St. Joseph Transit riders can now purchase bus passes with their smartphone.

Token Transit is a free app that allows riders to purchase their bus passes on their smart phones using a credit or debit card. The app displays a digital pass on the phone’s screen, eliminating the need for a paper pass. It also eliminates the need to purchase a monthly pass at a specific time.

“Right now, you buy it and it expires at the end of the month, regardless of whether you bought it on the first or the 21st of the month,” Bruce Woody, St. Joseph City Manager, said. “This new system, once you buy a 30-day pass, it’s good for 31 days from the date you purchase it, so you get the maximum use of your pass.”

In addition to monthly bus passes, customers may purchase single ride tickets, 10-Ride Ticket Books, and Deviations with the app. The app also allows customers who are eligible for a discounted fare (seniors, disabled, and youth riders) to purchase their discounted fares on their smartphone. 

“This app makes paying the bus fare much more convenient,” Andy Clements, Director of Public Works and Transportation said. “We encourage any customer with a smartphone to try it… there is a fifty percent discount for the customer’s first purchase using the app.”

The app is being used by over 50 transit systems around the country, including Springfield Utilities in southern Missouri.

Go to: tokentransit.com to get the app, or search for it in the Apple or Google Play stores.

(UPDATE 7:28 p.m.) – The grand prize Shop St. Joseph winning ticket number 0457129 has been claimed.

A check presentation will be at Price Chopper Thursday afternoon.

Shoppers are encouraged to keep their tickets as second-chance prize numbers will be released Thursday.

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The winning number for the Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program is: 0457129

The shopper with the winning ticket has 24 hours to come forward to claim the $10,000 prize. Shoppers are urged to keep their tickets because if the winner hasn’t come forward by 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, another number will be announced. This process will continue at 5 p.m. on weekdays until a winner comes forward with the correct ticket.

The winner must call the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce at (816) 232-4461 during business hours or (816) 261-3610 after business hours to arrange a time to verify the ticket. He or she must come to the Chamber office at 3003 Frederick Ave. before 5 p.m. Thursday to claim the prize.

The winner must be 18 or older. Proof of age, Social Security number, home address and place of employment (if applicable) is required to claim the prize. Chamber of Commerce staff, Chamber officers and their immediate family members (dependents living at the same address) are not eligible to win the grand prize. Participating business owners, managers and employees are eligible to win, with the exception of tickets distributed through their own place of business (including other participating locations).

The winner will be responsible for any applicable taxes.

This is the program’s 11th year and almost 1.9 million tickets were distributed this year, which is the most in program history. In 2017, 1.8 million were distributed, in comparison to 400,000 in 2007.

There were 120 merchants this year compared to 108 last year. In 2007, there were 59 merchants.

If there’s a puppy or kitten on someone’s Christmas list, future pet owners and their families are encouraged to have a plan in place.

St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue Humane Educator Jennifer Lockwood said pets as gifts can be a good idea, as long as it’s well-thought-out ahead of time.

“I think it’s just something that should (have) been on the radar prior to Christmas, something that the family has talked about, make sure that everybody’s on the same page as far as the care and commitment that is required, by puppies, especially,” Lockwood said.

For those who already have pets, Lockwood said, during any holiday gatherings, it’s also important to have a plan so pets have a holiday free from stress or sickness.

“Keeping them in a nice, safe place and making sure that they’re not eating inappropriate things and making sure everybody knows that, too, so that they’re not feeding them something they shouldn’t be,” Lockwood said. “(Also) make sure that your pet has identification on them in the event that they may get out. If they’re identified with a tag or microchip, that really speeds up the process in getting the pet back to you safely.”

The St. Joseph Animal Shelter will be open regular hours this week and closed Monday and Tuesday next week. Hours are from 1 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Lockwood said some items on the shelter’s Christmas list this year are non-clumping cat litter, jars of peanut butter and dry cat and dog food.

For more information, contact the shelter at (816) 271-4877.

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Penny Adams talks about the Adopt-A-Family Christmas program and losing a long term donor this year.

An Atchison, Kansas, man was seriously injured in a crash Tuesday morning on US Highway 59 south of State Hwy KK.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, 34-year-old Christopher M. Lurquin was driving a Chevrolet S10 north on US-59. The vehicle went off the east side of the road into a drainage culvert and hit an embankment.

Lurquin was life-flighted to the University of Kansas Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

According to the crash report, Lurquin was wearing a seatbelt.