The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a lot of accidents caused in part by snowy or icy road conditions.

Two people were hurt in a crash along 195th Avenue west of Bethany Wednesday afternoon. A crash report says Isaac Smith of New Hampton, Missouri lost control of his truck shortly before 1 p.m. The vehicle left the snow-packed roadway and overturned onto the passenger side.

Mr Smith suffered minor injuries and refused treatment. His passenger Katherine Laytham suffered moderate injuries. The 24-year-old New Hampton woman was transported to Harrison County Community Hospital.

A Mooresville, Missouri woman suffered moderate injuries after a crash along US-36 highway in Livingston County. Authorities say 74-year-old Sharon Schneiter’s vehicle went out of control on an ice-covered bridge at the Grand River, hitting both guard rails numerous times.

Ms Schneiter was transported to Hedrick Medical Center with moderate injuries.

(Update 2:20 p.m. ) – A St. Joseph man is accused of driving a vehicle stolen from the home that was destroyed by a fire Monday and was also the site of a double murder last summer.

Brian Scott Stepp, 25 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.

Investigators were called out to a home located on 8610 Hurlingen Road after 3 p.m. Monday to assist fire crews that were concerned about contents of the residence.  The fire caused extensive damage and the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s Office was called in to investigate.

Col. Bill Puett said it was determined that items were stolen from the property, including a vehicle.

According to court document on Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. investigators saw Stepp driving a 1997 Ford Power Stroke Diesel that was stolen from the property on Hurlingen Road.

“We watched him exit the driver’s seat and go into a residence,”Investigator Tami Parsons with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Dept. said. “Stepp indicated to us he forcibly entered the detached garage located at 8610 NE Hurlingen Road and took the Ford pickup.”

Puett said deputies arrested a man Tuesday evening in Country Side Trailer Court in connection with the investigation of property that was taken.  A woman has also been taken into custody in relation to that investigation, no charges were filed against her as of 2:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Bond for Stepp was set at $25,000 cash.

The Fire Marshall’s Office is still investigating the fire on Hurlingen Road.  That home was also the site where James and Beverly Johnson were found dead of gunshot wounds in July.  Their grandson, 16-year-old Joseph Johnson pleaded guilty to the shootings and is slated for a sentencing hearing on March 4. No one has been living in the home since the couple’s deaths.

A resident in northwest Missouri is being credited for warning off a potential thief by discharging several rounds from a shotgun according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

The office said Tuesday around 9 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a call of attempted theft of one or more motor vehicles, one of which a Polaris Ranger from private property in Chula.

“Investigation shows adult while male suspect was trespassing on private property and allegedly may have attempted to steal a pickup as the foot tracks in the snow show the person at or near the pickup,” Sheriff Steve Cox said. “The suspect also allegedly attempted to steal an ATV and even started the vehicle.”

Cox said that at some point the property owner realized he was about to become a victim of vehicle theft and while armed with a shotgun subsequently discharged 2 rounds in a safe direction while warning the suspect.

“Investigation shows the property owner was careful and prudent with the firearm,” Cox said. “The suspect then fled on foot and deputies tracked the person to a business east of Chula where it was learned a male had arrived in the parking lot and was picked up by unknown person and left the area.”

LCSO and MSHP are following up on information and said the same suspect may have been involved in a call of shots fired in a nearby county not long after this incident.

“Fortunately no one was injured and no actual property stolen from the Chula residence,” Cox said.

The investigation continues.

A total of 10 people have declared candidacy for school board.

Tuesday was the last day for candidates to declare their candidacy for school board for the St. Joseph School District Board of Education.

John Paul Leo Stehr and Kathy Northup signed up before the filing closed Tuesday afternoon.

The final candidates are:

Eric Bruder
Maggie Elder
Michael Dulcan
Tami Pasley
Teresa Simmons
Art VanMeter
Dr. Bryan Green
Sarah Hochschwender
John Paul Leo Stehr
Kathy Northup

There are two positions available with a three-year term.

Bruder filled the vacant spot in April left by the resignation of Dan Colgan whose term was set to expire in 2016. Board President, Brad Haggard’s term is also up in 2016.

The Final Certification Date is January 26, 2016. Candidates will be placed on the April 5, 2016 election.

The cause of two power outages on two separate occasions in Doniphan County is being blamed on shots fired.

Westar Energy said power went out around 6 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 17 and was restored around 10 p.m. The Sunday prior power was interrupted around 7:40 p.m. and restored around 9 p.m. according to the power company.  Areas impacted included Troy, Denton, Leona, Bendena and several other rural areas in Doniphan County.  Both outages affected around 2200 customers.

“In both cases the power outage was caused by a downed power line,” said Shane Batchelder a Spokesperson for Westar Energy. “They were pretty close together. There were two spans of lines and it appears that someone was either hunting or shooting in the area and shot those lines.”

Batchelder said crews were on scene as of 10:30 Monday morning inspecting the lines for any additional damage that could cause future problems.

“If there was somebody hunting there could be other damage that we may not see right now,” Batchelder said. “Visual and infrared inspections are complete and no additional damage was found. It appears the lines were damaged from shots, but it’s not clear what shooting activity was taking place.”

Batchelder said he is still trying to find out if a police report was filed.

The State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a home east of St. Joseph Monday afternoon that was the site of a double murder last July.

According to Col. Bill Puett with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department investigators with the sheriff’s department were called out after 3 p.m. Monday to assist Fire Crews.

“There were concern about contents,” Puett said. “We’re working with the Fire Marshall’s Office.”

Extensive damage was caused to the home located on 8610 Hurlingen Road.  That home was also the site where James and Beverly Johnson were found dead of gunshot wounds.  Their grandson, 16-year-old Joseph Johnson pleaded guilty to the shootings and is slated for a sentencing hearing on March 4.

Puett said fire crews from San Antonio responded and had to call for back-up.  No one has been living in the home since the couple’s deaths. Puett said Citizen’s Bank and Trust is the executor for the property.

The investigation continues.

BELIZE CITY, Belize (AP) — An autopsy on the body of a northwest Missouri native who was found dead in western Belize has determined that she was strangled to death.

The post-mortem report prepared by Dr. Keyden Ken says Anne Swaney was killed by “asphyxia due to compression of the neck area, throttling and blunt force traumatic injuries to the head and neck.”

According to the Kansas City Star, Swaney grew up in Platte City before attending Northwestern University and working for ABC-Channel 7 in Chicago.

The 39-year-old woman’s body was discovered floating face-down in the Mopan River, which flows from Belize into Guatemala.

Police Superintendent Daniel Arzu told local television Friday night that an unidentified Guatemalan national who was fishing in the area was being questioned but denies any involvement in her death.

Swaney was a guest at the Nabitunich resort in the Cayo district when she was reported missing Thursday.

(AP and Post)

As temperatures take a turn for the worse the American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri is stressing weather safety.

“Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths, and the risk of home fires increase in colder weather,” said Angie Springs, Ex. Dir. “With the onset of winter across the country it’s more important than ever to be vigilant when it comes to person safety and staying warm this winter.”

The Red Cross has six tips to stay safe this winter:

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
2. Test the batteries in your smoke alarms once a month, and change them if they’re not working.
3. Create an escape plan that includes two exits from each room and practice it until everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes.
4. Follow the “three feet” rule and keep children, pets and flammable items at least three feet from heating equipment.  Turn off portable space heaters when you leave the room and when you go to sleep.
5. Use gas wisely and never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.  Four percent of Americans admit to having used a gas stove to heat their home.
6. Use flashlights, not candles because battery-operated flashlights or lanterns are safer than candles during power outages.