Little is know about kratom, its effects, its dangers and that has the St. Joseph City Council taking a steady approach to the relatively new drug.

The St. Joseph City Council this evening will consider on first reading a bill which would ban possession of kratom to anyone under the age of 21.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, leaves from the tropical tree Kratom in Asia cause stimulant or sedative effects in different doses. Kratom can be taken as a pill, crushed and smoked, or brewed as a tea. According to the FDA, there is still a lot of research being done on the effects of kratom and the FDA has warned consumers not to use it as they conduct more research.

As previously reported, at the June 3rd city council meeting, the council voted against banning kratom in St. Joseph. After the vote, however, a bill was proposed that would prohibit the possession of kratom by or sale of kratom to anyone under the age of 21.

The city council has heard mixed reports about kratom.

A KFEQ listener told KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr that he has been taking kratom for almost two years by drinking it as a tea. The listener claimed it has helped him lower his blood pressure, get relief from restless legs syndrome, and get rid of withdrawal symptoms.

“There’s no buzz, there’s no feeling other than the relief from the withdrawal symptoms. When I was going through the heaviest part of my withdrawals, almost two years ago, my blood pressure was really high,” the listener, who declined to identify himself, said. “Within 30-40 minutes of taking my first dose ever of this kratom, my blood pressure went to normal and I was feeling no symptoms of withdrawal.”

That has not been the experience of St. Kolbe-Puckett Center for Healing in St. Joseph co-founder Mark Puckett, a member of the opioid task force.

“We have patients at the clinic right now who are actually addicted to kratom. They tried to use kratom to get off of opioids and discovered that it’s just as addictive as opioids is,” Puckett said. “The biggest fear that we have right now with kratom is that a lot of younger kids, high school age kids are utilizing kratom… when it’s used in a small amount, it actually acts as a stimulant, used in large amounts, it acts as an opioid. So, that’s the scariest part about what’s going on with the kratom right now.”

Puckett said he would prefer a citywide ban, but can accept the council possibly putting age restrictions on kratom. He adds that he wishes the age limit, however, would be at 25 instead of 21.

“It’s proven that the brain doesn’t stop growing in a young adult until they’re 25 years ago, so the damages are still being caused all the way up to the age of 25,” Puckett said. “My hope is that the city council will raise the age limit to 25 and ban it in all facilities that sell alcohol, because, combined with alcohol, it’s not a good substance and I think that it should be third party tested before it’s sold so people know exactly what they’re getting.”

Puckett said one of the problems when kratom comes into the states, is that there are chemicals added and the kratom sold in convenience stores is oftentimes not pure kratom. Puckett encourages people to research kratom and its effects and mentioned the Mayo Clinic has conducted several studies.

The St. Joseph City Council’s meeting begins at 7 p.m.

A Second Harvest Community Food Bank program helps feed area students over the summer.

No Hunger Summer kicked off this week. The free summer feeding program serves students ages 18 and under.

Blake Haynes with Second Harvest says the Backpack Buddies program for elementary school-aged children serves over 3,500 per week during the school year.

“Now, we come to summer break where it’s a time for a kid to be a kid – they’re out playing baseball, softball, they’re at the swimming pool, you know, things you can remember from your childhood,” Haynes said. “That’s the reality for, maybe some of us, but not all of us. Some of us are wondering, ‘After my baseball game that I have tonight… what am I going to eat?’ That’s a reality for nearly 15,000 kids within our service territory, so this is one of those ways that they’re getting a meal throughout that day.”

For more information about the program and to find a list of times and locations, click here or call (816) 364-FOOD.

An 18-year-old woman was hospitalized Friday afternoon due to a stab wound.

According to the St. Joseph Police Department, it was reported at 3:38 p.m. that a woman had come to the hospital with a stab wound.

The woman was able to communicate with officers, but did not offer much information regarding the stabbing. Detectives learned the stabbing occurred in the 2200 block of Walnut and collected evidence at the scene.

According to Capt. Jeff Wilson with the police department, as of Monday morning, no charges had been filed and the woman’s condition is unknown.

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

CALDWELL COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford Explorer driven by Justin J. Blakley, 18, Cowgill, was southbound on Route B one- and one-half mile east of Cowgill. The driver failed to stop at sign and turned westbound onto Mo 116.  The vehicle turned wide, crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound 2016 Ford Ford F150 driven by Michael J. Clark, 25, Cowgill.  A passenger in the Explorer Riley D. Coon, 18, Cowgill, was ejected.

A Lifeflight Helicopter transported Coon to Liberty Hospital. A LIfeflight Helicopter transported Blakley to Truman Medical Center.

Clark refused treatment at the scene. All three were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of June 17 – 23.

Continued flooding may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. There may also be moving operations throughout the region such as pothole patching, striping, signal work, etc., in addition to the work mentioned below.

All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

Andrew County

Route O – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through the end of September. More info: modot.org/route-o-platte-river-bridge-replacement.

Route B – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 121 to County Road 122, June 17, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Interstate 29 – Bridge maintenance at the Nodaway River Bridge, northbound, June 17 – 21

Route D – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 198 to County Road 217, June 18, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Route BB – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 110 to 420 Road (Gentry County) to June 19, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Atchison County

Route CC – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE due to a damaged culvert under the roadway.

Route J – CLOSED at the Tarkio River Bridge for a bridge replacement project through the end of August. More info: modot.org/atchison-route-j-tarkio-river-bridge-replacement.

U.S. Route 136 – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 59 to 1st Street in Tarkio, June 17

I-29 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to Route 111, June 17 – 22.

Routes C and F – Pothole patching, June 18 – 20

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 59 – Concrete replacement at the Route 116 intersection, June 17

I-229 – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the ramp from northbound I-229 to U.S. Route 36, June 17 – 21

U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the ramp from westbound U.S. Route 36 to southbound I-229, June 17 – 21

Caldwell County

Route U – Pothole patching, June 17 – 21

Carroll County

Route C – CLOSED until further notice at the Branch of Turkey Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding.

U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Wakenda Creek Bridge, June 17 – 21. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane with a 15-foot width restriction.

Chariton County

Route 5 – Resurfacing project from the city limits of Marceline to the city limits of Keytesville, June 17 – 21. This includes a 10-foot width restriction.

Route E – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 11 to Route CC, June 18, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. Route 24 – Core drilling from Keytesville to Salisbury, June 19

Clinton County

U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Castile Creek Bridge south of Gower through September.   More info: modot.org/us-route-169-castile-creek-bridge.

I-35 – The southbound Lathrop Rest Area at mile marker 35 will be CLOSED for parking lot resurfacing, June 17 – 21

Daviess County

Route KK – CLOSED for bridge rehabilitation at the I-35 overpass through mid-July. More info: modot.org/clinton-and-daviess-county-bridge-deck-replacements-over-i-35.

Route 6 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge and the Overflow Bridge, June 17 – 21. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

I-35 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge and the Overflow Bridge, June 17 – 21

Gentry County

Route H – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 410 Street to 405 Street, June 17, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route V – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route AA to Jameson Trail Road, June 18, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route BB – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 420 Road to County Road 110 (Andrew County), June 19, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route M – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route UU to 425 Road, June 20, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harrison County

I-35 – Resurfacing project from Eagleville to the Iowa state line, June 17 – 21. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.

Holt County

Route T – Open to one lane only until further notice at Mill Bluff Road due to roadway damage. Use caution.

I-29 – Pavement repairs at the bridge over U.S. Route 59 at the north Oregon exit (Exit 75), June 17– 22

I-29 – Guardrail work, southbound only, between Exit 75 and Exit 67, June 17 – 22

Linn County

Route M – Pothole patching from Park Street to Route O, June 17 – 19

Route U – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 36 to Route 129, June 19 – 21

Livingston County

Route C – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Shoal Creek Drain Bridge through late June. The bridge was closed after flooding damage.

Mercer County

Route 145 – CLOSED until further notice due to culvert damage from Route B to U.S. Route 136.

Nodaway County

Route V – Shoulder repair from Icon Road to Hawk Road, June 17

Route NN – Bridge maintenance at the Platte River Bridge, June 17 – 19

Route 148 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 71 near Maryville, June 17– 21. A 12-foot width restriction is in place.

Route FF – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to Route B, June 17 – 21

Route B – CLOSED for a resurfacing project from Rotue FF to Icon Road, June 17 – 22, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Route O – Drainage work in front of Northwest Nodaway School in Ravenwood, June 18

Route P – Drainage and culvert repair in the city limits of Clyde, June 19

Route UU – Pothole patching, June 20

U.S. Route 136 – Bridge maintenance at the Mozingo Creek Bridge, June 20 – 21

Route J – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route M to 390 Street, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Putnam County

U.S. Route 136 – Scrub seal project from the city limits of Mount Moriah to Route FF, June 17 – 21. This includes a 12-foot width restriction with a pilot car directing traffic through the work zone.

Sullivan County

Route 6 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Locust Creek Bridge, east of Humpreys, and West Yellow Creek Bridge, east of Milan, through late August. More info: modot.org/route-6-bridge-replacements-near-milan.

Route N – CLOSED until further notice between Route B and Route Y due to damage from flooding.

Route EE – CLOSED until further notice at the Medicine Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding. The bridge is scheduled for a rehabilitation project that is set to begin in June. The roadway will remain closed until the rehabilitation project is complete.

Route PP – CLOSED until further notice at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020. More info: modot.org/sullivan-county-route-pp-east-medicine-creek-bridge.

Route ZZ – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Fork Locust Creek near Harris through mid-July.

Route O – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Estes Drive to Route KK, June 17, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route 139 – Intersection and sidewalk improvements through Newtown beginning on the south end of town working north (east side of road) then south (west side of road), June 17 – 21. More info: modot.org/route-139-newtown-ada-improvement.

Route O – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Engle Drive to Route KK, June 18, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route ZZ – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Country Drive to Brick Drive, June 20, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Worth County

Route YY – CLOSED until further notice at the Middle Fork of the Grand River after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is was originally scheduled for fiscal year 2021, but has been changed in the draft STIP to let for contractor bidding in fall 2019 as part of Governor Parson’s Focus on Bridges plan. More info: modot.org/worth-county-route-yy-bridge-replacement-over-middle-fork-grand-river.