Category: knpn-local-news

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A structural analysis of St. Joseph’s historic ballpark has helped identify key improvements that officials plan to tackle after the upcoming Mustangs season.

City councilmembers authorized a $613,000 contract on Monday with Lawhon Construction for the Phil Welch Stadium Structural Improvements Project using Parks Sales Tax funds.

“The original project was to replace the concrete and the bleacher area of the stadium. Before we could do that, we had to have a structural analysis of the steel structure that supports the concrete,” St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities Director Jeff Atkins said.

The total budget for the project is $769,868 to account for additional change orders if they become necessary. Planned improvements will help strengthen a number of foundational components for the 86-year-old stadium, which has undergone widespread renovations in recent years.

The stadium most recently added a new $130,000 video scoreboard for the upcoming season that kicks off on May 28. Atkins said structural improvements will begin after the season concludes.

“What we found out is when that structure was built back in the 1940s, a lot of the building standards, structural standards have changed,” Atkins said. “What this will allow us to do is to bring the steel structure that served the stadium up to modern codes.”

Reinforcement of multiple stadium support beams — which have exceeded capacity and require additional bracing — will pave the way for large sections of concrete slabs that support stadium seating to be replaced in the process.

Concrete replacement will primarily occur on the first base side of the stadium to address leaks that have been affecting the office and concessions area below, followed by the installation of new bleacher seating, an amount that will be dictated by remaining funds.

The Mustangs are set to face off against the NEMO Craze for their home opener at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28.

Tickets can be purchased at stjoemustangs.com/purchase-tickets.

Click here to follow the original article.

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In an ever-changing housing market, the demand for rental properties has exceeded the supply in St. Joseph.

Joshua Johnson of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Stein & Summers Real Estate said, while various rental property managers like his own company try their best to place people in good homes with affordable rents, the supply of quality rentals in St. Joseph is small.

“St. Joseph is a market that needs good rentals,” Johnson said. “The challenge is timing based upon current demand, and the city does have a thorough certification process that takes time.”

Johnson’s observations echo the analysis of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which shows a shortage of affordable rental homes throughout the state of Missouri.

According to Johnson, even if a rental property with potential housing for 100 people were approved today, the wait time would be prohibitive for some, and the waiting list would grow immediately.

The waiting list for extremely low-income households is even greater, according to the Low Income Housing Coalition and the Housing Authority of St. Joseph. Wait time for Section 8 housing, for instance, can be from one to three years.

For standard rental properties, Johnson said in addition to the lack of availability, the challenge in St. Joseph includes the readiness of the rental properties that might be available.

“We manage over 400 rentals here at Berkshire Hathaway,” Johnson said. “Some, though, are still in the ‘make ready’ condition, and with those that are ready, we are at about 97% occupancy.”

Renters are now on waiting lists for either the contracted repair to be finished on a property or they are simply waiting for someone who occupies a rental home to move.

This not only presents a challenge for realtors and rental property managers, but also for businesses who are seeking to recruit people to St. Joseph, many of whom are not able to purchase a house right away.

“Some of the larger businesses who are recruiting heavily are having a hard time finding housing for potential employees,” Johnson said. “Even many of our properties are outside of the city, and so those who come here without drivers licenses to work for some of our companies will have additional transportation challenges, even if they find a rental.”

Some tips Johnson and other housing experts in the area give for those looking for rental houses or apartments in St. Joseph include, starting the search early. This means starting a few months in advance, working with your current renter on the timing of your transition and visiting a realtor or rental property management team directly.

“Come directly to the office, ask questions and let realtors help you do the work,” Johnson said.

Also, the City of St. Joseph has a Residential Rental Certification Program that can assist those who are seeking to place properties for rent and to assist in the approval of existing rental properties. For more information, on this program, call (816) 271-5343.

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Although it’s early in 2025, seventeen United Way partner agencies are making presentations to United Way for 2026 funding.

Each year, volunteers assist the United Way Board and Investment Council in determining how United Way of Greater St. Joseph funds will be distributed.

Community volunteer Donna Zion, of North American Savings Bank in St. Joseph, said the process of volunteering to assess various United Way partners has given her a greater appreciation for the work St. Joseph non-profits do for the community.

“It is a very humbling experience to get to interact with these partner agencies and see what they do for the community,” Zion said. “We look at financials and programming, and we look at any possible duplication of service, and then we make decisions based upon the feedback of our volunteers.”

This year, 180 volunteers from the community meet with representatives of the partner agencies in a small group setting and ask pertinent questions about funding and impact. They then make recommendations to the Investment Council, who works in conjunct with the board of directors to make final funding decisions. These decisions are announced later in the year.

Nichi Seckinger, Executive Director of AFL-CIO of St. Joseph, said as a longtime participant, the process makes sure the community is making best use of the funds given by businesses and individuals to the work of serving others.

“The process is challenging, but it’s a way of protecting the dollars of people who donate to the United Way,” Seckinger said. “It keeps us all, you know, in line and keeps us thinking about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”

Seckinger also said, although her organization receives relatively little federal funding, the concerns about cuts to non-profits weighs on everyone applying for funds from sources like United Way.

Jodi Flurry, Director of Community Investment for United Way, said at the end of the day, process is about maximizing dollars to help these partner agencies change lives.

“We get to hear stories from these organizations about how lives are changed for the better,” Flurry said. “The feedback provided by our volunteers about how the United Way should invest gives people in the community who are donors or even past recipients of help a way to be an important part of the ongoing funding process.”

For more information about the 17 partner agencies the United Way supports, visit stjosephunitedway.org.

NewsPressNow

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — According to a story posted yesterday by the Department of the Air Force website, the military branch has selected the Wyoming Air National Guard as the next location to host C-130J airplanes.

The announcement could spell bad news for the local 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard. The 139th hosts a fleet of C-130H planes at its base at Rosecrans Airport. The release said, “A total of eight C-130J aircraft will be used to recapitalize the aging C-130H fleet, where older C-130H models will be fleet managed out of service and replaced by C-130H models from converting units.”

It’s unclear what impact this move will have on the 139th. Last July, Gov. Mike Kehoe approved $7.5 million to design a new aircraft maintenance hangar and $2 million to relocate the fuel farm facility at Rosecrans.

Both projects were hoped to enhance the 139th’s chances of receiving the newer C-130J models.

In addition, the Air Force announced that 19 “excess” manpower positions “due to this shift will be repurposed through the Air National Guard corporate process.”

The Air Force said the first fleet of eight C-130J aircraft will arrive at the Wyoming Air National Guard base in Cheyenne in early 2028.

Attempts to reach Missouri’s 6th District Congressman Sam Graves and Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt were unsuccessful. Graves is a member of the House’s Arm Services Committee while Schmitt serves on the same committee in the Senate.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The community has been invited to celebrate Easter with fun activities at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 19, Easter at the Mansion included an egg hunt (with a limit of 12 eggs per child), Easter Bunny photo opportunities, crafts, face painting and more.

Hundreds of community members attended the event, bringing families out to have fun and visit the mansion.

This was nine-year-old Azariah Kindred’s first time going to Easter at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, and she shared her favorite part of the event.

“Just going around and I painted eggs and got a balloon animal,” Kindred said.

The event is hosted by the Museum Hill Neighborhood Association and the St. Joseph Museums. Sponsors for the event are Altec, First Lutheran Church and Zion United Church of Christ.

Click here to follow the original article.

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — To encourage mental health discussions, the Samaritan Counseling Center held it’s “taco ’bout mental health” walk and 5k at the Bode Ice Arena.

“It’s amazing what they do for our community,” 5k runner Matthew Payden said. “Community outreach is such a significant thing for us. But what they do specifically, how they help people, and money not being in the equation is huge. It’s just simply how they can serve our community. And the people that need it the most is what impresses me about what they do. It’s a worthy cause for us to be here today.”

This years run was geared toward providing awareness to substance use recovery. Among counties in Missouri, Buchannan County is in the top ten highest for opioid overdoses.

Speakers were present to provide information on Narcan and ways for people to get involved in helping reduce opioid overdoses.

Tacos were also provided for participants of the walk and 5k.

The event saw 143 people registered to participate, with a 75% turnout. The 5k raised roughly $8,000 in donations.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In a social media announcement on Friday, April 18, the City of St. Joseph announced attorney, Laura Chavez will assume the role of Municipal Court Judge.

Chavez is assuming the position, following the untimely death of Judge Ted Elo.

Chavez is a St. Joseph native, graduating from Bishop LeBlond High School and Missouri Western State University, before earning her law degree at Creighton University.

She has served as the City Prosecutor in Municipal Court for the last ten years and is prepared to hit the ground running.

Chavez’s appointment as Municipal Court Judge will be formally voted on at the April 28th City Council session as an emergency ordinance.

Her appointment will remain effective until the April 2026 general municipal election, at which time she, and any other interested candidates, will need to seek election to the position by popular vote.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A golf tournament coming up in May aims to help support kids in need of mentorship.

The Big Swing Golf Tournament to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph is set to take place on Monday, May 12, at Moila Golf Course. A shotgun start is set for 8 a.m.

The event will include food, giveaways and raffle prizes. To sign up, go to bbbsbigswing.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters aims to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships between young people and adult volunteers.