Chase Sims Hired as North Nodaway PE Teacher; Nathan Schoonover Resigns as Business Teacher

The North Nodaway School Board hired Chase Sims as a new PE Teacher for the 2026-27 school year. The board accepted the resignation of Nathan Schoonover as the Business Teacher at the end of the current school year.

Hired or rehired for the upcoming school year were Christi Fountain (Food Services Director), Kristi Stricker (MS/HS Building Secretary), Lindsay Alexander (Elementary Building Secretary), Chariza Gladman (Assistant Cook), Corey Everhart (Assistant Cook), Dustin Stringer (Bus Driver), Ron Thompson (Bus Driver), Angie Titus (Bus Driver), Halley Wilmes (Preschool Teacher), Kasey Drummond (Paraprofessional), Stephanie DeLeon (Paraprofessional), Emily Higgins (Paraprofessional), Haley Null (Paraprofessional), Bo Hansen (Maintenance Supervisor), Teresa Thompson (Elementary Custodian), Jerald Everhart (MS/HS Custodian), Nicki Herndon (Technology Coordinator), Linda Russell (District Nurse), and Tiffany Whipple (District Bookkeeper). Board member Stan Alexander abstained on the vote for Lindsay Alexander. All other votes were unanimous.

The board reorganized following the April election. Jennifer Clements, Stan Alexander, and Megan Roberts were sworn in. There was no election since there were three candidates and three positions open. The board named Jennifer Clements as President, Stan Alexander as Vice-President, Krista Barcus as MSBA Delegate, and Tiffany Whipple as Board Secretary and Treasurer.

The board voted to add Tristen Buss to the Substitute Teacher list.

The board voted to approve the bid from Chris Kiddo to refinish the big gym floors and put new wood flooring in the small gym at a cost of $63,150.

The board set the substitute daily pay rate at $120 and long-term substitute pay as $189.35.

The board approved 15 graduates for the school. They are Stetsyn Brown, Sadee Clapp, Blaine Clements, Jordan DeLeon, Laythen Ebrecht, Aryianna Jimenez, Emily Keho, Kaeden Nave, Landon Parman, Lacy Riley, Draven Rowland, Gannon Volner, Casey Wray, Jackie Wray, and Trevin Wyllie.

Elementary Principal Heather Townsend reported that the school conducted preschool screenings. There were 14 screenings. Five will be new to the program. There will be four returning and seven entering Kindergarten. There are three other families who have Kindergarteners coming in.

The Elementary Student Council hosted an Egg Extravagance. Contestants guessed how many jelly beans were in a jar, and the winner got $1 for each bean that was in the jar. The winner earned $106.

There was a building-wide egg hunt outside the playground on April 1st. Emberlynn Vinzant found the golden egg and won the stuffed peep.

High School Principal Cody Jenkins reported that MAP testing started April 21st and will run through May 6th. DARE graduation was held April 21st at the Big Gym. The North Nodaway Prom will be April 25th with the theme, “Glitz and Glam.” The Grand March will be at 6:30 pm and the Prom will be at 7:00 pm. The FFA Banquet will be April 29th at 6:30 pm in the Big Gym. The Fine Arts Night and Music Concert will be May 4th at 5:30 pm with the music concert at 6:30 pm. The Scholarship and Academic Banquet will be May 8th at 6:00 pm.

A National History Day competition will be April 25th in Columbia. Robbie Forney and Conner Reeves will be competing.

So far, ten students have signed up for Vo-Tech for next year.

Free sports physicals will be May 6th for all students currently in grades 5 through 11 who plan to participate in MSHSAA athletic activities. Physicals must be on file for students to play or practice in MSHSAA sanctioned sports.

The last day of school for seniors will be May 8th if they are going on the Senior Trip. If they are not going, the last day will be May 15th.

Superintendent Chris Turpin reported that the school is looking into switching the elementary AC/heating to a simpler system. Currently, it costs $1,000 for the technician just to show up plus $255/hour and a $250 trip charge.

A Comprehensive School District Improvement Plan meeting was held on April 8th. Goals will be raising reading and math scores, improving school culture, enduring college and/or career readiness, and improving parent communication.

The Pickering sign is ordered and the DOT has approved the location. It will take 5-6 weeks to build.

All buses passed their recent Highway Patrol inspection.

The board named extra duty assignments for the upcoming school year. Dallas Giedd will return as the Head Football Coach for Platte Valley, which North Nodaway is a part of. Other assignments include Sami Jackson (Athletic Director), Jody Thompson (Volleyball), Karissa Oberhauser (Assistant Volleyball), Lindsay Alexander (Junior High Volleyball), Chariza Gladman (Assistant Junior High Volleyball), Cody Bix (Boys Basketball), Sami Jackson (Girls Basketball), Chase Sims (Assistant Boys Basketball), Madison (Thompson) Geib (Assistant Girls Basketball), Audrey Trimble (Junior High Girls Basketball), Cody Bix (Baseball), Chase Sims (Cross Country), Ashley Marriott (High School and Junior High Basketball Cheer), Emily Higgins (Flag), Cameron Morrison (A+), Victor West and Emily Bix (Senior Class Sponsors), Cindy Martin and Reid Hart (Junior Class Sponsors), Cameron Morrison (High School Student Council), Reid Hart (Middle School Student Council), Tiffany Whipple (School Paper), Emily Bix (High School Play), Kyle Fitzgerald (Instrumental & Vocal Music), Troy Nally (FFA), Emily Bix (Middle School and High School Scholar Bowl), Chase Sims and Sami Jackson (Weightlifting), Emily Bix (National Honor Society), Heather Townsend (Special Ed Coordinator), Cameron Morrison (District Test Coordinator), Linda Russell (Elementary Student Council), Sami Jackson (Elementary Lead Teacher), Troy Nally (MS/HS Lead Teacher), and Reid Hart (History Day).

Reid Hart, Cindy Martin, and Kyle Fitzgerald are unpaid sophomore sponsors.

 

Worth County Hires New Bus Driver, Reorganizes Board

The Worth County School Board reorganized following the April election. Adam Downing, Jared Harding, and Michael Mullock were sworn in after they had run unopposed. The board named Tish Warner as President, Brad Maudlin as Vice-President, Amanda Gilland as Treasurer, and Christy Scadden as Secretary.

The board also hired Amber Monticue as a new bus driver. The district still has an opening for a route bus driver and a custodian.

The third grade teachers shared about the progress their students were making throughout the year.

Elementary Principal Amber Hawk reported that all parent/teacher conferences had at least an 89% participation rate by parents.

Third and Fourth graders went to the Northwest Missouri State University Recycling Center. Pre-K and K will be going to Inspire U May 5th. First through third grades will be going to the Remington Nature Center and Bode Arena on May 13th. Fourth through sixth graders will go to Belt Entertainment in St. Joseph. Fifth graders will go to the annual Fishing Clinic on May 4th at the Seat Farm. Students who get sent to the office after April 27th will not be allowed to go on the class field trip.

An elementary career day will be held at the school on April 21st.

A MAP kickoff party will be held Wednesday, April 22nd. Testing for elementary students will  be April 23rd.

The Worth County Elementary Spring Concert will be May 6th at 6:00 pm in the High School Gym. Elementary Track Day will be Friday, May 8th starting at 8:30 am. Pre-K Graduation will be held on May 14th at 6:00 pm in the Multipurpose room. An awards day will be held in the High School Gym May 14th starting at 8:30 am.

High School Principal Josh Smith reported on some of the things students have been learning. Geometry students have been making constructions using geometric figures. 8th grade math students have been working with two dimensional figures. Ag Science I students have been identifying hand tools and learning their proper function and safe use.

The sophomores won the March Attendance Challenge with an attendance rate of 95.93%. They were followed by the juniors and then the freshmen.

The school is seeking to build a storage building on the south end of the high school gym during the summer. The school is also seeking to do concrete work.

For summer school, the school will offer credit recovery for students from grades 7-12. The board hired Merry Spiers and Kelley Ross and will pay them a stipend of $2,025 each.

 

 

 

Leroy Gillespie 1939-2026

 Leroy Dean Gillespie, age 86, Stanberry, Missouri, formerly of Pattonsburg, Missouri died Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the Mosaic Medical Center in Albany, Missouri.

Leroy was born October 23, 1939 in Bethany, Missouri.  He was the son of Garvin Avory and Winifred Charline (Craig) Gillespie.

Leroy was a graduate of Bethany Southwest High School, Bethany.

He was united in marriage to Nina Mae (Robertson) on November 18, 1975.  Leroy and Nina enjoyed 50 years of married life together.

Leroy was a truck driver for most of his life.  He also enjoyed working at many other jobs if someone needed help.

He was preceded in death by his parents Garvin (2/9/1983) and Winifred (9/2/2008), and an infant sister.

His survivors include Wife Nina of the home, children Peggy (Bill) Evans and family, Donnie Gillespie and family, Linda (Rick) Atkison and family, Kim (Tom) Miller and family, two step-sons James (Thaila) Robertson and family, 

Don (Hilary) Robertson and family, host of other friends and loved ones.

Leroy has been cremated under the care of the Hann Funeral Home, Grant City, Missouri.  Memorial graveside services will be held at a later date in the White Oak Cemetery (White Oak Union Church) New Hampton, Missouri.

Arrangements: andrewshannfuneralhome.com

Tate Richardson Goes Deep, Shuts Down Stanberry for Shamrocks' Third Win

North Harrison's baseball team got off to a promising start with wins over North Nodaway and South Harrison. Then, the bubble burst and they fell 14-4 to St. Joseph Christian. Then, they had to endure a long layoff of 18 days, with cancellations and rainouts piling up. But finally, they got on the field Tuesday, April 14th and they beat Stanberry 13-1, showing no ill effects from the layoff. Tate Richardson pitched the Shamrocks to their third win of the year and went deep.

Stanberry struck first in the top of the first when Brant Jensen reached first on a dropped fly ball by Landon Johnson and then stole second. Vincent Smithson singled to center and Jensen was safe at home to put Stanberry up 1-0. 

The Shamrocks manufactured a run in the second when Wyatt Maize walked to lead off the inning. Maize stole second and Kellan Craig grounded out to advance him to third. Landon Johnson grounded out to allow Maize to score to tie it at 1-1.

North Harrison had shown some rust in the first two innings from their 18-day layoff, but Tate Richardson sparked them in the third when he lined a home run over the right field fence to put the Shamrocks in front 2-1. Ryker Fortner walked and stole second, took third on a passed ball, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher to make it 3-1. Andrew Craig singled to restart the Shamrocks and took second on a passed ball. Dustin Hamilton beat out a bunt hit and Wyatt Maize walked to load the bases. Landon Johnson walked to force in a run to make it 4-1. Kyler Kimbrough crushed a double to center after a seven-pitch at bat to score Hamilton and Maize to make it 6-1 as Johnson took third. 

Tate Richardson walked to start the Shamrock fourth, and Ryker Fortner was plunked. The Bulldogs should have been out of the inning as Gage Fortner lined out and Andrew Craig flied out. But Dustin Hamilton walked to keep the inning alive. Wyatt Maize walked to force in a run to make it 7-1. Kellan Craig singled to score Dustin Hamilton and Ryker Fortner to make it 9-1 as Wyatt Maize took third. Kellan Craig took second on defensive indifference. Landon Johnson singled to left as Wyatt Maize scored to make it 10-1 and Kellan Craig took third. Landon Johnson took second on defensive indifference. Kyler Kimbrough got his second hit as Kellan Craig and Landon Johnson scored to make it 12-1. Kyler Kimbrough took second on defensive indifference. Tate Richardson reached on an error as Kimbrough took third. Kimbrough scored on an error to make it 13-1.

Tate Richardson allowed only two hits and one walk in the win. He struck out nine batters. 

North Harrison Junior High Boys Collect 19 at South Harrison

North Harrison’s junior high boys collected 19 team points at the South Harrison meet Monday. The girls collected 10.

For the boys, Jhet Rinehart was sixth in the High Jump with a height of 1.55 meters. Eli Jacobs was eighth in the Pole Vault with a height of 2.13 meters.  Scotty Briggs was sixth in the Triple Jump with a jump of 9.46 meters. Jhet Rinehart was sixth in the 100 Hurdles with a time of 19.64. Eli Jacobs was seventh in the 1600 with a time of 6:18.13.  Scotty Briggs was sixth in the 400 with a time of 1:01.83.  The 4x400 was fifth with a time of 4:29.82.

For the girls, Tayley Johnson was fourth in the Pole Vault with a height of 1.83 meters. Draylee Davis was fifth with a height of 1.68 meters. Tayley Johnson was eighth in the Triple Jump with a jump of 8.01 meters. The 4x100 was eighth with a time of 1:01.96.

 

Junior High Mustang Boys Collect 19 Points at Squaw Creek

North Nodaway’s junior high boys collected 19 points Monday at the Squaw Creek Relays in Mound City, while the girls collected 10.

Gannon Stricker was fifth in the Shot Put with a throw of 10.55 meters. He was sixth in the Discus with a throw of 26.78 meters. Tristen Wray was fourth in the 1600 with a time of 5:46.69. Trenton Roberts was fifth in the 800 with a time of 2:38.35 while McClellan Clements was seventh with a time of 2:40.91.  The 4x400 Relay Team was eighth with a time of 4:49.62.

Arianna Owens had the highlight for the girls as she won the 1600 with a time of 5:56.91.

 

Varsity Bluejay Boys Break School Record in 4x400

Northeast Nodaway’s varsity boys broke the school record in the 4x400 Relay Friday in Stanberry as the team of Bentin Roberts, Liam Cordell, Wyatt Scadden, and Jude Archer finished fifth with a time of 3:53.97. The previous record was set on April 4th, 2014 at the Fayette Relays with a time of 3:54.5.