Category: knpn-local-news

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Backpacks stuffed with school supplies for children K-12 will be available from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26.

Grace House is located at 2638 Lafayette St. Owner Ruth Costello said it takes about a year to collect all the supplies.

“The number one goal is that kids get a strong, good backpack,” Costello said. “We worry about high schoolers looking like high school and kids wanting to look like kids.”

Clean and new bags will be provided; parents just need to bring their children and a valid form of identification. College-aged students are also invited.

“The only requirement we have is that you bring your school kids so that they can pick their own clothes and stuff,” Costello said. “Kids are pickier than they were when I was a kid.”

Costello advises parents to come early to avoid the heat or any weather conditions: “You’ll be out in 15 minutes.”

She said they are always looking for more supplies and extra backpacks. For those looking to donate, call the Grace House at 816-262-9401.

“We get those kids for whatever reason, they don’t come, and it could be mom’s schedule, dad’s schedule…” Costello said. “If we run out of stuff, we want to have a little extra for those kids, so we always save and store if any leftovers.”

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Metropolitan, a beloved event space nestled in the heart of Downtown St. Joseph, will officially close its doors after Sept. 30TH, 2025.

Owner Tori Blevins shared the emotional news in a heartfelt message to the community, citing rising costs, personal priorities and the need for a new chapter.

The decision, while difficult, is rooted in Blevins’ desire to spend more meaningful time with her 4-year-old son—a need that’s grown stronger as she’s juggled the demands of entrepreneurship.

“The community has been incredible”, said Blevins, “I really could not have asked for better people to walk into our doors and to support us and celebrate us, and every single accomplishment. It’s been the best ride, a very stressful ride, but the best ride with a lot of lessons learned.” 

Despite the closure, Blevins emphasized that The Metropolitan is not a failed venture. 

“It’s been incredible just to see what we can do and what we can bring and who we can bring Downtown,” said Blevins. 

Over the past two years, The Metropolitan became a vital venue for creativity and connection in St. Joseph, hosting everything from emotional drag performances and dueling pianos to weddings, birthdays and corporate events. It also became the home of METGO, a recurring community favorite. 

Her other business, Chaotic Creations Event Co., is still thriving and approaching its four-year anniversary.

“We do backdrops, balloons, marquee letters, furniture rentals, and it’s only going to continue to get stronger and grow,” Blevins said. 

Until the end of September, The Metropolitan will remain open and is still accepting bookings for its final 90 days. Community members are encouraged to take advantage of the remaining time to celebrate in a space that has meant so much to so many.

Blevins’ closing statement was, “Please continue to support Downtown. So many owners have incredible ideas and incredible events, and we really do need the community support.”

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — “Welcome Chiefs” signs will return once again as the team prepares for another training camp in St. Joseph.

Signs will be available to the pubic for free from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, while supplies last. Fans can obtain the signs at the Visitor’s Center at the East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine, and at the Convention & Visitors Bureau, 911 Frederick Ave.

There will be a limit of two signs per person to allow as many residents and businesses as possible to obtain them.

Any signs remaining after Tuesday will be available at both locations during regular business hours.

“These signs are a free and simple way to remind the Chiefs we’re proud to be their home away from home,” said Christian Mengle, director of communications and marketing at the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Summer months are widely known for being the season of vacation, outdoor fun, sunshine and swimming pools, but they also bring a spike in crime rates.  

The crime increase during the summer tends to be a result of scorching heat and people spending more time outside, which can bring more opportunities for a crime to occur.

In situations like this, it is imperative to be cautious about your surroundings and the people around you.

“Anytime you leave property unattended, whether that be in your yard or your vehicle, make sure to secure it and lock your belongings up,” Sergeant Jeremy Peters, with the St. Joseph Police Department, said.  

Due to the lower number of call volumes from the community or residents wanting to remain at home because of colder weather, crime rates tend to decrease in the winter months.  

“When we get reports, we investigate them as thoroughly as possible, but we can’t prevent everything,” Peter said.    

Recently, some St. Joseph residents have posted missing items on social media. One of those residents is Kailey Huff.

“The morning of the 5th of July, I noticed our front gate was open,” said Huff. “I noticed that our bike was missing. We had to contact the police department because we did not know where it went.”

Although Huff was able to secure the bike with the help of the police department and her neighbors, it was distressing to experience an incident such as this.   

“It was pretty fast paced. The officer I had spoken to seemed to know who I was talking about and was able to locate it very quickly,” Huff said.   

Huff recommends putting a lock on personal property and not leaving anything unattended.

For stolen items, residents can contact SJPD’s non-emergency line at (816) 271-4702.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Robidoux Resident Theatre will be presenting “Fiddler on the Roof” this weekend, but with a local twist.

Rex Robinson, his daughter Julie Garey and his grandson Jack will all have roles in the Robidoux Residents’ take on the classic, award-winning tale.

“When he (Jack) decided that he wanted to do theatre last year, that was exciting,” Julie said. “I was the only one in my family who grew up doing that, it’s been fun to share that with him. But it’s been cool to have my dad on the show because I’ve been dancing since I was four. I started doing theatre in middle school, and he’s been in the audience for 30-plus years. It’s been fun to show him what it’s like on the other side.”

With Robinson not having prior theater experience, it has been a learning process; however, it’s one that he cherishes being able to do with his family.

“As a grandparent, you enjoy all the time you spent with your grandkids,” Robinson said. “I was hesitant to get out of my comfort zone and try; I felt like an outsider at first. But I’m glad I did. It was fun for me the first time we went down to the Missouri Theater to have my grandson show me the ropes backstage. It’s been a rewarding experience.”

One of the big things the family has taken away from being in a musical with notable historical significance is how Jack has been able to learn more about events talked about in school classrooms.

“He’s (Jack) seven years old, he doesn’t know what the Holocaust is or anything like that,” Julie said. “A lot of times when we were rehearsing, he’s like, ‘What is happening, I don’t understand.’ I think it’s helping show him what has happened in our past. And how we don’t want history to repeat itself.”

The first show will take place Friday night at the Missouri Theater, located at 717 Edmond Street. Tickets can be purchased by going to rrtstjoe.org.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local small business is celebrating a major milestone with the community as it marks one year at its new location.

Polished Pretty by Em will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on June 11th to commemorate its first anniversary at 3843 Frederick Ave. The celebration will feature giveaways, treats, and special surprises throughout the day.

The boutique, which specializes in unique handmade items like nails, t-shirts, earrings, and other boutique goods, originally opened five years ago inside the East Hills Mall. Since then, it has grown steadily, with the move to Frederick Avenue marking a significant step forward.

Owner Emily Gutzmer reflected on the journey with gratitude, acknowledging both the challenges and the support that have shaped her business.

“Honestly, thank you guys. I can’t thank you enough,” Gutzmer said. “It’s been an amazing five and a half years. None of this would have been possible without you guys. We’re so thankful for our original customers and all the new ones we see regularly so thank you guys.”

Although Gutzmer currently lives in St. Louis while her husband completes his medical residency, she shared plans for the couple to return to St. Joseph next year.

The event is open to the public, and everyone, from longtime patrons to first-time visitors. Everyone is invited to stop by and join in the celebration. It’s Polished Pretty by Em’s way of thanking the community for its continued support and role in the boutique’s success.

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Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Community members gathered Friday morning to celebrate the official opening of the new Downtown EMS facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The facility, located at 701 S. Seventh Street, is expected to meet the growing demand for emergency medical services in the Downtown area.

“The inner city of Saint Joe is one of our busiest areas,” said Wally Patrick, Buchanan County EMS executive director. “When we started looking for a site for the new Post 2, we decided this location met all of our criteria.”

The $1.2 million facility is more spacious and features a three-bay design, allowing room for an additional ambulance to be housed indoors.

It also includes enhanced safety features, including a controlled gate access that automatically closes as trucks enter and exit, giving EMS crews a better chance to spot anyone on the property who shouldn’t be there. 

“With the occurrence of violence increasing throughout the country, we want to be proactive, rather than reactive,” Patrick added. “This all started with the tax vote last year. It gave us the ability to provide a safe location for our crews between calls and ensures they’re not sitting in a truck for 12.5 hours on a street corner.”

Local paramedics say they’re passionate about their work and grateful to now operate from a facility that better supports their mission. 

“This development is important for helping us get to where we need to go more quickly,” said Buchanan County paramedic Harris Gulledge. “I’ve done this since I was 18. Serving the community is something I feel like I have to do but I love doing it.”

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — inspireU is kicking off their Inspired Concert Series on the rooftop on Wednesday, July 16.

“Mr. Stinky Feet” will begin the concert series at 3 p.m. The concert is included with general admission to inspireU, located at 521 Felix St.

Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove has performed over 5,000 high-energy shows throughout North America and Europe, including two performances at The White House Easter Egg Roll.

The Inspired Concert Series will continue on Saturday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 13.

To learn more and to purchase general admission tickets, visit inspireU.com.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District will hold a graduation to celebrate those who have completed the district’s Adult Education and Literacy program.

The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, at the Keatley Center, located at 1202 S 28th St.

Seating is limited, but a recording will be posted after on the SJSD’s YouTube channel.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The official launch of ‘My Brother’s House,’ Community Missions’ 24-hour shelter service, provides more than a place of rest for St. Joseph’s homeless community.

“The main priority is their safety,” Outreach Coordinator Charley Lundy said. “It will help having this to get people off the street.”

The 24-hour service has been something that Community Missions has been aiming to get off the ground for a while. In past years, the shelter has been limited to providing food, water, a bed to sleep and counseling in the winter months.

News-Press NOW previously reported that Community Missions only had enough funding to operate for 50 days out of the year.

The organization received $50,000 from the City of St. Joseph for its operations but ended up spending $62,000 to keep running for the 50 days in 2024.

In March of 2025, Community Missions received $200,000 from Buchanan County and Mosaic Life Care to kickstart the 24-hour initiative.

Now, the 24-hour shelter serves as a relief to some visitors who stop by the shelter.

“I’ve been out on the streets,” St. Joseph resident Christa Nolannd said. “As a woman, it’s a big relief to know that we have an all-around-the-clock shelter. It’s a feeling of security to have a place to stay, where it’s safe. Sometimes women are preyed on a little more than a man. And it means a lot to me to have a safe place.” 

News-Press NOW also previously reported that data showed a decrease in homeless numbers across Andrew, Buchanan and DeKalb counties in 2025 compared to 2024.

Statistics show that in 2025, 218 individuals were identified as homeless, with 155 being sheltered and 63 being unsheltered.

Community Missions Executive Director Rachel Bittiker said, ‘My Brother’s House’ will be able to help individuals obtain resources to help them function in society…With goals to also decrease the homeless count in the future.

“We’re doing classes in groups and things like that,” Bittiker said. “We’re helping them obtain IDs & birth certificates, the essential things that you need to be able to get employment for jobs. To be able to do things to function in society.” 

The priority for the shelter going forward is to further increase the volunteers and sponsors, along with supporting efforts being made within the community.

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