(UPDATE 2 p.m. ) – 77-year-old Darlene McDonald has been identified as the woman whose remains was found in a fire Thursday morning in St. Joseph.

The St. Joseph Fire Department was called out to a home at 3304 E. Devonshire Dr. just before 7 a.m.

Mike Neylon with the St. Joseph Fire Department said crews have found McDonald’s remains inside of the home.  He said an autopsy to determine the cause of death will be performed.  McDonald was living with her daughter and grandson.

A cause of the fire is still undetermined.

“We have not found an ignition source at this time so we don’t know why the fire happened,” Neylon said. “One of the ladies that lived there had left a few minutes before and when she came back it was completely engulfed.”

He said the resident had left for about 30 minutes.

“Not sure where the fire started.  It came in as the back of the house was on fire and it quickly went straight up into the structure,” Neylon said. “These new homes once they get a good hold going on fires they burn rapidly.”

Neylon said CSI was called in as standard procedure to investigate the fatality.

A man police said is tied to numerous purse snatching incidents in St. Joseph has been charged.

Jordan L. Pinzino, 21 of St. Joseph has been charged in one case with a felony for theft/stealing. Capt. Jeff Wilson said Pinzino was arrested in connection with numerous purse snatching incidents which have taken place at both North and South Belt Walmarts as well as other businesses around the North Shoppes.

Capt. Wilson said the vehicle used during the incidents has also been located.

“He is also the suspect in numerous other stealing related offenses that have recently occurred,” Wilson said. “Some property reference these cases has been recovered and the owners of the recovered property have been notified.”

According to court documents, on Feb. 2 around 4 p.m. witnesses saw Pinzino at S. Belt Walmart driving a Gray Mazda car.

“The witness advised Jordan reached out the driver side window when driving by an elderly female who was unloading her shopping cart and and stole her purse which was still in the shopping cart before speeding away from the area,” said Det. Jeremy Peters with the SJPD. “Pinzino is the suspect in approximately six purse snatching incidents where elderly women who are by themselves are being targeted.”

Wilson said the investigation is still ongoing and anyone with additional information is requested to contact the Detective Division at the Saint Joseph Police Department at (816) 271-4777.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 1.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon to mark the renaming of Saint Francis Xavier’s early childhood center.

The center has been renamed the Saint Francis Xavier Fox-Liles Early Childhood Center.   St. Francis principal Darren Pollard said the renaming is in honor of two former teachers.

“Our early childhood center is being renamed after Margret Fox and Mary Liles.  They were both early childhood and Kindergarten educators for many years here at St. Francis.  Margret Fox started our program 40 years ago this year and brought in 3 and 4-year-olds and Mrs. Liles taught here for about 20-years.  Both of them passed away in recent years and it was a great idea that many of our parents had to rename the center in honor of their great work,” Pollard said.

The ECC is also expanding its hours this year to 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The St. Francis Parish and School are also celebrating 125 years of existence in St. Joseph this year.

The national average price of gas increased Tuesday for the first time in 20 days, but average prices are still at levels not seen since January 2009.

AAA said the national average has fallen for 42 out of 47 days this year for a total savings of 30 cents per gallon. Tuesday’s average price of $1.70 represents a savings of three cents per gallon on the week, 20 cents per gallon on the month and 55 cents per gallon compared to this same date last year.

AAA said typical for this time of year, refinery production is beginning to drop as many refineries prepare for seasonal maintenance in advance of the summer driving season. In addition, some refineries reportedly have cut production because of abundant supplies and low prices. This decline in production has led to higher prices throughout the Midwest and slowed recent declines in the national average price of gas. Industry analysts expect this year’s spring maintenance season to peak in April, and pump prices are likely to rise in the coming months due to fluctuations in supply and demand associated with this process. However, unlike previous years, gasoline inventories are reportedly at higher-than-normal levels and the price of crude oil remains low. The combination of these two factors should help keep gas prices relatively low compared to recent years, though prices are likely to be a good deal higher by Memorial Day than they are today.

Missouri’s average came in at $1.41 a gallon, up two cents from Monday and the same as this time last week. St. Joseph’s average rose four cents in a day to an average of $1.35 a gallon. That price is still down four cents from this time last week.

A Weston, Missouri man was killed in a head-on crash with a semi in Buchanan County south of St. Joseph Monday night.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says an SUV driven by 74-year-old Charles McGrigg crossed the center line on US-59 highway near the Amelia Earhart Bridge at 9:30 p.m. Mr McGrigg was pronounced dead at the scene after crashing into a tractor-trailer in oncoming traffic.

The crash report says the truck driver was not hurt.

The St. Joseph YWCA is holding a baby derby to help raise funds for several agency programs.

“We are going to race babies to raise money for the JUMP program, Diaper Depot and Discovery Childcare,” said Jamie Noble, Baby Derby creator/organizer with the YWCA. “The babies will be divided into categories based on age and ability and so there will be one winner from each race and they’ll win prizes.”

The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 20th at the YWCA located at 304 N. 8th St from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Babies age 6 months to children age 3 will be able to participate. The cost is $15 to enter a baby in the race.  Noble said there will also be vendors, free food, face painting and balloons for anyone to attends.

“Most of our events aren’t geared around young families and so I really wanted to get the YW’s name out there and what we do for the families and so I just though ‘Hey let’s race babies!’ I’ve heard of it before so it’s not an original idea but I don’t know that it’s ever been done here,” Noble said.

The babies will take the starting line in the YWCA gym.  Noble said she hopes to get at least 70 babies signed-up.  Sign-ups can be made by CLICKING HERE or the day of the event at the door. She said there will be one winner from each bout, with the grand prize being a portrait package from Bellflower Photography.

The St. Joseph Police Department has announced it will be targeting substance-impaired drivers this St. Patrick’s Day.

The Department said it’s going to be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide St. Patrick’s Day Holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” substance–impaired driving crackdown.

The enforcement program conducted throughout St. Joseph, will run from March 17-20.

The crackdown will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb substance–impaired driving over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.