Author: News-Press NOW

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Krug Park Drive is now closed as the park transitions into the holiday season.

Krug Park is preparing for the return of its annual Holiday Park. Construction crews will use Krug Park Drive to move supplies throughout the park to install the attraction.

With construction on Krug Tower and the Holiday Park underway, Special Event Communication Coordinator with St. Joseph Parks and Recreation, Jessica Oshel, addressed the concerns surrounding the topic. 

“The construction won’t affect Holiday Park. Holiday Park is going to run as much as normal as we can,” said Oshel. “There’ll be little things here and there because of the construction with the renovation that is going on; we’re just adjusting and putting up around.”

The circular drive at Krug Park will be open to visitors who want to access the lagoon and lily pond.

The annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 at Krug Park Drive. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City officials have confirmed the full field of candidates vying for mayor, city council and municipal judge in next year’s elections.

All eight city council seats, including mayor and municipal judge, will be up for election next year, a consequential voting cycle for residents and local government.

The primary election is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3, followed by the general election on Tuesday, April 7.

Mayor candidates

St. Joseph’s incumbent mayor and three new challengers have thrown their hat into the ring to become the next mayor. New challengers include Jonathan McClain, Larry Miller and Kenneth Reeder.

John Josendale — incumbent, seeking second term in office

Jonathan McClain — seeking first term in office

Larry Miller — seeking first term in office

Kenneth Reeder — seeking first term in office

City Council candidates — At-large seats (4)

The upcoming race for at-large City Council seats (4) will feature four new challengers and four incumbent councilmembers.

Collin Clibon — seeking first term in office

Frederick Martin — seeking first term in office

Gary Wilkinson — new challenger, former city councilman

Dakota Allen — seeking first term in office

Marty Novak — incumbent, seeking third term in office

Randy S. Schultz — incumbent, seeking second term in office

Jeff Schomburg — incumbent, seeking second term in office

Kenton Randolph — incumbent, seeking second term in office

City Council candidates — District seats (4)

Elections for City Council district seats will feature two notable races for both District 3 and District 4.

On the other hand, incumbent councilmembers in District 1 and District 2 will run unopposed.

District 1

Madison Davis — incumbent, seeking third term in office

District 2

Jason Eslinger — incumbent, seeking first full term in office

District 3

Dana Stickley — seeking first term in office

Andrew Trout — incumbent, seeking second term in office

District 4

Michael G. Grimm — incumbent, seeking second term in office

Russell Moore — challenger, former city councilman

Municipal Judge

In the election for municipal judge, incumbent Laura Chavez is set to run unopposed.

A native of St. Joseph and graduate of Bishop LeBlond High School, Missouri Western State University and Creighton University, Chavez was appointed to the position by City Councilmembers in April following the death of judge Ted Elo.

Chavez worked as a prosecutor in St. Joseph for 10 years before taking office.

Recap

With all city council positions and mayor up for election, the positions of mayor and four at-large councilmembers will be elected to serve four-year terms, while the four district councilmembers will be elected to an initial two-year term.

Any official who receives a majority of votes during the primary election will automatically be appointed to office.

Correction: A previous version of this article listed Madison Davis as seeking a second term for City Council. Councilmember Davis is seeking a third term. News-Press NOW apologizes for this error.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

By: Zac Scott

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) —  Parents have struggled finding childcare for their children, nationally.

Kids Win Missouri’s (KWM) goal is to give every child a chance to grow healthy, safe and supported, while expanding child care options for St. Joseph families.

“We understand that our children and our community and families are facing a crisis right now with child care,” said Community Relations Director with the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph, Kayla Marmaud. “There’s a lot more children than there are spots for child care, and then even when families are getting in child care, they’re not affordable.”

Marmaud said KWM offers the chance for parental concerns to be heard and children to be cared for in a learning environment at an affordable price.

“Families are paying 20% of their gross annual income. So we are working with kids win to help expand child care options in St. Joseph and to be able to give parents a voice and leadership,” said Marmaud.

KWM also offers collaboration efforts to help parents advocate for their family’s needs.

“We were part of the planning leading up to that, and we continue to be a part of kids with Missouri’s parent fellow,” said Marmaud. “We build leadership for parents to be able to advocate for their family’s needs and their child care needs in early childhood education.”

The program aims to help the community with better child care options.

Click here to follow the original article.

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Three St. Joseph social services organizations serve as emergency warming centers for the city.

The Community Missions (CMC), My Brother’s House, The Salvation Army Booth Center and the YWCA all provide shelter during the colder months.

Each warming center serves a different type of population in the area.

The CMC serves the homeless population and operates 24/7. After 7 p.m., entry is limited and patrons must be escorted by a professional.

The Salvation Army Booth Center serves homeless families with at least one child under 18. Families seeking shelter can contact the office to be added to the waiting list.

The YWCA serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence, their children and homeless women.

Danielle Brown, the chief executive officer of the YWCA, said it preps for the cold weather by making sure items are available to help anyone in need.

“We have a warming station and we can bring people in who are survivors, who are fleeing domestic violence, surviving sexual assault,” she said.

The YWCA warming shelter is during the day but the space is limited due to confidentiality.

“We have a covered porch area, which stays a little bit warmer at certain times. We can bring people into our lobby area  to warm up,” she said. “We want to make sure that people just have a place to stay and get out of the weather and maybe have a cup of coffee and warm up a little bit.”

The YWCA also has extra supplies prepared for those visiting the shelter.

“A warm meal, a cup of coffee to warm up a little bit, gloves, hats, those things to keep you warm, blankets to kind of pile up in to to stay warm throughout the day and even the evening at night,” she said.

The YWCA does have an overnight shelter but it only serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are a total of 44 beds available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A pair of local grocery stores are lending a helping hand to families and households across St. Joseph amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Hy-Vee and Cosentino’s Price Chopper in St. Joseph are both offering free hot meals to any child under 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. between Nov. 3 and Nov. 7.

Meals are being offered to help support families and households amid financial challenges with the ongoing government shutdown.

At Price Chopper, customers are asked to visit the deli hot bar to receive a complimentary meal.

Price Chopper meal schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 4: Beef and noodles with roll

Wednesday, Nov. 5: Chicken pot pie with biscuit

Thursday, Nov. 6: BBQ pulled pork with macaroni and cheese

Friday, Nov. 7: Pasta with meatballs and breadstick

Hy-Vee meal schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 4: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad and garlic bread

Wednesday, Nov. 5: Chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes

Thursday, Nov. 6: Chili and a cinnamon roll

Friday, Nov. 7: Sesame or orange chicken rice bowl

At Hy-Vee, the same meal will be available to everyone else for $3 and will be offered for dine in or to go.

Customers who wish to help their local food pantries can do so at Hy-Vee as well. Stores will offer $5 and $10 food bank donation bundles for customers to purchase.

Click here to follow the original article.

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Seventeen people took a leap for a good cause Sunday afternoon, jumping out of a plane to raise money for the Noyes Home for Children.

Those who raised at least $500 for the nonprofit earned the chance to skydive as part of the “Soaring with Kindness” fundraising event at Falcon Skydiving. That included News-Press NOW’s Rebecca Evans, taking the plunge for a purpose.

Lydia Grier said the experience was overall something she highly recommends.

“It was so fun! I’m so grateful to be able to help raise money for the Noyes Home. I love everything they do for our town.

The event brought in more than $8,500 to support the Noyes Home’s mission of providing shelter, care and stability for children and families in need.

The Noyes Home has served as a safe haven for kids in the St. Joseph community for more than a century.

Grier said, “”Thank you Noyes Home for all that you do for St. Joe’s youth.”

To book your own skydiving experience, call 913-205-1224. To donate or learn more about the Noyes Home for Children, visit the Noyes Home’s website.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The United Way of Greater St. Joseph invites the community to join in celebrating the conclusion of its 2025 Campaign.

Attendees will hear kudos and the Campaign total to date from Co-Chairs Michael and Jennifer Holden.

The celebration will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Hall of Fame Room at Spratt Stadium at Missouri Western State University.

Attendees are welcome to arrive any time after 5 p.m. and enjoy mingling and light appetizers. The program will begin at 5:45 p.m.

The event is $20 per person and $150 for a group of 8. Those interested in attending can make a campaign reservation through an online form or by contacting Renita Neville at 816-364-2381 or renita.neville@stjosephunitedway.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After nearly a century in its old location on King Hill Avenue in St. Joseph, Journey Baptist Church now has a new facility.

Since 1935, Journey Baptist, formerly King Hill Baptist, had met in the brick facility at 5708 King Hill Ave; however, after over a year of praying, planning and raising funds, the church met in its newly built facility near Menard’s at the junction of A Highway and I-229, on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Senior Pastor Jacob McMillan said the number of people who came to that opening service made the process worthwhile.

“The building is beautiful, but every opportunity we get to preach the gospel to others – that’s why we did it,” McMillan said. “Being to present what really matters, which is the gospel of Jesus, made it all worthwhile.”

This journey for the church began a few years ago, when it realized its facility did not have adequate parking or facilities to accommodate new families. Also, the amount of work needed on the aging building on King Hill was becoming less cost-effective.

The amount of funds needed to make the transition to a new property and to construct a new facility could have been prohibitive. McMillan said, having a strong vision as a staff and congregation gave the congregation confidence to be supportive through planning and giving.

In addition to more parking, the facility includes a larger fellowship space with comfortable places to gather, a coffee area and an expanded children’s facility.

“We wanted a place for the church to gather before and after service,” McMillan said. “In addition to the preaching of God’s Word and worship, fellowship and encouragement are essential to the Christian faith, and this bigger lobby space gives us an opportunity to hear about each other’s lives, to pray for each other and encourage each other.”

McMillan and the leadership team said that while there are still finishing touches needed on the new place, as with any new project, they are glad to have a strong space for visitors, for children and for the congregation to gather and worship each week. They also said they have a vision for the still unused portions of the property, so others in the surrounding areas can have more ways to connect to the church.

“We feel like the sky is the limit for these 39 acres,” McMillan said. “We don’t know what God’s plans are, but we have plenty of room for whatever God’s plans are for us.”

For more information about the project and worship times, visit www.ourjbc.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  Gun violence is something people in St. Joseph have talked about for years — not just because it affects families and neighborhoods, but because it’s about safety. 

But according to St. Joseph Police Sergeant Richard McGregory, there’s a big difference between the number of shots fired calls the department gets and the actual confirmed cases where evidence is found or someone is hurt. 

The police department didn’t start breaking down those numbers until August 2025. Since then, they’ve been tracking just how often shots are fired across the city. 

From Jan. 1, 2024, to Oct. 20, 2025, police recorded 798 total shooting-related incidents — 462 in 2024 and 336 so far in 2025.  

“Someone calling and saying hey I just heard two shots fired down the street, we don’t log those if the officers check the area and they don’t find any evidence of it,” McGregory said. 

He said the department keeps a close eye on gun-related incidents through data tracking and community reports. And while the numbers can go up and down, their main focus is watching the overall trend.  

McGregory emphasized that it’s not just about the numbers — it’s about making sure the community feels safe and sees a consistent, visible police presence.  

“Not every shot fired call turns out to be a confirmed gunfire. In many cases officers respond that they find no evidence like a shell casing or property damage but we treat every call seriously and respond as if its a real threat,” Gregory said.  

Gregory added that there’s no particular time of year when those numbers spike, but they do tend to rise at night when the department gets more calls.  

He explained that when officers don’t find any damage, injuries, or solid evidence at a scene, they rely heavily on cooperation and information from the community.  

“We encourage residents to call 911 anytime they hear or see something suspicious even if they are not sure but because its the information from the public its vital to solving these crimes and preventing future instances,” Gregory said.  

McGregory said his goal is to keep building trust — through community meetings, social media updates, and programs that make communication between police and residents a two-way street. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Project Warmth kicked off its winter coat drive Saturday at Sam’s Club, where volunteers and community members braved the chilly morning to help neighbors stay warm this season.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., donation bins were ready to be filled with winter coats, hats, and gloves. Residents are encouraged to donate their new and gently used items. The annual effort, held in partnership with The Salvation Army, aims to support families who may struggle with rising cold-weather costs.

Emily Bravo, Social Services Director at the Salvation Army, said the event reflects the community’s generosity. 

“The first coat we got was a kid’s coat, and a small child brought it up to me, and it warmed my heart,” Bravo said.

Although Saturday’s event has ended, donations are always being accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute can drop off winter clothing at the Salvation Army from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m on Mondays through Fridays located at 602 Messanie Street.

The most needed items include men’s coats, boots, scarves and shelf-stable food.

Bravo said, “It’s cold right now, I can’t imagine being out here overnight trying to sleep and stay warm.”

Project Warmth serves hundreds of individuals across Northwest Missouri each year, providing winter essentials during the season’s coldest months. Organizers encourage residents to continue donating as temperatures continue to drop.

Click here to follow the original article.