Hillyard Companies celebrated a project more than five years in the making in St. Joseph Monday.

Hillyard held a ceremonial groundbreaking at their St. Joseph headquarters to mark the start of construction on their new distribution center at the former WireCo Worldgroup site.

Hillyard's Chief Administrative Officer Brett Carolus says the project would not have been possible without the help of local and statewide leadership.

"We were confident we could get this done," Carolus said, "but it would only be possible with proper incentives and local support. Our city, our county our state and our new market tax credit partners stepped up to help us turn this vision into a reality."

Governor Mike Parson, Lieutenant governor Mike Kahoe, mayor John Josendale and Buchanan County presiding commissioner Lee Sawyer were among the featured guests Monday.

Parson says retaining businesses is just as important as bringing new ones to the state, and he credits Hillyard for its many years in St. Joe.

"It's important to retain (the businesses) that we have," Parson said. "Sometimes, we get to thinking about all new businesses and bringing people here to our communities. That's fine, but you also have to remember who brought you to the dance. Hillyard has brought a lot of people to the dance when you look at how many people they employ here and the investment they made."

Hillyard, in 2016, purchased a 25-acre plot from WireCo Worldgroup in downtown St. Joseph, and are now building a new manufacturing and national distribution center to modernize its manufacturing and warehousing operations. Carolus says this did not come without challenges.

"They're not there today anymore, but there were over 20 buildings on that site that were not conducive to our operation," Carolus explained. "So, they would need to be removed. With any site like this, there needed to be some environmental remediation. It's on a significant hill, which you can't see much today either, because they've already leveled a lot of it off. The site is broken up by city streets, countless utilities and railroad."

But through a number of incentives and support from state and local leadership, Hillyard was able to make this project a reality.

"When you have this many partners, to make something like this happen, it takes awhile," Carolus said. "But, I'm very excited to get to this point and get into the new building."

Josendale, the newly elected mayor who spent more than 40 years at WireCo, says the event was special for him personally, as the new Hillyard Distribution Center is being built on a plot that was formerly owned by WireCo.

"As it became apparent that WireCo wasn't going to be (on the site), to be able to work with them and get the development underway and get them involved in it, I think is an exciting time," Josendale said. "It's an exciting time for the city. The city is very much onboard."

State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, representatives Brenda Shields and Bill Falkner and former mayor Bill McMurray were also among those in attendance.

The new Hillyard Distribution Center is set to be operational by the fall of 2023. Founded in 1907 in St. Joseph, Hillyard employs 200 people in the city and 900 people nationwide.

"Even if you're a business or a company, you're still a public servant to all of the people who work for you," Parson remarked. "I always think that's the success of why we're all here today. Trying to make things better. And St. Joe, you're very fortunate (Hillyard) decided to make this better than what it was for."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653403763584.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph mayor John Josendale speaks at Hillyard's ceremonial groundbreaking Monday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph mayor John Josendale speaks at Hillyard's ceremonial groundbreaking Monday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostHillyard Companies celebrated a project more than five years in the making in St. Joseph Monday.Hillyard held a ceremonial groundbreaking at their St. Joseph headquarters to mark the start of construction on their new distribution center at the former WireCo Worldgroup site.Hillyard's Chief Administrative Officer Brett Carolus says the project would not have been possible without the help of local and statewide leadership."We were confident we could get this done," Carolus said, "but it would only be possible with proper incentives and local support. Our city, our county our state and our new market tax credit partners stepped up to help us turn this vision into a reality."Governor Mike Parson, Lieutenant governor Mike Kahoe, mayor John Josendale and Buchanan County presiding commissioner Lee Sawyer were among the featured guests Monday.Parson says retaining businesses is just as important as bringing new ones to the state, and he credits Hillyard for its many years in St. Joe."It's important to retain (the businesses) that we have," Parson said. "Sometimes, we get to thinking about all new businesses and bringing people here to our communities. That's fine, but you also have to remember who brought you to the dance. Hillyard has brought a lot of people to the dance when you look at how many people they employ here and the investment they made."Hillyard, in 2016, purchased a 25-acre plot from WireCo Worldgroup in downtown St. Joseph, and are now building a new manufacturing and national distribution center to modernize its manufacturing and warehousing operations. Carolus says this did not come without challenges."They're not there today anymore, but there were over 20 buildings on that site that were not conducive to our operation," Carolus explained. "So, they would need to be removed. With any site like this, there needed to be some environmental remediation. It's on a significant hill, which you can't see much today either, because they've already leveled a lot of it off. The site is broken up by city streets, countless utilities and railroad."But through a number of incentives and support from state and local leadership, Hillyard was able to make this project a reality."When you have this many partners, to make something like this happen, it takes awhile," Carolus said. "But, I'm very excited to get to this point and get into the new building."Josendale, the newly elected mayor who spent more than 40 years at WireCo, says the event was special for him personally, as the new Hillyard Distribution Center is being built on a plot that was formerly owned by WireCo."As it became apparent that WireCo wasn't going to be (on the site), to be able to work with them and get the development underway and get them involved in it, I think is an exciting time," Josendale said. "It's an exciting time for the city. The city is very much onboard."State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, representatives Brenda Shields and Bill Falkner and former mayor Bill McMurray were also among those in attendance.The new Hillyard Distribution Center is set to be operational by the fall of 2023. Founded in 1907 in St. Joseph, Hillyard employs 200 people in the city and 900 people nationwide."Even if you're a business or a company, you're still a public servant to all of the people who work for you," Parson remarked. "I always think that's the success of why we're all here today. Trying to make things better. And St. Joe, you're very fortunate (Hillyard) decided to make this better than what it was for."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653404702296.jpeg" alt="Governor Mike Parson speaks at the Hillyard ceremony Monday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Governor Mike Parson speaks at the Hillyard ceremony Monday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653404751280.jpeg" alt="Hillyard Chief Administrative Officer Brett Carolus." />
 <figcaption>Hillyard Chief Administrative Officer Brett Carolus.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653404783794.jpeg" alt="Lieutenant governor Mike Kehoe." />
 <figcaption>Lieutenant governor Mike Kehoe.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653404942810.jpeg" alt="The construction site of Hillyard's new distribution center going up near 3rd and Robidoux Streets." />
 <figcaption>The construction site of Hillyard's new distribution center going up near 3rd and Robidoux Streets.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

State, city leaders celebrate Hillyard groundbreaking in St. Joseph

CLAY COUNTY— A Missouri man died in an accident just after 10a.m. Monday in Clay County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Dodge passenger vehicle driven by Richard A. Dobbins, 30, Excelsior Springs, was westbound on U.S. 69 at North Jesse James Road.

The driver failed to yield at a lighted intersection. The Dodge struck a northbound 2012 Nissan passenger vehicle driven by Michael P. Neary, 32, Lawson, on the passenger side. The Nissan then struck a southbound 2019 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by John W. Weber, 54, Cameron.&nbsp;

After impact the Dodge overturned in the ditch and the driver was ejected.

Dobbins was pronounced dead at the scene and released to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported Weber to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; Neary was not injured. Dobbins was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CLAY COUNTY— A Missouri man died in an accident just after 10a.m. Monday in Clay County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Dodge passenger vehicle driven by Richard A. Dobbins, 30, Excelsior Springs, was westbound on U.S. 69 at North Jesse James Road.The driver failed to yield at a lighted intersection. The Dodge struck a northbound 2012 Nissan passenger vehicle driven by Michael P. Neary, 32, Lawson, on the passenger side. The Nissan then struck a southbound 2019 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by John W. Weber, 54, Cameron.&nbsp;After impact the Dodge overturned in the ditch and the driver was ejected.Dobbins was pronounced dead at the scene and released to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported Weber to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; Neary was not injured. Dobbins was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after ejected in 3-vehicle crash

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Monday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Mustang driven by Kennadie G. Crowe, 20, Chillicothe, was southbound on Route D two miles south of Utica.

The car traveled off the right side of the road. The car returned to the road, traveled across and off the left side and of the road, overturned and struck a utility pole.

A private vehicle transported Crowe to Hedrick Medical Center. She was&nbsp; properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Monday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Mustang driven by Kennadie G. Crowe, 20, Chillicothe, was southbound on Route D two miles south of Utica.The car traveled off the right side of the road. The car returned to the road, traveled across and off the left side and of the road, overturned and struck a utility pole.A private vehicle transported Crowe to Hedrick Medical Center. She was&nbsp; properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after car overturns

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a weekend incident in Atchison.

On Saturday, police arrested 24-year-old Jonathan T. Shisler of&nbsp; Atchison in the 600 Block of of Parallel on a requested charge of domestic battery, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. He is no longer in custody.

In 2015, police arrested Shisler on three separate occasions for alleged violation of a protection order, criminal restraint and domestic battery, according to online jail records. He was also in custody for alleged burglary in 2007.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653337936439.png" alt="Shisler-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Shisler-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a weekend incident in Atchison.On Saturday, police arrested 24-year-old Jonathan T. Shisler of&nbsp; Atchison in the 600 Block of of Parallel on a requested charge of domestic battery, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. He is no longer in custody.In 2015, police arrested Shisler on three separate occasions for alleged violation of a protection order, criminal restraint and domestic battery, according to online jail records. He was also in custody for alleged burglary in 2007.

Kan. man with a history of crime accused of domestic battery

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—Four people were injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Monday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ram 5500 driven by Gary C. Varner, 24, Blackwell, Oklahoma, was eastbound on U.S. 36 three miles east of Chillicothe. The Ram was in the passing lane attempting to overtake a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by Richard B. Cook, 59, Statesville, North Carolina.

The semi crossed the center line and attempted a left turn onto County Road 253.&nbsp; The front right of the Ram struck the driver's side of the semi.

Livingston County EMS transported Varner, Cook and two passengers in the Ram to Hedrick Medical Center. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—Four people were injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Monday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ram 5500 driven by Gary C. Varner, 24, Blackwell, Oklahoma, was eastbound on U.S. 36 three miles east of Chillicothe. The Ram was in the passing lane attempting to overtake a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by Richard B. Cook, 59, Statesville, North Carolina.The semi crossed the center line and attempted a left turn onto County Road 253.&nbsp; The front right of the Ram struck the driver's side of the semi.Livingston County EMS transported Varner, Cook and two passengers in the Ram to Hedrick Medical Center. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

4 hospitalized after pickup, semi collide 

ANDREW COUNTY —A St. Joseph man was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2017 Honda Civic driven by Jeremy S. Wilmes, 50, St. Joseph, was southbound on Business 71 one mile north of Interstate 29 five miles south of Savannah.

The Honda rear-ended a 2019 Ford E350 driven by Mark W. Vincent, 60, Savannah, that had slowed to make a turn.

Andrew County EMS transported Wilmes to Mosaic Life Care. Vincent was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —A St. Joseph man was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2017 Honda Civic driven by Jeremy S. Wilmes, 50, St. Joseph, was southbound on Business 71 one mile north of Interstate 29 five miles south of Savannah.The Honda rear-ended a 2019 Ford E350 driven by Mark W. Vincent, 60, Savannah, that had slowed to make a turn.Andrew County EMS transported Wilmes to Mosaic Life Care. Vincent was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

St. Joseph man injured after rear-end crash

Missouri U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says there are lessons to learn
in the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Blunt, a Republican, says the crisis has exposed a flawed
approach to energy by the West, an approach that has made it harder to respond
to such aggression.

“Have we learned anything from what happened in Germany, where
they eliminated nuclear to keep the Green Party in the government or get the
Green Party in the government and then they wind up they’re alternative is not
only arguably more environmentally troublesome than nuclear, but it’s coming
from somebody you don’t want to be your absolute necessary partner?”

Blunt says there have been some fairly dire consequences from
Europe attempting to detangle itself from relying on Russian oil. Blunt claims
a more realistic deadline to transition from fossil fuels to renewable fuels
would help the West better manage its energy needs.

“Almost all of this is doable if your deadline is 2046 or 2050,”
according to Blunt. “It’s devastating if your deadline 2030. The increase in
prices, the impact on the economy, the impact on families; absolutely
unnecessary.”

Blunt says better planning would have helped.

“The lesson from Europe should be:&nbsp; know what you’re doing and when you get
started, know you’ve got a plan that allows you to successfully work without
damaging the people that you should be helping creating opportunities for
rather than take opportunities away from.”

Blunt says Europe has found it isn’t as easy to cut off
Russian oil as it might seem. Sanctions against Russia have prompted countries
to cut off economic ties with Russia, including no longer buying its oil.

KFEQ Agriculture Director Dionne Bertling assisted with this article.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says there are lessons to learn
in the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Blunt, a Republican, says the crisis has exposed a flawed
approach to energy by the West, an approach that has made it harder to respond
to such aggression.“Have we learned anything from what happened in Germany, where
they eliminated nuclear to keep the Green Party in the government or get the
Green Party in the government and then they wind up they’re alternative is not
only arguably more environmentally troublesome than nuclear, but it’s coming
from somebody you don’t want to be your absolute necessary partner?”Blunt says there have been some fairly dire consequences from
Europe attempting to detangle itself from relying on Russian oil. Blunt claims
a more realistic deadline to transition from fossil fuels to renewable fuels
would help the West better manage its energy needs.“Almost all of this is doable if your deadline is 2046 or 2050,”
according to Blunt. “It’s devastating if your deadline 2030. The increase in
prices, the impact on the economy, the impact on families; absolutely
unnecessary.”Blunt says better planning would have helped.“The lesson from Europe should be:&nbsp; know what you’re doing and when you get
started, know you’ve got a plan that allows you to successfully work without
damaging the people that you should be helping creating opportunities for
rather than take opportunities away from.”Blunt says Europe has found it isn’t as easy to cut off
Russian oil as it might seem. Sanctions against Russia have prompted countries
to cut off economic ties with Russia, including no longer buying its oil.KFEQ Agriculture Director Dionne Bertling assisted with this article.

Sen. Blunt says there are lessons to be learned in attempt to cut off Russian oil

St. Joseph broke the record low temperature of 39 degrees for May 22 set in 1963, according to the National Weather Service.

The Sunday morning low temperature fell to 36 degrees.

Cooler temperatures will continue across the region and there is also a chase for widespread rain showers and thunderstorms beginning Monday evening and continuing through Wednesday.

St. Joseph broke the record low temperature of 39 degrees for May 22 set in 1963, according to the National Weather Service.The Sunday morning low temperature fell to 36 degrees.Cooler temperatures will continue across the region and there is also a chase for widespread rain showers and thunderstorms beginning Monday evening and continuing through Wednesday.

Record low temperature Sunday in St. Joseph

A
documentary using the closing of the St. Joseph Stockyards to illustrate a
national trend will be shown to the public for the first time tonight at the
Missouri Theater.

The
St. Joseph-based video company, <a href="https://www.coinlogcreative.com/">Coin In A Log Creative</a>, produced the
documentary entitled:&nbsp; Sold! An American
Stockyards Story.

“All
things change and I guess that’s one of the main themes of this film is things
change,” Co-Owner Drew Ames tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And
either you accept it or you don’t.”

Ames
says the documentary began with the company filming footage of the day-to-day
activities at the stockyards once located near downtown St. Joseph.

Ames
says owner Mark Servaes told producers he didn’t want to sell, but it became
difficult to keep it up.

“The
clientele was getting older. The workers were getting older. The facilities
were getting a little more run down. It was going to cost a lot to re-maintain
that place. The sewer bills were starting to get kind of crazy,” Ames says. “It
was going to need some repairs.”

Ames
says the documentary will be shown to the public for the first time at the
Missouri Theater, but don’t call it the film’s premiere.

“It’s
a sneak peek. It’s not our full premiere for this,” according to Ames. “We’re
doing this for St. Joseph. We’re doing it for the people that worked down at the
St. Joe Stockyards. We’re doing for the farmers of the area. We want this to be
something that we all can enjoy, because we enjoy the Stockyards so much. And
we couldn’t think of a better place than the Missouri Theater to show off this
product.

The
year-long process disclosed an incredible story, according to co-owner Kyler
Penland, a story that is bigger than St. Joseph.

“We
called it an American stockyards story, because we wanted not just to focus on
St. Joseph and describe this picture from a broad viewpoint,” Penland says. “We
wanted to tell the heart and soul of St. Joseph, but we want to appeal to a
larger audience as well.”

Penland
says the company is pleased the first public showing of the documentary will be
at the Missouri Theater.

“Our
film is a celebration of life of what the Stockyards was,” Penland says. “So,
come, enjoy that with us and share your stories, because we’re going to share
ours.”

The
St. Joseph Stockyards was the last of the Missouri River terminal markets to
cease operations, following the demise of the stockyards in Sioux City, Omaha,
and Kansas City. It opened in 1887 and, in the 50s, was the 8th
largest cattle market in the country. The documentary details the shift away
from large stockyards in the selling of livestock in the country and its impact
on producers.

The
showing begins at 7:30 tomorrow evening at the <a href="https://www.stjosephmo.gov/247/Missouri-Theater">Missouri Theater</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653070938694.jpeg" alt="Drew Ames (left) and Kyler Penland with Coin In A Log Creative speak with KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Drew Ames (left) and Kyler Penland with Coin In A Log Creative speak with KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA
documentary using the closing of the St. Joseph Stockyards to illustrate a
national trend will be shown to the public for the first time tonight at the
Missouri Theater.The
St. Joseph-based video company, <a href="https://www.coinlogcreative.com/">Coin In A Log Creative</a>, produced the
documentary entitled:&nbsp; Sold! An American
Stockyards Story.“All
things change and I guess that’s one of the main themes of this film is things
change,” Co-Owner Drew Ames tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And
either you accept it or you don’t.”Ames
says the documentary began with the company filming footage of the day-to-day
activities at the stockyards once located near downtown St. Joseph.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653071220074.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Stockyards/File photo" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Stockyards/File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Ames
says owner Mark Servaes told producers he didn’t want to sell, but it became
difficult to keep it up.“The
clientele was getting older. The workers were getting older. The facilities
were getting a little more run down. It was going to cost a lot to re-maintain
that place. The sewer bills were starting to get kind of crazy,” Ames says. “It
was going to need some repairs.”Ames
says the documentary will be shown to the public for the first time at the
Missouri Theater, but don’t call it the film’s premiere.“It’s
a sneak peek. It’s not our full premiere for this,” according to Ames. “We’re
doing this for St. Joseph. We’re doing it for the people that worked down at the
St. Joe Stockyards. We’re doing for the farmers of the area. We want this to be
something that we all can enjoy, because we enjoy the Stockyards so much. And
we couldn’t think of a better place than the Missouri Theater to show off this
product.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653071037292.jpeg" alt="Drew Ames (left) and Kyler Penland of Coin In A Log Creative/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Drew Ames (left) and Kyler Penland of Coin In A Log Creative/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The
year-long process disclosed an incredible story, according to co-owner Kyler
Penland, a story that is bigger than St. Joseph.“We
called it an American stockyards story, because we wanted not just to focus on
St. Joseph and describe this picture from a broad viewpoint,” Penland says. “We
wanted to tell the heart and soul of St. Joseph, but we want to appeal to a
larger audience as well.”Penland
says the company is pleased the first public showing of the documentary will be
at the Missouri Theater.“Our
film is a celebration of life of what the Stockyards was,” Penland says. “So,
come, enjoy that with us and share your stories, because we’re going to share
ours.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653071155060.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Stockyards/File photo" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Stockyards/File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The
St. Joseph Stockyards was the last of the Missouri River terminal markets to
cease operations, following the demise of the stockyards in Sioux City, Omaha,
and Kansas City. It opened in 1887 and, in the 50s, was the 8th
largest cattle market in the country. The documentary details the shift away
from large stockyards in the selling of livestock in the country and its impact
on producers.The
showing begins at 7:30 tomorrow evening at the <a href="https://www.stjosephmo.gov/247/Missouri-Theater">Missouri Theater</a>.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wDFlHiXrl5s" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Documentary on close of St. Joseph Stockyards tells much broader story

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Friday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Nissan Altima driven by Jacqueline Ayers, 33, Crawford, AR., was southbound on Interstate 35 just north of the Route B exit.

The car struck a deer and traveled off the road. MTA EMS transported Ayers to Harrison County Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Friday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Nissan Altima driven by Jacqueline Ayers, 33, Crawford, AR., was southbound on Interstate 35 just north of the Route B exit.The car struck a deer and traveled off the road. MTA EMS transported Ayers to Harrison County Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Woman hospitalized after car strikes a deer 

Sounds of Summer returns to St. Joseph tonight with a slight change. 

 The concert series will be held every third Friday of the month May through October, rather than every Friday night. 

 Organizer David Peppard says the previous format put a lot of stress on the volunteers who put the concerts together. 

 "In the old format we pretty much did, oh probably, three shows before the Fourth of July weekend we'd take the Fourth of July off and then we'd do maybe four shows or even five shows after," Peppard tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. 

 Peppard says organizers found the unrelenting schedule made it difficult for the volunteers during the hottest months of summer. 

 "It was week after week after week after week after week and the same volunteers doing the same hard work week after week after week and sometimes in 90- and 95-degree weather, it really took a toll," Peppard says. 

 Organizer Christie George points out Sounds of Summer continued throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but it wasn’t easy. 

 "But we felt like we could still, it would be a good thing to support downtown and bring people downtown outside safely, there was still plenty of room to social distance," George explains. "But we're hoping this year that we'll be better and bigger than ever and a lot of that stress from COVID is easing down." 

 The Downtown Association helps put on Sounds of Summer at Felix Street Square and all money raised goes towards improvements to the park. 

 George with the Downtown Association, says concert-goers will see a new tent in Felix Street Square. 

 “So now there's a new structure that's beautiful and fun to be under," George says. 

 David Peppard adds the tent is aesthetically much nicer and also more functional 

 "Kind of a cover that helps provide some shade, it's more permanent than what we had with the old frame and tent that was kind of deteriorating over time," Peppard says.&nbsp; "We dedicated it to a couple of downtown business folks that we unfortunately lost during COVID,"&nbsp;

 Sounds of Summer kicks off at 6:30 tonight at Coleman Hawkins Park in Felix Street Square in downtown St. Joseph. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653065783637.jpeg" alt="Coleman Hawkins Park will be the site of the Sounds of Summer Concert series/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Coleman Hawkins Park will be the site of the Sounds of Summer Concert series/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE and BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSounds of Summer returns to St. Joseph tonight with a slight change. The concert series will be held every third Friday of the month May through October, rather than every Friday night. Organizer David Peppard says the previous format put a lot of stress on the volunteers who put the concerts together. "In the old format we pretty much did, oh probably, three shows before the Fourth of July weekend we'd take the Fourth of July off and then we'd do maybe four shows or even five shows after," Peppard tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Peppard says organizers found the unrelenting schedule made it difficult for the volunteers during the hottest months of summer. "It was week after week after week after week after week and the same volunteers doing the same hard work week after week after week and sometimes in 90- and 95-degree weather, it really took a toll," Peppard says. Organizer Christie George points out Sounds of Summer continued throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but it wasn’t easy. "But we felt like we could still, it would be a good thing to support downtown and bring people downtown outside safely, there was still plenty of room to social distance," George explains. "But we're hoping this year that we'll be better and bigger than ever and a lot of that stress from COVID is easing down." The Downtown Association helps put on Sounds of Summer at Felix Street Square and all money raised goes towards improvements to the park. George with the Downtown Association, says concert-goers will see a new tent in Felix Street Square. “So now there's a new structure that's beautiful and fun to be under," George says. David Peppard adds the tent is aesthetically much nicer and also more functional "Kind of a cover that helps provide some shade, it's more permanent than what we had with the old frame and tent that was kind of deteriorating over time," Peppard says.&nbsp; "We dedicated it to a couple of downtown business folks that we unfortunately lost during COVID,"&nbsp; Sounds of Summer kicks off at 6:30 tonight at Coleman Hawkins Park in Felix Street Square in downtown St. Joseph. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FStJosephDowntownAssociation%2Fposts%2F5223322621023623&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="648" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Downtown summer concert series returns to St. Joseph tonight

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Symphony in the Flint Hills’ operations manager Kelly Tastove.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Symphony in the Flint Hills’ manager Kelly Tastove" 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=sw735-122edb0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Symphony in the Flint Hills’ operations manager Kelly Tastove.

🎤Forward Ever: Symphony in the Flint Hills’ manager Kelly Tastove

Two men exchanged gunfire at the intersection of 16th
and Lafayette Streets, but no one was wounded in the shooting.

St. Joseph police report officers responded to the area shortly
before 11 o’clock Thursday night. Police say a driver fired a couple of shots
at a man walking on a sidewalk, who returned fire.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTwo men exchanged gunfire at the intersection of 16th
and Lafayette Streets, but no one was wounded in the shooting.St. Joseph police report officers responded to the area shortly
before 11 o’clock Thursday night. Police say a driver fired a couple of shots
at a man walking on a sidewalk, who returned fire.None of the shots hit either man.The driver fled the area.No one has been taken into custody.

Gunfire exchange in St. Joseph, no one wounded

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 
2022. The rates will be:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus three percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus three percentage points, and the 
overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus two percentage 
points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal 
short-term rate plus five percentage points. The rate on the portion of a
 corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is 
the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during April 2022 to take effect May 1, 2022,
 based on daily compounding.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-22-11.pdf">Revenue Ruling 2022-11</a>&nbsp;announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-23, dated June 6, 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 
2022. The rates will be:<ul>
 <li>5% for overpayments (4% in the case of a corporation).</li><li>2.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.</li><li>5% for underpayments.</li><li>7% for large corporate underpayments.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus three percentage points.Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus three percentage points, and the 
overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus two percentage 
points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal 
short-term rate plus five percentage points. The rate on the portion of a
 corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is 
the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during April 2022 to take effect May 1, 2022,
 based on daily compounding.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-22-11.pdf">Revenue Ruling 2022-11</a>&nbsp;announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-23, dated June 6, 2022.

IRS interest rates increase for the third quarter of 2022

BUCHANAN COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by Faith E. Thompson, 21, Smithville, was northbound on U.S. 169 at Southeast Delwood Drive three miles south of St. Joseph.

The vehicle struck a deer. A private vehicle transported Thompson to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by Faith E. Thompson, 21, Smithville, was northbound on U.S. 169 at Southeast Delwood Drive three miles south of St. Joseph.The vehicle struck a deer. A private vehicle transported Thompson to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after SUV strikes a deer

KANSAS CITY (AP) —In the five months that Jennifer Anne Hall was a respiratory therapist at Hedrick Medical Center, the rural Missouri hospital experienced 18 “code blue” incidents — an alarming increase in sudden cardiac arrest events for a hospital that historically averaged one of them a year, according to a police investigator.

Nine of those patients died, and nine recovered. Twenty years later, Hall was charged this month with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-franco-missouri-e1b5b5d9b9341349bc921776c169c1ab">first-degree murder</a>&nbsp;in one of the deaths — that of 75-year-old Fern Franco.

Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren, who launched an investigation 10 years ago, said Franco died of lethal doses of succinylcholine — a relaxant that paralyzes the respiratory muscles — and the pain reliever morphine. The prosecutor did not disclose a possible motive or say why the investigation took a decade.

Hall's attorney, Matt O’Connor, said she is innocent and that as a respiratory therapist, she didn’t have access to succinylcholine, morphine or any other drugs. He said Hall became a scapegoat for the deaths at Hedrick because of an arson conviction that she was cleared of in 2005.

It’s unclear if Hall will face additional murder charges in the 2002 deaths at Hedrick. Warren declined interview requests, and Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.

Franco's granddaughter, Aprille Franco hopes investigators get to the bottom of the other deaths.

“Just for the other families’ sake," Franco, 44, of Kansas City, Missouri, said. "They’ve been waiting 20 years for answers. It’s up to my grandma’s case to find answers for them."

Hall, 41, is jailed without bond. O'Connor said he will seek bond so Hall can get chemotherapy treatment for leukemia.

She began working at Hedrick in December 2001. The small hospital is in Chillicothe, a town of 9,100 residents 90 miles northeast of Kansas City.

A probable cause statement from Chillicothe Officer Brian Schmidt said that during Hall’s brief time at Hedrick, sudden cardiac collapse incidents — code blues — “rose alarmingly.”

Hospital officials were alerted to the concerns about Hall but “did everything in the world to cover it up” to avoid bad publicity, said Scott Lindley, the county coroner. No criminal investigation was launched at the time.

A wrongful-death lawsuit naming the hospital and the company that now operates it, St. Luke's Health System, was filed in 2010 on behalf of relatives of five patients who died. The Missouri Supreme Court tossed the lawsuit in 2019, ruling it was filed after the statute of limitations had run out.

St. Luke's Health System noted in a statement that it took over operation of Hedrick more than a year after the deaths.

“We, too, are only interested in the truth, and look forward to a final resolution of the investigation,” the statement read.

Warren, who was elected prosecutor in 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">opened the investigation in 2012</a>, saying he didn’t believe that a “thorough investigation has ever been completed.”

The deaths involved people of varying ages and levels of health.

World War II veteran Charles O'Hara, 88, was admitted for evaluation of a high temperatures, vomiting and agitation on Feb. 2, 2002, and died two days later. Retired conservation agent Coval Gann was 82.

But David Harper was just 37. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia, but the lawsuit said he was so much better that he was about to be discharged. He died on March 20, 2002.

Similarly, 49-year-old Shirley Eller was a day away from going home after being treated for pneumonia when she collapsed and died on March 9, 2002.

The lawsuit said Eller's death was attributed to “natural causes,” the same as the others who died. Eller's sister, Helen Pittman, found that puzzling. Eller smoked but was otherwise healthy and active.

“It was a shock,” Pittman said. “It just seems really suspicious. Shirley was doing good.”

Franco also had been hospitalized with pneumonia. Hall and another staff member identified only as “J.A.” in the probable cause statement found her dead on May 18, 2002.

“Hall’s vicim was a sick, defenseless, elderly woman who was depending on Hall to care for physical ailment within a medical facility,” Schmidt wrote. He said the succinylcholine caused a “ghastly death from suffocation” while Franco was fully conscious.

Hall was placed on administrative leave three days after Franco's death and the code blue incidents “returned to historical frequency,” Schmidt's report stated.

Hall was fired months later, but not because of the patient deaths. O'Connor said she was fired after hospital officials learned she had been convicted of an arson fire at another small Missouri hospital, Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville, where she previously worked. She was free on appeal when she took the job in Chillicothe and later spent a year behind bars before being acquitted at a retrial.

O’Connor called it unfathomable that Hall would again be singled out for a crime she didn’t commit.

“To go through it once is terrible,” O’Connor said. “To go through it twice is a recurring nightmare.”

He said Hall’s proximity to the patients shouldn’t be unexpected since it’s a small hospital with a small staff.

Twenty years after the death of her younger sister, Pittman, 79, wasn't ready to pass judgment, but she does want investigators to keep looking into Shirley Eller's death.

“It’s hard for me to believe people can be that mean," Pittman said. "But I guess they can.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652449498878.png" alt="Authorities arrested Hall last week in Kansas-Photo Livingston Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Authorities arrested Hall last week in Kansas-Photo Livingston Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —In the five months that Jennifer Anne Hall was a respiratory therapist at Hedrick Medical Center, the rural Missouri hospital experienced 18 “code blue” incidents — an alarming increase in sudden cardiac arrest events for a hospital that historically averaged one of them a year, according to a police investigator.Nine of those patients died, and nine recovered. Twenty years later, Hall was charged this month with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-franco-missouri-e1b5b5d9b9341349bc921776c169c1ab">first-degree murder</a>&nbsp;in one of the deaths — that of 75-year-old Fern Franco.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653007502545.png" alt="Hall is being held in Livingston Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall is being held in Livingston Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren, who launched an investigation 10 years ago, said Franco died of lethal doses of succinylcholine — a relaxant that paralyzes the respiratory muscles — and the pain reliever morphine. The prosecutor did not disclose a possible motive or say why the investigation took a decade.Hall's attorney, Matt O’Connor, said she is innocent and that as a respiratory therapist, she didn’t have access to succinylcholine, morphine or any other drugs. He said Hall became a scapegoat for the deaths at Hedrick because of an arson conviction that she was cleared of in 2005.It’s unclear if Hall will face additional murder charges in the 2002 deaths at Hedrick. Warren declined interview requests, and Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.Franco's granddaughter, Aprille Franco hopes investigators get to the bottom of the other deaths.“Just for the other families’ sake," Franco, 44, of Kansas City, Missouri, said. "They’ve been waiting 20 years for answers. It’s up to my grandma’s case to find answers for them."Hall, 41, is jailed without bond. O'Connor said he will seek bond so Hall can get chemotherapy treatment for leukemia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652204964045.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>She began working at Hedrick in December 2001. The small hospital is in Chillicothe, a town of 9,100 residents 90 miles northeast of Kansas City.A probable cause statement from Chillicothe Officer Brian Schmidt said that during Hall’s brief time at Hedrick, sudden cardiac collapse incidents — code blues — “rose alarmingly.”Hospital officials were alerted to the concerns about Hall but “did everything in the world to cover it up” to avoid bad publicity, said Scott Lindley, the county coroner. No criminal investigation was launched at the time.A wrongful-death lawsuit naming the hospital and the company that now operates it, St. Luke's Health System, was filed in 2010 on behalf of relatives of five patients who died. The Missouri Supreme Court tossed the lawsuit in 2019, ruling it was filed after the statute of limitations had run out.St. Luke's Health System noted in a statement that it took over operation of Hedrick more than a year after the deaths.“We, too, are only interested in the truth, and look forward to a final resolution of the investigation,” the statement read.Warren, who was elected prosecutor in 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">opened the investigation in 2012</a>, saying he didn’t believe that a “thorough investigation has ever been completed.”The deaths involved people of varying ages and levels of health.World War II veteran Charles O'Hara, 88, was admitted for evaluation of a high temperatures, vomiting and agitation on Feb. 2, 2002, and died two days later. Retired conservation agent Coval Gann was 82.But David Harper was just 37. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia, but the lawsuit said he was so much better that he was about to be discharged. He died on March 20, 2002.Similarly, 49-year-old Shirley Eller was a day away from going home after being treated for pneumonia when she collapsed and died on March 9, 2002.The lawsuit said Eller's death was attributed to “natural causes,” the same as the others who died. Eller's sister, Helen Pittman, found that puzzling. Eller smoked but was otherwise healthy and active.“It was a shock,” Pittman said. “It just seems really suspicious. Shirley was doing good.”Franco also had been hospitalized with pneumonia. Hall and another staff member identified only as “J.A.” in the probable cause statement found her dead on May 18, 2002.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652474493585.png" alt="U.S. Marshals arrested Hall in Kansas on May 12 -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Marshals arrested Hall in Kansas on May 12 -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>“Hall’s vicim was a sick, defenseless, elderly woman who was depending on Hall to care for physical ailment within a medical facility,” Schmidt wrote. He said the succinylcholine caused a “ghastly death from suffocation” while Franco was fully conscious.Hall was placed on administrative leave three days after Franco's death and the code blue incidents “returned to historical frequency,” Schmidt's report stated.Hall was fired months later, but not because of the patient deaths. O'Connor said she was fired after hospital officials learned she had been convicted of an arson fire at another small Missouri hospital, Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville, where she previously worked. She was free on appeal when she took the job in Chillicothe and later spent a year behind bars before being acquitted at a retrial.O’Connor called it unfathomable that Hall would again be singled out for a crime she didn’t commit.“To go through it once is terrible,” O’Connor said. “To go through it twice is a recurring nightmare.”He said Hall’s proximity to the patients shouldn’t be unexpected since it’s a small hospital with a small staff.Twenty years after the death of her younger sister, Pittman, 79, wasn't ready to pass judgment, but she does want investigators to keep looking into Shirley Eller's death.“It’s hard for me to believe people can be that mean," Pittman said. "But I guess they can.”

20 years after hospital deaths, ex-worker accused

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas man wanted on multiple charges in Missouri.

On Wednesday, police arrested 25-year-old Alexzander S. Green of Atchison, on a Boone County Missouri warrant, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

He is being held without bond for alleged terroristic threat, felony harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police arrested Green on May 4 for failure to appear, according to online jail records. Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652971947190.png" alt="Green-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Green-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas man wanted on multiple charges in Missouri.On Wednesday, police arrested 25-year-old Alexzander S. Green of Atchison, on a Boone County Missouri warrant, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.He is being held without bond for alleged terroristic threat, felony harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.Police arrested Green on May 4 for failure to appear, according to online jail records. Police released no additional details.

Kan. man accused of terroristic threat in Missouri

The St. Joseph School District's Vision Forward Committee held its final meeting of the 2021-22 school year Tuesday at Benton High School, and the discussion focused around the district's buildings and facilities.

Vision Forward co-chair Bob Miller says one of the main issues right now with the district's buildings is age.

"Over a third of our current buildings are over 80 years old," Miller told St. Joseph Post. "Nine of our 25 buildings were built before 1940."

One of the top priorities for the district is getting middle school curriculum aligned. Two of St. Joseph's middle schools educate sixth through eighth graders, while the other two educate only seventh and eighth graders.

"Getting (the middle schools) lined up really forces the facility question," he said. "We don't have a third middle school that can house sixth graders. So, we have to figure out what we're going to do. That's either building another middle school or repurposing one of the high schools if we go in a different direction with the high schools."

Miller says another priority is creating a better feeder system within the district.

"For instance, Carden Park (Elementary) gets divided up into three different middle schools," he explained. "There's only a handful of elementary schools that actually feed straight into a middle school, straight into a high school. Those kids who have relationships aren't able, currently, to track through their schooling experience with the same group of kids."

With middle school football now coming to the district this fall, Miller says that raises some facility questions, as none of the middle schools currently have football fields.

"Repurposing some of our current high schools to being middle schools that would have the athletic facilities needed to give middle school students the opportunity to participate," Miller said. "That was kind of one train of thought on feedback we got."

Voters rejected a $107 million bond issue last April which would have converted the American Family Insurance regional headquarters into a second high school and refurbished Central High School. Under that proposal, Benton and Lafayette would have been turned into middle schools.

Miller says there is consensus that some new school buildings are likely needed, but no plans on that have been finalized.

"It's not difficult to look at some of these things and see we need to make some changes," he said. "We just can't continue with this. I think there was a lot of consensus, and you heard a lot of the same top three priorities related to facilities moving forward. About 75-80 percent of people named the same three things."

Vision Forward plans to meet with the public at least once more this fall before putting action items before the board in December. District leadership is also meeting with a consulting firm this summer to look at data and input that's been gathered.

With five meetings this school year, and hundreds of people attending these meetings, Miller is hopeful that the district is getting an accurate picture of what St. Joseph School District families want from their schools.

"If we missed the public sentiment, it's not for a lack of trying," Miller stated. "Having five different sessions in different parts of town and also having the option for people to listen online."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596131678907.jpeg" alt="Bode Middle School. Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Bode Middle School. Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph School District's Vision Forward Committee held its final meeting of the 2021-22 school year Tuesday at Benton High School, and the discussion focused around the district's buildings and facilities.Vision Forward co-chair Bob Miller says one of the main issues right now with the district's buildings is age."Over a third of our current buildings are over 80 years old," Miller told St. Joseph Post. "Nine of our 25 buildings were built before 1940."One of the top priorities for the district is getting middle school curriculum aligned. Two of St. Joseph's middle schools educate sixth through eighth graders, while the other two educate only seventh and eighth graders."Getting (the middle schools) lined up really forces the facility question," he said. "We don't have a third middle school that can house sixth graders. So, we have to figure out what we're going to do. That's either building another middle school or repurposing one of the high schools if we go in a different direction with the high schools."Miller says another priority is creating a better feeder system within the district."For instance, Carden Park (Elementary) gets divided up into three different middle schools," he explained. "There's only a handful of elementary schools that actually feed straight into a middle school, straight into a high school. Those kids who have relationships aren't able, currently, to track through their schooling experience with the same group of kids."With middle school football now coming to the district this fall, Miller says that raises some facility questions, as none of the middle schools currently have football fields."Repurposing some of our current high schools to being middle schools that would have the athletic facilities needed to give middle school students the opportunity to participate," Miller said. "That was kind of one train of thought on feedback we got."Voters rejected a $107 million bond issue last April which would have converted the American Family Insurance regional headquarters into a second high school and refurbished Central High School. Under that proposal, Benton and Lafayette would have been turned into middle schools.Miller says there is consensus that some new school buildings are likely needed, but no plans on that have been finalized."It's not difficult to look at some of these things and see we need to make some changes," he said. "We just can't continue with this. I think there was a lot of consensus, and you heard a lot of the same top three priorities related to facilities moving forward. About 75-80 percent of people named the same three things."Vision Forward plans to meet with the public at least once more this fall before putting action items before the board in December. District leadership is also meeting with a consulting firm this summer to look at data and input that's been gathered.With five meetings this school year, and hundreds of people attending these meetings, Miller is hopeful that the district is getting an accurate picture of what St. Joseph School District families want from their schools."If we missed the public sentiment, it's not for a lack of trying," Miller stated. "Having five different sessions in different parts of town and also having the option for people to listen online."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Final SJSD Vision Forward meeting of the school year focuses on facilities, buildings

Missouri lawmakers approved a record $48 billion state budget
this legislative session, a budget swollen by a huge influx of federal
coronavirus relief and stimulus money.

Senate Appropriations Committee chair, Sen. Dan Hegeman of
Cosby, says while the budget contained money for big, capital improvement
projects and major programs, it also included $100 million to repair and
upgrade rural roads.

“This is a bell I’ve been ringing for some time, the need to address
the deplorable shape of our rural roads, our lettered routes, our farm-to-market
roads, our low-volume roads, couch it however you want,” Hegeman tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “We have a great need of addressing the degradation of our roads.”

Hegeman says the budget contains a good number of high-profile
projects and programs, but it also funds what he says are the “not real
exciting” projects.

“Putting in a water system, putting in a sewer system, that’s
not real exciting, but it’s basic function of what government does,” Hegeman
says. “It’s what makes our lives better on an individual, daily basis.”

Maybe not as exciting as breaking ground on new buildings and
other ribbon-cutting, capital improvement projects, but just as important,
according to Hegeman.

“Those are pretty exciting things, but it is the
infrastructure needs, getting broadband out there, it’s things we take for granted,
but they’re so important to our daily lives.”

Hegeman says the budget process went better than he expected.
He credits the work of budget leaders in both the Senate and House as well as
the cooperation of Gov. Mike Parson. While more than a $1 billion in federal
funds helped a great deal, Hegeman says the state budget also benefitted from a
strong state economy. Hegeman says the big numbers in this budget could have
caused a big rift in the legislature.

“I had great worries that this would be an overwhelming
project or an overwhelming task this year, due to the large amount of dollars
and it was very trying along the way, but I was actually very surprised at how
smoothly it went,” according to Hegeman.

The budget bills await the signature of Gov. Parson, who can
cross out some spending through the power of line-item veto.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri lawmakers approved a record $48 billion state budget
this legislative session, a budget swollen by a huge influx of federal
coronavirus relief and stimulus money.Senate Appropriations Committee chair, Sen. Dan Hegeman of
Cosby, says while the budget contained money for big, capital improvement
projects and major programs, it also included $100 million to repair and
upgrade rural roads.“This is a bell I’ve been ringing for some time, the need to address
the deplorable shape of our rural roads, our lettered routes, our farm-to-market
roads, our low-volume roads, couch it however you want,” Hegeman tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “We have a great need of addressing the degradation of our roads.”Hegeman says the budget contains a good number of high-profile
projects and programs, but it also funds what he says are the “not real
exciting” projects.“Putting in a water system, putting in a sewer system, that’s
not real exciting, but it’s basic function of what government does,” Hegeman
says. “It’s what makes our lives better on an individual, daily basis.”Maybe not as exciting as breaking ground on new buildings and
other ribbon-cutting, capital improvement projects, but just as important,
according to Hegeman.“Those are pretty exciting things, but it is the
infrastructure needs, getting broadband out there, it’s things we take for granted,
but they’re so important to our daily lives.”Hegeman says the budget process went better than he expected.
He credits the work of budget leaders in both the Senate and House as well as
the cooperation of Gov. Mike Parson. While more than a $1 billion in federal
funds helped a great deal, Hegeman says the state budget also benefitted from a
strong state economy. Hegeman says the big numbers in this budget could have
caused a big rift in the legislature.“I had great worries that this would be an overwhelming
project or an overwhelming task this year, due to the large amount of dollars
and it was very trying along the way, but I was actually very surprised at how
smoothly it went,” according to Hegeman.The budget bills await the signature of Gov. Parson, who can
cross out some spending through the power of line-item veto.

Missouri state budget contains big projects, but also needed, less exciting, investments

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary at a home in Atchison.

Sometime between 5p.m. May 16 and 10a.m. May 18, a suspect took items from a storage building in the 1600 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Forced entry was made through a door and the suspect took a 2007 SunL Super Moto 250 dirt bike. It is blue and white and valued at $1,500,&nbsp; two Mercury 25 horsepower boat motors valued at $800 each and a wooden entertainment center value $400.

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary at a home in Atchison.Sometime between 5p.m. May 16 and 10a.m. May 18, a suspect took items from a storage building in the 1600 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Forced entry was made through a door and the suspect took a 2007 SunL Super Moto 250 dirt bike. It is blue and white and valued at $1,500,&nbsp; two Mercury 25 horsepower boat motors valued at $800 each and a wooden entertainment center value $400.

Police investigating burglary of storage building in Atchison

A Ukrainian agricultural education organizer is touring the
United States, raising money to rebuild rural villages ravaged by the war.

Roman Grynyshyn has worked with his partners throughout the
West to create the fundraising project:&nbsp;
World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine.

“We are trying to replace what was ruthlessly damaged or stolen
from the least protected stratum of rural society,” Grynyshyn tells host Barry
Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

Grynyshyn says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been
devastating to rural Ukraine and its farms, cutting off agricultural production
and preventing grain shipments. While the war rages and ruins much of his home
country, Grynyshyn expresses confidence in the ultimate outcome.

“And there is not doubt that we will win,” Grynyshyn says. “The
only thing is how long will it take us to return to this beauty as it was
before.”

Grynyshyn says he has been impressed and encouraged by the
reception he has received while touring the United States, especially with the
reception he receives from cities with ties to agriculture such as St. Joseph.

Grynshyn spoke to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce while in
town. He has been speaking to several groups in the United States, making
addresses to groups in Washington, D.C., Ohio State University, Michigan State
University, the University of Nebraska, among others. He is speaking to Missouri
and Kansas groups now before traveling to the state of Washington.

Grynyshyn has been coordinating tours and conferences for Ukrainian
farmers the past 13 years. He had a conference set up for Costa Rica in late
February, but as he prepared to leave the next day, the bombs started falling.
Over the next two days, February 23rd and 24th, he
gathered friends and family to flee the country. Grynyshyn says his large
contingent waited for 34 hours to cross over into Poland, eventually taking
refuge at a friend’s farm in Germany.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652900856698.jpeg" alt="Roman Grynyshyn/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Roman Grynyshyn/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA Ukrainian agricultural education organizer is touring the
United States, raising money to rebuild rural villages ravaged by the war.Roman Grynyshyn has worked with his partners throughout the
West to create the fundraising project:&nbsp;
World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine.“We are trying to replace what was ruthlessly damaged or stolen
from the least protected stratum of rural society,” Grynyshyn tells host Barry
Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Grynyshyn says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been
devastating to rural Ukraine and its farms, cutting off agricultural production
and preventing grain shipments. While the war rages and ruins much of his home
country, Grynyshyn expresses confidence in the ultimate outcome.“And there is not doubt that we will win,” Grynyshyn says. “The
only thing is how long will it take us to return to this beauty as it was
before.”Grynyshyn says he has been impressed and encouraged by the
reception he has received while touring the United States, especially with the
reception he receives from cities with ties to agriculture such as St. Joseph.Grynshyn spoke to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce while in
town. He has been speaking to several groups in the United States, making
addresses to groups in Washington, D.C., Ohio State University, Michigan State
University, the University of Nebraska, among others. He is speaking to Missouri
and Kansas groups now before traveling to the state of Washington.Grynyshyn has been coordinating tours and conferences for Ukrainian
farmers the past 13 years. He had a conference set up for Costa Rica in late
February, but as he prepared to leave the next day, the bombs started falling.
Over the next two days, February 23rd and 24th, he
gathered friends and family to flee the country. Grynyshyn says his large
contingent waited for 34 hours to cross over into Poland, eventually taking
refuge at a friend’s farm in Germany.Then began the speaking tour in the United States.Grynyshyn is also keeping those he speaks with abreast of the
latest news from the war front.“My information that I’m getting is not coming from some sources
of media that can be biased or something like that,” Grynyshyn says. “I talk to
the actual farmers, to actual agricultural business representatives and they
say what they see, almost first hand.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652900920396.jpeg" alt="Grynyshyn speaks with host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Grynyshyn speaks with host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>Grynyshyn charges that the Russian army has been ruthless in
devastating rural Ukraine, both to intimidate Ukrainians and destroy the
country’s agricultural industry.Grynyshyn says many with ties to both Ukraine and Russia never
suspected Russia would follow through with its threats against Ukraine.“I had a lot of clients, Russian speaking clients, who said
Roman, come on, they will never attack. They are our comrades,” Grynshyn says “And
when the war started, I called them. They were literally speechless.”Grynyshyn says a saying by his father doesn’t seem as humorous
as it once did.“My father always told me you need to learn as a priority two
subjects at school. First, is the military, to be able to shoot, to know how to
shoot and second is history, to know who to shoot.”Despite the devastation of the war, Grynyshyn remains
optimistic Ukraine will prevail.Click <a href="https://www.wrru.org/">here</a> for the World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine website.

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