Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Much like the move from appetizer to main course, one local Italian restaurant is catering to popular demand by expanding from limited reservations to a walk-in restaurant in the former Frederick Avenue fire station.

Primed with a new-look menu and hours of operation, customers can now enjoy EMI Ristorante’s three-course Italian menu from 5 to 9-10 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday, a new era for the restaurant that spent much of the previous year as a two-day reservation-only spot.

For owner and head chef Erik Borger, a founder of popular restaurants like Il Lazzarone and Pizza Tascio in St. Joseph, the reason for the move is simple.

“We want to better serve our community with this beautiful firehouse. So the best way for us to do that was to quadruple the hours and let the doors wide open,” he said.

The restaurant is as deeply connected with Italian cuisine and culture as any in St. Joseph, from its many ingredients shipped directly from Italy to a 9,500-pound brick oven from Naples firing up fresh and handcrafted dishes like wood-fired lasagna or pasta carbonara.

A plate of wood-fired lasagna is shown at Emi Ristorante in St. Joseph.

EMI Ristorante’s new and improved menu includes 10 variations of pizza — an early fan favorite — with either white or red sauce. The pizza is inspired by a new Neapolitan creation that emphasizes heavily-rising crusts.

“We make pasta fresh every day. We make pizza fresh every day. Both those flours are made in Italy. We import all the meats besides the sausage,” said Borger, who strives to follow some of the world’s top chefs. “I want to be connected to the best producers, the people that are most passionate about food and products. I’ve never had better flavors.”

It’s a focus and point of pride for Borger, who opened the restaurant in 2024 after years of work transforming the historic former St. Joseph Fire Station at 2217 Frederick Ave.

Despite the expansion to walk-in service, Borger highly recommends calling in a reservation due to significant foot traffic since the move was announced in recent weeks, including many nights at capacity. EMI Ristorante seats up to 54 people.

“I don’t think we could fit any more people in here on Friday, Saturday night,” he said with a smile. “The support from the community has meant everything.”

With its signature low-light interior, the restaurant offers an intimate and private atmosphere unique from other restaurants in St. Joseph, something he hears consistently from customers.

Customers dine in at Emi Ristorante on Saturday, Aug. 23, in St. Joseph, following the restaurant’s move from a reservation-only to a full-service walk-in restaurant.

“When you come in here, you can be transported to anywhere in the world. People say I feel like I’m in New York or I feel like I’m in Rome. That’s what we want to create.”

Borger said one of the biggest improvements with full-time service is the ability to offer a consistent menu with greater offerings that appeal to more customers.

With additional staff now on hand, including his family, he feels the restaurant is well-equipped to meet the increased demand that comes with a full-time schedule.

“I did a unique menu almost every week for 52 weeks and that is not an easy task. You can’t talk everybody into eggplant. You can’t talk everybody into mushrooms. Now, there’s something for everybody,” he said.

Wine connoisseurs will also find a menu that features more than 30 different types of wine to complement any meal.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  The St. Joseph School Board was meeting to have its first meeting after the first day of school. Key items on the agenda include upgrades and revisions to report cards.

Board members took a closer look at revisions to Kindergarten through second-grade report cards, aimed at giving parents clearer insight into how students are progressing toward grade-level expectations. 

They also reviewed plans for expanding parking and drainage at Hillyard, a project designed to better handle larger vehicles, like buses. 

The board talked about replacing the gym bleachers with new self-storing rails that meet ADA guidelines.  

Board members also went over several other updates during the meeting. One of those included HVAC change orders at Edison, E. Field and Mark Twain schools, which will add fire alarm duct detector wiring. 

They also touched on attendance — noting that teachers and staff are expected to be present at least 90% of the time, the same rate expected of students. 

Assistant Superintendent of Academics, Stacia Studer, shared an evaluation of professional staff, emphasizing the need for high-quality performance to boost student achievement in classrooms. 

The board approved a master agreement with K & K Insurance out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The coverage provides voluntary accident insurance for students who take part in school activities. 

Policy updates were also on the agenda. One change prohibits students from using personal communication devices during school hours. Another update outlines how students who misbehave could be placed in virtual courses or an alternative school setting. 

Superintendent Ashly McGinnis wrapped up the meeting with a presentation of the board service budget. The next school board meeting is set for Monday, Sept. 8, at 5:30 p.m. 

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Property owners requesting safety checks of their businesses by the St. Joseph Police Department are now seeing extra signs of security from officers.

SJPD has enhanced its existing service by adding a new program called “Shield Check”.

Business owners have been able to ask for monitoring of their property when closed, to watch for suspicious activity or any signs of forced entry.

Police are now placing door hangers at properties that have been checked, which include the name of the officer, the time and the date of the visit.

Business owners will be notified of any concerns. The Shield Check door hangers are intended to provide property owners with extra assurance that officers have been there.

To request monitoring of a business, residents can call 816-271-4777 or fill out a request online by going to stjosephmo.gov and navigating to SJPD’s page under “government”.

The watch residence/business form can be found by clicking “forms and requests.”

SJPD also offers free business site security assessments. Those interested can email crimeprevention@stjosephmo.gov or call 816-236-1473.

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Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  Temperatures across the St. Joseph region have remained well below average, bringing cool, fall-like mornings to the area.

With an extended period of cooler weather, many residents are wondering what to do with their air conditioners: leave them on or shut them off.

Across town, opinions are mixed. Some residents choose to keep their A/C running for indoor comfort, while others opt to turn it off to save energy and avoid potential damage.

“75. I let it run all year round,” said Floyd, a St. Joseph resident.

On the other side, many residents also like to be more energy efficient and like to open their windows.

“I usually open the windows and turn the A/C off. This is beautiful weather right here,” stated Cameron, another St. Joseph resident.

“Cost-effectively, it is going to be better to shut it off since you aren’t going to pay any money towards your unit,” said Tyler Kern, a service technician with Comfort Heating and Cooling in St. Joseph.

The Storm Tracker Weather Team is continuing to track temperatures, which are expected to remain below average through the end of the week and into the first week of September.

Overnight lows have dipped into the low 50s, prompting more questions about whether it’s necessary to continue running air conditioning units.

“We do recommend, with the cooler temperatures at night, not keeping the thermostat turned down very low, that can cause freeze-ups, especially if you have a dirty filter,” said Kern.

Running your A/C when outdoor temperatures drop too low can actually harm the unit. Some HVAC experts recommend not operating central air conditioning systems when outdoor temperatures fall below your A/C’s limit. Doing so can cause the system’s coils to freeze and may lead to a thickening of the lubricating fluids, which can cause more mechanical issues or even long-term damage.

As the transition from summer to fall continues, residents are encouraged to do what they think allows them the most comfort in their home.

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, MO. (News-Press NOW) — A local gathering on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, will both honor and benefit veterans in the region.

The Veterans Assistance League, a local non-profit, is sponsoring an event that will recognize all local veterans of the Vietnam War, while also educating the public about the history of the war and ways to benefit local veterans.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children, and all money raised will go to provide veterans at the Veterans Home in Cameron items that are not provided through other means, according to event committee member Michael Meierhoffer.

“Supporting veterans is immensely important,” Meierhoffer said. “We’re able to do things that the state and federal government aren’t able to do.”

This event comes after summer golf tournaments that also helped raise money for special events, transportation and other items not included in the state and federal budget for veterans.

Longtime Assistance League member Truman Hardy said in addition to honoring all veterans who will be in attendance, special speakers and memorabilia will be on display.

“The Missouri Vietnam wall will be on display for the event,” Hardy said. “This is a mobile wall that displays all Missouri veterans who lost their lives in Vietnam.”

Keynote speakers include former prisoners of war, one of whom served alongside the late Arizona senator John McCain.

Members of the Veterans Assistance League said that, in addition to honoring those who served and those who gave their lives, they hope to remind younger generations of the stories of the courage of men and women who are still in the community.

Milt Toratti, a local veteran and author who has written biographies of veterans from every American war since the Civil War, will have books and other memorabilia on display.

All proceeds from book sales and tickets will go to support local veterans.

Wyatt Park Baptist Church is located at 2902 Leonard Road in St. Joseph. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 816-632-6010 or visit the Veterans’ Assistance League on Facebook.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District gave local educators a chance to step outside the classroom this summer.  

Through its educator externship program, teachers and counselors explored different career paths right here in St. Joseph. 

The program also connected them with local employers, providing educators with real-world experiences they can now share with their students.  

Bethany Juhl, a high school counselor, was one of the educators who took part in the externship. She says the group had the chance to visit four different workplaces across St. Joseph. 

“I participated in the externship program through the district and we went to four different places in the community, to local workforces and we toured different places,” Bethany Juhl, Highschool counselor said.  

The goal of the program was to give educators a better understanding of local job opportunities so they can pass that knowledge on to students. Juhl says the experience helped her see what skills employers are really looking for.  

For Juhl, who’s now in her second year as a counselor, the externship was also a chance to build stronger connections — both with local employers and with her own students.  

“It really helped me bridge a gap between the workforce and our school and it was so eye-opening because it gave me background knowledege of what skills these places are looking for in our students,” Juhl said.  

Along with exploring different jobs, the program helped educators form new relationships and strengthen ties with local employers.  

“I wanted to participate in the extrenship because this is my second year as a highschool counselor and being involved in their career development helps me connect with the students more,” Juhl said.  

Juhl hopes the experience will help her guide students toward the right career paths and give them chances to put their classroom skills to use. 

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Every kid looks forward to lunchtime in school to refuel their bodies with their favorite snacks.

Lunchtime is an important opportunity to socialize and take a break from class, but most importantly, it’s a time to eat healthily.

A healthy lunch for school offers numerous benefits, including essential nutrients, vitamins and support for overall growth and development.

Dietician Jessica Smith has healthy alternatives for popular fan favorites.

Instead of your Lays potato chips, Jackson’s veggie straws are a healthier option made with real vegetables and are non-GMO.

Go-Gurt is always fun, but the healthy option is an Activia probiotic yogurt, which will provide good healthy nutrients and promote good gut health.

It is always important to have a balanced and healthy school lunch.

A good guideline for school lunches is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) — It’s officially out with the old and in with new and improved restrooms at locations throughout St. Joseph’s park system.

St. Joseph Parks and Recreation is putting the finishing touches on $1.6 million for new restroom facilities at four different locations: Hyde Park, Hochman Park, Corby Pond and Eagles Baseball Fields.

The much-needed facilities mark a significant upgrade from the deteriorating and decades old restrooms that stood previously, some dating back as far as the 1950s.

“Their life spans had been not only reached but exceeded. So it was long past due for replacement,” St. Joseph Assistant Parks Director Mark Pettit said. “Almost anybody that’s used these parks. You hesitated a moment before going into the restrooms before.”

The new restroom facility at Hyde Park is shown in August in St. Joseph.

Traditional men’s and women’s restrooms have now been replaced with family and unisex restrooms, with new layouts to improve disability access and the ease of maintaining and cleaning them.

Pettit said the city has already set up contracts to ensure the facilities are being cleaned on a daily basis.

“Functionality and longevity, we wanted robust and strong equipment in there that could take a beating because they tend to do that. We wanted these to last,” he said.

The new restrooms — which have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years — now feature a modern design compared with the red brick finish of old park restrooms. New water fountains have also been installed with each restroom facility.

The new restroom facility at Hochman Park is shown in August in St. Joseph.

The new restroom facility at Eagles Baseball Fields was constructed to combine both the restrooms and concessions that were previously separated, helping accommodate a host of youth baseball players and families with the local Pony Express Baseball League.

“They’re excited to get into it,” he said. “We expect these to be great features for the city of St. Joe.”

The supplemental projects are some of the last remaining items from the 2019-24 Capital Improvements Program list.

New restrooms were also recently installed in 2024 at Bartlett Park, Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center and Northside Complex.

News-Press NOW will continue to update this story.

The new restroom facility at Corby Pond is shown in August in St. Joseph.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Public Library was recently awarded a grant to replace outdated staff computers.

The grant was awarded by the Office of Denny Hoskins, Secretary of State, in the amount of $13,345.

The SJPL used the funding to replace 19 staff computers. Working with local IT company, Tech Team, the library’s computer network was also improved during the installation of new computers.

The grant was supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

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Rebecca Evans

Looking to fill your weekend with fun? From unique finds and tasty treats to teeing off for a good cause, we’ve got something for everyone. It’s time to See St. Joseph!

First up, Market Days is back at the Civic Arena this Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24. With over 100 vendors, you’ll find everything from handmade wares and vintage finds to antiques and local specialties. Food trucks and vendors will be on-site.

Market Days runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Discounted weekend passes are available now at MarketDays.com.

Or tumble down the rabbit hole for an afternoon of fun. Traveler’s Hearth invites you to step into Wonderland this Saturday afternoon for “We’re All Mad Here”, a curious tea party that’s fun for all ages.

Enjoy a variety of teas, including herbal and kid-friendly blends, along with whimsical snacks and treats for grown-ups, too. Outrageous dress-up is highly encouraged, and there’s even a prize for the best hat.

Tickets are $15 and include tea and treats. The event will be held this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Traveler’s Hearth, located at 1209 Frederick Ave.

If you’re an early riser looking to hit the green for a good cause, the Friends of the Animal Shelter are hosting a charity golf tournament Saturday morning at Fairview Municipal Golf Course. It’s a four-person scramble starting at 8:30 a.m.

Entry is $300 per team, with prizes for longest drive, longest putt, and more. Plus, free hot dogs and hamburgers for all participants. All proceeds support the work of the Friends of the Animal Shelter. You can register now at their website Petforu.com, or reach out to Aubrey Swofford at aubreyswofford@outlook.com for more information.

That’s your weekend rundown, from shopping and tea parties to tee time for a cause, there’s plenty to see and do right here in St Joseph. Tune in every Thursday for more ways to See St. Joseph. 

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