Author: News-Press NOW

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Dennis Ellsworth, the St. Joseph News-Press’ former executive editor, has been inducted into the 2025 Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Ellsworth was recognized with three other honorees at the Missouri Press Association’s 159th Annual Convention on Sept. 11-13 in Wildwood, Missouri.

He received the organization’s Pinnacle Award for service to the newspaper industry.

Ellsworth said when he found out the news, he couldn’t believe it.

“I realized they were honoring me for contributions to the industry, not necessarily that I was the best or anything like that I had contributed,” he said. “I had thought about that and realized I had done quite a bit of different things to support regional newspapers.”

Ellsworth became interested in journalism while in college. He spent his time working for the student newspaper, where he had many opportunities. After college, he worked for a series of newspapers, and around 2000, he came to St. Joseph News-Press.

Ellsworth led the newsroom at the St. Joseph News-Press from 2000 to 2018. Before becoming an editor, he was a reporter and was able to move up into a leadership role.

“I was able to progress through the ranks and do that. I spent some 21 years in newsroom management before I came to St Joseph,” Ellsworth said. “So about 40 years in the management side and then a few more years before and after doing other things. So it’s been a great experience and something I would repeat if I had the chance.”

He also served on the Missouri Press Association’s board of directors, was the chair of the Missouri Associated Press Managing Editors and was twice the president of the Northwest Missouri Press Association.

Ellsworth was also instrumental when the News-Press began integrating broadcast journalism into its newsroom in 2012. He said the Bradley family decided to move with the industry and start to explore the digital space of journalism.

“They decided while I was there that the way the industry was going, the way the economy was going, that the movement and the print advertising and the digital spaces, that it was wise for the company to start at television stations here in St. Joe, and then to merge those newsrooms over time so that you had one converge news operation and that would not have been possible without the brand, with foresight and leadership on that,” he said.

Ellsworth spoke highly of his time in St. Joseph and at the News-Press.

“St. Joe had a great family environment at the newspaper and community as well was very receptive and open and that the newspaper was it’s just a strong group of people,” Ellsworth said.

In a separate presentation at the convention, the Missouri Sunshine Coalition also named Ellsworth as one of the four recipients of its 2025 Sunshine Hero award.

Ellsworth has over 40 years of experience working in newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Kansas.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Eslinger

BOLIVAR, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph native Brian Haskell took the first-round lead this week at the Missouri Golf Association’s 36th Senior Amateur Championship at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club in Southwest Missouri.

Haskell made five birdies and two bogeys, and closed out his last six holes with six pars to stay at a gross total of 69 or three-under-par on the round on Monday, Sept. 22.

After thunderstorms delayed the shotgun start Tuesday, Sept. 23, to 12:15 p.m., lingering lightning in the area ultimately cancelled round two of play. This means the scores from Monday’s round would stand as final, giving Brian Haskell the win.

Haskell, who was also the 2025 Senior Match Play winner, brings the trophy back to St. Joseph and was crowned the 2025 Senior Amateur champion with a score of three-under par (69 gross).

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Pro boxing is set to welcome a veteran St. Joseph fighter to the ranks for the first time this fall.

After nearly a decade of training and competing on the amateur MMA circuit, primarily in Kansas City, local fighter Katelyn Radtka is taking her tenacity to professional boxing this November after announcing plans to unretire this summer.

With eight amateur MMA fights on her record, including four stoppage victories in her last six bouts, it’s familiar, but uncharted territory for Radtka as she shifts to the world of boxing, a challenge she’s eager to take on.

“I feel alive. Like I’m back to my old self and it just feels really good. I feel really strong. I’m excited,” said Radtka, who doubles as a women’s kickboxing coach at The Outlaw and Bear Den Boxing Club in St. Joseph. “Focusing on the training is the biggest deal to me.”

Radtka’s pro boxing debut — set for Nov. 15 at the Showdown in Joetown IV at East Hills Shopping Center — will mark her first appearance since a dominant first-round TKO win in August 2021, a fight that lasted less than two minutes.

The longtime St. Joseph resident, mother and Missouri Western State University graduate, known for her scrappiness and prowess in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has seen new life injected into her career after making the move to Outlaw and Bear Den Boxing Club early this year to coach women’s kickboxing.

Local boxer Katelyn Radtka drills with trainer Alex Ad Deleon during a training session on Sept. 18 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

What started as a small group with fewer than five women quickly grew into a burgeoning class with more than 20 regular students, often supporting each other like family through trying times.

“When I got here eight months ago. I wasn’t really in the best place. I had just moved back from Florida. My father had passed away of dementia and I wasn’t making very good life choices. I needed this place probably more than it needed me as a coach,” she said. “They have actually inspired me to where I am right now. I wouldn’t be fighting if I hadn’t had this class.”

Now, she’s motivated to inspire women to take up the sport or step into the gym, much like when she was a 19-year-old watching her first fight in St. Joseph 13 years ago.

“Ever since that day, I knew I wanted to do that,” she said.

Radtka comes from a long line of athletes; the youngest of six siblings who practically lived and breathed competition growing up, whether it was basketball, softball or cheerleading.

With her pro debut less than two months away, Radtka is epitomizing the term “gym rat” as she spends countless hours each week drilling the finer points of boxing like footwork and head movement with coach Byron Polley, a well known former boxer from St. Joseph.

“Katelyn is very disciplined. She eats right. She doesn’t party. She’s a good mom. Takes care of her kids, goes to her job every day and then comes here and trains. She trains every day and works hard,” Polley said.

Despite fighting in one of boxing’s lightest weight classes at junior flyweight (108 pounds), the 5-foot-2-inch Radtka has drawn praise for her natural punching power by coaches.

“I’ll tell you what, she has phenomenal power, like being hit by a man,” he said enthusiastically. “She’ll hit the mitts and I’ll go ‘Whoa.'”

Local boxer Katelyn Radtka has her hands wrapped by head coach Byron Polley prior to a training session on Sept. 18 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

It’s all part of a rigorous and intense seven-day training and coaching schedule for Radtka, who begins every other day by running a minimum of three and a half miles, at times training as late as 9 p.m.

“Footwork has been huge … and that is not easy. And it’s actually very difficult to do. It’s way more difficult to transition to boxing from MMA,” she said. “Every little step matters. I’m working a lot on that.”

Showdown in Joetown IV is set to take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the East Hills Shopping Center in St. Joseph. The card features 10 amateur fights and a mix of professional bouts, including two female fights and a host of local up-and-coming fighters.

Weigh-ins are scheduled for 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Tipps Sports Bar and Grill.

Click here to follow the original article.

Payton Counts

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) —  Over the next few months, stargazers will want to keep an eye on the calendar and night sky. 

Starting in October, the full moons will appear a little bigger and brighter. The community will want to mark their calendars for Oct. 7, Nov. 5 and Dec. 4.

A supermoon happens when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth. 

When this alignment occurs, the moon can look up to 14% larger and nearly 30% brighter compared to when it’s farthest away, during what’s called a micromoon.

Supermoons typically occur three to four times a year, and when they do, they will appear consecutively.

On Nov 5, we’ll see the closest supermoon of 2025. The next one won’t happen until Dec. 24, 2026 — making Christmas Eve extra bright.

Supermoons aren’t just beautiful to look at; they also have effects here on Earth. 

The stronger gravitational pull from the moon being closer can cause extra high ocean tides, often called “king tide.” This non-scientific term is what is used to describe the extra rise along the coast during supermoons.

As “spooky season” begins and with the full moon being in the first week of October, don’t be surprised if it looks a little brighter than usual. It just means it’s a little closer. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Multiple local companies were present with information for people searching for jobs at the Community Job Fair.

Hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce at the Stoney Creek Hotel, the job fair featured companies such as the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, Herzog and Mosaic Life Care.

“The job fair gives locals an opportunity to meet all the different companies that are in our community, as well as learn about the different types of jobs (available),” Director of Workforce Development, Kristie Arthur, said. “You could by driving by and pass Altec or Daley’s, not, maybe not knowing what they do.”

While anyone could apply for the jobs available online, the event allowed the community to talk one-on-one with recruiters and HR representatives.

“When I was first applying for jobs, you had to walk in (to apply). And that’s really the only way you applied to jobs face-to-face,” Arthur said. “Today, with technology, a lot of people don’t get that opportunity. And these are real people here; they can remember your face. It gives you an opportunity to hand them your résumé, shake their hand, make a new connection.”

For more information on events hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, visit its Facebook page.

Click here to follow the original article.

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — On Aug.28, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed modifications to Senate Bill 43.

One of the key modifications was on the Champion for Children Tax Credit. It provides a tax credit for contributions to qualified child advocacy centers or crisis care centers.

The tax credit will increase from 50% to 70% for all qualifying donations ranging from $100 to $50,000 in any tax year.

Melissa Birdsell from the local child advocacy center, Voices of Courage, said donors will get more money back in their pockets with the credit.

“For every, $100, you would receive a credit of $70, donated,” said Birdsell.

Birdsell said she believes this new modification will be a new incentive for donations to child advocacy centers.

The tax credit redeemed in a fiscal year would not exceed $2.5 million.

SB 43 also extends the original expiration date of Dec. 31, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2031.

To learn more about Senate Bill 43 and the Champion for Children Tax Credit, you can visit senate.mo.gov.

Click here to follow the original article.

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — At least 50 fish were found belly-up at Krug Park on Tuesday afternoon.

News-Press NOW reached out to biologists at the Missouri Department of Conservation, who explained the die-off is tied to a drop in oxygen levels in the water — something that can happen for a few different reasons.  

“There’s no photosynthesis happening, which produces oxygen with all the vegetation, so then the fishes start dying because of the lethal dip in O2 in the water,” said Tori Mason, a MDC fisheries management biologist.

According to Mason, reports of dying fish at the pond aren’t new.  

Dead fish are pretty common this time of year, but the department plans to restock the pond with trout by November.  

“I am getting calls all the time on the exact same thing. It’s really unfortunate, and if we had the aeration and fountains, then this wouldn’t have happened,” Mason said.  

Mason explained this isn’t unusual and assured the public there’s no risk to people. Mason also explained, the real culprit is a large algae bloom, which released toxins into the water and led to the fish dying.  

“We will get it stocked back up, and it will be good as new here in short order and there will be plenty of fish to catch for people,” Mason said.  

Mason said the timing made conditions tougher for the fish, but the MDC expects to have the issue resolved soon for residents.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The League of Women Voters of Northwest Missouri will host a public forum Friday, Sept. 26, featuring nine current St. Joseph city leaders.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Rolling Hills Library’s Upper Story Room, 1906A North Belt Highway. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.

Participants scheduled to attend include three City Council members, St. Joseph’s City Manager, Community Development Director, Police Chief, Health Director, City Clerk and Director of Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities.

Each official will give opening remarks and provide updates on current projects and initiatives. They will also highlight upcoming efforts they believe will improve the city.

Audience members may submit written questions ahead of the forum, which will be reviewed and selected by forum organizers.

Organizers said the goal is to inform the public about current issues and encourage civic engagement.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes voter education, registration and participation. For more information, contact lwv.nwmo@gmail.com or 816-646-8621.

Click here to follow the original article.

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Fire Department has been awarded $1,000 from the Missouri American Water Company.

With this funding, SJFD said it will purchase a new supply hose. Assistant Fire Chief Jamey McVicker said that Missouri American Water has been fantastic and has helped SJFD for several years.

“That thousand-dollar grant will go towards replacing some of the hose that is either broken, in disrepair, or is just aged,” he said.

SJFD plans to replace one of its smaller hoses, which is primarily used for house fires.

McVicker said SJFD appreciates the support of the community.

“We have been blessed with the support of this community through grants from different businesses, and we are so very thankful for that,”  he said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local senior living community opened its doors to the public Tuesday to showcase its new renovations.

Benedictine Living Community, located at 1202 Heartland Road, hosted an open house event from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in St. Joseph.

The senior care facility recently remodeled their assisted and independent living apartments and gathering spaces, such as the dining hall, with minimal impacts to the facility’s daily functions.

The apartments were renovated with new paint and finishes to enhance resident comfort.

“It makes it much more homey, much more like home instead of living in, you know, just living in an apartment — (it has a) much more homey feeling to it,” said Deborah Flint, a resident at Benedictine Living Community.

The goal of the upgrades was to provide a better living environment for the facility’s residents.

Click here to follow the original article.