BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/destineebroaddus/">DESTINEE BROADDUS</a>

At the beginning of each month, 4-year-old Ada Caldwell, 4,&nbsp; runs to the mailbox to see what new book is inside.

“She gets excited about going to get the mail,” said Ada’s mother, Tara Caldwell. “Not many things come in the mail anymore. She really likes that part of it.”

The free books are sent to Ada’s mid-Missouri home by the Imagination Library, a nationwide program that singer Dolly Parton started in 1995 to send books to any child under 5 who registers, regardless of&nbsp; family income. The idea is to foster reading early in a child’s life.

By 2016, Imagination Library was sending a million books a month to children around the globe. In November, Missouri signed on to help fund the program and pledged to introduce books to children in all of the state’s 114 counties.By the end of June, 137,434 Missouri children like Ada had registered, and 751,730 books had been distributed.

If a child registers at birth and remains in the program for five years they could receive over 60 books for their home library, said Mallory McGowin with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995. The first few books were only given to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton grew up. She created the program as a tribute to her father, who was not able to read.

“You can never get enough books into the hands of children,” Parton said in a statement on her website.

After the success of the program in 2000, a national replication was underway. By 2003 the program had mailed 1 million books throughout the U.S.

As the program continued, it spread to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, allowing children all over the world to have a special surprise waiting for them every month.

Today, the Imagination Library gifts over 2 million free books each month to children all over the world. As of April, more than 238 million books had been shipped worldwide.

Every county in Missouri has children enrolled in the Imagination Library of Missouri. Among those, 23 counties have more than 50% of the eligible children in their county enrolled, McGowin said.

Tara Caldwell, has two children enrolled in the program — Ada and Hazel, 10 months.

She registered her daughters the first day the statewide program went live Nov. 8.

“It was so many people signing up, and the site was busy, but I got them signed up right away,” Caldwell said.

Every book sent to a child is free, age-appropriate and personalized with the child’s name.

The first book her daughters received was “The Little Engine That Could,” a Dolly Parton favorite every child receives as their first book.

Caldwell said she is impressed that her daughters have been receiving individualized books for their age ranges, along with seasonal books.

Ada received books about gardening, bees and first-day-of school jitters, but her favorite is “Cinderella with Dogs,”&nbsp; a fun spin on the popular story Cinderella.

Hazel gets books tailored to toddlers, including “A Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Summer,” a book about shapes, and couple of Eric Carle books.

Caldwell said she maintains the element of wonder with her daughters.

“You can look at the book list online but they never do, because I want it to be a surprise,”&nbsp;she said.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has funding to administer the Imagination Library. There is no cost to schools or family, McGowin said.

The Dollywood Foundation selects and manufactures the books. The state covers the cost of the books for the children registered in Missouri as well as the cost to mail the books to their homes she said.

Every year, the&nbsp;Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee, a specially selected panel of early childhood literacy experts, is responsible for reviewing hundred of potential titles for inclusion in the Imagination Library.

The committee is in charge of choosing books that meet the different need of children as they progress from birth to age 5.

Parents are encouraged to read the books as soon as they arrive and then repeat them multiple times while asking questions, pointing out letters and words, and noticing the sounds.

Science shows that the more kids interact with text at a young age and the more print-rich their environment is, the better equipped they are to read.

“Kids become better readers when they can talk about what they read,” said Rock Bridge High School Reading Specialist Daryl Moss.

It is important for them to understand that certain symbols are associated with different sounds and come together in ways that have further meaning,” he said.

“People use them to create words and those words create sentences.”

Many parents struggle with teaching their children how to read because things have changed since they were in school.

“It is not about teaching children how to read,” Moss said. “It is about bringing the joy of reading to them so they want to read more.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721299579013.png" alt=" Ada Caldwell, 4, poses with free books she’s received from the Imagination Library. (Courtesy of Tara Caldwell via Columbia Missourian)" />
 <figcaption> Ada Caldwell, 4, poses with free books she’s received from the Imagination Library. (Courtesy of Tara Caldwell via Columbia Missourian)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/destineebroaddus/">DESTINEE BROADDUS</a>At the beginning of each month, 4-year-old Ada Caldwell, 4,&nbsp; runs to the mailbox to see what new book is inside.“She gets excited about going to get the mail,” said Ada’s mother, Tara Caldwell. “Not many things come in the mail anymore. She really likes that part of it.”The free books are sent to Ada’s mid-Missouri home by the Imagination Library, a nationwide program that singer Dolly Parton started in 1995 to send books to any child under 5 who registers, regardless of&nbsp; family income. The idea is to foster reading early in a child’s life.By 2016, Imagination Library was sending a million books a month to children around the globe. In November, Missouri signed on to help fund the program and pledged to introduce books to children in all of the state’s 114 counties.By the end of June, 137,434 Missouri children like Ada had registered, and 751,730 books had been distributed.If a child registers at birth and remains in the program for five years they could receive over 60 books for their home library, said Mallory McGowin with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.<h2>Birth of the idea</h2>Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995. The first few books were only given to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton grew up. She created the program as a tribute to her father, who was not able to read.“You can never get enough books into the hands of children,” Parton said in a statement on her website.After the success of the program in 2000, a national replication was underway. By 2003 the program had mailed 1 million books throughout the U.S.As the program continued, it spread to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, allowing children all over the world to have a special surprise waiting for them every month.Today, the Imagination Library gifts over 2 million free books each month to children all over the world. As of April, more than 238 million books had been shipped worldwide.<h2>How it works</h2>Every county in Missouri has children enrolled in the Imagination Library of Missouri. Among those, 23 counties have more than 50% of the eligible children in their county enrolled, McGowin said.Tara Caldwell, has two children enrolled in the program — Ada and Hazel, 10 months.She registered her daughters the first day the statewide program went live Nov. 8.“It was so many people signing up, and the site was busy, but I got them signed up right away,” Caldwell said.Every book sent to a child is free, age-appropriate and personalized with the child’s name.The first book her daughters received was “The Little Engine That Could,” a Dolly Parton favorite every child receives as their first book.Caldwell said she is impressed that her daughters have been receiving individualized books for their age ranges, along with seasonal books.Ada received books about gardening, bees and first-day-of school jitters, but her favorite is “Cinderella with Dogs,”&nbsp; a fun spin on the popular story Cinderella.Hazel gets books tailored to toddlers, including “A Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Summer,” a book about shapes, and couple of Eric Carle books.Caldwell said she maintains the element of wonder with her daughters.“You can look at the book list online but they never do, because I want it to be a surprise,”&nbsp;she said.<h2>Which books and how do they choose?</h2>The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has funding to administer the Imagination Library. There is no cost to schools or family, McGowin said.The Dollywood Foundation selects and manufactures the books. The state covers the cost of the books for the children registered in Missouri as well as the cost to mail the books to their homes she said.Every year, the&nbsp;Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee, a specially selected panel of early childhood literacy experts, is responsible for reviewing hundred of potential titles for inclusion in the Imagination Library.The committee is in charge of choosing books that meet the different need of children as they progress from birth to age 5.Parents are encouraged to read the books as soon as they arrive and then repeat them multiple times while asking questions, pointing out letters and words, and noticing the sounds.Science shows that the more kids interact with text at a young age and the more print-rich their environment is, the better equipped they are to read.“Kids become better readers when they can talk about what they read,” said Rock Bridge High School Reading Specialist Daryl Moss.It is important for them to understand that certain symbols are associated with different sounds and come together in ways that have further meaning,” he said.“People use them to create words and those words create sentences.”Many parents struggle with teaching their children how to read because things have changed since they were in school.“It is not about teaching children how to read,” Moss said. “It is about bringing the joy of reading to them so they want to read more.”

Nearly 140,000 Missouri kids under 5 get free books every month

Fire destroyed an unoccupied house on Church Street in St.
Joseph Tuesday night.

St. Joseph firefighters responded to the call at 1211 Church
Street around 10 o’clock. Fire had already consumed much of the back of the
structure upon their arrival. Crews were able to keep the fire from spreading.

St. Joseph fire officials report no one was in the house at
the time of the fire. The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721224865150.jpeg" alt="Area residents observed house fire on Church Street in St. Joseph./Photo by Kara Baum" />
 <figcaption>Area residents observed house fire on Church Street in St. Joseph./Photo by Kara Baum</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFire destroyed an unoccupied house on Church Street in St.
Joseph Tuesday night.St. Joseph firefighters responded to the call at 1211 Church
Street around 10 o’clock. Fire had already consumed much of the back of the
structure upon their arrival. Crews were able to keep the fire from spreading.St. Joseph fire officials report no one was in the house at
the time of the fire. The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721224934844.jpeg" alt="The aftermath of the fire on Church St./Photo by Kara Baum" />
 <figcaption>The aftermath of the fire on Church St./Photo by Kara Baum</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Fire destroys unoccupied house on Church St. in St. Joseph

St. Joseph police are investigating a drive-by shooting in the
2200 block of South 16th Street.

A witness reports six to seven shots were fired from the
vehicle, which fled the area. Police officers report no one was harmed and no property damage has
been discovered. Officers did recover shell casings from the scene.

The St. Joseph Police Department reports the call came in
shortly after 7:30 Tuesday night. No suspects have been apprehended. The
investigation continues.

The article has been updated to clarify the location of the shooting.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police are investigating a drive-by shooting in the
2200 block of South 16th Street.A witness reports six to seven shots were fired from the
vehicle, which fled the area. Police officers report no one was harmed and no property damage has
been discovered. Officers did recover shell casings from the scene.The St. Joseph Police Department reports the call came in
shortly after 7:30 Tuesday night. No suspects have been apprehended. The
investigation continues.The article has been updated to clarify the location of the shooting.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Drive-by shooting in St. Joseph harms no one; no property damage

MILWAUKEE —Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt spoke at the Republican National Convention Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE —Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt spoke at the Republican National Convention Tuesday night in Milwaukee.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN! <a href="https://t.co/vHOXpjfRx8">pic.twitter.com/vHOXpjfRx8</a>&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1813417984167137475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Missouri U.S. Senator fired up the crowd at the GOP convention

Chiefs Training Camp is now open with quarterbacks and rookies
reporting to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs need to stay
hungry even though they are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

“We’re back in St. Joe, it’s time to get better,” Mahomes tells
reporters as training camp officials gets underway. “Every season starts
different. You’ve got to come in with the same mentality you had the year
before, even a higher intensity. Even though we won the Super Bowl last year,
we feel like we didn’t play our best football, especially offensively. It’s our
goal to be better that way and we have to come with that mentality every single
day.”

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid says training camp prepares the
team for a grueling season by sharpening their mental and physical abilities.

“If you’re fatigued then you’re going to be fatigued mentally.
If you’re fatigued physically that’s going to affect you mentally. And if you’re
fatigued period, then you can’t think and you can’t play, at least not to the best
of your ability,” Reid says during the news conference. “So, the objective here
is let’s get ourselves in shape, make sure we’re in football shape. They’re all
going to come back in shape, but let’s get ourselves in football shape.”

Mahomes says it’s important for the team to sequester itself
on the Missouri Western campus and focus on football.

“Being in the building and being at lunch together, being at
dinner together, always kind of being around the guys, you build this kind of
culture and this family-type brotherhood,” according to Mahomes. “I’m excited
to continue to do that with a lot of new faces and then with guys that have
been here before, because we know this is what it takes in order for us to go
out there and be great.”

Not all the team is in St. Joseph. This week, only the quarterbacks
and rookies attend practice. Practices this week are closed to the public. The
full team reports Sunday.

Reid values this time to bring the team together and prepare
for a tough football season.

“Listen, we look forward to being back here. We love the set
up here. The people here treat us great at Missouri Western State University; beautiful
facilities,” Reid tells reports standing outside Scanlon Hall, which will be
their home for the next few weeks. “It’s great to be able to get away from the
city and be able to house guys in the same dorm. I’m saying this as a coach and
they probably aren’t going to say this, but it builds a certain camaraderie.”

Chiefs Training Camp begins for the full team Sunday morning
with a 9:15am start at MWSU. There is a $5 admission fee for the practice on
Sunday, the first open to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721167941490.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes addresses the media at the opening of Chiefs Training Camp on the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph/Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes addresses the media at the opening of Chiefs Training Camp on the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph/Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostChiefs Training Camp is now open with quarterbacks and rookies
reporting to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.Quarterback Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs need to stay
hungry even though they are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories.“We’re back in St. Joe, it’s time to get better,” Mahomes tells
reporters as training camp officials gets underway. “Every season starts
different. You’ve got to come in with the same mentality you had the year
before, even a higher intensity. Even though we won the Super Bowl last year,
we feel like we didn’t play our best football, especially offensively. It’s our
goal to be better that way and we have to come with that mentality every single
day.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721168026141.jpeg" alt="Head Coach Andy Reid answers questions at the start of training camp./Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Head Coach Andy Reid answers questions at the start of training camp./Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid says training camp prepares the
team for a grueling season by sharpening their mental and physical abilities.“If you’re fatigued then you’re going to be fatigued mentally.
If you’re fatigued physically that’s going to affect you mentally. And if you’re
fatigued period, then you can’t think and you can’t play, at least not to the best
of your ability,” Reid says during the news conference. “So, the objective here
is let’s get ourselves in shape, make sure we’re in football shape. They’re all
going to come back in shape, but let’s get ourselves in football shape.”Mahomes says it’s important for the team to sequester itself
on the Missouri Western campus and focus on football.“Being in the building and being at lunch together, being at
dinner together, always kind of being around the guys, you build this kind of
culture and this family-type brotherhood,” according to Mahomes. “I’m excited
to continue to do that with a lot of new faces and then with guys that have
been here before, because we know this is what it takes in order for us to go
out there and be great.”Not all the team is in St. Joseph. This week, only the quarterbacks
and rookies attend practice. Practices this week are closed to the public. The
full team reports Sunday.Reid values this time to bring the team together and prepare
for a tough football season.“Listen, we look forward to being back here. We love the set
up here. The people here treat us great at Missouri Western State University; beautiful
facilities,” Reid tells reports standing outside Scanlon Hall, which will be
their home for the next few weeks. “It’s great to be able to get away from the
city and be able to house guys in the same dorm. I’m saying this as a coach and
they probably aren’t going to say this, but it builds a certain camaraderie.”Chiefs Training Camp begins for the full team Sunday morning
with a 9:15am start at MWSU. There is a $5 admission fee for the practice on
Sunday, the first open to the public.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

The Chiefs return to St. Joseph, seeking a 3rd straight Super Bowl

Mosaic Life Care is once again ready to offer medical services to coaches, players, staff, and visitors to Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on the Missouri Western State University campus in Saint Joseph.

Trauma and Stroke Services program manager and lead medical contact for training camp, Jonathan Eivins, says there are two triage tents this year, along with cooling stations and a medical building on site.

"We're going to have our staff roving in certain areas and keeping track of everybody and watching out for any kind of conditions that can arise, such as lacerations or heat exhaustion," Eivins said.

With summer temperatures soaring recently, Eivins advises visitors to dress appropriately, wear bright colors to reflect sunlight, and stay hydrated.&nbsp;

Eivins also noted there is equipment available to assist with any potential life-threatening conditions.&nbsp;

Mosaic Life Care is positioned to tend to as many people as possible during training camp. Eivins says in a 2 1/2 hour period, staff can attend to as many as twenty-five to thirty people.

Medical staff will be dressed in electric blue outfits this year, and Eivins encourages attendees to flag down staff if they notice anyone needing help.&nbsp;

Two ambulances will be on sight in the case of life-threatening emergencies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721159713150.jpeg" alt="Mosaic Life Care/Chiefs Training Camp Medical Building" />
 <figcaption>Mosaic Life Care/Chiefs Training Camp Medical Building</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostMosaic Life Care is once again ready to offer medical services to coaches, players, staff, and visitors to Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on the Missouri Western State University campus in Saint Joseph.Trauma and Stroke Services program manager and lead medical contact for training camp, Jonathan Eivins, says there are two triage tents this year, along with cooling stations and a medical building on site."We're going to have our staff roving in certain areas and keeping track of everybody and watching out for any kind of conditions that can arise, such as lacerations or heat exhaustion," Eivins said.With summer temperatures soaring recently, Eivins advises visitors to dress appropriately, wear bright colors to reflect sunlight, and stay hydrated.&nbsp;Eivins also noted there is equipment available to assist with any potential life-threatening conditions.&nbsp;Mosaic Life Care is positioned to tend to as many people as possible during training camp. Eivins says in a 2 1/2 hour period, staff can attend to as many as twenty-five to thirty people.Medical staff will be dressed in electric blue outfits this year, and Eivins encourages attendees to flag down staff if they notice anyone needing help.&nbsp;Two ambulances will be on sight in the case of life-threatening emergencies.

Mosaic to Provide Medical Services During KC Chiefs Training Camp

Possible property tax relief for Missouri senior citizens has
been broadened.

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville succeeded last year
in passing Senate Bill 190 giving counties the option to freeze the property
tax assessments of senior citizens. Luetkemeyer updated it this year and it has
been signed into law.

“Before it was limited to seniors who received Social Security
benefits. We have a certain number of seniors that don’t receive Social
Security; so, teachers, firefighters, police officers, people who receive their
retirement benefits from public pensions,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “And so, what the bill did this year is it clarified some provisions in SB
190 and expanded that tax relief to every senior in Missouri age 62 or older.”

It is possible property tax relief, because counties have to
approve it. The state cannot impose a tax cut on counties.

Luetkemeyer explains the tax break must be approved at the
local level, either by the county commission or a vote of the people, due to
the Hancock Amendment. Luetkemeyer says the Hancock Amendment is well known for
its limit on raising taxes without a vote of the people.

“There’s also a lesser-known provision in Hancock that
prohibits the state legislature from passing an unfunded mandate; that is something
that requires the county to implement and then lose potential tax revenue as a
result of the mandate from Jefferson City,” Luetkemeyer says. “The reason that we
put the local option in there for the county commission to implement the bill
is to get around the Hancock Amendment. So that’s the reason behind that.”

Luetkemeyer says it is up to the local county commission to
implement it.

“If a county commission is unwilling to implement an ordinance,
passing into effect SB 190, then the voters have the ability to go out and
collect signatures, put that on the next ballot, and then implement it through a
vote of the people.”

Luetkemeyer says he pushed for the tax break after learning
that some senior citizens saw their property tax bills skyrocket over the last
two assessment cycles.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostPossible property tax relief for Missouri senior citizens has
been broadened.State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville succeeded last year
in passing Senate Bill 190 giving counties the option to freeze the property
tax assessments of senior citizens. Luetkemeyer updated it this year and it has
been signed into law.“Before it was limited to seniors who received Social Security
benefits. We have a certain number of seniors that don’t receive Social
Security; so, teachers, firefighters, police officers, people who receive their
retirement benefits from public pensions,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “And so, what the bill did this year is it clarified some provisions in SB
190 and expanded that tax relief to every senior in Missouri age 62 or older.”It is possible property tax relief, because counties have to
approve it. The state cannot impose a tax cut on counties.Luetkemeyer explains the tax break must be approved at the
local level, either by the county commission or a vote of the people, due to
the Hancock Amendment. Luetkemeyer says the Hancock Amendment is well known for
its limit on raising taxes without a vote of the people.“There’s also a lesser-known provision in Hancock that
prohibits the state legislature from passing an unfunded mandate; that is something
that requires the county to implement and then lose potential tax revenue as a
result of the mandate from Jefferson City,” Luetkemeyer says. “The reason that we
put the local option in there for the county commission to implement the bill
is to get around the Hancock Amendment. So that’s the reason behind that.”Luetkemeyer says it is up to the local county commission to
implement it.“If a county commission is unwilling to implement an ordinance,
passing into effect SB 190, then the voters have the ability to go out and
collect signatures, put that on the next ballot, and then implement it through a
vote of the people.”Luetkemeyer says he pushed for the tax break after learning
that some senior citizens saw their property tax bills skyrocket over the last
two assessment cycles.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Expansion of potential senior property tax relief signed into law

ATCHISON COUNTY—A Kansas man with a history of skipping court is back in jail.

On Monday, police arrested 43-year-old Richard D. Burge II of Atchison on a District Court warrant for failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

In September, police arrested him on a District Court warrant for domestic battery and criminal damage to property and District Court warrants on four counts of failure to appear in court, according to Wilson.

In July of 2022, he was booked into jail in Atchison on a requested charge of domestic battery for altercation at a residence 1200 Block of Kansas Avenue in Atchison, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695820635444.png" alt="Burge photo from a 2023 arrest&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Burge photo from a 2023 arrest&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—A Kansas man with a history of skipping court is back in jail.On Monday, police arrested 43-year-old Richard D. Burge II of Atchison on a District Court warrant for failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.In September, police arrested him on a District Court warrant for domestic battery and criminal damage to property and District Court warrants on four counts of failure to appear in court, according to Wilson.In July of 2022, he was booked into jail in Atchison on a requested charge of domestic battery for altercation at a residence 1200 Block of Kansas Avenue in Atchison, according to online jail records.

Kan. man with a history of crime accused of skipping court again

Continued work on the Cook Road bridge will disrupt traffic on
I-29 within the city limits of St. Joseph once again.

The Missouri Department of Transportation says both the
northbound and southbound lanes of I-29 through St. Joseph will close beginning
Tuesday morning at 4 o’clock and remain closed until very early Friday morning.

MoDOT is closing the interstate so Clarkson Construction can
demolish the existing bridge deck and then install new beams as well as paint
the girders.

This is a 72-hour closure. The detour will take the same route
on I-229 as used a month ago. Southbound I-29 traffic must exit at
I-29/I-229/U.S. Route 71 (EXIT 56B) and northbound I-29 traffic must exit at
the I-229/I-29 (EXIT 43). 

Click <a href="https://dpv85fgkqesen.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/2024-01/JI3330%20Detour%20Diagram.jpg">HERE</a> to view the detour map.

Local traffic will not be able to access I-29 at the following
locations: 

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Route 6 (Frederick Blvd.) – Exit 47

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
U.S. Route 36 – northbound Exits 46A &amp; 46B

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Business Route 71/US. Route 59 – Exit 53

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
U.S. Route 169 (Rochester Rd) – Exit 50

MoDOT says the contractor must close I-29 for the safety of
crews and motorists. There will be more closings coming. MoDOT reports this is
the second in a series of closures of I-29 that will occur during the project.

Under the project, the Cook Road bridge will be widened with
its driving surface replace. St. Joseph has added money to pay for a pedestrian
sidewalk to the south side of the bridge which will include decorative fencing
and concrete sides.&nbsp; The project is
anticipated to be completed by October.

Other future lane closures will likely occur between the hours
of 7pm and 7am at various dates. During those times there will be a 12-foot
width restriction in place.

Click <a href="https://www.modot.org/interstate-29-bridge-rehabilitation-buchanan">HERE</a> to learn more about the project.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721069318617.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN and MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostContinued work on the Cook Road bridge will disrupt traffic on
I-29 within the city limits of St. Joseph once again.The Missouri Department of Transportation says both the
northbound and southbound lanes of I-29 through St. Joseph will close beginning
Tuesday morning at 4 o’clock and remain closed until very early Friday morning.MoDOT is closing the interstate so Clarkson Construction can
demolish the existing bridge deck and then install new beams as well as paint
the girders.This is a 72-hour closure. The detour will take the same route
on I-229 as used a month ago. Southbound I-29 traffic must exit at
I-29/I-229/U.S. Route 71 (EXIT 56B) and northbound I-29 traffic must exit at
the I-229/I-29 (EXIT 43). Click <a href="https://dpv85fgkqesen.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/2024-01/JI3330%20Detour%20Diagram.jpg">HERE</a> to view the detour map.Local traffic will not be able to access I-29 at the following
locations: Northbound I-29 from: •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Route 6 (Frederick Blvd.) – Exit 47•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
U.S. Route 36 – northbound Exits 46A &amp; 46BSouthbound I-29 from: •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Business Route 71/US. Route 59 – Exit 53•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
U.S. Route 169 (Rochester Rd) – Exit 50MoDOT says the contractor must close I-29 for the safety of
crews and motorists. There will be more closings coming. MoDOT reports this is
the second in a series of closures of I-29 that will occur during the project.Under the project, the Cook Road bridge will be widened with
its driving surface replace. St. Joseph has added money to pay for a pedestrian
sidewalk to the south side of the bridge which will include decorative fencing
and concrete sides.&nbsp; The project is
anticipated to be completed by October.Other future lane closures will likely occur between the hours
of 7pm and 7am at various dates. During those times there will be a 12-foot
width restriction in place.Click <a href="https://www.modot.org/interstate-29-bridge-rehabilitation-buchanan">HERE</a> to learn more about the project.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Caution St. Joseph commuters:  I-29 to be shut down in St. Joseph, again

An Arkansas man appears to have taken his own life this past
weekend after stopping his vehicle on I-29 at DD Highway.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett reports deputies found the
body of 32-year-old Shelby Ragsdale in his vehicle parked on the shoulder of I-29 very early Saturday
morning.

Puett says his department received a call from a family member
who requested a well-being check on the victim who was heading home to Arkansas.

Buchanan County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a death
near I-29 and DD Highway over the weekend.

A man is dead, possibly due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn Arkansas man appears to have taken his own life this past
weekend after stopping his vehicle on I-29 at DD Highway.Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett reports deputies found the
body of 32-year-old Shelby Ragsdale in his vehicle parked on the shoulder of I-29 very early Saturday
morning.Puett says his department received a call from a family member
who requested a well-being check on the victim who was heading home to Arkansas.PREVIOUS VERSION:Buchanan County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a death
near I-29 and DD Highway over the weekend.A man is dead, possibly due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.This article has been updated.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Buchanan County investigating death of Arkansas man [UPDATE]

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marymccuebell/">MARY MCCUE BELL</a>

WASHINGTON — As the number of dairy cows infected with a strain of bird flu virus grows across the country, 17 of Missouri’s roughly 60,000 dairy cows have been tested while agriculture officials and farmers keep watch for signs that the outbreak has entered the state.

So far, Missouri farmers haven’t reported any cows with the virus, called H5N1, state officials said.

However, national biosecurity and public health experts are concerned that a lack of testing in states across the country, and the economic implications of quarantining cattle, may be allowing the virus to spread undetected.

“You want to work on the assumption that it’s there, and you’re trying to find it,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who focuses on pandemic policy and the intersections of infectious disease and national security. Adalja said 17 tests aren’t enough to give him confidence that Missouri’s herds are virus-free.

“Just because you’re not looking, doesn’t mean it’s not there, that you’re going to avoid the consequences,” Adalja said.

Missouri State Veterinarian Steve Strubberg acknowledged that only a small fraction of the state’s dairy cows have been tested for the virus. Strubberg, who leads the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division, said he believes Missouri farmers would have reported sick cows to their veterinarians if their herds were becoming infected.

Because H5N1 is a “Reportable Disease,” veterinarians and laboratories are required to disclose detections. However, while farmers are encouraged to report H5N1 symptoms, it’s not a requirement because there is no confirmation they are ill with the H5N1 virus.

“We just feel like most livestock producers, they really do a great job of watching the health of their animals,” Strubberg said. “I mean, it’s their livelihood.”

Health experts investigating the H5N1 outbreaks in Texas and Colorado told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-farmers-barb-petersen-07bd5accb01441bc5d279464271d2371" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that because labs must report positive results to agriculture departments, many farmers may decide against testing and try to outlast the outbreak to avoid a negative stigma.

In dairy cattle, the virus causes low appetite and reduced milk production, and the milk can have an abnormal appearance. Occasionally, farmers have cows with similar symptoms, which can also be caused by other diseases.

While H5N1 is associated with high mortality rates in poultry, reports indicate infected dairy cattle rarely die. Even when cows in a herd become sick, they seem to recover rather quickly after a few weeks, as long as dairy farmers are using disease management procedures, Strubberg said.

Since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html#:~:text=A" target="_blank">March 25</a>, when the world first learned H5N1 had developed the ability to infect and spread among cows, infections have been reported so far in at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock" target="_blank">140 herds in 12 states</a>&nbsp;– including Missouri’s neighboring states of Kansas and Iowa — according to the USDA dashboard updated July 3.

However, experts say the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s numbers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/06/26/bird-flu-outbreak-avian-flu-containment-h5n1-eradication-in-cattle" target="_blank">likely underestimate the size of the outbreak</a>&nbsp;because so few cattle are being tested.

Currently, the USDA requires lactating cattle to be tested before being shipped&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/aphis-requirements-recommendations-hpai-livestock.pdf" target="_blank">across state lines</a>.

Adalja said that because of the lack of proactive testing, he said he doesn’t believe “anybody in the field would think that those 38 states could be declared non-H5N1 cow (infected) states.”

Historically, when the H5N1 virus has infected people on rare occasions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON512" target="_blank">the death rate has been over 50%</a>. In the current U.S. dairy cattle outbreak, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p-0703-4th-human-case-h5.html" target="_blank">four farm workers with documented infections</a>&nbsp;have had mild cases, mostly including symptoms of eye redness, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/farm-workers.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5/farm-workers.html" target="_blank">direct contact with sick cows</a>. The most recent human case was announced as of last week.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-06282024.html#:~:text=To" target="_blank">health risk to the general public remains low</a>&nbsp;and has recommended&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/worker-protection-ppe.html" target="_blank">personal protective equipment</a>&nbsp;for those working with infected cows.

While dairy cows have generally recovered during this current outbreak, the virus has proven to be fatal to cats who drank raw milk from infected cows.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration said its tests indicate that the pasteurization process used in commercial milk processing is effective at inactivating the H5N1 virus. While there is concern that the virus can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of unpasteurized, or raw, milk from infected cows, the FDA continues to emphasize its longstanding recommendations about ingesting raw milk because of its potential to be contaminated.

The fact that no farms are reporting symptoms in cows is the best indication that H5N1 is not in Missouri, state officials said. One of the reasons they believe Missouri has avoided the virus is because the state imports so few cows.

Missouri’s tests on 17 dairy cows, as of Monday, occurred because the animals were being moved across state borders. However, it remains unclear how the virus is circulating, and in some states, herds have become infected despite no movements of cattle.

It appears that farm workers may be involved in the outbreak’s spread, but Missouri has minimal shared labor between farms, state officials said.

Even so, in preparation for the 2024 Missouri State Fair, scheduled to begin Aug. 8 in Sedalia, the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Strubberg announced last week updated biosecurity protocols for exhibiting dairy cattle. All lactating dairy cattle must have a negative H5N1 test within seven days before arrival at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been doing outreach to dairy producers and veterinarians and providing updated information on the virus.

Scott Poock, a dairy and beef cattle veterinarian with the University of Missouri Extension, said he would be confident that Missouri “probably hasn’t had it.”

“Can I say 100%? Absolutely not. Never,” Poock said.

Missouri, like other states, has been battling H5N1 in poultry for some time. And as it remains unclear how the virus jumped from birds to dairy cows, Strubberg said the lack of many new H5N1 detections in Missouri poultry can provide more confidence, to a degree, that the virus isn’t in Missouri cows.

While some experts are concerned about a lack of proactive testing, there is a risk aversion for farmers who would have to quarantine lactating cattle with a positive test. The USDA has taken some actions to help farmers, including offering loans to farmers and livestock producers to alleviate biosecurity measurement costs, such as veterinary and testing expenses.

Like experts in infectious diseases, farmers are aware of the issue but have differing opinions and levels of concern, Strubberg said.

Chloe Collins, an MU Extension dairy field specialist, said that most farmers she has recently spoken with have been optimistic about the H5N1 risk. She said farmers are practicing good biosecurity and are tapping into expert resources. Collins also described the state’s dairy industry as “prepared and resilient.”

Adalja said he believes that the USDA and state agriculture departments are walking a tightrope trying to balance the economic and public health implications. This includes what stigma might occur if a farm tests positive.

“These (cows) are not pets,” Adalja said. “They are economic vessels, basically, that are important for the economies of those farms, the economies of those counties and the states.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/few-missouri-dairy-cows-tested-for-bird-flu-virus/article_03ab77de-3df9-11ef-aaa3-134d712ffccc.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719397041671.png" alt="File photo Holstein milking cows&nbsp; photo by Kirsten Strough/USDA" />
 <figcaption>File photo Holstein milking cows&nbsp; photo by Kirsten Strough/USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marymccuebell/">MARY MCCUE BELL</a>WASHINGTON — As the number of dairy cows infected with a strain of bird flu virus grows across the country, 17 of Missouri’s roughly 60,000 dairy cows have been tested while agriculture officials and farmers keep watch for signs that the outbreak has entered the state.So far, Missouri farmers haven’t reported any cows with the virus, called H5N1, state officials said.However, national biosecurity and public health experts are concerned that a lack of testing in states across the country, and the economic implications of quarantining cattle, may be allowing the virus to spread undetected.“You want to work on the assumption that it’s there, and you’re trying to find it,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who focuses on pandemic policy and the intersections of infectious disease and national security. Adalja said 17 tests aren’t enough to give him confidence that Missouri’s herds are virus-free.“Just because you’re not looking, doesn’t mean it’s not there, that you’re going to avoid the consequences,” Adalja said.Missouri State Veterinarian Steve Strubberg acknowledged that only a small fraction of the state’s dairy cows have been tested for the virus. Strubberg, who leads the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division, said he believes Missouri farmers would have reported sick cows to their veterinarians if their herds were becoming infected.Because H5N1 is a “Reportable Disease,” veterinarians and laboratories are required to disclose detections. However, while farmers are encouraged to report H5N1 symptoms, it’s not a requirement because there is no confirmation they are ill with the H5N1 virus.“We just feel like most livestock producers, they really do a great job of watching the health of their animals,” Strubberg said. “I mean, it’s their livelihood.”Health experts investigating the H5N1 outbreaks in Texas and Colorado told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-farmers-barb-petersen-07bd5accb01441bc5d279464271d2371" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that because labs must report positive results to agriculture departments, many farmers may decide against testing and try to outlast the outbreak to avoid a negative stigma.In dairy cattle, the virus causes low appetite and reduced milk production, and the milk can have an abnormal appearance. Occasionally, farmers have cows with similar symptoms, which can also be caused by other diseases.While H5N1 is associated with high mortality rates in poultry, reports indicate infected dairy cattle rarely die. Even when cows in a herd become sick, they seem to recover rather quickly after a few weeks, as long as dairy farmers are using disease management procedures, Strubberg said.Since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html#:~:text=A" target="_blank">March 25</a>, when the world first learned H5N1 had developed the ability to infect and spread among cows, infections have been reported so far in at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock" target="_blank">140 herds in 12 states</a>&nbsp;– including Missouri’s neighboring states of Kansas and Iowa — according to the USDA dashboard updated July 3.However, experts say the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s numbers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/06/26/bird-flu-outbreak-avian-flu-containment-h5n1-eradication-in-cattle" target="_blank">likely underestimate the size of the outbreak</a>&nbsp;because so few cattle are being tested.Currently, the USDA requires lactating cattle to be tested before being shipped&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/aphis-requirements-recommendations-hpai-livestock.pdf" target="_blank">across state lines</a>.Adalja said that because of the lack of proactive testing, he said he doesn’t believe “anybody in the field would think that those 38 states could be declared non-H5N1 cow (infected) states.”Historically, when the H5N1 virus has infected people on rare occasions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON512" target="_blank">the death rate has been over 50%</a>. In the current U.S. dairy cattle outbreak, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p-0703-4th-human-case-h5.html" target="_blank">four farm workers with documented infections</a>&nbsp;have had mild cases, mostly including symptoms of eye redness, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/farm-workers.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5/farm-workers.html" target="_blank">direct contact with sick cows</a>. The most recent human case was announced as of last week.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-06282024.html#:~:text=To" target="_blank">health risk to the general public remains low</a>&nbsp;and has recommended&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/worker-protection-ppe.html" target="_blank">personal protective equipment</a>&nbsp;for those working with infected cows.While dairy cows have generally recovered during this current outbreak, the virus has proven to be fatal to cats who drank raw milk from infected cows.U.S. Food and Drug Administration said its tests indicate that the pasteurization process used in commercial milk processing is effective at inactivating the H5N1 virus. While there is concern that the virus can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of unpasteurized, or raw, milk from infected cows, the FDA continues to emphasize its longstanding recommendations about ingesting raw milk because of its potential to be contaminated.The fact that no farms are reporting symptoms in cows is the best indication that H5N1 is not in Missouri, state officials said. One of the reasons they believe Missouri has avoided the virus is because the state imports so few cows.Missouri’s tests on 17 dairy cows, as of Monday, occurred because the animals were being moved across state borders. However, it remains unclear how the virus is circulating, and in some states, herds have become infected despite no movements of cattle.It appears that farm workers may be involved in the outbreak’s spread, but Missouri has minimal shared labor between farms, state officials said.Even so, in preparation for the 2024 Missouri State Fair, scheduled to begin Aug. 8 in Sedalia, the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Strubberg announced last week updated biosecurity protocols for exhibiting dairy cattle. All lactating dairy cattle must have a negative H5N1 test within seven days before arrival at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been doing outreach to dairy producers and veterinarians and providing updated information on the virus.Scott Poock, a dairy and beef cattle veterinarian with the University of Missouri Extension, said he would be confident that Missouri “probably hasn’t had it.”“Can I say 100%? Absolutely not. Never,” Poock said.Missouri, like other states, has been battling H5N1 in poultry for some time. And as it remains unclear how the virus jumped from birds to dairy cows, Strubberg said the lack of many new H5N1 detections in Missouri poultry can provide more confidence, to a degree, that the virus isn’t in Missouri cows.While some experts are concerned about a lack of proactive testing, there is a risk aversion for farmers who would have to quarantine lactating cattle with a positive test. The USDA has taken some actions to help farmers, including offering loans to farmers and livestock producers to alleviate biosecurity measurement costs, such as veterinary and testing expenses.Like experts in infectious diseases, farmers are aware of the issue but have differing opinions and levels of concern, Strubberg said.Chloe Collins, an MU Extension dairy field specialist, said that most farmers she has recently spoken with have been optimistic about the H5N1 risk. She said farmers are practicing good biosecurity and are tapping into expert resources. Collins also described the state’s dairy industry as “prepared and resilient.”Adalja said he believes that the USDA and state agriculture departments are walking a tightrope trying to balance the economic and public health implications. This includes what stigma might occur if a farm tests positive.“These (cows) are not pets,” Adalja said. “They are economic vessels, basically, that are important for the economies of those farms, the economies of those counties and the states.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/few-missouri-dairy-cows-tested-for-bird-flu-virus/article_03ab77de-3df9-11ef-aaa3-134d712ffccc.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Few Missouri dairy cows have been tested for bird flu virus

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed a Hamilton man to
the State Milk Board.

Parson appointed Sean Cornelius to the Milk Board. Cornelius
is a partner and nutritionist at Best Axis
Consulting.

Cornelius serves as
president of Cornelius Farms and is a third-generation dairy farmer. Cornelius
also is the president of the Caldwell County Farm Bureau. 

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed a Hamilton man to
the State Milk Board.Parson appointed Sean Cornelius to the Milk Board. Cornelius
is a partner and nutritionist at Best Axis
Consulting.Cornelius serves as
president of Cornelius Farms and is a third-generation dairy farmer. Cornelius
also is the president of the Caldwell County Farm Bureau. You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Hamilton man appointed to State Milk Board

A shooting outside the First Ward House in north St. Joseph
has left a 31-year-old man with a life-threatening gunshot wound.

The St. Joseph Police Department reports the shooting just
after midnight Sunday likely started with a confrontation in the bar that continued
outside.

There is one suspect, but no one has been arrested as of yet.

The identification of the victim has not been released.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA shooting outside the First Ward House in north St. Joseph
has left a 31-year-old man with a life-threatening gunshot wound.The St. Joseph Police Department reports the shooting just
after midnight Sunday likely started with a confrontation in the bar that continued
outside.There is one suspect, but no one has been arrested as of yet.The identification of the victim has not been released.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Man severely wounded in north St. Joseph shooting

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">CAMI KOONS</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Early this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/29/1227574179/amelia-earharts-lost-plane-howland-island" target="_blank">news outlets circulated&nbsp;</a>a sonar image of what explorers believe to be Amelia Earhart’s lost Lockheed Electra plane.

Earhart enthusiasts in Atchison were excited to see the discovery, and also to see the expedition’s leader, Tony Romeo, sporting a T-shirt from the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.

The founder of Deep Sea Vision, the exploration company that took the sonar image at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, had visited the Atchison museum to see Muriel, a plane identical to the one Earhart took on her last flight.

Romeo will return July 19-20 to Atchison with a slate of other explorers, Earhart theorists and a Smithsonian curator for a panel discussion.

The events are presented by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum</a>&nbsp;as part of the annual Amelia Earhart Festival.

“It’s very exciting to get internationally known people searching for Amelia’s plane into Atchison, where she was born,” said Karen Seaberg, the museum’s founder.

“Adventure Amelia: A Conversation with Explorers in the Search for Amelia Earhart” will be moderated by Dorothy Cochrane, a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Romeo and his brother, Lloyd Romeo, are panelists alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-links-search-for-amelia-earhart-s-plane-with-iss-crew-classroom" target="_blank">Rod Blocksome</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://earharttruth.wordpress.com/tag/gary-lapook/" target="_blank">Gary LaPook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.datelinetheory.com/p/about-author.html" target="_blank">Liz Smith</a>.

Seaberg said the explorers and theorists might have a little bit of competitive tension as they take the stage at 11 a.m. Feb. 19 at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Atchison.

“The panel itself is going to be fun, because all of these people are searching, or have ideas about Amelia Earhart’s lost plane, but they all are going about it a little different way,” Seaberg said.

At 9 a.m. July 20, Tony and Lloyd Romeo will share more about their expedition, which used marine robotics to scan more than 5,200 square miles of the Pacific Ocean floor.

This conversation at the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium at Benedictine College will be moderated by pilot and author Amelia Rose Earhart, who circumnavigated the globe in 2014.

Tickets are free but limited, so Seaberg urges folks to&nbsp;<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/event/adventure-amelia/" target="_blank">register online</a>.

In addition to the panels, the<a href="https://visitatchison.com/listing/amelia-earhart-festival" target="_blank">&nbsp;Amelia Earhart Festival&nbsp;</a>offers craft vendors, live music, an airshow and fireworks above the Missouri River.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720819312481.png" alt="Tony Romeo shows off his shirt from the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum while on his 90-day expedition searching for Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Tony Romeo shows off his shirt from the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum while on his 90-day expedition searching for Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">CAMI KOONS</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>Early this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/29/1227574179/amelia-earharts-lost-plane-howland-island" target="_blank">news outlets circulated&nbsp;</a>a sonar image of what explorers believe to be Amelia Earhart’s lost Lockheed Electra plane.Earhart enthusiasts in Atchison were excited to see the discovery, and also to see the expedition’s leader, Tony Romeo, sporting a T-shirt from the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.The founder of Deep Sea Vision, the exploration company that took the sonar image at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, had visited the Atchison museum to see Muriel, a plane identical to the one Earhart took on her last flight.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720819354535.png" alt="Sonar images of the floor of the Pacific Ocean reveal an object that looks to be around the shape and size of the Lockheed Electra 10-E that Amelia Earhart took on her fated attempt to circumnavigate the globe. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Sonar images of the floor of the Pacific Ocean reveal an object that looks to be around the shape and size of the Lockheed Electra 10-E that Amelia Earhart took on her fated attempt to circumnavigate the globe. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Romeo will return July 19-20 to Atchison with a slate of other explorers, Earhart theorists and a Smithsonian curator for a panel discussion.The events are presented by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum</a>&nbsp;as part of the annual Amelia Earhart Festival.“It’s very exciting to get internationally known people searching for Amelia’s plane into Atchison, where she was born,” said Karen Seaberg, the museum’s founder.“Adventure Amelia: A Conversation with Explorers in the Search for Amelia Earhart” will be moderated by Dorothy Cochrane, a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Romeo and his brother, Lloyd Romeo, are panelists alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-links-search-for-amelia-earhart-s-plane-with-iss-crew-classroom" target="_blank">Rod Blocksome</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://earharttruth.wordpress.com/tag/gary-lapook/" target="_blank">Gary LaPook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.datelinetheory.com/p/about-author.html" target="_blank">Liz Smith</a>.Seaberg said the explorers and theorists might have a little bit of competitive tension as they take the stage at 11 a.m. Feb. 19 at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Atchison.“The panel itself is going to be fun, because all of these people are searching, or have ideas about Amelia Earhart’s lost plane, but they all are going about it a little different way,” Seaberg said.At 9 a.m. July 20, Tony and Lloyd Romeo will share more about their expedition, which used marine robotics to scan more than 5,200 square miles of the Pacific Ocean floor.This conversation at the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium at Benedictine College will be moderated by pilot and author Amelia Rose Earhart, who circumnavigated the globe in 2014.Tickets are free but limited, so Seaberg urges folks to&nbsp;<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/event/adventure-amelia/" target="_blank">register online</a>.In addition to the panels, the<a href="https://visitatchison.com/listing/amelia-earhart-festival" target="_blank">&nbsp;Amelia Earhart Festival&nbsp;</a>offers craft vendors, live music, an airshow and fireworks above the Missouri River.

High-profile Amelia Earhart explorers to convene in Atchison

GRUNDY COUNTY—Three teens were injured in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota Matrix driven by a 16-year-old Trenton girl was northbound on Route A six miles northwest of Trenton.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The car traveled off the north side of the road and overturned.&nbsp; A 14-year-old female passenger from Trenton was ejected through the passenger side window.

Life Flight Eagle transported the 14-year-old to Children's Mercy. Mercer County EMS transported a 15-year-old female passenger from Trenton to Wright Memorial Hospital. The driver refused treatment at the scene. The two passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY—Three teens were injured in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota Matrix driven by a 16-year-old Trenton girl was northbound on Route A six miles northwest of Trenton.The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The car traveled off the north side of the road and overturned.&nbsp; A 14-year-old female passenger from Trenton was ejected through the passenger side window.Life Flight Eagle transported the 14-year-old to Children's Mercy. Mercer County EMS transported a 15-year-old female passenger from Trenton to Wright Memorial Hospital. The driver refused treatment at the scene. The two passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

NW Missouri teen airlifted to hospital after ejected in crash

BROWN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Saturday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Ford Bronco driven by Linda J. Baker, 74, Hiawatha, was northbound on Horned Owl Road&nbsp; just South of 220th Street. The SUV traveled off the roadway into the west ditch and struck a cement culvert.

EMS transported Baker to Amberwell Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Saturday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Ford Bronco driven by Linda J. Baker, 74, Hiawatha, was northbound on Horned Owl Road&nbsp; just South of 220th Street. The SUV traveled off the roadway into the west ditch and struck a cement culvert.EMS transported Baker to Amberwell Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman hospitalized after SUV strikes cement culvert

PLATTE COUNTY—A Missouri woman died in an accident just after 6a.m. Saturday in Platte County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Eyoatme S. Melaku, 19, Riverside, was southbound on Riverway&nbsp; Boulevard at MO 9. The car crossed the road, traveled off the left side, struck a bridge support, returned to the road and caught fire.

Melaku was pronounced dead at the scene and she was transported to Forensic Medical of Kansas.&nbsp; She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

PLATTE COUNTY—A Missouri woman died in an accident just after 6a.m. Saturday in Platte County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Eyoatme S. Melaku, 19, Riverside, was southbound on Riverway&nbsp; Boulevard at MO 9. The car crossed the road, traveled off the left side, struck a bridge support, returned to the road and caught fire.Melaku was pronounced dead at the scene and she was transported to Forensic Medical of Kansas.&nbsp; She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman dies after car crash and fire

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2014 Nissan Versa driven by Jacole D. Hunzinger, 21, Maryville, was eastbound on U.S. 136 just east of Neon Road eight miles east of Maryville.

The car rear-ended a 2009 Kia Optima driven by Rose A. Miller, 57, Maryville, who had stopped for a 2013 Volkswagen Passat driven by Cody M. Runde, 31, Ravenwood, to make a left turn into a private drive.

After impact, the Nissan crossed the center of the road and rear-ended Volkswagen.

A private vehicle transported Hunzinger to Mosaic in Maryville. Nodaway County EMS transported a passenger in the Nissan Jonathan E. Bliley, 53, Stanberry, to Mosaic in Maryville. The other drivers were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2014 Nissan Versa driven by Jacole D. Hunzinger, 21, Maryville, was eastbound on U.S. 136 just east of Neon Road eight miles east of Maryville.The car rear-ended a 2009 Kia Optima driven by Rose A. Miller, 57, Maryville, who had stopped for a 2013 Volkswagen Passat driven by Cody M. Runde, 31, Ravenwood, to make a left turn into a private drive.After impact, the Nissan crossed the center of the road and rear-ended Volkswagen.A private vehicle transported Hunzinger to Mosaic in Maryville. Nodaway County EMS transported a passenger in the Nissan Jonathan E. Bliley, 53, Stanberry, to Mosaic in Maryville. The other drivers were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2 hospitalized after 3-vehicle Nodaway County crash

GRUNDY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Focus driven by Brenda J. Johnson, 52, Milan, was eastbound on MO 6 three miles west of Galt.

GRUNDY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Focus driven by Brenda J. Johnson, 52, Milan, was eastbound on MO 6 three miles west of Galt.The car traveled across the center of the road and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, struck a fence row and and rolled.Grundy County ambulance transported Johnson to Wright Memorial Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.