JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Auditor Nicole Galloway on Thursday released an audit of Andrew County, which received an overall rating of “good.”

The report revealed a miscalculation in property tax collections and brought forward concerns about the county’s financial condition.

“It’s important that tax rates are correctly calculated in compliance with the law to ensure fairness and accountability for taxpayers,” said Galloway. “Although mistakes were made, county officials are working to prevent future issues from occurring.”

State law allows voters to approve a county sales tax, but requires property taxes be reduced by a certain percentage of the total revenue generated by the sales tax. Andrew County residents approved a sales tax with a property tax reduction of 50 percent. The report found errors in property tax levy calculations, which resulted in $270,217 in excess collections from 2014-2017. County officials have developed a four-year plan to correct the error.

The report also included concerns involving the financial condition of the county. The Law Enforcement Fund (LEF) is operating at a deficit and officials took out a series of loans for new Sheriff’s Office vehicles. The county has used general operating funds to supplement the LEF, which could leave the county unable to address budget shortfalls in the event of a financial emergency. County officials pointed to increased revenue expected from a jail expansion and indicated plans to maximize revenues and limit future spending in both funds.

To view the full report, click here.

With deer hunting season beginning this weekend, the Missouri Department of Conservation is encouraging deer hunters around the state to share their harvest.

Northwest Region Protection District Supervisor Ken Polley said the Share the Harvest program started in 1992 as a way to encourage hunters to share their harvest with people in need.

“Over the years, over four million pounds of lean, healthy venison have been donated to various food pantries and food banks across the state of Missouri and then they’re dispersed to people to use it,” Polley said. “Last year, 289,200 pounds of venison was donated and we work with food banks across the state to disperse this meat. They are very appreciative when the food banks receive this meat because the people that come to the food banks to get food, the venison is very popular and it goes very quickly when they receive the supply.”

Polley said if a hunter would like to donate a deer to Share the Harvest, after they harvest and check their animal in, they can take it to one of the approved Share the Harvest processors. Approved processors in the area include Clark’s Custom Meat in Buchanan County at 8411 SW 59 Hwy in St. Joseph and Brendle’s Butcher Block in Clinton County at 90 1/2 South 4th in Gower.

“Hunters can either donate… five or 10 pounds of their deer that they harvest and then take to get processed or… if they do a whole deer donation, all or at least part of the processing fee is covered through a statewide program administered by the Conservation Federation of Missouri to help encourage hunters to donate their deer,” Polley said.

Archery deer season opens up on Saturday in Missouri.

“We always remind archery hunters, in particular, or anyone that hunts from a deer stand, be sure they’re wearing a proper safety harness to keep them safe in their deer stand while they’re on their deer hunt,” Polley said. “We’re (also) encouraging hunters to… properly dispose of your deer carcass. If you harvest a deer and are going to process it yourself, it’s important to dispose of the carcass to minimize any chance of disease spread.”

CWD or Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in 11 counties in Missouri: Adair, Cedar, Cole, Franklin, Jefferson, Linn, Macon, Perry, Polk, St. Clair, and Ste. Genevieve. Deer donated to Share the Harvest must be tested for CWD if harvested from any of those counties. Find a list of participating processors online.

For more information about hunting season or the Share the Harvest program, go to mdc.mo.gov or contact a district or regional MDC office or local conservation agent.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man has been ordered to spend a year in federal prison for helping immigrants who are in the country illegally to fraudulently obtain Missouri driver’s licenses.

38-year-old Martin Lara-Rodriquez was sentenced Friday. He was one of more than a dozen people charged in 2012 with participating in a nationwide conspiracy involving the Missouri Department of Revenue office in St. Joseph. More than 3,500 people in the U.S. illegally obtained driver’s licenses as part of the conspiracy, which involved the use of fraudulently obtained birth certificates and social security cards.

St. Joseph Police have identified the woman who died after a vehicle crashed into a residence early Monday.

As previously reported, a vehicle crashed into a residence in the area of 28th and Patee St. shortly after 3 a.m. Monday. A 49-year-old woman, identified as Staci L. Mayhew of St. Joseph, died and a 53-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson, the case is still being investigated and prepared for review by the Prosecutor’s office.

A Maryville organization that puts the ‘L’ in ‘BLT’ will be holding a fundraiser based around the sandwich.

Lettuce Dream will be holding a Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Festival this weekend.

Lettuce Dream Board President Diane Francis said the non-profit organization was started by a group of individuals in Nodaway County.

“There was a group that came together and looked at the need that we have in this area, as well as across the country, where individuals with developmental disabilities, after high school, there was really not a lot of opportunities to gain skill or to work into possible employment in their community,” Francis said.

According to Lettuce Dream Director Charlie Clodfelter, there are currently eight interns in the program and a total of 15 have gone through the program in the last year. Hydroponic lettuce and herbs are grown in a 6,720 square foot greenhouse and production facility for wholesale distribution to grocery stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals and nursing homes.

All proceeds from the upcoming BLT Festival will allow Lettuce Dream to continue fulfilling its mission of providing training opportunities for young adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities.

The Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Festival will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday at Backyard Vine and Wine at 30484 Icon Road in Maryville.

In addition to BLTs at the festival, there will be games, a silent auction and live music. Anyone attending is encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

For more information go to lettucedream.org.

Update (2:14 p.m. Tuesday) St. Joseph Police have identified the woman who died after a vehicle crashed into a residence early Monday.

According to police, a vehicle crashed into a residence in the area of 28th and Patee St. shortly after 3 a.m. Monday. A 49-year-old woman, identified as Staci L. Mayhew of St. Joseph died and a 53-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson, the case is still being investigated and prepared for review by the Prosecutor’s office.

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One person is dead after an incident involving a vehicle crashing into a residence early Monday morning.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, a vehicle crashed into a residence in the area of 28th and Patee St. shortly after 3 a.m. Monday. Police say a 49-year-old woman died and a 53-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

The area was closed until around 9 a.m. Monday.

This post will be updated as we learn more information.