The St. Joseph School District is short thousands in state aid after student attendance took a huge drop last week in the wake of threats made on social media toward area schools.

As we told you last week, the St. Joseph School District increased security after a parent notified the district of a social media account, “Aint Clownin Around” featuring a clown in the profile picture, which posted at least three threats against all schools.  The St. Joseph Police Department said it arrested a 27-year-old man Tuesday in connection with the investigation and that the case has been submitted to the prosecutor’s officer for consideration of charges.

Dr. Solon Haynes, Dir. of Student Service with the district said that last week from Thursday to Friday more than 1,300 students were absent from district schools.  That resulted in a monetary loss of state aid of around $27,500.

“Every day that a student attends school we receive state aid for the student being in school,” Haynes said. “Considering our budget is over $100-million dollars that is still significant but as far as the overall budget it’s just a small portion of it.”

Having an additional 1,300 students absent was a huge increase over normal. Haynes said the day prior to the incident around 535 students were reported absent.

“Overall anytime you lose money out of the instructional funds that would go to a school it does have an impact on the education of our children,” Haynes said. “So that is money that we will not receive from the state to help educate our students.”

The investigation into the case is ongoing.  As we’ve previously reported, the individual arrested may also be tied to another police investigation relating to a similar incident in another location.

The St. Joseph Police Department has confirmed a man arrested after “clown threats” were made on social media toward area schools is also under investigation for a similar case in another location.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said a 27-year-old St. Joseph man was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with the St. Joseph case.

“After an extensive and thorough investigation the suspect involved in the threats against the Saint Joseph School District was taken into custody. This occurred after Special Response Team Officers and Detectives served a search warrant at a local residence,” Wilson said.

As we previously reported last week, the St. Joseph School District increased security after a parent notified the district of a social media account, “Aint Clownin Around” featuring a clown in the profile picture, which posted at least three threats against all schools.

Wilson said the case has been submitted to the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s office for consideration of charges.

When we asked Wilson about the possibility of other law enforcement organizations investigating the man in custody he confirmed that another agency is investigating him in connection with a similar case.  Little other information has been released.

As we learn more we will update this story.

Four defendants have pleaded guilty and are set for sentencing in December after the May shooting death of 18-year-old Skylar Powell.

Six individuals were charged earlier this year in Buchanan County in connection with the case and in August those cases were joined. Thursday in court Gabriel Dawson and Ashten Surritte each charged with first-degree attempted robbery, and Dayne Matthews and Kyle Smith each charged with possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence pleaded guilty to the charges against them. Each are scheduled for sentencing Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.

Justin Smith, charged with voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action had his plea rejected by Judge Patrick Robb and his case was continued to Oct. 13 at 2:45 p.m.

Jay’Den Maynard charged with first-degree attempted robbery had his case continued to Oct. 13 and will also appear at 2:45 p.m.

Prosecutors believe Powell was killed during a drug transaction and attempted robbery May 17 in the area of 2200 Calhoun.

Gov. Jay Nixon has approved a $54.4 million Transportation Improvement Program for St. Joe, which will include $5 million for a levee control project at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

“Maintaining public infrastructure is a responsibility we all share, and this levee flood control project will help protect the valuable assets at Rosecrans, as well as area farms and businesses near the Missouri River,” Gov. Nixon said. “I appreciate that the voters of Buchanan County gave their overwhelming support of this important public safety and economic development initiative to also help it move forward.

The plan was submitted to the Missouri Department of Transportation by the St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization.

This past August, local funding for the Buchanan County Levee Flood Control Project was approved by area voters, with more 77 percent voting in favor of the issue. The Transportation Improvement Program approved today by Gov. Nixon will put $5 million in general revenue from the State of Missouri into the project.

In May, the Governor was briefed at by local officials, business leaders, and representatives of the Missouri Air National Guard regarding efforts to protect Rosecrans and surrounding areas from flooding through improvements to area levees. Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is home to the 139th Airlift Wing, comprised of more than 1,200 Missouri Air National Guard men and women.

The Fiscal Year 2017 state budget signed by the Governor includes the $5 million in general revenue for repair and improvements to levees along the Missouri River to protect the base, as well as nearby farms and businesses in the St. Joseph region; that money is included in the TIP approved by Gov. Nixon.

Other items in the St. Joseph TIP made eligible for federal funding through the plan include another $8 million for other improvements around Rosecrans, more than $3 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects, nearly $15 million for road and bridge projects, and more than $21 million for transit projects.

This weekend, 20 years of PumpkinFest in St. Joseph will be celebrated. 

Cindy Daffron with the PumpkinFest said the three-day event sponsored by the Pony Express Museum started out with a street dance and an idea. 

“That (street dance) wasn’t too successful, so the following year they said, let’s go a different way,” Daffron said. “So that’s when the mountain idea came in 1988, and allowing vendors and people to come and it’s grown great ever since then.” 

“Pumpkin Mountain,” the highlight of the celebration, features hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins which will light up at 8:00 sharp Friday evening in front of the museum. Daffron said before the lighting, at 7:45, they will hold a special recognition of all the past volunteers who have helped with PumpkinFest over the years. 

“We’d like to honor (them) and send that message to people that volunteers, you know, without them where would we all be, probably every organization in this city would be in trouble,” Daffron said. 

Also during the weekend, there will be entertainment on both stages at Patee Park across from the museum including country gospel and bluegrass musicians performing. There will also be craft and food vendors, a Children’s Tent, carnival rides, pony rides and a petting zoo. 

Saturday morning, registration for the costume parade begins at 10 and the parade starts at 11 a.m. 

Also during PumpkinFest weekend, there will be an opportunity to meet Buffalo Bill and learn about the Pony Express and Kathy Ridge will be bringing to life a typical day at school in the 1860s at the one-room Pony School. A new session will start every half hour during the PumpkinFest.

For more information and a schedule of events, click here.

The building that once housed a St Joseph police station, and later the Military Heritage Museum, is being sold at auction.

According to the Web site of the Cates Auction Real Estate Company (click here), the starting bid is $25,000 for the building at 701 Messanie St.

The description notes that the “iconic building” is “immediately recognizable as the work of renowned architect Harvey Ellis.” It was built in 1890.

The 3-story brick structure features limestone detailing, a slate roof, and the signature round tower. The parcel also includes two adjacent vacant lots at 613 Messanie and 516 S. 7th.

The Military Heritage Museum closed its doors in April.

Police took a subject into custody early Tuesday morning after threats made last week toward area schools from a “clown” account.

As previously reported, the St. Joseph Police Department and the St. Joseph School District couldn’t establish any credibility to the threats made on social media but still took the situation seriously and increased security at certain schools on Friday.

According to Captain Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, a subject is currently in custody in reference to the social media clown events last week. No other details are being released at this time due to the extensive amount of investigation to be completed.

We will report updates when we learn more.