ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – With winter weather expected in the area Thursday and overnight, Missouri Department of Transportation crews have geared up and some crews are already out dealing with some winter precipitation.

Phase 1 Snow Ordinance is effect for the City of Saint Joseph as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday. With the variability of the weather expected to move through Northwest Missouri over the next day, MoDOT said they will be carefully monitoring conditions.

MoDOT also wants to remind residents that even light precipitation can cause roads to become slick. While crews work to treat and plow Missouri highways when winter weather hits, it’s important to allow extra time for travel, change plans as needed, and to check road conditions before you head out. Most crashes occur when motorists are going too fast for the current conditions. Remember the following tips when driving in inclement weather:

• Drive for conditions
• Slow down.
• Steer and brake gently.
• Accelerate slowly at intersections.
• Allow extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead of you.
• Stay back 100 feet from snow plows that may be spreading salt. Avoid passing snow plows, even when on a multi-lane road.

As always, the first change drivers may notice will be on ramps, bridges and overpasses. Cold air is able to circulate above and below these structures, making them the first to have slick spots. Travelers should take their own precautions, as motorists’ winter driving skills may be a bit rusty. Slow down and make your braking or steering gradual, rather than sudden or extreme.

Check road conditions before you go. MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map, at www.modot.org, provides current road conditions for Missouri’s interstates and major highways. Conditions for these routes are color coded to give you the information you need at a glance.

For smartphone and tablet users, the Traveler Information App brings the same information to mobile devices. The app is available for free from Apple App or the Google Play stores by searching for “MoDOT.”

MoDOT also provides road conditions information through their Customer Service Center. Dial 888 ASK MODOT (888-275-6636) to speak to a customer service representatives.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University will commemorate Veterans Day by placing wreaths at each of its military markers as a tribute to the men and women who have served the United States.

University leaders will place the wreaths, beginning at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9. Northwest began the tribute in 2014 and has continued it annually.

Additionally, the University’s Symphony Orchestra will host a Veterans Day celebration concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts building. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature a special “Armed Forces Salute” to honor the individuals who have served or are currently serving in the United States military.

The University also will host a Veterans Day Coffee at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12. Free coffee will be available to veterans and active duty military members at Starbucks in the B.D. Owens Library.

Veterans Day, which falls this year on Sunday, Nov. 11, marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.

Since Northwest’s founding in 1905, thousands of service men and women have called Northwest “home.” Some enlisted after coming to Maryville as a student or employee, while others enrolled or worked for the University after serving their country.

Beginning in 1918, students, alumni, employees and community members have donated and supported a variety of memorials on the campus to honor United States service men and women.

Military markers on the Northwest campus consist of the Memorial Bell Tower, the Persian Gulf War Memorial just north of the J.W. Jones Student Union, the Bell of ’48, the World War I Memorial Plaza at the corner of College Park Avenue and Memorial Drive, the Roll of Honor on the third floor of the Administration Building and the Navy Room under the west grandstand of Bearcat Stadium.

For more information, contact the University Archives at (660) 562-1974 or nwarchives@nwmissouri.edu.

– Northwest News Release –

Shop St. Joseph kicked off Wednesday and other holiday shopping programs around the area begin soon.

Kristi Bailey with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce said they are encouraging retailers who would like to be a part of the program this year to sign up soon at the Chamber so they can begin handing out tickets.

Bailey said the benefit of Shop St. Joseph for businesses is getting new people in the doors as the program encourages residents to buy local during the holidays.

“Residents are doing their shopping and they want to help support the local economy, support local business,” Bailey said. “They go to the list of participating merchants and they get a ticket just for entering the door, but then another ticket for every $10 they spend. At the end of the shopping season, this year it’s December 19th, will be the grand prize drawing and one lucky shopper will win a $10,000 grand prize.”

Any retailer can participate, whether they are a Chamber member or not. Bailey said retailers can sign up now until the week of Thanksgiving, but the earlier they sign up, the more ads they will be included in before then.

For more information and a list of participating businesses, go to saintjoseph.com.

Shop Merryville will be starting Nov. 19th, and Chamber of Commerce Director Lily White said businesses will begin giving out tickets to shoppers that day for a chance to win gift cards.

“Every dollar that you spend in businesses that are participating in Shop Merryville, you get entered to win gift cards,” White said. “Every business that is involved in Shop Merryville gives a certain number of gift cards, there are several levels they can be involved in. For example, some businesses give seven gift cards, so over four weeks, we will give away their seven gift cards and all the other gift cards. Last year, we gave away over 170 gift cards just in the month of December.”

For more information, go to maryvillechamber.com.

In Atchison, Libby Llama’s Holiday Hunt takes place Thursday through Friday.

Libby Llama will be at 25 different Atchison businesses during store hours and shoppers are encouraged to find Libby, take a selfie with her and post it to social media using the hashtag #visitatchison and the store’s personal hashtag. Posts serve as entries for prizes. Each store will hold a drawing for a gift on Nov. 12th.

For more information, click here.

Buttons are now available for Atchison’s Christmas Stroll on Saturday, Nov. 24th. For more information, go to visitatchison.com.