A Committee to Save Jobs made a formal push to the public Tuesday on an upcoming Buchanan County ballot question.

Community members gathered Tuesday morning for a press conference on King Hill overlooking the Missouri River and industry protected by the levees. Bob Wolleman is the campaign chairman and owner of Deluxe Truck Stop which is one of the businesses protected by the levees.  Wolleman said the Committee to Save Jobs was formed to ask voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax on the Aug. 2nd ballot to repair the Missouri River Levees.

“For the purpose of creating part of the 35-percent of the revenue that’s going to be required by the federal government, matching funds for the reconstruction, redesign of the levees that protect the St. Joseph community,” Wolleman said. “Primarily those businesses and residents that are located in the southwest corridor.”

He said the levees are in great need of repair.

“The west levee is not certified at this time, the east levee has some major structures that need to be included in it to be more stable,” Wolleman said.

The project is estimated to cost more than $70-million.  However, funding for the repairs isn’t just coming from tax payers in Buchanan County.

“The federal government is providing 65-percent of those funds,” Wolleman said. “We have some money coming from Buchanan County’s existing treasury, we have some money coming from the treasury of St. Joseph and then there are three major levee districts that are contributing funds…The state of Missouri has come forward with an announcement a few weeks ago that the state of Missouri is going to put $5-million towards this project so it’s really multi-faceted as far as government funding. The remainder of the money is why we have this sales tax initiative.”

Even though the issue is the Missouri River Levees, Wolleman said more than 6,000 jobs and people’s homes as well as Lake Contrary Elementary School is what’s at stake.

“We have about 6,000 jobs that are located behind the levee protection,” Wolleman said.

The question on the sales tax is up for vote in Buchanan County Aug. 2nd.  For more information on the Save St. Joe Jobs campaign CLICK HERE.

 

Thunderstorms Tuesday morning caused minor flooding throughout the area.

Buchanan, Atchison and Doniphan counties were under a flash flood warning until 9:15 a.m. According to the National Weather service, those counties and southern Andrew County are under a flood warning for small streams until 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

According to St. Joseph  Emergency Manager Julie Alt, police were at 5300 Stockyards Expressway directing traffic down to one lane to force drivers to slow down while driving through the flooded roadways around 6 a.m. She said once it stopped raining, water quickly receded.

Gary Leftin with the City of St. Joseph Streets Department said crews are still out picking up tree branches and getting wires out of trees but everything was pretty well under control as of 10:50 a.m.

The National Weather Service forecast includes another chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.

 

Sasha at the St. Joseph Animal Shelter.  For more information call 816-271-4877 or go to the St. Joseph Animal Shelter website.

 

 

A flash flood warning is in effect util 9:15 a.m. today and a few rounds of thunderstorms are expected. The first, currently ongoing, is producing strong winds over much of eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Winds have been ranging from 45 to 55 MPH. The next round of storms is expected late this evening across northern Missouri with large hail and damaging winds possible. A third round will be possible tonight with the main threat being damaging winds. With several rounds of heavy rain today flash flooding and river flooding will also be possible. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 10 p.m and 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 a.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 101. South southwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. North northeast wind 5 to 9 mph. 

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 30%. 

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. 

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 30%. 

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%. 

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 30%. 

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. 

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

The St. Joseph Emergency Communications Center has officially began accepting text 911 service for Buchanan County.

The department made the announcement Monday.  In the event of an emergency when calls cannot be made people can now send a text message of up to 140 characters to the communications center.

As we previously reported, authorities have been working on bringing the service to the community for some time.

“We’re always going to encourage people to call 911 just because we get better location information from that, we can obtain information a lot quicker from a caller and all of our 911 operators go through extensive training where we listen to things like background noise and we’re able to obtain a lot more information about the call from that but unfortunately there’s situation where that’s not an option,” said Dawn Hill, dispatch supervisor in a prior interview. “Such as an active shooter or a domestic violence situation so we want to look at what we can do to provide to our community to keep them safe.”

The department said the service should only be used when there is an emergency situation and a call is not possible.  Examples include if the caller is deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech impaired, or when speaking out loud would put the caller in danger.

For more information see the news release below.

 

 

A St. Joseph man has been charged after allegedly firing off a weapon last week during a domestic disturbance on the north side of town.

Wilbur Hurt, is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for unlawful use of a weapon.

According to court documents, on Thursday police responded to the 200 block of E. Highland Ave. where Hurt allegedly displayed and fired a weapon in what authorities described as an angry or threatening manner.

“The defendant was engaged in a domestic assault of a female victim who lives with him.  he then shot at several neighbors who came to her aid, injuring two of them,” said Det. Frank Till with the St. Joseph Police Department. “The defendant used a firearm to assault the victim’s in this case.  He has a previous conviction for domestic assault.”

As we previously reported, a man was arrested for investigation of unlawful use of a firearm last week near 3rd and Highland after police said he fired a shotgun and injured people during the incident.

Hurt is being held on $10,000 cash bond.  An arraignment is set for Tuesday.

Several rounds of storms are in store for the area this week as an unsettled weather pattern develops over the Central U.S. Showers and storms will move into the area this evening with isolated strong to severe storms possible over far northwest Missouri and Northeastern Kansas. Additional showers and storms will then be possible through late week with heavy rain also becoming a concern as a front stalls over the region. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 101. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. 

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. Low around 72. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. 

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 a.m. High near 88. Heat index values as high as 96. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

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 11 – 17 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.

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.

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.
• 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 11 – 16 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.

Buchanan County

• 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 11 – 16from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.    
• U.S. Route 36 – One mile west of Route AC for grading work, July 11 – 16. Work will take place between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly.
• Route YY – The islands at the Belt Highway and Mitchell Road intersection for a resurfacing project. This project is expected to continue through September.
• I-229 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, July 11 – 14

Caldwell County

• U.S. Route 36 – The east and westbound driving lane in Hamilton for pavement repair, July 11 – 15. Includes a 12-foot width restriction and overnight lane closures.
• U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED both westbound lanes in Hamilton for pavement repair, July 12 – 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Traffic will be redirected to use the ramps at U.S. Route 36 and Route 13. Includes a 12-foot width restriction.
• Route 13 – At the U.S. Route 36 bridge for bridge maintenance, July 12 – 13

Chariton County

• Route 5 – Pothole patching, July 11 – 15

Clinton County

• Route A – CLOSED at 312th Street for a culvert replacement, July 11, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Access to 312th Street will be closed during this time.
• Route H – CLOSED at NE Silvus Road for a culvert replacement, July 12, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Access to NE Silvus Road will be close during this time.
• Route 33 – CLOSED from Isley Road to one-half mile south of Isley Road for a culvert replacement, July 13, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Access to Isley Road will be closed during this time.

Gentry County

• Route C – CLOSED at the Weldon Branch Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through July.
• Route C – CLOSED at the Panther Creek Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through mid-August.
• Route EE – Pothole patching July 11 – 12
• Route ZZ – Pothole patching, July 13 – 15

Grundy County

• Route O – From Route NN to U.S. Route 65 for pothole patching, July 11 – 15

Harrison County

• Route CC – CLOSED from East 330th Street to East 340th Street for a culvert replacement, July 11, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route CC – CLOSED from East 350th Street to East 360th Street for a culvert replacement, July 12, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route CC – CLOSED from East 370th Place to Route MM for a culvert replacement, July 13, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route ZZ – Pothole patching, July 13 – 15
• Route CC – CLOSED from East 370th Place to East 380th Street for a culvert replacement, July 14, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route CC – CLOSED from East 380th Street to Route 146 for a culvert replacement, July 15, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Holt County

• I-29 – At the Nodaway River Bridge for maintenance, July 11 – 14. This includes overnight lane closures.
• I-29 – From mile marker 84 (Mound City exit) to mile marker 66 (Nodaway River Bridge) for pavement repair July 11 – 15. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.

Livingston County

• Route C – At the Shoal Creek Bridge for maintenance, July 11 – 12
• Route H – From U.S. Route 65 to Route 139 for pothole patching July 11 – 12
• Route J – From Route H to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 13
• Route DD – At the Shoal Creek Drain Ditch for bridge maintenance, July 13 – 14
• Route JJ – From Route J to U.S. Route 65 for pothole patching, July 14 – 15

Nodaway County

• 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 11 – 15. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.
• Route U – CLOSED at the One Hundred and Two River Bridge for a bridge deck replacement project. The bridge will be closed through September.
• Route C – Pothole patching, July 12 – 15

Putnam County

• Route W – CLOSED from Route 149 to Nettle Trail for a resurfacing project, July 12 – 13, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Route W – CLOSED from Nettle Trail to U.S. Route 136 for an overlay operation, July 14 – 15, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sullivan County

• Route C – CLOSED from Route P to Garden Drive for a culvert replacement, July 11, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route T – CLOSED at the East Locust Creek Bridge for maintenance,July 11, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Route C – CLOSED from Route V to Hazelwood Drive for a culvert replacement, July 12, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Route C – CLOSED from Hazelwood Drive to Rain Road for a culvert replacement, July 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and July 13, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route BB – CLOSED at the Rooks Bridge for maintenance, July 12, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Route N – CLOSED at the East Locust Creek Bridge for maintenance,July 13 – 14, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Worth County

• Route B – From Route W to Route 46 for pothole patching, July 11 – 12
• U.S. Route 169 – At the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge for maintenance, July 11 – 14. A temporary traffic signal has been installed during the project.
• Route PP – From U.S. Route 169 to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 13
• Route Y – From Route 46 to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 14
• Route AA – From Route C to the end of state maintenance for pothole patching, July 15

 

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit MoDOT’s website. 

Opponents of a wind energy project in northwest Missouri are voicing their concerns.

Ivan Klipenstein with Concerned Citizens for Clinton and DeKalb counties said the movement against the turbines started in August of 2015.

“By the time August came around many landowners already had contracts signed prior to that time,” Klipenstein said. “We were kind of on the following edge of learning about this and trying to decide what it is it was about and what needed to be done.”

A wind farm is being constructed by NextEra Energy Resources in DeKalb County.  As we previously reported, it’s expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2016.

Klipenstein said he doesn’t believe wind projects in Clinton and Dekalb counties were highly publicized.

“I wouldn’t say that it was necessarily hidden but it sure wasn’t offered up for public discussion,” Klipenstein said. “We’ve created this group to ultimately oppose this project.”

Larry Runyan with Concerned Citizens for Clinton and DeKalb counties said meetings are being held to talk about the issues.

“In the zoned areas like in Clinton County we have hearings going on at present,” Runyun said. “We have hearings scheduled twice a month on different issues. We had one two weeks ago.  They are hearings presented to the county zoning board and they will take into consideration all the newest data we can present and also that the wind turbine companies can present.”

Signs can be seen along Mo 33 on the way to Maysville that read, “Have Pride In No (photo of a wind turbine) Our Community.”

Some of the issues the group said it has with the turbines include the sounds and flashing light made by the turbines, declining property values, and environmental issues including wildlife being killed by the turbines.

“Birds and bats and several other species of bird,” Klipenstein said. “Obviously the Eagle is part of our heritage but the bat kill is a great number so those are the two that are spoken of the most.”

A fundraiser later this month will help a Union Star organization meet the needs of local school children. 

Care to Learn is a Missouri organization started in Springfield by Doug Pitt, Brad Pitt’s brother, and now has chapters across the state. 

Care to Learn Union Star Chapter Liaison Mindi Phillips said the organization exists to meet the emergent needs of health, hunger and hygiene for local school children. 

“Our organization serves Union Star R-2,” Phillips said. “Our goal is to help children stay in school successfully through help with needs like emergency food, medicine, hygiene needs, clothing, shoes, things like that.” 

The chapter got started in Union Star three years ago and is the first in northwest Missouri. Phillips said the way it works is teachers, bus drivers or any staff member let’s them know if they notice a child is in need. 

“Maybe they come to the bus with no coat or not the proper shoes for winter time or someone notices that they’re always late for breakfast,” Phillips said. “If there’s any place that we can serve a need so that they’re paying more attention in school (and) their attendance is better… we can provide funding for haircuts, get them to a doctor’s appointment through transportation or paying for a doctor’s bill if their parents are unable to, (or) providing emergency food when needed.” 

Phillips said if a need is identified, they try to turn around and meet that need in a customized way within 24 hours. 

“It’s an individualized need so no child gets clothing that’s too big or too small, too worn out and puts them back in the same sense of low self-esteem,” Phillips said. “It brings them up and shows them immediately that the community is caring, so that they can stay in school to learn and they really benefit from that directly.” 

Care to Learn relies on donations and a fundraiser will be held all day on July 20th at Buffalo Wild Wings in St. Joseph. Customers dining in or ordering carry-out can specify to their server they want to support Care to Learn and 10% goes back to Care to Learn Union Star.

For more information, call Mindi Phillips at (816) 596-0701 or go to the Care to Learn Union Star Facebook page. Donations can be mailed or delivered to:

Care to Learn- Union Star

P.O. Box 76

Union Star, MO 64494