A St. Joseph man accused of barging into his ex-wife’s house and shooting her and her boyfriend changed his plea Monday.

Online court records show Daron Simpson changed his plea Monday and was convicted of second-degree murder and assault in the first degree. Additional charges against Simpson were dismissed.

Investigators said Simpson drove his car through the garage door of the home where his ex-wife Amanda was living back in January of last year.

In court documents, officials said he found the couple in their bedroom, and fatally shot the boyfriend Andrew Clary. He then turned the weapon on Amanda, who suffered serious injuries but survived the attack.

Sentencing is scheduled October 20 at 3 p.m. before Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg.

In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Missouri Western State University will present a free live showing tonight of the live multimedia performance, “Cronkite.”

“Cronkite” is a one-man show adapted from an appearance by Walter Cronkite on CNN’s “Larry King Live” in September 2002, one year after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. According to a news release, the 23-minute show incorporates live performance, audio, video and still photographs to evoke memories of 9/11 and other major events Cronkite covered, including World War II, the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

The part of Cronkite is played by Jim Korinke, a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. The show was conceived and edited by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president, and is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts.

“Cronkite” is part of a trilogy of shows developed by Dr. Vartabedian to complement the Walter Cronkite Memorial on Missouri Western’s campus. The other shows include “Harry & Walter: Missouri’s Native Sons,” exploring the parallel lives of Cronkite and fellow Missourian Harry Truman, and “King & Cronkite,” featuring the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the reflections of Cronkite on the civil rights movement. Ken Remmert stars as Truman and Walter Coppage as King. The three shows can be performed separately or as a 90-minute trilogy with a brief intermission.

The performance takes place at 8 p.m. in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Spratt Hall. The performance is open to the public.

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 Sept. 12 – 18 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.

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 (888-275-6636) or click here.

Andrew County

• Route 48 – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge near Whitesville for a bridge replacement project. The road will be closed through mid-November.
• Business 71 – Southbound from the Savannah city limits to Interstate 29 for milling, Sept. 12 – 16

Atchison County

• I-29 – Northbound at mile marker 124 near the Iowa state line for pavement repair, Sept. 12 – 16.
• I-29 – Southbound at mile marker 110 (near the Rock Port Welcome Center) for pavement repair, Sept. 12 – 16.
• Route 111 – CLOSED from Route E to Route Z for a chip sealing operation, Sept. 12, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 111 – CLOSED from Route Z to Route W (Holt County) for a chip sealing operation, Sept. 13, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Buchanan County

• Route YY (Mitchell Ave.) and U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Signal work, Sept. 12, 6 p.m. – 7 a.m. During the project, the signals will be inoperable and stop signs will be in place. Drivers are reminded that it should be treated as a four-way stop during this time.
• U.S. Route 36 – One mile west of Route AC for grading work, Sept. 12 – 16
• Route 31 – CLOSED from Route NN to Route N at Easton for a culvert replacement, Sept. 12, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• I-229 – Northbound from U.S. Route 36 to U.S. Route 59 for maintenance, Sept. 12 – 13. This will include overnight lane closures.
• I-229 – Southbound from U.S. Route 59 to U.S. Route 36 for maintenance, Sept. 14 – 15. This will include overnight lane closures.
• Route E – CLOSED from Route H to County Road 337 for a culvert replacement, Sept. 14 – 15, 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Caldwell County

• Route 13 – CLOSED at the Log Creek Bridge near Kingston for a bridge deck replacement project. The bridge will be closed through November.
• Route A – Pothole patching, Sept. 13
• Route 13 – From Route U to the Log Creek Bridge for pothole patching,Sept. 14 – 15

Carroll County

• Route JJ – Pothole patching, Sept. 12
• Route C – At the Turkey Creek Bridge for maintenance, Sept. 12 – 15
• Route MM – Pothole patching, Sept. 13 – 14
• Route BB – Pothole patching, Sept. 15

Chariton County

• Route TT – CLOSED just east of Route 139 for a culvert replacement,Sept. 13, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Clinton County

• U.S. Route 169 – From Route VV to the Gower city limits for sealing rumble strips, Sept. 12
• Route VV – From Route N to U.S. Route 169 for a resurfacing project,Sept. 12 – 17. Includes a 9-foot width restriction. A pilot car will direct traffic through the work zone.
• Route 116 – From Route A to one-half mile west for pothole patching,Sept. 14 – 15

Daviess County

• Route F – Pothole patching, Sept. 12

DeKalb County

• U.S. Route 36 – Traffic will be head-to-head at the overpass over I-35 for a bridge replacement project. During this project, no left turns from U.S. Route 36 onto I-35 will be permitted, as the medians between east and westbound U.S. Route 36 will be closed. Please follow the signed detour route. This project will continue through mid-December.
• I-35 – One lane may be closed under the U.S. Route 36 overpass for a bridge deck replacement project. During this project, traffic exiting I-35 will not be permitted to turn left onto U.S. Route 36, as the medians between east and westbound U.S. Route 36 will be closed. Please follow the signed detour route. This project will continue through mid-December.

Grundy County

• Routes V and Z – Drainage work, Sept. 12 – 16
• Route E – From Route 6 to the Grundy County line for pothole patching,Sept. 14 – 16

Holt County

• Route 111 – CLOSED from Route Z (Atchison County) to Route W for a chip sealing operation, Sept. 13, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 111 – CLOSED from U.S. Route 59 to County Road 190 for a chip sealing operation, Sept. 14, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Route 111 – CLOSED from County Road 190 to U.S. Route 159 for a chip sealing operation, Sept. 15, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Linn County

• Route TT – CLOSED from Grant Road to the Chariton County line for culvert replacement, Sept. 12, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route M – From Park Street to Route C for pothole patching, Sept. 12 – 14
• U.S. Route 36 – From Route F to the Macon County line for pavement repair, Sept. 12 – 15

Livingston County

• U.S. Route 36 – Westbound from Route CC to one mile west of U.S. Route 65 for pothole patching, Sept. 12 – 15
• Route 190 – From U.S. Route 65 to County Road 235 for pavement repair, Sept. 15 – 16

Mercer County

• U.S. Route 65 – From Route D to Route C for shoulder work, Sept. 12 – 16

Nodaway County

• Route U – CLOSED at the One Hundred and Two River Bridge for a bridge deck replacement project. The bridge will be closed through mid-October.

Putnam County

• Route FF – At the Shoal Creek Bridge for maintenance, Sept. 12
• Route Y – At the Blackbird Creek Bridge for maintenance, Sept. 13
• Route 129 – At the Blackbird Creek Bridge for maintenance, Sept. 14 – 15

Worth County

• Route 46 – From U.S. Route 169 to the Harrison County line for pothole patching, Sept. 12 – 16
• U.S. Route 169 – From Route 46 to Route PP for slide repair work, Sept. 12 – 16

The Missouri Department of Conservation is in the midst of a multi-year process of updating their management plans and is seeking public input during the process. 

During the month of September, plans for three conservation areas in Platte County will be available for public comment. 

Missouri Department of Conservation Media Specialist Bill Graham said public input gives the MDC a guide for the future and let’s them know of anything they need to change. 

“We’re giving people a chance to provide some input into those areas and those plans,” Graham said. “Is there something that concerns them about the area, is there something new they would like to see.” 

The three areas in Platte County available for public comment include the Kendzora, Little Bean Marsh and Dr. Frederick Marshall areas. 

MDC’s Kendzora Conservation Area north of Edgerton offers fishing, hunting and hiking on 746 acres. According to a press release, fishing opportunities include one mile Platte River frontage and a 35-acre fishing lake. A variety of wildlife habitat is offered including 200 acres of seasonally flooded bottomland, 300 acres of forest, and 190 acres of grasslands and old fields. A portion of the area is in southern Buchanan County. 

Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area north of Weston preserves a 167-acre wetland. It is an old oxbow of the Missouri River and one of the last large marshes in the river’s flood plain. The area is considered a prime birding location. Two paved trails lead into the wetland and forested areas. The 440-acre area also has some forest and old fields. 

MDC’s Dr. Frederick Marshall Conservation Area preserves 169 acres of rolling land southwest of Platte City. Habitat includes forest, old fields, crop land, and a restored woodland mix of large bur oaks and native prairie grasses. The area also has a half mile of frontage on the Platte River. 

To preview draft management plans and share comments online, click here.

Benefiting asthma awareness and education and remembering a friend are goals of an upcoming 5K. 

Run 4 Jen was started to honor Jennifer Shaw Suhr who died in December 2000 as a result of an asthma attack. Jennifer was a wife and mother, a member of Phi Mu sorority and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1992. 

One of the organizers of the 5K, Julie Shaw said this is the 9th annual Run 4 Jen. 

“It’s for asthma awareness,” Shaw said. “Jennifer passed away of an asthma attack when she was 30. So we are just trying to prevent others from suffering from asthma and so people understand that it is serious and that you need to take precautions so that this doesn’t happen to you.” 

Proceeds from the event benefit asthma awareness and education through the KU University Asthma Center and the respiratory unit at St. Francis Hospital in Maryville. 

“By planning and participating in the upcoming event, those of us who knew Jennifer have the opportunity to reminisce about the special times we had with her and that keeps her spirit alive,” Shaw said. “And we also have the ability to raise awareness and educate others on how deadly this disease can be.” 

The Jennifer Shaw Suhr memorial 5k run/walk takes place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion on the Northwest Missouri State University Campus in Maryville. 

For more information and to sign up, go to runforjen.com or call Julie Shaw at (816) 591-0788.

The Pony Express Council of the Boy Scouts of American is celebrating 100 years of service this year. One of the events is taking place this weekend at Civic Center Park, where hundreds of scouts, scoutmasters, volunteers and fans gathered for a jamboree.

Click on the image of the patch to find more information about the Pony Express Council.

GreaterGood’s Rescue Rebuild is in town to give the St. Joseph Animal Shelter a makeover.

The organization conducts shelter renovations across the country and is in St. Joseph today through the 18th to help out the shelter on Lower Lake Road. Rescue Rebuild is a volunteer program and St. Joseph Animal Shelter Humane Educator Jenna Keyes said they are in need of more volunteers in the area.

“There will be all different types of volunteer positions where you can fit in and use your skills to help out the shelter,” Keyes said. “Any volunteers we can get out here that are willing to help and really make a big difference for the animals here at the shelter, we greatly appreciate that support.”

The renovation work will be going on from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. each day through Sunday, September 18th at the shelter. Anyone interested in volunteering for any part of the project should register online and fill out a survey indicating areas of interest and time availability.

For more information, go to the Friends of the Animal Shelter Facebook page, fill out the survey here or contact the shelter at (816) 271-4877.

The Commerce Department says exports from our area are growing by leaps and bounds. In a report released this week, the International Trade Administration of the Commerce Department reported the St Joe area exported a record $1 billion in goods which is up more than ten percent.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker released the report on Sept. 8 highlighting goods exports from U.S. metropolitan areas for 2015. The International Trade Administration’s 2015 Metropolitan Area Export Overview indicates that goods exports from the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area reached a record $1 billion. St. Joseph’s goods exports increased by $95 million, or 10.2 percent, from 2014 to 2015, and is one of the 63 metro areas to achieve record export levels last year.

“Exports continue to be a source of growth for the St. Joseph economy” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “St. Joseph is one of 63 metropolitan areas across our nation that set a record for goods exports last year. The Department of Commerce continues to focus its services on assisting more St. Joseph-based firms sell their ‘Made in America’ products to global consumers, which will support additional growth and good-paying jobs.”

U.S. metropolitan area goods exports exceeded $1.3 trillion in 2015, and accounted for 89 percent of total U.S. goods exports last year.

“St. Joseph’s (MO/KS) manufacturing , agricultural and service industries have remained a steady example of the success that is possible through exports. Exporting-related activities have had a real impact on the local economy and we hope it continues into the future,” said Nyamusi Igambi, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Kansas City.

St. Joseph Metropolitan Area export highlights for 2015:
* One of 63 metro areas to achieve record goods export levels.
* Nearly 43 percent of goods exports went to markets where the United States has trade agreements in force.
* Key merchandise export categories included processed foods; agricultural products; and transportation equipment.

“This is certainly great news for the community,” said R. Patt Lilly, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “The continued growth in exports shows the strength of our local economy and demonstrates how St. Joseph businesses benefit from a growing global market. It is worth noting that the trade agreements currently being considered in Washington DC are important to continued growth of U.S. exports and the economic vitality this brings to communities like St. Joseph. Clearly thousands of local jobs are the result of these export sales.”

St. Joseph continues to rank third in the state in exports behind St. Louis and Kansas City.