Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City of St. Joseph will receive millions in state grant funding to design a state-of-the-art facility capable of maintaining the coveted C-130J model aircraft.

St. Joseph and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission have agreed to terms on a $7.49 million airport grant agreement for design phase services for a new aircraft maintenance facility for the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Grant funds will be provided through the State Airport Aid Fund on a reimbursement basis, allowing the city and the Missouri Air National Guard to initiate critical early steps for facility planning.

“The state gave us the money saying the 139th Airlift Wing is extremely important for our state and our community,” St. Joseph Public Works Director Abe Forney said. “The 139th is not just local. It’s a local and a federal mission.”

The addition of a new and expanded maintenance hangar serves as a major checkmark for securing the long-sought C-130J, the U.S. Air Force’s primary transport aircraft and a major upgrade from C-130Hs currently at Rosecrans.

The C-130J is also viewed as the backbone of NATO’s airlift superiority, with a fleet of more than 540 C-130Js across 70 countries.

“One of the things that didn’t allow them to say the J-model was perfect for Rosecrans was the aircraft maintenance hangar was not big enough according to specifications,” Forney said. “This is a bigger maintenance facility for the J models … I think this is the exact thing that needed to happen.”

The current plan is to design the new maintenance facility to be large enough to hold two C-130J models.

While the facility doesn’t guarantee approval of the C-130J, which often involves a highly competitive bidding process, Forney credited the work of many local and state government officials for putting St. Joseph in as strong a position as possible to secure it.

“City Council worked on this. The representatives from the state worked on this. The senators worked on it. All the way up to Gov. Kehoe,” Forney said. “If we didn’t get this grant, we would be waiting on the Department of Defense or the Federal Government.”

City Councilmembers are now scheduled to hear a first reading for the grant agreement on Monday before final approval takes place at the Nov. 17 meeting.

The announcement comes as the 139th Airlift Wing continues the long-term process of relocating to the north end of the base.

Between it and the 86-year-old Rosecrans Memorial Airport, more than $35 million has been invested in widespread infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including a new terminal building, runway and air traffic control tower nearing completion.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Traffic will soon be reduced to one lane on Walter Welsh Avenue north of St. Joseph’s City Hall.

The closure comes as work begins Monday, Nov. 10, on a planned City Hall fountain improvement project.

The north lane of the one-way street will be closed to allow demolition to begin on the existing fountain located on the north side of City Hall, between Walter Welsh and Frederick Avenues.

The lane closest to the building will remain open and ADA-accessible parking in front of City Hall will still be available. The City Hall parking lot will still remain accessible throughout construction.

The $190,000 Capital Improvement Program project includes a complete demolition of the existing fountain and retaining wall.

The site will be regraded to street level to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. A new fountain and circular sidewalks with benches will be constructed in its place.

The “No Turning Back” statue, currently located on the site, will be reinstalled as part of the new design.

The fountain project is scheduled for completion in April 2026.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — As winter weather approaches, driving may become a little trickier.

Drivers will have to deal with limited visibility, longer braking distances, snowfall and icy roads.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were over 3,370 vehicle crashes in Missouri in 2024 during periods of snow, sleet, hail or ice, which resulted in 819 injuries and 10 deaths.

Sgt. Shane Hux said it’s important to check your local weather forecast before making any travel arrangements.

“Look on the internet for the local weather conditions. Not only is it important to check the weather where you live,  but also where you’re traveling to and in between,” he said

Hux said it’s very important to make sure your vehicle is winter-ready.

“Very important to make sure that your tires are properly inflated.  The vehicle’s in good mechanical condition,  you know, the antifreeze, everything good battery,  because what we don’t want is for people to get stranded  during inclement weather,” he said

Hux said driver’s patterns should change in the winter due to the snow and ice.

“Make sure you decrease your speed and increase your following distance. Just because the speed limit is 70 miles per hour on the interstate, that doesn’t mean that you can always travel 70 miles per hour,” he said. “There’s times where you maybe you can only do 25, 30 miles per hour.” 

Hux gives tips on what to do if your vehicle starts to skid on the road.

“It’s one of those moments where you don’t want to break.  You want to counter steer and try to get that vehicle to come out of it,” he said.

Hux said one thing remains constant every year: vehicles are more likely to strike Missouri Department of Transportation snowplows.

“If you cannot pass them safely, then don’t pass them at all. Just stay behind them and travel them at a safe distance to give them time to where they can remove the snow from the roadway,” he said.

Overall, Hux said, sometimes it’s best for the public to stay home where there is inclement weather.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — AFL-CIO Community Serves announced when the community can begin adopting families for its annual Adopt-A-Family program.

The Adopt-A-Family program has been serving St. Joseph for over 40 years, where donors have provided gifts for over 96,000 local individuals.

Adopters will be able to sign up on Friday, Nov. 14. Anyone interested in adopting can stop by the agency’s office at 1203 N. 6th St., call 816-364-1131, fax 866-591-8565 or email adopt@helpmenow.org.

Since 1983, the program has been helping single parents to put gifts under the tree for their children, making it possible for ill parents to concentrate on regaining their health instead of worrying about gifts, allowing the unemployed to look for work without fretting about affordability during the holidays and providing basic staples for seniors and disabled adults living with a tight budget.

In a news release, AFL-CIO Executive Director Nichi Seckinger describes what the program means to local families.

“When they are given gifts, it says to them, ‘You matter, someone noticed and someone cares.’ We know this because they tell our staff year after year. They hug us because they can’t hug the adopter,” said Seckinger. “They cry because they are overwhelmed by the generosity they have received.”

Seckinger even said, families who are adopted over the holidays even give back to the program when circumstances change.

For adopters who haven’t adopted before, the AFL-CIO said the estimated cost to adopt one child under the age of 10 is $50. A child 11 and older normally averages $75 to $100. Adopters are asked to provide at least one new toy per child.

Any additional items for the children and any gifts for the parents are at the adopter’s discretion. The program includes several single adults as well, who live in residential care facilities and are unable to afford basic necessities and may have no other form of financial support.

The AFL-CIO said senior adoptions average $75 to $100.

The agency is also accepting donations of toys and personal gifts for all ages for the gift room.

Monetary donations can be made through the website at helpmenow.org, by phone using a credit or debit card, or in person at the agency.

All monetary donations will be used to purchase items for families who are not chosen by an adopter.

During the program, the AFL-CIO will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout November. Hours will adjust in December, with the agency being open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

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Leah Rainwater

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KQTV) — After previously announcing it would provide meal assistance to local communities, Hy-Vee is extending its low-cost meals to families.

The grocery store is providing $3 meals for families until Friday, Nov. 14, at all stores with hot food service, including a breakfast buffet from 7 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 9.

The meals will continue to be free for children ages 12 and under. For customers over the age of 13, meals will be available for $3 with options for dine-in or takeout.

Hy-Vee also provided its full menu:

Friday, Nov. 7: Sesame or orange chicken rice bowl (4-7 p.m.)

Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9: Breakfast buffet featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, a piece of fruit and donut holes (7-10 a.m.)

Monday, Nov. 10: Chicken alfredo with penne and garlic toast (4-7 p.m.)

Tuesday, Nov. 11: Chicken or pork and vegetables with steamed rice, appetizer and fortune cookie (4-7 p.m.)

*In locations without HyChi, the meal will be two chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and corn

Wednesday, Nov. 12: Breakfast for Dinner featuring scrambled eggs with cheese, sausage links, fresh fruit and a cinnamon roll (4-7 p.m.)

Thursday, Nov. 13: Chicken hind quarter (drumstick and thigh), potato salad and chocolate chip cookie (4-7 p.m.)

Friday, Nov. 14: Sloppy Joe sandwich with seasoned green beans (4-7 p.m.)

Hy-Vee also launched a register round-up campaign, allowing customers to support local food pantries in their communities by rounding up their purchases at checkout.

Customers can also purchase $5 and $10 food bank donation bundles, which will be donated to a designated pantry in each store’s community.

The efforts are in addition to Hy-Vee’s $100,000 corporate donation made to Feeding America last week. The store is also making additional food donations to local food pantries.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Drivers will likely need to plan an alternative route of traffic starting Monday for those commuting through the Mosaic Life Care campus.

City officials announced Friday that an extended road repair project is set to begin on Heartland Road from Faraon Street to Frederick Avenue beginning Monday, Nov. 10.

The project includes a full-depth concrete replacement to damaged areas of the road, which runs along the west side of the Mosaic Life Care Medical Center campus.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS

During construction, southbound Heartland Road will be closed to through traffic from Frederick Avenue to just south of the emergency room entrance. South of the emergency room entrance, the southbound lane will have a complete closure.

The northbound lane will remain open, ensuring uninterrupted access to the emergency room from Heartland Road.

TIMELINE

Work is expected to continue in phases, with updates provided as the project progresses. No official time or date for completion is confirmed at this time.

Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes and exercise caution while driving through the construction zone. Work is expected to continue in phases, with updates provided as the project progresses.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The iconic Krug Park castle is getting its turn for long-awaited improvements as project crews widen their net to multiple construction areas within the park this fall.

Brick by brick, specialized masonry workers repaired damaged and deteriorating mortar throughout the exterior of the 102-year-old castle Monday, using scaffolds to reach high-up areas and revitalize its appearance.

“They’ll do this as long as weather approves. Then they’re going to move inside the building and start doing some of the demo work in there,” St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins said. “It’s major because there’s so much brick.”

Once complete, the interior of the castle will be transformed with a new reception and concession area, restrooms and event space upstairs, bringing to life original castle plans that went dormant nearly a century ago.

The plan is to pair the revamped event castle with the playground area next door, which will be remodeled into a theater-like entertainment venue with a new stage for scenic weddings, plays and other performances.

New seating and ADA-accessible pathways will be constructed on the hillside and outer walkway, including re-introduction of the once-popular glide swings.

“The beauty of that being the entertainment venue is you’ve got the castle right next door for the main support structure. Your bridal party can get ready for the wedding. The mid-level. You can have the bigger restrooms available for events. You’ve got the reception area. This area just becomes a hub,” Atkins said.

The latest phase of work is part of a widespread $12.7 million parks tax project to modernize nearly every section of the park, a project estimated for completion in 2027.

Now five months into construction, the castle and playground is one of multiple sites where upgrades are currently being carried out, pedestrians will also see the amphitheater area undergoing heavy renovations before arriving at the castle.

Plans for the amphitheater/bowl area include a new stage and viewing area with an improved backdrop with the lagoon, as well as new sidewalks, utilities, and a 24-by-56-foot concession stand to serve visitors during events.

“They’ve been bringing in a lot of dirt to change the grade where they took out the old stage, because the new stage will be just a little bit east,” Atkins said. “That’s kind of the beauty of this project. The citizens can come up and visit the job sites.”

Many of the park’s new features will harken back to the old days of the park, a result of considerable community feedback, including large slides and playground equipment in the new Buffalo Bowl Adventure area planned for Phase 3.

Phase 4 of the project includes upgrading the park’s entryway with a new walking path and improved connections to the Parkway, including a new sidewalk that loops around the entire lagoon.

In Atkins’ view, installation and upgrades to park utilities like water, sewer and electricity will be one of the more unheralded aspects of the entire project.

“Here real soon. They’re going to be doing some work up there to replace the utilities that serve the area,” he said. “You have to have a good quality sewer line coming out of it. All the non glamorous stuff. That’s probably some the most important.” 

For those looking ahead to the holiday season, construction wasn’t the only work taking place at Krug Park on Monday. City crews also kicked off the weekslong process of setting up Christmas lights and decorations for the popular Holiday Park show.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — It’s win or go home for high school football teams vying for a shot in the district title game next weekend.

From Bishop LeBlond to St. Joseph Christian, Mid-Buchanan and Savannah, district semifinal matchups are set to take place under the bright lights Friday with many area teams still in play.

Matchups will kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday, including local games at Bishop LeBlond High School and St. Joseph Christian, where the Golden Eagles and Lions will look to make it an all-city district championship next weekend with victories on Friday.

8-Man District 5

Matchups:

No. 1 Bishop LeBlond (5-4) vs No. 4 Stewartsville (2-8)

No. 2 St. Joseph Christian (4-5) vs. No. 3 South Holt Knights (3-6)

After a tough 1-4 start, the Golden Eagles flipped the script in the second half of the season, rattling off four straight victories heading into Friday’s semifinal matchup with No. 4 Stewartsville.

A victory Friday would earn Bishop LeBlond a second straight district championship appearance. Last season, the Golden Eagles defeated Plattsburg 76-22 to win the district crown.

The St. Joseph Christian Lions are set to face off with South Holt on the other side of the bracket. The Lions enter Friday’s showdown coming off a 42-38 home victory against Princeton, their first home win of the year.

Class 1 District 6

Matchups:

No. 1 West Platte (6-3) vs. No. 4 Penney (4-6)

No. 2 North Platte (5-4) vs. No. 3 Gallatin Bulldogs (6-4)

The No. 1-seeded West Platte Blue Jays enter the semifinal round looking to book their ticket to the district title game for the first time since 2015. The Blue Jays are coming off three-straight victories over North Platte, Lathrop and East Buchanan.

Despite a tough 1-3 finish to the season against top-ranked opponents like Mid-Buchanan and Lawson, North Platte enjoyed an overall bounce back year in 2025, finishing with a 5-4 record after going 3-9 last year.

Victories by North Platte and West Platte would set up a rematch from the regular season finale, a one-score game that West Platte won 41-34.

Class 2 District 8

Matchups:

No. 1 Mid-Buchanan (9-0) vs. Lawson (8-2)

No. 2 Cameron (6-4) vs. South Harrison (9-1)

It’s been an utterly dominant season for the undefeated Mid-Buchanan Dragons in 2025. The Dragons are coming off a lopsided 63-7 victory over rival East Buchanan and now turn their attention to Lawson in the district semifinal round.

With three shutouts already, the Mid-Buchanan defense has allowed an average of just 8.7 points a game this season. On the other side, the offense put up nearly 50 points a game, including two 60-point outings in Weeks 8 and 9.

Class 3 District 8

Matchups:

No. 1 Maryville (7-2) vs. No. 4 Pembroke Hill (5-5)

No. 2 Richmond (7-2) vs. No. 3 Chillicothe (4-6)

Class 4 District 8

Matchups:

No. 1 Kearney (9-0) vs. No. 4 Van Horn (7-3)

No. 2 Savannah (9-1) vs. No. 3 Smithville (8-2)

The Savannah Savages are set to face off with No. 3 Smithville on Friday in front of what should be a high-energy crowd in Savannah. The Savages have been dominant on both sides of the ball this season, holding seven of their ten opponents to 10 points or less while averaging nearly 45 points a game.

The only losses this season for Smithville have come against against top-ranked undefeated opponents, including Kearney (9-0) and Platte County (9-0).

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art is ringing in the holiday season once again with the annual Sugarplum Festival kicking off Thursday.

A tradition that dates back more than 40 years, the beloved Sugarplum Festival transforms the museum into a winter marketplace filled with handcrafted gifts, holiday décor, specialty foods, and one-of-a-kind creations from over 30 local and regional artisans.

This year’s event kicked off at 5 p.m. Thursday with a festive preview party, which will be followed by full vendor shopping days on Friday and Saturday. Proceeds from the festival support the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs, helping sustain one of Northwest Missouri’s key cultural institutions.

Just as important, the popular event gives local makers and small businesses the opportunity to highlight products and support museum operations simultaneously.

Those interested in learning more about tickets, vendor details or event hours can visit www.albrecht-kemper.org to learn more. Attendees are asked to arrive early Friday and Saturday to guarantee first picks on unique or limited-edition items from artisans.

What to expect:

Live music/performances, and the opportunity to “kick off” the holiday shopping season in a festive environment. 

A wide array of vendors offering handmade crafts, artisan-goods and gift items. 

Specialty food and drink option, including warm beverages and festive treats.

A festive and community-oriented atmosphere: more than just shopping, the festival serves as a local holiday gathering point.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Salvation Army is set to kick off its annual Red Kettle Campaign at stores around St. Joseph.

The Campaign will begin on Thursday, Nov. 7 and will continue until Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Volunteers will begin ringing bells at more than five locations in the community, including Hy-Vee, Price Chopper and Sam’s Club. Community members interested in volunteering should call Megan Smith at 816-232-5824.

“Every bell that rings outside a storefront reminds the community that hope and kindness are still alive,” said Emily Bravo, social services director with The Salvation Army. “Our volunteers bring joy to every passerby and make a very real difference for families who rely on our programs.”

The money collected during the 2025 Red Kettle Campaign will support Salvation Army programs in St. Joseph for the entire year. These programs include: emergency shelter, food pantry, youth and senior programs and disaster response.

Anyone wishing to donate to The Salvation Army by credit card is encouraged to call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769). Checks can be mailed to The Salvation Army at P.O. Box 1417, St. Joseph, Missouri, 64502.

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