Fingerprinting, the K-9 Unit and more will be part of the St. Joseph Police Department’s Junior Police Academy.

This will be the first year of the program. Devin Kallauner is a police officer and school resource officer. Kallauner said the Junior Police Academy is similar to the Citizen’s Academy held in the spring, but is geared toward students ages 12 to 14 who may be interested in law enforcement.

“This is going to be a little bit of education, but there’s a lot of hands-on,” Kallauner said. “You’re going to be taking fingerprints, learning how to lift a fingerprint… we’re going to have the K-9 unit come in, they’re going to talk to all the kids, explain to them why they would use the K-9… the same way with the bicycle unit, the traffic unit, the SRT Team. There’s a lot of personalization, there’s a lot of talking, a lot of stories, there’s going to be a lot of questions, we’re excited for those.”

Kallauner said there will be no tasing or handling of weapons or ammunition during the Junior Police Academy.

“I’ve had a lot of questions… the students are not going to be maced, they’re not going to be tased, we’re not going to handcuff them, that’s not the kind of academy it’s going to be. It’s going to be more (of) learning about our job, trying to get them interested and if there is a spark, then great,” Kallauner said. “This is not all about the St. Joseph Police Department, if kids get interested in this, there are hundreds of other things they can do… and that’s kind of what we’re wanting to show them is just the other aspects of police work.”

The Junior Police Academy takes place from 8 a.m. to noon July 16-20, 2018.

The deadline for registration for the Junior Police Academy is June 1st. Applications are available online and should be dropped off at the St. Joseph Police Station at 501 Faraon Street.

Missouri State legislators will speak at the next St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Coffee.

The legislators will speak about was accomplished and what was left undone in the legislative session.

The Chamber’s Public Affairs Coffee takes place at 7:30 a.m., Friday, June 8, at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, 1201 N. Woodbine Road.

Senators Rob Schaaf and Dan Hegeman and Representatives Pat Conway, Delus Johnson and Galen Higdon are all invited to attend. All but Hegeman have reached their term limits. They will be thanked for their service to the community and will offer thoughts on past accomplishments, as well as plans for the future.

According to the Chamber, the Public Affairs Coffee is a quarterly event that features issues, questions and responses involving social, economic, legislative, governmental and corporate activities.

Cost is $15 for Chamber members and $25 for general admission. Coffee will be served, along with the conversation. Registration can be made online, by e-mailing brown@saintjoseph.com or by calling (816) 364-4102.

Reservations are required and are due by Wednesday, June 6.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of May 28 – June 3 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, mowing, shoulder work, bridge maintenance, striping, brush cutting, guardrail repairs, litter pick up and other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. All scheduled maintenance and construction projects are subject to change.

MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook.

Andrew County

Interstate 29 – Bridge deck replacement project at the Nodaway River Bridge. Traffic is head-to-head in the northbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through August and includes a 13-foot width restriction.

U.S. Route 71 – Resurfacing project from Route 48 to Route A (Nodaway County), May 29 – June 1

Atchison County

U.S. Route 275 – Bridge maintenance at the East Fork of High Creek Bridge, May 29 – June 1

U.S. Route 136 – Pavement repair at the Route 111 and Hazel Avenue intersection, May 29 – June 1

U.S. Route 59 – Pavement repair at U.S. Route 136, May 29 – June 1

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair from Route AC to the Missouri River, May 29 – 31

U.S. Route 36 – Flushing bridges, May 29 – 31

Caldwell County

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance on Brushy Creek Bridge, May 29 – 31. This will include overnight lane closures.

Route HH – Pothole patching from Route D to Route 121 (Clinton County), May 30

Route U – Pothole patching from Route 13 to Route B, May 31 – June 1

Carroll County

Route M – Pothole patching from the U.S. Route 65 to the Chariton County line, May 29 – 30

Chariton County

Route PP – Bridge maintenance on the Mid Fork of Chariton River Bridge, May 29

Route TT – Pothole patching from Route 139 to the Chariton County line, May 29

Route KK – CLOSED for bridge maintenance on the Little Chariton River Bridge, May 30, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. Route 24 – Bridge maintenance on the Palmer Creek Bridge, June 1

Clinton County

Route HH – Pothole patching from Route 121 to Route D (Caldwell County), May 30

Daviess County

Route 13 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Honey Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through September.

Route KK – Pavement repair, May 29

Route OO – Chip seal, May 30

Route KK – Chip Seal, May 31

DeKalb County

U.S. Route 36 – Pavement resurfacing and realignment project at the Route 33 North/Route M junction. Traffic is head to head in the eastbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through July 3 and includes a 14-foot width restriction.

Gentry County

U.S. Route 136 – Bridge maintenance from Route J to Nodaway County line, May 29 – 31

Route C – Bridge maintenance at the Panther Creek Bridge, May 29 – June 1

Harrison County

Route AA/H – CLOSED for a bridge deck replacement at the I-35 overpass. The bridge will be closed through July. I-35 traffic will diverted up and over the on and off ramps at the exit beginning Tuesday, May 29 for approximately five working days. No access to or from Routes AA or H will be permitted during this portion of the project.

Holt County

I-29 – Bridge deck replacement at the Nodaway River Bridge. Traffic is head to head in the northbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through August and includes a 13-foot width restriction.

Linn County

U.S. Route 36 – Shoulder improvements from just east of Route 11 to Route 5, May 29 – June 2. This project includes a 16 foot width restriction.

Route TT – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 36 to the Chariton County line, May 30

Route 130 – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 36 to Route YY, May 31

Route M – CLOSED for a culvert replacement .25 miles north of Route C, May 31, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Livingston County

Route U – Pothole patching from Route 190 to Route A, May 29 – 30

U.S. Route 65 – Pavement repair from the north city limits of Chillicothe to the Iowa state line, May 29 – June 2. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Route A – Pothole patching from Route 190 to Route W, May 30 – 31

Route N – Pothole patching from Route 190 to the end of Route O, May 31 – June 1

Route Y – Pothole patching from Route 190 to Route W, May 31 – June 1

Nodaway County

U.S. Route 71 – Resurfacing project from Route A to just north of Route 48 (Andrew County), May 29 – June 1

U.S. Route 136 – Shoulder improvements from east of the Maryville city limits to Route 46 in Ravenwood, May 29 – June 1

Route JJ – Pothole patching, May 29 – 31

Route 246 – Pothole patching, June 1

A fundraiser to benefit cancer patients in need at Mosaic Life Care will take place in June.

According to a press release from Mosaic, the All Ribbon Cancer 5K Run/Walk will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 9. The walk/run begins and ends at Mosaic Life Care Cancer Center located at 902 N. Riverside Rd. in St. Joseph.

“We are excited to involve the community and present this event that benefits our cancer patients in need,” says Amy Wiedmaier, director of volunteer and auxiliary services, Mosaic Life Care. “It seems everyone has a friend or family member who has experienced cancer. We hope to gather together, raise money to help others, offer hope plus make this an annual event.”

Participants can register online.

Sponsorships are also available by calling Amy Wiedmaier at (816) 271-4055.

St. Joseph Transit will start running a new route on Saturdays beginning June 2nd.

The addition of the new #21 South route will double the frequency of bus service to the south side of the city on Saturdays.

The current Saturday service includes Routes #11 through #18 leaving the downtown transit station every two hours on the odd hours, providing outbound bus service for the entire city every other hour (See Map 1 below). Routes #19 East and #20 leave downtown every two hours on the even hours (See Map 2 below).

Beginning on June 2nd, Routes #11 through #18 will stay the same. Routes #19, #20 and the new #21 route will leave downtown on the even hours (See Map 3 below).

According to a press release, #21 South is a combination of the three routes: #16 Industrial Park, #17 Stockyards and #18 King Hill routes. It connect numerous residential areas with the stockyards, south Walmart and downtown. At the downtown transit station, it connects with the #19 East and #20 North routes which go to the mall, the hospital, grocery stores and more.

The new service is made possible with a federal grant that supports improving transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities. Funding for one year has been secured and requires no additional local match from the city.

More information and schedules are available on the transit website stjoetransit.info or by calling (816) 233-6700.

The Aquatic Park and Krug Pool are planning to open over Memorial Day weekend.

The Aquatic Park is scheduled to open on Saturday. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Krug Pool will open on Monday and some additions this year include a new climbing wall and rolling log.

Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

For a full list of hours and admission fees, click here.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing will celebrate its final class during its commencement ceremony Saturday.

The Missouri Academy – a two-year accelerated, early-entrance-to-college residential program for academically-talented students located on Northwest’s campus – is ending its operations at the conclusion of the academic year. Launched in 2000, the Missouri Academy was designed for students with career aspirations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The 17th class to graduate from the Missouri Academy, known as the Dreamers, is comprised of 46 students. The class includes 25 international students representing China and South Korea.

Thirty-two of the graduates have completed their coursework with grade-point averages between 3.5 and 4.0. Among those, 11 students earned GPAs between 3.95 and 4.0.

Thirty-five of the graduates are advancing to a college or university in pursuit of STEM-related degrees, while other graduates plan to pursue studies in the areas of accounting, finance, history, psychology and linguistics. 

The commencement ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts.

Individuals interested in attending the commencement ceremony should contact Susan Smith, administrative secretary at the Missouri Academy, at (660) 562-1960 or smsmith@nwmissouri.edu.

Northwest announced its decision to close the Missouri Academy in March 2017, citing several factors that include a shifting financial landscape for higher education institutions and Northwest’s need to reprioritize and reallocate resources for mission-critical priorities.

Each cohort to come through the Missouri Academy’s doors received a unique name, and the Missouri Academy celebrated its first graduating class, the Pathfinders, in the spring of 2002. Beginning in 2007, the Missouri Academy began accepting students from outside Missouri and abroad.

Missouri Academy students attended classes with Northwest’s traditional students, and professors held the same expectations for Academy students as they do for undergraduates. At the conclusion of the two year-program, graduates of the Missouri Academy receive an Associate of Science degree and a high school diploma, simultaneously.

The Missouri Academy was one of only eight publicly funded, residential early-entrance-to-college programs in the United States, and it was the only program of its kind in Missouri. Graduates have gone on to complete their bachelor’s degrees and further their education at an array of institutions throughout the country including Duke, Harvard, Stanford and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Missouri Academy alumni work in career fields such as architecture, chemistry, computer science, education, engineering, environmental biology, law and physics.

(Missourinet) – The Friday before Memorial Day is traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year in Missouri, as people head to lakes and other Memorial Day holiday destinations.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Lieutenant Paul Reinsch said troopers are being stationed at 20-mile intervals Friday along Interstates 29, 44, 55 and 70, as well as Highways 60 and 61.

“We’re going to be promoting safety by looking for those aggressive drivers, particularly speeding, maybe aggressive passing and things of that nature,” Reinsch said. “And we’re just wanting to make the roadways as safe as possible.”

During Missouri’s 2017 Memorial Day weekend, nine people died and 496 were injured in 1,122 traffic crashes.

Reinsch said troopers made 107 DWI arrests during the 2017 Memorial Day weekend.

He encourages motorists to call *55 if they see impaired drivers or aggressive driving.

Missouri state troopers will also be on the state’s lakes and waterways during this Memorial Day weekend, which is the unofficial start to the boating season.

Reinsch notes state law requires children under the age of seven to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation device anytime they’re in a boat.

“Again, it’s not only important for those children, it’s important for adults, and as we learned last weekend with the tragic loss of life at the Lake of the Ozarks, it’s extremely important to wear one,” Reinsch said.

Lieutenant Reinsch said three people died and two others were seriously injured in last weekend’s boating crash, when a boat crashed into a rock bluff.

Reinsch said that deadly incident is still under investigation.

During Missouri’s 2017 Memorial Day weekend, one person died and seven were injured in 15 boating crashes.

The opening of the newly renovated Bartlett Park playground has been pushed back due to damage to the playground surface.

Renovations on the playground started in December thanks to a Land, Water and Conservation Fund matching grant for $250,000.

According to Julie Noel with the City of St. Joseph Parks Department, they found out Wednesday morning that someone had entered the playground area after the underlayment for the surfacing had just been put in for the park.

“This underlayment is like an asphalt material with glue and other materials, (it) can be kind of caustic to your skin, you have to be really careful about getting it on you,” Noel said. “People had actually gotten into the playground to play, even though it was taped off, and because they got in there before it was dried and set, it left a lot of holes in that underlayment.”

Noel said the plan was for the playground to open this weekend, but repairing the holes and placing the surfacing material will push back the opening date until sometime next week, weather permitting.

“We would really appreciate it if everyone would just respect the area and not enter into the fenced off area… not only because we want to protect the new playground, but also because we want to protect our residents and visitors. This stuff that they’re putting down, while it’s still wet, it will really irritate your skin if it gets on it or if you rub it in your eyes,” Noel said. “Please don’t play in that area until it’s safe to do so and you’ll know that it’s safe when we take down all of the fencing around it.”

Noel said the playground should open next week and they will hold a grand opening when the new bathrooms at the park are completed.