Richard "Rich" Wilmes 1950-2026

Richard Lee “Rich” Wilmes, 76, of Maryville, Missouri passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026, Mosaic Medical Center from injuries sustained from an automobile accident. 

Rich was born on February 27, 1950, in Maryville, Missouri, to Ernest J. and Florence M. (Hardisty) Wilmes. He was a graduate of Jefferson High School and spent the majority of his career with Easter Foods before becoming a sales representative for Farner-Bocken. He later worked for OATS, where he especially enjoyed driving the bus and connecting with the people he served.

Rich was an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Bearcats. Above all, though, he cherished his family and friends. He took great pride in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the love he had for them was at the heart of his life.

He was a member of St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and the Elks Lodge.

Rich married Martha K. Peterson on February 7, 1975, in Conception Junction, Missouri. She preceded him in death on May 13, 2013. He was also preceded by his parents, and brother Ron Wilmes.

He is survived by his children, Cindy (Tim) Lance, Kim (Curt) Morrison, Stephanie (Doug) Spire, Kelli Boisen, Jenny (John) Hall and Rick (Sumer) Wilmes; nineteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren; three brothers, Steve (Diane) Wilmes, Jim Wilmes and Bob Wilmes and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Mr. Wilmes has been cremated under the care of Price Funeral Home.

A Parish Rosary will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church, with the family receiving friends following the Rosary until 7:00 p.m. In honor of Rich’s memory, family and friends are welcome to wear their favorite Kansas City Chiefs or Bearcats gear to the visitation—a fitting tribute to two of the teams he loved so much.

A Catholic Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2, at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. Burial will follow the service at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Stanberry, Missouri.

 In a final act of kindness, Rich gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation, continuing a lifetime of generosity even after passing. In memory of Rich, the family suggests donations be made to St. Gregory’s Church.  

Area Courthouse, Police, and Crime Reports for September 30th, 2026

On September 21st, Atchison County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Smith filed charges against William Miller (67) of Fairfax alleging Grooming of a Minor (Felony) and Furnishing Pornographic Material to a Minor. The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office and the Atchison County Mail reported that the Atchison County Sheriff’s Department was referred information on the case by the Northwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force. The information, according to an affidavit from the Atchison County Sheriff’s Department, included chat logs from Facebook Messenger as well as videos and text messages. A search warrant was obtained and the defendant was arrested. Bond was denied. 

On September 22nd, WHO-13 and the Creston News-Advertiser reported that a six-hour standoff with a subject in Creston resulted in an arrest. Jerry Williams (47) was arrested for Burglary, Violation of Supervised Release, and Interference with Official Acts. There were no injuries and minimal property damage. 

On September 22nd, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Andrew Reed (23) of Joplin was sentenced to 84 months in Federal Prison without parole and three years supervised release by Judge Douglas Harpool for Felon in Possession of Firearm. The defendant had pleaded guilty on March 10th, 2026. 

On September 23rd, Nodaway County Associate Circuit Judge Robert Rice ordered the extradition of Ashley Luzier (42) of Tarkio to Osage County (KS) to face charges of Burglary (Felony) and Stealing. 

On September 23rd, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Jayden Wright (21) of Springfield was sentenced to 84 months in Federal Prison by Judge Megan Blair Benton for two counts Possession of Firearm & Controlled Substance. The defendant pleaded guilty on April 9th, 2026. 

On September 24th, the City of Grant City picked up a dog with no collar or tags and took it to the dog pound. 

On September 24th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Ethan Oldham (22) of Stanberry alleging DWI and Careless & Imprudent Driving (Accident). 

On September 24th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Lake Roberts (26) of Kansas City had pleaded guilty to a charge of Possession of Unregistered Destructive Device. The defendant was allegedly a member of a group known as the Red Legs, which discusses violent actions against property owned by the ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Guard. 

On September 24th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced charges against Trung Nguyen Van (37) of Vietnam alleging two counts Money Laundering. The defendant was allegedly part of a scheme to form romantic relationships with victims and convince them to make investments into fake cryptocurrency projects. One victim allegedly transferred $16 million worth of cryptocurrency, believing they were making an investment when in fact, they were transferring money to the defendant’s cryptocurrency wallet. The defendant allegedly received $53,275,939 in cryptocurrency assets from wire fraud schemes targeting US citizens.

On September 24th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Jose Manuel Lopez-Maderos (40) pleaded guilty to Illegal Reentry and was sentenced to seven months in the Federal Prison. The defendant had allegedly been previously deported from the US in 2013, 2017, 2018, and in 2019. 

On September 24th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Alverez McCullough (30) of Kansas City was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in Federal Prison without parole by Judge Beth Phillips. The defendant must forfeit $15,000 to the government. The defendant had pleaded guilty to a charge of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. 

On September 24th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Derrick Crumble (34) of Jefferson City was sentenced to 96 months in Federal Prison without parole and three years of supervised release on a charge of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The defendant had pleaded guilty to the charge on February 10th, 2026.

On September 24th, Alejandro Martinez (36) of Kansas City pleaded guilty in Harrison County Circuit Court to charges of Forgery (Felony), Stealing (Felony), and Fraudulent Use of Credit Device (Felony). He was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Matthew Krohn. Defendant must make restitution of $2,221.44 and make a $300 contribution to the Law Enforcement Restitution Fund. 

On September 24th, Zachary Offield (26) of Gilman City pleaded guilty in Harrison County Circuit Court to charges of Aggravated Fleeing (Felony), DWI, Speeding (26+ mph over), Failure to Stop, and Failure to Wear Seat Belt. He was placed on five years probation by Judge Matthew Krohn and 70 days in jail. Defendant must pay $110 in fines and costs as well as $600 to the Law Enforcement Restitution Fund within 90 days of release. 

On September 25th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office announced that Kevin Harkins (28) of Barnhart (MO) pleaded guilty to Destruction of Property and Possession of Unregistered Destructive Device. The defendant allegedly destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck at a Tesla dealership with a Molotov Cocktail and shot it with a firearm nine times. The sale price of the Cybertruck was $81,985.

On September 27th, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office reported that Ahmaad Jarvis (39) of New York was sentenced to 24 years and three months in Federal Prison and five years supervised release by Judge Roseann Ketchmark. The defendant had been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, Unlawful Use of Communications Device, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute following a jury trial. 

On September 28th, Wesley Parker (43) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Circuit Court to charges of Burglary (Felony) and Tampering with Motor Vehicle (Felony). He was sentenced to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Corey Herron. He had previously been on probation on a charge of Stealing. That probation was revoked.

On September 28th, Judge Matthew Krohn sentenced Shane Reynolds (52) of Stanberry to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on two counts Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Seat Belt. He was also fined $310 plus costs. The defendant had been found guilty following a jury trial. Court retains jurisdiction for 120 days, and the DOC will make recommendations regarding incarceration or probation. 

On September 28th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Robert Legg (44) of Charleston (WV) and Nicole Rassman (41) of Charleston (WV) alleging Fraud (Felony), Stealing (Felony), Forgery (Felony), and Identity Theft (Felony). Bond for each defendant was set at $50,000, cash only. An affidavit from the Missouri State Highway Patrol alleges the defendants made a special trip to a local bank and obtained funds using a fake passport. 

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.

Community Calendar for September 30th, 2026

Community Calendar items are free of charge. To submit, email us at express@grm.net. All events are subject to change or last-minute cancelation. 

REPEATING EVENTS

Sundays (Starting October 4th – Worth County Community Choir Practices, Psalm 100 Ministries (formerly the United Methodist Church), 3:00 pm. 

Mondays (except holidays) – Worth County Commissioners meet at 9 am.

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday – Grant City Lions Club, Allendale Community Building, 7 pm. 

Fridays – Bedford Jam, United Christian Presbyterian Church, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Snacks and drinks available. Walk-ons are welcome. For information, call (712) 523-2282.

Fridays– Community Market, Memorial Park Shelter, Bethany. Fridays 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. 

Saturdays – Stanberry Community Farmers Market, 8 am to noon. Crafts, donuts, and more. Located six miles north of Stanberry on Highway B to AF. 4371 Highway AF. 

Every Second Wednesday – Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition, 5:00 pm, Worth County Community Church. 

REGULAR ANNOUNCEMENTS 

September 30th – North Nodaway National Honor Society Inductions, 6:00 pm. 

October 1st – Fall FFA Contest at Maryville. 

October 1st – Drive Thru Flu Shot Clinic, North Nodaway Elementary, 3:45 pm to 5:30 pm. Bring insurance card or $20. 

October 2nd – Learn about managing forests and woodlands with the Missouri Department of Conservation at Hundley-Whaley in Albany from noon to 4 pm. Space is limited and registration is required at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/220528.

October 3rd – No school at North Harrison. Teacher in-service. 

October 3rd – Band Jamboree at Clarinda.

October 3rd – Fall Harvest Dinner & Bazaar, Eagleville Community Christian Church, 11 am to 1 pm. Free will donation. 

October 3rd – Lord’s Acre Sale, Morris Chapel, Highway 69. Located between Bethany and Eagleville. Buffet lunch from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm for free will donation. Crafts, baked goods, candy, and more for sale. 

October 3rd – Great Northwest Winefest, 1805 Nebraska Street, Mound City (Swimming Pool), 11:30 am. Proceeds will go to raise funds for Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation. 

October 3rd – Fundraiser, Pattonsburg Multipurpose Center. Cornhole Tournament 2:00 pm. Entry $10. 10-Point Pitch Tournament 5 pm. Entry $5. Concessions available. 

October 3rd – Open House, Snodderly Lumber Co., Clearmont, 1 pm to 5 pm. 

October 3rd – Big Brothers/Big Sisters Glow Walk/Run, 6:00 pm. The run will start at Mosaic in Maryville, follow the Safe Routes to School trail, through the Crestview Addition on South Munn, and return on the same route back to the hospital. 

October 3rd – Patio Party, 3-B’s Pizza and Subs, Pattonsburg. Craig Hopkins & Band in concert from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. 

October 4th – Legion Breakfast, Parnell Legion Hall, 8:00 am. 

October 4th – Pattonsburg Car Show. Registration 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Awards at 3:00 pm. Music, food, and vendors. $15 per car entry. 

October 4th -- A Rally Day will be held at Hopkins Christian Church Sunday, October 4th. Performing will be the "Ladies in Black," a vocal music group from the Rock Port area. Sunday School is at 9:30 am, and worship is at 10:30 am. There will be a time for fellowship in between at 10:10 am.

October 4th – St. Oswald’s Episcopal Church Harvest Festival, 11 am, Skidmore. A potluck will follow. 

October 4th – Celebration of Life for Trevin Wyllie, 2 pm, Mozingo Event Center. 

October 5th – No school at North Harrison. Professional Development. 

October 5th – Bingo, Old Hall, Ridgeway, 6:30 pm. Free will donation for game cards and snacks. Sponsored by the Ridgeway Community Betterment Association. 

October 6th – First Fluoride Treatment for NEN Elementary Students, 8:30 am.

October 6th – Kids Sight Screening at North Nodaway at both Hopkins and Pickering, 8:30 am. 

October 6th – The Northwest Missouri State Collegiate Farm Bureau will be sponsoring a line dance at 5:30 pm at the Ag Learning Center, 22893 Highway 71, Maryville. $10 entry fee. All skill levels and ages welcome. Expert instruction included. 

October 7th – Final day to register to vote for the November 3rd election. 

October 7th – Worth County Farmer’s Market, Grant City Square, 4 pm to 6 pm. 

October 8th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

October 8th – Shamrock Softball vs. Putnam County, 5:30 pm. Pink Out Night. 

October 8th – Bluejay Softball (V/JV) vs. King City, 5:30 pm. Senior Night. 

October 8th – Mustang Volleyball vs. Mound City, 5:30 pm. Senior Night. 

October 8th – Hawk Softball vs. Meadville, 5:30 pm. Senior Night.

October 8th to 9th -- The Rose Theatre announces auditions for "Roaring 20's Murder: Death by Bathtub Gin" on Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9, beginning at 6:00 P.M. each evening. Try-outs will be held at 120 West Third Street in Maryville, Missouri.

The show will be presented as a dessert theater and murder mystery game (with 1920's costumes!) It calls for 14 actors cast through auditions, plus audience volunteers each evening. Auditions will include improvisation for selected scenarios, as well as reading from the script.

Performance dates are set for November 19-21.

For more information, contact the director, Nina Dewhirst, at 660 582-8916 or by e-mail at ndewhirst2004@yahoo.com.

October 9th – Pot Luck, 12 noon, Worth County Senior Center. 

October 10th – Fall Poker Run, Parnell City Park. Registration 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Ride starts at 1:00 pm. $20 per vehicle for first poker hand. $10 for additional hand. Liability insurance required. Drivers and riders must sign waivers.

October 10th – Maryville Fall into Fun, 12 noon to 6 pm. Market vendors, music, kids activities, and more. 

October 10th – Grant City Lions Club Corn Maze, Allendale, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Play in the park, enjoy hot dogs, ride a way wagon, tackle the corn maze, and find the “Candy Lion.” “Littles” 3 & under free. All others $5. Food is extra. 

October 10th – Sheridan Halloween Lock-in, Sheridan Community Building, 6 pm. Please come pick up your child on October 11th at 6:00 am. Your child does not have to stay all night if they don’t want to. For grades K-8. Pre-K can come, but parents should come get them after the activities. Costume contest, coloring pages, cookie decorating, face painting, movies, board games, pony rides, and more. Pizza, popcorn, and brownies along with drinks. 

October 11th – St. Joseph Catholic Church Fall Dinner, 11 am, church basement. Free will donation. 

October 11th – Open House, 2 pm to 4 pm, Crossroads Church, Grant City. Len and Rita Green will be celebrating 40 years at the church.

October 11th – Open House, 2 pm to 4 pm, Allendale Baptist Church. David Hardy will be celebrating his 80th birthday. 

October 12th – No mail delivery. Columbus Day.

October 12th – No school at Worth County or North Nodaway. Professional Development. 

October 12th – GRM Networks 75th Anniversary Open House, 11 am to 2 pm. Food, giveaways, door prizes. 

October 12th – Hawk Softball vs. Gallatin, 5:00 pm. Senior Night. 

October 13th – Kidsight vision screening at North Harrison, 9:00 am. For grades PK through 6th grade.

October 13th – Hopkins Historical Society Fall Meeting, 7:00 pm. 

October 15th – NEN School Board Meeting, 7:00 pm. 

October 15th – Tiger Football vs. Pattonsburg, 7:00 pm. Senior Night. 

October 16th – Early Dismissal at Gilman City. End of Quarter. 

October 16th – Special Olympics, 10 am, NEN. 

October 17th – Missouri Days Marching Band Festival at Trenton. 

October 17th -- The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be Saturday, October 17th, 2026, from 8 am to 12 noon at the Nodaway County Maintenance Barn, 1516 E. Halsey Street, Maryville. 

October 17th – Halloween in the Park Trunk or Treat & Movie Night, Grant City Pool Park. Trick or Treating 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Movie starts at 7:00 pm at the Skating Rink. If you would like to have a trunk and hand out candy, call (660) 254-3898. Sponsored by Small Town Bounce Co., the Worth County Word, and the City of Grant City. 

October 17th – Gilman City Barnwarming, 7:00 pm. 

October 18th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Post 464 membership.

October 18th -- Grant City Lions Club Corn Maze, Allendale, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Play in the park, enjoy hot dogs, ride a way wagon, tackle the corn maze, and find the “Candy Lion.” “Littles” 3 & under free. All others $5. Food is extra. 

October 18th -- The North Nodaway 4-H Club will meet Sunday, October 18th in Pickering at 4:00 pm. 4-H is open to all youth ages 8-18.

October 21st – Last day to mail an absentee ballot to a voter for the November 3rd election.

October 21st – North Harrison School Board Meeting.

October 21st – Worth County School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm.

October 21st – North Nodaway School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm.

October 22nd – No school at NEN or North Harrison. Parent/Teacher Conferences. 

October 22nd – Early dismissal at Worth County and Gilman City. Parent/Teacher Conferences.

October 22nd -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

October 23rd – No school at NEN, Gilman City, North Harrison, or Worth County. End of Quarter. 

October 23rd – Last day to file as a write-in candidate for the November 3rd election, 5:00 pm. 

October 24th – Halloween Costume 5K and Kids Trick or Treat, 2811 Yellowstone Avenue, Blockton, 3 pm. Sponsored by the Taylor County Conservation Board. 

October 24th -- The Eagleville Halloween Festival will take place on the Eagleville Square Saturday, October 24th starting at 5:00 pm.

October 24th – Benefit for Jon Nickerson, Northwest Missouri State University Ag Learning Center, Maryville. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Jon Nickerson has been diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic kidney cancer. There will be a pancake supper, drinks, music, an auction, and raffles. Proceeds will go to support Jon and his family. 

October 24th – Haunted corn maze, Allendale. “Littles” from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. “Spooks” from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. $5 per person. 3 and under are free. Sponsored by the Grant City Lions Club.

October 25th – Ravenwood Community Breakfast, 8:00 am to 12 noon. The Girls Softball Team will be helping. 

October 29th – Early dismissal at North Nodaway. Parent/Teacher Conferences. 

October 30th – No school at North Nodaway. End of quarter. 

October 30th – Celebration of Life for Sharon Andrews, 2 pm, Andrews-Hann Funeral Home. 

October 31st – Northwest Missouri State Homecoming Parade.

October 31st – The County Clerk’s Office will be open from 8:30 am to 12 noon for absentee voters for the November 3rd election. 

November 1st – Legion Breakfast, Parnell Legion Hall, 8:00 am. 

November 2nd – No school at North Nodaway. Professional Development. 

November 2nd – Last day to vote absentee in person at the Courthouse, 5:00 pm.

November 3rd – General election for Missouri. Polls open at 6 am and close at 7 pm. 

November 5th – NEN School and Community Health Fair in the commons area, 4:30 pm. Bluejay JH Basketball vs. Worth County, 5:30 pm. 

November 9th – 275 Conference Band Day at Northwest Missouri State. 

November 9th – No school at Worth County. Professional Development. 

November 10th -- The Worth County Assessor's Office will have an informational forum to explain how the Assessor's office works, address general concerns, and answer questions on November 10th at 6 pm at the Golf Clubhouse. Collector Jessica Davidson will also be present to answer general tax payment questions.

November 11th – No mail delivery. Veterans Day.

November 11th – Worth County Veterans Day Program, 2 pm. 

November 13th – Early dismissal at Gilman City. Professional Development. 

November 13th – North Nodaway Veterans Day Assembly, 9:00 am.

November 13th – Pot Luck, Worth County Senior Center, 12 noon. Free will donation.

November 15th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Ladies Auxiliary Unit 464. 

November 18th – North Harrison School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm. 

November 18th – Worth County School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm.

November 18th – North Nodaway School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm. 

November 24th – Early dismissal at North Nodaway and Gilman City, Thanksgiving.

November 25th to 29th – All schools dismiss for Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on November 30th. 

November 26th – Thanksgiving. No school or mail delivery.

December 5th -- The Hopkins Community Club is raffling a Henry Golden Boy HMR .17 for the Hopkins Picnic. Cost is $10 per ticket or three for $20. The drawing will be held December 5th at the Christmas Soup Supper. Proceeds will support the 2027 Hopkins Picnic. For questions or to enter, call (660) 254-4790 or (660) 541-0082.

December 6th – Legion Breakfast, Parnell Legion Hall, 8:00 am. 

May 29th – North Nodaway Alumni Reunion, North Nodaway School, 5:30 pm. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mad Max, Junior High Tigers Working for Third Straight Unbeaten Season

 Mad Max Hiatt and the Worth County Junior High squad is short on numbers this year, but they are very much in the hunt for a third straight undefeated season, something the Tigers have never accomplished in their school history at this level. Against Albany Monday in a game played at Northwest, Worth County had every reason to be worried about mammoth Warrior lineman Evan Mercer. “Good luck going against #61,” said some of the Northwest athletes winding up their practices, referring to Mercer. Just like in the varsity game, Albany pounced on the onsides kick. Then, they completed a long pass to the tall receiver Rett Fountain deep in Tiger territory. But then the wheels started to come off for the Warriors after Fountain fumbled at the end of the run and Mason Hern pounced on it at the 21 to kill the drive.

Hiatt then went to work, ripping off gains of ten and five to the 36. A pass to Jace Mullock put the ball in Warrior territory to the 30. Mad Max bounced outside for 16 yards to the 14 and then picked up three more to the 11. Jace Mullock took it to the one, and then Hiatt took it the rest of the way. Mullock made a diving catch in the end zone for the extra points to make it 8-0 with 3:30 left in the first.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mason Moser had a scoop and score wiped out by a penalty, but that only made things more interesting. Mad Max bounced outside and took it 30 yards to the house with three minutes left in the first. On the extra point try, he tried the middle, got hemmed in by the big Albany line, and then bounced outside for the score to make it 16-0.

Albany finally started finding daylight behind its mammoth offensive line as Atreus Waltiere ripped off six yards to the 31. Townsen Crawford followed a big hole behind the mammoth Albany line 13 yards to Worth County’s 36. Waltiere picked up five more to the 31. But a fumble drove them back to the 34. Crawford picked up four to the 30, but then Hayzer Florea and Troop Larison stopped him short at the 28, and Albany gave up the ball on downs. 

Hiatt aired it out to Jace Mullock, who hauled it in for 36 yards to Albany’s 16. A short pass was blown up for a loss of one, and Hiatt was stopped short at the 16. But on third and ten, Mad Max dove for the first down and then took it to the house next play with 5:18 left in the half. A pass to Emmett Frisch put the Tigers up 24-0.

Troop Larison laid down a big hit to pin Albany at its own 27. A five-yarder by Waltiere and a quick hitter to Jaxon Browning put the ball in Tiger territory at the 39. Waltiere only had one yard on the next play, but Albany aired it out to Porter Sorensen to the 12. But every time Albany got inside the red zone, Worth County would stiffen up and make plays on defense. Mason Moser dropped Crawford for a loss at the 15. Moser and Troop Larison combined to throw Waltiere for a loss on the next play to the 16. Mad Max took care of the rest, blowing up a screen pass and breaking up a pass to give the Tigers the ball back at the 17. 

Short passes to Mason Moser gave them a first down at the 27 with time winding down in the first half. A holding wiped out a touchdown and put the ball on the 20. Max Hiatt aired it out 42 yards to Jace Mullock, who took it to Albany’s 18. On the last play of the half, Troop Larison caught a screen pass on the left side of the field, cut over to the right side, and took it to the house to make it 30-0.

Albany threatened to start the second half after a facemask penalty put the ball on Worth County’s 15. A sweep was blown up and a fumble put Albany back to the 27. But a long pass to Porter Sorensen gave them a chance at the 13. On fourth down, Albany threw an incomplete pass, and Worth County held in the red zone for the third time.

With Mercer anchoring the line, Worth County found it tough to get yards up the middle during its next series. They slowly went from the 13 to the 27. But suddenly, an option fooled everyone as Mad Max made a perfect pitch as the green shirts were closing in, and Jace Mullock found nothing but turf ahead of him for a score with 48 seconds left in the third to make it 36-0.

Faced with fourth and five at its own 34, Albany elected to go for it. But Max Hiatt broke up the pass play, and Worth County had a short field to work with. They only needed one play as Hiatt threw a strike to Jace Mullock with 4:51 left in the game. An option play to Mason Moser provided the extra points, and Worth County led 44-0.

Albany had one more try to get on the board, but Hayzer Florea pounced on a fumble on their first play to give Worth County the ball at Albany’s 32. A pitchout to Mason Moser and a facemask put it on the 19 with time winding down. Moser was driven back to the 20, but on the last play of the game, Mad Max scrambled in the end zone to make it 50-0. Hiatt ran for 110 yards and threw for another 134 in the win.

Junior High “B” 6, Albany 6

The fifth quarter threatened to be a different outcome as Phoenix Carter scored on a 63-yard burst after five different defenders overran him to put the Warriors ahead 6-0.

Worth County fought back as Mason Hern ripped off a 25-yard gain to Albany’s 35. Two plays later, he started down the left side but reversed his field and weaved his way past defenders to the 19. Grayson Mullock got a bad snap on the next play but got a block from Mason Gray and sprung free as the reserves salvaged a tie.

Junior Varsity 36, Albany 14

The nightcap threatened to be a long night for the Tigers after Albany bailed itself out of a third and 16 with a long pass to Cole Findley to Worth County’s 38. On a busted play, Armani Smith scooped it up and ripped off 12 yards to the 26. Then, Tripp Crawford found himself boxed in on the left side, reversed his field to the right side, and found nothing but daylight to take it to the house to put Albany up 6-0 with 6:43 left in the first. 

Albany tried the onsides kick to try to catch the Tigers napping. It worked against the varsity, and it worked against the junior high. But they couldn’t complete the hat trick as the ball rolled out of bounds at Albany’s 36. A bad snap pinned Worth County behind the sticks at their own 38, but they settled in after that, with Cole Hardy getting the yardage back and more on two plays to Albany’s 23. From there, Worth County unleashed a combination of power and speed, with Cole Hardy providing the speed and Hudson Cameron providing the power. Hudson Cameron ripped off seven yards to the 16 and then got a block from Gunnar Smith to the 10. Cole Hardy then got outside and took it to the house with 4:02 left in the first. Cole Hardy got a block from Hudson Cameron and added the extra points to put Worth County up 8-6.

Xander Bodle pinned Albany deep in their own territory at the 5-yard line after it caromed off a green shirt and out of bounds. Maverick Cox drove back T.J. Anthony to the two, then Trent Adwell dropped Crawford for no gain. Maverick Cox hurried Smith into an incompletion, and then Trent Adwell hurried him into an interception, which Cole Hardy took to the house with 2:14 left in the first to make it 14-6. For once, there were no penalties on the return. 

Hudson Cameron had a big hit to pin Albany at the 17. They tried an option, but the pitch went out of bounds at the 13. They tried the same sweep play that sprung Crawford loose, but Trent Adwell tackled him for a loss back to the 11. They were faced with fourth and 13 at the 14-yard line, but a long pass to Cole Findley kept the drive alive at the 32. Worth County dodged a bullet when a wide-open Albany receiver dropped it, and the Tigers got a turnover on downs at Albany’s 35. It only took one play to take advantage, as Cole Hardy outran everyone to the house with 7:06 left in the half. Liam Cordell got a block from Jace Burns and added the extra points to make it 22-6.

Silas Brown and Wes Brown pinned Albany deep at its own 14. On fourth and 8 at the 16-yard line, Mason Hiatt and Liam Cordell broke up a pass, and Worth County had a short field to work with. A false start moved them back to the 21. Liam Cordell, in his first year at quarterback, threw a perfect ball to Hudson Cameron over the middle, and he did the rest. He started on the right side and weaved his way to the left side and to the house at the 4:30 mark of the second quarter.

A blown coverage left Cole Findley all alone for a long pass, and he took it to the house with 3:23 left in the second. Armani Smith ran in the extra points to make it 30-14. But the onsides kick try rolled out of bounds again, and Worth County had it on the 28. A holding penalty wiped out a touchdown and put it on the 18 but Hudson Cameron burst up the middle just like Hayden Sanders has done so many times this year and took it to the house with 2:55 left. Liam Cordell rolled out to his right and then reversed his field back to the left and scored the extra points to make it 38-14.

Fortner Throws Four TD's, Princeton Holds King City to 65 Yards

Princeton’s football team pitched their third shutout of the year, a 40-0 beatdown of King City, and rolled into Friday’s showdown with Stanberry. It will be a battle of Cinderella teams as Stanberry is surprising people with a 5-0 start and Princeton’s only two losses have been close losses to Worth County and Rock Port.

The Tigers did it through the air as Gage Fortner threw four touchdown passes for the night and didn’t let the rain and the mud bother him. Wyatt Maize continued to have a lights-out performance as a receiver, getting 10 catches for 174 yards. Mitchell Walker had 60 yards on the ground. And Princeton showed the ability to play defense, holding an explosive King City unit to 65 yards. The Tigers held Jax Jundy, whose running nearly brought King City back from the dead in a 55-50 loss to Stanberry the week before, to eight yards in 17 carries. Princeton’s unorthodox blitzing defense was creating problems for King City all night, with blue shirts living in the backfield.

Stanberry has emerged as one of the top scoring teams in eight-man football this year. They scored 55 points or more in each of their first five games behind their explosive backfield of Drew Parman, Pax Schieber, and Max Hilton. Parman’s arm is good enough to keep defenses honest; he completed a long pass against King City to bail out the Bulldogs after the Wildkats had gotten the lead on them late. Princeton has shut three teams out, so something will have to give Friday.

After both teams exchanged punts to start the game, Princeton caught its first break when Kash Holt fell on an errant snap at King City’s 22. A shovel pass to Wyatt Maize went to the 14, and a bubble screen to Holt got him loose and into the end zone thanks to good blocking by the rest of the receiving corps downfield. Mitchell Walker ran in the extra points to make it 8-0 with 9:25 left in the first.

Both teams found it hard to get going in the mud. Wyatt Maize for Princeton and Coltin Potter for King City were getting off booming kicks, splashing it dead in the mud deep in enemy territory. Finally, Princeton tried some razzle-dazzle, handing it off to Mitchell Walker on a double reverse pass play. Kash Holt took a strike from Walker and Princeton overcame a holding penalty, getting a first down on King City’s 28 on a play that was protested by King City’s coach. On third and two at the 20, King City had Walker stopped in the backfield, but he somehow eluded the tackle to get a first down at the 16. Two plays later, Walker again got loose to the seven. He got down to the six, but a measurement found him inches short for a fourth down. There was a mixup on the handoff, Wyatt Maize fumbled it, but Mitchell Walker picked it up and ran it in. King City’s coach protested unsuccessfully, contending that Maize was down. That was a backbreaker for King City and put Princeton up 14-0 with 9:03 left in the second.

King City had a golden opportunity after Luke Roberts picked off a tipped ball to give the Wildkats good field position at the Princeton 18. They took a shot into the end zone unsuccessfully. Jax Jundy picked up one before running into Mitchell Walker and Gavin Tatum. Carter Henrich picked up six to the Princeton 11 to set up fourth and three. But Landon Carlson led his receiver too far on a pass play, and Princeton took over on downs. It only took them one play to take advantage as Wyatt Maize took a bubble screen on the sideline and accelerated past several purple shirts 69 yards to the house with 4:45 left. Mitchell Walker laid out a defender who was trying to tackle him in the backfield and then ran it in for the extra points to make it 22-0.

Andrew Fordyce got a sack to force another three and out for King City. A short kick put Princeton in good field position at the 40. Fortner was sacked on the first play back to the 38 but then found Judd Henke for a 42-yard score with 2:14 left to leave Princeton ahead 28-0 at the half.

The next scoring chance for Princeton came late in the third after Andrew Fordyce forced a fumble that King City had to cover deep in their own territory. King City had to punt, and Princeton had good field position at its own 37. A sweep from Wyatt Maize and a shovel from Fortner to Maize got the ball to the 23. On fourth and seven at King City’s 20, Princeton used both Maize and Walker as decoys and set up a perfect screen to Kash Holt over the middle. He took it to the house with 3:26 left in the third to make it 34-0.

King City finally found daylight during its next series as Caiden Wainscott caught a 14-yard pass and nearly broke one before Bowe Ussery made a touchdown-saving tackle. Coltin Potter caught an eight-yard pass at the 40 for another first down. They got a holding penalty, but a pass interference call and an offsides call gave King City a golden opportunity with a first down at Princeton’s 27. But a fumble put them behind the sticks, and Randy Wilson dropped Jundy at the 29. A long pass went incomplete to set up fourth down. Carlson was under heavy pressure from two blue shirts but nearly got it away to a King City player who was uncovered, but it was incomplete and Princeton had held.

With Mitchell Walker at the quarterback slot, he completed a shovel pass to Wyatt Maize, who took it 29 yards and dragged a King City defender 10-15 yards with him to King City’s 19. Walker picked up 12 to the seven. A shovel pass to Dynten Hale picked up five to the two, and Walker took it the rest of the way with 7:55 left in the game. The teams turned it over to their reserves for the remainder of the game.

Gage Fortner completed 12 of 20 passes for 211 yards and four scores. Mitchell Walker completed three passes in three attempts for 23. Walker had 14 carries for 60 yards. Gage Fortner had 5 carries for 11 yards, and Brayden Girdner 2 carries for 16 yards.

Wyatt Maize had 10 catches for 143 yards. Kash Holt had 3 catches for 50 yards, Judd Henke 1 catch for 42 yards, and Dynten Hale 1 catch for 5 yards.

Kash Holt had 6 tackles, Wyatt Maize, Ryker Fortner, Bowe Ussery, and Gavin Tatum had 5. Andrew Fordyce and Max Walkup had 4. Wyatt Maize, Kolton Schurke, and Randy Wilson had 3. Reed Mitchell, Dynten Hale, Brayden Girdner, Devin Alton, and Gavin Stockman had 2. Scotty Briggs had 1.

Princeton had 10½ tackles for loss. Kash Holt had 3, Andrew Fordyce 1.5, Mitchell Walker, Ryker Fortner, Gavin Tatum, Randy Wilson, and Devin Alton had 1, and Max Walkup and Gavin Stockman had .5. Andrew Fordyce had 1.5 sacks and Kash Holt .5.

 

Court Rules Group can Continue to Challenge Data Centers

By Missouri News Network

An advocacy group opposing data centers in Montgomery County can continue to pursue its claims that the county did not adequately involve or inform the community about the impact of the centers.

Google and Amazon are both building data centers that cover a total of 1,900 acres on opposite sides of Interstate 70 east of New Florence in Montgomery County.

In February, the advocacy group Preserve Montgomery County filed a lawsuit against the county and the Missouri Department of Economic Development in an effort to halt the Amazon data center. Attorneys for the county and the Department of Economic Development filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit in March.

On Friday, Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker denied the motion to dismiss most of the lawsuit. In his order, Walker determined that the advocacy group does have standing to assert its claims and can move forward with the case.

He did, however, dismiss the group’s claim that the Department of Economic Development failed to properly monitor and administer a grant agreement involving American Rescue Plan Act funds. He thus dismissed the department as a party in the lawsuit.

Walker took the matter under advisement in August after listening to arguments on the motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs argue that both the county and the state failed to post a proper public notice of the project or adequately provide information about water and electricity usage by the data centers. They also claim they weren’t fully apprised of the terms of the tax abatement.

Attorneys for the state and county countered that there is no factual evidence to support the claims.

No future hearings on the case have yet been scheduled.

Jerry Hiatt 1935-2026

Jerry Duane Hiatt was born October 15, 1935 in Grant City, Missouri to Nelson and Mary Elizabeth (Pickering) Hiatt. He graduated from Grant City High School in 1953.  

On August 15, 1981 he was united in marriage to Wilma Susanne Hiatt.  Jerry had his own insurance agency for many years. He loved spending time with his family, and enjoyed the outdoors and birdwatching! He also enjoyed farming, playing golf, traveling, and watching his favorite sports teams play. He and Susanne were snowbirds, wintering in Texas over the last 27 years. He was a member of the Fairview Church in Gladstone Missouri and later attended Hoover Christian Church in Hoover, Missouri.  

Jerry passed away on September 22, 2026 in Liberty, Missouri.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sons Bruce and Douglas Hiatt; brothers Burl Nelson Hiatt and Paul Bervin Hiatt; sister Wannita Jean Clutter.  Left to cherish his memory is his wife Susanne; son Phillip Hiatt of Lake Ozark; step-daughter Marsha (Myles) Perry of Platte City; sister Billie Fern Wake of Isadora; 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  

Graveside service and burial will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Grant City Cemetery, Grant City, Missouri. Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City is in charge of arrangements.