Category: knpn-local-news

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Area residents will get a unique opportunity to see the legal system in action at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

The Western District Court of Appeals for Missouri will hold public hearings starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Spratt Hall Room 101 on MoWest’s campus.

The three-judge panel will consist of Judge Janet Sutton, Judge Gary Witt and Judge W. Douglas Thomson. The panel will hear oral arguments on four cases, according to a press release from MoWest.

Suzanne Kissock, an attorney and dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies at MoWest, said the appeals court is different from the lower court proceedings many people are familiar with.

“This event will allow the community to see up close and personal how the appellate court system works,” Kissock said. “It will educate the public about the analysis that goes into the review of lower court decisions.”

The court of appeals reviews cases already decided upon. The judge panel can render review decisions that include affirming the lower court’s decision, reversing the lower court’s decision or remanding the case back to the lower court for additional actions.

The four cases being publicly reviewed at MoWest include a first-degree murder case, a parental rights case and a property dispute case. For each case, lawyers will present reasons for appeal and the panel of judges will render a decision.

“A trial in the traditional sense doesn’t happen at the appellate level,” Kissock said. “The focus of this part of the process is upon the legal doctrines and legal rulings of the cases in question.”

Judge Dan Kellogg, presiding judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in St. Joseph, is familiar with this process. He said the appeals court has been taking their process ‘on the road’ for quite some time, and he is glad St. Joseph can witness firsthand what is often an unseen aspect of the legal system.

“Watching the appellate court in action is something you don’t typically see on TV or in the movies,” Kellogg said. “This will be especially important for students enrolled in legal studies courses and those interested in a future in law.”

For more information, including a full description of the four cases to be reviewed, visit missouriwestern.edu/news.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A longtime favorite for vintage fashion lovers celebrated a milestone and a comeback over the weekend.

After a challenging summer, a local vintage clothing and accessories store marked 13 1/2 years in business with a celebration and storewide sale Saturday. The shop is located at 718 Francis St.

The Lucky Tiger is known for its mix of vintage clothing, accessories, vinyl records and other unique finds. At the special event on Saturday, shoppers enjoyed 25% off the entire store, including new fall arrivals that the owner said are ‘absolutely stunning.’

“One of the first things that I’ve noticed with fast fashion is they don’t even have a reverse side, it’s just white. That to me is not good quality,” Amy Heath, owner of the Lucky Tiger, said.

Beyond the sale, the celebration was a showcase of what makes high-quality vintage fashion so special. Each piece in the store carries a story, from hand-stitched dresses to durable leather jackets that have lasted decades. In an era of fast fashion, some shoppers are drawn to the craftsmanship and sustainability of vintage clothing.

“Real leather items whether they’re new or vintage, they last forever. You know we’re not going to run out of vintage anytime soon in this town,” Heath said.

Trying on some of the store’s new arrivals reveals that quality firsthand. A 1970s jacket still feels sturdy, with stitching intact and fabric soft. Even small accessories, from vinyls to jewelry, carry a sense of character that only time can give

The celebration featured racks filled with freshly curated collections from recent sourcing trips.

The store, that had to temporarily close back in May, is now open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, offering shoppers a chance to explore a mix of vintage treasures and one-of-a-kind items five days a week.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Kris and Kate’s ice cream parlor is wrapping up the season for this year on Oct. 12, Sunday.  

With colder weather on the way, the team will be taking a break until next summer — when the pink cone will be back serving up your favorite treats once again.  

Kris and Kates employee Madison Gerstner said it’s always a little bittersweet wrapping up the season.  

“Today is out last day of the season and we are open till 9, depends on when we run out of the stocks but we will open again by mid-March, depending on the weather,” Gerstner said.  

She also pointed out that while Kris and Kates is closed, it’s a great chance for folks to stop by Baskin-Robbins and treat themselves to something sweet.  

She mentioned they’re offering 50% off everything on the menu and encouraged people to swing by, grab their favorites, and help clear out the remaining stock.  

“We usually spent the winter planning for the next season and what flavors can be added to the menu,” Gerstner said.  

Gerstner explained that they close each fall because business slows down once the weather cools off, while summer is when they’re busiest and sell the most.  

“Summertime flew by really fast and its sad for sure but since we don’t get much business in the winter or we don’t have heat in the building, we will be back in the summer again,” Gerstner said.  

One young customer at Kris and Kates said his favorite flavor is Oreo Twist — and he plans to keep coming back just for that.  

“I would probably get the same thing again because I like it a lot and I would rate this flavor a 9 out of 10,” Jackson Petty said.  

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Fire Department worked the scene of a structure fire Friday evening on North 24th Street.

The residential structure fire occurred near the intersection of North 24th and Jones streets. The initial call came in around 4:28 p.m. Friday, according to Casey Crockett, fire investigator with SJFD.

A reporter at the scene witnessed heavy smoke in the area and fire trucks blocking off the roadway. A video submitted to News-Press NOW showed flames engulfing a section of the structure around the back of the building.

According to Crockett on Monday, the back porch of 902 N. 24th St., which is where the fire is believed to have started, was completely destroyed and the rest of the unit has significant water and smoke damage.

The fire department also said one cat and one dog died in the fire. No injuries were reported during the incident and unknown number of other pets were rescued from the residence.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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News-Press NOW

By Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — As the federal government shutdown nears the two-week mark, Columbia College is stepping in to support military students by launching a tuition assistance program.

The college announced the creation of the “You Stand For Us, We Stand By You” program in a news release on Monday. The release states that the program is for active service members, reservists and National Guard members.

Military members could miss a paycheck on Wednesday if Congress doesn’t agree on some type of funding for salaries.

“Service members have stood in harm’s way for us countless times. When they need us, we must answer the call,” Columbia College President David Russell said in the statement. Russell is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel.

The program will provide full tuition for affected military students through the fall semester, which ends Dec. 13. Students will get relief upon verification. New military students who enroll in Columbia College during the shutdown will also be assisted. Students who have dropped courses due to funding concerns will also be supported.

Columbia College has historically been a military-friendly institution. According to the release, of the college’s alumni, around 34,000 are veterans, active-duty service members or military family members.

Students can contact the Ousley Family Veterans Service Center for assistance.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Every second Monday in October, people across the United States celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Some have mixed views on the holiday. Recently, President Donald Trump signed his own proclamation to “reclaim” Columbus Day, even though in 2021, former President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a presidential proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is used to celebrate and recognize the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples in America.

News-Press NOW visited the St. Joseph Museums, located at 3406 Frederick Ave., to learn more about the history behind the day.

Tori Zieger, archaeologist and the NAGPRA coordinator, shared some rich history of Native Americans in and outside of St. Joseph.

“All of this material was excavated either in 1966 or 1972 on King Hill here in St. Joseph,” Zieger said. “These artifacts represent the people who were living here around the year 1700. They are part of a cultural phase called the Oneota.”

The excavated artifacts from King Hill show things, like the mano and metate, the Oneota used for grinding corn and grains.

The archaeology exhibit also shared how stages of the excavation worked and skeletal remains animals the indigenous would hunt, such as mammoth and mastodon.

The Native American Galleries at the museum contains historical information from around the U.S. as well, such as southwestern Navajo jewelry made out of turquoise and baskets that show off the artistic and cultural differences between tribes. 

Zieger stressed the importance of this holiday and urged people to learn more about Indigenous culture by experiencing the exhibit for themselves.

“I think it is important to really think about why there is controversy and what harm it is, and to celebrate people that are different and beautiful and developed. And were here before us,” Zieger said.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program is just around the corner and businesses can now sign up to participate.

“Shop St. Joseph is an excellent opportunity for merchants to attract new customers,” Natalie Hawn, President and CEO, said in a press release. “Residents get excited for the chance to win $10,000, so they are more likely to try new places. But, of course, the real winner is the local economy when we keep spending here. It benefits local businesses and generates tax revenue.”

Participating retailers give one free Shop St. Joseph ticket to shoppers and another ticket for every $10 spent for a chance to win prizes. Traditional shops, restaurants and service providers can all participate. The program is set to kick off Nov. 12 and ends Dec. 15.

A drawing for the $10,000 grand prize and a $2,500 Shop Small Business Bonus will be on Dec. 17. There will also be smaller second-chance prizes.

Participation costs have been lowered in recent years to allow more small businesses to participate. Shop St. Joseph is open to all businesses, not just Chamber members.

The pricing is as follows:

For chamber members who own their own business and have only one additional employee it is $100, those with two to five employees it is $200 and those with six or more employees it is $250.

Businesses that aren’t Chamber members but have five or fewer employees will pay $300. If a non-Chamber member has six or more employees, the price is $375.

Applications to register for all business types can be found at saintjoseph.com. For more information, call 816-364-4106 or email masters@saintjoseph.com.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Area donors were able to donate blood at an annual FFA blood drive Monday at Savannah High School.

Students, staff and the community were able to make a donation at the blood drive in the Auxiliary Gym. The school’s goal was to reach 50 units of blood donated.

Jessica Aeschliman, Savannah High School instructor and FFA advisor, said all the blood donated will go toward the local hospitals and the Community Blood Drive.

“They’re going to be going to our local hospitals in northwest Missouri,” she said. “So, local is somewhat relative in that sense but we have some that’s going to be hospital ready as it leaves here, and that will go directly to the closest hospitals.”

Aeschliman provided breakfast on Monday morning for all the students and staff members who donated blood to help with iron and sugar levels.

Aeschliman said it is important to donate blood because it is likely that most people will be impacted and need blood at some point in their life.

“It’s something that is bound to happen at some point in our lives that we’re going to be directly impacted by, whether it’s us, whether it’s somebody we love. So, this is a, in my opinion, easy way to make a big contribution in the community,” Aeschliman said.

Codi Barsch, senior at Savannah High School, said she wanted to donate blood because she likes to give back to her community.

“I am so blessed to have these opportunities that I do and I just want to give opportunities to other people — whether it’s through just blood or encouraging others to donate blood because we’ve been in a shortage recently and it’s just never, never a good deal,” Barsch said.

Barsch also said it is meaningful to see her classmates and staff members supporting the cause and donating as well.

“Seeing other people just around me, that I know, that I’m comfortable with is just really encouraging,” Barsch said.

Barsch said she hopes what the high school is doing can increase the blood supply.

“I’m just really happy to see Savannah High School really stepping up and along with our community, just being able to give back to people who just need blood,” Barsch said.

Aeschliman said this year was a great turnout and she is excited about the next blood drive in the spring.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City officials are laying the groundwork for significant upgrades to a popular Midtown park with the help of a federal grant application approved Monday, one of several measures approved by City Councilmembers.  

Located at 1805 Sylvanie St., John Lucas Complex could see the replacement of its playground and other large renovations if awarded a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 

Councilmembers voted Monday to file an application for the federal grant that helps support the development and preservation of public outdoor recreation areas. 

John Lucas Park is pictured on a bright and sunny day in St. Joseph.

“They don’t announce the winners until sometime late in 2026,” St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins said. “We know there’s some things we need to address … the building’s been there since the 1970s and it’s time to upgrade.”

The city hopes to pair the grant with $500,000 in local matching funds for design and construction of a new playground and renovation of the restroom/concession area. The current budget for the playground and restroom/concession would allow for a basic design with simple support facilities. If awarded the LWCF grant, it would allow for a more accessible playground and facilities.

“Making sure the bathrooms are updated and ADA compliant, making sure the building gets a new roof on. The deck that’s adjacent to the building. It’s an old wooden deck now that’s 50 years old,” Atkins said.

Residents will also have the chance to offer input on possible improvements as part of a public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 16th from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation administration building at 1920 Grand Ave.

Located next to the Bartlett Center, John Lucas Park has served the Midtown area since the 1970s, featuring a playground, basketball courts, picnic tables and shelters.  

City to conduct traffic signal study at Frederick, Noyes and Farleigh Terrace

Engineering consultants will take a closer look at the possibility of an improved traffic signal for a busy Frederick Avenue intersection in St. Joseph. 

Monday’s City Council meeting saw the approval of $33,987 in funds to authorize a signal feasibility study for the intersection of Frederick Avenue, Noyes Boulevard and Farleigh Terrace. 

St. Joseph Public Works and Transportation is considering operational and safety improvements to provide better access for those entering and exiting Farleigh Terrace, the fifth leg of the busy intersection and a challenging neighborhood to access at times.

HDR Engineering will be tasked with evaluating the feasibility and costs of installing the traffic signal and potentially adding new turning lights. As part of the project, a new traffic signal layout will be modeled with software to help determine appropriate signal timings to maximize efficiency. 

Data on Intersection turning counts will also be provided by the city to develop models and determine if concepts will be acceptable in the future.

The city intends to hold a follow-up meeting with neighborhood residents once the study is complete around December, allowing residents to track the progress of the project and offer additional input.

City Hall lighting improvement project on tap

St. Joseph’s chief administration building will soon have the ability to display decorative colors akin to historic buildings in Kansas City. 

Monday’s meeting saw the approval of a $29,950 work order with R/S Electric Corp. for the City Hall exterior decorative lighting project. This form of lighting is typically used to mark celebrations, memorials, and special observances. 

Staff will have the opportunity to showcase support for important social causes, including Breast Cancer Awareness, Law Enforcement Memorials, and State and Federal commemorations.

Additionally, the lighting may be utilized to acknowledge major holidays and other significant community events.

Other bills approved by City Council: 

Amendment to the capital projects fund in the amount of $21,925 to provide additional funding to complete the Civic Arena improvements. 

Execution of a Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission maintenance agreement and a sidewalk improvements agreement for the portion of Route 752 at King Hill avenue to Belding Street. 

Purchase of one sulzer dry pit submersible pump for the Candy Creek Pump Station in the amount of $57,000 from FTC Equipment, LLC, for use by the Water Protection Division. 

A resolution authorizing the purchase of a new 2026 Chevy Equinox from Reed Chevrolet for the property maintenance division utilizing marijuana tax funds in the amount of $30,043.30. 

Amendment to the Mass Transit fund budget to allocate additional 5339 Formula Capital Grant funds received in the amount of $4,199.98 for a total grant amount of $108,190 and appropriating the city’s 20% match in the amount of $1,149 for a total match in the amount of $27,047 and execution of a work order with RS Electric Corp for the purchase and installation of one diesel generator in the amount of $135,238 for the transit administration building.

Nominations and appointments: 

Mayor John Josendale nominates Leslie Ross, 503 S. 31st St., to serve as a member of the Housing Authority for a term expiring Sept. 21, 2026; she is replacing Larry Douglas, whose term has expired. 

Councilmember Michael Grimm nominates Amber Dydell, 1211 N. 19th St., to serve as a member of the Administrative Violation Review Board for a term expiring Oct. 13, 2028; she is replacing Douglas Brownfield, whose term has expired. 

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Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Animal Shelter is currently at full capacity, and has seen a rise in pets coming through the shelter over the years.

This has become an issue as the facility, located at 701 S.W. Lower Lake Road, is dealing with a limited amount of resources.

One of the main causes of the uptick in homeless animals has been due to people not getting pets spayed and neutered, according to a local senior animal care specialist.

“The biggest thing is, spay and neuter. There’s a big lack of people being able to spay and neuter their pets. So, I would encourage people to find those resources,” Aubrey Couch, Senior Animal Care Specialist, said. “If you’re thinking about getting a puppy or kitten, make sure you have a plan for getting that pet spayed or neutered when it’s age appropriate.”

The cost to spay and neuter pets can vary, with some procedures costing over $500 depending on the facility and location, according to GoodRx. For those who may need financial assistance, there are some affordable options available for area residents that the animal shelter can help guide pet owners to.

“There are resources, there’s lots of programs. We have programs that we can direct people to. There are some low-cost spay and neuter clinics that aren’t far from St. Joe, so there’s lots of options,” Couch said. “But ultimately, we really need to hit the spay and neuter hard because there’s too many pets. There are not enough homes for all of these animals.”

For more information on these options, contact the St. Joseph Animal Shelter at 816-271-4877.

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