Category: knpn-local-news

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Egg prices continue to soar in consumer grocery stores across the country, even as wholesale prices decline and bird flu cases are not being found.

The decline in bird flu cases is a positive development, but farms have needed time to sanitize barns and repopulate their flocks.

“The raw product is increased, but then also you’ve got the just a general increase,” Northwest Missouri State agriculture economy professor Billy Brooks said. “It very well could be that stores are looking at this like ‘okay not only has the raw ingredient cost went up, but then we’ve also got to increase the cost of getting those eggs from the facility all the way to the grocery store.'”

The Associated Press reported wholesale prices for eggs didn’t start seeing a decrease until mid-March, leaving little time for the average prices to reset. Additionally grocery stores may not have had the chance to adjust their prices.

In the last month, egg sale records reached new highs, with an average cost of eggs being about $6.23 per dozen, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data.

Local businesses, like the Seventh Street Cafe Downtown, have had to adjust to the new prices by making changes in the way the shop.

“I do some of my shopping at Sam’s (Club) for produce just so that I can pick it,” Seventh Street Cafe Owner Brennon Calvin said. “I noticed that a lot of the times I’d be there, the eggs were gone. You could buy the smaller (cartons), but if you were trying to get the bulk, you couldn’t get the five dozen packs. Because of that, I’ve been buying them in bulk to make sure that I don’t run out when I do need them.”

The average cost of eggs per dozen is currently $4.24 in Missouri and $4.41 in Kansas.

Any relief from the lower batches of bird flu will likely be halted until after Easter on April 20.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Plans are moving forward for a new fire station on the South Side of St. Joseph. 

Earlier this year, the St. Joseph City Council approved an agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., to begin design planning on the new location for Fire Station No. 10, which will cost $4.29 million. 

The St. Joseph Fire Department has narrowed down its choices to three locations for the new station. 

“The architect’s going to help us look at different plots of the identified locations to see what the firehouse would look like and fit and what we could get in that plot,†said Jamey McVicker, SJFD interim fire chief. “That will help us determine where we want to go.†

Officials aren’t disclosing the specific locations under consideration, but they’ve indicated that they’re narrowing in on a particular site, with response time being a key factor influencing where the new station will be placed. 

“Past administration has set us on a good path of our goal of being within every house in our district within four to five minutes,†McVicker said.  

The current Fire Station 10, located at 101 Illinois Ave, is more than a century old and showing significant signs of deterioration, with plaster peeling from both the walls and ceilings. 

While staffing will remain the same, some upgrades with the new fire station include many amenities crews are looking forward to, including a climate-controlled workout facility, sauna for detoxification after fires and larger apparatus bays. 

“It’ll be a huge relief for the city in helping utility bills go down,†firefighter Justin Roarty said. “The way these stations were built, they’re hard to do, hard to control climate-wise wise so they get really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter.†

Mollie Botts said she’s looking forward to the benefits of more privacy as a female firefighter, which can be challenging with how the current station was built. 

“I think all of us will notice the big difference, especially knowing the new station is being designed for engines and not horses like this one was,†Botts said. “Having to share an open bedroom can be a challenge for someone who’s never had to deal with that before, so we’re all anticipating it.†

The department has discussed repurposing the current Fire Station 10, but a final decision on its future use has not yet been made.

Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) â€” The Shakespeare Chateau Guild is highlighting six historic locations for an up-close look at some of St. Joseph’s finest examples of stained glass.

The locations will be featured on a tour, St. Joseph’s Architectural Jewelry: a tour of extraordinary stained glass, from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. According to Isobel McGowan, owner and innkeeper of the Shakespeare Chateau Inn Bed & Breakfast, the event invites participants to experience the city’s rich architectural legacy through its vibrant stained-glass windows. 

“Pardon the pun, but it’s to enlighten people on how beautiful and exquisite stained glass, especially historic stained glass, truly is,†McGowan said. “Much of it dates back to the 1880s and 1890s, and it’s really extraordinary.†

The self-guided tour will begin at the Shakespeare Chateau. Participants will receive a booklet with brief histories and highlights of each location.  

The chateau itself boasts the largest number of original stained-glass windows in a Gilded Age mansion anywhere in North America. In recent years, McGowan has worked closely with the Guild to support its nonprofit mission and help preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of St. Joseph. 

The tour will feature six locations — three historic churches and three Gilded Age mansions — each showcasing unique examples of stained glass. Stops include the Robidoux House, the Nunning House, First Presbyterian Church, Christ Episcopal Church and Zion United Church of Christ. 

Robin Goodwin, a coordinator of the event, said the process has been a rewarding effort rooted in community collaboration. 

“We’ve received a lot of help, especially from the Historic Foundation who heads the Jewels home tour in the fall,†Goodwin said. “Those have been wildly successful, and we expect this to be successful as well.  

Advance tickets are $20 and available on the Shakespeare Guild website at shakespearechateauguild.org. In addition, each location will have replicas of the featured stained-glass windows, which can be purchased at $20 each. For more information, call (816) 388-0070.  

Proceeds from the tour will benefit ongoing preservation efforts and future Guild projects that celebrate the architectural gems of St. Joseph. 

“We have a bunch of local sponsors who are helping us out, which is awesome,” Goodwin said. “If anybody would like to help out, we are looking for more volunteers. If you want to be a part of the tour, we would love to have you.”

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Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A new food truck had its grand opening on Saturday, April 12, bringing some “nostalgia” back to the Southside.

KolbDon’s, located at 4909 King Hill Ave., specializes in chili dogs, burgers, ice cream and more.

Co-owner Kolby Peters shared why he wanted to bring this food truck to the Southside.

“Bringing back a little sense of nostalgia of things that you used to be able to get around in this area that you really can’t anymore,” Peters said. “It’s nice to bring something back to the same area where we all used to go to lunch growing up.”

The food truck uses the famous Sack-N-Sav chili dog recipe. Original Sack-N-Sav owner L.B. Newey attended KolbDon’s grand opening, and he said he is impressed with the new business.

“He’s supposed to be making them the same way we made them, and I’ve eaten one or two of them in this last year and they were good,” Newey said. “So I got to give them credit for that.”

Six-year-old Peighton Benny attended the grand opening with her parents and she shared why she decided to go.

“To buy some food and get ice cream,” Benny said.

KolbDon’s has not solidified its operating hours yet.

Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local salon is recovering after a stray bullet shattered its window and pierced a stylist’s chair during an officer-involved shooting on March 27.

Salon 1027, located on Frederick Avenue across from City Hall, was caught in the crossfire during a police chase involving suspects in a carjacking. Shots were fired from the suspects’ vehicle as they sped through Downtown St. Joseph.

“Our new glass is supposed to be installed next week, and we feel safe here,†said Jacinda Wampler, the salon’s owner and a stylist. “It’s just that we’re always cautious and we’re always alert of things happening.â€Â 

The window is set to be replaced next week, and the damaged chair already has been swapped out.

Wampler said she is glad no one was hurt at the salon and grateful the community stepped up to help in their time of need.  

“We’re thankful for all the support that we’ve received from all of our clients and friends and family and people that we don’t know that have been very supportive of our business.† 

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Those who find themselves in need of legal advice or representation in St. Joseph have a free resource to advocate for them.

Legal Aid of Western Missouri has offices throughout the area, including one in Downtown St. Joseph. Managing Attorney Will Kariker said the office’s four attorneys handle many family law cases but are available to assist in a wide range of civil law matters for those who qualify for assistance.

“We help people who are going to court, as well as people just needing to talk about a problem,” Kariker said. “So, wherever we can, even if we’re providing just some brief advice, we always try to help in some form or fashion.”

Legal Aid gives free assistance to those who make 200% or less of the federal poverty line. Kariker said anyone is encouraged to call and staff can tell them whether they qualify for the assistance and set an appointment. Office assistants and attorneys at the St. Joseph office said they realize that for many who call, Legal Aid is their only option to get help.

“So, we do all we can to provide assistance,” Kariker said. “We have four lawyers in our office, two of whom specialize in family law. Overall, though, we want to be a full-service law firm for our constituents.”

The website for Legal Aid of Western Missouri features stories ranging from elderly people who are the victims of scams to women and children trying to escape abusive situations.

Funding for Legal Aid of Western Missouri comes from a variety of federal, state and local resources. For instance, Legal Aid is a United Way partner here in St. Joseph.

“We really appreciate and support what Legal Aid does for our community,” United Way of St. Joseph Executive Director Kylee Strough said. “We all wish that court interventions weren’t necessary, especially in family situations. However, we are glad that a resource like Legal Aid exists for families who do need assistance, yet can’t afford it.”

Last October, Legal Aid celebrated its 60th anniversary, and coming up on May 16, the agency will hold its annual “Party with a Purpose” at Room 108 in St. Joseph. The event gives people an opportunity to get to know the nonprofit better and celebrate life-changing stories from the previous year.

For more information, including branch locations, visit lawmo.org. Kariker said he would rather those who have questions about their eligibility to “err on the side of calling” and talk to someone who can guide them in the right direction for their legal needs. The phone number for the St. Joseph branch is 816-364-2325.

Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Community members gathered on Saturday morning to run/walk in a 5K benefiting the Friends of the Animal Shelter.

The 11th annual Run/Walk for the Paws drew over 500 participants this year, as well as several dogs.

Aubrey Swofford is the race director and a volunteer with Friends of the Animal Shelter. She explained why they continue to hold this event every year.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so it helps us with medical costs or anytime we put on adoption specials when the shelter gets full, Friends of the Animal Shelter picks up the other part of that cost,” Swofford said. “So it’s essential to keep doing what we do.”

Ten-year-old Elizabeth Ott shared why she decided to walk in the 5K, even opting to prepare by walking every day.

“Me and my parents love going here because we like seeing the puppies and we like walking and we worked really hard to walk each day,” Ott said.

Ott also said that she attended this event in order to help raise funds for the animal shelter and local animals.

“Because some animals are just walking around here, because I think we should save them,” Ott said.

Angela Elder has participated ten of the eleven years that the race has been going. She explained why she keeps coming back.

“I think it’s always a fun event,” Elder said. “I mean I love 5Ks and, I mean, I think the energy is great. You know, there’s a lot of great people out here, a lot of great dogs and I think they put on a great event.”

Elder added that she cares about helping the animal shelter.

“Well one, it raises money for the shelter and I think it also raises awareness for shelter dogs and possibly leads to some adoptions,” Elder said.

For those who want to help the Friends of the Animal Shelter but couldn’t attend the 5K, donations are accepted at petforu.com and they are always looking for volunteers.