The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department pulled many people over Wednesday but some were surprised to learn it was for reasons other than a ticket.
“We’re looking for people who might need a little extra help for Christmas,” said Col. Bill Puett. “Stopping cars looking for people who need a little help.”
$2,000 was donated by what the department is calling a Secret Santa to distribute to people in need.
Deputies spread out across Buchanan County stopping cars and individuals who looked like they could use a helping hand. The went from Easton to DeKalb, Rushville, Agency, and even in St. Joseph.
“We’re looking for people anywhere that might look like they need a little help,” Puett said.
Puett said the program is a huge excitement for the department.
“We do the Adopt-A-Family program, we try to help out in anyway we can,” Puett said. “This is just another avenue that we’re able to help out the community.”
The St. Joseph Police Department received a similar donation from an anonymous donor as well.
James Earl Eackles pleaded guilty Wednesday for beating his longtime girlfriend to death earlier this year.
Eackles, 46 pleaded guilty in Buchanan County Court to felony second degree murder.
As we previously reported, in February officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to the 2200 block of S. 15th St. to find Carol Cunningham, 40 dead in the home
The probable cause statement said Eackles admitted to striking his girlfriend several times. Officers found her with significant injuries to her face and body which resulted in her death. Eackles and the victim have lived together for several years.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 29 at 3 p.m.
Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. Photo by Nadia Thacker
The Salvation Army in St. Joseph said it’s crossed the half-way mark in its 2015 Red Kettle Campaign.
The agency said Tuesday $190,000 of the 2015 $375,000 has been raised.
“Christmas is the largest, single fund drive for The Salvation Army, providing the means to providing thousands of critical services to local families,” said Major Abe Tamayo, Corps Officer. “We here at the army depend on Christmas approximately one-third of its 1.2 million dollar operating cost, providing us with the financial resources to run our 24 hour operations, serving the poorest of local families.”
Red Kettle Bell Ringers will be out through Christmas Eve at location throughout the Belt. The campaign itself runs until Jan. 15, 2016. The Salvation Army said postal mailed and walk in donations can be sent to:
The Salvation Army
PO Box 1417
602 Messanie
Saint Joseph, MO 64502
For more information on how to give or volunteer call LeeAnn at 816.232.5824.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s population growth is lagging behind the national rate.
U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday estimate that Missouri’s population grew by fewer than 20,000 people from 2014 to 2015, to a total of 6.08 million people.
That’s a growth rate of about three-tenths of a percent — well shy of the national rate of nearly eight-tenths of a percent.
Missouri’s growth rate ranked 30th among states in 2015.
But that was still good enough for Missouri to retain its position as the 18th most populated state — a little ahead of Maryland.
(UPDATE 3:15 p.m.) The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department is searching for two men after a Buchanan County resident was reportedly stabbed Monday night during a robbery.
Col. Bill Puett with the department said deputies were called out around 10 p.m. Monday to Karen Lane in the Lake Contrary area.
“The victim of the reported robbery was stabbed and then transported by private vehicle to Mosaic and treated,” Puett said.
He said the victim, a 45-year-old man was stabbed twice in the lower left back. He has since been treated and released from the hospital.
Puett said the two suspects are described as white males, skinny with shaved heads. They were seen driving a white colored 4-door car.
Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.
“Anytime the public can help we truly appreciate that,” Puett said. “So if anybody has any information or knowledge of that event last night we would love if they would provide that to us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department or the Tips Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.
Santa stopped in at several locations in the area Tuesday delivering gifts with the help of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department.
Employees with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Dept. helped adopt 21 people for Christmas through the AFL-CIO’s Adopt-A-Family program.
“We were out spreading cheer, making people’s Christmas a lot merrier,” said Sheriff Mike Strong.
Santa and employees with the Sheriff’s Dept. climbed into a Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle to deliver the gifts Tuesday. They made three stops in the morning and had several more planned for the afternoon.
“The Sheriff’s Department works all year to raise money for this,” Strong said. “We have bake sales, they auction stuff off, they pay money to wear beards.”
In addition to gifts the department also brought food for a Christmas dinner and in some cases they even brought dog food for the pets in the home. Strong said the reaction from the recipients makes it all worthwhile.
“From kids eyes being as big as silver dollars when they see Santa and all the deputies walk in to grandmothers crying because she sees she’s going to be able to provide a Christmas dinner” Strong said.
This year the department raised $4,200, Strong said it was the largest amount raised so far since the department has been taking part in the yearly giving effort.
“The whole Sheriff’s Department kicks in the whole year. They go out and they buy coats and donate them, toys, and they all participant in the fundraisers, they go shopping they wrap it. There’s probably about 30 people involved in the whole thing,” Strong said. “There are people less fortunate than us and we like to help. That’s why people get into this business. Police officers and deputies get into this business to make a difference in people’s lives.”
As of 7 p.m. Monday the AFL-CIO was down to 50 families in need of adoption this Christmas through its Adopt-A-Family program. The agency said it plans to keep its doors open at 1203 N 6th Street for anyone wanting to help provide a Christmas to those who may not be able to afford one from 8 am to at least 5 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 to 1, Thursday. The agency can also be reached by calling (816) 364-1131.
(All photos courtesy Sarah Hardin/Buchanan County Sheriff’s Dept.)
Video board groundbreaking. Photo courtesy MWSUSt. Joseph, Mo. — A groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday formally marked the beginning of construction for the next phase in the renovation of Missouri Western State University’s Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium – a $2.6 million video scoreboard that will rise seven stories above the playing surface. The LED video display, at approximately 2,500 square feet, will be the largest in NCAA Division II.
Steve Craig, founder and CEO of Craig Realty Group and benefactor of the Craig School of Business, will contribute $1.1 million toward the project, the largest individual gift in the history of Missouri Western athletics. With this gift, Craig has now donated $8.9 million to the university. In recognition of his support, the playing surface at Spratt Stadium was named Craig Field earlier this year.
“We are in the last few days of our university’s centennial celebration, with the theme of ‘100 Years of Transforming Lives,’” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “I can’t think of a better way of concluding our centennial year than thanking an individual, Steve Craig, who has been such an important part of that transformational process.”
Craig said he wanted to provide Griffon coaches with a “dynamic asset” to help recruit student-athletes, enhance the overall fan experience for football and soccer games and strengthen the relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also wanted to nurture some much-needed community pride.
“Not only can northwest Missouri residents be proud of these fantastic new facilities, but the players who compete here will also be very happy,” Craig said. When plans for the scoreboard were announced in August, he said, “I spoke about some of those great civic projects of the past, and I’m hopeful that this new scoreboard along with these other improvements will be looked upon as some of the best as well.”
Student athletes spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony about their excitement.
“We’ve always been proud to play for Missouri Western, but now we’re so excited to play at home and see other teams come out and see our facilities,” said Taylor Gant, women’s soccer. “These enhancements will improve the experience for both the players and the audience.”
“These additions make Missouri Western’s facilities one of the tops in the nation by far,” said Michael Hill, former Griffon running back and NFL player. “I was really stoked to see all this construction going on, and I’m excited to see the scoreboard go up. The environment on game day will be superb.”
The video board will stand at the south end of the stadium, near the Baker Family Fitness Center. At a little more than 65 feet wide and 38 feet tall, or approximately 2,500 square feet, the video display will be the largest in NCAA Division II. It will be larger by area than many Division I schools, including the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas.
The brick structure built to house the scoreboard will be approximately 72 feet tall, with storage rooms inside, static signs and displays, and a rooftop fireworks launchpad. Construction is expected to be completed in time for the Spring Commencement Ceremony in May 2016.
In addition to Craig, other private donors have pledged through the Missouri Western State University Foundation’s Centennial Capital Campaign to complete the scoreboard. Major donors include Al and Gracie Landes, Randy and Mary Herzog, Sunshine Electronic Display, O’Malley Beverage and Nodaway Valley Bank. Other donors have provided leadership support for the Spratt Memorial Stadium renovation project.
E.L. Crawford Construction is the general contractor for the scoreboard project and the Spratt Stadium renovation, which includes corporate suites, additional chair-back seating for fans, elevator and other accessibility improvements, additional restrooms, expanded concessions area, new ticket office, a team store to sell Griffon merchandise, new press box and fencing.
Gary Becerra receiving $10,000 Shop St. Joe check from Jeff Heitman, owner of Ray’s Green Hills
The winner of the Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program $10,000 grand prize threw away tickets at the beginning of the program.
“I’m not a big gambler,” said Gary Becerra. “I didn’t really think I’d win. I thought I was too busy to worry about collecting tickets.”
The 48-year old Ag Processing employee said he only had 16 tickets that he collected while doing his routine grocery shopping at Ray’s Green Hills. But his unlucky feeling changed on Dec. 21.
“For some reason, I had a feeling I had the winning ticket,” he said. “I made a point to be home to watch the 5 o’clock news to see the winning ticket number.”
His ticket number, 1085698, was drawn by Todd Meierhoffer, Chairman of the St. Joseph Board of Directors, on Dec. 21, which was the end of the ninth annual Shop St. Joseph program. The program is designed to keep holiday shopping dollars in St. Joseph. This year 96 merchants participated in the program and roughly 1.6 million tickets were distributed, which is more than the 700,000 tickets distributed in 2014.
Mr. Becerra is a lifelong resident of St. Joseph and has worked for Ag Processing for six years.
“I’m very into that the money I make here, I spend here,” he said.
When it comes to his plans for his winnings, he and his wife and 13-year-old daughter went out for a steak dinner Monday night to celebrate.
“Certainly, I’ll pay a percentage forward and it’ll definitely make Christmas a little brighter at our house,” he said.
Mr. Becerra’s daughter is a competitive cheerleader, so part of the winnings will go toward her upcoming competitions.
“Anything left over will be spent in St. Joseph, that’s for sure,” he said.
Ticket holders are encouraged to keep their tickets because a list of second chance prize numbers will be announced later today. Those numbers will be posted on saintjoseph.com.
A winner has come forward with the 1085698 winning number for the Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program.
The check presentation will be at 9 am at Ray’s Green Hills.
Shoppers are urged to keep their tickets
One winning number per each second-chance prize were also drawn today. Those numbers will be announced after the grand prize ticket has been verified.
Two certified public accountants worked with Chamber staff to provide oversight of the program. Roughly 1.6 million tickets were distributed this year through the 96 participating merchants. This is up from about 700,000 tickets in 2014.
Police donate $100 to residents in need. Screen shot from dashcam video
Saint Joseph police officers are helping an anonymous donor pass out cash to needy residents.
Captain Jeff Wilson said a man who wanted to remain anonymous came to the police department with a $2000 donation.
“This $2,000 was in cash and this donor graciously asked that officers hand this money out in $100 increments to people that they feel might be really needing this money to help them out during the holiday season,” Wilson said. “Since that time we’ve been giving money to several different officers on several different shifts in the patrol division and they’ve been handing out $100 bills to people.”
Wilson said the donation was about two weeks ago. As of Monday, he said around $1,000 has already been given away. He said it’s up to the officers to decide who gets the money.
“It’s really just one of those instances that officers are on a call and they get just this feeling that this person may really need this at this time and they just hand the money out,” Wilson said.
He said people who have received the surprise donations have been very appreciative.
“Some officers went to a residence they just had remembered a lady that they had dealt with who was going through some problems so they went to her residence and she was actually surprised to see them. She thought they were there for some sort of enforcement issue and they were able to tell her, ‘hey we’re just here to help you out. We know you probably need this.’ And explained where the money came from and were able to give her $100 and actually put her in tears,” Wilson said.
Wilson said they hope to hand out all of the money before Christmas.
“The officers really like when programs like this come across and they’re able to go out and put a different spin on what they do,” Wilson said. “The officers give of themselves every day in trying to serve our community but to go out and be able to do something like this and help people out in a non enforcement like situation we hope they appreciate it as much as we appreciate having the opportunity to do it.”
We reported on a similar anonymous donation in Hutchison, Kan. several days ago. Police there were handing out $100 bills to the needy thanks to an anonymous donor. Wilson said he doesn’t even know who the donor is.
