Category: knpn-local-news

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City Hall will see the launch of a new department on Tuesday designed to coordinate and strengthen the management of large city projects and asset across all of the City’s departments.

Monday’s City Council meeting saw the approval of a measure to amend the City’s code of ordinances to create a General Services Department, a reorganization of staffers who will help coordinate and provide oversight to a variety of vital functions such as capital project management, procurement, engineering, fleet operations and building maintenance, among other common services that until now have existed across various departments.

“The feedback that we received from our community was that we needed to strengthen all of these areas, to improve how we’re procuring things and the quality of work that we are seeing across these capital projects,” Assistant City Manager Dawn Lanning said. “The purpose of this is to take those already existing positions and to put them under consolidated management. Make sure that we’re overseeing our assets and maintaining them properly.”

The department’s overall goal is to improve efficiency and accountability by ensuring consistent project monitoring, contracting and ongoing maintenance of City investments.

“As the City has grown, the scope and complexity of these functions have increased, requiring improved coordination and oversight,” an ordinance explanation from the City states.

The measure prompted some questions from councilmembers who sought clarification on department staffing and whether any budgetary changes had to be made to support the department’s creation. The only change is a slight salary increase for the new director which is already offset by related savings from the department’s creation.

To help oversee a successful transition, the 13-person department will initially be led by Laurie Thompson, the current human resources programs and risk manager, as its director. Thompson will report directly to City Manager Mike Schumacher.

The City Code will be updated over time as more functions move into the new department.

“You’ve got a parks department fleet, you’ve got a street department fleet, you got all these different fleets. They’ve all operated on their own. Now we can bring them all under one and be more efficient,” St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale said. “The management of those will fall under this department. But with input from those directors. They’ll still be very much involved.”

On Monday, councilmembers also approved a $280,000 work order with HDR Engineering to oversee and facilitate a key phase of design and construction work for development of the new landfill cell 9.

The scope of the project includes site grading, soil stockpiling, terrace construction for stormwater diversion; installation of a recompacted clay liner and a flexible membrane liner and construction of an in-cell leachate collection system and groundwater control system, among other specifications.

HDR will also provide daily and weekly observation reports, reviews of site conditions, and the documentation of ongoing activities and any required corrective actions.

Monday’s meeting also saw the approval of a wide-ranging $1.6 million Police Sales Tax-funded agreement to modernize and integrate key public safety-focused software for the police department, including a computer-aided dispatch system, records management system, jail management system, electronic citation and digital information management system.

The contract with TBL Systems, Inc. will provide the St. Joseph Police Department with a fully integrated public safety software suite that allows for data sharing between dispatch, patrol and other emergency services, a boost to critical areas like 911 call handling, officer dispatch, report writing, jail operations, court interface and digital evidence management.

Other bills approved by City Council:

Change order no. 3 with E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. in the amount of $108,584 for additional work necessary to complete building construction for the aviation complex project at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Purchase of two new Chevrolet Silverado 2500 LT Crew Cab pickup trucks in the amount of $106,276 utilizing Parks Sales Tax funds and a new Chevrolet Express 3500 passenger van from Reed Chevrolet in the total amount of $48,482 utilizing Marijuana Tax funds for the Park Maintenance Division.

Submission of a “Building Communities for Better Health” grant application with the Missouri department of Health and Senior Services in an amount not to exceed $90,000 to support activities aimed at reducing barriers and promoting a healthier community.

Submission of a non-motorized safety support program grant application with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission under which the MHTC will provide funding in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for the purchase of signage for the safe across program.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph City Council voted on several bills, including a $1.65M police software, landfill construction and to finish Phase 3 of the tower work at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

The meeting started with Kaycee Garton being sworn in as the new City Clerk. This comes after Paula Heyde retired from the position after serving 40 years.

Former Battalion Chief David Richey also received a Key to the City for his contribution to the fire department.

The council approved a bill to update the Police Tax Fund budget and to sign a contract with TBL Systems, Inc. to purchase new police software. The new police software will cost $1.65 millon.

The new computer system will support 911 call handling, officer dispatch, report writing, jail operations, court interface, digital evidence management and state and federal data reporting requirements.

Brad Kerns, captain of administration at the St. Joseph Police Department, said the new system will come with new technology.

“There’s a lot more features, such as mobile aiding dispatch, and it will help the communication center map out some locations easier. GPS so we can respond quicker to calls for service,” he said.

Kerns said the new system will not have any additional cost to the taxpayers.

“That’s one of the things that we really studied and made sure we were getting a system that met our needs, but was no additional cost. That’s a huge benefit for the community and the City of St. Joseph,” Kerns said.

This new system will also replace the aging and fragmented systems the department is currently using. 

Council also voted on adjusting its budget and hiring HDR Engineering, Inc. to design and oversee construction work for Cell 9 at the City’s Sanitary Landfill. 

The new design will shape and level the ground, manage stormwater flow and improve customer and facility roads. The project supports St. Joseph’s strategic goal of creating a clean and vibrant city.

An extra payment of $108,584 was approved for E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. to finish work on Phase 3 of the Rosecrans Memorial Aviation Complex, specifically the Air Traffic Control Tower.

Work on the tower includes moving an existing monument, rearranging data and equipment racks, making electrical grounding improvements, installing a water pressure reducer and adding tint to stairwell windows.

The completion of the project will be funded by existing grants.

Due to Presidents’ Day, the next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 17

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Danielle Bailey

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol is now accepting applications for its 127th Recruit Class.

Testing will take place in Jefferson City. Those who pass will move through a multi-phase selection process, including written and physical exams, polygraph examinations, background checks, interviews and medical screenings. Successful applicants must complete a medical and psychological examination and interview, drug screening and a final review prior to the start of the academy.

Training for the new class will begin on Jan. 4, 2027.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and be at least 21 years old when they graduate from the Patrol’s academy to qualify. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

New recruits earn $66,432 a year while in training, increasing to $73,824 after graduation. Salaries can reach up to $98,448 with experience. Benefits include health insurance, retirement and opportunities for advancement. Troopers are also eligible to earn college credits or an associate degree following graduation.

Troopers are allowed to have tattoos as long as they are not offensive and are not visible while in uniform or civilian attire while on duty. One ring-style tattoo on a finger is allowed.

Those interested in joining the Patrol can contact a recruiter at 1-800-796-7000 or apply online at joinmshp.us.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — To celebrate Presidents Day, the InspireU Children’s Discovery Museum will be welcoming all to unleash their creativity this February.

InspireU announced it will hold a Maker Faire on Monday, Feb. 16, an event packed with a wide variety of interactive activities, along with Cowtown Donuts miniature donuts available to purchase. The following activities will be available for those who attend:

Catapult Corner

Button Maker

3D Printing Pen Playground

Electric Screwdriver Board

Sewing Station

Heat Gun Shrink Art

Make Your Own Sticker

Slime Bar in the Messy Room

Cardboard Construction with Chomp Saw

Mystery Material Challenge

Kids of all ages are welcome to attend. Anyone under the age of 18 is required to be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $15 online, $20 at the door and free for children under 1.

The event will be held at the inspireU Children’s Discovery Center located on 521 Felix St.

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Leah Rainwater

SMITHVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) — The Smithville Police Department released the identification of the victim who died in a house fire Wednesday night.

An autopsy completed on Friday, Jan. 30, by Frontier Forensics Midwest revealed the victim to be Scott Ritzinger, 71, of Smithville.

The Smithville Police Department said at this time, there are no indications of foul play and the final determination of cause and manner of death is pending the completion of the Medical Examiner’s investigation.

The department said further updates will be released as appropriate.

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Leah Rainwater

MISSOURI (KQTV) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it is now accepting applications for its 127th Recruit Class.

MSHP is encouraging individuals of all backgrounds to apply. Testing will be held in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Individuals who complete testing will move forward in a multi-phase selection process designed to identify individuals with discipline, grit and commitment to becoming an MSHP trooper.

The 127th Recruit Class is scheduled to begin training on Jan. 4, 2027.

To be eligible, candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent and be 21 years of age upon graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy. Upon graduating, toopers are eligible to earn:

46 credit hours through Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri

30 credit hours through the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri

57 credit hours through Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri

45 credit hours through Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri

During the Academy, recruits may also be eligible to receive an associate of applied science degree at Mineral Area College by completing an additional 16 general education credit hours through online courses with Western Governors University.

The starting annual salary when entering the Academy is $66,432. Upon graduation, the salary increases to $73,824.

MSHP said salary increases will occur after three years of service and additional salary increases may reach a maximum annual salary of $98,448 after 12 years of service.

Other benefits include group health insurance, contributory retirement, career advancement and more.

MSHP’s uniform guidelines allow troopers to have tattoos or brands as long as they meet two requirements:

Cannot depict or support criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity, subversive groups, bigotry, etc.

Cannot be located on the head, neck, hands, wrists or any part of the body which will be visible during movements in the performance of their duties while wearing an official uniform or civilian attire while on duty. The sole exception is that one traditional band-style ring tattoo may be displayed on a single ring finger and must not expand beyond the Proximal Phalanx (just beyond the knuckle)

The selection process is a multi-phase testing procedure including written examination, a physical fitness or duty assessment, polygraph examination, background investigation and an oral interview.

After a conditional offer of employment, the applicant will complete a medical examination, a psychological examination and interview, drug screening and final applicant review.

Successful applicants will be notified of their duty assignment before the start of the academy.

Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to visit statepatrol.dps.mo.gov/pages/careers.

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Cameron Montemayor

DEARBORN, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With the help of a ceremonial sword, a symbolic and long-held tradition of Navy celebrations, friends and family cut the cake on a historic milestone for one former Navy pilot and revered patriot of Dearborn, Missouri.

On Sunday, a gathering of more than 80 friends and family of 103-year-old WWII veteran Harold Searcy amassed at the Dearborn Christian Church to honor a man whose life has spanned some of nation’s most pivotal moments, from the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to the Pacific Theater and atomic bomb testing of World War II.

Of the 16.4 million Americans who served in WWII, less than 1% are still alive today. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Searcy is one of 900 surviving WWII veterans living in the state of Missouri and one of 45,418 still alive in the U.S.

“I never dreamed I’d have the respect of so many people in the church and in the community,” said Searcy, a recipient of both the WWII Victory and Naval Reserve medals.

103-year-old Dearborn resident and WWII veteran Harold Searcy smiles while shaking a man’s hand during a gathering on Sunday at Dearborn Christian Church.

His accounts of the war and the many events that unfolded throughout his time in Northwest Missouri, from piloting F6F Hellcats to tobacco farming and raising a family, were recently chronicled as part of a special biography written by local author Milt Toratti for Searcy’s birthday Jan. 24, a book that now resides in the Weston Historical Society.

Family members across four generations, including son Terry and daughter Jody, gathered for Searcy’s celebration Sunday after winter storms forced the family to reschedule it last week.

“It’s amazing, I just couldn’t imagine someone being able to write something that quick,” Harold’s son, Terry Searcy, said. “He was able to learn as much about our family as I think I did.”

Born on a farm outside of Weston, Missouri, in 1923, Searcy grew up working for his parents on a tobacco sharecropping farm, a once thriving industry in the area, before graduating from Dearborn High School in 1942.

Harold’s great-grandfather, Private William Ibzan Searcy, fought in the Civil War and died during the battle of Baton Rouge in 1862. In 1900, Harold’s grandfather Joseph “Newt” Searcy was murdered in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, leaving his 9-year-old son (Harold’s father) to care for four younger siblings and overseeing their relocation on foot to Weston, Missouri, later enduring the trials and tribulations of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.

Like so many Americans in the early 1940s, Searcy’s life was changed forever after the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, an event that inspired him to enlist in the Navy two years later in 1943 once out of high school.

A young Harold Searcy is pictured in his Navy uniform.

“I was a senior in high school right when it occurred. We woke up on Dec. 7 and they said that Pearl Harbor had been bombed by the Japanese,” he recalled. “Enlisting, I thought No. 1, it was the patriotic thing to do. The war was bad. It taught us to be more patriotic and to think about the future of our country.”

To this day, one of his proudest accomplishments is serving four years of active duty as an aviation cadet and a Navy pilot during the Great War. Despite having no previous flight experience prior to enlisting, Searcy passed the V-5 Flight Program after extensive testing and later became qualified for aircraft carrier landing and take-off, including piloting diver bombers, Hellcats and the F4U Corsair.

“I stepped aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in September of 1945 and prepared for the invasion of Japan,” Harold said in the book. “It was December when we rescued people at sea who were POWs and placed them on the hanger deck.”

Searcy would ultimately never participate in the invasion of Japan, as the country surrendered not long after his arrival following the use of atomic weapons in August. He was later assigned as an assistant officer with the Aircraft Services Unit in support of Operation Crossroads, a pair of nuclear weapons tests conducted at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946 to study the effect on warships.

“Our unit helped decontaminate the Hellcats that were radio controlled and flew and observed the atomic blast,” he said. “Being in the service, it taught us discipline, to get along with others and support each other, our comrades in arms, our next door neighbors. It’s like JFK saying not what the country can do for us, but what we can do for our country.”

In all, Searcy served as a member of the Navy reserves for 20 years. After the war, the 24-year-old Searcy graduated from William Jewel College and St. Joseph Junior College in 1948, living on St. Joseph Avenue for a number of years before moving to Dearborn with his wife Beverly in 1957.

103-year-old Dearborn resident and WWII veteran Harold Searcy signs a copy of his biography during a family gathering on Sunday in Dearborn, Missouri.

The couple had three children together, Patrick, Jody and Terry.

“St. Joseph has always been a nice town,” he said. “I got my flight instructor ratings in 1948 up at Rosecrans Field. I lived on St. Joe Avenue. I always enjoyed living in St. Joseph.”

Searcy’s passion for aviation never wavered after the war, later working for Trans World Airlines for the next three decades in key management positions. His responsibilities included tracking aircraft and handling paperwork with engineers to manage airworthiness directives.

“Some of the stories were new for me,” daughter Jody Brown said of the biography. “Flying was always an important part of him.”

Now, even at 103 years old, Searcy maintains an active role in his church and the community, a testament to his determination and resilience. The last name Searcy is associated with individuals known for resilience in the face of significant challenges, a discovery made during research for the book.

“I was just amazed that this gentleman was able to put it all together. He’s added a new phase to the final phase of my life,” he said.

103-year-old Dearborn resident and WWII veteran Harold Searcy holds a copy of his biography by Milt Toratti after Sunday church service on Feb. 1 in Dearborn, Missouri.

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Cameron Montemayor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A coalition of regional officials from Northwest Missouri have announced a special honor for a long-serving community leader in St. Joseph.

As representatives from 19 counties in Northwest Missouri converge in Jefferson City this week to discuss the region’s top legislative priorities — a long-held annual gathering called Great Northwest Days — the key event will also include an evening of recognition for St. Joseph’s Pat Dillon, chief government and community relations officer with Mosaic Life Care.

Officials with Great Northwest Days announced Dillon is set to receive the award for Northwest Missouri Citizen of the Year during a reception on Feb. 3. Dillon will receive the award after being nominated by fellow peers and selected by the Great Northwest Day Steering Committee.

A member of numerous nonprofit boards in St. Joseph, from United Way and the Chamber of Commerce to local service clubs like the St. Joseph Sertoma Club, Dillon invests countless hours toward community initiatives and engagement, most recently being recognized as one of Ingram’s “50 People in Missouri You Should Know.”

Pat and his wife, Nancy, have two adult children and two granddaughters. Dillon has served as chief government and community relations officer at Mosaic Life Care since 2019 after serving as vice president of advocacy/government relations.

More information on Great Northwest Days, which takes place from Feb. 3 to Feb. 4 this year, can be found at greatnorthwestday.com.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH. Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education and administration discussed Plan 4BR reorganization-related costs at its last board meeting.

Plan 4BR, which supports a two-high-school model between Benton and Central, would make Spring Garden, Truman, Bode and Lafayette all middle schools.

The plan has Hosea, Hyde, Pickett, Parkway, Skaith, Coleman, Edison, Bessie Ellison, Carden Park, Lindbergh, Oak Grove and Robidoux as elementary schools.

Plan 4BRDownload

So far, reorganization costs are estimated to be around $678,000.

District administration gave a presentation during the Jan. 26 Board of Education meeting, breaking down what funds are needed and where they’re going.

SJSD estimates $513,000 will go toward Benton Classroom Reconfiguration, detailing in a memo that it would, “allow for better equity at each High School and help accommodate the increase in student population.”

“So, part of the design development the DLR is going to do is to look at Benton and to ensure that you know we have the classroom spaces for some of the programs,” said Robert Hedgecorth, SJSD assistant superintendent of business and operations.

Per Plan 4BR, with Robidoux Middle School being converted into an elementary school, the district estimates around $150,000 to relocate playground equipment from Eugene Field and Pershing elementary schools to Robidoux.

Additionally, the district said Robidoux will also need age-appropriate restroom fixtures installed, as the current fixtures will not accommodate younger students. The estimated cost for this project is expected to be around $15,000.

“We will need to move some of the playground equipment from Field and Pershing elementary over to Robidoux, so those kids have the same equipment that they have at the other elementary schools,” Hedgecorth said.  

The district also detailed teacher relocation expenses, which are currently “To Be Decided,” per the memo.

Relocation expenses would entail hiring a moving company through a “Request for Proposal” process. The moving company would provide boxes and relocate the teachers’ supplies and furniture to their new location.

20260121 District Reorganization Construction CostsDownload

Hedegcorth also said the biggest challenge in dealing with all the new changes is the pressure to have everything done on time.  

“When school ends in late May, you have a certain (period) where that building may be empty, also depends on whether there will be summer school held in that building or not,” Hedgecorth added.  

The financial impact of the reorganization will be spread across the current and upcoming fiscal years. 

He said expenses tied to this fiscal year will be addressed in the June budgeting process.  

“So a lot of this stuff is getting done in the summer, some of these expenses will come on this fiscal year and then some will start in the new fiscal year. Any expenses we think will be in the new fiscal year, we will budget for in June,” Hedgecorth said.  

Hedgecorth said major reorganizations often come with unavoidable costs to ensure buildings are ready for their new purpose. 

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Significant upgrades in City Hall processes and public safety software could be approved at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Councilmembers will see an agenda that includes a $1.6 million Police Sales Tax-funded agreement to modernize and integrate key public safety-focused software for the police department, including a computer-aided dispatch system, records management system, jail management system, electronic citation and digital information management system.

If approved, the contract with TBL Systems, Inc. will provide a fully integrated public safety software suite that allows for data sharing between dispatch, patrol and other emergency services, a boost to 911 call handling, officer dispatch, report writing, jail operations, court interface and digital evidence management.

Councilmembers will also consider an ordinance to create a new General Services Department to coordinate, oversee and manage key municipal functions.

The new department is designed to bring together responsibilities from various departments into one area to streamline processes like capital project management, engineering, procurement/contracting, fleet operations, facilities and building maintenance and risk management.

Monday’s agenda also includes a $280,000 work order with HDR Engineering to oversee and facilitate a key phase of design and construction work for development of the new landfill cell 9.

The scope of the project includes site grading, soil stockpiling, terrace construction for stormwater diversion; installation of a recompacted clay liner and a flexible membrane liner and construction of an in-cell leachate collection system and groundwater control system, among other specifications.

HDR will also provide daily and weekly observation reports, reviews of site conditions, and the documentation of ongoing activities and any required corrective actions.

Other bills on City Council agenda:

Change order no. 3 with E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. in the amount of $108,584 for additional work necessary to complete building construction for the aviation complex project at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Purchase of two new Chevrolet Silverado 2500 LT Crew Cab pickup trucks in the amount of $106,276 utilizing Parks Sales Tax funds and a new Chevrolet Express 3500 passenger van from Reed Chevrolet in the total amount of $48,482 utilizing Marijuana Tax funds for the Park Maintenance Division.

Submission of a “Building Communities for Better Health” grant application with the Missouri department of Health and Senior Services in an amount not to exceed $90,000 to support activities aimed at reducing barriers and promoting a healthier community.

Submission of a non-motorized safety support program grant application with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission under which the MHTC will provide funding in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for the purchase of signage for the safe across program.

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