Author: News-Press NOW

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — This past week in St. Joseph, a young juvenile, Athesius Warden, left home, and his whereabouts were unknown. Thankfully, Warden was found and safe.

With movies like “Weapons” and the current Virginia mass kidnapper rumor circulating through the media, it has never been a more prevalent topic.

Children going missing is unpredictable, but how can it be prevented, and what can be done to find them?

Frank Till is the Executive Director of the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council and believes there are many ways we can prevent our children from being in harms way.

An example is tracking them with their phones.

“A lot of children have cell phones, and we can use family tracking apps to help keep an eye on our children.” said Till.

Apps such as Life360 are very useful at keeping you in the know on your child’s location.

It is also important to educate your children on the dangers of social media. Till knows that predators will act as children to prey on the youth.

If your child goes missing, make sure to cooperate fully with the local law enforcement and to provide as many important details as possible.

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News-Press NOW

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — On Tuesday, Platte County Clerk Jera Pruitt and the Board of Equalization chair Lee Ann Fadler signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) to finalize a negotiated agreement to raise residential property taxes.

In the STC’s original mandated order, Platte County residents would have seen a 15% increase across the board.

Now, all 2024 residential property values will be raised by 6.835%. The new increase aligns more with actual home price increases, which were roughly 7.75% per year from 2019 through 2024.

“This agreement is a clear victory for Platte County taxpayers, as it substantially reduces the financial impact of the STC’s initial directive,” Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker said. “With very little leverage and very little time, we were able to secure a better deal for Platte County taxpayers that reflects more realistic property value increases.”

The imposed valuation increase circumvents the traditional data-driven assessment process used by Missouri assessors for decades, replacing it with valuations dictated by the STC, which impact property owners regardless of the actual increase in individual property values.

Fricker and the County Commission, with the support of other county officials and the Board of Education, engaged outside counsel and led negotiations with the STC to arrive at this arrangement.

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News-Press NOW

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Missourian who contracted an amoeba that kills brain cells at the Lake of the Ozarks has died, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Wednesday.

The Department of Mental Health and Senior Services stated in a news release that the person, whose gender and age have not been released, died in a St. Louis-area hospital. DHSS has so far only identified the patient as an “adult Missouri resident.”

The person was sick after contracting Naegleria fowleri, possibly during a waterskiing trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, DHSS stated in a news release last week. As of Aug. 13, the state was still investigating the source of exposure.

The amoeba is common and found naturally in warm, fresh water. However, cases of infection are rare, with 167 reports in the United States between 1962 and 2024, according to DHSS.

A University of Missouri Health Care doctor told ABC 17 News last week that symptoms show up about one to 12 days after the amoeba makes its way into the brain by entering through the nose. Meningitis, or inflammation in the brain, is a common symptom of a brain-eating amoeba.

Other symptoms include severe headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting or changes in mental state. 

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Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)–Every year, toward the end of Missouri’s intense summer heat, the region gets hit with a blast of cooler air.

This sparks the seasonal buzzword: “False Fall.” It usually arrives in late August or early September, when a crisp fall breeze suddenly rolls through town.

However, Midwesterners shouldn’t get too comfortable, because within the week, temperatures will return to 90 degrees in the afternoon.

During False Fall, the Midwest typically experiences a stretch of cooler, drier days that tease the arrival of autumn. While it may feel like a permanent change, fall doesn’t officially begin until Sept. 22.

Historically, Missouri’s daily high temperatures only begin to consistently drop during this period, from the mid-80s in August to the upper 70s and low 80s in early September.

Part of what makes False Fall so convincing is how desperate we are for a break from summer. After weeks of sticky humidity and scorching days, even a two-day dip into the 60s or 70s can feel like October.

The sudden cool-down that defines False Fall is usually the result of a cold front—a boundary where a cold, dense air mass from Canada pushes southward and displaces the warm, humid air lingering over Missouri.

These cooler air masses often originate in the Arctic or northern Plains and sweep through the Midwest, bringing noticeably lower temperatures, drier air, and occasionally gusty winds.

Because Missouri sits in the central United States, far from oceans that help stabilize the climate, weather patterns here are prone to dramatic swings.

After the front passes, temperatures can drop 10 to 20 degrees or more, making it feel like fall has arrived.

But since it’s still technically summer, that cool air doesn’t stick around for long. Warm air from the Gulf coast often flows back in, kicking off what many locals call “Second Summer.”

So while it’s tempting to break out the flannel, sip a pumpkin spice latte, and declare summer over, don’t pack away your shorts just yet. In Missouri, False Fall is just the beginning of a season that likes to play tricks.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department will have a ceremony to recognize staff members who have received promotions since 2023.

The ceremony will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall, located at 1100 Frederick Ave.

Those being recognized have earned ranks, including sergeant, captain and deputy chief.

Police Chief Paul Luster will speak at the ceremony, and officers will be pinned with their newest rank by their family members.

Those being honored include:

Deputy Chief Jason Strong

Capt. Wayne Byrom

Capt. Chase Cotter

Capt. Todd Derr

Capt. Dave Gross

Capt. Brad Kerns

Capt. Eric Powell

Sgt. Christopher Babb

Sgt. Brett Coy

Sgt. James Edwards

Sgt. Jeremy Ellis

Sgt. Shane Luikart

Sgt. Richard McGregory

Sgt. Jeff Pearl

Sgt. Tyler Peter

Sgt. Dustin Robinson

Sgt. Ken Shroeder

Sgt. Kylee Van Meter

Senior Communications Operator Kali Justice

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) — The fifth annual St. Joseph area sports hall of fame induction ceremony takes place Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center.

The social hour will be at 4 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. Sports commission director Brett Esely said this year’s class is full of mentors.

“Mentors from the standpoint of all of these inductees were great at their crafts, but all of these inductees also helped other people be great,” Esely said. “They helped other people get to reach their goals where they want to go.”

The inductees for this year’s class include:

Bob Boyles, powerlifting champion and personal trainer; Rob Calloway, professional boxer known as the “All-American Prize Fighter”; Mike Habermehl, PGA Club professional at St. Joseph Country Club and Missouri Western State University assistant golf coach; Elijah Lee, eight-year NFL veteran linebacker from St. Joseph who spent part of his high school football career at Central High School; Chris Maljavac, men’s fastpitch softball national champion; Bob Orf, radio broadcasting personality for KFEQ in St. Joseph and former voice of Missouri Western Athletics; Justin Thornton, Central High School Alum and former University of Kansas Football player from 2007-2010 as well as an undrafted free agent signee of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Adam Selkirk, three-time Missouri State High School tennis champion; Don Tabor, longtime head coach for Christian Brothers High School, Bishop LeBlond High School and Benton High School; 1977 Bishop LeBlond boys basketball state championship team; Chris Ringot, Special Olympics Area Athlete of the Year.

“We’re going to have another full house, which is what we should have for an area Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony,” Esely said. “We have another great class, I think you are going to hear a lot of great stories.”

Tickets will not be available at the door and will need to be purchased ahead of time.

Tickets can be purchased for $25 each by visiting the Sports Commissions website stjomosports.com/hall-of-fame/ or by going to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Also being recognized at the event will be the fourth winner of the Bill Snyder Woman of Impact award, golfer Ali Perry. The sophomore at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith will receive the award from Coach Snyder.

“This town loves history; we like to remember,” Esely said. “We love our past, we’re prideful about it and love to celebrate. Just great history.”

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The University of Missouri Kansas City officially cut the ribbon Tuesday morning, opening the door to a new chapter in rural medicine right here in St. Joseph. 

The celebration marks the launch of a program designed to give students hands-on training in rural health care and prepares the next generation of doctors to meet the unique needs of smaller communities. 

The facility promises cutting-edge resources and guidance from experienced professionals, helping students learn modern medicine while staying rooted in local care.  

“I can’t even explain it. We are recruiting people from all over the nation and the first class believed in us and now that we are four years into this, we are having top-notch students come in this University,” said State Representative Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph).

 The expansion is especially important for rural areas, where it can take months just to get a doctor’s appointment. University leaders say their priority is to train physicians who will serve Missouri first, then eventually expand the model nationwide.  

University leaders say their priority is to train physicians who will first meet the needs of Missouri’s rural communities, then expand to serve the broader region  

“My expectations and my hopes are that we train lots of rural physicians and that we improve the health outcomes for all rural Missouri,” Shields said.  

Chancellor Mauli Agrawal echoed those goals, pointing to the shortage of health care in smaller towns. He says the university wants to bring training into rural clinics across northwest Missouri.  

“We are hoping for students to come back here who are trained and practiced, and we have beginning to see some of that, so we are hoping it will be a national model,” Agrawal said.  

Students are also sharing their excitement by learning in real-world settings that directly impact the health and well-being of rural communities.  

“It’s going to give us an opportunity to be around physicians who really care about rural health in these settings and maybe a little more resource-limited,” said Mikalah Brock, a current student.

With strong support from the community and the staff at UMKC Health Care in St. Joseph, the goal remains clear: making sure every Missourian has access to the care they deserve. 

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The East Hills Library will host a special presentation at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, exploring one of America’s most chilling unsolved crimes, the Villisca Axe Murders of 1912.

The exterior of the Villisca Axe Murders house, courtesy of murderhouse.com

The event will be led by paranormal investigator Becky Ray, who will guide attendees through the grim and mysterious history surrounding the infamous Iowa murders.

The brutal killings of eight people inside a quiet family home over a century ago shocked the small town of Villisca, Iowa, and the case has remained unsolved ever since.

Six of the eight victims from the murders in 1912, courtesy of murderhouse.com

Ray, known for her work investigating paranormal phenomena, will delve into the many theories surrounding the case and examine reports of ghostly encounters tied to the Villisca Axe Murder House. Often cited as one of the most haunted locations in the Midwest, the home has been the subject of intense interest from both historians and paranormal researchers.

Inside the attic of the house, courtesy of murderhouse.com

Titled The Villisca Axe Murders of 1912: Unsolved and Haunted, the presentation is free and open to the public, though intended for adults ages 18 and older due to the disturbing nature of the topic.

The event will be held at the East Hills Library, located at 502 Woodbine Road.

Attendees requiring accommodations are encouraged to contact the library’s ADA coordinator at 816-232-4038.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — An annual fall tradition in St. Joseph is back for another year and is welcoming vendors ahead of the pumpkin-filled weekend.

Pumpkin fans will want to mark their calendars for Friday, Oct. 3, Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5 for the 2025 Pony Express PumpkinFest.

Year after year, the exciting event has featured different local vendors, fall-themed snacks, games, entertainment and the renowned Pumpkin Mountain.

For more information, visit www.ponyexpress.org/pumpkinfest.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Tuesday morning, students around St. Joseph returned to the classrooms after a long summer.

Lines of cars packed the street outside of Edison Elementary, and students lined up on the sidewalks with their backpacks.

The safety patrol helped fellow students cross the street on their first day of school.

Energy was high, and some kids were just as excited to start the school year compared to their parents.

Some kids were looking forward to meeting new friends.

“I want to get friends,” said PJ, an incoming Kindergartner at Edison Elementary.

Although each kid had their own motivation for the school year, educators also showed excitement about the upcoming school year.

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