William Armbruster, a retired U.S. diplomat to the Middle East and North Africa, will speak at the next Eggs and Issues breakfast at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 in the Fulkerson Center at Missouri Western State University.
The breakfast is free and open to the public, but advance reservations are required by calling 816-271-5646 by Thursday, Oct. 20.
Armbruster’s presentation is titled “The Middle East – Then and Now.” He will talk about his experiences as a hostage of Saddam Hussein and discuss some of the changes in life and politics in the Middle East during his lifetime. He will also look at where things stand now and make some predictions for the future.
The mother of 10 month old Lisa Irwin says she was drunk when the girl disappeared. Deborah Bradley told NBC’s “Today” show Monday morning that she bought wine and drank “enough to be drunk” the night her baby went missing October 4th.
Bradley says police asked her if she killed Lisa . She says she doesn’t “think alcohol changes a person enough to do something like that.” Bradley says she fears being arrested because then the search for Lisa will end and she will “never know what happened.”
Hundreds of state and federal law enforcement officers have been searching for Lisa, but have turned up no evidence of her whereabouts.
Prosecutors in Jackson County have filed misdemeanor charges against the bishop and the Diocese of Kansas City and St Joseph in connection with child pornography allegations against a former St Joseph priest.
Bishop Robert Finn and the diocese are charged with failing to report in connection with the case involving the Rev. Shawn Ratigan.
The indictment asserts Finn and the diocese had reasonable cause to suspect that a child may be subjected to abuse due to previous knowledge of concerns regarding Father Ratigan, and the discovery of hundreds of photographs of children on Father Ratigan’s laptop.
His lawyer says Bishop Finn denies any criminal wrongdoing and has cooperated at all stages with law enforcement, the grand jury, the prosecutor’s office, and the Graves Commission. We will continue our efforts to resolve this matter.
Finn released the following statement in which he promised to meet the announced charges with “a steady resolve and a vigorous defense.”
Bishop Finn
“I ask the prayerful support and unity of our priests, our people, the parishes, and the Catholic institutions. With continued dedication, we will persevere in the many good works that are the hallmark of the faithful people of the diocese throughout its 27 counties and nearly 150-year heritage,” Finn wrote.
“With deep faith, we will weather this storm and never cease to fulfill our mission, even in moments of adversity.”
For this harvest report with 680 KFEQ, we take a look from a different standpoint. Chad Derr is the service manager for Hiawatha Implement in Mound City and is the guest.
The community of Elwood, Kansas lost one of its most colorful residents with the passing of Jonathan “Craig” Sheppard October 12.
Sheppard was the President of the Board of Directors of the Elwood-Gladden Drainage District, and as such was a frequent point man in our coverage of Missouri River flooding. He was 56.
We remember his tough attitude toward reporters and his unflagging optimism about the fate of the community within his levee district.
An obituary in the St Joseph News Press reports he is…
“…survived by: wife, Marjorie Sheppard and his dog, Sam;” It then goes on to list three sons, two daughters, and five grand-children.
A gathering is planned Saturday, October 15, at 5 p.m. at the Elwood Community Center, 803 Massachusetts, Elwood, Kansas. According to the newspaper, “There will be no other services in respect of Craig’s wishes.”
Craig Sheppard (right) with John P Tretbar, June/2011
US Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Kansas Thursday, one day after the pending Free Trade Agreements were passed through Congress. Listen as Merrigan joins KFEQ’s Micheal Clements by phone between stops in Kansas.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says approval of the bilateral free-trade agreements between the United States and Korea, Colombia and Panama, as well as approval of Trade Adjustment Assistance, is welcome news for farmers and ranchers. Stallman says – swift implementation is critical, so we can restore a level playing field for U.S. farm exports to these three nations.
Stallman points out that – over the past four years, Korea, Colombia and Panama have opened their doors to our competitors. Congress and the administration have now given us the opportunity to improve our competitive position in these markets. Stallman says – the economic growth generated from the agreements will improve our economy and create jobs here at home.
According to Farm Bureau, combined, the three FTAs represent nearly 2.5-billion dollars in new agriculture exports for America’s farmers and are expected to create economic growth that could generate support for up to 22,500 U.S. jobs.
A 28-year-old St Joseph man is being held on charges of assaulting a law officer.
Arraignment is pending for Wayne Schmitt of 1821 Clay Street, #307 in St Joseph. Second degree assault on a law officer is a class-c felony.
Schmitt is being held in the Buchanan County Jail under $25,000 bond. He was charged October 11th for an incident two days earlier, according to online court records.
Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong has ordered a new progam to help find lost autistic children and Alzheimer’s patients. It’s called Care Track.
Strong says it reads signals sent from an electronic device worn like a watch, and the average search ends successfully in less than a half-hour. Strong says finding them fast is important because autistic children and Alzheimer’s patients who wander away from care can unknowingly put themselves in danger at any moment.
Strong says the equipment will cost $5000 and training will cost another $1000. The electronic bracelets cost $250 each, and Strong is lining up support to help residents who need them but can’t afford them.
