MARYVILLE, Mo. – Dr. John Jasinski, president of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, has been elected by his peers to serve as vice chair of the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE), in addition to an appointment by the commissioner of higher education’s advisory team.

Zora Mulligan, the commissioner for the Missouri Department of Higher Education, appointed Jasinski to the advisory group, which meets on a quarterly basis to discuss major initiatives impacting higher education.

Jasinski begins his COPHE role immediately and will serve a one-year term with the statewide organization, which is composed of the presidents and chancellors of public higher education institutions in Missouri.

“Dr. Jasinski is highly respected among his colleagues in COPHE, and they were very happy that he agreed to serve as vice chair,” Paul Wagner, COPHE’s executive director, said. “His experience and skill will be crucial to continuing the organization’s success in promoting the value of higher education across Missouri.”

Dr. Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri System, was elected the chair of COPHE. Jasinski previously was COPHE’s vice chair from 2011 to 2013 and was chair of the organization from 2013 to 2015.

“Public higher education offers such great value in the state of Missouri, and it is humbling to be elected by my peers to help lead the state agenda,” Jasinski said. “I look forward to working with higher education leaders as we continue advancing higher education in these times of sector disruption and addressing stakeholder needs.”

COPHE, a nonprofit association of the presidents and chancellors of Missouri’s 13 public college and university campuses and the president of the University of Missouri System, supports and advances the mission of those institutions by facilitating information sharing and collaboration. It encourages increased understanding by the public and public officials of the value of higher education to the state’s people and economy.

For more information about Jasinski, visit nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/president.

Community members from St. Joseph and the surrounding area donated 22,465 school supply items during the United Way Stuff the Bus school supplies drive.

The drive was held Friday and Saturday at both St. Joseph Walmart locations.

In addition, community members donated nearly $3,000 to allow United Way to purchase supplies that were not donated. According to a press release from United Way, community members have donated more than 200,000 school supply items since United Way Stuff the Bus began in 2009.

The collected school supplies will be distributed through United Way Partner Agencies and Programs including The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Back to School Fair equips children with the supplies they need, and might not have otherwise had, to start the school year off prepared. The Salvation Army is prepared to serve more than 700 children at their Back to School Fair on August 9.

“In this, the tenth year of the event, the community has once again stuffed the bus many times over and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said United Way of Greater St. Joseph President, Kylee Strough. “We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to Walmart, hundreds of volunteers, thousands of shoppers & donors, our presenting sponsor, Mosaic Life Care and other sponsors, for making this weekend’s event a great success! Thank you to the community for coming together to ensure children can start school with the tools and supplies needed to be successful in the classroom.”

Families who may need assistance with school supplies collected from this year’s United Way Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive are encouraged to call The Salvation Army at (816) 232-5824 on Friday, August 10. United Way Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive is a project of the United Way Volunteer Center.

For more information about United Way, go to stjosephunitedway.org, like United Way of Greater St. Joseph on Facebook or
follow UnitedWayStJoe on Twitter.

SEDALIA, Mo. – Discover nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia Aug. 9-19.

According to a press release, visitors can go to the MDC’s Conservation Building from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug 9-18 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug 19 to see live fish and other native animals such as snakes, turtles, and amphibians. Learn about and see displays of native plants that help butterflies and other important pollinators.

MDC’s air-conditioned Conservation Kids’ Discovery Room will be open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and features hands-on fun discovering nature through crafts and other activities.

Enjoy these free conservation-related programs at MDC’s outdoor pavilion:

• WATCH RAPTORS: See a live eagle and other birds of prey up close at the Raptors of Missouri presentation Aug. 9 and Aug. 18 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
• LEARN TO CLEAN AND COOK FISH: Learn how to prepare a fresh catch at the Fish Cooking and Cleaning demonstration Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• MUSHROOM ID: Learn about Missouri mushrooms Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• HISTORIC SAWMILL: See a working model sawmill in operation at Forest Products: The Circular Sawmill Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• DUTCH OVEN DEMO: Learn about Dutch oven cooking and watch a live demonstration on Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Don’t miss the special program, “Invasive Species: Stop the Invasion. Join the Fight,” Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next door to the outdoor pavilion at the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Gardens. It will include displays and activities on invasive plants and animals and how they harm native species and habitats, as well as Missouri’s agricultural, roadsides, and our backyards.

The Robidoux Resident Theatre in St. Joseph will be showcasing its greatest hits next weekend.

RRT’s Greatest Hits is a fundraising event to help with remodeling costs of the Ruby Theatre, which will be the new home for the Robidoux Resident Theatre.

RRT’s Greatest Hits will feature songs from performances over the past 39 years.

Mike Pittman with the Robidoux Resident Theatre said people from around the country are planning to come back to take part in the event.

“We have people coming from the West Coast, from Colorado, Texas, different areas of the country where they’ve gone out and ended up and they’re going to come back and join the people in our community and Kansas City who are coming back to perform songs from the shows that they were in,” Pittman said.

RRT’s Greatest Hits will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 11th, at the Missouri Theatre in St. Joseph.

For more information or tickets, click here or call (816) 232-1778.

(UPDATE 3:21 p.m. Friday) – One person is dead after a crash Friday morning at the Belt Highway and 36 Highway.

According to police, two cars were involved in the crash. The striking vehicle was driven by a 23-year-old man who was transported to the hospital for serious but non life-threatening injuries. The second vehicle was driven by a 29-year-old woman and an 8-year-old passenger was also in the vehicle.

The woman was pronounced deceased at the hospital as a result of her injuries.  The 8-year-old was taken by life flight to Children’s Mercy Hospital with serious injuries.

Police say speed was a factor in the crash.

The road was back open to traffic at 2:43 p.m.

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Three people were transported to the hospital with serious injuries after a crash at the Belt Highway and 36 Highway Friday morning.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, just after 11 a.m. Friday, two cars were involved in a crash at the Belt and 36 Highway.

Two adults and one child were transported to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Wilson said it is anticipated the area of 36 Highway at the Belt will be closed for a few more hours.

The City of St. Joseph Health Department Animal Control and Rescue division announced a discount on dog adoptions.

According to a press release, to help alleviate overcrowding, the Friends of the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph is holding an adoption special of half-price for dogs for a limited time.

The fees associated with adopting a pet vary, depending upon the size of the animal and whether it is spayed or neutered.

The Friends of the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph’s Facebook page has photos of available animals, as well as the animal shelter website. The shelter is located at 701 Lower Lake Road in St. Joseph.

The shelter is open from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.