Thousands flocked to St Joseph Civic Arena Sunday for the Chili Challenge to support United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Missouri.
This year’s challenge raised more than $145,000 for UCP, a record. Last year’s challenge raised $120,000
The team from the Rearview Bar took four first place trophies including the Missouri State title.
These photographs are courtesy of Will Corlett.
Investigation continues into a suspicious fire on the north end that spread from the vacant home where it started to an occupied home next door.
The fire, in the 1800 block of Dewey Avenue, was reported around 10 pm Sunday. Utilities had been turned off. No injuries were reported.
The cause has not yet been determined. Damage was extensive. Thanks to Will Corlett for these photographs.
The Kansas City-based engineering firm of Burns & McDonnell confirms it has agreed to pay $10 million to farmers in Missouri concerned about fertilizer applied to farmland from a leather tannery.
Burns & McDonnell was the sole defendant remaining in a lawsuit about the use of sludge containing hexavalent chromium. The company was a consultant to Prime Tanning. The Tannery and its affiliated owners have filed for bankruptcy.
“Burns & McDonnell has not admitted to any wrongdoing and the company continues to deny it caused harm to any property,” the company said in a press release.
“The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the EPA concluded that the application of Prime fertilizer did not pose a health concern and that no cleanup of the land was necessary.”
The company says it settled to avoid the expense of multiple trials.
The lawsuit covered propertu owners in Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton and DeKalb counties who claimed the use of the chemical destroyed their property values.
Residents in those counties said they learned that the fertilizer contained hexavalent chromium after concerns that there were higher-than-usual levels of brain cancer among people living there. Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen.
The lawsuit settled Friday did not involve the health effects of the chemical.
Plans are coming together for the Sound of Speed Airshow, International Edition, at Rosecrans Airport May 5th and 6th. Officials have announced some top flight entertainment for the event.
Guests can take a look at the top fighter aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, the F-22 Raptor. Out of about 100 airshows nationwide this year, the Raptor will make appearances at only 20.
Two performances on board the Staudacher-300 stunt plane are planned, including Max Adrenaline, which combines stunt flying and pyrotechnics.
Wing walker Carol Pilon with Third Strike Wing Walking of Canada will also perform. This video shows Pilon at work during the Binghamton air in 2009.
In an eerie parallel to last year’s one-two weather punch, deadly tornadoes by the dozens touched down for the second time in a week Saturday.
At least 38 people are dead in four states amid more than 279 tornado warnings.
Forecasters with “The Weather Channel” say the weekend severe weather outbreak is on track to break the previous record for the largest ever in March in the U.S. The previous record was set in March of 2006 with 74 tornadoes.
Rescue workers searched for survivors and surveyed damage in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee.
A school in Henryville, Indiana was destroyed as staff members and about 80 students huddled in the administrative office. School buses were tossed into buildings.
The nearby town of Marysville, Indiana, population 1,931, hs been wiped off the face off the map.
“Marysville is completely gone,” said Clark County Sheriff’s Department Major Chuck Adams.
About 20 miles south of Henryville, a 14-month old girl found lying in a field has died after she was taken off life support. Angel Babcock had been discovered alive about 150 yards from her family’s home. Her parents, her two-month-old sister and two-year-old brother were killed when the twister tore into the house Friday.
Missouri Western State University Director of Athletics, Kurt McGuffin has released women’s basketball coach Lynn Plett after five seasons with the Griffons.
Plett’s release is effective immediately following a 7-20 season that included a 5-15 record in the MIAA. The Griffons’ season ended Thursday in the opening round of the MIAA tournament after an 80-63 loss to Washburn. Plett had a 46-89 overall record, including a 33-72 record in the MIAA.
“Missouri Western would like to thank Coach Plett for his contribution to our program the past five seasons,” McGuffin said. “He is a true professional in every sense of the word.”
McGuffin announced that a search for a new coach will begin immediately. A committee, chaired by McGuffin will be announced in the next couple of days.
“My focus will be on finding a coach that is the right fit to lead our program and one that is determined to bring back our winning traditions,” McGuffin said.
— MWSU Sports Information —
The Missouri Air National Guard’s state command chief master sergeant is being honored in a retirement ceremony in St Joseph Sunday.
Command Chief Master Sgt. William D. Phillips of Savannah is culminating a 40-year career with the Guard. Most of his career, Phillips served full-time in the 139th Airlift Wing here.
Phillips is being honored in a ceremony at the home of the 139th at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, hosted by Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri’s adjutant general. The ceremony will be held in the fuel cell hangar at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 3.
Phillips’ military career began at Rosecrans when he enlisted in June 1971. Four years later he was hired full-time as technician and served at the base until his retirement in April 2007, when he was named the Missouri Air Guard’s State Command Chief Master Sergeant.
In a career that eventually took him all over the globe, Phillips served on numerous operations and deployments, including Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Just Cause, Joint Forge, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He served first as a mechanic on the old KC-97 series aircraft before eventually becoming a crew chief on the C-130A when the unit converted to the aircraft. He eventually rose to Production Superintendent of the 139th Aircraft Generation Squadron.
Phillips earned a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology from the Community College of the Air Force in 1993 and was selected as the 139th AGS Outstanding senior NCO for 1998. His more than 25 decorations and major awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation and Achievement medals.
The Allied Arts Council Friday announced the winners of St. Joe’s Got Talent.
The top twenty acts determined by viewers took center stage March 1 at the Missouri Theater. Tyler Ahlgren, performing “Superstition,” was the Grand Winner, and Toleda Russell, performing “Tim McGraw” by Taylor Swift was the People’s Choice. Runners up were Haley Grier with her solo tap performance “On Tap,” and Leighandra Hazlett performing her self-choreographed ballet to “Words I Cannot Say.”
Ahlgren, St. Joe’s Got Talent’s grand winner performed with both keyboard and guitar, and received $250 plus a chance to perform at the 2012 Trails West! festival.
Throughout the night the audience had several opportunities to vote for their favorite act by putting money in the jar of their favorites. People’s Choice award winner Toleda Russell also received $250.
St. Joe’s Got Talent is a fundraiser for the Arts Fund, which benefits nine arts agencies. For additional information about the Arts Fund, or related activities please call the Allied Arts office at 816-233-0231, visit the office at 118 South Eighth Street in St. Joseph, or at http://www.stjoearts.org.
Interstate-229 inspections start Monday and could continue through the week.
MoDOT’s Annual bridge inspection next week will close the bottom deck of the interstate in St Joseph.
The closure between Highland Avenue and US Highway 36 will close the interstate between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm each day they inspection continues. All ramps will be closed as well while the southbound lanes are closed.
In a letter addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, more than 30 advanced biofuel company CEOs have pressed for a five year extension of the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property. The CEOs are quick to point out – these programs are critical to our efforts to attract capital given that these types of incentives are offered to other U.S. energy sectors.
Brooke Coleman, Executive Director of AEC, says – if the United States expects to lead the global effort to develop new and innovative alternatives to increasingly expensive petroleum-derived fuels, it cannot afford to allow the very policies that support emerging advanced biofuel industries to expire.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, says – producing affordable domestic alternatives to all products that come from foreign oil is vital to renewed economic growth and energy security. Companies that are innovating need stable policy to bring commercial-scale alternatives to the market.
And Michael McAdams, President of the ABFA says – at a time of record high gasoline prices the American public and their government need to explore every potential option to bring more renewable transportation fuels to the market in order to lower the overall cost to consumers.
