Author: News-Press NOW

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Kansas City Chiefs will be officially back in St. Joseph, as Missouri Western State University has completed preparations for the team’s 2025 training camp.

This marks the 15th consecutive year Kansas City will host camp on the Missouri Western campus, with Spratt Stadium and the Mosaic Training Fields transformed into the Chiefs’ summer headquarters.

Ryan Menley, the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Missouri Western, has enjoyed the cool opportunities he’s been able to take part in at Chiefs camp. He’s participated in the camp since 2010.

“Many of the Griffs (Griffons) have become Chiefs,” Menley said. “I think that’s a testament to what we do here, the relationship we have with the Chiefs. Missouri Western folks have gone on to be successful in some big time roles for the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Crews have been working to prepare fields, workout tents, and fan viewing areas.

Fans can attend most practices free of charge by securing tickets online. However, a few select days (July 27, August 2, and August 3) require a $6 ticket. Children ages 3 and younger are free.

Season ticket members will receive exclusive access to camp on two dates ( July 22 and August 7), including opening day. Parking is $7 per day.

“What a great atmosphere, great opportunity for folks to come out in droves,” Menley said. We’re just excited to welcome folks to Missouri Western to showcase the best of our campus.”

The team will report to camp on Monday, July 21, with the first open practice scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 9:15 a.m. Training camp will run through August 13, wrapping up with Military Appreciation Day and an open practice.

Autograph sessions and special events, such as Family Fun Day, are also planned throughout camp.

The team will report to camp on Monday, July 21, with the first open practice scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 9:15 a.m.

The full training schedule is available on the Chiefs website.

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Like many organizations, churches struggle with attendance during the summer months.

Statistics show that pastors of both smaller and larger churches face the challenges of lower attendance and lower giving during the summer, when families are traveling and are engaging in extra activities with their children.

According to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, the “summer slump” churches face an average of a 20-30% decrease in attendance. This often means a decline in giving or tithing during the summer, as well.

Longtime Pastor Doug Walter, of Ashland United Methodist Church, said that for all the challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, one potential positive was that individuals and churches got into the habit of tithing electronically.

“Churches of all sizes have made a major shift about how giving takes place,” Walter said. “So most of our giving now comes from online giving, and that includes both younger and older attenders.”

Walter added that a wide range of online giving apps and programs are now available for churches of all sizes and budgets, and the technology is usable for all members of the congregation, regardless of age.

For Ashland, the teens who are involved in their youth group’s e-sports program set aside time each month where congregants can come in and learn about apps for online giving.

“For us, we have an offering plate in the back of the church,” Walter said. “People give in that traditional way, but the overwhelming percentage of our giving is done through our app, which includes planned giving where people set aside a certain amount each month that is electronically transferred to the church.”

Even so, larger churches like Ashland still experience the so-called “summer slump” when it comes to attendance.

However, another lesson that churches seem to be learning, according to Walter, is to provide alternate ways to connect through online services and services during the week.

“Families have ball games, activities and travel that will draw them away during the summer,” Walter said. “As the church, if we say that the only ‘correct’ thing is to be here on Sunday as some sort of ultimatum, they will likely not be in church.”

Walter said, maintaining a sense of community, even during times of travel through the creative means available, is essential for churches of all sizes.

Tim Doyle, who pastors Restoration Church, a congregation that’s been around for 11 years in Downtown St. Joseph, said that the impact of summer is especially noticeable due to his congregation’s smaller size.

“The challenge in times when there is a lull is staying positive about what the church is about,” Doyle said. “It is a challenge to ask for money without sounding like you’re a ‘money grubber.'”

However, Doyle said, the church’s main goal is not simply to collect money, regardless of whether giving is up and down. He said the key is to teach the overall principle of giving, so that whether people are present or absent on any given Sunday, they remember to give.

“You have those swings that every congregation goes through,” Doyle said. “But if people appreciate what the church provides for the community, it is the giving that allows that to continue. The church’s job, though, is not to collect money, but to teach people the importance of giving: Generosity is the overall principle.”

Since Restoration Church’s building Downtown is around 150 years old, Doyle said that it’s difficult to keep cool for any service beyond Sunday morning. Like many older and smaller churches, they find creative ways.

“In the summer, we shift around our classroom spaces to provide comfortable settings,” Doyle said. “We meet off campus at times during the summer, as well.”

Regardless of church size, both pastors said the summer slump can be overcome with creativity and with the use of online giving opportunities that congregants can now use to plan their tithing. Providing that inconsistent in-person attendance issues don’t have to become times of disconnection or financial hardship for churches.

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Associated Press

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER – Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department asked a federal court on Friday to unseal grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein’s case amid a firestorm over the Trump administration’s handling of records related to the wealthy financier.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a motion urging the court to release the transcripts a day after President Donald Trump directed the Justice Department to do so.

The Trump administration has been embroiled in controversy since the Justice Department last week announced that it would not be releasing any more evidence in its possession from Epstein’s investigation.

Trump’s demand to release the grand jury transcripts came after The Wall Street Journal reported on a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump’s name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein’s 50th birthday.

Trump denied writing the letter, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory.”

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Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW) — As the days of summer are ticking away, parents are preparing for a long-awaited weekend to save some money on back-to-school necessities.

The tax-free weekend begins on Friday, Aug. 1, and ends on Sunday, Aug. 3. Missouri’s tax-free weekend allows residents and non-residents to save on back-to-school items.

Items such as clothing, school supplies and computers are exempt from both state and local sales taxes.

Shopper, Hailey Hare said she’ll be back in stores the first weekend in August, after already taking her younger sister on her own shopping spree.

“For sure,” Hare said. “100%, which I’m also in college, so that’s when I’m going to do my shopping, but this weekend is definitely for her.”

While the tax-free weekend is an opportunity to save on essentials, it’s important to ensure that each item’s pre-tax total stays under the specified cap, including any required shipping.

The sales exemption is 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 

If you are shopping online, internet purchases must be fully paid for during the weekend.  

To learn more about sales exemptions and Missouri’s tax-free weekend, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue’s website.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Public Library is offering local teens a chance to get volunteer hours and to get involved with the community through its Teen Advisory Board.

The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is open to students in sixth through 12th grade. Teens on the board get to suggest new books, movies, graphic novels and more.

TAB members can also help plan events and programs to enjoy themselves along with their friends.

Participants are expected to show up to all meetings and be active, as well as attend planned events. If a member is unable to participate or attend an event, they are encouraged to contact a TAB coordinator.

The first meeting will be held from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Downtown Library, located at 927 Felix St.

Applications are available at the Downtown and East Hills branches or online at sjpl.lib.mo.us/teen-advisory-board.

Applications are due by Sunday, Aug. 10. Filling out an application does not guarantee acceptance to the TAB; however, applications will be kept on file for a year.

For questions about the TAB, contact Evelyn Holtzclaw by phone at (816) 232-7729 or by email at eholtzclaw@sjpl.lib.mo.us.

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Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW) — Tick season has been in full force for the past few weeks, and experts warn that the risk will remain high through the summer.

In Northwest Missouri, tick activity typically peaks from April through September, coinciding with the height of outdoor recreation.

With more people hiking, camping, and enjoying nature, the chances of encountering a tick rise significantly.

Ticks are small, blood-sucking parasites that belong to the same family as spiders and mites. While tiny, they can carry serious illnesses such as Lyme disease.

There are three common types of ticks in Missouri:

The lone star tick is the most aggressive and can be identified by the white dot on the back of adult females.

The American dog tick is larger and brown with white or gray markings.

The deer tick, also known as the Blacklegged tick, is smaller and darker, with female ticks sometimes showing a reddish-orange shield on their back.

Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, tall grass and brushy fields. Contrary to popular belief, ticks don’t jump or fly. Instead, they perch on the edges of grass and leaves, waiting to latch onto a passing animal or person.

Once attached, they crawl to a warm, moist area of the body and begin feeding.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recommends wearing long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, and using insect repellent.

Once back indoors, a full-body tick check is essential. Showering within two hours can also help dislodge ticks before they attach.

“The biggest safety thing really is just a full, thorough tick check,” said Erin Woodiel, media specialist with the MDC. “Checking all your nooks, crannies, and creases is key to making sure no ticks are burrowed into your skin.”

Pet safety is also important. Woodiel recommends keeping pets on a leash and away from tall vegetation. Once back home, carefully inspect pets—especially around the ears, under the collar, and between their toes.

Even with all precautions, ticks can still attach. That’s why doing a final, careful check after outdoor activities is your best line of defense.

If you find a tick, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, clean the area with soap and water, and monitor for symptoms like rash, fever, or fatigue in the days that follow.

For more information on ticks and how to stay safe outdoors, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation at: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/ticks

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph Parks and Recreation is set to unveil a host of new features to a centerpiece of the city’s parkway system next month.

Officials with the St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Department announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at Corby Pond on Monday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. to celebrate infrastructure upgrades nearing completion for the popular walking and fishing destination.

Upgrades include a new 20-by-40 foot pavilion for gatherings and events, an all-new restroom facility as well as new sidewalks to boost foot traffic for the park.

The new pavilion will look similar to pavilions/shelters at Bartlett Park and Patee Park and will be furnished with picnic tables, benches, trash cans and grills.

“We’re going to do something at night in conjunction with the Department of Conservation event that they were wanting to have,” Parks Director Jeff Atkins said.

Funds for pavilion construction were made possible thanks to a $202,641 Outdoor Recreation Grant awarded to the city from the Missouri Department of Conservation, which manages water quality maintenance and fish stocking for the pond.

The restroom facility was constructed using $320,000 in Capital Improvements Project funds.

Once installed, park supporters will see the pavilion located on the opposite side of the parkway as the pond, closer to North 22nd Street and by the new unisex restroom facility. The facility includes a 7-by-9-foot storage room.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local high school band is preparing to take the big stage at the annual National Night Out event at Civic Center Park in Downtown St. Joseph.

Sponsored by Target and the St. Joseph Goats, the event will feature free food, fun activities for children, including opportunities to explore and interact with various emergency vehicles and plenty more for the entire community to enjoy. 

National Night Out events across the country bring neighbors and local law enforcement together each year to build strong community ties and promote safer, more welcoming environments. 

“National Night Out is primarily a night out against crime,” said Sgt. Jeremy Peters with the St. Joseph Police Department. “Each year, the goal for me has been to try and make it bigger, better and more of a community buy-in to get more people out to our event and bring people together.” 

SJPD said they couldn’t think of a better way to energize this year’s audience than by inviting local high school students, who perform under the band name The Arsonists!, to take the stage. 

The band consists of six members: 

Solomon Goodman, vocalist 

Michael Werner, guitarist and backing vocals 

Lucy Goodman, drummer 

Izzy Luce, bassist 

Karson Wilmes, guitarist 

Ava Kay, drummer 

Guitarist Michael Werner said he’s honored to perform at the upcoming event, especially as a tribute to his father, Jeff Werner, who is a local firefighter. 

The band is especially excited for their first outdoor performance in the city of St. Joseph. 

“We’ve never been down to City Hall before,” said vocalist Solomon Goodman. “We’ve only performed at indoor venues, so this is something unique and exciting for us. Since the very beginning, my favorite part of performing has been seeing the smiles in the crowd and watching people forget their troubles for a while and just lose themselves in the music. This is something we’re really looking forward to.”

SJPD is encouraging the community to come out for a unique opportunity to engage with law enforcement and emergency personnel in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. 

The event is free and open to the public and will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Civic Center Park.

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Ryan Eslinger

ST JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Since 2010, the Kansas City Chiefs have called Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph home for their yearly training camp.

Chiefs fans from all over the world come to St. Joseph to watch their favorite team practice before the season kicks off.

For the last decade, the Chiefs have been dominant. Nine straight division titles in the AFC West, seven consecutive AFC Championship appearances and four Super Bowl appearances, with three being wins.

While Chiefs Training Camp is free to attend, it’s considered one of the most impactful events from an economic standpoint in St. Joseph. More visitors coming in means more business, which means more money to be made.

One business that’s looking forward to the camp is St. Joseph’s Rally House location. With a surplus of Chiefs gear for fans, Rally House Manager Jordan Newberry expects the store to be packed for another year of training camp.

“We get a lot of out-of-state traffic, especially from Nebraska or Iowa. So we see it pretty heavily when they’re starting to come in for camp,” Newberry said. “Then, as soon as it starts picking up like the week before, it’s insane.”

Newberry said fan favorite items are expected to be flying off the shelves, and when the time comes, the store will be prepared.

“We have been stocking up on a lot of signables, mini helmets and pictures so that the team can sign them. We have also stocked up on a lot of jerseys as well. We have an overabundance this year for sure,” Newberry said.

Newberry also said, one item is for sure to make its way into households this year.

“Mini Helmets always fly off the shelves, I don’t know what it is,” said Newberry. “Kids love them, parents love them, they collect them. That’s the one thing we try and stock up on.”

Apart from the merchandise side of Training Camp, other local businesses also see an increase in traffic and a bigger economic impact.

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Natalie Hawn, said local businesses love the extra traffic.

“It’s fun for the business community to get the extra hustle and bustle of not only the fans but also the chance that they might see a player,” Hawn said.

The Director of Communications and Marketing at the St Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Christian Mengle, mentions that restaurants are impacted the most in St. Joseph.

“Particularly for the restaurants, there is probably no other industry that benefits more from the visitor industry,” Mengle said.

This year, Training Camp has only one practice a day compared to the two practices a day in previous years. Because of the cut in practices, St. Joseph is not seeing much economic impact.

“We’re not seeing as much economic impact as we could if it was a practice later in the day or if there was a second practice,” Mengle said. “It’s hard to track sometimes, the economic impact specifically of free events.”

While the economic impact has decreased over the years, it doesn’t mean visitors aren’t still coming to St. Joseph.

Last year, the Chiefs estimated that over 80,000 fans claimed tickets to attend Chiefs Training Camp, proving there’s no shortage of fans.

As far as where economic improvements lie, it’s keeping fans in St. Joseph for longer periods of time.

“Just the average general day, we still get quite a few people from Kansas City that can still make it home in time for lunch, and so they are not spending as much as they could,” Mengle said.

While the focus is primarily on football, Chiefs Training Camp goes far beyond the field, as it has become one of the biggest events that is held in St. Joseph.

However, the drive for keeping Training Camp in St. Joseph isn’t just about the economic impact. It’s about showcasing the pride of the Kansas City faithful and is a chance to feel connected to one of the NFL’s best franchises.

“It’s a great way for us to show some community pride for our hometown football team,” Hawn said. “It’s not just Kansas City’s team, it’s our team too.”

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