Grady Webb, Aspen Wyatt, Sonja Crump in Gilman City Spotlight

Gilman City students Grady Webb and Aspen Wyatt and cook Sonja Crump were featured in the Gilman City Spotlight for January. Spotlight profiles were done by the Gilman City Social Media class.

Grady Webb’s favorite teacher is Mrs. Burke. His favorite pet is his dog Goose, his favorite school lunch is pizza, and his dream job is a farmer.

Aspen Wyatt’s favorite food is pizza. Her favorite color is red. Her hobby is softball, and her favorite pets are dogs. An interesting fact about her is that she knows how to work cows.

Sonja Crump has been a cook at Gilman City for 17 years. She became a cook so she could see her grandkids every day. She started cooking at seven years old. Her favorite lunch to cook is cinnamon rolls.

 

Chaim Jenkins Named NEN Superintendent

The Northeast Nodaway School District and Board of Education would like to congratulate Brenda Dougan on her retirement and sincerely thank her for her many years of dedicated service to our students, staff, and community.

Chaim Jenkins has been selected as the new superintendent for the Northeast Nodaway School District.  Mr. Jenkins is currently the assistant superintendent with Northeast Nodaway where he has been employed since 2023.  Mr. Jenkins has been in education for 15 years with 3 years being in administration.  He has an admirable record of working to improve student achievement, and strong staff and community engagement.  Chaim and his wife, Katie, currently live in Maryville.  They have 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl.  Katie has been the art teacher at Northeast Nodaway since 2009.  

Mr. Jenkins shared, “Northeast Nodaway is a special place to me and my family, so I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to serve as the Superintendent of Schools in such a wonderful district.  I am excited that within this new role I will continue to be surrounded by a thoughtful and attentive Board of Education, phenomenal staff, excellent student body, and a caring and supportive community.””

Board President, Karl Wilmes stated “We, as a Board, are confident that Chaim’s leadership and dedication will serve our students, staff and community well.  We look forward to working with Chaim to continue our success here at Northeast Nodaway.”

The search effort by the school district was supported by the Missouri Association of Rural Education.

 

Entrepreneurial Conference to be Held in Maryville September 15th to 17th

University of Missouri Extension will host its 2026 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference in Maryville, Sept. 15-17.

The CEC Conference brings together practitioners and leaders focused on rural entrepreneurship and economic development. The 2026 conference theme, “Show Me MOmentum: From Main Street to Farm Gate,” will explore how communities link downtown businesses, workforce development and agriculture-based innovation to support local and regional economies, said CEC Conference co-chair Ashley Allen-Brown, an MU Extension regional economic development specialist.

The conference is designed as an immersive, place-based experience, with sessions and activities embedded in the host community, Allen-Brown said. Participants engage with local entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations while learning about strategies rural communities use to strengthen economic resilience and attract investment.

A rural community showcase with statewide impact

The CEC Conference brings together economic developers, entrepreneurs, elected officials, educators, nonprofit leaders, lenders and regional partners from across Missouri and beyond, Allen-Brown said. Attendees share a common interest in building entrepreneurial capacity and supporting long-term economic vitality in rural communities.

By hosting the conference, Maryville and Nodaway County will have the opportunity to highlight local assets and partnerships to a statewide audience and to share how communities in northwestern Missouri support business development, workforce growth and quality of life, she said.

Why Maryville?

“Maryville has been home to me in the past, so it is exciting to welcome the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference to a community that shaped both my personal life and professional career,” said Jackie Spainhower, MU Extension community development specialist in Nodaway County. “The city of Maryville and Nodaway County have a strong foundation built on cross-sector relationships, entrepreneurial thinking and long-standing partnerships.”

Spainhower said hosting the conference will allow the community to show how local institutions and entrepreneurs contribute to economic development across northwest Missouri and the state.

DeAnn Davison, Maryville director of tourism and host community chair for the conference, said the event will invite visitors to experience the community firsthand.

“With ongoing investment in our buildings, new ventures and infrastructure, our progress is rooted in strong partnerships and a deep sense of community pride,” Davison said. “We look forward to sharing Maryville’s story and welcoming others to learn from our experience.”

Conference organizers note that the 2026 theme reflects the region’s role in Missouri’s rural economy, including the importance of agriculture, regional collaboration, workforce development and transportation access in supporting both farm-based and non-farm enterprises.

CEC conference supports year-round learning

The CEC Conference is the flagship event of MU Extension’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities initiative, which also includes year-round education and networking opportunities. MU Extension hosts a quarterly CEC webinar series featuring practitioners and researchers sharing practical approaches to rural entrepreneurship and economic development.

“CEC is more than a conference; it’s a way for rural communities to learn from one another and see what’s working on the ground,” Allen-Brown said. “When we gather in a host community like Maryville, participants can observe real-world examples of rural innovation and collaboration.”

Together, the conference and webinar series aim to help communities strengthen networks, policies and resources that support entrepreneurship and local economic growth, she said.

Additional details, including registration information, agenda highlights, hotel accommodations and sponsorship opportunities, will be announced in the coming months.

Learn more about the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities initiative at https://muext.us/CEC.

 

MSHSAA Changes Basketball Sectional Hosting

The Missouri State High School Activities Association has changed how basketball post-district hosting is assigned. Previously, participants would host sectionals and quarterfinals. For instance, Gilman City traveled to Santa Fe last year to play in the girls sectionals. Now, the MSHSAA has assigned these events to schools with bigger seating capacities.

The District 15 vs. District 16 Class 1 boys basketball sectional matchup will be played at North Platte High School in Dearborn Tuesday, March 3rd at 6 pm. District 16 involves Worth County, NEN, and North Nodaway. 

The District 13 vs. District 14 matchup will be Tuesday, March 3rd at Maysville at 6 pm. District 14 involves North Harrison, Gilman City, and Pattonsburg.

The Quarterfinal matchup will be played at Chillicothe High School on Saturday, March 7th at 1 pm.

For the girls basketball games, The District 15 vs. District 16 matchup will be Monday, March 2nd at 6 pm at Bishop LeBlond High School. District 16 involves Worth County, NEN, and North Nodaway.

The District 13 vs. District 14 matchup will Monday, March 2nd at 6 pm at Maysville. District 14 involves North Harrison, Gilman City, and Pattonsburg.

The Quarterfinal matchup will be Friday, March 6th at 6 pm at Gallatin High School.

All State Championship games will be played at Mizzou Arena.

 

Josh Smith Hired as North Harrison Superintendent

The North Harrison R-III Board of Education announces that Josh Smith has been selected as the new Superintendent for the North Harrison R-III School District, beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

Mr. Smith is currently employed as the Principal of Worth County High School in the Worth County R-III School District. He has been employed in that district since 2010 as an Agriculture Education Instructor, Curriculum Director/Athletic Director, and currently as the High School Principal at Worth County.

The North Harrison R-III Board of Education interviewed a pool of qualified candidates and selected Mr. Smith for the position. According to Board President, Matt Graham, “The board believes that Josh has the qualifications and skill set that we were looking for in a new Superintendent. We look forward to the stability Josh brings, while helping the district move forward in a positive direction.”

Mr. Smith shared that he is looking forward to joining the North Harrison R-III School District. He stated, “As a proud North Harrison graduate and a long-time Shamrock supporter, I look forward to working with the dedicated staff and Board of Education in the district as we navigate the opportunities and challenges of providing a quality education for our students in our community.” He will assume the role of Superintendent on July 1, 2026.

 

Monday Roundup -- Gilman City Boys Bounce Back With Big Win Over Mustangs

Camden Griffith had 28 points as Gilman City bounced back from an overtime loss against Mercer with a 53-32 win over North Nodaway in the first round of the Gilman City Tournament.

The Hawks scored the first 10 points of the game before North Nodaway struck back with the next six. But the rest of the game belonged to Gilman City, who scored the next 10 points to pull away to a 20-6 lead in the second. By the half, it was a 34-17 margin. Marek Stevens did all he could to keep the Mustangs in it with nine points in the second, to no avail.

Blaine Clements picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter for North Nodaway and Gilman City continued to pull away, scoring the first seven points of the period to lead 41-17 before Ridge Clements scored four straight to stop the bleeding.

Griffith had 28 points, 15 in the second period as the Hawks were pulling away. Mason Preston had 9, Jace Estrada 6, Jackson Alldredge 6, Dustin Ward 3, and Dakota Meringa 1.

For North Nodaway, Marek Stevens had 9. Jackson Keho, Kaeden Nave, Hayden Marriott, Ridge Clements, and Jordan DeLeon all had 4. Blaine Clements had 3.

Pattonsburg Girls 56, Union Star 40

Union Star has been the Cinderella story of this year, fighting for a winning season after having been a doormat team since the early 2000’s. But Pattonsburg, who had lost to the Trojans earlier this year at the OSHS Tournament, smashed the glass slipper at least for one night, pulling away for a 56-40 win.

The teams were neck and neck for the first three quarters, with Pattonsburg clinging on to a 38-37 lead in the closing seconds of the third. The Panthers didn’t realize that time was winding down in the third until all of a sudden, Addie Iddings realized what was happening and threw up a 30-foot prayer at the third quarter buzzer that went in to make it 41-37.

Iddings’ shot sparked the Panthers to a big run as Iddings cashed in on Kavinly Baumgarner's steal, launched another NBA triple, and then launched one from the left wing to make it 49-37. Carlie Pittsenbarger came through in the post down the stretch with four points and Iddings struck again, cherry-picking a layup after the Trojans failed to cash in on the other end.

The Trojans struggled with their most physical player, Bailey Steeby, on the bench with her fourth foul.

Addie Iddings finished the game with a career high 26 points, 21 in the second half. Cheyenne Miller kept Pattonsburg in the game after they got behind early, getting 13, 10 in the first quarter. Carlie Pittsenbarger had 6, Annabelle Gardner 5, Jayden Goble 4, and Kavinly Bumgarner 2.

The Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, but Union Star moved ahead after Pattonsburg’s best rebounder, Jayden Goble, came up limping and did not return until the 1:27 mark of the first quarter. In the meantime, Union Star swarmed and crashed the boards, racing out to a 13-7 lead which they made stand up until the last 1:44 of the third quarter. Goble made up for lost time, grabbing a career-high 19 boards for the Panthers.

The Panthers overcame a ton of mistakes to get the win, giving up 24 offensive rebounds and committing 20 turnovers.

Kenzie Pettijohn has been fueling the Trojans’ fire during their Cinderella run this year; she had 19 for Union Star.

Princeton girls 38, North Nodaway 28

Princeton, another Cinderella team, has been surprising a lot of observers this year, building up an impressive won/lost record despite a young team. They built up a 13-4 lead early in the second quarter, only for North Nodaway to hang around for the rest of the game.

Unlike Pattonsburg, North Nodaway could not overcome their mistakes as Princeton took advantage of 26 Mustang turnovers and 22 offensive rebounds, many of them by freshman Aniston Power.

For North Nodaway, Jackie Wray had 8, Lily Blane 6, Eliza Clements 6, and Lacy Riley 5. Eliza Clements had two 3-pointers, both of them in the fourth quarter after Princeton was finally threatening to pull away. While she has had 3-pointers before, it was her first multiple 3-point game. She has also climbed up the assist charts this year; she had five Monday night.

Princeton boys 65, Union Star 21

Union Star put up a gallant effort in the first quarter, only trailing 15-9 at one point. But then the state-ranked Blue Tigers made use of their size and speed, pulling away in the next three and doing whatever they wanted to. Kash Holt of Princeton had a dunk in the second quarter before landing on his back afterwards; he was OK.

Stanberry girls 71, NEN 36

Northeast Nodaway put up a season high in points scored with 36 points, but they did not have an answer against Kaitlyn Shisler, who had 26 for Stanberry. The Bulldogs have at least two people who can go off on any given night; Kynzee Adcock had a 26-point night earlier in the season.

Hayley Yost was a bright spot for Northeast Nodaway. Going up in the post against the much taller Shisler, she had 15 points on the night for the Bluejays. Blair Nelson had 9, Mylee Wilmes 6, and Rylee Scadden 6. Northeast Nodaway was 15 for 45 from the field. The Bluejays are still searching for their first win.

OSHS boys 65, NEN 42

After their near-miss against Platte Valley, Northeast Nodaway’s boys have been struggling to buy a stop on defense, giving up 77 to 8-10 Mound City and 65 against the Wildcards.

Wyatt Scadden was a bright spot for the Bluejays, getting 17 points. Liam Cordell had 9, Bentin Roberts 9, Lance Runde 6, and Reece Gray 1. Northeast shot 15 for 44 from the field.

OSHS’ Ian Saunders scored his 1500th point.

 

 

 

Community Calendar for January 28th, 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.

January 29^th – NEN Junior High Scholar Bowl at Tarkio, 4:30 pm.

January 29^th – North Nodaway Junior High Scholar Bowl at Stewartsville, 4:30 pm.

January 29^th to 30^th – Auditions for “George Washington Ate My Homework, Rose Theatre, 6 pm each night. Seventeen kids from grades 4-8 are needed. $35 activity fee per student. For more information, call Director Scott Lance (660) 528-0440.

January 29^th – Worth County Football Banquet, 6:30 pm, Grant City Golf Course.

January 30^th – (rescheduled) Tiger Courtwarming vs. Nodaway Valley. Soup supper 5:00 pm. Coronation 5:30 pm. Game 6:00 pm.

January 31^st – NEN Booster Club 5^th & 6^th Grade Basketball Tournament.

January 31^st – Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association Roundup. Northwest Ag Learning Center, 22893 Highway 71, Maryville. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Dinner at 6:30 pm. Election, scholarship awards, and auction to follow.

January 31^st – Worth County FCCLA Sweetheart Dance, 6:30 pm, Cafeteria.

February 1^st – NEN Booster Club 3^rd & 4^th Grade Basketball Tournament.

February 1^st – Legion Breakfast, Parnell Legion Hall, 8 am.  

February 2^nd – No school at NEN. Teacher Inservice. Parent/Teacher Conferences 1 pm to 6 pm.

February 3^rd -- Private Pesticide Applicator Training (PPAT) and Ag Update, Worth County - Grant City - Participants will learn how to safely and effectively use Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP) in compliance with Missouri Department of Agriculture and EPA standards, covering certification requirements, regulations, and best practices for agricultural pest control.

February 3^rd – Bluejay Basketball at Union Star, 5:30 pm.

February 3^rd – Tiger Basketball at Pattonsburg, 5:30 pm.

February 3^rd – Mustang Basketball at East Atchison, 6 pm. Game will be played at Tarkio.

February 3^rd – Shamrock Basketball vs. Albany, 6:00 pm.

February 3^rd – Hawk Basketball at Grundy County, 6:00 pm.

February 5^th – NEN Booster Club Soup Supper, 5 pm. Homecoming Pep Rally 7 pm.

February 5^th (rescheduled) – Hawk Basketball at Winston, 5 pm.

February 5^th (rescheduled) – Panther Basketball at Stanberry, 6 pm.

February 6^th – Shamrock Basketball vs. North Andrew, 5:30 pm. Homecoming.

February 6^th – North Nodaway Courtwarming vs. Mound City, 6 pm. Halftime performances throughout the evening. Coronation will follow the boys game.

February 6^th – NEN Homecoming Game with East Atchison, 6 pm. There will be cake walks during the halftime intermissions. A dance will follow the games.

February 7^th – North Harrison Homecoming Dance 7:00 pm.

February 9^th – North Nodaway Baseball and Softball Signup, Hopkins Community Building, 6 pm. For summer baseball, softball, and t-ball.

February 11^th – Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition Kickoff, Worth County Fairgrounds, 5 pm. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 988. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

February 11^th (rescheduled) – Mustang Basketball at Platte Valley, 5:30 pm. Games will be played in Jefferson. Games will start with Boys JV, followed by varsity games.

February 12^th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

February 14^th (rescheduled) – Tri-C Fire Department Annual Soup & Chili Supper, 5 pm to 8 pm. Knights of Columbus Hall, 509 Clark Street, Conception Junction. Free will donation.

February 14^th – Michael Pierce Band of Warsaw (MO) in concert at the Dusty Cowgirl in Grant City. Prime Rib special starting at 6 pm. The concert will begin at 9 pm.

February 15^th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Tri-C Ball Club.

February 18^th – Worth County School Board Meeting, 6 pm.

February 19^th – Shamrock Basketball vs. East Harrison, 6 pm. The Little Rocks and Mini Rocks will perform.

February 21^st – Daddy Daughter Dance, 6 pm, North Harrison Multipurpose Room. For girls grades PK through 5^th grade. May bring dad or special guest. $15 for couple, $5 for each additional daughter. Snacks, drinks, and digital pictures of couples provided. Hosted by the North Harrison PTO.

February 21st — Hopkins CBC Bingo, 6:30 pm, Hopkins Community Building.

February 22^nd – Hopkins Community Club Beef & Noodle Dinner, Hopkins Community Building, 11 am. $12 adults, $5 kids.

February 26^th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

February 27^th – Justin Rush retirement party, Sheridan Community Building, 5 pm. Cake, cupcakes, cookies, tea, and punch will be served.

February 28^th – Heart and Sole Health and Fitness Fair, Carl & Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse, Maryville, 8 am to 12 noon. Sponsored by Mosaic Medical Center.

February 28^th – Active Shooter Training for Churches, Stanberry Baptist Church, 9 am to 5 pm. Covers all aspects of active shooter situations. Cost is $97. To register, visit www.phhtraining.com.

February 28^th – Bingo, 7 pm, The Dusty Cowgirl, Grant City.

March 1^st – Parnell Legion Breakfast, 8 am, Legion Hall.

March 8^th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to Redden Family – American Cancer Society/Hospice.

March 20^th – Hopkins Fire Department Fish Fry Fundraiser, Hopkins Community Building, 5 pm. Free will donation. Fish, chicken strips, French fries, hush puppies, beans, cole slaw, desserts.

March 21st — Hopkins CBC Bingo, 6:30 pm, Hopkins Community Building.

 April 19^th -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to fund scholarships.

April 22^nd – Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation 20^th Anniversary Celebration, Mozingo Event Center, 6 pm. Keynote Speaker: Ernesto Sirolli.

May 15^th to 17^th – Turkey Run Flea Market and Swap Meet. 33982 State Highway NN, Hopkins. May 15^th from 12 noon to 8 pm. May 16^th from 8 am to 8 pm. May 17^th from 9 am to 3 pm. Vendor space $15 by May 8^th, $20 afterwards. Electric hookups are $25 by May 8^th, $30 afterwards. Camper hookup $45 by May 8^th, $50 afterwards. Set up May 14^th after 6 pm or Friday after 8 am. For more information, call Adam Emery (660) 541-2984 or Sarah Emery (660) 853-0141.

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 21^st -- Tri-C Memorial Post 464 Pancake Breakfast, 7 am to 11 am, Conception Junction. Proceeds to the Heart of America Tractor Club.

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

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

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

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