Month: April 2025

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City leaders received promising news on the strength of its financial position and reporting practices based on results from a recently released audit.

St. Joseph received a “clean” audit for fiscal year 2024, meaning the city’s financial statements were fairly presented and reporting practices showed no material deficiencies or misstatements. Most importantly, the city was in compliance with all finance-related laws and regulations.

“The audit was incredibly strong. There were no notes of significant deficiency,” City Manager Mike Schumacher said. “You don’t want any big flashing red lights or problems in it. And that’s what we got.”

Auditors with Hood & Associates CPAs specifically reviewed the city’s basic financial statements, police and pension fund and compliance over expenditures of federal awards/grants during the six-month long audit process.

The city’s balance sheet shows it’s in a strong position to meet its short-term financial responsibilities within the next 12 months. Assets totaled $141.5 million against $27.5 million in liabilities, leaving the city’s fund balance at $113 million.

“Government expenses this year were about $97 million, total business expenses were just over $45 million. The total revenue for the city combined was approximately $170 million,” said Mark Stair, senior audit manager with Hood & Associates CPAs, during the work session. “That leads to a change in net position of $68 million. So that’s an increase, which is the direction you want to be going.”

Assistant City Manager Dawn Lanning said the city has significantly improved its long term budgeting in recent years to develop a stronger financial picture moving forward, while at the same time boosting coordination between departments to improve policies and procedures for accurate budgeting.

All in all, the city reported total assets of $739 million against liabilities of $369 million, creating a strong net position around $390 million when factoring in deferred expenses. 

“That not only tells our team but our community that we’re being a good steward of the money. That ensures that we have that financial stability that we need,” Lanning said. “Something we’re really focusing on is looking at our capital assets and long term planning for maintenance and replacement for those things.”

The audit did offer some recommendations for the city, including boosting the number of employees that are cross-trained to ensure certain operations and tasks can be covered when needed, a process the city has already made strides in.

“That’s our goal is to make sure that that growth is also communicated out through all the departments and throughout the entire city, because it takes all of us, one team, to be able to accomplish that mission.

Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A community blood drive is set to take place at the Downtown Library next week.

On Friday, April 11, the Community Blood Center and Downtown Library will team up to collect much-needed donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org/group and enter group code: EI3N.

Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A new discount clothing store had its grand opening in St. Joseph on Tuesday morning.

Savvy Styles, located at 6962 King Hill Ave., sells new and used clothing for people of all ages for cheaper than the retail price.

Cheyenne Tuttle, the owner of the store, said she loves clothes and wanted to make them more affordable for St. Joseph residents.

“I would love to wear name-brand clothes, but I can’t afford them,” Tuttle said. “But here, I have name-brand clothes that are at least 50% to 75% off of whatever the price is. So it makes it a little bit more reasonable for people to be able to kind of dress nicely and affordably at the same time.”

Savvy Styles sells various clothing for men and women, from casual wear to prom dresses and everything in between. Sizes of clothing at the store range from 00 to plus-size.

Tuttle encourages the community to visit Savvy Styles and support small businesses in St. Joseph.

“Just being able to support your community rather than the big-box stores,” Tuttle said. “And I’m sure you’ll get a better discount here than you would at a box store.”

Savvy Styles will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local concert series is returning to St. Joseph starting on June 1.

Imagine Eleven is a free summer concert series hosted at Coleman Hawkins Park, Seventh and Felix St., every Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.

This year’s lineup includes:

Swift Kik – June 1

Phil Vandel Band – June 8

Instamatics – June 15

Maria the Mexican – June 22

Thunder Road: Tribute to Bruce Springsteen – June 29

Revelation Band: A Tribute to Journey – July 6

Vinyl Revival – July 13

Multiphonics – July 20

Trilemma – July 27

Lindley Creek – August 3

Soca Juke Box – August 10

Imagine Eleven is hosted by the Crossing Outreach Ministry of St. Joseph and proceeds will benefit The Nutrition Center.

More information about the concert series can be found at imagineeleven.com.

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Proposition 2, which would construct a new public high school in the city, drew polarizing opinions among locals on election day.

St. Joseph native and southside resident Gary Guyer was not in favor of Prop 2.

“We got three good high schools in St. Joseph, why do we need a brand new one?” Guyer said. “Just update the old ones we got, that’s the way I see it.”

Another voter and retired teacher of 33 years, Carol Pittman, said she hopes to see a new school.

“I think our students, our children deserve the best schools we can give them,” Pittman said. “My mother went to Central High School, which lets you know it’s been there a long time. Times change and we have to change with them.”

She believes it will be easier for students to study a variety of subjects with two high schools.

Las Vegas native Evan Banks had a similar opinion.

“I think it’s important that all students have access to the same opportunities,” Banks said. “Oftentimes, certain geographical realities prohibit students from having the same opportunities as others.”

Banks moved to St. Joseph in 2016, and coming from an area that was constantly building new schools, pride for an alma mater was viewed differently compared to locally.

“There isn’t a whole lot of attachment to mascots or school pride based on geography. (It) always seemed silly to me,” Banks said. “All that’s important to me is that kids are learning and learning in a safe environment.”

Torri Spencer doesn’t think a new school is necessary.

“They need to take care of the schools they’ve got,” she said.

“It’s not going to pass the first time, it’s probably not going to pass the second time, but they’ll just keep sticking it on the ballot until the people who don’t want it get tired of coming out and vote no,” Spencer said.

Each voter said he or she would find peace no matter the outcome of the election.

“Am I going to be at peace? I’ll probably be frustrated and irritated and a little disappointed,” Banks said. “But will I be spurred to do damage or harm another? No, that is definitely not the way.”

Chris Fortune

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Jennifer Kerns and Kim Miller secured seats on the St. Joseph School District Board of Education, according to unofficial election results.

Kerns is elected after coming just 28 votes shy in 2023, and incumbent Miller keeps her seat on the board. Voter turnout exceeded 24%, which came in higher than the 2024 school board race, which saw over 22% turnout.

“It feels great,” Kerns said. “I feel like everybody’s seen what I’ve done in the community and what I’ve done for the school as a whole. They supported me, and I love it.”

Both Kerns and Miller outlasted four other candidates, such as Ken Reeder, who hoped to return to the board, and Brian Kirk, Cassandra Veale, and James Mrkvicka, who sought election for the first time.

“I think all the candidates were great,” Kerns said. “I think all the candidates came out for the right reason. You know, I’m just glad that my supporters came out and voted for me.”

As a newly elected member of the school board, Kerns said she wants to give a voice to the community.

“I hope to bring that voice to the parents, I hope to bring that voice to advocate for the students,” she said. “And I hope to help the teachers and the staff and the community just to be that strong voice at the table. I’ve always been just more in the background, but now at the table.”

Unofficial election results from the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office show Jennifer Kerns receiving 23.12% of votes and Kim Miller receiving 20.99%.

News-Press NOW reached out to Kim Miller after she secured the second school board seat, but she was not available Thursday night.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Nearly a quarter of registered voters in St. Joseph cast a ballot Tuesday to decide the fate of a wide-ranging school bond issue and two Board of Education seats.

With all 22 precincts now reporting, preliminary data shows that 24.2% of registered voters turned out for Tuesday’s high-profile election. A total of 11,947 ballots were cast out of 49,306 registered voters.

The Central Christian Church polling location recorded the most ballots with 1,952, followed by St. Peter Lutheran Church with 948.

Voters on Tuesday defeated a 60-cent tax levy increase to finance the construction of a new $157 million high school south of Highway 36. Jennifer Kerns and incumbent Kim Miller were also elected to the St. Joseph School District Board of Education.

Turnout for April elections typically hovers between 15% and 20%, depending on the ballot measures.

Roughly 26.7% of registered voters turned out during the last St. Joseph School District bond measure in April 2021, a measure that was also defeated. A total of 12,000 residents voted on that measure.

“I have said this for years. April elections are just as important, if not more than a presidential,” Baack-Garvey said. “This affects you right here at home.”

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District’s Prop 2 bond measure was defeated by about 800 votes.

Over 53% of voters dis-approved of the measure to build a new high school south of U.S. Highway 36.

The measure would have had to win with a 57% simple majority.

“It was extremely hard in order to take this loss, ok but a good thing about a long range plan, it’s a Plan A and a Plan B,” said LaTonya Williams, SJSD School Board president. “And Plan A was a new high school, and it was a wash, and we’re moving to Plan B right now.”

When it comes to moving to “Plan B”, School Board vice president, Mike Moore said the board will continue the road to reach it’s goal of right-sizing.

“The reason we even had this proposition was to execute a long range plan that has some really serious things in it…” said Moore. “We’re able to address, specifically, inequities, among the offering of both activities and academics at the three high schools….”

Given the results of the voters, the School Board will now move on to discuss an $80 million no-tax levy to appear on April 2026 ballot to upgrade two existing high schools. Those high schools are Lafayette and Central.

“It is in the long-range plan in order to use a portion of the bond capacity,” said Williams. “We’re able to use up to $80 million if the Board chooses, in order to do so.”

As discussed in the St. Joseph School District’s long-range plan, Benton would be converted into a middle school.

Chris Fortune

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A hotel in the Shoppes at North Village held its grand opening Wednesday as business development continues in the area. 

Rooms have been available to book at My Place Hotel since January, but leaders from the hotel brand attended the grand opening ceremony at 3621 N. Village Dr. where food, tours and prizes were available for attendees. 

“We’ve been around for about ten years, growing very rapidly,†My Place Hotels CEO Ryan Rivett said. “And so we are introducing ourselves to new markets like St. Joseph, and I’m really happy to be here.†

Each guest room has a full kitchen, refrigerator, two-burner cooktop, and other small kitchen appliances. 

The hotel has 64 rooms, and Rivett said the smaller room count allows them to focus on relationships with its guests. 

“As you walk through the front doors, you’re going to find the same,†he said. “You’re going to find a clean, comfy, friendly location. Every room is equipped for a 30-day stay or more, or just one night.†

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Director of Marketing and Communications Kristi Bailey said the additional hotel space helps solve an issue in St. Joseph. St. Joseph hotel occupancy rates typically run high and result in higher rates for rooms. 

“The more hotel rooms we add, the lower the prices can become for hotel rooms, which in turn makes St. Joseph an easier place to visit,†Bailey said. “So if your trip is less expensive, you’re more likely to choose St. Joseph as a destination.†

The My Place Hotel is one of the many new projects arriving in the north end of St. Joseph. Just north of the hotel, a new family-owned veterinary clinic is in the early stages of its construction at 5423 N. Pointe Dr. 

Across the road from the veterinary clinic, construction workers are building a hotel at 3615 N. Village Dr.

Business development also continues in Tuscany Village near the North Shoppes. Golf simulator Swing365 recently held its grand opening at 4797 Sienna Drive, and next door, skin care business Oasis Face Bar has a banner announcing that the business is coming soon. 

“We have new businesses opening in St. Joseph, we have more employers,†Bailey said. “In general, it’s just a great time in St. Joseph for business.†

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After a night filled with some wins and some losses, some may be wondering, “What comes next” for St. Joseph’s high schools.

The St. Joseph School District’s Proposition 2 bond measure to build a new high school South of U.S. Highway 36 was voted down by St. Joseph residents on Tuesday. More than 53% of voters opposed the measure.

As stated in the district’s long-range plan, the next step could be to ask voters to approve an $80 million no-tax bond in April 2026. That would upgrade two of the district’s existing high schools, as plans remain to close one location.

“The reason we even had this proposition was to execute a long-range plan. We’re able to address specifically inequities among the offering of both activities and academics at the three high schools, a feeder system throughout the district that really doesn’t make sense, a mixed middle school model,” said Mike Moore, school board vice president.

Despite voters saying no to building a new facility on Tuesday, district officials have said they still will move to a two-high school model, with Central and Lafayette remaining open and potentially receiving upgrades. Benton will become a middle school, they said.

School Board President LaTonya Williams said it will be up to how the board votes to determine if voters will see the measure on April 2026 ballots.

“It is in the long-range plan in order to use a portion of the bond capacity,” Williams said. “We’re able to use up to $80 million if the board chooses in order to do so.”

Moore said that although the loss of the Prop 2 measure was unfortunate, the district will move forward with plans to strengthen schools in the current facilities.

“Those opportunities are still there, and fortunately, we can execute those, make the district stronger,” Moore said. “We’ll just have to do it in the buildings we already have.”

In a previous interview with News-Press NOW, the St. Joseph School Board said the long-range plan would not change, regardless of who was elected for the two open board seats.