoxication and that there was no indication of excessive force or improper conduct

As we reported, Bruce Lee Edward Johnson died November 16, 2016. Scroggins says officers on the Strike Force were looking for another wanted subject with an outstanding warrant, and made contact with Johnson during that search.

Scroggins said in the announcement that Johnson attempted to flee, and during the course of the chase, officers deployed a taser. Officers called for an ambulance to check on Johnson, but shortly after paramedics arrived he went into cardiac arrest.

Ambulance personnel attempted unsuccessfully to resucitate Johnson before and during transport to Mosaic Life Care. Doctors in the emergency room at Mosaic pronounced Johnson dead at approximately 2:31 p.m. on November 16, 2016.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the incident to determine the cause of death and to address whether there was any misconduct by officers.

“After a thorough review of the information found during the investigation and a review of the final autopsy report prepared by Frontier Forensics Midwest, L.L.C., it is my determination that the cause of death of Mr. Johnson was from methamphetamine intoxication,” Scroggins said.

“Furthermore, there is no indication of excessive use of force or improper conduct by officers involved in the arrest.”

Scroggins said the determination brings to an end any further driminal inquiry by authorities into Johnson’s death.

An event is being held in St. Joseph Sunday in an effort to raise funds to help the families of four boys who were killed and another who was critically injured last week in a crash on Riverside.

As we previously reported, four people died and three others were injured after a crash Friday morning on Riverside near the Cook intersection.

A fundraising event titled, “One City One Family” will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at No Place located at 3414 S. 22nd St.  (Correction): Kelly Supple, is a friend of the family of one of the victim’s and is helping to coordinate things.  She said funds raised will be split-up to benefit the families of the four teens who died: Karlo Ginn, Dayton Crockett (corrected), Dasean Darden and Javion Thompson. Funds will also go to benefit a fifth boy who is still hospitalized in critical condition.

“Anything will help. The funds are pretty much going to go for funeral expenses, a tombstone if they need one.  Anything that the families would need the extra money for,” Supple said. “Obviously in a time of need like this the last thing you want to worry about is the expenses to bury your child.”

During Sunday’s event, participants will be able to listen to live music, take part in a silent auction, a raffle, and view a performance by dancers of Truth Academy and more. Supple said a donation entry fee is requested.

“I’m born and raised in St. Joe, I know the community very well and I’m so proud that St. Joe has come together like they have for these kids,” Supple said. “Even if you didn’t know any of them it’s a tragedy for everybody.”

As of Wednesday, more than 300 people had already RSVP’d to the event on Facebook.  For more information CLICK HERE.

A Rock Port man is in serious condition after a crash Tuesday near Watson.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Robert Kopejtka, 23 was driving at 1994 White GMC straight truck northbound on Route D around 2:17 p.m. in Atchison County, Mo. The patrol said Kopejtka had brake failure and came to a T intersection at route A and began to skid hitting an anhydrous ammonia storage tank on a private property. The tank was knocked off of its supports and tipped onto its side. The vehicle came to rest facing east pinning Kopejtka in the cab.

He was taken by Lifenet to University Hospital in Omaha for treatment of what was described as a serious injury.