According to AAA drivers are paying the highest gas prices over New Year’s since 2014.

AAA said the national average has moved higher for 34 of the past 35 days, largely due to market reactions to last fall’s OPEC deal. Pump prices increased by five cents on the week, by 18 cents per gallon on the month, and are up by 34 cents on the year.

Missouri fell in the top ten least expensive markets with an average of $2.18.

St. Joseph came in Tuesday with an average of $2.09 a gallon. That’s up two cents from a week ago and 38 cents from this time last year.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi announced Monday the businesses have officially swapped assets in most markets.

The announcement comes after last week’s agreement with the Federal Trade Commission in which Boehringer agreed to divest several animal health products in the United States.

Monday,Boehringer and Sanofi confirmed that the transaction signed in June 2016 consisting of an exchange of Sanofi’s animal health business (Merial) and Boehringer Ingelheim’s consumer healthcare (CHC) business, has successfully closed in most markets. Over the past few years, the animal health sector has seen increased consolidation activity. Boehringer said by uniting the strengths of Merial with Boehringer Animal Health, it has created the second largest animal health business in the world.

“The U.S. animal health market will be the largest for Boehringer Ingelheim, representing about 40 percent of annual sales,” said Rene Ward, Dir. of Public Relations for Boehringer. “In the U.S. we are now the No. 1 animal health company in the pet market by revenue, the No. 1 animal health company in parasiticides by revenue and the No. 2 largest U.S. animal health company by revenue.”

To view the press release on the closing of the business swap that took place Jan. 1, 2017 CLICK HERE.

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 Jan. 2 – 8 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. With the possibility of winter weather, scheduled maintenance and construction projects may be postponed.

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 MoDOT’s website.

Buchanan County

• Interstate 29 and U.S. Route 36 – Crossover maintenance, Jan. 3 – 6
• Route 116 – From Route 116 to Route HH for sealing, Jan. 3 – 6

Caldwell County

• U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED at the Route 13 overpass for bridge maintenance, Jan. 3 – 6, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic will be directed up and over the ramps at Hamilton during the closure.

Clinton County

• Route 116 – From U.S. Route 169 to the Buchanan County line for sealing, Jan. 3 – 6
• Route 33 – From Isley Road to 209^th Street for drainage work, Jan. 3 – 6
• Route 33 – From Clinton Street to Short Street in Lathrop for drainage work, Jan. 3 – 6

Daviess County

• Route 13 – From Route 6 to Route HH for sealing, Jan. 3 – 6

Gentry County

• Route Z – Sealing, Jan. 3 – 6

Grundy County

• U.S. Route 65 and Route 6 – Pothole patching, Jan. 3 – 6

Harrison County

• I-35 – From mile marker 88 (Route 13 exit) to mile marker 84 (Route A/H exit) for drainage work, Jan. 3 – 6

Linn County

• U.S. Route 36 – Eastbound from Route 11 to Route 5 for pothole patching and sealing, Jan. 3 – 6
• Route 139 – Shoulder work, Jan. 3 – 6
• U.S. Route 36 – Westbound from Route 5 to Route FF for pothole patching and sealing, Jan. 6

Mercer County

• Route P – CLOSED at the Brushy Creek Bridge for a bridge replacement. The road will be closed until February 2017.

Nodaway County

• U.S. Route 136 – From the One Hundred and Two River Bridge to Route 46 for shoulder work, Jan. 3 – 6
• Route C – Two miles west of Clearmont at the Nodaway River Bridge for a stream bank stabilization project, Jan. 3 – 6

At the beginning of every new year, many people make plans to quit something, start something or make other life changes.

Health and fitness goals are often on many people’s New Year’s resolutions list.

According to Austin Evans, owner of Fit Republic and Lean Kitchen Company, with New Year’s resolutions about weight loss and other healthy changes, nutrition is 80 percent of the key to success.

“Nutrition is so important and people can take all the supplements they want, they can work out, and that’s going to help accelerate it, but if your nutrition is not on point, you’re not going to get results,” Evans said.

Fit Republic is a nutrition store in St. Joseph specializing in sports nutrition, weight loss supplements and vitamins and minerals. Evans said they also take time to help educate customers on a healthy diet.

“Everything is about balance,” Evans said. “Quitting things cold turkey is very hard, you’re not going to probably be successful cold turkey, not many people are, they don’t have the discipline. If people want to take out pop from their diet if they’re drinking 120 ounces of pop a day and they go to none, they’re probably going to fail. So take it out in chunks… If you try to do everything at once, people don’t often succeed that way.”

Evans said he encourages people to get off fad diets unless they implement lifestyle changes and to stop paying so much attention to the scale.

“Pay attention to how you feel, pay attention to how your clothes fit, pay attention to how much easier that mile is getting on the treadmill, pay attention to those types of things,” Evans said.

In addition to Fit Republic, which has been open a year, Evans began a meal prep company, Lean Kitchen Company about a month ago. They offer breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks with options including low-carb, gluten-free and vegan. Evans said they’re selling about 500 meals a week just out of the cooler at Fit Republic for people dropping by to get a healthy lunch option. Meals are available to order online and pick up at Fit Republic on Sundays.

Fit Republic is located at 1331 South Belt Highway in St. Joseph. Evans said people can stop in for Lean Kitchen meals or to talk with them about setting up New Year’s fitness or health goals and plans. For more information, visit the Fit Republic Facebook page.

HAMILTON, Mo – U.S. Route 36 will close daily after the first of the year in Hamilton.

Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will close all lanes of eastbound U.S. Route 36 at Route 13 for bridge maintenance. The road will be closed from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm. Monday through Friday, weather permitting, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. Motorists will be rerouted up and over the ramps at Route 13. It will take approximately one month to complete the project.

All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change.

MoDOT encourages all motorists to slow down, buckle up, eliminate distractions and drive safely to ensure everyone is able to Arrive Alive.

Bill Puett has officially taken over for outgoing Sheriff Mike Strong at the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office.

Puett was elected as the new sheriff during the Nov. 8 election.  January 1, the role officially changed hands.

“I had to go to new sheriff’s school for two weeks.  That’s required,” Puett said. “The sheriff has been completely supportive.  We’ve worked side-by-side for a long time and we don’t want the services the sheriff’s office provides to skip a beat.  We want everything to continue to move forward and get what needs to be done, done.”

Strong said he’s looking forward to retirement.

“Fishing, maybe do a little more flying, grand kids, I’ve got some projects at the house,” Strong said. “I have a lot to keep me busy.”

Strong took the sheriff’s office in 2005.  Prior to that he began working with the Drug Strike Force in 1991.  In his time as sheriff, Strong said there have been many things he’s been able to help with.

“The sex offender list, the no tolerance approach we took on that.  Knowing where the bad guys are and being able to keep people informed,” Strong said. “I think the development of the staff is probably one of the biggest achievements.  The caliber of people we have here now is just phenomenal.”

Puett was sworn into office Friday during a ceremony.  He has appointed Mike Donaldson as his second-in-command.

“The undersheriff, he prefers the term Chief Deputy,” Puett said. “So we’ll go back to the term Chief Deputy and his rank is going to be commander.”

Puett said in the spring the sheriff’s office will take part in some community meetings throughout the city and county.

“If they have ideas or want to come meet us or talk to us I’ll encourage folks to come do that,” Puett said. “Before then if anybody has anything they can always reach out to us at the sheriff’s office.”

 

A new area sports facility featuring an indoor tennis court opened last week. 

Eric Thacker Tennis owns the Sports Center located on the northeast side of St. Joseph. 

Thacker said he wanted to create a multi-use facility. 

“In this facility we’ll be able to accommodate a lot of different sports,” he said. “Tennis was going to be one of the main components of it, but we’ll also be able to accommodate baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball practices, things of that nature.” 

Thacker said the facility houses one of few indoor tennis courts in the area. 

“We put a lot of work into this facility and made sure things were done correctly so it would be easy to access and easy to use,” he said. “I think there’s been a need in northwest Missouri for a long time for a place that can accommodate a lot of different sports that is easy to rent out, people can afford it. I hear of a lot of teens that want to rent a place for practice, can’t find practice space, so I think this will serve northwest Missouri very well.” 

Thacker said a batting cage will be up in the next couple of days. The facility is located off of County Road 307. 

For more information, contact Eric Thacker at (816) 629-6749 or ericthackertennis@gmail.com.

Making your home look less appealing to burglars could make break-ins less likely.

St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally in an interview with KFEQ’s Barry Birr talked about how most burglars like to break-into homes.

Connally brought a report to talk about on the Hotline that was compiled by KGW out of Portland that asked 86 burglars how they broke into homes.

“Burglars don’t want to be seen.  They look for homes with big fences and overgrown trees or bushes,” Connally said. “A nice home and a nice car, a person with money in other words.”

Connally said he used the report as a tool for his class he teaches as an adjunct-professor at Missouri Western State University.

“Most burglars prefer breaking in earlier mornings or afternoon between 12:30 and 2:30,” Connally said. “Anyone who was home from lunch should be gone by then and most kids are gone at school.”

Having a big loud dog also seemed to keep burglars away.  Also, in many cases Connally said burglars knock on the front door before breaking in.

“He (burglar) said I’d act like I was lost or looking for a friend, I would approach the residence as if they’d posted an ad on Craig’s List,” Connally said.

Leaving a light on in your house 24/7 didn’t seem to bother many burglars in the survey.

“One burglar said the combination of lights on and blinds closed created an attractive location,” Connally said. “Would drive through upperclass neighborhoods looking for many things like porch light on and all blinds closed wrote one inmate.”

Connally said having a light on a timer is a better solution.  Also, leaving a radio or a TV on in the home seemed to keep burglars at bay.

“Almost all burglars said they would think twice if there is a car in the driveway,” Connally said.

CLICK HERE to read the survey he references in full.

Connally said if a St. Joseph resident plans to go out of town he suggests signing up for the department’s watch residence program.

“We’ll send an officer by every day to check on your house,” Connally said. “It’s a free service and I would encourage folks to take advantage of that.”

CLICK HERE for a link to sign-up for the watch residence program.

10. Python adoptions hit record numbers at St. Joseph Animal Shelter

The City of St. Joseph saw an increase in Ball Pythons found around town this year. In October we reported that the St. Joseph Animal Shelter found four Pythons around town and two other people called in to report finding two others and keeping them. That’s the most snakes found in St. Joseph ever, according to Stephen Normal with the shelter.

9. First time for second Shop St. Joseph grand prize drawing

For the first time in St. Joseph history, a second drawing of a Shop St. Joseph ticket resulted in a grand prize. Earlier this month, John and Mae Osborn of Savannah won the $10,000.

8. Area sports teams get new coaches

Both Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Western State University hired new coaches in 2016.  Northwest named Rich Wright as the 20th head coach of Bearcat Football Dec. 19.  Matt Willimson was named the sixth head football coach in Western history Dec. 5.

The St. Joseph School District saw three coaches leave the district. In April, Chris Neff resigned as the boys basketball coach at Lafayette.  In November, Matt Tabor stepped down as head coach of Benton’s High School football program.  Earlier this month, Phil Pitts announced he’s resigning as Central High School’s head football coach.

7. Silver patrol cars make debut on St. Joseph streets

At the beginning of June, the St. Joseph Police Department started phasing in its new silver patrol vehicles.  The six new Impalas and one Ford Taurus arrived around the beginning of the year but setting up all of the equipment required for officers to hit the road took some time.

6. Spratt Stadium renovations completed

Spratt Memorial Stadium at Missouri Western held its grand opening of the new Craig Field in August. The over $7 million construction project began in May 2015. New at the stadium are a concourse, concessions area, restrooms, team store, club level, including suites, and press box. Repairs and improvements were made to the home grandstand seating. There is also new field turf, a 2,500 square foot video scoreboard and Victory Plaza.

5. November Presidential Election

In Buchanan County 36,222 people cast ballots in the Nov. 8 election, a voter turnout of 69.58 percent.  Around 15-percent less than the turnout predicted.

4. Winter weather causes crashes and delays in getting children home from school

Two police vehicles, three St. Joseph Public Works and Transportation spreader trucks and one pick-up were damaged as well as several school buses during a winter storm that hit earlier this month.  The slick conditions caused issues in transporting students in the St. Joseph School District home.  The last kids were dropped off around 10:15 Friday, Dec. 16.  During the weather event, officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to around 75 crashes around town.

3. Atchison Plume

A chemical release occurred at MGP Ingredients in Atchison, Kan. in October after two commonly used chemicals were inadvertently mixed during a routine delivery.  As a result of the chemical plume more than 100 people sought medical treatment related to respiratory concerns. While the plume was over the city of Atchison, residents were urged to stay inside for several hours, several schools were evacuated and residents were told to close all windows, and turn off air and furnaces.

2. Reuters report deems St. Joseph worse than Flint for cases of lead poisoning 

A special report released earlier this month by the well-known business and financial news organization names St. Joseph of of nearly 3,000 places with more cases of lead poisoning than Flint, Michigan.  Reporters tied St. Joseph’s lead poisoning in children mostly to neighborhoods with old homes.

1. Pioneer building catches fire

The building located at 5th and Francis, commonly known as the Pioneer building was destroyed by a large fire in November.  The building was also known as the historic Tootle Opera House.  The St. Joseph Fire Department said around 60 firefighters were on scene with around 15 firetrucks.  The Savannah Fire Department and the Rosecrans Memorial Airport Fire Department assisted. Crews are still investigating the cause of the fire.