The Saint Joseph Museums will present a hands-on experience for budding architects during Christmas break.

The workshop called, ArchKIDtecture for students in kindergarten through 6th grades will be held at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion and feature two architects from around the area.

Saint Joseph Museums Director Sara Wilson said the ArchKIDtecture workshop will be a hands-on learning experience.

“We really want them to appreciate the architecture at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, so we’re going to take them around and let them look at the mansion, each of the kids is going to get to pick out a feature of the mansion that they think is particularly spectacular,” Wilson said. “They’re going to learn about the importance of shape, the importance of material, the importance of colors, landscapes, all of these different things to think about architecture but also the St. Joseph architecture in particular.” 

The two architects at the workshop will be Max Guenther who is from the area and is now an architect in Hawaii and Sara Markt, an architect with River Bluff Architects in St. Joseph. Markt said she enjoys speaking to students and sharing her passion for architecture with them.

“Sometimes I’m directed by a particular teacher, they may want me to talk about how it relates to a particular subject, math or science or art, but that’s the great thing about architecture, is it ties in with all of those subjects,” Markt said. “I try to help them start to learn about what architects do… I usually walk them through one of our projects that we did at River Bluff which was Carden Park Elementary School. Ultimately, we want them to start to appreciate the architecture in St. Joe, by learning what architecture is and how it goes together and the different styles and they can start to drive around and say, ‘Oh, well that’s that type of building,’ and start to realize, really, the gems that we have in St. Joe.”

Wilson said parents are welcome to stay with their children during the event if they would like to learn about architecture as well. 

The ArchKIDtecture workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion. The cost is $25 per student. 

For more information, click here or call (816) 232-8471.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University community watched as a Black Hills Spruce Tree outside the campus’ historic Thomas Gaunt House was illuminated with strands of colorful lights Thursday night during its ninth annual Holiday Tree Lighting.

This year’s event featured remarks by Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski, Maryville Mayor Jason McDowell and Jason Hawk on behalf of the Campus Ministerial Alliance. The Horace Mann Laboratory School’s Bearcat Choir and The Northwest Spirit and Truth Gospel Choir also performed.

During his remarks, Jasinski referenced the beauty of the Northwest campus, which is designated the Missouri Arboretum, and the University’s role as a unifier.

“This tradition is very important to Northwest Missouri State University because it uplifts each and every one of us, our cultures and our backgrounds, for all that we stand,” Jasinski said. “Let this tree shine in your hearts. Be civil to one another and to all those that may disagree. Provide love. Provide unity. Be Bearcats in whatever you do and show the rest of the world how we can treat each other to uplift love throughout the holiday season.”

People attending the ceremony were welcomed inside the Gaunt House afterward for refreshments as well as the Gaunt House patio, where Northwest’s mascot, Bobby Bearcat, was dressed in a Santa costume and sat for pictures.

In conjunction with the tree lighting, the Jasinski family annually selects a philanthropy. This year, the Jasinski family is focusing giving efforts on the University’s Pay It Forward Fund and Food Pantry. Community members may find needed items and provide donations to the Food Pantry throughout the year by visiting nwmissouri.edu/studentaffairs/foodpantry.

The historic Gaunt House, located at the south edge of campus, was built during the 1870s and serves as the presidential residence.

The St. Joseph School District Board of Education is considering what to do as the district faces a budget deficit.

The Board of Education discussed options at a work session Thursday night regarding where costs could be cut as the School District faces an approximately $7.5 to $8.5 million budget deficit.

Among items discussed included the closure of Humboldt Elementary School and Lake Contrary Elementary School, administrative re-organization, health benefit plans, extra-curricular activities and salaries. The school closures are estimated to save the district approximately $4 million.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart said many of the items will need a decision or an idea of a direction to take by a Dec. 11 special Board of Education meeting. View the entire Board of Education work session by clicking here.

The board is also wanting to gather feedback from staff, students, parents and the community as the search process continues for the District’s next superintendent of schools.

Several options are available for providing feedback during the next few weeks including focus groups, town hall meetings and an online survey.

The search firm that is working with the Board will use the survey and focus group data to help clarify staff and community perceptions about the school district’s strengths and challenges as well as help the Board understand what to look for in the next SJSD superintendent.

The town hall meeting schedule includes three opportunities to provide feedback:

•         December 6, 2017: 6:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Elementary School
•         December 12, 2017: 6:00 p.m. at Robidoux Middle School
•         December 13, 2017: 6:00 p.m. at Spring Garden Middle School

For those unable to attend a town hall session, the survey is available online. Responses will be accepted through December 16, 2017.

The Board plans to name a new superintendent in February and the new superintendent will assume duties on July 1, 2018. The full search process calendar is available on the SJSD website.

A Cameron man who was threatening suicide has died after exchanging gunfire with police officers Thursday.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at approximately 11:16 a.m., the Cameron Police Department received a call in reference to a disturbance involving a man threatening to take his own life. When officers arrived on scene, the man fired at them and a Cameron police officer returned fire. Thirty-nine-year-old Clinton Shane Lee was fatally wounded in the shooting incident.

Patrol Sgt. Jake Angle could not confirm if the man was shot by police or died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No officers were injured.

The Clinton County Coroner is involved in the investigation and has requested an autopsy be conducted.

The Cameron Police Department requested that the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control conduct the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Next of kin has been notified and the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is continuing to investigate.

Missouri Western State University will present a production of six one-act plays and five short films beginning Thursday.

Missouri Western Associate Professor of Theatre Tee Quillin said “Short and Sweet” is a series of plays about 10 minutes long and short films around five minutes long.

“So you’ll have a little short play and in between each of the plays we’re going to show student directed, student written films. Actually films that they have produced this semester in the Cinema Directing class,” Quillin said. “This is new for us. It’s something that we’re trying, mostly just trying to give more students more opportunities to direct.”

Kara McGhee is a student director who is directing one of the plays in the series.

“I’m directing Clara and the Gambler which is the very first thing to open the show. I chose the play just because I thought it was a really cute, fun play. It seems like it’s set in a small town, which I’m from a small town so I can relate a little bit,” McGhee said. “Clara has just gotten married and this gambler shows up and has won a gamble with her so-called husband, which we find out it was not her husband, and comes to take her away. It’s got some serious moments, it’s got some comedy, so it’s a little mix of everything.”

“Short and Sweet” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Spratt Hall.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for Missouri Western faculty and staff, free for Missouri Western students with ID and $6 for all other students. To purchase tickets in advance, go to mwsutix.com or call (816) 271-4452.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door.