Help us to all see this years flood through your eyes by posting photos of what you saw during the flooding. Sharing your experience in pictures can really help others understand how this has affected our communities across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Category: Local News
Man hospitalized in St. Joe after he falls asleep at wheel
ANDREW COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 1p.m. Tuesday in Andrew County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Hyundai Sonota driven by Dale E. Simerly, 77, Union Star, was northbound on U.S. 169 two miles north of Union Star.
The driver fell asleep. The vehicle traveled off the road, struck a sign, a utility pole and overturned. A private vehicle transported Simerly to Mosaic. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.
680 KFEQ On Main Street In Weston (3/26/19)
Jill Gonzalez the Executive Director of the Weston Chamber of Commerce joined us with information about the 2nd Saturday Art Walk, a Easter Egg Hunt, and the Moonshiners Car Club car show. Listen to our conversation below.
Obituaries March 26th
Charles William Kelsey
1029 – 2019
Charles W. “Bill” Kelsey, 89, of St. Joseph, died March 23, 2019. Bill was born April 21, 1929 in Rochester, MO, to Arthur and Maude (Shreves) Kelsey.
He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; receiving an honorable discharge. Prior to retirement he was a meat cutter for Green Hills, Food 4 Less, and Sack’n Save.
Bill married Dolores Heppard on October 25, 1957 and she survives. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was a member of the Moose Lodge, VFW, and was very active in the Senior Center. He was the most wonderful husband ever and was known for his dancing.
Preceding him in death were his parents, brother Arthur, Jr.; and sisters, Doris Jones, Dude Gayhart, Violet Wright, and Margaret Simpson.
Services will be Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, March 28, 2019, from 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel.
Amanda Hall
1986 – 2019
Amanda (Cordery) Hall, 32, Panama City, Florida, passed away Friday, March 22, 2019, at Mosaic Life Care.
She was born June 25, 1986 in Jackson, California. Amanda married Terry Hall.
Survivors include her parents, Brenda Bindel, Marty Cordery (Andrea); brothers, Justin Cordery, Nathan Cordery; sisters, Marenda Donhan, and Kelly Becker.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Angela Wilson
1947 – 2019
Angela Wilson, 71, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away Friday, March 22, 2019.
She was born July 16, 1947 in Philadelphia, PA to Frank and Anna (Stamato) Chinniei.
Arrangements under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
Sandra Oxley
1950 – 2019
Sandra Oxley, 68, Gardner, Kansas, passed away Friday, March 22, 2019, at Olathe Medical Center.
She was born April 23, 1950 in Princeton, WV to Thomas and Ruby (Rowland) Ferguson.
Sandra married Frederick M. Oxley; he survives of the home.
Arrangements under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
Krystal Kollean (Knoth) Blessing
1956 – 2019
Krystal Kollean (Knoth) Blessing, 62, St. Joseph, Missouri, went to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, March 23, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.
Krystal (Kay Kay) was born the daughter of Louis J. and Roma L. Knoth on May 7, 1956. Krystal was blessed in life with a caring,loving spirit, as well as a sense of humor that never faded, even in the end.
Survivors include her brothers, Jess F. Knoth (Shari), Joseph A. Knoth (Stephanie), Timothy V. Knoth (Karlenne); sisters, Kimberly K. Jones (Paul), Karen K. Vanderpool (Chris); son, Shawn Blessing and granddaughter, Tinslee; Wally and Jeni Miller and grandson, Mason; 5 nieces, 4 nephews and more friends than we can count.
Farewell Services 11:00 A.M. Saturday, Oak Christian Church, 8875 W Highway 6, Amity, MO 64422. She was very proud of the ministry work her niece and husband started in the Kansas City area and for those wishing to make a memorial contribution in lieu of flowers, please mail them to Freedom Hoops, P.O. Box 4074, Overland Park, KS 66204 or donate online at freedomhoops.org/give. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Nellie Marie (Trower) Moore
1939 – 2019
Nellie Marie (Trower) Moore, 80, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019, at a local nursing home.
She was born February 22, 1939 in Winchester, Kansas; the daughter of Rollo Vernon Trower and Grace Ray, she was one of sixteen children. Nellie married Warren Dee Moore in 1954 in Atchison, Kansas. He preceded her in death in 1988.
Mrs. Moore attended school in Atchison. She retired from the former Missouri Methodist Medical Center, where she worked as an operating room technician. Nellie was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include two sons, Warren and Robert Moore; daughter, Cheryl Kline; two sisters, Linda Kay Pennington, Atchison, KS, Martha Christine Boles, Illinois; grandchildren; many nephews, nieces, and cousins, many of whom live in the Atchison community.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment Ashland Cemetery.
Timothy Lee Widener
1955 – 2019
Timothy L. Widener, 63, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Mosaic Life Care in Saint Joseph, MO.
He was born May 14, 1955 in St. Joseph, MO, son of Delores and James Widener. He graduated from Benton High School, Class of 1973. Tim worked at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids, IA for 18 years. He previously worked for Snorkel and Sherwood Medical. He was a member of the Machinist Union, Local 831 in Cedar Rapids. His hobbies included working on cars, fishing and shooting. Tim was of the Baptist faith.
Timothy was preceded in death by father, James William Widener. Survivors include, mother, Delores Widener of St. Joseph, son, Scott Widener of St. Joseph, son, Bryan Widener of Moodus, CT, brother, Bill Widener of St. Joseph and, former wife, Lois Widener, of St. Joseph.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Thursday, March 28, 2019 at Rupp Funeral Home. Pastor Andy Campbell officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Bethel Cemetery, DeKalb, MO. Online condolences and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.
Holt County “fully exposed” after flood breaches several levees
By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri River levels might be falling in northwest Missouri, but Holt County continues to fight the flood.
Holt County Presiding Commissioner Tom Bullock says though the Missouri level has dropped, floodwaters are receding very slowly at Big Lake, around the town of Craig, and elsewhere. Bullock says efforts have been ongoing the past couple of days to keep floodwaters from breaching a levee protecting the town of Fortescue.
“There’s so much current going down through it. It’s already washed the Highway 159 bridge out south of town here,” Bullock says. “Just too much current, too much water.”
Bullock says the flood breached several levees in Holt County, leaving the county “fully exposed” to flooding this spring.
“When usually the river runs high anyway and we have a report from the Corps of Engineers that they’re already opening up the gates a little bit up north,” Bullock says. “That water should be getting here in about three days. So, that will come about the same time the rains are supposed to come this weekend. It just keeps people nervous all the time.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased releases from Gavins Point Dam from 50,000 cubic feet per second to 90,000 cfs on March 14th after the Spencer Dam in northern Nebraska failed, sending water from the Niobrara River into the Missouri River system. The Corps intended to bring releases down to 20,000 cfs, but stopped just short of that, reducing releases from Gavins Point to 24,000 cfs. Releases have been steadily increasing, from 27,000 cfs to a projected 36,000 cfs on Thursday.
Northwest Division Chief John Remus with the Army Corps Missouri River Management Division says the Corps is increasing the releases to prepare the upstream dam system for northern Missouri basin snowmelt. He says the system has 85% of its flood storage remaining.
The Missouri River dropped below major flood stage this morning, falling below 27 feet at St. Joseph. It crested just over 32 feet on Friday.
Bullock says floodwaters have receded enough for some residents to return to their homes in Craig and Big Lake.
An informational meeting for flood victims will be held in Rock Port Thursday. The multi-agency information meeting begins at noon at the Velma Houts Building in Rock Port. The meeting runs until 8pm. The meeting is sponsored by the Atchison-Holt Disaster Relief Committee.
For more information about the meeting, click here for the Holt County web page.
Area employers invited to register for career fair in April
By SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post
Job seekers can begin polishing their resumes for the region’s largest career fair next month.
According to Kristi Bailey with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, each year, about 70 employers, along with educational providers and social service resources set up booths at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
“When people are there, if they need training for something, they could talk to a school about how to further their training to get a position,” Bailey said. “So it’s a great event for businesses, as well as those wanting to get a job or to change positions, because it’s also a great spot to talk about maybe advancing in your career and switching jobs.”
Bailey said the Chamber helps plan the event, which is put on by the St. Joseph Employment Coalition. Employers are encouraged to register to attend the event on April 23rd.
“This really is a great chance for companies that are needing employees to come together in one spot, so job seekers can talk to a lot of different companies at one time and right now we’re really looking to talk to businesses that are needing to fill some spots,” Bailey said. “We know that there are a lot of jobs open to fill in St. Joseph, so this is definitely a great time to take a few hours out of your day and come talk to a large group of potential employees.”
The 14th annual Career Fair takes place from 2 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 23, at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
Businesses interested in setting up a booth at the Career Fair can contact the Chamber at (816) 232-4461 or register at saintjoseph.com.
Missouri River drops below major flood stage at St. Joseph
By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
The level of the Missouri River at St. Joseph has dropped out of the major flood stage.
The National Weather Service reports the river at St. Joseph at 26.8 feet at 7:30am as the crest flows downstream, to central Missouri.
The Weather Service considers the Missouri River at St. Joseph to enter major flood stage when the crest tops 27 feet. The crest reached an unofficial record Friday, when it nudged above the crest of 32.1 feet set in the 1993 flood. Moderate flood stage is between a crest of 21 feet to 27 feet.
Click here for the latest on the Missouri River from NWS.
Partly sunny with temps near 60 today
It’s going to be a nice couple of days before the threat of rain returns Thursday and Friday. Expect temperatures to warm nicely with the help of gusty south winds Wednesday. However, those same winds will also bring some Gulf moisture north, making showers and thunderstorms likely for Thursday and Friday. This will result in additional flooding issues along the Missouri River by this weekend. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. South southeast wind around 8 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. High near 67. South southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers. High near 58. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 47.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Floodwaters wreck levee system as Missouri River recedes at St. Joseph
By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Floodwaters recede in northwest Missouri as the Missouri River at St. Joseph drops out of the major flood stage into the moderate category.
But, widespread flooding has damaged the levee system.
Lt. Col. James Startzell with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha office says 350 miles of levees on the Missouri, Platte, and Elkhorn River basins have sustained significant flood damage.
“Due to the magnitude of the damage along these levees, repair of the levee system will take an extended period of time to execute. The majority of the levee system remains compromised and vulnerable, due to record inflows surpassing their designed protection levels,” Startzell says during a conference call held by the Corps of Engineers.
The Corps counts 52 full or partial levee breaches in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.
The crest of the Missouri River is flowing downstream, putting pressure on the levee system in central Missouri.
Chief of Emergency Management in the Corps of Engineers’ Kansas City office, Jud Kneuvean, says several systems are handling as much water as they can, including those in Napoleon and Waverly.
“There is water against the sandbags that have been placed by the local flood fighters,” Kneuvean says. “We have projected that 18 levee systems will have less than two feet of freeboard. Ten of those 18 are projected to overtop. This estimate changes with each forecast.”
Kneuvean says though the flooding is beginning to ease, area residents cannot afford to let their guard down.
“Can’t say this enough, it’s dangerous river conditions out there. We continue to stress safety to all of our partners and all our own flood fighters.”
Atchison man admits distributing meth from Satan’s Disciples gang
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Earnest Preston Crawford, III, 30, Atchison, Kan., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Crawford admitted that investigators arranged to make a series of controlled buys from Crawford at his residence in the 600 block of North 10th Street in Atchison.
Investigators learned Crawford was getting his methamphetamine from members of the Satan’s Disciples street gang. He was regularly purchasing pounds of methamphetamine for $6,000 to $10,000.