A special enforcement operation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Nodaway County on New Year’s Eve netted three arrests, along with nearly 60 citations and warnings.

Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer Troop H, St. Joseph, announced the results of the DWI saturation.

From 7 p.m. on December 31, 2016, to 3 a.m. on January 1, 2017, six officers patrolled Nodaway County with a goal of detecting impaired drivers and other traffic violations that contribute to traffic crashes. As a result of the operation, there were two arrests for driving while intoxicated, one misdemeanor drug arrest, seven traffic citations issued, and 52 warnings given.

“Impaired driving poses a significant threat to motorists on Missouri’s roadways,” stated Captain McDonald. “One of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s highest priorities is removing the impaired driver from our roadways. If drinking is part of your plans, choose a sober designated driver.”

The Sears in St. Joseph is on the chopping block in the latest list of store closings.

Sears Holdings said in an effort to continue to strategically and aggressively evaluate its store space and productively it is closing some unprofitable stores.

Wednesday, the company informed associates at 78 Kmart stores and 26 Sears stores that their stores would be closings this spring.  On that list is the Sears in St. Joseph.

Sears Holdings said the decision to close stores is difficult but necessary as it moves to take actions to strengthen the company’s operations and fund its transformation.  It said many of the stores closing have struggled with their financial performance for years.

“We have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around. But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success,” the company stated in a news release.

It said eligible associates impacted by the store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores.

Liquidation sales will begin as early as January 6 at all closing stores.  Sears Holdings said the St. Joseph location will close at the end of March.  In December the company previously announced 46 other locations up for closure.

Snowplows are getting prepped to hit roadways as a winter storm heads towards the region.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday.  It’s predicting snow accumulations of two to three inches contributing to hazardous driving conditions during that time frame.  The Missouri Department of Transportation was already urging drivers Wednesday morning to stay home if possible Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

“If you don’t need to be out stay home,” said Marty Liles, MoDOT Northwest District Maintenance & Traffic Engineer.

Liles said MoDOT has around 180 trucks in the Northwest District to cover 20 counties.  He said they started evaluating plans for the incoming storm Wednesday morning in talking with officials across the region and looking at the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

“With this one coming in during the day if it does happen we have people that are going to be watching.  Trucks are already ready to go with their salt and mixed material to start treating as needed.  We also have a night shift planned tonight to help with this snowfall,” Liles said. “Every storm is a little different.”

Liles said he’s expecting to see drier snow and cold temperatures.

“Pavement temperatures are going to get cold, the air temperature is going to be really cold and the snow is going to be drier so it’s not going to stick as well,” Liles said. “They did talk like the winds could be coming in a little more tomorrow and causing a little more drifting.”

Keven Schneider, Interim Superintendent of Streets for the City of St. Joseph said they are continue to monitor the forecast and will make a decision later Wednesday afternoon on if they need to pretreat roads.

“We’ll keep watching the updates as they come in and make a final decision late in the afternoon,” Schneider said. “If we don’t do pretreating.  If it’s a lower percentage what we do is we wait until it actually starts with winter weather.”

The Streets Department has around 14 trucks ready to go.  Schneider said they currently have one or two in the shop.

“The main routes always get hit first.  The designated emergency routes,” Schneider said. “Anytime when there’s winter weather those will 99.9 percent of the time be the best condition out of any of the streets.”

He said around three inches of snow is needed before city crews start plowing.

“If it’s 2.5″ and it’s still coming then yes we will start to plow,” Schneider said. “Or if we get to three and it’s still coming we’ll start to plow.”

However, there is a two hour delay before crews start plowing.

“Once we declare Phase 2 which removes parking from emergency routes…there’s a two hour window before it takes effect.  There’s two reasons, it allows residents to get their vehicles off emergency routes and it also allows us to get the plows mounted and get everything set to get out to plow,” Schneider said. “If you see us coming try to give us a little bit of room.  We hate people getting right behind us and getting salt all over their car.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting the incoming system to be fast-moving with most accumulation taking place overnight. However, NWS said several inches of snow accumulation at cold temperatures could mean potentially snow-covered roads on Thursday morning complicating the morning commute.  Both Schneider and Liles urge drivers, that if they have to get out to take their time, use safe driving practices and be on the lookout for plows.  Liles also urges people to make sure they have plenty of gas and blankets in their vehicles just in case.

A St. Joseph, Mo., man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to robbing UMB Bank.

Terry L. Hager, 49, of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan to the charge contained in a May 19, 2016, federal indictment.

By pleading guilty, Hager admitted that he stole $13,957 from UMB Bank, 1211 N. Belt Hwy., St. Joseph, on March 5, 2016.

Under federal statutes, Hager is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The Second Harvest community food Bank in St. Joseph hands out more than five million pounds of food per year to its members in Northwest Missouri and northeastern Kansas. This week, some of the food bank’s members will receive a box of food packed by the next Governor of Missouri.

Eric Greitens came to St. Joseph on Tuesday to lend a hand at Second Harvest, and to greet supporters at an event at Missouri Western State University.

“One of the things we wanted to do was to stop by and highlight the tremendous work that they’re doing at Second Harvest,” Greitens said. “You know they’re feeding 15,000 people per week here.”

“And the fact is there are real Missourians who are out there who are hurting. And especially at a time like this, with the holidays, it’s important for all of us to recognize that we all have a role to play.”

The governor-elect and members of “Team Greitens” volunteered to help pack boxes of food Tuesday.

“It’s a pleasure to volunteer,” Greitens told reporters. “I’m inspired by so many Missourians who are out there volunteering every day doing work like this. We appreciate all the work that the volunteers are doing here today.

Greitens also stepped into the Fresh Start food pantry at Second Harvest to meet and greet the food bank’s members.

The governor-elect’s team then moved on to Missouri Western where he hosted another stop on his “Thank You Tour.”