November 20, 2009
Erica Mendez -
Charities fret over ‘clunkers’ program
Monday, Aug. 3, 2009
The “Cash for Clunkers” program, which began on July 24 and was halted a week later, attracted more buyers into local dealerships. However, some people are worried it could deter donations to charity.
Julie Love, Car City sales manager, said the dealership made several sales because of the program, which was suspended after $1 billion in government funds was exhausted. U.S. lawmakers are considering adding money to Cash for Clunkers, allowing consumers to claim a credit of up to $4,500 for trading an older vehicle for a more fuel-efficient model.
Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009
Lee and Lynne Evinger were inspired to purchase their first MINI Cooper, not because of its gas mileage, but after seeing the movie “The Italian Job.” Lee proclaimed the car as the “real star” of the show.
“We saw the movie and fell in love with the thing,” Lee said. “We took a test ride and that was it.”
Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009
President Barack Obama’s new stricter fuel economy standards may please environmental groups and struggling automakers, but what about owners who choose to drive big vehicles?
“There’s people that need trucks or need SUVs for personal reasons; to pull a boat, or maybe they have kids,” said Jason Shelkop, manager of Cecil Myers Mitsubishi.
The president’s plan will add about $600 to the cost of a car on top of $700 added by changes to fuel economy rules already enacted. Officials reasoned that consumers should be able to make up the cost by how much they save in gas.
Profits beginning to spoil for dairy farmers
Monday, July 27, 2009
Times are sour for Missouri dairy farmers.
The industry continues to struggle as milk prices have dropped, resulting in many farms going out of business. David Drennan, executive director of the Missouri Dairy Association, said that according to the USDA, dairy producers receive only 28 cents of a retail dollar.
“When the milk leaves the farm, they have no control of it and everyone else is going to want a piece of the pie,” Mr. Drennan said. “The dairyman’s share continues to get smaller.”
Mr. Drennan said there are about 1,900 dairy farms in the state. Since 2005, Missouri has lost about 500.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
With the academic school year starting next month, it seems that even college students are feeling the economic pinch. Financial aid is needed more than ever, yet it is becoming more difficult to obtain.
School year's approach raises flu concernsSaturday, July 25, 2009
Renewed concern about the swine flu spreads as students prepare to return to the classroom.
According to U.S. health officials, the swine flu could strike up to 40 percent of Americans over the next two years, about twice the number of people who usually get sick in a normal flu season. But with tests of a new vaccine beginning shortly, the U.S. may have as much as 160 million doses of swine flu vaccine available sometime this October.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
While other schools in Savannah lie dormant as students enjoy the end of summer, Savannah Middle School is in the middle of an exciting transition process.
Who needs to reconnect in the Facebook era?Monday, July 20, 2009
The season for class reunions has rekindled the debate on whether social networking sites are hindering or encouraging the need to attend. Facebook, MySpace and other sites allow users to create profiles that can reveal as little or as much information as they want about their lives. So is it worth paying to go to an event where everything you would want to know, you can find out online? A couple of reunion organizers who graduated from local high schools seem to think so. Tyler Clark decided to create the “Central High Class of 1999” group on Facebook in December 2008 after friends asked him when they would have their 10-year reunion. It now has 166 members. As the group description states, “What better way is there to get the word out than Facebook?”
'Potter' mania more subduedThursday, July 16, 2009
The latest Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” has generated a heap of excitement, attracting fans young and old.
Police lament lax open-container lawMonday, July 13, 2009
Missouri’s current open-container law allows passengers in vehicles to keep drinking alcohol, whether the car is pulled over or not, and drivers can join them — as long as they don’t get caught. “It’s been one of those problems we’ve had for 20 years,” said Sgt. Larry Stobbs of the St. Joseph Police Department. Mr. Stobbs said the statute is poorly written. He compared it to the state’s seat belt law; law enforcement can only stop a driver if they see him or her drinking, much like they can only stop a driver for violating the seat belt law if they see him or her not wearing a seat belt.
Some rescued dogs can be rehabilitated
Friday, July 10, 2009
It was a victory for humane societies and animal activists everywhere when a dogfighting investigation saved 350 or more dogs, primarily pit bull terriers, from their abusive owners.
“It’s always a victory to even help one animal. To get 350 out of that situation is really commendable,” said Laurie Salanski, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Joseph and Buchanan County.
According to a federal indictment, the defendants denied the dogs adequate and humane treatment of wounds and injuries suffered from dogfights. They routinely destroyed injured dogs by shooting the dogs in the head, and threw their carcasses into the river or burned them in a barrel.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
It’s that time of the year when mosquitoes are making their presence known in the most inconvenient — and annoying — way. Thankfully, there are precautions the city and people can take to prevent these pests from pestering — and causing health problems.
Some fireworks displays cutFriday, July 3, 2009
It seems that the sky will be just as bright this Fourth of July as in past years. But that doesn’t mean the economy hasn’t taken its toll.
A number of cities have dropped their fireworks displays because of costs, said Gary Markenson, executive director of the Missouri Municipal League.
“When you’re laying off police officers, it’s hard to blow up $15,000 worth of gunpowder,” he said. “I think the general public would prefer that fireworks demonstrations are cut before firemen.”
Fireworks displays have been canceled this weekend at locations including Lake Contrary, Blue Springs, Mo., and Shawnee Mission Park in Kansas, due to lack of funding. That trend may continue if the economy continues to slump.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The YMCA celebrated another year of achievement at its annual meeting Tuesday, with a day of fun and recognition at Camp Marvin Hillyard.
Program seeks to change state's 'puppy mill' reputationTuesday, June 30, 2009
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has initiated a program that will act as a “crackdown” on unlicensed breeders in Missouri: Operation Bark Alert.
‘Cash for Clunkers’: Boost or bane?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Out with the old and in with the new. Only if the new has better mileage, that is.
The “Cash for Clunkers” program, now called the Car Allowance Rebate System, was signed into law on Thursday. Essentially, by trading in a vehicle for a new one that is more fuel efficient, the program will pay consumers up to $4,500 in credit, depending on how much better mileage the new vehicle gets.
For example, a new car that is four miles per gallon better than the old is eligible for a $3,500 voucher. If the new car gets 10 mpg better, it may be worth the maximum $4,500 voucher.
For SUVS, pickups or minivans, a new car that gets two mpg better gets a $3,000 voucher, and $4,500 if five mpg better.
Friday, June 26, 2009
InterServ has another cause for celebration on top of the service organization’s 100-year anniversary: the completion of its most recent project, St. Joseph’s Haven.
Red Cross honors volunteersWednesday, June 24, 2009
“The Red Cross means, not national aid for the needs of the people, but the people’s aid for the needs of a nation.”
Quoted by Clara Barton and repeated by speaker of the evening, Matt Meyer, the statement reflected a commitment made by the many volunteers who attended the annual meeting of the Midland Empire chapter of the American Red Cross on Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
France Park will remain as is, thanks to a group of determined residents and a survey.
All that jazz
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday afternoon in the sweltering heat, excited businesses and volunteers were actively preparing for the night’s festivities. It wasn’t just the music that has people excited about the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival, which began Friday and continues today on Felix Street Square. The festival, which attracted an estimated 2,500 people Downtown Friday evening, provided a much-needed economic boost to Downtown businesses.
Citizens ‘dump the pump’
Friday, June 19, 2009
When boarding a St. Joseph Transit bus Thursday, a few people were pleasantly surprised to find out their ride was free.
In case of emergency
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Andrew County had been the only remaining county of the 10 served by the Midland Empire chapter of the American Red Cross without a disaster supply trailer. This officially changed Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Savannah.
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