A St. Joseph attorney has been reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Missouri.

Tuesday, the court found John M. Spencer had violated rules of professional conducted by his conviction of the offense of domestic assault in the third degree in Buchanan County.

According to court documents, Spencer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for third-degree domestic assault on April 1, 2014 and was sentenced to serve two years supervised probation. He admitted to assaulting his then wife, Rebecca Spencer. Court documents show their marriage was dissolved in Oct. 2014.

Rebecca Spencer was elected as an associate circuit judge in Buchanan County in 2015.

The Supreme Court Order issued Tuesday said upon consideration the findings the Court ordered that John Spencer be reprimanded. A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court said with the order John Spencer will still be allowed to practice law, however the reprimand does go on his record.

To view the order CLICK HERE.

A St. Joseph man has been charged in Buchanan County from an incident that took place last year after an infant was allegedly unresponsive for around 5 hours before medical attention was sought.

Malachi Johnson, 39 was charged March 30 with a felony for endangering the welfare of a child.  Johnson was arrested Tuesday on a warrant.

According to court documents, on Aug. 11, 2015 Johnson failed to seek medical attention in a timely manner for a 5-month-old after the child became unresponsive.

“The child remained unresponsive for approximately 5 hours before the defendant took the child to the hospital,” Detective Dustin Robinson with the St. Joseph Police Department said. “Hospital records indicate the child victim had injuries consisting of swelling to the brain, bleeding to the back of eyes, and bruising to the chest and back caused by violent trauma to the head and body.”

Bail for Johnson has been set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing has been set for May 20.

The Buchanan County Special Response Team is being recognized for their efforts during an 11-hour standoff last year in St. Joseph.

A joint press conference was held Monday afternoon between the Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph Police Department. Law enforcement officials said SRT, which is made of of both deputies and officers were presented in February with an award of valor by the Kansas City Metro Tactical Officers Association for their efforts during a standoff in October at Motel 6.

“This is an organization that sets the training standards nationally for units like this,” said Sheriff Mike Strong. “For them to recognize them is a big deal.”

As we previously reported, 44-year-old Roderick Ellis of St. Joseph was charged with felonies for kidnapping, domestic assault, two counts of armed criminal action and assault or attempted assault on a law enforcement officer. He’s accused of kidnapping a St Joseph woman, forcing her at gunpoint to drive her to the motel, and then, when she cried for help, shooting her in the arm.

Investigators said he then forced the woman into a room at the motel for more than 11 hours. The standoff prompted evacuations and lockdowns, as well as business and highway closures.

Ellis is scheduled for a Jury Trial in November.

A man has pleaded guilty in connection with trying to run over a Buchanan County deputy leading the deputy to discharge his weapon at Taco Bell earlier this year.

Leonard Barr, pleaded guilty Monday to felonies for first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and assault on a law enforcement officer.

As we previously reported, in March Barr was accused of attempting to strike a law enforcement officer and fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle after deputies said stop and fired shots into the vehicle.

A sentencing hearing has been set for June 6.  The court set bond at $100,000 with conditions that Barr is to remain in Buchanan County with a 9 p.m. curfew.

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 May 2 – 8 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 P – CLOSED from Route BB to County Road 112; culvert replacement, May 5, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Atchison County

• Route N – CLOSED at the East Fork of the Little Tarkio Creek Bridge; bridge replacement project. The road will be closed through mid-June.
• U.S. Route 136 – From Route 111 to one mile east of Rock Port; drainage work, May 3 – 5

Buchanan County

• Interstate 229 – Pavement repair, May 2 – 5. May include overnight lane closures.
• Route DD – At the Jenkins Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, May 2 – 5. This includes a 10-ft width restriction.
• Route H – From Route MM to I-29; pothole patching, May 2 – 6
• Route 371 – From Moore Road to Seymour Road; pothole patching, May 2 – 6

Caldwell County

• U.S. Route 36 – From Route P to Route 13; shoulder work, May 2
• Route O – CLOSED from Route A to Proctorville Road; scratch course,May 3, daylight hours
• U.S. Route 36 – From Route A to Route 13; shoulder work, May 3 – 6
• Route F – CLOSED from Route 13 to Route A; scratch course, May 3 – 6, daylight hours

Carroll County

• Route WW – Chip seal, May 4
• Route M – Pothole patching, May 5 – 6

Clinton County

• Route 121 – CLOSED from U.S. Route 69 to the Wallace State Park entrance; sealing, May 4 – 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
• Route Y – From Route K to Route NN; resurfacing project, May 2 – 5. One lane closed. A pilot car will guide motorists through the work zone. This includes a nine-foot width restriction.
• Route VV – From Route N to U.S. Route 169; resurfacing project, May 6. One lane closed. A pilot car will guide motorists through the work zone. This includes a nine-foot width restriction.

Chariton County

• Route O – Chip seal, May 3
• Route 139 – CLOSED from Route 130 to Kaye Road; culvert replacement, May 4, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• U.S. Route 24 – From Route 5 to Route KK; sealing, May 5

Daviess County

• Route 6 – From Route 13 south to Route 13 north; pothole patching, May 2
• Route HH – CLOSED from Route 13 to the end of state maintenance; scratch course, May 2 – 3, daylight hours.

Gentry County

• Route H – CLOSED from Ettieville Trail Road to 520^th Road; culvert replacement, May 3, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Route Z – CLOSED from Route A to 540^th Road; culvert replacement,May 4, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Grundy County

• Route 6 – At the No Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, May 2 – 5, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. A temporary traffic signal will be in place during working hours.
• Route N – CLOSED from County Road 200 to Route NN; culvert replacement, May 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route Y – CLOSED from County Road 50 to County Road 37; culvert replacement, May 4, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Harrison County

• Route 46 – CLOSED from U.S. Route 69 to West 210^th Avenue; culvert replacement, May 2, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Route T – CLOSED from Route Y to East 280^th Street; culvert replacement, May 2, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• I-35 – Southbound driving lane from the Iowa state line to mile marker 110 (near Eagleville); pavement repair, May 2 – 5
• Route T – CLOSED from East 270^th Street to East 280^th Street; culvert replacement, May 3, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 46 – CLOSED from Route D to Route YY; culvert replacement,May 3, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Route T – CLOSED from Route DD to East 220^th Street; culvert replacement, May 4, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route CC – CLOSED from Route 146 to 380^th Street; culvert replacement, May 5, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Holt County

• U.S. Route 159 – CLOSED from U.S. Route 59 to I-29; culvert replacement, May 2, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route H, O and BB – Pothole patching, May 3 – 4

Linn County

• U.S. Route 36 – From Route 139 to the Macon County line; pothole patching, May 2 – 3
• Route 129 – CLOSED from Route 11 to Route HH; culvert replacement,May 3, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Route 129 – CLOSED from Lama Road to Route HH; culvert replacement, May 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 139 – CLOSED from Husk Road to Etna Road; culvert replacement, May 3, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Route 5 – From U.S. Route 36 to Route C; pothole patching, May 4
• Route M – CLOSED from Ivan Road to Route C; culvert replacement,May 5, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Route M – From Route 11 to Route O; pothole patching, May 5 – 6

Livingston County

• Route 139 – CLOSED from Route H to County Road 387; culvert replacement, May 2 – 3, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily
• U.S. Route 65 – From Route K to the Grundy County line; pavement repair, May 2 – 4
• U.S. Route 65 – From U.S. Route 36 to Route Z; pavement repair, May 3 – 6

Nodaway County

• Route JJ – CLOSED at the One Hundred and Two River Bridge; bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through the end of June.
• Route 46 – From Charles Street to Vine Street; milling and patching, May 2 – 5
• Route KK – Pothole patching, May 3 – 5
• Route D – Pothole patching, May 4
• Route 46 – From Mulberry Street to Munn Avenue; milling and patching,May 5 – 6

Putnam County

• Route YY – CLOSED at the Sandy Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance,May 2 – 3, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily

Sullivan County

• Route BB – CLOSED from Route K to Route OO; culvert replacement,May 2, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Route KK – Pothole patching, May 2 – 6
• Route 129 – CLOSED from Winigan Road to Marco Road; culvert replacement, May 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 129 – CLOSED from Table Road to Ivory Road; culvert replacement, May 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A man being sought as a person of interest in connection with the death of an elderly woman in St. Joseph has been arrested.

Sunday morning the St Joseph Police Department was notified that Michael R Courter, the person of interest in the death of Clyda Spurgeon, was taken into custody after a routine traffic stop in Northern Michigan. Courter was driving the 2004 Mitsubishi belonging to Clyda Spurgeon.

Spurgeon, 81, was found dead at 108 East Highland Ave. just after 11:30 a.m. Friday. Police said she had visible signs of trauma.

Commander Eric Protzman said detectives are following up on this case and that this continues to be an active investigation.

The Friends of the Animal Shelter is hosting a series of rabies clinics in St. Joseph.

Kappy Hodges with The Friends of the Animal Shelter said holding the rabies clinics is a way to help the community.

“Friends of the Animal Shelter does this every year to try to help the community to make sure all our pets are vaccinated,” Hodges said. “So, if you’re somebody on a limited budget this really works for you.”

She said in addition to rabies shots combination shots will be available.

“The rabies vaccinations are donated by Boehringer-Ingelheim. They’re only $5 per animal. This is for dogs and cats,” she said. “You can also get a combination vaccination. That’s the parvo and distemper combination shot. That’s only going to be $10 at these clinics. So if you want to do both the rabies and the combination shot make sure you have $15 for each pet. I suggest bringing cash.”

Microchipping will be onsite also.

“You can also get your microchips there. That’s $10. If you wanted a microchip, the combination vaccination and the rabies then you’re looking at $25,” she said.

The clinics will be held at several locations.

“Monday is the first one and it’s at Lindburgh Elementary School. Almost all of them are at elementary schools. The only one different is the one at The First Church of the Nazarene. That one will be on Thursday May 5th. They all begin at 6 p.m.,” Hodges said.

The rabies clinic information and more can be found HERE.

A free session of Adult Mental Health First Aid Training is being offered by the NWMO Medical Reserve Corps of St. Joseph in recognition of Mental Health Month (May).

The City of St. Joseph Health Department is host to the Northwest Missouri Medical Reserve Corps of St. Joseph, which has supported the process for two instructors to become certified to train others in Mental Health First Aid.

The Mental Health First Aid Training session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and conclude on
Wednesday, May 11 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The eight-hour course is open to the public but limited to the first 30 people. Pre-registration ends May 6th, reserve a spot by calling 816-271-4725, option 2. The training will be held at Woodson Chapel Christian Church at 2525 St. Joseph Avenue, Saint Joseph, MO.

“This important training helps dispel the stigma associated with mental illness, it provides support, and by offering Mental Health First Aid training to people with a variety of life perspectives, our community is better equipped and informed,” said Kelly Kibirige, RN, and coordinator for the NWMO Medical Reserve Corps of St. Joseph.

The Mental Health First Aid course teaches how to recognize and assess substance abuse & mental health conditions; how to help someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a related crisis; and how to assess and respond in an escalating situation.