A preliminary hearing is scheduled next week for a St. Joseph man accused of firing several shots into a vehicle and house in Midtown St Joe last week. Authorities have said the drive-by was related to a double homicide on Safari drive just hours before.

Luis A Quinones-Rosa is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a class-d felony. Police say the suspect fired shots into a parked Chevrolet Suburban in the 2700 block of Delaware at about 10:30 p.m. July 17.

That morning, officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Safari Drive, where they found two people fatally shot. The victims were later identified as Kevin Villegas Melendez, 22, and Raymond Gonzalez Ortiz, 25.

In court documents, police say they arrested Quinones-Rosa after a traffic stop in the 3600 block of St. Joseph Ave. and recovered a handgun in the suspect’s car.

Five people have been charged with the killings. Omar Martinez-Velez, 34, Luis Omar Robles-Vargas, 31, Alexi Martinez-Andino, 19, Luz A. Figueroa-Castillo, 29, and Raymond Jimenez Bencebi, Jr., 26 were each charged with a felony for second-degree murder.

During a first appearance Tuesday morning, Judge Rebecca Spencer scheduled a preliminary hearing August 4 for Quinones-Rosa, who remains behind bars. Bail was set earlier at $25,000 cash.

The primary elections take place next week, August 2nd, and the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office will be open for absentee voting this week. 

The office will also be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday and until 5 p.m. on Monday, which is when absentee voting officially ends. 

The County Clerk’s office will also be set up at various upcoming events for voter registration drives (See the full schedule below). According to County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey, the office will be sending out a mailer to try to track down the approximately 13,000 deleted voters in the county so their registrations can be updated for the November election. 

For more information on elections and absentee voting, go to the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office website.

 

BUCHANAN COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE COMMUNITY OUTREACH-

2016 VOTER REGISTRATION BOOTH SCHEDULE

(additional dates may be added in September)

JULY:

• Friday July 29th, 2016 / 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.- Sounds of Summer Concert in Coleman Hawkins Park at Felix Street Square, 701 Felix Street, St. Joseph MO 64501

• Saturday July 30th, 2016/ 9:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.- Agency Annual Picnic at Agency Community Center, FF Highway & Miller, Agency MO 64401

• Saturday July 30th, 2016/ 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Saturday July 30th, 2016/ 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.- 100th Annual Hurlingen Picnic at Seven Dolors Catholic Church, 12750 Hurlingen Rd, Easton MO 64443

• Sunday July 31st, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m. – KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

AUGUST:

• Monday August 1st, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Tuesday August 2nd, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Wednesday August 3rd, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Friday August 5th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Friday August 5th, 2016/ 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.- Mexican Fiesta at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1813 S. 12th Street, St. Joseph MO 64503

• Saturday August 6th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp American Family Fun Day at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Saturday August 6th, 2016/ 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.- Mexican Fiesta at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1813 S. 12th Street, St. Joseph MO 64503

• Sunday August 7th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Monday August 8th, 2016/ 9:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus

• Tuesday August 9th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Wednesday August 10th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Thursday August 11th, 2016/ 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.- Parties on the Parkway at Corby Pond, NE Parkway & Corby Parkway, St. Joseph MO 64505

• Monday August 15th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Tuesday August 16th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Wednesday August 17th, 2016/ 9:15 a.m.- 10:55 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

• Thursday August 18th, 2016/ 8:15 a.m.- 10:40 a.m.- KC Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU Campus, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507

SEPTEMBER:

• Saturday September 3rd, 2016/ 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.- Rockin’ on the River at Remington Nature Center (Missouri River Front), 1502 McArthur Drive, St. Joseph MO 64505

A St. Joseph man has been charged after shots fired on Delaware last week.

Luis Quinones-Rosa, 22 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for unlawful use of a weapon.

According to court documents around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday July 17 Rosa is accused of driving in the area of the 2700 block of Delaware.

“As he was driving Luis Quinones used a handgun to fire shots into a parked Chevrolet Suburban,” said Sgt. F. Adams with the St. Joseph Police Department. “A house was also struck during this incident.”

As we previously reported, officers responded to a home July 18th in the area of Delaware and Ashland for a shooting investigation believed to be tied to a double homicide investigation that took place the morning before on Safari Dr. in which five people have since been charged. Court documents show that area is near the home of two of the defendants in the double-homicide investigation.

Court documents said  Quinones-Rosa was arrested Thursday after a traffic stop in the area of 3600 St. Joseph Avenue.

“A search of the vehicle following his arrest revealed a handgun under the driver’s seat Luis had occupied,” Adams said.

Quinones-Rosa is being held in the Buchanan County Jail on $25,000 cash only bail.  An arraignment is set for Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.

Related article: Five charged in double-homicide appear by video conference

 

 

A Chillicothe man is facing several felony counts for child sex crimes.

Jonathan P. Patterson, 18 is charged in Livingston County with two felonies for promoting a sexual performance by a child.

According to court documents, Wednesday night Patterson was watching three kids all under the age of 10 at a home in Chillicothe for a mother who was at work.

Patterson is accused in court documents of telling two of the children to touch each other in their privates and to have sex with each other.

Patterson is currently being held in the Daviess/DeKalb Regional Jail on $20,000 cash only bond.  A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.

 

KINGSTON, Mo. – Replacing the Log Creek Bridge south of Kingston begins next week. 

During a routine inspection during the fall of 2014, the bridge was shown to have significant, critical deterioration prompting the immediate closure of the bridge. Temporary support structures were put in place for the bridge and temporary traffic signals were installed allowing the bridge to reopen as a one-lane bridge.

Contractors from Phillips Hardy, Inc. of Boonville, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, plan to close the road to all traffic at the bridge over the Log Creek just south of Kingston at approximately 8 a.m. on Monday, August 1, to begin the bridge replacement process. Workers may be present at the site, and along a detour route, prior to the closure, in order to set up traffic control signing. The contractor hopes to have the bridge reopened by the middle of November. 

The bridge, built in 1930, carries approximately 2,500 vehicles per day. During the project, motorists will be directed over a signed detour on U.S. Route 36, Interstate 35 and Route 116.

For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or view the online Traveler Information Map. In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter and Facebook.

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 July 25 – 31 from the Missouri Department of Transportation In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, bridge deck washing, 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.

 

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.
• U.S. Route 169 and Route 48 – Drainage work, July 25 – 29
• Interstate 29 – NIGHT WORK southbound from Business U.S. Route 71 to 1.5 miles south of Route O (Buchanan County) for guardrail work, July 25 – 30, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.
• Route J – CLOSED from County Road 90 to County Road 106 for a culvert replacement, July 28, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Atchison County

• I-29 – Shoulder work, July 25 – 29
• Route 46 – Route EE to Route 113 (Nodaway County) for pothole patching, July 28

Buchanan County

• Route YY – The islands at the Belt Highway and Mitchell Road intersection for a resurfacing project. This project is expected to continue through September.
• U.S. Route 36 – One mile west of Route AC for grading work, July 25 – 29. Work will take place between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly.
• I-29 – NIGHT WORK southbound from Business U.S. Route 71 (Andrew County) to 1.5 miles south of Route O for guardrail work, July 25 – 30, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.
• Route H – CLOSED at Route FF for a culvert replacement, July 26 – 29,7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
• Route H – CLOSED at Route E for a culvert replacement, July 26 – 29, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily

Caldwell County

• U.S. Route 36 in Hamilton, Monday through Friday, July 25 – 29 for a pavement repair project:
• CLOSED from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily: both eastbound and westbound lanes. Traffic will be redirected to use the ramps at U.S. Route 36 and Route 13. Includes a 12-foot width restriction.
• Around-the-clock closures of the east and westbound driving lanes on U.S. Route 36. The passing lanes will remain open in each direction between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily
• Route 13 – Narrowed to one lane at the U.S. Route 36 Overpass Bridge in Hamilton for maintenance, July 25 – 29

Carroll County

• Route 41 – At the Wakenda Chute Bridge for maintenance, July 26 – 27
• Route U – CLOSED from U.S. Route 65 to County Road 241 for a culvert replacement, July 28, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Chariton County

• Route 129 – From U.S. Route 24 to Route D for pothole patching, July 25 – 29
• Route ZZ – CLOSED from Parish Road to Clark Road for a culvert replacement, July 29, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Clinton County

• Route H – CLOSED from NE Silvas Road to Route A for a culvert replacement, July 26, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Daviess County

• Route B – At the I-35 Overpass Bridge for maintenance, July 25 – 29

DeKalb County

• Routes J and O – Pothole patching, July 25 – 29

Gentry County

• Route FF – CLOSED at Route C for a culvert replacement, July 25, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Grundy County

• Route 128 – Pothole patching, July 25 – 26
• Route A – CLOSED from NW 95^th Street to NW 90^th Street for a culvert replacement, July 29, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harrison County

• Route T – CLOSED from Route DD to East 195^th Street for a culvert replacement, July 25, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route U – From Route 46 to the Iowa state line for pothole patching, July 25
• U.S. Route 136 – Striping, July 25 – 29
• Route P – From U.S. Route 69 to Route TT for pothole patching, July 25 – 29
• Route O – CLOSED from East 150^th Street to East 140^th Place for a culvert replacement, July 26, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route D – From Route 46 to Route M for pothole patching, July 26 – 29

Holt County

• I-29 – From mile marker 84 (Mound City exit) to mile marker 66 (Nodaway River Bridge) for pavement repair, July 25 – 29. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.
• I-29 – Pothole patching, July 25 – 29

Linn County

• Route 5 – From the Sullivan County line to one-eighth of a mile south of the Sullivan County line for drainage work, July 25
• Route EE – From U.S. Route 36 to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 25
• Route 5 – From Fawn Road to Delco Road for bridge maintenance, July 25 – 26
• U.S. Route 36 – Westbound from Route 139 to Crow Road for culvert repair, July 25 – 28
• Route W – From U.S. Route 36 to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 26
• Route 11 – CLOSED from Nile Drive to Nevada Road for a culvert replacement, July 27, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 139 – From Route B to the Sullivan County line for pothole patching, July 27
• Route WW – CLOSED from Lunar Drive to Route ZZ for a culvert replacement, July 28, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Livingston County

• U.S. Route 36 – At the Grand River Overflow Bridge for maintenance, July 25
• Route CC – From U.S. Route 36 to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 27

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 September.
• U.S. Route 71 – Northbound single-lane closure at the White Cloud Creek Bridge, just north of the Andrew County line, for a bridge deck replacement project, July 25 – 28. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.
• U.S. Route 71 – Striping, July 25 – 29
• Route AE – CLOSED from 395^th Street to 385^th Street for a culvert replacement, July 27, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Route 46 – Route EE (Atchison County) to Route 113 for pothole patching, July 28

Putnam County

• Route W – CLOSED from Route 149 to Nettle Trail for a resurfacing project, July 26, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Route W – CLOSED from Nettle Trail to U.S. Route 136 for a resurfacing project, July 27, 7 a.m. 4 p.m.

Sullivan County

• Route 5 – From Route O to one-quarter of a mile north of Route O for drainage work, July 26 – 27
• Route 139 – From the Linn County line to Route 6 for pothole patching,July 28

Worth County

• U.S. Route 169 – At the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge for maintenance, July 25 – 28. A temporary traffic signal has been installed during the project.

Local businesses will be setting up shop around the Savannah square this week for a Girls Night Out.

The event will be held on the Square in Savannah Wednesday, July 27, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

According to the Savannah Chamber of Commerce, the businesses owned and run by women on the square in Savannah will stay open in the evening hours hosting more than 50 home-based businesses. The idea is women empowering women.

Host businesses include organizer The Ivy Cottage, The Clawfoot Tub, Salon on the Square, Sports Page, Creations, Jodi Nellesen Shelter Insurance, Simply Amazing Bridal, Miss Doyle’s Soapery, Lander’s Floral, Andrew County Mutual Insurance, The Furniture Studio, The Yoga Studio, and Urban Daisy.

Featured businesses include artists, crafters, direct sellers, non-profit groups, gardeners, bakers, jewelry makers, and more.

The host businesses will each display a decorated pink flamingo to show that they are open. Attendees will vote for their favorite flamingo.

“I am hosting this event as a way to pay it forward to the many customers that the City of Savannah has that also try to enhance their way of living by having a second means of income,” said Kim McKean, the event organizer and owner of The Ivy Cottage, 408 Court Street. “Also to bring more people to Savannah to meet all the great women that ‘run’ this town.”

For more information contact McKean at 816-324-5228.

A campaign focusing on showing the dangers of texting and driving is debuting a simulator in St. Joseph Saturday. 

Sgt. Larry Stobbs with the St. Joseph Police Department said the “It Only Takes One” campaign has a driving simulator where kids can try to drive distracted or it simulates being impaired. 

“Primarily our focus today is to get the younger folks to understand it’s not safe to text and drive,” Stobbs said. “It’s just like driving a car, it’s got the TV screens and it puts them through different driving scenarios and they can see (what happens) without getting into a car crash.” 

Getting the driving simulator out to its first event was an effort between many organizations including the police department, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the city of St. Joseph and the St. Joseph Youth Alliance. Stobbs said the “It Only Takes One” campaign is statewide. 

“One text, one drink, one glance, that one distraction, it’s one fatal moment,” Stobbs said. “So that one text could cost you your life and we’re really trying to prevent people from being that statistic or losing their life over something as stupid as sending a text that probably doesn’t amount to anything and lose their life over it. So that’s kind of our focus.” 

The driving simulator is in the parking lot at the North Shoppes from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, July 23.