Democratic Candidates Call for Healthcare Access, Full Public School Funding, and Transparency on Data Centers

Democratic candidates at the rally at the Old 169 Club Saturday called for access to healthcare, full funding for public schools, and transparency for data centers in various speeches by candidates. Jerry Forney entertained the group of around 50 people, who came and went throughout the afternoon. There were people from all over the area, including Gentry and Daviess Counties.

Judy McNeece, State Senate District 12

Ms. McNeece said that the main issue for her was public education, especially in rural schools. She pointed out that the Missouri Constitution specifically requires full funding of public schools. “They seem to find money for everything else,” she told the Express. She said that the state is creating even more red tape for local schools, which she says makes it even harder. “We need public funding for public schools,” she said. She opposes the MO Scholars program, which gives money to private schools. While teacher pay for the state has risen to a $40,000 minimum, Ms. McNeece said it still wasn’t enough.

On healthcare. Ms. McNeece said that her ideal was universal healthcare. But right now, she said that Medicaid needs to be strengthened. As a woman with chronic pain, she noted that the state recently cut physical therapy as of July 1^st of this year. So now, she says that when she has too much pain, she must either go to the emergency room, get prescription pills, or deal with it. “We need everyone a chance to be pain free,” she said. Ms. McNeece noted that out of the 18 counties in her district, only four were not maternal care deserts. “If people want families, they have to travel all the time,” she said. “Women have to take off work.” While the Harrison County Hospital has been expanding, building a new building, she said that rural hospitals are dependent on Medicare and Medicaid and that rug could be pulled on them at any time. She noted that there are 12 that are in danger of closing in Missouri.

What makes the situation even worse, said Ms. McNeece, is a system that allows insurance companies to require preauthorization, a process that can take weeks or months, and work requirements that require a doctor’s note when it is already hard to make an appointment. “We need to stop putting big corporations first, and put people first,” said Ms. McNeece. “When we do that, more businesses will choose to come here.”

On data centers, Ms. McNeece said that there should be an open and transparent process regarding data centers, and that it should be up to a vote of the people. She said that independent studies should be done that are not paid for by the data centers that measure air, water, and noise quality. “We are getting too dependent on AI,” she said. “They say they will produce jobs, but the state only requires them to create 10 new jobs,” she said. While Missouri is getting more and more data centers, the Missouri State Auditor’s Office recently sent out an alarming news release saying that Missouri was going off a $2 billion fiscal cliff, and that the state would go broke by 2029 unless the legislature made drastic cuts. Ms. McNeece noted that a law passed in 2015 states that data centers don’t have to pay for anything inside their facilities. She said that they should have to pay their fair share of taxes like everyone else. She said she was skeptical of the water being self-contained in some of these facilities. “Water is a precious commodity,” she said.

Ms. McNeece was using a walker Saturday to get around. “I’m not young, but I’ve got a lot of determination,” she said. “I want voters to have a choice at the polls.” She said she was inspired by Jess Piper, who challenged someone to step forward to challenge Republican incumbent Rusty Black after it looked like he might run unopposed this cycle. “I know I’m going up against big money,” she said. “I take my donations from friends and neighbors, and I’m fine with that.”

Reid Gibson

Reid Gibson of Worth was the emcee for the event, which was organized by the Gentry County Women’s Democratic Club. It served as a fundraiser for the Democratic candidates. All of the proceeds went to the candidates. Barb Mahoney and Bridget Gibson are the co-chairs.

Mr. Gibson said he hoped to make this event like the Harkin Steak Fry of Iowa. It was held at a balloon field near Indianola (IA), and all the big players of the Democratic Party came. Bridget Gibson once shooks hands with Bill Clinton there, and singer Cheryl Crow once did a concert there that they got to go to. “You had to have tickets to get into that event, this is free,” said Mr. Gibson.

He said that the goal of the party was to fight for clean air, clean water, and hunting and fishing for everyone to enjoy. “This is a pretty neck of the woods, it looks like southern France or better,” said Mr. Gibson. He said that we were fortunate to have the quality of life that we do. “We have the freedom here to do what you want to do; farm what you want, raise livestock, fish, hunt. We have clean air, clean water, roads to drive, schools for our children, hospitals, and we’re not too far from three mega-cities as well as a university 35 miles out. Sure, we could use some new ideas.”

“We don’t want no data centers to come in and ruin our peace, suck up our resources, electricity, water, and mess up our environment for a couple of jobs for a dubious technology that at best will steal jobs from our children and future generations, increase government surveillance, and make handling our personal affairs more difficult,” said Mr. Gibson. “Sounds to me like a ploy that will make the technofascists richer and us poorer. We need our politicians to stand up and say no.” Instead, Mr. Gibson said, we needed more projects like Lettuce Dream, which produces lettuce locally. “Agricultural diversification would help,” said Mr. Gibson. “Small businesses. Make funding available. Grow blueberries, tobacco, ethanol.”

Turning to the recent primary election, Mr. Gibson said that Missouri is a conservative state in the classic sense. “We value our freedom, our constitution for the people of Missouri, and reject radical ideas like replacing state income tax with higher sales taxes and limiting our right to petition,” he said. “And I think that the primary elucidated that Governor Mike Kehoe and the Republican administration are out of touch with the people of Missouri. He wants to turn us into a new Texas. Well, I lived in Texas, and it sucks! WalletHub just rated Texas as the crappiest state in the nation; low homeownership rates, low percentage of college graduates, property taxes twice what they are in California, toll roads everywhere, they don’t believe in labor unions so wages are far lower than other states, their power grid is a mess.” By contrast, said Mr. Gibson, “We the people of Missouri voted to raise the minimum wage, and as a result, people are moving to Missouri to work.”

He concluded, “That’s why we are endorsing these candidates. This is the party, and these are the candidates who will fight to protect our way of life here, they will fight to preserve your freedoms, your rights, public schools, public roads, and not back radical ideas that seek to line the pockets of the politicians working for the ultra-wealthy. And keep the government out of your bedroom and doctor’s office.”

Josh Smead, 6^th District, US Congress

Josh Smead is the Democratic nominee for the 6^th District congressional race, which has gotten more money than at any time in two decades. He told the Express that it was a lot more dangerous to live in Northern Missouri because of what he saw as lack of access to healthcare and affordable housing. He said that he supported fully funding education at both the national and state levels and would support a national ban on the funding of religious schools. He said he supported more investments in infrastructure.

On Iran, he said that President Donald Trump’s policy was so bad that it made George Bush II, who led the country into the conflicts into Iraq and Afghanistan, look like a genius. He said that it was a national embarrassment that the President had to sneak out of Turkey following a NATO conference in a truck and noted that the US already had a deal in place with Iran to keep them from acquiring a nuclear weapon before President Trump tore it up during his first term. “It has only emboldened our enemies,” he said.

On data centers, Mr. Smead said that he supported more transparency on data center development. As an architect, he noted that there were no codes for data centers and said that our rural areas were not equipped for such massive developments. He said that the problems that data centers pose are solvable, but that standards had to be in place for them to follow.

He compared his opponent, Chris Stigall, to Sam Graves 2.0, overseeing the destruction of Northwest Missouri.

Casey Scott, Candidate for 2^nd District Missouri House

Casey Scott spoke briefly to the Express before the speeches started. She said that as a single mother, access to healthcare, especially maternal care, was the main issue. She said that she was fortunate to have that when she had her two daughters, who were with her at the rally, but that many other people don’t have it. She spoke from first-hand experience, having been in healthcare for 15 years.

Josh Smead

Mr. Smead got up and spoke to the audience. He said that as a father of four, he decided that if he wanted to see change, he couldn’t wait until someone else stepped up. “These issues are not going to wait,” he said. He said that the upcoming November election was important because an abortion ban is on the ballot two years after Missouri voters enshrined the right to choose in the state constitution. In addition, the measure bans transgender surgery before one is 18.

He said that the choice is clear. While he supports bodily autonomy, he said Sam Graves was pushing Congress for a federal abortion ban. “My daughter has less rights than people did 30-40 years ago,” said Mr. Smead. In addition, he said he would support an amendment to end big money in politics.

Mr. Smead noted that he had raised the most money in the district since 2008 and that the most Democrats had voted in the recent primary since 2004. “We’re slowly growing at the grassroots level,” said Mr. Smead. He promised to be a uniter and not a divider. “I don’t believe in rural versus urban,” said Mr. Smead. “People all over the district are worried about access to healthcare. It’s gotten a lot more dangerous to have a baby. I’ve spoken to people who have driven 100 mph to get to the hospital because of an emergency.” He noted that he spoke with people who have had to drive one hour for routine prenatal appointments. “That is unacceptable,” he said.

He said he would fight for the working class. “Many people don’t see homeownership as a realistic possibility,” he said. Turning to infrastructure, he said, “Sam Graves is the chair of the House Infrastructure Committee, but you can’t tell it by driving over these roads.” And he said that for all the talk about high-speed internet and 5G coming to the area, there were too many dead spots. “People are trapped in bureaucracy with no solutions,” he said.

Mr. Smead said that his opponent, Chris Stigall, was Sam Graves’ hand-picked successor and he had already spent over $1 million on ads and TV. “A lot of his money comes from out of state,” he said. “And he’s not going to question the $2 billion spent on Iran.”

Turning to school funding, Mr. Smead said that private schools have no school boards that answer the people who elect them.

Returning to Iran, Mr. Smead said that President Trump’s policies have only emboldened Iran, who will only get worse and worse, and that we have already spent $8 trillion in wars in the Middle East. “Graves supported Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said. “We can’t afford to surrender to the MAGA interests who are destroying Rural Missouri.”

Casey Scott

Casey Scott stepped up to the microphone next and talked about her 2^nd District Missouri House campaign. “I know people who put off healthcare all the time because they can’t afford it,” she said. Ms. Scott said that as a person with 15 years of experience in the field, it has gotten to the point where “we cannot deliver a baby.” She noted that hospitals were ending maternity care right and left due to abortion bans and OB-GYN’s were afraid of practicing for fear of repercussions. She said she knew of one woman who had a fetus whose brain did not develop and had to carry it to term.

She said that people were afraid of seeing their savings disappear due to a medical emergency. She said she talked to someone who had a busted water heater and couldn’t afford to replace it. She had recently canvassed Worth County and that people were receptive. She said her goal was to go door to door as much as possible.

Judy McNeece

Judy McNeece got up and spoke next. She talked about how she was playing with her grandson when she fell backwards and injured her back. Occasionally, she says she now must go to the doctor to get her back set again. She said that she was speaking on healthcare as a participant in the system.

“The state needs to do better for all of us,” she said.

On public education, she said that she was against private school vouchers. “That means you’re paying for someone else’s education,” she said. In the meantime, she said, small schools were closing, which leads to communities shutting down. “When kids have to travel to school, businesses close,” she said. She said it doesn’t matter how small a school is, if the people wanted it open, it should stay open. On the other hand, she said if schools are fully funded, people will want to move there.

If elected, Ms. McNeece said she would seek to repeal the capital gains tax eliminations which she said led to less school funding. “25% of it went to public schools,” she said. She opposed tax breaks for the rich. “Good for them,” she said, “But it doesn’t help the rest of us.”

She said her campaign was open to input and ideas. As a banker and loan officer, she said that she knew how to listen to people. “If there was a way we could make it happen, we did,” she said.

Casey Scott

After Ms. McNeece finished her speech, Ms. Scott came back to the microphone with more things to say. “For eight years, I drove from Trenton to Gallatin and Bethany to drop off my kids, because I couldn’t find childcare any closer,” she said. She noted that in Grundy County, there was a big data center fight as there is no zoning there. She encouraged people to reach out to their city council people and county commissioners about looking into zoning. “They could very well come to your neighborhood,” she said. “I’ve seen situations where they make you upgrade your system and then not come in.”

Alisha Dodd

Ms. Dodd is running for Gentry County Collector and Treasurer. She pledged to do all she could to save money for the county and make sure tax dollars went to where they were supposed to go.

Tracey Steele

Mr. Steele, a Worth County grad, is running for House District 12 in Parkville, in a district just north of Kansas City. The DLCC ranked his race as one of the top-tier races for breaking the GOP supermajority in Missouri. In the previous race, the Democrat lost narrowly and the seat is in Republican control. But Mr. Steele said he has had people come up to him and tell him they’ve voted Republican all their life, but they were fed up and angry and not voting for them again.

He said that education was just as big of an issue in the suburbs as it was in the rural areas. He noted that Missouri is 49^th out of 50 in school funding. “We don’t treat our kids like they priority they need to be,” said Mr. Steele to the Express. “The state should pay its share so we don’t have to.”

The problem, said Mr. Steele, is that the people in charge have been cutting taxes, which leads to less funding for schools, roads, and healthcare. “They don’t care because they are driven by their rich donors, not seeking to make our lives easier,” he said.

He said that any data center development has to be done responsibly. He said that the current wave of development was a matter of big corporations taking advantage of tax breaks. “And then the people don’t see the benefit,” said Mr. Steele. “We can’t let these big corporations come here in secret and then threaten to go somewhere else if they don’t get breaks. The people don’t deserve this.”

Mr. Steele said he was not against all development. “I’m pro-labor. I want to see opportunities for good-paying jobs. But it all has to be done responsibly.”

He said he was a Democrat because he wanted to do what was best for the people if elected. “The Republicans enact policies that are forced on them by their billionaire donors, and people are tired of it,” he said, citing the massive rejection of the elimination of the income tax and restrictions on initiative petitions in the state. “They don’t just appear on the ballot. They were put there by the people who are in charge.” The Republicans have had a 14-year supermajority in the legislature and have controlled most of the state offices since 2016. “If we can elect people like Casey Scott, Judy McNeece, myself, and Josh Smead, we can start to bring common sense back to the government,” said Mr. Steele.

 

 

 

 

  

Grant City Building Owner Refuses to Sign Off on Demolition Grant

The City of Grant City is seeking to demolish the Masonic Lodge building on the Grant City Square, but they found out that the building is attached to the adjacent building on the southeast corner of the Square. The owners of the building in question, Rick and Cindy Frese, at a condemnation hearing Wednesday at the Grant City Council Meeting, refused to sign off on demolishing their building, saying that it still could be salvaged.

The hearing in question was a show cause hearing for the owners to show why the building should not be demolished. The city was represented in the proceeding by attorney Taryn Henry. 

Ms. Henry called City Administrator Lizzie Jeanes as a witness. Ms. Jeanes showed Exhibit C, showing the front of the building. It consisted of pictures taken over a three month period showing that a crack in the front of the building is getting bigger. Exhibit D showed the back of the building showing the anchors holding the building and the part of the building that has already collapsed. 

Ms. Henry then proceeded to show Exhibit A, the city’s code on dangerous buildings; Exhibit B, the condemnation and demolition order of 318 South Main Street in Grant City filed November 3rd, 2023, and Exhibit E, the building inspection of 320 South Main dated May 27th, 2026. Ms. Jeanes testified that Exhibit A was the current city code on dangerous buildings. 

Ms. Jeanes quoted from the May 27th, 2026 report on the buildings which stated, “This building has been considered previously as two separate buildings with a shared center wall. This building is a single building, and the two property spaces are only separated by a wood-framed bearing wall, not a masonry wall.” The report continued, “Demolition and reconstruction costs are expected to be far greater than the land and building values. Norton and Schmidt Engineers recommends obtaining three competitive bids for cost comparison. She testified that there has been discussion, but there has been no solution, that the building is a danger to the health, safety, and general welfare of the community, and that the city should condemn the other half of the building that has already been condemned so it can be demolished before it hurts someone.

Residents of the housing unit adjacent to the building in question have expressed concern over the past few years that the building in question could collapse and hurt someone and/or render the unit unlivable. Recently, the back end of the Masonic Lodge building collapsed, prompting the city to accelerate proceedings to get it demolished.

Mr. Frese said that his building was in good condition, that it was possible to save, that he felt he deserved compensation for his side of the building, and that he did not give consent to demolish his side of the building. He said that it was not his job to get competitive bids to cut the beams and shore up the wall; it was the job of the contractor. “No,” responded Mayor Debbie Roach, “The contractor will demolish the Masonic Lodge building only; it is an emergency demolition grant.” 

They then clashed over the assessed valuation of the building. Mr. Frese said the building was assessed at $36,000; Ms. Jeanes said that it was assessed at $32,120. “No,” said Mr. Frese, “It has to be more than that; the land and building are worth much more than that.” “That is the assessed valuation from the assessor’s office,” said Ms. Jeanes. 

Mayor Roach said, “The city is not responsible for any compensation. We are just trying to get a grant to remove the danger. Are you willing to pay the costs out of pocket it will take to clean up the building after it falls because you didn’t sign off on the demolition?” “I’ve been advised not to discuss,” responded Mr. Frese. “So if we wipe our hands clean of this, and the building collapses, could anyone who is injured, or the property owner of the apartments next door sue Rick?” Mayor Roach asked Ms. Henry. “Absolutely,” responded Ms. Henry.

The council voted to allow Mr. Frese to obtain a lawyer and reconvene on August 26th at 6:00 pm to proceed further.

Lizzie Jeanes reported that the CBDG demolition grant has been submitted and that the council should hear something by September. She reported that the Masonic Lodge building is moving more and more with each rain they get. She reported that after one recent rain, the northwest corner, which is adjacent to the housing, is trying to fall off. She reported that the asbestos has been removed from the building, and the DNR is satisfied with that. The emergency grant has not been submitted.

Ms. Jeanes reported getting compliance from most letters of violation that the city had sent out last month. The city mowed two properties that were in violation of weed ordinances. 

The council left the property tax rates unchanged for the upcoming tax year.

Ryan Fletchall presented three bids for smoke testing machines. DSG bid $2,455. Core & Main bid $2,621.95. Hurco bid $3,399.00. The council voted to purchase the smoke tester from DSG with some liquid smoke; the amount of which will be determined by shelf life. 

The City put in tubes at the ball field, fixed a leak at 8th & Francis, and fixed the main that runs between the Richey and Hall properties. The city put in a new drain at the new shelter house.

Tyson Troutwine reported that the tubes at the ball field were almost done; they have a lot of dirt to haul in, but the city part of the project is almost completed. The city will be cutting brush and mowing right of ways.

The council approved a building permit for Dalton Miller.

Opinion -- House Futures Caucus Seeks to Push AI Legislation in 2027

by the Missouri House Futures Caucus

The chair and members of the Future Caucus gathered at Lindenwood University in St. Charles City, MO to announce plans to introduce new legislation. The legislation will be introduced during the next session of the General Assembly and it will work to empower and protect Missouri communities as they engage the AI economy.

Additionally, the Future Caucus released the AI Community Evaluation Framework to help Missouri communities now as they work to find footing and advantage while assessing the AI economy and the infrastructure demand that comes with it.

“The legislation I have introduced to date, along with the framework we are releasing today, is designed to empower Missouri communities. I intend to continue supporting these efforts next year,” emphasized Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, chair of the Missouri House Future Caucus. “I fully support my city’s decision to prohibit hyperscale facilities. It is clear Missouri communities want assistance in evaluating for themselves how to engage the AI economy and that is exactly what we are doing with legislation and this framework to protect our resources and neighborhoods. It is my priority to help localities interface with AI companies and stakeholders from a position of strength.”

“Legislation generally lags far behind technology. As we grapple with uncertainty around the AI Revolution, we no longer have that luxury. We must place reasonable safeguards around Missouri’s natural resources and power grids to ensure they remain healthy and available today and in to the future,” explained Rep. Mike Costlow of St. Charles County.

“Safeguarding Missourians from disruptive AI is key to maximizing opportunities and benefits that can be part of the new AI economy. The legislation I introduced last session and plan to pursue in the next General Assembly works to protect Missourians from the risks of AI while allowing the AI economy to develop,” said Rep. Scott Miller of St. Charles County.

“There are benefits we can capture from the AI economy as long as the public interest is protected. There must be guardrails in place to ensure Missourians are insulated from resource depletion, harmful impacts, and increased costs. AI infrastructure can be organized in our state without passing costs onto Missouri communities. That effort begins and ends with empowering Missouri communities with resources that help localities better control their own destiny,” explained Rep. Kimberly Ann Collins of St. Louis City.

The AI Infrastructure Community Evaluation Framework (AICEF) has been assembled to take Missouri communities through a structure of considerations and inquiry important to engaging AI infrastructure developments. The AICEF can be downloaded at the below link.

AICF Link: https://www.lindenwood.edu/files/future-caucus/

Speaker of the House Jonathan Patterson formed the Future Caucus of the 103rd General Assembly and selected State Representative Colin Wellenkamp to chair. The newly formed Future Caucus is intended to seek out and determine issues and challenges persistently impacting the State of Missouri. The Caucus evaluates and intakes issues as they are developing in order to build additional policy-setting capacity for the House legislative process.

Area Courthouse, Police, and Crime Reports for August 19th, 2026

On August 10th, Judge Robert Rice ordered the extradition of Kristen Romesburg (31) of Maryville to Crawford County (KS) on a Probation Violation warrant. 

On August 10th, Daviess County Prosecutor Andrea Beth Gibson filed charges against David Kurtz (19) of Jamesport alleging Aggravated Fleeing (Felony) and Careless & Imprudent Driving. Defendant was released o his own recognizance. Defendant must serve house arrest except for work, medical, and court. Defendant must wear GPS and no driving. 

On August 10th, Harrison County Prosecutor Michael Wulff filed charges against Johnathan Oliver (18) of Bethany alleging Assault (Felony) and Armed Criminal Action (Felony). Bond was set at $100,000 cash only. 

On August 11th, Charles Moore (78) of Cameron pleaded guilty in Daviess County Associate Circuit Court to DWI (Person Less than 17 in Vehicle). He was fined $350 plus costs by Judge Micha Lea Dixon. 

On August 13th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Ryan Sample (45) of King City alleging DWI and Failure to Register. 

On August 13th, Damian Roush (23) of Worth pleaded guilty in Gentry County Associate Circuit Court to charges of No Valid License. He was placed on two years probation by Judge Rebecca McGinley. He was fined $50.50 plus costs. Defendant must successfully complete SATOP. No alcohol, bars, or marijuana. 

On August 14th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Lewis Lamb (75) of Albany alleging that he was an owner of a vicious dog which bit another person, causing serious physical injury. Bond was set at $2,500, cash or corporate surety. 

On August 17th, Lisa Coots (41) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Circuit Court to two counts Delivery of Controlled Substance (Felony). She was placed on five years probation by Judge Corey Herron. 

On August 17th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Deiter filed charges against Barbara Wellington (61) of Maryville alleging Leaving the Scene. 

On August 17th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Deiter filed charges against Jon Shell (55) of Maryville alleging DWI.

On August 17th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Deiter filed charges against Brendan Brandkamp (31) of Smithville alleging Domestic Assault. 

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 August 19th, 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 

August 19th – Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, King City. Shows at 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm. 

August 19th – North Harrison School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm. This will include the tax rate hearing.

August 19th – North Nodaway Tax Rate Hearing, 5:50 pm. Regular School Board Meeting 6:00 pm. 

August 19th – Worth County School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm. This will include the tax rate hearing. 

August 20th – North Nodaway District Wide Open House, 4:00 pm.

August 20th – Back to School Supper at NEN, hosted by the FFA, 5:00 pm. Mandatory incoming 6th grade and new 7th to 12th grade meeting, 5:00 pm. Open House 5:30 pm. School Board Meeting 7:00 pm. 

August 21st – Tiger Varsity Football Jamboree at Tarkio, 7:00 pm. 

August 22nd – Co-ed slow pitch softball tournament, 8:00 am, McFall City Park. 

August 22nd to 23rd – Albany Heritage Society Gun Show, 408 S. Birch Street, Albany, 10 am to 5 pm August 22nd. 8 am to 5 pm August 23rd.

August 22nd – Worth County Democratic Rally, 11 am to 4 pm, Old 169 Club. 

August 22nd – Fish Fry, Bake Sale, and Auction, Main Street Pattonsburg, 5:00 pm. Mixology will perform from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. 

August 22nd – Walter Plant in concert at the Martinsville United Methodist Church, 6:00 pm. Ice cream afterwards.

August 22nd – Maryville Elks Lodge Membership Drive, 7 pm to 10 pm, North Vine Street between 2nd and 3rd Street. Bounce houses, Fire Department activities, Bingo, live music, street dance. 

August 23rd -- Ravenwood CBC Breakfast, 8:00 am to 12 noon. The Boys Basketball Team will be helping. 

August 23rd – Albany Heritage Society Car Show, 408 S. Birch Street, Albany. Registration 9 am to 11 am. Winners announced 3 pm. 

August 23rd -- A cake party will double as a fundraiser for the Roxy Theater in Hopkins. The party will be held Sunday, August 23rd at the North Nodaway Gym with doors opening at 2 pm. Cost is $20 per person with preregistration or $25 at the door. All proceeds will go to the Roxy. To enter or for more information, contact Deena Poynter (660) 541-1336, Kary Owens (660) 562-0460, or Judy Crane (660) 254-2427.

August 24th – First day of School at North Nodaway and Worth County. Early Dismissal. 

August 24th – Annual meeting of GRM Networks, 10 am, GRM corporate office, Princeton. 

August 24th – Elementary Open House, North Harrison, 5:00 pm. All-sports parent meeting at 6:30 pm. Sixth grade orientation at 7:00 pm. 

August 24th – Elementary Open House at Gilman City, 5:30 pm. 

August 24th – Sheridan City Council Tax Rate Hearing, 5:30 pm, Sheridan Community Building. 

August 25th – First day of School at NEN. 

August 25th – Second Harvest Food Pantry, 10:00 am, Eagleville City Hall. Free and open to the public regardless of income.

August 25th -- Chris Stigall, Republican candidate for 6th District Congressman, will be at the Grant City Golf Course Clubhouse at 5:30 pm.  

August 25th – North Harrison Softball Jamboree, 5:30 pm. 

August 26th – First day of School at Gilman City. Early dismissal. 

August 27th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

August 27th to 30th – Graham Street Fair, 5:00 pm each night.

August 28th – Novakonska with Chris Novak, Fogle Lake, Diagonal, 8:00 pm. 

August 29th – Stampede the Ville. Josh Meloy, Mac Hankins, and the Moonlighters, Downtown Maryville. Doors open at 6:00 pm. 

August 29th – Sidetracked Memorial Ride, Creston. 10 am registration, ride 11 am. After party afterwards at Sidetracked with Framing the Red. $10 per person.

August 29th – North Nodaway Class of 2030 will sponsor a 5K Run/Walk during the Hopkins Picnic. Registration will start at 7:00 am and the Run/Walk will start at 7:30 am at the intersection of 148 and JJ. 

August 29th – The Grant City Fire Department will be holding a night golf tournament with tee time at 4:30 pm. The first nine holes will be played during daylight, and the other nine will be played at night. Cost is $60 per team. Meal will be provided by the Grant City Christian Church ladies. All proceeds will go to the Grant City Fire Department. 

August 30th – Walter Plant in concert at Morris Chapel Community Church, 4:00 pm. On Route 69 between Eagleville and Bethany. 

August 30th – Sheridan Express Cooperative Board Meeting, 5:00 pm, Sheridan Villa Laundry Room. 

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

September 4th – No School at North Harrison. Northwest Missouri State Fair. Early dismissal at Gilman City. 

September 5th – 102 Valley Stateline Showdown Truck & Tractor Pull, Taylor County Fairgrounds, Bedford. Gates open at 4 pm, show starts at 6:00 pm. Adults $20, Kids 7-12 $10, six and under free. 

September 5th – “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 6th – American Legion Breakfast, 8 am, Parnell Legion Hall. 

September 7th – No school or mail delivery. Labor Day. 

September 8th – Middle School/High School Grandparents Day at North Nodaway High School, 11 am. 

September 8th – Blockton City Council Meeting, 7:00 pm. 

September 9th – Tiger Golf will be hosting a home meet with Albany, Stanberry, and North Harrison at 4:00 pm. 

September 10th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

September 11th – Elementary Grandparents Day at Pickering, 11 am. 

September 12th – North Harrison Junior High Softball Tournament. 

September 12th – 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 12th. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please contact the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988. 

September 12th – Meet the new dentist at Dr. Fallon Stiens’ office, Dr. Kylee Townsend, 1 pm to 3 pm, Stanberry Square. Light refreshments and giveaways. 

September 16th – North Harrison Elementary Title Night, 5:00 pm. 

September 16th – Worth County School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm.

September 16th – North Nodaway School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm. 

September 17th – Shamrock Softball (JH/V/JV) vs. North Andrew, 4:30 pm. Senior Night. 

September 17th – NEN School Board Meeting, 7:00 pm. 

September 18th to 19th – Turkey Run Flea Market and Swap Meet. 12 noon to 6 pm September 18th; 8 am to 6 pm September 19th. 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 7th, add $5. If interested, call Adam Emery (660) 541-2984 or Sarah Emery (660) 853-0141. 

September 19th – Worth County Fall Carnival, Courthouse Square, Grant City. 

September 19th – Dusty Cowgirl 5th Anniversary Party, Grant City Square, 12 noon. This is a separate event from the Fall Carnival. 

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

September 20th – 3rd Annual Cody Lee Stiens Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser, Nodaway County Senior Center, 8 am to 1 pm. Raffle and Silent Auction. Adults $15, children four and under free.

September 21st – No school at North Nodaway. Professional development. 

September 24th -- Hopkins Food Pantry, 3 pm to 5 pm, Hopkins Christian Church Parsonage.

September 26th – North Harrison Softball Round Robin. 

September 27th – Ravenwood Community Breakfast, 8 am to 12 noon. The Northeast Nodaway cheerleaders will be helping serve. 

September 28th – No school at NEN. Teacher in-service. 

September 29th – Kidsight Vision Screening at NEN, 9 am to 11 am. For PK through 1st grade. 

September 30th – North Nodaway National Honor Society Inductions, 6:00 pm. 

October 3rd – 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 3rd – Big Brothers/Big Sisters Glow Walk/Run, 6:00 pm. The run will start at Mosaic in Maryville, follow the Safe Routes to School trail, through the Crestview Addition on South Munn, and return on the same route back to the hospital. 

October 4th – Legion Breakfast, Parnell Legion Hall, 8:00 am. 

October 10th – Maryville Fall into Fun, 12 noon to 6 pm. Market vendors, music, kids activities, and more. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worth County Land Transfers for July 2026

July 1st – Book 212, Page 60; First Interstate Bank to Ann and Kory Nonneman; Deed of Release.

July 1st – Book 212, Page 61; Debra Bowers and Rodney Bowers to Matthew Faubion and Mandy Faubion Living Trust; Warranty Deed.

July 1st – Book 212, Page 62; Mandy Faubion and Matthew Faubion to City State Bank; Deed of Trust.

July 2nd – Book 212, Page 64; Joy Miller and Marshall Miller to Alissa Ridge and Dylan Miller; Beneficiary Deed.

July 6th – Book 212, Page 65; State Savings Bank to Welch Family Farms; Partial Release, Deed of Trust.

July 6th – Book 212, Page 66; Missouri Healthnet to Glenda Stephenson; Deed of Release.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 69; Winifred Burns to Ashleigh Johnson, Brandon Burns, Lezli Parman, Lonnie Burns, Matthew McGary, Nikki Vinzant, Renee Burns, Stephanie Burns, Stephen Burns, Tiffany Burns, Trey Burns, and Wesley Parman; Beneficiary Deed.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 70; Welch Family Farms to Dale Kimmons; Warranty Deed.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 71; Dale Kimmons to Welch Family Farms; Deed of Trust.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 72; Dale Kimmons to Welch Family Farms; Right of First Refusal.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 73; Dale Kimmons to McKenzie Meyer and Shaun Kimmons; Beneficiary Deed.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 74; Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems to Halee Corbett and Todd Corbett; Deed of Release.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 75; Grant City Fabrication LLC to Cody Mullock and Tony Fletchall; Warranty Deed.

July 10th – Book 212, Page 76; Anthony Fletchall, Cody Mullock, Fawnla Fletchall, and Tonya Mullock to Bank Northwest; Deed of Trust. 

July 14th – Book 212, Page 77; USDA to Joann Rader; Deed of Release.

July 17th – Book 212, Page 78; Susan Schaffer to Jonathon Kiesler and Macie Kiesler; Warranty Deed.

July 20th – Book 212, Page 79; Wake Larison Rentals LLC to John Stephenson; Deed of Release.

July 22nd – Book 212, Page 80; Adrian Fletchall to Ameren Missouri Union Electric Company; Memorandums of Contract.

July 23rd – Book 212, Page 81; Robin Davidson and Scott Davidson to Amy Davidson and Andrew Davidson; Quit Claim Deed.

July 24th – Book 212, Page 82; David Brandt to Brandon and Kayla Allee; Warranty Deed.

July 24th – Book 212, Page 83; Steven & Joni Mullock Joint Revocable Trust to Andrew and Salena Mullock; Trustee’s Deed.

July 27th – Book 212, Page 84; Tena Figueroa to Robert Ross; Beneficiary Deed.

July 28th – Book 212, Page 86; Marcia Scott, Shelby Troutwine, Worth County Conservator to Shelly Troutwine, Sidney Troutwine, and Travis Troutwine; Deed of Conservator.

July 28th – Book 212, Page 87; Shelly Troutwine, Sidney Troutwine, and Travis Troutwine to Nodaway Valley Bank; Deed of Trust.

July 29th – Book 212, Page 88; Robin Davidson and Scott Davidson to Kaitlyn Miller and Matthew Miller; Quit Claim Deed.

July 31st – Book 212, Page 89; Charlotte McClaim to Kimberly Abel, Quit Claim Deed.

Marriage Licenses:

Cody Blankenship and Marissa Escobar.

Jordan Harding and Leah Pedersen.

Thomas Davidson and Jamie DeGase.

White Cloud Township Puts Zoning Measure on November Ballot

White Cloud Township will run a ballot measure implementing zoning for the township on the November ballot. Nodaway County Clerk Melinda Patton confirmed they had submitted the paperwork with the ballot language and Tim Lance of the Township confirmed to the Express that they had passed the measure at the Nodaway County Commission Meeting Tuesday. “People don’t like being surprised like this,” he said. The tentative plan is to zone all of the township as agricultural, with any variances to be granted by the township or a zoning board to be appointed for that purpose. “What are we going to eat, concrete,” asked Mr. Lance. “We’ve got to do what’s best for the future. We all drive by St. Joseph and Kansas City, and there are acres and acres of dilapidated buildings there. Why don’t they buy those up and build there? My answer is because of zoning. They go and they look for places that don’t have zoning. They should not be allowed to go behind peoples’ backs.”

Asked about reports of two smaller data centers seeking to locate in the county, Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker said that as of that morning, they had not contacted the commissioners. 

Asked about the J-turn that is going in near where the proposed data center is located, Commissioner Chris Burns said the DOT is not taking it out after all the construction is complete. “They’re putting them in across the state,” he said.

Jeff From told the commissioners that he had submitted a memorandum of actions the developer needed to do. Commissioner Walker said they would go through the list.

Commissioner Walker said that 10-12 people had come forward volunteering to be on a countywide zoning board if the commissioners put it on the ballot and it passed. 

Representative Jeff Farnan, who was at the meeting, said there was nothing he could do to stop the current proposed project, and that the commissioners were doing all they could possibly do. But he said he was writing up a bill for next year’s legislative session requiring greater transparency for future data centers seeking to locate in Missouri.

Commissioner Burns said that they had submitted a list of 15 questions that they wanted answered by Scale Microgrids, the developer of the proposed data center. The commissioners submitted the questions to the attorney, who will relay the questions to their attorney. Some of the questions involve where the water source was going to come from, water consumption, training for local emergency services in the event of a fire, and how and where chemicals to put out a lithium fire would be stored. “Some of the answers they don’t know yet,” said Commissioner Scott Walk.

Jeff From said that the biggest issue was the generator side of the project. White Cloud Generating is applying for a permit to operate 12 gas-powered turbines, which would sell power to the grid, and then the data center would buy it back. “You can’t consider these projects in isolation; you have to consider the whole project,” he said. Commissioner Burns said that since there were two businesses, they had to apply for two separate permits. White Cloud Generating will operate the generators under the proposed plan, while White Cloud Acres will operate the data center. 

Scott Wilson said that the facilities such as the one being proposed will become obsolete in a few years. “There’s already ways of running data centers that don’t involve the use of water,” he said. The risk is that the facility will close early and that any Chapter 100 loans involved will go unpaid and that there will be a big empty building south of Maryville. “This is a huge problem that you’re going to have to take seriously,” said Mr. Wilson. Commissioner Walker pledged to give out any information that they obtain. “We can extend the moratorium if we need to. It depends on if they answer our questions.” 

Soybean Yield Predictions Drop for Northern Missouri

Predicted soybean yields across Missouri have taken a downward turn in recent weeks, according to the latest University of Missouri Extension Soybean Growth and Yield Report.

Until the last report, 2026 predictions were uneventful, but the recent heat wave changed that. With prolonged heat expected to persist for a few more weeks, projected yields could decline even further, says MU Extension soybean farming systems specialist Andres Reis, who compiles the report.

Declining soil moisture reserves and drought concerns have created a challenging environment across large parts of Missouri’s soybean-growing regions. The hardest-hit area the northern Missouri, where Reis sees the biggest predicted yield decreases across all planting dates and maturity groups.

With high temperatures, there is increased crop water demand and accelerated soil moisture depletion at a time when soybeans are entering critical reproductive stages.

“Drought stress is now a concern across much of the state as later April- and May-planted soybeans move through key yield-defining stages,” says Reis.

The impact of hot, dry weather depends largely on soybean growth stage. MG 4 soybeans planted in April in central and southwestern Missouri are still maintaining above-average yield potential.

As late-planted soybeans move through reproductive growth, the declining availability of water in the soil may have a greater impact on pod retention and seed fill. Extended drought during seed fill can lead to smaller seeds, lower test weights and reduced yield potential.

Final Hazardous Mitigation Meeting Held for Worth County

The third and final Hazardous Mitigation Meeting for Worth County was held in Sheridan Monday to iron out details of the Hazardous Mitigation Plan that has to be submitted every five years to the state and to FEMA. Submission of this plan is required for jurisdictions to get federal disaster funding. Worth County has had 10 storm disaster declarations since 1990 with between $15 million and $35 million in crop damage claims filed. The county has had nine disaster declarations since 1965 for extreme weather, five since 1965 for winter storms, and four for tornado damage. Worth County has had six confirmed tornadoes since 2000, surprisingly low. The most severe was an EF2 event in 2001. The most severe is an EF 5. A few years ago, Worth County was on the southern edge of a massive derecho that passed through Iowa and caused over $1 billion in damages. 

The last update to the plan was in March 2022. It was conducted via zoom, with the whole country just emerging from COVID-19. Each jurisdiction will review and adopt the revised plan, provide data, and develop action items. These can be carried over from the last cycle. 

As part of the new plan, a public survey was conducted, with 153 responses. Disasters identified as concerns included thunderstorms, extreme winter weather, and drought. Disasters identified as having the most potential impact for the county included tornadoes, drought, extreme temperatures, and extreme winter weather. The county and the whole region experienced a massive ice storm in 2009 that knocked out power for a few days. 

Solutions that a majority of respondents were in favor of were the creation of tornado-safe rooms, retrofitting existing shelters, stopping soil erosion, flood mitigation, electrical retrofitting, and retrofitting from wind damage. There used to be a tornado shelter at the Sheridan Housing many years ago, but it has been dug in. The county conducts regular testing of storm sirens; there was one conducted earlier this month. 

Goals identified in the event of a disaster included preserving human life, safety, and health, continuing essential services, protecting property, and returning to normal. 

Continuing action items include educating and notifying the public, reviewing and incorporating flood insurance maps, identifying structures, people, facilities, and infrastructure at risk, implementing emergency communications, obtaining backup power generators, and building infrastructure to mitigate flooding. 

There are 64 dams in the county, including three that are critical, including the one just northeast of the Sheridan Housing. 

Worth County is in a low-risk area for earthquakes. Occasionally, people will feel small tremors when an earthquake occurs hundreds of miles away, and animals will become agitated. 

It is up to local water districts to implement conservation measures in the event of an extreme drought. Any jurisdiction can pass a burn ban provided that they notify the State Fire Marshal’s office. Jurisdictions do not require advance approval to do so. The county has occasionally passed burn bans in the past during extreme droughts or situations where there was a high risk of wildfires. 

The risk of wildfires is rare in both the county and the state, but not non-zero. Around 25-30 years ago, there was a wildfire west of Sheridan that nearly got to the Housing; it took a massive effort by emergency responders to stop the fire. 

Local jurisdictions have one week to turn in action items for the new Hazardous Mitigation Plan. After that, a public comment period will be held for the draft plan. Following the public comment period, a final draft plan will be adopted by all the jurisdictions, and it will be submitted to the state, and then FEMA. 

Missouri Department of Conservation Deer Hunting Regulation Changes for 2026-27

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters, landowners, and others of changes to regulations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri for the upcoming deer-hunting season. The changes focus on simplifying regulations and responding to public input. 

Reduced Buck Limit for Nonresidents 

MDC has reduced the antlered buck limit for those hunting on nonresident deer hunting permits from two to one. Nonresidents who qualify for nonresident landowner permits will maintain an antlered buck harvest limit of two.  

MDC notes that the number of nonresident deer hunters in Missouri has increased by nearly 50% in the last 10 years and there has been an increasing number of resident hunters who have expressed concern about the impacts to land access and their hunting experiences. This regulation change aims to address resident hunters’ concerns and helps alleviate increasing pressure from nonresident deer hunting.  

Early Youth Portion Moved Earlier 

MDC has moved the Early Youth Portion one week earlier this year to Oct. 24 and 25 to help avoid conflicts with Halloween activities at the end of October. The Early Youth Portion typically occurs two weekends prior to the November portion. This year it will occur three weekends prior. 

APR Removed 

MDC has removed the antler-point restriction (APR) for the final 18 counties where it was most recently in place. Yearling bucks, which the APR protects, travel many miles and can spread chronic wasting disease (CWD) long distances. Removing the APR will help to minimize the spread of CWD while also simplifying regulations. 

CWD Management Zones Removed 

MDC has removed the designations of the CWD Management Zone. A majority of Missouri counties either have had a case of CWD or are within 10 miles of a confirmed case of the disease, so a designated CWD Management Zone is no longer needed. Removing the CWD Management Zone also helps simplify regulations for hunters. 

Prohibiting Feed and Minerals for Deer Continues 

Placing feed and minerals for deer has been prohibited in counties close to where CWD has been detected since CWD was first found in Missouri. Placing feed and mineral for deer artificially congregates them, resulting in an increased risk of disease transmission.  

MDC will continue to prohibit the placement of feed and minerals for deer in counties within 10 miles of where CWD has been found. Learn more about the feed and mineral prohibition online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/feed-mineral-prohibition and on page 6 of the Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available online at mdc.mo.gov, at MDC offices and nature centers, and other places where hunting permits are sold.  

Removed CWD Portion  

MDC has removed the CWD Portion of firearms deer season to simplify the structure of the season while not significantly affecting deer harvest. 

Mandatory CWD Sampling Moved to County Rotations 

MDC has moved mandatory CWD sampling during the opening weekend of the November Portion of the firearms deer season to a four-year county rotation. Mandatory CWD sampling will now be conducted in every county of the state once every four years.  

According to MDC, conducting mandatory CWD sampling on a county rotation will allow staff to continue to monitor CWD where it exists and allow for early detections in new areas. A mandatory sampling rotation also simplifies the mandatory sampling requirement for hunters. 

Mandatory sampling for this season will be conducted in 28 counties on Nov. 14 and 15. 

Get more information on mandatory sampling online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/mandatory-cwd-sampling and on page 7 of the MDC Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available online at mdc.mo.gov, at MDC offices and nature centers, and other places where hunting permits are sold. 

Changes to CWD Management Permits 

MDC has increased the minimum acreage requirement for CWD Management Permits and simplified the application process. Landowners are now required to have at least 20 contiguous acres in a CWD Core Area to receive CWD Management Permits. The change will make the acreage requirement consistent with other no-cost landowner deer hunting permits, reducing potential confusion for landowners.  

MDC has also simplified the application process. Qualifying landowners in CWD Core Areas can receive five, no-cost, CWD Management Permits for use on their property during deer season and will receive a notice in the mail from MDC about the permit application process. 

Learn more about the CWD Management Permit Program at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-management-permit-program. 

No Post-Season Removals 

As a result of public engagement and continued evaluation, MDC will not conduct targeted deer removals after the season and currently has no plans to resume the activity. 

Instead, MDC staff will work with hunters, landowners, and other partners to develop a localized approach in which hunter harvest is the primary tool to manage deer numbers and CWD during the regular deer season. 

Learn more about these regulation changes and get other information on deer hunting in Missouri from the MDC 2026 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available online at mdc.mo.gov, at MDC offices and nature centers, and other places where permits are sold.  

Neon Sign On at Roxy for First Time in Decades; 150 Attend Fundraiser

The neon sign at the Roxy in Hopkins was turned on for the first time in many years, the result of fundraising and hours of long labor. Several area businesses sponsored the efforts to get the sign restored, and a fundraiser was held Friday, August 14th to raise even more funds. 

The Hopkins Guys, a band organized for that purpose, performed; they were playing together for the first time ever, but it didn’t matter. J.R. Gladman, Jerry and Phil Forney, Rick Titus, Dennis White, Ricky Cross, and Robbie Forney were the members. Mr. White’s grandfather helped build the Roxy in 1949. All of them are from Hopkins except for Mr. Cross, who had played in the past in Mr. Gladman’s bands. Mr. Gladman observed that Hopkins has produced a disproportionate number of musicians, and the trend appears to be holding up with the newer generation. Robbie Forney is the grandson of Jerry and is a junior at North Nodaway. Gannon and Gunner Stricker are skilled on the piano, while Caspian Halvin has recently taken up playing the heavy metal guitar. 

Mr. Gladman said at the show that he got started when he was tossing papers for the St. Joseph paper and saw a copy of the Forney Brothers’ first album on sale at Wilson Grocery in 1978. As a boy of 12, Mr. Gladman saved up a month’s pay and finally bought a copy, wearing out the record. He became a musician and writer himself and started performing after winning talent shows in Maryville and Grant City. He performed at Old Defiance Days in Sheridan in 1984. They performed some of Jerry’s hits, “Missouri Moon,” “Railroad Blues,” and “Brownsville Belle.” 

They went on to cover various country artists including Alan Jackson, Johnny Paycheck, and Vince Gill. Mr. Gladman talked about the time he performed at a nursing home, and one of the residents turned out to be Vince Gill’s grandmother. They sang a pair of Mr. Gladman’s compositions, including “Run, Pony Run,” and “Hopkins, USA.” They threw in an occasional rock tune, including Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Werewolves of London.” Carter Forney, younger brother of Robbie, got to get up on the stage and perform the latter song. They also threw in some Johnny Cash. 

There were people from at least 19 communities present, including Hopkins, Pickering, Maryville, Bedford, Shenandoah, Rock Port, St. Joseph, Lawrence (KS), Creston, Lenox, Osceola, Denver, Alanthus Grove, Bolckow, Clarinda, Cowgill (IA), Corning, Jefferson (IA), and Clearmont. “Hopkins is not dead. We’ve just got to keep it going,” said Mr. Gladman. 

Threat of Rain Doesn't Keep Crowds Away at Allendale Rodeo

 The threat of rain did not keep people away from the Allendale Rodeo this year, as the seats were full for the 34th annual edition. 

There was a new clown this year as Josh Roberts, only 15 years old, came up from Arkansas to do the honors. One of his first jokes was that he met a girl from Allendale, but she turned out to be cross-eyed because they could never see eye to eye. Trying to get everyone pumped up, he asked if they were at a church or a rodeo. “It seems like some people need some Mellow Yellow,” he said. 

The rodeo arena was muddy from the on-again off-again rains Saturday. It helped the contestants in some events and hurt them in others. One event that got some participants after not having had much interest the past few years was the steer wrestling. Two contestants placed as Luke Moore got his steer down in 7.2 seconds and Logan Leiderman got his down in 7.79. One contestant allegedly landed so hard according to Josh that the water went anywhere but the hole. Another time, he talked about stepping in a hole so deep, he wound up in China and heard the people there talking. Another time during the event, Josh and the announcer debated the pronunciation of “Y’all.” 

The noise contest was another subject of debate between Rodeo Clown Josh and the announcer. The south side, pumped up by Josh, was noisier, but the announcer claimed victory for his side, “because the Baptist preacher is sitting on my side.” 

Three contestants in the breakaway roping overcame the muddy conditions as Cassie Adams won with 2.9 seconds, Maddie Schultz got a 3.42, and Ashton Joy got 3.6.

The muddy conditions actually made it easier on the Saddle Bronc and Ranch Bronc riders. Wade Madden got a 70 in the event. Another contestant had their horse collapse coming out of the gate and had to re-ride. 

The most popular event, and one which the contestants have had the most difficulty with was the team roping. Only two out of 12 contestants got a qualified ride, as Tanner Schultz and Tate Judd won with a time of 6.7, and Shawn Murphy and Donna McNeese were the other qualified contestants with a time of 12.4. The conditions were easier for the contestants in this event Friday, as four of the six successfully roped their calf.

There was a scare in the Barrel Racing, as one of the contestants fell off her horse in the slick and muddy conditions and had to be taken to the Ambulance, prompting three other contestants to drop out. All of the contestants were really cautious in the slick conditions.

The announcer observed that you could tell if someone from Arkansas graduated from school if they brushed their teeth. Clown Josh said after the bull tossed one rider particularly high in the air that he didn’t know there was an airport in Allendale. One contestant, Leroy Miller, did manage a successful ride with a score of 72. 

Bo Collins, Caleb New Featured on National YouTube Channel About Tiger Football

Last year, Worth County marked its 100th anniversary in football by winning a state title. They were recently featured on Roca Sports, a YouTube channel out of New York, which travels all over the country to do human interest stories. They interviewed players Bo Collins and Caleb New, coach Jon Adwell, assistants Dan Collins and Les New, and members of the community in Craig McNeese, Jeff Blaine, Dennis Downing, and Mason Hawk. They talked about their playing days, the community support for the team, and how the school manages to defy a population decline to field healthy numbers every year. Les New noted that out of 32 players out this year, 13 had a dad or a brother go to state. The broadcast had 35,000 views and 83 comments as of Sunday evening. 

But the crown lies uneasy on Worth County’s head, like it does for any other defending champion. Last year, they defied history by being the first Tiger squad to suffer a regular season loss and then turn around and win a state title. One thing Roca Sports omitted in its broadcast was the role that Northeast Nodaway plays in the program. The Bluejays always supplied 4-8 kids a year to Worth County, many of whom fill key roles. Out of 32 players, there will be six from Northeast Nodaway, all of whom are expected to play key roles in this year’s squad.

Graduating from last year’s squad are stalwarts like Lucas Frisch, Brayden Stevens, Brayden Combs, Sawyer Thurman, and Brayden Murphy. But many others will return.

Bo Collins will return to his tight end position, but he is versatile enough to play anywhere Coach Jon Adwell needs him to. He will move to linebacker this year, Ryder Smyser will move to defensive end. Collins was instrumental in last year’s state title game with three sacks and is now healthy after barely making it through last season and the season before. Hayden Sanders will return at quarterback, where he can muscle his way for three yards at will or air it out deep to receivers like Collins and Caleb New. Cole Ruby is now healthy after dealing with hip injuries during last year’s playoff run; he rushed for 1,500 yards last year. When Cole Ruby went down, Jude Archer turned into a force at the runningback position, getting 150 yards in the State Championship game. Ethan Lininger will return as the center, and Ryder Smyser will return to the line. 

Archer, Bentin Roberts, Liam Cordell, Wyatt Scadden, Jace Burns, and Lance Runde will come over from Northeast Nodaway, and all will be expected to compete for key roles for the team. The Tigers will know right away whether they will be able to contend again. They will face Rock Port in Rock Port on week one on August 28th. The main change to their schedule this year will be the fact they are no longer hosting a jamboree. They will travel to East Atchison, where they will play EA and Nodaway Valley in Tarkio this Friday, August 21st at 7:00 pm. That will be a test for them as well, as the Thunder have one of the fastest receiving corps in eight man, and East Atchison also has some speed on their squad. 

Among teams in the conference, King City still has Landon Carlson at quarterback. Albany always finishes in the upper half of the conference. The Cinderella team of the area will be Princeton, which joined forces with North Harrison; the Shamrocks will bring over leading quarterback Gage Fortner and 1,000+ yard runningback Wyatt Maize along with big linemen Henry Frank and Meric Hansel to compliment Mitchell Walker and a dangerous group of skill players like Bowe Ussery and Kash Holt. 

The softball team will be playing the numbers game once again this year, with only 11 players out for the varsity. They have a solid group of upperclassmen in Megan Tracy, Kristen Tracy, Addison Gray, Keira Hardy, Audrey Runde, and Kambree Briner. The key will be to see if they can develop the lower part of their order. Two freshmen could help; Brooklyn Smith is one of the fastest players on the team, while Kaydence Downing has been a steady hand at softball as well. Teams to watch for this year include Princeton, Albany, Stanberry, King City, and Gilman City, which joined forces with Tri-County this year. 

Opinion -- Hawley, Durbin Launch Child Sex Abuse Investigation Into Roblox

by Senator Josh Hawley's Office

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Roblox Founder, President, CEO, and Chair of the Board of Directors David Baszucki, informing him that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism opened an investigation into Roblox. In the letter, Senator Hawley and Senator Durbin called attention to explicit content present on the platform, as well as its connection to real world child abuse. This investigation is only the latest in the series of actions Senator Hawley and Senator Durbin have taken to protect children online, including their STOP CSAM Act passing out of committee unanimously.

They began, "We write to inform you that the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism has opened an investigation into child safety on the Roblox gaming platform."

They continued, "You trumpet Roblox as a safe digital playground for children as young as five. But the public record raises serious questions about this promise of safety. Over the past decade, police have arrested numerous individuals for committing serious acts of violence and harm against children they met via Roblox, including grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and even murder. Roblox is being used to trade child sexual abuse material, participate in sexually explicit (and often violent) virtual 'experiences' with children, bribe and extort children into producing explicit content, and lure children into in-person meetings. It is heartbreaking. In 2025, Roblox reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children—more than double what it reported in 2024."

"Roblox appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children, and the alleged criminal activity on Roblox warrants congressional scrutiny. Accordingly, be advised that Roblox is hereby directed to preserve all records, in any format and wherever located, in connection with child safety, child sexual or physical abuse, child bullying, or child financial exploitation ... Let us be clear: children on your platform are hurting. Congress will not look the other way. We await your prompt and complete response," they concluded.

Read the full letter below.

August 12, 2026

David Baszucki

Founder, President, CEO, and Chair of the Board of Directors

Roblox Corp.

Mr. Baszucki:

We write to inform you that the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism has opened an investigation into child safety on the Roblox gaming platform.

You trumpet Roblox as a safe digital playground for children as young as five. But the public record raises serious questions about this promise of safety. Over the past decade, police have arrested numerous individuals for committing serious acts of violence and harm against children they met via Roblox, including grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and even murder. Roblox is being used to trade child sexual abuse material, participate in sexually explicit (and often violent) virtual “experiences” with children, bribe and extort children into producing explicit content, and lure children into in-person meetings. It is heartbreaking. In 2025, Roblox reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children—more than double what it reported in 2024.

Roblox appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children, and the alleged criminal activity on Roblox warrants congressional scrutiny. Accordingly, be advised that Roblox is hereby directed to preserve all records, in any format and wherever located, in connection with child safety, child sexual or physical abuse, child bullying, or child financial exploitation. We also attach an annex containing document requests and interrogatories. Please produce all documents and information specified in the annex no later than August 31, 2026.

Let us be clear: children on your platform are hurting. Congress will not look the other way. We await your prompt and complete response.

Sincerely,

Josh Hawley 

Chairman

Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism 

Richard J. Durbin

Ranking Member

Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism