Monday, November 28, 2016

Worth County Sheriff's Report

11-21 -- Person came in to get permit for a deer that was found on the road.
11-21 -- Person called about getting a report on a wreck.
11-21 -- Person came in for some questions on some papers.
11-21 -- Person called for an appointment to get a CCW done.
11-22 -- Some people came in to get a CCW.
11-22 -- Person came in for a CCW.
11-22 -- Person locked keys in their car and needed some help.
11-22 -- Person reported some horses out south of Allendale.
11-22 -- Person reported that horses were all put back.
11-23 -- Person came in for fingerprints for job.
11-23 -- Person called to report some cows out south of Allendale.
11-23 -- Person called to report cows were put back in.
11-25 -- Person needed advice on landlord.
11-25 -- Person came in to report a vandalism.
11-25 -- Officer assists Nodaway County on a domestic.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Bellevue (NE) Woman Seriously Injured After Wreck, Vehicle Catching Fire

A Bellevue (NE) woman was seriously injured last Tuesday after her vehicle caught fire. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2004 Hyundai Tiebron driven by Courtney Bybee (21) of Bellevue (NE) was westbound on 136 three miles west of Burlington Junction at around 10:30 am that morning when it hydroplaned on wet pavement. The vehicle crossed the center line, went off the south side, struck a ditch, overturned, and caught fire. Bybee was taken to Fairfax Community Hospital. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Obituary -- Lee Hansen 1936-2016

Lee Elbert Hansen, 80, Fairfax, MO, passed from this life on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at the Nodaway Nursing Home, Maryville, MO.

Lee was born on November 20, 1936, in Guthrie Center, IA. He resided in the Guthrie Center and Audubon, IA areas, until moving to the Fairfax, MO, area in 1947.

Lee was a row crop and cattle farmer all his life, and was active up until April of this year.
He graduated from the Ravenwood Missouri high school in 1955. He attended the Cowboy Church.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Bessie (Brown) Hansen; and his brother, Laverne Hansen.

On January 26, 1957, at the home of Rev. L.B. Day in Maryville,
Lee was united in marriage to Karen Mae Pitzenberger, she survives on the home.

Other survivors include his children, Darla Saxton and fiancee, Eric Huntsman, St. Joseph, MO, and Rick (Kathy) Hansen, Skidmore, MO; 2 brothers, Larry (Evelyn) Hansen, Sheridan, MO, and Lloyd (Donna) Hansen, Hopkins, MO; 3 grandchildren, Sonya (Chris) Rowlett, Kimberling City, MO, Shaun Saxton, Mound City, MO, and Peter Justin Reed, Fayetteville, AR; 3 great grandchildren, Dominique Randazzo, and Maverick Rowlett, both of Kimberling City, MO, Preston Saxton, Mound City, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Hansen's body has been cremated under the direction of the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO. No services are planned at this time.

For online condolences and guest book, visit www.bramfuneralhome.com

Monday, November 21, 2016

North Nodaway Basketball Schedule

Game times are 6 pm except for tournament games.
November 22nd – at North Harrison.
November 28th to December 3rd – Mound City Tournament.
December 6th – DeKalb.
December 9th – Northeast Nodaway.
December 13th – Mound City.
December 15th – East Harrison.
December 16th – Union Star.
December 20th – at South Nodaway.
January 3rd – at Rock Port.
January 6th – at Stewartsville.
January 9th to 14th – Fairfax Tournament.
January 17th – at Osborn.
January 20th – at Nodaway-Holt.
January 23rd to 28th – Northwest Missouri Tournament at Burlington Junction.
January 31st – Jefferson.
February 3rd – at East Atchison (Tarkio).
February 7th – at Worth County.
February 10th – South Holt.
February 16th – at West Nodaway.

North Harrison Junior High Tournament Schedule for Worth County

November 28th – Worth County Girls vs. Albany, 4:45 pm.
November 28th – Worth County Boys vs. Albany, 6:00 pm.
November 29th – Worth County Girls vs. North Harrison, 7:15 pm.
November 29th – Worth County Boys vs. North Harrison, 8:30 pm.
December 1st – Worth County Girls vs. Princeton, 4:45 pm.
December 1st – Worth County Boys vs. Princeton, 6:00 pm.

NEN Basketball Schedule

Game times at 6 pm unless otherwise noted.
November 22nd – Albany.
November 28th to December 2nd – Platte Valley Tournament at Osborn.
December 6th – Nodaway-Holt.
December 8th – at Stanberry.
December 9th – at North Nodaway.
December 13th – at East Atchison (Tarkio).
December 16th – Rock Port.
December 20th – at South Holt.
January 6th – at West Nodaway.
January 9th to 14th – South Harrison Tournament.
January 17th – Mound City.
January 20th – Jefferson.
January 23rd to 28th – Gilman City Tournament.
January 31st – Stewartsville.
February 3rd – at South Nodaway.
February 7th – Union Star.
February 10th – at Osborn.
February 13th – at Worth County.
February 16th – DeKalb.

Worth County Basketball Schedule

Game Times are 6 pm except tournament games. Does not include JV times.
November 22nd – Princeton.
November 28th to December 3rd – Albany Tournament.
December 5th – at South Nodaway.
December 9th – East Harrison.
December 13th – at North Andrew.
December 16th – at St. Joseph Christian.
December 19th – Mount Ayr.
January 3rd – Stanberry.
January 6th – Braymer (Courtwarming).
January 9th to 14th – Stanberry Tournament.
January 17th – at Albany.
January 20th – at Pattonsburg.
January 23rd to 28th – Northwest Missouri Tournament at Burlington Junction.
January 31st – King City.
February 2nd – GRC East vs. West at East School (Boys).
February 3rd – GRC East vs. GRC West at East School (Girls).
February 7th – North Nodaway.
February 13th – Northeast Nodaway.
February 14th – at North Harrison.
February 16th – at South Harrison.
February 20th to 25th – Districts.

Worth County Sheriff's Report

11-15 – Two ladies came in to see sheriff and left some papers.
11-16 – Person called about missing cattle.
11-17 – A trucking company called on a missing truck.
11-17 – Ringgold County called about a prisoner.
11-18 – A person called about two dogs showing up at their house.
11-18 – Person called about two men in dark blue van walking around their yard.
11-18 – Person in about tractor vandalism.
11-20 – Person called for help unlocking a car. Called Mr. Green to go unlock it.

Worth County School Audit Showed Small Surplus for Previous Year

The Worth County School showed a small $17,804 surplus in the previous school year in the general fund. This was according to the audit report that was presented to the board at the school board meeting Thursday. The report was prepared by Westbrook & Company, which successfully bid on the project and which has been auditing the school for the last few years. The school had $1,163,491 in general fund reserves on July 1st, , compared to $1,145,687 in the previous year. The school transferred $150,000 from the general fund to the Capital Projects Fund, which has $880,472. This includes the $500,000 that the school received from the voter-approved bond issue to redo the gym and parking lot and perform needed maintenance work.

During the school year, the school received $3,720,240 in revenues. This includes $1,684,043 in local revenues, $214,957 in county revenues, $1,517,750 in state revenues, $272,406 in federal revenues, and $31,084 in other revenue sources. Expenses include $1,919,359 in instruction, $120,387 in student services, $178,372 in instructional staff support, $167,307 in general administration and central services, $196,921 in building administration, $262,519 in operational costs, $215,278 in food service expenses, $88,601 in community services, $19,678 in facility acquisition and construction, and $106,352 in debt service principal and interest.  Total expenses were $3,537,548. The total surplus across all four funds, not counting bond money, was $182,692.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

One Injured in Wreck Near Maryville

One person was injured in a wreck near Maryville Friday. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 1994 Jeep driven by David James (31) of Maryville was westbound on 250th street two miles east of Maryville at around 10:10 pm when it traveled off the north side of the roadway. The vehicle struck a ditch. James was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured in the accident. A passenger, Rian Osborn (33) of Stanberry, was wearing a seatbelt and received moderate injuries. He was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Maryville.

Allendale Member Sought for Worth County Care & Rehab Board

An Allendale member is being sought to serve on the Worth County Care & Rehab Board. Interested parties must reside in either Smith or North Allen (Denver) Township. If interested, parties may contact either Administrator Bev Miller or board members Scott Houk, Susan Gladstone Tucker, Jeff Thummel, Jim Larson, or Suzi Spainhower.

In addition, the positions of board members Scott Houk and Susan Gladstone Tucker are up for reelection. Houk’s seat covers Greene (Oxford) and East Union (Isadora) Townships. Tucker’s covers South Allen (Denver) and Middlefork (Worth) Townships. Election notices will run in next week’s Sheridan Express. The election for those seats is April 2017.

The facility currently has had a census of 20 residents and one Medicare Part A customer. A drop in residents down to 14 caused alarm at one point earlier this year, but the census has since recovered.
The facility participated in the recent Worth Treatin’ celebration and had 196 kids stop by. There were other trick or treaters coming by on Halloween Night and residents handed out candy.

Administrator Bev Miller reported that the facility plans to do fill work on the west side of the building.

A holiday dinner is scheduled for December 4th this year.

The facility is working with the VA so that they can get paid when they accept a VA patient.

Five Taking EMT Training for Worth County

Five new people are taking EMT classes to become EMT’s for Worth County. Thursday night was orientation night, and classes will continue through February. They are taught by current EMT’s Jean Hanks, Phillip Hanks, and Sherri Runde. Albany and Stanberry have agreed to provide ride-alongs as part of their training. Prospective EMT’s must pass a state test with a score of at least 80%. The EMT is a volunteer service; the goal is to have at least two people on call at all times.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Worth County Principal Honored for Work with Vets

Worth County High School Principal Jon Adwell was honored for his work with veterans Thursday during the regular Board of Education Meeting by Board President Rodney Brown and the Worth County VFW Auxiliary. The school put together a successful Veterans Day Program last year, something that they plan to offer every other year. They did some educational activities for students this year. The junior high history classes visited the war memorial at the Courthouse, while high school classes did in-class projects and videos that they reviewed.

The board set filing times for this year. Three school board slots are up for reelection. Filing will begin on December 13th starting at 8 am and closing on January 17th at 5 pm at the Board Secretary’s office. The office will be closed from December 22nd to January 3rd due to the Christmas break and in the event of inclement weather.

The Vocational Education program was rated as Above Average by Superintendent Dr. Matt Martz. Strengths included the fact that most students see the program as a positive part of their education at Worth County. 104 out of 166 students participate; this data may be skewed because some students take more than one course at a time. Teachers are trained in the vocational areas of business and agriculture. Concerns listed include the need for more courses as well as the staffing and schedule. Recommendations include surveying local and area businesses along with parents and reviewing the high school schedule to see if more opportunities can be offered.

Dr. Martz updated the board on the bond project. Tuckpointing is complete, as are the bleachers. Gym flooring has to complete filling in the space created with the kick plates. There is a small area to repair by the library sidewalk. As soon as these projects are complete, the school will conduct a final inspection with ConEdison, which managed the project. The goal is to close out the project by the end of November.

Work on the library expansion project has started. The footings have been completed and rerouting of the roof drainage has been completed. Goff Construction will receive the materials on around December 15th.

The school received $1,400 from the Kenneth Lambert Memorial. He was a strong district supporter and served as Board President at one time. The school also received $50 from an anonymous donor. Dr. Martz reported that he gave $725 to the elementary and $725 to the high school. The building principals will determine what to do with the money after discussing with the teachers.

The board voted to do work around the track to address standing water and drainage issues that were threatening to damage the track on the west side. The board awarded the bid to S&S Construction for a total cost of $14,500.

The next meeting date will be December 15th. The board will evaluate Dr. Martz as well as their principals in future meetings.


NEN Junior High Boys Cruise to Consolation

Northeast Nodaway’s junior high boys have had an up and down season, but have been playing much better basketball since their mid-season shake-up by their new coach, James Mattson. Earlier in the year, Northeast had played a non-competitive loss to Platte Valley. In the first round of the NEN Junior High Tournament, they played much better even though they fell short as they lost 39-30. They were rewarded as they were able to cruise to a consolation trophy to finish out their season.

Pitted against East Atchison, who had been shut out 51-0 by Maryville, the Bluejays were almost as stingy on defense, beating them 41-16 to knock them out. The other side of the consolation saw St. Gregory’s and Avenue City pitted against each other. After a hard-fought game, Avenue City emerged on top 22-16 after they had dropped another close one, 24-19 to North Nodaway. The Aces had fought hard to get to the consolation round, but with only six players, they had nothing left in the tank against Northeast as the Bluejays won 42-12 in a running clock victory.

Levi Boulting carried Northeast to an insurmountable lead in their consolation victory. He started off with six in the first period, grabbing a pair of free throws, going coast to coast in transition, and jumping a pass as Northeast raced out to a 14-2 lead. Avenue City had nobody to match up with the tall, lanky eighth grader. Zach Pride hit a shot from the right wing, Drew Wiederholt got a putback, and Chase Atkins scored from inside in the period.

With Northeast jumping passes at will, they continued to pull away in the second. Ben Boswell scored off a steal and added another shot from the right wing early; Zach Pride added a baseline jumper from Boswell. Alex Smith came off the bench in the last 2:30 and played some of his best basketball of the year, scoring one from inside, and tipping a couple of passes to Levi Boulting that resulted in tallies for Boulting on the other end. Boulting scored eight straight points with Smith on the floor; he also added a driving layup set up by a pass from Auston Pride and jumped a pass for another. For good measure, Boulting hit Drew Wiederholt in the high post at the buzzer to make it 32-6 at the break.

Four different players scored in the third period as Northeast continued to pull away. Craig Burns came off the bench and got a putback, Ben Boswell scored from the high post off a pass from Lane Dack; Lane hit one from the right wing, and Zach Pride scored from the left wing. Colton Swalley got a tip and steal for Northeast’s final tally in the fourth.

NEN Junior High Girls Exceed Expectations for Season, Claim 3rd at Home Tourney

Northeast Nodaway’s junior high girls exceeded all expectations this year after starting off 1-2, with losses to King City and Stanberry to start the year. It took them a while to get going, but all of a sudden, they knocked off Platte Valley, which catapulted them into the next level. Platte Valley was playing without standout Malia Collins, but it was still an impressive win. Northeast then kept right on winning, surviving a brutal first round game with Maysville and then avenging Stanberry and King City as they claimed the tournament title. They then showed that their first win over Platte Valley was no accident as they won again, this time with Collins playing at full strength, downing them 22-11 at the Northeast Nodaway Tournament.

They then played against a highly-touted Maryville squad headed up by Serena Sundell, daughter of the well-known Northwest Missouri State basketball player and attorney. They put up a good fight before they lost, falling 47-33 behind 21 points from Sundell and eight three-pointers from the Spoofhounds, who had a lot more than Sundell on their squad. That put them in a third place battle with Worth County Friday night.

Worth County had opened with a brutal battle with St. Gregory’s and withstood a late charge to win 24-20, giving them a duel with Avenue City. The Tigers and the Aces had played some all-out melees the past two years, with Avenue City taking both battles in close contests. Despite Worth County only having three wins up to that point, this one was no less brutal as the contest resembled a football contest more than a basketball contest. Finally, Avenue City came away with the 25-23 win and Worth County and Northeast Nodaway were paired in the third place contest.

The first game between the two squads was close, with Northeast holding off a frantic rally at the end to win 31-25. But this one was totally different as Anne Schieber started off on fire for Northeast, with Paige West skipping one to her on the weak side to start off the scoring. Schieber fed West on the next play for a pullup, and then West’s steal set up Blair Stoll’s pass to Schieber on the right wing to make it 6-0 just two minutes into the game. West later scored on the baseline after stripping a gold shirt before Jill Hardy got a putback to put Worth County on the board right before the end of the period. Northeast then held off Worth County’s frantic rally attempts the rest of the way to win 34-18.
From there on out until the third quarter, Northeast put on a clinic despite Worth County trying to swarm and press them. Angela Standiford scored off a drive to start the second. Madelynn Mattson, who had been missing early, scored off a drive set up by a pass from Paige West. Blair Stoll scored off another drive, and then Anne Schieber and Cassy Redden then both went coast to coast against Worth County’s press to put their team up 18-4 at the half.

Madelynn Mattson finally got untracked in the third quarter and Northeast continued to pull away until they were up 28-6 at the 2:06 mark of the third.

But all of a sudden, Coach Josh Smith inserted little-used Emilee Brown, who broke the momentum with a putback. All of a sudden, a totally different Worth County team took the floor as Braidy Hunt was all over the floor disrupting Northeast’s offense. She got a steal, and then two free throws from Hardy made it 28-12 after three. Allison Larison added a steal with 5:03 left in the fourth to make it 28-14.

But then, Hunt picked up her fourth foul and came out and then Anne Schieber got a steal and pushed it ahead to Madelynn Mattson to make it 30-14 to break the momentum. Jill Hardy tried to rally the Tigers down the stretch, taking on multiple defenders and getting on the line for two free throws to make it 30-16. Anne Schieber got her 10th point, a career high, off a pass from West as both teams started clearing their benches after that. Anne Briney banked one home from the high post late for Northeast’s exclamation point.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Hazardous Mitigation Meeting for Sheridan Set for November 29th

Time to come together to establish new Goals, Priorities and Mitigation Action Items!

Support your community by coming to the Worth County Hazard Mitigation meeting at Sheridan City Hall on Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 PM.  We need your help at the meeting to set  goals, priorities and mitigation action items for the 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan update.  At meeting #2, Action Worksheets were given to each jurisdiction to review with their local Boards and Committees.   At our third meeting, we will continue the review of the 2011 plan, and address which items are complete, continuing and not applicable.  New action items will be discussed, and each participating jurisdiction must have at least one action item to complete the planning process.

Join us on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, 6:00 PM, at the Sheridan City Hall for the third meeting to update the Worth County Hazard Mitigation Plan.   We need representatives from all jurisdictions to come together to help complete this essential piece of community planning.  Call Linda Laderoute at 660-582-5121 for more information or to RSVP.  The meeting is hosted by the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments.

Obituary -- Maxine Swayze 1921-2016

Maxine Swayze, age 95, Sioux Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Blythesdale, Missouri died Sunday, November 13, 2016 at the Spencer Municipal Hospital in Spencer, Iowa.

Maxine was born October 6, 1921 in Independence, Missouri the daughter of the late Cully and Eva Lenore Merchant.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Willis Swayze and her son Nathan Friedman.

Maxine’s body has been cremated.  Graveside memorial services will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the Kirk Cemetery, Allendale, Missouri.

She is survived by her daughter, Joni Amigo and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Arrangements: Andrews-Hann Funeral Home, Grant City, Missouri.


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Karson Oberhauser Scores 17 in Mustang Victory

Karson Oberhauser played his best game yet in a Mustangs uniform, knocking down 17 of North Nodaway’s 24 points in their 24-19 victory over the Avenue City Aces to start the Northeast Nodaway Tournament. The game followed the script for a lot of their victories this year; hang with the other team for three quarters before waking up and putting them away.

The game was a sleeper through the first three quarters, with neither team able to buy a bucket except for Oberhauser, who had 10 of his team’s 14 points by then. Andrew Blackford had the other four.

North Nodaway led 14-11 after three in a game in which neither team led by more than four up to that point. But finally, Oberhauser opened the scoring with a 3-point play and got another pass inside from Andrew Blackford to make it 19-11. Cody Cline took a charge on defense and then followed it up by nailing a jumper from the high post to make it 21-11 with 4:22 left.

Avenue City, normally a powerhouse team, is struggling this year with only six players dressed out for the game. They nonetheless put together a frantic rally late when Alex Fitzgerald knocked down consecutive triples to make it 21-17 with 1:56 left, still plenty of time. But then North Nodaway got a good possession on offense and Oberhauser converted a third-chance putback with 53 seconds left to make it 23-17. Frustration set in for Fitzgerald, who was whistled for an intentional foul with 41 seconds left and Andrew Blackford converted one of two to make it three possessions.

Jadon Dobbins did all she could for the girls, putting up 17 points, but the Mustangs fell to Avenue City 42-23. It was a scoring duel between her and Corinne Stewart of the Aces, who had 25 points and 15 steals.



Junior High Girls Down Falcons in Frantic Finish

It looked like Worth County’s junior high girls would finally replicate their easy win over St. Gregory’s and get their third win of the year. But it did not happen without a frantic finish at the end as the girls lost the lead and then regained it and won 24-20.

Worth County finally started clicking on offense after a sleepy first half which saw neither team take control. Jill Hardy scored off a drive and Allison Larison scored off a Megan Cassavaugh steal to erase a 10-9 Falcon lead and put Worth County up 13-10. Cassidy Spire threw up a prayer for the Falcons to cut it to one, but the Tigers took control with consecutive steals in the final 21 seconds as Braidy Hunt scored off a Cassavaugh steal and Cassavaugh scored off a Hunt steal to make it 17-12. Jill Hardy then stripped a Falcon player, which led to a Cassavaugh jumper early in the fourth to make it 19-12.

But then with a screaming Falcon crowd egging them on, the Falcons started swarming, pressing, and trapping like they did to beat North Nodaway the week before and erased all of Worth County’s lead in just 1:32. They started making use of their size as well, with Ashlyn Alexander hitting two free throws and getting a putback and Tori Allen scoring off a steal. Finally, the Falcons got a steal off the press and Rylee Vierthaler (daughter of the dentist who practiced below the bank building in Grant City for a few years) converted with a putback to make it 20-19 with 1:30 left as the Falcons took the lead.

Worth County got the ball to Maddie Taute in the high post; the Tiger forward had been missed (knee) and was showing plenty of rust. The high post had been shut off all night, but all of a sudden, Taute found Jill Hardy on the left baseline and she drove in and put it off the glass to put Worth County back up 21-20.

St. Gregory’s got the ball to Anastyn Pettlon on the left side and she had a good look, but she airmailed the shot to Allison Larison on the other side, and the Tiger guard took it coast to coast the other way, where she was hammered by Tori Allen for a two shot foul. It was Allen’s fifth foul, which was a blow, since she was one of their main sparkplugs. Larison made one of two with 54 seconds left to make it 22-20.

Worth County pressed hard on the ensuing possession and forced a backcourt violation. St. Gregory’s had only four fouls, so Worth County was able to bleed 22 seconds off the clock before they could finally put Worth County on the line. Megan Cassavaugh missed the ensuing 1 and 1 with 21 seconds, and St. Gregory’s raced down the floor with a chance to tie or win. There was a heartstopping moment when Kennedy Kurz took it straight down the middle for a layup attempt, but it was heavily contested and well off the mark as Allison Larison secured the board and hit both free throws with 12 seconds left to clinch the win.

Jill Hardy had 11 points, keeping Worth County in the game with seven during the first half snoozefest. Megan Cassavaugh had 6, Allison Larison 5, and Braidy Hunt 2. Larison had 10 tips on defense. Megan Cassavaugh had 8, Braidy Hunt 5, Jill Hardy 4, and Anna Spainhower 1.

Junior High Tiger Boys Knock Off Falcons at NEN Tournament

Worth County’s junior high boys raced out to a 20-2 lead after one quarter and knocked off St. Gregory’s 47-15 in a running clock win Tuesday night. Alex Rinehart scored eight out of his 16 points in the frame as Worth County looked like a well-oiled machine in the first frame. Ten of their 20 points in the period were directly off turnovers.

Jackson Runde opened the scoring with an inside shot off a pass from Rinehart and Alex Rinehart got an and-one from an Aydan Gladstone steal. Runde got loose inside again at the 5:18 mark as Worth County had seven in just the first 42 seconds of the game. Aydan Gladstone scored the next six, cleaning off a Grant Cameron miss after Alex Rinehart got a tip and steal. Andrew Alarcon tipped one to him for another easy basket. Alex Rinehart’s transition basket off Grant Cameron’s pass made it 15-0 with 3:57 left just two minutes into the game. Later, Alex Rinehart got his second and-one off an Andrew Alarcon tipped pass and Grant Cameron got a putback to cap the period.

Rinehart cleaned up a miss at the 4:07 mark to make it 25-2 before Falcons coach Chris Burns had seen enough and did the Chinese Fire Drill, putting five in and taking five out.

That broke Worth County’s run for the remainder of the half, which saw Worth County leading 29-10. But then Aydan Gladstone (12 points) ignited another Tiger run in the third with a triple five seconds into the period and Andrew Alarcon came alive, getting all seven of his points in the period. Alex Rinehart added one from behind the arc and Tate Welch played his best game of the year, getting a steal late in the third and airing it out to Aydan for a free throw. He got another one in the first and pushed it ahead to Reid Gabriel.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Obituary -- Verle Dee Brooks 1918-2016

Verle Dee Brooks, 98 (formerly of Eagleville, MO) was born September 16, 1918 on a farm 2 ½ miles North of Eagleville, MO and passed away Monday, November 7, 2016 at Crestview Nursing Home, Bethany, MO.

He was the only child of Henry and Nora (Little) Brooks. He graduated Eagleville High School in 1936. Verle married Alice Alberta Briggs on November 25, 1939 in Albany, MO with both parents at their side. To this union, three boys were born: Verlyn, Gary, and Bill.

Verle worked for Lamoni Creamery, Missouri Highway Department and was a dairy farmer for 33 years. He also drove the school bus for North Harrison School.

Verle married Ida Marie Robertson on January 1, 1981 and moved to Bethany. After moving to Bethany, he drove the school bus for South Harrison School. He also drove for Pettijohn Motors and mowed yards in Bethany for a number of years.

Verle was a member of the Otterbein Church in Eagleville and was baptized at an early age in the old CC Camp Lake. Later in life he joined the United Methodist Church in Bethany. He was a member of the 1918 club, traveling to many states for meetings. He was a 50 year member of Masons and Eastern Star and also a member of the Shriners where he performed in several Shriner parades dressed in his chipmunk costume. Verle made many children happy by giving away Shrine Circus Tickets.

Verle was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Alice.

He is survived by three sons: James Verlyn (Barbara), Republic, MO, Gary Eugene (Ila), Lee’s Summit, MO; Billy Dean (Lynda) Heartwell, NE; five grandchildren, Sonia Aldrich, Billy Brooks, Buffy Niemeyer, Erick Brooks and Lisa Fenske; eleven great grandchildren, Shaun Frederico, Brian Frederico, Brandi Yerdon, Nathan Brooks, Evan Brooks, A.J. Niemeyer, Grace Niemeyer, Jacklyn Brooks, Jazmine Brooks, Cassi Brooks, and Conner Fenske; one great-great grandson; sister-in-law, Cleora Briggs, Eagleville, MO; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 11 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, IA. The family received friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Masonic Rites being held prior at 12:50 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Bethany in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com

Obituary -- Blanche Downing 1929-2016

Blanche Downing, age 86, died at 10:50 P.M. on November 3, 2016. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by family. A private memorial and graveside service will be held at a future date to be determined. A Celebration of Life Gathering was held November 5, 2016 at the Bedford Senior Center. Ritchie Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Blanche (Fletchall) Downing was born November 5, 1929 near Parnell Missouri, the daughter of Sexton Andrew Fletchall and Della Ethel (Ackley) Fletchall. Her parents later moved to Grant City, Missouri where Blanche attended and graduated with the class of 1947.

On August 4, 1947 she was united in marriage to Paul E. Downing. To this blessed union were three children, Paula Ferne, Lyle Bruce, and Jeffrey Lynn Downing.

Blanche worked for over 31 years as a nurse at the Bedford Nursing Home. Many of those years as the Director of Nursing, where she met and worked with many families within the community.

Blanche is survived by here children, Paula F. Glass and Jeffrey L. Downing, along with her seven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding Blanche in death were her husband Paul, parents Sexton and Della, infant son Lyle, seven brothers Luther, Guy, Elbert, Alfred, Don, Owen and Neil Fletchall, three sisters Daisy Myers, Ferne Jeter and Faye Pierce, one great-granddaughter, one great-grandson, and many nieces and nephews.

Obituary -- Alice Jean Birkenholz 1935-2016

Alice Jean Birkenholz, 81, of Maryville, MO, went to the open arms of the Lord on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at Parkdale Manor in Maryville.

Alice Jean was born in Maryville, on July 17, 1935. Her parents were Elmer Guy and Mary “Mildred” Ross Mires, and preceded her in death.

She was also preceded by her brother, Richard Mires, her granddaughter, Heather Lynn Emery, and her best friend, Ramona Job.

She lived all her life in the area, and was an LPN at Nodaway Nursing Home, Maryville, for over 35 years. She was a member and attended the Laura Street Baptist Church, Maryville.

On April 11, 1954, she was united in marriage to Vilas Earl (Johnny) Birkenholz. To this union was born 3 daughters, Linda, Vicki Lynn and Tanya. They later divorced.

Her survivors include her 3 daughters, Linda (Rick) Emery, Pickering, MO, Vicki Lynn Birkenholz, Maryville, and Tanya Sue (Mark) Wilson, Maryville; her siblings, Marcella (Don) Hayes, Indianola, IA, Elmer (Barbara) Mires, Easton, KS, and Mary Donna (Stanley) Stanton, Maryville; 4 granddaughters, Stephanie (Travis) Dancy, Maryville, Lynette (Jason) Berg, Hopkins, MO, Melissa Strough, Pickering, and Kelsey (Aaron) Noble, Maryville; 8 great grandchildren; 2 great great-granddaughters; 3 sister in laws, Sandra Mires, Maryville, Marion Nicholson, Maryville, Althea Bird, Maryville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were at 10:00 AM, Friday, November 11, 2016, at the Laura Street Baptist Church, Maryville, burial will follow at the Miriam Cemetery, also of Maryville.

The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 PM, Thursday, November 10, 2016, at the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville.

Memorials are suggested to the Laura Street Baptist Church Building Fund, Maryville.
For online condolences and guest book, visit www.bramfuneralhome.com

Obituary -- Mary Jane (Dew) Merriett 1921-2016

Mary Jane (Dew) Merriett, Burlington Junction, MO, was born on July 21, 1921, to Robert Adkins and Nancy Annice (Curry) Dew, near Hopkins, MO. She was their third child in a family of ten, her mother named her after Aunt Mary Jane McCullough.

She was proud to be a “Toad Holler" girl and enjoyed driving through the countryside telling stories of her youth there. She attended Hazel Dell one room school house, with to church at Workman Chapel before moving into Burlington Junction to stay at the Wagner’s home, to help Mrs. Wagner, and to attend high school. She was a 1938 graduate of Burlington Junction High School where she played volleyball and was the 1938 Homecoming Queen. She was awarded a scholarship because of a vocal solo to NWMSTC, where she completed the two years necessary for her Teaching Certificate. Her first teaching position was at the Loraine School by Elmo, MO. She went on to teach at several other one room schoolhouses and taught fourth grade at Eursa Minor Elementary School in Anchorage, AK, where was teacher of the year in the late 1950’s.

Mary Jane married Jesse Merriett on December 5, 1942, at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Burlington Junction, MO. During their 30 years of marriage, they traveled the US as a military family, but when military life was over they returned to their beloved Burlington Junction. To this union brought to 5 children to this world: Golda Annette, Jesse Marcus III, Janet Sue, Theresa Jane, and Marsha Diane. As a teacher, she made sure her children understood the importance of higher education and what doors it could open. With her guidance, all 5 of her children graduated with advanced degrees in nursing, physiology, physical education, and business from NWMSU, MO Western, and Iowa State. She sat proudly and watched as many of her grandchildren also crossed the graduation stage for their diplomas.

In 1969, Mary Jane started working at NWMSU, first in the Student Union food service, moving to Martindale Gym, as a matron and finishing at the Hudson, Perrin, Roberta Hall complex. She enjoyed her years at the university, her friendships with the students, faculty, and other support staff were very important to her. In 1986, she was awarded the MACE Award for her service to NWMSU.
Mary Jane didn’t let retirement slow her down. She began volunteer work with the American Red Cross, enjoying going with the Singers to various nursing homes each month; working at the Senior Center in Maryville, working at the Howard Hardware for Junior & Harriett Howard, then for her son in law Robert F. Strohecker, when he purchased the hardware; and until 2 years ago, she worked at Kiss My Grits Café in Burlington Junction. She enjoyed gardening, push mowing her own lawn, and epecially sitting in her swing on her deck with her dog Sparky, watching the people walk down the “new” sidewalk and the traffic going through Burlington. She would attend the numerous events her grandchildren were involved in, dance recitals, music programs, softball and baseball games, their graduations, their weddings, and was a fixture for many years on the top row at Rocket football games.

She was a member of the Burlington Junction United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary Post 315, 40 & 8, Red Hatters, and Red Cross Volunteers.

Preceding her in death; her parents, her husband Jesse, her son in laws Jon Q. Nelson, Allen McGinness, and Robert F. Strohecker, her brother, James (Bud) Dew, and sisters, Bernadine Shipley, Roberta Miller, Anna Rose Boyd, Laurel Lee Younger, Bonnie Riddle, Shirley White and “baby” Jean.

Mary Jane is survived by Golda Annette Strohecker, Ocenside, CA, Jesse Marcus III & Nikki Merriett, Ewa Beach, HI, Janet Sue & Stuart Moser, Savannah, MO, Theresa Jane and Haywood Martin, Medicine Lake, WA, and Marsha & Mike Gibson, Burlington Junction, MO; one brother, John (Buck) Dew, Estill Springs, TN; grandchildren, Candace (Paul) Bougham, Dean Crabtree, Jesse Marcus (Nicole) Merriett IV, Stacey (Jason) Massey, Jessica (Tai) Dickerson, Erik Nelson, Mary (Josh) Blinde, Lesley (Mike) Hogan, Angela (Tony) Link, Nathan (Chelesa) Reis, Rebekah (Derrick) Stickford, Courtney Owens, Joel (Tiffany) McGinness, Skyler (Jennifer) McGinness; step grandchildren, Arlin Chang, Ben Chang, AnMarie (Matt) Rahner, Valerie Gibson, 27 great grandchildren, Alaric, Jonathan, Janelle, Benjamin, Quentin, Sarah, Wyatt, Zoey, Remy, Victoria, Emma, Teagan, Everett, Annnabelle, Jayden, Garett, Jared, Brody, Braxton, Gia, Quincy, Ashley, Elsa, Ada, Miles, Mica, Tyler, and Jenna; numerous nephews and nieces.

Funeral services were at 11:30 AM, on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO. Cremation will follow the service. A celebration of life was held at 1:00 PM, on Tuesday, November 15, at the American Legion Post 315 Building, in Burlington Junction, MO.
Inurnment will be at a later date at the Ohio Cemetery, Burlington Junction, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to establish a scholarship fund in Mary Jane’s name for West Nodaway High School students to attend NWMSU.

Obituary -- Maggie Cross 1927-2016

Maggie Irene Cross, 89, Hopkins, Missouri, passed away November 12, 2016 at Maryville Living Center. She was born October 24, 1927 in High Point, North Carolina, the daughter of Andrew Clyde and Mary Etta Gilmore. Maggie Married Earl Edward "Bud" Cross on December 24, 1946 in High Point, North Carolina. He preceded her in death in 2009.

She was a homemaker before going to work at Ideal Cleaners in Maryville. In 1981 she went to work at Nebs, in Maryville, until retirement. Maggie was a talented seamstress, and loved to sew for her family and friends. The last few years she enjoyed helping organize the Hopkins Picnic Quilt Show.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Patsy Cross; son, Gary (Butch) Cross; her parents; brother, Samuel Gilmore and sister, Hilda Suggs.

Survivors include three children and their spouses; Ron (Kathy) Cross, Ed (Kristina) Cross, and Kathy (Rick) Swalley; seven grandchildren, their spouses and fifteen great-grandchildren: Corey (Libby), MaKayla and Alonna Cross; Stacy (Shane), Kailee and Emma Sprague; Brad (Laurel) Cross; Gary (Cathy), Allie and Connor Cross; Rhonda (Kolby) Kinley, Chase, Chance, Kassidy and Klaire Beemer; Andrea (Jason) and Quinn Nelson; and Amanda (Sean) Owen, Allie and Easton Wonderly; a brother Jerry (Bonnie) Gilmore, Bremerton, Washington; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be  held Tuesday, November 15, 2016, from 6-8 PM at Price Funeral Home, Maryville.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, November 16th, at 10:30 AM, also at the funeral home. Burial follows at the Hopkins, MO Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to SSM Hospice, 2332 South Main, Maryville, Missouri 64468.

www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com

Monday, November 14, 2016

Three Guilty Pleas Received in Court

Three guilty pleas were received in Worth County Circuit Court Monday.

Brandy Harrington pleaded guilty to speeding and operating without a valid license. A charge of driving while revoked was dismissed. She was placed on probation for one year and assessed $146.50 in fines and costs. She must obey all laws, have her license restored in 30 days, and pay all costs by December 14th.

Brenda Morin (48) of Grant City pleaded guilty to DWI. She had been charged with operating a vehicle on 6th Street in Grant City on September 19th while intoxicated. She was given two years probation, must obey all laws, serve two years court-supervised probation, and assessed $479.50 in fines and costs, payable at $50/month until paid starting December 15th.

Modanna Meyer pleaded guilty to driving while revoked, failure to secure a child, and speeding. She was assessed $502 in fines and court costs; she must make payments of $25/month starting January 9th.

Three New DWI Charges Filed

Three new DWI charges were filed in Worth County Circuit Court by Prosecuting Attorney David Baird. Levi Saville-Carter (19) of Burlington Junction was charged on November 7th. An affidavit from the Missouri State Highway Patrol alleged that on September 24th at 4:01 am on 46 and Indigo, Saville-Carter was stopped for failure to drive on the right half of the road. The officer alleged that he was in an intoxicated state and detected an odor of alcohol. The patrol seized two cans of Busch Light Beer. The patrol alleged that he tested at .199% on the blood alcohol test. He was also charged for failure to maintain financial responsibility and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway for driving all over the roadway.

Brett Perkins (22) of Hatfield was charged on November 8th with DWI. On October 23rd at 4:19 am, the Highway Patrol, according to an affidavit filed by them, alleged that they got a call regarding a vehicle stopped in the roadway on 46 and 180th. At 4:56 am, the patrol officer arrived and observed the vehicle facing northbound in the center of the roadway. A Worth County Sheriff's officer was on the scene. The patrol officer observed the vehicle in question with its headlights on, the engine running, the vehicle in drive, and Perkins with his foot on the brake pedal. The cops reached in, turned the vehicle off, and took the keys. The blood alcohol content, according to the allegation, was .103%. He was also charged with failure to place the vehicle as far to the right side of the road as possible and no plates.

Colton Weehler (27) of Mount Ayr was charged with DWI on October 24th; he was charged as a prior offender for a conviction back in 2012. A Missouri State Highway Patrol officer conducted a stop at Sunny Slope on September 24th at 1:28 am according to their affidavit after Weehler failed to come to a complete stop at Main and Maple in Grant City. The officer observed Weehler in an intoxicated state and alleged that he observed some beer cans in the vehicle. The officer alleged that his blood alcohol content was .107%.

All charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Mustang Boys Pull Away from Falcons

North Nodaway’s junior high boys broke up a tight game in the fourth quarter, pulling away from St. Gregory’s 21-18. The Falcons, coached by former Northeast Nodaway grad Chris Burns, kept the game close as nobody led in the game by more than three points until the fourth quarter.

Finally, Karson Oberhauser got loose inside to put North Nodaway up for good at 15-14 with 5:20 left in the game. Andrew Blackford drove around a Cody Cline screen to score and then rebounded his own missed free throw and knocked it down for the first two-possession lead by either team. Tyler Burke’s free throws with 45 seconds and a tieup gave the Falcons a chance to tie, but Adam Patton’s 3-point attempt was long and North Nodaway secured the board with 15 seconds left and ran out the clock.

Oberhauser had 12, Blackford had 6, Cody Cline had 2, and Dakota Wray had 1 for the Mustangs.

The girls were outworked in a highly brutal, physical battle as they fell to St. Gregory’s 38-22. Jadon Dobbins nearly singlehandedly kept North Nodaway in the game for much of the second half, getting 13. Alonna Cross had 4, Saylor Brown had 3, and Karissa Oberhauser had 2.

NEN Junior High Girls Avenge Two Losses, Win King City Tournament

Northeast Nodaway’s junior high girls played a nearly perfect first half, only committing one foul, and then held off Stanberry’s repeated efforts to get back in the game, winning 34-19 and claiming the King City title. Madelynn Mattson had 15 points for Northeast. Paige West had 5 points, 13 tips, 10 steals, one block, one assist, and 9 boards, two of them keeping possessions alive in the fourth quarter when Stanberry was trying to rally.

Stanberry’s girls followed a typical script; they struggle early, only to get stronger as the game progresses. It looked at first like they would cruise comfortably after Madelynn Mattson had scored the first four points of the game for Northeast. They knocked down three outside shots in the span of a little over a minute to take a 6-4 lead behind Morgan Wallace’s basket with 3:39 left. But then Blair Stoll hit Madelynn Mattson inside for a 3-point play and Mattson fed Cassy Redden inside to make it 9-6 after one.

Northeast’s normal coach, Ashley Merrigan (wedding) was gone; Joyce Steins managed the team in her absence. Hearing someone else’s voice evidently made a difference as they proceeded to put together their best quarter of the year. West scored off a backdoor pass from Mattson, Angela Standiford hit Mattson inside, as did Blair Stoll, Paige West hit Standiford on the left baseline, and Anne Schieber got a putback to make it 19-6 at the half. Northeast gave Stanberry a different look than before, using a 1-2-2 to deny them outside shots. Stanberry got some good looks, but they were fruitlessly clanging off the rim after their initial scoring burst.

Stanberry went into desperation mode in the third quarter, swarming and pressing Northeast, sending all five players to the boards, and grabbing and tearing at anybody getting a defensive board. Stiens proceeded to use up all her timeouts over the course of the second half to stop any efforts to get back in the game. Northeast only got one bucket, by Mattson, as they couldn’t buy a board in the third quarter with Stanberry swarming all over the ball and all the action took place on Stanberry’s end.
Northeast finally got some breathing room after Stanberry’s most physical player, Katlyne Pappert, picked up her third and fourth fouls and made a critical mistake early in the fourth quarter. Cassy Redden had a baseline shot that had no chance of going in, but Tarynn Mattson bailed her out with a shooting foul and she made one of two to break the lid off the basket. Madelynn Mattson hit two more free throws and Angela Standiford got a putback to make it 26-10 with 4:10 left.

But all of a sudden, Stanberry started finding the range as Lexi Craig hit a baseline shot, Riley McQueen hit a 3-pointer, and Craig hit another outside shot as Northeast couldn’t take care of the ball against Stanberry’s swarming press. But then, with Northeast clinging to a 26-17 lead, Blair Stoll made a play that will be remembered for a long time. She took the ball against the Stanberry press and drove straight down the middle from the Stanberry free throw line all the way down to Northeast’s basket to break the run. Paige West got a critical defensive board and hit two free throws with 1:53 left. Andaya Brown countered with an inside shot, but Pappert picked up her fifth foul on Paige West with 1:16 left. West missed the second, but got her own rebound to keep the possession alive and that led to Blair Stoll’s pass to Cassy Redden with 1:01 left for the dagger that made it 33-19 with 1:01 left.

Northeast avenged their other loss, to King City, to get into the finals. They completely outplayed them in the rematch as Madelynn Mattson had 11, Cassy Redden had 6, and Paige West, Angela Standiford, and Blair Stoll all had 4. Northeast survived a knock-down drag-out effort against Maysville, which always produced some epic battles at the high school level as they won 15-9. Mattson had 7, West 4, Angela Standiford 2, and Blair Stoll 2.

Obituary -- John Hargrave 1971-2016

   John Raymond Hargrave, born April 26, 1971, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Brian Johnson and Lela Patricia Brown Parker, died suddenly on November 7, 2016, at Northwest Medical Center in Albany, Missouri.

   John graduated from High School in Bellflower, California, in 1989, and dedicated many years to helping others after disasters struck their communities, spending in time Kauia following Hurricane Iniki, as well as many others.

   On October 1, 1999, John married Lisa Mae Hunt in Bay Minnette, Alabama, and, to this union, two sons were born: Ian Alexander and Jarrett Rhys.

   Following Lisa’s retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2000, the Hargraves made their home in Grant City, where John practiced beekeeping, carpentry, was an avid hunter and enjoyed canoeing and kayaking, all while raising his sons and enjoying life to the fullest. John also found friendship with Lisa’s two sons, Zackery and Thomas Bayhan, and they had many fun adventures together.

   He is survived by his wife, Lisa, of the home; two sons: Ian and Jarrett; two stepsons: Zackery and Thomas; grandson, Seth Bayhan; mother, Lela “Pat” Parker; sister, Kim Russell and husband, Mark, of Phoenix; two nieces, and a host of friends, both two legged and four.


   Services were held on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, with Pastor Bendi Burgin officiating. A private inurnment will be at a later date.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Topeka Shiner Release at Dunn Ranch Boosts Endangered Species

Jerry Wiechman poured hatchery-reared Topeka shiners into a narrow stream flowing in a grassy swale beneath a Pawnee Prairie ridge. The minnow-sized fish swam upstream in the clear water, a seep- and rain-fed headwater creek with fishes, amphibians and insects, a prairie brook often hidden by overhanging willows and native grasses. The shiners are reinforcements in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) efforts to restore this endangered species in upland headwaters of the Grand River Grasslands in northwest Missouri. The first stocking was in 2013 for an experimental reintroduction program, and monitoring here and at other waters show the shiners are surviving and reproducing.

“There are signs that the distribution is expanding and we have reproduction,” said Wiechman, MDC fisheries management biologist. “So that’s positive.”

Topeka shiners are both state and federally endangered because their numbers dropped sharply in the prairie states. They dwindled to only two known streams in Missouri, possibly due to land use changes and barriers to fish movement such as dams and certain culverts. One small population remained in Sugar Creek in Harrison County. Fish from Sugar Creek were used as a parent group to hatch and rear the shiners at MDC’s Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Warsaw.

This year, the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery produced a large number of Topeka shiners. The abundance enabled another stocking on Nov. 3 of 5,000 shiners in Little Creek at Dunn Ranch in Harrison County, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy. Another 2,000 shiners were released into the East Fork of Big Muddy Creek at MDC’s Pawnee Prairie Conservation Area, and at a tract of Pawnee Prairie owned by the Conservancy. These reintroductions are officially classified as non-essential experimental populations along with Topeka shiners stocked this year in Spring Creek at MDC’s Union Ridge Conservation Area in northeast Missouri. Given this classification, the presence of those fish poses no additional limitations on private property usage or liability to landowners.

Also on Nov. 3, another 16,000 Topeka shiners were released in tributaries of Sugar Creek, such as Tombstone Creek near Gilman City in southeast Harrison County. Those fish were returned to the stream drainage that provided the original parent stock for the hatchery. The streams vary in size, but most have year-round water flow with pools and riffles. Some flow past limestone bluffs. Strong groundwater flow from the limestone karst, springs and seeps, may have helped Topeka shiners survive in the Sugar Creek drainage, Wiechman said.

Bringing Topeka shiner populations back in other Harrison County waters is a partnership between MDC, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and private landowners. The goal is a fully functioning grassland ecosystem, one with healthy waters and productive for farming, fish and wildlife.

“Healthy stream habitat, especially headwater prairie streams, is one of the rarest ecosystems we have on the plains,” Wiechman said. “Topeka shiners were once one of the common components.”
Headwaters are the rivulets and streams that flow from ridges and hills into the larger creeks and rivers in the valleys. While small, many have a handful to more than a dozen species of fish, often small, but part of the web of life that eats insects and gets eaten by wildlife and other fish.

MDC is working with partners to manage grasslands in ways that keep stream ecosystems healthy. Private landowners in the Grand River Grasslands can take advantage of special programs such as enhanced cost share for common conservation practices, grants, expertise and easement payments. For instance, projects such as utilizing native warm season grasses in forage systems or fencing livestock away from streams can provide cost-sharing funds and enhance profitability.

“One of the other beauties of working with this species is that rather than being restrictive for landowners, they offer more conservation dollars for benefits to farms, such as decreasing soil erosion and improving water quality,” Wiechman said.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Worth County Sheriff's Report

11-1 – Officer transporting prisoner to doctor in Mount Ayr.
11-2 – Officer working funeral traffic.
11-3 – Person calls about vandalism to tractor and bailer near Denver.
11-3 – Person in about a scam.
11-4 – Person calls about missing purse.
11-4 – Report of a missing purse.
11-4 – Report of accident at Route Z and 46. Officer investigates.
11-4 – Officer investigates domestic disturbance north of Allendale.
11-4 – Officer investigates report of car partly on roadway near Sheridan “Y.” Person has flat tire, will move car as soon as possible.
11-4 – Person reports someone backed into her truck; officer investigating.
11-4 – Person reports his dog being shot with an arrow; dog had to be put down.
11-4 – Report of minor accident at 169 and Route M; officer investigating.
11-5 – Officer looking for a car seat for a lady and child.

David Baird Resigns as Prosecutor Effective November 30th

David Baird has announced he has notified Governor Jay Nixon that he is resigning as Prosecuting Attorney for Worth County effective November 30, allowing him to concentrate on his private legal practice in Maryville.   Baird has served as Worth County Prosecuting Attorney since January 1, 2010.

Baird has divided his time between his private law practice and serving as Worth County Prosecuting Attorney.  Baird is with the firm of Strong & Strong, PC, where he practices in various legal areas including divorce, family and juvenile law, as well as estate planning and real estate practice.

“Over the past several months it has become evident that I could not continue to split time between my office in Maryville and the Prosecutor’s position in Grant City.  Therefore I have notified Governor Nixon that I will resign from the Worth County position effective the end of this month”, Baird said.

Baird stated that the timing of his decision is designed to provide the Governor sufficient time to select the best person to fill this important position and provide for smooth transition.   “I have enjoyed serving as Prosecuting Attorney and deeply appreciate the support and assistance of the people of Worth County and especially the officeholders and staff at the Worth County Courthouse.  The people of Worth County are fortunate to have such caring and hard-working individuals serving them.”

During his tenure, Baird made significant changes in the Prosecutor’s Office, all designed to assist victims of crimes by ensuring their voice was being heard within the court system.  This included establishing an expedited restitution recovery system for recovery of losses by crime victims, adding the use of victim advocates in the criminal process, and streamlining case resolution procedures.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Obituary -- McKenzie Deardorff 2006-2016


McKenzie Ann Deardorff was born October 31, 2006 in Maryville, Missouri to Tom and Stormy Deardorff.  She passed away October 25, 2016 at the Northwest Medical Center in Albany, Missouri at the age of 9.



McKenzie, known as monkey and pumpkin attended Worth County R111 School and was in 4th grade and loved it.  She loved to play with her brothers and sister, riding her bike and playing outside. She loved to ride in the tractors and combines with her dad and his coworkers. McKenzie also enjoyed her time attending the Grant City Christian Church and Girl Scouts. She loved everyone she met.



McKenzie is survived by her mom and dad, Stormy and Tom Deardorff, brothers, Austin and Dale and sister Heather, all of the home in Grant City. She is also survived by maternal grandma Julie Straight and fiancé Sam Schneider of Worth, Missouri; maternal grandpa Mike Straight and fiancé Kathleen Goines of Villisca, Iowa, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.



She was preceded in death by paternal grandmother Leslie Deardorff; maternal great-grandparents; Melvin and Olive Hubbard, maternal great-grandfather Willard Straight and maternal great-great-grandparents, Nobel and Mardell Straight.



McKenzie will be missed by all her family and many friends.



Funeral Services were 10:00 A.M. Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, Missouri. Pastor Dirk Buffington officiated. Interment was in the Barnes Cemetery in Worth, Missouri.