The 2018 Parks Department Holiday ornaments are available just in time for Christmas.

According to a press release from the Parks Department, the limited-edition custom etched gold ornaments celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Remington Nature Center. Ornament number three of the parks’ commemorative series, this unique ornament continues a tradition of recognizing special areas in St. Joseph’s parks.

Ornament number one was released in 2016 to honor the beautiful Krug Park castle, followed by the Missouri Theater ornament minted in 2017.

Limited quantities of the Krug Park castle and Missouri Theater commemorative ornaments are still available, along with the new Remington Nature Center ornaments at the Remington Nature Center, 1502 MacArthur Drive, in St. Joseph for $7.99 per ornament.

For those who can’t make it to the Nature Center, shipping is available and ornament orders can be made by calling (816) 271-5499.

The Winter Commencement ceremony for Missouri Western State University will be held this Saturday.

Missouri Western expects nearly 300 students to earn their degree this semester.

The commencement speaker will be Dr. Daniel Shepherd, chair and associate professor of education.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and doors will open at 9:45 a.m. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, in the arena of the M.O. Looney Complex.

For those unable to attend, Commencement will be streamed live online.

(UPDATE 11:22 a.m. Friday) – St. Joseph Police have identified the man who died in the early morning crash as 49-year-old Anthony W. Wilkinson.

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A St. Joseph resident died in a crash early Friday morning on Felix Street.

According to Sgt. Wayne Byrom with the St. Joseph Police Department, just after 1 a.m., a St. Joseph man was driving a minivan when he lost control of the vehicle in the 2600 block of Felix Street, went off the road and hit a tree.

The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two passengers were transported to Mosaic Life Care, one with moderate injuries and one with life threatening injuries.

Byrom said it appears none of the occupants were wearing seatbelts.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated but Byrom said speed may have played a factor.

A 27-year-old man identified as Logan R. Tipton is in custody after a standoff Thursday morning.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, a call came in at 6:45 a.m., reporting a burglary at a house in the 2800 block of Angelique Street.

Officers arrived on scene and the suspect barricaded himself in the attic.

Based on previous information, officers believed the suspect may have been armed and SRT and the fire department were called in to assist.

Wilson said less-lethal munitions, or tear gas, were used and Tipton eventually was taken into custody around 11 a.m.

He is being held without bond and charged with burglary, according to Wilson.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Allied Arts Council plans to donate $500 to the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline in hopes of obtaining information leading to the prosecution of the individual(s) for the theft of one of the “Catch Me if You Can” skater statues.

According to a press release, if there are no leads resulting in an arrest, the Allied Arts Council will donate $1,000 for the repair or replacement of the statue.

One of three skater statues located on the Parkway north of Corby Pond was broken off at the base and stolen last week. The Council hopes the donation will lead to the recovery of one of the iconic and beloved public art pieces donated by the Bradley family.

If anyone has information regarding the theft, contact the St. Joseph Police Department at (816)-271-4777 or call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-8477.

To make a donation to public art programs of the Allied Arts Council, call (816) 233-0231.

A Maryville mother is asking for help in bringing Christmas cheer to her kids this holiday season.

Miranda Browning was the wife of 35-year-old Ryen Browning who was struck and killed by lightning in August while fishing.

Miranda said Ryen leaves behind four children: 11-year-old Lindsey, 9-year-old Issac, 4-year-old Maverick and 3-year-old Atreyue.

“(They’re) going through the first Christmas without dad, so my idea was to just have people in the community, throughout anywhere that we could reach, via Facebook, radio, any of that, to send the kiddos Christmas cards just to maybe brighten up their holiday just a little bit more,” Miranda said.

Cards can be sent to the following address:

P.O. Box 154

Maryville, MO 64468

The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office announced three suspects were arrested and charged in relation to the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge fire in October.

According to a press release from Missouri State Fire Marshal Investigator, last week, 23-year-old Destanie D. Batson, 19-year-old Kyle J. Mace and 18-year-old James P. Eugene Haight, all of Chillicothe, were charged with two felony counts each of knowingly burning and property damage in the first degree.

As previously reported, the Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire that occurred on October 29th, just south of Chillicothe at the railroad bridge that crosses the Grand River.  

All suspects are currently being held at the Daviess/DeKalb Regional Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office worked with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, Canadian Pacific Railway Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Chillicothe Police Department and the St. Joseph Police Department’s Forensics Division.

The press release also mentioned that numerous tips were received and processed, several of which were valuable.

This investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact either the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline 1-800-39 ARSON or the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 646-0515.