Author: News-Press NOW

Jess DeHaven

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Families are invited to a special event next month at the St. Joseph Arts Academy.

The free St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at 2027 North 36th St. It will include live performances by students and faculty along with an instrument petting zoo, an open house and refreshments.

“This event is all about inspiring kids and families through music,†said Jason Riley, Director of the St. Joseph Arts Academy. “We want to show how fun and rewarding learning an instrument can be, make everyone welcome and to see what we are doing here firsthand.â€

The academy offers music lessons for a variety of instruments for people of all ages.

Jess DeHaven

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Drivers will see some ramp closures on Wednesday just north of St. Joseph as a resurfacing project continues on Interstate 29.

Four ramps will be closed at various times between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on April 16 in Andrew County as crews from Herzog Contracting Corp., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, work on southbound Interstate 29. The ramps impacted include:

Southbound U.S. Route 71 to southbound I-29

Southbound I-29 to northbound Route 71 (Exit 56A)

Southbound I-29 to Business 71 (Exit 53)

Business 71 to southbound I-29 (Exit 53)

Drivers won’t be able to use the ramps during the closures and should plan alternate routes.

The work is weather-permitting.

News-Press NOW

CLINTON COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — An Amity, Missouri, man suffered serious injuries in a one-car Clinton County crash Monday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred just before 6 p.m. on Missouri Route 116, 2 miles west of Lathrop.

A 21-year-old westbound driver crossed the center line in a curve, braked, overcorrected, skidded off-road, and hit a utility pole, flipping his car.

Troopers say he did not have his seatbelt on. He was taken by ambulance to Liberty Hospital for serious injuries.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph’s elected officials signaled their support for an incentive package to help finance two new hotels and a new conference center on Frederick Avenue.

City council members have approved a resolution of official intent to issue $60 million in industrial development revenue bonds. Bonds issued by the city would be repaid by future revenue generated from the project.

The measure was approved by a vote of 7-0-1, with Councilman Madison Davis abstaining.

As part of the agreement, in which the city will hold the title to the property, there is no liability to the city if there is a default by developer STJ Hotel Group.

St. Joseph Planning and Community Development Director Clint Thompson said that while the total project is $60 million, the actual redirection of future taxes associated with the project is about $12 million, largely for the construction of the conference center.

“As a partner, we want to make sure there’s that fine line to ensure the success of the project but also that there’s not a windfall at the expense of the taxpayers,” Thompson said.

The facilities would be located on a 7.7-acre site at the southeast corner of Woodbine Road and Frederick Avenue, which previously was occupied by the former Ramada Inn, Americas Value Inn and Applebee’s.

Steven Craig with STJ Hotel Group said the event space can accommodate a variety of functions from weddings to company and corporate events, something the city currently struggles to attract due to a lack of conference space. 

“Now they can host an event here of that type and stay in town. Keep the people who are coming from all over the country staying in the hotel, which is driving revenue for the community and just improving your tax base all the way around,” Craig said.  

The goal is to have the facilities constructed in time to accommodate visitors for the 2026 World Cup next June.

Council signs off on new police body armor/carriers

Monday’s city council agenda also included a resolution approving the purchase of 20 to 30 new body armor and external vest carriers for $29,554.  

911 Customs will be responsible for supplying the equipment for the St. Joseph Police Department. 

Parking axed on portion of Pacific Street

The council also approved a change to the city’s code of ordinances to prohibit parking on the north side of Pacific Street from 33rd Street to the Belt Highway. 

The change was recommended by the St. Joseph Traffic Commission following a request by a local resident. Parking is already prohibited on the south side of the narrow street, which often sees speeding.  

Other measures approved by City Council

— An ordinance to approve the final plat of a major subdivision entitled “Country Lane Estates†located at the intersection of Buckingham Street and Country Lane consisting of 14 lots as requested by Arium Development, LLC. 

— A resolution to purchase one 2018 Weiler Asphalt paver for $54,900 from Foley Equipment Company for the Street Maintenance Division. 

— A change order with Herzog Contracting Corporation for $369,900 for the 2025 annual asphalt street resurfacing program. 

— A change order with Mid-Continental Restoration Company, Inc. for $77,850 for the City Hall masonry project. 

Crystal Olney

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Rick Gehring, a St. Joseph School District Board of Education member, announced his resignation at Monday’s annual reorganization meeting.

Gehring mentioned having a “hard time” continuing his position on the board and is looking to “protect his peace.”

The BOE will seek out applications from community members to fill Gehring’s position. As of now, applications are not open and there is no set date for when the board will vote on gaining a new member.

Stay tuned to News-Press NOW for updates on this story.

Jess DeHaven

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A St. Joseph woman is dead following a one-vehicle crash on Sunday afternoon on Interstate 29 in northern Platte County.

The woman, 39, was a passenger in a van driven by a 52-year-old St. Joseph man. The driver was going north on I-29 at about 3:30 p.m. when he approached a slow-moving vehicle and overcorrected, traveling into the median and causing the van to overturn near the 27-mile marker, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The driver suffered moderate injuries in the accident, and a 15-year-old passenger from Hopkins, Missouri, had minor injuries. Both were taken to Mosaic Life Care.

The woman who was killed and the two people taken to Mosaic were not wearing seat belts, according to the patrol report.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization work session on Monday.

The Board honored Isaura Garcia and welcomed incumbent, Kim Miller and new Board member Jennifer Kerns.

After four rounds of voting, LaTonya Williams was re-elected as Board president.

Ronda Chesney was elected as Board vice president, taking over from Mike Moore.

“I’ve know Ronda for years and we already work together really, really well,” said Board president, LaTonya Williams. “In our jobs, outside of the School Board. So, I know that we will also work really well in the School Board.”

The board also saw the departure of member, Rick Gehring.

“As a member of the board, it is hard to take the beating every single day for years. It is exhausting and it’s easy to say, ‘It’s what you signed up for,” No. It is not what we signed up for, you know?” Williams said. “I don’t blame Rick at all, as a matter of fact, all of us do. It’s no anger or animosity. He was my friend prior to getting on the board, and he is still my friend.”

The board will move to appoint a replacement for Gehring’s position until the April 2026 election.

The work session also saw a wide demographic throughout the audience, with a majority of the audience being kids.

“There were lots of students in the audience, and there were not only angry students … As a matter of fact, there wasn’t any angry students, it was just interested students,” said Williams. “They were asking us (the board) lots of questions afterwards, and we encouraged that. I mean, I want the kids involved. It’s what we do it for.”

The next BOE meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28 at the Troester Media Center, located at 3401 Renick St.

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A new indoor pool is closer to reality at the YMCA, thanks to a fundraiser held Monday morning.

Volunteers started biking at 5:30 a.m. Monday with a goal of raising $5,000 for the pool. That milestone was crushed early on, with callers continuing to donate throughout the event, which wrapped up at 11 a.m., eventually raising $28,929.

“It’s a great day. The momentum is amazing, and it is just really awesome,” YMCA CEO Tammy Killin said. “Not about the money, but it’s about community support, community engagement and to really make this thing happen.”

One of the many riders, Erin Creedy had a 75 mile goal when she arrived early Monday morning. She said she is passionate about the pool because all of her kids were swimmers and she believes in the sport.

“It doesn’t discriminate, it doesn’t care if you’re nine months or your 90 years,” Creedy said. “Swimming is a lifetime activity.”

Joined alongside Creedy was Savannah summer rec swim coach Jenny Denney. She finished her morning after biking 65 miles. She hoped this event would put the word out for the pool and show that it is much needed for the community.

“We really need the facility we need the space for all the high school teams, Central and Savannah and then also the club team, bridging the gap,” Denney said. “Swim lessons, that’s the other thing. I know swim teams are big passion but if you don’t have the swim lessons you’re not going to have the swim teams.”

The YMCA currently sits slightly over $14.1 million and needs to reach $15 million before the end of the month.