Category: knpn-local-news

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A 33-year-old St. Joseph man received four life sentences in January for felony charges of child sex abuse that occurred for more than a year.

Johnathan Edward Sears received the maximum sentence of life in prison Jan. 26 in Buchanan County Court on four separate counts, including 1st degree rape and three counts of 1st degree sodomy against a child less than 12 years old.

Sears will serve the life sentences concurrently plus an additional 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after being found guilty by a jury on six felony charges last December, including two counts of 2nd degree child molestation, crimes that occurred between January of 2022 and February 2023.

Sears was arrested in March 2023 on a warrant for charges in the case and was denied bond after pleading not guilty. The case reportedly involved multiple children less than 12 years old.

Court records show Sears was denied a motion for a new trial on Jan. 12 prior to sentencing.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney’s Monica Morrey and Kristina Zeit.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Hundreds of high school wrestlers from across the state are kicking off a multi-day showcase of high-level competition at St. Joseph Civic Arena.

Hosted by the St. Joseph Sports Commission, Benton High School and the St. Joseph School District, the “Throwdown in Joe Town” wrestling tournament kicks off Friday featuring 44 teams and 450 participants vying for individual and team titles.

“As we get ready for day one, it’s a great showcase for the growth of wrestling and girls wrestling specifically,” St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely said. “It’s always hard to find dates on the calendars, especially this time of year in the wrestling calendar because we’re not that far away from districts state meets. It’s a good partnership with our school district and Benton High School to facilitate this event.”

The event will feature wrestlers from multiple local and area schools including Lafayette, Benton, Central, Savannah, Mid-Buchanan and West Platte.

The girls matches will kick off today at 3 p.m. with weigh-ins beginning at 1:30 p.m. The boys group will be starting on Saturday, January 31 at 9 a.m. with weigh-ins taking place at 7:30 a.m.

Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for youth along with students. Doors will be open an hour before matches start at Civic Arena located at 100 N. Fourth St..

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Leah Rainwater

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. (KQTV) — A Troy, Kansas, man is dead in an Atchison County crash from Thursday evening.

Dustin B. Saunders, 32, was driving a 2001 Ford F150 northbound on Kansas Highway 7 at the 213.8 milemarker.

According to a Kansas Highway Patrol crash report, Saunders left the roadway to the right and struck a tree. The vehicle then spun around and came to rest in the East ditch of K7.

Saunders was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. According to the crash report, Saunders was not wearing a seatbelt.

Next of kin has been notified.

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Leah Rainwater

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on its Facebook page Friday afternoon confirming the presence of law enforcement related to ongoing investigations.

In an act of transparency, the Sheriff’s Office said its “STAR Team” (Safety Training and Resources) and detectives served search warrants in two locations related to two separate, ongoing investigations.

One investigation consists of child sexual abuse, and the other is for narcotics trafficking.

The Facebook post detailed, “We realize seeing a big law enforcement presence can cause concern, but we wanted to let you know there is no danger to the public.”

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Rolling Hills Library, located on Belt Highway, said its last day of operations at its current location is March 15.

The library will begin its move to its Riverside Branch, which will be located at the south end of Mosaic Court, shortly after its last day of operations on Belt Highway.

The new location is expected to open in April 2026.

Until then, the branch is inviting patrons to share photos from over the years through its Facebook page.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph City Council is set to vote on advances in software, landfill construction and to finish Phase 3 of the tower work at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

One notable item on the agenda is updating the Police Sales Tax Fund budget and signing a contract with TBL Systems, Inc. to buy new police software.

The new software will cost $1.65 million. The new computer system will support 911 call handling and dispatch, jail operations, report writing, court interface, digital evidence management and court and state/federal reporting requirements. 

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

Another item on the agenda is the City 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.

Council will also seek to approve an extra payment of $108,584 to E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. to finish work on Phase 3 of the Rosecrans Memorial Aviation Complex, specifically the Air Traffic Control Tower.

Additional 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 project will be completely funded by existing grant funds.

The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2.

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Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– The City of Savannah and the Savannah Rural Fire Departments have announced new public protection classification (PPC) ratings from the Insurance Services Office. 

Beginning April 1, 2026, hydranted areas will receive a Class 4 rating, while unhydranted, water-hauled areas will be rated 5/10. 

According to a news release, these improved ratings are the result of thousands of hours of firefighter training, equipment upgrades, faster and effective emergency responses and strong support from the residents within the fire district. 

“We were notified that our rating had been returned to a four for the hydraneries for the city of Savannah after losing a rating in the summer of 2024,” said David Vincent, Savannah’s Fire Chief.

Vincent explained that regaining the rating took a lot of hard work, but it was worth it for the community.  

He noted that these ratings directly impact how much homeowners and business owners pay for insurance, which is why keeping the number low is so important.  

“The lower the rating, the better it is, so going from a five to a four, we are hoping that it makes a significant change for our taxpayers,” Vicent said.  

Vincent also emphasized that the community recognizes the effort the department put into achieving this milestone.  

He said many people dedicated countless hours to the process, calling it a major accomplishment for everyone involved.  

He specifically pointed to his colleague, Tom Sontheimer, for his dedication to the contribution.  

“He is a volunteer in this department. He spent a lot of his own time to get us back to the rating of where we wanted it to be at,” Vincent said.  

Captain and training officer Tom Sontheimer explained that the entire rating process is guided by a detailed, 69-page document from ISO, which outlines what departments must do to improve their score.  

“It’s very detailed, it revolves around water supplies, number of firemen, equipment and communication center, so there area multitude of fractions that affect how the final rating is determined,” Sontheimer said.  

Sontheimer added that the department feels fortunate to have upgraded equipment that allows them to do their jobs effectively.  

Looking ahead, he said the department’s next goal is to see if it’s possible to move from a four to a three.  

“This would be better for the taxpayers. The reduction in the ratings hopefully benefits the homeowner’s insurance and the commercial property owner’s insurance because that would be our number one goal,” Sontheimer said.  

The City of Savannah and the Savannah Rural Fire Department serve about 10,000 residents across 156 square miles. The department operates four stations and has a roster of 50 members, 48 of whom are volunteers.  

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Museums and local organizations announced a packed slate of events for this year’s Juneteenth festivities with the help of a sizable grant from the state.

The St. Joseph Museums and the Black Archives Museum, in collaboration with the Bartlett Center and community partners, unveiled an official schedule for the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration taking place from May 15 to June 21 in St. Joseph.

Local residents will see an expanded multi‑day lineup this year honoring the legacy of freedom, resilience and African American heritage, including various performances, athletic events, cultural programming and family‑centered events.

This year’s festivities are made possible in part by a $53,430 grant from the Missouri Division of Tourism, awarded to support cultural programming and to attract visitors to St. Joseph.

“The 2026 Juneteenth Celebration arrives at a meaningful moment for our region and our nation. As communities prepare for America 250 and Kansas City hosts the FIFA World Cup, St. Joseph is uniquely positioned to share its rich cultural history with both local residents and global guests,” a statement from the museum reads.

City leaders and museum officials are hopeful that paired together, the two historic events can help position St. Joseph as a welcoming destination for global guests.

2026 Juneteenth Event Schedule

Juneteenth Golf Tournament – May 15, 2026 — 1:30 p.m. Fairview Golf Course – A community-wide tournament kicking off the season’s celebrations.

Juneteenth Play – June 13 and 14, 2026 MWSU Spratt 101 – A Conversation written by local historians Loes Hedge, Gary Wilkinson, and JD Soil about local and national Black history.

Juneteenth Basketball Shoot-Out – June 14, 2026 Bartlett Center – A spirited competition for athletes and spectators alike.

Juneteenth Race – June 19, 2026 — 10 a.m. Bartlett Center – A community race promoting health, unity, and celebration.

Juneteenth Gala – June 19, 2026 — 6 p.m. Bartlett Center – An elegant evening of food, fellowship, and reflection. Featuring a performance by the Tribe Band.

Juneteenth Parade – June 20, 2026 — 10 a.m. From Bode Middle School to the Bartlett Center – A vibrant procession celebrating culture, community, and freedom.

Family Festival & Vendor Fair – June 20, 2026 — 10 a.m. Bartlett Center – Local vendors, food, entertainment (featuring Trilemma), and family activities.

Juneteenth Fashion Show – June 20, 2026 Bartlett Center – A showcase of creativity, culture, and community pride.

Juneteenth Talent Show – June 20, 2026 Bartlett Center – Featuring special guest emcee Kevin Strickland, whose story of resilience and justice has inspired communities across Missouri.

Family Picnic – June 21, 2026 Bartlett Center – A relaxed, free, family-friendly gathering to close the celebration weekend.

For questions or additional information, residents are encouraged to contact the museum at 816‑232‑8471 or sjm@stjosephmuseum.org.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — St. Joseph will soon gain another business in a coffee shop expected to open Tuesday, Feb. 3.

The Daily Grind Coffee Shop will open its doors to the pubic at 5:30 a.m.

Located at 5804 Lake Ave., the shop will feature lattes, frappuccinos, espresso, refreshers and more on its first day of business.

The shop will launch its official menu this weekend.

Owner Nichole Henderson and her family run five businesses and wanted to get into the coffee business.

Henderson believes the drive-thru offers a new style of coffee shop to the South End.

Henderson said they got the name from coffee, but also for the daily grind her family puts into running their businesses. 

“It’s not a franchise, it’s family-owned, it’s local. We believe in St. Joe, we believe in the South End. If we didnt we wouldn’t already have four businesses down here, this being number five. It’s with a smile, it’s more heartfelt,” said Henderson.

Customers who plan to get a cup of coffee can look forward to a special topper on their drink, a tradition Henderson said the shop plans to do monthly.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph City Council is considering an ordinance to create a new General Services Department, which will coordinate, oversee and manage key municipal functions.

Currently, functions like capital project management, engineering, procurement and contracting, fleet operations, facilities and building maintenance and risk management are spread across several departments.

According to a news release from the City, the functions have become more complex and would benefit from stronger and clearer coordination and accountability.

The new department would bring together all of the aforementioned responsibilities in one place. It will focus on quality work, consistent project monitoring, smart contracting that gets the most for City dollars and taking care of assets over the long term.

The change continues efforts started in 2025 to streamline the City’s processes, according to the release.

If approved, General Services would serve all City departments from a central office and be led by a full-time director who reports to the city manager and oversees projects and asset management.

The department will start with 13 employees reassigned from several departments and will initially be led by Laurie Thompson, the current human resources programs and risk manager, to ensure a smooth transition.

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

The City said the General Services Department will support its strategic plan by helping maintain and improve assets, while strengthening teamwork across departments.

City Council will vote on the proposed ordinance at its Monday, Feb. 2 meeting. If approved, Thompson’s salary as the department’s director will be $100,001.

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