Kristen Tracy, Riley Ridge Get Three Hits in Wild Win Over Wolverines; Tigers Clinch Winning Season

On a night in which the ball was flying off the bats, Worth County overcame seven errors, clinched its third straight winning season, and beat Maysville 18-11 Thursday. The Tigers have a good chance to get two more if everyone stays healthy. They return everyone back for next year and gain stalwarts from the junior high squad such as Kennedy Murphy and Bella Blankenship. And out of their ten players from this year’s squad, only two of them are juniors. 

Maysville came in having won only two games; they have fallen on hard times since winning state in 2018 and returning there in 2019. But they looked anything but a two win team Thursday; everything they hit was hard, they got 11 hits, and kept coming at Worth County even after the Tigers pulled ahead. They have 18 players out this year, and only two of them are seniors, and most of them are freshmen and sophomores. Their pitcher, Sam Gripka, symbolizes their toughness; she has taken six shots off her body this year, including one from Megan Tracy off her ankle. It has gotten to the point where it doesn’t hurt, but is numb. 

For Worth County, Kristen Tracy had two doubles and a triple. Riley Ridge had three singles. Kambree Briner had a single and a double. Megan Tracy, Audrey Runde, and Addison Gray all had two singles each. Rylee Ruckman and Braelyn Fletchall had one hit each.

The game was marred by the fact that the umpires did not show up for Thursday’s game. Maysville was able to round up a local person who had his license and one of the fans to work the game.

Megan Tracy pitched the win for the Tigers. Coach Cody Green said he was resting Kristen for districts later this week. The Tigers play Thursday against Gilman City.

It started easily enough for Worth County in the top of the first when Riley Ridge slapped a single past third and short, stole second, and Kambree Briner doubled her to right center. Briner later came home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

But then the balls started flying off the bats for Maysville, and Sophia Redman walked and stole second. A double by Sam Gripka, a single by Madi DeShon, and a single by Skylar Nalle put the Wolverines back up 3-2.

Addison Gray reached on a dropped fly ball and stole second and third in the Tiger second. She was almost stranded there as the next two batters struck out, but then Braelyn Fletchall singled to center to knot it at three and took second on a wild pitch. Riley Ridge hit a slap down the third base line that rolled dead for a scratch hit to put runners at first and third. Ridge stole second and then Kambree Briner singled them both home to put Worth County back in front 5-3.

Worth County nearly got out of the Maysville second, but had trouble getting to strike three or getting the third out. Sophia Redman hit what looked like a routine grounder to short, but she beat it out. Gripka hit a shot off Keira Hardy’s glove and everybody was safe as a run scored. DeShon walked and Nalle got to two strikes, only to crush a double to score two and put Maysville back up 6-5.

At that point, the only way Worth County was going to beat Maysville was to keep scoring. They didn’t score in the third, but as Megan Tracy settled in and pitched three straight shutdown innings, that was all the space they needed to score six in the fourth to take an 11-6 lead and put it away. Riley Ridge shot a single past short after getting two strikes on her and Kambree Briner was hit by a pitch. Kristen Tracy tripled them both in and Audrey Runde beat out an infield hit to score Tracy. Megan Tracy reached as Maysville threw away a force and Rylee Ruckman beat out a slow roller down the third base line to load the bases. Runde scored on a wild pitch and a dropped pop fly scored two more runs.

Worth County scored two in the sixth and five more in the seventh as they were able to put some distance between themselves and the Wolverines.

Landon Wilmes Racks Up 250 Yards as Tigers Match Record with 94-32 Win

Landon Wilmes racked up 250 yards as Worth County matched a school record with 94 points, downing Pattonsburg with a 94-32 win Friday. With the win, Worth County kept up the pressure on Albany, which faced a surprisingly stiff challenge from Stanberry before pulling away for a 46-6 win. Albany lost Elliot Mercer on the first play of the game. The last few years of the Albany/Stanberry wars have always resulted in key players being knocked out of the game. King City was also unbeaten in the conference going into Friday's game, but faltered 34-26 against St. Joseph Christian to go to 4-1.

The win for Worth County sets up a showdown at King City Friday. The game is a must win for both schools. Worth County has to beat King City and hope that Albany falters against either Pattonsburg or King City to clinch a share of the GRC West. If King City wins, then Worth County is out of the race while the showdown between Albany and King City will be for a share of the GRC Title for the Wildkats. Friday's win against Pattonsburg brought the magic number for a winning season for the Tigers down to one game; a win Friday night will give them a winning season for the ninth time in ten tries with the other season being a .500 season. The game will also be for district standings. Worth County can likely finish no higher than third in districts due to losses to Platte Valley and Albany; a win by King City would vault them ahead of Worth County to third place, forcing Worth County to travel to Albany. 

The win matches a school record for most points in a contest by the Tigers. They scored 94 points in 2010 against South Holt, a 94-48 donnybrook which prompted the 275 conference to make a rule requiring schools down by 45 points to call the game for a time. They scored 94 points against Pattonsburg in 2015, and 94 points last year against Princeton. 

Pattonsburg has been going through a tough luck season this year. After playing Rock Port and South Holt tough, they lost Wyatt Maize for the year (knee) during the latter game and have been in a tailspin for much of the season. They showed flashes of their old form, beating Stanberry handily, but struggling in a 50-8 loss to King City. They put some points on the board against a physical St. Joseph Christian  squad last week, but lost 70-38. The hope was to show some spark against Worth County and then turn around and propel it into a win against Albany, like what happened last year. They showed flashes of promise against Worth County, but the Tigers, after some early lapses on defense that kept Pattonsburg in the game, got better as the game progressed and the Panthers couldn't buy a stop against Wilmes and the Tiger ground game, while Hayden Sanders completed enough passes to keep Pattonsburg's defense honest. And Worth County did not give up a pair of free possessions to Pattonsburg like Albany did in its first game with them last year and fuel their rush.

Pattonsburg got the ball on their own 18 and got a pass from Drake Sperry to the 29 for a first down. Lucas Frisch blew up a jet sweep, but then Alex Young was all alone for a pass to the Tiger 34. The Panthers were faced with a third and ten after Landon Preston was met by Sawyer Thurman, Lucas Frisch, and Bo Collins and Jude Archer broke up a pass, but then Camden Griffith scrambled for seven to the 27 and then scrambled for a touchdown as the black shirts overran him and he channeled Gage Iddings, weaving his way through traffic with 7:38 left to make it 6-0. But Worth County was ready for the swinging gate on the extra point try, having seen it against Platte Valley before, and broke up the extra point pass. They stopped all but one of Pattonsburg's extra point tries. 

The Panthers nearly recovered an onside kick before it rolled out of bounds at the 34. Landon Wilmes started off with a seven yard sweep, getting a block from Lucas Frisch. Jude Archer lined up in the Wildcat formation and took it four yards to the 35 after getting a block from Landon Wilmes. Lucas Frisch picked up four to the 31, and then a shovel pass to Landon Wilmes went nowhere, stopped at the 30. But then Hayden Sanders moved a pile to the 25 and a first down and Landon Wilmes got a block from Carter Chapman and got six down to the 19. He got 11 more off blocks from Lucas Frisch and Ethan Lininger and then took a sweep to the house with 4:33 left. Hayden Sanders got good protection in the pocket and threw a strike to Lucas Frisch to make it 8-6. 

But Pattonsburg marched right back down the field after starting at their own 32. Bo Collins got pressure on Griffith and forced a hurry, then Griffith scrambled for four to the 31. Hayden Sanders nearly picked off a pass before Gavin Humphrey nearly made a diving catch, but on fourth down, nobody picked up Humphrey and he was all alone for a strike with 3:32 left. Griffith tried to run in the extra points, but was pushed out and Pattonsburg led 12-8.

Sawyer Thurman ran back the ensuing kick to the Pattonsburg 36. Landon Wilmes got blocks from Bo Collins and Lucas Frisch for 11 yards and then Jude Archer took a snap out of the Wildcat and took a counter from 25 yards out to the house with 2:54 left. Once again, Hayden Sanders got good protection from the line and threw a strike to Archer for the two points to make it 16-12.

The Panthers have tried to establish a running game with some success this year, but Worth County was ready for it and blew it up for most of the night. Sawyer Thurman and Ethan Lininger dropped Alex Young for a loss, Sawyer Thurman broke up a pass after Lucas Frisch forced a hurry, and then Bo Collins got loose and forced an incompletion to a wide open Landon Preston. Camden Griffith tried to scramble for a first down, but this time, Carter Chapman showed his speed and ran him down to five the Tigers the ball back on downs at the 27.

Worth County rescued a dropped pass as Landon Wilmes got a block from Lucas Frisch and got 22 yards to the 5. Then, Jude Archer got a block from Karson Briner and took it to the house with 1:34 left in the first quarter to put Worth County up 22-12.

Pattonsburg went into the two twin formation that Mound City used with some success against Worth County, but this time, they were ready for it. Pattonsburg started off at its own 31 and a short pass to Alex Young netted four. But then Bo Collins and Karson Briner rang Griffith's bell. Carter Chapman tweaked his shoulder and came out, but the Tigers may have found a new defensive end as Karson Briner took most of the reps at that position after the first quarter and the Tigers showed no dropoff. Meanwhile, Chapman was still able to anchor the offensive line. The Tigers overcame a facemask penalty as Briner forced a hurry. Drake Sperry was all alone, but Griffith misfired, and a pass was too far for Landon Preston, giving the Tigers the ball back on downs at their own 39.

Worth County only needed three plays to get down the field. They aired it out to Karson Briner to the 13. Following an incomplete pass, Hayden Sanders threw a shovel pass to Landon Wilmes, who took it to the house with 11:33 left in the second quarter after getting blocks from Jude Archer and Bo Collins. A carbon copy was good for the two points as Landon Wilmes weaved his way through traffic to make it 30-12. But Pattonsburg came storming right back as a big battle between Landon Preston and Jude Archer resulted in a juggling catch and run that took it to the house with 11:20 left. Gavin Humphrey caught the extra point pass to make it 30-20. 

Pattonsburg tried to follow the game plan against Albany last year, where they took control in the first game by recovering a pair of onsides kicks. But Worth County kept their heads against their tactics and didn't give up one all night. Karson Briner recovered one at the Panther 32, and then Landon Wilmes took a sweep and ran through Panther defenders like they weren't even there to make it 36-20 with 11:12 left. But Collin Mason and Jace Estrada combined on a sack of Hayden Sanders to keep the margin at two possessions. 

That meant that the Panthers could make it one possession if they were to score. A late hit put it on the Tiger 34, and then passes to Gavin Humphrey and Alex Young moved it to the 21. But from there on out, Bo Collins started playing as one possessed, starting with the next series. A running play lost six as Bo shot through unblocked. Bo forced another hurry and an intentional grounding, and then got another hurry to set up fourth and 28 at the 39. Pattonsburg aired it out, and Gavin Humphrey nearly made a spectacular grab, but came up short as the Tigers took over on downs. From there, Worth County did not look back. 

Jude Archer nearly broke one, but Gavin Humphrey made a shoestring tackle to hold him to five yards. Landon Wilmes got a block from Lucas Frisch, and cut back for seven more to the 29. From there, Hayden Sanders called his own number. The front line defenders overran him, he got a block from Lucas Frisch, and he took it to the house with 8:02 left. Like Bo Collins on defense, Lucas Frisch was playing possessed on offense, laying out defenders everywhere in sight and opening the holes for Landon Wilmes and the other Tiger backs. Hayden Sanders took in the option to make it 44-20.

Pattonsburg started at their own 32, and then Bo forced another quarterback hurry and an incomplete pass. Camden Griffith scrambled and managed to find Gavin Humphrey for eight yards, but then Pattonsburg started taking too much time to get the play off and then Sawyer Thurman flushed Griffin and Karson Briner got a sack. On fourth and eight at the Panther 34, Bo Collins once again got pressure and flushed Griffith, who threw it away to give the Tigers the ball back on downs. 

Jace Estrada sacked Hayden Sanders on the first play, but then Jude Archer weaved his way eight yards and then six to set up fourth and three at the 27. Worth County then lined Landon Wilmes up in the Wildcat formation, and he weaved his way through the green shirts like they weren't even there as he took it to the house with 4:30 left to make it 50-20. 

Worth County tried to give Pattonsburg a dose of its own medicine by trying an onsides kick, but Remington White fell on it at the 39. On their first play, Alex Young was all alone for a pass, but Griffith misfired. Lucas Frisch broke up a pass, and then dropped Griffith trying to scramble to set up fourth and nine. Bo Collins flushed Griffith and Hayden Sanders broke up the resultant pass and Worth County had the ball on downs at the 40. Once again, they only needed one play as Landon Wilmes ran through the Panther defense like nobody was there and scored with 3:20 left to make it 56-20.

Pattonsburg then switched quarterbacks and put freshman Gage Fortner in at quarterback and Griffith as a wide receiver. Bo Collins batted down his first pass, but then Fortner aired it out to Griffith for 60 yards to the house with 3:10 left to make it 56-26. But the ensuing onsides kick didn't travel the necessary 10 yards and Worth County had good field position at the Panther 34. Once again, Landon Wilmes wove through the Panther defenders like they weren't even there, getting blocks from Jude Archer and Lucas Frisch to get loose. He ran in the option to make it 64-20 with three minutes left.

The Panthers started off at their own 29. Landon Wilmes dropped Gavin Humphrey after a one yard pass. Bo Collins and Karson Briner combined on a sack, and then Bo Collins dropped Landon Preston for a loss after they tried to leak him out of the backfield. It was fourth and 19 at their own 20, too far for the Panthers to even consider going for it, and Landon Preston got off a great kick downed at the Tiger 13. But with 1:12 left, that only made things more interesting for the Tigers. Landon Wilmes weaved his way up to the 36, and then took a sweep to the Panther 17 before getting out of bounds with 42 seconds left. But Wilmes was finally stopped on the next play, forcing Worth County to use its last timeout with 36 seconds. Worth County took a shot into the end zone, but after a good battle, Alex Young broke up a pass intended for Karson Briner with 30 seconds. Landon Wilmes caught a short pass, but was tackled at the eight with 26 seconds, one yard short of the first down. On fourth and one, Jude Archer got three to the five to keep the drive going. Worth County threw it away with 8.1 seconds left, and then Jude Archer took a quick pitch, got a block from Karson Briner, and got in with 3.8 seconds to spare. Landon Wilmes took the Wildcat snap and turned himself into a human bowling ball to get into the end zone to make it 72-26 at the half.

Unlike previous years, Pattonsburg elected to play on this time and on Worth County's first possession, Parker Virtue got a huge hit, but Worth County recovered it at their own 30 for second and 15. Jude Archer took a Wildcat snap and was seemingly in the clear before Parker Virtue came out of nowhere to tackle him at the Panther 21 to save a touchdown. But Lucas Frisch took it three yards to the 18 and then Landon Wilmes weaved his way through traffic for his final score with 9:49 left in the third, Jude Archer caught the extra point pass to make it 80-26.

Pattonsburg got the ball back at the 20, and this time, they adjusted their blocking scheme to double team Bo Collins, who had hurt them in the first half. Sawyer Thurman blitzed on their first play and forced a hurry, and Jude Archer was there to break it up. Gavin Humphrey caught a short pass, only to be body slammed by Lucas Frisch straight out of the WWE. But then Fortner threw a long pass to Humphrey, who made a circus catch at the Tiger 28 to keep the drive going. Worth County forced another pair of hurries, but then Fortner aired it out again, this time to Landon Preston, who made another circus catch, this time for a score with 5:20 left to cut the Panther deficit to 80-32. Jude Archer broke up the extra point try.

After Karson Briner returned the resulting squib kick to the Panther 29, Worth County turned things over to its JV. Wyatt Hill picked up carries of two and four to the 23, and then got a block from Brayden Murphy and got loose, taking it to the house with 2:58 in the third. Hill got blocks from Reed Smyser and Liam Hayden to add the extra points and make it 88-32.

Pattonsburg started off on its own 30, but a sack by Karson Briner put them on their own 16. Drake Sperry got most of it back and would have gotten more had not Reyen Hansen come out of nowhere to tackle him at the 28. A pair of bad snaps gave the Tigers the ball back on downs at the Panther 10, and Franklynn Taute took it to the house to make it 94-32 before the Panthers threw in the towel and the rest of the game was played with reserves. 

In reserve action, Reyen Hansen got a pick and a nice return to the Panther 25 before Wyatt Hill got loose again for the lone tally during that stretch. 

Silas Brown Scores Three Times as Junior High Tigers Cap Unbeaten Season

Worth County capped off an unbeaten junior high season Monday with a 68-6 win over Pattonsburg. The current group of eight graders came a long way since last year, when they lost four and tied two. They had several horses to anchor the team this year, with Brock Healy at the quarterback helm and targets to hand the ball to or throw to like Jordan Dannar, Wyatt Scadden, Cole Hardy, and Bentin Roberts. But it was Silas Brown who stole the show Monday, ripping off four carries for 119 yards, the kind of performance Bo Collins put on two years ago against Pattonsburg. It was Worth County's third unbeaten junior high season in four years. Last year, Worth County played the numbers game and barely got a team on the field; this year, they had 23 players listed in the program. 

Pattonsburg showed some promise this season, even though the scoreboard Monday didn't show it. They have a new quarterback in waiting for their pass-happy attack in Mason Preston, receivers like Colton Crone and Evan Mason, and two huge fullbacks in Meric Hansel and Cash Teel who showed some skill in carrying the ball for the Panthers. The numbers were up for the Panthers, who had 22 players out this year; last year, the varsity squad was down to 13 players at one point. They won a couple of games against Stanberry and North Andrew. "We should have won a third against Princeton," said coach Alan Koch. But Worth County showed the same kind of dominance that they did in 2021 and 2022, when Bo Collins and that bunch were in junior high.

The scoring started right off the bat for Worth County when Jordan Dannar took one to the house on the kickoff after getting a block from Hudson Cameron with 7:50 left. Brock Healy took the option in for the extra points and it was 8-0. 

Cole Hardy had a big hit on the kickoff return to pin Pattonsburg on their own 25. Pattonsburg had a chance to make a game out of it on the next series as Preston, under pressure from Jace Burns, aired one out to an open Evan Mason, but he dropped it and the suspense was soon over. A good return by Bentin Roberts on the punt was called back to the Tiger 26 by a block in the back penalty, but that only made things more interesting as Brock Healy aired it out to an unguarded Wyatt Scadden, who took it to the house with 6:35 left. Brock Healy got blocks from Scadden and Dannar and added the extra points to make it 16-0.

Pattonsburg tried to establish the shovel pass, but Wyatt Scadden and Cole Hardy blew it up twice and Scadden added a sack to force a three and out. Bentin Roberts took the ensuing kick, got a knockdown block from Jordan Dannar, and took it to the house with 3:56 left. A counter play to Cole Hardy fooled everyone to make it 24-0.

On the next series, a running play went nowhere as Hudson Cameron met Gabe Jeswald for no gain. Hudson Cameron hurried Mason Preston into an incompletion, and a reverse went nowhere as Bentin Roberts did his job and stayed home and made the tackle. This time, Pattonsburg tried to go for it, but Liam Cordell picked it off on the Tiger 33. This time, Worth County only needed one score as Jordan Dannar took a dive, got a block from Jace Burns, and bounced out to the left side and to the house with 2:03 left. Cole Hardy caught the extra point pass to make it 32-0.

This time, Pattonsburg tried to go for it again, but Brock Healy broke up a fourth down pass and Worth County got a short field on the Panther 27. They elected to work on their passing game, and Scadden was tackled immediately after a one yard gain and an incomplete pass set up third down. But Brock Healy aired it out and Scadden outran everyone to the house with 7:48 left. Bentin Roberts flared out on a screen pass, juked a defender, and got in to make it 40-0.

It looked like more of the same for Pattonsburg after Jace Burns and Bentin Roberts tag teamed and body slammed Mason Preston in a move straight out of the WWE. But Preston, on fourth and five, had a short memory as he rolled out to his right, reversed field to his left on fourth and five, and scrambled for a first down to the Tiger 33. A short pass to Evan Mason set up a manageable down and distance at the 25, and Worth County jumped offsides on fourth and two to keep the Panther drive alive. But then Jakob Herbert stepped up and came up big for Worth County, dropping Preston for no gain, and an incomplete pass, a short pass than went nowhere, and a sack by Jordan Dannar gave the Tigers the ball back on downs at the 35.

Worth County ripped off a pair of big gains from Jordan Dannar to the Panther five, but elected to work on spiking the football; they executed it perfectly, but time ran out on them before they could get it grounded.

The ensuing second half kickoff was fumbled around before Xander Bodle pounced on it at the 15. They only needed one play to cash in as Jordan Dannar got a block from Bentin Roberts as he took it to the house with 7:20 left in the third to make it 46-0. 

But Pattonsburg, which had called games like this in the past, changed their thinking this year and elected to play on; the varsity also played on after falling behind by more than 45. They continued to play hard even after the running clock kicked in; after Wyatt Scadden recovered a Panther fumble, they turned right around and Leon Robinson recovered a Tiger fumble. But then Jakob Herbert recovered a fumble for Worth County, and they turned to Silas Brown as a runningback. The seventh grader immediately showed some skill, ripping off 27 yards to the four and taking it to the house after getting a block from Wyatt Scadden. Jace Burns, who had anchored the offensive and defensive line all year, was rewarded with a carry and bulldozed his way into the end zone for the extra points to make it 54-0 with 2:43 left.

Desperate to try something that would work, the Panthers put Meric Hansel and Cash Teel in the backfield and it paid off after Pattonsburg started on their own 16. First, Hansel dragged the whole Tiger football team eight yards to the 24. Then, Cash Teel showed some skill and dragged a pile three yards before Gunnar Smith body slammed him at the 27. Then, Hansel went to work again, dragging defenders left and right for six more yards to the 33. That set up some daylight for Mason Preston, who bounced outside and took it to the house with 7:43 left in the fourth to put Pattonsburg on the board at 54-6. Mason Hiatt picked off the ensuing extra point try.

But then Worth County got the ball back on the 25 and Silas Brown went to work, getting loose and running through Panther defenders like they weren't even there. Wyatt Scadden ran in the extra points to make it 62-6 with 3:35 left. Cole Hardy pounced on the ensuing squib kick at the Panther 33, and that set up Silas Brown's last run in the closing seconds. Gracin Runde ran in the extra points to make it 68-6.

Eloyce Cossins 1943-2024

Eloyce Loree (Finch) Cossins, (81), passed away on September 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.  She married Lewis Arvin Cossins on May 8, 1960, and they enjoyed 56 years of marriage until his passing. She was born on February 26, 1943 at her grandparents’ home in rural Worth County, Missouri, on her grandmother’s birthday.  Her childhood was spent on the family farm, while her adult years were enjoyed in a variety of Missouri towns as her husband’s service with the Missouri State Highway Patrol moved them about the state.  She worked a variety of jobs throughout her working years including grocery checker, bookkeeper, and city treasurer for Platte City, Missouri, but her real love was taking care of her family, making sure everyone was cozy and well-fed.  She kept a list of each person’s favorite foods, and when you visited, you can bet your favorites were there and in quantity.

Eloyce is survived by her three children: Robert (Denise) of Spring Hill, Kansas, their five children, and seven grandchildren, with two more on the way; Teresa (Glenn) Fulk of Platte City, Missouri, their seven children, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren; and Michael (Cindye) of Wildwood, Missouri, and their four children.  She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Drs. Reggie and Chris Finch of Pearland, Texas; sister-in-law Etta Masoud of Pickering, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Arvin; her parents, Charles Earl Finch and O. Marseilene Finch; and her older brother and sister-in-law Robert & Vianna Finch.

Services were held at Dickey Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri, on October 5, 2024, at 2:00. Visitation was held immediately prior to the service starting at 1:00 pm.

Doris Thurman 1935-2024

Doris Evelyn Thurman was born November 7, 1935 in Princeton, Missouri to Fred and Edith (Burress) Laurence. She passed away October 11, 2024 in Grant City, Missouri at the age of 88.

Doris was united in marriage to John Thurman on April 26, 1958 in Independence, Missouri. She was a homemaker. Her children and grandchildren were her life, each of them holding a special place in her heart. 

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son: Ronnie Thurman, daughter: Joyce K. Thurman, brother: Dale Laurence, sister: Viola Dunn and two infant sisters. 

Surviving are children: Gene (Mary) Thurman, Johnny (Brenda) Thurman, Terry (Wendy) Thurman, George (Angie) Thurman and Linda Thurman,  grandchildren: Nicholas Thurman, Sara Service,  Michael Thurman, Cory (Hannah) Thurman, Matthew Thurman, Alycia Thurman, Mitchell (Madeline) Thurman, Zachary Thurman, Brian Thurman and Christopher Thurman, 11 great-grandchildren, brothers: George and Fredie (Darlene) Laurence and sister Carol Gurley. 

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 14, 2024 at Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, Missouri with visitation from 10:00 a.m. to service time. Burial will be in the Kirk Cemetery in Allendale, Missouri. 

KC Cass 1978-2024

KC Cass, 45, passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at his home.

KC was born on October 13,1978, in Vinita, Oklahoma, the youngest of two children born to Becky and the late Kenny Cass. He was united in marriage to Traci Harding on May 31, 2014. Together they had three children; Addison, Henry and James.

Whether you call him husband, dad, son, brother or friend, to know KC was to love him and experience the love of Jesus. He was the best listener and genuinely wanted to know how you were doing. He took pride in everything he did, never doing anything halfway. He knew how to live life to the fullest: enjoying his donuts and coffee, spending time with his family, running and playing all sorts of games.

The end of his journey was challenging, but he continued to smile and trust the Lord's plan. He is now fully healed in the presence of Jesus.

In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his mother Becky (Larry) Cromer, his sister Jennifer McCorkle and husband Randy and their son Alex. He is also survived by his in-laws Mark and Laurie Harding, Matt and Kim Herzberg and family, Todd Harding and Jordan Harding.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenny Cass and his nephew Zachary McCorkle.

The family will receive friends at a casual visitation from 4-6 on Friday, October 11, 2024 at the Grant City Christian Church fellowship hall. Private family interment at Isabelle Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, KC’s request was to consider a contribution to your local church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Hann Funeral Home, Grant City, Missouri.  andrewshannfuneralhome.com

Area Courthouse, Police, and Crime Reports for October 9th, 2024

On October 1st, Calvin Vore (19) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to charges of Resisting Arrest, Failure to Register, and Failure to Signal. He was sentenced to two years probation, fined $50.50 plus costs, and given two days in jail with credit for time served by Judge Joel Miller.

On October 1st, Clinton Harding (37) of Pickering failed to appear in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court on charges of Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony), two counts Assault (Law Enforcement Officer, Felony), and Resisting Arrest. A warrant was issued and bond was set at $10,000, cash or corporate surety. 

On October 1st, Tyler Marriott (22) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to charges of Trespassing and Property Damage. He was given two years probation by Judge Robert Rice.

On October 1st, Mark Wilson (55) of Chillicothe failed to appear in Harrison County Associate Circuit Court on two counts of Violation of Protection Order (Felony). A warrant was issued and bond set at $5,000, cash only.

On October 1st, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Jamie Terry (48) of Independence in Harrison County on traffic warrants from Harrison County and Cass County.

On October 2nd, Harrison County Prosecutor Alex Van Zandt filed charges against Burt Torrian (28) of Bethany alleging Assault (Felony). Bond was set at $2,500, cash only.

On October 3rd, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Billy Hurn (43) of Lathrop in Harrison County on charges of Speeding (107 mph), Failure to Register, No Seat Belt, No Insurance, Failure to Stop, and Failure to Signal. Harrison County Prosecutor Alex Van Zandt subsequently filed charges.

On October 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Tabatha Hatfield (43) of St. Joseph alleging Careless & Imprudent Driving (Accident) and No Insurance.

On October 3rd, Daviess County Prosecutor Andrea Beth Gibson filed charges against Ronnie Rice (53) of St. Joseph alleging Making a Terroristic Threat (Felony). An affidavit from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department alleges that while incarcerated there for an unrelated offense, the defendant made threats to kill staff at the Daviess/DeKalb Regional Jail. Bond was denied. 

On October 3rd, KQ2 reported that four women, Megan Brushwood, Maria Joy Kieser, April Wamsley, and Cassandra Munoz-Parsons, have filed lawsuits against Northwest Health Services alleging employment discrimination between February and March of this year. The lawsuits allege that working conditions at Northwest Health Services deteriorated after CEO Matthew Younger was hired in August 2020. The company allegedly terminated women who were employees there for no reason, retaliated against women who made grievances, allowed verbal abuse by the CEO directed towards women, and reduced pay. The company has filed answers denying all allegations. Three of these cases have been set for trial next year. One has been removed to federal court.

On October 4th, KQ2 reported that an abandoned dog was rescued in St. Joseph by a woman who discovered it at 1801 Charles Street in St. Joseph. The owners of the house had allegedly moved out of the house and abandoned it and 11 puppies, two of which died. A local veterinarian stated the dog’s survival was up in the air due to a low red and white blood cell count. Angels’s Vet Express, a veterinary clinic out of Savannah, is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the person or persons who abandoned these dogs. If you have any information, contact them at (816) 324-5824.

On October 4th, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of Joshua Braddy of Laredo, who allegedly fled the day before from US marshals, who had come to arrest him on a federal parole warrant. 

On October 4th at around 5:54 pm, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a GMC Truck driven by David Horsman (74) of Clarksdale was attempting to turn east from Route CC onto Highway 48 one mile west of King City. The vehicle turned into the path of a Chevy driven by Tiffany Cruz (43) of Rea (MO), which struck the GMC. Horsman was seriously injured and taken to Mosaic Life Care. A passenger in the Chevy, Linda Applegarth (71) of Rea, was lifeflighted to Truman Medical Center. Cruz sustained minor injuries.

On October 6th, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a 2005 Chevy 2500 driven by James Gladstone (20) of Worth was eastbound on Route O three miles west of Gentry at around 4:30 am when he ran off the right side of the roadway, struck multiple barbed wire fences, and traveled through a pasture and hay field before coming to rest in a pond. Gladstone sustained minor injures. 

On October 6th, the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department reported that someone planted $100 counterfeit bills near the Mount Ayr Casey’s. The bills are only legitimate in the “United States of Origami.” 

On October 6th, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that around 11:35 am, a 2012 Ford Explorer driven by Doris Hagey (87) of Burlington Junction was southbound on Route 71 one mile north of Maryville. She attempted to turn into the parking lot of Gray’s Truck Stop when she turned into the path of a Chevy HHR driven by Jered Smith (57) of Maryville. Smith and a passenger, Levi Smith (27), had serious injuries and were transported to Mosaic in St. Joseph. Hagey sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Mosaic. 

On October 7th, the Maryville Forum reported that Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter announced that no charges will be filed in the Baby Bo Mozingo case, in which a dead infant was found at Mozingo Lake. She said that evidence and an autopsy by medical examiners found that it was a stillbirth, not a live birth. Two people of interest were identified. A 19 year old woman and a 20 year old man from St. Louis were identified as the parents. They had been visiting Mozingo for an event and the woman had not realized she was pregnant. In Missouri, there are no laws criminalizing the disposal of fetal remains by an individual. 

On October 7th, Demitri Magana (20) of St. Joseph pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Circuit Court to a charge of Tampering with Motor Vehicle (Felony). He was sentenced to five years probation by Judge Corey Herron.

On October 7th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Brandon Church (43) of Darlington alleging Tampering with Electronic Monitoring Device (Felony). Bond was denied.

On January 1st, Missouri’s Hands-Free Law will take effect. Beginning that day, drivers who are texting and driving will be ticketed and fines will start at $150. Repeat violations can cost up to $500. The law was passed after Mike Bening was killed in an accident in 2021 caused by a distracted driver using a mobile phone. His family had lobbied for the passage of this law. Missouri had been one of only two states without a texting and driving law. 

Charges listed are merely allegations. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it is to determine guilt or innocence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.