Author: News-Press NOW

News-Press NOW

By: Chris Roush, News Director

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Plan 2B or not Plan 2B? That is the question the St Joseph School District’s Board of Education now has to answer.

For the last several weeks, the board has been in a constant debate regarding the future of the school district.

“I’m trying, before we make a motion and direct the admin for the umpteen time to do some work on a request, I’m trying to feel the board out for what are we going to get behind?” SJSD Board member Mike Moore said. “Because that’s what I am about.”

Ever since the April 2025 bond issue failed at the polls, it has been quite the issue for the Board of Education. What plan for the district-wide model will they choose?

“Population is going down, staffing is becoming more and more difficult, and our money is going down as well,” Board member Whitney Lanning said.

When the voters decided to go against the April bond issue and the plan to build a new high school south of US 36. The plan, on paper, appeared to be for Central and Lafayette to become the two high-school models moving forward, if that bond failed.

Although the bond did fail, plans changed, with the board asking school district administrators to come up with several potential options for the high school model, the number of middle schools and the feeder patterns from the elementary schools. 

Public hearings have been held at each high school. Different plans have been tweaked and also trashed.

Plan E, a community-based plan to keep all three high schools, while still fixing the feeder patterns and right-sizing the district, was a big contender for the St. Joseph community and the school board.

Once directed to make the plan work, district administration said the plan had some good pieces to it, but it didn’t help with right-sizing, staffing or finances.

The board spent hours last week debating the next step.

“I do think if we can’t come together today (Wednesday), and we can’t agree,” Board member Jennifer Kerns said. “I think we deserve to pause this. I don’t think that’s mindless. I don’t think that’s not responsible. I think it is responsible. I think we owe it to everybody to make a decision.”

During Wednesday night’s meeting, each board member talked about their thoughts and concerns about the potential plans.

“I really do want us to move forward,” Board member Ronda Chesney said. “And progress creates pain. It creates discomfort. But here’s what I know in my personal life, when I’ve been through pain and discomfort, and I work through that pain and discomfort on the other side, I’m a better person.”

Another Board member, Kim Miller, said that she wasn’t ready to make a decision on Wednesday about which plan she agrees with.

“I do agree we have to move in one direction or not, and at this moment, I can’t tell you what that is for me, but I know there has to be movement,” Miller said. “You’ve (district administrators) done so much work that we have to give you direction by the end of the night.”

On Wednesday, it appeared at least four board members supported the plan to use Central and Lafayette as the high schools for a variety of reasons, including the financial savings; however, the Board still has work to do if it wants to get all members on board.

The district model and feeder system issue is not new. It’s been handed down from Board to Board for several years.

“In the past, every year, it’s a pause,” Board president LaTonya Williams said. “And the reason being, is because it’s hard.”

This group of seven all agree, to an extent, that the district must change. But the question remains, though, can they all agree, or at least the majority agree, to a decision next Monday, Nov. 24?

The date has already become the self-imposed decision day.

“Not everyone in the community is going to like every single part, but we as a board and administration, don’t just nod our heads, don’t just cave in or have a four to three vote, but as much as possible, we have a unanimous consensus that says this is what we’re going to do, and we’re going to do it to the best of our ability,” Board member Tom Richmond said.

The board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at the Troester Media Center, located at 3401 Renick St., for a special work session.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The mother of a St. Joseph motorcyclist killed in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 229 last May has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and two entities responsible for managing the area where the crash occurred.

A wrongful death trial has been scheduled by Judge Terry White in the Buchanan County Courthouse for Dec. 16, at 9:30 a.m. following a joint petition filed in court in late October by Cheryl Luke, mother of Ryan Coffman, for a wrongful death settlement.

The lawsuit lists Katherine Deweese, the St. Joseph driver found guilty of 2nd degree manslaughter in the case, as well as the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and HDDA, LLC, as defendants.

HDDA is the owner of the property near the exit ramp where the wrong-way crash occurred on May 17, 2024. The company still owns the land after funding issues forced it to cancel a planned hotel in 2024.

Katherine Deweese, left, stands next to attorney Mark Wissehr, during a sentencing hearing in April at the Buchanan County Courthouse in St. Joseph.

The MHTC is listed as the third defendant in the case. The commission oversees the bridge and exit ramp where the crash occurred — approximately halfway up the ramp — as well a portion of the intersection of South Third and Edmond Street where Do Not Enter/Wrong-Way signs face east warning drivers.

Four months after the crash occurred, five new “Wrong-Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs were added to the intersection of South Third and Edmond streets by the Missouri Department of Transportation. Signs were also added at the exit ramp that leads to Felix Street.

The civil suit comes after Deweese was sentenced to four months in jail in April for the fatal wrong-way crash that killed 33-year-old St. Joseph motorcyclist Ryan Coffman.

Deweese had plead not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the first degree, but admitted during an emotional one-day trial in March to accidentally driving the wrong-way up the I-229 6A exit ramp that leads Downtown to Edmond and South Third streets because she didn’t see the signs, crashing head on with Coffman midway up the ramp just before 5 a.m. on May 17, 2024.

Coffman, who was heading Downtown for a volunteer shift at Sunshine Electric Display, suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of being ejected from his motorcycle and was later pronounced dead.

During the bench trial, prosecutors argued Deweese knowingly and recklessly drove through multiple “Do Not Enter” signs while being distracted by a heated dispute with boyfriend and passenger Eric Richey. Despite a probable cause statement from police saying Deweese admitted to being in the argument, the defense later claimed the argument never occurred.

The defense did not argue that Deweese accidentally went up the ramp, but disputed that she “recklessly” did so causing the death of another person, maintaining that she did not see the signs at the time of the crash, called 911 and cooperated with officers at the scene.

A preliminary breath test administered on Deweese at the scene following the crash indicated her blood-alcohol content was 0.065%, below the legal limit of 0.08. Police requested a subsequent blood draw at the Law Enforcement Center for further testing.

The subsequent test showed Deweese’s reporting limit of alcohol was well below the limit at 0.010%, however, the test was administered more than three hours after the crash occurred as she initially refused.

Katherine Deweese, far right, sits next to attorney Mark Wissehr at the Buchanan County Courthouse during the manslaughter trial in March in St. Joseph. | Cameron Montemayor | News-Press NOW

During the on-scene investigation, officers discovered a metal beverage container in one of the vehicle’s front seat cup holders that had a small quantity of clear liquid at the bottom. Multiple officers testified the container had a faint smell of alcohol coming from it but despite that, it was revealed during the trial that the liquid was never tested for verification.

Deweese, a registered nurse for 13 years, had lived in the Downtown area not far from the exit for roughly three years prior to the crash, and denied drinking the morning of the incident.

Deweese was never arrested or issued a citation by St. Joseph police, she was later charged on Aug. 20, three months after the crash occurred.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A leading nonprofit is offering guidance to parents, grandparents and others about ways to strengthen unity within families and classrooms this week.

United Way’s Success by Six initiative is presenting the latest session in its “Conscious Discipline” series this Monday, Nov. 17, for parents, grandparents, primary caregivers and child care professionals looking to participate.

The session, which takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wyatt Park Christian Church, will cover how noticing, accepting and connecting with children strengthens self motivation.

Attendees will leave with practical tips on age-appropriate jobs and strategies to strengthen connections with families and students in the classroom. Child care professionals attending in person will receive 1.5 Missouri Clock Hours Child Care Licensing credit.

United Way Success By 6 is a community-based movement of public and private partners including business, government, labor, education, child care and parents working together to prepare children to be successful learners when they begin kindergarten.

Registration is available online at stjosephunitedway.org/sb6parents.

Those seeking more information are encouraged to contact Bobbie Cronk with United Way at 816-364-2381 or by email bobbie.cronk@stjosephunitedway.org. Additional information on Conscious Discipline can be found at consciousdiscipline.com.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A closer look through the history of St. Joseph’s infamous criminals will be the focus of an upcoming program at the East Hills Library.

On Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Dr. Kim Schutte will share details on St. Joseph’s lesser-known version of Bonnie and Clyde from the 1930s: Clarence and Juanita Spargur.

Much like Bonnie and Clyde, the Spargur’s exploits made numerous headlines in the Midwest throughout the mid-1930’s.

The upcoming presentation is intended for adults 18 and over. It will be held at the East Hills Library located at 502 N. Woodbine Road.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A veteran Navy pilot touched down in St. Joseph to celebrate the end of a long career in the armed forces on Friday.

Lieutenant Commander Kory “CHOW” Hughs, a 41-year-old weapons system operator with the Navy, made a commemorative flight to Rosecrans Memorial Airport on Friday with his EA-18 Growler, a variation of the Hornet, to celebrate his years of service.

A large group of supporters and community members showed up to congratulate Hughs and take part in ground/cockpit tours at the airport on Friday.

“I went to college at Missouri Western. It’s great to bring it (full circle) back to my hometown,” Hughs said.

A group of residents and supporters congratulate Kory Hughs on his career during his return on Friday at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

He still vividly remembers the spark that led him to join the armed forces: Watching Top Gun as a 5-year-old kid. Nationwide, the 1986 film sparked a significant increase in interest in naval aviation.

“I don’t think I ever stopped watching it. That’s where that itch you get when you’re a little kid comes from. You look up to the sky and you don’t ever stop,” Hughs said.

Hughs then explained that while finishing his career in the Navy is bittersweet, he is eager to spend more time with his family, which he called his number one priority.

“Being 41 years old and figuring out what I have to do now that I’m grow up is not a bad place to be in,” Hughs said. “I’m going to miss being able to just jump in a fighter jet, the dynamic maneuvering of flying an aircraft. But I am looking forward to retirement. Being able to finally not have to get stationed somewhere else.”

Residents will get the opportunity to take part in another wide-ranging aircraft event on Saturday with Hughs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.. The event includes aircraft viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., flights over the community and Missouri Western, touch and go landings at 2 p.m. and ground tours at 2:30 p.m.

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Leah Rainwater

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) — A jury trial has been scheduled for a Savannah, Missouri, man who is charged with three counts of sodomy and one count of rape.

Nathan Clark Hershley is charged with three counts of statutory sodomy in the 1st Degree for deviating sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 14.

The fourth charge is statutory rape in the 2nd Degree.

The trial is set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5 at the Andrew County Courthouse with Judge Dan Kellogg.

According to a press release on the Platte County Courthouse’s website, Hershely was sentenced to 75 years in prison in November 2023 for sexually abusing a girl while living in Weston, Missouri.

The abuse was reported by the victim’s mother in 2018 after discovering incriminating letters.

Hershley entered an Alford plea, acknowledging the evidence against him, without admitting guilt and was convicted on the aforementioned counts.

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News-Press NOW

By: Noel Hardin

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The United States Postal Service’s (USPS) Operation Santa program continues its 113-year tradition of helping families in need receive Christmas gifts. 

The program allows families to either request assistance or adopt others to provide gifts, operating entirely online through the USPS website.

Tara Jarrett, the strategic communications specialist for USPS, noted that while electronics remain popular requests, traditional toys and basic necessities are equally needed. 

“We still have kids wanting Matchbox cars, baby dolls, and things like that,” Jarrett said. “We also have adults requesting tennis shoes, clothes, coats, or hats for their kids or themselves. There’s a vast array of needs and many options for people to help.”

The postal service emphasizes that, despite running the program for more than a century, thousands of families still require assistance each holiday season, with an equal number of families eager to provide support. 

Letter adoptions begin Monday, Nov. 17, through the USPS Operation Santa website, where participants can register to either request help or fulfill holiday wishes for families across the United States.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri Department of Conservation will have nearly all staff on hand this weekend to assist hunters with Chronic Wasting Disease testing for harvested deer.

Hunters across the state of Missouri are expected to be out in force this weekend for the start of firearms deer season, which begins Nov. 15 and lasts through Nov. 25.

Every deer killed this weekend in certain counties in the CWD Management Zone must go to the nearest testing site, where a lymph node will be removed to check for evidence of the disease. 

Buchanan County does not fall within the CWD management zone. However, multiple surrounding counties in Northwest Missouri require CWD testing.

A spokesperson for MDC said virtually all staff will be working this weekend to facilitate the process in counties throughout the state. CWD sampling only takes a few minutes to complete.

Counties with 2025 Mandatory Sampling include:Audrain, Bollinger, Boone, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Cole, Daviess, Dent, Douglas, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Maries, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Ralls, Randolph, Saline, Scotland, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Louis, Texas, Webster.

For questions about CWD sampling stations in:

Northwest Region — (816) 271-3100 — Carroll, Chariton, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, pr Livingston counties.

Central Region — (573) 815-7900 — Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Howard, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, or Saline counties.

Kansas City — (816) 622-0900 — Henry or St. Clair Counties.

Tips for Visiting a Mandatory Sampling Station:

Field dress and Telecheck your deer before arrival.

You can bring the carcass or just the head with at least 6 inches of the neck attached. (It is OK to remove the cape before you get to the sampling station.)

The person who harvested the deer must be present.

Be prepared to provide your Conservation Number and point out the location of harvest on a map.

If using a paper permit, have it detached from the deer for easy access. If using the MO Hunting app, have your permit and Telecheck information readily available.

Position the deer in your vehicle with the head and neck accessible.

Freezer Drop locations are closed during opening weekend of the November firearms portion of deer season.

A full list of CWD testing locations in each county can be found on MDC’s website at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/mandatory-cwd-sampling.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The lands of southwest St. Joseph will soon be transformed into a world of adventure and family-friendly renaissance activities on Saturday.

The Castle Bridge Event Center in St. Joseph is set to host VikingFest 2025 this Saturday starting at 11 a.m., an immersive all-day experience filled with games, performers, merchants and renaissance activities in celebration of Viking culture.

Gates are set to open at 11 a.m. at event center located at 8403 U.S. Highway 59 in St. Joseph.

More than 1,000 people are expected to show out for the second annual gathering with activities in store for all ages, such as face painting and sack races to petting zoos, concerts and ax throwing.

Fans of the Renaissance period and Viking culture will get the chance to participate in a wide range of hands-on activities and reenactments of stories and battles.

Starting at 5 p.m., organizers will light a massive pyre of a Viking ship followed by a metal concert featuring Viking bands like Maggie Moon and Tordenkor, who have prepared a show of “mythic proportions.” Bands will continue to play until 10 p.m.

Unique performances also on the docket include fire dancing and fire-spinning groups like Pyro Flow.

For the safety of everyone on the grounds, no live steel swords, axes, knives, or similar items (including peace-tied) will be allowed at VikingFest unless worn by cast/actors/security with prior approval. Security will be checking credentials throughout the event.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph School District held its third Finance Committee meeting of the year Tuesday afternoon, bringing members together at the district office to brainstorm new ways to boost revenue and cut costs. 

A big part of the conversation focused on staffing — specifically, how employees are spread out across buildings and whether the district is using its staff as efficiently as possible. 

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations, Robert Hedgecorth, said the group came up with several creative ideas, including partnering with local businesses.  

“We have a lot of great businesses in our district, so seeking possible businesses for sponsorships to support the district financially, whether it be through advertisements or pamphlets,” Hedgecorth said.  

Another idea that stood out to him was looking into grant opportunities, especially those that help improve school entrances and walkways.  

He noted, many of these grants go unnoticed simply because people don’t realize they exist.  

“A lot of the reasons why we have that finance committee, because there are people in our community that want to help our schools want to see our schools thrive. And so it was a great, you know, brainstorming exercise for us to, go through,” Hedgecorth said.  

The committee also spent time looking at federal funding trends and discussing how to keep the district financially stable moving forward. 

One of the key topics was the district’s hiring justification form — a process that requires departments to explain why a vacant position truly needs to be refilled.  

“Any position where someone might leave a position in the past, we would have just rehired that position because we had it before. If someone leaves, has to have a justification for why we should rehire that position. And that is reviewed by everybody on our cabinet,” Hedgecorth added.  

Hedgecorth said meetings like this are important for keeping communication open and making sure the district is being thoughtful and transparent about its financial decisions — all to strengthen the community.

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