The United Way of Greater St. Joseph in in the midst of its annual campaign season.

With no specific goal set due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, the main goal is to raise at least as much, if not more, than last campaign season:  $2.4 million dollars.

Danielle Brown of Interserv, a partner agency of the United Way, has been out campaigning to raise money. She says one of her favorite things to bring up in presentations to people, is how many agencies the United Way funds.

"I like to bring that it's giving to 17 partner agencies and seven initiatives, and so you're not just making a donation to one program or one thing that you think is important within the community," Brown tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

Brown adds that while the money donated is usually evenly distributed between each of the 17 agencies, if there is a particular one that people want to support, that can be specified.

"You absolutely can specify I want my dollars to go to this agency or this initiative," Brown says.  "You just have to write that on your pledge form, write that on your donation as you send it in to United Way, and they'll make sure those dollars go specifically to those programs."

Every year, the United Way works with volunteers and the community to decide how funds should be allocated among its 17-member agencies.

And Renita Neville of the United Way believes that this allocation process is why it is less common in St. Joseph for donors to give to specific agencies.

"I think it's interesting that in our community we don't have a very high designation rate, people do choose to do it because generally they've got some connection to some particular program, in other communites that's not the case there's very high desigation rates," Neville explains. "They don't here, and we believe that is largely because of this allocations process, people understand that it's their peers."

While the community is still impacted by the pandemic, volunteers are able to be out talking to potential donors once again.  The last time the United Way of Greater St. Joseph volunteers were able to make their pitch in person was 2019, when it raised $3.1 million.

The campaign continues until November 4th. You can donate to the campaign online <a href="https://www.stjosephunitedway.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=1">HERE</a>

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe United Way of Greater St. Joseph in in the midst of its annual campaign season.With no specific goal set due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, the main goal is to raise at least as much, if not more, than last campaign season: $2.4 million dollars.Danielle Brown of Interserv, a partner agency of the United Way, has been out campaigning to raise money. She says one of her favorite things to bring up in presentations to people, is how many agencies the United Way funds."I like to bring that it's giving to 17 partner agencies and seven initiatives, and so you're not just making a donation to one program or one thing that you think is important within the community," Brown tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Brown adds that while the money donated is usually evenly distributed between each of the 17 agencies, if there is a particular one that people want to support, that can be specified."You absolutely can specify I want my dollars to go to this agency or this initiative," Brown says. "You just have to write that on your pledge form, write that on your donation as you send it in to United Way, and they'll make sure those dollars go specifically to those programs."Every year, the United Way works with volunteers and the community to decide how funds should be allocated among its 17-member agencies.And Renita Neville of the United Way believes that this allocation process is why it is less common in St. Joseph for donors to give to specific agencies."I think it's interesting that in our community we don't have a very high designation rate, people do choose to do it because generally they've got some connection to some particular program, in other communites that's not the case there's very high desigation rates," Neville explains. "They don't here, and we believe that is largely because of this allocations process, people understand that it's their peers."While the community is still impacted by the pandemic, volunteers are able to be out talking to potential donors once again. The last time the United Way of Greater St. Joseph volunteers were able to make their pitch in person was 2019, when it raised $3.1 million.The campaign continues until November 4th. You can donate to the campaign online <a href="https://www.stjosephunitedway.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=1">HERE</a>

St. Joseph United Way campaign season rolling on strong

Casinos in Missouri seem to have bounced back after a rough
2020.

The coronavirus pandemic shut down operations for a while and
even once the casinos opened, the public was slow to return.

The St. Jo Frontier Casino has had to weather a flood in 2019
followed by the pandemic.

Missouri Gaming Commission member, Pat Conway of St. Joseph,
says the industry has had to overcome quite a bit.

“I think from the gaming industry standpoint, the biggest
problem has been COVID,” Conway says. “The numbers were down. The casino here,
of course, had the flooding issue and then had the COVID issue, but their
numbers are starting to get better.”

Revenue generated by the 13 Missouri casinos dipped
drastically last year, but seem to be rebounding to near-2019 levels this year.
The last two months have seen a strong increase in traffic at the casinos,
especially the casinos in the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas.

“I think the numbers for the last 60 days have shown a
significant increase of people returning,” Conway tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I
think the downturn in COVID has allowed people to go to the casinos, not only in
St. Joseph, but across the state. And I think in the metropolitan areas we’re
seeing more significant increases, but we’re still seeing the numbers increase
at the local casino and, of course, in the long run that benefits the
community.”

Other gambling avenues might soon open for Missouri residents.

Conway, a former state legislator, expects the legislature to
again consider bills legalizing sports betting in Missouri.

“We’re looking forward to see how the legislature moves in
that direction and if we’re called upon to set up regulations for sports
wagering, we’re prepared to do that,” Conway says.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632944471075.jpeg" alt="Missouri Gaming Commission chair Mike Leara (left) and member Pat Conway listen during a commission meeting in St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Gaming Commission chair Mike Leara (left) and member Pat Conway listen during a commission meeting in St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostCasinos in Missouri seem to have bounced back after a rough
2020.The coronavirus pandemic shut down operations for a while and
even once the casinos opened, the public was slow to return.The St. Jo Frontier Casino has had to weather a flood in 2019
followed by the pandemic.Missouri Gaming Commission member, Pat Conway of St. Joseph,
says the industry has had to overcome quite a bit.“I think from the gaming industry standpoint, the biggest
problem has been COVID,” Conway says. “The numbers were down. The casino here,
of course, had the flooding issue and then had the COVID issue, but their
numbers are starting to get better.”Revenue generated by the 13 Missouri casinos dipped
drastically last year, but seem to be rebounding to near-2019 levels this year.
The last two months have seen a strong increase in traffic at the casinos,
especially the casinos in the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas.“I think the numbers for the last 60 days have shown a
significant increase of people returning,” Conway tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I
think the downturn in COVID has allowed people to go to the casinos, not only in
St. Joseph, but across the state. And I think in the metropolitan areas we’re
seeing more significant increases, but we’re still seeing the numbers increase
at the local casino and, of course, in the long run that benefits the
community.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632944536842.jpeg" alt="Pat Conway/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Pat Conway/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>Other gambling avenues might soon open for Missouri residents.Conway, a former state legislator, expects the legislature to
again consider bills legalizing sports betting in Missouri.“We’re looking forward to see how the legislature moves in
that direction and if we’re called upon to set up regulations for sports
wagering, we’re prepared to do that,” Conway says.

Conway says casinos are bouncing back; sports betting could be legalized

BUCHANAN COUNTY —A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Thursday in Buchanan County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Spark driven by Kimberlee M. McGregor, 28, Lathrop, was westbound on U.S. 36 two miles east of St. Joseph.&nbsp;

The Chevy was following traffic too closely and rear-ended a 2000 GMC Sierra driven by Aaron E. Gann, 53, Clarksdale.

Buchanan County EMS transported McGregor to Mosaic Life Care. Gann was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Thursday in Buchanan County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Spark driven by Kimberlee M. McGregor, 28, Lathrop, was westbound on U.S. 36 two miles east of St. Joseph.&nbsp;The Chevy was following traffic too closely and rear-ended a 2000 GMC Sierra driven by Aaron E. Gann, 53, Clarksdale.Buchanan County EMS transported McGregor to Mosaic Life Care. Gann was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after rear-end crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

On Tuesday, police arrested 19-year-old Jack W. Campbell of Atchison on a District Court warrant for possession of fentanyl and speeding, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

&nbsp;Campbell remains in the Atchison County Jail, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632942342729.png" alt="Campbell photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Campbell photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on drug allegations after a traffic stop.On Tuesday, police arrested 19-year-old Jack W. Campbell of Atchison on a District Court warrant for possession of fentanyl and speeding, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp;Campbell remains in the Atchison County Jail, according to online records.

Police: Kansas teen  accused of fentanyl  possession 

Lafayette seniors Jaron Saunders and Kingston Oliver made school and state history earlier this season in a week two football game against Atchison, KS.

Saunders threw for a staggering 698 yards in a 50-21 at Atchison on September 3rd - a new school and state record. His top target that night was Oliver, who had 398 receiving yards - also a state record.

State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, representing Platte and Buchanan Counties, had read about the accomplishment soon after it happened, and wanted to honor the Irish with a Senate resolution.

He presented Saunders and Oliver with that resolution at Lafayette's football practice on Wednesday afternoon.

"I had seen that both of these guys had set not only the school record, but also the state record for single-game passing and receiving yards," Luetkemeyer said. "I said, 'We have to do something special.' So, we were able to get a couple of senate resolutions for them. It's just a small token of appreciation to show them the honor and respect that the Missouri Senate has for their great accomplishment."

Saunders was honored to get such a recognition from the state level.

"It shows that people care about us and shows that in Missouri, we have good representation," Saunders said. "Obviously, he's from the Senate, so that's huge for us, knowing that the representation from Missouri comes out and shows their support. It shows we have people from all around who are backing us here."

Oliver gives credit to his teammates for making such a record and achievement possible.

"It just feels good," he said. "Them guys helped me get the record by opening me up. The chemistry with Jaron, it's been like that since 5th grade, so it's just coming to light now."

Oliver also had four touchdown catches against Atchison, which tied the single-game state record also.

As nice as the honor is, Saunders says he and the team are looking ahead to bigger things, as the Irish get set for a key, MEC battle at Chillicothe (3-2) this Friday, and then home games against Cameron (1-4) and St. Pius X (5-0) in the weeks to follow.

"I mean, the feeling of it is always great," Saunders said of the record. "But, we're trying to move on to bigger and better things from that. We're trying to win an MEC title right now and hopefully go onto a district title and hopefully just keep going forward from there."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632961227792.jpeg" alt="Jaron Saunders (left), Senator Lutkemeyer (center) and Kingston Oliver (right). Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Jaron Saunders (left), Senator Lutkemeyer (center) and Kingston Oliver (right). Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostLafayette seniors Jaron Saunders and Kingston Oliver made school and state history earlier this season in a week two football game against Atchison, KS.Saunders threw for a staggering 698 yards in a 50-21 at Atchison on September 3rd - a new school and state record. His top target that night was Oliver, who had 398 receiving yards - also a state record.State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, representing Platte and Buchanan Counties, had read about the accomplishment soon after it happened, and wanted to honor the Irish with a Senate resolution.He presented Saunders and Oliver with that resolution at Lafayette's football practice on Wednesday afternoon."I had seen that both of these guys had set not only the school record, but also the state record for single-game passing and receiving yards," Luetkemeyer said. "I said, 'We have to do something special.' So, we were able to get a couple of senate resolutions for them. It's just a small token of appreciation to show them the honor and respect that the Missouri Senate has for their great accomplishment."Saunders was honored to get such a recognition from the state level."It shows that people care about us and shows that in Missouri, we have good representation," Saunders said. "Obviously, he's from the Senate, so that's huge for us, knowing that the representation from Missouri comes out and shows their support. It shows we have people from all around who are backing us here."Oliver gives credit to his teammates for making such a record and achievement possible."It just feels good," he said. "Them guys helped me get the record by opening me up. The chemistry with Jaron, it's been like that since 5th grade, so it's just coming to light now."Oliver also had four touchdown catches against Atchison, which tied the single-game state record also.As nice as the honor is, Saunders says he and the team are looking ahead to bigger things, as the Irish get set for a key, MEC battle at Chillicothe (3-2) this Friday, and then home games against Cameron (1-4) and St. Pius X (5-0) in the weeks to follow."I mean, the feeling of it is always great," Saunders said of the record. "But, we're trying to move on to bigger and better things from that. We're trying to win an MEC title right now and hopefully go onto a district title and hopefully just keep going forward from there."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632962427566.jpeg" alt="Jaron Saunders (left), left tackle Quentin Garrett (center) and Kingston Oliver (right). Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Jaron Saunders (left), left tackle Quentin Garrett (center) and Kingston Oliver (right). Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Luetkemeyer honors Lafayette's Saunders, Oliver with resolution for state records

Spectators at the St. Joseph Central-Lafayette football game at Noyes Field last Friday were greeted by metal detectors at the entrances.

It's a new security measure that was put in place by the St. Joseph School District on September 24 following a scary situation at the Lafayette-Savannah game the week before.

Robert Sigrist, director of non-academic services for the district, says local law enforcement apprehended a 17-year-old at Alumni Stadium, who was in possession of a firearm.&nbsp;Two juveniles were arrested at the stadium in connection to a shooting in the 5500 block of Pryor Avenue&nbsp;that same night.

"One of our SROs noticed those individuals at the game," Sigrist recalled, "which was great that he was aware and had that ability to discern that. Turned out one of those individuals was in possession of a gun, so it was a bit of a tense situation."

Officer Herrera and Detective McGinnis of the St. Joseph Police Department responded to the situation, as did Officer Dudick of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was off duty, but was at the game watching his son, Ethan, compete for Savannah.

The teenager faces a Class B felony of unlawful use of a weapon in Buchanan County Juvenile Court. Weapons are also prohibited on St. Joseph School District property.

After the incident, Sigrist said school officials had a serious discussion about what to do increase security at football games. Metal detectors were soon ordered, and put in place at all three of the district's football fields - all done in enough time before the next game on Sept. 24.

"We were fortunate with the way supply chains are right now to get that turned around and done very quickly," Sigrist said. "We were able to have that in place last Friday night for the Central-Lafayette game."

All went well, as dozens of fans packed the stands to watch Central beat Lafayette 63-56 in overtime at Noyes Field. Sigrist said fans were pretty understanding and cooperative about the changes.

"I think most people understand that if you go to a game at Arrowhead or you go to a concert or the courthouse, being wanded in and going through a metal detector and emptying your pockets is not something that's a foreign concept to most of us."

Sigrist says the metal detectors will only be implemented at the school district's football games for the time being.

"That's where our largest crowds are," he said. "Obviously, it's where we've had a concern. So, I'm not saying that it wouldn't be on the table, but right now, we're not looking at moving it beyond that."

As troubling as the incident was at the Lafayette-Savannah game, Sigrist expresses gratitude that nobody was hurt and that football fans who watch games within the St. Joseph School District can have a little more peace of mind when they arrive at the stadium.

"At least we will have a little bit more confidence that our events will be more safe and there will be nobody with weapons at the game."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632941802109.jpeg" alt="Dr. Robert Sigrist discusses increased security at St. Joseph School District football games. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Robert Sigrist discusses increased security at St. Joseph School District football games. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSpectators at the St. Joseph Central-Lafayette football game at Noyes Field last Friday were greeted by metal detectors at the entrances.It's a new security measure that was put in place by the St. Joseph School District on September 24 following a scary situation at the Lafayette-Savannah game the week before.Robert Sigrist, director of non-academic services for the district, says local law enforcement apprehended a 17-year-old at Alumni Stadium, who was in possession of a firearm.&nbsp;Two juveniles were arrested at the stadium in connection to a shooting in the 5500 block of Pryor Avenue&nbsp;that same night."One of our SROs noticed those individuals at the game," Sigrist recalled, "which was great that he was aware and had that ability to discern that. Turned out one of those individuals was in possession of a gun, so it was a bit of a tense situation."Officer Herrera and Detective McGinnis of the St. Joseph Police Department responded to the situation, as did Officer Dudick of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was off duty, but was at the game watching his son, Ethan, compete for Savannah.The teenager faces a Class B felony of unlawful use of a weapon in Buchanan County Juvenile Court. Weapons are also prohibited on St. Joseph School District property.After the incident, Sigrist said school officials had a serious discussion about what to do increase security at football games. Metal detectors were soon ordered, and put in place at all three of the district's football fields - all done in enough time before the next game on Sept. 24."We were fortunate with the way supply chains are right now to get that turned around and done very quickly," Sigrist said. "We were able to have that in place last Friday night for the Central-Lafayette game."All went well, as dozens of fans packed the stands to watch Central beat Lafayette 63-56 in overtime at Noyes Field. Sigrist said fans were pretty understanding and cooperative about the changes."I think most people understand that if you go to a game at Arrowhead or you go to a concert or the courthouse, being wanded in and going through a metal detector and emptying your pockets is not something that's a foreign concept to most of us."Sigrist says the metal detectors will only be implemented at the school district's football games for the time being."That's where our largest crowds are," he said. "Obviously, it's where we've had a concern. So, I'm not saying that it wouldn't be on the table, but right now, we're not looking at moving it beyond that."As troubling as the incident was at the Lafayette-Savannah game, Sigrist expresses gratitude that nobody was hurt and that football fans who watch games within the St. Joseph School District can have a little more peace of mind when they arrive at the stadium."At least we will have a little bit more confidence that our events will be more safe and there will be nobody with weapons at the game."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph School District hopeful new security measures will keep spectators safe

ATCHISON COUNTY — A Kansas boy was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Wednesday in Atchison.

A passenger vehicle driven by Lesley Schoenfelder, Atchison, struck a bicycle ridden by 13-year-old Joshua Franke, Atchison, at the intersection of 9th and Santa Fe, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Investigators determined the boy was eastbound on Santa Fe when he failed to stop at the stop sign, entered the intersection and into the path of the passenger vehicle. EMS transported the boy to a St. Joseph hospital.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

ATCHISON COUNTY — A Kansas boy was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Wednesday in Atchison.A passenger vehicle driven by Lesley Schoenfelder, Atchison, struck a bicycle ridden by 13-year-old Joshua Franke, Atchison, at the intersection of 9th and Santa Fe, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Investigators determined the boy was eastbound on Santa Fe when he failed to stop at the stop sign, entered the intersection and into the path of the passenger vehicle. EMS transported the boy to a St. Joseph hospital.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Police: 13-year-old Kan. boy on bike struck by vehicle 

An emergency blood shortage has been declared by the American Red Cross.

Red Cross spokeswoman Angie Springs says the most needed blood is Type O, the universal blood type, but all blood types will help in this shortage. 

Springs says there are many reasons why the blood supply has fallen so low, such as people returning to normal routines after the coronavirus pandemic eased.

"People are going back to the work place, and so life is looking a little bit different, a lot of people are trying to go back out and travel now that vaccinations are rolled out, they feel safe going about what we would call normal life," Springs tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "As well as kids are going back to school, in person learning."

Springs adds some blood donors have hesitated to begin giving blood again, because of safety concerns. Springs emphasizes the Red Cross takes every safety precaution to keep donors safe.

Springs says the only way the Red Cross can get more blood, is if people go out, roll up their sleeves, and donate.

But Springs is aware that in the midst of the COVID pandemic, some potential donors might hesitate, due to safety concerns. She says that might have led to the blood shortage.

"I don't know that I can actually say that it is," Springs says. "But I don't know that we can actually say that it isn't either, I think that the signs would definitely point to the pandemic having an impact on the thought process around going out and is it safe to go and give blood, and absolutely it is."

Springs assures donors the Red Cross takes precautions to ensure the safety of its blood donors.

If you would like to donate, Springs says the Red Cross is accepting walk ins, but you are asked to make an appointment to help with social distancing.  

Springs says that while all blood types will help increase the blood supply, the universal capabilities of Type O are important for hospitals, especially in times of emergency.

"Because it is something they don't have to try to figure out what blood type you have when they're trying to work with somebody that's a trauma patient, that's come in after a car accident and they need to get a blood transfusion going quickly, they know that Type O of course is universal, so the demand for Type O is certainly higher than any other type," Springs explains.

Springs adds that the only way to help get the blood supply back up is for more residents to donate. The number of donors and hosts has gone down recently with people traveling, going back to work in the office, and even with kids going back to school.

For more information on donating blood you can click <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/">HERE</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632940818788.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray (Center) donating blood at the Mayor's Blood Drive at Civic Arena alongside Executive Director Randee Krumwiede (Left) and Collections Supervisor Carly Malone (Right)/ Photo Courtesy of Angie Springs." />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray (Center) donating blood at the Mayor's Blood Drive at Civic Arena alongside Executive Director Randee Krumwiede (Left) and Collections Supervisor Carly Malone (Right)/ Photo Courtesy of Angie Springs.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostAn emergency blood shortage has been declared by the American Red Cross.Red Cross spokeswoman Angie Springs says the most needed blood is Type O, the universal blood type, but all blood types will help in this shortage. Springs says there are many reasons why the blood supply has fallen so low, such as people returning to normal routines after the coronavirus pandemic eased."People are going back to the work place, and so life is looking a little bit different, a lot of people are trying to go back out and travel now that vaccinations are rolled out, they feel safe going about what we would call normal life," Springs tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "As well as kids are going back to school, in person learning."Springs adds some blood donors have hesitated to begin giving blood again, because of safety concerns. Springs emphasizes the Red Cross takes every safety precaution to keep donors safe.Springs says the only way the Red Cross can get more blood, is if people go out, roll up their sleeves, and donate.But Springs is aware that in the midst of the COVID pandemic, some potential donors might hesitate, due to safety concerns. She says that might have led to the blood shortage."I don't know that I can actually say that it is," Springs says. "But I don't know that we can actually say that it isn't either, I think that the signs would definitely point to the pandemic having an impact on the thought process around going out and is it safe to go and give blood, and absolutely it is."Springs assures donors the Red Cross takes precautions to ensure the safety of its blood donors.If you would like to donate, Springs says the Red Cross is accepting walk ins, but you are asked to make an appointment to help with social distancing. Springs says that while all blood types will help increase the blood supply, the universal capabilities of Type O are important for hospitals, especially in times of emergency."Because it is something they don't have to try to figure out what blood type you have when they're trying to work with somebody that's a trauma patient, that's come in after a car accident and they need to get a blood transfusion going quickly, they know that Type O of course is universal, so the demand for Type O is certainly higher than any other type," Springs explains.Springs adds that the only way to help get the blood supply back up is for more residents to donate. The number of donors and hosts has gone down recently with people traveling, going back to work in the office, and even with kids going back to school.For more information on donating blood you can click <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/">HERE</a>

American Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage, encourages donation

Missouri’s Gaming Commission is in St. Joseph, holding its
regular meeting as well as visiting the St. Jo Frontier Casino.

Chair Mike Leara says the commission likes to get out and
visit the state’s 13 casinos and then, the coronavirus pandemic hit.

“Until the pandemic, it was common for the Gaming Commission
to tour the state, visit one or two of the 13 casinos every year,” Leara tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview at the St. Jo Frontier Casino. “And, the
pandemic came and we didn’t have that opportunity. So, in 2021, we made it a
point to visit a couple of the casinos and I think we’ll do about two a year.”

Leara says Missouri’s casinos have rebounded well from the drastic
drop in revenue last year during the height of the pandemic.

Missouri casinos have generated $26.8 million for the Gaming
Commission Fund this fiscal year after revenues fell to $19.7 million last
year. In 2019, the state’s casinos generated nearly $27.7 million.

The St. Jo Frontier Casino is one of the smallest casinos in
the state, along with four other casinos outside the Kansas City and St. Louis
metropolitan areas:&nbsp; the Isle of Capri in
Boonville; Mark Twain in La Grange, north of Hannibal; and the Century Casino
in both Cape Girardeau and Caruthersville.

Leara says it’s important for the commission to get out of
Jefferson City and tour the casinos.

“So that when we deal with issues that come before the
commission, we’re familiar, we have a sense of how the business is run,” Leara
says. “It’s not necessarily a due diligence, but of sorts, a due diligence; we’re
on site, we understand and get a good feel for it. It’s quite valuable for the
commissioners to be on site from time to time and get a feel for the business.”

That feel for the business varies from casino to casino,
according to Leara.

“Each one of these casinos has different issues and successes
that they deal with,” Leara says. “It’s very interesting to see the differences
between them, which are vast.”

Leara says he is impressed with how the St. Jo Frontier Casino
has bounced back, first from the flood of 2019 and then the coronavirus pandemic
of 2020. The St. Jo Frontier Casino had gross receipts of $41.4 million, providing
$8.7 million in gaming tax revenue, according to the Missouri Gaming Commission
annual report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632937768540.jpeg" alt="The Missouri Gaming Commission meets at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>The Missouri Gaming Commission meets at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri’s Gaming Commission is in St. Joseph, holding its
regular meeting as well as visiting the St. Jo Frontier Casino.Chair Mike Leara says the commission likes to get out and
visit the state’s 13 casinos and then, the coronavirus pandemic hit.“Until the pandemic, it was common for the Gaming Commission
to tour the state, visit one or two of the 13 casinos every year,” Leara tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview at the St. Jo Frontier Casino. “And, the
pandemic came and we didn’t have that opportunity. So, in 2021, we made it a
point to visit a couple of the casinos and I think we’ll do about two a year.”Leara says Missouri’s casinos have rebounded well from the drastic
drop in revenue last year during the height of the pandemic.Missouri casinos have generated $26.8 million for the Gaming
Commission Fund this fiscal year after revenues fell to $19.7 million last
year. In 2019, the state’s casinos generated nearly $27.7 million.The St. Jo Frontier Casino is one of the smallest casinos in
the state, along with four other casinos outside the Kansas City and St. Louis
metropolitan areas:&nbsp; the Isle of Capri in
Boonville; Mark Twain in La Grange, north of Hannibal; and the Century Casino
in both Cape Girardeau and Caruthersville.Leara says it’s important for the commission to get out of
Jefferson City and tour the casinos.“So that when we deal with issues that come before the
commission, we’re familiar, we have a sense of how the business is run,” Leara
says. “It’s not necessarily a due diligence, but of sorts, a due diligence; we’re
on site, we understand and get a good feel for it. It’s quite valuable for the
commissioners to be on site from time to time and get a feel for the business.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632937858887.jpeg" alt="The Missouri Gaming Commission/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>The Missouri Gaming Commission/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>That feel for the business varies from casino to casino,
according to Leara.“Each one of these casinos has different issues and successes
that they deal with,” Leara says. “It’s very interesting to see the differences
between them, which are vast.”Leara says he is impressed with how the St. Jo Frontier Casino
has bounced back, first from the flood of 2019 and then the coronavirus pandemic
of 2020. The St. Jo Frontier Casino had gross receipts of $41.4 million, providing
$8.7 million in gaming tax revenue, according to the Missouri Gaming Commission
annual report.

Missouri Gaming Commission visits St. Joseph for meeting, tour

Two people have been arrested after allegedly leaving children
in a locked car at a convenience store outside Savannah during the heat of the
day.

The Andrew County Sheriff’s Office reports it received a call
about a child locked in a vehicle and unresponsive at the T Stop convenience
store around one o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Before deputies could arrive, the
car left northbound on US Highway 71.

Andrew County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop the car on
71 Highway, but the car took off westbound on Highway 59. The car failed to negotiate
a turn south on Route CC and continued west on 59, when the car began having
engine trouble. The car drove down an embankment, coming to rest on Interstate
29.

The man driving the car ran across the interstate, but was
taken into custody on State Route RA without incident. A woman in the car was
also arrested.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTwo people have been arrested after allegedly leaving children
in a locked car at a convenience store outside Savannah during the heat of the
day.The Andrew County Sheriff’s Office reports it received a call
about a child locked in a vehicle and unresponsive at the T Stop convenience
store around one o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Before deputies could arrive, the
car left northbound on US Highway 71.Andrew County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop the car on
71 Highway, but the car took off westbound on Highway 59. The car failed to negotiate
a turn south on Route CC and continued west on 59, when the car began having
engine trouble. The car drove down an embankment, coming to rest on Interstate
29.The man driving the car ran across the interstate, but was
taken into custody on State Route RA without incident. A woman in the car was
also arrested.

Two arrested after child left in locked car at gas station outside Savannah

A mask mandate remains in place at the St. Joseph School District, but local COVID numbers are trending in a positive direction, meaning the mandate could end sooner rather than later.

The St. Joseph School board voted 5-1 in favor of the mandate in early August, as the local positivity rate was high and the local vaccination rate was low.

With the positivity rate in Buchanan County down to six percent, and the vaccination rate over 38 percent, St. Joseph Schools superintendent Doug Van Zyl says things are trending in the right direction.

"I just keep updating (the board) on where we are at with our positivity rate," Van Zyl said on KFEQ's The Hotline. "With help from Mosaic and from the county and the city health department. So, looks like we're getting closer and we'll decide where we go from there."

The school board decided in August that the mask mandate could be lifted if the positivity rate in Buchanan County stays below five percent for two weeks.

The board voted 6-1 two weeks ago to keep the mandate in place, as the county's COVID test positivity rate was at 7.51 percent at the time.

Dr. Bryan Green, vice president of the school board and a physician at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, says the board's motivation to implement a mask mandate again this year was simply to keep students in school.

"We very much wanted to keep kids in class as much as possible," Green said. "The positivity rate is one of our best estimates of how active the virus is in the community. We're seeing that rate go down, and we're very thankful for that - both as a medical doctor and as a board of education member."

Van Zyl added that the mask mandate, while not the most popular among certain families in the district, has added benefits for parents as well.

"If their kids have to stay home because they're in quarantine, what are they going to do for the next 10 days?" Van Zyl stated. "They can't just quit working."

Dr. Green has also noticed that it's older students who may not&nbsp;especially like wearing masks, and may not wear them much outside of school. But, he says junior high and high school students recognize that mask wearing, right now, is the best way to keep everyone in school and to keep extracurricular activities going at a normal pace.

"Kids in high school don't want to be forced home," Green noticed. "They want to stay in class, but they also want to be involved in their extracurricular activities. Many of them recognize, 'Yeah, I'm happy to wear a mask if I can continue to try and pursue a more normal life."

St. Joseph, and other public school districts in Missouri that have mask requirements in place, are awaiting the results of a lawsuit filed by Missouri's Republican attorney general Eric Schmitt.

Schmitt in August filed suit against Columbia Public Schools, seeking a court ruling to prevent the district from requiring masks in the classroom.

Hearings in that lawsuit began Tuesday. It's a class action suit, meaning it would apply to any Missouri school district requiring masks. However, a Boone County judge Tuesday dismissed Schmitt's motion to expand the action to every school district in the state that has a mask requirement.

Van Zyl told St. Joseph Post in late August, "I believe that Missouri is a local control state and I think communities and towns and cities and school districts have had that ability over the years and to make an adjustment in that now I think could create some challenges down the road.”

Another ruling that the St. Joseph School District is watching for is whether or not vaccines will be required for employees of all public schools nationwide.

Just last week, a vaccine mandate for New York City schools, the nation’s largest school district, was temporarily halted by a federal appeals court just days before the deadline.

Federal vaccine mandates&nbsp;do not explicitly require vaccines for teachers in locally governed schools, but several states like Oregon, California and New Jersey have ordered teachers to get vaccinated.

It's unlikely that Missouri governor Mike Parson, a Republican, would issue a statewide vaccine mandate for public schools, having spoken in favor of local district control in the past.

Van Zyl added that such a vaccine mandate for St. Joseph schools would not come from the local level, either.

"That would come from some place other than the school board," Van Zyl explained. "It'd be coming from the state or federal government, and we're just waiting to see how that all plays out."

In a&nbsp; COVID vaccine survey sent out to the St. Joseph School district's 1,500 employees, 900 of them responded, and between 70 and 80 percent of those 900 are at least partially vaccinated against COVID, according to Van Zyl.

"We have a pretty decent percentage, but like most other places, not everybody is vaccinated."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611776593199.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Schools superintendent Doug Van Zyl. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Schools superintendent Doug Van Zyl. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA mask mandate remains in place at the St. Joseph School District, but local COVID numbers are trending in a positive direction, meaning the mandate could end sooner rather than later.The St. Joseph School board voted 5-1 in favor of the mandate in early August, as the local positivity rate was high and the local vaccination rate was low.With the positivity rate in Buchanan County down to six percent, and the vaccination rate over 38 percent, St. Joseph Schools superintendent Doug Van Zyl says things are trending in the right direction."I just keep updating (the board) on where we are at with our positivity rate," Van Zyl said on KFEQ's The Hotline. "With help from Mosaic and from the county and the city health department. So, looks like we're getting closer and we'll decide where we go from there."The school board decided in August that the mask mandate could be lifted if the positivity rate in Buchanan County stays below five percent for two weeks.The board voted 6-1 two weeks ago to keep the mandate in place, as the county's COVID test positivity rate was at 7.51 percent at the time.Dr. Bryan Green, vice president of the school board and a physician at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, says the board's motivation to implement a mask mandate again this year was simply to keep students in school."We very much wanted to keep kids in class as much as possible," Green said. "The positivity rate is one of our best estimates of how active the virus is in the community. We're seeing that rate go down, and we're very thankful for that - both as a medical doctor and as a board of education member."Van Zyl added that the mask mandate, while not the most popular among certain families in the district, has added benefits for parents as well."If their kids have to stay home because they're in quarantine, what are they going to do for the next 10 days?" Van Zyl stated. "They can't just quit working."Dr. Green has also noticed that it's older students who may not&nbsp;especially like wearing masks, and may not wear them much outside of school. But, he says junior high and high school students recognize that mask wearing, right now, is the best way to keep everyone in school and to keep extracurricular activities going at a normal pace."Kids in high school don't want to be forced home," Green noticed. "They want to stay in class, but they also want to be involved in their extracurricular activities. Many of them recognize, 'Yeah, I'm happy to wear a mask if I can continue to try and pursue a more normal life."St. Joseph, and other public school districts in Missouri that have mask requirements in place, are awaiting the results of a lawsuit filed by Missouri's Republican attorney general Eric Schmitt.Schmitt in August filed suit against Columbia Public Schools, seeking a court ruling to prevent the district from requiring masks in the classroom.Hearings in that lawsuit began Tuesday. It's a class action suit, meaning it would apply to any Missouri school district requiring masks. However, a Boone County judge Tuesday dismissed Schmitt's motion to expand the action to every school district in the state that has a mask requirement.Van Zyl told St. Joseph Post in late August, "I believe that Missouri is a local control state and I think communities and towns and cities and school districts have had that ability over the years and to make an adjustment in that now I think could create some challenges down the road.”Another ruling that the St. Joseph School District is watching for is whether or not vaccines will be required for employees of all public schools nationwide.Just last week, a vaccine mandate for New York City schools, the nation’s largest school district, was temporarily halted by a federal appeals court just days before the deadline.Federal vaccine mandates&nbsp;do not explicitly require vaccines for teachers in locally governed schools, but several states like Oregon, California and New Jersey have ordered teachers to get vaccinated.It's unlikely that Missouri governor Mike Parson, a Republican, would issue a statewide vaccine mandate for public schools, having spoken in favor of local district control in the past.Van Zyl added that such a vaccine mandate for St. Joseph schools would not come from the local level, either."That would come from some place other than the school board," Van Zyl explained. "It'd be coming from the state or federal government, and we're just waiting to see how that all plays out."In a&nbsp; COVID vaccine survey sent out to the St. Joseph School district's 1,500 employees, 900 of them responded, and between 70 and 80 percent of those 900 are at least partially vaccinated against COVID, according to Van Zyl."We have a pretty decent percentage, but like most other places, not everybody is vaccinated."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

SJSD optimistic about local COVID numbers, mask mandate remains for now

Missouri Western State University saw an increase in enrollment this year.

Missouri Western reports the official census data four weeks into the fall semester is 4-Thousand, 395 students. That is a nearly two percent increase.

The university altered its academic calendar last year due to COVID-19, complicating year-to-year comparisons. This year’s enrollment is 1.74% higher than the enrollment in fall 2020 at the same point in the semester.

Missouri Western is seeing a significant increase in the number of high school students taking classes for credit through the Early College Academy. Also, the number of students taking classes in person is up significantly from a year ago. Enrollment in in-person undergraduate classes is up approximately 19 percent over 2020 and in-person freshman enrollment up 24 percent since last year.

Missouri Western reports a 20-percent increase in the enrollment of transfer students. While the university has had modest gains compared to this time last year, final census enrollment is about 500 students below the final 2020 census, which took place six weeks into the semester last year. 

Recruitment for fall 2022 has already started. The number of applications and admissions are up significantly early in the recruiting cycle compared to last year.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostMissouri Western State University saw an increase in enrollment this year.Missouri Western reports the official census data four weeks into the fall semester is 4-Thousand, 395 students. That is a nearly two percent increase.The university altered its academic calendar last year due to COVID-19, complicating year-to-year comparisons. This year’s enrollment is 1.74% higher than the enrollment in fall 2020 at the same point in the semester.Missouri Western is seeing a significant increase in the number of high school students taking classes for credit through the Early College Academy. Also, the number of students taking classes in person is up significantly from a year ago. Enrollment in in-person undergraduate classes is up approximately 19 percent over 2020 and in-person freshman enrollment up 24 percent since last year.Missouri Western reports a 20-percent increase in the enrollment of transfer students. While the university has had modest gains compared to this time last year, final census enrollment is about 500 students below the final 2020 census, which took place six weeks into the semester last year. Recruitment for fall 2022 has already started. The number of applications and admissions are up significantly early in the recruiting cycle compared to last year.

Final enrollment numbers in for 2021 fall semester at Missouri Western

St. Joseph Parks Department officials will be using bonds to
leverage the tax increase approved by voters in August.

City Manager Bryan Carter says the Parks Department is working
with a financial advisor about issuing bonds to complete some of the capital improvements earlier than initially planned.

“So, effectively, we could finance the projects and complete
them earlier in the process and then pay if off as tax revenues come in,”
Carter says. “In addition to that, we’ve also been working on trying to
determine what portions of the projects will be engineering costs and what
portions will be actual capital improvement, construction-type costs and that
matters a great deal in the schedule, because those engineering efforts take
quite a while.”

In August, St. Joseph voters overwhelmingly approved a
half-cent sales tax to fund a variety of improvements and upgrades to city
parks as well as the Missouri Theater and the Civic Arena. The tax hike is
projected to bring an additional $50-to-60 million over the next 10 years.

Carter says the Parks Department wants to make the most of the
money and is planning how best to spend it. First, the department must
determine what is most pressing.

“Our Parks staff has been diligently working on a proposed
schedule for those projects and really (has) gone through a multi-stage process,”
according to Carter. “They’ve gone through an evaluation of what the immediate
needs are versus those needs that are improvements to the parks system, but not
as immediate. A good example of that is the Missouri Theater roof. That’s
something that if it’s not done soon could cause further problems.”

Among the projects promised if voters approved the parks issue
was construction of a new park in eastern St. Joseph. Carter says the city will
take its time determining where the park will be located and how best to go
about making it a reality.

“It’s really kind of a unique situation for us in St. Joseph,
because we have such a big and great park system that a lot of times we’re
looking at that existing system and what we need to do to make it function in
optimal form,” Carter says. “There’s not always a great deal of opportunity to
look at that next stage, that next thing that can be done and this certainly is
one of those opportunities.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632847080819.jpeg" alt="Krug Park/File photo" />
 <figcaption>Krug Park/File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Parks Department officials will be using bonds to
leverage the tax increase approved by voters in August.City Manager Bryan Carter says the Parks Department is working
with a financial advisor about issuing bonds to complete some of the capital improvements earlier than initially planned.“So, effectively, we could finance the projects and complete
them earlier in the process and then pay if off as tax revenues come in,”
Carter says. “In addition to that, we’ve also been working on trying to
determine what portions of the projects will be engineering costs and what
portions will be actual capital improvement, construction-type costs and that
matters a great deal in the schedule, because those engineering efforts take
quite a while.”In August, St. Joseph voters overwhelmingly approved a
half-cent sales tax to fund a variety of improvements and upgrades to city
parks as well as the Missouri Theater and the Civic Arena. The tax hike is
projected to bring an additional $50-to-60 million over the next 10 years.Carter says the Parks Department wants to make the most of the
money and is planning how best to spend it. First, the department must
determine what is most pressing.“Our Parks staff has been diligently working on a proposed
schedule for those projects and really (has) gone through a multi-stage process,”
according to Carter. “They’ve gone through an evaluation of what the immediate
needs are versus those needs that are improvements to the parks system, but not
as immediate. A good example of that is the Missouri Theater roof. That’s
something that if it’s not done soon could cause further problems.”Among the projects promised if voters approved the parks issue
was construction of a new park in eastern St. Joseph. Carter says the city will
take its time determining where the park will be located and how best to go
about making it a reality.“It’s really kind of a unique situation for us in St. Joseph,
because we have such a big and great park system that a lot of times we’re
looking at that existing system and what we need to do to make it function in
optimal form,” Carter says. “There’s not always a great deal of opportunity to
look at that next stage, that next thing that can be done and this certainly is
one of those opportunities.”

Bonds will put St. Joseph parks tax money to work quickly

St.
Joseph health officials report 56 new coronavirus cases since last issuing a
report on Thursday.

The
St. Joseph Health Department also reports the Buchanan County positivity rate
has fallen more than one-and-a-half percentage points, from 7.58% to 6.06%.

The
health department reported 28 new cases on Friday and 28 new cases from over
the weekend, plus Monday.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 25 total patients as of Tuesday morning; 22 in St. Joseph, two one in
Maryville, and one in Albany.

Andrew
County health officials report 11 new coronavirus cases on its COVID-19
Dashboard Monday and 102 active cases.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly
has ordered flags throughout the state to be flown at half-staff to honor
COVID-19 victims as Kansas exceeded 6,000 reported deaths. Kansas reports a
total of 6,024 deaths since the pandemic began. Kansas has reported
slightly more than 400,000 cases since the pandemic began; 1,325
in Doniphan County.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report 56 new coronavirus cases since last issuing a
report on Thursday.The
St. Joseph Health Department also reports the Buchanan County positivity rate
has fallen more than one-and-a-half percentage points, from 7.58% to 6.06%.The
health department reported 28 new cases on Friday and 28 new cases from over
the weekend, plus Monday.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 25 total patients as of Tuesday morning; 22 in St. Joseph, two one in
Maryville, and one in Albany.Andrew
County health officials report 11 new coronavirus cases on its COVID-19
Dashboard Monday and 102 active cases.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly
has ordered flags throughout the state to be flown at half-staff to honor
COVID-19 victims as Kansas exceeded 6,000 reported deaths. Kansas reports a
total of 6,024 deaths since the pandemic began. Kansas has reported
slightly more than 400,000 cases since the pandemic began; 1,325
in Doniphan County.

St. Joseph health officials report drop in COVID positivity rate

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

Just after 11p.m. Sunday an officer on patrol in downtown Atchison&nbsp; observed a vehicle with 23-year-old Ioannis Markou as a passenger and knew there to be an active warrant for his arrest, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The warrant charging him with criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, no proof of insurance, and reckless driving was in connection to a traffic accident police investigated on August 9th in the 800 block South 6th Street.

The officer stopped the vehicle near 3rd and Santa Fe and Markou jumped from the vehicle and ran. Officers apprehended him a short distance away. Markou was found to be in possession of the controlled substances as well as a hangun, according to Wilson.

Markou of Atchison is being held on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, and a District Court warrant for criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, leaving the scene of an accident, no proof of insurance, and reckless driving.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632778279537.png" alt="Markou photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Markou photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an arrest.Just after 11p.m. Sunday an officer on patrol in downtown Atchison&nbsp; observed a vehicle with 23-year-old Ioannis Markou as a passenger and knew there to be an active warrant for his arrest, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The warrant charging him with criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, no proof of insurance, and reckless driving was in connection to a traffic accident police investigated on August 9th in the 800 block South 6th Street.The officer stopped the vehicle near 3rd and Santa Fe and Markou jumped from the vehicle and ran. Officers apprehended him a short distance away. Markou was found to be in possession of the controlled substances as well as a hangun, according to Wilson.Markou of Atchison is being held on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, and a District Court warrant for criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, leaving the scene of an accident, no proof of insurance, and reckless driving.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas felon who ran from August crash captured

Buchanan County commissioners have been frustrated a bit as
they attempt to plan spending coronavirus relief money allocated by Congress.

Buchanan County has received nearly $17 million from the
American Rescue Plan.

The problem, according to Presiding Commissioner Lee Sawyer,
is that the federal government hasn’t issued final rules for spending the money
and worthy projects wait for funding.

“You do want to get people moving on these things, but we also
want to make sure that we’re not making any missteps,” Sawyer tells host Barry
Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

Sawyer has been talking with the state and federal officials,
attempting to get clarification, before giving money to projects that seem to
fit the criteria.

“If we could help these folks get moving on some of this
stuff, it would be great, because it really fits within, we think, the intent
of the legislation and the intent of how the money should be spent,” according
to Sawyer.

A problem with the latest federal coronavirus relief
allocation is that the federal government hasn’t issued final rules for how the
money can be spent. The Department of Treasury has issued what it calls its “interim
final rule,” a phrase surely only a federal bureaucrat can love. Sawyer says it
appears now a final rule might never be issued by the federal government,
leaving the rules just tentative enough to concern the commission.

It appears the money can be spent on infrastructure. Sawyer
says the commission is considering at least one proposal to increase the size
of a water pipeline from its current two-inch circumference to six inches.
Broadband expansion might also fall under the infrastructure category. The
commission has been talking with United Fiber of Savannah about a project to
expand broadband in the county.

Sawyer says the County Commission has been working to make
sure the application and approval process for projects are done correctly.

“It’s kind of overwhelming when you think about all the different
paperwork that’s going to go with this to make sure that when we’re asked down
the road, okay how exactly was this used, what were the outcomes?” Sawyer says.
“That we’ve got it all in order on the front end.”

Sawyer says he has been talking with the Missouri Treasurer’s
Office, getting guidance on how the money can be spent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632767056791.jpeg" alt="Buchanan County Courthouse/Files photo" />
 <figcaption>Buchanan County Courthouse/Files photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County commissioners have been frustrated a bit as
they attempt to plan spending coronavirus relief money allocated by Congress.Buchanan County has received nearly $17 million from the
American Rescue Plan.The problem, according to Presiding Commissioner Lee Sawyer,
is that the federal government hasn’t issued final rules for spending the money
and worthy projects wait for funding.“You do want to get people moving on these things, but we also
want to make sure that we’re not making any missteps,” Sawyer tells host Barry
Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Sawyer has been talking with the state and federal officials,
attempting to get clarification, before giving money to projects that seem to
fit the criteria.“If we could help these folks get moving on some of this
stuff, it would be great, because it really fits within, we think, the intent
of the legislation and the intent of how the money should be spent,” according
to Sawyer.A problem with the latest federal coronavirus relief
allocation is that the federal government hasn’t issued final rules for how the
money can be spent. The Department of Treasury has issued what it calls its “interim
final rule,” a phrase surely only a federal bureaucrat can love. Sawyer says it
appears now a final rule might never be issued by the federal government,
leaving the rules just tentative enough to concern the commission.It appears the money can be spent on infrastructure. Sawyer
says the commission is considering at least one proposal to increase the size
of a water pipeline from its current two-inch circumference to six inches.
Broadband expansion might also fall under the infrastructure category. The
commission has been talking with United Fiber of Savannah about a project to
expand broadband in the county.Sawyer says the County Commission has been working to make
sure the application and approval process for projects are done correctly.“It’s kind of overwhelming when you think about all the different
paperwork that’s going to go with this to make sure that when we’re asked down
the road, okay how exactly was this used, what were the outcomes?” Sawyer says.
“That we’ve got it all in order on the front end.”Sawyer says he has been talking with the Missouri Treasurer’s
Office, getting guidance on how the money can be spent.

Buchanan County frustrated by lack of rules to spend federal funds

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed Franklin Terhune
to the Missouri Board for
Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and
Professional Landscape Architects.

Terhune has owned and operated Terhune Surveying
and Mapping since 2010.

The governor’s office says that prior to
establishing his own land surveying firm, he worked as a Land Surveyor for
Bartlett &amp; West. Mr. Terhune has also served as the Andrew County Surveyor
since 1996 and as Past President and Board Member of the Missouri Society of
Professional Surveyors.

Terhune is a member of the National Society of
Professional Surveyors and the Missouri Association of County Surveyors.&nbsp;

St. Joseph PostMissouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed Franklin Terhune
to the Missouri Board for
Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and
Professional Landscape Architects.Terhune has owned and operated Terhune Surveying
and Mapping since 2010.The governor’s office says that prior to
establishing his own land surveying firm, he worked as a Land Surveyor for
Bartlett &amp; West. Mr. Terhune has also served as the Andrew County Surveyor
since 1996 and as Past President and Board Member of the Missouri Society of
Professional Surveyors.Terhune is a member of the National Society of
Professional Surveyors and the Missouri Association of County Surveyors.&nbsp;

Gov. Parson appoints Terhune to state Board of Architects

After a year on the sidelines due to the COVID pandemic, the St. Joseph Symphony returned to the stage over the weekend. 

New director Chris Kelts says it good to be back…and the musicians showed it. In his first week, the symphony took up a common piece of music, one that most musicians might shake their heads at, but there was none of that this time.

"I think because we've been trying to navigate this pandemic, there was not a feeling of that at all," Kelts tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Not in the sound, not in the execution, it was exciting, I mean it was just so exciting, people were playing like they were excited."

Kelts also in his first week got the opportunity to meet with patrons of the symphony, as well as being a guest conductor for Benton High Schools orchestra class.

"They played for me and I was able to get in front of them and talk about different string techniques and ideas and try things," Kelts says. "I made them sing, they always look at me the same way any orchestra, I say could you sing that back to me, they have that look of I did not join this class to sing, but they do they try it, they try it and they get get excited and we laugh."

The symphony opened its 2021-22 season on Saturday for Kelts's directorial debut.  Kelts and the Symphony will return to the stage on December 18th for the Holiday Cheer performance.

You can find more information on the St. Joseph Symphony <a href="http://saintjosephsymphony.org/">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632528772974.jpeg" alt="New conductor Chris Kelts and the Saint Joseph Symphony returned to the Missouri Theatre stage on Saturday/ Photo provided by the Saint Joseph Symphony Facebook" />
 <figcaption>New conductor Chris Kelts and the Saint Joseph Symphony returned to the Missouri Theatre stage on Saturday/ Photo provided by the Saint Joseph Symphony Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostAfter a year on the sidelines due to the COVID pandemic, the St. Joseph Symphony returned to the stage over the weekend. New director Chris Kelts says it good to be back…and the musicians showed it. In his first week, the symphony took up a common piece of music, one that most musicians might shake their heads at, but there was none of that this time."I think because we've been trying to navigate this pandemic, there was not a feeling of that at all," Kelts tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Not in the sound, not in the execution, it was exciting, I mean it was just so exciting, people were playing like they were excited."Kelts also in his first week got the opportunity to meet with patrons of the symphony, as well as being a guest conductor for Benton High Schools orchestra class."They played for me and I was able to get in front of them and talk about different string techniques and ideas and try things," Kelts says. "I made them sing, they always look at me the same way any orchestra, I say could you sing that back to me, they have that look of I did not join this class to sing, but they do they try it, they try it and they get get excited and we laugh."The symphony opened its 2021-22 season on Saturday for Kelts's directorial debut. Kelts and the Symphony will return to the stage on December 18th for the Holiday Cheer performance.You can find more information on the St. Joseph Symphony <a href="http://saintjosephsymphony.org/">HERE</a>.

St. Joseph Symphony returns with new conductor; Excitement for new year

DEKALB COUNTY —A Missouri teen was injured in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Sunday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by a 16-year-old boy from Maysville, was northbound at 120 North Street in Weatherby.

The pickup traveled off the right side of the road and struck a home. A private vehicle transported a 16-year-old female passenger&nbsp; to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The driver was&nbsp; not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —A Missouri teen was injured in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Sunday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by a 16-year-old boy from Maysville, was northbound at 120 North Street in Weatherby.The pickup traveled off the right side of the road and struck a home. A private vehicle transported a 16-year-old female passenger&nbsp; to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The driver was&nbsp; not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen injured after pickup strikes a house

DAVIESS COUNTY — A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Sunday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Cruz driven by Nicole R. Gutierrez, 28, Gallatin, was eastbound on MO 6 at Altamont Street in Altamont.

The car struck a pedestrian identified as Cassie F. James, 20, Cameron, who was attempting to cross from the south side of the highway.

DAVIESS COUNTY — A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Sunday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Cruz driven by Nicole R. Gutierrez, 28, Gallatin, was eastbound on MO 6 at Altamont Street in Altamont.The car struck a pedestrian identified as Cassie F. James, 20, Cameron, who was attempting to cross from the south side of the highway.Life Flight transported James to Truman Medical Center. Gutierrez was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

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