Author: News-Press NOW

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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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Crime statistics for the month of November show 13 of 18 major categories saw a reduction in cases according to the St. Joseph Police Department.

Crime statistics released by SJPD on Saturday show notable decreases for the month of November, with seven crime areas in particular decreasing by more than 25%.

St. Joseph recorded a 15% decrease in total crime cases and a 21% decrease in total violent crime, dropping from 140 cases in October down to 110 in November. Total crime cases dropped from 758 to 644.

Thefts from motor vehicles saw the biggest decrease of any area, from 41 cases to six, a decrease of 85%.

The department also reported sizable reductions in aggravated assaults (61% decrease), motor vehicle thefts (58%), stealing (39%) and property crime (30%), which decreased by nearly 100 incidents, from 300 to 209.

No murder cases were reported in November. The department also reported no murder cases the previous month.

Cases of burglary were one of the few categories to see a notable increase, rising from 57 cases in October to 64 in November, an increase of 12%.

Drug offenses were unchanged at 40 cases in both October and November. Disorderly conduct reports also increased by 3%.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Volunteers worked on setting up the Adopt-A-Family Gift Room on Monday, and will continue efforts into Tuesday to prepare for visitors.

The room is set to open on Wednesday. Until then, families will be contacted over the next few days to schedule an appointment to browse through the gift room.

Nichi Seckinger, the AFL-CIO’s executive director, said the gift room usually has a big supply of items going into the year; however, the agency has seen an increase in applicants.

“We’re kind of going through more and more each year, and cutting more and more into that back inventory,” she said. “So getting more items in is always going to be helpful, especially when our numbers creep over 800. We just don’t get as many donations to carry it. So we’ve been low for a couple of years compared to what we normally have in back inventory.”

Seckinger said the gift room has a wide array of items for families to go through, specifically clothing.

“This year, we have a lot of clothing and a lot more clothing than we normally have had in the past. So we’re really hoping that will help out those families quite a bit,” she said.

Seckinger also said the agency is seeing more toys coming in for the gift room, but is still looking for items to satisfy gifts for teens.

“That’s the hardest to get for kids and figure out what they want and what can be used for them,” she said.

According to Seckinger, the easiest thing for the community to donate would be stocking stuffers.

“A great way to grab some items and throw them in a bag, and bring them in, and we will definitely make those as well,” she said. “It’s a pretty affordable donation to make, and how much you would have to spend.”

Seckinger said they feel pretty good about how the Adopt-A-Family process is going so far, as Christmas approaches.

“The way it’s coming together and we’re really excited for some of the families to see the new gift room and, we have so much more room now, and I think it’ll make it easier for them to go through and make it much easier for them to see the different items,” she said. “Hopefully, it will be a lot easier for them to find it in our new setup. So we’re excited about that and we’re hoping it works better for our families.”

As the holidays approach, the agency is still seeking adopters and donations for local families.

Monetary donations can be made through the agency’s website or by phone at 816-364-1131 using a credit or debit card.

All monetary donations will be used to purchase gift cards and food vouchers to help supplement families who aren’t chosen for public adoption.

AFL-CIO Community Services, located at 1203 N. Sixth St., is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Community members interested in adopting can call the AFL-CIO’s number or email adopt@helpmenow.org.

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News-Press NOW

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) — An 18-year-old Savannah High School senior was arrested after allegedly pulling a pistol out on school property during a verbal altercation Friday.

Chris Burnett was booked in the Andrew County jail and is facing charges for the unlawful use of a weapon.

An email went out to Savannah parents and families on Friday, explaining the incident had occurred and assuring families that there were no injuries and no ongoing threat to the school or campus at anytime.

According to a probable cause statement presented by a responding officer, the principal provided video evidence, recorded by a student.

Burnett’s brother was engaged in a verbal altercation with another student. In the video, the camera allegedly shifted toward a pickup truck where Burnett was seated in the driver’s seat, pointing a small handgun in the direction of the other individuals involved.

Burnett’s brother was seen returning to the truck, where an audio recording captured him saying, “Put the gun away.”

After being booked in the Andrew County Jail, Burnett’s bond is set at $10,000. He is not to have any contact with the alleged victim and is not allowed to have any weapons, including firearms.

Burnett’s arraignment is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Andrew County Courthouse with Judge Emily Bauman.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Community Blood Center is set to hold a blood drive in advance of the holidays with the help of a local grocery store on Tuesday.

The “Miracle of Giving” blood drive will be sponsored by Hy-Vee, offering prizes for participants.

Anyone who donates will receive an exclusive Kansas City Chiefs T-shirt along with being entered into a drawing for a $50 Hy-Vee gift card and tickets for the Chiefs Christmas Day game against the Denver Broncos.

Four $50 gift cards will be distributed as part of the drawing.

For those wanting to donate, the blood drive be held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the mobile donor bus at Hy-Vee located on 201 N. Belt Highway.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– The St. Joseph School District’s “Grow Your Own Program” is designed for high school seniors interested in teaching and professional development.

The program provides students with a pathway to become certified teachers after completing college.  

Justin McCarthy, principal at Hosea Elementary, said he has stayed in contact with former students who expressed interest in returning to the district and showed a passion for education.  

McCarthy emphasized the strong impact the program has on the community because many participants realize it is more than just a job.  

Instead, the program fosters a sense of purpose and encourages former SJSD students to give back to the community where they grew up.  

“They’re doing good work, and I think there’s a big importance of getting people back to where they started so they can maybe try to fix some of the shortcomings in their educational journey,” McCarthy said.  

McCarthy said everyone faces barriers, but the key is being able to relate to students and help them reach their full potential despite the challenges they may encounter. 

McCarthy compared the program to Mosaic’s former “Stepping Stone” program, in which participants took classes while working in exchange for committing to work for the organization for several years.  

“When I was an assistant in the middle school level, I just kept in touch with them, and I have been able to have some students come back,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s important to recognize those students and help them through their degree.”

Mariana Sanchez, a teacher at Hosea Elementary School, followed a familiar path in choosing her career. 

“All my teachers always told me I was going to be a teacher because I was a teacher’s pet, but I was always just like, ‘No, I am not going to go down that road’,” Sanchez said.  

Eventually, she realized teaching was the right choice. It gave her the security of a guaranteed position after college and allowed her to dedicate four years to the district. 

Sanchez said returning to a school she attended as a child helped her build strong connections and form new relationships.  

“Justin was my principal over at Spring Garden, and he always knew that I was going to come back to Hosea, so it was nice to already have those connections and know what I was going to do,” Sanchez said.  

Now, after two years at Hosea, Sanchez said her favorite part of teaching is witnessing the unique personalities of her third graders, which she loves the most.  

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — From state football championships to Division I women’s basketball, St. Joseph is solidifying its reputation this December as a hub for high-profile sporting events, a boost for the local economy.

Within the last two months alone, St. Joseph has played host to the MSHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships, MSHSAA Football State Championships, MIAA Volleyball Championship Tournament and an SEC vs Big 12 basketball showdown Dec. 7 between Ole Miss and Kansas State, to name a few.

With St. Joseph’s Civic Arena and Missouri Western’s Spratt Stadium seeing strong crowds with multi-day tournaments drawing dozens of teams, coaches, alumni and families here from across the state — some schools with upwards of six buses worth of fans — St. Joseph was the center of postseason sports.

A huge crowd of fans and parents with Blair Oaks High school out of Wardsville, Missouri, smile as their team wins the Class 2 State Championship on Dec. 6 at Missouri Western in St. Joseph.

“We knew these championship events would draw great crowds and bring lots of new visitors to St. Joseph and Buchanan County. Which in looking at the data, that certainly proved to be the case,” said Brett Esely, executive director for the St. Joseph, MO Sports Commission. “Whereas the sports commission is proud to play our part in securing, developing and executing the championship experience, the true winners are our city and county especially at a time of year where tourism tends to slow down a bit from summertime traffic.”

According to data from the St. Joseph Sports Commission, the MSHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships saw 300 athletes (20 teams consisting of 15 players each) along with 40 MSHSAA staff and officials. Over the course of the tournament, 8,418 spectators were in attendance, with roughly 50% of the participants staying at least one night in St. Joseph.

Total business sales over the course of the volleyball tournament (including sales leading up to and after the event) came out to $4,765,048 over the span of four days.

The Sports Commission also gathered data from the MSHSAA Football State Championships, which saw 963 athletes (14 teams) and 60 MSHSAA staff and officials. The estimated number of spectators was 19,500 across all seven state championship games.

Roughly 30% of fans stayed at least one night in St. Joseph. Over the course of the three-day championship event, total business sales amounted to $7,707,350.

One hotel that saw a wave of visitors booking rooms for all of the events was the Stoney Creek Hotel.

“When you have events like the high school football championships, not only do the teams come to town, but also family members and anybody else supporting the team,” Eaton said. “It increases revenue at the hotel because of the quick turnaround. People will make last minute reservations online and usually when teams win.”

The economic boost of sporting events for St. Joseph is set to continue as the MSHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships will be held in St. Joseph for the next two years (2026-2027) as well as the MSHSAA Football State Championships from 2026 to 2028.

In the realm of college basketball, St. Joseph is also set to welcome a multi-day postseason tournament for the first time beginning in 2027.

The St. Joseph Sports Commission and officials with the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced in October the GLVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournaments will be moving to St. Joseph, Missouri, from 2027 to 2029, an event that will draw dozens of teams and thousands of spectators over a multi-day period.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City of St. Joseph is moving forward on a high-profile agreement with a new airport operator at Rosecrans Memorial Airport and outlining plans for the construction of new aircraft facilities.

City councilmembers unanimously approved a lease agreement Dec. 8 with Pan-Am Flight Services to serve as the next Fixed-Based Operator (FBO) at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, granting the company authority to provide a wide-range of aviation services for civilian and commercial aircraft at the airport, from refueling and maintenance/repairs to offering flight school and operating facilities to accommodate pilots.

The new lease agreement includes an initial five-year-term with four additional 5-year options to make it a possible 25-year agreement.

Pan-Am Flight Services, which includes local business investor Steve Craig and Gary Patterson with Express Flight, is one part of a revitalized and growing nationwide network of new Pan Am-branded businesses purchased by Craig roughly a year and a half ago, decades after the original Pan Am World Airways ceased operations in 1991.

Pan-Am will assume ownership of the existing FBO complex, which includes a 28,000-square-foot barrel hangar and a 15,000-square-foot aircraft storage/maintenance facility, among other smaller facilities.

“It’s an extraordinary opportunity to utilize that brand in a number of things, to brand a Pan Am FBO here in St. Joseph and have the first one here in the United States,” Craig told News-Press NOW in September.

A separate nonbinding agreement includes unofficial terms and conditions for a wide-range of planned facility improvements by Pan-Am as part of a new FBO complex, which will require approval with future construction contracts.

Pan-Am intends to construct a new 30,000-square-foot hangar that can accommodate both small and large aircraft, as well as larger business jets like the Gulfstream 700. Construction plans include a second smaller hangar and 4,000-square feet of lobby and office space.

A full plan for re-developing the site is set to be finalized by April or May, with construction to begin no later than December 2026 according to the agreement.

This rendering shows the anticipated new facilities site at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, indicating where the proposed hangar would be located on the existing FBO complex.

The move with Pan-Am comes several months after a heavily-scrutinized bidding process that saw multiple FBO bidding groups levy accusations to City Council about an improper bid scoring process for the key airport agreement.

Apex Aero Center was initially selected for the FBO agreement but rescinded its proposal in August just days after Craig accused city staff of improperly scoring bid proposals during a City Council meeting.

A second bidding group, St. Joseph Air Center, which includes FlyTech Pilot Academy co-founder Lute Atieh, has raised separate concerns about the process and the impact it had on the company not being selected. The company is weighing multiple options in wake of the agreement.

“Out of respect for ongoing legal considerations, I am not able to formally comment on the lease at this time. What I can tell you is that we are continuing to evaluate the situation and will take the necessary steps to protect the interests of the airport, its tenants, and the community,” Atieh told the St. Joseph News-Press.

Authorization by the Federal Aviation Administration remains one of the last key hurdles before the city and Pan-Am Flight Services can move forward on the agreement.

Fixed Base Operator Lease AgreementDownload

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — Columbia Public Schools held a news conference Monday after filing a lawsuit saying the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional.

The district sued state officials on Monday, alleging that a law allowing charter schools to operate in Boone County is unconstitutional. The lawsuit names the state attorney general and the Missouri State Board of Education.

The lawsuit focuses on one of two groups that want to create a Boone County charter school — Frontier. The Columbia Board of Education has written to the state board opposing Frontier, Columbia board member Suzette Waters said.

Frontier has an application in for its school, while Job Point does not, Waters said.

She said Frontier plans to open a selective school, even though charter schools are supposed to be open to all.

Waters also said the charter school took no local public input and did not plan to even have offices in Boone County.

CPS leaders said the Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved of the lawsuit.

Watch the news conference in full in the player.

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