Author: News-Press NOW

Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — On Thursday, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-25 authorizing the Missouri National Guard to assist state and local law enforcement in response to rising concerns about public safety and border security.

Ex-National Guard, Ron Carpenter said the decision may be excessive, but law and order must be made appropriately.

“National Guard may be a little aggressive, but we need to get on top of it and stay on top of it. Try to tamp down permanently. Wishfully.”

When asked about the correct way to protest in circumstances like these, Carpenter said it’s important to recognize what situations are worth protesting for and making sure that it doesn’t jeopardize your own well-being.

In the Press release, the governor cited escalating criminal activity, including drug trafficking and human smuggling along Missouri’s southern and eastern corridors, as the primary motivation behind the action.

“The safety of Missouri families comes first,†Kehoe said in a press statement. “This executive order ensures that every available state resource is being used to combat threats to our communities and support those on the front lines.â€

With a passion for voices to be heard, it took resident Kimm Fromm-Foster to find the right words for the decision made by the governor. Citing overall, the need for these situations to be the perfect recipe for more unrest and emotions to run high.

“As Americans have the right to protest,” Fromm-Foster said. “Of course, they need to be peaceful, but my concern is that they will be aggravated so that people will react with emotion and our Constitution allows us to have free speech and the right to protest. The governor is infringing on our civil rights and it’s wrong.”

While residents reflect on the decision made by the governor, some will be participating in the “No Kings” protest in St. Joseph.

In a press release sent to News-Press NOW, over 1,800 “No Kings” rallies will take place across the country on Saturday, June 14, where over one million people are expected to participate.

Organizers have said the rallies will be peaceful.

“We are coming together to stand against the increasing authoritarian excesses and graft and corruption of Trump and his allies in Congress. They’ve fired federal workers (260,000 out of 2.3 million or 12% so far) and defunded our libraries, museums, the arts, scholarship programs for minorities, public broadcasting, foreign aid, agricultural commodities for food banks, green energy, diversity programs, science-based research grants and cut safety programs like Medicaid and SNAP. All this to give tax cuts to the billionaires and add trillions to our national debt,” said Dr. Nancy Zeliff, who will be helping coordinate both northwest Missouri “No Kings” events.”

In St. Joseph, the “No Kings” Rally will take place from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and rally goers will bring signs and flags and meet on the public sidewalks at the intersection of the Belt Highway and Frederick Boulevard. More details can be found at https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/789018/.

In Maryville, the rally will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the sidewalk in front of the Courthouse. Rally goers will bring signs and flags. More information can be found at https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/788656/.

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The challenges of packing up a family in the middle of a war zone and starting a new life have inspired a local woman to write a book about her experiences.

Wilmary Rondon and five other family members were forced to leave their home country of Venezuela several years ago, due to military coups and increasingly dangerous conditions.

Although reluctant to leave her homeland, Rondon said her family’s well-being became the priority for her and for her husband.

“I always said if I move to another place, it would be with my whole family,” Rondon said.

Sadly, that family did not include her mother, who died of cancer before the family could leave for the United States. The U.S. granted Protected Status Asylum for Venezuelans due to the dangerous conditions in the country over the past two decades.

Rondon’s remaining family members, who made the journey with her, included her father and husband, a sister and two nieces.

One niece, a teenager named Wili, is now a high school student in St. Joseph and said the ability to be involved in a school that was not constantly shutting down or being being denied essentials has made all the difference for her.

“It felt like my education just stopped for about three years,” Wili said. “I feel like I didn’t learn anything, and then I started learning again when I came here.”

Education is a key value among the Venezuelans who were forced out. The International Organization for Migration estimates that about 61% of Venezuelans forced out of their country during its dictatorship have either college or technical training. That includes 48% who have a bachelor’s degree or higher, more than the U.S. national average of 36%.

Rondon herself holds a degree in political science but was not able to find a job or gain consistent access to key resources before coming to the U.S.

Rondon now works in St. Joseph as a recruiter, and her bilingual skills have made her a great asset to her company. Co-workers describe her as thoughtful, caring and hard-working.

She said her difficulties, which include the loss of her mother and her brother (Wili’s father), have made her more compassionate toward others, regardless of their background.

“I try to help people, because I like helping others,” Rondon said. “I have had a hard life, and that has made me more sensitive to others.”

In honor of her mother and as a testimony to her family’s faith and perseverance, Rondon has written a book entitled “Bajo el Mismo Sol.” The English translation of the title is “Under the Same Sun.” She said its meaning pertains to the diverse journeys we all take that bind us together and give us a sense of belonging, no matter our background.

“The book is really about how God was with my mom, my family and me through all the moments we encountered,” Rondon said. “God was our light through the good moments and the bad moments every day.”

She said she tried to stay in Venezuela for many years, until it became more and more unsafe for her and her family.

It was her faith and her family that encouraged her to pull up roots and leave her lifelong home, and she said that along the way, her family drew strength for each other.

She also had friends and other family members in the U.S. who had come years before, and they served as both encouragement and practical help as her own family settled in.

One such family member is an aunt named Zulima Lugo-Knapp.

Lugo-Knapp came to the U.S. in 2001, shortly after a dictator assumed power and, in her words, began changing everything, including their constitution.

Lugo-Knapp was an entrepreneur and professor of business in Venezuela and soon found that people with her education and background were seen as a threat to those in power.

She took her two children and left. She said her assistance to Rondon and her family was more indirect, but is part of a network of people who assist those fleeing from difficulty and finding a new home.

Lugo-Knapp said she is grateful for the opportunities she has found here, but she quickly added that she and the immigrant communities in St. Joseph also give back to the community.

“My main goal was to provide a better education to my children — one of whom is now a surgeon, and the other is an entrepreneur,” Lugo-Knapp said. “But, I have discovered that this move is not just for them but for others, as well. This is a great country, and those of us who come here want to make sure we are active in the community and actively build up this country.”

Rondon had a book signing at the end of May. She said she hopes her book will inspire others, including her nieces, whom she is now raising as her own.

Lugo-Knapp continues to build her business and to assist others in the community through various means.

Both are aware of uncertainties regarding migration and immigration policies, but hope to continue on the course they are on, as legal residents of the United States and of the State of Missouri, to make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling and make their communities better.

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News-Press NOW

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In response to immigration enforcement protests planned across Missouri, Governor Kehoe signed an executive order activating the Missouri National Guard as a precautionary measure.

The activation is in reaction to recent instances of civil unrest across the country.

“We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,” said Gov. Kehoe, in a press release. “While other states may wait for chaos to ensue, the State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach in the event that assistance is needed to support local law enforcement in protecting our citizens and communities.”

The Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri National Guard established a Unified Command to monitor situations on the ground and prepare to assist local law enforcement.

Executive Order 25-25 declares that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri due to civil unrest and calls on the Adjutant General, or his designee, to forthwith call and order into active service such portions of the National Guard as he deems necessary to aid executive officials of Missouri to protect life and property.

It is further ordered and directed that, “the Adjutant General or his designee, and through him, the commanding officer of any unit or other organization of the National Guard, to take such action and employ such equipment as may be necessary in support of civilian authorities and provide such assistance as may be authorized and directed by Gov. Kehoe.”

The order comes after almost a week of protests in Los Angeles and also comes before the nationwide “No Kings” Rallies on Saturday, June 14.

A “No Kings” rally will be held in St. Joseph from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, at the intersection of Frederick and the Belt Highway.

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — United Way is asking for volunteers to read with children this summer through the United Way Reading Adventure and for books to be given to children through different United Way programs.

United Way will partner with different programs during the summer months to help students improve reading skills.

The partnering programs include: InterServ school-age child care program at Wesley Center, InterServ school-age child care program at Sojourn Church, Noyes Home for Children and the Bartlett Center Youth Program.

Each program is held at a different time and volunteers are needed in July and August to read with students.

Volunteers will read with small groups of students for approximately 40 minutes. Volunteers can sign up to read once, a few times or on a regular schedule.

Children in the United Way Reading Adventure program will also receive books throughout the summer to encourage reading at home.

United Way also distributes books through several different programs to help build home libraries. New and gently used books for children ages six through 12 are needed as well.

Individuals and organizations interested in volunteering to read or donating books can contact Jodi Flurry at (816) 364-2381 or jodi.flurry@stjosephunitedway.org, or register online at www.stjosephunitedway.org.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local residents can add Vietnamese cuisine to their list of culinary destinations coming to St. Joseph in the near future.

Development is currently underway on a new Vietnamese restaurant called Pho and Banh Mi, which will be located at 139 North Belt Highway next to Hy-Vee and Cricket Wireless.

Demolition crews have been on site for two days renovating the interior for future development. The goal is to have renovations complete in three months and ready for business after that.

While a menu hasn’t been unveiled yet, fans of Vietnamese food will certainly see two of its most beloved dishes in Pho, a noodle soup dish typically made with beef or chicken broth, flat rice noodles and a variety of toppings, in addition to Banh Mi, a sandwich typically made with a crispy, airy baguette filled with savory meats and vegetables.

The restaurant would be one of, it not the first true Vietnamese restaurant to plant its flag in St. Joseph.

The store and building is owned by Joemo Holdings, LLC, under the care of real estate company Rubenstein Real Estate Co. The strip shopping center is now 100% occupied with tenants.

Stay with us as News-Press NOW continues to update this story.

The planned location for Pho and Banh Mì is shown at 139 North Belt Highway on Thursday. The store is located between Cricket Wireless and Rent One in the Hy-Vee area.

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Eligible senior citizens have less than three weeks to take advantage of a program to freeze future increases in their real estate property taxes. 

The Senior Citizen Tax Credit Program allows taxpayers over the age of 62 to apply for credits that cap future property tax increases. Nearly 4,000 applications have been filed since they opened on March 3, and more are expected to come in by the June 30 deadline.

Collector of Revenue Peggy Campbell and other office holders in the Buchanan Courthouse spent six months working to streamline the process of applying.

“It runs pretty smoothly,†Campbell said. “People are saying it’s easier than they thought.â€

The number of residents applying dwindled after March, but the number of visitors increased after impact notices from the Assessor’s Office went out.

“If they signed up for the 2024 (application), those impact notices are not going to affect their taxes,†Campbell said. “They can see that their value is going up, but they’re still paying the ‘24 tax rate, which is which is going to be lower.â€

There are two applications for residents. The 2024 application is for residents born before 1962, and the 2025 application is for residents born in 1962.

Buchanan County residents must pay the taxes on their primary residence and be older than 62-years-old to be eligible.

“The ones it’s going to benefit are people who are expecting to stay in their home for the next 5 to 10 years because all those new assessments that happen every other year and every five years, they’re not going to see that,†Campbell said. “Unless they make an improvement to like put a pool in or whatever.â€

Anyone interested in applying must bring in a document showing their birth date, like a driver’s license or birth certificate, and the deed to their home.

Completed applications are taken to the Collector’s Office. More information on how to apply for the tax credit can be found at https://www.co.buchanan.mo.us/senior-citizen-property-tax-credit.

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Chamber of Commerce is helping one local business celebrate its grand opening.

Tee’d Up is an indoor golf simulator business open year-round for people with all different golf-skill levels.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at noon on Friday, June 13, at 504 Edmond St.

Tee times and pricing are available on their website, teed-upgolf.com.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Fans of the Pokémon card game have always dreamed of “catching them all”, but high demand for new sets and scalpers who seek to resell the card packs for more have made it hard to find any at all.

“There’s kids that aren’t getting the product because there just isn’t (any available),” Pokémon fan Colt Skouby said. “There’s people that are staying six, seven hours outside of the store so they can get this product. It’s making a future generation not able to play this game because right now is the economic boom of Pokémon,” said Skouby. “These people aren’t collectors, they just see a paycheck in all of this.”

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) has been a constant issue, which dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has forced major retailers like Target, Walmart and Game Stop to have limited stock available for purchase.

Even local card shops like Titanium Cards LLC have had less cards available for purchase, with new and popular sets being harder to come by due to a higher MSRP.

“It’s like (running) a bakery,” Titanium Cards LLC owner Kyle Richards said. “There’s only so much that the production can make at a time. When more people want the chocolate pie, the better tasting pie, you have to divvy out smaller pieces. The local card shops have less compared big stores like Walmart and Target.”

As retailers continue to limit the supply customers can purchase, the high demand won’t be decreasing any time soon.

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PLATTE CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A 34-year-old St. Joseph man is in the Platte County jail after being arrested in connection with two burglaries in a Platte City, Missouri, neighborhood.

Logan Tipton was charged Wednesday with two counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of property damage. His bond has been set at $50,000 cash only.

The crimes occurred in the Timber Park residential area of Platte City, west of Running Horse Road and south of where Interstate 29 intersects with Highway 92.

According to a probable cause statement, Tipton broke into an occupied house around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The occupant called police, and Tipton was still on the premises when officers arrived. While being arrested, Tipton told officers he had broken in to find food and water. He later admitted to detectives that he had broken into the house through a basement door.

Also, according to the probable cause statement, Tipton broke into another house earlier that day. When confronted by an occupant, he fled in an unknown direction. Police canvassed the area but were unable to locate Tipton.

Platte County court records list a St. Joseph address for Tipton. He pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary in 2019 in Buchanan County and was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was later released to the Missouri Department of Probation and Parole.

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PLATTE CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A 34-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the January shooting death of a Platte City sports reporter.

County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd held a press conference Wednesday and announced that his office has charged Ruslan Huseynov with causing the death of 50-year-old Dennis Sharkey. Sharkey was a sports reporter for the local newspaper, the Platte County Citizen.

Huseynov also faces charges of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to the Platte County Sheriff’s office, the incident happened between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Jan. 10 on southbound Interstate 29 near Northwest 72nd Street. The sheriff’s office investigated the incident early on as road rage. Investigators received information that Sharkey and another vehicle had stopped on the interstate and the suspect got out of his vehicle and fired a single shot in to Sharkey’s vehicle.

When Kansas City police officers responded to the area, they found Sharkey in his vehicle unresponsive and he appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and later pronounced dead.

A search warrant related to data from Sharkey’s phone showed communication on the night of the shooting with a cell phone tower near the location where an ATF canine found a single 9mm shell casing.

That phone lead investigators to Huseynov’s phone that was in a vehicle that stopped on I-29 around the time of the shooting, according to court documents.

On Tuesday, authorities interviewed Huseynov and he allegedly confirmed his cellphone number denied owning a gun, according to court documents. However, a search warrant was executed at his residence and authorities located a 9mm Stoeger pistol in a safe in his bedroom.

Court documents also said testing by the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory confirmed that the shell casing located at the scene of the crime and the bullet, removed from Sharkey’s body during the autopsy, were identified and verified. They allege the pistol recovered from Huseynov’s bedroom was the weapon used.

Huseynov is being held in the Platte County Jail without bond.

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