A building dating back to the early 1900s has partially collapsed just south of Downtown St. Joseph.

The vacant building, located in the 900 block of 6th St. was once used by the Brown Transfer & Storage Company.

“The rainstorm that came this morning there was sufficient pressure to knock out the front part of that parapet wall due to the roof sagging,” said Andre Messner, Chief Building Official with the City of St. Joseph.  “The owner did tell me they had been doing some repairs in there, trying to repair the roof.”

Messner said the building was vacant at the time and that there was an alarm system in place to keep people from breaking in.

The city has closed off 6th St. in the 900 block near Olive St. due to the collapse.

“We’re blocking off the road because of the potential of more of that brick and wall falling and potentially hurting someone very seriously,” Messner said. “We’re working with the owner of the building to put together a plan to either secure it, partially demo it, or fully demo it.”

The St. Joseph Fire Department will be working with city officials to inspect the facility.

“As soon as the fire truck gets here, he’ll be taking me up to look at it much closer to get a better opinion on the path we should be taking,” Messner said.

Official anticipate the roadway will stay closed at that location through Monday.

“As of right now we can’t even clean up the bricks because of the potential for even more bricks to fall,” Messner said.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says it’s up to the federal government to screen refugees and is calling for safeguards following deadly terror attacks in Paris.

But the Democrat in a statement Monday didn’t say he’d block Syrian refugees from settling in Missouri.

Republican gubernatorial candidates suburban St. Louis businessman John Brunner, former state House speaker and U.S. attorney Catherine Hanaway and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder want Nixon to do so. They cited safety concerns. Eighteen Republican state senators similarly called to suspend Syrian refugee relocation. The U.S. State Department’s Refugee Processing Center says 29 Syrian refugees settled in Missouri from Jan. 1 through Monday.

The president and CEO of the U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigration says under the Refugee Act of 1980 governors cannot legally block refugees.

That’s not stopping Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback from trying. Gov. Brownback has issued an executive order forbidding any state agencies or organizations that receive state grant money from helping relocate Syrian refugees in his state. Brownback said Monday the action was necessary because the federal government can’t guarantee Syrian refugees coming to America aren’t terrorists. He says refugees fleeing persecution in their own country might be better served by resettling in a friendly country closer to their homes.

Brownback acknowledged that many people seeking refugee status are peaceful and looking for a better life, but said Kansas can’t allow an influx of Syrian refugees while the Islamic State group is threatening to infiltrate the refugee process. Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer says the well-being of Kansans is a higher priority than helping refugees.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says Syrian refugees shouldn’t be resettled in Iowa until there is a federal review to ensure safety. Branstad late Monday said he had ordered state agencies to halt any future work on Syrian refugee resettlements in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Earlier in the day, he expressed concerns about safety, but said he may not have the authority to block Syrian refugees from entering the state. Several U.S. governors said they will halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states. The governors are responding to heightened concerns that terrorists might use the refugees as cover to sneak across borders.

Branstad said intelligence agencies should review the security process. According to the State Department’s refugee processing center, no Syrian refugees have been resettled in Iowa.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says he does not want Syrian refugees resettling in Nebraska until the federal government conducts a full review of its screening procedures to ensure public safety. Ricketts sent a letter Monday to refugee resettlement agencies in the state, urging them not to pursue resettlement of the refugees in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Ricketts says in the letter that while he understands the danger and persecution many are facing in the Middle East, it’s important to focus first on the safety of Nebraska residents and Americans. Ricketts says he’s been told no Syrian refugees have been resettled in Nebraska.

A man who escaped a Kansas correctional facility and shot at law enforcement officials during a high-speed chase in Platte County has been convicted.

Scott A. Gilbert, 51, was found guilty of ten felonies by a Platte County jury on November 13, 2015.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “This defendant is a dangerous man who put countless people in harm’s way during his brazen attempt to escape from prison. Law enforcement officers from multiple departments demonstrated tremendous courage in apprehending him.“

Evidence at trial showed that Gilbert was traveling in a stolen black 1997 GMC pickup truck that left the McDonald’s in Platte City at about 10:00 am on May 10, 2013. Earlier that morning, Gilbert had escaped from the Lansing, KS Correctional Facility, allegedly with another inmate who was driving the truck.

The officer attempted to pull over the vehicle, but it refused to stop. Instead, the vehicle led several law enforcement officers on a pursuit heading northbound on 1-29 with speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour.

The chase later traveled through several rural highways. During the pursuit, Gilbert fired a shotgun multiple times and struck the vehicles of four different law enforcement officers.

Gilbert and the other inmate eventually made it to rural Clinton County, where they entered an unoccupied residence. Officers from multiple departments, including multiple tactical teams, surrounded the house, and the pair eventually surrendered.

Gilbert has more than 50 prior felonies in the state of Kansas.

Gilbert was convicted of four counts of first degree assault of a law enforcement officer, four counts of armed criminal action, resisting arrest, and tampering with a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Zahnd said his office would seek multiple life sentences in the case.

“Our law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep the rest of us safe,” Zahnd said. “We owe them a debt of gratitude, and more importantly, we owe them justice when anyone tries to harm them in the line of duty.”

Gilbert remains in the Platte County Jail in lieu of a $5,000,000 cash bond. The other inmate also remains in custody, and his case is scheduled for a jury trial on February 1, 2016.

Gilbert’s apprehension involved officers from the Platte County Sheriff’s Department, the Platte City Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Cameron Police Department, and the Trimble Police Department.

According to information in court documents, a man arrested near downtown St. Joseph Friday is wanted in Texas for shooting his wife.

Justlet Joseph, 29 of Amarillo, Texas was arrested Friday in the 1200 block of Powell St. on an out of state warrant. According to court documents, Joseph’s wife was shot on Oct. 31 with a handgun.

“Justlet Joseph shot 4 times with a 9MM handgun and struck striking the victim in the back leaving her with serious physical injuries,” said Det. A. King with the St. Joseph Police Department.

“Detectives with the SJPD Street Crimes Unit, FBI, ATF, and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, including myself Detective King located a possible address for Justlet Joseph,” said. Det. King. “We had been contacted by detectives from Amarillo, Texas in reference to Joseph shooting his wife.”

Friday, law enforcement officials responded to the 1200 block of Powell St. and shutdown the road for nearly two hours. Lt. Shawn Collie with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department told us Joseph came out of the residence without incident shortly after SRT called for him to come out.

Collie said Joseph will be extradited back to Texas.

“Justlet has been arrested for robbery, kidnapping, and assault in the past,” Det. King said.

Joseph is scheduled for an arraignment Tuesday in Buchanan County on a charge as a fugitive from out of state.

Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to provide beneficial rainfall to the area today through Wednesday morning. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected area-wide by Wednesday night however, flooding is not expected due to recent dry conditions. Any storms that do develop will not be severe. Temperatures today will be slightly above normal in the mid to upper 50s before moving well above normal on Tuesday with highs in the mid 60s.

Today
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
Periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 56. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. High near 65. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday
Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 54. West southwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 50.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Friday Night
A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday
A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

JEFFERSON CITY – State agencies are promoting Winter Weather Awareness Day Wednesday to call attention to planning ahead in the event of Winter storms.

The National Weather Service said while the winter of 2014-12015 was not too bad across the state, many people likely still remember January 2014, which  was a reminder of what winter can do in Missouri. Talk about the “polar vortex” was everywhere. January 6 – 7, 2014 brought some of the coldest temperatures we have seen in Missouri in many years. Lambert St. Louis International Airport fell to -8 on the 6th. That was the first time the temperature there had been below zero since 1999.

Nov. 18 is being promoted as Winter Weather Awareness Day by the NWS, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri’s local emergency managers.

In 2011, much of Missouri was affected by record snowfall and blizzard conditions that kept many in their homes and closed I-70 across the state. In 2009, a severe ice storm knocked out power to thousands for days in southeast Missouri. Both serve as reminders of the hazards winter weather can present and the importance of preparing in advance.

The National Weather Service has prepared a webpage with lots of safety tips and information about winter weather and its impact: http://www.weather.gov/lsx/winterday.

Some of the severe winter weather preparations Missourians can make include:

· Create a family emergency plan and an emergency kit. Emergency supplies should include bottled water, canned and dry foods, battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, manual can opener and a first-aid kit.
· Know the risks of exposure to cold temperatures. Protect against frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting clothing in several layers. Limit time spent outdoors in frigid temperatures and stay indoors, if possible.
· Make sure alternate heat and power sources, such as fireplaces, woodstoves, oil heaters and generators function properly. These sources can be dangerous and must be maintained and operated. Keep the correct fuel for each source on hand in a safe location. Properly install carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home. Only operate generators outdoors.
· Assemble a separate vehicle winter emergency kit. Include a blanket, radio with spare batteries, snacks or energy-type food, jumper cables, flares, shovel and sand or shingles to give tires traction.
· Avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog. If travel is necessary, make sure an emergency kit is in the vehicle, that cell phones are charged and emergency numbers are saved for fast dialing. Check on road conditions in advance on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traveler Info Map: http://traveler.modot.org/map/. If your vehicle breaks down or slides off the road, stay with your vehicle and call or wait for help.

The NWS said people should also be aware of current weather forecasts and understand the different terms the NWS uses when issuing winter weather advisories:

· Winter Storm Watch – Severe winter weather may affect your area within 12-48 hours.
· Winter Storm Warning – Severe winter weather is in the area or is imminent and could be life threatening.
· Ice Storm Warnings – Ice accumulations of a quarter-inch or more are expected in your area.

 

The Saint Joseph Symphony is presenting its 2015 Holiday Homes Tour next weekend for participants to tour four homes in St. Joseph decked out for the Christmas holiday and help raise funds for music at the same time.

The fourth annual homes tour will be held Saturday, November 21, 2015, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, November 22, 2015, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Advance tickets are $20.00 each; tickets are the door will be $25.00 each.

Funds raised from the tour will go to benefit Saint Joseph Symphony and its programs.

The four decorated St. Joseph Holiday Homes are The Matles Home, 1209 Ashland Avenue; The Patt and Sherri Lilly Home, 2810 Ashland Avenue; The Historic M. C. Shoup Home, Bill Church and Wendy Eidmann, Owners; and The Edward Hamilton Historic Home, 1423 Francis Street. Docents will guide guests and describe each of the available rooms at the homes.

At the Matles home, built in 2006, guests will enter through a beautiful African mahogany door designed by the homeowner. Above the door is a fan plaque similar to ones found in Williamsburg, Virginia, as a sign of welcome. At the end of the 8-foot by 33-foot entry hall is a beautiful floor medallion with smaller versions in two other rooms. The house has a library with floor to ceiling bookcases, a large master bedroom, two guest bedrooms, a large family room/kitchen, and a dining room that can accommodate a 118-inch table. Unusual artwork and carvings from Indonesia, artwork and natural objects from Bolivia and around the world are featured in this exquisitely decorated home. Breathtaking Christmas decorations include a tall lighted tree in the entry hall, an unusual holiday tree filled with White House and congressional ornaments and a small tree with ornaments from England. This exceptionally designed home will be a highlight of the tour.

Patt and Sherri Lilly’s home was built in 1923 by Isaac and Hortense Hassenbusch. The property itself was part of the historic Miller Farm

purchased originally by Isaac Miller in 1846 from the U.S. government who had acquired it as part of the Platte Purchase. Patt and Sherri moved into the home in May of 2014 after an extensive 6-month interior renovation of the home. The home has been decorated in a casual and elegant style reflecting the architecture of the home. The Christmas décor throughout the house reflects the excitement and wonder of the holiday as seen through the eyes of their five grandsons. This home will delight and amaze visitors. You will not want to miss it.

The Historic M. C. Shoup Home was built in about 1928. The stately Ashland home for years was the residence of MWSU arts professor Robin Findlay where many arts fund raising events were celebrated.
Recent owners made spectacular landscaping changes on the property including a beautiful in-ground pool, gazebo, and rear patio fireplace with walkways. Less than ten years ago, the home was updated with new floors and walls and a beautiful new kitchen which features custom Cairo granite/statuary marble floors and counter tops with a 9 foot island, custom cabinetry by Midland, and wet bar nook. Revamped closets, new bathrooms with Jacuzzi tub, new carpet, and bedrooms wired for flat screens are just a few of the upgrades. Owners Bill Church and Wendy Eidmann will bring new ideas in holiday decorating to this beautifully updated home.

Guests will step back in time and be greeted by a living history character at the Edward Hamilton Historic Home. Early matrons who will

recount living at the 1423 Francis Street home. Mrs. John C. Parkinson, daughter of Missouri Governor, William Stone, will describe her family living in the home from 1912 to 1941. In addition, Mrs. Edward Hamilton, who husband commissioned a remodel of the home, changed the octagonally shaped structure to a Second Empire style building in 1876 will also discuss the home and visit with guests. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton lived in the home from 1865-1904. According to a 1950 article in the St. Joseph News Press about two of St. Joseph’s then century-old houses, William Harris built an eight-sided octagonally shaped home on a high point of the area at what is now 1423 Francis Street. Mr. Harris came to St. Joseph as the Western frontier was beginning to expand. The Harris Addition, bears his name. Prepare to re-visit St. Joseph’s past in this historically decorated holiday home.

Homes tour tickets are available at the St. Joseph HyVee store service center, 201 North Belt Highway; online at www.saintjosephsymphony.org, the Saint Joseph Symphony office, 120 South 8th, and at each of the homes on the days of the Holiday Homes Tour.

(St. Joseph, MO) – A local manufacturer is offering complimentary custom hay testing and nutritional analysis to cow/calf producers.

BioZyme, manufacturer of proprietary of natural feed supplements for cattle, show livestock and commercial poultry and swine, is offering the testing through its nationwide dealer network.

The company said lab analysis and resulting report will provide producers with the information they need to understand when protein or energy is needed to maximize performance in their herds. In addition, the report indicates which months since calving the producer should be supplementing protein and/or energy, or when the hay is meeting nutrient requirements and supplementation is not needed.

“Since forage quality changes with maturity and storage, testing your hay is recommended to ensure that the nutrient requirements of your animals are being met,” said Lindsey Grimes, BioZyme Nutrition Field Support. “By having a general idea of the quality of your forage, you will be able to provide the lowest cost ration possible to meet your performance expectations, and adjust the amount of supplements needed to feed your animals.”

If testing determines that the forage quality is high, the producer can offer less supplementation, resulting in savings. Conversely, if the forage quality is low, diet supplementation will be recommended to improve animal performance and increase profits.

“We custom fed cattle and when they sold, the owner said, ‘whatever you do, keep feeding that mineral!’ The rations you put together were not only cheaper, but the cattle gained .5 lbs faster. It was like 21 free calves in 150 days. We are absolutely thrilled with Amaferm and the nutrition team at BioZyme,” said BioZyme customer Evan Sauter of Linton, ND.

To obtain a complete nutrient analysis of the sample, the producer must submit hay samples to a BioZyme Area Sales Manager, preferably through their nearest dealer. A list of dealers is available at http://www.biozymeinc.com/find-a-dealer/. Once the sample is received, it will then be delivered for lab analysis and the results emailed to the producer as well as the producer’s local BioZyme dealer and/or area sales manager.

An independent hospital watchdog group had given Mosaic Life Care an A rating in patient safety.

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit watchdog it said advocates for transparency in quality and safety of care in U.S. hospitals. The group shows key shifts among many hospitals on an A, B, C, D and F grading system based on hospital data surrounding errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

“Every caregiver at Mosaic Life Care is committed to providing the highest quality of care to protect the safety of our patients,” said Mark Laney, MD, CEO of Mosaic Life Care. “We take this commitment very seriously, and it shows through our receiving an “A” since the fall of 2013.”

More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in October 2015, with 773 hospitals receiving an A grade. In Missouri out of 62 hospitals only 8 received an A rating.

To see Mosaic Life Care’s full score CLICK HERE.

A 29-year-old man was taken into custody near downtown St. Joseph Friday on a warrant out of Texas.

Lt. Shawn Collie with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department said Justlet Joseph was arrested on a warrant out of Amarillo, Texas for Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence related.

Law Enforcement Officers with the St. Joseph Police Department, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, Special Response Team, and several Federal Agencies responded to the 1300 block of Powell Street around noon.  The road was blocked off in both directions at that location for nearly two hours.

“The Sheriff’s Department and Police Department have been assisting Amarillo Texas Police Department in locating a fugitive wanted out of Amarillo Texas on a shooting,” Collie said. “Through the investigation we were able to place the wanted fugitive here at this residence.”

Collie said Joseph came out of the residence without incident shortly after the Special Response Team called for him to come out.  Collie said it’s still unclear why Joseph was in St. Joseph.

“There’s another female that was with the suspect and then a toddler maybe two or three years old unrelated to the case,” Collie said. “This is a place he’s been staying with maybe family members or associates.”

Collie said Justlet will be extradited back to Texas.

“We’ll go through a process of getting him charged as a fugitive from out of state here.  Once he’s charged here then he’ll be shipped back to Texas where they’ll be able to complete their investigation,” Collie said.