Atchison County Archives

UPDATE: Blizzard warning remains in effect for far northwest Missouri through 6 pm; southbound I-29 reopens (AUDIO)

January 15, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

A blizzard warning remains in effect for far northwest Missouri until 6 p.m. on Friday. The warning includes heavily-traveled I-29 and covers four rural counties: Atchison, Nodaway, Andrew and Holt.

The National Weather Service’s blizzard warning in far northwest Missouri remains in effect until 6 p.m. (January 15, 2021 graphic courtesy of NWS Pleasant Hill Twitter)

National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Brad Temeyer says blowing snow and 45 mile-per-hour winds have made travel very difficult today.

“We’re still continuing to see very low visibilities up there with the strong northwest winds that are continuing. Fortunately, the snow is starting to taper off up there,” Temeyer says.

The blizzard caused a crash Friday morning in northwest Missouri’s Atchison County, causing southbound I-29 to close for a few hours. It has since reopened.

Crews from the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) have been working around the clock in northwest Missouri, trying to clear roads.

“But with those strong northwest winds gusting currently to 40 to 45 miles an hour, we’re still seeing visibilities well below a mile in that far northwestern corner of Missouri,” says Temeyer.

Truckers and other motorists are being urged to avoid travel in those four counties, until the warning expires. Towns in the blizzard warning area include Tarkio, Fairfax, Maryville and Mound City.

Mr. Temeyer emphasizes to Missourinet that blizzard warnings are rare in Missouri.

“We only issue these for the worst of conditions when we expect visibilities to be well below a half-a-mile,” Temeyer says.

Our Missourinet Cameron affiliate KMRN reports more than 20 schools in the region canceled classes today, because of the blizzard.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Brad Temeyer, which was recorded on January 15, 2021:

Far northwest and northern Missouri under winter storm warning until 6 am Wednesday (AUDIO)

December 29, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 o’clock on Wednesday morning in northwest and far northern Missouri. Impacted towns include St. Joseph, Bethany, Maryville and Trenton, as well as numerous farming communities in that region.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pleasant Hill has issued a winter storm warning and a separate winter weather advisory for large parts of northern Missouri (December 29, 2020 graphic courtesy of NWS Pleasant Hill Twitter page)

National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Spencer Mell says there’s four inches of snow on the ground in Atchison County, which is on the border with Iowa and Nebraska.

“We’re seeing a lot of this transition from a snow scenario over to sleet and even some freezing rain. We did see anywhere from one to four inches (of snow) across those areas this morning,” Mell says.

The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says most roadways in northern Missouri are covered with snow or some ice. They’re urging north Missourians to stay at home if possible, and to use extreme caution if driving.

Our Bethany affiliate KAAN reports about an inch of snow on the ground, along with sleet this afternoon.

Meantime, a large section of western, northern and northeast Missouri remains under a winter weather advisory until 6 o’clock Tuesday evening. Impacted cities include Kansas City, Marshall and Chillicothe.

Meteorologist Mell says those communities are also seeing some ice.

“Right now we’re hovering right around freezing, so we’re still seeing a little bit of light freezing rain. Expect that to continue here through the afternoon, I think most of those areas have seen the worst of it,” says Mell.

MoDOT Kansas City crews are urging residents in the Kansas City metro and in western Missouri to stay alert, to brake carefully and to stay home, if possible. Mell notes there’s been freezing rain today near Lee’s Summit, as well as Raymore and Pleasant Hill.

“It’s really just a sheet of ice out there so fortunately, MoDOT has got out there and treated some of these roads, but some of this freezing rain came pretty quick,” Mell says.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is also urging you to slow down, in winter weather. Troopers say that during inclement weather, driving the speed limit is often too fast and not “exercising the highest degree of care.”

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Spencer Mell, which was recorded on December 29, 2020:

Former Tarkio College in northwest Missouri to re-open as Tarkio Technology Institute

December 20, 2019 By Missourinet Contributor

(This story is written by reporter Ryan Matheny at Missourinet Shenandoah affiliate KMA Radio)

Tarkio Technology Institute will resume classes on January 6, 2020 (October 2019 file photo courtesy of Missourinet Shenandoah affiliate KMA and Tarkio Tech)

For the first time in nearly three decades, classes will be resuming at the former Tarkio College in northwest Missouri’s Atchison County.

The new school is called Tarkio Technology Institute and will begin offering courses in career and technical fields starting on January 6.

Interim President John Davis tells our Shenandoah affiliate KMA that the school received accreditation this fall.

“We kind of altered our application and we applied to the state to offer certificate and diploma programs in these career and technical areas,” Davis says.

Tarkio College closed in 1992 after more than 100 years as a four-year liberal arts school. Alumni have been working to revitalize the campus with a new format.

The school received accreditation this fall. Davis says Tarkio Tech will provide professionals with the technical skillset to be competitive in three fields.

“Plumbing, wind energy and welding,” says Davis. “We are anxiously promoting and offering admission to students that are more non-traditional students, because most high school students are not done until May.”

Davis says certificates will be available for all three programs and that diplomas can be obtained in welding technology.

He also says Tarkio Tech is working with area high schools to offer dual-enrollment courses for current high school students.

Click here to read KMA’s full story, and to hear their interview with Tarkio Tech Interim President John Davis.