The Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph has earned TripAdvisor’s 2018 Certificate of Excellence.

St. Joseph Museums Public Relations Officer Kathy Reno said TripAdvisor® awards a Certificate of Excellence to businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor’s website over the past year.

“They look at everybody’s reviews, who rises to the top in terms of how the customers feel about their experience, and then they alert you, each year, how you rank,” Reno said. “We keep ‘Please review us on TripAdvisor’ cards at our exit so people can weigh in and say, ‘I really liked this exhibit,’ or ‘This was confusing to me,’ and their reviews appear on TripAdvisor. I love reading what they say because their input is important to us. I do read it, I make sure everybody on staff knows about it, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent.”

To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

Reno said the Glore Psychiatric Museum has received the Certificate of Excellence in previous years, but this year they moved up to rank number two on TripAdvisor’s website on the list of things to do in Saint Joseph.

The Glore Psychiatric Museum, located at 3406 Frederick Avenue, takes guests through exhibits that illustrate the history and progress of mental health treatments.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Two St. Joseph city streets will close for routine bridge maintenance beginning next week.

This will require overnight closures, but the two bridges will not close at the same time.

Closure schedule:

• Cook Road over I-29

• • Closes Monday, July 16, approximately 8 a.m.
  • Reopens Tuesday, July 17, approximately 2 p.m.

• Gene Field over I-29
  • Closes Monday, July 23, approximately 8 a.m.
  • Reopens Tuesday, July 24, approximately 2 p.m.

During these closures, motorists will need to use an alternate route. At this time, no disruption to I-29 traffic under these overpasses is expected.

All work and schedules are weather permitting.

MoDOT encourages all motorists to slow down, buckle up, eliminate distractions and drive safely to ensure everyone is able to Arrive Alive.

For more information on this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map. In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter @MoDOTNorthwest and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University has suspended its Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity chapter for a period of two years, citing violations of the University’s policies against hazing and alcohol, among other risk management violations.

According to a news release, the suspension is effective immediately. As a result, the chapter loses its recognition as a registered student organization and all privileges associated with that recognition for the duration of the suspension. Members currently affiliated with the chapter cannot host, co-host or participate in any University-recognized activities as representatives of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

The chapter may begin work with Northwest’s Greek Life office to recolonize in fall 2019 and seek reestablishment in fall 2020, but it will remain on probation for two additional years.

“We value the long history of Phi Sigma Kappa, and we look forward to working with the leaders and alumni to improve the culture of the chapter for the future,” Dr. Matt Baker, Northwest’s vice president of students affairs, said.

Decisions related to the future of the fraternity house at 940 College Ave., which is not University-owned property, will be made by the fraternity’s national office and its local housing authority.

Northwest’s decision to suspend the chapter concludes a five-month investigation and appeal process that began when the University was notified in February of potential violations.

Northwest launched a Greek Life visioning process in 2015, and University President Dr. John Jasinski said the institution is continuously working toward enhancing its Greek Life program based on the findings of that process. Key recommendations to come out of the visioning process centered on community, accountability, performance, and communication and transparency.

“Our Greek system is a valuable part of University life, and overall performance by Greek students – and resulting alumni engagement – is positive,” Jasinski said. “The engagement, philanthropic mindset and life skills developed by Greek students are what we will uphold as we challenge, support, celebrate and ensure accountability in addressing the entire Greek system with high and clear expectations.”

The Phi Sigma Kappa chapter at Northwest was founded Dec. 2, 1938, making it Northwest’s second-oldest fraternity.

For more information about Greek Life at Northwest, visit nwmissouri.edu/greek.

(Missourinet) – A ribbon cutting earlier this week celebrated Nestle’s official purchase of the former Conagra factory in Trenton.

The ceremony symbolizes a path forward for the community of 6,000 people that was on the brink of losing its largest employer.

Conagra began making final plans to close its factory there earlier this year. Some 200-300 workers were preparing to face the unemployment line. The planned loss of Conagra caused utility rates to spike.

Then, Nestle changed what could have been an economic nightmare for the area. In April, the company announced its intentions to buy the plant and keep the assembly line going with little disruption. What had been a gloomy place for the past two years suddenly gave the people in the area a morale boost.

About 75 people gathered Tuesday to celebrate Nestle’s takeover of the former Conagra factory. Rick Klinginsmith with Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri in Trenton was among the crowd of supporters. He tells Missourinet the last two years have been a rollercoaster ride for the area.

“I think the confidence of the community is what we all struggled with for the 18 to 20 months until we had something that gave us closure,” Klinginsmith says. “It’s going to take some time until we see the confidence fully regained but it is definitely coming back.”

Mike Voorhies, the plant’s union president, says morale is a night and day difference from two years ago when Conagra announced its plans to close the site.

“We’re working five days a week instead of seven days a week. We’re seeing our families more. We’re getting to do more,” Voorhies says.

Klinginsmith hopes Nestle’s efforts will improve the county’s unemployment rate currently hovering over 4%.

“We still remain with a fairly high unemployment rate in our county,” he says. “We’ve got worked yet to do. This announcement doesn’t cure everything, but it is a tremendous step forward.”

The factory includes 150 full-time employees and 99% were previously Conagra workers. Two shifts, along with overtime, are underway at the plant.

Nestle workers make an average of more than $41,000 annually. The company plans to continue operating as an organized union factory.

Other dignitaries at the event included Republican State Rep. Rusty Black of Chillicothe, Republican Sen. Dan Hegeman of Cosby and former Democratic State Rep. Phil Tate of Gallatin.

The Highland, Kansas, Police Department is investigating after two people were found dead at a residence last week.

The police department, along with the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into the deaths of 61-year-old Daniel Ingles and 57-year-old Theresa Gurwell.

Around 6 p.m. on July 3, the Highland Police Dept. was requested to conduct a welfare check at 108 S. Vermillion St. in Highland. Officer Williams discovered both residents were deceased.

According to a press release, the investigation is ongoing, but no other persons are believed to have been involved.