Alicia Landrum 1975-2026

Alicia Renee Landrum, age 50, Maryville, Missouri formerly of Grant City, Missouri died Saturday, March 8, 2026 at the Worth County Convalescent Center in Grant City,

Alicia was born on December 28, 1975 in Albany, Missouri.  She was the daughter of the late Garry and Barbara (Baker) Landrum.

Alicia attended school at Worth County R-3 in Grant City. 

Alicia had worked in housekeeping for various motels before her health failed.

She was preceded in death by both her parents, Garry Lynn (January 6, 2023) and Barbara Ann (June 20, 2024) Landrum.

Alicia’s survivors include three children, Cole Spainhower, Maryville. Anna Spainhower, Grant City and Emily Steeve, Maryville, significant other Chad Wiederholt, Maryville, a sister Lori Jennings (Omer Duckworth), a brother Scott (Kim) Landrum, Kansas City, Missouri, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of other friends and loved ones.

Graveside funeral services and burial will be held 11 AM, Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Knox Cemetery, Gentry, Missouri.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 12 PM on Wednesday.  Memorial contributions may be given to Knox Cemetery or Kansas University Medical Center.

Arrangements: Hann Funeral Home, Grant City, Missouri

 

Opinion -- Eliminating Income Tax Could Cause Massive Cuts in School Funding

By the Missouri Budget Project

Lawmakers are considering swapping out the income tax for a greatly expanded sales tax. The proposal would blow a $5 billion hole in the state budget, causing massive cuts to schools, particularly in rural areas.

If resulting cuts are equally distributed across the budget, state general revenue funding for local schools would be cut by more than one-third, or $1.4 billion statewide. As illustrated in a new report from Missouri Budget Project, a nonprofit public policy analysis organization that analyzes state budget, tax, and economic issues, this could result in a nearly 18% cut in TOTAL school revenue including local funds, depending on the school district.

“Missouri already shortchanges our schools, providing a smaller portion of funding for our classrooms than any other state in the nation,” said Amy Blouin, President and CEO of Missouri Budget Project. “This kind of cut would be devastating to students across our state.”

Across all of Missouri’s local school districts, on average that is a cut of over $1,800 per student and is the equivalent of the average salary of nearly 27,000 teachers or over 46,000 support staff, like bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, paraeducators, and office staff.

“Potential cuts would be harmful not only to students, but to communities across Missouri. Rural school districts would be particularly hard hit, and schools are the economic drivers of many of our communities,” Blouin continued. “These types of cuts could lead to district consolidation and job cuts, damaging local economies.”

 

Pops & Pie Raises $6,145 in Live Auction

The North Harrison Pops & Pie Concert raised $6,145 during the live auction held at the school Saturday. Proceeds from the auction went towards the band. In between rounds, the North Harrison band, the fifth and sixth grade band, and the Choir performed various numbers. Around 90 different pies were auctioned off. The figure does not include money raised at the Silent Auction, the Free Will Donation Dinner that preceded the concert, or from private donations.

The pie that sold for the most money went for $500. The next highest sold for $310.

Several students made pies for the auction. Among the students who made pies were Hadley Williams, Makenna Hill, Cassoday Richardson, Andi Nail, Amelia Long, Essence Bess, Katherine Parkhurst, Tayley Johnson, Scotty Briggs, and Riley Valenti.

 

Opinion -- Bill Would Eliminate Solid Waste Districts

Christy Pearce, Regional Planner, NWMO Regional Council

Trash Talk, but in a Good Way

Trash. It’s everywhere, even in places you aren’t thinking about right now. It comes from our homes, of course, but that’s just the beginning.

Trash also comes from hospitals-syringes, needles, and medical waste. From construction sites and not just from your basic bathroom remodel. Remember that bridge they just tore down? You guessed it, that generates waste, too. And unless you’re willing to share a space with it, all waste must go somewhere, and someone has to make sure it is relocated somewhere safe.

Enter your friendly, neighborhood Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments, stepping in to help clean up those messes so you don’t have to. Right inside of NWMO RCOG is your Solid Waste District A contact where some of the magic happens that leads to a clean and healthy region.

Why We Need Trash Managers, AKA Solid Waste Districts

For years, our Solid Waste Management Districts have been the quiet workhorses of our communities. The big job of these districts starts with stretching every dollar to keep neighborhoods clean and livable by coordinating Household Hazardous Waste collections, safeguarding public health, and protecting our waterways. We need this important behind-the-scenes work because there is waste generated every day - it doesn’t just disappear. And people would certainly start to notice if it didn’t go anywhere. Many residents don’t think about how much we throw away, that doesn’t go away. Dumping chemicals down the drain, flushing expired prescription drugs and tossing an old battery (or five) has big impacts that you don’t see in the moment. Improper disposal of these kinds of items introduces toxins into the environment. These materials can leach into the soil and eventually reach groundwater sources. If contamination occurs, and if our water treatment systems are not equipped to handle that increased load of toxins, it can
pose serious risks to public health. That’s why educating the public on these matters is so vitally important. Solid waste districts step in to teach community members about best practices for disposal; hopefully by now, you’ve heard of one of the biggest - recycling. Our solid waste districts create and promote recycling disposal access for our rural townships, small cities, and growing suburbs.

In our region, that access includes the residential and business recycling services operated through NOCOMO Industries, as well as the local drop off and drive-through site managed by NWMSU. These services account for much of the waste diversion our communities depend on. Without this coordinated system providing education, collection events, and safe disposal options, more hazardous materials would end up in landfills, waterways, or illegal dump sites and the results would be, well … “trashy” and even downright dangerous.

For example, lithium batteries found in cell phones, tools, and other everyday devices can cause fires in trash trucks or waste facilities when thrown away improperly. These fires put workers at risk and create costly damage. Not to mention the fact that any day you experience a lithium battery fire is a really bad day, and they are more difficult to manage than other fires. Thankfully, we have our solid waste districts to remind us of counter measures to keep our environment clean and safe.

Yet today, we are faced with proposed legislation that would dissolve these very districts, unraveling the local systems that residents and businesses depend on, and raising serious questions about who will carry this responsibility forward if they are gone.

Did You Know Missouri Is Considering a Bill to Dissolve Solid Waste Management Districts?
Our local, solid waste districts have been operational for over 30 years, going all the way back to 1991. During that time, they have funded the equipment, services, and education that make recycling and safe disposal possible. Across Missouri, these districts put their state allocations back into local communities through grant funding. In FY25, $5.72 million was directed into projects selected by local boards, creating practical solutions shaped by the people who use them.

But here’s something else you might not have heard: a new bill would eliminate Missouri’s 20 Solid Waste Management Districts. They would be replaced with just three administrators for the entire state. The bill would also remove the annual grant programs that fund local recycling and waste reduction projects. Here’s the quick version of what districts do:

1. Prevention First. The cheapest, cleanest waste is the waste we never create. Think reusable bags, refillable coffee mugs-all the simple choices that add up. When waste is unavoidable, districts step in to educate the public on best options.

2. Everyday Services You Benefit from Districts support or operate: Free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off sites. Tire, electronic, and appliance recycling Local recycling centers Education programs that reduce contamination regional planning for long term waste needs Alternatives to illegal dump sites Our district is currently the only HHW disposal option in the region, and it’s free to residents. Otherwise, the nearest site is a long commute to Lee’s Summit.

3. Community Benefits You Can See. These programs keep hazardous materials out of landfills and waterways, protect public health, reduce the long-term cost of waste management, and help maintain cleaner, more attractive neighborhoods.

Why Proposed Legislation Matters

In simple terms, the bill would remove local control and centralize decision-making. While that may sound administrative, the impact would be felt locally. Solid waste management works best when decisions are made close to the communities they serve. Each region has unique needs, challenges, and priorities. Removing local structure risks weakening programs that have taken decades to build.

If Solid Waste Districts are eliminated, local jobs would be lost, funding for community-based programs could disappear, Household Hazardous Waste services could face new fees, creating barriers for residents, and regional planning tailored to local needs would be replaced with a broader, less targeted approach as our faithful, local representatives would no longer be serving our communities. And overall, all Household Hazardous Waste services would completely disappear as we know it.

Waste management may not always be visible, but when it works well, it protects public health, preserves our environment, and quietly improves our quality of life every single day. And that’s something worth paying attention to.

If you’re concerned about these changes, consider reaching out to your legislators. Ask questions. Learn more. You can also reach out to your district contact, Kirk Kopper directly at 660-582-5121, Extension 4 or email at solid@nwmorcog.org if you have questions about how to properly dispose of Household Hazardous Waste or other materials.

 

Worth County School Play Reenacts Addams Family

The Worth County School reenacted the popular film and musical “The Addams Family” last weekend, treating everyone to some spooky fun. The plot revolves around the Addams Family reunion that involves everyone, including the dead ancestors who come back from the grave. If you’re an Addams, anything goes, but there is one ironclad rule — you never keep secrets from the rest of the family.

The family lives in a massive haunted house somewhere in New York City and the heads are Gomez Addams (Unique Brown) and Morticia Addams (Krista Monticue). They have a lovely daughter, Wednesday Addams (Arenna Galanakis), who loves killing birds and torturing her brother, Pugsley (Addison Gray).

The reunion starts when Uncle Fester (Emsley Spainhower) calls up the family’s ancestors (Heather Deardorff, Kenzie Dignan, Kaydence Downing, Laura Hansen, Breanna Ray, Haley Russell) from the grave. But a twist in this year’s reunion happens when a chance encounter between Wednesday and Lucas Beineke (Jarrett Gilland) leads to love at first sight.

Wednesday insists on bringing Lucas and his parents, Alice Beineke (Kylie Combs) and Mal Beineke (Mason Gray), to the reunion. Gomez and Morticia are so horrified that they talk of canceling the reunion for this year entirely, but they relent and agree on having a normal reunion.

Alice, Mal, and Lucas are the exact opposite of the Addams family. Alice, in particular, radiates warmth and light, always dresses in bright colors, and always sees the good in things. She doesn’t even mind the spooky household; “It’s New York and the rent must be so high, they can’t afford furniture,” she said. The Beinekes are not scared, even when they encounter the doorkeeper, Lurch (Memphis Ware), who cannot communicate like normal humans do and can only speak in growls like a werewolf. But they are the opposites of the Addams family in one respect; for all their warmth and light, they keep all sorts of secrets from each other.

The play gets even more chaotic than usual when Wednesday freaks out her parents when she dresses up in bright yellow to impress the Beinekes. And Wednesday is afraid to break the news to her mother that she is madly in love with Lucas because she is afraid of the kind of scene that her mother will make when she finds out. But when she tells Gomez and asks him to keep it a secret, the danger is that Gomez and Morticia’s own marriage will fall apart because he violated the cardinal rule of the family — no secrets allowed. It was bad enough that Morticia had to make all kinds of personal sacrifices for the good of the family, including giving up a beautiful trip to Paris to travel through the awful sewers there.

Not everybody in the Addams Family is happy with Wednesday being madly in love with Lucas. Pugsley, in particular, rather enjoyed the torture sessions that Wednesday put him through and there would be nobody to torture him anymore. The family has a grandmother (Evalyn Gilland), who Pugsley confides in a lot, and nobody can remember if she is Gomez’ mother or Morticia’s. The climax of the Addams Family Reunion every year is Confession Time. A special chalice is passed around, and everybody has to drink the potion and confess a secret that they had been keeping from the rest of the family. Grandma is a master of making potions, and one in particular makes anyone who drinks it become even more dark and chaotic than usual.

But when Pugsley steals grandma’s potion and laces the confession chalice with the black potion, the ever-curious Alice Beineke drinks it first, jumps up on the table, and declares her approval of Wednesday and Lucas being together, that she is crazier than anyone in the room, and that her marriage with Mal, who she sees as a shell of the person who she fell in love with, is over. Another twist is introduced when Uncle Fester announces that he is in love with the moon, which explains all the inordinate time he spends in the graveyard playing his ukelele and singing romantic songs when the moon is full.

The chaos that ensues tears things apart. Will Wednesday and Lucas survive their first fight? Will Morticia and Gomez’s marriage survive? Will Mal crawl out of his shell and save his marriage? Will Uncle Fester ever be able to meet the love of his live, even though she is more than 200,000 miles away? And will the ancestors ever be allowed to return to their graves, where they will be able to rest in peace for another year?

The Worth County Education Foundation and the Groom Family Endowment helped with putting the play together along with several other sponsors and helpers. They included Psalm 100 Ministries, Route 4 Farms, DBA Salvage Merchandise, the Wool Shop, Andover Community of Christ, Valerie and Jason Gray, Tammy Jones, Amber and Justin Walker, Monticue Construction, Worth County Care & Rehab, The Petaler, the Rose Theatre, Mission Possible, Alisha Sutton, and many parents and teachers.

The play was directed by Nanci Drury, assisted by Darin Drury. Caleb Smith was the music director. Sarah Smith put together the dinner theatre.

Without spoiling the plot, a final spooky twist ensued when two spooks in ski masks ran out onto the stage along with the actors who were taking their routine bows to the applause of the audience. They turned out to be Lucas Frisch and Andrew Griffin, the stage crew. Andrew broke out a back flip. Conner Pointer did the lights and Reyen Hansen did the spotlight.

 

Lady Hawks Conclude Record Breaking Season; Avery Gregg Finishes Stellar Career

Gilman City concluded their 27-2 season with a 42-31 loss to Rock Port in the State Quarterfinals in Gallatin Friday. The Hawks had their best season ever, getting a school record 27 wins; their previous record was 24 set during the 2007-2008 season. They won their second straight HDC title and their second straight HDC Tournament title. They won four tournaments this year; they won the Gallatin, Gilman City, and District 14 title as well.

Rock Port returns to state, where they finished fourth last year. They were on a mission as they were not satisfied with that showing; they were sharp during warmups, and how a team practices during warmups frequently translates into the game.

Khloey Sperry shot Gilman City into a 5-4 lead after one quarter, scoring all five of their points. The focus of the game was on stopping Audrie Meyerkorth. Avery Gregg faceguarded her all night long and did the best job any enemy defender has done on her the last two years, holding her to five points. Rock Port kept screening for her to get her open, but even when Gregg was caught chasing through the screens, she would close out hard and force a miss.

But Rock Port has a lot more than just Audrie Meyerkorth. Freshman post Stevie Gaines went off for nine points in the second quarter as Gilman City was focused on stopping Meyerkorth. That put Rock Port ahead to stay at 23-16 at the half. Leah Meyerkorth, another freshman, always wanted the ball in her hands and chipped away at the three-point line. And when Gilman City put Khloey Sperry on Gaines in the second half and slowed her down, Rock Port simply went to Braylyn Wood, another tall post player, who went off for eight points in the second half.

Rock Port was one of the most fundamentally sound defensive teams the Hawks had seen all year; they guarded well, they helped out on drives and jumped ball screens. The effort was there for Gilman City, but their low numbers (only eight players on the roster) told on them in the end as their legs were tired while Rock Port, with 12 players, could sub people in and out at will to give key players a break or keep them out of foul trouble.

Khloey Sperry had 18 points for the Hawks. Alli Burke had 6, Hailey McClure 5, and Avery Gregg 2. But the stat sheet did not show the kind of game Avery played; she saved her best defensive game for last by hounding Audrie Meyerkorth and limiting her, keeping the Hawks in the game. It was that kind of effort that she brought the last two years that earned her a spot at Culver-Stockton next year.

The Hawks closed out the season having won 46 out of their last 50 games. They survived adversity, injury scares, low numbers, the loss of three key players from last year, and breaking in three new players for this year. They will miss Avery Gregg badly next year and will be looking for someone to bring the ball up the floor, but they return five key players for next year and hope to bring up several freshmen from their successful junior high teams from the last two years. In two years, they hope to bring up two promising seventh graders, Chyles Webb and Aspen Wyatt.

Khloey Sperry has averaged 15 points a game and 15 boards and has carried the team, even when getting a lot more attention from defenses. She scored 30 against Winston last year and has had 20 rebounds and 8 blocks twice. Alli Burke has shown the ability to score in bunches. She improved her rebounding this year, getting as many as 13. She and Sperry have shown the ability to play all five positions when necessary.

Tenley Griffith made an immediate impact as a freshman in her very first game against Princeton when she controlled the game, grabbed a ton of tips and rebounds, and threw a Princeton player around like a rag doll as both were going for a loose ball. She also had 15 rebounds regularly and has had as many as 18. She got 19 tips in the Braymer game.

Hailey McClure came back this year from a knee injury. She had a breakout game against Union Star with 20 points. Other teams left her alone thinking she would not be a threat with her big knee brace, but she turned into the team’s third best rebounder behind Sperry and Griffith and got quicker as the season progressed. She got better as a defender as well, helping out on Meyerkorth in the Rock Port game if she got by Gregg. With Norborne faceguarding Avery Gregg and Khloey Sperry and keeping it close, McClure went off in the second half, scoring 15 points as the “mostly harmless” girl with the big knee brace dropped dagger after dagger and hit her free throws as well.

Paisley Taggart showed the ability to score in bunches at times. Pressed into service for all 32 minutes when McClure went down with the flu against Mercer, she grabbed several key rebounds and steals as the Hawks managed to survive.

Last year, nobody expected the Hawks to do anything after a 3-4 start, hitting a low point with a 51-22 loss to Northeast Nodaway in which Baylie Busby put up a quintuple double. But like the “Impossible Dream” Boston Red Sox of 1967, the Hawks suddenly started winning. Nobody expected the Red Sox, several years removed from the retirement of Ted Williams, to do anything that year, but they suddenly caught fire and won the pennant, coming within a game of knocking off Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. And nobody expected Gilman City, with one of the tiniest schools in the area, in one of (supposedly) the weakest conferences in the state, to suddenly compete with some of the best teams in the area, but they did.

And the Hawks kept winning this year. They drew the top seed at Gallatin, meaning they had the target on their backs after having been the best-kept secret in the area last year. They won that tournament and kept on winning, even with enemy teams scouting and preparing for them. They broke into the state rankings. The hope is that with a few more bodies on the floor for next year, they will finally make it over the top.

 

DOT Offers Public Comment Period for Long Range Plans

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is hosting a virtual public meeting to gather input from the public on the draft Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and State Freight and Rail Plan (SFRP) updates. Draft documents for both plans are available for public comment as part of the virtual public meeting through 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2026. The meeting is available on MoDOT’s website at: https://www.modot.org/lrtp-sfrp/get-involved.

Participants may review the draft plans and provide comments to ensure that the goals and objectives, which will help determine the state’s 25-year transportation vision, are accurate and reflect the needs of citizens and stakeholders. Both plans have been shaped over the last year by extensive outreach and input with stakeholders and the public. These plans serve as roadmaps for the state’s transportation network, addressing the evolving needs of the system and setting priorities, and are a requirement for use of federal funds.

The current LRTP was approved in June 2018 and has been updated alongside the current SFRP, which was approved in May 2022. The new LRTP builds upon the goals outlined in the current plan – including making investments in infrastructure that keep travelers safe and spur economic growth, giving Missourians more transportation choices and reducing congestion on the current system – while determining the goals and direction of the next 25 years.

The SFRP serves as a comprehensive assessment of Missouri’s freight and passenger rail systems and determines short-term and long-terms goals for improving the state’s freight and rail infrastructure. Updates to the SFRP include an analysis of the economic impact of Missouri’s public ports and passenger rail systems, an analysis of the truck parking system and the identification of critical supply chains that move the state’s economy.

Those without internet access are encouraged to call 573-751-6550 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to access information and ask questions during the development process.

All comments must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2026. The final plans will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for review and consideration later in 2026. More information about LRTP and SFRP plan updates can be found at: https://www.modot.org/lrtp-sfrp

Additional questions about the planning process for both plans can be addressed by calling 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636), or by mail at Transportation Planning, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102.