Category: knpn-local-news

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A longtime firefighter in St. Joseph will hang up his boots after nearly 30 years with the department.

Captain Tim Foreman said he tried several jobs early on before deciding to fulfill his dream of becoming a fireman.

“I went to two-year fireman school in Lincoln back in 1995,” Foreman said. “And that’s how I started here.”

Foreman said he worked at all nine St. Joseph stations during his years with the department, but settled in at Fire Station Number 6 on the Southside around nine years ago — the station where he was eventually promoted to the rank of captain.

As a longtime driver, co-worker’s like 21-year veteran Eric Matchett said his knowledge of the city has been a valuable asset to the department.

“He not only knew the trucks well, but he also helped me and others in the district with his knowledge of where to go and the best ways to get there when we had a call,” Matchett said.

Matchett also said Foreman has “Popeye-like strength” that he has exhibited more than once, especially during training times with recruits.

Foreman said he will hold fond memories of the camaraderie the firefighters have among themselves.

“The brotherhood and sisterhood we have here will be something I’ll remember,” Foreman said. “You’re here at the station twenty-four hours at a time, and you get pretty close.”

Since firefighters usually retire younger than the average retirement age, Foreman said, in addition to spending more time with family, he will transition into a full-time position at the company where he has worked part-time while serving with the SJFD. He expects it to be a smooth transition.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With Rep. Bill Falkner set to term out in 2026, St. Joseph native and current law student Skylar Smith has announced his candidacy for Missouri House District 10. A Republican, Smith is running on a platform focused on public safety, education reform, youth programs, and small business support.

Smith is completing his final year at the University of Missouri School of Law and has worked in legal and economic policy roles with the St. Louis County Counselor’s Office, the City of Columbia, and the Missouri Senate Majority Caucus. He believes this experience, along with his blue-collar background and deep ties to St. Joseph, uniquely qualify him to serve.

“Vote Smith for 10th because that means St Joe comes first,” he said.

He is calling for community-based approaches to crime prevention, increased investment in youth recreation, expanded school choice, and tort reform to protect small businesses. He also emphasizes his support for pro-life policies and Second Amendment rights.

“There’s a lot of people in my family and throughout the community that have lost a lot of trust in local and in state government,” Smith said, “I’m hoping to help restore that through measures of transparency and just better overall common sense spending and deregulation. Limited government is generally speaking the best form of government.”

A graduate of Central High School and Missouri Western, Smith has been active in community service, volunteering at food banks and mentoring youth. He says his top priority is making sure St. Joseph gets its fair share of state resources.

The Missouri Primary Election will be held August 4th, 2026, with the General Election on November 3rd, 2026. For more information on Smith’s campaign, visit his official website here.

Smith says he’s excited to see everyone August 16th for a celebration and fundraising event at The Metropolitan before they close their doors this September.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A monthslong resurfacing project originally scheduled to begin next week on Interstate 229 in St. Joseph has been pushed back.

The Missouri Department of Transportation announced that a resurfacing project for I-229 from Missouri Route 371 to Interstate 29 in St. Joseph will now begin on Monday, July 21, due to a delay by the project contractor.

The project will see crews with Herzog Contracting Corp. remove and fill sections of concrete in the area on the roadway, shoulders and ramps. The resurfacing project is scheduled to be complete by October 2025.

During construction, the roadway will be narrowed to one lane, along with a 12-foot width restriction in place. Motorists should expect delays as crews are scheduled to work Monday through Saturday during daylight hours.

All work is weather-permitting, and schedules are subject to change. MoDOT asks drivers to work with us by always buckling up, keeping your phones down, slowing down and moving over in work zones. Know before you go and check what work zones you might encounter at traveler.modot.org.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The University of Missouri Extension specialists will offer a full-day discussion and hands-on training on using drones in agriculture.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the MU Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center, located at 29955 Outer Road in Fairfax, Missouri.

The registration fee includes training, a materials packet, and a catered lunch. Pre-registration is required by Friday, Aug. 1.

For questions, contact Caleb O’Neal, MU Extension field specialist in plant science, at onealc@missouri.edu or by calling (417) 466-2148.

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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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