Starting this evening, a popular rodeo will return to Tarkio, entering its 30th year.  

The Tarkio Rodeo, which is now sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, begins tonight at 7:30.  

Tarkio Rodeo Association member Jeff Riley says everything you'll see at the rodeo is similar to bigger rodeos in Reno, Nevada or Tuscon, Arizona 

"Maybe on a smaller scale, we don't have the entries somewhere like Reno would have, we don't put the money forward like they would at that rodeo," Riley tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "But also, you will see guys that are coming to ride and rope, do timed events, that are working to make the circuit finals in our circuit which is the Great Lakes Circuit." 

Riley says they always try to fit a lot into the show which lasts around two and a half hours.  

"By the time we do all the events, the Broke Spoke Clydesdales do their thing, Dalton Morris is our entertainer this year, I've watched him several times he's very good," Riley explains. 

The show begins at 7:30pm both this evening and tomorrow evening.  A parade will be held on Saturday at 1pm 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Starting this evening, a popular rodeo will return to Tarkio, entering its 30th year. The Tarkio Rodeo, which is now sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, begins tonight at 7:30. Tarkio Rodeo Association member Jeff Riley says everything you'll see at the rodeo is similar to bigger rodeos in Reno, Nevada or Tuscon, Arizona "Maybe on a smaller scale, we don't have the entries somewhere like Reno would have, we don't put the money forward like they would at that rodeo," Riley tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "But also, you will see guys that are coming to ride and rope, do timed events, that are working to make the circuit finals in our circuit which is the Great Lakes Circuit." Riley says they always try to fit a lot into the show which lasts around two and a half hours. "By the time we do all the events, the Broke Spoke Clydesdales do their thing, Dalton Morris is our entertainer this year, I've watched him several times he's very good," Riley explains. The show begins at 7:30pm both this evening and tomorrow evening. A parade will be held on Saturday at 1pm You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Tarkio Rodeo returns for 30th year this weekend

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/teaganking/">TEAGAN KING</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/athenafoslerbrazil/">ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL</a>

GRANBY — About a year after Blair Powell built his dream home in the southwest Missouri Ozarks, a noxious smell wafting from the farm next door ruined his son’s wedding reception in their backyard.

“It just was ungodly,” Powell said. “Just the worst, horrible, horrible smell. Eyes were burning, some were just nauseous, and some were sick, they had to leave.”

The source of the odor was a large waste lagoon on farmer Jerry Evans’ property, about a mile behind Powell’s house. The open-air pit contains “sludge,” as it is colloquially known, composed of animal parts and wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. According to neighbors, the material looks like a gray slurry, thick as a milkshake, and smells like a dead animal — which is what it is. Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions made a deal with Evans and other farmers to house the lagoons and provided the material to area farmers as free “fertilizer.”

Evans leased a patch of his land to Denali for a 450-by-350 foot storage lagoon in Newton County that held over 13 million gallons of waste and used the sludge on his own fields. Powell said it ran into his yard too, prompting him to build up a barrier around his pond to protect its fish and his grandkids, who play nearby.

Denali is one of several companies in Missouri supplying meatpacking sludge to farmers, a practice happening across the United States as concerns grow about spreading waste material on land.

Residents living near the lagoons and fields using sludge report a rancid smell that clings to them once they step outside, making it unbearable to spend time outdoors. Some are now concerned about contamination of soil, drinking water and streams, as well as possible disease from pathogens.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is reviewing three draft permits for land application of sludge from HydroAg, Synagro and Bubs Inc. covering 9,495 acres of land in southwest Missouri. Four additional companies have submitted permit applications to the department. The Columbia Missourian’s review of the draft permits initially found 60 errors, which the department has since corrected.

That’s only the beginning. According to public records the Columbia Missourian obtained from DNR, the department has issued over 1,400 permits for various types of land application of waste across the state, including meatpacking and sewage sludge. In addition, nearly 70 larger wastewater treatment plants in Missouri report applying sludge to land, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online database, or ECHO.

Homestead farmer Caleb Wardlaw may have been the first to sniff out a problem. Two years ago, he noticed a nauseating smell on his land near Rocky Comfort, just north of the Arkansas border.

“There were all kinds of rumors going around about what it actually was,” Wardlaw said.

Wardlaw talked to Sheila Harris, a local reporter for the Cassville Democrat, who jumped in her car and traced the smell upstream to the Evans lagoon. Harris has since published dozens of articles on sludge, from the disruption Denali has caused in her community to state and national efforts to regulate sludge and water pollution.

As news got around, residents of Newton and McDonald counties got organized. Community group Stop Land Use Damaging our Ground and Environment, or SLUDGE, organized in 2023 and sued DNR to force it to regulate Denali as a solid waste management company due to odor and water contamination concerns.

SLUDGE committee member Vallerie Steele lives adjacent to the Evans property. As an emergency room nurse in St. Louis, she worked throughout the height of the pandemic. “I had my share of dead bodies,” Steele said. “This is worse than that. You open your front door to go out, the smell hits you like a brick wall. The flies are horrible.”

While the smell has the biggest impact on her day-to-day life, Steele and others have environmental concerns, too. One concern is PFAS, the “forever chemicals” commonly found in wastewater sludge.

“What happens when they find out it’s laden with PFAS, and the water’s contaminated to the point we can’t use it?” Steele said. “I worry about my kids, my grandkids, my neighbors, the generations to come.”

Denali and companies like it are adamant that their practices are not only safe but are the environmentally responsible option.

“Recycling valuable, nutrient-rich food processing residuals is crucial to protecting water quality in Missouri and necessary for the success of both food production and farming operations in the state,” Sam Liebl, Denali’s director of communications, wrote in an email.

The company is in the process of emptying the Evans Lagoon, the Gideon Lagoon in McDonald county and another lagoon in Macon County, following a DNR consent decree in January where Denali agreed to pay a $21,665 fine for violating clean water regulations. A DNR investigation found that the company applied so much sludge that it covered vegetation and pooled in saturated fields.

The crisis has led to two state agencies intervening and a new state law to regulate sludge. Many relationships have already grown strained over the issue, and as sludge use grows, residents worry about what will happen to their communities.

Powell’s own brother-in-law has used Denali sludge on his farm. Powell said their relationship has soured due to their disagreement over sludge.

“Now it’s neighbor against neighbor, now it’s family versus family,” Powell said. “It’s getting to the point where I don’t know how it’ll all end up.”

In nearby Anderson, resident Jerry Mann is experiencing similar community tensions. His neighbor stores sludge supplied to him in large containers right along Mann’s property, worsening conflict between the two homeowners who already don’t get along.

About two years ago, Mann and several others nearby wrote a “nice letter” to the neighbor who was land-applying sludge, asking him to stop. Shortly thereafter, one of the neighbors saw the farmer using sludge in town. Their argument almost turned physical, Mann said.

“I’m not violent, but some of them get really, really violent about it,” Mann said, “I’m wary about somebody grabbing a gun and shooting each other.”

Evans, who agreed to host a Denali lagoon on his property, said he feels like an outsider in his community, as his neighbors no longer speak to him over the lagoon.

On an early spring day in February, he pointed out how his fields were blanketed in bright green, while his neighbors’ fields were still a dull winter brown. Evans attributed the difference to the sludge, which brought more stability to his yields. He said none of his neighbors have ever stopped by to talk with him about the lagoon, so they don’t understand why he uses it.

“Most of the people in this area don’t like me right now,” he said. “The people that are causing the uproar on this, I don’t usually ever visit with them anyway.”

Regulatory struggles and evolving science

County commissioners in the area feel powerless to stop the sludge use. McDonald County Presiding Commissioner Bryan Hall said he’s done what he can to help his constituents, but much of the problem-solving ultimately falls on DNR.

“We were kind of isolated down here in our dealing with it, and that’s one reason we weren’t getting much attention from the state legislature,” Hall said. “But when that (lagoon) was being built up there in Randolph County… it kind of opened their eyes and made them realize that this is not a problem that’s unique to one area.”

Sharon Turner joined the fight against sludge in March 2023 when she discovered Denali was planning to build a storage lagoon across the street from her property near Jacksonville in Randolph County, north of Columbia. Turner’s land, without her consent, had been listed as a site for sludge application. Turner is a member of a local activist group, Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution, or CRAP, which filed a lawsuit that prevented Denali from filling the lagoon.

“The agricultural laws, rules and regulations are so lax and have so many loopholes,” Turner said. “That’s what’s allowed for the creation of this problem that we’re in.”

The Missouri Fertilizer Control Board transferred the authority to regulate sludge to DNR in spring 2023 after finding the waste material “did not have significant economic market value.” At the time, 13 companies were spreading waste in Missouri from 129 sources, including poultry plants, pet food companies, dairies and other operations in Missouri and seven neighboring states. In June, the DNR issued permit exemptions to companies previously licensed by the board. Those companies must now seek permits or find other ways to dispose of the waste.

The nutrient and chemical contents of sludge vary, and testing is inconsistent. Sludge contains phosphorus and nitrogen, two nutrients plants need, but the concentrations can be too high, said William Wymore, an expert in industrial wastewater treatment and executive producer of Good Morning Sludge Truck, a podcast explaining the complicated landscape of sludge production and management.

“We’re talking about nutrient loads that are literally thousands of times” the recommended amount of phosphorus, nitrogen and calcium, Wymore said.

Heather Peters, Water Pollution Control Branch Chief for DNR, said sludge can be beneficial as long as it is properly managed and regulated, but the department is still figuring out how to do this.

“It is a unique situation when we’re talking about managing these materials as fertilizer on agricultural land,” Peters said. “It could be done successfully if it follows the permit. This is new ground for us.”

The Missouri House and Senate recently approved House Bill 2134, which will create new wastewater sludge regulations under the Missouri Clean Water Act.

Michael Berg, political director of the Sierra Club’s Missouri chapter, said that his group approves of the legislation. However, Berg said it is valid for residents to question whether it will resolve their concerns, especially as the new company permits progress.

“I think the legislation is a good step,” Berg said. “(But) we have broader issues with the oversight over animal agriculture in the state and the monitoring of CAFOs and slaughterhouses.”

Powell is one of many residents who believes the waste companies will find avenues to continue their operations in Missouri.

“It’s all about money,” Powell said. “I don’t know how legislation is going to work out, but I think money is gonna win, whoever has the big bucks. So I think I’m stuck.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/communities-divided-over-spreading-meatpacking-sludge/article_2476da6e-0e18-11ef-a620-ff1729624a14.html">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717757134129.png" alt="Anti-sludge signs dotted the roadsides of rural Newton and McDonald Counties on Feb. 24 (Athena Fosler-Brazil/Missourian)." />
 <figcaption>Anti-sludge signs dotted the roadsides of rural Newton and McDonald Counties on Feb. 24 (Athena Fosler-Brazil/Missourian).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/teaganking/">TEAGAN KING</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/athenafoslerbrazil/">ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL</a>GRANBY — About a year after Blair Powell built his dream home in the southwest Missouri Ozarks, a noxious smell wafting from the farm next door ruined his son’s wedding reception in their backyard.“It just was ungodly,” Powell said. “Just the worst, horrible, horrible smell. Eyes were burning, some were just nauseous, and some were sick, they had to leave.”The source of the odor was a large waste lagoon on farmer Jerry Evans’ property, about a mile behind Powell’s house. The open-air pit contains “sludge,” as it is colloquially known, composed of animal parts and wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. According to neighbors, the material looks like a gray slurry, thick as a milkshake, and smells like a dead animal — which is what it is. Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions made a deal with Evans and other farmers to house the lagoons and provided the material to area farmers as free “fertilizer.”Evans leased a patch of his land to Denali for a 450-by-350 foot storage lagoon in Newton County that held over 13 million gallons of waste and used the sludge on his own fields. Powell said it ran into his yard too, prompting him to build up a barrier around his pond to protect its fish and his grandkids, who play nearby.Denali is one of several companies in Missouri supplying meatpacking sludge to farmers, a practice happening across the United States as concerns grow about spreading waste material on land.Residents living near the lagoons and fields using sludge report a rancid smell that clings to them once they step outside, making it unbearable to spend time outdoors. Some are now concerned about contamination of soil, drinking water and streams, as well as possible disease from pathogens.The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is reviewing three draft permits for land application of sludge from HydroAg, Synagro and Bubs Inc. covering 9,495 acres of land in southwest Missouri. Four additional companies have submitted permit applications to the department. The Columbia Missourian’s review of the draft permits initially found 60 errors, which the department has since corrected.That’s only the beginning. According to public records the Columbia Missourian obtained from DNR, the department has issued over 1,400 permits for various types of land application of waste across the state, including meatpacking and sewage sludge. In addition, nearly 70 larger wastewater treatment plants in Missouri report applying sludge to land, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online database, or ECHO.<h2>Discovering Denali</h2>Homestead farmer Caleb Wardlaw may have been the first to sniff out a problem. Two years ago, he noticed a nauseating smell on his land near Rocky Comfort, just north of the Arkansas border.“There were all kinds of rumors going around about what it actually was,” Wardlaw said.Wardlaw talked to Sheila Harris, a local reporter for the Cassville Democrat, who jumped in her car and traced the smell upstream to the Evans lagoon. Harris has since published dozens of articles on sludge, from the disruption Denali has caused in her community to state and national efforts to regulate sludge and water pollution.As news got around, residents of Newton and McDonald counties got organized. Community group Stop Land Use Damaging our Ground and Environment, or SLUDGE, organized in 2023 and sued DNR to force it to regulate Denali as a solid waste management company due to odor and water contamination concerns.SLUDGE committee member Vallerie Steele lives adjacent to the Evans property. As an emergency room nurse in St. Louis, she worked throughout the height of the pandemic. “I had my share of dead bodies,” Steele said. “This is worse than that. You open your front door to go out, the smell hits you like a brick wall. The flies are horrible.”While the smell has the biggest impact on her day-to-day life, Steele and others have environmental concerns, too. One concern is PFAS, the “forever chemicals” commonly found in wastewater sludge.“What happens when they find out it’s laden with PFAS, and the water’s contaminated to the point we can’t use it?” Steele said. “I worry about my kids, my grandkids, my neighbors, the generations to come.”Denali and companies like it are adamant that their practices are not only safe but are the environmentally responsible option.“Recycling valuable, nutrient-rich food processing residuals is crucial to protecting water quality in Missouri and necessary for the success of both food production and farming operations in the state,” Sam Liebl, Denali’s director of communications, wrote in an email.The company is in the process of emptying the Evans Lagoon, the Gideon Lagoon in McDonald county and another lagoon in Macon County, following a DNR consent decree in January where Denali agreed to pay a $21,665 fine for violating clean water regulations. A DNR investigation found that the company applied so much sludge that it covered vegetation and pooled in saturated fields.<h2>A community divided</h2>The crisis has led to two state agencies intervening and a new state law to regulate sludge. Many relationships have already grown strained over the issue, and as sludge use grows, residents worry about what will happen to their communities.Powell’s own brother-in-law has used Denali sludge on his farm. Powell said their relationship has soured due to their disagreement over sludge.“Now it’s neighbor against neighbor, now it’s family versus family,” Powell said. “It’s getting to the point where I don’t know how it’ll all end up.”In nearby Anderson, resident Jerry Mann is experiencing similar community tensions. His neighbor stores sludge supplied to him in large containers right along Mann’s property, worsening conflict between the two homeowners who already don’t get along.About two years ago, Mann and several others nearby wrote a “nice letter” to the neighbor who was land-applying sludge, asking him to stop. Shortly thereafter, one of the neighbors saw the farmer using sludge in town. Their argument almost turned physical, Mann said.“I’m not violent, but some of them get really, really violent about it,” Mann said, “I’m wary about somebody grabbing a gun and shooting each other.”Evans, who agreed to host a Denali lagoon on his property, said he feels like an outsider in his community, as his neighbors no longer speak to him over the lagoon.On an early spring day in February, he pointed out how his fields were blanketed in bright green, while his neighbors’ fields were still a dull winter brown. Evans attributed the difference to the sludge, which brought more stability to his yields. He said none of his neighbors have ever stopped by to talk with him about the lagoon, so they don’t understand why he uses it.“Most of the people in this area don’t like me right now,” he said. “The people that are causing the uproar on this, I don’t usually ever visit with them anyway.”<h2>Regulatory struggles and evolving science</h2>County commissioners in the area feel powerless to stop the sludge use. McDonald County Presiding Commissioner Bryan Hall said he’s done what he can to help his constituents, but much of the problem-solving ultimately falls on DNR.“We were kind of isolated down here in our dealing with it, and that’s one reason we weren’t getting much attention from the state legislature,” Hall said. “But when that (lagoon) was being built up there in Randolph County… it kind of opened their eyes and made them realize that this is not a problem that’s unique to one area.”Sharon Turner joined the fight against sludge in March 2023 when she discovered Denali was planning to build a storage lagoon across the street from her property near Jacksonville in Randolph County, north of Columbia. Turner’s land, without her consent, had been listed as a site for sludge application. Turner is a member of a local activist group, Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution, or CRAP, which filed a lawsuit that prevented Denali from filling the lagoon.“The agricultural laws, rules and regulations are so lax and have so many loopholes,” Turner said. “That’s what’s allowed for the creation of this problem that we’re in.”The Missouri Fertilizer Control Board transferred the authority to regulate sludge to DNR in spring 2023 after finding the waste material “did not have significant economic market value.” At the time, 13 companies were spreading waste in Missouri from 129 sources, including poultry plants, pet food companies, dairies and other operations in Missouri and seven neighboring states. In June, the DNR issued permit exemptions to companies previously licensed by the board. Those companies must now seek permits or find other ways to dispose of the waste.The nutrient and chemical contents of sludge vary, and testing is inconsistent. Sludge contains phosphorus and nitrogen, two nutrients plants need, but the concentrations can be too high, said William Wymore, an expert in industrial wastewater treatment and executive producer of Good Morning Sludge Truck, a podcast explaining the complicated landscape of sludge production and management.“We’re talking about nutrient loads that are literally thousands of times” the recommended amount of phosphorus, nitrogen and calcium, Wymore said.Heather Peters, Water Pollution Control Branch Chief for DNR, said sludge can be beneficial as long as it is properly managed and regulated, but the department is still figuring out how to do this.“It is a unique situation when we’re talking about managing these materials as fertilizer on agricultural land,” Peters said. “It could be done successfully if it follows the permit. This is new ground for us.”<h2>No end in sight</h2>The Missouri House and Senate recently approved House Bill 2134, which will create new wastewater sludge regulations under the Missouri Clean Water Act.Michael Berg, political director of the Sierra Club’s Missouri chapter, said that his group approves of the legislation. However, Berg said it is valid for residents to question whether it will resolve their concerns, especially as the new company permits progress.“I think the legislation is a good step,” Berg said. “(But) we have broader issues with the oversight over animal agriculture in the state and the monitoring of CAFOs and slaughterhouses.”Powell is one of many residents who believes the waste companies will find avenues to continue their operations in Missouri.“It’s all about money,” Powell said. “I don’t know how legislation is going to work out, but I think money is gonna win, whoever has the big bucks. So I think I’m stuck.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/communities-divided-over-spreading-meatpacking-sludge/article_2476da6e-0e18-11ef-a620-ff1729624a14.html">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Missouri communities divided over spreading meatpacking sludge

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after&nbsp;6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Brown County Deputy initiated a traffic stop in the vicinity of the 200 block of 1st Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

During the investigation, the deputy arrested 35-year-old William Milewski&nbsp; of Daytona Beach,Florida on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717638107708.png" alt="Milewski photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Milewski photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after&nbsp;6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Brown County Deputy initiated a traffic stop in the vicinity of the 200 block of 1st Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.During the investigation, the deputy arrested 35-year-old William Milewski&nbsp; of Daytona Beach,Florida on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Sheriff: Florida man caught transporting meth

NEMAHA COUNTY —There were no serious injuries despite a violent crash and fire that occurred just after 3a.m. Thursday in Nemaha County.

Two semis were involved in the collision on U.S. 75 five miles north of Sabetha, according to a social media report from the Sabetha Fire Department.

First responders were met with heavy fire, debris, complete blockage of the roadway and ruptured fuel tanks.&nbsp;Firefighters took 30 minutes getting the fire under control.

All occupants had escaped with what were believed to be minor injuries.&nbsp;

Sabetha Fire responded in Rescue 37, Pumper 34, Pumper 32, Brush 1 and 2, and Tanker 35. Crews were assisted on scene by Morrill Fire Department, Brown County Rescue Squad 48, Sherriffs deputies from Brown and Nemaha Counties as well as Kansas Highway Patrol. Emergency Management personnel from both counties responded and  KDOT crews arrived later to assist with traffic control and clearing the roadway. 

U.S. 75.&nbsp;from 192nd Road north to the state line was closed down for much of Thursday due to the debris and highway being damaged.&nbsp; The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717703833390.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sabetha Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sabetha Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>NEMAHA COUNTY —There were no serious injuries despite a violent crash and fire that occurred just after 3a.m. Thursday in Nemaha County.Two semis were involved in the collision on U.S. 75 five miles north of Sabetha, according to a social media report from the Sabetha Fire Department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717704003761.png" alt="-Photo courtesy Sabetha Fire" />
 <figcaption>-Photo courtesy Sabetha Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders were met with heavy fire, debris, complete blockage of the roadway and ruptured fuel tanks.&nbsp;Firefighters took 30 minutes getting the fire under control.All occupants had escaped with what were believed to be minor injuries.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717704221856.png" alt="-Photo Nemaha Co. Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>-Photo Nemaha Co. Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>Sabetha Fire responded in Rescue 37, Pumper 34, Pumper 32, Brush 1 and 2, and Tanker 35. Crews were assisted on scene by Morrill Fire Department, Brown County Rescue Squad 48, Sherriffs deputies from Brown and Nemaha Counties as well as Kansas Highway Patrol. Emergency Management personnel from both counties responded and KDOT crews arrived later to assist with traffic control and clearing the roadway. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717704385766.png" alt="-Photo Nemaha Co. Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>-Photo Nemaha Co. Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. 75.&nbsp;from 192nd Road north to the state line was closed down for much of Thursday due to the debris and highway being damaged.&nbsp; The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Semi crash, fire shuts down portion of NE Kansas highway

St. Joseph teachers will have an opportunity this summer to learn more about the jobs available to their students.  

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce will host teacher "externships", modeled after internships, bringing area teachers into local businesses to learn more about the local workforce.  

Chamber President Natalie Hawn says the externships provide a hands-on opportunity for teachers to better understand the jobs available in St. Joseph  

"So then when they're working with the students every day, they have a better idea of that student’s skillset and they kind of know first-hand what kind of jobs we have available here, so they can recommend to those kiddos what kind of path forward they need to get into those jobs," Hawn tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. 

Hawn says it's important for educators to get a better understanding of these jobs and their requirements to help better guide students for the future. 

Hawn says teachers will get to go into facilities, such as Altec, to learn more about the business.  

"They get to go in and do a tour of the facility, learn more about the different jobs, whether that's an entry level job, whether that's an engineer job, whether that's supervisor, they get to learn about the jobs they have at that facility, what kind of skillsets they take, tour the facility and kind of see in action what they do," Hawn explains. 

Hawn says sometimes just getting to come into the facility and talk to someone who does that job everyday helps give a better understanding about job opportunities. 

Hawn says teachers and counselors getting to tour workplaces can really spark something that will help guide students into their futures 

"So, we do the My Success event, we do manufacturing day, those are in the fall, those are both kind of hands-on learning experiences, but this is really just for the teacher or just the counselor," Hawn says. "And we call it externship because it's like an internship where they're learning about that career so they can go and teach about it." 

Teachers from around the St. Joseph area will tour businesses, such as Altec and Boehringer Ingelheim, in mid-July.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717687253685.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph teachers will have an opportunity this summer to learn more about the jobs available to their students. The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce will host teacher "externships", modeled after internships, bringing area teachers into local businesses to learn more about the local workforce. Chamber President Natalie Hawn says the externships provide a hands-on opportunity for teachers to better understand the jobs available in St. Joseph "So then when they're working with the students every day, they have a better idea of that student’s skillset and they kind of know first-hand what kind of jobs we have available here, so they can recommend to those kiddos what kind of path forward they need to get into those jobs," Hawn tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. Hawn says it's important for educators to get a better understanding of these jobs and their requirements to help better guide students for the future. Hawn says teachers will get to go into facilities, such as Altec, to learn more about the business. "They get to go in and do a tour of the facility, learn more about the different jobs, whether that's an entry level job, whether that's an engineer job, whether that's supervisor, they get to learn about the jobs they have at that facility, what kind of skillsets they take, tour the facility and kind of see in action what they do," Hawn explains. Hawn says sometimes just getting to come into the facility and talk to someone who does that job everyday helps give a better understanding about job opportunities. Hawn says teachers and counselors getting to tour workplaces can really spark something that will help guide students into their futures "So, we do the My Success event, we do manufacturing day, those are in the fall, those are both kind of hands-on learning experiences, but this is really just for the teacher or just the counselor," Hawn says. "And we call it externship because it's like an internship where they're learning about that career so they can go and teach about it." Teachers from around the St. Joseph area will tour businesses, such as Altec and Boehringer Ingelheim, in mid-July.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chamber wants to open eyes to job opportunities in St. Joseph

St.
Joseph city voters will decide whether to extend a Use Tax used primarily for
street repair.

City
Manager Bryan Carter points out a Use Tax is levied on goods purchased out of
state for use in Missouri.

“It’s
kind of unique, because it varies some depending on what’s going on in town,”
Carter says. “A major construction project that has a significant amount of
materials that are coming from out of state into St. Joe can pretty rapidly
increase that use tax.”

Carter
says the Use Tax comes into play only when a sales tax doesn’t apply. Carter
says how much it raises varies, but it brought in about $10 million in the last
fiscal year.

“Sales
taxes in and of themselves are based on where the goods are sold. Of course, if
we’re in Missouri we can’t tax goods that are sold in Nebraska, for instance. So
instead of applying a sales tax there’s the use tax that’s applied and then we
ultimately collect that use tax when it’s shipped over from Nebraska to
Missouri.”

St.
Joseph voters approved the current Use Tax in April of 2015 and expires next
year. The issue on the ballot in August will ask voters to extend the tax for
another 10 years. The amount of money the use tax raises varies. In the current
Fiscal Year, the use tax raised $10 million.

The
money raised is primarily used for street maintenance. Carter says the city has
made progress updating asphalt streets in the past 10 years and will shift its
focus to tackling repairs to the city’s concrete streets.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717614793356.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph city voters will decide whether to extend a Use Tax used primarily for
street repair.City
Manager Bryan Carter points out a Use Tax is levied on goods purchased out of
state for use in Missouri.“It’s
kind of unique, because it varies some depending on what’s going on in town,”
Carter says. “A major construction project that has a significant amount of
materials that are coming from out of state into St. Joe can pretty rapidly
increase that use tax.”Carter
says the Use Tax comes into play only when a sales tax doesn’t apply. Carter
says how much it raises varies, but it brought in about $10 million in the last
fiscal year.“Sales
taxes in and of themselves are based on where the goods are sold. Of course, if
we’re in Missouri we can’t tax goods that are sold in Nebraska, for instance. So
instead of applying a sales tax there’s the use tax that’s applied and then we
ultimately collect that use tax when it’s shipped over from Nebraska to
Missouri.”St.
Joseph voters approved the current Use Tax in April of 2015 and expires next
year. The issue on the ballot in August will ask voters to extend the tax for
another 10 years. The amount of money the use tax raises varies. In the current
Fiscal Year, the use tax raised $10 million.The
money raised is primarily used for street maintenance. Carter says the city has
made progress updating asphalt streets in the past 10 years and will shift its
focus to tackling repairs to the city’s concrete streets.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph city voters will decide extension of Use Tax

Missouri
Gov. Mike Parson has appointed Kimathia Wright of Maryville to the Missouri
Developmental Disabilities Council.

Wright
is chair of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
(PACE) KC Adult Wellness Center. She previously served as office assistant for
Metropolitan Community College – Longview.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri
Gov. Mike Parson has appointed Kimathia Wright of Maryville to the Missouri
Developmental Disabilities Council.Wright
is chair of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
(PACE) KC Adult Wellness Center. She previously served as office assistant for
Metropolitan Community College – Longview.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Gov. Parson appoints Maryville woman to disabilities council

State
Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer denies having anything to do with an effort to strip $3
million in state funding from Community Action Partnership of St. Joseph.

An
amendment added to the state budget seemed targeted at former CAP St. Joe
Executive Director Whitney Lanning and is widely seen as playing a role in the
board declining to renew her contract.

Luetkemeyer,
vice chair of the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee, says he had nothing
to do with the amendment that targeted only the St. Joseph Community Action
Partnership.

“So
I did not sponsor that amendment in the budget,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post in an interview. “Whenever that amendment came to light in
committee, I had a separate conversation with some folks on the committee and
asked that that money be added back into the budget which ultimately did
happen. That money was added into the budget and was ultimately part of the
budget that we pass.”

The
Senate Appropriations Committee removed the amendment and restore the funding
to CAP St. Joseph before approving the $51 billion state budget.

The
amendment to the Department of Social Services budget targeted only the St.
Joseph Community Action Partnership, no others in the state. The CAP St. Joseph
board fired Lanning in early May. Lanning had been with
the St. Joseph agency for 11 years, nine as executive director.

Lanning,
in an email to KFEQ/St. Joseph Post shortly after the board’s decision,
specifically cited the amendment as background information for the board’s
decision. Lanning stated then that if the amendment had been adopted social
services for 3,000 low-income children would have ended as well as utility
assistance for 5,100 households in the St. Joseph area. Lanning also stated the
Heartlander, a subsidiary of Herzog of St. Joseph had been calling for her
resignation.

When
asked in the interview, Luetkemeyer claims to not know who sponsored the
amendment.

“I
don’t know the answer to that question.”

“I
don’t know the answer to that question, either.”

Luetkemeyer
says he didn’t spend time attempting to find out who was behind the amendment.

“The
conversations that I had after that amendment came to light really focused not
on the reasons for why it was in there, but making sure that that money was
secured for St. Joe,” Luetkemeyer tells us.

Luetkemeyer
says he did not ask for that provision to be put in the budget, but did ask for
the funding to be restored.

Still,
Luetkemeyer says he’s glad Lanning is out at CAP St. Joseph and hopes she will
resign from the St. Joseph School Board as well. 

“That’s
her decision to make. There’s no mechanism for removing her from the school
board. So, she would have to do that of her own volition. But I hope that she
will,” Luetkemeyer says, noting he called for her resignation after her
confrontation with fellow school board member, Isaura Garcia. “She has been an
unnecessary distraction to the school board. The school district, of course,
has had issues over the years and I think we need to have the strongest
leadership possible in place and I don’t think she’s that person.”

Luetkemeyer
accuses Lanning of showing a lack of professionalism in her confrontation with
Garcia.

This article has been updated since first published.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717611497128.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostState
Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer denies having anything to do with an effort to strip $3
million in state funding from Community Action Partnership of St. Joseph.An
amendment added to the state budget seemed targeted at former CAP St. Joe
Executive Director Whitney Lanning and is widely seen as playing a role in the
board declining to renew her contract.Luetkemeyer,
vice chair of the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee, says he had nothing
to do with the amendment that targeted only the St. Joseph Community Action
Partnership.“So
I did not sponsor that amendment in the budget,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post in an interview. “Whenever that amendment came to light in
committee, I had a separate conversation with some folks on the committee and
asked that that money be added back into the budget which ultimately did
happen. That money was added into the budget and was ultimately part of the
budget that we pass.”The
Senate Appropriations Committee removed the amendment and restore the funding
to CAP St. Joseph before approving the $51 billion state budget.The
amendment to the Department of Social Services budget targeted only the St.
Joseph Community Action Partnership, no others in the state. The CAP St. Joseph
board fired Lanning in early May. Lanning had been with
the St. Joseph agency for 11 years, nine as executive director.Lanning,
in an email to KFEQ/St. Joseph Post shortly after the board’s decision,
specifically cited the amendment as background information for the board’s
decision. Lanning stated then that if the amendment had been adopted social
services for 3,000 low-income children would have ended as well as utility
assistance for 5,100 households in the St. Joseph area. Lanning also stated the
Heartlander, a subsidiary of Herzog of St. Joseph had been calling for her
resignation.When
asked in the interview, Luetkemeyer claims to not know who sponsored the
amendment.“I
don’t know the answer to that question.”Was
it aimed at Whitney Lanning?“I
don’t know the answer to that question, either.”Luetkemeyer
says he didn’t spend time attempting to find out who was behind the amendment.“The
conversations that I had after that amendment came to light really focused not
on the reasons for why it was in there, but making sure that that money was
secured for St. Joe,” Luetkemeyer tells us.Luetkemeyer
says he did not ask for that provision to be put in the budget, but did ask for
the funding to be restored.Still,
Luetkemeyer says he’s glad Lanning is out at CAP St. Joseph and hopes she will
resign from the St. Joseph School Board as well. “That’s
her decision to make. There’s no mechanism for removing her from the school
board. So, she would have to do that of her own volition. But I hope that she
will,” Luetkemeyer says, noting he called for her resignation after her
confrontation with fellow school board member, Isaura Garcia. “She has been an
unnecessary distraction to the school board. The school district, of course,
has had issues over the years and I think we need to have the strongest
leadership possible in place and I don’t think she’s that person.”Luetkemeyer
accuses Lanning of showing a lack of professionalism in her confrontation with
Garcia.This article has been updated since first published.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Sen. Luetkemeyer denies involvement in CAP St. Joe defunding effort

JEFFERSON COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4p.m. Wednesday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven byMichael J. Schecher, 59, Holton, northbound on U.S. 59 just north of Kansas 16.&nbsp; The driver attempted to pass a northbound 2022 GMC Savanna van driven by John G.&nbsp;Morris, 29, Topeka, who was slowing to make a left turn into a private driver.

The van struck the motorcycle. Schecher was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa. Morris was not injured.&nbsp; Schecher was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4p.m. Wednesday in Jefferson County.The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven byMichael J. Schecher, 59, Holton, northbound on U.S. 59 just north of Kansas 16.&nbsp; The driver attempted to pass a northbound 2022 GMC Savanna van driven by John G.&nbsp;Morris, 29, Topeka, who was slowing to make a left turn into a private driver.The van struck the motorcycle. Schecher was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa. Morris was not injured.&nbsp; Schecher was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after van, motorcycle crash

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by Angela M. Lowrey, 51, Trenton, was northbound on Route V at LIV 200.

The SUV traveled off the south side of the road while navigating a curve. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle traveled off the north side of the road and overturned onto its top.

Livingston County ambulance transported Lowrey and a passenger Francis L. Untiedt, 75, Trenton, to Wright Memorial Hospital. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by Angela M. Lowrey, 51, Trenton, was northbound on Route V at LIV 200.The SUV traveled off the south side of the road while navigating a curve. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle traveled off the north side of the road and overturned onto its top.Livingston County ambulance transported Lowrey and a passenger Francis L. Untiedt, 75, Trenton, to Wright Memorial Hospital. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man, woman injured after SUV rolls onto its top

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement in northeast Kansas are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.

Just before 10a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to the area of 15th and Kansas Avenue in Atchison to investigate a threat that had been made by a person riding a bicycle, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Officers located that person, 34-year-old Jesse Ferris, in the 1300 block Kansas Avenue. He was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and taken into custody on requested drug charges. 

The case involving the threat remains under investigation.&nbsp; Ferris has previous convictions for theft, burglary and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717598656011.png" alt="Ferris from an earlier arrest in Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Ferris from an earlier arrest in Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement in northeast Kansas are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.Just before 10a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to the area of 15th and Kansas Avenue in Atchison to investigate a threat that had been made by a person riding a bicycle, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Officers located that person, 34-year-old Jesse Ferris, in the 1300 block Kansas Avenue. He was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and taken into custody on requested drug charges. The case involving the threat remains under investigation.&nbsp; Ferris has previous convictions for theft, burglary and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas felon riding a bike was caught transporting drugs

ATCHISON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Wednesday in Atchison County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Toyota Corolla driven by Emmanuel I. Nnuekwe, 24, Charleston, Illinois, was northeastbound on U.S. 59 two miles northeast of Nortonville 

The car traveled left of center and struck a southwest bound 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Darrel Wayne Johnson, 62, St. Joseph, head-on.

After impact the semi traveled into the northwest ditch, struck an embankment, rolled onto its side and struck a power pole.

EMS transported Nnuekwe to KU Medical Center and Johnson to Amberwell in Atchison. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ATCHISON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Wednesday in Atchison County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Toyota Corolla driven by Emmanuel I. Nnuekwe, 24, Charleston, Illinois, was northeastbound on U.S. 59 two miles northeast of Nortonville The car traveled left of center and struck a southwest bound 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Darrel Wayne Johnson, 62, St. Joseph, head-on.After impact the semi traveled into the northwest ditch, struck an embankment, rolled onto its side and struck a power pole.EMS transported Nnuekwe to KU Medical Center and Johnson to Amberwell in Atchison. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Man from St. Joe injured in head-on crash

A Robidoux Middle School math teacher accused of sexually
assaulting a 14-year-old student has been fired by the St. Joseph School Board.

The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has filed a
charge of first-degree sodomy against Everett “Tim” Harding of Maryville.

The St. Joseph Board of Education, during its Tuesday meeting,
terminated Harding’s contract with the district.

The district issued a statement, “Upon hearing concerns,
the District placed the former employee on leave, thoroughly investigated, and
contacted and coordinated with the appropriate agencies and law enforcement in
their investigations.&nbsp;The District will continue cooperating with those
agencies regarding their investigations.”

A probable cause statement accuses Harding to being alone in
his classroom for nearly an hour with a 14-year-old girl, who he allegedly
sexually assaulted. The statement also said other staff members at the middle
school witnessed and reported inappropriate behavior leading up to the
incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716927822696.jpeg" alt="Everett "Tim" Harding/Buchanan County Sheriff's photo" />
 <figcaption>Everett "Tim" Harding/Buchanan County Sheriff's photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA Robidoux Middle School math teacher accused of sexually
assaulting a 14-year-old student has been fired by the St. Joseph School Board.The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has filed a
charge of first-degree sodomy against Everett “Tim” Harding of Maryville.The St. Joseph Board of Education, during its Tuesday meeting,
terminated Harding’s contract with the district.The district issued a statement, “Upon hearing concerns,
the District placed the former employee on leave, thoroughly investigated, and
contacted and coordinated with the appropriate agencies and law enforcement in
their investigations.&nbsp;The District will continue cooperating with those
agencies regarding their investigations.”A probable cause statement accuses Harding to being alone in
his classroom for nearly an hour with a 14-year-old girl, who he allegedly
sexually assaulted. The statement also said other staff members at the middle
school witnessed and reported inappropriate behavior leading up to the
incident.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph teacher accused of sexually assaulting student fired

The St. Joseph Police Department is in mourning.&nbsp;Captain Jeff Wilson acknowledges the painful and sudden loss of officer Kyle Graham, who took his own life this past Thursday. He was just 40 years old.

"This is an extremely tough time for our department and tenfold for his family."

In light of Graham’s death, Wilson is sharing with the public the importance of officer wellness. Starting by defining the word wellness itself.

"Wellness is something we've focused on for quite a long time," he said. "We term it as mental fitness, physical fitness and spiritual fitness."

Wilson has been an officer for 32 years. He says when he first started, mental health was something that just wasn’t talked about in law enforcement. It was all about "acting tough" or "bulletproof."

Today, Wilson has faith in St. Joseph Police leadership and other agencies' ability to properly address the topic.

"Our law enforcement leaders have gotten much better at recognizing the importance of officer wellness," he pointed out. "The ability for an officer to do this job. Which, by the way, is considered to be the most physically and mentally dangerous and traumatizing profession you could be involved in."

After Graham’s death, Wilson says the best way to honor their fallen officer and brother is to address officer wellness head on.

While the dialogue is opening up and the stigma is changing, Wilson points out there's work to be done with an an average of 184 law enforcement suicides in the United States per year.

"I know that's what Kyle would've wanted," Wilson said. "For us to figure out what we can do for his fellow officers on this department and across the country. And that's our goal here."

Wilson says St. Joseph Police has resources in place for officers during times of trauma, or after a traumatic event. One is a peer support group.

"Our peer support group made up of 10 trained officers, and it's a group of folks our officers can go and talk to," Wilson said. "They can talk to people, officers who understand where they're coming from. They share the same turf, so to speak."

The Family Guidance Center of St. Joseph also provides liaisons to officers - during difficult times and also on a day-to-day basis as needed.

Wilson commends chief Paul Luster, who Wilson says has prioritized the mental health of officers on the force.

"His greatest concern is the wellbeing of our officers," Wilson said of Luster. "Their mental state and where they're at. That's because he has a mission and a vision for our department and what he wants our officers to do, and we have to be okay to go out there and help other people be okay."

As for Graham's memory, Wilson says the entire force will remember him for his upbeat attitude and diligent work.

"It's a terrible loss to this department," Wilson reiterated. "Officer Graham wore this badge, which represents this noble profession, with a public servant mindset and heart. A public servant heart. Each and everyday, he went out to do his job."

Funeral services for Graham will be held this coming Monday at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday at Meierhoffer Funeral Home.

Nodaway Valley Bank also set up the Kyle Graham Memorial Fund. People can donate to that by scanning the Venmo code in the picture below.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717601057713.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Police captain Jeff Wilson addresses reporters Tuesday on the importance of law enforcement wellness and mental health following the death of St. Joseph officer Kyle Graham. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Police captain Jeff Wilson addresses reporters Tuesday on the importance of law enforcement wellness and mental health following the death of St. Joseph officer Kyle Graham. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Police Department is in mourning.&nbsp;Captain Jeff Wilson acknowledges the painful and sudden loss of officer Kyle Graham, who took his own life this past Thursday. He was just 40 years old."This is an extremely tough time for our department and tenfold for his family."In light of Graham’s death, Wilson is sharing with the public the importance of officer wellness. Starting by defining the word wellness itself."Wellness is something we've focused on for quite a long time," he said. "We term it as mental fitness, physical fitness and spiritual fitness."Wilson has been an officer for 32 years. He says when he first started, mental health was something that just wasn’t talked about in law enforcement. It was all about "acting tough" or "bulletproof."Today, Wilson has faith in St. Joseph Police leadership and other agencies' ability to properly address the topic."Our law enforcement leaders have gotten much better at recognizing the importance of officer wellness," he pointed out. "The ability for an officer to do this job. Which, by the way, is considered to be the most physically and mentally dangerous and traumatizing profession you could be involved in."After Graham’s death, Wilson says the best way to honor their fallen officer and brother is to address officer wellness head on.While the dialogue is opening up and the stigma is changing, Wilson points out there's work to be done with an an average of 184 law enforcement suicides in the United States per year."I know that's what Kyle would've wanted," Wilson said. "For us to figure out what we can do for his fellow officers on this department and across the country. And that's our goal here."Wilson says St. Joseph Police has resources in place for officers during times of trauma, or after a traumatic event. One is a peer support group."Our peer support group made up of 10 trained officers, and it's a group of folks our officers can go and talk to," Wilson said. "They can talk to people, officers who understand where they're coming from. They share the same turf, so to speak."The Family Guidance Center of St. Joseph also provides liaisons to officers - during difficult times and also on a day-to-day basis as needed.Wilson commends chief Paul Luster, who Wilson says has prioritized the mental health of officers on the force."His greatest concern is the wellbeing of our officers," Wilson said of Luster. "Their mental state and where they're at. That's because he has a mission and a vision for our department and what he wants our officers to do, and we have to be okay to go out there and help other people be okay."As for Graham's memory, Wilson says the entire force will remember him for his upbeat attitude and diligent work."It's a terrible loss to this department," Wilson reiterated. "Officer Graham wore this badge, which represents this noble profession, with a public servant mindset and heart. A public servant heart. Each and everyday, he went out to do his job."Funeral services for Graham will be held this coming Monday at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday at Meierhoffer Funeral Home.Nodaway Valley Bank also set up the Kyle Graham Memorial Fund. People can donate to that by scanning the Venmo code in the picture below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717601524520.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Police mourning loss of fallen officer, addressing importance of wellness

A preliminary report from the St. Joseph School District showed a slight decrease in student attendance.  

The report shows attendance dropped from a bit more than 78-percent to just above 77 percent, still well below the attendance goal of 90-percent.  

Superintendent Gabe Edgar says while ideas bounce around to improve attendance, one thing that will continue is working with the Buchanan County Prosecutors Office. 

"Right now, it's not showing a whole lot of progress, but I think that moving into the future this is just something that takes time, and fortunately we didn't go backwards," Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Edgar says a bright spot on the report, however, was a 10-percent increase in the district’s graduation rate. 

"Obviously that's the end goal for every kid, at the end of the day you want them to graduate from high school, and so we're very proud of that accomplishment," Edgar says. 

Edgar says while there was a focus on students in that graduation age, internal discussions continue of how the district should move forward 

"My philosophical belief is that our interventions need to come way early, the interventions need to start in the kindergarten, the first grade, the second grade," Edgar explains. "I'm not saying we need to not pay attention to what's going on in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, but we really need to build that relationship early to help, not only the students, but also the parents understand the value of education." 

The final, official report is expected sometime in October. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A preliminary report from the St. Joseph School District showed a slight decrease in student attendance. The report shows attendance dropped from a bit more than 78-percent to just above 77 percent, still well below the attendance goal of 90-percent. Superintendent Gabe Edgar says while ideas bounce around to improve attendance, one thing that will continue is working with the Buchanan County Prosecutors Office. "Right now, it's not showing a whole lot of progress, but I think that moving into the future this is just something that takes time, and fortunately we didn't go backwards," Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Edgar says a bright spot on the report, however, was a 10-percent increase in the district’s graduation rate. "Obviously that's the end goal for every kid, at the end of the day you want them to graduate from high school, and so we're very proud of that accomplishment," Edgar says. Edgar says while there was a focus on students in that graduation age, internal discussions continue of how the district should move forward "My philosophical belief is that our interventions need to come way early, the interventions need to start in the kindergarten, the first grade, the second grade," Edgar explains. "I'm not saying we need to not pay attention to what's going on in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, but we really need to build that relationship early to help, not only the students, but also the parents understand the value of education." The final, official report is expected sometime in October. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph School District has good news, bad news, in preliminary report

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident and later arrested just before 6p.m. Tuesday in Nodaway&nbsp; County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Malibu driven by Jennifer E. Osborn, 47, Ravenwood, was southbound on MO 46 just south of Bishop Street in Ravenwood.

The car traveled off the west side of the road and struck numerous mail boxes, a fire hydrant and overturned. The car came to rest on its top in the front yard of a home.

Osborn was arrested on requested charges of DWI drugs and operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident.

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

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident and later arrested just before 6p.m. Tuesday in Nodaway&nbsp; County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Malibu driven by Jennifer E. Osborn, 47, Ravenwood, was southbound on MO 46 just south of Bishop Street in Ravenwood.The car traveled off the west side of the road and struck numerous mail boxes, a fire hydrant and overturned. The car came to rest on its top in the front yard of a home.Osborn was arrested on requested charges of DWI drugs and operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident.Nodaway County EMS then transported her to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. woman accused of DWI after injured in violent car crash

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas couple on multiple drug allegations.

Just before 11p.m. Saturday, a Brown County deputy requested the sheriff's department K-9 Carla be deployed on a traffic stop on K-20 Highway near Falcon Road, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Carla indicated on the vehicle and based off of information gathered at the scene, a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence located at 250 E. 8th Street in Horton.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated the Search Warrant and drug related items were taken into custody as evidence. At the conclusion of the Warrant, Glenda Mendez, 49, Horton was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Obstruction and Child Endangerment.&nbsp; 

Tyrone Mendez, 47,&nbsp; Horton was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717443702234.png" alt="Mendez photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Mendez photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas couple on multiple drug allegations.Just before 11p.m. Saturday, a Brown County deputy requested the sheriff's department K-9 Carla be deployed on a traffic stop on K-20 Highway near Falcon Road, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Carla indicated on the vehicle and based off of information gathered at the scene, a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence located at 250 E. 8th Street in Horton.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717443592502.png" alt="Mendez-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Mendez-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated the Search Warrant and drug related items were taken into custody as evidence. At the conclusion of the Warrant, Glenda Mendez, 49, Horton was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Obstruction and Child Endangerment.&nbsp; Tyrone Mendez, 47,&nbsp; Horton was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Parents jailed after drugs, children found at Kansas home

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Judge rules that Blue Springs School District discriminated against former student by barring him from boys’ locker room

After a decade-long legal battle, a transgender man and former student of the Blue Springs School District should receive over $4 million in damages for discrimination that occurred when he was an adolescent, the Missouri’s Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

Judge Anthony Gabbert wrote the court’s unanimous decision, ruling that the school district discriminated against the student, identified by his initials R.M.A., on the basis of sex when it barred him from using the boys’ locker room.

A key part of the appellate court’s decision was the factor that spurred the school district’s discrimination.

Attorneys for the Blue Spring School District did not contest that R.M.A. was treated differently, according to Gabbert’s ruling, but said it was because of his “female genitalia.”

“School district employees suggested that R.M.A. had been excluded from the boys’ restrooms and locker rooms because of [the] school district’s belief that he had female genitalia,” Gabbert wrote. “[The] school district did not actually determine the nature of R.M.A.’s genitalia, however, and does not speculate, inspect or otherwise inquire as to the genitalia of other male students.”

The admission of different treatment based on assumed genitalia, Gabbert wrote, was itself discrimination on the basis of sex.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717532352272.png" alt="An appellate court unanimously ruled Tuesday that a transgender man who formerly attended the Blue Springs School District was discriminated against when he was barred from using the boys' locker room (photo illustration by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)." />
 <figcaption>An appellate court unanimously ruled Tuesday that a transgender man who formerly attended the Blue Springs School District was discriminated against when he was barred from using the boys' locker room (photo illustration by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Judge rules that Blue Springs School District discriminated against former student by barring him from boys’ locker room</h2>After a decade-long legal battle, a transgender man and former student of the Blue Springs School District should receive over $4 million in damages for discrimination that occurred when he was an adolescent, the Missouri’s Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.Judge Anthony Gabbert wrote the court’s unanimous decision, ruling that the school district discriminated against the student, identified by his initials R.M.A., on the basis of sex when it barred him from using the boys’ locker room.A key part of the appellate court’s decision was the factor that spurred the school district’s discrimination.Attorneys for the Blue Spring School District did not contest that R.M.A. was treated differently, according to Gabbert’s ruling, but said it was because of his “female genitalia.”“School district employees suggested that R.M.A. had been excluded from the boys’ restrooms and locker rooms because of [the] school district’s belief that he had female genitalia,” Gabbert wrote. “[The] school district did not actually determine the nature of R.M.A.’s genitalia, however, and does not speculate, inspect or otherwise inquire as to the genitalia of other male students.”The admission of different treatment based on assumed genitalia, Gabbert wrote, was itself discrimination on the basis of sex.<h2>Let us know what you think...</h2>Part of the judicial proceedings included testimony from R.M.A.’s doctor, who said R.M.A. was a male for as long as she has been treating him (which began at age nine).During his time as a student, R.M.A. received an updated birth certificate with his male gender identity.School district employees and school board members told R.M.A.’s mother that locker-room access is determined by birth certificate. After she gave the corrected birth certificate to school district officials, R.M.A. was still denied access to boys’ restrooms and locker rooms.The school board discussed R.M.A’s birth certificate in a closed-door meeting, according to court documents, but never gave his mother a clear answer about the policy.“The evidence at trial… was that (Blue Springs) School District had an unwritten policy of using birth certificates to determine sex,” Gabbert wrote. “Yet, [the] school district refused to tell R.M.A.’s mother that it would honor a corrected birth certificate stating he is male because (it) wanted to keep its options open in the event R.M.A. was able to obtain a corrected birth certificate.”R.M.A’s birth certificate was amended in December 2014, around a year after he began asking to use the locker room that aligned with his gender identity and two months after he filed a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.R.M.A. filed the lawsuit in October 2015, starting a complicated legal process. The initial trial court dismissed his claim in 2016, saying the Missouri Human Rights Act does not protect claims on the basis of gender identity. The Missouri Supreme Court, in 2019,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article226814519.html">reversed this decision</a>&nbsp;and opened the doors for another trial.A December 2021 jury trial awarded R.M.A. over $4.7 million in damages and legal fees, but attorneys for the Blue Springs School District asked for a “judgment notwithstanding the verdict,” a ruling that allows a judge to usurp a jury’s decision.&nbsp;The school district argued that R.M.A. only proved that he was discriminated against “because of his female genitalia” and not on the basis of sex.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-07/judge-throws-out-a-jurys-4-million-verdict-in-favor-of-a-blue-springs-transgender-student">trial court judge sided with the school district</a>, which would have spurred another trial. But Tuesday’s decision reverses that judge’s call, returning the case back to the jury’s verdict.There are other similar cases currently winding through Missouri’s courts, including a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/01/aclu-sues-missouri-school-district-for-transgender-bathroom-policy/">lawsuit against the Platte County School District</a>&nbsp;brought by the ACLU of Missouri.The Blue Springs School District could not be reached for comment by time of publication.

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