Julie Williams
Patients endure collection tactics
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Folding your life into neat little squares
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Flooding puts nature center further behind schedule
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Crop-dusting crashes rare, officials say
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
On their own
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Ride gives public a taste of transit
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Stonecrest flagpole proposal: Will it fly?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Lack of curbside pickup hinders recycling
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Noyes Home unveils renovations to big crowd
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Cleaning up the aftermath
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Safety Town losing its luster?
Friday, June 6, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Patients endure collection tactics
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008
When lack of insurance or low income prevents payment of medical bills, patients can find themselves tied up in a lawsuit.
In St. Joseph, those on the receiving end of that litigation complain of the treatment they’ve received from a collection agency for Heartland Health. The issue has led to a federal lawsuit claiming that Heartland is in violation of Fair Debt Collections Act.
Three former patients, though not involved in the pending federal lawsuit, know what it’s like to fight illness one day and fight a collection agency the next. They described the experience as stressful and frustrating.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Halfway across the world from a life of widespread fighting and violence, two Sudanese women approach the 10-year anniversary of their hard-fought move.
Originally from Sudan, Shadia, 21, and Gulya (pronounced Julia), 22, fled their home in Egypt as teenagers to escape racism and mistreatment. The sisters remain in the United States under refugee status with their eye on permanent citizenship.
Sitting in their living room as their own children and younger siblings run and play in all directions, Shadia and Gulya speak passionately about the things they’ve seen along the way, both in Egypt and as young women thrown into a foreign school
system and job market.
Folding your life into neat little squares
Monday, July 14, 2008
Abby Schulenberg’s closet is full of question marks, and she places the blame on her line of work.
Ms. Schulenberg, who works at Dress Barn at the Shoppes at North Village, is referring to the position of her clothes hangers, which all face exactly the same way. It’s a habit she picked up from her three-year tenure at the clothing store, along with folding her clothes as neatly as if they were going home with a customer.
“I think it’s a habit from working here all the time, and I end up doing it the same way at home,” she said with a laugh, holding up a special folding board with illustrated directions for the proper technique.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Ryan Burks’ takeaway is high, his bowling ball curves left down the lane and oftentimes, he leaves no pins in his wake.
Nighttime transit starting in OctoberMonday, July 7, 2008
Kurt Janicek is plotting his map, marking new bus routes and gathering all the information he can for the October debut of nighttime transportation. With the help of a Federal Transit Administration Grant, St. Joseph Public Transit will soon be able to provide a service called Job Access and Reverse Commute. The service will kick into action three overnight transit buses in specific areas of St. Joseph.
“This is designed to target large populations that live in low-income areas of the city and to get them access to second- and third-shift jobs,” said Mr. Janicek, resident transit manager.
Flooding puts nature center further behind schedule
Friday, July 4, 2008
Piles of dirt and mud, pools of leftover floodwater and a steady stream of workers and volunteers surround the St. Joseph Nature Center as it nears completion.
Unfortunately, it could not open in time for today’s Fourth of July celebrations.
Bill McKinney, city parks and recreation director, said the recent flooding at the riverfront location pushed back many of the outdoor projects, causing the nature center to remain closed to the public for an additional month. Even without the rain, the nature center would not have been open for the holiday weekend.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Carol Hansen is changing lives with her system of circles, numbering two to 20,000.
Pony Express Re-run gets high-tech upgradeSunday, June 29, 2008
When the Pony Express delivered mail in 1860, they probably didn’t follow a police motorcade or carry GPS in their saddlebags.
Chillicothe readies for high waterFriday, June 27, 2008
As floodwater laps at the edges of highways and backyards and drowns outer roads and farmland, residents are doing what they can to battle back the rising tide. Flooding along the Grand River, along with other rivers and streams, forced the closing of U.S. Highway 36 five miles east of Chillicothe on Thursday. Some residential areas in the southwest part of Chillicothe also experienced flooding. Water over the road near Thompson River in the western part of Chillicothe prompted resident Ron Hughes to get his boat.
Mr. Hughes must use the boat to get through a quarter of a mile stretch of Third Street, where water prevents his truck from crossing. It’s an inconvenience, but one Mr. Hughes prefers over evacuation.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — A 23-year-old man received a six-year prison sentence Wednesday stemming from a 2007 motor vehicle collision that killed a 3-year-old girl.
Crop-dusting crashes rare, officials say
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Despite a crop-duster’s failed takeoff Monday in Bethany, Mo., area pilots say plane crashes are rare in their business. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department reported a plane crash at Bethany Memorial Airport at 7:59 p.m. Monday. The plane, identified as a crop-duster that was carrying 450 gallons of nitrogen, struck a residence near the airport as it attempted to take off and then landed upside down, said Sgt. Sheldon Lyon of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “He was en route to spray a field and then he was going to return to the airport,” he said.
On their own
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Just when many college graduates think they have everything in place for life in the real world, one more staggering hurdle appears: finding a place to live. Without a steady income, a good credit score or experience in the realm of buying and renting, a young employee may struggle in the housing market.
The Ride gives public a taste of transit
Friday, June 20, 2008
From the middle seat of The Ride’s Route 13 bus, Joanne Nelson gazed out the window across the aisle, chatting now and then with the familiar-yet-nameless faces of fellow bus riders.
With historic gas prices, more people ‘Dump the Pump’Thursday, June 19, 2008
Public transit users have the entire city at their feet today — for free. In honor of Dump the Pump day, a national event designed to promote awareness of public transit systems, The Ride, St. Joseph’s public transit system, is offering transit service without the fares. “We’re trying to promote the new ridership by getting people on the bus free for that one day and just getting them to try transit,” said Kurt Janicek, resident transit manager. “I think it’s a viable alternative to the $4-a-gallon gas.”
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Ramadhan Washington hung out the open window of a bright blue Chevrolet truck, waving and talking as he rode down Noyes Boulevard with a trail of dancers, drummers, horses and elected officials following him like baby ducks.
Stonecrest flagpole proposal: Will it fly?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
A newly proposed restriction in a local subdivision is raising eyebrows among some homeowners and veterans. The Stonecrest Homes Association recently held a series of meetings to update restrictions in their community. Included in the additions, which are in the voting stage, is a proposal that “no flagpoles shall be erected except those attached to the house.” The proposal also includes instructions modeled after the U.S. Flag Code on how to properly fly the flag.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Paul Stickler never realized how far dancing to M.C. Hammer in his kitchen could take him.
Lack of curbside pickup hinders recycling
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Seven months ago, Edward Vasques led a green lifestyle. In his previous home in Suwanee, Ga., located about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, the St. Joseph resident said curbside recycling pickup was part of the city’s trash service. “Just about every house would have a trash can and a recycling bin out in front of it,” he said. “... As far as my home life, when I was in Atlanta, I always did.”
Noyes Home unveils renovations to big crowd
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
These days, the Noyes Home for Children is looking much brighter. After a series of renovations made possible by fundraisers and private donors, the towering brick home boasts sleek wood floors, stained-glass windows in a sun-filled parlor and a basement with a game room, art center and updated pipes and flooring. Visitors flooded the home Tuesday evening during an open house to see what changes had been made.
A little lemonade for fight against cancerSunday, June 8, 2008
Regional cancer research is about to get a big boost.
Rain could add to flood worrySunday, June 8, 2008
Rain remains in the forecast this weekend for Northwest Missouri, as area rivers are already filled to the brim.
Cleaning up the aftermath
Saturday, June 7, 2008
A band of strong wind and rain cut through Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas Thursday night, leaving spotted areas of fallen tree limbs, road closings and minor building damage. The National Weather Service received reports that five tornadoes touched down in Northwest Missouri near Watson, which is east of Rock Port, and near Corning, Craig and Tarkio. A storm management team was dispatched to assess the area Friday.
Safety Town losing its luster?
Friday, June 6, 2008
A local safety program is experiencing an uncharacteristic bout of insecurity. Safety Town is a partnership between the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council and the St. Joseph School District. The program is in its 30th year, but instructor Kayte Langner said the number of Safety Town participants has dropped this summer and that the final two sessions in June may be canceled unless more parents sign up their children. The current session has 50 students.
Camp Quality begins SundayWednesday, June 4, 2008
When Julie talks about her son Tyler’s experience at Camp Quality, she remembers everything from friendships to ceramic projects to the smile on her son’s face when he comes home at the end of the week.
Volunteers rockin’ to raise money for clinicSunday, June 1, 2008
After a two-mile walk Saturday morning, Angie Lends sat down in her rocking chair.
$10 movie tickets inspire many to stay inSaturday, May 31, 2008
Janice Neumann is outsmarting the box office. With the high price of entertainment — which climbed even higher in Kansas City last week as movie tickets hit $10 at AMC theaters and popcorn went up 25 cents — Ms. Neumann cuts costs by renting videos for her family to watch at home instead of going to the theater. “Probably for the last five years, I have hardly gone because (the price is) just so high,” Ms. Neumann said outside a St. Joseph DVD rental store.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Bicycle horns, chants and celebratory whoops filled the air Friday night as nearly 50 students crossed the stage at the St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy graduation.
Northwest going more green with innovation tenantThursday, May 29, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Maryville is about to up its green factor in more ways than one.
Program empowers language learnersTuesday, May 27, 2008
Margaret D’Huyvetter has formed an unlikely friendship around language with a Mexican native. Throughout the week, Ms. D’Huyvetter helps the woman improve her English listening and speaking skills through a branch of St. Joseph’s Pass the Power adult literacy program called Conversation Partners. After a year and a half, the woman continues to move rapidly through her lesson books. To practice her vocabulary, she often will try to read every word she sees as she walks down the street, and she regularly studies with books and movies from the library in addition to her time with Ms. D’Huyvetter. “For me, it’s the best thing that in my life happened,” said the woman, who didn’t want her name published. “... I am glad with my teachers — it’s wonderful to learn with them.”
As fundraisers, they're just duckySunday, May 25, 2008
All that was needed to set 5,000 rubber ducks in motion was Katie Hrenchir’s call of, “Start the jets, boys!”
Longtime teacher has touched many livesFriday, May 23, 2008
WATHENA, Kan. — If it’s possible to rule with a relaxed fist, then Roselle Slaughter has mastered the technique.
Ms. Slaughter, who reached her 60th anniversary of teaching this year, commands the attention of a room of first-graders. With a gentle voice that spurs the students to action, her voice says sit in their seat or read from a book.
She starts each day by giving the students an opportunity to tell her what they have on their minds before quizzing them on numbers, days of the week and spelling.
