Author: News-Press NOW

Chris Fortune

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — County board members continue to plan the development of a livestock show arena for local kids. 

Members of the Buchanan County Commission and Fairgrounds Board are touring East Buchanan Middle School on Wednesday afternoon and discussing a contract with the district superintendent. 

Part of the contract involves transferring the memorandum of understanding Buchanan County had with the school district to the Fairgrounds Board. 

“We will fund the Fairground Board,†Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson said. “Part of our funding would be for the purchase of that building, but that (contract) gets us removed from owning anything. The Fairground Board will own that.†

Construction on the new East Buchanan Middle School is well underway in Gower. The progress can be seen in a social media post from Al J. Mueller Construction.  

The post from earlier this week states that they are on track to open for the 2025-2026 school year. Another provision in the contract allows construction to begin in the summer if the fairgrounds were built to the west of the school at 301 N County Park Rd. in Easton. 

“That would allow us to start over the summer, if in fact, we could do anything, whether it’s pouring footings or things like that while the kids weren’t there,†Nelson said. 

Negotiations on the purchase price of the property are ongoing, but Nelson said prior discussions involved paying up to $250,000. 

“That’ll be something that the Fairground Board will negotiate,†he said. 

Members of the board discussed the livestock arena size in February and decided on an enclosed 160 by 250-foot structure. 

“Concrete would hopefully be started in the summer sometime and be ready to go after the dirt work’s done,†Nelson said. 

Other factors in the construction timeline include the availability of steel and the availability of a contractor to erect the livestock arena. 

One company told Nelson that if the board were to approve construction on March 1, its team would not be available until October. He estimates that the show at the arena will be held next spring. 

“I mean, it seems like a long time, but not when somebody says, ‘Hey, by the way, we’ll start putting it up in October,’†Nelson said. “It’s exciting, but I’d love for it to move faster.†

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Mayor John Josendale will present his annual State of the City address at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s next Public Affairs Coffee.

The event will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at the inspireU Children’s Discovery Center, located at 521 Felix St.

Chamber members are required to register and pay a $15 fee to attend, to cover the cost of the full breakfast. Registration and a cost of $20 are required for members of the general public.

If residents are unable to attend, but would still like to hear the address, it will be available on the City of St. Joseph website, as well as social media channels.

Registration can be done at saintjoseph.com or by calling (816) 232-4461 by Friday, May 9.

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Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As part of Governor Mike Kehoe’s statewide anti-crime initiative, Operation Relentless Pursuit will focus on capturing dangerous fugitives through targeted policing tactics and joint efforts among law enforcement agencies.

According to Executive Order 25-02, the strategies employed in this enforcement initiative will include:

The designation of full-time Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) investigators to each of the nine troop regions, and allocate budget funds to support one new deputy sheriff per troop dedicated to task force operations, including targeted efforts against criminal activity.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said the department has assigned one member from their special operations group to work with a local Missouri State trooper on a relentless pursuit.

“The only thing that we’re involved with, and what everybody needs understand, is that this is about wanted fugitives,” said Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett. “This is not about anyone undocumented or anything along those lines. This is about people who are wanted for part one crimes. Murder, rape, robbery and violent assault. This is an effort to make this community a better and safer place.”

Puett said the commitment to bring justice to families has been a driving force for law enforcement in removing criminals from the streets — a key reason they quickly joined the initiative.

“There are so many victims out there, worried about where the person is who committed these violent acts against them,” said Puett. “These victims need justice, protection, and comfort knowing that the person who harmed them is in custody. That’s always a key part of our motivation to go out and actively search for wanted fugitives.”

Local agencies began initial training last month and are now focused on identifying and gathering information about fugitives in the area to ensure their apprehension.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education has approved appointments of four administrators for the 2025-2026 school year.

Tom Evans has been appointed the principal of Edison Elementary.

Evans previously served as the assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary since 2021. He began his career in education in 2014 and has spent the past six years in leadership roles within the St. Joseph School District.

Sarah Stapleton will serve as the principal of Bessie Ellison Elementary.

Stapleton began her career with SJSD in 2012, serving as a teacher and behavior interventionist before transitioning in to 2019 to her current role as a process consultant.

Colin Pettegrew has been appointed as the assistant principal of Lafayette High School.

Pettegrew has spent his entire 12-year career in the SJSD. For the past three years, he has served as the district’s instructional coach with a focus on secondary math and science.

Prior to becoming an instruction coach, Pettegrew taught math at Robidoux Middle School for nine years and was also a basketball coach, department chair, summer school site director, new teacher mentor and math curriculum writing team member.

Brian Weed will assume the role of Assistant Director at Hillyard Technical Center.

Weed began his career with SJSD 15 years ago in the maintenance department, where he spent six years as a carpenter before transitioning into the classroom. For the past nine years, he has been the carpentry instructor at Hillyard Technical Center, where he played a key role in shaping future trades professionals.

All appointees will take their positions on July 1, 2025.

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News-Press NOW

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri Supreme Court ruled to uphold Missouri’s Prop A bond measure, which supports paid sick leave and an increase in wages.

Voters approved the measure in the November 2024 election by 57.6%.

Shortly after the election, a petition was brought to the Missouri Supreme Court to overturn the proposition, noting the summary statement and fiscal note summary were, “misleading that they constituted an irregularity of sufficient magnitude to cast doubt on the fairness of the election and validity of results.”

The law is set to begin on Thursday, May 1, where employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year are required to provide at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Drivers commuting along North 22nd Street across Frederick Avenue will see notable detours lasting for more than a month, starting in May.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 5, North 22nd Street will be closed on both sides of Frederick Avenue as crews work to upgrade a traffic signal at the intersection. North 22nd Street is expected to reopen on Friday, June 27, weather permitting.

The entire outdated signal system is being replaced with new mast-arm poles as part of the $350,000 project.

Traffic on Frederick Avenue is not expected to be impacted by the work.

Traffic on 22nd Street will be routed along the following detours:

Northbound traffic will detour from 22nd Street west onto Union Street to Frederick Avenue and continue just east on Frederick to North 18th Street. From there, drivers will go north on 18th to Holman Street before heading east back to North 22nd Street.

Southbound traffic will detour from North 22nd west onto Holman Street to North 18th Street and then turn south to Frederick Avenue. Drivers will head west on Frederick to Union Street before turning east on Union to return to North 22nd Street.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)– The Northside and Southside pride, originated from Lafayette and Benton high schools, carries through today and helps give pride to the city of St. Joseph.

The third public city school, Central High School has its own kind of pride for those who wear blue.

“We didn’t have that northside southside stuff,” Former Central Indian, Jeff Wallace said. “Our big thing was family all in.”

Wallace graduated from Central in 1986 and wound up coaching at his alma mater from 2010-2015. As a coach, he worked with many young kids coming from different areas.

“The North and the South End, you probably went to school, elementary school together, probably went to middle school together and then they went to high school together,” Wallace said. “When you come on to play freshmen football at Central, chances are you didn’t know many of those guys… Our job was to take all those kids from all those different background and teach them how to love and care about each other like brothers.”

As a player, Wallace said he felt the bigger rivalry was Lafayette. A contributing factor, was growing up playing with some of the people who went to Lafayette. Similar to the North and South Side, the pride for each school came with the rivalries.

“Rivalries were so huge when we played each other in football,” Wallace said. “Everybody wanted those bragging rights for the year.”

The school was not an outcast in the City with rivalries either. Wallace shared, prior to a Lafayette vs. Central game, an effigy of the Lafayette quarterback was hung off the press box.

“That’s how big of a deal the rivalry was at the time,” He said. “We won 26 to nothing that game, by the way.”

Although Wallace’s goal to coach at Central was achieved, an opportunity arose prior to his time-served at Central. Wallace was able to interview with the St. Joseph School District to coach football at Lafayette in the 1990s.

“In the end I couldn’t do it…” He said. “Just because you graduate doesn’t mean you lose your color. You are who you are and that just really never goes away.”

Currently, Wallace is the offensive coordinator for Atchison high school’s football team.

Still in the area of St. Joseph, he continues to see the pride for red, green and blue. Similar to the North and South Side, the pride for Central trickles into the community once students graduate

“It comes to a point once your not competing against each other it becomes go St. Joe, go St. Joe,” Wallace said.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — To help preserve Missouri’s natural resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation is providing support to landowners through funding resources.

The assistance provided by MDC aims to protect wildlife habitats and restore forests while also assisting landowners in maintaining their properties.

“We have private lands, conservationists and some of the things that they can recommend would be things like invasive species control, converting fescue and other grasses into native grasses and plants,” MDC Media Specialist Erin Woodiel said. “We do, forest and woodland improvements, recommend prescribed burn on properties every now and then. Burning a property is sometimes a very healthy way of keeping that flora rejuvenating.”

MDC recently worked with landowners, Jim and Linda Strauch to create a forest opening and wildlife watering facility to help the wildlife occupying areas of their property and areas near it.

Additional information on programs and resources assisting conservations efforts can be found on the MDC Community Conservation Funding Opportunities homepage.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District’s Prop 2 bond measure was not passed by voters in the April 8 General Municipal Election, now SJSD wants to understand the ‘why’.

SJSD is asking community members to participate in a brief survey consisting of 10 questions, which will take about two minutes to complete.

In a press release sent on Tuesday, April 29, the district said, “Your feedback is important to us and will assist us in making decisions to meet the needs of our students, families and staff moving forward.”

Those interested can visit sjsd.info/communitysurvey.

The survey will close on Wednesday, May 7.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education announced it will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, April 29 to fill a recently vacant BOE seat.

The Board requires all individuals who wish to be appointed, to meet the following eligibility requirements.

Be a U.S. citizen

Be a voter of the SJSD

Reside in Missouri for a minimum of one year

Be at least 24 years of age

Not be delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on your place of residence

Not have been found guilty of nor pled guilty to a felony under the federal laws of the United States or to a felony under Missouri law or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in Missouri.

Have filed, or the treasurer of any existing candidate committee has filed, all required campaign disclosure reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission for all previous elections in which you were a candidate.

Anyone interested must submit an application, letter of intent (reason for wanting to serve on the Board), accompanied by three reference letters.

Applications are available online or picked up at the district’s Central Office at 1415 N 26th Street. Those interested are asked to enter Door #5.

Applications and supplemental documents should be mailed or delivered to: Donna Baker, Board Secretary at 1415 N. 26th Street St. Joseph, MO 64506.

The last day to mail or turn in applications is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. No faxes or emails will be accepted.

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