Denver to Get New Sign

The Village of Denver will get a new sign in the park. It will be installed by Worth County grad Jason Davidson, who owns a sign shop. All but $50 of the cost will be paid for by private donations. The City Council approved the sign at its most recent meeting on Wednesday, April 22nd.

Discussion was had on park/square improvement, sidewalks, flowers around the new sign,, a horse tiedown alongside the park, gravel, the proposed Tulip Festival, donations for the sign, and road spray for dust. The village voted against ordering gravel at this time.

Volunteers were lines up for mowing the park. Volunteers need to sign liability waivers before mowing the park; the village’s liability coverage will not cover people who are injured mowing.

The next meeting will be held on May 27th at 9:00 am at Nature’s Cure, 610 Mill Street, Denver.

 

Worth County Hazard Mitigation Plan Meeting May 18th

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments (NWMO RCOG) is hosting the first gathering in a series of meetings focusing on the 5-year update for Worth County’s Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Kickoff meeting will be held Monday, May 18th, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., at the Grant City Golf Clubhouse, 409 East 1st, Grant City, MO. All interested citizens and public officials of Worth County are invited to attend.

Worth County is susceptible to many types of natural hazards. Tornadoes, winter storms, and flooding have shaped the landscape, history, and economy of the county. Hazard mitigation planning is the process of developing sustained actions to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks associated with these potential disasters. The plan, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the communities of Worth County, will utilize a committee of first responders, elected officials, and public volunteers to gather community- and county-specific information. The Hazard Mitigation Plan, currently under revision by the County and NWMO RCOG, is a requirement to access federal mitigation funds in the event of a natural disaster. The Committee will discuss existing hazards, community profiles, and the general plan update process.

An RSVP is requested for anyone planning to attend. Please contact Kirk Kopper (solid@nwmorcog.org) at the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments with questions and RSVPs.

 

Lela Hartschen, Five Others Get GRM Networks Scholarships

GRM Networks places great importance on the opportunity for higher education for rural youth. Each year, the company offers six scholarships to area high school students in Missouri and Iowa through the GRM Networks Scholarship Program. A combined total of $8,000 in scholarships was awarded this year to the following recipients:

Lela Hartschen, Eagleville, Missouri, North Harrison R-3 High School - $2,000

Alivia Rhoades, Lucerne, Missouri, Putnam County R-1 High School - $1,500

Mylie Holtman, Ravenwood, Missouri, Jefferson C-123 High School - $1,500

Megan Young, Leon, Iowa, Central Decatur Community School - $1,000

Sari Rogers, Princeton, Missouri, North Mercer R-3 High School - $1,000

Kinsley Allnutt, Galt, Missouri, Grundy County R-5 High School - $1,000

GRM Networks founded the scholarship program in 2016 to support area high school students who wish to further their education. Eligible applicants must:

—Be a graduating high school senior with at least a “C” or a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 point scale;

—Have a parent or legal guardian who is an active member of GRM Networks in good standing at the application deadline;

—Be accepted as a full-time student by an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, trade school or other post-secondary institution.

Scholarship recipients will receive their award upon completion of their first college semester, which must be within the first year of their high school graduation. Recipients must also submit an unofficial transcript within 60 days of the end of their first semester showing proof of maintaining a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 point scale.

Lela Hartschen will graduate from North Harrison R-3 High School in May and plans to attend Iowa State University. She is the daughter of Tracy Hartschen.

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Grant City Raises Disconnection Fees

The Grant City Council, at their regular meeting Wednesday, voted to increase disconnection fees to $100. They will be $50 when city crews have to go out and disconnect services and another $50 when they have to go back and reconnect. In order to reconnect, customers will have to pay their bill in full plus the $100 to get their services restored. It is a Misdemeanor in the State of Missouri if customers tamper with utility services after being shut off for nonpayment. Council members agreed it was fair due to the time it takes for the city crews to stop what they are doing and shut it off and then stop what they are doing to go turn it back on. Previously, the disconnection fee was $65. Currently, the only notice of shutoff the city has to provide customers is on their bill. Typically, the city posts notices on peoples’ doors the day before disconnection; council members said that would be a good idea to continue the policy.

Ordinances will be posted for the proposed changes before the next meeting and the city will send a letter out to customers.

Catherine Runde and Jeff Mozingo were reelected to the Grant City Council. They were sworn in at the meeting. They will both serve two-year terms.

The city will file a tax lien for the emergency demolition on the southwest corner of the Square with the Recorder. Council members asked why the solid waste balance is negative; Clerk Farrah Richey explained it was because of the cleanup from the collapsed buildings on the Square. Council members decided it was not fair to the rest of the citizens of the city to pay for the cleanup; they left solid waste rates as they are.

The city has been in the process of commissioning a water rate study from Kerri Peters, and Clerk Farrah Richey has been researching what other towns charge. She proposed not increasing the base rate, but lowering the minimum to 1,000 gallons instead of 2,000. The council will post an ordinance to that effect before the next meeting, and a letter will go out to water customers.

The city received four scrap metal bids. The first was from Travis Casteel for 30% to the city and 70% for him. John Hansen bid $90 per ton. Josh Woods bid $95 per ton. Bo Hansen bid $620. The council voted to accept the bid from Josh Woods.

The city received two bids for the building covering the pool pump and filter. Ben Petersheim bid $13,355. King City Lumber bid $22,186. The council voted to accept Mr. Petersheim’s bid pending certificate of liability insurance and if the bid includes material and labor.

Ryan Fletchall reported that the SAGER Unit is pretty much done; they are moving equipment out and just waiting to go online as soon as the water level is where it needs to be. He reported having generator training. He has been getting ready for smoke testing, which White Cloud will do once they get the smoke bombs to complete the testing. Once testing is complete, they will connect more service lines. He plans to start on the pool next week.

Tyson Troutwine reported that city crews have started mowing. They have been working on rebuilding roads. He has had people reach out about wanting to put up speed limit signs and Children at Play signs. Others have wanted to extend tubes to get rid of ditches. The council voted to purchase a load of cold mix. Road Builders will arrive the first part of May to rebuild Briggs Street since all the construction at the Lagoon will be complete.

The council voted to donate to the Progress Organization Golf Tournament. The council approved two building permits for Jordan Huntsman.

Gilman City FFA Officers Named for 2026-27

New Gilman City FFA officers were named for the 2026-27 school year. They are Emily Chalfant (President), Macayla Rhodes (First Vice-President), Caitlynn Chalfant (Second Vice-President), Alli Burke (Secretary), Tony Jennings (Treasurer), Abigail Clark (Reporter), Mason Preston (Sentinel), Tenley Griffith (Historian), Caden Osborn (Parliamentarian), and Paisley Taggart (Chaplain).

 

Anoushka Hedrick, Addison Shepherd First at State in Science Olympiad

Pattonsburg students Anoushka Hedrick and Addison Shepherd won first place at the State Science Olympiad recently in the Write It/Do It event. This is Addison’s second year in a row medaling in the event and her third state medal. This is Anoushka’s second year earning a state medal.

Colton Crone won sixth place in state in their Mission Possible project. It was their second year in a row earning a medal and third in a row medaling for this event category.

Other results were as follows:

Honorable Mentions Junior High Division B:

  7th Anatomy & Physiology–Anoushka Hedrick & Addison Shepherd.

11th Hovercraft (build event)–Alanna Hulet & Cash Teel.

12th Disease Detectives–Anoushka Hedrick and Alanna Hulet.

13th Scrambler (build event)–Alanna Hulet & Lilly Provance.

14th Experimental Design–Anoushka Hedrick, Addley Hulet, & Cash Teel.

15th Circuit Lab: Bryson Sorrentino and Jaxson Teel.

16th Helicopter (build event)–Case Gardner and Bryson Sorrentino.

17th Crime Busters–Brantley Gardner and Addison Shepherd.

18th Rocks and Minerals–Leigha Dixon and Kiara Tucker.

Honorable Mentions High School Divisions C:

17th Robot (build event)–Kaos Sweiger and Collin Mason.

18th Helicopter (build event)–Cole Carter Manion and Logan Dixon.

Both junior high and high school teams qualified for the event that was held in Warrensburg Saturday, April 18th, 2026. One group went down early to register and find the event rooms. Two other groups went down much earlier than expected due to forecasted weather in Warrensburg. Just as they got there, they had to shelter due to a nearby tornado on the ground. They survived the scare and went on to do well at state.

Once the storm passed, students enjoyed an evening of shopping at Adam’s Dairy Landing or the Bass Pro Shop Friday. They competed in the Olympiad on Saturday while visiting the Central Missouri University campus and attending the Childhood Mental Health Awareness Comicon that was going on at the same time.

The Booster Club provided a meal for each student in attendance. Mr. Hunter Scott, Jeff Dixon, and Josh Hulet got everyone and every device to where they needed to be on time. Mary Burkhead, Rand McMillen, and Bill Pottorff jumped into action and got everyone situated for an early than expected arrival time with the lodging facilities.

The teams are coached by Mrs. Tuanette Hulet and assisted by Mr. Hunter Scott.

 

Melissa Percell Promises Experience, Communication, Ideas as Worth County Clerk

Melissa (Behrens) Percell promised experience, communication, and ideas if she is elected the next Worth County Clerk. She is running on the Republican ticket to replace Roberta Owens, who did not seek reelection. She is opposed by Brandon Allee. The winner will serve as the next County Clerk unless an Independent candidate gets enough petition signatures or a write-in files. The voter registration deadline is July 8th, and the primary election is August 4th.

Percell is currently serving as the Denver City Clerk and runs a business, Nature’s Cure, in Denver. They are seeking to put up a new sign and organize a Tulip Festival. She is the daughter of Robin and Robin Behrens; she was born in Maryville and graduated from Worth County in 1998. Her daughters, McKenzie Percell and Megan (Percell) Parman, also graduated from Worth County. Her favorite teacher was Carolyn Jones, who taught typing and computer classes.

In an interview with the Express Friday, she said that she considered the County Clerk’s position the backbone of the county. As such, she said that she would focus on compliance, meeting with the public and getting ideas for making the county a better place, working with the commissioners, attracting new businesses and supporting the ones currently operating, and keeping the door open for everyone.

She has been licensed to practice insurance since 2005 and is licensed in 30 states. She has worked for various companies since leaving high school, helping them stay compliant with state and federal regulations.

Her whole family has had a background in social work. Her parents did foster care, and her sister, Jennifer, is a social worker for Truman Medical Center. At 19, Melissa got a job with the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s office, where she was responsible for recordkeeping, compliance, and notifying people when their licenses were up for renewal. In Columbia, she was a manager for E&J Construction and Epple Construction, which did a lot of renovation work at Mizzou.

She worked for Ed Drummond in Kansas City for Drummond Financial Services, where she was responsible for payroll, securities reporting, and quarterly reporting for audits. She worked for Mass Mutual Financial, where she worked with brokers and gave quotes. She worked for Physicians Mutual of Kansas City where she was responsible for Medicare Supplemental Insurance. She was responsible for setting up the office, compliance, and training new agents. She has been a travel agent and a notary as well.

In 2016, Melissa moved back to Worth County, where she has lived ever since.

She said that the community needs more businesses in the county. “We used to have all kinds of things to do,” she said. “We need to do a better job of supporting the businesses we have and encouraging new ones to come in.” She pledged to continue the work that current Clerk Roberta Owens is doing to preserve the history of Worth County, including the new Historical Room in the Courthouse.