Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A joint operation this Saturday will see officers from five law enforcement agencies working to remove impaired drivers from roadways in Buchanan County, with the help of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Missouri.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Missouri and dozens of officers from five different law enforcement agencies will host a dedicated saturation patrol on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Buchanan County.

The saturation patrol will bring 30+ officers together, including the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, to remove impaired drivers from Missouri roadways in St. Joseph and the surrounding KC Metro area.

As a token of appreciation, MADD will host a Saturation Patrol Roll Call at 6 p.m. at 501 Faraon St. in advance of the operation with grab-and-go meals available for participating officers.

Victims and survivors of impaired driving crashes will be presented to thank law enforcement for their dedication to keeping the roads safe.

“MADD Missouri is honored to support these officers as they work to remove impaired drivers from our roads,” said Anna Riley, MADD Program Manager, in a news release. “Saturation patrols are critical in preventing crashes, saving lives and reinforcing the message that driving under the influence will not be tolerated.”

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Savannah Fire Department will host its inaugural Christmas celebration to invite the community to get a look inside its station.

The celebration will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at the Savannah Fire Department’s Station 1, located at 107 US-71 BUS in Savannah.

The department came up with the idea of letting taxpayers come and see how it is making the most of its resources. 

A lot of times, citizens and their families only meet firefighters on dark days in their lives, according to Savannah FD Lt. Jason Boyer. Having positive interactions with the public is at the forefront of this mission to create a fun holiday atmosphere. 

“It’s vital for us just to be seen. I guess most of the time when people see us, they don’t want to see us because we’ve got lights and something bad has happened,” Boyer said. “So it’s nice to be able to interact with the community in a non-emergency status and show you know that, ‘hey, we do care about the community and want to do stuff good for them’.”

This event will feature pictures and letters to Santa, a bounce house, a CPR Demonstration, Hot Cocoa and more.

For updates and additional information, follow the Savannah, Missouri, Fire Department on Facebook. 

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The First Lutheran Church in St. Joseph is continuing its unique, annual tradition, bringing Christmas magic to families.

This year, families who pay $15 get to experience “Trip to the North Pole,” featuring Mrs. Claus’s kitchen creation of a gingerbread town after Tinsel the elf opened a special magic gift.

Money for the trip will benefit the Open Door Food Kitchen in St. Joseph. 

The event serves as the ultimate experience to make memories during the holidays, according to Christmas Adventure Co-Director Tami Davis.

“People get so wrapped up with the monetary side of buying gifts and things like that. And to me, it’s making memories with your family,” Davis said. “This is a perfect opportunity for them to come take their kids and make a memory that’ll last way longer than that.”

Trips can be taken between 2 and 6 p.m. The last four dates for this experience are Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 20 and Dec. 21.

Interested attendees can make reservations online and will have to pay in person. Families are still welcome to walk into the church during Christmas Adventure hours. 

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The U.S. House has signed off on a massive defense policy bill with a record $901 billion in military spending, setting the stage for troop raises, significant military upgrades in Missouri and a boost to the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph.

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act passed in the House 312-112 and now heads to the U.S. Senate for approval, which is expected next week according to national media outlets. Under the bill, U.S. servicemembers will see a 3.5% pay raise, with an additional $1.5 billion authorized for new construction of barracks and family housing.

“We have to ensure our military remains the most lethal, most effective fighting force in the world,” U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo, said. “To do that, we have to give our troops the tools they need to fight and win — while supporting them and their families at home and abroad.”

Graves, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee which devised the bill, said important victories were secured for the country and North Missouri in the process, including fostering development of a Domestic Operations Tactics Training Center for C-130J aircrews at Rosecrans and encouraging the expansion of C-130J simulator training, including training at the 139th Airlift Wing.

Nearly $2.5 billion was authorized for the procurement of B-21 long-range bombers at Whiteman Air Force Base, including $33 million for military construction to support it.

The bill also includes $15.5 million to partner with private sector and academic institutions like UMKC to develop and demonstrate technologies needed for the domestic production of critical materials from domestic mineral sources. The measure falls in line with the U.S.’s goal of strengthening domestic production and reducing its dependency on foreign countries or trading partners for critical materials.

“I’m proud to have worked in the House Armed Services Committee to ensure this year’s defense bill does just that, while also supporting the vital mission of the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph and good-paying skilled jobs at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence.”

While no funding was allocated specifically for new C-130J models for the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, $200 million was authorized for procurement of two C-130Js for the Air National Guard fleet as a whole, aircraft that could potentially go to St. Joseph.

“I hope that those are designated for Saint Joe. I hope they end up in Saint Joe. We did a whole lot of stuff in this bill that’s going to help Saint Joe out in a big way,” Graves told News-Press NOW.

Just as important for the 139th Airlift Wing and its fleet of C-130s are new protections through FY28, including the minimum inventory requirement and the prohibition on reducing Air National Guard C-130 aircraft.

The bill does much to highlight the strategic warfighting training done at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Center at Rosecrans, as well as the 139th Airlift Wing’s expertise in responding to domestic disasters and training crews in advanced airlift tactics.

The bill requires annual reports to be submitted through Fiscal Year 2028 on C-130 inventory, retirements, modernization and recapitalization efforts, and basing plans for fielding C-130Js for the Air National Guard.

Military investments planned for Missouri:

Ensures plan to recapitalize the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base.

$2.5 billion for procurement of B-21 long-range bombers, which will be based at Whiteman Air Force Base.

$407 million to manufacture MQ-25 Stingrays in St. Louis

$576 million to modernize and sustain F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs in St. Louis

$50.6 million to produce the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in St. Louis

$33 million for military construction at Whiteman Air Force Base to support the B-21 bomber

$132.6 million for the Joint Assault Bridge, made in Bridgeton

Nearly $700 million for small arms ammunition produced or will be produced at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

Another $1 billion for small arms facilities modernization, including Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — An area teen who discovered her talent during the South Side Flood of 2020 reflects on her success on the pool table, which recently led her to a world competition in Spain. 

Jordan Helfery was only eight years old when her family’s home flooded in 2020.

Helfery lost all of her toys and had to find a way to pass the time when her family moved in with her grandparents. 

Helfery found her father’s pool table, which he had purchased when he was younger, while she stayed with her grandparents. She took an interest and soon showed a talent her parents knew they couldn’t pass up. 

“We’d come home from around the house, and she’d be like, Watch this. And she was working on trick shots, and she loved to watch YouTube,” said Sarah Helfery, Jordan’s mother.

The kid, in need of something to do, took her love of YouTube and taught herself how to play pool from videos of accomplished pro player Shane Van Boening.

“I was a kid. I had no idea you could take this professional or anything. Playing on (on my dad’s table), I don’t know, it just… it was really something I was going to remember,” said Jordan. “Because it got me started in pool, and that flood was a blessing.”

Two years later, the up-and-coming pool shark took part in a competitive pool tournament in Springfield, Missouri. She won the tournament in three matches; however, her family received a bump in the road that would be the biggest compliment to her play. 

“There was a guy who really thought he had the tournament, and when he got beat by her, he took to Facebook and made a big post about how we hustled him,” said Sarah, while smiling. “Thankfully, the whole crowd there who saw the truth threw it back the other way.”

She was advised not to play in any more “four and under” tournaments by the tournament head, as they felt she was a more skilled player. Not long after, Jordan would start playing in Junior International Championships, which led to many trophies and championship titles. 

“When I won that tournament in… Blue Springs against those adults, and I felt like I really had an edge, and I was really excited to see what else I could do,” Jordan said.

The now 14-year-old was playing in her first Women’s Professional Billiards Association matches at the age of 12.  She would go on to win her first national championship in Cherokee, North Carolina, in November, along with numerous other accolades. 

However, one competition would give her the opportunity of a lifetime when she played in the Billiards Education Foundation tournament in July of this year. 

This opportunity provided tickets for the top four girls and top four boys to compete in the Predator WPA World Junior Championship in Gandia, Spain. Jordan was one of five girls from the tournament who punched their ticket to one of the biggest competitions of their lives. 

“I started off playing with, you know, kind of amateur players, and as I got more into it, I was playing at higher-skilled events, and winning those, and slowly getting higher in the race than that also builds confidence,” Jordan said. “Being able to go overseas is huge, and it’s just like as you get more experience, it’s a huge part of building that confidence…And going overseas was super exciting.”

Jordan battled her way through the girls’ division to the semifinals and received a bronze medal on one of the biggest stages for teen pool players. 

“You know, she is a perfectionist, and everything she does (is great). She’s a straight-A student, works really hard, so anything she puts her mind to, she could do,” Sarah said. “I would like to see her be a world champion one day. I know she’s got the talent.”

The young pool player stays solid through lessons with Ultimate Pool USA Hall of Famer David Matlock. The two went on to win a mixed pairs championship in February of 2025. 

She plans to continue her pool-playing career and hopes to turn it into a living in adulthood, to win world championships. 

“Keep doing what you love, as long as you have a love for it and you have a drive to want to keep getting better,” said Jordan when asked if she had advice for young people going through a similar journey. “There’s nothing that can stop you, just keep doing what you love.”

Jordan said she is also thankful to her family, friends and career sponsors for helping her get to where she is today. 

She is set to compete in the Ultimate Pool USA Iowa Open in March.

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TaMya Bracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KQTV) — Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) delivered wins for North Missouri in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The act was passed on Wednesday, and the bill will support troops abroad and at home, their families and their mission in keeping America safe.

Graves said it’s important to give troops the resources they need.

“To do that, we have to give our troops the tools they need to fight and win—while supporting them and their families at home and abroad. I’m proud to have worked in the House Armed Services Committee to ensure this year’s defense bill does just that, while also supporting the vital mission of the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph and good-paying, skilled jobs at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence,” Graves said.

The bill allocates $200 million for two C-130Js and maintains protections through FY28, covering fleet minimums, annual report, training and development at Rosecrans Memorial Airport

The bill will also fund private sector and academic institutions like the University of Missouri – Kansas City domestic production of critical materials from domestic mineral sources. It provides nearly $700 million for Lake City small arms ammunition and another $1 billion to modernize small-arms facilities, including Lake City.

The bill protects the A-10 fleet from being reduced and requires briefing on plans to fully divest the A-10 before FY29, ensure recapitalization of the 442nd Fighter wing and protect Fort Leonard Wood’s medical facility.

The bill will also provide major investments, including $2.59 billion for B-21 bombers and related construction at the Whiteman Air Force Base, $407 million for MQ-25 Stringrays, over $650 million for F/A-18 and EA-18G work in St. Louis and $132.6 million for the Joint Assault Bridge made in Bridgeton.

The troops will receive a 3.8% pay raise, expanded bonuses and special pay and increases in the Family Separation Allowance for deployed service members.

Around $1.5 billion will go toward new barracks and housing. The bill also requires plans and independent reviews to address health, safety and environmental issues within military housing.

The FY2026 NDAA now heads to the Senate for final passage before it can be signed into law by President Trump.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Starting next year, the St. Joseph Health Department will be updating its language interpreting services to assist the community.

St. Joseph City Councilmembers approved two resolutions Monday allowing the department to enter into contract agreements with Linguistica International, Inc. and International Language Center. The updated services will provide both video language and document translation services to assist patients in areas such as scheduling appointments and consultations with medical professionals.

The department selected two companies with the goal of having expanded options to assist a wide range of patients and situations. There have been times in the past when one agency does not have a specific language or dialect or staff available when another one will.

“We have a number of individuals who come to the health department for services where English is not their primary language,” St. Joseph Health Department Director Debra Bradley said. “We contract with different agencies to help break down those language barriers. We want to ensure patients understand the services being received and for us to understand what services they’re needing and requesting.”

Language and document interpreting services will assist a number of health department programs, ranging from helping individuals seeking birth and death certificates, to immunizations and nutrition education through the Women, Infants and Children program, as well as others.

Getting the language services put in place was key before 2026, as the current service contracts were set to expire. On average the Health Department spends $20,000 to $30,000 on language services each year to help with patient communication and interpreting services.

“We currently have these services with different providers, but their contracts are ending at the end of the month,” Bradley said. “We put it out bids to determine which agencies we were going to contract with. We got a number of responses and chose these two agencies to have options. Each agency has a different process on how we contact them, how they track the number of calls, the languages used etc.”

The new provider services will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2026

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Salvation Army is seeking donations for its annual Toy Shop distribution day.

The distribution days take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 at 602 Messanie St. There is no set deadline for toy donations, and any kind is accepted. 

“It needs to be a new, unopened, unwrapped toy. And now you can bring in as many toys as you’d like. We’ll take them,” Social Services Director Emily Bravo said.

Bravo said the Salvation Army is really looking for items for older kids, ages 11 to 13, and toys tailored to boys. Gift cards are also an acceptable option to donate.

“Aside from toys, each child will receive two outfits with socks, shoes, and underwear, with a coat if needed,” said Bravo.

Any clothing items also need to be new and unwrapped.

For any questions about the distribution day, call the Salvation Army at 816-232-5824.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– Missouri Western State University’s women’s basketball team stopped by Pickett Elementary to celebrate the school’s first-graders for leading the St. Joseph School District in attendance rates from August through October. 

This marks the second year MoWest has invited the elementary grade levels with the highest attendance to a December home game as a reward. 

“Our students are rewarded and get to attend a game on Monday. But my understanding is this, there will be about 2300 students at Missouri Western on Monday, cheering on the Griffons,” said Heather Gladhart, the principal at Pickett Elementary.  

Gladhart said attendance has been strong this year, crediting both staff and parents for working together to make sure students are in school every day.  

Gladhart also said, earning this recognition is a major accomplishment for the school community.  

“I hope that they take away by knowing that, when they come to school, that they get to see the benefits not only in what they are learning, but also the benefits of getting to celebrate and attend a field trip,” Gladhart said.  

MoWest Senior and Shooting Guard, Meredith Rieker, said she expected the visit to be a heartwarming one and was excited to see how much it meant to the students.  

She said attendance matters because it shapes how kids experience school, giving them more chances to be part of activities and create memories. 

Rieker said she can’t wait to see the students pack the stadium on Monday.  

“I remember last year the men did it, and it was just so loud the whole time… It was so fun. So, I’ve been looking forward to this game since last year when it happened,” Rieker said.  

She also emphasized the importance of building good habits at a young age, which sets them apart from others in the future  

“So it’s good to just get the discipline actions now and just kind of learning at a young age is good for their future,” Rieker said.  

Rieker added that, no matter the outcome of Monday’s game, her hope for the kids is to enjoy their field trip and the experience of cheering on the Griffons.  

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Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — Tens of thousands of Washington residents were under evacuation orders Thursday after a barrage of torrential rain that has overflowed rivers, sent mud sliding onto highways and trapped people in floodwaters.

“The flooding levels we’re looking at are potentially historic in nature, so we just want to emphasize how serious the situation is,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a news briefing Thursday, one day after declaring a statewide emergency. “This situation is extremely unpredictable.”

Skagit County, in a major agricultural region north of Seattle, has ordered everyone within the Skagit River’s floodplain to evacuate. Some 78,000 people live in the floodplain, according to the county’s emergency management chief Julie de Losada.

The high water mark upstream at the town of Concrete was below estimates but authorities warned people that record levels elsewhere were still possible.

“That doesn’t mean to say that we’re out of the woods, we’re not,” said Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington Military Department’s emergency management division. “Because as the waters come down here, they’re still going to be gaining strength.”

Along the river in Mount Vernon, teams knocked on doors in low-lying areas Thursday to inform them of evacuation notices, city authorities said. Further north near the U.S.-Canada border, firefighters rescued several people from their homes in Sumas, the mayor said.

Nearly 16,000 customers in Washington were without electricity by midday Thursday, according to PowerOutage.us. A mountainous section of U.S. 2 was closed due to rocks, trees and mud, with no detour or estimated time for reopening, according to the state transportation department.

Flooding rivers could break records

The Skagit River hit about a foot (30 centimeters) shy of the previous record in the mountain town of Concrete Thursday morning, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The river is expected to crest above the record in Mount Vernon on Friday.

“That’s still a record flood, and so we’re preparing for that,” Mayor Peter Donovan said Thursday.

Flooding from the river has long plagued Mount Vernon, the largest city in the county with some 35,000 residents. Flooding in 2003 displaced hundreds of people.

The city completed a floodwall in 2018 that helps protect the downtown. It passed a major test in 2021, when the river crested near record levels. Water was at the foot of the floodwall as of late Thursday morning, Donovan said.

In nearby Burlington, evacuation orders were kept in place Thursday as officials hoped dikes and other systems kept protecting the community from catastrophic flooding, said Michael Lumpkin, with the police department.

Some are worried that older levees could fail.

To prepare, business owners have stacked sandbags in their shops and residents have similarly done so to protect their homes.

South of Mount Vernon, access to the Fir Island wildlife reserve and farming area will be closed Thursday, authorities said.

Officials respond to flooding

Authorities across Washington state in recent days have rescued people from cars and homes after an atmospheric river soaked the region.

East of Seattle, residents along Issaquah Creek used water pumps as rushing floodwaters filled yards Thursday morning. Yellow tape blocked off a hazardous area along the creek.

Issaquah resident Katy Bliss said her home’s foundation was safe for now but that a pond had formed in her backyard. “It’s still scary walking around,” she said.

The border crossing was also closed to southbound commercial vehicles to leave more room for evacuations, according to the Abbotsford Police Department.

Amtrak suspended trains between Seattle and Vancouver.

A landslide blocked part of Interstate 90 east of Seattle, with photos showing vehicles trapped by tree trunks, branches, mud and standing water.

Climate change has been linked to some intense rainfall. Scientists say that without specific study they cannot directly link a single weather event to climate change, but in general it’s responsible for more intense and more frequent extreme storms, droughts, floods and wildfires.

Another storm system is expected to bring more rain starting Sunday.

“The pattern looks pretty unsettled going up to the holidays,” said Harrison Rademacher, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

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