Chip Holman of Gower joined KFEQ to bring us up to date on a scholarship program for the East Buchanan area. Also how the local FFA and several throughout the community came together to help flood victims, and how businesses can be seen at and support Gower Days. Listen to it below.
Category: Local News
Highway 59 in southern Buchanan County re-opens, at least to one lane of traffic
By ST. JOSEPH POST STAFF
It might just be one lane, but U.S. Highway 59 in southern Buchanan County has re-opened.
Highway 59 to the Amelia Earhart Bridge into Atchison, Kansas had been closed to traffic since floodwaters from the Missouri River overtopped a levee and swamped the highway March 21st.
The Missouri Department of Transportation says floodwaters still cover one lane, so temporary traffic signals have been set up to allow one lane to be open for traffic.
For updated information on flooding and restoration, click here for the MoDOT web page.
Open burning cancelled by St. Joseph police due to high winds
Open burning has been cancelled today due to high winds.
The St. Joseph Police Department issued the burning ban this afternoon. Wind speeds have kicked up in the area, topping 24 miles per hour at times.
Obituaries April 11th
William F. McCall
1934 – 2019
William F. McCall, 84, of St. Joseph, died April 5, 2019, at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, TX.
William was born April 21, 1934, in Tarkio, MO, to Thomas John and Rachael Anna (Wooten) McCall.
He served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Gulf of Tonkin, and the Vietnam War. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer; retiring in November of 1971. He was a member of the Elks Club, Exchange Club, and Realtors Association all in California, and was founder of the USS Pictor Association AF #54. He and his wife were full time RV’ers from 1995 to 1997. They had been to every state in the country. They moved to St. Joseph in 1997.
William married Lola Dean Hoffman on April 27, 1962 in Biloxi, Mississippi, and she survives. Also surviving are two sons, Scott McCall, John McCall; granddaughter Kimberly Lewis (Ryan); grandson Matthew Peterson, Jr. “PJ”; brother Billy Ray McCall; three sisters, Opal Still, Patsy Angold, Lottie Gothard; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three children, Gary McCall, Cynthia Peterson, William Michael McCall; a number of brothers and sisters.
Services will be Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at 10:30 am at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to the Disabled American Veterans or to the Wounded Warrior Project.
William “Bill” Huffman
1936 – 2019
William “Bill” Huffman, 82, Helena, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Mosaic Life Care.
He was born May 4, 1936 in Helena, MO.
Bill married Mary Matthews January 16, 1965; she preceded him in death. He married Barbara (Cook) Angle on July 20, 2012; she survives of the home. Bill was a member of Helena 1st Baptist Church.
He retired from Wire Rope.
Bill was preceded in death by his 1st wife, Mary; parents, John and Anetta (Swink) Huffman; brothers, Max, Bob, Glenn, Jewell, and George Huffman; sister, Margaret Bowland; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Huffman; and son-in-law, Mitch Atherton.
Additional survivors include daughter, Gina Huffman; son, David Huffman; daughter, Kathy Bidding (Robert); step-sons, Doug Wyatt, Greg Wyatt (Kim); step-daughters, Becky Richeson (Don), Diane McGinley (Todd); grandchildren, Ryan Bidding, Kayla Jo Sherer; 9 step-grandchildren; 9 step-great-grandchildren; brother, J.D. Huffman; sister, JoAnn Hartbauer; brothers, Jerry Huffman (Wanona), Jim Huffman (Carolyn); numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Friday, Helena 1st Baptist Church. Interment Helena Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Helena 1st Baptist Church.
Virgil C. Wenger
1925 – 2019
Virgil C. Wenger, 93, of Hiawatha formerly of Powhattan, KS died Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.
Family Visitation is planned for 6p.m.- 8p.m., Monday at the Bethany United Church of Christ in Hiawatha.
Memorial services are planned for 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the Powhattan United Methodist Church in Powhattan, KS.
Memorials are suggested to the Powhattan United Methodist Church or the Bethany United Church of Christ and sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. 7th Hiawatha, KS 66434.
Man dies while changing tire on Benedictine College baseball team’s bus
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say the owner of a Lawrence towing company was crushed to death while changing a tire on a college baseball team’s bus.
Baldwin City Police Chief Mike Pattrick said 53-year-old Kevin Raasch died early Sunday on the Baker University campus.
Pattrick said Raasch came to the campus to fix a flat tire on the bus for the Benedictine College team after a Baker-Baldwin City baseball game.
Raasch was trying to release the jack after changing the tire when he was pinned under the back of the large motor coach.
Pattrick says several players and coaches lifted the bus and pulled Raasch out but he died at the scene.
Raasch owned and operated TransMasters Towing and Roadside Recovery for over 30 years.
Sheriff’s Dept. renews push to solve 2001 disappearance case of Skidmore resident
Story courtesy KXCV/KRNW
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the disappearance of Skidmore, Missouri, resident Branson Perry.
Perry was 20-years-old at the time of his disappearance.
Nodaway County Sheriff Randy Strong said his department has begun another push in trying to solve the case. Strong tells KXCV/KRNW they have a few leads from previous investigations.
“It appears to be drug related,” Strong said. “There are certain individuals whose names keep popping up in it and I think it’s time that we put all this together and come up with what we can and present it to the prosecutor for them to look at and decide, can we go forward if we don’t find a body or do we continue to look and those are some tough decisions that we’re going to have to make.”
Strong said he feels there are people in the area that have direct knowledge of Perry’s disappearance.
“I think we are pretty familiar with the individuals that are responsible, that there’s some other individuals that probably have information that could come forward and help us bring this case back to life,” Strong said.
Strong urges anyone with knowledge of Branson Perry’s disappearance on April 11th, 2001, to contact the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department. Click here for more information.
Annual tree planting ceremony held in Maryville to observe Crime Victims’ Rights Week
By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post
A tree planting ceremony is held each year in Maryville in recognition of victims of crime.
Crime Victims’ Rights Week is held every year and various events are held nationwide in recognition of it. The 1984 Victims of Crime Act addressed things such as the right of the victim to be in court hearings and to be notified of court hearings.
Tom Seipel is District Administrator of the Parole Office at the Maryville Treatment Center. Seipel said the center opened in December of 1996, and the superintendent at the time asked him to help organize an event for Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1997.
“Victims needed to be recognized, they were an integral part of the criminal justice system and it seemed like all too often they were being re-victimized or were being forgotten,” Seipel said. “As Mozingo Lake was being developed, (I) talked to the city (of Maryville) and the city gave us basically a selected area and told us to utilize that area. So every year, we’ve continued to plant a tree there in recognition of the victims.”
The keynote speaker at the tree planting will be Missouri Department of Corrections Director Anne Precythe. The Maryville High School Spectrum choir and the American Legion will also be a part of the event and there will be a proclamation by Mayor Rachael Martin.
The tree planting will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park at the Kiwanis Shelter.
A tree is donated each year for ceremony by Walmart or Sutherlands.
For more information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, click here.
Wind advisory in effect until tonight
Winds will be strong again today. Sustained winds between 25 to 35 with gusts up to 50 mph are likely. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming southwest 21 to 26 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light west northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday: A chance of showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
One hospitalized after Andrew County crash
ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Chrysler Cirrus driven by Kenneth V. Schmille, 72, Amazonia, was southbound on Route K two miles south of Amazonia. The vehicle traveled off the west side of the road and struck an embankment.
Andrew County ambulance transported Schmille to Mosaic Life Care. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.
Missouri Western receives $1 million gift to support arts annex
The project to enhance Potter Hall at Missouri Western State University has received a $1 million gift.
The announcement of the gift was made during the Missouri Western Foundation’s annual Donor Appreciation Reception Tuesday.
According to a news release, the gift was from Drew H. Brown of St. Joseph to support the addition of a visual arts annex. When it’s constructed, the addition will be known as the Drew H. Brown Arts Annex.
“Drew Brown has been one of Missouri Western State University’s most active supporters for many years,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “He has provided leadership to many areas of campus, giving generously of his time and wise counsel, and I am very grateful that he has added to his legacy with such a generous gift.”
Brown served a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1992, and is currently a self-employed investment manager. He served on the Missouri Western State University Foundation Board of Directors and is currently chair of the Missouri Western Arts Society. He has also served as a mentor and volunteer through the University’s Center for Multicultural Education, mentoring students of color and providing guidance and encouragement to them in their pursuit of a college education. Last fall, he received the Herb ’35 and Peggy Iffert Award for Outstanding Service to the University from the Missouri Western Alumni Association.
“I love this university,” Brown said. “Missouri Western brings so much to the St. Joseph community, and I welcome that, whether it’s arts offerings, the expertise of its faculty or, most importantly, workforce development. We all want a better life, and most students come to Missouri Western because they see it as the key to that better life.”
According to the news release, Brown’s gift is part of Missouri Western’s Centennial Capital Campaign, launched in January 2015, the University’s centennial year. Brown’s gift brings the campaign total to $30,448,759 in outright and deferred pledges and gifts, exceeding the initial celebration goal of $20 million by more than 50 percent.
The Centennial Capital Campaign funded significant improvements to Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium and the Looney Arena, endowed a first-of-its-kind population health management degree program, and grew the Foundation’s endowment. The five-year campaign will end in January 2020.