The St. Joseph School District was one of 281 Missouri school districts to earn the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award, through the School Bus Inspection Program.

The award is obtained through an approval rating of 90% or higher with no buses placed out-of-service. The St. Joseph School District earned a 100% approval rating during the inspection of the district’s 101 buses. During the 2018-2019 school year, 6,532 buses throughout the state are eligible to display the Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger-entry side of the bus.

Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the MSHP, recently announced the results of the annual school bus inspection program.

According to a news release, a total of 12,018 school buses across the state of Missouri were inspected by State Highway Patrol personnel during the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division’s 2018 program. Of all buses inspected, 90.6% were approved by inspection personnel with no defective items noted during inspection.

Buses found to have no defective items are rated as “approved.” Buses having one or more defective items which do not constitute an immediate danger are rated as “defective.” Buses with a defective item which constitutes an immediate danger are rated as “out-of-service.”

Buses rated as “defective” may continue to be operated for the purpose of transporting students until repair is made. School districts are allowed 10 days following initial inspection to repair identified defects before being re-inspected by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel. Buses rated as “out-of-service” must be repaired, re-inspected, and placed back into service by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel prior to transporting students. Buses not presented for re-inspection within the required 10-day period are reported to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Click here to view the full inspection results.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Several upcoming projects along U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) and Route AC (Riverside Road) will improve intersections along these corridors.

According to a press release, the projects are partially funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program with the Missouri Department of Transportation providing the remaining funding. The projects will bring improvements to intersections in the area of the projects to ensure they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and help pedestrians in St. Joseph enjoy safer walking for recreation or while frequenting local businesses.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has contracted with Amino Brothers, Inc. to upgrade the pedestrian crossings at:

• Riverside Road and Pickett Road
• Belt Highway at South Walmart
• Belt Highway at Commons Drive (near Menards)
• Belt Highway and Faraon
• Belt Highway and U.S. Route 36

The intersections at Riverside Road and Pickett Road, Belt Highway and South Belt Walmart and Belt Highway at the Commons (near Menards) are scheduled to begin Monday, June 18. One lane of each direction at these three locations may be closed during the projects.

Following those three projects, the contractor will move to the intersections at Belt Highway and Faraon and Belt Highway at U.S. Route 36. That work is scheduled to begin August 2.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution during both these projects, as crews will be working in close proximity to the traveling public.

For more information call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map. In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter and Facebook.

It may not officially be summer yet, but some record-breaking heat this spring is making it feel as if it is.

June 18th through the 24th is promoted as Summer Weather Safety Week by the National Weather Service, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Public Safety. The week is set aside to highlight the risks and dangers associated with excessive heat. According to the National Weather Service, cities reaching all-time high average temperatures for the month of May included St. Joseph, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, St. Louis and West Plains.

St. Joseph Emergency Management Director Jada McClintick said an important thing to do, especially during the summer, is to stay hydrated.

“That doesn’t mean, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, caffeine… none of that stuff. Stick with water, that’s probably the number one thing is to stay hydrated,” McClintick said. “Try and stay out of the sun during those hottest part of the days, 2 to 5… just limit your sun exposure and try and at least get in the shade if not into some air conditioning.”

McClintick said to watch out for each other during severe heat periods.

“Your neighbors, your co-workers, people you go to church with, if you know somebody who doesn’t have air conditioning or you see they are sitting on their porch (during) the hottest part of the day, invite them to come over, get in the air conditioning,” McClintick said. “The very young and the older community members, those are the highest risk, so just watch out for each other, take care of one another.”

According to Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden, reminds everyone to never leave a child or a pet alone in a car in the summer heat because the temperature can rise by 20 degrees in 10 minutes and 30 degrees in 20 minutes.

Find the nearest public cooling centers by visiting mo.gov.

After a shooting this week in St. Joseph that resulted in the death of a 2-year-old, the Buchanan County Sheriff and others are encouraging gun safety education and keeping guns out of the reach of children.

As previously reported, Alexzander S. Green was charged with first degree endangering the welfare of a child, a felony. According to charging documents, three other children were also at the residence with Green, ranging in age from two to six. According to witness statements, Green was asleep and left his loaded firearm unattended.

Sheriff Bill Puett said there are local resources available such as classes and training regarding gun safety and part of that safety starts with good practices at home or by the gun owner.

“Make sure that the weapons are locked up and secured and not able to be handled by individuals, children or whoever that shouldn’t obviously have access to those weapons,” Puett said. “We know that sometimes people forget, but this is such a important issue that people really need to stay focused and make sure that they keep those weapons secure. Part of it, I think, is responsibility of parents, gun owners, in the home to educate children, to educate folks that might be around.”

Puett adds that the Sheriff’s Office as well as some other law enforcement agencies offer free gun locks for anyone who may need one. The Sheriff’s Office provided gun locks to give away at an upcoming gun safety training class for children.

Shawn Harper with Midwest Best Handgun Instructors in Cosby said they offer gun safety classes for all ages. Harper said at an upcoming free class especially for children, they will teach the ABCs of gun safety along with allowing kids to shoot a gun, while supervised, at a shooting range to satisfy any curiosity they may have.

“I’m not exactly sure where kids get it, but when they see a gun, they have a compelling urge to pick it up and pull the trigger with no regard for the consequences because they don’t understand the consequences,” Harper said. 

The upcoming June 23rd class is full but Harper said they will be offering more in the future. Visit Midwest Best Handgun Instructors on Facebook or call (816) 558-5300 for more information.

Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces that 26 troopers will graduate from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on June 29, 2018.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. in the Academy gymnasium. The public is invited. The 105th Recruit Class reported to the Academy on January 2, 2018, to begin the 25-week training course to become a trooper. The new troopers report for duty in their assigned troops on July 16, 2018.

Governor Michael L. Parson will be a special guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, and Colonel Sandra K. Karsten will also address the class. Brigadier General Gregory Mason, assistant adjutant general, Missouri Army National Guard, will provide the keynote address during the graduation ceremony. The Honorable Mary Rhodes Russell, Supreme Court of Missouri, will administer the Oath of Office to the new troopers. Dean Roger K. McMillian, vice president of College Affairs for Mineral Area College, will confer an associate of applied science degree to 11 of the new troopers. Troop F Color Guard will present and retire the colors. Sgt. John H. Lueckenhoff, Troop D, will sing the national anthem. Pastor Gary Dedmon, Diggins Baptist Church, Seymour, MO, will provide the invocation and benediction.

Four class awards will be presented. The recruits accumulate points toward graduation in the categories of physical fitness, firearms, and academics throughout their 25 weeks at the Academy. The person with the highest number of points in each category earned the respective award. Award categories include physical fitness, firearms, academics, and the Superintendent’s Award, which is presented to the person with the most points overall.

The names, hometowns, and first assignments of members of the 105th Recruit Class are listed below:

Name/Hometown/First Assignment

Troop A

Brandon S. Gunby, Rolla, MO, Troop A, Zone 1, Platte County

Michael J. Owens, Louisburg, MO, Troop A, Zone 10, Saline County

Justin L. Dedmon, Hartville, MO, Troop A, Zone 15, Henry County

Joshua H. Thompson, Cameron, MO, Troop A, Zone 5 Ray/Carroll Counties

Troop C

Zachary T. Micks, O’Fallon, MO, Troop C, Zone 1, N. St. Louis County

George Vargas, Brooklyn, NY, Troop C, Zone 1, N. St. Louis County

David M. Dooley III, Park Hills, MO, Troop C, Zone 14, St. Francois/Washington Counties

Zackery S. Preston, Osage Beach, MO, Troop C, Zone 14, St. Francois/Washington Counties

Quentin H. Hooks, Wentzville, MO, Troop C, Zone 2, N. St. Louis County

Stephen G. Hassell, Hillsboro, MO, Troop C, Zone 20, Ste. Genevieve/Perry Counties

Jordan R. Brown, Madelia, MN, Troop C, Zone 3, S. St. Louis/Jefferson Counties

Cody A. Groves, Gideon, MO, Troop C, Zone 3, S. St. Louis/Jefferson Counties

Nicholas W. Stevens, Pawnee, IL, Troop C, Zone 4, S. St. Louis/Jefferson Counties

Troop E

Justin C. Johnson, Doniphan, MO, Troop E, Zone 7, Scott/Mississippi/New Madrid Counties

Jared R. Chronister, Cabool, MO, Troop E, Zone 8, Pemiscot/New Madrid Counties

Tyler R. Sappington, Pilot Knob, MO, Troop E, Zone 9, Pemiscot/New Madrid Counties

Troop F

Jacob C. McKinney, Tebbets, MO, Troop F, Zone 15, Callaway County

Kalen Linneman, Huntsville, MO, Troop F, Zone 7, Cooper/Howard Counties

Phillipp J. Vroegop, Waynesville, MO, Troop F, Zone 9, Montgomery County

Troop G

Sean D. Goostree, Rocky Comfort, MO, Troop F, Zone 10, N. Howell/Shannon Counties

Justice C. Simpson, Galena, MO, Troop F, Zone 2, Texas County

Troop H

Caleb J. Blue, Monett, MO, Troop H, Zone 1, Atchison/Holt Counties

Vince P. Wiley, Gallatin, MO, Troop H, Zone 1, Atchison/Holt Counties

Christopher S. Riley, Warsaw, MO, Troop H, Zone 4, Mercer/Grundy/Livingston Counties

Cedric D. O’Hara, Pierce City, MO, Troop H, Zone 9, Mercer/Grundy/Livingston Counties

Troop I

Eric A. Goans, Lebanon, MO, Troop I, Zone 4, Pulaski County

– MSHP News Release –