Author: News-Press NOW

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Fire Department has implemented a new alerting system that speeds up the dispatching of emergency calls.

The Westnet alert system was funded $420,000 in ARPA funds. It will help with the city’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating.

The alert system connects with the station’s computer-aided dispatch system, and an automated voice dispatch that comes over the speakers in the station is basically a computer voice.

Kurt Fuehrer, chief of training, said the new system will help with the station response times.

“Once the dispatchers get the alert,  they take the information they hear except on their computer screen,  and it automatically sends the alert to the stations without them doing anything else,” Fuehrer said. “So they’re able to stay on the phone,  gather more information for the call we’re going on.”

Additionally, Fuehrer said the new alert system has a heart safe tone.

“So what it means is it kind of starts off softly and ramps up in volume and then it gives the announcement,” Fuehrer said. “So when the crews are sleeping at night, it doesn’t give them that jolt of adrenaline like the old tones did. This is kind of something for their health as well.”

Chase Cotter, captain of the communications center, said the new system will help speed up the process for dispatchers.

“They are able to know that the fire station, the appropriate fire station, is already receiving the call type,” Cotter said. “So it gives them that kind of time to get the details that they need to give to the firefighters and takes a little bit of stress off of what they do already.”

Cotter said the new system will ultimately benefit the citizens.

“This is just getting it that much faster because most of our calls are not emergencies. We don’t drive lights and sirens everywhere,” Cotter said. “But I mean, if we can pick up five, 10 seconds on our response to a call or someone’s hurt, I mean, it’s really a huge deal.”

Overall, Fuehrer said the new alert system is good for everyone.

“It’s good for the citizens. It’s good for our employees and it’s good for the dispatchers,” Fuehrer said.

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Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — This summer’s heat has been hard on people across Northwest Missouri, but it’s also taken a toll on other residents: cattle.

When temperatures climb above 72 degrees Fahrenheit, cattle begin to experience heat stress. Unlike humans, they can’t run and escape to an air conditioner. A combination of high temperatures and humidity can also leave herds exhausted.

“The cow starts stressing over 72 degrees. And so you’re talking on a day when it’s 95, you know, 25 degrees warmer plus heat index. Milk production is seriously affected by that,” said local Buchanan County farmer Tim Gach, who raises beef cattle and previously operated a dairy farm.

This summer, temperatures across northwest Missouri soared into the 90s, with heat indices over 100 F for several days. Humidity makes sweating more difficult and raises the “feels-like” temperatures or heat index.

Red lines show temperatures soaring in the 100s.

Storm Tracker Chief Meteorologist Jared Shelton explained the science behind humidity and sweating.

“The way sweat works is you get the cool-off when it evaporates. And when you have higher humidity, you have a lower rate of evaporation. So temps could be far away from 100, but if the humidity is high enough, you could have feels-like temperatures over 105,” said Shelton.

Cows are especially vulnerable because they can only produce about 10% as much sweat as humans. This makes it harder for them to regulate body heat and more susceptible to heat-induced stress.

“They can sweat fairly effectively, but of course not nearly as good as humans,” said Jay Johnson, associate professor of animal welfare and stress physiology at the University of Missouri. “That’s really why the humidity can play a large role in a cow’s ability to deal with heat stress.”

Temperature Humidity Index (THI) for cattle shows what stress level cattle will be in depending on relative humidity and temperature.

Researchers and farmers use a scale called the “temperature humidity index”, which helps provide an easy visual and indicates when cattle might experience stress.

Even with mild temperatures in the 70s, elevated humidity percentages can push cattle into that stress threshold.

Heat stress in cattle isn’t just about comfort — it directly affects their biology. When cows overheat, their feed intake drops dramatically, which lowers the energy available for milk production.

Then, when cows do produce and consume energy, it’s redirected to cooling their body instead of milk production.

Over time, this nutritional imbalance can weaken immune systems, making cows more vulnerable to illnesses. Researchers note that prolonged periods of heat stress can even affect reproductive performance, delaying calving cycles and further impacting farm productivity.

According to research done by the University of Missouri, heat stress can reduce milk production by three to 20%.

This loss in milk production can add up quickly, especially across the Midwest, where dairy farming is a key industry.

A four-year trend has shown a steady decrease in milk production between May and August, some of the warmest months of the year.

While Dairy is still retally available on store shelves, the strain on farmers is evident.

The red line shows milk production trends for 2025. A noticeable decrease in production is noticed from May through August.

“If we’re trying to finish out cattle for butcher, they almost shut down and virtually quit eating, which makes it difficult when you are trying to get them ready for market,” said Gach.

Besides a change in eating habits, Johnson said there are other ways to notice if cows are in distress.

“They’re going to try to dissipate body heat, usually through panting. You’ll see increased respiration rate, greater breathing, and even open-mouth breathing,” said Johnson.

The University of Missouri Department of Animal Sciences recommends several strategies for helping herds endure the summer heat: providing shade wherever possible, using sprinklers or misting systems, ensuring constant access to clean, cool water and monitoring body temperature for signs of stress.

For farmers like Gach, it comes down to giving their herds relief whenever possible.

His cattle have access to both shade and ponds for cooling off — two simple measures which can make a big difference on triple-digit days.

As summers trend hotter and more humid, experts say managing heat stress will remain one of the biggest challenges for Missouri’s cattle industry. And while dairy may still reach our tables, the work behind it is growing more difficult each year.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs left fans irate and they took over social media.

The Eagles ran a version of the quarterback sneak, fans have called the “Brotherly shove” and the “Tush Push,” seven times against the Chiefs in a game Kansas City fell 20-17.

“If you can’t officiate it, it shouldn’t be in the game,” Chiefs fan JR Zbierski said.

Fans noticed on the broadcast and at the game, when the play is slowed down, many offensive linemen for the Eagles are moving before the snap. If this is ruled a penalty, it would back the offense up five yards and a new play would be called.

“It’s very clear that every one of their players is lined offsides or leaving early,” Chiefs fan Randy Widener said. “It was like every time it happened it was like, ‘ok here we go again…’ We’re never going to stop it, it is just a free play for them.”

An already controversial play was put up for a vote before the season started, as some teams wanted it banned. 24 votes were needed to ban the tush push and the play received 22, falling just two votes shy.

The play drew in eyeballs in 2022 when the Eagles ran their own rendition of the Quarterback sneak. Instead of the quarterback picking a gap to the right or left of the center, Philadelphia added a “pushing” aspect to the play. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is known to be one of the strongest at his position, aided by a talented offensive line.

The Eagles found a near-perfect play for picking up short yardage. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the play was improved with the help of a Scottish rugby coach, Richie Gray.

The Eagles have a 91% success rate since 2022 running the play and a near 97% on fourth down, according to ESPN.

“It goes back to size, strength and leverage,” Head football coach at MoWest Tyler Fenwick said. “If you watch the Eagles when they do it, those guys get really low, they get down almost like they drop to their knees and bear crawl.”

The one-sided dominance was not enough for the play to get banned, but Chiefs fans have other reasons they believe it should no longer be called.

“The defense doesn’t have a shot because the offensive linemen, one are getting a jump on the play,” Zbierski said. “They’re going low and typically if a defender goes and tries to make a tackle low at the knees like that… It’s a penalty.”

Zbierski also worries about player safety with the play.

Fans also spoke about the play being a “rugby play.”

While it may look like a rugby scrum, coach Fenwick says otherwise.

“At the end of the day, it’s a football play,” Fenwick said. “No different than a quarterback draw, it’s just the quarterback running the ball, just a lot of bodies up there.”

Another positive he noticed with the Eagles is because of their commitment to the play, they can show ‘tush push’ formation but run to the outside instead.

Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at MoWest, Todd Throckmorton, said it is a tough play to stop and an advantage can be created if the center is over the ball and other linemen are getting off the snap early.

“The physics of it, you have all those big bodies and then you got a big quarterback that’s strong, then you got a guy pushing on him,” Throckmorton said. “Those guys are getting lower and getting underneath the D linemen and once you get that force going forward, it’s hard to stop them from getting that one yard.”

The Kansas City Chiefs currently sit at 0-2 for the first time since 2014, Andy Reid’s second year with the team, and will look to bounce back against the New York Giants.

“I’m not really for it being banned as long as it is ran right,” Zbierski said. “Them false starting six of the seven times, it’s already a disadvantage for the defense as is, so if you let them do it every time, then there’s no chance to stop it.”

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Some Missouri schools are now making it easier for students to see how professors are rated — and they can check it all online. 

That includes Missouri Western State University, Missouri State University followed by Northwest Missouri State University.

“We had other measures available to students online so they can see how faculty were performing, but recently it came back from the Secretary of State, so all schools are changing around to where they can actually post this,” MoWest Provost Jay Johnson said.  

Students will now use a system called Anthology to rate their classes and professors. The scores get averaged out and turned into a rating for future students to see. 

Johnson said he idea behind the resource is to provide accountability and give students better tools to make decisions about their schedules. 

“We reached out to a friend of mine at Missouri State to see what they were doing, and we also contacted other schools in the state to ensure that our practice wasn’t anything beyond or below what the bar is,” Johnson said.  

Johnson also said MoWest tested the system over the summer and now hopes students will use it to choose the classes that work best for them.  

“We used to do grade distribution, but we don’t anymore because that’s not an accurate measure of how a professor’s actually performing,” Johnson said.  

Johnson said both students and faculty know about the change, and he hopes students see it as part of MoWest’s effort to give them the best education possible. 

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Families will have a chance to explore the world of reptiles and amphibians during Herp-O-Rama, hosted by the Remington Nature Center.

This Saturday at 10am, the event will feature live animals, a scavenger hunt, crafts and other activities both indoors and outside. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for youth ages 4 to 15 and free for children 3 and under.

Shelly Cox and Dr. Mark Mills will also lead a “herping adventure” beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Wyeth Hill trailhead in River Bluff Trails Park. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

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Ryan Eslinger

ST JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) — Week four of the high school football season is upon us.

Here are the matchups for the high school football teams in our area:

Sports Zone’s Game of the Week: Savannah Savages defeat the Lafayette Fighting Irish 53-0

Central Indians fall to North Kansas City Hornets 58-34

Benton Cardinals win against the University Academy Charter Gryphons 28-6

Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles lose to Knox County Eagles 44-16

St. Joseph Christian Lions tops the Albany Warriors 48-42 in overtime

Mid-Buchanan Dragons beat the West Platte Blue Jays 28-0

East Buchanan Bulldogs fall to the North Platter Panthers 34-27

DeKalb Tiger fall to Nodaway Valley 92-20

Riverside Cyclones defeat the McLouth Bulldogs 35-0

Cameron Dragons win against the Chillicothe Hornets 28-7

King City Wildkats shut down the Stanberry Bulldogs 90-12

Every game was played at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, unless stated otherwise.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Volunteers and vendors began setting up Thursday for the 36th Annual South Side Fall Festival, which opens Friday in Hyde Park.

The festival will feature local food, live entertainment and a variety of vendors. The festival kicks off at noon on Friday, Sept. 19, and continues through Sunday, Sept. 21. The festival runs Friday from noon to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 10a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11a.m. to 4p.m.

“I’ve been a vendor since ’88, and then we started volunteering, and I just love it,” said Jerry Smock, a volunteer at the festival. “I’m actually a Northender, and I come all the way south just for this. Everybody comes, and I meet people I haven’t seen for a long time.”

The annual parade will take place rain or shine at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Participants in the parade must register in advance at ssffparade@yahoo.com or in person at Vibe Nutrition, 3003 S. Belt Highway.

Admission to the festival is free.

This year, there will be a tribute ceremony on Friday at 6 p.m. to Gary Pettis, the previous chair of the event, who passed away in March, to honor his memory.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Haunted Harris Kemper annual walk is back for its 15th year.

The walk will serve as a fundraiser for the Harris Kemper Butterfly Garden and other projects, and will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Host House, located at 1923 Clay St.

“Well, first of all, this being our 15th year and the first time on the Kemper side, it means all the stories, all the houses, all the hauntings, everything is new,” said Wickie Utley, a Harris-Kemper resident and the primary organizer of the event.

The tour offers guests a glimpse into the haunted history of many homes and the potential spirits that inhabit the neighborhood.

The event also includes talking porches, psychic readings, dancing witches and more.

Tickets for the walking tour will cost $32, and psychic readings are $22.

For more information and to get involved, visit the Haunted Harris-Kemper website.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph residents can circle their calendars for the grand opening of one of the first true Vietnamese restaurants in the city.

A manager with Phở and Bánh Mì confirmed to News-Press NOW the restaurant is set to open in mid-October following months of renovations at 139 N. Belt Highway, Suites J-K, located next to Big Biscuit and Hy-Vee.

The restaurant recently launched an official Facebook page to help advertise for positions and drum up excitement in anticipation of the grand opening, which is expected for the second week in October.

While a full menu hasn’t been unveiled yet, fans of Vietnamese food will certainly see two of its most beloved dishes in Pho, a noodle soup dish typically made with beef or chicken broth, flat rice noodles and a variety of toppings, in addition to Banh Mi, a sandwich typically made with a crispy, airy baguette filled with savory meats and vegetables.

The restaurant would be one of, if not the first, true Vietnamese restaurant to plant its flag in St. Joseph.

The store and building are owned by Joemo Holdings, LLC, under the care of real estate company Rubenstein Real Estate Co.

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