Author: News-Press NOW

Associated Press

(AP) — World War II Navy veteran Ira “Ike” Schab, one of the dwindling number of survivors of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 105.

Daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs told The Associated Press that Schab died at home early Saturday in the presence of her and her husband.

With his passing, there remain only about a dozen survivors of the surprise attack, which killed just over 2,400 troops and propelled the United States into the war.

An attendee asks Pearl Harbor survivor Ira “Ike” Schab, 103, to sign an U.S. flag during the 82nd Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Schab was a sailor of just 21 at the time of the attack, and for decades he rarely spoke about the experience.

But in recent years, aware that the corps of survivors was dwindling, the centenarian made a point of traveling from his home in Beaverton, Oregon, to the annual observance at the Hawaii military base.

“To pay honor to the guys that didn’t make it,” he said in 2023.

For last year’s commemoration, Schab spent weeks building up the strength to be able to stand and salute.

But this year he did not feel well enough to attend, and less than three weeks later, he passed away.

Born on Independence Day in 1920 in Chicago, Schab was the eldest of three brothers.

He joined the Navy at 18, following in the footsteps of his father, he said in a February interview for Pacific Historic Parks.

On what began as a peaceful Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Schab, who played the tuba in the USS Dobbin’s band, was expecting a visit from his brother, a fellow service member assigned to a nearby naval radio station. Schab had just showered and donned a clean uniform when he heard a call for fire rescue.

Pearl Harbor survivor Ira Schab, right, is saluted by various members of the armed forces as he leaves the 75th Anniversary National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration on Kilo Pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, in Honolulu.

He went topside and saw another ship, the USS Utah, capsizing. Japanese planes roared through the air.

“We were pretty startled. Startled and scared to death,” Schab recalled in 2023. “We didn’t know what to expect, and we knew that if anything happened to us, that would be it.”

He scurried back below deck to grab boxes of ammunition and joined a daisy chain of sailors feeding shells to an anti-aircraft gun above.

His ship lost three sailors, according to Navy records. One was killed in action, and two died later of fragment wounds from a bomb that struck the stern. All had been manning an anti-aircraft gun.

Schab spent most of the war with the Navy in the Pacific, going to the New Hebrides, now known as Vanuatu, and then the Mariana Islands and Okinawa, Japan.

After the war he studied aerospace engineering and worked on the Apollo spaceflight program as an electrical engineer for General Dynamics, helping send astronauts to the moon.

Schab’s son also joined the Navy and is a retired commander.

Speaking at a 2022 ceremony, Schab asked people to honor those who served at Pearl Harbor.

“Remember what they’re here for. Remember and honor those that are left. They did a hell of a job,” he said. “Those who are still here, dead or alive.”

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Hardee’s became the latest location to close its doors Saturday with more than a dozen restaurants reportedly closing in recent weeks across the country.

A sign posted by the restaurant at 3911 N. Belt Highway says the location is closed and will remain closed until further notice.

A sign posted on Hardee’s in St. Joseph on Saturday informs customers the restaurant is closed.

“Thank you for being loyal guests and for allowing us to be part of this community,” the sign reads. “We appreciate your patronage over the years.”

At one point the chain operated multiple locations in St. Joseph, including Downtown in the location of the now Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

The fast-food chain was established in 1960 in North Carolina, growing to become a fan-favorite in the United States before running into a prolonged stretch of declining sales in recent years.

According to reporting from various media outlets, ARC Burger, a franchise that owns more than 80 Hardee’s locations across Missouri, Kansas and multiple other states, reportedly owes Hardee’s more than $6 million in royalty fees and marketing funds.

The two groups are currently in the midst of a legal battle regarding the contract.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With the holiday season in full gear and families winding down for the evening with a good Christmas film, Missourians have made their preferences clear.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has topped the list as the favorite Christmas movie in the Show-Me State. This finding comes from a recent poll conducted by PixlParade, which surveyed about 2,000 Americans nationwide.

In a spirited survey asking participants to choose their favorite holiday films from a curated list of 27 classics, Missouri residents favored the antics of the Griswold family. Following closely behind was Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street.

Missouri’s Top 3 Favorite Christmas Movies:

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

2. Home Alone

3. Miracle on 34th Street

To determine the most popular Christmas movies by state, PixlParade conducted a nationwide survey asking respondents about their favorite Christmas films from the past 50 years. With this data, the survey was able to create a picture the best Christmas movies of all time, according to Americans.

America’s Top 10 Favorite Christmas Movies:

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

2. A Christmas Story

3. Home Alone

4. Elf

5. The Polar Express

6. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

7. The Santa Clause

8. Miracle on 34th Street

9. A Christmas Carol

10. Love Actually

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Seniors at a local nursing home received a special visit Friday from staff members bearing Christmas gifts and holiday cheer.

Advanced Care of St. Joseph held its annual Christmas party on Friday, an occasion where staff members hand out gift to residents while also enjoying cookies, hot chocolate and visits from Santa Claus.

The party provides an opportunity for residents to connect and enjoy holiday traditions, especially for those with limited family members or those who don’t often receive visits.

“We want to make this time as special as possible for our residents,” Social Service Director Alysse Staples said. “And make sure that everyone feels, loved. We appreciate these residents. We wanted to get them all gifts and hold this party for them.”

Staff deliver a gift, a sweater, to a resident at Advanced Care during their annual Christmas Party on Friday in St. Joseph.

Planning for the event begins in the spring with donations collected throughout the year, along with a resident adoption program in November.

Now in her third year working at the nursing home, Staples has seen time and time again the positive impact the event has on residents.

“It makes the residents feel very special. They feel appreciated when they receive gifts from others,” Staples said. A lot of our residents sometimes don’t get visitors or don’t have family members. Being able to share this moment with them and open gifts is very touching.”

For information how to donate, visit Advanced Care of St. Joseph’s website.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A construction worker injured by a fall inside a 10-foot trench with heavy machinery was rescued by St. Joseph firefighters Friday morning.

The St. Joseph Fire Department reported a complex trench rescue was conducted Friday morning after one construction worker fell into a 10-foot-deep trench with a boring machine roughly the weight of a small car on top of him. The trench was located west of the Missouri Western State University practice field by Interstate 29.

A large boring machine is shown inside a 10-foot-deep trench where a rescue was conducted by St. Joseph firefighters Friday.

Multiple fire crews from Engine 9, Engine 8, Engine 4, Quint 6, Rescue 1, Rescue 10, Ladder 5 and Battalion 33 were dispatched to the scene just before 8 a.m. to assist the worker, an unidentified 36-year-old man.

Upon arrival, fire crews noted construction workers were able to use a trackhoe to move the boring machine enough to allow the construction worker to get out from underneath it.

Fire crews quickly helped stabilize the situation and safely extracted the worker from inside the trench before getting him to an ambulance where he was reportedly transported to a Kansas City hospital. The condition of the man is unknown at this time.

“Excellent teamwork and coordination by all personnel involved during this complex rescue operation,” the Fire Department posted.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District provided an update to families and staff members on changes to school leadership positions and information on district reorganization plans for the 2026-27 school year.

Leadership positions were carefully considered based on factors such as academic and operational needs of each school, years of service to the district, general data (student achievements/attendance/school culture) and supporting transitions for students along with staff.

The following individuals have been selected for leadership positions, but are still subject to change if resignations take place.

Underlined individuals indicate a transition.

Benton High School:

Shawna Gilliland, Principal

Alan Hutchcraft, Assistant Principal

Jason Lenz, Assistant Principal

Justin McCarthy, Assistant Principal

Central High School:

Bart Hardy, Principal

Christina Prussman, Assistant Principal

David Chaney, Assistant Principal

Brad Spinner, Assistant Principal

Jeff Sullivan, Assistant Principal

Monica Flaska, Assistant Principal

Bode Middle School:

Corey Gilpin, Principal

Misty Burright, Assistant Principal

Lafayette Middle School:

Megan Gaul, Principal

Mark Anderson, Assistant Principal

Spring Garden Middle School:

Dr. Alex Tomes, Principal

Kendra Hodgin, Assistant Principal (half-time Spring Garden Middle School / half-time Truman Middle School)

Truman Middle School:

Landi Quinlin, Principal

Kendra Hodgin, Assistant Principal (half-time Spring Garden Middle School / half-time Truman Middle School)

Webster Learning Center:

Dr. Heather Renk

Bessie Ellison Elementary School:

Sarah Stapleton, Principal

Carden Park Elementary School:

John Wachtel, Principal

Dr. Becky Schilling, Assistant Principal

Coleman Elementary School:

Cindy King, Principal

Edison Elementary School:

Tom Evans, Principal

Hosea Elementary School:

Jaimee Lawrence, Principal

Jake Kretzer, Assistant Principal

Hyde Elementary School:

Dr. Leah Richardson, Principal

Lindbergh Elementary School:

Gary Murphy, Principal

Dr. Kaleb Johnson, Assistant Principal

Oak Grove Elementary School:

Natalie Arnold, Principal

Makayla McKennon, Assistant Principal

Parkway Elementary School:

Amanda Ueligger, Principal

Pickett Elementary School

Heather Gladhart, Principal

Robidoux Elementary School:

Darla Hunt, Principal

Holly Brady, Assistant Principal

Skaith Elementary School:

Dr. Becky Evans, Principal

Additional placements of administrators will be announced in January.

District information and reorganization updates

The district reported it received a clean annual audit report from KPM CPAs for the 2025-25 fiscal year. Mr. Jon Cummings will present the results of the audit at the regular BOE meeting on Monday, Dec. 22.

The district also announced several committees will be formed to help facilitate the process for all students, families and staff members during district reorganization.

These will include committees for addressing logistics, gathering input and supporting communication through the transition.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph School District saw a few changes in its Board of Education filings this week.

After the district saw six filings for two open seats last week. Candidate Geoffrey Sollars retracted his filing on Monday, Dec. 15.

Despite losing a candidate earlier in the week, the district later said it gained another candidate in Kimberly Dragoo on Thursday.

Terms are up in April for board member Whitney Lanning and newly seated member Tom Richmond.

Richmond joined the board in May after former member Rick Gehring announced his resignation.

So far, Jacob McMillian, Cynthia Cook, Deborah Schmuck, Travis Smith and Cassandra Veale have filed.

Three out of the six candidates have previously filed within the last five years.

Jacob McMillian and Kimberly Dragoo were both on the April 2024 ballot. Cassandra Veale was listed on the April 2025 ballot.

Both McMillian and Veale also ran as candidates to be selected to fill Gehring’s open spot earlier this year.

Any person interested and qualified to run for a position on the School Board in the April 7, 2026, election is encouraged to apply.

Qualifications to apply are:

Be citizens of the United States of America

Be voters of the district

Have resided in Missouri for a minimum of one year immediately preceding their election or appointment

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 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

Have not 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

Have not 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 be 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.

Persons interested may file at the St. Joseph School District’s Administrative offices, located at 1415 North 26th St.

Filings will continue during SJSD’s regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The district said the hours are subject to change.

Filing will not occur on days when SJSD’s offices are closed due to inclement weather or due to an unforeseen event in which the district would need to close.

So far, the district offices will be closed from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 29.

The last day for candidates to file is from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Candidates with questions should call 816-671-4003 or email donnabaker@sjsd.k12.mo.us.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Five new Highway Patrol troopers are set to report for duty at Troop H in St. Joseph after graduating from the patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on Friday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced the graduation of the 124th class of recruits on Friday made up of 25 new state troopers. Capt. Shawn P. Skoglund, commanding officer of Troop H in St. Joseph, confirmed the assignment of five new troopers to Troop H following the ceremony.

Troop H encompasses 15 counties across Northwest Missouri.

The new group will report for duty in St. Joseph on Jan. 5, 2026, bringing a wide range of experience in different areas, from U.S. military, law enforcement, corrections and communications.

New troopers assigned to Troop H

Trooper Matthew J. Dorrell, a native of Marceline, Missouri, has been assigned to Zone 4, which serves the citizens of Grundy, Livingston, and Mercer counties. Trooper Dorrell is a 2023 graduate of Marceline R-V. He joined the Missouri National Guard in 2022, where he continues to serve as a heavy equipment operator. Prior to his employment with the Patrol, Trooper Dorrell was employed by Lawn Boyz in Bucklin, Missouri, as a lawn care specialist.

Trooper Delaney K. Dunkin, a native of Norborne, Missouri, has been assigned to Zone 7, which serves the citizens of Caldwell and Clinton counties. Trooper Dunkin graduated from Norborne R-8 in 2023. After high school she attended Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods in Kansas City, Missouri, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree in 2024. Prior to her employment with the Patrol, Trooper Dunkin was employed by Ray County 911 in Richmond, Missouri, as a communications officer.

Trooper Raul Hernandez, a native of Marshall, Missouri, has been assigned to Zone 10, which serves the citizens of Daviess and DeKalb counties. Trooper Hernandez graduated from Marshall High School in 2017. After high school he attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice in 2021. Prior to his employment with the Patrol, Trooper Hernandez was employed by the Marshall Police Department as a police officer.

Trooper Noah M. Newland, a native of Queen City, Missouri, has been assigned to Zone 2, which serves the citizens of Nodaway and Worth counties. Trooper Newland graduated from Schuyler County R-1 in 2022. After high school he attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. Prior to his employment with the Patrol, Trooper Newland was employed by Dollar General in Maryville, Missouri, as a sales associate.

Trooper Lucas N. Reynolds, a native of Chillicothe, Missouri, has been assigned to Zone 4, which serves the citizens of Grundy, Livingston, and Mercer counties. Trooper Reynolds graduated from Chillicothe High School in 2023. Prior to his employment with the Patrol, Trooper Reynolds was employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections, as a corrections officer.

A full list of graduates

Troop A

Trooper Tyler S. Lutjen (Clinton, MO) – Zone 11, Cass County

Trooper Caleb C. Venegoni (Miami, OK) – Zone 14, Bates County

Troop B

Trooper Miles A. Hayden (Zionsville, IN) – Zone 11, Randolph and Monroe Counties

Trooper Jordan N. Schafer (Hannibal, MO) – Zone 10, Randolph and Monroe Counties

Trooper Caden M. Wilson (Provo, UT) – Zone 6, Clark and Scotland Counties

Troop C

Trooper Timonthy G. Busse (Potosi, MO) – Zone 14, St. Francois and Washington Counties

Trooper Brady R. Cook (Farmington, MO) – Zone 1, North St. Louis County

Trooper Nicholas A. Konopelski (St. Peters, MO) – Zone 8, St. Charles County

Trooper Brenna C. Langenberg (New Haven, MO) – Zone 10, Franklin County

Troop D

Trooper Kyle J. Atkisson (Grovespring, MO) – Zone 16, Hickory and Dallas Counties

Trooper Blake T. Cook (Farmington, MO) – Zone 10, Webster County

Trooper Nels C. Fry (Waynesville, MO) – Zone 3, Polk County

Trooper Eric S. Leek (Carthage, MO) – Zone 14, Barry County

Troop E

Trooper Grant D. Miller (Piedmont, MO) – Zone 11, Stoddard County

Trooper Matthew J. Schroeder (Doniphan, MO) – Zone 7, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot Counties

Trooper Nikolas S. Smith (Senath, MO) – Zone 8, New Madrid and Pemiscot Counties

Trooper Zachary G. Thren (Tell City, IN) – Zone 7, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot Counties

Troop F

Trooper Jace H. Adams (Hannibal, MO) – Zone 7, Cooper and Howard Counties

Troop G

Trooper Adam C. White (Battlefield, MO) – Zone 5, Douglas and Ozark Counties

Troop I

Trooper Thomas A. Kneuper (Rolla, MO) – Zone 6, Pulaski County

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Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs appear to be mere days away from taking a big step toward a move across the state line, and eventually leaving their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri for a new and likely covered stadium in Kansas.

With a year-end deadline approaching, the Legislative Coordinating Council is scheduled to meet Monday in Topeka, Kansas, where it will consider approving STAR bonds that would fund up to 70% of a stadium project to help lure the NFL franchise to the state.

The Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals have played for more than 50 years in side-by-side stadiums in Jackson County, Missouri. But those leases are due to expire in January 2031, and the two franchises have been working for years on their future plans.

Voters in Jackson County soundly defeated a local sales tax extension last year that would have helped to finance an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead and a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City. Since then, the Chiefs and Royals have pursued separate plans, though momentum appears to be growing behind both of them moving to Kansas.

The likely destination for the Chiefs is The Legends, a regional shopping mall and commercial area in Kansas City, Kansas. There is plenty of land available for a stadium and mixed-use commercial district, but it also has anchors in place, such as Kansas Speedway, the Hollywood Casino and Children’s Mercy Park, the home of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

The location is also ideal because it stands at the crossroads of Interstates 70 and 435, allowing for relatively easy traffic flow.

“The state of Kansas is in active discussions with the Kansas City Chiefs about the prospects of building a new stadium and other facilities in Kansas,” the Kansas Department of Commerce said in a statement. “No final agreement has been reached, but this would be a massive economic win for Kansas and benefit Kansans for generations to come. We are aggressively pursuing this opportunity.”

It would also be a massive loss for Missouri, which lost the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles a decade ago, and Gov. Mike Kehoe. He had backed a special legislative session in June to authorize bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.

Missouri’s move came after Kansas lawmakers had approved their own bond package in an attempt to land the two franchises.

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt has long said that his preference would be to renovated Arrowhead Stadium, which was beloved by his father and team founder, the late Lamar Hunt. But by building an enclosed facility, the Chiefs would have access to revenue streams not available at Arrowhead Stadium, such as new luxury seating and the ability to host year-round sporting events.

That could mean fulfilling another dream of Lamar Hunt: hosting a Super Bowl.

While the Royals will not be discussed during the LCC meeting Monday, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be moving across the state line as well. There is a groundswell of support for the team to move to the suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, and a tract of land known as the Aspiria Campus that once served as the headquarters for Sprint and now houses the offices of several companies.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who has been working to keep both of the professional sports franchises on the Missouri side of the state line, issued a statement Thursday night saying that the city doesn’t negotiate in public.

“As the city and our Missouri partners continue discussions with our long-term partners at the Chiefs and the Royals,” the statement read, “we remain steadfast in working toward an arrangement in the best interest of our community and the greatest success of our teams on and off the field.”

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A partnership with Santa Claus, Christmas elves and the Grinch resulted in a massive success for local families and law enforcement.

Spreading the Christmas cheer, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department featured deputies and staff dressed as classic holiday characters on Thursday singing carols as they delivered gifts for the annual AFL-CIO Adopt-A-Family Program. Four families and three seniors were adopted and selected by the department to receive gifts such as kids toys and household essentials.

One lucky family who was selected was St. Joseph resident Crystal Smith, who expressed gratitude and appreciation for members of the community, organizations and law enforcement who helped her family.

Deputies and staff with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department hand out presents as part of AFL-CIO’s Adopt-A-Family program on Thursday in St. Joseph.

“It is the biggest blessing we could ask for. When it comes to Christmas this year, with my health conditions, my husband being the only one working and having two kids, we wouldn’t have applied much of anything,” Smith said. “Maybe we would have enough to spend $50 each between my two children. I hoped my kids could each get maybe three or four gifts, that would have been perfect for us. This is more than I could have dreamed of. Even little things like laundry soap is big because we don’t have it to wash laundry. I don’t know how else to put it, I’m just very thankful.”

The Adopt-A-Family program has long been a significant tradition for the department and its community outreach efforts. Officers come during their off days to deliver gifts, dress up in holiday clothing and hold gatherings with community members, including events like hot dog eating competitions.

“We love going out and helping folks that need help at Christmas,” Sheriff Bill Puett said. “The hot dog eating contest, paying for your jeans on Friday, it’s different things throughout the year to help people in need. You can see today all the kids and families we’re so excited to interact with the Grinch and Santa. The members of the Sheriff’s Office love doing this.”

Anyone still interested in participating in the Adopt-A-Family program before Christmas can contact the organization at 816-364-1131 or find more information on their Facebook page.

Members of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department pose for a group photo before handing out gifts from AFL-CIO’s Adopt-A-Family program on Thursday in St. Joseph.

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