The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney filed first-degree murder charges Wednesday against 16-year-old Joseph Sean Johnson, just hours after the teenager was certified for trial as an adult.

In a news release, officials announced that Mr Johnson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, or in the alternative second degree murder.

The charges stem from the fatal shooting of James and Beverly Johnson, the defendant’s grandparents with whom he lived. The pair were found at their home in eastern Buchanan County July 3.

In court documents officials say the suspect was stopped in Platte County for invalid plates displayed on his grandfather’s car. According to the affidavit, officials learned the suspect told an acquaintance on the phone he believed he had murdered his grandparents. Both were subsequently found fatally shot at their home at 8610 Hurlingen Road.

A judge set bond at $250,000 pending Mr Johnson’s first court appearance August 14. The defendant is in custody in the Buchanan County Jail.

Detective Shawn Collie of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said in a court affidavit he didn’t believe Mr Johnson would show up for court because he is a minor and is now homeless.

In the court affidavit, Lieutenant Collie said the defendant had approximately $600 on him, along with extra clothes, and a credit card belonging to his grandparents, and was carrying directions to Louisville Kentucky with him when he was arrested. He was just 30 to 40 minutes away from the crime scene when he was stopped.

Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins says the first degree murder charges each carrie a penalty of life imprisonment without parole. Murder in the second degree carries a penalty of 10-30 years in prison or life without the possibility of parole until 85% of any sentence has been served.

Earlier Wednesday, Circuit Judge Dan Kellogg certified Mr Johnson for trial as an adult.

https://soundcloud.com/st-joe-post/school-district-press-conf-with-newhart-august-12th

Another subpoena was received by the St. Joseph School District in connection with a grad jury investigation.

“We will continue to produce any information and will cooperate fully in regards to that investigation by the grand jury and the FBI but will will not divulge the contents or the information regards to that subpoena,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, St. Joseph School District Superintendent.

It’s the fifth request for information so far.  The district received the subpoena Tuesday. Previously, Newhart had said he expected to have a conclusion to the FBI investigation within the next 30 to 60 days.  When asked if he thought this additional request would prolong the investigation he said, “I would not think an additional subpoena would help shorten it.”

Newhart also addressed an ongoing IRS examination of federal tax returns for the 2013 calendar year.  The auditor was on site at the district office August 4-7.  Newhart said to expect to continue to see the IRS at the district office throughout the year at various times.

“Our goal is to get things right, to make sure that we’re doing proper procedures, protocol,” he said. “It will be an ongoing process and hopefully we’ll learn a lot through this process.”

He attributes the St. Joseph School District IRS review as similar to the IRS examination of Missouri Western State University that concluded earlier this year.

Also as far as reorganization of staffing, Newhart said 27 positions have been cut amounting to a savings of around $750,000 to the district.  Newhart said they hope to do most of this through attrition.

Newhart said the district is working hard to keep the public aware of what’s going on in the district.

Classes start Aug. 17 for the district.

 

The St. Joseph School District is inviting the public to attend a back to school rally.

The District will hold the rally, Friday August 14 at 9 a.m. at the Civic Arena.

“The district rally is our annual pep rally for the beginning of the school year for the SJSD. It’s important for us to open the event to the community because the schools belong to the community,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, Superintendent. “It’s also the only time we are together as a staff in one place. It’s a unifying event for us.”

The district said goals for this coming year include better communication with the staff and community, practicing good stewardship of district resources and increasing student achievement.

Dr. Tim Crowley is the keynote speaker who will focus on “Together, We Can.” The St. Joseph School District Foundation is the sponsor of the keynote speaker.

Lafayette High School is the spotlight school this year. Honored staff include the Teacher of the Year, Tina Shaginaw; Support Person of the Year, Linda Peters; and Innovator of the Year,
Maria Ramirez Braiz.

Today
Sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 6 to 11 mph.

Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Light and variable wind.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 87. South southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 87.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 88.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 89.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

A painting by Thomas Kinkade that was paid for by the St Joseph School District wound up on the wall in the office of the district’s Chief Operating Officer. It also wound up in the audit report by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office that gave the district a first-ever rating of “poor.”

Now that former COO Rick Hartigan has been fired, the district is putting the painting up for bids in an auction on Ebay.

In a legal notice published last week in the St Joseph News Press, the school district announced it will be accepting bids on the Thomas Kinkade painting “City by the Bay.”

According to the announcement, the framed painting is signed by the artist and has a certificate of authenticity that will be presented to the bid winner. The district posted a picture of the painting on the SJSD Web site.  (Select “City by the Bay.jpeg here. )

The district’s audit report revealed $3,378 in new furniture for Mr. Hartigan’s office. That included more than $1,500 for the painting.

The price noted on eBay is $1,679.95.    The auction is scheduled between August 12 and August 19 (here).

Depending upon whom you ask, the artist is the subject of admiration or derision. According to Wikipedia, he is notable for the mass marketing of his work as printed reproductions and other licensed products via The Thomas Kinkade Company. It has been estimated that 1 in every 20 American homes owns a copy of one of his paintings.

The school district’s Chief Financial Officer Beau Musser says they could see a tidy profit in the auction. Find out more here.

Video of Thomas Kinkade talking about the painting posted on YouTube

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The bridge replacement project on U.S. Route 59 at the Bankers Crossing Bridge in Buchanan County has been hit with some weather-related delays. The roadway is closed at the bridge as contractors tie the new bridge into the existing roadway.

Originally, contractors working with the Missouri Department of Transportation had planned to open the road and the new bridge as early as Thursday, Aug. 13, but weather delays has pushed the opening back. The contractor is now looking at a possible opening date of Aug. 28. All work is weather permitting and schedules are subject to change.

The bridge replacement project began earlier this year as contractors built a new, wider bridge alongside the old bridge, which was built in 1936, was only 24-feed wide with no shoulders, was structurally deficient and had limited sight distance due to the curve of the roadway. The new bridge had added shoulders and realigns the roadway

Volunteers are helping to sort through thousands of school supplies donated over the weekend from the United Way of Greater St. Joseph’s Stuff the Bus campaign.

23,234 school supplies and nearly $1,800 were donated Friday and Saturday to help give children whose families may not be able to afford it the tools they need for the upcoming school year.

Monday, around 40 volunteers spent time sorting and packing backpacks for those supplies to be distributed.

“We are filling the backpacks to give away at the back to school fair and distribution,” said LeeAnn Hobson with the Salvation Army.

The collected school supplies will be distributed through United Way Partner Agencies and programs to area children who would otherwise start the school year off without the tools they need. The Salvation Army’s Back to School fair on Aug. 13 will be the main point of distribution.

“There are little kids who need to start school with all the supplies that they need and some people their income is already stretched as far as it can go and to add school supplies for two or three children could mean their lights didn’t get paid that month or something,” Hobson said. “It’s very important for those families whose budgets are just stretched as far as it can go.”

This year around 700 children are already signed up for the Back to School Fair Distribution. Hobson said she expect to see around another 200 after registration that will come in.

“It’s a little lower than last year,” Hobson said. “We did over 1,000 last year.”

 

Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 83. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 86.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 88.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 89.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 89.

As schools prepare to start the upcoming school year the Missouri State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to watch for kids.

“It will be a big change for these young people after the summer break of fun in the sun, sleeping in, going to camp, or summer employment,” the MSHP said in a news release. “Instead, young people will be walking, biking, and driving to school, which brings a change in traffic patterns.”

The agency said it’s critical for drivers to be alert, especially near school zones, playgrounds and bicycle paths.

According to the MSHP most traffic crashes involving young drivers (under the age of 21) in 2014 occurred between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when school typically lets out.

“Drivers need to be aware of the increased traffic during this time—not just in areas around school, but all around town,” the agency said. “Remember: Many of these drivers are inexperienced. It is important to encourage those young drivers to remember driving is a full-time job. Using a cell phone, texting, or adjusting the radio can be the distraction that leads to a traffic crash. Texting is against the law for anyone under the age of 22.”

In 2014, four people were killed and 374 people were injured in school bus crashes.