(UPDATE Noon Monday) St. Joseph Police have identified the man killed in a crash Saturday at South Belt Highway and Pickett Road.

Police say 94-year-old Norman Hertel of St. Joseph was killed in the crash shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

No other details have been released yet and the investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing.

===

One person was killed in a two vehicle crash over the weekend.

According to the St. Joseph Police Department, around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a vehicle ran a red light at South Belt Highway and Pickett Road. A vehicle overturned. The driver of the vehicle that overturned was a 94-year-old St. Joseph man. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police were on scene for several hours investigating.

This post will be updated as we learn more information.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of April 30 – May 6 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, shoulder work, bridge maintenance, striping, brush cutting, guardrail repairs, litter pick up and other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. All scheduled maintenance and construction projects are subject to change.

MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook.

Andrew County

• Interstate 29 – Bridge deck replacement project at the Nodaway River Bridge. Traffic is head to head in the northbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through August and includes a 13-foot width restriction.
• U.S. Route 71 – Resurfacing project from Route 48 to Route A (Nodaway County), April 30 – May 4
• Route N – Pothole patching from Route B to Route M (Nodaway County), May 3

Atchison County

• I-29 – Flushing bridges, April 30 – May 4. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Buchanan County

• Route 752 – Pavement repair from 9th Street to 14th Street, April 30 – May 4. This will include overnight lane closures.
• Route A – Pavement repair from U.S. Route 169 to I-229, April 30 – May 4. This will include overnight lane closures.

Caldwell County

• U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance at the Long Branch Bridge, April 30 – May 6
• Route 116 – Shoulder work from Route A to U.S. Route 69 (Clinton County), April 30 – May 4

Carroll County

• U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at Shootman Creek Bridge, April 30 – May 4. This will include overnight lane closures.
• Route J – Striping from U.S. Route 65 to Route J, April 30 – May 2

Chariton County

• U.S. Route 65 – Pothole patching from the city limits of Carrollton to County Road 368, April 30 – May 2
• Route F – Pavement repair from Route C to U.S. Route 24, April 30 – May 2
• Route M – Pavement repair from Route F to Route 11, May 3
• U.S. Route 65 – Shoulder work from the city limits of Carrollton to Route M, May 3 – 4
• Route Y – Pavement repair from Route M to U.S. Route 24, May 4

Clinton County

• Route 116 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 69 to Route A (Caldwell County), April 30 – May 4
• Route O – Pavement repair from Hord Road to the end of state maintenance, April 30 – May 4

DeKalb County

• U.S. Route 36 – Pavement resurfacing and realignment project at the Route 33 north/Route M junction. Traffic is head to head in the eastbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through July 3 and includes a 14-foot width restriction.
• U.S. Route 36 – Guardrail improvements from the Buchanan County line to 1.4 miles west of Route N near Stewartsville, April 30 – May 4

Gentry County

• Route O – Bridge maintenance at the West Fork Grand Bridge, April 30
• U.S. Route 136 – Drainage work one mile west of Route F, May 1 – 2
• U.S. Route 136 – CLOSED for a culvert replacement at 580th Road, May 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Harrison County

• Route EE – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Muddy Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through May.
• I-35 – Pavement repair from Route 13 to the city limits of Eagleville, April 30 – May 4
• U.S. Route 136 – Signal changes at the 38th Street and 39th Street intersections, May 1 and 3

Holt County

• I-29 – Bridge deck replacement at the Nodaway River Bridge. Traffic is head to head in the northbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through August and includes a 13-foot width restriction.
• U.S. Route 59 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Davis Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through June.
• Route 113 – Resurfacing project from U.S. Route 136 in Burlington Junction (Nodaway County) to U.S. Route 59, April 30 – May 4. A pilot car and flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.

Linn County

• Route EE – Pavement repair from U.S. Route 36 to the end of state maintenance, April 30 – May 1

Livingston County

• Route K – CLOSED for railroad maintenance at the Kansas City Sub rail crossing, April 30, 8 a.m. to noon
• Route H – Striping from U.S. Route 65 to Route 139, April 30 – May 2
• Route CC – Pavement repair from U.S. Route 36 to the end of state maintenance, May 2
• U.S. Route 65 – Ditching and drainage work from County Road 216 to County Road 214, May 3
• Route JJ – Pavement repair from U.S. Route 65 to Route H, May 3 – 4

Nodaway County

• Route AH – Pothole patching from Route VV to Route M, April 30
• Route KK – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from just north of the city limits of Elmo to Route D, April 30, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Route ZZ – Drainage work from 353rd Street to 340th Street, April 30
• U.S. Route 71 – Resurfacing project from Route A to just north of Route 48 (Andrew County), April 30 – May 4
• Route 113 – Resurfacing project from U.S. Route 136 in Burlington Junction south to U.S. Route 59 (Holt County), April 30 – May 4. A pilot car and flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.
• Route J – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 136 to Route M, May 1
• Route ZZ – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 325th Street to 315th Street, May 1, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route M – Pothole patching from Route J to U.S. Route 71, May 2
• Route ZZ – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route V to 315th Street, May 2, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Route 46 – Shoulder and ditching work, May 2 – 4
• Route E – Culvert repair from 210th Street to 220th Street, May 3
• Route N – Pothole patching from Route M to Route B (Andrew County), May 3
• Route ZZ – Pothole patching, May 4

Worth County

• Route 46 – Shoulder work and pothole patching from U.S Route 169 to Route W, May 1 – 4

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular meeting Friday approved the University’s fees for the 2018-2019 academic year.

According to a news release, the fees consist of Student Senate-approved designated fees aimed at improving organizational viability and miscellaneous fees for revenue-generating services and internal services provided by University departments.

The designated fees approved Friday by the Board and approved April 3 by Northwest’s Student Senate consist of an increase of $1 per credit hour to support the operational needs of Safe Ride Home and expand its service times; an increase of $1.75 per credit hour to support Northwest’s student employment program, help cover minimum wage increases and increase the number of positions available on campus; and an increase of $2.50 per credit hour to enhance technology security and access needs.

Presenting the fee proposals to the Board, Northwest Vice President of Finance State Carrick said administrators offer multiple options for the Student Senate to consider. She said students requested the highest fee option for Safe Ride and a fee increase to student employment beyond the University’s proposal.

“Our students do a very good job of engaging and understanding what we’re bringing forward and push us in areas where they see value in programs,” Carrick said.

Northwest’s miscellaneous fees include items and services such as athletics tickets, facility rentals, parking, and caps and gowns for the University’s commencement ceremonies. Carrick explained the University’s finance department works with other departments throughout the year to evaluate revenues, expenses and fees for various programs and services.

The Board’s approval of the student-approved fees follows its vote last month to book a 2.1 percent tuition increase for undergraduate students in 2018-19, based on the allowable Consumer Price Index (CPI) and a Missouri statute that limits the state’s colleges and universities from raising tuition above CPI. The booked 2.1 amount is subject to the amount of state appropriations approved in the final budget and actual state appropriations awarded throughout the fiscal year.

Regents last month also approved discipline-specific program fees and an increase to room and board by an average of 2.5 percent, depending on the residence halls and meal plans students select.

In other business, the Board approved a multiyear contract with Jetz Service Company for new residential laundry equipment to be installed in residential buildings on campus prior to the start of the fall trimester. The contract also includes maintenance and repair services.

The Board also approved candidates due to receive bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees during the University’s spring commencement ceremonies April 27-28 and faculty appointments for the summer trimester.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.

This year, for the first time ever, there are more than 100 Missouri communities participating in Tree City USA, representing 45 percent of the state’s population.

Some of those communities include St. Joseph, Savannah, Maryville and Chillicothe.

According to a news release, Tree City USA is a national recognition program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and administered in the state by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). It provides a framework to help communities establish a healthy, sustainable urban forestry program.

“We are thrilled to see 104 communities in the program this year,” said Russell Hinnah, MDC forestry program supervisor. “Trees bring so much value, and this program helps communities increase that value and keep trees healthy through good tree stewardship.”

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees yield three to five times their cost in overall benefits to the cities that manage them. Trees can lower costs for storm water management and help reduce energy consumption. Research also has shown the positive impact trees have on people, from improving their health to boosting their property values.

Tree City USA requires communities to meet four fundamental standards. Each community must maintain a tree board or department, establish a tree-care ordinance, develop a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and celebrate Arbor Day each year.

“The Tree City USA program is flexible enough that communities of any size can participate, and we encourage city leaders to contact us to learn more about it,” said Hinnah. “Our foresters are ready to assist any municipality interested in joining the program.”

Kansas City is the biggest Missouri community in the Tree City USA program, with a population of 441,000 people. Glen Echo Park is the smallest, with 159 people. Several communities have participated for more than 30 years, including: Brentwood, Des Peres, Ellisville, Fenton, Kansas City, Mexico, Rock Hill Springfield, St. Louis, University City, and Webster Groves. Communities who joined Tree City USA this year include: Paris, Frontenac, Pineville, Pleasant Hill, Farmington, Bel-Nor, Pine Lawn, Bel-Ridge, and Glen Echo Park.

In 2017, Missouri Tree City USA communities invested over $24 million in tree and forest management, including tree inventories, pruning, planting, hazard assessments, education, and planning.

For more information about the Tree City USA program, including a list of all participating Missouri communities, click here.

Area residents can safely dispose of unused or expired medications at an event this weekend.

A Prescription Take Back event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the East Hills Parking Lot by the former Sears store.

Anyone can bring controlled, non-controlled, over-the-counter substances and sharps.

The event is sponsored by The St. Joseph Youth Alliance, the Drug Free Community Coalition, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph Police Department.

The East Hills Library is looking for volunteers to help out with their summer reading program and more.

Applicants must be 12-18 years of age and be able to work at least one shift a week for a minimum of five weeks between June 1 and August 1.

East Hills Library Youth Services Manager Jess Gould said the youth volunteer program was started a few years ago and not only helps out the library, but also benefits the students volunteering.

“I think we live in a community where you can really make changes in your community if you put forth the effort and time to become involved,” Gould said. “Not only does this help kids prepare for future employment by having sign-in procedures, customer services skills, working with other teenagers that they might not know, having that opportunity to be in a professional environment outside of school will really benefit them in the long run. In addition to that, I think, just fostering the appreciation for giving time and energy to our community is a skill that all teenagers and adults could benefit from.”

Applications are posted on the St. Joseph Public Library website and paper copies are available at the library. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. Gould said there is an orientation volunteers need to attend before the program starts.

For more information, contact Jess at the East Hills Library at (816) 236-2136.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University on Thursday approved tuition and room and board rates for the 2018-2019 school year.

According to a news release, for undergraduate, in-state students, tuition will rise 1 percent, from $204.14 per credit hour to $206.37. The increase is below the 2.4 percent allowed by state statute.

Missouri’s public universities have agreed with state lawmakers to limit tuition increases to 1 percent if higher education funding is steady this year. If Missouri Western faces a significant cut in the state appropriation, the Board approved increasing in-state undergraduate tuition by up to $4.90 per credit hour, to $209.04.

The board voted to keep online undergraduate tuition the same. All other rates, including graduate tuition, out-of- state undergraduate tuition, and tuition at locations other than the St. Joseph campus, will rise from 1.1 percent to 2.7 percent.

Room rates will increase between 1 and 3 percent, or $23 to $98 per semester, depending on the hall chosen. The board rates will change based on the flex dollars available for students to use in retail locations across campus, with costs ranging from $900 to $2,144.

For an in-state undergraduate student taking 15 credit hours and living in Scanlon Hall with an all-access meal plan, the semester cost will increase about $156 per semester, or 2 percent.