For a short period of time, local law enforcement officials thought they had a shooting on their hands at the Buchanan County Courthouse. They didn’t.

In the end, police say a language barrier involving a domestic dispute two years ago prompted some tense moments. Captain Janice Rothganger says a subject came into the law enforcement center and it appeared he was saying he’d been shot, or shot at, or threatened with a gun.

As it turns out, the confrontation happened earlier, near Triumph Foods, and did not involve a gun. Captain Kevin Castle says there might have been a threatening motion, which might have violated a court order, but there were no firearms involved in the current incident.

The man had followed the suspect to the courthouse, where he parked and went inside. The victim then reported to police across the street at the Law Enforcement Center. Officers eventually found the suspect and questioned him for a possible violation of a court order. Officials say that ex-parte order may have been issued because of a firearms incident in 2011.

Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox says his office has lost three full time employees to other area employers. Two others have said they’re looking for work elsewhere.

Cox says their reasons have all involved low wages and benefits, plus issues related to their being understaffed.

But this week Cox got some good news on that front.

His office received notice from the Department of Public Safety and the MOSMART Board that the county has received preliminary approval for a grant to supplement law enforcement salaries. The Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplemental Fund grant would total $24,683.

Cox hopes to raise the base salary up to $28 thousand per year for the nine sworn, non-elected employees in his department through the end of June of next year.

The grant provides for a total of $19,881.60 in salary and an additional $4,801.40 in benefit costs. The county has no match requirement or additional costs with this grant. Civilian employees are prohibited from receiving any monies from the DSSSF grant.

Presiding Commissioner Eva Danner-Horton was the Authorizing Official of the Grant Application. Sheriff Steve Cox was the author and the Project Director. County Clerk Sherry Parks will be the Fiscal Officer for the grant.

Authorities are reporting an increase in stolen vehicles in the last few weeks in Northwest Missouri.

Captain Mark Brock of the Buchanan County Sheriffs office says they’ve taken reports of four vehicles since May 19^th in rural Buchanan County.

More were stolen this week in Andrew County as well.

While it is hard to tell right now, Brock says it could be the same suspects using the cars for transportation only. He also says the suspects could be from St Joseph. Buchanan County deputy’s have recovered some of the vehicles.

He says most of the stolen vehicles were taken when the keys were in the ignition. Captain Brock says the biggest step to prevent a vehicle theft is to take the keys out of the vehicle and lock the doors. 

Buchanan County reports since May 19th, two SUV’s and two trucks were stolen in the County.  Three of the four vehicles were stolen on the west side of Buchanan County.  

The investigation continues.

The city of St. Joseph will be presented a check at Monday night’s City Council meeting from the Missouri Department of Conservation for a tree grant.

This is the fourth time the city has received the Tree Resource Improvement & Maintenance grant (T.R.I.M.).

Senior Property Maintenance Inspector Walter Hughes says the grant, is for $6,979.88.

The money will reimburse the city for work that’s already been done. Hughes says they removed four hazardous trees along St Joe streets, and planted 12 red bud trees at 21st and Edmond.

City spokeswoman Mary Robertson says this is the fourth time the city has received the Tree Resource Improvement & Maintenance (T.R.I.M.) grant . The presentation will be made during the council meeting by Resource Forester Lonnie Messbarger.

 

A State audit refutes one of the strongest beliefs about government budgeting: that agencies spend every dollar before the end of the year, even if they don’t need what they’re buying. Deputy State Auditor Harry Otto says a check of five agencies shows they usually take some risks to do the right thing.

Otto says the Auditor’s Office recommends that the Office of Administration consider legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures to guide state agencies about the timing of purchases.

Evans United Shows, based in Plattsburg,Missouri, has opened up a carnival at Riverfront Park in downtown St Joseph.  The carnival runs through Sunday.

Carnival organizers say the best deal on rides is the wristband specials which allow you to ride as much as you want.

On Thursday the wristbands cost $15, and allow you to ride all you want from 6-10 pm.  On Friday and Sunday you can ride from 6-11 pm and pay $18.

Otherwise, ride tickets are about a dollar apiece, and most rides take from three to five tickets.

 

A new policy at Second Harvest Community Food Bank allows all military members to skip the agencies qualification process.

The organization announced Thursday all current and previous service members of all branches of the military can skip the qualification process to receive food assistance from Second Harvest or a partner agency.

Service members will need to provide a current military ID or a VA card. No other proof or information will need to be provided. For more information, contact Second Harvest at 816-364-FOOD(3003).

 

 

A new study shows one in four Americans will have to perform CPR during their lifetime. During this National CPR and AED Awareness Week, the American Red Cross is offering classes for people to learn about the life-saving procedures. They offered this video short-course.

“We want as many people as possible to take a CPR/AED Class, but viewing the online video is good basic knowledge for everyone,” states Kevin Kirby, Executive Director of the Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The ability to perform CPR can make a lifesaving difference when someone suffers a cardiac or breathing emergency.

The Red Cross trains millions of people each year in CPR and AED. They offer several training options on the full CPR training. All First Aid, full CPR and AED training carry a 2-year certification.

“By viewing the video, you can take some action in a cardiac arrest, but it always a better outcome to be trained with a full class of CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator).”

You can find more information and register for a class by visiting the CPR and AED page on the Red Cross web site at www.redcross.org .