Tractors will be cruising through Platte and Buchanan counties later this month.

The Missouri Farm Bureau Federation is holding its 2016 Keep Missouri Farming Tractor Cruise on July 16th. Vernon Hart with the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation said the tractor cruise raises funds for a variety of causes.

“This is our third annual tractor cruise. The money goes to educational purposes for our youth. We’ve got collegiate farm bureaus,” Hart said. “We use this money for scholarships and help train these collegiate people to be Ag leaders.”

The 38.5 mile cruise goes through Buchanan and Platte counties, starting and ending in Dearborn.  Greg Gaines, Northwest Regional Coordinator with the Missouri Farm Bureau said the tractor cruise is quite popular.

“Up here in northwest Missouri we’ve had golf tournaments. We’ve had trap shoots and different things. Seems like we’ve had more interest and participation in this antique tractor cruise than we have anything else. We’re trying to keep building on that,” Gaines said.

Hart said there are reasons the tractor cruise is successful.

“I personally think it’s just because everybody likes to restore old tractors. There’s something about tractors. Everybody, even if they don’t farm they like to remember the history of growing up with a certain model,” Hart said.

Gaines said there are places along the route the public can meet and greet the drivers as well as get a close up of the antique tractors.

“The best thing to do would be to be there in the morning at the start or at the lunch, the ice cream break in Faucett or when we finish up that afternoon,” Gaines said.

Pre-registration for the event runs through July 8. For more information click here.

The deadline to register to vote in the August election is just a few days away.

Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey said Wednesday, July 6th is the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 2 primary election.

“The best thing they can do is come straight to our office and do that in person so they know the paperwork has been done and filed in our office,” Baack-Garvey said. “They can also go to the department of motor-vehicle and the libraries all over town have registrars there as well but I just recommend they come here in person just so we know they got their registration and information turned into us.”

She said voters who think they are registered but haven’t cast a ballot in some time should call the office to double-check their registration.

“A lot of people assume that they are registered but they really aren’t due to inactivity,” she said.

A low voter turnout is anticipated for the Aug. primary.

“There’s just not a lot of heated races at this moment.  A lot of our people either don’t have a primary or they’re uncontested all together.  We have a couple,” Baack-Garvey said. “I would think that we would probably hit 25-percent that that’s probably overshooting a little bit.”

Absentee voting is currently underway for the primary.  The last day to vote absentee is Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. To view a sample ballot CLICK HERE.

Around 47,000 people are registered to vote in Buchanan County.  Baack-Garvey said a big push for voter registration will be made ahead of the Nov. Presidential Election.

“We have about 15,000 deleted voters and we’re hoping to find where they’re at,” Baack-Garvey said. “We do a mailer by statute every two years to our registered voters but this is going to be a different kind of mailer.  This is going to go to residents.”

Individuals will be also be seen out at different events ahead of the Nov. 8 election trying to get unregistered voters to sign-up.

The City of St. Joseph plans to celebrate National Parks Month with special events and discounts at Parks facilities throughout the month of July.

The scheduled is as follows:

Start off July 4, at the Aquatic Center from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., where there will be prize drawing all day. End your day with a bang at the Bill McKinney Softball Complex at Heritage Park. A free concert and Fireworks beginning at 8:30 p.m. Gates open at 7:30 p.m.

On July 7, visit the Joyce Ray Patterson Senior Center for tours from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The first 100 people to visit between 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. will receive free hot dogs, chips, & water.

Visit, explore, and learn about the history of the Missouri Theater on July 12, 13, and 14 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Missouri Theater. Take a back stage tour of this facility, hear the story about the large sculpture on the ceiling and learn about carvings on the wall, check out the green room, and take center stage.

On July 17, free admission to Heritage Park Softball Complex and $1.00 off fountain drinks from July 11-July 17.

Fairview Golf Course will be hosting specials from July 18-24. July 18 is Customer Appreciation Day, with drink specials, all day. On July 19, beginning at 8:00 -11:00 a.m. ladies can play a round of golf with Chuck Kempf, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Civic Facilities. July 20, there will be free popcorn during happy hour, 4:30-7:30 p.m. July 21, 4:30-6:30 p.m., join golf pro Greg Dillon for free golf lessons. Play the shootout at the Course beginning at 5:30 p.m. on July 22, and enjoy free appetizers after the event. $1.00 off all fountain drinks and other drink specials all day, each day on July 23 and 24. All week long, 10% off discount at the Pro Shop.

The REC Center will also have specials during the third week of July, including $3.00 fitness room passes on July 18, 22, and 24, free track passes on July 19 and 21, $3.00 open gym passes on July 20 and 23. Protein shakes will be $1.00 off the regular price all week at the REC Center.

On the fourth week of July, the Remington Nature Center will offer a senior craft event, tea light candle holders, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on July 26 for $2.00. Bring the kids to watch the Fish Feeding Frenzy at 10:30 a.m. on July 29 and again on July 30, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for the children’s craft event. The children will have an opportunity to make fireworks spools, and meet Remi. All craft classes are the cost of admission and include the supplies and admission to the museum.

At Bode Sports Complex, enjoy a free skate open house on July 25 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. On July 26 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. try out curling with free instruction and on-ice practice. Bring the kids out for Way Back Wednesday on July 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and take advantage of $1.00 admission, $1.00 skate rental, and $1.00 food and beverage specials. Try out hockey with free lessons and a practice scrimmage on July 28, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Meet your friends on July 29 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for $2.00 admission and $1.00 skate rental. Spend a day at the rink on Saturday July 30 from 12:00-8:00 p.m., when you can skate the entire time for $5.00, with or without skates. Parks month wraps up with a Bode Beach Party on July 31 from 3:30-5:30. Wear your beach attire over your warm clothes and have fun skating for $5.00 with or without skates.

Law enforcement agencies are out in full-force over the Independence Day holiday.

According to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety the Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to substance-impaired driving crashes.

It said law enforcement will be out in full force July 3-5 seeking impaired drivers through increased sobriety checkpoints, roving and saturation patrols and other enforcement methods.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is taking part in a special enforcement operation Friday and Monday in Troop H. During this operation, which will be conducted on Interstate 35 throughout the Troop H area, troopers will be assigned 20-mile sections of Interstate 35 to provide additional manpower during the peak travel days of the holiday period.

Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph, said Troop H officers will also be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. during the 2016 July Fourth holiday weekend. Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) is a national traffic enforcement program aimed at making holiday weekends safer. During this enforcement operation, all available troopers will be patrolling Missouri highways an aggressively enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorist with any emergency situations.

“One fatality on our highways is too many, and there is no excuse for driving while you are impaired,” said Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Over the 2015 July holiday, 14 people were killed and 46 were seriously injured in Missouri traffic crashes. Three of the fatalities and eight serious injuries involved a substance-impaired driver. “Impaired driving is an intentional, conscious decision, and it is preventable – always choose a sober designated driver,” said Johnson.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety recommends these simple tips to avoid an impaired-driving disaster:

Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
If you happen to see an impaired driver on the road, don’t hesitate to call 911 or *55.
Always wear your seat belt. It’s your best defense in any traffic crash.

JEFFERSON CITY – Travelers taking to the roads to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday are reminded to prepare for more than a dozen major work zones on interstates across the state.

As the Lake of the Ozarks is a prime holiday destination, motorists should plan for delays at the Route 54/63 Missouri River Bridge in Jefferson City. The traffic has been reduced to two lanes in each direction over one bridge. Delays are expected Sunday and Monday.

Drivers will also encounter delays in work zones on Interstate 70 and Interstate 44 for resurfacing and bridge repairs across the state. Lane restrictions are also expected on several other interstates including I-35, I-435, I-55 and I-270. The majority of the construction work is for pavement and bridge repairs.

While most work zones will not be active over the Fourth of July weekend, it may be necessary for some lane closures to remain in place due to ongoing construction. Most routine work zones will stop at noon Friday, July 1 and will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 5.

“The Fourth of July is one of the biggest travel holidays of the year, plus it’s the time when quite a bit of road work is happening. People should plan ahead and allow extra time for their trips especially if their travels take them over the Missouri River bridge in Jefferson City,” said Patty Lemongelli, construction and materials engineer with MoDOT’s Central District.

Motorists should pay attention to all signing, follow the posted speed limits, and take turns merging every other car, like a zipper, where lanes are closed. Always wear safety belts and be alert for slowed traffic, narrowed lanes or a reduced number of lanes.

Two people were treated for minor injuries in Nodaway County after a crash Friday evening just east of Maryville.

Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White said around 7:21 p.m. the office got a 911 call reporting an airplane crash.

“The caller said that a small plane had struck power lines while attempting to land at Rankin Airport which is located just east of Maryville. Witnesses on the ground said that… after the aircraft struck the power lines it spun completely around and tumbled end over end before coming to rest upright in a corn field,” White said. “When emergency personnel arrived, the pilot and his passenger had exited the aircraft on their own. They were taken to awaiting ambulances and then transported to St Francis Hospital in Maryville. Both persons suffered minor injuries and were treated and released.”

White said the investigation has been temporarily delayed until the power lines are repaired.

The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Maryville Department of Public Safety Police and Fire Divisions, Nodaway County Ambulance, MoDOT, United Electric Cooperative and The Federal Aviation Administration.

(Update 4:30 p.m.) – Two people were taken to the hospital Friday after a crash on I-29 in St. Joseph.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Thomas Kleese, 51 of  Wisconsin was driving a 2011 Volks Tiguan and Freida Ashford, 79 of St. Joseph was driving a 2008 Ford Escape both northbound on I-29 around 1:30 p.m.  The crash report said Kleese slowed for traffic and his vehicle was hit from behind by Ashford’s vehicle causing Ashford ‘s vehicle to rollover at the 47 mile marker in St. Joseph.

Ashford was transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of what was described as moderate injuries.  Kleese was also transported to Mosaic Life care for treatment of minor injuries.

Traffic was backed up for miles while emergency crews were on scene.

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(2 p.m.) – A crash has tied up traffic on northbound I-29 in St. Joseph.

Our own Rob Horning reported shortly before 2 p.m. that traffic is backed up for miles on I-29 due to a crash located just underneath the Faraon overpass. He said emergency crews are on scene at the right lane is blocked off to northbound traffic in the area.

As we learn more we will update.

A man accused of shooting and killing another man in broad daylight last year in St. Joseph is facing upgraded charges in Buchanan County.

Charles Leroy Coats Jr, 33 of St. Joseph was charged last year with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Jason Ginn, 32 of St. Joseph. Thursday the Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office filed felony charges for first-degree murder and armed criminal action against Coats.   According to the felony complaint filed in the alternative to the charge of first-degree murder the defendant would be charged with murder in the second. The new filings stem from an incident that took place Aug. 1, 2015.

As we previously reported, according to court documents on Aug. 1 of 2015  witnesses said they saw Coats on the front porch of his residence get into a verbal argument with Ginn and as Ginn started walking away witnesses said Coats pulled a handgun and began firing.  An autopsy found Ginn suffered four gunshot wounds to various parts of his body and died from a fatal gunshot wound to his head.

Police said Coats fled the area after the shooting.  He surrendered to law enforcement in Columbia, Mo. five days later.

Coats is slated for a jury trial in September on the original charge.  He’s currently being held without bail.

A man sought as a person-of-interest in connection with the shooting of two St. Joseph residents has been arrested in Jackson County, Mo.

The St. Joseph Police Department said 32-year-old Owen Lee Roberts is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail on unrelated charges. An arrest warrant for second-degree assault out of Buchanan County was issued last month for Roberts.

As we previously reported, Roberts was wanted in connection with the May 15th shooting of two St. Joseph residents in the area of 924 Prospect Ave. Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said Ricky Snedden and Terry Lee Madewell sustained serious injuries from the incident but both survived the assault.

Bail has been set at $100,000 cash only.