Category: knpn-local-news

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Kansas City is partnering with a local car dealership for a Test Drive Event aimed at ending impaired driving.

Community members will be able to test drive vehicles, while learning more about the critical conditioned to end impaired driving.

The family-friendly event is more than just a test drive, it’s an opportunity to support a lifesaving cause, connect with first responders and engage in conversations about road safety and prevention.

The event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Reed Chevrolet, located at 4200 Commonwealth Court.

The event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri Department of Conservation announces the indefinite closure of shooting ranges at Pigeon Hill Conservation Area to the public.

The rest of Pigeon Hill will remain open to the public, according to a press release on the MDC website.

A MDC investigation found ‘evidence of range misuse at Pigeon Hill CA that put public safety at risk.’

“Unfortunately, the actions of unsafe, irresponsible shooting range users created a situation that we could not allow to persist,†said Justin McGuire, MDC’s Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator, in the press release.

The shooting ranges located in St. Joseph are some of the unstaffed ones across Missouri.

Conservation area goers are encouraged to report unsafe or unlawful activity to the Operation Game Thief at (800) 392-1111 or contact a local agent. To find agents by county, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/local-mdc-contacts.

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Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Molly Rodriguez, with her passion for sharing the gospel and hope to inspire the younger generation, has won the Life 88.5 radio contest.

Entering the contest with Katy Nichole’s Hold On, Rodriguez was announced as the winner on Thursday, June 5.

The young singer will now open for Colton Dixon, Caleb & John and Allison Eide at the Life 88.5 Free Concert on Saturday, June 21, at the Kearney Amphitheater, located at 3001 N. Highway 33 in Kearney, Missouri.

“I was listening to the station and I heard her say it, and I was like, oh my gosh,” Rodriguez said. “Then the radio station sent me the video, so I could actually see her singing it and it was crazy because this all kind of started just submitting a video of a song I really enjoyed.”

For Rodriguez, it’s not just about music, it’s about the message. She hopes her story and her songs will inspire others, especially young people, to boldly share their faith.

“When I first started, it was a lot of nerves but now I’ve had to learn to just put the focus fully on God,” Rodriguez said.

Now, the young singer is preparing to open for the headliners and hopes that this will be one of her big breaks in music. Rodriguez will have family, church members and friends support her.

“I’ve definitely been practicing a lot because I am a little nervous, but I’m excited,” Rodriguez said. “I do have a lot of my family coming and then I do have friends that have told me they’re going to come and, my church is going to come support.

You can find information on the free concert on https://www.life885.com/event/life-88-5-free-concert-kearney/

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri Western State University reinstated the Track & Field program after ‘new information and a new level of support’ came forward.

Head Coach Cody Ingold said after the initial release he had discussions with his assistant to figure out how to move forward.

“We’ll figure it out, that’s what I have always done, that is who I am… We put some thoughts together, figure out how to make this work,” Ingold said. “I helped start this thing so I wasn’t going to let it go anywhere, I was going to figure it out regardless.”

He said he was constantly getting messages from the community and saw the support the program was receiving.

“It’s cool because it’s track, you know, it’s not football, it’s not those pretty things you see on TV,” Ingold said. “I love it, I think it is the best sport in the world… The community support was awesome.”

The support was recognized by athletes like Mason Orscheln as well, a Central High School graduate who is heading into his senior year at MWSU. Despite not knowing if he would have a track season for his final year, he made up his mind before the program was reinstated.

“I told coach immediately right after he told us the news that the program was going to be gone, I said I’m staying no matter what,” Orscheln said. “For you and for the town.”

Currently, it is not known how many athletes are staying with the program or transferring. Ingold said he pushed forward and continued to recruit during this period.

“We just sold the new vision with the recruits coming in and continued recruiting,” Ingold said. “We have two kids on campus today (Monday) and we had that planned before the announcement. We’re moving forward, we’re going to make this work.”

The program is scheduled to run the same next season as it has in previous years.

“There’s going to be a little bit of fallout,” Ingold said. “But I think we had the right people in place where I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as probably what a lot of people think.”

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 9, at Troester Media Center to continue preparation for the 2025-26 academic year.

Items on the agenda include continued adjustments to the fiscal year budget and job descriptions for the district. An grant for the Early Childhood Program will also be discussed, which will make room for additional students in the program without income restrictions.

After the work session, the board will dismiss to executive session. It is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

News-Press NOW will update this story.

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Crystal Olney

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Reservations are open for the United Way of Greater St. Joseph’s Taste of United Way event coming up on Monday, June 23.

Residents are invited to attend the free event starting with lunch at 11:45 a.m., followed by the program at noon on June 23, according to a United Way of Greater St. Joseph Facebook post.

The topic of the event will be ‘The Power of Mentorship: Investing in our Youth.’

Space for the event is limited. Those interested can register at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/47278904062/false?fbclid=IwY2xjawK0EGRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEUkVvdGhaUkdpT3VldDFUAR4mzbWY2U_JPK7mr4DRJoE5actfp3iQPRM6g-huXNWBIMwkMjD7cLxfIhgxNA_aem_owbtBMrjt-Pd0dMNe1FPfQ#/invitation.

The Taste of United Way event series aims to connect community members with the United Way and other partner agencies to discuss important issues in the St. Joseph area.

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Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Jail has started rolling out tablets to inmates as part of a new initiative to improve communication.

The program is currently in its testing phase, with about half of the jail’s population using the tablets. The devices will eventually serve as the primary method for receiving mail, and will allow inmates to send text messages, emails and conduct video calls.

“A big reason for the tablets was so that the inmates would have more communication with their families,” said Captain Joe Lysaght with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office. “They have more access to do that with the tablets instead of just the one kiosk in the dayroom.”

Inmates can also access law libraries through the tablets, allowing them to research and track their legal cases. The devices offer added privacy when making calls, which is an improvement over the shared kiosks in common areas.

“I just talked to one of our inmates a little bit ago, asked him how he was enjoying it, and he thinks it’s fantastic because they have much more ability to communicate with their families,” Lysaght said. “It also allows them to have private conversations at their discretion without worrying about other inmates standing over them at the kiosk.”

Families can send photos to the tablets for inmates to view and inmates are able to communicate directly with jail staff to make requests or raise concerns.

“If they’re having issues within the day room with other inmates, they can let us know,” Lysaght said. “Giving them this form of communication is valuable to us because we want to make sure everyone is safe in here.”

Officials said the technology could be especially helpful for families who often feel limited in their ability to stay in touch with loved ones while inside the jail. Inmates will have access to the tablets each day from morning until final lockdown at night.

If the testing phase continues to go well, officials hope to expand the resource to the entire jail population within the next two months.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City Council Chamber was largely quiet on Monday as St. Joseph held a public hearing on proposed sewer rate increases that could occur in 2025 and 2026. 

Community members were invited to participate in the public hearing that preceded Monday’s City Council meeting.

St. Joseph resident Steve Jones was the lone person to speak out against the plan, arguing that more increases for residents are not warranted. 

“You’re not going to get another tax increase approved through the voters, so therefore we’re going to get into our residents pockets,†he said. 

The city is considering a gradual two-phase proposal that would increase monthly sewer rates by 3% in both 2025 and 2026, with the first increase taking effect July 1, 2025, and the second by mid-2026.

If approved, the average monthly sewer bill would increase from $65.70 currently to $67.55, and again to $69.50 by mid-2026. A final vote on the new rate structure could occur at the next City Council meeting on June 23 after Monday’s first reading.

The proposal comes after council members were presented with the results of an annual sewer rate study conducted by Burns & McDonnell during a work session in late May.

Residents have seen frequent and at times significant rate increases since 2009 as the city continues the process of meeting the demands of keeping its aging sewer system in compliance with regulations mandated by the EPA and Missouri DNR. Nearly 60% of the city’s combined sewer system was installed before 1920.

Since 2013, the city has spent $250 million on required improvements to its sewer system, including the Blacksnake Creek and Whitehead separation projects.

Estimates are that another $300 million in improvements still need to be made under current regulatory guidelines, costs that continue to rise with inflation. In an effort to control those costs as much as possible, city officials have been able to work with state and federal agencies on a new integrated plan that will spread the necessary improvements over a longer period until 2050, instead of 2035.  

“We would like to be able to prioritize what those projects are instead of letting the DNR and the EPA dictate what it is that we’re going to do. So we’re working closely with them and that’s what this integrated plan does,” Public Works Director Abe Forney said. “The biggest part is so we don’t have to continue to to have massive increase in sewer rates.”

St. Joseph’s current sewer rates are not out of line with those of other older river towns in the Midwest, including Omaha, Nebraska ($60.12) and Kansas City, Missouri ($79.01).

City Council approves Capital Improvements Program for 2027-2031

Monday’s meeting also saw council members OK a resolution laying out the city’s five year capital improvement program for fiscal years 2026/2027 through 2030/2031. 

The upcoming CIP planning period includes projects totaling $115,473,593. Projects have been scheduled in five major categories as follows:

Equipment Acquisition/Upgrade/Replacement: $14,676,001

Vehicle Acquisition/Upgrade/Replacement: $516,760

Public Buildings Repair/Renovation/Construction: $24,497,471

Roads/Bridges/Hike & Bike Trails: $28,767,000

Other Public Infrastructure Improvements: $47,016,36

Council supports bonds for Daily Premium Meats expansion 

Councilmembers signed off on a resolution of intent to issue $60 million in taxable industrial development revenue bonds to finance a significant expansion project for Daily’s Premium Meats, LLC, located on Stockyards Expressway. 

The total cost of the expansion is $95 million and the project will create 115 new jobs. The city has offered an economic development incentive package to ensure the project happens in St. Joseph. 

When all is said and done, St. Joseph, Missouri, will produce 5% of the bacon in the United States.

Part of the incentive package involves utilizing the Chapter 100 program to provide tax abatement on $60 million in new equipment related to the expansion. The Company would receive 100% abatement on all personal property taxes years one and two, 75% years three to five, and 50% abatement years six to 10. 

Approval of this resolution allows the company to move forward with plans for the expansion in St. Joseph and to purchase the related new equipment. Further approval by City Council will be required through an ordinance upon completion of the project to receive approval by City Council to issue bonds associated with the final cost of the project. The City of St Joseph is not responsible or liable for the debt associated with this Bond Issuance.

Other bills approved by City Council

Change order for additional work on the Civic Arena restroom renovations project in the amount of $106,467 with E.L. Crawford Construction Inc.

Amendment to the Special Allocation Fund budget in the amount of $2.8 million and the execution of a work order with Transystems Corporation for the Cook Road improvements project in the amount of $275,975.00. 

An amendment to recognize revenues awarded from the St. Joseph, Missouri and Buchanan County, Missouri, opioid settlement fund and authorizing the purchase of first responder training equipment both in the amount of $5,432.95 for life-saving measures during emergency responses.

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Crystal Olney

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Allied Arts Council is set to host its yearlong outdoor sculpture exhibit with new additions in Downtown St. Joseph.

The Sculpture Walk features 14 art pieces created by artists from Missouri and all across North America. One of the new arrivals is ‘Rollin…Rollin…Rollin’ by artist Justin Diester of Louisville, Colorado.

This year’s theme, ‘Whimsical Walk with the Arts,’ was chosen by the Allied Arts Council and the Visual Arts Committee to coordinate with the children’s museum.

“Our yearly Sculpture Walk is a perfect family activity. With inspireU now down the street, having a whimsical sculpture walk allows those families a chance to also tour Downtown before or after they play at inspireU,” the press release said.

Viewers can vote for their favorite sculpture by filling out the ballot in the walking tour brochure and placing it in one of the ballot boxes in Downtown. The ballots can also be dropped off at the Allied Arts Council office, located at 118 S. Eighth St., or the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau at 911 Frederick Ave.

The first walk is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18. It is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Allied Arts Council website or contact Jessica Agnew by calling (816) 233-0231 or by email at jessica.agnew@stjoearts.org.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One annual St. Joseph summer staple is back with free admission and fun for the whole family.

Friends of Krug Park is hosting Park-a-Palooza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, at Krug park, located at 3500 St. Joseph Ave.

The event features a petting zoo, pony rides ($5 each), paper crafts, ducky draw to win prizes, Sports zone games (courtesy of Special Olympics), a balloon artist, sidewalk chalk, food vendors: Vogels and Skool Bus Ice Cream and a special appearance by Rally, the St. Joseph Mustangs mascot.

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