Category: knpn-local-news

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will close the ramp from U.S. Route 36 westbound to Interstate 229 southbound for concrete repairs.

Maintenance work will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 and will last through the morning on Friday, Sept. 26.

MoDOT encourages motorists to find an alternate route during the closure.

All work is weather-permitting and schedules are subject to change.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Companies, businesses and vendors vying for city contracts will see an all-new system in place designed to modernize and streamline the city’s bidding process.

The City of St. Joseph is now utilizing a new electronic process called IonWave to streamline bidding procedures. The city hopes that by making the change, it will allow it to reach more potential vendors, alleviate errors and ensure a fair selection method.

The city previously used a manual bidding process, which required vendors to physically submit their proposals. Bid review, scoring and award decisions were conducted manually at the department level, resulting in inconsistencies and inefficiencies across procurement operations, potentially leading to missed opportunities for competitive bidding.

“What matters is that every bid, big or small, is managed the same way,” said Dawn Lanning, assistant to the city manager, in a press release Wednesday. “That consistency gives businesses and taxpayers alike confidence in the process.”

IonWave allows the city to post and manage solicitations electronically, eliminating physical submission requirements and improving access to bid opportunities, proposals and staying informed about procurement activities.

The new electronic system also restructures the bid review, scoring and awarding process by placing it entirely under the management of the procurement division within the finance department. Procurement will oversee the entire bid process from start to finish, ensuring its integrity and transparency and guaranteeing a standardized approach to bid evaluations, reducing inconsistencies and eliminating the potential for bias in decision-making.

“We want to make it easier for businesses to work with the city, while keeping the process fair and transparent,” Lanning stated. “More vendors competing means better pricing and better value for taxpayers.”

Vendors interested in doing business with the City of St. Joseph need to register as a supplier in the IonWave system by visiting stjosephmo.ionwave.net. Current bidders are being notified of the new process and many have already made IonWave accounts.

Anyone registered with IonWave can bid on City of St. Joseph opportunities. Those who are registered are notified when the city is seeking goods or services that match categories the vendor has selected. Having more bidders means the city is able to get a wider range of options, ensuring the best pricing.

The IonWave software went live on the city’s website this week, having been planned since spring. The new electronic system will be used for all future solicitations and vendor interactions.

Anyone interested in seeing the City of St. Joseph’s active bidding opportunities can visit stjosephmo.ionwave.net.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Runners will line the streets of St. Joseph starting and ending behind Civic Center Park in Downtown St. Joseph.

Race Director Brett Esely said over 600 people are expected to race in this year’s marathon.

“Just looking forward to showing them (the runners) a great runner’s experience anywhere from smooth check-in Friday afternoon at our packet pick up,” Esely said. “To a lively atmosphere in the park at the starting line and hopefully a lively atmosphere on our route.”

The full and half marathon, as well as the relay race, will begin at 7 a.m., followed by the 10k and 5k race at 7:30 on Saturday, Sept. 27.

A finisher medal will be given to runners after the cross, as well as first, second and third place medals for each age group will be handed out as well.

An overall champion’s medal is handed to the number one male and female in each race.

About 300 volunteers will stretch across the race route, and Esely encourages anyone to come out and support the runners.

“Any city that has a race of this type of nature, they’re sensitive to the route because obviously it’s why people come,” Esely said. “We wanted to make sure that we were showcasing St. Joseph landmarks and showcase things that make our city what they are.”

He mentioned some runners are coming from outside of Missouri and are coming back for this race as well. This year, a runner is traveling from Alaska to participate in the marathon.

“This route is not the easiest route they’ll ever run, St. Joseph is not a flat community, it is hilly,” He said.

To sign up for the marathon, visit the St. Joseph Sports Commission website. A post-race “chill out” will take place at Civic Center Park.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever stood out in the middle of Francis street behind Civic Center Park and have looked up west on Frances and thought iconic,” He said. “But when our race shoots through that setup and you see the runners take off and come back in and you see that police escort, when you look back up at the skyline of Downtown, you see the spires of some of our historic buildings, it’s a pretty cool scene.”

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  The St. Joseph Police Department is launching a new Police Explorer program for the community. 

The program is geared toward younger adults interested in law enforcement, giving them a chance to get hands-on training and real-world experience in the field.  

“We are really looking for kids around the ages of 16 to 18 years old that are interested in law enforcement and we give them academy-style training and educate them on what they would be doing,” said Sgt. Jemery Peters.

The goal is to inspire teens to consider a career in law enforcement and keep them engaged until they’re old enough to take the police test and join the force.  

The program is a joint effort with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, the Boy Scouts of America and several local donors who want to see it succeed  

“We are really trying to get the groundwork going and build this thing because it will be great for the kids to volunteer and benefit from the internship opportunities,” Peters said.  

Families can apply through a simple form, and parents can learn more by attending the information meetings hosted by the department.  

SJPD Deputy Sheriff Garett Thomas said the program is designed to help teens figure out if law enforcement could be the right career path for them. 

“I could see it benefiting in ways of keeping the law enforcement and in our younger adults in communication with each other, that can help them in many ways,” Thomas said.  

Thomas also said most of the training will be scenario-based, where teens act out situations and are evaluated on how they respond.  

The hope is to keep students in the program through age 20, giving them time to explore different career opportunities in law enforcement.  

“I just tell them it’s a great chance, especially if you are interested in learning about it or see if you’re compatible with it, because a lot of them don’t think about it and eventually get into it and love it for the rest of their lives,” Thomas said.   

Both officers said they’re hoping to see more family involvement, which could encourage more teens to join and commit to the program. 

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — An Interstate 229 resurfacing project is scheduled to take place beginning Thursday, Oct. 2.

Crews will complete an asphalt overlay on I-229 between Missouri Route 371 and I-29. The ramps of this section will also be resurfaced.

During construction, the roadway will be narrowed to one lane, with a 12-foot width restriction in place. Motorists should expect delays.

Crews are scheduled to work Monday through Saturday during daylight hours.

The project is scheduled for completion by November 2025. All work is weather-permitting, and schedules are subject to change.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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. 

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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.

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