Thousands of dollars in grant funding will help out the St. Joseph Public Library with its Summer Reading Program.

According to a news release, the library was awarded $11,550 in grant funding to support the 2017 summer reading program by the Offices of John R. Ashcroft, Secretary of State. With this funding, the library has purchased new materials for activities and will provide weekly entertainment programs throughout the 2017 “Build a Better World” summer reading program. The summer reading program runs May 30, 2017 to July 30, 2017 and will include a reading initiative, eight weekly performers, weekly story times and other library programming events.

The St. Joseph Public Library offers a summer reading program for all ages, from babies to adults. Much of the grant funding will be dedicated to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming in the library this summer. Some of the supplies the library has purchased includes Snap Circuit kits, KEVA Planks, LEGOs, model-sized bridge building supplies, Makey Makey kits, and other STEAM-related materials to introduce children and teens to circuitry, electronics, design, construction, and more. These materials will also be housed at the East Hills Library’s Maker Space for use outside of the summer reading program. More details about the upcoming library events will be available on the library’s website (sjpl.lib.mo.us) in the coming weeks.  

The library said the grant is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

The second of three forums to talk about immigration awareness continue Tuesday in St. Joseph.

A forum talking about how social services and resources help immigrants adjust to living in the community will take place Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe located at 4503 Frederick Ave. The forum is expected to address, “How immigrants are a challenge and a gift to our community.”

Pastor Roger Lenander with First Lutheran Church is a member of the Interfaith Alliance for Immigrants which is hosting the three forums. Lenander said the hope is that the forums will bring awareness to the local impact of immigrants.  Tuesday’s panel speakers include: Donna Salcido, InterServ’s Immigration Services Coordinator, Kim Kempf, Dir. of Shelter Services at the YWCA, Carrie Turner, Training and Outreach Coordinator with the YWCA, and Derek Evans, Academic Advisor at MWSU and Co-Founder of Our Revolution-St. Joseph.

“Each night has focused on a different area of life in our community,” Lenander said. “We’ve intentionally moved these forums around to include the whole of our community. To reflect that this is an opportunity to bring those voices of the whole community to speak about the gifts and challenges.  But also, to walk with and learn about those who are neighbors with us in our community.

The first forum talking about education and health for immigrants was held in February with around 60 people in attendance. The final forum will take place April 18th at 7 p.m. at St. James Church located at 5814 King Hill Ave.  Employment and business will be the April topic with speakers Chief Chris Connally (SJPD), and Pat Lilly (Chamber of Commerce).

Then on May 24th, IAI will host a prayerful gathering on the 24th the St. Joseph Islamic Center.

A St. Joseph woman is accused of stealing clothes from a department store and driving off in a stolen vehicle and then attempting to do it again.

Shanique Buckner, 24 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle

According to court documents, on March 10, a day after her birthday Buckner is accused of stealing clothing and shoes from JCPenney.

“The female was not arrested on that date and fled while driving a stolen Nissan,” said Det. Chase Cotter with the St. Joseph Police Department. “Employees observed this same female stealing from their store again on 3/16/17 and were able to detain her for police.”

Det. Cotter said Buckner dropped a key to a Toyota vehicle while struggling to get away.

“Officers located a stolen 2015 Toyota Camry parked a short distance away.  The key the defendant possessed, belonged to that vehicle.  The vehicle had been stolen a few hours earlier from in front of the victim’s house,” Cotter said. “During a mirandized interview with police, the defendant confessed to stealing the vehicle.  The vehicle she stole had damage done to it in the time it was stolen.”

Cotter said the defendant is a suspect in at least five fraudulent uses of credit/debit devices and a suspected in three stolen vehicle cases in less than a month.

“The defendant is a drug abuser who has frequently fled the scene of crimes she has committed.  She has at least three prior arrests for failure to appear in court,” Cotter said.

Buckner is being held on $10,000 bail.  She’s due in court Tuesday for an arraignment.

 

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 March 20 – 26 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.

 

Atchison County

Interstate 29 – From the 106 mile marker to the 107 mile marker near the Rock Port Exit for guardrail repair, March 20

Route B – Pothole patching, March 20 – 22

Andrew County

I-29 – From the 56 mile marker near U.S. Route 71 to the 62 mile marker for brush cutting, March 20 – 24

U.S. Route 71 – From Business U.S. 71 (Nodaway County) to Route B for pothole patching, March 20 – 24

Buchanan County

I-229 – CLOSED Ramp from southbound I-229 to Felix Street (Exit 6A) for maintenance, March 20 – 24. Ramp will be closed 24 hours a day till March 24 at 3 p.m.

I-229 – At the Ajax Road Overpass Bridge for maintenance, March 20 – 24, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

U.S. Route 169 – Sealing, March 20 – 24

Route 116 – From Route 371 to Route MM and at Route B to U.S. Route 169 for sealing, March 20 – 24

Caldwell County

U.S. Route 36 – From Route P to Route 13 for shoulder work, March 20 – 24

Chariton County

Route 139 – CLOSED from Route RA to Route YY for a culvert replacement, March 20, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

DeKalb County

Route A – Sealing, March 20 – 24

Route J – Pothole patching, March 20 – 24

U.S. Route 36 – At the I-35 Overpass Bridges for painting, March 25 – 26, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

I-35 – At the U.S. Route 36 interchange for painting, March 25 – 26, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Gentry County

U.S. Route 136 – From Route W to the Nodaway County line for pothole patching, March 20 – 24

Grundy County

Route N – CLOSED from NE 20^th Street to NE 5^th Street for a culvert replacement, March 20, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route F – CLOSED from SW 68^th Street to Route U for a culvert replacement, March 21, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Harrison County

I-35 – From the 98 mile marker north of Bethany to the 104 mile marker south of Eagleville for pothole patching and sealing, March 20 – 24

Route MM – CLOSED from E 250^th Avenue to E 240^th Avenue for a culvert replacement, March 21, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route 46 – From Route D to Route NN for sealing and pothole patching, March 21 – 24

Route 146 – CLOSED from Route H to E 380^th Avenue for a culvert replacement, March 22, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route 146 – Entrance to E 380^th Avenue CLOSED for a culvert replacement, March 23, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route Y – CLOSED from E 322^nd Avenue to West Main Street in Mt. Moriah for a culvert replacement, March 24, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Holt County

U.S. Route 159 – Pothole patching, March 20 – 24

Linn County

U.S. Route 36 – From Route 130 to the Higgins Ditch Bridge for pavement repair, March 20, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

U.S. Route 36 – From Route 11 to the Macon County line for pavement repair, March 20 – 24

Mercer County

Route WW – CLOSED from Route B to Egret Avenue for a culvert replacement, March 21, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route V – CLOSED from Route B to Academy Road for a culvert replacement, March 22, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nodaway County

Route A – From the Nodaway River Bridge to U.S. Route 71 for shoulder work, March 20 – 21

U.S. Route 71 – From Business U.S. 71 to Route B (Andrew County) for pothole patching, March 20 – 24

U.S. Route 136 – From Route 48 to Route J for shoulder work, March 22 – 24

Putnam County

Route CC – CLOSED at the South Branch Shoal Creek Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through May 2017.

Route 149 – CLOSED from Route W to Orchard Trail for culvert replacements, March 20 – 21, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Route 149 – CLOSED from Elm Street to Orchard Trail for a culvert replacement, March 22, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route 149 – CLOSED from U.S. Route 136 to Elm Street for culvert replacements, March 23 – 24, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Sullivan County

Route E – CLOSED from New Road to Route WW for culvert replacements, March 21 – 23, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Worth County

Route 46 – From Route C to the Harrison County line for pothole patching and sealing, March 20

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Work to the expansion joints will close a ramp in downtown St. Joseph this week.

The ramp from southbound Interstate 229 to Felix Street will be closed Monday, March 20, 2017, at approximately 7:30 a.m. and will remain closed through the afternoon of Friday, March 24, 2017.

Motorists will need to use an alternate route during the closure. All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

The first in a series of public meetings will be held later this month to talk about a watershed project set to impact portions of several counties in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.

Mo-Kan Regional Council (MKRC) in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MNDR) will be hosting a series of meetings in St. Joseph and Platte County to share information and gather input on the Independence-Sugar Watershed.

All watershed residents from urban to rural landowners to city and county officials are encouraged to attend. Mo-Kan said the goal is to learn about local watershed priorities, help to identify resources to achieve these goals and build important partnerships between all watershed residents.

The Independence-Sugar Watershed encompasses portions of Andrew, Buchanan, Platte and Clay counties in Missouri and Atchison, Doniphan, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and includes the cities of Kansas City, St. Joseph, Atchison and Parkville, among others.

Watershed boundaries are not manmade, but rather defined by the land area that all drains into a particular water body, in this case the Independence-Sugar. Crossing over eight different counties the planning process will engage county officials, residents, business owners, farmers, and all those interested.

Meeting Schedule:
Monday, March 27, 2017
9:00 – 11:00 am Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64501
6:00 – 8:00 pm Platte County YMCA, 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152

Monday, April 24, 2017
9:00 – 11:00 am Platte County YMCA, 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152
6:00 – 8:00 pm Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64501
Monday, May 22, 2017
9:00 – 11:00 am Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64501
6:00 – 8:00 pm Platte County YMCA, 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152

The Independence-Sugar Watershed covers an area of 1,042 miles and contributes to the Missouri River.  The watershed is largely rural, yet impacts many of the communities along the river as well as those impacted by development.

Planning Project Objectives:
Research and provide information about the watershed.
Assemble a Committee representing a broad cross-section of watershed residents.
Coordinate and host a series of six watershed advisory committee meetings.
Document the identified watershed priorities with actions being suggested.
Assist in compiling information gained during the planning meetings to develop a Healthy Watershed Plan.
Communicate watershed information; promote watershed protection, preservation and enhancement.

This project is part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Our Missouri Waters Watershed Collaborative. The goal of this effort is to engage local residents in identifying water resource related issues within the watershed, then work cooperatively with partners to develop solutions, and focus available resources.

The project is being funded through a Joint Funding Agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to support the planning efforts for a period of 15 months from January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

The City of St. Joseph has approved dates for spring open burning season for April.

Beginning Monday, April 3 and running through Sunday, April 23 residents are permitted to burn under the following guidelines:

• Burning of yard waste of residential properties only – ONLY dry yard waste
such as leaves, brush and logs grown on the property can be burned. NO
trash, paper, lumber or building debris may be burned.

• Burning is allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

• All fires must be in an upright cylindrical metal container with a volume equal
to no more than 55 gallons. Containers must be located at least fifteen (15)
feet away from any building. Only one burn container per residence.

• All fires shall be monitored from a point on the property where the fire is
located, by a person capable of containing a fire, should containment become
necessary.

• Fire-fighting material, including but not limited to, a garden hose or a
container of water sufficient to contain any fire started shall be at the site of
the fire.

• If weather conditions such as high winds indicate the safety of the
community or the public may be endangered or if open burning may create a
health hazard, the Fire Chief or Health Director may invoke a temporary
burning ban.

Any violation of the open burning restrictions may result in a summons to appear in
court for a misdemeanor violation.
Residents are encouraged to explore alternatives to open burning. Many options for
disposing of yard waste are easy, do not contribute to air pollution, are not dependent
on time restrictions or the weather, and provide the healthy benefit of physical activity
while doing yard work instead of breathing acrid smoke from a waste fire. Such activities
include mowing leaves into fine particles and leaving them lay to fertilize the lawn, or
incorporating leaves into a mulch container to decompose into humus for use in
vegetable and flower gardens or for use on lawns as a soil amendment. Larger wood
brush that can be chipped makes excellent mulch around trees and shrubs. Family and
friends with gardens may want additional yard waste to use as mulch.
If you choose to burn, please do so within the days provided, as open burning session
will not be extended due to weather blackout dates.

After a week-long delay the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday at noon in St. Joseph.

The event was postponed from last weekend due to snow chances and cold temperatures.  With sunny skies now in the forecast the 31st annual parade will officially begin at noon at Noyes and Frederick and travel to Felix St. downtown.  Floats will be judged on four categories according to the St. Joseph Ancient Order of Hibernians.  Those categories include Irish theme, creativity, number of people participating and Irish music provided by the entry.

Shane McDonald with the Ancient Order of Hibernians said registration for participating in the parade is appreciated but not required. The entry fee is $50 and part of the proceeds will benefit various causes the Ancient Order of the Hibernians supports including Catholic education and the Second Harvest Food Bank.

For more information about the parade CLICK HERE.

JCPenney has released a list of 138 store locations it plans to close over the next few months.  Included in that list is its Maryville location.

As we previously reported, JCPenney last month announced it will be closing anywhere from 130 to 140 stores as well as two distribution centers over the next several months as it aims to improve profitability in the era of online shopping.  The closing list released Friday included only one store in Missouri.  The JCPenney located in the Maryville Center is expected to begin the liquidation process on April 17.

Around 5,000 positions nationwide will be impacted by the store closures. To view the list of upcoming closures in full CLICK HERE.