Month: December 2025

Leah Rainwater

ANDREW COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — A Facebook post asking about a shooting on the Andrew County Crime Page was dubbed a “rumor” by the Savannah Police Department.

The original post asked if “anyone had information about a shooting at Messick Park.”

A recent post on the Savannah, Missouri Police Department’s page states, “There was not a shooting at Messick Park today or in the recent past. The park is still open to public use. We are not sure where this rumor stems from, hoever we assure you that it is just a rumor.”

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Local boys and girls high school basketball squads are ready to take on diverse competition this Friday and Saturday with the return of the Winter High School Basketball Showcase hosted by the St. Joseph Sports Commission. 

The showcase will feature 16 games over two days, with 12 ranked teams battling it out at the Civic Arena in Downtown St. Joseph. Making the trip will also be two No. 1-ranked girls basketball teams from Nebraska, along with teams from other parts of Missouri. 

As of now, one of those teams is Lincoln (Neb.) Christian’s girls’ hoops will take on Benton at 4:00 p.m. On Friday, Bennington (Neb.) girls’ basketball takes on Central at 5:30 p.m.

The ability to host diverse competition is what brings teams back to the St. Joseph area, according to St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely.

“Teams, like, playing in an arena-like atmosphere. We only have so many days and time slots in which to do so. And so we saw the need to create another event,” Esely shared. “You can obviously play more games; there’s more flexibility to schedule. And also, it just tends to be that time of year when other events are going on.”

Along with unfamiliar foes, fans will also have the chance to see in-town rivalry classics, such as Central boys hoops taking on Lafayette at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2.

Esely is also excited to complete this year’s showcase despite the weather changes. During its inaugural run at the beginning of 2025, the area was hit by a massive snowstorm that caused the showcase to run short.

“We played a full schedule on Friday, but we only got four games played on Saturday and lost a couple of really good matchups in the evening,” Esely said. “So, knock on wood, anything can happen this time of year, but the weather looks good this weekend.”

For tickets and updated scheduling information, fans can visit stjomosports.com or the St. Joseph, MO Sports Commission on Facebook.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– Blood supplies often become critically low during the winter months due to the holidays, increased illnesses and severe weather cancelling drives.

According to the Community Blood Center, Blood donations nationwide typically drop by more than one-third during the winter months.

Chelsey Smith, senior director of public relations at the Community Blood Center, said seasonal illnesses are a major factor contributing to the blood supply shortage, particularly this year.

“It’s been all over the news all over the country. That flu cases are spiking very heavily and honestly pretty early for flu season this year. What that means is that a good portion of the donors typically rely on to regularly and routinely donate throughout the year,” she said. “When they get sick, they can’t donate blood. So until people start feeling better, until people recover from whatever seasonal illness they have, we’re not going to see them inside our doors.”

Smith said holiday travel usually takes donors out of the region.

“When they’re away and traveling, they’re not here to give their routine donations. We very quickly feel that strain because it’s not just one or two donors here or there that are traveling the holidays or experiencing seasonal illness; it’s hundreds and hundreds of them all at the same time,” Smith said.

Supplies of O-negative, O-positive and B-negative blood are critically low, with only a one to two-day supply on hand, creating an urgent need for donors.

Smith said those blood types are commonly used in emergency settings.

“That means, is they use a lot of blood. O-positive is actually the most common blood type in the United States; almost half the population has O-positive blood,” Smith said. “O-positive blood to receive treatment. Right now very critical need for type O-negative and O-positive. We need donations of all types of blood across the board.”

Smith said hospitals need at least a seven-day supply of blood product on the shelf at all times.

“When we’re at a three or four day supply, it means for several days behind in terms of being able to fully and safely supply our hospitals all across the Missouri and Kansas area, that means we’re 2400 units short of what we need right now,” she said. “What we’re needing is not only people that come in for those every day, 600 donations a day that we need, but we need even more than that right now to help bridge that gap and get us back to a seven-day supply.”

Smith said when blood donations decline, hospitals feel that immediately, especially since a lot of patients rely on donations.

“That can include cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy and trauma patients, gunshot wound victims. It can also include those who are chronically transfused,” she said. “So patients with sickle cell disease sometimes need weekly, but most often they need it every three or four weeks, monthly throughout their entire life.”

One blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives. Those unable to donate blood are still encouraged to spread the message.

“Tell your friends, your neighbors, your family members about the importance of blood donation, and invite them to donate on your behalf,” said Smith.

Anyone interested in donating blood or attending a drive can visit the Community Blood Center website.

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Danielle Bailey

FOREST CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Wildlife enthusiasts were treated to one last holiday surprise when a record number of bald eagles were observed at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday in Holt County.

A record-breaking 1,012 bald eagles were counted during a survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, the agency announced, shattering the previous record of 833 eagles set on Jan. 3, 2022.

This was an increase from 559 eagles observed during the last survey on Dec. 16.

An adult and juvenile eagles perch in a tree in December at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Holt County, Missouri.

Missouri is one of the leading states to view bald eagles, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. There were more than 600 active nests in the state in 2025. The best time to spot eagles is December through February.

Eagles weren’t the only other birds out in droves. Thousands of mallard ducks, trumpeter swans, green-winged teals and greater white-fronted geese were also spotted.

Loess Bluffs’ visitor center will be open Friday and Saturday this week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on New Year’s Day. The auto tour and trails are open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri near Mound City. Take Interstate 29 to Exit 79 south of Mound City then travel south 2 ½ miles on U.S. Highway 159.

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