Author: News-Press NOW

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The community came together here today to commemorate and honor the veterans who have fought in one of the most crucial conflicts in the history of the United States.    

Veterans who served between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, are celebrated and remembered for their sacrifices to the country.    

The members who were part of the celebration were presented with a commemorative pin and certificate as a way of displaying their appreciation for everything they had done.    

Monday marked the first time the event has happened in St Joseph after years of celebrating this event in other locations across the state of Missouri.   

The program was signed in late 2020 to be a commemorative partner since it was a national program, and they were responsible for hosting events across Mid-Missouri.   

“My father went to Vietnam three times, so you know, being born in 1962, the first 10 or 11 years of my life were just watching the war on TV and he wouldn’t talk about it until I was deployed to Afghanistan.” Freddie Brock, President of the organization, said.   

The first-ever commemorative presentation was held in Missouri in September of 2021, where community members and organizers honored veterans.

“The program is completing its 13-year run of the celebration in November, and I don’t want people to forget that we still have Veterans who have not been thanked,” Brock said.   

Members from both the St. Joseph Police Department and St. Joseph Fire Department were in attendance to ensure the ceremony ran smoothly.

The purpose of having the commemoration is not only to showcase the community’s gratitude to retired veterans but also to appreciate the veterans who are currently serving.   

“As far as myself, I just did my job through the military, and I had 25 years, which I think was really important, and there are other military people who probably feel the same way.” Truman Hardy, a Veteran, said.   

Brock hopes to strengthen the community bonds by hosting more events and ceremonies aimed at celebrating and recognizing veteran contributions to the community. 

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Residents will get a unique opportunity for an up-close and personal look at two of the city’s iconic landmarks this month.

St. Joseph architect and historian Max Guenther is offering two immersive programs in July to get acquainted with St. Joseph’s City Hall and Missouri Theater in anticipation of their upcoming centennial in 2027. 

The first is July 22 at The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art during “Museum After Hours,” followed by July 26 at The Downtown Public Library as part of Local History Week. 

Both programs are free and open to the public.

The Architecture of the Missouri Theater 

Max Guenther will focus on the beautiful Missouri Theater from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, in the auditorium at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum, located at 2818 Frederick Ave.

It was designed by The Boller Brothers Architects (St Joseph natives) and ornamented by the 22-year-old sculpting prodigy, Waylande Gregory. This beautiful atmospheric theater stands as a lasting legacy to its creators and a testament to the value it represents to generations of townspeople who have saved it, restored it, supported shows in it and continue to advocate for its preservation and use. 

It’s a work of art – inside and out.

While at the museum, be sure to seek out the mini-exhibits highlighting works by architect Edmond Eckel in the Barclay Gallery and the ceramic work of Waylande Gregory near the Salon Wall. This display offers a glimpse into the larger Gregory exhibition that will open Nov. 15, 2026, and run through Jan. 11, 2027.

City Hall and the City Beautiful Movement

Take an in-depth look at this grand civic landmark and the optimism in 1920s St Joseph.

Designed by St Joseph’s master architect, E.J. Eckel, and built by Lear Construction Co., City Hall remains as stately and as busy as it was intended to be. 

The young artist, Waylande Gregory, ornamented the interior with sculpted plaster work, with the mayor’s office receiving special treatment.

Take a deep dive with Max Guenther on the work that influenced City Hall and how City Hall became just one of the landmarks to embody the City Beautiful Movement from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the St Joseph. Downtown Public Library, located at 927 Felix St, in the Owen Meeting Room, on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Max M. Guenther is a licensed architect with a specialty in luxury residential design. His residential work has received numerous design awards and has been published in Interior Design, Honolulu, Professional Builder and Island Home magazines. 

Mr. Guenther was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. Together with his wife Tammy, he is currently developing an art center in downtown St. Joseph at the Artcrafts Building on South 8th Street.

These programs are presented in cooperation with the Centennial Celebration Series in anticipation of the 100th Anniversary of City Hall and the Missouri Theater in 2027 and are organized by the CCS Committee of The Friends of the Missouri Theater. For more information, email CelebrationSeries2027@gmail.com or phone Committee Chair, Lori McAlister, at 402-802-2099.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Following the devastating impacts of flash floods in Texas, one organization is mobilizing to collect and distribute essential supplies and medical items to support those affected by the disaster.   

This is a humanitarian organization that is responsible for responding to disasters all around the US.   

Heart-to-Heart was able to send out a shipment of 1200 hygiene kits, wound supplies, and hydration salts. They are continuing to work and finding different ways to help out community members.   

“What that means on our side is we’re talking to our local partners who are on the ground, and we are sending them hygiene kits, wound care items and oral rehydration salts to the heat,” JP Fisher, Director of disaster response, said.   

This is one of Heart-to-Heart’s core programs to identify the needs of people in the community and send first responders out on-site to help those who are impacted when a catastrophe hits.   

They have also dealt with more international crises, including the conflict in Ukraine, Israel, Sudan and the earthquakes in Myanmar, which happened a few months ago.   

“Here in the US, we have a larger response because Hurricane Helene hit. We were able to provide health services to nearly 400 people who were impacted by the hurricane,” Fisher said.   

Heart-to-Heart’s team is constantly monitoring disasters and events happening around the US and overseas.   

They conduct extensive training for their volunteers, doctors and nurses, ensuring the team is always ready to respond to emergencies.  

“We’ll get our mobile unit to do some practices, so everyone is familiar and aware of our processes and can deploy within 72 hours if we need to,” Fisher said.   

Fisher said the program plans to prepare plenty of supplies and hygiene kits so it can reach everyone who is impacted by flooding. 

For more information about Heart-to-Heart, visit their website https://www.hearttoheart.org/. 

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A longtime firefighter in St. Joseph will hang up his boots after nearly 30 years with the department.

Captain Tim Foreman said he tried several jobs early on before deciding to fulfill his dream of becoming a fireman.

“I went to two-year fireman school in Lincoln back in 1995,” Foreman said. “And that’s how I started here.”

Foreman said he worked at all nine St. Joseph stations during his years with the department, but settled in at Fire Station Number 6 on the Southside around nine years ago — the station where he was eventually promoted to the rank of captain.

As a longtime driver, co-worker’s like 21-year veteran Eric Matchett said his knowledge of the city has been a valuable asset to the department.

“He not only knew the trucks well, but he also helped me and others in the district with his knowledge of where to go and the best ways to get there when we had a call,” Matchett said.

Matchett also said Foreman has “Popeye-like strength” that he has exhibited more than once, especially during training times with recruits.

Foreman said he will hold fond memories of the camaraderie the firefighters have among themselves.

“The brotherhood and sisterhood we have here will be something I’ll remember,” Foreman said. “You’re here at the station twenty-four hours at a time, and you get pretty close.”

Since firefighters usually retire younger than the average retirement age, Foreman said, in addition to spending more time with family, he will transition into a full-time position at the company where he has worked part-time while serving with the SJFD. He expects it to be a smooth transition.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With Rep. Bill Falkner set to term out in 2026, St. Joseph native and current law student Skylar Smith has announced his candidacy for Missouri House District 10. A Republican, Smith is running on a platform focused on public safety, education reform, youth programs, and small business support.

Smith is completing his final year at the University of Missouri School of Law and has worked in legal and economic policy roles with the St. Louis County Counselor’s Office, the City of Columbia, and the Missouri Senate Majority Caucus. He believes this experience, along with his blue-collar background and deep ties to St. Joseph, uniquely qualify him to serve.

“Vote Smith for 10th because that means St Joe comes first,” he said.

He is calling for community-based approaches to crime prevention, increased investment in youth recreation, expanded school choice, and tort reform to protect small businesses. He also emphasizes his support for pro-life policies and Second Amendment rights.

“There’s a lot of people in my family and throughout the community that have lost a lot of trust in local and in state government,” Smith said, “I’m hoping to help restore that through measures of transparency and just better overall common sense spending and deregulation. Limited government is generally speaking the best form of government.”

A graduate of Central High School and Missouri Western, Smith has been active in community service, volunteering at food banks and mentoring youth. He says his top priority is making sure St. Joseph gets its fair share of state resources.

The Missouri Primary Election will be held August 4th, 2026, with the General Election on November 3rd, 2026. For more information on Smith’s campaign, visit his official website here.

Smith says he’s excited to see everyone August 16th for a celebration and fundraising event at The Metropolitan before they close their doors this September.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A monthslong resurfacing project originally scheduled to begin next week on Interstate 229 in St. Joseph has been pushed back.

The Missouri Department of Transportation announced that a resurfacing project for I-229 from Missouri Route 371 to Interstate 29 in St. Joseph will now begin on Monday, July 21, due to a delay by the project contractor.

The project will see crews with Herzog Contracting Corp. remove and fill sections of concrete in the area on the roadway, shoulders and ramps. The resurfacing project is scheduled to be complete by October 2025.

During construction, the roadway will be narrowed to one lane, along with a 12-foot width restriction in place. Motorists should expect delays as crews are scheduled to work Monday through Saturday during daylight hours.

All work is weather-permitting, and schedules are subject to change. MoDOT asks drivers to work with us by always buckling up, keeping your phones down, slowing down and moving over in work zones. Know before you go and check what work zones you might encounter at traveler.modot.org.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The University of Missouri Extension specialists will offer a full-day discussion and hands-on training on using drones in agriculture.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the MU Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center, located at 29955 Outer Road in Fairfax, Missouri.

The registration fee includes training, a materials packet, and a catered lunch. Pre-registration is required by Friday, Aug. 1.

For questions, contact Caleb O’Neal, MU Extension field specialist in plant science, at onealc@missouri.edu or by calling (417) 466-2148.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Backpacks stuffed with school supplies for children K-12 will be available from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26.

Grace House is located at 2638 Lafayette St. Owner Ruth Costello said it takes about a year to collect all the supplies.

“The number one goal is that kids get a strong, good backpack,” Costello said. “We worry about high schoolers looking like high school and kids wanting to look like kids.”

Clean and new bags will be provided; parents just need to bring their children and a valid form of identification. College-aged students are also invited.

“The only requirement we have is that you bring your school kids so that they can pick their own clothes and stuff,” Costello said. “Kids are pickier than they were when I was a kid.”

Costello advises parents to come early to avoid the heat or any weather conditions: “You’ll be out in 15 minutes.”

She said they are always looking for more supplies and extra backpacks. For those looking to donate, call the Grace House at 816-262-9401.

“We get those kids for whatever reason, they don’t come, and it could be mom’s schedule, dad’s schedule…” Costello said. “If we run out of stuff, we want to have a little extra for those kids, so we always save and store if any leftovers.”

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Metropolitan, a beloved event space nestled in the heart of Downtown St. Joseph, will officially close its doors after Sept. 30TH, 2025.

Owner Tori Blevins shared the emotional news in a heartfelt message to the community, citing rising costs, personal priorities and the need for a new chapter.

The decision, while difficult, is rooted in Blevins’ desire to spend more meaningful time with her 4-year-old son—a need that’s grown stronger as she’s juggled the demands of entrepreneurship.

“The community has been incredible”, said Blevins, “I really could not have asked for better people to walk into our doors and to support us and celebrate us, and every single accomplishment. It’s been the best ride, a very stressful ride, but the best ride with a lot of lessons learned.” 

Despite the closure, Blevins emphasized that The Metropolitan is not a failed venture. 

“It’s been incredible just to see what we can do and what we can bring and who we can bring Downtown,” said Blevins. 

Over the past two years, The Metropolitan became a vital venue for creativity and connection in St. Joseph, hosting everything from emotional drag performances and dueling pianos to weddings, birthdays and corporate events. It also became the home of METGO, a recurring community favorite. 

Her other business, Chaotic Creations Event Co., is still thriving and approaching its four-year anniversary.

“We do backdrops, balloons, marquee letters, furniture rentals, and it’s only going to continue to get stronger and grow,” Blevins said. 

Until the end of September, The Metropolitan will remain open and is still accepting bookings for its final 90 days. Community members are encouraged to take advantage of the remaining time to celebrate in a space that has meant so much to so many.

Blevins’ closing statement was, “Please continue to support Downtown. So many owners have incredible ideas and incredible events, and we really do need the community support.”

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — “Welcome Chiefs” signs will return once again as the team prepares for another training camp in St. Joseph.

Signs will be available to the pubic for free from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, while supplies last. Fans can obtain the signs at the Visitor’s Center at the East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine, and at the Convention & Visitors Bureau, 911 Frederick Ave.

There will be a limit of two signs per person to allow as many residents and businesses as possible to obtain them.

Any signs remaining after Tuesday will be available at both locations during regular business hours.

“These signs are a free and simple way to remind the Chiefs we’re proud to be their home away from home,” said Christian Mengle, director of communications and marketing at the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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