Chillicothe, Mo. – Trees turning crimson or gold and roads winding uphill and down will be featured at the 32nd annual Poosey Conservation Area fall tour on Sunday.

Visitors can also fish, paddle a kayak, spot some birds, or scout hunting sites. ‘Recreational Opportunities’ is the theme for this year’s tour at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) area northwest of Chillicothe in Livingston County.

The Poosey area has trails, lakes, and ponds. Hikers can follow a trail to the Panther’s Den along the tour route. Anglers can try their luck at Pike’s Lake or Indian Creek Community Lake or one of the area’s ponds.

According to a press release, tour visitors can drive on roads not normally open to the public for vehicles. The fall tour leads through rugged hills and a historical site once known as the Poosey community. MDC will have conservation education stations along the route. Visitors can talk with staff about forest and grassland management, wildlife habitat, and tips for improving fishing in ponds and lakes.

The tour begins at Pike’s Lake. An entrance to the lake is reached off Route W and County Road 502. Gates open at noon and the last vehicle will be allowed to begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Gravel roads are graded but the route involves steep slopes and crossings in low areas. High-clearance vehicles are recommended.

For tour information, contact MDC Resource Forester Samantha Anderson, (660) 646-6122.

Click here for maps and information about Poosey Conservation Area.

A cup of coffee on Friday can help support area breast cancer patients.

The Coffee for a Cure event at The Human Bean in St. Joseph is a fundraiser to benefit the Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund.

“A Caramel Mocha is probably my favorite,” said Amy Wiedmaier, Mosaic Life Care Director of Ambassador, Auxiliary and Guest Services. “They have great coffee, great service… they’ll have some great volunteers, it’ll be super fun.”

There will be guest baristas throughout the day Friday along with visits from Rally from the St. Joseph Mustangs and KC Wolf from the Kansas City Chiefs. Wiedmaier said all the sales and tips that The Human Bean receives Friday will be donated to the Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund.

“The Auxiliary actually matches that fund, so last year it was $7,000, the Auxiliary gave $7,000, which totaled $14,000, which is earmarked specifically for breast cancer patients,” Wiedmaier said. “The fund is to help breast cancer patients whether it’s to provide mammograms, education, financial assistance and any type of post-diagnostic support.”

Coffee for a Cure runs from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Human Bean located at 4414 Commons Drive in St. Joseph.

A St. Joseph man has been charged in connection to the death of 28-year-old Clifford York on Oct. 10.

According to online court documents, 22-year-old Brandon M. Cox is charged with 2nd degree murder.

As previously reported, York was found dead in the area of North 13th and Powell Street when officers responded to a report of shots fired at 12:35 p.m. on Oct. 10. Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said an autopsy revealed York died of a single gunshot wound.

An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23. Bond is denied.

UPDATE: According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 22-year-old Austin P. Cross of Maryville died at the KU Medical Center on Oct. 24th.

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Two people were injured and one person was arrested after a wrong way crash Wednesday night on I-29 in Andrew County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, shortly after 6:30 p.m., 52-year-old Roger J. Moe of St. Joseph was driving a GMC Acadia north in the southbound lanes of I-29 about six miles north of St. Joseph. Moe’s vehicle hit a Jeep Patriot head-on in the passing lane.

The driver of the Jeep, 21-year-old Corey H. Brueggeman of Wentzville, was transported to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of minor injuries. A passenger in the Jeep, 22-year-old Austin P. Cross of Maryville was transported to Mosaic, then to the Kansas University Medical Center of Kansas City for treatment of serious injuries.

According to the MSHP arrest report, Moe was arrested on investigative charges of driving while intoxicated – assault 2nd degree, driving on the wrong side of the roadway and driving 110 mph in a 70 mph zone.

St. Joseph School District students scored slightly lower on the ACT exams in 2018 as those who took the test last year.

According to a press release from the district, more than 720 students in the SJSD took the exam, earning an average composite score of 18.9. That number is down from last year’s 19.6.

The ACT measures the skills needed for success in first-year college coursework by evaluating students in the areas of English, mathematics, reading and science.

“While it is disappointing that our group ACT average is statistically flat over the last three years, we drill down further and can tell you that our college-bound students have an ACT average of 22.0 and our predicted college and career readiness score (CCR) on our state performance rating is the highest it has ever been,” said Dr. Kendra Lau, SJSD director of school improvement.

From 2015 to 2017, all juniors were required to take the ACT, not just those who were college bound. The 2017 census testing is reflected in the 2018 ACT data (Table 1). For students who are pursuing career certificates or vocational pathways, the district considers student performance on the ASVAB and Work Keys assessments, measuring readiness for the armed services and the work force, in addition to the ACT college-readiness measure.

Statewide, more than 68,000 students took the college-readiness exam in 2018, with a composite score of 20.0 which is down from last year’s 20.4.