Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Buchanan County is stepping up this holiday season to provide support for a rural public safety agency.

Buchanan County Commissioners signed off on a court order to donate a 2000 Ford Ambulance to the Dekalb Fire Protection District during Friday’s meeting at the Buchanan County Courthouse.

The large vehicle — which has exceeded its useful life as an ambulance — will be repurposed to serve multiple department uses according to Buchanan County Western District Commissioner Ron Hook. The ambulance will not be used for transporting patients however.

Despite being an older used vehicle, Hook said donations of equipment or vehicles can be particularly useful for rural public safety agencies often working with fewer resources and funding.

“We’ve donated seven or eight vehicles to different counties or agencies when we’re able to. It helps them out,” Hook said.

The Dekalb Fire District serves a population of roughly 1,300 residents and a commuting population around 20,000 each week, employing a volunteer labor force of 27 people according to its website. 

Holt and Andrew County have also benefitted from recent vehicle donations from the Buchanan County Commission, with each receiving three decommissioned patrol vehicles for a range of potential uses in recent months.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– Cheers from students from Northwest Missouri area schools filled MWSU’s Fieldhouse as the Griffons men’s basketball team competed against Avila University Tuesday.

The university welcomed over 3,000 students from 20 elementary and middle schools across eight surrounding counties.  

Participating schools included Cameron, Rushville, East Buchanan, Mount City and Union Star, among others. 

Angie Osborn, director of the Center for Service at MoWest, said the event is especially enjoyable because it allows children to experience a college basketball game firsthand. 

“I just love seeing the kids get excited and enjoy this reward that they have earned by going to school every day and being such good students,” Osborn added.  

Osborn said the university is always happy to welcome young students to campus, particularly for events like Education Day, where they can learn more about college life, sporting events, campus activities and more.

Osborn described the energy inside the arena as “insane and very infectious,” especially as some students were experiencing their first college basketball game.

“Our student-athletes are very good role models for young children, so that’s giving them something to strive for their own lives,” Osborn said.  

Seventh-grader Oliver Evans from St. Francis Xavier said the experience was especially exciting because it took place during the school day. 

When asked what he was most looking forward to, Evans said he was excited to see the players dunk and to cheer for them.  

“I have been to many Missouri Western games, and this isn’t my first time, and I am looking forward to people making three pointers and dunking each other,” Evans said.  

Evans said he wished he could tell his classmates how exciting the experience was and said he hopes to attend the event every year. 

Another student from St. Francis Xavier, Lila Culver, also shared her enthusiasm, saying she enjoyed watching the two teams compete.  

“They both look really good and seem to have good team spirit who really want to win,” said Culver.

The men’s basketball team was able to pull out a 98-81 win, with the help of their audience.

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Leah Rainwater

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) — One academy has chosen its next group of future young leaders to make an impact, not only locally, but across the globe.

Students ages eight through 18 who wish to participate in the Inspirations Leadership Academy must apply and be accepted into the program.

Accepted students meet on the first Wednesday of each month from October through June. Participation is required for consideration as a Junior Staff Member (assistant teacher) at Inspirations.

In November, members of the class helped the Andrew County Food Pantry with distributing Thanksgiving meals at the Savannah United Methodist Church.

For the 2025-2026 season, 13 new leaders were chosen:

Kaitlyn B.

Payton C.

Olivia C.

Billie C.

Josie C.

Elaine R.

Piper T.

Miley W.

Harper W.

Grayson W.

Addie W.

Hope Z.

Mercy Z.

The “Taking Shape Star Leader” curriculum will be utilized with a focus on growing young leaders who impact Here, Near and Far.

“I’m looking forward to continuing this wonderful program,” said Mary Ingersoll, Inspirations owner. “It was a true highlight for me the last few seasons and I can’t wait to see what this year will bring!”

Inspirations Academy has been sharing dance technique and appreciation, inspiring students to love the arts for a lifetime, since 2007 in Savannah, Missouri.

The academy includes dance and fine arts instruction during the summer and after school at Minnie Cline and John Glenn Elementary Schools, serving students in the Savannah R-3 School District.

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Leah Rainwater

ANDREW COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — The Missouri Department of Transportation said it will close a portion of Interstate 229/U.S. Route 71 beginning Thursday.

Northbound I-229/U.S. Route 71 below Interstate 29 and the ramp from southbound I-29 to northbound U.S. Route 71 (Exit 56A) will be unavailable due to concrete replacement.

The closure will last from 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 through 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

MoDOT said travelers will need to use an alternate route during the closure. All work is weather-permitting and schedules are subject to change.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — With Christmas just around the corner, consumers are still finishing up their last-minute shopping.

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales for 2025 are expected to grow between 3.7% and 4.2% compared to 2024. Whether shopping online or in stores, consumers are encouraged to take precautions to ensure a safe and secure holiday gift-buying experience for their loved ones.

St. Joseph Police Department crime prevention officer, Sgt. Jeremy Peters said the most common mistake consumers make is clicking links to malicious websites.

“They will see an advertisement on maybe Facebook for something. They click a link, they follow it and they put some of their information or their credit card information, not realizing it’s a compromised website,” he said. “Then their credit information is stolen and used fraudulently.”

According to McAfee, one in three Americans has fallen victim to an online scam during the holiday season – and of the 58% of those who’ve lost money to such scams, nearly one in 10 has lost over $1,000.

Peters said scams increase during the holiday season because there is more online activity and shopping in general.

“The scams will increase because there is a lot of demand for purchases. There are more opportunities for scammers to take advantage,” Peters said.

Peters even shared a few tips on what online shoppers should be aware of as they do any last-minute Christmas shopping.

“If you’re shopping online, make sure you’re using familiar websites, and go to the actual business website. Don’t follow links to places from your email or links that are sent to you on Facebook. Look at the webpage, the web address and make sure it’s a secure web address,” he said. “Take a couple of extra steps. Slow down. Look through what you’re doing and make a good decision, what you’re doing online.”

Peters said if the deal is too good to be true, then it probably isn’t worth attempting to make a purchase.

“If something seems too cheap, and you know it is something that should probably cost and it’s coming in way undervalue. It’s probably a reason for that, especially for something on Facebook Marketplace. If it’s something that is a generally expensive item and listed much cheaper, and they’re trying to get rid of it very quickly. It’s probably stolen, or there’s something going on, and you want to consider what you’re doing.”

Consumers shopping for gifts online should contact the St. Joseph Police Department if they think they are being scammed.

“Let them know the fraudulent activity. They can put some monitors in place on your bank account. They can also go ahead and cancel your credit or debit card and issue a new one to you,” he said. “That way, any further transitions will be permitted. Once that’s done, make a police report with us once there is fraudulent activity showing up on your account.”

Consumers can contact the department by calling 816-271-4777.

Peters said there are a few tips shoppers can keep in mind while out in crowded stores.

“Keep an eye on your belongings, don’t leave purses or wallets unattended, and just be aware who’s around you at all times,” Peters said. “Whenever you are shopping, and you’re paying at a point of sale at a retail store, it doesn’t hurt to double-check the credit card machine to make sure there is not a credit card scammer in place.”

Peters said when transporting large purchases back to the vehicle, try to put them out of sight and cover them.

“Unfortunately, there are people who go around looking in vehicles for opportunities to steal things. If they do see something high-value or expensive lying out, then they are going to try to potentially steal,” he said. “If you do have to leave stuff unattended in vechicle make sure you lock it and try to conceal it.”

Consumers should park in well-lit areas, keep an eye on what’s being left in the vehicle and be aware of their surroundings.

“Just be alert and aware of what’s going on around you. Pay attention to what other people are doing and generally keep your safety in mind when doing things,” he said.

Peters said if any suspicious activity is noticed, contact the police department.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Support for those struggling with all forms of gambling addiction is being prioritized with the help of a local behavioral health facility in St. Joseph.

The Family Guidance Center for Behavioral Healthcare is now offering weekly meetings to help individuals struggling with gambling in any form, from casino games, sports betting, online wagering, lottery tickets, card games and even bingo.

“These new Gamblers Anonymous meetings in St. Joseph give people in the community a safe place to talk openly, connect with others, and take the first steps toward regaining control,” said Beth Crumpler, coordinator of Integrated Behavioral Health with Family Guidance, in a news release. “Having that support really can change everything.”

Gamblers anonymous meetings typically last one hour and participation is free and anonymous.

Meetings are held every Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. at the Washington Park Library at 1821 N. Third St. in St. Joseph. A second group meets every Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. at the Rolling Hills Library, 1904 N. Belt Highway in St. Joseph.

There is no meeting on Thursday, Dec. 25.

Those with additional questions are encouraged to contact the Family Guidance Center at 816-676-7237 for more information.

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News-Press NOW

By: Chris Roush

ATCHISON, Kan. (KQTV) — Joel Osborn’s accomplishments continue to roll in as the Benedictine head coach earned a national award this week.

The American Football Coaches Association has announced that Osborn is the NAIA National Coach of the Year. 

Osborn guided the Ravens to a 12-2 finish in 2025 with a trip to the NAIA semifinals. 

The Ravens’ only two losses came against #1 Grand View by a combined 10 points.

Benedictine finished 6-0 in Heart Conference action.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A joint traffic safety operation conducted across multiple counties with the help of Mothers Against Drunk Driving resulted in multiple local arrests this weekend.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office has released local data from Saturday’s saturation patrol operation, a multi-county effort that saw five law enforcement agencies patrolling specific areas for impaired or dangerous drivers, including key assistance from the Sheriff’s Office and the St. Joseph Police Department.

Authorities arrested one individual for driving while intoxicated on Saturday. Two additional arrests were made for one individual with an active warrant and another for driving with a suspended license.

A total of 63 vehicle stops were made in the Buchanan County area during the operation, including 27 citations being issued. The operation focused on areas of St. Joseph and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

The operation marks the second saturation patrol in St. Joseph since August, pairing local law enforcement with the support of nationwide nonprofit Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Since its founding in 1980, MADD has helped reduce deaths from drunk driving by more than 50% by working in collaboration with law enforcement, saving more than 400,000 lives and supporting millions of additional victims.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of a long-serving deputy who devoted more than four decades to law enforcement and protecting the public.

The department announced late Monday that Deputy Mike Aspey has died as a result of a medical event. He was 68.

“Mike was outstanding. He was always there to help everybody with a smile on his face. An excellent deputy,” Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett told the St. Joseph News-Press. “Mike was a good man and a man of faith. He was very well thought of and he’ll be sorely missed.” 

A 45-year veteran of law enforcement, Aspey worked for the last 10 years as a court deputy for the Sheriff’s Office’s Court Security Division, supervising the courtrooms of the retired Judge Pat Robb and Judge Terry White at the Buchanan County Courthouse.

“He helped maintain safety and security in the criminal courts and did an excellent job at it,” Puett said. “He had been contributing to the mission of the Sheriff’s Office for a long time. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Prior to that, Aspey spent 15 years as the director of police and security for the Truman Library and Museum in Kansas City and 14 years with the St. Joseph Police Department.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

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Leah Rainwater

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — The Platte County Commission voted Monday to approve a major expansion in its Senior Property Tax Relief Program.

The two approved orders will:

Remove the current exclusion of bonded indebtedness increases from the program, ensuring seniors receive full relief on all property tax increases

Provide retroactive property tax credits for any increased bond indebtedness paid by approved seniors in tax year 2025, with credits applied to future tax bills

Eliminate the annual renewal requirement starting in 2026, allowing approved seniors to remain in the program without yearly reapplication

“These program updates will make the Senior Property Tax Relief Program simpler and more comprehensive for Platte County seniors,” Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker said. “By no longer excluding bond levy increases and ending the renewal process, we are removing unnecessary barriers and ensuring more of our seniors keep more of their hard-earned money.”

Fricker said the Commission planned to design a program that would provide seniors with the maximum property tax relief allowed by law. He said the program originally implemented didn’t accomplish the goal the commission is now trying to fix.

Fricker also said the program shouldn’t be considered a “freeze.” If a property owner improves their property, the value will still go up, as will taxes.

However, because of the changes to the program, property taxes will not go up if a property tax owner lives in a jurisdiction that increases the debt service levy used to pay their voter-approved bonds, commonly referred to as an increase in bonded indebtedness.

“If you’re a senior who was approved for the tax relief program this year and your tax payment includes an amount for increased bond indebtedness, then you’re going to get that money back on your 2025 property tax bill as an additional credit,” said Fricker, in a news release. “First, you must pay your tax bill this year and you need to still live in your home next year.”

Fricker said that getting rid of the annual renewal process will be simpler for Platte County seniors.

“We ask that you notify us if you move, and we’ll conduct annual program audits, but there’s nothing else for you to do,” said Fricker.

Fricker continued to say the changes to the county’s Senior Property Tax Relief Program will be just one small step in “what needs to be comprehensive tax reform.” He also cited a few things he hopes the state legislature can take action on.

Eliminating the assessment process is at the top of Fricker’s list of changes to be made.

“Identical houses are often appraised at significantly different amounts,” said Fricker. “Without the assessment process, your home would be valued at the purchase price. Simple as that.”

Reforming Missouri’s Hancock Amendment would be next, as Fircker cited loopholes in the amendment that allow school districts to shift excess tax revenues from operating levies to debt service levies.

The Amendment allows districts to avoid lowering their operating levies when increases in property valuations result in a windfall of property tax revenues.

Fricker also seeks to reform economic development finance laws.

“Too often, large corporations are granted huge tax breaks in the name of economic development,” said Fricker.

According to Fricker, the tax liability is then transferred to average taxpayers.

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