Area Courthouse, Police, and Crime Reports for June 17th, 2026

On June 3rd, Nodaway County Associate Circuit Judge Robert Rice ordered the extradition of Constance Goodrich (40) of Skidmore to Ringgold County to face a Probation Violation charge.

On June 6th, WHO-13 reported that a West Des Moines man was reported missing at around 10:50 am that day near Sun Valley Lake in Ringgold County. The search continued all day. The body of the missing man was recovered the morning of June 7th and identified as Ronald Brown (70) of West Des Moines. This is in addition to the body that was recovered from a lake near Lenox.

On June 9th, a Ravenwood woman posted on Facebook that people were using her driveway to turn around, creating tracks from 6-12 inches deep.

On June 9th, Richard Rowlett (55) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to charges of DWI and Violation of Protection Order. He was placed on two years probation by Judge Robert Rice.

On June 9th, Harrison Galbreath (25) of Kansas City pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to charges of DWI and Defective Bumper on Vehicle. He was fined $500 plus costs and placed on two years probation by Judge Robert Rice. Defendant must complete SATOP and the Midwest Victim Impact Program.

On June 9th, Dillon Russell (19) of Barnard pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to charges of DWI and Defective Bumper on Vehicle. He was fined $500 plus costs and placed on two years probation by Judge Robert Rice. Defendant must complete SATOP and the Midwest Victim Impact Program.

On June 9th, KJAN reported that a Kellerton man, Andrew John Sickles, was arrested for Assault by the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department. Bond was set at $1,000 cash or corporate surety, posted by the defendant. He was issued a no-contact order.

On June 10th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Mikkaela Moore (38) of Stanberry alleging Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Felony). Bond was set at $10,000, cash or corporate surety.

On June 10th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Damian Roush (23) of Worth alleging Possession of Child Pornography (Felony) and Furnishing Pornographic Material to Minor (Felony), Bond was set at $7,500, cash or corporate surety. Defendant may not be within 500 feet of the residence or school of the victim. Defendant must wear GPS device. Defendant must serve house arrest unless attending court, meeting his attorney, or going to verified employment.

On June 10th, United Electric reported delays in restoring power to some customers following a recent storm because a national telecommunications company did not locate its lines within the proper timeframe. As a result, United Electric’s linemen had to hand-dig pole locations in the heat to ensure that underground lines were not damaged.

On June 10th, Nodaway County Circuit Judge Corey Herron recalled Christopher Wiederholt (66) of Conception Junction from the Missouri Department of Corrections and placed him on probation for five years effective August 4th following completion of a long-term treatment program.

On June 11th, WHO-TV reported that strong winds, heavy rain, and hail damaged much of the town and surrounding area in just a 15-minute span between 6:30 am and 6:45 am. Roofs were ripped off businesses, trees fell onto homes, and powerlines snapped as winds were over 70 mph. KJAN quoted Omaha weather officials as saying the storm may have been a derecho like the one that caused over $1 billion in damages to Iowa a few years back. Downstream, the West Fork jumped the bank near Isadora, closing Route A at one point.

On June 11th, the Bedford Times-Press reported that nearly three inches of rain in Bedford flooded the baseball and softball fields, Merry Flat Playground, and creeks and fields. Two semis were partially underwater at Hawhee’s Truck Repair.

On June 11th, someone dumped trash in the dumpster at the Hopkins Ballpark.

On June 11th, Big Creek jumped the bank west of Bethany and Road #310 near the bridge there was not drivable.

On June 12th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Randall Sego (60) of Stanberry alleging DWI (Felony). Bond was set at $5,000, cash or corporate surety.

On June 12th, Harrison County Prosecutor Michael Wulff filed charges against Nathan Leavy (32) of Excelsior Springs alleging Financial Exploitation of Elderly Person.

On June 12th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Mylee Pfleiderer (20) of Maryville alleging Hindering a Prosecution (Felony) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Felony). Bond was set at $30,000, cash or corporate surety.

On June 12th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Austin Kent (32) of Maryville alleging Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Felony), Hindering a Prosecution (Felony), and Unlawful Possession of Firearm (Felony). Bond was set at $30,000, cash or corporate surety. Subsequently, on June 13th, Prosecutor Dieter filed charges against Kent alleging Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony).

On June 12th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Kyndra Trail (19) of St. Joseph alleging Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Felony) and Hindering a Prosecution (Felony). Bond was set at $30,000, cash or corporate surety.

On June 12th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Macio Harris (29) of Maryville alleging Distribution of Controlled Substance in Protected Location (Felony), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Felony), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Felony), and Possession of Weapon and Controlled Substance (Felony). Bond was denied.

On June 12th, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department reported that at 2:54 pm, they received a 911 call regarding a fisherman who went underwater at Wilson Lake near Lenox. Lenox Fire units, Taylor County Ambulance, and the Midwest Dive Team responded. At 3:16 pm, members of the Lenox Fire Department removed a man from the waters, Lifesaving measures were given but were unsuccessful.

On June 12th, Nodaway County Circuit Judge Corey Herron issued a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Christopher Cash (42) of St. Joseph. The defendant had been charged in Nodaway County with Stealing. Subsequently, the defendant picked up new charges in Buchanan County, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Fleeing (Felony), and was sentenced to two years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

On June 14th, KWCH-TV reported that 12 people were killed in a plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport south of Kansas City at around 11:30 am.

On June 14th, Harrison County Prosecutor Michael Wulff filed charges against Daniel Score (39) of Bethany alleging Property Damage (Felony), DWI (Felony), No Valid License (Felony), and Careless & Imprudent Driving. Bond was set at $75,000.

On June 15th, Jordan Emerson (33) of Powhattan (KS) pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Circuit Court to a charge of Harassment (Felony). He was placed on five years probation by Judge Corey Herron.

On June 15th, Nathan Brown (37) of Skidmore pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Circuit Court to a charge of Failure to Register as Sex Offender (Felony). He was placed on five years probation by Judge Corey Herron.

On June 16th, Harrison County Prosecutor Michael Wulff filed charges against Felicia Campbell (38) of St. Joseph and Eddie Garza alleging Property Damage (Felony) and Stealing (Felony). Bond was set at $10,000.

On June 16th, Nodaway County Associate Circuit Judge Robert Rice ordered the extradition of Joseph Gilligan (21) of Maryville to Warren County (IA) to face charges of Domestic Assault, Harassment, and Criminal Mischief.

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 June 17th, 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

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

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

June 17^th – Worth County School Board Meeting, 7:30 am.

June 18^th – Worth County residents and people from surrounding communities are invited to a listening session with the Missouri Bar at the Worth County Courthouse from 9 am to noon. The Bar is seeking feedback regarding access to legal services, especially in rural communities.

June 18^th – Father’s Day BBQ, Oak Pointe, 5:00 pm.

June 19^th – Juneteenth. No mail delivery. The Worth County Courthouse and offices will be closed.

June 19^th – Denver City Council Meeting, 9:00 am, Denver Schoolhouse.

June 19^th to 20^th – Old Defiance Days and Sheridan Rodeo. Rodeo 7:30 pm each night. Parade on June 20^th at 10:30 am.

June 20^th – Grant City Baptist Church Car Show, 10 am.

June 20^th – $1,000 gun shop credit raffle sponsored by the Sheridan Fire Department. Receive a $1,000 credit towards a gun of your choice at Loaded Gun & Pawn Shop. Drawing will be held June 20^th at the Sheridan Rodeo. You do not have to be present to win. Tickets $10 each or six for $50. If interested, contact any Sheridan Fire Department member for tickets. Must go to the local gun shop and complete all required background checks and paperwork according to law. Must be 18 or over. For more information, contact Jake Holmes (660) 254-3571.

June 20^th – Mike Henggeler Father’s Day Memorial Baseball Tournament, Stanberry ball fields, 8 am. Entry $150 per team; limit six teams for two divisions. First division – ages 9U to 12U. Second division – ages 13U to 16U. $150 per team. To enter, contact titletownevents@gmail.com. All proceeds will be donated directly to the Henggeler family.

June 20^th – Harrison County Community Hospital ribbon cutting and open house for new building, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

June 20^th – Lt. Bryan Arnold Poker Run, 12 noon, Pappi’s Palooza, Barnard.

June 20^th – Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament, The Pub, 1 pm. 50% of buy-ins will go towards top three finishers. The other 50% will go to the Maryville Downtown Improvement Organization.

June 20^th – Maloy Summer Solstice party. Festivities begin at 4 pm in the City Park. Pot Luck supper at 6pm. Folk dancing, bonfire, food, drinks, and music.

June 21^st -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. $10 minimum donation per person. Children six and under are free. Proceeds to the Heart of America Tractor Club to benefit various juvenile charities in Northwest Missouri.

June 21^st – Stanberry Antique Car Show, 9 am, Downtown City Park.

June 21^st – Sol Deo Gloria in concert at Isadora Church of Christ at 11:00 am and Ravenwood Christian Church at 6:00 pm.

June 21^st – Sheridan Express Cooperative Board Meeting, 5:00 pm, Sheridan Housing Laundry Room.

June 23^rd to 25^th – Northwest Missouri Regional Grazing School, Hundley/Whaley, Albany, 8 am to 4 pm each day. Cost $140 per attendee, $70 for additional member of the same farming operation. Maximum of two attendees per operation. Lunch is included for three days.

June 23^rd – Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry, Eagleville City Hall, 10:00 am. Free and open to the public regardless of income.

June 24^th – Worth County Care & Rehab Board Meeting, 6:00 pm.

June 25^th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

June 27^th – Heart of America Tractor Cruise starts at the Maryville Community Center at 8:00 am.

June 27^th – Worth County Progress Organization Golf Tournament, 2:00 pm. A portion of proceeds will support the 4^th of July display.

June 27^th – Albany Rhythm & Roots Festival. Gates open at 5 pm.

June 27^th – Worth County Class of 1981 is having its 45 year class reunion at the A&G Restaurant in Maryville at 6:00 pm.

June 27^th – Jesse & The Medicine Men, Big Bend Bar & Grille, Sun Valley Lake, Ellston (IA), 7 pm.

June 27^th – Talent Show, Roxy Theater, 7:00 pm. All ages welcome. Pre-signup required; contact Kary Owens (660) 562-0462 or Cameron Morrison (660) 254-3754. Sets must be five minutes or less. Music acts must provide own music. Speaker system provided with plug-in for jacks, USBC, and iPhone.

June 27^th – Rock the Ville, Maryville, 8 pm to 12 midnight.

June 28^th – Ravenwood CBC Breakfast, 8:00 am to 12 noon.

July 1^st to 3^rd – Gilman City Girls Basketball Camp. First through fifth graders from 8:00 to 9:30 am. Sixth through eighth graders from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Open to all girls from 1^st through 8^th grade 2026-27 from Gilman City or Tri-County. Cost is $30 per player; shirt included. To enter, email keoff@gilman.k12.mo.us.

July 1^st to 3^rd – Grant City Christian Church VBS, 10 am to noon, Grant City Pool Park. For grades Pre-K through 8^th grade. Free to attend. Bring swimming attire, towel, and sunscreen. Theme: Blast Off – How Big is Our God?

July 3^rd – Worth County Tractor Cruise. The cruise will visit all five towns in Worth County. The cruise will start at the Worth County Fairgrounds, travel to Allendale, then the Denver Schoolhouse Museum. It will go to Worth and have lunch at the 169 Club, then proceed to Sheridan and return to the Fairgrounds.

July 3^rd – Fireworks show in Allendale at sunset.

July 4^th – Allendale Fourth of July Breakfast, 7:00 am.

July 4^th – Dedication of the Veterans Wall, Grant City Square, 11 am. The display will recognize all six branches of the US Armed Forces as well as the US and Missouri flags.

July 4^th – Grant City Golf Course Fourth of July Golf Tournament, 1:00 pm.

July 4^th – Free swim, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Grant City Pool.

July 4^th – Grant City Fireworks Show at sunset.

July 5^th -- Legion Breakfast, Parnell Legion Hall, 8 am.

July 6^th to 10^th – Swimming Pool Lessons at the Grant City Pool. Group 1 at 10 am each morning. Group 2 at 11:00 am each morning. $25 per participant. Must be 5 or older.

July 7^th – Gentry/Worth Livestock Show, Willford Center Livestock Pavilion, Albany.

July 8^th – Voter Registration Deadline for August 4^th Primary Election.

July 9^th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

July 9^th – Nodaway County Celebrity Steer Show, 5:00 pm, Nodaway County Community Building, 25669 Hawk Road, Maryville.

July 11^th – Fireman’s Breakfast, Eagleville Firehouse, 7 am to 10 am. Free will donation.

July 11^th – Eagleville Car Show, Eagleville Square, in memory of the late Cynthia Owens. Registration 8:00 am. No entry fee. Prizes at 2:00 pm. Fireworks at dusk.

July 11^th – Parnell Duck Days Whiffle Ball Tournament, Parnell City Park. Registration 1:30 pm. First games 2:00 pm. Teams consist of six players ages 8 and up. Each team may have up to three additional players under 8 years old. Cost $30/team. To enter, contact Autumn Burns (660) 254-5515.

July 12^th – Brad Peve Memorial Poker Run, 33658 Highway NN, Hopkins, 1:00 pm. $5 per hand, $20 whole sheet.

July 16^th – Bedford Truck & Tractor Pull with Nebraska Bush Pullers, 2715 Linwood Avenue, Bedford, 7:00 pm.

July 17^th to 18^th – Hopkins/Pickering Citywide Garage Sales.

July 18^th – Benefit for Jacob Walter, former DOT maintenance barn, Barnard, 5:00 pm. Free will donation dinner, live auction, dancing. If you cannot be there but wish to donate, mail checks to Bank Northwest, 217 East Main, Stanberry, MO 64489. Make all checks payable to Pappi’s Palooza Benefit. All donations are tax deductible.

July 19^th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Post 464 veterans programs.

July 20^th to 24^th – Cave Quest Vacation Bible School. 6:00 pm each night, Hopkins Christian Church. Sponsored by the Hopkins Christian and Methodist Churches.

July 23^rd -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

July 24^th to 26^th – Newsies Jr. summer play sponsored by the Maryville Young Players, a group of kids from grades 2 through 9. First show July 24^th at 7:00 pm. Second show Saturday, July 25^th at 2:00 pm. Third show July 25^th at 7:00 pm. Fourth show Sunday, July 26^th at 2:00 pm. All shows to be performed at the Schneider Center for the Performing Arts in Maryville.

July 25^th – Dueling Pianos, Big Time Entertainment, Roxy Theater, 7 pm to 9 pm.

July 26^th -- Ravenwood CBC Breakfast, 8:00 am to 12 noon.

July 27^th – Last day to submit petitions to run as an independent candidate for the November 3^rd election, 5:00 pm.

July 31^st – Mozingo Lake Golf Tournament, 11 am. Proceeds will benefit Cameron Veterans Home. Limited to 36 teams on a first come, first served basis. To register, contact Alison Dredge (816) 649-1622.

August 2^nd to 6^th – American Junior Golf Association Junior Golf Tournament, Mozingo Lake. A 54-hole championship for ages 12-19.

August 2^nd – Jerry Litton Legacy of Dreams. A special event being planned in Chillicothe at the Litton Agri-Science Learning Center, 10780 Livingston County Road 235 in memory of the late congressman, who died in a plane crash 50 years ago. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 2:00 pm.

August 4^th – Primary Election Day for Missouri. Polls open 6:00 am and close at 7:00 pm.

August 6^th to 8^th – Fur Takers of America National Trapping & Homesteading Convention, Macon County Fairgrounds, Macon. Starting at 6:00 pm on August 6^th with a kickoff concert. Admission $20 for the weekend; veterans and kids 15 & under free. Campaign available at $20/night (primitive) or $40/night (full hookup). Meals available on-site.

August 7^th to 8^th – Blythedale Free Fair.

August 16^th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Cameron Veterans Home.

August 29^th – Stampede the Ville.

September 3^rd to 7^th – Northwest Missouri State Fair, Bethany.

September 5^th – “Exploring the Dark” Hike, Crowder State Park, Trenton, 9 pm to 10 pm. Free and open to the public. Guided tour of the park. Bring water and closed-toe shoes.

September 12^th – Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition 5K Run/2K walk. Registration 7 am; run starts at 7:30 am and lasts until 12 noon. Free resources will be available from the VA, and a VA specialist will be on site. Cost $20. To RSVP, contact Jeremy Baker (660) 254-5311. Shirts are available; to order, contact Jeremy Baker by August 12^th. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please contact the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988.

September 18^th to 19^th – Turkey Run Flea Market and Swap Meet. 12 noon to 6 pm September 18^th; 8 am to 6 pm September 19^th. Anything tradable welcome from homemade goods, antiques, tools, toys, clothes, livestock, vehicles, auto parts, crafts, food vendors, and more. Space: $15. Electric Hookups: $25. Camper: $45. After September 7^th, add $5. If interested, call Adam Emery (660) 541-2984 or Sarah Emery (660) 853-0141.

September 20^th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Sons of the American Legion Post 464.

October 3^rd – 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 13^th – Hopkins Historical Society Fall Meeting, 7:00 pm.

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Draft of Data Center Study Released to Water District

A draft of the feasibility study that was commissioned by the Nodaway County Rural Water District has been given to the board, the District announced at its regular meeting Monday. The board members will review the study and then it will be released to the public following approval.

The study looked at four options regarding data center development for the proposed facility south of Maryville. The first was drawing water out of the 102 River. Scale Microgrids, the developer of the project, requested 12,000 to 15,000 gallons of water per day for domestic use by the employees and 70,000 galloons a day for production and industrial usage. The center would be responsible for complying with DNR, EPA, and District standards.

The study in question looked at the following options:

--Expansion of District infrastructure to allow the volume to come from Maryville;

--Increasing the scope and costs to allow the center to piggyback onto the nearby Evergy project, which is drawing water from Andrew County;

--Using wastewater presently discharged from the City of Maryville, then piping it back to Maryville for discharge into the 102;

--Drawing directly from the 102. This could bypass Water District input, but would then make it subject to Army Corp of Engineers regulations.

Some options have already been ruled out. One is digging for groundwater. The other option ruled out was drawing water from the Missouri River.

The study is paid for by Scale Microgrids and conducted by an outside agency with oversight from Brock Pfost.

Around 50 people were present, several of whom spoke at the meeting Monday. Board President Dean Adwell had participants limit their speeches to five minutes. “We’re all adults here,” he said.

Jennifer Gillespie said that her family had lived near where the proposed project would be built and that they own 40 acres right next to where it would be built. She said that the reps at the public meeting at Mozingo were not there to ask for approval, but to make a sales pitch. She said that there were two data centers in Smithville, one in Platte County, and one planned for St. Joseph and that part of the goal was to train AI so that they could eventually take everyone’s jobs. “That’s pretty scary for our kids,” Ms. Gillespie said. She cited recurring concerns about light, water, and air pollution. “The elites can’t make water,” she said. She said that the proliferation of data centers was “like a disease spreading all over the US. Are you for profit, or are you for providing rural water,” she asked. “If this project is built, what happens to our rural water?”

Holly Caviness asked, “What guarantees will be have that we will have equal priority? What oversight and monitoring will you do if they draw from the 102? Will you commit to commissioning an independent study?”

Nancy Zeliff talked about what she saw as the lack of transparency and the secrecy. She said that Iowa, which has a lot of CAFO’s, has one of the top two or three cancer rates in the nation. “And we found this out 30 years after the fact,” she said. She said that Palo Alto County (IA), where she was originally from, had the highest cancer rate in the state and that Northern Iowa stinks because of the CAFO odor. She said that since she had gotten involved in the struggle against the data center, she had received notes of encouragement from people in Fairfax and Rock Port. She noted that Rock Port’s citizens had banded together to successfully stop a toxic waste incinerator from being built there in 1986. “70% of Americans don’t want data centers,” she asked.

Scott Wilson of Bolckow said he was not convinced that the wastewater method would be safe. Regarding the option to draw water from the City of Maryville, Mr. Wilson said, “It would not be popular to turn Mozingo Lake into a mud puddle.”

One of the arguments made against the proposed data center was that of Riparian rights, or the principle that people downstream have just as much right to water usage as people upstream. Speaking of the Bolckow water system, Mike Wilson, who is the father of Scott Wilson, said, “We pump millions of gallons of water to people. We don’t want it contaminated.” He noted that the study said nothing about the rights of downstream water users like the City of Bolckow.

Julie Nielson, who lives three miles from the proposed project, said that since noise affects cattle even more than humans and affects fertility by as much as 40%, it would harm their cattle operation. “This is cattle country, and future generations want to live here too,” she said. “We want to know what was said between you and the developer and why we weren’t included.”

Wayne Beatty is a sixth generation cattle producer who lives near the project. “You’re trying to turn this into crap,” he said. He feared the rise in heat near the data center, which he said could be between five and 25 degrees. “What if it’s 100 degrees out? If we fight this, we will still have our air, cattle, and water.”

“You haven’t said one thing; do you even care,” asked Jennifer Gillespie. “Either you are for it or against it. Would you want to live next to one? I know you guys enjoy the outdoors and conservation.”

At that point, people began answering questions about the project. Brock Pfost said that the focus of the district was on water and that the topic should stay on water. “I’ve lived here for over 60 years,” he said. Board President Dean Adwell said that they will take into account everyone’s comments and that they were not for the data center or against it; they were gathering information.

One topic that came up was that of droughts. While this has been one of the wettest years in recent memory, there has been a lot of drought in the area in recent years. If there were an extreme drought, under the district’s policy approved by the board, the water district would give service to residential households and the hospital first; they would be the last customers to be shut off in the event of such an emergency.

If the data center were to draw water directly from the 102, there would be the problem of what to do in the event of a major drought. “I can walk across the 102 during a drought,” Mr. Beatty said.

Mr. Pfost said that the district has a lot of contingency plans for droughts. They have alternative connections, including with Clarinda and Red Oak if the need ever arises. They are working on one in Atchison County where, if it goes through, would allow the district to use some underutilized water from Rock Port. They also own the pond south of Gentry that serves Grant City, Stanberry, and Parnell. The Rural Water District gets 90% of its water from Maryville, and the ongoing goal is to diversify its water sources in the event of an emergency.

The topic turned to the Evergy plant that is being built next to the proposed data center. It will use 90,000 gallons of water per day, and the water will be piped from Savannah through Andrew County Rural Water District #3 to the Nodaway County Rural Water District. Evergy will fund a tentative 95% of the costs to build the infrastructure. But Mr. Pfost said that the District has not signed an agreement with either the data center or Evergy regarding water service.

Nothing was on the agenda or voted on regarding the data center at Monday’s meeting. Nick Robb, who serves as the attorney for the Water District, said that before any action was taken, it would be put on the agenda and people would have an opportunity to weigh in. “All the board is doing is their due diligence regarding the project,” Mr. Robb said.

The Water District hooked up one new Nodaway County customer last month. They received 302 locate requests. Parnell had two pump stations taken down by lightning by the recent storm; they were replaced. The storm also had seven washouts. The Water District finished their 3” line to the Sheridan area and is in the process of hooking up 13 new customers.

While the Water District is on a sound financial footing, one area of concern is water rates. Maryville is raising its rate to the Water District by 50% effective January 1st, 2027 and by another 50% effective January 1st, 2028 to help pay for its new treatment plant. The water loss rate was 13% for May and is around 16% for the year.