Author: News-Press NOW

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the school year quickly approaches, The Salvation Army is gearing up for its annual back-to-school events.

The Salvation Army will be sorting through school supplies on Monday, Aug. 4, stuffing backpacks on Tuesday, Aug. 5 and will be distributing school supplies on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Distribution will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The Salvation Army, located at 602 Messanie St.

Those in need of school supplies must provide a birth certificate and social security number for all child(ren), a photo ID of a parent or guardian and the name of the school(s) the child(ren) will be attending.

For questions, call (816) 232-5824.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Longtime pilot Julius Rice remembers growing up as close to the seat of an aircraft as a kid possibly could, with photos as an infant sitting in an airplane evidence to back it up.

“My dad and my grandpa always had airplanes. So I grew up around airplanes,” said Rice, manager of Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph and deputy chief of staff with the Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing.

The spark for Rice’s aviation career, though, would come just a few years later: an elementary school field trip to the Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, one of the country’s premier units for tactical fighter planes.

“That’s the earliest memory of me going ‘I want to be in aviation,'” he said. “Those field trips with the young kids, that’s pretty important.”

Organized field trips to Rosecrans Memorial Airport and the 139th Airlift Wing are now a point of pride for Rice as a staple of their community engagement efforts that have taken off in recent years with an infusion of new events, technology and opportunities to take to the skies and enter the field of aviation.

Coupled with the success of flight leaders like Lute Atieh and his FlyTech Pilot Academy, launched in 2024, the two are expanding St. Joseph’s footprint in aviation and boosting efforts to inspire new generations to pursue careers.

Rosecrans Memorial Airport Manager Julius Rice, left, and FlyTech Pilot Academy co-founder Lute Atieh speak at the new Rosecrans terminal building in July in St. Joseph.

“I was like, well, let’s try flight school and see how that goes. And that went wildly well and very quickly,” Atieh said. “We’ve been really fortunate on the flight school side of things.”

While his earliest airplane memories may not date back as far as Rice’s, Atieh’s passion for flight and supporting careers in aviation has been just as unwavering, including working alongside Rice to put on the award-winning Sound of Speed airshows, winner of Best Airshow in 2021 and 2024 courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Now, the focus has been supporting long-held and beloved airshow events — next scheduled for 2026 — with new opportunities that continue the buzz of aviation.

“We have such a great airport. I don’t think a lot of people here realize it. We’re in a unique situation and we want to share that and make this accessible and available,” he said. “It’s an exciting time.”

With more than $35 million in widespread infrastructure upgrades over the last several years, including a new terminal building, runway and air traffic control tower nearing completion, the 86-year-old Rosecrans Memorial Airport is transforming from an aging and outdated facility to a state-of-the-art complex ripe for more opportunities.

Rice and Atieh successfully organized a first-of-its-kind aviation event for St. Joseph this June in the Pony Express STOL (short takeoff and landing), a competitive series where STOL aircraft orchestrate difficult and precise landings and takeoffs on shorter runways. The inaugural event drew strong crowds and pilots from a variety of age groups.

A large crowd of people watches aircraft perform in the Pony Express STOL at Rosecrans Memorial Airport this summer in St. Joseph.

“The more people you can get out here using the airport, the more activity, the more planes, the more pilots. That’s something that’s important,” he said.

Rice said a wealth of opportunities currently exist for an aviation career, some becoming available as early as high school and after graduation, while others can pursue more advanced degrees.

With critical staffing needs in the aviation industry only heightened by recent U.S. aviation disasters, from air traffic controllers to pilots and critical positions like mechanics and electricians, Rice and Atieh understand the importance of renewed interest in the success of the industry long-term, both for the public and private sectors.

“If we don’t go out and actively pursue the next generation of aviation enthusiasts, they’re not going to exist,” Rice said. “Across the board in aviation, there’s a shortfall in people.”

New flight simulator technology at Hillyard Technical Center offers another immersive layer to St. Joseph’s aviation scene, a particularly valuable tool for young aspiring aviators with little flight experience.

Atieh credited the St. Joseph School District with helping support efforts to engage students in aviation, including a new aviation maintenance program in the works at Hillyard.

“You’ve got the next wave of this electronic vertical takeoff and landing. It’s huge,” Atieh said. “One day, I think all of us hope to attract that type of a manufacturer out here. We’ve got plenty of land, plenty of space, lots of great workforce. And so that’s the long-term goal.” 

In the short term, Rice and Atieh are focused on the upcoming International Council of Airshows in December, part of the 2026 Sound of Speed Airshow planning process that could reveal which jet teams come to St. Joseph.

With high-level airshows and aviation events often coming with costly price tags, Rice and Atieh said support from the community and sponsors like Sunshine Electric, Altec and Mosaic Life Care, among many others, continues to make the events a possibility for the community.

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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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