Abbot Benedict Neenan to Step Down from Conception Abbey

On Tuesday, May 26th, Abbot Benedict Neenan OSB announced that he will step down as Abbot of Conception Abbey effective July 11th.

Abbot Neenan was elected on November 22nd, 2016. Elections of abbots under the Swiss American Benedictine Congregation Constitution are for an indefinite term;; therefore, it is up to the abbot to discern the length of his term.

On July 11th, the monks of the abbey will elect a new abbot. “I am grateful for the years I have served as abbot, years both challenging and rewarding, but above all, I am humbled by the trust my confreres have placed in me and grateful for God’s grace and blessings on our community,” said Abbot Neenan in the release.

The Benedictine Monks operate Conception Abbey Seminary College, welcome guests at the guest center, sell religious literature, serve as priests, chaplains, and campus ministers, and gather six times a day for prayer and celebration of the Eucharist.

 

 

Hazardous Mitigation Plan Meeting June 16th

The Worth County Hazard Mitigation Plan Kickoff Meeting will be held Tuesday, June 16th at 5:30 pm at the Grant City Golf Clubhouse. All interested citizens and public officials of Worth County are invited to attend.

Hazard mitigation planning is the process of developing plans to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks associated with potential disasters. The plan is funded by FEMA. The purpose of the meeting will be to gather community and county specific information.

Each county must have a Hazard Mitigation Plan on file in order to access FEMA funds in the event of a natural disaster. Counties update their plans every five years.

 

Andrew Craig, Camden Griffith, Avery Gregg Make Lions All-Star Squad

Missouri Lions District 26-M4 is honored to announce the 2026 All-Star Classic Basketball Teams players. The event will take place at Penney High School in Hamilton on Saturday, June 6 with the girls’ game starting at 6 p.m.

“We are extremely grateful for the coaches and schools that nominated these outstanding players for this year’s All-Star basketball games,” said Lion James Pedersen, District 26-M4 All-Star Basketball committee chair. “Each year, our district strives to provide the best classic possible for these deserving high school senior players.”

District 26-M4 has 22 counties throughout Northwest Missouri with over 80 high schools. We received over 70 nominations for this year’s game. Coaching the boys’ teams this year are Todd Mercer, Maysville, and Dan Martin, Mercer. Coaching our girls’ teams this year are Daniel Hernandez, Macon County-Bucklin and Josh Deitch, Norborne. In late March, volunteer coaches drafted players to their teams.

The following are high school seniors who were drafted and have signed a contract to play in the games:

Boys

Dakota Brandon, Braymer

Jett Cornett, South Harrison

Andrew Craig, North Harrison

Jackson Davis, Carrollton

Issac Dixon, Trenton

Landen Dodds, Tri-County

Carter Fewins, Tri-County

Eli Gaiser, Maysville

Camden Griffith, Gilman City

Kobe Hill, Mercer

Pryce Johnson, Gallatin

Corbin McBee, Braymer

Drake Montez, West Platte

Mason Nester, North Andrew

Jace Palmer, Albany

Creyton Roup, Mound City

Zach Samples, Carrollton

Jaishon White, Chillicothe

Gavin Wilmes, Gallatin

Girls

Kinsley Allnut, Grundy County

Tatum Coe, Macon County

Grace Downing, DeKalb

Leeseah Fordyce, Grundy County

Avery Gregg, Gilman City

Alexis Hunter, South Harrison

Alexis Jones, Macon County

Ashlyn Klippenstein, Maysville

Emalee Langford, South Nodaway

Avi Leabo, Norborne

Sarah Mansur, Norborne

Alison O’Neal, Tina-Avalon

Madeline O’Neal, Tina-Avalon

Jenna Owen, Carrollton

Timberlynn Palmer, Southwest Livingston

Montgomery Ross, Carrollton

Mylee Schrick, Savannah

Ella Scott, Savannah

Brylee Sherill, South Harrison

Allyson Smith, North Platte

Lexa Stonger, Grundy County

Kristin Waters, Norborne

Hamilton was chosen as the location of this year’s event because it is centrally located in our Lions district. A banquet will be held Friday night for the selected players, their parents and coaches at Hamilton Methodist Church’s Family Life Center. 

“Our Lions motto is ‘we serve’ and our committee works hard to serve these young men and women in accordance with Lions International’s youth global cause,” Pedersen said. “We support young people so they can make positive choices, lead healthy and productive lives, and become the next generation of service leaders. We hope this event will be a memorable experience for these players as they continue to grow as an adult and an athlete.”

Proceeds from the All-Star Basketball Classic are redistributed back into the Lions District 26-M4 in the form of continuing education scholarships for recently graduated seniors.

 

Two Local Entities File Late Financial Reports

On Friday, the Missouri State Auditor's office released a list of communities and political subdivisions that were required to file annual financial reports to its office by April 30th. Missouri law requires all communities and political subdivisions except for counties and schools to file these reports six months after their fiscal year ended or face fines. The Auditor's Office says that the Grand River Regional Ambulance District in Gentry County failed to file their financial report. In Nodaway County, the Auditor's Office says the Mary Mart Community Improvement District filed their financial report two days late. It was due on March 31st and was filed on April 2nd.

 

Weekly Area Road Work for June 3rd, 2026

Daviess County

Route 13 – Resurfacing and ADA improvements project from Berry Street to Van Buren Street in Gallatin through June 2026. Route 13 will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers. (Contractor: Herzog Contracting Corp.)

U.S. Route 69 – Scrub seal project, June 1-10. The road will be narrowed to one lane with a pilot car guiding motorists through the work zone. (Contractor: Vance Brothers Inc.).

Gentry County

Route C – Seal coat project from U.S. Route 136 to the Worth County line, June 1, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nodaway County

U.S. Route 71 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 136 near Burlington Junction through August 2026. The road will be narrowed to one lane, and a 10-foot width restriction will be in place.

U.S. Route 136 – Resurfacing project from I-29 to U.S. Route 71 through August 2026. The road will be narrowed to one lane, and a 10-foot width restriction will be in place.

Hawk Road/U.S. Route 71 – access to Hawk Road CLOSED at U.S. Route 71 for bridge barrier work and guardrail replacement June 1-20. U.S. Route 71 will also be narrowed to one lane with temporary traffic signals at the White Cloud Creek Bridge.

Route U – CLOSED until further notice from northbound U.S. Route 71 to Jet Road.

Route 136 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 71 to Route 113, June 3.

Worth County

Route C – Seal coat project from Route 46 to Route M, June 1, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone and a 10-foot width restriction.

Route D – Seal coat project from Route M to Route U, June 2-3, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone and a 10-foot width restriction.

Route U – Seal coat project from Route M to the Iowa state line, June 2-3, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone and a 10-foot width restriction.

Pattonsburg Honor Rolls for Fourth Quarter 2026

GOLD HONOR ROLL

Sixth Grade — Addley Huley, Kentley Plymell.

Seventh Grade — Eliza Shock.

Freshmen — Cole Carter.

Sophomores — Patrick Hartman, Aden Woodward.

Juniors — Caden McCrary, Samantha Peterson, Josie Shock.

Seniors — Camden Mossburg.

HIGH HONOR ROLL

Sixth Grade — Daisy Crabtree, Emma Durham, Payton Mason, Zaylee Tucker.

Seventh Grade — Avasa Cook, Case Gardner.

Freshmen — Colton Crone, Brantley Gardner, Anoushka Hedrick, Alanna Hulet, Gabriella Jacobs, Gabriel Jeswald, Emsleigh McCrary, Addison Shepherd.

Sophomores — Reagan Coin.

Seniors — Kavinly Bumgarner, Annabelle Gardner, Gavin Humphrey.

REGULAR HONOR ROLL

Sixth Grade — Ayla Goble, Zayden Leeper.

Seventh Grade — Kaylee Davis, Kyndall Hunter, Harley Manion, Lillian Provance, Bryson Sorrentino, Jaxson Teel.

Eighth Grade — Hayes Booth, Leigha Dixon, Taylor Mason, Emma Sperry, Thomas Warren.

Freshmen — Keiona Davis.

Sophomores — Taylen Fore, Cole Nalle, Drake Sperry.

Juniors — Kammie Davis, Jayden Goble, Addie Iddings.

Seniors — Willow Carter, Collin Mason, Jeremy Pittsenbarger.

 

Nodaway County Commission Minutes for May 26th, 2026

Convene

Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker called the meeting of the Nodaway County Commission to order at 8:00 a.m. on May 26, 2026 at the Commissioner’s Office. Present: Walker, Chris Burns and Scott Walk.  Also present: Melinda Patton, County Clerk.

Approval of Agenda and Prior Minutes

Commissioner Burns made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Walk seconded the motion.  The motion passed by vote:   Walker (Yes); Burns (Yes); Walk (Yes.)  Walk made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated 5/21/26.  Burns seconded the motion.  The motion passed by vote: Walker (Yes); Burns (Yes); Walk (Yes.) 

Approved: Liquor licenses for Lake Tavern 75; Athwal, LLC dba City Star #3; Tuck Point, LLC; GIPH Restaurants, LLC dba Pizza Hut; Canteen of Maryville, Inc. dba American Legion James Edward Gray Post.  Invoice to Tyler Technologies for annual licensing and software subscription.

Accounts Payable: Checks #88040-88071

Requisitions:  Sheriff to Haug Communications for equipment; to 911 Custom for equipment.

Reviewed:  The Commission reviewed the following information received by mail or email:

Vehicle Sales Tax and Motor Fuel Tax reports

Various emails from citizens on proposed data center project

Public Comment – None

Softmatch Credits – The Commission reviewed an email from Madison Woodward, Transportation Planner, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), NW District stating Nodaway County’s credit balance is $777,505.71 after transfer to Atchison County.

Building Maintenance – Inspected progress on the upstairs conference room project.

Legislative Coffee – Attended the Legislative Coffee hosted by the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce.

Proposed data center – Returned calls to two county residents inquiring about the informational meeting regarding the proposed data center.  This meeting is to be held on June 3, 20226 at the Mozingo Lake Visitor’s Center from 6-8 p.m.

Lunch Break – Walk made a motion to adjourn for lunch.  Burns seconded the motion.  All in favor.

Inspections – The Commission, along with Brian Engle, Road and Bridge Supervisor inspected Bridge #164 and a tube on Road #175 both in Hopkins Township; Road #203 and a tube issue on Road #176 in Independence Township; Bridge #251 for stream bank stabilization in Union Township.

Adjournment – Walk made a motion to commission adjourn until 5/28/2026. Burns seconded the motion.  The motion passed by vote:  Walker (Yes); Burns (Yes); Walk (Yes.)