KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A celestial event in 2017 is already creating excitement in northwest Missouri.

The “Great American Eclipse” — a total eclipse of the sun — is expected to darken the skies on August 20th through 21st, 2017, and thousands of people are likely to visit the region.

The Kansas City Star reports that Michael Bakich with Astronomy Magazine is planning a massive watch party at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.

An owner of a bed and breakfast in St. Joseph says she’s already sold out for that weekend, with one caller from Spain.

Beth Conway, a spokeswoman for the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the city will offer other watch sites to accommodate the interest and take advantage of a big economic boost to the area.

A nearly hour long police pursuit that crossed county lines ended without injury Sunday in St. Joseph.

Sgt. Roy Hoskins with the St. Joseph Police Department said officers responded to a call of a domestic situation involving a possible abduction with the suspect possibly being armed around 2:56 p.m. and located the vehicle in the area of Woodbine and Faraon St.

“The license plate was registered and we determined ownership of the vehicle,” Hoskins said. “Officers were familiar with the driver.”

Hoskins said officers pursued the vehicle with the 31-year-old St. Joseph man and a woman inside along I-29 into Savannah and back down 229 to I-29 then across Cook Rd. to Riverside, back into Andrew County then back into St. Joseph traveling down K Highway. Hoskins said they finally apprehended the suspect at Burger King on St. Joseph Avenue around 3:43 p.m.

Law enforcement agencies from Andrew County, Buchanan County, St. Joseph Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol assisted in the pursuit. Hoskins said multiple spike strips were deployed. One by the Highway Patrol on I-29 that he believes the vehicle struck and another by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department that may have missed.

He said the chase ended without injury. The man is in police custody and Hoskins said the woman was not injured during the altercation.

The case is being forwarded on to the prosecutor’s officer for consideration of charges.

The City of St. Joseph is trying to get youth involved in biking and give them the knowledge to do it safely.

A clinic will be held Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Joseph Civic Arena located at 100 N. 4th St.

The clinic is free, but pre-registration is required by calling the health department at 816-236-1491.

The city said children of all ages are welcome and will learn how to ride a bike safely.

Multiple education stations will cover topics ranging from proper safety gear to how to handle adverse road conditions. Depending on skill level, children will rotate through various stations, including:

• Helmet Fit/Bike Fit
• ABC Quick Check
• Start/Stop
• Scan/Signal
• Rock Dodge
• Weave
• Quick Turn
• Emergency Stop
• Intersection Practice

A parent or guardian must register each child and sign a waiver. Bikes will be available for use during the clinic or children are welcome to bring their own. Each participant will receive a free bike helmet and drawings will be held for safety gear and a new bicycle.

The St. Joseph Police Department is searching for two suspects after an armed robbery at a convenience store overnight at 28th and Messanie.

Officers responded to the Speedy’s Gas Station located at 2728 Messanie St. around 1 a.m. Saturday.  The suspects were described as two white males.

A clerk was reported to be in the store when the robbery took place.  No injuries were reported.  The men fled the store in an unknown direction.

Little other details into this investigation were readily available.  As of 4:30 p.m. Saturday police did not have any updates on the investigation.  As we learn more we will update this story.

Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

When there’s a stop in action during the NCAA’s March Maddness one St. Joseph company gets a little time on the court.

Hillyard’s Surefoot® mop is the official game day mop of NCAA Basketball.  Randy Roth is the Eastern Zone Manager for Hillyard, Inc.  He said Hillyard has been the official mop for the NCAA since 2013.

“It’s used when a player falls or it there’s a timeout they use the Surefoot to absorb any moisture or sweat that’s landed on the floor to keep the playing surface playable,” Roth said. “Basically it’s a mop to remove perspiration from the floor to keep the floor safe.”

He said the Surefoot was developed around 10 years ago.

“It was used kind of as a marketing tool.  You’ve probably seen the big round mops that are still in use today.  We made ours square so we could tell on TV that it was ours,” Roth said. “This made it more affordable for all the way down to the high school level for people to get a personalized game day mop that they could keep under the basket.  When the players fall down you can easily address the moisture that’s on the floor with a high absorbent microfiber pad. It makes the game safer and keeps people from having to be on their hands and knees with towels.”

So, in between breaks Roth said to be on the lookout for a snapshot of a local business flooring it in the NCAA.

“Look really close during a timeout.  They’re very quick shots.  But if they players end up on the floor then the Surefoot will be brought out,” Roth said.

This isn’t Hillyard’s first involvement with basketball.  Roth said Hillyard actually has an extensive history with the game.

“Our founder N. S. Hillyard developed the first modern wood floor coating. In the 1910s and the 1920s they used just an oil dressing to keep the wood from rotting but that wasn’t a very good surface to play the game on,” Roth said. “His son had a love for the game and for the sport so he developed the first wood floor coating, sports floor coating. It did a lot to change the game, it sped the game up.  It made the floor much easier to play on.”

Roth said all of the mops used on the court in the NCAA are assembled in St. Joseph first.

A St. Joseph man is accused of firing a handgun after an argument over a parking space.

Terreance Hayes Jr., 21 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for unlawful use of a weapon stemming from an incident that took place Thursday in the 1700 block of S. 12th St.

According to court documents, Hayes is accused of shooting a 9 mm handgun into the air in that location.

“The defendant fired the gun over the heads of subjects in the area which he was engaged in a verbal argument with over a parking space behind his residence,” said Jeff Pearl, an officer with the St. Joseph Police Department.  “The defendant fired a handgun into the air with no regard for the safety of any persons within the area, placing numerous subjects in danger of serious physical injury or death.”

As we previously reported, Thursday around 2 p.m. two St. Joseph School were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure after a report of shots fired in the 1700 block of S. 12th St.

Bail for Hayes was set at $20,000.  An arraignment is set for Tuesday.

A sobriety checkpoint held over St. Patrick’s Day in Buchanan County landed in 10 arrests.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the checkpoint held from 8 p.m. Thursday to midnight resulted in two arrests for driving while intoxicated, two misdemeanor drug arrests and six misdemeanor warrant arrests.

Officers also issued seven tickets and eight warnings.

“Removing impaired drivers from Missouri roadways is one of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s top priorities,” said Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer Troop H, St. Joseph. “If you choose to drink and drive, you will be arrested and you will go to jail. If your plans include alcohol, always have a sober designated driver.”

(Update) – A man has been arrested after a report of shots fired placed two St. Joseph schools on lockdown.

Carden Park Elementary and the Early Learning Center have both been released from lockdown after the St. Joseph Police Department responded to a call of shots fired.

Joey Austin, St. Joseph School District Dir. of Communications said the schools were placed on lockdown shortly before 2:11 p.m. due to a report of shots fired in the area of S 12th St.  The schools were released from lockdown about 10 minutes later.

“Police immediately took action and at no time were students or staff at risk,” Austin said.  “We are thankful for a quick and safe conclusion to this event.”

Capt. Jeff Wilson said the lockdown was the result of a disturbance in a parking lot in the area of 1700 S. 12th.

“Reportedly one of the males involved pulled out a gun and fired several shots,”Wilson said. “School lockdown was a precautionary procedure.”

No injuries were reported, Wilson said a 21-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

The investigation continues.