November 07, 2009
R.J. Cooper - Courthouse Reporter
County budget situation improves
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009
Rumors surround 1980 killings
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
Monday, Sept. 14, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
The hallways of the Buchanan County Courthouse seem a bit brighter these days, and the unseasonably warm, sunny days can’t claim all the credit.
The county’s budget situation has morphed from untenable to merely unenviable during the past two months, thanks to advances on a couple of fronts.
The county has been searching for a new health insurance provider the past two months, and the best offer it found involved a 27 percent increase in costs. At the same time, the county’s sales tax revenue figures from August were $200,820 below 2008, leaving the general fund $313,547 behind its approximately $6 million budget.
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
Thursday’s sentence likely ensures Roger Lee Clark will die in prison.
In the courts, Nov. 6, 2009Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
In the courts, Nov. 6, 2009
Child abuse case delayedWednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Angela Rathman, 36, leaned forward in the jury box, resting her elbows on her legs as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
She kept that up for more than a half-hour Monday in Buchanan County Circuit Court, completing the portrait of a nervous and impatient defendant awaiting her time before the judge.
But Ms. Rathman will have to wait another week in her child abuse case.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009
Triumph Foods and Missouri Gas Energy waited until the final hours before their jury trial was set to begin before reaching a settlement Monday.
The pork company was suing the natural gas provider in Buchanan County Circuit Court for $19.9 million, stemming from a 2005 explosion that killed one person during the construction of the St. Joseph pork plant. Jury selection for their trial was set for 9 a.m. Monday before the two sides reached an agreement earlier in the day.
“I can say that we’re pleased that it has settled,” said Patt Lilly, Triumph’s chief administrative officer.
Mr. Lilly declined to comment on the specifics of the settlement.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009
The Buchanan County Clerk expects one fewer issue on the ballot to bring out about 10 percent fewer voters in today’s election.
County residents living within the St. Joseph School District head to the polls to vote on a 63-cent levy with a five-year sunset clause. In April, voters rejected a 63-cent tax levy without a sunset clause and a bond to build two new schools.
The absentee ballots from today’s election are running about 10 percent behind April’s ballots. County Clerk Pat Conway projects a turnout of about 16,000 today, or 34 percent of the eligible voters, compared to 18,193 in April. There are 46,400 eligible voters for today’s election, according to Mr. Conway. The levy measure, which needs a simple majority to pass, failed by 172 votes last time around.
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
All 10 men implicated in a local burglary ring have pleaded guilty in Buchanan County Circuit Court after Justin M. Hughes and Jeremy W. Hayden entered their pleas Thursday.
Witness recants statements on standWednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
The woman linking Antwoin M. Craig to an April 2008 burglary waffled on the stand during a jury trial Tuesday afternoon, retracting statements she made to police.
Inmate dies at county jailTuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
A St. Joseph man convicted of abusing his 6-year-old daughter apparently committed suicide by hanging himself in the Buchanan County Jail on Saturday.
Alleged burglary leader sentencedSaturday, Oct. 24, 2009
One of the alleged leaders of a burglary ring that targeted St. Joseph homes, businesses, schools and churches received a 15-year sentence in Buchanan County Circuit Court on Friday.
Judge Dan Kellogg sentenced Timothy Scott McCoy, 19, to five years for each of the three counts of second-degree burglary he faced, to be served consecutively.
Ron Holliday, the first assistant to the prosecutor, called on St. Joseph detective Scott Coates to testify during the hearing. Mr. Coates served as the lead investigator on the case, and his testimony brought various aspects of the 10-man burglary ring into clearer focus.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
Every property’s a dollar is gaining popularity in Buchanan County.
Ticket issue heats up in Municipal CourtFriday, Oct. 23, 2009
Judge John Boeh continually steered the focus of his courtroom back on the sidewalk. Once again, Marcell “Big Daddy” Jackson strayed from that path.
Budget numbers loom over commissionersFriday, Oct. 23, 2009
Nancy Nash wore black to her budget meeting with the Buchanan County Commission on Thursday.
Census brings in several new jobsThursday, Oct. 22, 2009
The 2010 census will have a few more jobs to count in St. Joseph, thanks to itself.
Burglar sentenced to 3 years, probationWednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
Prison awaits another member of a burglary ring that targeted schools, businesses, churches and homes in St. Joseph.
Member of burglary ring pleads guiltyTuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
Another member of a burglary ring that terrorized St. Joseph businesses, churches, schools and homes earlier this year pleaded guilty in Buchanan County Circuit Court on Monday.
Robert J. Manassro, 23, admitted to his part in a trio of burglaries, pleading guilty to three separate counts of second-degree burglary. The ring of at least 10 people operated out of a St. Joseph home and concentrated mainly on high-end electronics, which it sold on the Web site Craigslist.com, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Ronny Rathman, 52, made his first appearance in Buchanan County circuit court, via video conference from the county jail, on Friday.
Murder charges dismissedSaturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Judge Dan Kellogg upheld the motion to dismiss murder charges against Dallas Cox on Friday in Buchanan County Circuit Court.
Kenneth Akin assaulted his nephew Stephen Akin last October. Stephen Akin died a week later from blunt force trauma to the head, but not before telling St. Joseph police in a written statement that Mr. Cox kicked him in the head during the assault.
Kenneth Akin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November, testifying that Mr. Cox had no part in the assault. But based on Stephen Akin’s statement, the prosecutor’s office filed second-degree murder charges against Mr. Cox and was set for trial on Sept. 29.
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
The Missouri Department of Social Services did recommend removal of the Rathman children from their parents’ house after all — the day following Donald Rathman’s death from head trauma.
DSS’s Children’s Division investigates reports of child abuse, then makes its recommendations. But only the juvenile system or law enforcement officials have the authority to remove children from their homes, barring an emergency removal, according to Arleasha Mays, the DSS’s assistant communications director.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
The aunt of a 7-week-old boy who died last week claims she reported the victim’s parents for abuse last year. Donald Rathman died last Thursday after suffering head trauma. According to court documents, Donald’s father, Ronny Rathman, struck the infant’s head multiple times and knocked it into a table. According to police, Mr. Rathman, 52, brought his son to Heartland Regional Medical Center on Thursday evening. The child died at the hospital, where St. Joseph Police arrested Mr. Rathman. Mr. Rathman faces second-degree murder charges, is in custody in lieu of $100,000 bond and will appear in Buchanan County Circuit Court on Friday.
Man receives four years probation in rape caseSaturday, Oct. 10, 2009
John Everett received four years of probation in Buchanan County circuit court on Friday for raping a woman last February.
Wildberger in line to replace Higginbotham as recorderFriday, Oct. 9, 2009
For Ed Wildberger, the choice between the Buchanan County clerk position and the recorder of deeds came down to a head start.
City in bout with boxers over billThursday, Oct. 8, 2009
Two St. Joseph boxers appeared in Buchanan County Circuit Court Wednesday to work toward settling a debt with the city.
Galen Brown, Byron Polley and Earl Walker rented out Civic Arena on Sept. 27, 2008, for a boxing card on which all three fought, along with local bantamweight Andre Wilson. The city filed a petition for past due payment last month, claiming Mr. Brown, Mr. Polley and Mr. Walker still owed $3,211 for using the Downtown arena.
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
Alberto D. Arias, 34, received a 10-year prison sentence Tuesday in Buchanan County Circuit Court for sodomizing a St. Joseph girl.
Mr. Arias pleaded guilty to statutory sodomy in the first degree in August, and on Tuesday, Judge Dan Kellogg agreed with the assistant prosecutor’s recommended sentence of 10 years, 8½ years of which are mandatory.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009
The Buchanan County Commission granted a one-year extension to Terra Bioenergy to meet its requirements for the $100,000 the county loaned to the biodiesel company last year.
Bargaining yields wage offer in firefighters suitSaturday, Oct. 3, 2009
The city of St. Joseph and its firefighters agree their bargaining finally yielded a wage offer.
Murder suspects appear in courtFriday, Oct. 2, 2009
Michael Limley and Christopher Helton were the main attractions during a madhouse morning on Thursday in Buchanan County Circuit Court.
Heartland, former nurse set trial date over discrimination claimsThursday, Oct. 1, 2009
Heartland Regional Medical Center denies the claims of racial discrimination by former nurse Kimberly Barron and agreed to a trial date on Wednesday in Buchanan County circuit court.
21 years in fatal crashWednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Cody Wolfram received 21 years in prison on Tuesday in Buchanan County Circuit Court for killing two people and injuring two others during an April 5, 2008, car wreck.
The 26-year-old Savannah man had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit when he ran a stop sign in his Mazda 6 at 22nd and Commercial streets. He then crashed into a Ford truck driven by Brandie McCoy.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Some routine housecleaning turned into a headache for the Buchanan County prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor charged Dallas Cox, 28, with second-degree murder in the beating and eventual death of Stephen Akin, 26. Mr. Akin died one week after the assault last October, to which his uncle, Kenneth Akin, pleaded guilty in November. Mr. Cox’s trial was set to start Tuesday in front of Judge Dan Kellogg until a St. Joseph police detective discovered earlier this month that an officer destroyed most of the physical evidence in the case by mistake.
Grant to help those in needSaturday, Sept. 26, 2009
For a few area families, a federal grant Buchanan and Andrew counties receive will be the difference between a place to live and a place to leave.
Man sentenced to 21 years for role in crash that killed 2Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Christopher Tirrell was sentenced to 21 years in prison Thursday for his role in a fatal 2008 car crash.
Dentist was ‘a wonderful giving individual’Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
The note remains, though not the $100 bill.
City, firefighters no closer to agreementThursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Five months after filing a lawsuit against the city, St. Joseph firefighters continue to wait for a wage proposal from their employer.
Organizers hope to land Blue Angels for air showThursday, Sept. 24, 2009
The Apple Blossom weekend should fly by next year.
Sentencing delayed in fatal 2008 crashWednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
A glitch added seven more days to a 17-month wait for the friends and families of Matthew Darr and Adonis White.
People packed Circuit Judge Dan Kellogg’s courtroom for the sentencing of Cody Wolfram on Monday afternoon. The 26-year-old Savannah man pleaded guilty in July to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two more felony counts of assault stemming from an April 2008 car accident that killed Mr. Darr and Mr. White.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009
While Buchanan County’s revenue numbers continue to generate considerable worry around the courthouse, its expenditure figures should soften the blow — at least for now.
Rumors surround 1980 killings
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009
The crickets chirp among themselves, while wind whispers through the trees down this rural Andrew County road.
The gravel gave way to pavement awhile back. A few years ago, someone demolished that one-story, white house to make way for the Oakmont Hills subdivision and its pastoral homes and painted wood fences.
With each passing year, life sweeps away a little more of the scene 22-year-old Rose Burkert left for a romantic getaway in a hotel in Amana, Iowa, 29 years ago. In its place remains only the murmur of rumors.
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
After the flurry of settlements finally subsides, it appears only Triumph Foods and Missouri Gas Energy will head to trial in the aftermath of a 2005 explosion during the construction of the pork plant.
Heartland close to settling lawsuitThursday, Sept. 17, 2009
Heartland Regional Medical Center and a former employee appear close to a settlement in the St. Joseph woman’s lawsuit against the hospital.
County raises property tax levyWednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
The Buchanan County Commission raised the county’s general fund tax levy to .0845 on every $100 in 2009, from .0689 in 2008.
Even with decreases to the road and bridge and handicap tax levies, the general levy will go up slightly more than 1 cent per $100 evaluation for 2009.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
Law enforcement officials practically lined up to arrest Jeremy Hicks on Tuesday morning.
Third suspect arrested in robberyTuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
The third suspect in a Wal-Mart parking lot robbery last week turned up for his arraignment Tuesday morning.
Triumph close to settlement with insurersTuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
Triumph Foods and three insurance companies could complete a settlement between them within the next two weeks, attorneys told Buchanan County Circuit Judge Randall Jackson on Monday morning.
Expo Center plans making progressMonday, Sept. 14, 2009
The plans for an agribusiness expo center sit somewhere between the dugout and third base.
At any rate, that’s progress.
Marty Grey, the chairman of the Buchanan County ag/expo center board, articulated the project’s status in a stream of sports analogies last week.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
Just four days from his scheduled jury trial, Walter Ross, 50, opted to plead guilty Friday in Buchanan County Circuit Court for his role in a 2007 robbery.
Commission seeks new bid processThursday, Sept. 10, 2009
The Buchanan County Commission opted to reopen the bid process for the county employees’ health and dental insurance.
Triumph nearing settlement in lawsuitThursday, Sept. 10, 2009
Judge Randall Jackson made it for the trial setting in Triumph Foods’ lawsuit against three insurance companies.
Mandates add to sex offender registrySunday, Sept. 6, 2009
Ever-shifting legislative and judicial landscapes have required the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department to retread its steps in registering sex offenders.
In 2006, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that laws can’t retroactively apply to people. Sex offenders whose crimes came before the state’s Megan’s Law in 1995 didn’t have to register, the court said.
So Buchanan County removed about 130 names from its sex offender registry.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
John Everett, 19, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a St. Joseph woman on Friday in Buchanan County Circuit Court.
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