Author: News-Press NOW

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)– Training camp is where the excitement for the season begins.

Last year, Chiefs fans could only think about a possible three-peat. This year, they have plenty to watch out for.

“I’m looking forward to all the draft picks, some good form tackling,” Chiefs fan Jim Revey said. “We want some speed, some deep threats, we want Mahomes hitting his deep routes.”

The excitement and energy of Chiefs Kingdom travels from all over. Kathy Bagwell comes from Oklahoma City, and her fandom started when the Chiefs drafted number 15.

“I have loved Patrick Mahomes since he played for Texas Tech, so I became a fan because I’ve followed him forever,” she said.

Bagwell said she hopes to make it to a game in person but is enjoying her days off at training camp. Mahomes continues to be a popular player fans are excited to watch.

Many children also said they were looking forward to ‘watching Mahomes throw deep’ or try to get an autograph.

Other fans had their eyes on his favorite target.

“(Looking forward to watching) Travis this year, I’m super excited for the chance to be able to see him play his 13th year,” fan Jessica Bryan said.

Of course, a Super Bowl is still on the minds of fans as well. In order to get back and win, Revey shared what he thinks the team needs to do.

“You can’t accept anything other than winning. It’s simple,” Revey said. “You can’t be content to just go ‘ah, well we lost a game.'”

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As summer continues, something to watch out for is the highly contagious, new strain of COVID-19 called NB.1.8.1 or ‘nimbus.’

The ‘nimbus’ variant is known for having a painful throat based symptom, referred to as ‘razor blade throat.’ The variant is a mutated omicron subvariant.

According to data from the CDC, ‘nimbus’ accounts for 43% of cases in the U.S. and is currently the most widely spread variant.

Pharmacies are preparing for the demand for vaccines to potentially increase due to the nature of the variant. Several local stores also have COVID-19 at-home tests in stock.

“We usually set up a certain day where we make a bunch of appointments (for vaccines),” Rogers Pharmacy Pharmacist Beth Cathcart said. “We bring them in certain time increments so we know how much to order for that specific time.”

Cathcart also said the pharmacy does not want vaccines to go to waste so orders are placed depending on the demand.

“Normally once we get a big enough demand, that’s when we get the vaccines ordered and have the date available,” Cathcart said.

Updates regarding the new variant can be found on the CDC’s COVID tracker.

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Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Crickets are known for their loud chirps throughout the summer, and sometimes even in the winter, but did you know they can also help tell the temperature?

Crickets are small insects that resemble grasshoppers. Their ear-piercing chirps are more than just background noise, they’re actually a natural way to estimate the outdoor temperature.

Crickets are ectotherms, which means they are cold-blooded animals that rely primarily on external sources, like the sun, to regulate their metabolic processes.

Shelly Cox, a naturalist with the City of St. Joseph, explained the science behind the chirp.

“Crickets are a part of a group of insects called the orthoptera, and they’re in that same family with grasshoppers, katydids. ” Cox said.

As temperatures drop, a cricket’s metabolism slows down, causing them to chirp less frequently. When temperatures rise, their metabolism speeds up, resulting in more rapid chirping.

The connection between cricket chirps and temperature was first documented by physicist Amos Dolbear. His research led to what’s now known as ‘Dolbear’s Law,’ which provides a simple equation to estimate the air temperature using cricket chirps.

According to Dolbear’s findings, if you count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 40, that equals the approximate temperature in degrees Fahrenheit — usually within about two degrees.

While there are many types of crickets, the snowy tree cricket, often nicknamed the ‘thermometer cricket,’ is known for its particularly accurate chirping patterns when it comes to indicating temperature.

So, next time you are outside and don’t have a weather app handy, listen closely — the crickets just might give you a quick forecast.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Two of St. Joseph’s historic thoroughfares will undergo widespread sidewalk infrastructure upgrades with the help of Capital Improvements Program funding this year.

Just over $1.1 million in CIP funding will be used this year to repair deteriorating sidewalks and install new ones on both Charles and Sylvanie streets, specifically between 12th and 18th streets to provide ADA-compliant walking pathways on both sides of the roadway.

The project will also see ADA ramps at street corners and curbs along the streets replaced and upgraded, along with the reconstruction of several alleyway entrances. Side street approaches running north and south will be reconstructed up to a maximum of 15 feet to meet ADA compliance.

“Probably around this fall is when we’ll start seeing some sidewalks getting work done,” St. Joseph Public Works and Transportation Director Abe Forney said. “There’s some utility work that’s going on right now. And as soon as those guys are out of the way, we’ll wait on the contractor.”

City councilmembers gave their approval at Monday’s meeting on the project contract with locally-owned J.D. Bishop Construction. J.D. Bishop was the lone company to bid on the project.

A key portion of sidewalk upgrades will occur between 12th and 15th streets within the Museum Hill Historic District, which features an abundance of architecture and aging brick-laid sidewalks in need of repair.

The city is ensuring those sidewalks will be reconstructed with new bricks to preserve the historic integrity of the historic district, which is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This is a project that we actually identified in the 2019 CIP project and it was supplemental. So after all the 19 projects got done, there was money remaining,” Forney said.

Area resident Bucks Wright was walking alongside Charles Street on Wednesday and said the pathways are in need of significant upgrades.

“You got grass everywhere growing up in the sidewalks,” he said. “It needs a lot of improvement, a whole lot of improvement.”

City sewer maintenance crews will be working alongside J.D. Bishop Construction on the project to replace storm sewer inlets as needed.

A few trees will have to be removed during construction due to roots and large tree trunks causing sidewalk panels to lift, creating tripping hazards. Most of the existing trees will be preserved.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Symphony launched a new program for kids to learn, enjoy and create classical harmonies.

Beginning Adventures in Classical Harmony (B.A.C.H.) is a hands-on, child-focused experience that aims to combine storytelling, live instrument demonstrations and guided listening.

The program is inspired by the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach and is designed to help young learners explore the fundamentals of music playfully and engagingly.

B.A.C.H. is funded through a grant from the Norma and William Kenney Charitable Foundation.

“B.A.C.H. brings our mission full circle,” said Nancy Schmidt-Brunson, executive director of the St. Joseph Symphony. “We’re not only performing great music, we’re building future musicians, music lovers, and community leaders. This program gives kids a place to discover music in a way that feels exciting and accessible.”

B.A.C.H. will feature a mix of interactive programs, all led by collaborative pianist and Missouri Western State University faculty member Lorrie Dixon.

The program will debut on Thursday, July 31, with a private recital for children with the St. Joseph YWCA.

Community partnerships, local organizations, private schools and school districts interested in hosting or participating in B.A.C.H. are encouraged to contact the St. Joseph Symphony office through their website, by calling (816) 233-7701 or by emailing info@stjosephsymphony.org.

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News-Press NOW

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A St. Joseph man suffered serious injuries in a one-car crash Tuesday in Platte County, Missouri.

The crash occurred at around 10:30 a.m. on north Interstate 29 near Dearborn, Missouri, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

A 51-year-old St. Joseph man fell asleep behind the wheel, ran off the road and hit a ditch and several trees.

First responders transported him to Mosaic Life Care by ambulance for serious injuries.

He was wearing a seat belt, according to the crash report.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One child was transported to Mosaic Life Care with injuries due to a two-vehicle accident on southeast 32nd and Seymour Roads.

The call came in around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, where a minor riding a motorcycle collided with a vehicle on the road.

The minor was ejected from the motorcycle and landed in the field adjacent to the road.

Buchanan County law enforcement said the incident is still under investigation, and the case will be transferred over to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

News-Press NOW will provide updates as they become available.

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Ryan Eslinger

ST JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp kicked off on Tuesday, July 22, at Missouri Western State University.

Nobody is happier than the fans of St Joseph to have the red and gold back in town for the 15th straight year.

Chiefs President Mark Donovan emphasized the impact that the Chiefs have on the town, saying the impact has “exceeded expectations.”

“If you’re sitting in these seats in 2009 and 2010, you could ask some fair questions about what kind of impact this could have on St. Joe,” Donovan said. “You look at today, 15 years in, it’s measurable, and it’s exceeded expectations.”

Each player reported to camp; however, it was most notably third-year wide receiver Rashee Rice, whose participation in camp was up in the air after his official ruling was made in Dallas, Texas, early last week.

Despite all the news around him, Rice was welcomed to St Joseph with loud cheers from Chiefs Kingdom.

Each rookie was getting favorable reps as well. Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, looked healthy and was a full participant on day one of the camp.

After a patellar tendon injury ended his season early at Ohio State, the rookie tackle hit rehab head-on and was able to be a full participant in camp.

Omar Norman-Lott, Ashton Gillotte and Nohl Williams were also present for camp and were full participants, with Gillotte and Williams getting second-string reps towards the end of practice.

Let’s not forget about the Chiefs’ extensions- George Karlaftis and Trey Smith both received new deals in the offseason, keeping them in Kansas City for years to come.

Trey Smith signed a four-year extension worth $94 million, making him the highest-paid guard in NFL history.

In a post-camp press conference, Smith choked up, talking about how much this new deal meant for him and his family. It was the fulfilment of a promise Smith made to his late mother, whom he lost when he was 15.

“I made two promises to her, that I’ll get my degree and play in the NFL… And I promised her I’ll be the highest paid,” Smith said to the media. “My parents sacrificed so much for me to be here, so much. And to have that moment with them… It’s special, bro, it’s special, and it’s something I won’t take for granted.”

His teammate on the other side of the ball, George Karlaftis, also received a four-year extension worth $93 million.

Known by fans as ‘Furious George,’ Karlaftis said he was vocal about how much he wanted to stay in Kansas City and his excitement to get the deal done.

“I’ve been vocal about how much I love it here, I want to be here and I’m going to be,” Karlaftis said.

The Chiefs are looking to rebound from their Super Bowl loss last year, and it all starts in St. Joseph. Known as the hardest training camp in the league, the Chiefs are looking to use the motivation from the fans to push themselves back to the Super Bowl.

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News-Press NOW

SAVANNAH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A former Savannah police officer pleaded guilty to animal abuse following the death of a police K9 last summer.

Police K9 Horus died on June 20, 2024, after completing an overnight shift in Savannah.

Kansas City International Airport reported a high of 88 degrees Fahrenheit at 3:53 p.m. on June 20.

In his written plea, former officer Daniel Zeigler wrote,

“On or about 6/20/2024 in Andrew Co. MO. I had in my custody K9 Officer Horus. I knowingly failed to provide adequate care to the animal, which resulted in substantial harm to the animal.”

Zeigler pleaded guilty on Friday, July 18, during a hearing at the Clay County Courthouse.

Zeigler received a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) and two years of court-supervised probation. He also had to pay $5,000 to the victim compensation fund.

According to a probable cause statement from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Daniel Zeigler and his K-9 Partner, Horus, completed their overnight shift at 4:50 a.m., according to an Andrew County Dispatch Log.

Zeigler later contacted Savannah Police Chief Dave Vincent at 5:54 p.m. and informed him that K-9 Horus was dead.

Vincent responded to Zeigler’s residence and found K-9 Horus deceased. Chief Vincent said K-9 Horus had been left in the Savannah Police K-9 vehicle following the end of their shift and had died of heat exposure, the probable cause statement said.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Kansas City Chiefs may have fallen short in the Super Bowl, but their fans aren’t going anywhere.

Across the Red Kingdom, the energy remains strong. From flags waving on porches to crowds sporting red at summer events, the Chief’s colors are still everywhere.

“This is where championship begins and hopefully we’ll be in another Super Bowl,” Mike Poore, CEO of Mosaic Life Care said, “This time we’ll take the trophy.”

Many fans say this loss is just part of the journey and that they trust Patrick Mahomes and the team to bounce back.

“They’ve got something to prove now,” said Rhonda Ross, long time Season Ticket holder, “so we’re coming back.”

Social media is still buzzing with support, and ticket sales for training camp and the upcoming season remain steady.

For Chiefs Kingdom, one tough ending won’t erase years of pride or the belief that another championship is within reach.

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