Author: News-Press NOW

Ryan Eslinger

ST JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Eight Softball teams traveled to Heritage Park in St. Joseph on Saturday morning to play in the Benton Softball tournament.

Four teams represented St. Joseph: Benton Cardinals, Central Indians, Lafayette Fighting Irish and Bishop Leblond Golden Eagles.

The four out-of-city teams included the North Platte Panthers, West Platte Blue Jays, Maryville Spoofhounds and Trenton Bulldogs.

Here were the results for each round of the tournament.

Round 1

Benton Cardinals vs. Trenton Bulldogs: Benton wins 11-5

Central Indians vs. Maryville Spoofhounds: Central wins 3-1

Lafayette Fighting Irish vs. West Platte Blue Jays: West Platte walk-off win 6-5

Bishop Leblond Golden Eagles vs. North Platte Panthers: North Platte wins 8-1

Round 2

Benton Cardinals vs. North Platte Panthers: North Platte walk-off win 3-2

Central Indians vs. West Platte Blue Jays: West Platte wins 3-1

Lafayette Fighting Irish vs. Maryville Spoofhounds: Lafayette wins 13-1 (5 Innings)

Bishop Leblond Golden Eagles vs. Trenton Bulldogs: Trenton wins 8-3

Placement Games

Championship Game: West Platte Blue Jays vs. North Platte Panthers: West Platte wins 8-4

Third Place Game: Benton Cardinals vs. Central Indians: Benton wins 9-4

Fifth Place Game: Lafayette Fighting Irish vs. Trenton Bulldogs: Fighting Irish win 5-1

Seventh Place Game: Bishop Leblond Golden Eagles vs. Maryville Spoofhounds: Maryville wins 18-10

The West Platte Blue Jays finished with the top spot, winning the tournament with a 3-0 overall record.

The North Platte Panthers came in second at 2-1 on the day, and the Benton Cardinals secured third place with a 2-1 record as well.

News-Press NOW will update this story.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Noyes Home for Children will host its largest annual fundraiser, Take a Seat 2025: Light the Way, Saturday evening offering an elegant gala in support of children and families in need.

The event, which helps fund critical programs and services, will feature live and silent auctions, including unique items, travel packages and one-of-a-kind finds. Guests will also enjoy food, drinks and opportunities to connect with others who support the Noyes Home’s mission.

This event is crucial to Noyes Home’s yearly budget. Proceeds will benefit the Noyes Home’s efforts to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children while offering support to families working to rebuild stability.

Chelsea Howlett, Executive Director of the Noyes Home for Children said, “Our single biggest expense is to be able to provide care, but then of course it’s the safety, the shelter, the food, the clothing, all of the things that every family knows, but our family size is often times 30 or 40 children at a time.”

Noyes Home provides 24-hour care, even on holidays, for families in need. For more information, visit Noyes Home for Children’s One Cause website here or noyeshome.org.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Over 40 volunteers gathered Saturday, Sept. 13, to assemble hygiene kits for local teens in need.

The hygiene kits will be distributed to area schools to support students who may lack access to essential personal care items.

“Sometimes it is as simple as just like the sheer joy when a kiddo walks in at the beginning of August, and we get to hand them a backpack with school supplies,” said United Way’s of St. Joseph’s president, Kylee Strough, “To see their excitement for school and their new stuff, and to be a part of that is amazing.”

Volunteers participated as a part of United Way’s monthly Caring Connection crew, a monthly volunteer project.

Strough spoke about the importance of donating items, especially more uncommon ones, to help support families in need.

“Often times food pantries don’t have a lot of extra hygiene items and things. It’s pretty simple stuff, but it makes a really significant impact when you don’t have these things.”

The event took place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, located at 118 S. 5th St.

Those interested in volunteering for the United Way of Greater St. Joseph can visit their website here.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One local staple is coming back, this time, with a Roaring 20s theme.

The 36th Annual Southside Fall Festival will take place on Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21 at 402 East Hyde Park Ave.

The weekend will feature local food, entertainment and vendors to kickstart the start of fall.

Additionally, the 36th Annual Southside Fall Festival parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. The parade will begin at Green Hills Grocery and will continue on to King Hill Avenue to Missouri Avenue.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A crash on eastbound Highway 36, about a half-mile from the 22nd street exit, caused a shutdown of the left lane of traffic Friday afternoon as emergency crews worked the scene.

According to a firefighter, Ely Martinez, on the scene, there were no injuries reported.

One vehicle, driving in the left lane, traveled into the right lane and another vehicle struck the guardrail attempting to avoid a collision, according to Traffic Unit Officer John Foster.

News-Press NOW will update this story.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – On Friday morning, the YWCA hosted its 29th annual day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism Breakfast.

The day of commitment is a time to make a stand against racism of all kinds in the community.

Danielle Brown, YWCA chief executive officer, said the event is a chance for the community to stand together without any labels or titles.

“So whether it be race or gender biases that divide us in so many different circles that were in, we’re able to come together today without all of those labels and all of those titles and really try to stand together and to take that back out into our community,” Brown said.

The event featured different speakers, a music performance and two awards being presented to members in the community.

The 2025 Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award was won by LaTonya Williams.

Williams said she felt amazed and grateful when she found out that she won the award.

“A lot of times we do things in the community and I wonder if people are looking, if they’re noticing, or if they’re even appreciative of your work. And when I got the call, I was just really, really thankful,” she said.

There was a scholarship awarded to a MoWest student at the event. The 2025 Kelsy Beshears Scholarship was awarded to Jessica Laws.

The event ended with everyone reading the pledge to climate racism. This pledge was granted to use from Birmingham, AL.

Brown said her favorite part of the event is reading the pledge with the entire community.

“But the unity that comes from the pledge to eliminate racism when we all stand and say that together, it is very powerful and it’s something that, you know, I almost envision think just moving out into the community as we’re standing here taking it together,” Brown said.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Six of the eight sitting city councilmembers in St. Joseph have now signaled plans to seek reelection in 2026.

Councilmembers Andrew Trout (District 3), Jason Eslinger (District 2) and Michael Grimm (District 4) have formally requested petitions to run for reelection in 2026.

Trout and Grimm are both seeking a second term after voters elected them in 2022, while Eslinger is seeking his first full term after being appointed by the City Council in April 2024 following the resignation of former councilmember Taylor Crouse.

Petitions were also requested by Dana Stickley (District 3) and James W. Kindred (at-large), two newcomers to the race.

Stickley is currently a board member on the St. Joseph Human Rights Commission as well as an alternate member on the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Petitions for district seats

Councilmember Madison Davis, seeking third term (District 1)

Councilmember Jason Eslinger, seeking first full term after appointment in April 2024 (District 2)

Councilmember Andrew Trout, seeking second term (District 3)

Dana Stickley, seeking first official term (District 3)

Councilmember Michael G. Grimm, seeking second term (District 4)

Petitions for at-large seats

James W Kindred, Sr., seeking first official term

Collin Clibon, seeking first official term

Councilmember Marty Novak, seeking third term

Councilmember Randy S. Schultz, seeking second term

St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale also confirmed plans on Tuesday to run for a second term.

Tuesday marked the official start of next year’s municipal election process with petitions becoming available for those interested in running for mayor, city council and judge. All petitions must be filed with the city clerk between Tuesday, Oct. 7 and Tuesday, Oct. 28.

A minimum of 250 qualified voters must sign petitions for at-large seats. Petitions for candidates for district councilmember seats must be signed by no less than 75 qualified voters of the district.

St. Joseph’s Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3, followed by the General Election on Tuesday, April 7.

The 2026 municipal election will feature races for mayor and all eight City Council seats. Four at-large councilmembers will be elected to four-year terms while four district councilmembers will be elected to an initial two-year term, with a subsequent district election to occur in 2028.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — On Saturday, the St. Joseph Fire Department will be hosting its annual IAFF Local 77 retirees and award banquet.

The banquet will honor 150 firefighters for their outstanding acts in the community. While it is invitation-only, all retirees are welcome to attend.

Those who wish to make a reservation should call or text 816-261-4700 or leave a message at 816-558-6541.

Jamey McVicker, assistant fire chief, said it’s a fun event and it’s nice to give everyone recognition for their hard work.

“These men and women give everything they have to this community, and for us to be able to recognize them means the world to us,” McVicker said. “And for us to be able to recognize them means the world to us.  So we want them to make sure that they know that they’re appreciated by not just the employers of the city, but it’s community,” he said.

McVicker expressed the importance of honoring SJFD firefighters and retirees.

“Just the simple acknowledgment of, ‘You did a good job,’ means so much more than really any monetary value,” McVicker said.  “We all have that personal inner pride, and to be recognized, we want to make sure that we’re fulfilling that need of our firefighters,” he said.

McVicker said he looks forward to celebrating with the entire SJFD crew and hopes retirees make their reservation.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — More than 700 kindergarten families in the St. Joseph School District will receive free one-year family memberships to InspireU thanks to local donors.

Lowell and Leslie Kruse, local donors, alongside Julie Gaddie, president of Mosaic Life Care Foundation, posing with an InspireU Sign which reads, “Complimentary Family Membership for all SJSD Kindergarten Families!”

Lowell Kruse said, “These kids in here, they’re going to be the teachers. They’re going to be the principals, the governors, the people that run the hospital, the nurses. We need the best we can get right? It only happens through education.”

The Mosaic Life Care Foundation, alongside donors Lowell and Leslie Kruse, announced the initiative on Friday morning at Lindbergh Elementary School. This benefit will be given to every kindergarten family within the school district. 

Kindergarten students at Lindbergh Elementary celebrating their new InspireU memberships by jumping up and down in confetti.

“Inspire U was really built to engage young families,” said Julie Gaddie, president of Mosaic Life Care Foundation. “We wanted a place where young families can come to learn together about how to be healthy as a family from the start.”

InspireU is an interactive learning center that connects children with real-world opportunities through exhibits and programs focused on career exploration and skill-building.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Downtown St. Joseph Public Library building is undergoing renovations but not for the library, a new neighbor is set to move in.

Mary Beth Revels, director of the St. Joseph Public Library, discussed the changes happening in the building.

“(In) the summer of 2024, Northwest Health actually purchased this building, and the intent with them purchasing the building was to put their Downtown clinic in the lower level of the building,” Revels said.

Revels assures that the library is not going anywhere; the two will now share the building.

According to Revels, the library is leasing the space on a 100-year lease that costs them 10 dollars.

News-Press NOW reached out to Northwest Health Services to learn more about the renovations and have not heard back at this time.

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