The St. Joseph Police Department is searching for a man in connection to a disturbance call allegedly involving a BB gun Wednesday morning

According to Cmdr. Eric Protzman officers responded to the 2600 block of S. 13th St. just after 11 a.m. to investigate possible shots fired at a residence.

“The subject displayed a weapon,” Protzman said.

However, he said the weapon displayed was probably a BB gun.

“No actual shots fired, possibly fired from a pellet type gun or a BB gun,” Protzman said.

Police arrested Gary Hatfield on a warrant at that location unrelated to the case.

Another man in his 20s is being sought as a person of interest.

A water main break in downtown Saint Joseph Tuesday night closed the YMCA and shut down five fire hydrants near 7th and Charles.

Officials said at 12 p.m. that the fitness center part of the facility is still closed but will re-open at 3 p.m.

The city-county communication center was notified of the break at 10:30 pm.  Missouri American Water Company told YMCA officials at 4 am Wednesday that they were still working on it.  A YMCA release says the company was trying to repair two valves behind the behind the Downtown Y.

The water will remain shut off until repairs are completed.

The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department said a tragic school shooting has been prevented at North Nodaway High School.

“We had an attempted school shooting yesterday,” Sheriff Darren White said. “We were very lucky, we’re fortunate we had young people that when they got wind of it that they went to staff members, they went to the principal and they made him aware that they thought this student had a weapon and they thought he was a real threat and the principal took action and everybody did their part.”

Authorities responded to the high school in Hopkins, Mo. around 11:30 Monday morning.

“He thought that he was being bullied and he had a list of students that he was not going to be bullied by anymore,” White said. “He was ready to go.”

White said a handgun was found in the student’s locker.

A 15-year-old has been taken into juvenile court custody and is currently being held in the investigation.

The Trenton Police Department is asking the public for help locating a man who picked up a Trenton student near a bus stop.

The student was later let out and continued on to school.

The suspect is described as a white male in his late-twenties or early-thirties with facial hair and a piercing in his lower lip wearing a black pullover hoodie, orange shorts and brightly colored Nike shoes. He was driving a dirty blue colored sport utility vehicle.

Anyone with any information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the Trenton Police Department at (660) 359-5557 or (660) 359-2121.

Shatto Milk Company is offering royal blue milk as the Royals battle the Mets in the World Series.  The Osborne company has just released a new limited edition “CROWN” milk bottle that will contain 2% milk colored royal blue.

“We are so excited to offer blue milk in support of the Royals.  We are huge baseball fans and wanted to something a little fun to celebrate,” said Barbara Shatto.  “The bottle was an idea that had long been discussed, but came about due to the ongoing requests by customers.”

The limited edition milk bottles and the blue milk will hit store shelves starting on Thursday.  Shatto Milk has also made available some outstanding apparel showing off the crown connection.  Those shirts can be purchased at here.

The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed two misdemeanor counts against a local businessman allegedly involved in a disturbance outside a local bar last month.

Arraignment is scheduled November 16 before Judge Keith Marquart for Kendall Randolph.

(Note: online court records show an arraignment date of November 16.  In a news release, Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins says arraignment is Thursday, October 27 at 9am.)

Mr Randolph faces two counts of assault in the third degree. Both are class A misdemeanors, each count punishable by up to one year behind bars.

In sworn court documents, Detective Frank Till cites witness statements asserting Mr Randolph grabbed the victim by the throat and slammed him against the side of a building. In the second count, the affidavit asserts that Mr Randolph “intentionally drove approximately 6-8 feet toward the victim in an attempt to strike the victim with his vehicle.”

The charges stem from an argument outside the Brown Bear Tavern at 2028 St. Joseph Avenue on the night of September 23. After the argument, police went to Mr Randolph’s home, but were held at bay for hours when he refused to come out. He later surrendered and was taken into custody.

The charges make no mention of a woman who says she was assaulted that night. The victim in the criminal case is described as “him,” and identified only by initials. Those initials were redacted by officials in the Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Earlier this month, the St Joseph woman filed suit against Mr Randolph, claiming that he pointed a firearm at her and threatened to shoot her. This criminal case makes no mention of a firearm. The plaintiff Heidi Morrow also claims the defendant drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk and toward her and a crowd of people standing there. A trial-setting conference is scheduled January 6 in the civil suit. (click here)

Students throughout the St. Joseph School District are chalking up drug and alcohol prevention messages as part of Red Ribbon week.

The St. Joseph Youth Alliance and the St. Joseph School District have activities planned all week as part of a national campaign to urge communities to take a stand against drugs.  This year’s Red Ribbon Week is slated to run Oct. 23-31 and the theme is, “Respect Yourself. Be Drug Free.”

“We’re trying to make students aware,” said Cindy Richardson, Central High School school counselor, “So that students can know the importance of being drug-free and alcohol-free for their future success.”

Students at Edison, Ellison and Eugene Field, Central High School, Pershing and Truman each took time Monday morning at their schools to create sidewalk chalk messages urging others to stay drug and alcohol free.

“Just a positive way to remind the students as they come to school and leave school that this is a National Campaign, not just a St. Joe school district campaign it’s a National Campaign to keep kids safe, to keep them focused,” Richardson said. “They have help here at school to help them stay on that right track.”

Central High School also took its anti-drug and alcohol message to social media, sending out numerous tweets throughout the day on studies and statistics surrounding the issue of prevention.

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the government of Holt County.

The audit received a performance rating of “good,” but identified some areas of concern.

Auditors recommended improvements to accounting procedures in the sheriff’s office.

The audit report was critical of the procedures related to operation of a commissary where inmates purchase snacks and personal items. The sheriff also handles money received for concealed carry weapon permits, bonds posted for bail, and other various items.

The report also identified threats to the security of information in some county offices related to password and computer controls. Employees in multiple county offices, including offices of the county collector, prosecuting attorney, recorder of deeds and county assessor, are not required to periodically change their passwords, putting accounts at risk for unauthorized access.

The Citizens Summary and the Complete Audit Report is available here.