CALDWELL COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chrysler passenger vehicle driven by Wayne A. Vincent, 83, Hamilton, was northbound on Route B at U.S. 36.&nbsp;

The vehicle pulled into the path of an eastbound 2006 Ford pickup driven by Jerry W. Thompson, 76, Pleasant Hill. The pickup struck the Chrysler and a MoDOT sign.

Caldwell County EMS transported Thompson and his wife Helen L. Thompson, 77, Pleasant Hill to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Vincent refused treatment at the scene. The MSHP had incomplete seatbelt information.

CALDWELL COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chrysler passenger vehicle driven by Wayne A. Vincent, 83, Hamilton, was northbound on Route B at U.S. 36.&nbsp;The vehicle pulled into the path of an eastbound 2006 Ford pickup driven by Jerry W. Thompson, 76, Pleasant Hill. The pickup struck the Chrysler and a MoDOT sign.Caldwell County EMS transported Thompson and his wife Helen L. Thompson, 77, Pleasant Hill to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Vincent refused treatment at the scene. The MSHP had incomplete seatbelt information.

NW Missouri couple hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

The Missouri Department of Conservation is showing off snakes at Krug Park Thursday.

A free program will educate people about Missouri snakes, and the role they play in the ecological system.

Bill Graham with the Department of Conservation says people have an unfounded fear of snakes, and the hope is that this program will help qualm those fears, as well as educate those who are curious.

"We want this program to be for those that want to work on their fear about snakes, if you know more about them," Graham says. "But, also many people are just simply curious about snakes. They've seen them, they're unusual, snakes come in a wide variety of colors sizes, they can do interesting things."

Graham says people should know most snakes in Missouri are harmless, but that doesn't mean they should be handled.

"Any snake doesn't like to be picked up and handled to much," Graham tells St. Joseph Post. "Some of them you can pick up and handle very easily, some of them you can pick up and they might take a bite at you and scare the heck out of you, even though it's just teeth, it's not going to be any serious big deal."

Graham says that while most snakes are harmless, there are a few poisonous snakes around Missouri. But, he reiterates that if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.

The program will bring a lot of information about snakes, ranging from how wide their mouths can open, to how many bones are in their bodies. It will also provide a safe, up-close look at the creatures.

"Our MDC naturalist Shelby Smith will also have some local snakes, I'm not sure what species, but she'll have three or four snakes there that people can look at up close, I don't know if they're going to be handled or not, but they'll for get a close look and a safe look," Graham added.

The program is free for all ages and will run from 6-7 p.m. COVID protocols will be followed and registration will be required. You can find a link to register for this event can be found <a href="https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/177811">HERE.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629923237649.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy of Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy of Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation</figcaption>
 </figure>BY MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Department of Conservation is showing off snakes at Krug Park Thursday.A free program will educate people about Missouri snakes, and the role they play in the ecological system.Bill Graham with the Department of Conservation says people have an unfounded fear of snakes, and the hope is that this program will help qualm those fears, as well as educate those who are curious."We want this program to be for those that want to work on their fear about snakes, if you know more about them," Graham says. "But, also many people are just simply curious about snakes. They've seen them, they're unusual, snakes come in a wide variety of colors sizes, they can do interesting things."Graham says people should know most snakes in Missouri are harmless, but that doesn't mean they should be handled."Any snake doesn't like to be picked up and handled to much," Graham tells St. Joseph Post. "Some of them you can pick up and handle very easily, some of them you can pick up and they might take a bite at you and scare the heck out of you, even though it's just teeth, it's not going to be any serious big deal."Graham says that while most snakes are harmless, there are a few poisonous snakes around Missouri. But, he reiterates that if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.The program will bring a lot of information about snakes, ranging from how wide their mouths can open, to how many bones are in their bodies. It will also provide a safe, up-close look at the creatures."Our MDC naturalist Shelby Smith will also have some local snakes, I'm not sure what species, but she'll have three or four snakes there that people can look at up close, I don't know if they're going to be handled or not, but they'll for get a close look and a safe look," Graham added.The program is free for all ages and will run from 6-7 p.m. COVID protocols will be followed and registration will be required. You can find a link to register for this event can be found <a href="https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/177811">HERE.</a>

MO Department of Conservation offering free snake program in St. Joseph Thursday

A Buchanan County man has been found guilty of felony meth possession charges.

A jury found 60-year-old Lee Allen Haneline guilty on Tuesday in Division III of the Buchanan County Circuit Court - Judge Patrick Robb presiding.

 Haneline was charged with possession of meth in Buchanan County in May 2020. He was found by the court to be a prior and persistent felony offender under Missouri law.

Sentencing is set for October 15th. Haneline&nbsp;faces the possibility of an enhanced punishment range by the court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629917344989.jpeg" alt="Lee Allen Haneline." />
 <figcaption>Lee Allen Haneline.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA Buchanan County man has been found guilty of felony meth possession charges.A jury found 60-year-old Lee Allen Haneline guilty on Tuesday in Division III of the Buchanan County Circuit Court - Judge Patrick Robb presiding. Haneline was charged with possession of meth in Buchanan County in May 2020. He was found by the court to be a prior and persistent felony offender under Missouri law.Sentencing is set for October 15th. Haneline&nbsp;faces the possibility of an enhanced punishment range by the court.

Buchanan County man found guilty of felony possession of meth

The Doniphan County Health Department will be offering an additional shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinic Supervisor Sheryl Pierce says the shot will be made available to immuno-compromised individuals who will be able to get the shot when they walk into the clinic.

"We don't need a letter from the doctor, a note from the doctor," Pierce says. "If they come in and say they meet those guidelines, we will be able to administer an additional, this is not considered a booster dose, this is an additional dose of Moderna."

The Pfizer vaccine will also be available.

The additional shot will be available to walk-ins at the clinic. Doniphan County health officials have extended clinic hours, hoping demand will increase.

"Our open clinics for vaccines, and that means they can just walk in without an appointment, will be every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 and 1:30 to 4:30," Pierce says.

Pierce adds that if you can't make it at those times, you can still make an appointment.

"Those are just going to be walk in clinic times, if you absolutely can non come on those days, give us a call and we'll try to work you in another day." Pierce says.

Doniphan County health officials are hopeful with recent FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, vaccination rates will rise.

"Well I certainly hope we do," Pierce tells St. Joseph Post. "You know our vaccination rates fairly low in our county compared to the state, so we're hoping this will prompt more people to get the vaccine."

"The FDA approval is for 16 and over, we still have our 12 to 15 year olds and we will still be able to administer the Pfizer vaccine under the Emergency Use Authorization."

Walk in clinics at the Health Department are on Wednesdays with new extended hours from 9:30- 11:30 am and 1:30- 4:30 pm where vaccine doses will be available.

BY MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe Doniphan County Health Department will be offering an additional shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.Clinic Supervisor Sheryl Pierce says the shot will be made available to immuno-compromised individuals who will be able to get the shot when they walk into the clinic."We don't need a letter from the doctor, a note from the doctor," Pierce says. "If they come in and say they meet those guidelines, we will be able to administer an additional, this is not considered a booster dose, this is an additional dose of Moderna."The Pfizer vaccine will also be available.The additional shot will be available to walk-ins at the clinic. Doniphan County health officials have extended clinic hours, hoping demand will increase."Our open clinics for vaccines, and that means they can just walk in without an appointment, will be every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 and 1:30 to 4:30," Pierce says.Pierce adds that if you can't make it at those times, you can still make an appointment."Those are just going to be walk in clinic times, if you absolutely can non come on those days, give us a call and we'll try to work you in another day." Pierce says.Doniphan County health officials are hopeful with recent FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, vaccination rates will rise."Well I certainly hope we do," Pierce tells St. Joseph Post. "You know our vaccination rates fairly low in our county compared to the state, so we're hoping this will prompt more people to get the vaccine."Pierce is quick to remind people though."The FDA approval is for 16 and over, we still have our 12 to 15 year olds and we will still be able to administer the Pfizer vaccine under the Emergency Use Authorization."Walk in clinics at the Health Department are on Wednesdays with new extended hours from 9:30- 11:30 am and 1:30- 4:30 pm where vaccine doses will be available.

Doniphan Co Health Department providing additional vaccine shot

A new effort is underway to get community input into the
future of St. Joseph public schools.

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Patt Lilly says
discussions have been underway for months about the direction of the school
district, discussions that began among members of the Chamber board after the
overwhelming defeat of the school bond issue in April.

“The truth is that the success of the school district is the
number one issue with the business community in St. Joseph,” Lilly tells host
Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

The Chamber and Mosaic Life Care will pay for a consultant to
begin asking community members what they want from their school district.

St. Joseph School District voters in April soundly defeated a $107
million dollar school bond issue. Three incumbents also on the ballot also lost
their seats on the school board.

Lilly says the bond issue campaign got off on the wrong foot.

“If you start the discussion with, okay, we have to close a
high school. Well, that immediately sets off a polarizing discussion, but more
importantly, why?”

The bond issue would have paid to convert the former American
Family Insurance regional headquarters into a into a second high school to go
along with a refurbished Central High School.

Under the proposal, Benton High School and Lafayette High
School would have been turned into middle schools as the district ended the
three-high school model in favor of a new two-high school model.

More than 64% if the voters cast ballots against the plan.

Lilly says the consultants plan to work with a large committee
to speak with St. Joseph residents about what they want in a school district.
He expects the process to take at least a year, perhaps a year-and-a-half.&nbsp; He says the school board will ultimately make
the decision, based on the input provided.

Lilly says the devastating defeat at the polls in April sent a
very difficult message to the St. Joseph School Board.

“The trust with the school district really has been broken,”
Lilly says. “I think, in some ways, unfairly. But that’s a topic for another
day. That’s just the reality. There’s not a lot of trust with the school
district or the board.”

Lilly says though the Chamber and Mosaic are footing the bill,
they will not be driving the conversation. Lilly says the consultants will take
their time, talk to city residents, and begin forming a plan to present to the
St. Joseph School Board.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629907945952.jpeg" alt="Central High School/File photo" />
 <figcaption>Central High School/File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA new effort is underway to get community input into the
future of St. Joseph public schools.St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Patt Lilly says
discussions have been underway for months about the direction of the school
district, discussions that began among members of the Chamber board after the
overwhelming defeat of the school bond issue in April.“The truth is that the success of the school district is the
number one issue with the business community in St. Joseph,” Lilly tells host
Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.The Chamber and Mosaic Life Care will pay for a consultant to
begin asking community members what they want from their school district.St. Joseph School District voters in April soundly defeated a $107
million dollar school bond issue. Three incumbents also on the ballot also lost
their seats on the school board.Lilly says the bond issue campaign got off on the wrong foot.“If you start the discussion with, okay, we have to close a
high school. Well, that immediately sets off a polarizing discussion, but more
importantly, why?”The bond issue would have paid to convert the former American
Family Insurance regional headquarters into a into a second high school to go
along with a refurbished Central High School.Under the proposal, Benton High School and Lafayette High
School would have been turned into middle schools as the district ended the
three-high school model in favor of a new two-high school model.More than 64% if the voters cast ballots against the plan.Lilly says the consultants plan to work with a large committee
to speak with St. Joseph residents about what they want in a school district.
He expects the process to take at least a year, perhaps a year-and-a-half.&nbsp; He says the school board will ultimately make
the decision, based on the input provided.Lilly says the devastating defeat at the polls in April sent a
very difficult message to the St. Joseph School Board.“The trust with the school district really has been broken,”
Lilly says. “I think, in some ways, unfairly. But that’s a topic for another
day. That’s just the reality. There’s not a lot of trust with the school
district or the board.”Lilly says though the Chamber and Mosaic are footing the bill,
they will not be driving the conversation. Lilly says the consultants will take
their time, talk to city residents, and begin forming a plan to present to the
St. Joseph School Board.

St. Joseph residents to be asked about future of school district

St. Joseph suffered a decline in population over the last ten years according to the US Census Bureau.

Corey Mihalik of the Missouri census data center says the decline in St. Joseph was slight, 5.6 percent or about forty three hundred people . 

"Which is kind of unusual," says Mihalik. "And as much as most urban centers saw population increases and rural areas saw population decreases, so that's kind of one the intersting cases around the state, in that it's one of the major cities that we actually saw a population decline rather than an increase."

But Mihalik says it's not because people are moving away from the area, but because fewer people have children.

"What we were seeing is that the declines are much larger in the under 18 population than the over 18 population," Mihalik says. "So a lot of the decline in population is more due to the, we assume here, people not having children rather than actual migratory changes."

Mihalik says both Andrew and Buchanan counties were a part of that trend.  Andrew county saw gains in population up 4.8%, while Buchanan County saw drops of 4.9%.

BY MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph suffered a decline in population over the last ten years according to the US Census Bureau.Corey Mihalik of the Missouri census data center says the decline in St. Joseph was slight, 5.6 percent or about forty three hundred people . "Which is kind of unusual," says Mihalik. "And as much as most urban centers saw population increases and rural areas saw population decreases, so that's kind of one the intersting cases around the state, in that it's one of the major cities that we actually saw a population decline rather than an increase."But Mihalik says it's not because people are moving away from the area, but because fewer people have children."What we were seeing is that the declines are much larger in the under 18 population than the over 18 population," Mihalik says. "So a lot of the decline in population is more due to the, we assume here, people not having children rather than actual migratory changes."Mihalik says both Andrew and Buchanan counties were a part of that trend. Andrew county saw gains in population up 4.8%, while Buchanan County saw drops of 4.9%.

US Census Bureau sees decline in St. Joseph population

St. Joseph police are looking for two suspects in a shooting
late last night that sent a man in his 40s to the hospital, suffering
multiple gunshot wounds.

Police say the wounds, while serious, do not appear to be
life-threatening. He was taken to Mosaic Life Care’s St. Joseph hospital.

Police report officers responded to a shooting in the 400
block of Kemper Street shortly before midnight. The victim is described as a
black male in his 40s. Witnesses gave officers descriptions of two possible
suspects, both black males ages in the 30s or 40s, dressed in all black
clothing.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police are looking for two suspects in a shooting
late last night that sent a man in his 40s to the hospital, suffering
multiple gunshot wounds.Police say the wounds, while serious, do not appear to be
life-threatening. He was taken to Mosaic Life Care’s St. Joseph hospital.Police report officers responded to a shooting in the 400
block of Kemper Street shortly before midnight. The victim is described as a
black male in his 40s. Witnesses gave officers descriptions of two possible
suspects, both black males ages in the 30s or 40s, dressed in all black
clothing.

Man sent to hospital with multiple wounds in St. Joseph shooting

The St. Joseph Mustangs returned to Phil Welch Stadium in 2021, and the season ended in thrilling fashion with multiple come-from-behind playoff wins and a seventh MINK League Championship.

The team also had an&nbsp;eighth straight top 10 finish in national attendance rankings for summer&nbsp;collegiate  baseball teams.

The Mustangs finished the season, averaging 2,246 fans per game. A total of 53,904 people walked through the gates at Phil Welch Stadium in 2021. According to BaseballDigest.com, St. Joseph ranked ninth nationally and first in the MINK League in per game attendance.

"You know, each year we might have a few different players and our roster changes, but the people that make the organization and make the atmosphere, they stay the same," Mustangs general manager Ky Turner said. "So, it's just a special little thing here in northwest Missouri that we look forward to every summer."

The Mustangs <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/232ecbf0-21a3-4987-82b7-40789a69bebe">defeated Sedalia 12-2 on July 30</a> at Phil Welch, giving the franchise a league-best seven league titles in 12 seasons.

"The fans are such a huge part of it," Mustangs coach Johnny Coy said at that time. "I don't think they even realize how big of a part that they play in this. Whenever we go on the road, there's not a lot of fans there and not a lot of energy. These fans, we feed off of them every single year. You know, without the fans, I don't know if the Mustangs would be what it is. We're always going to be grateful for our fans."

The Mustangs will enter their 13th season at Phil Welch in 2022.

"I have always been just amazed and so grateful for their support," Mustangs owner Dan Gerson said of the fans. "And how much in the fabric of St. Joe we are considered to be every summer."

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629827267961.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs returned to Phil Welch Stadium in 2021, and the season ended in thrilling fashion with multiple come-from-behind playoff wins and a seventh MINK League Championship.The team also had an&nbsp;eighth straight top 10 finish in national attendance rankings for summer&nbsp;collegiate baseball teams.The Mustangs finished the season, averaging 2,246 fans per game. A total of 53,904 people walked through the gates at Phil Welch Stadium in 2021. According to BaseballDigest.com, St. Joseph ranked ninth nationally and first in the MINK League in per game attendance."You know, each year we might have a few different players and our roster changes, but the people that make the organization and make the atmosphere, they stay the same," Mustangs general manager Ky Turner said. "So, it's just a special little thing here in northwest Missouri that we look forward to every summer."The Mustangs <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/232ecbf0-21a3-4987-82b7-40789a69bebe">defeated Sedalia 12-2 on July 30</a> at Phil Welch, giving the franchise a league-best seven league titles in 12 seasons."The fans are such a huge part of it," Mustangs coach Johnny Coy said at that time. "I don't think they even realize how big of a part that they play in this. Whenever we go on the road, there's not a lot of fans there and not a lot of energy. These fans, we feed off of them every single year. You know, without the fans, I don't know if the Mustangs would be what it is. We're always going to be grateful for our fans."The Mustangs will enter their 13th season at Phil Welch in 2022."I have always been just amazed and so grateful for their support," Mustangs owner Dan Gerson said of the fans. "And how much in the fabric of St. Joe we are considered to be every summer."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627707465245.jpeg" alt="Mustangs coach Johnny Coy (left) hoists the MINK League championship trophy following his team's 12-2 win over Sedalia in the MINK League Championship Series at Phil Welch Stadium on July 30. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Mustangs coach Johnny Coy (left) hoists the MINK League championship trophy following his team's 12-2 win over Sedalia in the MINK League Championship Series at Phil Welch Stadium on July 30. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Mustangs rank in the top 10 nationally in attendance

DEKALB COUNTY —A Missouri man was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Monday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Triumph driven by Carl D. Markle, 58, Maysville, was eastbound on MO 6 at Fairmount Road.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle traveled off the road and the driver was ejected. DeKalb County EMS transported Markle to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —A Missouri man was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Monday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Triumph driven by Carl D. Markle, 58, Maysville, was eastbound on MO 6 at Fairmount Road.The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle traveled off the road and the driver was ejected. DeKalb County EMS transported Markle to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Maysville man hospitalized after motorcycle accident

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Transit Van driven by Kyle B. Carnes, 23, Shawnee, Kan. was southbound on Interstate 35 three miles north of Cameron.

The van rear-ended the towed unit of a 2020 International Dump Truck driven by Jerry G. Cook, 61, Hamilton.

A private vehicle transported Cook to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Carnes was not injured.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Transit Van driven by Kyle B. Carnes, 23, Shawnee, Kan. was southbound on Interstate 35 three miles north of Cameron.The van rear-ended the towed unit of a 2020 International Dump Truck driven by Jerry G. Cook, 61, Hamilton.A private vehicle transported Cook to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Carnes was not injured.

Missouri man injured after van rear-ends dump truck

St.
Joseph health officials report 140 new cases of COVID-19 and one virus-related
death in Buchanan County since Friday.

The
death was a woman in her 90s, putting the county’s virus death toll at 207. The
county’s positivity rate has dropped a bit. It's now at 12.8% - a 1.2% decrease from the week prior.

Mosaic
Life Care is treating 47 COVID-19 patients as of Monday; 42 in St. Joseph, three
in Maryville, and one in Albany. Slightly more than 21% of Buchanan County
residents are fully vaccinated. 

Andrew
County, meanwhile, reports 134 active cases. Nearly 28% of Andrew County
residents are fully vaccinated.

Kansas health officials report 1,224 total COVID-19 cases in Doniphan County since the pandemic began.

By TOMMY REZAC and BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report 140 new cases of COVID-19 and one virus-related
death in Buchanan County since Friday.The
death was a woman in her 90s, putting the county’s virus death toll at 207. The
county’s positivity rate has dropped a bit. It's now at 12.8% - a 1.2% decrease from the week prior.Mosaic
Life Care is treating 47 COVID-19 patients as of Monday; 42 in St. Joseph, three
in Maryville, and one in Albany. Slightly more than 21% of Buchanan County
residents are fully vaccinated. Andrew
County, meanwhile, reports 134 active cases. Nearly 28% of Andrew County
residents are fully vaccinated.Kansas health officials report 1,224 total COVID-19 cases in Doniphan County since the pandemic began.

St. Joseph reports 140 new COVID cases, positivity rate drops

A St. Joseph house was shot up last night, but no one inside was
wounded.

St. Joseph police report witnesses tell officers between three
and four shots were fired into an occupied house in the 2200 block of Duncan
Street shortly after nine o’clock last night. The shots might have been fired
from a vehicle.

No suspect has been arrested. The investigation continues.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph house was shot up last night, but no one inside was
wounded.St. Joseph police report witnesses tell officers between three
and four shots were fired into an occupied house in the 2200 block of Duncan
Street shortly after nine o’clock last night. The shots might have been fired
from a vehicle.No suspect has been arrested. The investigation continues.

Shots fired into St. Joseph house; no one hurt

Monday was the first day of school for over 11,000 students across the St. Joseph school district.

School is officially in session for the 2021-22 school year - a second year operating under COVID-19 protocols.

Even so, district superintendent Doug Van Zyl expressed optimism on the first day of a new year.

"There's excitement for staff, our students and our faculty to get the year kicked back off," Van Zyl said. "But, I'm sure there's still some apprehension, because it's a little bit different again this year with masks and other things taking place. But, it's not new. So, hopefully people understand that and we'll continue to have a great year, and day one kind of sets the tone for that."

The St. Joseph school board voted 5-1 earlier this month in favor of reinstating an indoor mask mandate for St. Joseph school staff, students and visitors.

Van Zyl says this policy will be reviewed on a monthly basis at least.

"So, we'll continue to monitor the information and what takes place in our community," he said. "St. Joseph is not the same as other communities, and the vaccination rates are different, so we'll have to take all of that into account."

In an online survey, over 50 percent of St. Joseph school district parents, students and staff were in favor of reinstating masks as the delta variant spreads rapidly across the state and region.

Van Zyl says that data was looked at carefully by the board as they decided what to do for this school year. He also says the mask mandate, while unpopular for many, gives the district its best chance of maintaining in-person learning throughout the entire academic year.

"I think that's what the board tried to take a look at when they made the decision in regard to masks," Van Zyl said. "It's really about the quarantining. It's not necessarily about the masks and the vaccinations themselves, but knowing that those are barriers and layers that can help us keep kids in school so that we can educate them."

Besides keeping schools open all year long, Van Zyl says his second primary goal continues to be community engagement and finding ways to meet the need of the district's families.

"I think there will be conversations about how we continue to engage the community about, 'What do you really want from your school district?'" Van Zyl said. "How do you want us to be able to move forward? What do you want for your kids, the community as a whole? I think those are a couple of big ticket items that are going to be a focus for us this year."

One way the district is trying to make life easier for families in the district is the use of a new mobile app called Stopfinder - a new way for students and their families <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/b0b05846-536b-45e7-8506-66fe5fa72fde">to track their school bus</a> and know when to expect delays.

"That way families have the opportunity to see where the bus is at and give them a better idea," said Van Zyl, "so they're not standing outside for 10, 15 or 20 minutes. They can get there on time and hopefully know when their kids are going to be picked up and dropped off."

The school district is undergoing some other changes. SJSD is preparing to move its main office from 925 Felix Street to the former Noyes Elementary building.

In addition, Benton, Lafayette and Central High School, along with Hilllyard Technical School, now have partial air conditioning for the first time.

The high school's gyms and auditoriums all have air conditioning - part of an $11.37 million project funded by COVID relief dollars. Other parts of the project include improving plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems in the school buildings district-wide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629748960438.jpeg" alt="Parents escort children to Lindbergh Elementary School in St. Joseph Monday as another school year starts. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Parents escort children to Lindbergh Elementary School in St. Joseph Monday as another school year starts. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMonday was the first day of school for over 11,000 students across the St. Joseph school district. School is officially in session for the 2021-22 school year - a second year operating under COVID-19 protocols.Even so, district superintendent Doug Van Zyl expressed optimism on the first day of a new year."There's excitement for staff, our students and our faculty to get the year kicked back off," Van Zyl said. "But, I'm sure there's still some apprehension, because it's a little bit different again this year with masks and other things taking place. But, it's not new. So, hopefully people understand that and we'll continue to have a great year, and day one kind of sets the tone for that."The St. Joseph school board voted 5-1 earlier this month in favor of reinstating an indoor mask mandate for St. Joseph school staff, students and visitors.Van Zyl says this policy will be reviewed on a monthly basis at least."So, we'll continue to monitor the information and what takes place in our community," he said. "St. Joseph is not the same as other communities, and the vaccination rates are different, so we'll have to take all of that into account."In an online survey, over 50 percent of St. Joseph school district parents, students and staff were in favor of reinstating masks as the delta variant spreads rapidly across the state and region.Van Zyl says that data was looked at carefully by the board as they decided what to do for this school year. He also says the mask mandate, while unpopular for many, gives the district its best chance of maintaining in-person learning throughout the entire academic year."I think that's what the board tried to take a look at when they made the decision in regard to masks," Van Zyl said. "It's really about the quarantining. It's not necessarily about the masks and the vaccinations themselves, but knowing that those are barriers and layers that can help us keep kids in school so that we can educate them."Besides keeping schools open all year long, Van Zyl says his second primary goal continues to be community engagement and finding ways to meet the need of the district's families."I think there will be conversations about how we continue to engage the community about, 'What do you really want from your school district?'" Van Zyl said. "How do you want us to be able to move forward? What do you want for your kids, the community as a whole? I think those are a couple of big ticket items that are going to be a focus for us this year."One way the district is trying to make life easier for families in the district is the use of a new mobile app called Stopfinder - a new way for students and their families <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/b0b05846-536b-45e7-8506-66fe5fa72fde">to track their school bus</a> and know when to expect delays."That way families have the opportunity to see where the bus is at and give them a better idea," said Van Zyl, "so they're not standing outside for 10, 15 or 20 minutes. They can get there on time and hopefully know when their kids are going to be picked up and dropped off."The school district is undergoing some other changes. SJSD is preparing to move its main office from 925 Felix Street to the former Noyes Elementary building.In addition, Benton, Lafayette and Central High School, along with Hilllyard Technical School, now have partial air conditioning for the first time.The high school's gyms and auditoriums all have air conditioning - part of an $11.37 million project funded by COVID relief dollars. Other parts of the project include improving plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems in the school buildings district-wide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629748903924.jpeg" alt="Students come off the bus in front of Linbergh Elementary in St. Joseph on Monday morning. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Students come off the bus in front of Linbergh Elementary in St. Joseph on Monday morning. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629749044244.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph School District prepared for another school year with COVID protocols

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he has no intention of calling
legislators back in a special session to deal with Medicaid expansion.

Lawmakers during the regular legislative session refused to
fund Medicaid expansion, approved by the voters last year. A unanimous Missouri
Supreme Court ruling ordered them to fund it.

Parson says he will not call a special session on Medicaid
expansion, but expects it to be a top priority when they regather for the
regular session in January.

“I think they do need to have a say in how we move forward,”
Parson tells reporters during a stop in St. Joseph. “We have a court order
saying we have to implement this and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going
to follow that order. As long as we can utilize that federal money, is the big
thing. We just don’t want to get into General Revenue and all of the sudden take
all the General Revenue we have, whether that’s infrastructure, whether that’s
education, whether that’s tourism, you just name it, we just don’t want to use
up all that money.”

Parson doesn’t anticipate having to withhold any money to fund
Medicaid expansion over the next few months.

“So, we want to be able to have it in place where we can draw
down the federal dollars,” Parson says. “But I believe we can get by, if all
goes well, I think we can get by until January and then the legislators need to
come in and decide what they’re going to do.”

Parson has estimated the state’s portion of expansion would be
$156 million in the current fiscal year. It is estimated it will cost $1.57 billion
to cover the additional 127,000 Missourians under expansion, the vast majority
coming through federal funds.

Though Parson budgeted for the state’s share of Medicaid
expansion, state legislators rejected his suggestions and refused to fund it.
The primary complaint voiced by lawmakers was that the ballot issue that passed
last year failed to establish a revenue source for the state’s portion of the
cost. Lawmakers claimed it was unconstitutional, because of that. The Missouri
Supreme Court disagreed.

Parson wants the legislature to funding Medicaid expansion a
top priority in the next regular session. He doesn’t expect to have to withhold
money to pay for it while he waits for the legislature to act.

“I don’t think we’re at that point,” Parson says. “Thank
goodness with everything that’s gone over the last 18-19 months, financially,
this state is in very good shape. And I’ll give that credit to the people across
this state. Again, we stayed focused on keeping our business open, we kept
focused on trying to build our workforce up and our infrastructure, which is
paying us dividends right now that we’ve been able to go through this firestorm
we’ve been through these 18, 19 months. So, I’m thankful for that. A lot of
good things are happening in this state, too.”

The Missouri General Assembly convenes for its regular session
at the beginning of January.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629737369940.jpeg" alt="Missouri Capitol/Missouri House of Representatives photo" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Capitol/Missouri House of Representatives photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Gov. Mike Parson says he has no intention of calling
legislators back in a special session to deal with Medicaid expansion.Lawmakers during the regular legislative session refused to
fund Medicaid expansion, approved by the voters last year. A unanimous Missouri
Supreme Court ruling ordered them to fund it.Parson says he will not call a special session on Medicaid
expansion, but expects it to be a top priority when they regather for the
regular session in January.“I think they do need to have a say in how we move forward,”
Parson tells reporters during a stop in St. Joseph. “We have a court order
saying we have to implement this and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going
to follow that order. As long as we can utilize that federal money, is the big
thing. We just don’t want to get into General Revenue and all of the sudden take
all the General Revenue we have, whether that’s infrastructure, whether that’s
education, whether that’s tourism, you just name it, we just don’t want to use
up all that money.”Parson doesn’t anticipate having to withhold any money to fund
Medicaid expansion over the next few months.“So, we want to be able to have it in place where we can draw
down the federal dollars,” Parson says. “But I believe we can get by, if all
goes well, I think we can get by until January and then the legislators need to
come in and decide what they’re going to do.”Parson has estimated the state’s portion of expansion would be
$156 million in the current fiscal year. It is estimated it will cost $1.57 billion
to cover the additional 127,000 Missourians under expansion, the vast majority
coming through federal funds.Though Parson budgeted for the state’s share of Medicaid
expansion, state legislators rejected his suggestions and refused to fund it.
The primary complaint voiced by lawmakers was that the ballot issue that passed
last year failed to establish a revenue source for the state’s portion of the
cost. Lawmakers claimed it was unconstitutional, because of that. The Missouri
Supreme Court disagreed.Parson wants the legislature to funding Medicaid expansion a
top priority in the next regular session. He doesn’t expect to have to withhold
money to pay for it while he waits for the legislature to act.“I don’t think we’re at that point,” Parson says. “Thank
goodness with everything that’s gone over the last 18-19 months, financially,
this state is in very good shape. And I’ll give that credit to the people across
this state. Again, we stayed focused on keeping our business open, we kept
focused on trying to build our workforce up and our infrastructure, which is
paying us dividends right now that we’ve been able to go through this firestorm
we’ve been through these 18, 19 months. So, I’m thankful for that. A lot of
good things are happening in this state, too.”The Missouri General Assembly convenes for its regular session
at the beginning of January.

Gov. Parson doesn't see need for special session on Medicaid expansion

A 59-year-old woman is expected to
recover from a gunshot wound suffered when shots were fired into four homes in
the 6500 block of Brown Street late Friday night.

St. Joseph police say the woman was
the only one wounded in the shooting that took place after 11 o’clock Friday
night. A shot fired into the house hit her foot while she sat on her couch. She
was taken to the Mosaic Life Care hospital in St. Joseph with what police describe
as non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers say several rounds were
fired into four homes from a vehicle. The incident occurred during a downpour
Friday night.

No one has been arrested in the
incident. The investigation continues.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 59-year-old woman is expected to
recover from a gunshot wound suffered when shots were fired into four homes in
the 6500 block of Brown Street late Friday night.St. Joseph police say the woman was
the only one wounded in the shooting that took place after 11 o’clock Friday
night. A shot fired into the house hit her foot while she sat on her couch. She
was taken to the Mosaic Life Care hospital in St. Joseph with what police describe
as non-life-threatening injuries.Officers say several rounds were
fired into four homes from a vehicle. The incident occurred during a downpour
Friday night.No one has been arrested in the
incident. The investigation continues.

59-year-old St. Joseph woman wounded in drive-by shooting

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a weekend arrest.

Just before 7:30p.m. Saturday, police in the 400 Block of South 10th Street in Atchison arrested 27-year-old&nbsp;Jason C. Price, Jr, of Atchison,&nbsp; on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court.

He is also being held on requested charges of interference with law enforcement.

Price has two previous convictions for burglary, three for theft, for criminal damage to property and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629722639284.png" alt="Price-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Price-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a weekend arrest.Just before 7:30p.m. Saturday, police in the 400 Block of South 10th Street in Atchison arrested 27-year-old&nbsp;Jason C. Price, Jr, of Atchison,&nbsp; on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court. He is also being held on requested charges of interference with law enforcement.Price has two previous convictions for burglary, three for theft, for criminal damage to property and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Police: Kansas felon jailed after weekend arrest

ATCHISON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Atchison County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Dodge Ram driven by Vernie E. Fox, 74, Valley Falls, was southbound on Bourbon Road three miles South of Muscotah.

The front driver's side tire failed. The driver&nbsp; lost control of the pickup. It left the roadway to the east and entered the ditch.

EMS transported Fox and a passenger Evalena A. Fox, 74, Valley Falls, to a Topeka&nbsp; hospital. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

ATCHISON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Atchison County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Dodge Ram driven by Vernie E. Fox, 74, Valley Falls, was southbound on Bourbon Road three miles South of Muscotah.The front driver's side tire failed. The driver&nbsp; lost control of the pickup. It left the roadway to the east and entered the ditch.EMS transported Fox and a passenger Evalena A. Fox, 74, Valley Falls, to a Topeka&nbsp; hospital. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas couple hospitalized after pickup tire fails

NODAWAY COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Ford F150 driven by Treyton J. Harris, 20, Maryville, was northbound on Jett Road three miles north of Barnard.

The pickup crested a hill, crossed the center of the road, partially traveled off the road and struck a 2019 Massey Furguson 4710 driven by&nbsp; Joseph B. Drake 69, Barnard, head-on.

Nodaway County EMS transported a passenger in the pickup Caysie D. Creason, 20, Hale, to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.

Drake and Harris were not injured. Harris and Creason were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Ford F150 driven by Treyton J. Harris, 20, Maryville, was northbound on Jett Road three miles north of Barnard.The pickup crested a hill, crossed the center of the road, partially traveled off the road and struck a 2019 Massey Furguson 4710 driven by&nbsp; Joseph B. Drake 69, Barnard, head-on.Nodaway County EMS transported a passenger in the pickup Caysie D. Creason, 20, Hale, to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.Drake and Harris were not injured. Harris and Creason were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Mo. woman injured after head-on crash with farm tractor

NODAWAY COUNTY —A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by Stephanis Jorandby Molitor, 35, Conception Junction, was westbound on Route U two miles east of Arkoe.

The driver overcorrected and the vehicle began to slide. It crossed the center line, traveled off the road, struck an embankment and overturned.

Nodaway County EMS transported Molitor to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY —A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by Stephanis Jorandby Molitor, 35, Conception Junction, was westbound on Route U two miles east of Arkoe.The driver overcorrected and the vehicle began to slide. It crossed the center line, traveled off the road, struck an embankment and overturned.Nodaway County EMS transported Molitor to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after car overturns

CLINTON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Buick Encore driven by Ellen L. Barnett, 86, Lawson, was westbound on PP Highway just east of Wright Way Lane.

The Buick crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2007 Jeep Liberty driven by Megan A. Scarlett, 33, Kansas City, Missouri. The impact caused the jeep to spin into a westbound 2019 Dodge Ram driven by Bryce U . Sapp, 43, Lawson.

Lawson EMS transported Sapp and Scarlett to Liberty Hospital. Barnett was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Buick Encore driven by Ellen L. Barnett, 86, Lawson, was westbound on PP Highway just east of Wright Way Lane.The Buick crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2007 Jeep Liberty driven by Megan A. Scarlett, 33, Kansas City, Missouri. The impact caused the jeep to spin into a westbound 2019 Dodge Ram driven by Bryce U . Sapp, 43, Lawson.Lawson EMS transported Sapp and Scarlett to Liberty Hospital. Barnett was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2 hospitalized after 3-vehicle crash

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Colorado driven by Leonard L. Jordan, 52, Kansas City, Mo., was southbound on Interstate 35 one mile north of Holt.

The pickup rear-ended a 2010 Nissan Rogue driven by Luz V. Buendia-Rodriguez, 40, Kansas City, Mo. 

Jordan was treated and released from Cameron Regional Medical Center. Buendia-Rodriguez was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Colorado driven by Leonard L. Jordan, 52, Kansas City, Mo., was southbound on Interstate 35 one mile north of Holt.The pickup rear-ended a 2010 Nissan Rogue driven by Luz V. Buendia-Rodriguez, 40, Kansas City, Mo. Jordan was treated and released from Cameron Regional Medical Center. Buendia-Rodriguez was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after rear-end crash

The St. Joseph School District's academic year begins Monday, and those families who rely on buses to get children to and from school now have a new, convenient way to track their bus and know when to expect delays.

The app is called Stopfinder. Apple Bus Company general manager Mark Alexander says this app provides families real-time alerts on where their bus is and when they might expect it to arrive.

"They're going to be able to see their bus in real-time for their students, wherever their students are at," said Alexander. "The beauty of it is, they can get geo-alerts. They can get a geo-alert when that bus leaves the school, and they can also put a geo-alert around where their bus stop is, so that they know, 'Okay. Hey, the bus is going to be here in a few minutes. I need to get out there.'"

The Apple Bus Company has a fleet of about 95 buses that travel 66 main stream routes. The Stopfinder app is able to track the buses through their GPS systems.

Over 3,200 kids in the St. Joseph school district rely on buses. Robert Sigrist, the district director of non-academic services, says this app will hopefully save families some time in their morning routine.

"It'll also save them maybe a little bit of that anxiety of not knowing, 'Why hasn't the bus shown up?'" Sigrist said. "Or, on the flip side, if the weather is not great, they can stay inside a few more minutes if they know the bus isn't there yet. So, I see a whole lot of benefits for families and being able to know when and where to expect their bus."

Sigrist says getting this app ready was about a two-year process that, like many things, got delayed due to COVID-19. As this app gets rolled out and as more and more families download it, Sigrist asks for patience in the first week or so.

"Have a little grace and a little patience the first few days," he stressed. "If that bus isn't there right exactly at the time we planned it to be, just know that as we work through the kinks in the first few days and everything, we'll get there and it'll be a good, safe situation to get your kids to and from school."

Students who ride buses this year will again be required to wear a mask while on the bus, in accordance with federal travel mandates.

Alexander says their bus drivers' main objective is to get kids to and from school safely, but they'll also have masks available for any kids who don't have one.

"We encourage the parents to give kids the masks," he said. "If they don't have one, we will offer them one. But, again, we have to make sure the kids get there safely. That's our main goal."

As over 11,600 students make their way back to school across the district, whether they arrive by bus, are dropped off by a parent, or if they're driving themselves, Sigrist urges a little patience on that first day.

"Take your time," he said. "Just know there's going to be more traffic. Probably one of the big things I always try and remind people of is that, along with the additional car and bus traffic that hasn't been going on for awhile, we'll have a lot of new drivers around the high schools."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629480165669.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph School District's academic year begins Monday, and those families who rely on buses to get children to and from school now have a new, convenient way to track their bus and know when to expect delays.The app is called Stopfinder. Apple Bus Company general manager Mark Alexander says this app provides families real-time alerts on where their bus is and when they might expect it to arrive."They're going to be able to see their bus in real-time for their students, wherever their students are at," said Alexander. "The beauty of it is, they can get geo-alerts. They can get a geo-alert when that bus leaves the school, and they can also put a geo-alert around where their bus stop is, so that they know, 'Okay. Hey, the bus is going to be here in a few minutes. I need to get out there.'"The Apple Bus Company has a fleet of about 95 buses that travel 66 main stream routes. The Stopfinder app is able to track the buses through their GPS systems.Over 3,200 kids in the St. Joseph school district rely on buses. Robert Sigrist, the district director of non-academic services, says this app will hopefully save families some time in their morning routine."It'll also save them maybe a little bit of that anxiety of not knowing, 'Why hasn't the bus shown up?'" Sigrist said. "Or, on the flip side, if the weather is not great, they can stay inside a few more minutes if they know the bus isn't there yet. So, I see a whole lot of benefits for families and being able to know when and where to expect their bus."Sigrist says getting this app ready was about a two-year process that, like many things, got delayed due to COVID-19. As this app gets rolled out and as more and more families download it, Sigrist asks for patience in the first week or so."Have a little grace and a little patience the first few days," he stressed. "If that bus isn't there right exactly at the time we planned it to be, just know that as we work through the kinks in the first few days and everything, we'll get there and it'll be a good, safe situation to get your kids to and from school."Students who ride buses this year will again be required to wear a mask while on the bus, in accordance with federal travel mandates.Alexander says their bus drivers' main objective is to get kids to and from school safely, but they'll also have masks available for any kids who don't have one."We encourage the parents to give kids the masks," he said. "If they don't have one, we will offer them one. But, again, we have to make sure the kids get there safely. That's our main goal."As over 11,600 students make their way back to school across the district, whether they arrive by bus, are dropped off by a parent, or if they're driving themselves, Sigrist urges a little patience on that first day."Take your time," he said. "Just know there's going to be more traffic. Probably one of the big things I always try and remind people of is that, along with the additional car and bus traffic that hasn't been going on for awhile, we'll have a lot of new drivers around the high schools."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629480333978.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629480352789.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph School District launches new bus tracking app with Apple Bus Company

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Olympic gold medalist and former Kansas resident Michael Andrew.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Kansas Olympian Michael Andrew" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=fsmwj-10bc61e-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Olympic gold medalist and former Kansas resident Michael Andrew.

🎤Forward Ever: Olympic gold medalist Michael Andrew

What state highway safety officials call the 100 deadliest days of summer are nearing an end, and traffic fatality numbers have improved from last year.

Assistant State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer John Nelson says so far this year, numbers are pacing the same as 2020, but the numbers have looked better over the summer.

"When we're talking specifially about the hundred deadliest days, which is what we refer to really the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day," Nelson says. "We actually have seen some progress this year." 

July numbers were down from July of last year.

"August has been about on par with last year," Nelson adds. "But we would really like to see us finish that part of summer strong, and give us some momentum heading into the fall."

Nelson says, historically, numbers are up when more people are on the highways, and down when there are fewer drivers, but last year during the pandemic, the numbers were higher than expected.

"But we saw the exact opposite," Nelson tells St. Joseph Post. "The fewer cars we had on the road during the pandemic, and really into this year, the more our fatalities increased and I do think there was some sense of, nobody else is out on the road, I've got all this room, I can drive faster."

BY MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostWhat state highway safety officials call the 100 deadliest days of summer are nearing an end, and traffic fatality numbers have improved from last year.Assistant State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer John Nelson says so far this year, numbers are pacing the same as 2020, but the numbers have looked better over the summer."When we're talking specifially about the hundred deadliest days, which is what we refer to really the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day," Nelson says. "We actually have seen some progress this year." July numbers were down from July of last year."August has been about on par with last year," Nelson adds. "But we would really like to see us finish that part of summer strong, and give us some momentum heading into the fall."Nelson says, historically, numbers are up when more people are on the highways, and down when there are fewer drivers, but last year during the pandemic, the numbers were higher than expected."But we saw the exact opposite," Nelson tells St. Joseph Post. "The fewer cars we had on the road during the pandemic, and really into this year, the more our fatalities increased and I do think there was some sense of, nobody else is out on the road, I've got all this room, I can drive faster."Even with the number of traffic fatalities improving over this year, one number still remains high, the number of impaired drivers on the road.&nbsp; Nelson says that as drivers get ready to head into labor day, they should stay aware of how dangerous drunk or drugged driving can be."People are still losing their life on our roadways because of impaired driving, you would think here in 2021, it's very well known that is a deadly and dangerous thing to do, it's inconsiderate, it's selfish, however you want to label it," Nelson says. "But every year we're still losing about 200 people in Missouri, as a result of driving intoxicated or driving under the influence."To attempt to curb the number of impaired drivers on the roadways, Missouri law enforcement will participate in the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign, beginning August 20th until Labor Day, the one objective of this campaign being to decrease the number of impaired drivers on the road.

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