Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Multiple members of the St. Joseph Fire Department are moving up the ranks after receiving promotions to key positions this month, including two new captains and a fire inspector. 

The St. Joseph Fire Department announced four members were recognized this December with promotions, including honors for several long-serving members of the department. 

Fire Department promotions in December include: 

Ryan Millush 

Millush was promoted from driver to captain on Dec. 29. 

Capt. Millush has served the department for 16 years and now wears the distinguished red helmet as he moves forward in his career. 

New St. Joseph Fire Capt. Ryan Millush, left, stands with St. Joseph Fire Chief Ivan Klippenstein following a promotion announcement in December.

Andy Peterson

The St. Joseph Fire Department announced Peterson was promoted on Dec. 18 from driver to fire inspector. 

“Andy’s dedication and hard work continue to make a positive impact within our department and community,” a post announcing the promotion read.

New St. Joseph Fire Inspector Andy Peterson smiles after receiving his promotion in December.

Matt Hill

Hill was promoted from driver to captain on Dec. 17. Hill has been with the St. Joseph Fire Department for the last 14 years.

The long-serving firefighter will don a new badge and helmet as part of the promotion. 

St. Joseph Fire Chief Ivan Klippenstein, left, stands with Capt. Matt Hill following his promotion to captain in December.

Mark Haenni

Haenni will make the move up from captain to training officer, the department announced Dec. 16, helping guide new recruits among other responsibilities.

“Mark’s leadership, experience, and dedication play a vital role in preparing our firefighters for the challenges they face in the field,” a post from the department read. 

St. Joseph Fire Chief Ivan Klippenstein, left, shakes the hand of new Training Officer Mark Haenni following his promotion in December.

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Leah Rainwater

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KQTV) — Kansas City International Airport officials said the airport is back open after a brief evacuation and lockdown Wednesday morning into the afternoon.

Just before noon, the Kansas City Aviation Department became aware of a potential threat in the unsecured area of the airport terminal.

“Airport Police and FBI worked quickly to evaluate the situation to ensure the safety over everyone, including evacuating travelers from the affected area of the terminal,” according to a news release from the Kansas City Aviation Department.

Officials said law enforcement was able to determine no credible threat to the Airport or anyone inside the terminal.

Once the determination was made, KCAD staff worked to resume normal operation and minimize disruptions just after noon.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A newly-created service award was bestowed this December to one longtime educator revered for her commitment to St. Joseph and inspiring others.

Loes Hedge, retired educator and long-time St. Joseph Chapter NAACP Secretary, was announced as the first recipient of the honored Triplett-Veale Service Award at a recent NAACP annual reception held at the St. Francis Baptist Temple on Dec. 23.

The Triplett-Veale Service Award was created in remembrance of the late St. Joseph Chapter NAACP President Charles Triplett and also the late Mike Veale, NAACP Assistant Treasurer. The award will be given annually to an outstanding St. Joseph Chapter NAACP leader through an application process.

Loes Hedge was recognized for her inspiration of others. Her efforts have strengthened the NAACP’s mission and the broader community. Loes manages meeting minutes and organizational communications with exceptional efficiency and promptness. Loes actively recruits new members and several times a year assists in voter registration.

Loes is an active volunteer in Juneteenth celebrations and Black Archives Museum exhibits. During Black History Month, she visits schools to educate students about Black history, further demonstrating her commitment to community enrichment.

The honor comes after the NAACP announced the new service award in early December in honor of Triplett and Veale, two men who were dedicated to the work of the NAACP, the Bartlett Center and other agencies aimed at helping the community.

Veale was a well-known local labor leader, most recently the President of the Northwest Missouri Central Labor Council, as well as a huge supporter of public education, and a prior United Way volunteer. Mike passed in August of 2025.

Triplett was best known for his over ten years of dedicated service as President of NAACP St. Joseph Unit 4085. He was well known to travel across the state of Missouri to help those who needed guidance or support.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Northwest Health Services announced it will host its first Mobile Mammography Bus at its Family Medicine Associates Clinic.

The clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2303 Village Drive.

According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, in 2024, an estimated 5,980 women in Missouri were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Across the state, a significant majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive, with the five-year relative survival rate of around 89%, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Health experts share through a report on breastcancer.org, that getting a mammogram is often the best way to find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable.

NHS said appointments must be scheduled directly with Diagnostic Imaging and participants are encouraged to bring their insurance cards. Walk-in appointments are welcome, but are subject to availability.

Those interested in scheduling an appointment should call 913-344-9989. While scheduling a mammogram, NHS said to tell the scheduler that the appointment is on the mobile coach for the date listed above.

Women ages 35 to 39 are eligible for a screening baseline mammogram; however, they should check with their insurance provider prior to the screening for plan eligibility and coverage. Women 40 years or older do not need an order.

NHS said the most recent screening mammogram should be 12 months or more prior to the current mammogram for insurance coverage reasons. Interested participants are encouraged to check with their insurance provider if they are less than 12 months.

Those who schedule an appointment will be sent a Breast Imaging Form and Medical Records Release Form, which must be provided at the time of their appointment. Participants will also need a Photo ID, an insurance card and the name of a primary care physician.

Patients are also asked to refrain from wearing deodorant, lotion or perfume from the waist up on the day of their appointment, and are also asked to wear a two-piece outfit so they don’t have to fully disrobe.

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Leah Rainwater

HARRISON COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — A 42-year-old female from Bethany, Missouri, is seriously injured after traveling off the roadway on U.S. Highway 69 Tuesday afternoon.

The woman, driving a 1995 Chevrolet S10, was southbound on U.S. Highway 69 and traveled off the west side of the roadway, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash report.

After the woman overcorrected the vehicle, it then skidded across the roadway and traveled off the east side, striking multiple metal objects before coming to rest on its wheels facing west.

The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was taken by life flight eagle to Truman Hospital.

The crash occurred at 3:33 p.m. on U.S. 69, just four miles north of Bethany, Missouri.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The second of two planned increases to Missouri’s minimum wage is set to take effect on Thursday, jumping by more than a dollar after approval from voters in 2024.

Missouri’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase from $13.75 an hour to $15 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2026. 

The increase is the second planned raise as part of Proposition A passed in the November 2024 general election, a measure approved by 58% of voters. The measure initially boosted Missouri’s minimum wage from $12.30 to $13.75.   

The increase to $15 marks a significant change from the rate workers saw in 2018, when the state minimum wage hovered around $7.85 an hour. 

The minimum wage increase in Missouri aligns with a growing nationwide political movement called Fight for 15. Missouri’s measure was backed by Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages. 

Since 2014, 28 states have raised minimum wage laws despite the federal minimum remaining stagnant at $7.25 since 2009.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Seven candidates are throwing their hats into the ring to seek one of two seats on the St. Joseph School District Board of Education.

Tuesday evening marked the deadline to file for two Board of Education seats on the ballot in next April’s election.

The seats are currently held by Whitney Lanning and Tom Richmond, whose terms will both expire in April of 2026. Richmond is a recent addition to the board, having joined in May following the resignation of board member Rick Gehring.

Voters will decide which candidates will be appointed on April 7.

Registered board filings include:

Cynthia Cook

Deborah Schmuck

Jacob McMillian

Cassandra Veale

Travis Smith

Kimberly Dragoo

Reid Barnett

Geoffrey Sollars was previously reported as having registered, but has since withdrawn. Among the candidates, three of them have been listed on ballots in local elections within the last five years.

Earlier this year, Dragoo and her husband were pardoned by President Donald Trump for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Dragoo plead guilty in August 2023 to a misdemeanor charge of picketing, parading and demonstrating in the U.S. Capitol. The couple was sentenced to 14 days in jail last year.

McMillian and Dragoo ran as candidates in the April 2024 ballot while Veale ran in the 2025 election. McMillian and Veale were also in the running to replace Gehring’s open seat.

Interested candidates saw the last opportunity to file today between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. as long as they meet a number of requirements, including:

Must have registered citizenship in the United States of America

Must be registered to vote in the St. Joseph School district

Required to reside in Missouri for a minimum of one year immediately preceding their election or appointment

Must be a minimum of 24 years of age

Cannot have outstanding state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on their place of residence. If an applicant is a past or present corporate officer of any fee office, that office cannot be delinquent in the payment of any taxes owed to the state

Never been found guilty of, nor pled guilty to, a felony under the federal laws of the United States of America or to a felony under Missouri law or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in Missouri

Never been convicted of or entered a guilty plea for the offense of assault in the first or second degree, or the offense of harassment in the first or second degree, where such assault or harassment occurred on school district grounds

Not registered or required to be registered as a sex offender

Have filed, or the treasurer of an existing candidate

Have filed, or the treasurer of an existing committee has filed, all required campaign disclosure reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission, when applicable, for all previous elections in which they were candidates.

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Danielle Bailey

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Training Division will soon gain a new member.

Capt. Joseph L. Armistead, director of the Training Division, has announced Sergeant Brandon M. Parker will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant and will transfer from the Division of Drug and Crime Control to the Training Division at General Headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri, effective Jan.16, 2026.

Parker was appointed to the Patrol in 2010 as a member of the 91st Recruit Class and has worked in Henry County, Saline County and Jefferson City. He was designated the DDCC Troop A Criminal Investigation Unit supervisor in 2022 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2023.

Parker is a native of Harrison, Arkansas, and a graduate of Spirit Lake High School in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He attended Ozarks Technical Community College and Missouri State University.

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Danielle Bailey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A local coffee company is brewing up a new drink in support of the Noyes Home and local children in need.

As part of a new collaboration between Hazel’s Coffee Company and the Noyes Home for Children, every dollar from a special new latte sold between Jan. 1 and March 31 will be donated to the Noyes Home, the nonprofit announced on Facebook this week.

Proceeds for the Noyes Home will come from the coffee shop’s new Animal Cracker Latte.

“By choosing the Animal Cracker Latte, you’re not just enjoying a delicious drink; you’re also helping support children and families in need,” the Noyes Home wrote in a Facebook post. “Together, we can create smiles and spread kindness throughout our community.”

Both the Downtown and Frederick Avenue Hazel’s locations will offer the drink.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– The St. Joseph Glore Psychiatric Museum was recently featured on the television series My Haunted Hometown, produced by Canadian company Blue Ant Media.

The museum appeared in Season 2, Episode 7 of the series. 

According to Museum Curator Max Morgan, the production company contacted the museum last year while researching locations across North America.  

The show focuses on traveling to different towns and interviewing people who have experienced paranormal activity. 

Morgan said the Glore Psychiatric Museum has always been open about its reputation for being haunted and regularly participates in ghost-hunting programs throughout the year. 

The episode is currently available on Hulu Live TV, YouTube Live, the Travel Channel and Philo. Morgan said that because the series is produced by a Canadian company, it may take longer to appear on some basic streaming platforms.  

“We were very excited to be featured. When I was hired, I never expected that I would be in a Canadian TV show, so it was a very fun experience.” Morgan said.  

Although the show typically highlights historic homes or buildings, the museum stood out as a unique and intriguing alternative.  

“We are housed in State Lunatic Asylum number 2, and the building we are currently in was a surgery and outpatient, so everything you see when walking through are doctor’s offices, infirmary, surgery, etc.,” Morgan said.  

For nearly a decade, the museum has hosted paranormal investigations, often welcoming ghost hunters from across the country. More recently, the museum began offering staff-led investigations. 

Morgan said all staff members have experienced unexplained activity while working at the museum.  

“We have had objects move by themselves, shadow figures appear, voices being called, we have had orbs caught on camera, just stuff like that is always happening around here,” Morgan added.  

He said activity seems to increase at night, with some employees reporting the sensation of someone walking behind them or objects shifting after hours. 

Morgan said staff members also report feeling a presence in the room. While the experiences can be unsettling, he said no one has ever been harmed.  

“We all joke around about it since it is a part of working here in this environment. For the most part, we are not too scared about it, but we have had people experience like doors being closed on them, and most of the times they are not angry but just spooky,” Morgan added.  

Although visitors and staff become more frightened than others, Morgan believes individual experiences depend on the energy people bring into the space. 

The museum will host its “Nothing Says Love Like Murder” series in February. The event will feature a forensic workshop, interactive immersive murder mystery games and staff-led ghost hunting.  

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