The fall open burning season for St Joseph will starts the first week of next Month.

The City released the dates Thursday for the fall open burning season. It will Start Monday November 5th and end Sunday November 25th. Open burning will be permitted under certain guidelines including yard waste for residential properties only.

Guidelines:

Burning for yard waste of residential properties only.

Burning shall be allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m

All fires must be in an upright cylindrical metal container with a volume equal to no more than 55 gallons. Containers must be located at least fifteen feet away from any building. Only one burn container per residence is allowed.

All fires shall be monitored from a point on the property where the fire is

located, by a person capable of containing a fire, should containment become necessary.

ONLY dry yard waste such as leaves, brush and logs grown on the property can be burned. NO trash, paper, lumber or building debris may be burned.

Fire-fighting material, including but not limited to, a garden hose or a container of water sufficient to contain any fire started shall be at the site of the fire.

If weather conditions such as high winds indicate the safety of the community or the public may be endangered or if open burning may create a health hazard, the Fire Chief or Health Director may invoke a temporary burning ban.

Any violation of the open burning restrictions may result in a summons to appear in court for a misdemeanor violation.

 

Triumph Foods plans to build a 30,000 square-foot expansion at its Saint Joseph plant.  The $9.5-million project will add refrigerated space to handle a growing demand for export product.  Triumph says the expansion will allow creation of 30 new jobs.

Chief Administrative Officer Patt Lilly says construction will begin within 30 days and continue through 2013.  Lilly expects local subcontractors to be involved in the project.

Platte County High School’s principal was caught up in a Kansas City prostitution sting and has been charged with patronizing prostitution.

Dr. Martin cited “unforeseen personal reasons” for his resignation Monday.

Kansas City police issued a citation after Martin allegedly responded to an ad on backpage.com.

Investigators say Martin called the phone number, met up with a female officer at a motel near Liberty, and agreed to pay $150 for sex.

In the wake of Martin’s resignation, long time Assistant Principal Alan Bunch was named the interim principal for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year.

The Corps of Engineers is funding a more-than $150,000 study at Benedictine College to study the effects of last years flooding.

The Corps of Engineers awarded the $180,000 to collect data on the river along the border of northeast Kansas.

Specifically, the grant is for studying the effects on cottonwood forest. It will include Benedictine students and professors.

“The goal of the current project is to assess the effects of the 2011 flood on cottonwood forests,” said Dr. Terry Malloy, chair of the Benedictine Biology Department.

The work involves many scientists at several institutions, including Benedictine College, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota. Malloy is overseeing the project on this segment of the river.

“Over the past summer, funding for this project supported four student research stipends,” Malloy said. “Funding has also been allocated to support student research stipends for the 2013 and 2014 summer field seasons.”

 

 

 

 

Opponents of a tobacco tax initiative on the Missouri ballot say local governments could lose a lot of money if the measure passes.

The proposal would raise the state cigarette tax from 17 cents to 90 cents per pack and also increase taxes on other tobacco products.

 

An estimate from the state auditor’s office says it would generate between $283 million and $423 million annually for the state. It says the effect on local governments is unknown.

But an association of convenience stores hired an economist at the University of Missouri-Columbia to analyze the issue. That study assumes a higher state tax will decrease sales of tobacco products, thus decreasing sales tax revenues for cities and counties.

The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association launched a campaign Tuesday against the initiative.

Supporters of Proposition B cite Missouri as having the 11th-highest smoking rate in the country coupled with the lowest cigarette tax rate.

The Jefferson City-based group Show Me A Brighter Future says the state loses about $532 million each year in Medicaid costs because of smoking.

Supporters are confident the measure will pass voter scrutiny even though previous failed by narrow margins in 2002 and 2006.

Take the poll!

[polldaddy poll=6579816]

Watch here as a news anchor responds to an email attacking her physical appearance.

WKBT in Lacrosse Wisconsin anchor Jennifer Livingston took a moment during Tuesday’s morning newscast to directly address a recent email she received from a viewer complaining about her weight.

Dr. Pat Martin has resigned his position as principal of the Platte County R-3 High School in Platte City, Missouri.

According to a news release on the school district’s  Web site, they have named Mr. Alan Bunch as the interim principal for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year.

Bunch has served as assistant principal at the school for the past eleven years.

Dr. Martin cited “unforeseen personal reasons” for his resignation.

“We are so pleased to have Alan Bunch’s experience, commitment and advocacy for both students and staff to depend on to make this a smooth transition for all,” said Dr. Mike Reik, Superintendent of Schools.

“I am proud to take the reins at PCHS and very excited to build stronger relationships with staff, parents and our students,” commented Bunch on his new position.

Dr. Reik tells us that all of the principals in the district are under one-year contracts, and are evaluated each year by the district’s Board of Education for consideration to continue on the job.