HAYS, KS - Missouri Western did the unexpected on Thursday and Friday, routing No. 2 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State and then beating No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals after losing to the Lopers twice earlier this season.

On Monday, the Griffons did the unthinkable.

Missouri Western (24-9), down 20-7 at the end of one, and down 38-17 with two minutes left until halftime, slowly chipped away, took their first lead with 3:04 remaining in the game and held on for a 70-69 win over No. 1 seed and No. 4 ranked Fort Hays State (30-4) in the Central Region championship at Gross Memorial Coliseum on Monday night.

The Griffons are Elite Eight bound for just the third time in program history and for the first time since 1995.

"I mean, it was just unbelievable," coach Candi Whitaker said of the comeback victory. "I don't even know how it happened, to be honest. Other than our team is so gutsy and I'm&nbsp; so proud of their fight."

Down 38-23 at the break, Western slowly chipped away at their deficit, outscoring Hays 22-11 in the third quarter and only trailing 49-46 entering the fourth.

Hays, who's now 0-3 in regional final games all time, did all they could to stay ahead, hitting 12-of-15 free throws in the fourth quarter alone, but Western shot 8-of-14 from the field in the fourth and made 7-of-9 free throws themselves to continue closing the gap.

A big key to closing that gap was Jaelyn Haggard. The graduate student guard, Northwest Missouri State transfer and St. Joseph native scored 12 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter alone on two huge three-pointers.

She was also 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. After Haggard's jumper tied the game at 60 with 3:43 left, she had the ball again on the next possession, and got fouled hard on a shot attempt by Hays' Lauren West.

After the foul was called, West spiked the ball hard on the floor, resulting in a technical foul. Haggard shot two free throws for the shooting foul, and got to shoot two more due to the technical.

Haggard made all four of those shots, and Western led 64-60 with 3:04 left.

"Every possession at that point was extremely critical," she said. "So, we knew once we had the lead, they're an extremely tough team as well, so you can't let up at any moment. We just tried to run with it as long as we could and continue to be tough."

Haggard came up big again with 1:18 remaining, hitting an NBA-range three to put the Griffons up 67-64.

Just over a minute later, Hays' Katie Wagner got a basket and one coming out of a Tiger timeout. Wagner's free throw put Hays ahead 69-68 with 14 seconds remaining.

Coach Whitaker immediately called timeout after that, giving the Griffons the ball in the half-court. Brionna Budgets, the Central Region tournament MVP, who had been scoreless for the first 39:52 of Monday's game, drove the baseline and put up a fairly open layup with eight seconds left, giving the Griffons a 70-69 lead.

Hays called a timeout themselves, got the ball to freshman guard Kate Dilsaver on the left baseline in the closing five seconds. Dilsaver's floater was well off the mark, Western's Trinity Knapp rebounded as time expired, giving the Griffons another historic win in an unforgettable week.

"Really just down the stretch, we did a great job of executing," Whitaker said. "Bri (Budgets') bucket obviously wins the game for us, but we got a defensive stop at the end to win it.

"Just, just...kind of lost for words, but just super proud and quite emotional with the swing we had in that game."

Budgets was named the tournament's most outstanding player, scoring a combined 38 points in the three games in Hays. Haggard and senior Corbyn Cunningham were named to the all-Central Region team.

Cunningham had 15 points for Western on Monday after scoring 12 in each of the first two games of the tournament.

Whitaker gave her seniors a ton of credit after Monday's win, including Mychaell Gray, who had six points and three boards off the bench against the Tigers.

"You just love to watch kids play like it is their last," Whitaker said, "and those three (seniors) played like it. Couldn't be more proud of them."

Missouri Western advances to the Elite Eight for the first time in 27 years, and they'll play next Monday in at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Their opponent and game time is still to be determined.

The teams who advance to the Elite Eight will be assigned new seeds.

But, what a week. It's Western's first win against Fort Hays State in Hays since 2007, their first win over a top five team since 2016 and their first over a top 10 since 2020.

Missouri Western's last three wins over top 10 teams have all been against Fort Hays State.

Again, this current run is incredible. Six wins last year - Elite Eight this year. A roster with 14 underclassmen, including four true freshmen. A team that lost five of its last seven in the regular season.

It's a Griffon team that went 1-6 against the top three teams in the MIAA in the regular season and conference tournament combined.

Now, here they are, representing the MIAA in the Elite Eight - one win away from their second ever Final Four appearance and two wins away from their first ever national championship game appearance.

Special. Historic. Real. In some ways unimaginable. And pretty fun to witness.

"We are really playing great basketball and it's the most important thing this time of year," Whitaker said. "This team is really having a ton of fun. I mean, they are just having a lot of fun. So, excited we get to spend another week together and that we still have the opportunity to play basketball."&nbsp;

"That's a statement for the kind of team that we are," Haggard added. "We came to compete, and right now, we're peaking. If I'm other teams, I'd be scared to play us. I've said that all week. So, we're going to go to Alabama and keep fighting and keep playing tough and see how long we can make the season go."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647313792911.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western women's basketball - 2022 Central Region champions. Photo by Ryan Menley." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western women's basketball - 2022 Central Region champions. Photo by Ryan Menley.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostHAYS, KS - Missouri Western did the unexpected on Thursday and Friday, routing No. 2 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State and then beating No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals after losing to the Lopers twice earlier this season.On Monday, the Griffons did the unthinkable.Missouri Western (24-9), down 20-7 at the end of one, and down 38-17 with two minutes left until halftime, slowly chipped away, took their first lead with 3:04 remaining in the game and held on for a 70-69 win over No. 1 seed and No. 4 ranked Fort Hays State (30-4) in the Central Region championship at Gross Memorial Coliseum on Monday night.The Griffons are Elite Eight bound for just the third time in program history and for the first time since 1995."I mean, it was just unbelievable," coach Candi Whitaker said of the comeback victory. "I don't even know how it happened, to be honest. Other than our team is so gutsy and I'm&nbsp; so proud of their fight."Down 38-23 at the break, Western slowly chipped away at their deficit, outscoring Hays 22-11 in the third quarter and only trailing 49-46 entering the fourth.Hays, who's now 0-3 in regional final games all time, did all they could to stay ahead, hitting 12-of-15 free throws in the fourth quarter alone, but Western shot 8-of-14 from the field in the fourth and made 7-of-9 free throws themselves to continue closing the gap.A big key to closing that gap was Jaelyn Haggard. The graduate student guard, Northwest Missouri State transfer and St. Joseph native scored 12 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter alone on two huge three-pointers.She was also 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. After Haggard's jumper tied the game at 60 with 3:43 left, she had the ball again on the next possession, and got fouled hard on a shot attempt by Hays' Lauren West.After the foul was called, West spiked the ball hard on the floor, resulting in a technical foul. Haggard shot two free throws for the shooting foul, and got to shoot two more due to the technical.Haggard made all four of those shots, and Western led 64-60 with 3:04 left."Every possession at that point was extremely critical," she said. "So, we knew once we had the lead, they're an extremely tough team as well, so you can't let up at any moment. We just tried to run with it as long as we could and continue to be tough."Haggard came up big again with 1:18 remaining, hitting an NBA-range three to put the Griffons up 67-64.Just over a minute later, Hays' Katie Wagner got a basket and one coming out of a Tiger timeout. Wagner's free throw put Hays ahead 69-68 with 14 seconds remaining.Coach Whitaker immediately called timeout after that, giving the Griffons the ball in the half-court. Brionna Budgets, the Central Region tournament MVP, who had been scoreless for the first 39:52 of Monday's game, drove the baseline and put up a fairly open layup with eight seconds left, giving the Griffons a 70-69 lead.Hays called a timeout themselves, got the ball to freshman guard Kate Dilsaver on the left baseline in the closing five seconds. Dilsaver's floater was well off the mark, Western's Trinity Knapp rebounded as time expired, giving the Griffons another historic win in an unforgettable week."Really just down the stretch, we did a great job of executing," Whitaker said. "Bri (Budgets') bucket obviously wins the game for us, but we got a defensive stop at the end to win it."Just, just...kind of lost for words, but just super proud and quite emotional with the swing we had in that game."Budgets was named the tournament's most outstanding player, scoring a combined 38 points in the three games in Hays. Haggard and senior Corbyn Cunningham were named to the all-Central Region team.Cunningham had 15 points for Western on Monday after scoring 12 in each of the first two games of the tournament.Whitaker gave her seniors a ton of credit after Monday's win, including Mychaell Gray, who had six points and three boards off the bench against the Tigers."You just love to watch kids play like it is their last," Whitaker said, "and those three (seniors) played like it. Couldn't be more proud of them."Missouri Western advances to the Elite Eight for the first time in 27 years, and they'll play next Monday in at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Their opponent and game time is still to be determined.The teams who advance to the Elite Eight will be assigned new seeds.But, what a week. It's Western's first win against Fort Hays State in Hays since 2007, their first win over a top five team since 2016 and their first over a top 10 since 2020.Missouri Western's last three wins over top 10 teams have all been against Fort Hays State.Again, this current run is incredible. Six wins last year - Elite Eight this year. A roster with 14 underclassmen, including four true freshmen. A team that lost five of its last seven in the regular season.It's a Griffon team that went 1-6 against the top three teams in the MIAA in the regular season and conference tournament combined.Now, here they are, representing the MIAA in the Elite Eight - one win away from their second ever Final Four appearance and two wins away from their first ever national championship game appearance.Special. Historic. Real. In some ways unimaginable. And pretty fun to witness."We are really playing great basketball and it's the most important thing this time of year," Whitaker said. "This team is really having a ton of fun. I mean, they are just having a lot of fun. So, excited we get to spend another week together and that we still have the opportunity to play basketball."&nbsp;"That's a statement for the kind of team that we are," Haggard added. "We came to compete, and right now, we're peaking. If I'm other teams, I'd be scared to play us. I've said that all week. So, we're going to go to Alabama and keep fighting and keep playing tough and see how long we can make the season go."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-vs--FHSU---Candi-Whitaker-postgame-e1fntn7" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-vs--Fort-Hays-State---end-of-game-highlights-e1fnre6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-vs--FHSU-postgame---Jaelyn-Haggard-e1fntpd" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">!!!!!!! PAINT ME A BIRMINGHAM !!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/GriffonWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GriffonWBB</a> is Elite 8️⃣ bound!!!! FINAL: MWSU 70 (24-9) FHSU 69 (30-4) First W over Hays in Hays since 07. First Elite 8 since ‘95.<a href="https://twitter.com/theinstaballer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theinstaballer</a> a game-high 19. Corbyn Cunningham 17. <a href="https://twitter.com/br1dagoat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@br1dagoat</a> with the go-ahead bucket with 17 left. <a href="https://t.co/nrQlZ5wQV4">pic.twitter.com/nrQlZ5wQV4</a>&mdash; Tommy Rezac (@TommyKFEQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyKFEQ/status/1503551221969391618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">RING THE BELL!!!!!!!! Final <a href="https://twitter.com/GriffonWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GriffonWBB</a> 70 Ft Hays - 69 ELITE 8 Bound!!! <a href="https://t.co/vkcmlsoDis">pic.twitter.com/vkcmlsoDis</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Athletics (@MWSUGriffons) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSUGriffons/status/1503553793933336576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western stuns Fort Hays State in Central Region title, Griffons Elite 8 bound

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent crime and have made an arrest.

In the early morning hours of January 16, police responded to a residence in the 1900 block Harper Drive in Atchison where an 18 year old female reported being the victim of a sexual battery and a 38 year old male reported being threatened with a firearm, according to police Chief Mike Wilson.

On Sunday, police arrested 27-year-old Joseph A. Evans of Atchison on a District Court warrant for aggravated assault and sexual battery.&nbsp;

Police arrested him on requested charges of domestic battery and bodily. harm in November of 2019, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647284682289.png" alt="Evans-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Evans-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent crime and have made an arrest.In the early morning hours of January 16, police responded to a residence in the 1900 block Harper Drive in Atchison where an 18 year old female reported being the victim of a sexual battery and a 38 year old male reported being threatened with a firearm, according to police Chief Mike Wilson.On Sunday, police arrested 27-year-old Joseph A. Evans of Atchison on a District Court warrant for aggravated assault and sexual battery.&nbsp;Police arrested him on requested charges of domestic battery and bodily. harm in November of 2019, according to online jail records.

Kansas man accused in sexual battery of 18-year-old

Mosaic Life Care's interim CEO is in town and ready to get to work. &nbsp;

Mike Poore was introduced today as the Interim CEO of Mosaic Life Care as the search for a permanent CEO continues. &nbsp;

Mosaic Life Care Board Chair Serena Naylor says she and the board are excited to have gotten Poore for this position. &nbsp;

"You know, when I talked to people with his references, they were all like oh my gosh you're so lucky to have somebody like Mike, and we are just so thrilled that he's going to be here," Naylor tells reporters. "We've got such a great leadership team in place and he'll be here to help guide them, it's a really exciting time for us."&nbsp;

Poore has more than 30 years of health care experience, 2o of those coming as a CEO. He says even with that all experience, he knows no hospital is the same as another.&nbsp;

"With that experience, 30 plus years, I understand that every hospital is different, the culture is different, the community is different, the needs are different," Poore says.&nbsp;

Poore adds though that after talking to the team at Mosaic, there are no glaring problems that need to be fixed.&nbsp;

Poore defines his role as the interim CEO at Mosaic as being 'boringly consistent" to make sure things keep running as consistent as possible.&nbsp; He also considers himself a shepherd.&nbsp;

"I shepherd. the team through a transition, to a permanent CEO, I bring a lot of experience to the table that I can lend to the team and make things happen," Poore says. "But at the same time, I'm not here to change a lot of things that are going on as they are."&nbsp;

Poore says after talking to the leadership at Mosaic, as well as former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davin Turner, there are no major burning platforms that need fixed. &nbsp;

"This is a good hospital, it's a great team, and that's nice to have when you're a CEO," Poore proudly says. "So, I'm excited about let's continue the strategic plan that we have and executing on that."&nbsp;

Poore says there is also a big challenge in the next year in changing to a new hospital information system, which will be a major undertaking for Mosaic. &nbsp;

The search for a permanent CEO continues by the Mosaic Life Care board.&nbsp; The board hopes to have a new CEO named by early summer, then that individual taking over in the fall.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647289455816.jpeg" alt="Mosaic Life Care Interim CEO Mike Poore speaks to news media while Mosaic Board Chair Serena Naylor looks on/ Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Mosaic Life Care Interim CEO Mike Poore speaks to news media while Mosaic Board Chair Serena Naylor looks on/ Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;Mosaic Life Care's interim CEO is in town and ready to get to work. &nbsp;Mike Poore was introduced today as the Interim CEO of Mosaic Life Care as the search for a permanent CEO continues. &nbsp;Mosaic Life Care Board Chair Serena Naylor says she and the board are excited to have gotten Poore for this position. &nbsp;"You know, when I talked to people with his references, they were all like oh my gosh you're so lucky to have somebody like Mike, and we are just so thrilled that he's going to be here," Naylor tells reporters. "We've got such a great leadership team in place and he'll be here to help guide them, it's a really exciting time for us."&nbsp;Poore has more than 30 years of health care experience, 2o of those coming as a CEO. He says even with that all experience, he knows no hospital is the same as another.&nbsp;"With that experience, 30 plus years, I understand that every hospital is different, the culture is different, the community is different, the needs are different," Poore says.&nbsp;Poore adds though that after talking to the team at Mosaic, there are no glaring problems that need to be fixed.&nbsp;Poore defines his role as the interim CEO at Mosaic as being 'boringly consistent" to make sure things keep running as consistent as possible.&nbsp; He also considers himself a shepherd.&nbsp;"I shepherd. the team through a transition, to a permanent CEO, I bring a lot of experience to the table that I can lend to the team and make things happen," Poore says. "But at the same time, I'm not here to change a lot of things that are going on as they are."&nbsp;Poore says after talking to the leadership at Mosaic, as well as former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davin Turner, there are no major burning platforms that need fixed. &nbsp;"This is a good hospital, it's a great team, and that's nice to have when you're a CEO," Poore proudly says. "So, I'm excited about let's continue the strategic plan that we have and executing on that."&nbsp;Poore says there is also a big challenge in the next year in changing to a new hospital information system, which will be a major undertaking for Mosaic. &nbsp;The search for a permanent CEO continues by the Mosaic Life Care board.&nbsp; The board hopes to have a new CEO named by early summer, then that individual taking over in the fall.&nbsp;

Mosaic Life Care introduces Interim CEO

St. Joseph Food for Kids is expanding its services to not only provide food for children, but also provide beds. &nbsp;

Shelia Gilbert began Food for Kids with her late husband. She says for them, it all began with a picnic the two of them were having in their truck. &nbsp;

"And out of nowhere some children walked up," Gilbert tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "I'm like where did these kids come from, because there was no one around."&nbsp;

Gilbert says there were about five siblings in front of them, when one approached the truck while they were eating lunch&nbsp;

"She said we hungry and I looked at my husband and said I can't give these babies this food I don't even know them," Gilbert says. "He said Well just give the baby a banana and I said (to the girl) can I give you a banana and she said yes."&nbsp;

Gilbert says after the children finished the banana, they kept coming back, until finally she and her husband both gave them their sandwiches. &nbsp;

"When I saw the oldest kid break that sandwich up, I just bawled, it was overwhelming," Gilbert says. "And I said we have to do something, there's no reason why these children in this community should be hungry."&nbsp;

Gilbert and her husband would go on to start Food for Kids in 2008.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Gilbert says that there is no reason kids in this community should be hungry, and while she knows there is an open-door food kitchen in St. Joseph. . .&nbsp;

"Children cannot go in there without being accompanied by an adult and when they go in there they eat and they leave and they don't want to babysit their kids so you don't see many children at the Open-Door Food Kitchen," Gilbert explains. "But we just went to a couple of the churches that we know and asked them could we just fix a couple lunches outside on the property, and most of them told us no."&nbsp;

Gilbert says the one church that told them they could set up in the backyard was the Church of God and Christ, and she said day after day kids would come to get fed. &nbsp;

Now For for Kids is expanding its charity, by providing Beds for Kids. &nbsp;

Gilbert is looking to give out 75 twin beds and 25 full beds by June 1st. &nbsp;

You can find more information at stjoefoodforkids.com or by clicking <a href="https://stjoefoodforkids.com/">HERE</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647270461153.jpeg" alt="Sheila Gilbert co founder of St. Joseph Food for Kids/Photo by Barry Birr" />
 <figcaption>Sheila Gilbert co founder of St. Joseph Food for Kids/Photo by Barry Birr</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;St. Joseph Food for Kids is expanding its services to not only provide food for children, but also provide beds. &nbsp;Shelia Gilbert began Food for Kids with her late husband. She says for them, it all began with a picnic the two of them were having in their truck. &nbsp;"And out of nowhere some children walked up," Gilbert tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "I'm like where did these kids come from, because there was no one around."&nbsp;Gilbert says there were about five siblings in front of them, when one approached the truck while they were eating lunch&nbsp;"She said we hungry and I looked at my husband and said I can't give these babies this food I don't even know them," Gilbert says. "He said Well just give the baby a banana and I said (to the girl) can I give you a banana and she said yes."&nbsp;Gilbert says after the children finished the banana, they kept coming back, until finally she and her husband both gave them their sandwiches. &nbsp;"When I saw the oldest kid break that sandwich up, I just bawled, it was overwhelming," Gilbert says. "And I said we have to do something, there's no reason why these children in this community should be hungry."&nbsp;Gilbert and her husband would go on to start Food for Kids in 2008.&nbsp; &nbsp;Gilbert says that there is no reason kids in this community should be hungry, and while she knows there is an open-door food kitchen in St. Joseph. . .&nbsp;"Children cannot go in there without being accompanied by an adult and when they go in there they eat and they leave and they don't want to babysit their kids so you don't see many children at the Open-Door Food Kitchen," Gilbert explains. "But we just went to a couple of the churches that we know and asked them could we just fix a couple lunches outside on the property, and most of them told us no."&nbsp;Gilbert says the one church that told them they could set up in the backyard was the Church of God and Christ, and she said day after day kids would come to get fed. &nbsp;Now For for Kids is expanding its charity, by providing Beds for Kids. &nbsp;Gilbert is looking to give out 75 twin beds and 25 full beds by June 1st. &nbsp;You can find more information at stjoefoodforkids.com or by clicking <a href="https://stjoefoodforkids.com/">HERE</a>.&nbsp;

St. Joseph Food for Kids expanding charity to provide Beds for Kids

HAYS, KS - Who thought Missouri Western would be here this season?

A Griffon team that won six games the season prior, was picked eighth in the preseason conference poll and lost five of their last seven regular season games.

"Going from winning six games to 23 is insane," said freshman Jordan Cunningham, who was on last year's roster. "I think we know how good we are and how good we can be and I think that pushes us to work had every day."

A 9-0 start caught people's attention. Being 18-3 in early February also turned some heads. A win over Central Missouri in the MIAA tournament helped, but a loss to Missouri Southern in the semifinals the following day left things in question.

Would Missouri Western, at 21-9, the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, get into the big dance? And how would they fare if they did?

Getting in as the No. 7 seed in the Central Region bracket, Missouri Western (23-9) has put it all on the line in Hays these last few days, and it's paid off beyond the Griffons' wildest dreams.

"I don't think any of us expected to be here," guard and St. Joseph native Jaelyn Haggard admitted. "But, obviously that's kind of the goal. So, I think we kind of set a standard for the program. But, we're really excited to compete and make a run for this thing."

An astounding 111-77 win over No. 2 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State in the first round and a 72-59 victory over No. 6 seed and MIAA foe Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals has put Missouri Western women's basketball back into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1997.

"I think we know how hard we work," third-year head coach Candi Whitaker said. "I think we know what we're capable of and we're also very accountable when we don't perform. We've learned from all of those outings where we weren't very good. I think this group has always wanted to learn and get better."

Awaiting the Griffons now is another familiar adversary - No. 1 seed and regional host Fort Hays State (30-3). The two teams meet for a third time this season on Monday night at 7 p.m.

The Tigers, MIAA regular season and tournament champions, have won 11 straight games. They also beat Missouri Western twice in the regular season - 74-61 in St. Joseph on January 15 and again on February 23 in Hays, 78-69 in overtime.

There's something about Hays' arena, Gross Memorial Coliseum, where the Central Region tournament has been held.

The Griffons have played well there as of late. They took sixth-ranked Hays to overtime there in late February on their senior night. On Friday, they scored a school-record 111 points while making 15 three-pointers against SWOSU.

On Saturday, Missouri Western beat Nebraska-Kearney for the first time in seven meetings with the Lopers and had four players finish in double figures.

"We like this gym," Cunningham said of Hays' home court. "Regular season, we shot well, and all of these games we have. So, it gives us a little confidence knowing the ball is going in and that helps us."

The strong team effort hasn't just been happening Hays. Missouri Western's depth, its bench, has been an advantage all season long.

Of the 32 games the Griffons have played so far this season, their bench has scored 20 or more points in 22 different games.

Missouri Western is 18-4 this season when their bench scores 20 or more, 9-2 when they score 30 or more and 3-0 when scoring 50 or more.

They had a whopping 57 bench points in Friday's win over Southwestern Oklahoma State.

"The ability to go to your bench and sub and not have drop-offs is wonderful to have for a coach," Whitaker said. "You have to be able to try different things when things aren't going your way."

"We are so good because we have so much depth," Cunningham added. "The fact we can play 15-16 (players) per game and some teams are stuck with their top six. It's why we get to run and score and have a good time."

Missouri Western now aims for its first regional championship since 1995.

With nine total players back from last year's 6-16 team, combined with four new freshmen and three transfers, Missouri Western defied expectations this season, getting back into the Big Dance for the first time in six years.

Now one win away from their first Elite Eight berth in 27 years, this Missouri Western team is not preoccupied with whether or not they should be here. Or how they got here. Or how they compare to other teams around the country.

The facts are that this Missouri Western team is talented, deep, connected and they want to keep this season going for as long as they possibly can.

"I've had the most fun playing with this team and these coaches," said Haggard, a fifth-year player who transferred in from Northwest Missouri State. "Hopefully, we can keep running with that for a little while."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647231484695.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western players gather at midcourt during a practice at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas on Sunday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western players gather at midcourt during a practice at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas on Sunday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostHAYS, KS - Who thought Missouri Western would be here this season?A Griffon team that won six games the season prior, was picked eighth in the preseason conference poll and lost five of their last seven regular season games."Going from winning six games to 23 is insane," said freshman Jordan Cunningham, who was on last year's roster. "I think we know how good we are and how good we can be and I think that pushes us to work had every day."A 9-0 start caught people's attention. Being 18-3 in early February also turned some heads. A win over Central Missouri in the MIAA tournament helped, but a loss to Missouri Southern in the semifinals the following day left things in question.Would Missouri Western, at 21-9, the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, get into the big dance? And how would they fare if they did?Getting in as the No. 7 seed in the Central Region bracket, Missouri Western (23-9) has put it all on the line in Hays these last few days, and it's paid off beyond the Griffons' wildest dreams."I don't think any of us expected to be here," guard and St. Joseph native Jaelyn Haggard admitted. "But, obviously that's kind of the goal. So, I think we kind of set a standard for the program. But, we're really excited to compete and make a run for this thing."An astounding 111-77 win over No. 2 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State in the first round and a 72-59 victory over No. 6 seed and MIAA foe Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals has put Missouri Western women's basketball back into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1997."I think we know how hard we work," third-year head coach Candi Whitaker said. "I think we know what we're capable of and we're also very accountable when we don't perform. We've learned from all of those outings where we weren't very good. I think this group has always wanted to learn and get better."Awaiting the Griffons now is another familiar adversary - No. 1 seed and regional host Fort Hays State (30-3). The two teams meet for a third time this season on Monday night at 7 p.m.The Tigers, MIAA regular season and tournament champions, have won 11 straight games. They also beat Missouri Western twice in the regular season - 74-61 in St. Joseph on January 15 and again on February 23 in Hays, 78-69 in overtime.There's something about Hays' arena, Gross Memorial Coliseum, where the Central Region tournament has been held.The Griffons have played well there as of late. They took sixth-ranked Hays to overtime there in late February on their senior night. On Friday, they scored a school-record 111 points while making 15 three-pointers against SWOSU.On Saturday, Missouri Western beat Nebraska-Kearney for the first time in seven meetings with the Lopers and had four players finish in double figures."We like this gym," Cunningham said of Hays' home court. "Regular season, we shot well, and all of these games we have. So, it gives us a little confidence knowing the ball is going in and that helps us."The strong team effort hasn't just been happening Hays. Missouri Western's depth, its bench, has been an advantage all season long.Of the 32 games the Griffons have played so far this season, their bench has scored 20 or more points in 22 different games.Missouri Western is 18-4 this season when their bench scores 20 or more, 9-2 when they score 30 or more and 3-0 when scoring 50 or more.They had a whopping 57 bench points in Friday's win over Southwestern Oklahoma State."The ability to go to your bench and sub and not have drop-offs is wonderful to have for a coach," Whitaker said. "You have to be able to try different things when things aren't going your way.""We are so good because we have so much depth," Cunningham added. "The fact we can play 15-16 (players) per game and some teams are stuck with their top six. It's why we get to run and score and have a good time."Missouri Western now aims for its first regional championship since 1995.With nine total players back from last year's 6-16 team, combined with four new freshmen and three transfers, Missouri Western defied expectations this season, getting back into the Big Dance for the first time in six years.Now one win away from their first Elite Eight berth in 27 years, this Missouri Western team is not preoccupied with whether or not they should be here. Or how they got here. Or how they compare to other teams around the country.The facts are that this Missouri Western team is talented, deep, connected and they want to keep this season going for as long as they possibly can."I've had the most fun playing with this team and these coaches," said Haggard, a fifth-year player who transferred in from Northwest Missouri State. "Hopefully, we can keep running with that for a little while."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Final-radio-call---Missouri-Western-vs--Nebraska-Kearney-in-NCAA-Central-Region-Tournament-semifinals-e1fkq2j" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western women playing with confidence entering Sweet 16 matchup

PLATTE COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Platte County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Lexus driven by Wendy L. Shuford, 51,Topeka, was southbound on Interstate 435 just north of Route N.

The vehicle struck a deer. EMS transported Shuford to St. Luke's. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

PLATTE COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Platte County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Lexus driven by Wendy L. Shuford, 51,Topeka, was southbound on Interstate 435 just north of Route N.The vehicle struck a deer. EMS transported Shuford to St. Luke's. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Kansas woman injured after vehicle strikes a deer

With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-05ba4a25cbee9b5281804d3a5b60f058">gas prices at record highs across the U.S.,</a>&nbsp;an increasing number of governors and state lawmakers are calling for the suspension of gas taxes to provide relief to motorists who are facing the prospect of even higher pump prices as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-russia-oil-ban-120c0152cf310a5b593f6ae7a2857e62">the country cuts off Russian oil imports</a>.

Proposals for a “gas tax holiday” to counter inflation had been moving slowly in Congress and state capitols before Russia invaded Ukraine, but they have gained momentum this week amid surging prices that averaged $4.25 a gallon on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">according to AAA</a>.

Republican legislative leaders in Michigan and Pennsylvania announced proposals Wednesday to suspend or reduce state gas taxes. That came after the Republican governor of Georgia and Democratic governor of California both called for relief from state gas taxes Tuesday, when President Joe Biden ordered a ban on Russian oil imports.

Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIEOG/2022/03/08/file_attachments/2097322/Gas%20Tax%20Holiday%20FINAL%2003.08.22%20%281%29.pdf">sent a joint letter to congressional leaders&nbsp;</a>urging them to support legislation suspending the federal government's 18.4-cent-a-gallon gas tax through 2022.

Critics of the proposals say there is no guarantee the savings would get passed on to consumers and worry that suspending gas taxes could hurt funding for road projects. Even so, the eye-popping prices at the pump are prompting lawmakers to act.

“In the past several days, we have seen gas prices skyrocket to historic levels,” Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, a Republican running for governor, said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&amp;SPick=20210&amp;cosponId=37004">a memo seeking co-sponsors for the legislation</a>. “We must do all that we can to address this now at the state government level and offer our support to hard-working families.”

Pennsylvania’s 57.6-cent-a-gallon gas tax is the highest in the nation, just ahead of California's. Corman said he is introducing legislation for a roughly one-third reduction through the rest of the year. The lost gas tax revenue would be offset by directing $500 million of federal COVID-19 relief aid to state police and issuing $650 million in bonds to ensure infrastructure projects remain funded.

Legislation pending in both the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6787/text?r=1&amp;s=1">U.S. House</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3609/text?r=2&amp;s=1">U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;also would offset lost revenue from a gas tax suspension by transferring an equal amount of general fund dollars to the accounts that fund state highway and public transit programs. The legislation is opposed by groups that advocate for road and bridge funding. They fear a tax suspension would set a poor precedent and become politically difficult to restore, if politicians are cast as supporting a tax hike when it kicks back in.

The potential for lost infrastructure funding has been one of the biggest obstacles to those seeking to suspend or reduce gas taxes, but some state officials say they can afford the financial hit. Many states ended their 2021 fiscal years with record cash balances due to an influx of federal pandemic aid and a resurgent economy that yielded greater income and sales tax revenue than expected.

Suspending Michigan’s 27.2-cent-a-gallon fuel tax from April through September would cost about $725 million. The bill passed the GOP-controlled House on Wednesday and now goes to the state Senate, also controlled by Republicans. The office of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said it could hamper road repairs.

“Michigan has billions of dollars in surplus revenue available,” House Speaker Jason Wentworth said in statement Wednesday. “The solution here isn’t complicated. Republicans are going to take action today and put a real plan on the governor’s desk to actually lower the cost at the pump.”

Though average gas prices are at record levels, they are not yet the highest that Americans have paid when adjusted for inflation. The previous record high of $4.10 a gallon in July 2008 would be equal to about $5.24 in today's dollars.

Proposals to suspend gas taxes are based on an assumption that the savings would be passed on to consumers.

“Money saved at the pump translates into dollars back in consumers’ pockets for groceries, childcare, rent, and more,” the six Democratic governors wrote in their letter Tuesday to Democratic and Republican congressional leaders.

But transportation advocates say that because of other factors affecting gas prices, the full amount of tax cuts may not be reflected at the pump.

On average, only about one-third of the value of previous gas tax cuts or tax increases were passed on to consumers, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://transportationinvestment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TIAC_June2020_Report_v21.pdf">a 2020 report from the American Road &amp; Transportation Builders Association</a>&nbsp;that analyzed 113 state gas tax changes enacted over several years. That's because retail gas prices are influenced by complex factors, including the price of crude oil and supply-and-demand pressures.

"The real problem with this approach at both the federal and the state level is that there’s no way to ensure that the people will see this savings when they go to the gas pump to fill up their cars, their SUVs and trucks,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Last year, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-hacking-technology-government-and-politics-business-8c05938cbfeb1fbcbea4437a20cd943e">suspended state motor fuel taxes for several days</a>&nbsp;to offset increasing prices after a computer hack led to the shutdown of a key pipeline that carries fuel to much of Georgia.

Kemp on Tuesday said he again wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-prices-congress-0b269ebe1e701c93a0ceb44f3f29cf63">suspend the state's 29.1-cent-a-gallon gas tax&nbsp;</a>because of rising prices, though details remain to be worked out in legislation introduced in the General Assembly.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom also renewed a call to provide relief from rising gas prices during his State of the State address Tuesday, after a previous proposal gained little traction in the Democratic-led legislature. The average price for a gallon of gas in California reached $5.57 on Wednesday — the highest nationally, according to AAA.

After Newsom's speech, California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon issued a joint statement saying they plan to pursue tax relief from the general fund instead of “a small cut to the gas tax that might not get passed on to consumers.”

Virginia lawmakers also were negotiating this week whether to suspend a recent gas-tax hike for one year. The proposal was a key campaign pledge of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican elected last November. The Republican-controlled House included the temporary 5-cent gasoline tax cut in its budget proposal, but the Democrat-controlled Senate did not.

Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-florida-environment-ron-desantis-legislature-431ec92b7462de0bcfa4098666c1e72b">Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida had proposed</a>&nbsp;a five-month pause on the state’s gas tax this summer as part of a broader package of tax relief. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois also had proposed to halt an automatic 2.2-cent increase in the state's motor fuel tax as part of a broader tax-cut plan.

Lawmakers in other states — including Maryland, Minnesota, New York and Ohio — also have proposed to suspend or roll back gas taxes. A day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Missouri state Rep. Andrew Schwadron, a Republican, filed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/5792H.01I.pdf">legislation to suspend the state's motor fuel taxes</a>&nbsp;for six months, citing an emergency to protect consumers from rising prices.

"The quickest way that we could provide that relief would be by temporarily suspending that gas tax," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637673559812.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated PressWith&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-05ba4a25cbee9b5281804d3a5b60f058">gas prices at record highs across the U.S.,</a>&nbsp;an increasing number of governors and state lawmakers are calling for the suspension of gas taxes to provide relief to motorists who are facing the prospect of even higher pump prices as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-russia-oil-ban-120c0152cf310a5b593f6ae7a2857e62">the country cuts off Russian oil imports</a>.Proposals for a “gas tax holiday” to counter inflation had been moving slowly in Congress and state capitols before Russia invaded Ukraine, but they have gained momentum this week amid surging prices that averaged $4.25 a gallon on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">according to AAA</a>.Republican legislative leaders in Michigan and Pennsylvania announced proposals Wednesday to suspend or reduce state gas taxes. That came after the Republican governor of Georgia and Democratic governor of California both called for relief from state gas taxes Tuesday, when President Joe Biden ordered a ban on Russian oil imports.Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIEOG/2022/03/08/file_attachments/2097322/Gas%20Tax%20Holiday%20FINAL%2003.08.22%20%281%29.pdf">sent a joint letter to congressional leaders&nbsp;</a>urging them to support legislation suspending the federal government's 18.4-cent-a-gallon gas tax through 2022.Critics of the proposals say there is no guarantee the savings would get passed on to consumers and worry that suspending gas taxes could hurt funding for road projects. Even so, the eye-popping prices at the pump are prompting lawmakers to act.“In the past several days, we have seen gas prices skyrocket to historic levels,” Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, a Republican running for governor, said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&amp;SPick=20210&amp;cosponId=37004">a memo seeking co-sponsors for the legislation</a>. “We must do all that we can to address this now at the state government level and offer our support to hard-working families.”Pennsylvania’s 57.6-cent-a-gallon gas tax is the highest in the nation, just ahead of California's. Corman said he is introducing legislation for a roughly one-third reduction through the rest of the year. The lost gas tax revenue would be offset by directing $500 million of federal COVID-19 relief aid to state police and issuing $650 million in bonds to ensure infrastructure projects remain funded.Legislation pending in both the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6787/text?r=1&amp;s=1">U.S. House</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3609/text?r=2&amp;s=1">U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;also would offset lost revenue from a gas tax suspension by transferring an equal amount of general fund dollars to the accounts that fund state highway and public transit programs. The legislation is opposed by groups that advocate for road and bridge funding. They fear a tax suspension would set a poor precedent and become politically difficult to restore, if politicians are cast as supporting a tax hike when it kicks back in.The potential for lost infrastructure funding has been one of the biggest obstacles to those seeking to suspend or reduce gas taxes, but some state officials say they can afford the financial hit. Many states ended their 2021 fiscal years with record cash balances due to an influx of federal pandemic aid and a resurgent economy that yielded greater income and sales tax revenue than expected.Suspending Michigan’s 27.2-cent-a-gallon fuel tax from April through September would cost about $725 million. The bill passed the GOP-controlled House on Wednesday and now goes to the state Senate, also controlled by Republicans. The office of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said it could hamper road repairs.“Michigan has billions of dollars in surplus revenue available,” House Speaker Jason Wentworth said in statement Wednesday. “The solution here isn’t complicated. Republicans are going to take action today and put a real plan on the governor’s desk to actually lower the cost at the pump.”Though average gas prices are at record levels, they are not yet the highest that Americans have paid when adjusted for inflation. The previous record high of $4.10 a gallon in July 2008 would be equal to about $5.24 in today's dollars.Proposals to suspend gas taxes are based on an assumption that the savings would be passed on to consumers.“Money saved at the pump translates into dollars back in consumers’ pockets for groceries, childcare, rent, and more,” the six Democratic governors wrote in their letter Tuesday to Democratic and Republican congressional leaders.But transportation advocates say that because of other factors affecting gas prices, the full amount of tax cuts may not be reflected at the pump.On average, only about one-third of the value of previous gas tax cuts or tax increases were passed on to consumers, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://transportationinvestment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TIAC_June2020_Report_v21.pdf">a 2020 report from the American Road &amp; Transportation Builders Association</a>&nbsp;that analyzed 113 state gas tax changes enacted over several years. That's because retail gas prices are influenced by complex factors, including the price of crude oil and supply-and-demand pressures."The real problem with this approach at both the federal and the state level is that there’s no way to ensure that the people will see this savings when they go to the gas pump to fill up their cars, their SUVs and trucks,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.Last year, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-hacking-technology-government-and-politics-business-8c05938cbfeb1fbcbea4437a20cd943e">suspended state motor fuel taxes for several days</a>&nbsp;to offset increasing prices after a computer hack led to the shutdown of a key pipeline that carries fuel to much of Georgia.Kemp on Tuesday said he again wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-prices-congress-0b269ebe1e701c93a0ceb44f3f29cf63">suspend the state's 29.1-cent-a-gallon gas tax&nbsp;</a>because of rising prices, though details remain to be worked out in legislation introduced in the General Assembly.California Gov. Gavin Newsom also renewed a call to provide relief from rising gas prices during his State of the State address Tuesday, after a previous proposal gained little traction in the Democratic-led legislature. The average price for a gallon of gas in California reached $5.57 on Wednesday — the highest nationally, according to AAA.After Newsom's speech, California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon issued a joint statement saying they plan to pursue tax relief from the general fund instead of “a small cut to the gas tax that might not get passed on to consumers.”Virginia lawmakers also were negotiating this week whether to suspend a recent gas-tax hike for one year. The proposal was a key campaign pledge of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican elected last November. The Republican-controlled House included the temporary 5-cent gasoline tax cut in its budget proposal, but the Democrat-controlled Senate did not.Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-florida-environment-ron-desantis-legislature-431ec92b7462de0bcfa4098666c1e72b">Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida had proposed</a>&nbsp;a five-month pause on the state’s gas tax this summer as part of a broader package of tax relief. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois also had proposed to halt an automatic 2.2-cent increase in the state's motor fuel tax as part of a broader tax-cut plan.Lawmakers in other states — including Maryland, Minnesota, New York and Ohio — also have proposed to suspend or roll back gas taxes. A day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Missouri state Rep. Andrew Schwadron, a Republican, filed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/5792H.01I.pdf">legislation to suspend the state's motor fuel taxes</a>&nbsp;for six months, citing an emergency to protect consumers from rising prices."The quickest way that we could provide that relief would be by temporarily suspending that gas tax," he said.

Calls to suspend gas taxes across U.S. grow as prices surge

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged criminal damage to property.

Just before 9p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;officers responded to a residence in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison where a bottle had been thrown through a window, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Police located a man later identified as 43-year-old Robert Hundley of Rushville in a vehicle outside the residence.&nbsp;Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and a slow speed pursuit followed with the vehicle stopping in a parking lot in the 400 block U.S.59 where Hundley was taken into custody.

He is being held on requested charges in connection with breaking the window and flee or attempt to elude police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647011950435.png" alt="Hundley-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Hundley-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged criminal damage to property.Just before 9p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;officers responded to a residence in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison where a bottle had been thrown through a window, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Police located a man later identified as 43-year-old Robert Hundley of Rushville in a vehicle outside the residence.&nbsp;Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and a slow speed pursuit followed with the vehicle stopping in a parking lot in the 400 block U.S.59 where Hundley was taken into custody.He is being held on requested charges in connection with breaking the window and flee or attempt to elude police.

Rushville man jailed for throwing bottle through window of home

A former St. Joseph firefighter who served eight years in the
Missouri House is running for state Senate.

Delus Johnson will run to succeed Sen. Dan Hegeman, a
Republican from Cosby, when Hegeman leaves the legislature after this session due
to term limits.

Johnson, a Republican, says he hopes to help agriculture if
elected to the Missouri Senate, pointing out though Missouri has the second
most farms of any state, it ranks only 15th in exports.

“I think we need to make it easier for Missouri farmers to
export ag products to other countries,” Johnson tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We’re
the nation’s second largest producer of hay. We’re the nation’s third largest
producer of beef cows and my goal will be to make it easier to connect Missouri
farmers to overseas buyers.”

Johnson served 20 years in the St. Joseph Fire Department
before retiring as a captain to begin working in the House. He ran briefly for
Senate previously, but stepped out of the way to clear the path for Hegeman to
run for the seat.

Johnson first won election to the Missouri House in 2010 and
served from 2011 to 2019, representing District 9, which is comprised of
eastern Buchanan County and Andrew County.

Now that Hegeman is leaving due to term limits, Johnson is
back in the race.

“So this is a goal that I’ve had for over eight years and I’ve
kind of been waiting for my time and I’m planning on running a very aggressive
campaign,” Johnson says. “I do plan on serving as the next senator from
northwest Missouri and I’m definitely going to work as hard as I can to get
there.”

Johnson says he will run on his eight-year conservative voting
record while serving in the House. And Johnson says he will be a strong
advocate for agriculture in the state Senate.

“I’m always going to do just like what I did in the House,”
Johnson says. “I’ll always support Missouri’s largest industry and that’s
agriculture. That will be one of my top priorities as a state senator.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647010910470.jpeg" alt="Former state Rep. Delus Johnson speaks on the Missouri House floor/Photo courtesy of Missouri House Communications" />
 <figcaption>Former state Rep. Delus Johnson speaks on the Missouri House floor/Photo courtesy of Missouri House Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA former St. Joseph firefighter who served eight years in the
Missouri House is running for state Senate.Delus Johnson will run to succeed Sen. Dan Hegeman, a
Republican from Cosby, when Hegeman leaves the legislature after this session due
to term limits.Johnson, a Republican, says he hopes to help agriculture if
elected to the Missouri Senate, pointing out though Missouri has the second
most farms of any state, it ranks only 15th in exports.“I think we need to make it easier for Missouri farmers to
export ag products to other countries,” Johnson tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We’re
the nation’s second largest producer of hay. We’re the nation’s third largest
producer of beef cows and my goal will be to make it easier to connect Missouri
farmers to overseas buyers.”Johnson served 20 years in the St. Joseph Fire Department
before retiring as a captain to begin working in the House. He ran briefly for
Senate previously, but stepped out of the way to clear the path for Hegeman to
run for the seat.Johnson first won election to the Missouri House in 2010 and
served from 2011 to 2019, representing District 9, which is comprised of
eastern Buchanan County and Andrew County.Now that Hegeman is leaving due to term limits, Johnson is
back in the race.“So this is a goal that I’ve had for over eight years and I’ve
kind of been waiting for my time and I’m planning on running a very aggressive
campaign,” Johnson says. “I do plan on serving as the next senator from
northwest Missouri and I’m definitely going to work as hard as I can to get
there.”Johnson says he will run on his eight-year conservative voting
record while serving in the House. And Johnson says he will be a strong
advocate for agriculture in the state Senate.“I’m always going to do just like what I did in the House,”
Johnson says. “I’ll always support Missouri’s largest industry and that’s
agriculture. That will be one of my top priorities as a state senator.”

Former St. Joseph firefighter, state rep plans run for state Senate

Missouri Western State University seems to be seeing a rise in student engagement with students back on campus, and that, in large part, is due to the work of the Student Government Association. &nbsp;

Missouri Western SGA Vice President Connor Peters says that student engagement this year has come roaring back. Peters adds that with fewer COVID-19 restrictions on campus now, it's made students engage with their peers more.&nbsp;

"I think it's given students the opportunity again to in a physical space get engaged with their peers," Peters tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And so, there has been a huge uptick in student organizations and student interest in institutions like SGA, Student Government Association, it's been like night and day." &nbsp;

Peters says that it's a huge juxtaposition between this year and last year when Missouri Western was in the heat of the COVID pandemic.&nbsp;

SGA President Nathan Scott says he was elected president just before spring break; just before Missouri Western shut its campus down. &nbsp;

Scott says with the campus shutdown, the student government association had to step up in different ways, adding that at times it was kind of like crisis management. &nbsp;

"How do you advocate for students that are now switching involuntarily to an online setting, the destruction of a lot of events that we would be able to do as we all went virtual," Scott says. "Just trying to navigate that was quite an interesting thing to be elected student body president one day, and then the next it's all completely different, the entire paradigm shifts."&nbsp;

Peters says that another big change for the SGA was all events going digital, and even having to learn programming and creating new activities in an online setting. &nbsp;

Student engagement on the campus of Missouri Western State University is said to be at an all-time high, in large part due to the work of the Student Government Association.&nbsp;

A recent food drive illustrates the point. &nbsp;

The Missouri Western SGA recently competed with the Northwest Missouri State University SGA to stock the food cabinets on both campuses, which saw Missouri Western come out on top. &nbsp;

Missouri Western SGA President Nathan Scott says the biggest surprise of the food drive was how involved the students got.&nbsp;

"We thought the competitions between the departments and the organizations would be the largest driver of donations, but really what I was surprised with was the spirit of service that so many of our students have," Scott says. "Because a majority of our donations, which we didn't expect this, was going to come from individual students."&nbsp;

A total of more than three-thousand pounds of food was donated during the food drives in St. Joseph and Maryville.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Missouri Western came out on top in the competition donating 2,386 pounds of food while Northwest donated 1,360 pounds.&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;Missouri Western State University seems to be seeing a rise in student engagement with students back on campus, and that, in large part, is due to the work of the Student Government Association. &nbsp;Missouri Western SGA Vice President Connor Peters says that student engagement this year has come roaring back. Peters adds that with fewer COVID-19 restrictions on campus now, it's made students engage with their peers more.&nbsp;"I think it's given students the opportunity again to in a physical space get engaged with their peers," Peters tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And so, there has been a huge uptick in student organizations and student interest in institutions like SGA, Student Government Association, it's been like night and day." &nbsp;Peters says that it's a huge juxtaposition between this year and last year when Missouri Western was in the heat of the COVID pandemic.&nbsp;SGA President Nathan Scott says he was elected president just before spring break; just before Missouri Western shut its campus down. &nbsp;Scott says with the campus shutdown, the student government association had to step up in different ways, adding that at times it was kind of like crisis management. &nbsp;"How do you advocate for students that are now switching involuntarily to an online setting, the destruction of a lot of events that we would be able to do as we all went virtual," Scott says. "Just trying to navigate that was quite an interesting thing to be elected student body president one day, and then the next it's all completely different, the entire paradigm shifts."&nbsp;Peters says that another big change for the SGA was all events going digital, and even having to learn programming and creating new activities in an online setting. &nbsp;Student engagement on the campus of Missouri Western State University is said to be at an all-time high, in large part due to the work of the Student Government Association.&nbsp;A recent food drive illustrates the point. &nbsp;The Missouri Western SGA recently competed with the Northwest Missouri State University SGA to stock the food cabinets on both campuses, which saw Missouri Western come out on top. &nbsp;Missouri Western SGA President Nathan Scott says the biggest surprise of the food drive was how involved the students got.&nbsp;"We thought the competitions between the departments and the organizations would be the largest driver of donations, but really what I was surprised with was the spirit of service that so many of our students have," Scott says. "Because a majority of our donations, which we didn't expect this, was going to come from individual students."&nbsp;A total of more than three-thousand pounds of food was donated during the food drives in St. Joseph and Maryville.&nbsp; &nbsp;Missouri Western came out on top in the competition donating 2,386 pounds of food while Northwest donated 1,360 pounds.&nbsp;

Student leaders say student engagement is at an all time high at Missouri Western

St. Joseph’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been moved.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians has postponed the parade from
tomorrow to next Saturday, the 19th.

The Hibernians made the decision after reviewing the weather
forecast. &nbsp;

In a news release, the Hibernians stated, “After a review of
the weather forecast, we felt that in the best interest of public safety, and rather
than risk of putting young children in harm’s way, postponing the parade one
week is our most prudent option.”

The National Weather Service forecast a high tomorrow of only
34 with wind chills dipping down to minus-2 to eight degrees.

The re-scheduled parade will begin at noon on March 19th.

For more information, go to the Hibernians’ website:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.stjoeaoh.com/st-patrick-s-parade">https://www.stjoeaoh.com/st-patrick-s-parade</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647019850236.jpeg" alt="St. Patrick's Day Parade" />
 <figcaption>St. Patrick's Day Parade</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been moved.The Ancient Order of Hibernians has postponed the parade from
tomorrow to next Saturday, the 19th.The Hibernians made the decision after reviewing the weather
forecast. &nbsp;In a news release, the Hibernians stated, “After a review of
the weather forecast, we felt that in the best interest of public safety, and rather
than risk of putting young children in harm’s way, postponing the parade one
week is our most prudent option.”The National Weather Service forecast a high tomorrow of only
34 with wind chills dipping down to minus-2 to eight degrees.The re-scheduled parade will begin at noon on March 19th.For more information, go to the Hibernians’ website:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.stjoeaoh.com/st-patrick-s-parade">https://www.stjoeaoh.com/st-patrick-s-parade</a>.

St. Joseph St. Patrick's Day Parade postponed until next Saturday, the 19th

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County remains fairly low, and hospitalizations continue to be minimal.

In their latest report St. Joseph health officials report 54 new cases of COVID-19, with 26 new cases on Tuesday, 20 on Wednesday, and eight on Thursday. 

Buchanan County has reported 24,694 cases since the start of the pandemic. The positivity rate is unchanged. 

Mosaic Life Care reports its hospitalizations are minimal, stating its numbers have dropped below ten.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe number of positive COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County remains fairly low, and hospitalizations continue to be minimal.In their latest report St. Joseph health officials report 54 new cases of COVID-19, with 26 new cases on Tuesday, 20 on Wednesday, and eight on Thursday. Buchanan County has reported 24,694 cases since the start of the pandemic. The positivity rate is unchanged. Mosaic Life Care reports its hospitalizations are minimal, stating its numbers have dropped below ten.

Buchanan County sees small rise in number of positive cases, hospitalizations still minimal

St. Joseph public school Superintendent Doug Van Zyl is a
candidate for the top position in a Minnesota school district.

The Lakeville Area Board of Education has spoken with Van Zyl
via livestream about the open superintendent position there.

Van Zyl is one of six candidates chosen by a search firm
School Exec Connect to interview for the Lakeville position. One of the
candidates withdrew her name from consideration.

The Lakeville Area Board of Education conducted interviews yesterday
(THU) and has more interviews slated for today. Van Zyl was the first candidate
interviewed on Thursday.

The Lakeville district will narrow the field to finalists who
will meet with students, parents, staff, and Lakeville community members.

Lakeville Area Schools instructs around 10,500, nearly
identical to the student population of the St. Joseph School District.

Van Zyl is from Minnesota. He came to St. Joseph in the summer
of 2018. His current contract runs through next year. Van Zyl was
superintendent of the Fort Dodge, Iowa school district for eight years before
coming to St. Joseph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646999866025.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph School Superintendent Doug Van Zyl/file photo" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph School Superintendent Doug Van Zyl/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph public school Superintendent Doug Van Zyl is a
candidate for the top position in a Minnesota school district.The Lakeville Area Board of Education has spoken with Van Zyl
via livestream about the open superintendent position there.Van Zyl is one of six candidates chosen by a search firm
School Exec Connect to interview for the Lakeville position. One of the
candidates withdrew her name from consideration.The Lakeville Area Board of Education conducted interviews yesterday
(THU) and has more interviews slated for today. Van Zyl was the first candidate
interviewed on Thursday.The Lakeville district will narrow the field to finalists who
will meet with students, parents, staff, and Lakeville community members.Lakeville Area Schools instructs around 10,500, nearly
identical to the student population of the St. Joseph School District.Van Zyl is from Minnesota. He came to St. Joseph in the summer
of 2018. His current contract runs through next year. Van Zyl was
superintendent of the Fort Dodge, Iowa school district for eight years before
coming to St. Joseph.

Van Zyl a candidate for Minnesota school district superintendent post

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary that occurred at a residence in the 1000 block of Parallel in Atchison.

The crime occurred sometime between 9:00a.m. on Tuesday and 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The suspect took a 9mm handgun, two .22 caliber handguns, a .223 rifle, and a 16 gauge shotgun; ammunition, cash, and tools. Value of the loss around $4,850.

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary that occurred at a residence in the 1000 block of Parallel in Atchison.The crime occurred sometime between 9:00a.m. on Tuesday and 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The suspect took a 9mm handgun, two .22 caliber handguns, a .223 rifle, and a 16 gauge shotgun; ammunition, cash, and tools. Value of the loss around $4,850.

Police: Suspect took handguns, shotguns in Kan. home burglary

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Thursday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 GMC Canyon driven by Christopher L. Meringa, 36, Bethany, was northbound on MO 13 eight miles south of Bethany.

The pickup traveled off the west side of the road down an embankment and into a creek.

NTA ambulance transported Meringa to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Thursday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 GMC Canyon driven by Christopher L. Meringa, 36, Bethany, was northbound on MO 13 eight miles south of Bethany.The pickup traveled off the west side of the road down an embankment and into a creek.NTA ambulance transported Meringa to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

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