Nodaway County Commission Still Going Through Questions

Nodaway County Commissioners told people at the public comment portion of their regular meeting Thursday that they were continuing to work through issues and seeking answers regarding the proposed data center south of Maryville. Following the public comment portion of the meeting Tuesday, September 22nd, they spend 2 ½ hours in closed session with their attorney. Commissioner Scott Walk said that it was a slow process to get answers. “We send it to legal and they send it to Scale’s legal,” he said. Scale Microgrids is the developer for the proposed project. When they find an end user, they could either lease out the land they have an option to buy, or they could sell it outright. “We are pushing for answers. I hope to get you some by the town hall in Graham,” said Mr. Walk, referring to the upcoming town hall on the data center taking place there Tuesday, September 29th. Among other things, commissioners are getting examples of zoning which other counties across the state are using.

Commissioner Chris Burns said that while the proposed project is being split into two parts, with White Cloud Generating running the gas-powered turbines and a separate end user running the data center, White Cloud Generating would still be a private entity and cannot use eminent domain to acquire land. “Scale’s core business is energy production,” said Mr. Walk. 

Opponents of the data center present at the meeting were not satisfied with what they saw as the slow pace of answers. “Everything has been done in secret,” said Susie Strauch. “We found out when the DOT started talking about the J-turn.” Commissioner Walk said that when Scale’s representatives came in April and advised them that they were serious about building a data center, “We made it public.” The Maryville Forum, at the time, published a front-page story. In late 2025, representatives of an earlier developer came to introduce themselves to commissioners. That developer was subsequently bought out by Scale.

 Commissioner Walk said that as commissioners, they couldn’t sign a non-disclosure agreement because both conversations had happened in a meeting which is open to the public under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Commissioner Burns said that the moratorium that commissioners passed could not stop a project that was already started. Scale has taken an option to buy 800-900 acres of land but has not exercised that option. 

Susie Strauch said that unlike the red carpet that is being rolled out for data centers, they had to jump through a lot of hoops when they wanted to build a lagoon on their property. “They’re taking a lot of land out of production that used to be used to grow corn,” she said.

Commissioner Walk said that the reason most projects don’t go for timber is that by law, they have to look out for endangered species such as certain species of bats. “When we do a bridge project, we can only clear out trees during certain times of the year,” said Mr. Walk. 

Masonic Lodge Building Moving More With Each Rain

Grant City Administrator Lizzie Jeanes told the City Council at their regular meeting Wednesday that the Masonic Lodge building was leaning more with each rain. The Northeast corner, which is right next to the housing unit next door, is trying to fall off. She reported that the asbestos has been removed from the building and that the DNR is satisfied with that. The CDBG board was having a meeting Thursday to decide on emergency grants.

Ms. Jeanes reported a violation of city ordinances regarding junk boats, junk cars, and mattresses for which the city had sent multiple letters of violation. There were also ATV and UTV’s using the trail, which is a violation of city ordinances. ATV’s and UTV’s are not allowed on the trail. The city used to require a license for them.

The city and the Progress Organization are working on a park grant to add some new equipment next year.

Clerk Farrah Richey presented the 2026 insurance rates and proposed 2027 insurance rates. The council looked through the coverage and found two items the city no longer has. The proposed rate is $572 more than last year. The council will review the list to remove items that the city no longer has.

The city received a letter from Porter Trash stating that their residential pickup rate would increase by 25 cents per customer. The council decided not to pass on the increase to customers. The current rate the city charges customers is $23.50.

The Worth County Care & Rehab Center sent a proposed agreement for the city to sign stating the city would provide a generator in the event of a generator failure. The council responded that the city only has two generators; one goes to its lift station in the event of an emergency, and the other goes to City Hall. The council suggested they contact Emergency Management.

Clerk Farrah Richey reported that she had found Time Clock Wizard, which allows users to clock in and out for free. The current payroll system keeps track of comp time, vacation, and sick leave, but does not have a clock in/out option. The city will get a tablet for the barn for workers to clock in and out.

Ryan Fletchall reported that the old firehouse would need a new furnace. The council directed him to get quotes.

The city has a new testing service for lagoon samples so that Mr. Fletchall doesn’t have to drive to Maryville weekly to take samples.

There was a customer who has a water meter in a cellar that they plan to dig in. The council suggested the city remove part of the cellar where the meter is located and leave the rest up to the customer.

Tyson Troutwine reported digging ditches, mowing, patching potholes, and blading streets.

There were parking complaints about North Lyon Street near the fairgrounds. There is no room to drive, especially for someone hauling a trailer, when people park on both sides of the road during ballgames. The council didn’t see a need to put up no parking signs for short ball seasons.

The council approved building permits for the Worth County School and Tim & Traci Dillivan.

The city received a complaint that when the batting cage was finished at the ball diamond, when the school poured the concrete to replace what was taken out, it was not the same width as the rest of the walking trail. Clerk Farrah Richey will look to see what was agreed between the city and the school when the start of the trail was moved.

Avery Chadwick Has Big Night as Hawks Down Mercer

Gilman City broke a two-game skid as Avery Chadwick had a big night for the Hawks to get them back on track Thursday. She went 3 for 3 as Gilman City shut out Mercer 10-0. Previously, the Hawks saw a five-game winning streak snapped as North Harrison grabbed its first win of the season over them 10-6. After a week-long layoff due to rain, they played a forgettable 16-1 loss to undefeated Princeton. The Hawks have varied from game to game this year, but they turned around and showed up to play against Mercer, a team that had played them tough earlier this year.

Tenley Griffith only struck out three, but she threw 54 pitches, 38 of them for strikes. She had support in the field as the Hawks played errorless ball behind her.

Chadwick got a workout with her glove as well as her bat. She put away two fly balls in the first to turn back the Cardinals.

Kayleece Puls started the Hawk scoring in the second with a double to left field. Avery Chadwick singled to center to put Gilman City up 1-0. Emmery Smith singled to right field as Chadwick advanced to third. The ball got away to allow Smith to advance to second. Caitlynn Chalfant grounded out to score Chadwick to make it 2-0 as Smith advanced to third. The first four plays happened on four pitches. Tenley Griffith singled to center to plate Emmery Smith to make it 3-0. Hailey McClure jumped on the first pitch and hit a pop fly out of the reach of the shortstop as Tenley Griffith advanced to second. Alli Burke jumped on the first pitch and singled to left to score Griffith to make it 4-0 as McClure advanced to second. The approach of attacking early in the count continued to pay off as Nova Smith singled to center to score McClure to make it 5-0 after two.

Avery Chadwick singled to start the Hawk third. Emmery Smith hit it hard, but right at the center fielder. Caitlynn Chalfant struck out. But Kameron Mars singled to right and the ball got away as Chadwick advanced to third. Kameron Mars advanced on defensive indifference. Tenley Griffith reached second on a dropped pop fly as Mars and Chadwick, off on contact, scored to make it 7-0.

Mercer got traffic on the basepaths in the fourth as Taylor Whitaker, Zoe Fisher, and Khloe Ponjavick all singled to load the bases with nobody out. Lily Stark grounded to shortstop Kayleece Puls, who threw a strike home to Nova Smith to get a force out. Jalyn Cain hit a foul tip, held by catcher Nova Smith for the second out. Aubrey Bass grounded out to Puls to end the threat.

Alli Burke walked on four straight pitches to start the Hawk fourth. Nova Smith forced her at second, but Kayleece Puls walked on four pitches to put runners on first and second. The last batter the Cardinals wanted to see in Avery Chadwick came up, and she jumped on the first pitch and singled to center, scoring Smith to make it 8-0 as Kayleece Puls advanced to second.

With one out in the Hawk fifth, Tenley Griffith turned on the first pitch and reached first on a dropped fly ball. Hailey McClure forced her at second, but Alli Burke doubled to center to score Hailey McClure to make it 9-0. Nova Smith fouled the first pitch off, but turned on the second and doubled it to left to score Burke and the Hawks got to go home early.

 

Jayden Goble, Isabella Burger Go Deep as Panthers Break Skid

Pattonsburg hit a high-water mark early this month when they beat Albany 8-3, in a game in which they completely outplayed the Warriors on their field. But they had been in a tailspin ever since, mired in a four-game losing skid. They fell 13-0 to Princeton and then 7-1 to Ellyette Sobotka and the Maysville Wolverines. They couldn’t buy a run against King City, losing 5-0, having scored one run in their past three games. They hit the ball a little better against Stanberry, but fell 10-3 on Tuesday, September 22^nd. But pitted against Polo Thursday, the Panthers got home runs from Jayden Goble and Isabella Burger to get back on the winning track to secure a 9-1 win. Addie Iddings struck out nine Panther batters in the win while throwing 92 pitches for 62 strikes.

It looked like another long night for Pattonsburg. In Polo’s first, Khloe Lucassen doubled to center and advanced to third on Avery Qualman’s groundout. Jocelynn Withers singled her home to put Polo up 1-0.

Jayden Goble singled and stole second to start Pattonsburg’s first. She stole second, and Addie Iddings reached first on an error as Goble scored to tie it at 1-1.

The score remained tied until the third, when Isabella Burger broke the tie with a home run to center field to put Pattonsburg in front 2-1.

The game remained there until Polo got some traffic on the basepaths in the fifth. Kathryn Farmer singled and Willow Kelley walked. Pattonsburg had struggled defensively for the last two years, but it was a great defensive play that swung the momentum in their favor Thursday. Khloe Lucassen flied out to Carlie Pittsenbarger in left field, who threw a strike to second baseman Emsleigh McCrary to double off Farmer.

After having hit a home run earlier, Isabella Burger was intentionally walked to start Pattonsburg’s fifth. The move nearly paid off as Kaitlyn Estes fouled out, and Rosalynn Cameron grounded out, advancing Claire Christensen (running for Burger) to second. Vanessa Weigand got down in the count 0-2 but took the next four pitches for a walk to keep the inning alive. Emsleigh McCrary singled to score Claire Christensen to make it 3-1 as Weigand got to third. McCrary took second on the throw home. Carlie Pittsenberger reached first on an error as Vanessa Weigand scored and McCrary went to third. Cheyenne Miller hit a pop fly that dropped in as Emsleigh McCrary scored to make it 5-1 and Carlie Pittsenbarger advanced to second. Jayden Goble cleared the bases with a three-run shot to make it 8-1.

Kaitlyn Estes reached first in Pattonsburg’s sixth on an error. Emsleigh McCrary went after the first pitch and doubled to right. Estes was off on contact with two out and scored from first to make it 9-1.

Sharon Andrews 1944-2026

Sharon Kay Gridley Andrews, age 82, Kansas City, MO, formerly of Grant City, MO, died Tuesday, Sept. 22 at McCrite Plaza in Kansas City where she was a resident. 

Sharon was born January 11, 1944 in Creston, IA. She was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Dorothy (Vetter) Gridley. 

Sharon grew up on a farm near Villisca, IA and attended a one room schoolhouse until 5th grade. She then attended school in Villisca, where she graduated in the class of 1961. Sharon attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO, where she met the love of her life, Eddie Andrews. After one year at Northwest, Sharon moved to Des Moines, IA for one year and graduated from the American School of Beauty in 1963 . Eddie and Sharon were married in 1963 in Villisca, IA then settled in Grant City, MO. To this union three children were born; Jodi, Todd and a son who died in infancy. 

Sharon was very active in her community where she worked as a hairdresser for a few years. She was a member of P.E.O., the Worth County PTA, Eastern Star, and the Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was the biggest fan at all of her children’s events and was famous for her chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, dinner rolls and “track meet sandwiches”. Sharon was a friend and helper to everyone. 

Eddie and Sharon were the owners of Andrews Funeral Home and Andrews Hardware and Furniture in Grant City. Sharon was busy at both businesses as clerk, bookkeeper and funeral director. They closed the hardware and furniture store but continued to operate the funeral home until moving to Kansas City in 2015 to be closer to their children. 

Sharon enjoyed quilting, gardening, and baking, but her main love was for her family, especially her grandchildren. She had a special bond with each of them and completely cleared her calendar when they would visit so she could spend all of her time with them.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband Eddie, her parents, and an infant son. 

Sharon is survived by her children, Jodi (Brent) Ravenscraft, Todd (Amy) Andrews, grandchildren Jamie Ravenscraft, Luke (Dannie) Ravenscraft, Mara Andrews and Grant Andrews, great-grandchildren Colby and Nora Ravenscraft, brother Alan Gridley, brothers and sisters in law John C & Jo Andrews, Tom & Diane Snow and Dave & Betty Merriman, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

 Sharon’s body has been cremated under the care of Andrews-Hann Funeral Home, Grant City. A Celebration of Life for Sharon will be held at 2 PM, October 30, 2026 at the Andrews-Hann Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 12:00 - 2:00 PM prior to the service. Inurnment will be in the Grant City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mission Possible Center in Grant City.

 Arrangements: andrewshannfuneralhome.com

Marcia Henry 1932-2026

Marcia Marie (Sitter) Henry passed away on September 18, 2026, at the age of 93 years, 9 months, and 11 days.

Marcia was born in Sheridan, Missouri, to Charlie and Thelma Nelson. She spent her childhood getting into mischief with her older brothers while also helping care for her younger siblings. They gave her the nickname “Sitter” because her younger siblings couldn’t say sister, and the nickname stuck. Family was always an important part of Marcia’s life.

On January 7, 1949, Marcia married Calvin Henry. Together, they shared 52 years of marriage and built a life centered around family, hard work, and service to others. Marcia and Calvin moved to Colorado, where they raised their family.

Marcia earned her LPN license and worked at Loveland Hospital and in nursing homes, beginning a lifelong career of caring for others. She and Calvin also opened Rainbow Arts and Crafts, sharing their creativity with their community.

Later, Marcia and Calvin returned to Missouri to be closer to family. Marcia continued her education and earned her RN license. She also taught many years of nurse’s aide classes. Her love of helping people extended beyond nursing, as she opened Corner Café and Healthy U in Grant City, Missouri. It was through these business endeavors that she met her dear friend, Glenda, who became a cherished part of her life.

Marcia also co-founded Lakeview Assisted Living in King City, Missouri. Throughout her years as a nurse and caregiver, Marcia had a special kindness in her heart and a natural gift for taking care of others. Her compassion touched many lives, both professionally and personally.

Marcia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Calvin; her sons, Calvin Jr., Michael, and Jeffrey; her daughters, Laurie and Jennifer; and her grandson, Nathan.

She is survived by her daughters, Shelly Windham (Larry) and Cindy Cline (Randy); daughters-in-law, Debbie Henry, Deanna Henry, and Vivian Henry; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends who will remember her with love.

Marcia chose to donate her body to science, continuing her lifelong commitment to helping others and allowing others to learn. Even in death, she found a way to make a difference.

Marcia will be remembered for her loving heart and caring spirit. Her legacy will live on through her family, friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to know her.

Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, Missouri. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Inurnment will be at a later date.

HHS Announces $45 Million to Upgrade Rural Missouri Hospitals

The US Department of Health & Human Services announced Tuesday $45 million to upgrade rural Missouri hospitals. This money will support hospital infrastructure improvements, expand behavior and maternal healthcare access, and strengthen the rural emergency medical services workforce.

The announcement includes $35 million to support 20 rural hospital projects covering facility improvements, building system upgrades, purchasing new diagnostic equipment, and renovating critical care and treatment spaces.

It also includes $6.4 million to connect rural providers with behavioral health and perinatal specialists, including rapid psychiatric consultations, often within 30 minutes, for children and families, along with referral services, provider training, and additional support for pregnant and postpartum patients.

It also includes $4.2 million to grow Missouri's EMS workforce. The HHS announced that 437 individuals will begin funded EMT and paramedic training and incentives for rural agencies to hire and retain certified staff.