Here’s the latest booking activity from the Buchanan County Jail. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. These are courtesy photos.
This information is provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The St Joseph Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The removal of an overhead sign will close a ramp to U.S. Route 36 for a few hours next week.
Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will close the ramp from 8th Street to westbound U.S. Route 36 on Monday, April 15, beginning at 7 a.m. Crews hope to have the ramp reopened within four hours. Motorists should use an alternate route during the closure.
All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled. MoDOT encourages all travelers to slow down, buckle up, eliminate distractions, pay attention and drive safely so everyone is able to Arrive Alive.
For more information call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The parents of a Missouri man with autism who was shocked several times with a Taser during a confrontation that began when he stopped to tie his shoe lost their lawsuit over how his arrest was conducted.
A federal grand jury on Thursday did not award damages to Ernest and Ellas Kramer, who sued the city of Maryville and two police officers after their son, Christopher, was arrested in Maryville in 2016. They sought $2 million in damages for wrongful detention and excessive use of force.
The Kramers’ attorney, Arthur Benson, said he was considering filing a motion for a new trial, Kansas City radio station KCUR reported.
In closing arguments Wednesday, Benson said police had no reason to detain Christopher, who was 18 at the time, even after he ran from them.
“It’s not criminal to go on someone’s lawn, to be in someone’s yard,” Benson said. “There was no criminal activity whatsoever.”
The officers’ attorney, David S. Baker, acknowledged Kramer ran and tried to avoid arrest because of his autism.
“But it’s also not the officers’ fault because they didn’t know about his disability,” he said.
The lawsuit alleged that Kramer was walking home from school when he stopped on the edge of Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Jim David Farmer’s yard to tie his shoelace.
Farmer approached Kramer, who ran away. Farmer then called Maryville police because he said Kramer was walking toward his front door.
Two officers arrived and began chasing Kramer. A third officer then arrived and tackled Kramer.
Police body cam video introduced during the trial showed two officers ordering Kramer to stop resisting as he wailed and screamed that he wanted to go home. Kramer was shot with the Taser several times and one of the officers struck him with a baton as he continued to struggle and cry. A fourth officer arrived and stunned Kramer two more times before he was subdued and handcuffed.
The lawsuit originally named all four officers, but the two officers who arrived on the scene later were dismissed from the case. U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. instructed the jury not to consider the parents’ claims against the city of Maryville, but he did not explain why he did so.
CALDWELL COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 11 a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Silverado driven by James M. Erickson, 72, Cameron, was westbound on Old U.S. 36 at Brush Creek Bridge three miles east of Cameron.
The driver suffered a medical emergency. The vehicle traveled off the road and struck a tree. Caldwell County EMS transported Erickson to North Kansas City Hospital. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.
Paul L. Neal, Jr.
1927 – 2019
Paul L. Neal, Jr., 91, passed away April 10, 2019, at a local healthcare facility.
Paul was born in Maryville, MO to Paul and Evelyn (Gaugh) Neal. He graduated from Central High School, Class of 1945. Paul joined the Army during World War II. He married Helen Rodina on July 29, 1950. Paul started 2 Phillips 66 Service Stations, retiring in 1977. Paul was an avid Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen F. Neal; sister, Evelyn Penland and brother, Robert Neal.
Paul is survived by his son, Michael (Sharon) Neal; daughter, Paula (Gary) McDowell; grandchildren, Jamie Bascue, Corey Neal, Tobi Crippen and Kristi Pointer; 7 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services 1:00 PM, Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Heaton Bowman Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, visitation with family receiving friends beginning at 11:00 AM. Interment with military honors following at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to American Legion.
James Eugene “Jim” Pike
1956 – 2019
James E.”Jim” Pike, 62, of Lancaster, KS died on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Vintage Park in Hiawatha, KS.
Jim was born on September 1, 1956 the son of Wallace and Charlotte (Weber) Pike. He graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1974. He was a farmer /rancher and also worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation, out of Atchison on the road crew and lastly as a dispatcher for KDOT. Jim was an avid hunter, and enjoyed fishing, trail and horseback riding, team roping, restoring guns and reloading ammunition. He was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association, and Ducks Unlimited. He had attended Camp Creek United Methodist Church as a child with his parents.
Survivors include a brother, Gary (Mary Alice) Pike, Lawrence, KS and a sister, Debra (J.R.) Adcock, Hiawatha, KS, nieces and nephews, Joey & Molly Pike, and Megan (Kyle) Geffert, Jennifer (BJ) McKay, and great nieces and nephews, Kyler & Kayden Geffert, and Kaylie & Karsen McKay. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am on Monday, April 15, 2019 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with Rev. Shane Spangler, Pastor of the Bethany United Church of Christ Church, Hiawatha, KS officiating. Burial will follow in the Camp Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 14th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Camp Creek Cemetery and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Z. June Nash
1933 – 2019
Z. June Nash, 85, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
She was born June 1, 1933 in Platte, South Dakota.
June married Russell Nash August 15, 1954. He preceded her in death October 1, 2016.
She was also preceded in death by her son, Randy Nash; parents, Clarence and Margaret (Dyke) Jensen.
Survivors include sons, Steve Nash, Platte City, Missouri, Jeff Nash, St. Joseph Missouri, Todd Nash, Easton, Missouri; 8 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
The family will gather with friends 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Saturday, April 20, 2019, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
John Phillip Sullender
1941 – 2019
On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, John Phillip Sullender passed away at the age of 77.
John was born November 21, 1941 to John Sullender (1901-1978) and Eva Lillian (Ashlock Montgomery) Sullender (1915-1984) of St. Joseph, MO.
John is survived by: sister, Linda Clark of Whitesville, MO; brother, Ralph (Nita) Sullender of Dearborn, MO; Evelyn (Gary) Edwards of Elkland, MO. John went to school in Savannah, MO. He joined the United States Navy in 1960. Upon return from service, he married Linda Lee (Knadler) Sullender (1944-1992) in 1964. He and Linda and the family were members of the First Baptist Church of Savannah, MO. He is survived by their children: Carl (Kim) Sullender; Allen Sullender, Sheri Sullender (John Thornton); Nicole (Frank) Partridge; as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.
Thank you for the kind care from Shady Lawn and Ascera Care Hospice.
Services will be held at 10:30AM Tuesday, April 16 at Heaton-Bowman-Smith Savannah Chapel, Savannah, MO. Interment following at Savannah Cemetery. Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00PM Monday, April 15, at our chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America or to the America Legion, Dick Munkres Legion Post #287.
Joyce E Titus
1945 – 2019
Joyce E. Titus, 74, of Falls City, surrounded by family, passed away April 11, 2019, at Falls City Nursing and Rehab Center.
Joyce was born at Falls City March 9, 1945, the youngest of three children born to Elmer and Rhoda Bryson Stewart and was a life-long Falls City resident. She grew in Falls City where she attended public schools, graduating high school with the class of 1963. Since she was many years younger than the other two siblings, she would get away with so much more than they ever dreamed of, plus was told that she was the ‘favorite’. Joyce worked at several different things through the years including Pamida and the Falls City Journal. Most importantly she was a mother and wife.
She married James Titus at Falls City September 17, 1967. They enjoyed raising their two sons and years later, watching their grandchildren grow, participate in sporting activities, and babysitting. In later years, Joyce and Jim enjoyed doing and participating in craft shows, instructional classes which included several trips a year to Branson and other locations that hosted classes that demonstrated ‘something different’. Jim survives.
Also surviving are two sons: Scott & Cindy Titus of Lincoln, NE, Steven & Katie Titus of Reserve, KS, 2 granddaughters: Katelynn & Bristol, a grandson Bridger; a step-grand-daughter Kali. A sister in law Sue Gilsdorf of Glenwood, IA also survives.
Jokingly, years ago, it was understood among family that Joyce was not good at cooking and was told ‘she could burn French Fries.’ In her early years of marriage, her nephew would make sugar cookie dough for her to freeze to bake later. This was after her sister tried on several occasions to teach her how to make these cookies. Only Jim knows the truth if it had improved! Since she was only a few years older than her niece and nephews, she did not want to be called “Aunt Joyce”, which still holds true today (plus now it doesn’t sound right). Her heart of gold loved unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. Her love of her beloved pets runs deep. Though the years she had Mollie, Casper, and Zoe (miniature schnauzers) and a poodle named Coquette. No matter what circumstances, Joyce was a great source of strength, support, love and forgiveness. She loved deeply, without limits. There’s no care giver quite like Joyce was. She always gave so much of herself and put others needs before herself, even in her last days.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Donald, and a sister Betty Brock.
A visitation to celebrate Joyce’s life is planned from 6 until 8 Wednesday evening, April 17, at the Christian Center, 519 N First St., Hiawatha. Memorial contributions are suggested to Richardson County Humane Society or Richardson County Cancer Fund which may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.
A special message or remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com
By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Highway crews are working to restore both lanes of Highway 59 in southern Buchanan County, but I-29 into Iowa will likely be closed for quite some time.
Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer Adam Watson says crews created a temporary berm along Highway 59 to force floodwaters off one lane to re-open the route into Atchison, Kansas.
“We wouldn’t open the road with water being over it. We don’t like for motorists not to be able to see what they’re driving through. We don’t like the potential for damage underneath the water we can’t see,” Watson tells St. Joseph Post. “Typically, even when its raining really hard and the road is flooding, we don’t like for motorists to drive through running water or drive through a road covered with water.”
Watson says MoDOT hopes to open both lanes soon, perhaps even as early as today, but worries that spring rains could create renewed flooding later.
Interstate 29 across the state line into Iowa will likely stay closed well into May, perhaps even into June.
Watson says I-29 suffered extensive damage in Iowa during the Missouri River flooding. Once floodwaters recede, repairs will need to be made to re-open the interstate.
Watson says MoDOT is allowing local traffic to travel I-29 in northern Missouri.
“What we don’t want is through traffic or traffic intending to go further north into the Midwest to use I-29, because there is no capacity to accept traffic into Iowa,” Watson says. “There is just nothing over across the (state) line.”
I-29 remains closed to through traffic at Highway 71 north of St. Joseph.
MoDOT is advising traffic wishing to travel north on I-29 to drive east to Interstate 35 and take it to I-80, back across to I-29.
The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating after a death of a YWCA resident.
According to Commander Eric Protzman with the police department, a woman in her 50s, a YWCA resident, passed away Thursday morning. Protzman said while there does not appear to be any foul play, the death is considered an unattended death, which is why the police department is investigating. Police are waiting on results from an autopsy and a toxicology report.
YWCA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Killin said in a statement that they are saddened by the death and prayers go to the family.
“The YWCA is fully cooperating with the St. Joseph Police Department. We appreciate our First Responders and EMS, the YWCA staff and SJPD for all of their support during this tragic time,” Killin said in the statement.
Killin tells St. Joseph Post that YWCA staff works with an at-risk population.
“I can’t speak to the specifics of this case. However, in general we work with an at-risk population. We don’t always know the health conditions and medical history of the folks we serve. We strive to be a safe place for women to come and we respect and maintain their privacy.”
By ST. JOSEPH POST STAFF
Traffic is beginning to return to normal in St. Joseph after floodwaters from the Missouri River closed a number of streets.
The St. Joseph Police Department reports Stockyards Expressway and Oak have reopened to normal traffic.
Widespread flooding in the city disrupted many thoroughfares, closing some businesses and forcing motorists to find alternate routes to get around the city.
It definitely feels different this morning with temperatures in the 30s. Good news is it will warm into the 50s across the area today with mostly sunny skies. It will be windy again today though, with winds from the west gusting up to 40 mph. Tomorrow evening, showers will move back into the area, mainly along and east of I-35. By Sunday morning, it looks like temperatures will allow for a rain/snow mix. Light snow accumulations are possible in central and northeastern MO on grassy and elevated surfaces. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind 3 to 8 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of rain, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North northeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of rain between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 55. North wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says the flooding in northwest Missouri this year should prompt the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to re-think how it manages the Missouri River.
The Missouri and its tributaries overflowed their banks and swamped vast amounts of farmland and a number of cities in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas.
Blunt says the adjustments to the master manual which guides management of the Missouri made in 2004 didn’t go far enough to emphasize flood protection. He wishes the Corps had kept more water in the six upstream reservoirs this winter.
“But, they didn’t. And, again, I think there were some extreme circumstances here that we haven’t seen before, but still you would think that we would be able to be anticipating what’s going to happen here in the next weeks as the snow begins to melt and the spring rains come,” Blunt tells the St. Joseph Post. “Neither of these should be big surprises.”
Blunt says the destruction this year seems similar to that of 2011 with a big exception. A dam in northern Nebraska failed, spilling a huge amount of water into the Platte River system which fed the Missouri River system downstream. The Corps, responding to massive flooding in Nebraska, attempted to ease flooding there by opening the gates at the Gavins Point Dam at Yankton, South Dakota, sending huge amounts of water into an already swollen Missouri River.
Blunt is quick to point out that Army Corps of Engineers officials in Omaha and Kansas City simply follow the master manual and shouldn’t be blamed. He says top Corps officials will need to take a long, hard look at its Missouri River master manual in wake of this flood and place more emphasis on flood control, navigation, and drinking water with less concern for environmental protection.
The Corps’ top priority now, according to Blunt, should be to repair the 50+ levees broken over a 350-mile stretch of the Missouri River without interference from Washington, D.C.
Congress should approve disaster assistance for communities and farmers impacted by the flood, according to Blunt. Blunt says the help will be included in the next disaster aid package approved by Congress.
“Which qualifies our state along with Kansas and Iowa and Nebraska for the parts of that appropriated money that they would qualify for,” Blunt says. “And, as we know more later, we may have to put more money in those categories to fully take care of what happened in our four states. But they’ll be included in the next bill we pass or we won’t pass a next bill.”
Blunt believes Congress will also approve agricultural disaster aid through a separate package.
There is a sense of urgency, according to Blunt, as communities and farmland have become vulnerable to northern snowmelt and spring rains entering the system.
“Just the normal spring water, plus the normal spring flooding, if it doesn’t get worse than that, will be harder to deal with this year than it would be if we hadn’t had this unique Platte River-related disaster,” according to Blunt.
