Author: News-Press NOW

Leah Rainwater

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — For adults interested in Safety Town or those who might have missed out, the time is now to discover the magic that has been teaching kids about day-to-day safety for decades. 

Safety Town is a long-standing program from the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council to teach kids how to navigate the world safely.

From 5 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 30, the council will host Safety Town After Dark, a special version of the long-standing classic aimed to give adults the same opportunity and help the program’s mission continue through fundraising.

This idea came from United Way’s Director, Kylee Strough, according to St. Joseph Safety and Health Director Frank Till.

“(Kylee) approached me about doing an adult safety town, and my incredible employees and I worked on it for two years and came up with this idea,” Till said. “Safety Town After Dark, which is basically an adult version of Safety Town, will go on at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church”.

The fun is for adults 18 years and older at the church’s location at 4503 Frederick Ave.

Entry to the event is $75 per ticket, and attendees will also receive a meal. Throughout the evening, guests can purchase tickets for raffles, games and special activities. 

“All this money will go to that. I mean, every bit of it will go to help fund those programs,” Till said. “Come out, be a part of this, a table of eight people for $500, great meal and a good time.”

For more information on purchasing a ticket or sponsoring this event, visit the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council’s event page.

Click here to follow the original article.

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A new program is giving small businesses preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kansas City, Missouri, is set to host six FIFA World Cup games, and the Missouri and Kansas areas are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of fans for the World Cup.

To prepare for the large influx of visitors, VISA and Commerce Bank have launched a new small business readiness program for the FIFA World Cup coming to Kansas City.

The online program provides resources and a defined checklist, covering six main topics:

Fraud mitigation and cybersecurity

Contactless and mobile payments

Alternative forms of payment

Payment infrastructure

Language accessibility and cultural awareness

Digital marketing and promotional efforts

St. Joseph President of Commerce Bank, Brendon Clark, believes the program is going to directly help communities like St. Joseph.

“St. Joe, specifically, is a community that’s going to benefit from all of those guests. And just being an hour up the road, I think a lot of visitors are going to be interested in visiting our unique attractions and restaurants and lodging, and we’ll make sense that it will see a positive impact from the World Cup this Summer,” said Clark.

The program is accessible to anyone and can be found at commercebank.com/soccer26.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Daviess County teenager was transported to the hospital Tuesday evening following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 south of Bethany, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a two-vehicle collision involving a semi-truck and an SUV occurred around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday on southbound I-35 roughly a mile south of Bethany, Missouri, in Harrison County.

A 16-year-old female from Coffey, Missouri, was approaching the rear of a 2000 Kenworth semi-truck when she overcorrected in a 2007 Chevy Impala while attempting to change lanes to avoid the semi.

The teen overcorrected and struck the driver’s side of the semi, forcing the Impala to leave the east side of the highway before coming to rest upright.

The teen was taken by North Missouri EMS to Harrison County Community Hospital with moderate injuries. Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

The driver of the semi-truck, a 71-year-old man from Ottumwa, Iowa, was able to come to a controlled stop after the collision and was unharmed, according to a crash report from MSHP.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — Former Platte County Commissioner John Elliott announced his candidacy for Missouri State Representative in District 13, seeking the seat vacated by Rep. Sean Pouche (R-Kansas City).

Missouri’s District 13 encompasses parts of Platte and Buchanan counties. Elliott will appear on the Republican primary ballot in August.

“I’m running to bring commonsense conservative leadership from Platte County to Jefferson City,” said Elliott. “That means standing with law enforcement, fixing a broken property tax system, protecting life and defending Missouri land and agriculture from foreign control.”

Elliott said security is at the top of his priority list for Missourians, shining a light on supporting law enforcement.

“This area that we call home depends on strong law enforcement to maintain our quality of life, especially as our communities grow,” said Elliott. “I will back the men and women who keep us safe and push backa gainst policies that weaken public safety.”

Elliott also emphasized protecting Missouri’s farmland and food security, highlighting that Missouri families and farmers should control land and food supply, not foreign governments.

Elliott has previously served as a Platte County Commissioner, focusing on infrastructure, public safety and fiscal responsibility during a period of significant development in the Northland.

He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Stanley M. Herzog Foundation board and said he has been active in conservative and faith-based leadership for decades.

Elliott is also a small business owner who grew up on a north Missouri farm. He said his priorities are grounded in real-world experience.

“My wife Julie and I understand the challenges local businesses face, and we know the pressures on farmers dealing with rising costs,” said Elliott. “I’ll be a voice for families and family-owned businesses- not corporate insiders in Jefferson City.”

Elliott said he supports Gov. Mike Kehoe’s efforts to eliminate the state income tax.

“As President Reagan reminded us, ‘Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.’ I intend to do all I can to pass that torch to the next generation and protect the freedoms that allow families, farmers and businesses to thrive.”

Both Elliott and his wife Julie are the parents of two children and grandparents to three grandchildren. They attend Outreach Christian Church and remain active in the community through Parkville Women’s Clinic, Northland Christian Schools and other local organizations.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A high school Eagle scout from St. Joseph was announced as the first recipient of a 2026 scholarship offered through the honorary “Mic-O-Say” tribal scouts organization.

Central High School senior Alex Lawyer, an Eagle scout with Troop 216 in St. Joseph, was recognized as the first winner of the 2026 Patrick L. Newman Mic-O-Say Scholarship, a $1000 scholarship awarded to top scouts at Camp Geiger who display leadership, courage and dedication to scout oath and law.

Lawyer was one of four area students to receive the scholarship this year, including Benton High School senior Cole Kelley, Atchison Eagle Scout Patrick Maderak and North Platte senior Galen Christiansen. 

Following graduation, Lawyer plans to attend a college and major in Environmental Engineering, combining his passion for math and science with the outdoors to reduce impacts of human activity on the environment.

Lawyer’s academic accomplishments include being a member of the National Honor Society, student government and FBLA. His musical talents in orchestra have earned him numerous district and state awards. 

Within scouting, Lawyer has spent three years working on Camp Geiger staff, including multiple unit-level leadership positions. 

The annual scholarship was created in honor of Patrick L. Newman, a longtime scout who served for nearly 30 years on the Tribal Council of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, and often urged the organization to create an educational scholarship for members. 

Full list of scholarship award winners include: 

Galen Christiansen, 2nd recipient 

Galen Christiansen is pictured in this photo.

Christiansen is an Eagle Scout from Troop 714 in Edgerton, Missouri and is currently a senior at North Platte High School in Dearborn, Missouri. Galen plans to attend the University of Central Missouri where he will major in Aviation.

Galen is a strong leader and athlete with three years of experience working as a member of Camp Geiger staff, receiving the distinct “Staffman of the Year” award in 2025. Galen maintains a very active schedule with Cross Country, Track and Field, Scholar Bowl, National Honor Society, band, choir and the school musical, all while maintaining a cumulative 4.11 weighted GPA. 

Cole Kelley, 3rd recipient: 

Cole Kelley is pictured in this photo.

Kelley is an Eagle Scout and Benton High School senior from Troop 216 in St. Joseph. Cole plans to attend either Missouri Western State University or the University of Central Missouri after graduation, with the goal of majoring in Wildlife Conservation Management. 

A former “Staffman of the Week” winner, Kelley has held key leadership roles during his time at Camp Geiger. His accomplished resume includes football, track, orchestra, scholar bowl, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Cole Kelley currently holds the No. 1 class rank for his graduating class with an impressive 4.4 weighted GPA.  

Patrick Maderak, 4th recipient: 

Patrick Maderak is pictured in this photo.

Patrick is an Eagle Scout from Troop 53 in Atchison, Kansas, and is currently a sophomore at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas where he is double majoring in Political Science and Business. He hopes to use his college degree to further his studies to attend Law School and become a practicing lawyer.

Patrick has served two years as a member of the Camp Geiger staff and is an active member of his church, maintaining a busy schedule between powerlifting, track and field, forensics and theater. 

The scholarship is available to any Camp Geiger Tribesman of Mic-O-Say who is currently active in the program. Mic-O-Say is an honorary scouts organization founded in 1925 at Camp Geiger by revered scout and Kansas City mayor H. Roe Bartle, interweaving the scout oath of law with elements of Native American culture. 

The scholarship program is entirely funded by private contributions and is managed by the Mosaic Life Care Foundation.

Students entering their senior year of high school or freshman year of college are encouraged to submit an application for Fall 2026 scholarships at micosay.org/scholarships. Scholarship applications must be received by October 15th to qualify for the January award at the Winter Conclave

Click here to follow the original article.

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Missouri Western State University hosted its first military suicide prevention training day to strengthen participants’ ability to identify risk factors and respond appropriately. 

The training was tailored for three groups: counselors, law enforcement officers and MoWest faculty and staff.  

Clinical Psychologist Christina Menager said her goal is to educate therapists, counselors, social workers and psychologists about the military and other service members, as well as their mental health and suicide prevention needs.  

Menager said veterans are present in every community and that it is essential for mental health professionals to understand how to effectively work with this group.  

“Its a public health issue. It affects everyone in this country. It is the second leading cause of death amongst individuals from 18 to 44 (years old),” Menager said.  

She also said suicide rates among veterans are approximately 1.6 times higher than those in the civilian population, underscoring why suicide prevention should be a concern for everyone.  

During the presentation, Menager emphasized that addressing suicide requires empowering all members of the community with the knowledge and skills to respond when they encounter someone experiencing a suicidal crisis.  

“The vast majority of people who die by suicide will never come for mental health treatment or diagnosis and that means you, the everyday person, are really the frontline,” Menager added.  

She noted that before the early 2000s, suicide rates among veterans and service members were lower than those of the civilian population.  

However, beginning in 2001, those rates began to rise and have since surpassed civilian suicide rates.  

“It hasn’t been increasing perfectly. It’s been going kind of up and down, but yes, we have some rate increases,” Menager said.  

Menager said the key challenge is understanding what is driving these rising rates, particularly because suicide data is correlational, making it difficult to determine direct causes.  

She added that multiple factors may contribute, including fewer social safety nets, homelessness, financial and relationship stress, strain at home, and substance abuse.  

“Common myth people have is if someone decided to end their life, they are going to do it. That’s actually not true because when someone decides to end their life quarter of people act in five minutes, half of people act in 20 mins and three-quarters act in 1 hour,” Menager said.  

Director of Military and Veterans Services at MoWest, Gabrielle Falletta, said the presentation was one of the office’s major events of the semester. 

Falletta said she is passionate about bringing attention to the issue and believes events like this are among the most effective ways to raise awareness  

“Generally, what I have seen on campus is that not many faculty, staff or students have come in contact with veterans to be well-versed on the warning signs, so our goals today is to give a baseline knowledge so they can intervene,” Falletta said.  

Falletta said her hope is for attendees to leave with a greater understanding of how common military suicide is and what steps individuals can take to help prevent it.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Performing Arts Association announced an award to honor Pat and the late Carroll Cathey with a new honor recognizing donors whose commitment to the arts goes far beyond financial support.

The Pat and Carroll Cathey Arts Support Award was formally introduced at the Association’s monthly board meeting in August of 2025.

“Pat is an expert on Broadway shows, and her insight helped shape our programming for nearly a decade,” Board member Gloria Mason Martin said during the August meeting.

The inaugural award was presented to Pat and Carroll Cathey in recognition of their advocacy and dedication to the Performing Arts Association and the cultural life of the community.

Pat Cathey served on the Performing Arts Association board several years back and was the chair of the Programming Committee, where her leadership played a key role in bringing high-quality, nationally recognized performances to St. Joseph.

Both Pat and Carroll Cathey have been supporters of the Association, continuing their advocacy even today.

Carroll passed in late 2025, but the creation of the award not only serves as a recognition of the couple’s shared passion for the arts and their belief in the power of live performance to strengthen the Performing Arts Association.

“This award is an effort to turn the spotlight off the stage and onto the people who make the performances possible,” said Paul “Gibby” Gibson, the president of the Performing Arts Association. “Our donors deserve attention, respect and appreciation for their commitment. This honor exists to recognize individuals whose support goes beyond generosity and becomes tru partnership.”

The Performing Arts Association has a long history of presenting national touring artists, Broadway productions, concerts and family programming.

Through community partnerships, volunteer leadership and donor support, the Association reaffirms its commitment, not only to excellence on stage, but also to honoring the individuals whose passion and advocacy sustain the arts behind the scenes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The AFL-CIO Community Services said the 2025 Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program concluded, marking a momentous milestone.

The program has assisted over 100,000 individuals over the past 43 years, providing holiday support to families and individuals facing financial hardship throughout Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas.

The Adopt-A-Family program was first started in 1983 following a heartfelt request shared on local radio. A K-Jo DJ encouraged listeners to consider adopting real people in need for Christmas rather than popular holiday toys like Cabbage Patch Kids.

In the first year, 243 individuals were adopted through the program.

Since its inception, the program has connected thousands of donors with families and individuals in need, ensuring children wake up to gifts on Christmas morning and households have essential items during the holiday season.

Each year, community members, businesses and volunteers come together to provide gifts, clothing, food and household necessities, reinforcing the spirit of generosity and solidarity defining the program.

For more information about the Adopt-A-Family program and how to get involved, visit the agency’s website at helpmenow.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph School District’s finance committee met Tuesday to take another closer look at the district’s financial statement audit from KPM. 

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Robert Hedgecorth said the goal was to give committee members time to really sit down together and review the information.  

While KPM had already spent a good amount of time going over the audit during a board meeting, Hedgecorth said he wanted another opportunity to walk through parts that could be confusing.  

“I gave everyone a printout, and they can go over it and dig deep into the information and then email me or give me a call if they have any questions about any other pieces in the audit,” Hedgecorth said.  

He added that it’s important for committee members to fully process the numbers, especially since there are several misconceptions circulating in the community.  

Hedgecorth said there’s always room for improvement, and he makes it a point to ask auditors for feedback on how the district can strengthen its processes and procedures.  

“We talked through those things today at the meeting and got their feedback on it and what we could do to be better moving forward,” Hedgecorth added.  

Hedgecorth also touched on the two new high schools in the district and why that option may be less likely in the future.

“Its more complex formula than this, but you cannot borrow for more than 15% of your assessed evaluation in total. That’s a state statute and so the cost of a new high school, we wouldn’t have the bonding capacity to do that out of our general obligation fund,” Hedgecorth said.  

He said the district could technically borrow through Certificates of Participation, or COP debt, on top of the maximum general obligation amount, but it would result in a significant increase to the tax levy—something the district wants to avoid.  

Instead, Hedgecorth said SJSD needs to focus on long-term planning.  

“We need to work backwards, then, to ensure what bonding capacity we have to establish the funding for those buildings. If we wanna use some COP debt to support those project then we would have to pass that as a tax levy increase,” Hedgecorth said.  

Hedgecorth said another option is being strategic about how facilities are designed and built to help fund projects without raising taxes.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — St. Joseph’s Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians donated $5,000 Tuesday afternoon to help Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

The group, made up of Catholic men of Irish heritage, said its reason for helping Second Harvest goes back.

“The Irish are no strangers to hunger, so one of our local supporters that we support a lot is Second Harvest,” said Dennis Delaney, chapter president. “We just felt like…we had some funds available and we thought that would be the best place to put it.”

Former chapter president and current historian, Shane McDonald, said the effort the organization puts in to lend a hand goes beyond just one day.

“This is something we do. We think about it all year long,” said McDonald. “We start thinking about this around St. Patrick’s Day, and usually dedicate some of our funds from the St. Patrick’s Day parade to Second Harvest, too. So we think about this organization a lot.”

Both Delaney and McDolad said the chapter doesn’t have an exact date for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade yet, but that it will be sometime in mid-March.

Click here to follow the original article.