Category: knpn-local-news

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The annual Crime Victim Memorial Service will be held at the Remington Nature Center on Wednesday night to honor those lost through acts of violence.

The event, which starts at 5:30 p.m., allows families and friends to honor their loved ones and bond with others who have shared a similar experience as a part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Members of the community were allowed to place a stone with a loved one’s name in the rock garden.

St. Joseph resident Dana Miljavac was in attendance to honor her son Caden Embrey who lost his life in an incident involving a gun in February 2023.

“This is just a beautiful place that we can go,” Miljavac said. “My favorite saying is that grief is definitely the price we pay for love and it’s just peaceful out here today. It’s really nice to be able to come to a place like this where you can remember your loved ones and we’re grateful for it.”

For attendees like Miljavac, these are moments where it helps to be surrounded by family and people who can support you.

“The one thing I pride in my family is the closeness that we have with each other,” Miljavac said. “I don’t know how I would make it through without my children and family being by my side through all of this because it never gets easier.”

The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office hosts this event twice a year, during the spring and winter.

Community members will have the opportunity to attend the next crime victim memorial tree lighting at the Buchanan County courthouse in November 2025. 

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph residents will notice some new faces at City Hall, as well as familiar faces in new roles, following a recent staff reorganization effort.

One notable change will see the promotion of Dawn Lanning from finance director to assistant city manager. Lanning has been with the city since 2000 and will play a key role in project management alongside City Manager Mike Schumacher.

“Funds get allocated for projects by council and then they’ve done their part. We need to make sure that on the staff level, we’re doing our part, as well as making sure that this office is able to support departments and what they’re trying to get done,” Schumacher said. “I look very forward to working with her.”

Filling Lanning’s position as finance director will be Nicole Poirier, a former forensic auditor with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Communications and Community Engagement Director Mary Robertson will become manager of St. Joseph’s Civic Arena, Missouri Theater and Remington Nature Center following the retirement of Civic Facilities Manager Kathy Brock, a stalwart of the city for the last 45 years.

Robertson also will work as a liaison between the city and Downtown.

“Adding staff to really focus on our relationships Downtown and how we can partner and help Downtown be even more successful,” Schumacher said. “I am all about Downtown.”

Longtime News-Press NOW newsroom leader Jessica Kozol has been hired to fill the city’s communications and community engagement role.

Josh Royle, formerly with Buchanan County government, has been tapped as the city’s new director of information technology, a key area of focus, Schumacher said.

Information technology will now become a standalone department.

“That’s the backbone of the entire organization … an area that we really want to focus on,” Schumacher added. “The security of our operations is really key.”

A series of high-profile cyber attacks in recent years on businesses and city governments across the country — largely by foreign criminal networks — has enhanced the spotlight on cybersecurity and upgraded IT systems.

Kendra Simpson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — This week’s edition of See St. Joseph promises a magical weekend filled with philanthropy, classic circus thrills and overlooked wizards finally getting to step into the spotlight.

Most know the story of a certain wizarding school that separates its students into four groups: the brave, the ambitious, the wise and the other ones. Benton High School is giving the overlooked wizards a chance to shine in its production of “Puffs the Play.” A boy wizard named Harry went to wizarding school and fought a noseless villain to defeat evil, but this isn’t about him! It’s about those who were never destined to save the world. This award-nominated show promises laughs, whether you’re a muggle, a wizard or even an elf. The show begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 10, 11 and 12, at Benton High School. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or by visiting bentontheatre.com.

The 11th annual Run and Walk for the Paws 5k helps keep St. Joseph residents and their pets in shape while supporting the animal shelter. Every year, Friends of the Animal Shelter hosts the 5k to help with the never-ending expenses of caring for homeless pets, including vaccinations, sheltering and general care of St. Joseph’s cutest four-legged residents. Dogs are welcome to join in on the fun, provided they are friendly with others and up to date on their rabies vaccines. There will be an award ceremony for the top-finishing humans and dogs. The race begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, in the parking lot across from Bode Ice Arena, which is located at 2500 Southwest Parkway. Racers can register online at runsignup.com.

For one night only, the Missouri Theater will welcome a performance filled with spinning plates, knife swallowing, comedic acts and more with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. The group has wowed worldwide audiences with a mix of circus, sideshow, vaudeville and variety arts. Jugglers, aerialists, sword swallowers and more will show off their skills. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the Missouri Theater, 717 Edmond St. Tickets can be purchased online at paastjo.org.

Tune in to News-Press NOW every Thursday for more magical entertainment and activities in See St. Joseph.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Families are invited to a special Easter event next weekend at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

The St. Joseph Museums is hosting its annual Easter at the Mansion celebration from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 19, at the mansion, 1100 Charles St.

The free event will include an Easter egg hunt, face painting, a balloon artist, crafts, a petting zoo and photos with the Easter Bunny.

The Museum Hill Neighborhood Association, Altec, First Lutheran Church, Zion Church, R/s Electric, Evolve Studios and Chase Candy Company are sponsoring the celebration. For more information, visit www.stjosephmuseum.org/events.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The newest addition to St. Joseph’s biking landscape could be open just in time for the annual River Bluffs Trails Fest this spring.

Contractors and local parks officials said the goal is to have the new asphalt pump track complete for the second annual weekend event, which kicks off on May 16. The track will be located in the open area north of the circular overlook and picnic shelter on Wyeth Hill.

Contractors with American Ramp Company are set to finish one of the last construction phases on Thursday, including line painting and ramp placement. Erosion control work and final site touch-ups remain before the course is ready for riders.

The pump track, also called a skills course, allows less experienced and younger mountain bikers to develop and sharpen their skills in a contained course before they tackle a wide range of advanced trails within the park. Larger trails are divided into five categories with varying degrees of difficulty, from easy to extremely difficult.

Council members previously authorized a $347,395 agreement with American Ramp Company in August for the new track using transient guest tax funds.

The 2025 River Bluff Trails Fest, a family-friendly event, features a weekend full of hiking and biking events for beginners and advanced riders. Trail runners and nature enthusiasts are also encouraged to participate and explore the bluffs.

The event includes local food favorites and a variety of activities, including games, face painting and vendors.

Riders looking to participate in River Bluff Trails Fest races can register and purchase tickets at www.bikereg.com/river-bluff-trails-fest.

News-Press NOW will continue to update this story

Kendra Simpson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Second Harvest Food Bank asked the community to help fill stomachs and minds Thursday with its Fill the Van food drive outside Sam’s Club.

Shoppers at Sam’s Club were asked to purchase food to donate to Second Harvest and the numerous food pantries in schools around the community.

“A lot of people don’t realize that there’s such a need for (food assistance) in the community,” James Marmaud, Second Harvest’s food sourcing coordinator, said. “Just participating in something like this can help bring awareness. People realize that there are people out there, even your neighbors, that might be suffering from hunger.”

Ruthanna Odette, a volunteer for Second Harvest for more than a decade, faced food insecurity throughout her life and said volunteering with the organization is her way of saying thanks. Seeing others donate brought tears to her eyes.

“It makes me want to cry,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about. Because of the times and the economics of everything, it’s tough being a senior, it’s tough being a young parent, a single parent. So any time where we can help with the food pantries, Backpack Buddies, any of that, I know that the people are giving in St. Joe.”

Thursday’s donations will go to local elementary, middle and high schools as well as college campuses.

“Campus pantries are very important for the education of our children, too. Full stomach, bright mind,” Odette said.

Second Harvest will accept donations of nonperishable foods, canned goods, oatmeal packages, soups and vegetables.

The organization also hosts several mobile food drives at various locations to ensure everyone in Buchanan and surrounding counties is food secure. For upcoming food drives, visit Second Harvest’s website at www.shcfb.org.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A scary activity for some, downhill mountain bike racing has become not only a hobby, but a career for 18-year-old Carson Brooks.

“So, downhill is the discipline, and so like, cross-country is the same as cross-country running, but on a bike you’re only times on the downhills,” Brooks said. “You generally would just study one track over your week, or all of your practices and then the downhill race would just be one day. It’s generally a three-minute run down a specific track down a mountain.”

Brooks, a Savannah High School senior, didn’t always have an interest in the sport.

“Around 2020, whenever COVID came, there wasn’t really anything to do,” Brooks said. “So I just went out and rode my bike and found out it was what I really loved doing and started competing in 2021.”

Brooks currently competes in Category 2 racing. For now, he is focusing on honing his skills, especially after just competing in his first national race in North Carolina last weekend.

“I did place pretty good in this race. I got fourth,” Brooks said. “Which is pretty good for my first national race at this level.”

Brooks said moving up in levels also comes with sponsorships, ambassadorships and brand representation.

“At the moment, I have one sponsorship that I’m under contract with,” said Brooks. “I have a few ambassadorships, which, one of them is a glove company, so they just supply me with discounts and free gloves here and then.”

The support from brands comes as a big help, especially as Brooks’ sport racks up the bills.

“It’s very expensive. Just to race, it’s almost $200,” he said. “And then you have to actually get there, so there’s a lot to it.

Brooks also said equipment also plays a big part.

“Helmets generally cost around $500 to $800, shoes around $200, jersey and pants can be $300 to $500,” said Brooks. “A good race bike can be anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.”

Brooks said he doesn’t let the costs get in his way.

“I think the community in cycling is really awesome. It’s like everybody wants to support you,” he said. “Everyone’s just like a family, basically.”

Brooks hopes to move up to Category 1 next year and eventually wants to race at the professional level.