(News release) MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University is one of more than 70 sites throughout the state hosting FAFSA Frenzy in coming weeks to assist future and current college students who are seeking assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

The Northwest event will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, in the B.D. Owens Library on the University campus. Personnel from Northwest’s financial aid office will be on hand to answer questions and assist students and families with completing the FAFSA online.

Filing a FAFSA is often the first step students must take to apply for financial aid for college. It is the primary form used by federal, state, and institutional financial assistance programs to determine an individual’s eligibility for grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

For students applying for enrollment at Northwest, the FAFSA removes other barriers students and their families may encounter when they are required to complete additional applications and helps determine a student’s eligibility for financial assistance and scholarship opportunities such as the American Dream Grant, which covers 100 percent of tuition and fees for eligible students.

“FAFSA Frenzy provides families with a great opportunity to visit individually with a financial aid professional,” Charles Mayfield, Northwest’s director of financial assistance, said. “In addition to helping future Bearcats, Northwest hosts this event annually to assist all students and families in the Maryville and surrounding communities. Students who plan to attend any college or university are encouraged to attend.”

Students may receive assistance at any of the FAFSA Frenzy events throughout the state, no matter where they live, attend school or plan to attend college. The events are open to all students, including high school seniors, current college students and non-traditional students.

The 2018-19 FAFSA will be available in October, and students who attend FAFSA Frenzy will receive:

• Free professional assistance completing the 2018-19 FAFSA.
• Free information regarding federal student aid programs and Missouri state aid programs.
• A chance to win a scholarship for enrollment in a Missouri postsecondary program in the fall of 2018.

After submitting a FAFSA, a college cost comparison worksheet is available to help students compare college costs and financial aid awards to help make a decision.

To complete the 2018-19 FAFSA, students should bring:

• Student and parent FSA ID information.
• A list of schools to which the student has applied, been accepted, or is interested in attending.
• Student and parent 2016 W-2 forms or tax return copies. Parental information is required for most undergraduate students under the age of 24.

The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating a woman’s death and a man is in custody.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said detectives are conducting a death investigation in reference an incident at 1309 S. 20th that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Wilson said that a 31-year-old woman is deceased and a 34-year-old man is in custody.

As more information becomes available we will update this post.

A Maryville hospital is taking a proactive approach to make sure its doctors prescribe antibiotics correctly.

According to a news release, SSM Health St. Francis Hospital has assembled a multidisciplinary team to improve antibiotic use, known as the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. The hospital said the team provides drug expertise, tracking, reporting and education on antibiotic stewardship. Team member and pharmacist Amie Harris said she wants to make sure people realized that the more antibiotics are used today, the less likely they will still work in the future.

“You need to have the right antibiotic for the job, because they’re not all useful for the same illnesses,” Harris said. “You should be sure it is taken in the right dose for the patient and for the right length of time.”

The hospital said, one main concern of overuse of antibiotics is that they can kill “good” bacteria that actually protects against infection. This can sometimes lead to a serious and sometimes life-threatening diarrhea caused by a germ called Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff.

“We have done more harm than good,” Harris said. “Over the years we are starting to see more resistant C. diff, and with no new antibiotics being created, we really need to be responsible with what we have and use them appropriately.”

SSM Health said many patients are prescribed antibiotics when they may not be needed. It said people believe that if they get a prescription for an antibiotic, they will get over the cold, flu or sore throat that afflicts them. As many symptoms for viral and bacterial infections are similar, SSM Health said medical providers are pressured into ordering the antibiotic rather than taking the time for a lengthy explanation of why the antibiotic won’t work if it is a virus.  

 For questions or more information about appropriate use of antibiotics, contact the Pharmacy department at SSM Health St. Francis Hospital at 660-562-7925.

(News release) – National Manufacturing Day on Friday, Oct. 6, recognizes the contributions and advancements that are made possible through manufacturing companies throughout the United States. This year, cities around the nation, including St. Joseph, will host more than 800 events simultaneously to put a new spotlight on careers in the manufacturing sector. Students will tour various facilities.

Manufacturing Day activities are meant to change the image of the industry and help introduce high school students and families to the ways these jobs are desirable and highly-skilled. A survey by Deloitte proves that this is happening — 81 percent of students said after attending the events in past years that they were more interested in manufacturing careers and found them to be more rewarding than they previously believed.

This is the second year that St. Joseph has participated in Manufacturing Day. New this year, one of the companies is hosting two parents sessions to help them learn how manufacturing has changed throughout the years and why it’s a good career choice for their kids. Gray Manufacturing, 3501 S. Leonard Road, will host a facility tour on Oct. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call (816) 749-0258 to reserve a spot.

This year the local St. Joseph Manufacturing Day has adopted the “Made With Uncommon Character” logo as a part of the T-shirt design and presentation to students.

“We feel like the city’s new brand is reflective of manufacturing in St. Joseph,” said Kristie Arthur, Director of Workforce Development for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, the organization which is coordinating the event. “We’re proud of what we make here and people who use both their hands and minds have an abundance of quality character traits, so using the ‘Made with Uncommon Character’ theme makes sense for our program.”