He said-she said situation at a local RV park

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A couple claims to be the target of bullying by some neighbors at Shady Acres Manufactured Home and RV Community. However, the neighbors say otherwise.

Katherine and Bruce Farr said everything was going good during their stay at Shady Acres, until Katherine became sick and they began to get behind on rent.

They say that is when things became more hostile, and during one confrontation, Katherine was punched in the face.

However, the accused neighbor, David Waleen, firmly denies hitting Katherine.

“I got gout. I can’t use my right arm I couldn’t straighten out my left arm, I got it in hips and everything I was just in pain,” said Waleen.

While Waleen was arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, there no was complaint filed for the latter.

Katherine says she is still shaken by the incident.

“I’m a nervous wreck. I don’t sleep I don’t go outside the trailer very often. I don’t talk to anybody…I feel like I’m getting watched and stared down everywhere I go even driving down the street,” said Katherine.

Her husband Bruce said he’d like to see a better solution.

“We want it stopped. We want them fired. Whatever needs to happen, this Western Management Company needs to get rid of these people, get them out of the park, and they need to bring in another management company. The owners of this park need to step up,” said Bruce.

However, multiple neighbors do not agree with the Farrs.

Just over a week later, Bruce was arrested for trespassing on neighbor Cindy Cheslak’s property.

“I didn’t know if he was back there trying to steal things. I didn’t know if he was the electric company, I didn’t know what he was doing back there,” continued Cheslak. “He was not apologetic, he screamed and hollered at me, telling me I don’t know anything. I was the previous manager, and that’s why I’m not the manager because I don’t know anything.”

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City eyes sewer rate changes, public hearing set for June

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A potential sewer rate increase in 2025 will be the topic of discussion at an upcoming public hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 9 at City Hall.

City Manager Mike Schumacher made the announcement during Monday’s City Council meeting, adding that a separate announcement will also be posted in Friday’s Weekender newspaper.

“It’s important that we share our costs. We know everything’s going up across the board, whether it’s the grocery store or the plumbing supply store, everything has gone up,” Schumacher said. “So that’s part of the discussion .. making sure the city is as transparent as possible”

Schumacher said the results of the latest Cost of Service Sewer Rate Study will be discussed at length — something he said he’s anxious to see himself — in addition to a review of the next phase of the city’s sewer maintenance plan.

“We have a very old sewer system, so both the maintenance needs and any future growth is something we need to look at and make sure we have funds available,” he said. “I thought it was only fair to speak to it verbally to the public that, ‘Hey, you’re going to see this notice that this is what’s going on.”

Sewer rates were raised by approximately $3.17 a month in 2024 and roughly 4.25% in 2023. Prior to the 2023 increase, the city went six years without a sewer rate adjustment. A previous council voted to use about $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to keep sewer bills stable for several years.

Many customers underwent double-digit percentage rate hikes for nearly 10 years when the city first embarked on more than $152 million in EPA-mandated upgrades to its collection system, wastewater treatment and stormwater systems to prevent sewage overflows. That included increases of 19% in 2009 and 17% in 2014.

Councilmembers approved a grant Monday for $2.1 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — which will be paired with $7.5 million in CIP funding — for a critical blower replacement project at the Water Protection Facility, the latest of needed improvements.

“We’re in full compliance with that EPA consent decree. And we’re really in a pretty good spot,” Schumacher said. “Nobody likes rate adjustments or increases. I don’t, however, if you don’t keep up on the cost of your system, you end up in a corner and that will lead to significant increases in problems.”

An increase in sewer rates would add to a growing list of rising utility costs from regional providers. Gas and water rates are expected to increase this year by anywhere from $14 to $20 a month respectively , with electric bills already seeing a 7% increase last December.

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SJSD Board of Education begins process to fill board vacancy

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education announced it will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, April 29 to fill a recently vacant BOE seat.

The Board requires all individuals who wish to be appointed, to meet the following eligibility requirements.

Be a U.S. citizen

Be a voter of the SJSD

Reside in Missouri for a minimum of one year

Be at least 24 years of age

Not be delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on your place of residence

Not have been found guilty of nor pled guilty to a felony under the federal laws of the United States or to a felony under Missouri law or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in Missouri.

Have filed, or the treasurer of any existing candidate committee has filed, all required campaign disclosure reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission for all previous elections in which you were a candidate.

Anyone interested must submit an application, letter of intent (reason for wanting to serve on the Board), accompanied by three reference letters.

Applications are available online or picked up at the district’s Central Office at 1415 N 26th Street. Those interested are asked to enter Door #5.

Applications and supplemental documents should be mailed or delivered to: Donna Baker, Board Secretary at 1415 N. 26th Street St. Joseph, MO 64506.

The last day to mail or turn in applications is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. No faxes or emails will be accepted.

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STEM Extravaganza Encourages Dorothy Hall Students to Dream Big

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Students at Dorothy Hall Elementary got a taste of real-world science during a special STEM day filled with rollercoasters, marshmallow houses, and egg case experiments.

The hands-on activities encouraged students to think creatively and explore new ideas across different subjects.

“It’s fun when we get to do science experiments in every class,” said student Sophia Medina.

Science teacher Jonathan Bailey hopes the experience inspires future careers.

“These might be small activities now, but they’re real-world jobs,” he said.

Other teachers added the day was meant to inspire the students to take risks.

For many students, the future looks bright and filled with possibilities.

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Military sports organization based in Colorado Springs featured in Amazon Prime special

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – An Amazon Prime short film will feature how the Military Basketball Association (MBA) helps military personnel with mental health in the 719 and around the world.

Retired Army Major and former Fort Carson soldier Mike Meyers founded the MBA in Colorado Springs eight years ago. The players on the Peterson Space Force Hydras are are a few of the league’s over 1000 players across all 50 states and bases overseas.

The league’s mission is to help active and retired military members face mental health struggles. Veterans are over twice as likely to commit suicide compared to the general population.

The men’s and women’s nationally televised championship games in the MBA are May 25. You can find more information here.

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“American Revolution Experience” opens at the Idaho Falls Public Library

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Old Fort Hall chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is excited to share a new innovative exhibit taking a look into the birth of the United States.

The traveling exhibit will be open from April 28th, 2025, at 10 AM through May 10th, 2025, at 9:00 PM.

“The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation,” according to the Idaho Falls Public Library website.

The Daughters of the American Revolution “… was founded in 1890 to promote Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism across the United States,” according to the group’s website.

The exhibit is located on the second floor of the library and will be available to the public during the library’s normal operating hours.

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Palm Desert resident wins 2025 St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway

Allie Anthony

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Desert resident is the winner of the 2025 St. Jude Dream Home!

This year’s home, built again by GHA Companies, is located in the La Quinta Cove and is valued at approximately $725,000.

The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is about 2,000 square feet and includes a two-car garage. It features a spacious single-story floor plan with an open-concept great room and an upgraded kitchen with an island and walk-in pantry.

Home and Prize winners:

Dream Home winner – Eloise McCuskey, Palm Desert

Tickets on Sale winner – Maridel Agbayani, Cathedral City

Early Bird Prize winner – Martha Hernandez, La Quinta

Bonus Prize winner – George Bohrnstedt, Indian Wells

Last Chance winner – Victoria Brenner, Palm Desert

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UPDATE: Work continues in second year of two infrastructure projects on Galley Road in Colorado Springs

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Neighbors and drivers eagerly await the day when two major construction projects on the east side of town will be completed, and they’ll no longer have to detour around a road closure or squeeze into two lanes instead of four.

The projects currently are affecting Galley Road between Murray and Powers boulevards.

Replacing a 60-year-old bridge over the West Fork of Sand Creek has been the most challenging of the two projects.

Work was to begin in January 2024 but was delayed until April 2024; the project was scheduled for completion by the end of the year but encountered another delay when crews had difficulty removing telecommunications cables from under the bridge.

Gayle Sturdivant, the city’s deputy director of public works, said Monday that the project will be finished by the end of summer.

“We just started demolition last week,” she explained. “The demolition is going to last about five or six weeks. They just have to slowly take it apart, disconnect utilities that are in that area, remove the pieces that are out there and then widen that opening and get that channel work through there.”

Sturdivant says that the city is sensitive to concerns raised by residents because the delays have made it appear at times that little or no work was being done.

The project has closed a block of Galley in both directions between Moffat Circle and San Miguel Street; access to homes and businesses along Galley in that area have remained open.

Other facets of the $3 million project include widening the bridge and improving the creek channel to reduce the risk of flooding, which has been an issue in the past; wider sidewalks; improvements to the Homestead Trail nearby; and a pedestrian-activated signal where the trail intersects with Galley.

Lisa Scanlon, a neighbor, said that she understand the frustration people have about the project but asks for patience and understanding.

“(Crews) are doing the best they can,” she exclaimed. “That bridge would — when it rained or even snowed — would flood so bad. This will be done. Just have patience, because it’s good for us.”

Meanwhile, a $ 4 million Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) project to replace an aging water main seems to be making better progress.

Work started last summer at the Galley/Moffat intersection — which was right next to the bridge project and increased construction activity there.

Since then, however, the project has advanced east to the Galley/Space Center Drive intersection.

“In that roadway, it’s going to be for a much shorter section,” said Alex Trefry, a CSU spokesman. “We expect for that to be over by the end of May. And from there, there’s going to be a pause between there and the fourth phase of the project — which is the final phase where we’re going to line the water main underneath Powers Boulevard. We don’t have a start date for that yet.”

 Paul Roberts lives along Galley at the completed section of the project.

“It’s very difficult to get two blocks over here without at least going a mile out of your way,” he said. “Certainly hoping for this thing to come online.”

On Monday, some residents expressed concern about more construction starting on several blocks of Wooten Road, north of Galley, when crews and heavy equipment began working.

However, CSU said that is a separate project not connected to the water main installation.

“I think they are repairing a water main leak from before,” a neighbor told KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior.

Adding to the construction congestion last summer was the repaving of a longer stretch of Wooten; Galley will need repaving after the two current projects end.

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Missouri Senate to begin debate of revised state education budget Tuesday

Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Senate and the House of Representatives are set to return to session at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. The Senate is preparing to debate the state education budget.

The Missouri House of Representatives passed a $47.9 billion state budget on April 3. However, the Senate Appropriation Committee plans include $300 million more for public schools than Governor Kehoe recommended in his budget proposal.

The House passed 13 budget bills that included $8 billion for K-12 education, including $4 billion in core funding for schools. The budget also includes $512 million for the University of Missouri for operations.

Additional budget priorities for education also included funding for school transportation, teacher baseline salaries and grants for smaller schools.

The Senate Appropriation Committee staff was given a week to come up with revised bills that will be debated Tuesday by the full Senate.

One approved by the Senate, budget negotiators from both the House and Senate will then compare and compromise on a single budget.

All spending bills have to be approved by May 9.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you approve of President Trump’s handling of his first 100 days?

Matthew Sanders

Tuesday marks President Donald Trump’s 100th day in office.

The first 100 days in office are noted as a key period in a presidential term, a time when the chief executive implements his or her agenda. Trump’s first 100 days have seen massive changes to government on many levels, right down to the norms of the office and traditional defense alliances.

ABC News will air an interview with Trump at 7 p.m. to talk about those shifts over the first 100 days.

Do you approve or disapprove of how Trump has handled the job so far? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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