Missouri Western State University is thanking and honoring military veterans this weekend.

Veterans are invited to stop by the office of the Western Institute, Spratt Hall room 105, for some free Missouri Western gifts as a small token of appreciation for their service from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday.

The Griffons will host Northwest Missouri State University at 1 p.m. Saturday on Craig Field at Spratt Stadium. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to help “Pack the Truck” by bringing supplies for deployed soldiers to the two Humvees that will be parked outside the gates. For a complete list of toiletries, entertainment items, snacks, drink mixes and more that can help, click here.

At the Kansas City Chiefs’ Salute to Service game on Oct. 30, the Missouri Western State University Foundation and Heroes United, a charity organization that serves the families of service members killed in the line of duty, presented scholarships to Missouri Western students Taylor and Landry Collins. Their father, Army Sergeant First Class Gary Collins, was killed in Iraq on Nov. 8, 2003. Taylor, Landry and their mother Kassie Collins, a 2008 alumna of Missouri Western, will be recognized at halftime of the football game Saturday.

FAUCETT, Mo. – The Route DD Bridge over I-29 is open as of Thursday evening.

Emery Sapp and Sons of Columbia, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, closed the bridge to all traffic Aug. 25, for a bridge replacement project.

While the bridge over the interstate will open, there is still work to do. The contractor has tentatively scheduled ramp work for Monday, Nov. 13. They plan to close one ramp at a time for paving. The plan is to close the southbound off ramp first at approximately 7:30 a.m., followed in order by the southbound on ramp, northbound off ramp and finally the northbound on ramp. As with all planned work, schedules are subject to change.

There may be other work both on and off the roadway around the bridge and the ramps as the contractor completes the project. MoDOT encourages all motorists to slow down, buckle up, eliminate distractions and drive safely to ensure motorists and workers alike are able to Arrive Alive.

For more information about 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.

After a shooting at a Texas church earlier this week, other churches around the country are considering what to do if something similar happens.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said many people he’s talked with are searching for answers on how to improve security and prevent something similar from happening locally.  

“I don’t think in this day and age we can… say that it’s not going to happen. It could happen anywhere. My thoughts and comments are of a general nature because obviously I don’t want to speak for other law enforcement agencies and I don’t want to speak for particular churches… or anything like that,” Puett said. “Communication is the key, and that’s going to start with either the clergy person and a group of individuals within the church… to sit down and identify the needs of the church, when are they worshiping, when is the building open, what type of security do they need, what kind of concerns do they have. Communication and planning… and being prepared, what do we do if something happens, who does what, who… directs the children to a safe place.”

Sheriff Puett said he urges anyone who ever knows of any sort of violence being planned, to let law enforcement know so they can work to prevent an event, rather than respond to the aftermath.

“If it’s a situation, whether it’s domestic related or (anything), where you know of someone planning violence or talking about violence whether a school or church, anywhere, please call us, let us know,” Puett said. “The only way we can help and keep this community safe is with the involvement of the community.”

A woman has died after being hit by a grain truck Wednesday morning.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department, around 10:40 a.m. in the area of Commercial Street and Garfield Avenue, a woman stepped onto the road and was hit by a grain truck. Capt. Wilson said the woman suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead not long after the incident.

(UPDATE Thurs 10 a.m.) According to police, the death has been ruled a suicide and no other information is being released at this time.

A program encouraging residents to shop local during the holidays kicked off Wednesday.

Shop St. Joseph runs from November 8th through December 18th.

“Shop St. Joe is a buy local holiday program on steroids,” said Natalie Redmond, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Membership. “It’s designed to be a program that encourages people to remember to support local businesses during the holidays, which helps keep money local. When you go to Kansas City or some other locations or shop online, it doesn’t create the tax dollars to help with St. Joseph. So we really encourage people to be mindful of supporting local businesses during the holidays and we give a kickback for that.”  

Redmond said for every $10 a shopper spends at a local business participating in Shop St. Joseph, they receive a ticket. A drawing will be held December 20th and the person with the winning ticket number could win $10,000.

For more information and a list of participating businesses, click here.

The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating after an armed carjacking early Wednesday morning.

According to Sgt. Brad Kerns, around 1 a.m. in the area of 1200 Angelique St., two black males held a victim at gunpoint and stole the victim’s vehicle. There were no injuries.

Sgt. Kerns said the men were described as being approximately 6’1”, one was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and the other was dressed in all black clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.