Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Preliminary crime statistics for 2025 indicate St. Joseph experienced a sizable reduction in violent crimes compared to the year prior, according to local authorities.

While data for the month of December has yet to be finalized, violent crime stats released by the St. Joseph Police Department this week show a total of 209 “Part I” violent crimes occurred in 2025 thus far, significantly less than 391 cases in 2024 and 401 in 2023.

“Part I” crimes include murder, aggravated assault, robberies, motor vehicle thefts and other serious offenses designated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Overall, the city reported a 60% reduction in violent crime cases in 2025, pending the outcome of December data.

Data also shows a notable month-over-month reduction in violent crimes from October to November 2025, decreasing by 63% from 24 cases in October to just nine cases in November.

The November 2025 figure marks a 42% decrease from the same time period last year, when 34 violent crimes occurred.

A full report with an entire breakdown of crime statistics for 2025 is expected to be finalized and released in February as part of a press conference with the St. Joseph Police Department.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — What started off as a job to work alongside close friends eventually blossomed into a decorated career for Battalion Chief Dave Richey, a retiring veteran of the St. Joseph Fire Department who proudly wore the uniform for one last time Tuesday.

For more than 36 years, Richey worked alongside an extended family in the St. Joseph Fire Department, eventually climbing the ranks to become battalion chief.

Through all the years and changes that have occurred, from evolutions in technology to personnel, the memories and connections made along the way were some of his most cherished moments.

“There’s a lot of moments. We’re a tight knit group that’s had a lot of fun,” Richey said. “There’s been a lot of laughing, crying and talking to each other about things we see in the field. I’ve seen so many changes in technology, equipment and personnel.”

“One of my favorite moments has been seeing some of our first female firefighters, to now having female firefighters promoted to positions like driver engineer.”

Battalion Chief Dave Richey holds his piece of the brass pole and an axe during his retirement ceremony on Jan. 6.

As Richey was celebrated by peers and family during a retirement ceremony Tuesday, he was also presented with a celebrated piece of the department’s history: one of its original brass poles with his name and years of service engraved.

“St. Joseph is one of the first cities to have fire poles. The brass pole means something to us because it was something we kept when redoing the old fire stations,” Richey said. “When you retire, they give you a little piece of the brass pole, which to me signifies what our fire department stands for. If you talk to any of the retired firefighters, that’s what they look forward to the most. It carries a lot of meaning.”

Among the things he will miss the most in retirement is the thrill of putting out fires in the field and working alongside the people he calls his family.

“I will miss the adrenaline rush of going to a fire, that excitement is hard to replace. It’s a little addictive,” Richey said. “I’ll miss the people here, they are my family. The relationships you build over the years are special and a lot of them are here to see me off. Not seeing them every day, is what I’ll probably miss the most.”

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Neighborhood residents will notice new parking restrictions enforced on two multi-block areas of Olive and Pacific streets moving forward. 

City Councilmembers approved a measure Monday from St. Joseph Public Works and Transportation to amend the city’s code of ordinances to create new parking restrictions on both streets following months of public discussion and requests from both residents and organizations. 

Under new restrictions, parking is now prohibited on the north side of Olive Street from Sixth to Eighth streets. A second change will see parking now prohibited on the south side of Pacific Street from 33rd Street all the way out to the Belt Highway, a near five-block stretch of roadway. Parking is now forbidden on both sides of the street.

This google maps image shows the area of Olive Street between Eighth and Sixth streets. Parking is now prohibited on the north side of the street.

The city began to explore the possibility of parking changes back in June when the St. Joseph Traffic Commission heard a request from a local resident about parking restrictions along Pacific Street, one of multiple requests.

The section of Pacific Street contains steep ditches and is a known area for speeding according to residents and law enforcement, putting parked vehicles in harms way and making it difficult for authorities to safely pass when cars are parked along the roadway.

It was also determined through a “No Parking” trial that restrictions on both sides helped provide additional sight distance, roadway safety and overall traffic movement. 

Requests for changes along Olive Street were prompted by the nonprofit group Community Missions, which has seen increased pedestrian activity on the roadway associated with the facility, creating unsafe conditions along a busy corridor. 

The Public Works Traffic Division and the Police Traffic Division reviewed the request and reported no concerns with the proposed change as adequate off-street parking is available nearby. A “No Parking” trial was also implemented, which showed noticeable improvements both in traffic flow and safety.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Brian Helm pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his part in the murder of Dustin Allen Graham in November 2024.

According to court documents, Helm pulled into a parking lot behind Graham’s vehicle near the 1900 block of Jules Street on Nov. 10, 2024, blocking Graham in.

Helm exited his vehicle and approached Graham’s, striking the window with an object and then firing a single shot from a firearm at Graham.

Graham was able to back into Helm’s vehicle and was able to pull out onto Jules Street, traveling east before stopping at the intersection of 20th and Jules Streets. Graham was transported to Mosaic Life Care before he was pronounced dead.

Helm fled the scene following the incident. At the time, he also had an active parole violation warrant for burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

Helm was charged with armed criminal action and second degree murder. He pleaded guilty to both charges, saying, “I shot the confidential victim during the course of an attempted robbery and he died from his wounds…“

Helm was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge and an additional three years for the armed criminal action charge, to be served consecutively.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Mustangs said Phil Welch Stadium is ready for the next steps in a more than $1 million project funded by St. Joseph’s Capital Improvements Program Parks and Recreation tax.

A recent Facebook post by the Mustangs showcased the new concrete around the entire stadium.

Courtesy of the St. Joseph Mustangs.

Right now, the concrete is smooth around the entire stadium, including in the seating areas behind both baselines. Soon, the concrete will no longer be empty.

The stadium will see new seats, which include bleachers as well as brand new seats for the reserved box seats with chair backs, which are still for sale.

Courtesy of the St. Joseph Mustangs.

The Mustangs have a limited number of box seats available for season ticket purchase, as well as general admission tickets. Fans can reserve a spot by calling 816-279-7856.

The CIP project is expected to be completed before the Mustangs’ 2026 season.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– A recent mountain lion sighting near the St. Joseph area has residents talking and taking extra precautions, especially those living near wooded and rural areas. 

Wildlife officials said Mountain Lion encounters in Missouri are rare; however, one DeKalb County resident shared her story as she came face-to-face with the animal just steps from her home last spring.  

“I let my dogs out at night, and it was just in my back field, along the fence by my big tree, and he was just standing there doing his own business, and my dogs actually scared him off,” Jessiy Hayes said.  

Hayes lives in a rural area where wildlife sightings are not uncommon. Despite her close encounter, she said she was never terrified of the mountain lion.

Neighbors in the area have shared stories of their own close calls, raising concerns about safety. 

“He minds his own business, but just recently this person was out doing his cattle and he did get scared because of one of them was was trying to attack him,” Hayes said.  

Hayes raises chickens and other farm animals on her property. She said the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) permitted her to shoot the animal if it poses a threat to her livestock.  

According to the MDC, there were five confirmed mountain lion sightings in the state in 2025. 

MDC Spokesperson Maddie Fennewald said large cats are highly mobile, which means they can travel long distances in a short amount of time, making sightings unpredictable. 

“By nature, mountain lions are very mobile and most of the mountain lions that we get in Missouri just kinda wander through…Since Missouri has so much open space its a luck of the draw if we spot them,” Fennewald said.  

The MDC also recommended keeping pets indoors when possible, securing livestock and avoiding walking alone in areas with dense vegetation when mountain lions are most active. 

According to the National Park Service, mountain lions are typically more active during dusk and dawn.

The Idaho Fish and Game reports that mountain lions are seen throughout the year, but observations and incidents tend to increase during the winter months due to fresh snow making their tracks more visible, along with increased numbers of deer and elk moving onto their winter ranges.

also emphasized that encounters between humans and mountain lions in Missouri are extremely rare.  

“Most of the mountain lions are going to be coming from (the) Western States of Wyoming, South and North Dakota, Colorado and Texas,” Fennewald said. “We don’t have any proof of an established breeding population in Missouri.”

She said sightings like these serve as a reminder that Missouri is home to a wide range of wildlife. While encounters are rare, residents are encouraged to stay alert and informed. 

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Cameron Montemayor

7:45 p.m. UPDATE: Steen has reportedly been located and is safe, according to someone close to the family.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Authorities and family members of 16-year-old Dakota Steen are asking for the community’s assistance after the teen was reported missing on Dec. 30 in St. Joseph. 

Dakota Steen, a 16-year-old teenager from St. Joseph, has been reported missing by his family and was last seen in St. Joseph on Dec. 30, 2025. 

Authorities and the family are seeking the public’s help with locating the teen safely. Steen may still be in the area and could be using the name “Kota.”

A Facebook post from Steen’s family said they were hopeful he would come home on his own, but more than a week has now passed since he first took off around 3 p.m. on Dec. 28. 

“We are all very much worried about him, he has not been in contact with anyone,” the post reads. 

A missing person’s report for Steen has been filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as well as the Missouri State Highway Patrol. 

Anyone with information on Steen is encouraged to contact the St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-4777 or the NCMEC 24-Hour Call Center at 1-800-843-5678. If seen, call 911 immediately. 

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Fire Department honored one long-serving Battalion Chief through a retirement party.

Battalion Chief Dave Richey has served the department for over 36 years. He joined SJFD after hearing his friends talk about how much they enjoyed working for the department.

“They talked about how good of a job it really was, and I applied and got on, and it’s been family since then,” he said.

Richey said there are a lot of moments that stand out, and the fire department is a tight-knit group.

“There’s a lot of laughing, a lot of crying and a lot of talking to each other. A lot of things we have to see, we have to see good, and we have to see bad,” he said. A lot of that changes over a long period, so people change.”

During the retirement party, Richey was awarded a piece of an older brass pole that was kept from older SJFD locations. He also received an Axe for his service.

“The brass pole does mean a lot more from redoing some of the old fire stations. We kept the brass pole, so when you retire, they give you a little piece of the brass pole, which to me signifies our fire department,” he said. If you talk to any of the retired firefighters thats what they look forward to the most is that little piece of the pole that has a lot of meaning.”

Overall, Richey said he’ll miss the people most.

“They’re my family. Just not seeing them every day, that’s what I probably miss the most. All the relationships you build over the years,” he said. “A lot of them are here to see me off, and that’s what it will be, the people.”

Richey said the community is what you make of it.

“Us helping the community, and the community support that we receive from them. Just paying back what they given top us,” he said.

Richey said he plans to spend his retirement traveling with his wife and not working.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A proposal for a new 32-acre residential subdivision by Deer Park and grant awards for three social service agencies were approved Monday by St. Joseph City Councilmembers.

A proposal to develop 32-acres east of South Leonard Road into a new residential subdivision with single-family homes took the next step forward Monday as councilmembers passed an ordinance for a preliminary plat entitled “Venetian Falls” as requested by developer Ventura Homes, LLC.

The housing development plan — which could start as early as this summer — includes roughly 89 lots for new single-family homes by South Leonard Road and west of University Avenue, as well as significant roadway and infrastructure upgrades to accommodate additional traffic.

This rendering shows how the 89-lot housing subdivision would be divided on South Leonard Road and University Avenue.

A public hearing was also held on a second ordinance to rezone the land from a C-3 Commercial District to a R-1-B Detached Single Family Residential District, a measure that was approved despite concerns raised by one nearby resident during the hearing.

Eric Wattenbarger, a local resident since 1971, voiced concerns about increased traffic and the impact of site grading and new infrastructure on stormwater drainage onto his property directly across the street — which sits roughly 60 feet lower than the highest point on the proposed land adjacent to his.

“My purpose is to ask you to make sure that the proper hydrographic and traffic studies are done prior to proceeding with this,” Wattenbarger said. “My property is at risk of being inundated by flood.”

Shawn Duke, a professional engineer on the project with Snyder and Associates, spoke on behalf of the project’s developer and noted a preliminary drainage analysis had already been carried out to determine the location of a new detention pond to mitigate runoff, with a full drainage study to come later with final permitting plans.

This google maps image shows the proposed area for the new 89-lot subdivision in St. Joseph by South Leonard Road and Deer Park Drive.

Duke said no additional runoff is expected to drain on to his property according to project analysis.

Properties adjacent to the proposed project are largely zoned for residential use already. The Thousand Oaks subdivision located to the south and east of this parcel is zoned as such. The proposed development of this parcel will be similar in form and density to the existing Thousand Oaks development.

“Thanks for bringing more rooftops to St. Joseph,” Councilmember Madison Davis said to Duke during hearing.

City Councilmembers also approved three grant agreements at Monday’s City Council meeting, including Community Missions (Emergency Shelter — $100,000), the Social Welfare Board (Dental Program — $66,807) and YWCA ($54,405) to provide funds through the city’s HUD-funded Community Development Block Grant program.

A total of 13 social service agencies will receive Community Development Block Grant funds in fiscal year 2025-2026 for a total of $401,694.

City changes parking rules for Olive and Pacific streets

Parking will be prohibited on the north side of Olive Street from Sixth Street to Eighth Street, as well as the south side of Pacific Street from 33rd Street to the Belt Highway, under new changes approved by councilmembers on Monday.

City Councilmembers approved a measure to amend the city’s code of ordinances to prohibit parking on the north side of Olive Street from Sixth Street to Eighth Street and the south side of Pacific Street from 33rd Street to the Belt Highway.

City initiates plan for evaluation of Water Protection Facility

A separate contract approved Monday will see the city execute a $66,934 work order with HDR Engineering to carry out an industrial evaluation of the Water Protection Facility, paving the way for potential facility improvements geared toward industrial users.

HDR is tasked with evaluating the capacity of the industrial wastewater treatment train to determine whether it can accommodate additional loading from existing industrial users. This includes reviewing applicable pretreatment permits, loading data, and compliance records to verify existing and projected pollutant contributions.

HDR will conduct evaluations to assess system capacity, identify limitations and evaluate performance under increased loading conditions. Based on the findings, the consultant will develop potential improvement alternatives, including conceptual modifications or upgrades to the treatment system.

City Council OKs large equipment purchases for multiple departments

Monday’s meeting saw the approval of more than $210,000 in city funds to approve three large equipment purchases for both the parks and streets department.

Purchases will include a $55,000 John Deere Cab tractor for the Parks Department, as well as a $39,130 Caterpillar 275 Compact Track Loader and a $119,882 Caterpillar 308 Excavator for the city’s Streets Maintenance Department.

Other bills approved by City Council

An ordinance accepting a deed of gift for constructed street, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer infrastructure located in Country Lane Estates plat 2 from Arium Development, LLC.

Execution of a housing rehabilitation contract with Debbie J. Banks (owner) and superior exteriors of Northwest Missouri, LLC, (contractor) for a housing rehabilitation project located at 1317 S. 25th street for a total amount not to exceed $32,780.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As St. Joseph continues to face complex challenges regarding unsheltered homelessness, local organizations and law enforcement are combining resources in an effort to create a solution moving forward.

The City of St. Joseph, Community Missions and the St. Joseph Police Department will work in lockstep to maintain health and safety along with providing services for all residents, including those in outdoor encampments, as part of a new partnership to respond to the city’s homelessness situation.

Addressing health concerns for unsheltered during the winter season and the need to reduce the number of homeless encampments, which is estimated to be above 80, were the top reasons for carrying out the new partnership announced on Monday.

“There’s been health challenges associated with the cold, and we feel like it’s time to reach out and give folks the help they need,” City Manager Mike Schumacher said. “The last (homeless encampment) count, which is a lose count, was 84 camps. We look at how many of those are vacant, how much bigger are some compared to others. They all present an opportunity to improve the lives of the people who are living out the elements.”

The joint partnership will see members of each organization making contact and engaging with individuals living at an encampment site prior to the encampment being cleared out. While the SJPD will be on-hand for these visits, they are solely there for protection and safety purposes.

Individuals will receive at least three separate contacts to inform them of upcoming changes, offer shelter and services and be able to get information for support options.

My Brother’s House, a 24-hour shelter, is run by Community Missions.

This includes the “My Brothers House” 24-hour shelter service that opened back on July 1, 2025.  Rachael Bittiker, the executive director of Community Missions, detailed what the partnership means for Community Missions and the 24-hour shelter, which saw roughly 400 people come through since it’s inception in July.

“What we’re hoping to get out of this and with the 24-hour shelter day, is giving people somewhere to go to. There was no individual shelter in this community after the Salvation Army had closed their individual shelter several years ago,” Bittiker said. “We had resources for domestic violence, but there was no shelter for men or women on the streets. The problem we experienced as social workers or case managers was trying to make contact with individuals that really wished to not be found.”

Bittiker is hopeful the effort will make a difference in the community moving forward, especially during the process of transitioning people from the shelter to becoming productive and self-sufficient members of society

“What I see is this effort happening and some other things being worked on that I think will make a difference in our community. Hopefully we’re able to transition people at a quicker rate out of the shelter to become productive members of society and be self-sufficient. That’s the goal for everybody.”

The joint effort to reduce encampments will begin in the near future, with specific locations being targeted that are identified as particularity harmful or dangerous.

In closing remarks, Schumacher stressed that while the partnership won’t immediately alleviate issues, action needs to be taken.

“Here’s what we do know, doing nothing won’t work,” Schumacher said.” I want to make sure to manage expectations that this effort isn’t going to all of a sudden remove homelessness from St. Joe or any other community. This is a national issue, but the population deserves our efforts and our attention to try and help them get out of these conditions.”

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