Author: News-Press NOW

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Joining the St. Joseph Police Department proves to be both a rewarding and challenging endeavor.

As the SJPD looks to increase recruitment, there are certain requirements applicants have to fulfil to “make the team”.

Every officer begins their career by passing a rigorous recruitment process designed to assess mental sharpness, physical fitness and overall readiness for law enforcement.

From background checks to obstacle courses, this process ensures only the most qualified individuals move forward.

“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer,” said one potential recruit Jessica Wolfenbarger, “I want to break generational curses. I’m just trying to be better, be more for my kids.”

Before any testing begins, all applicants must pass a comprehensive background check. This includes a review of criminal history, employment records, driving records and more. Integrity and personal responsibility are key traits the SJPD looks for from the very start.

The first formal test in the process is the written exam, which evaluates cognitive abilities crucial to policing. This standardized exam includes several categories: reading comprehension, grammar and writing, logical reasoning and judgment, and basic math.

Preparation is essential. Candidates are encouraged to study using law enforcement prep guides, take practice exams and strengthen their detail-oriented reading skills. This is the first filter in the hiring process.

Candidates who pass the written portion are invited to take the physical agility test, which evaluates strength, speed, coordination and endurance.

The current physical test includes a timed quarter-mile run that measures cardiovascular endurance and base-level conditioning. Recruits must then complete a weighted drag, simulating the act of pulling an injured person to safety. The dummy typically weighs between 120 and 180 pounds and challenges grip strength and core stability.

Next is the obstacle course, which tests a recruit’s ability to maneuver through real-world challenges.

Obstacles include carrying and moving a 25-pound object, completing a tire run drill, walking across a balance beam, climbing a 10-foot wall, crawling through tunnels, climbing over a 6-foot wall, climbing through a window and scaling a 4-foot wall. These tasks test upper-body strength, coordination and endurance.

Training ahead of time is vital. A combination of cardio, strength training and practical obstacle course drills can significantly increase a candidate’s chances of success.

Throughout the recruitment process, professionalism, attitude and composure are continuously evaluated. Being punctual, respectful, and prepared leaves a lasting impression on recruiters, qualities that matter as much as performance.

“It’s a good process, it’s a good experience, and we’re looking forward to seeing how everybody’s gonna do today that’s testing with us,” said Sergeant Jeremy Peters with SJPD.

The department offers a competitive salary and benefits, including opportunities to test for promotion and specialized units, paid health, dental and life insurance, paid vacation that increases with time, paid sick leave, twelve paid holidays, a uniform allowance, two deferred compensation plans and enrollment in the LAGERS retirement system.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Training camp continued Friday, where fans were able to enjoy calmer temperatures.

With the hope of offensive line improvement, fans are especially excited to see rookie left tackle Josh Simmons play.

“I think bringing in the talent at left tackle is going to be huge,” Chiefs fan Joshua Graham said. “Protecting the blindside is a must… It’s a talented rookie draft class.”

The rookie class includes a wide receiver in Jalen Royals who has stood out to fans early on at training camp.

“Jalen Royals was a pretty good player in college and he’s a big steal (in the draft),” Landon Shelton said. “I think he’ll be pretty good.”

A deep wide receiver room filled with talent has young fans like John Aiello thinking about the 2019 receiver corps.

“I miss the wide receiver corps from 2019, wish we had that back,” Aiello said. “We can’t, but I feel like we’re starting to get our wide receivers back together.”

Training camp is the time for rookies to learn and improve ahead of a grueling season. For long-time fan Graham, he said he has patience for the young guys to get up to speed.

“I have a lot of patience in knowing that (Andy) Reid is going to do things proper,” Graham said. “They have phenomenally drafted and bought people in that they know fill spots and slots in their roles.”

Not only is training camp the time for rookies to impress coaches, but it is a place to make memories with fans.

For Susie Boyer, she has her eyes on a rookie who gave her a special moment after practice.

“Number 97, Ashton Gillotte, he’s just a nice person,” Boyer said. “He came over and talked to everybody, and I just felt like that is who I want to watch.”

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One of Missouri’s top farming groups will now be allowed to sell health plans that supporters hope will boost the number of farmers with affordable health coverage.

Signed into law by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe in July, Senate Bill 79 creates a framework for the Missouri Farm Bureau to offer health care plans to its 143,000 members.

The organization would be able to offer lower-price coverage options outside of the Affordable Care Act, which supporters say is needed to help farmers and their families who struggle to find options through the ACA marketplace or aren’t eligible.

“Everybody knows that whenever someone doesn’t have a health plan, that creates a lot of hardship,” Buchanan County Farm Bureau President Tim Gach said. “The plan that the Farm Bureau is promoting its planned to be cheaper than an unsubsidized ACA plan.”

Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Kurtis Gregory of Marshal, the new law makes Missouri the 13th state to allow Farm Bureau health plans, a particularly beneficial development for younger farmers faced with higher startup costs and tighter budgets.

“This was a grassroots type of legislation that we needed something for our rural community members to be able to have a health plan that gave them coverage,” Gach said.

Gach said many Missouri farmers find themselves either forced to pay for costly private health plans or be on a spouse’s plan from their employer.

“They are hoping to roll this out in 2026,” he said. “They are tailored plans. Not everybody gets accepted. But, if you are accepted, as long as you maintain your membership, you can’t be denied.”

Farmers are required to pay a 30$ fee to be a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau. He pointed to Tennessee, which has a 98% retention rate for its own Farm Bureau health plan, as an example of a state covering nearly everyone who sought coverage.

State officials estimate that roughly 15,000 Farm Bureau members alone currently have no health insurance at all.

“For years, our members have told us how desperately they needed another option to manage their health care expenses. The existing coverage options were simply out of reach or unavailable for too many hardworking families,” Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins said in a press release.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As summer winds down, the St. Joseph community has a chance to make a lasting impact by supporting local students through the 17th Annual Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive.

Presented by Mosaic Life Care and coordinated by United Way of Greater St. Joseph, this event will take place on Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug 2, at both the North and South Belt Walmart locations.

The goal is simple but powerful: ensure every student in the area begins the school year with the tools they need to succeed.

“It feels really good. You know, there’s there’s plenty of ways that you can give back. And this is a really easy, low commitment. It’s great to be able to come here and feel good and help out the community, especially the kids,” said Harlan Horst, a volunteer, “Man, it’s crazy. Somebody’s come out wit all these binders and it looks like they bought the full case off the shelf. And that’s that’s really cool to see is the the community’s generosity so you know, come help us stuff the bus!”

Volunteers will be on-site collecting new school supplies, everything from notebooks and pencils to backpacks and crayons.

Donations will be distributed through United Way’s network of partner agencies, including The Salvation Army, to reach students most in need.

Community members are encouraged not only to donate supplies but also to volunteer. Those interested in getting more involved can visit stjosephunitedway.org for more information on how to participate.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the first day of school inches closer, Missourians are partaking in the state’s annual tax-free weekend.

From Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3, all state and local sales tax, as well as use taxes, will be exempt on qualifying items.

Sales tax exemptions are limited to:

Clothing- any article having a taxable value of $100 or less

School supplies- not to exceed $50 per purchase

Computer software- taxable value of $350 or less

Personal computers- not to exceed $1,500

Computer peripheral devices- not to exceed $1,500

Graphing calculators- not to exceed $150

The exemption does not include accessories like sunglasses, scarves or hats.

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, shoppers can save 8% to 9% on their purchases with the exemptions.

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Celeste Springer

MODESTO, Calif. (KRDO) — The FDA says some beverages in the U.S. are under a recall after cans labeled as Celsius energy drink may actually contain vodka seltzer instead.

According to the FDA, cans of High Noon seltzer may have been mislabeled as CELSIUS® ASTRO VIBE™.

“Consumption of the liquid in these cans will result in unintentional alcohol ingestion,” said the FDA, though no illnesses or “adverse events” have been reported thus far.

The cans, according to the FDA were shipped to Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Below are the specifics of the recall:

Product Description
Retail UPC
Lot Codes

High Noon BeachVariety Packs 12-pack12 fluid ounce cansThese productshave silver lids
High Noon UPC:085000040065
L CCC 17JL25 14:00 toL CCC 17JL25 23:59 L CCC 18JL25 00:00 toL CCC 18JL25 03:00  Lot Codes are on theexterior of the 12-pack.(See pictures below)

CELSIUS ASTROVIBE Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition 12 fluid ounce cansThe affectedCELSIUS canswill have a silverlid, instead of ablack lid.
CELSIUS UPC8 89392 00134 1
L CCB02JL25 2:55 to L CCB02JL25 3:11 The lot codes arelasered on thebottom of the can.

People who have purchased these drinks can contact the manufacturer for a refund by emailing consumerrelations@highnoonvodka.com.

Photo: FDA

Photo: FDA

Photo: FDA

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News-Press NOW

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) ordered the Platte County Clerk and the Board of Equalization to impose a 15% increase in residential property valuation on Wednesday.

A news release sent to News-Press NOW states:

“The Platte County Commission, the County Clerk, and the Board of Equalization are unified in their opposition to this heavy-handed and unjust action by STC, an unelected three-person board appointed by the Governor.”

The release also mentions that the order is a direct result of both Platte County Assessor, David Cox’s failure to complete the county’s mandatory biannual residential reassessment, as well as, the county’s five school districts which are demanding property tax increases and cannot operate without “massive annual revenue increases”.

If implemented- the order would bypass the traditional data-driven assessment process used by Missouri assessors for decades and would replace it with “an arbitrary and onerous assessment increase dictated by unelected Jefferson City bureaucrats.”

Additionally, the news release notes that taxpayers will not have an opportunity to appeal the new valuations.

The Platte County Commission, County Clerk and the Board of Equalization said they would pursue all legal and administrative remedies to overturn the STC’s decision.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity held a ribbon-cutting and house blessing on Wednesday on the corner of 1520 Moss St. for a local family.

The ceremony kicked off with a ribbon-cutting by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, marking the 84th house built in St. Joseph.

Shayla Dial and her daughters were looking for a permanent home prior to reaching out to Habitat for Humanity.

Through 450 hours of work from herself and members of the community, she was able to build a dream home for her family.

“It means a lot to be able to provide a place, not just a house, a home for my family as a single mom.” Dial said, “I’m so excited. I can’t wait until everything is in place and I can sit on my couch in my new home.”

For information on how to volunteer, visit the Habitat for Humanity’s website at stjoehabitat.org.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One motorcyclist is dead following a traffic incident along the Belt Highway early Wednesday morning, according to the St. Joseph Police Department.

At approximately 1:57 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, the SJPD responded to North Belt Highway and Blackwell Road about a traffic accident involving multiple motorcycles.

Two individuals had been involved in the crash- one sustained injuries and was transported to Mosaic Life Care for medical treatment.

The second driver, now identified as Tristian Plumley, 23, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was found unresponsive at the scene.

Plumley was transported by Buchanan County EMS to Mosaic Life Care, where he was pronounced dead.

SJPD said a third motorcycle was involved in the incident, but left the scene before the officer’s arrival.

SJPD identified the third motorcyclist involved by Wednesday afternoon.

This photo, provided by the SJPD, shows a third motorcyclist involved in a crash in the area of North Belt Highway and Blackwell Road, who fled the scene.Courtesy of SJPD.

The SJPD Traffic Reconstruction Unit responded to investigate the incident, which continues to remain under investigation at this time.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local dry cleaner is dealing with a costly loss after its air conditioning unit was stolen right off the property. 

East Hills Cleaner, located at 2327 Frederick Ave., reported the theft earlier this week. The store owner shared a photo on Facebook showing a vehicle believed to be involved in hauling away the AC unit. 

“I was notified by one of my employees that our air conditioning was not working and I just assumed we had a problem and we soon we figured out that the entire unit was actually stolen, said Tonya McCrea, the owner of East Hills Cleaners.

According to McCrea, surveillance footage shows the suspect pulling up in an SUV. He had bolt cutters in his pockets, clipped the wires, and loaded the unit into his trunk — all in broad daylight. 

Nearby neighbors had cameras running and were able to capture a clear image of the suspect’s face. 

The suspect has since been arrested and is being held on a $10,000 bond.  

McCrea said the incident is a reminder for the community to stay alert — especially since she’s heard this wasn’t the first time the suspect targeted a small business.  

“I received numerous messages through messenger or people calling and letting me know who actually stole this from us,” McCrea said.  

Detectives received multiple leads regarding the suspect’s whereabouts during the investigation. Additional charges are expected, as this is not the first time the individual has been linked to thefts targeting small businesses.  

“Not exactly sure of the names, but I did have a few people reach out and let me know that it was not only us but other businesses as well, so who would know how long he has been doing this for?” McCrea said.  

St. Joseph Police Department Sgt. Jeremy Peters said cases like this highlight the importance of taking small precautions — like keeping the area well-lit or installing cameras.   

“It may not prevent anything from happening, but when it does happen, it gives us some evidence to start an investigation with,” Peters said.  

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and take steps to secure their property. 

“If something seems suspicious in the area, trust your instinct and call us,” said Peters. “And if we can do something, we will by taking that report and passing it to our detectives.”

SJPD is reminding both residents and business owners to secure their valuables, lock up their property and stay alert — especially during the summer months when thefts tend to rise.

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