Junior High Girls Down South Nodaway in Final Home Game

Worth County's Junior High girls downed South Nodaway in their final home game of the year 17-12 as they got back on the winning track following a loss to Jefferson in a game the players felt they should have taken. The game was tight and low-scoring, with the score stuck at 2 for most of the first quarter before Kaitlyn Davidson (7 points) hit a free throw and Crystal Davis (6 points) added a banked wing shot to make it 5-2.

Kristen Nielson scored four points at the end of the first half to tie it at 8, but then South Nodaway missed two wide open layups that would have put them in front and then Allison Hilsabeck, their tallest player, picked up her fourth foul and sat down. This seemed to get the Tigers untracked as South Nodaway could no longer match their size. Sydney Thummel hit three out of four from the line to break the tie and then Crystal Davis went coast to coast to make it 13-8. Following a spectacular block by Crystal from behind, Kaitlyn Davidson's putback with 12 seconds left put Worth County up 15-8. Neilson did all she could in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to get her team back in it, cutting it to 15-12. But then Crystal Davis' shot with 42 seconds left iced it for the Tigers.

WCCC to Set Up Family Council

Administrator Karen Fletchall reported that a family council for the Worth County Convalescent Center will be forming. The council is run by family members and legal representatives to represent resident concerns to administration. The first meeting will be on November 23rd at 11:30 and the council is still looking for members. Fletchall said that she has gotten some response. Staff members will be there to help them get started. After that, the Family Council will be for family members or legal representatives. This is similar to the Resident Council. Fletchall said that they would try to be flexible on scheduling to fit the work schedules of members attending.

There were 29 residents living in the facility as of last Wednesday; Fletchall said that some people had been discharged back into their homes, which she said was always a good outcome. She said that the goal of the facility was to give them a good experience so that they would return.

The board reviewed a draft of a van use policy regarding non-medical transportation for individual residents. Under the proposed plan, the WCCC will charge 50 cents per mile plus 1 1/2 times normal pay for facility-approved drivers; should a resident wish to hire a companion, that would be between the resident and the companion. This policy applies to individual residents wishing to make a non-medical trip; the policy would not apply to facility outings such as trips to the Senior Center for the monthly dinner or other such community events.

The board decided to pursue a possible proposal with Duane Warner to put in a zone heating and cooling system for the facility which would involve a new boiler systems. The price tag for the deal was around $170,000, which was at least $100,000 cheaper than any of the other offers made. The other businesses presented various offers involving individual room heating systems. The board decided to pursue the proposal of Warner after hearing presenations from him and other heating and cooling businesses. However, Board Member Anthony Steinhauser said that he was concerned about the durability of the Samsung unit that would be included, saying that he feared it would be damaged easily. Steinhauser and board member Mike Hall will meet with Warner and look at alternatives.

Board President Scott Houk said that the board and administration needed to think of ways of generating more income and marketing the facility. "If we decreased the number of resident beds, we could add an assisted living wing," he suggested. The facility recently went from a 60-bed license to a 50-bed license. Houk said that with people living longer and staying home more, the facility needed to look at ways of adapting to a changing population. Steinhauser added that it was tough to change the mindset that people had of the facility being a place where one spent the end of their days.

Ms. Fletchall announced a new workshop on living a healthy life with chronic conditions. This event is free and open to the community. It will be held at the WCCC starting November 23rd from 9 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday until December 28th. To register, people can contact Freda Miller or Melissa Steele at (888) 844-5626. This is sponsored by the Northwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging. This is a six-week group education workshop series and is designed to help people with chronic conditions gain self-confidence in their ability to manage their own health. Among other things, the workshop will teach people how to improve knowledge of living a healthy life with a chronic condition, identify the latest medical and pain management approaches, develop an individualized exercise program, manage fatigue and stress more effectively, find solutions to problems caused by your condition, identify ways to deal with anger, fear, frustration, and depression, discuss the role of nutrition in chronic disease management, and develop new ways to communicate with family and friends.

Tigers Fumble Away Game in 42-6 Loss

Worth County saw their chances at a trip to St. Louis slip away as they fumbled away the ball 11 times and lost six of them in rainy conditions against Mound City. They also threw an interception as they committed seven turnovers, far too many for an opportunistic team like Mound City. And the tackling, which was better the second time around against the Panthers, nonetheless broke down at a critical moment allowing them to score a critical touchdown.

The game was similar to Mound City's 38-23 win over Stanberry during the middle of the season; in that game, a bad second quarter by Stanberry led to Mound City scoring 30 points in a nine-minute span in the second quarter that erased an early Stanberry lead. Worth County had their chances to stay with Mound City, but critical breakdowns snowballed into a big lead for the Panthers.

The game was one of the muddiest games played in recent memory with over an inch having fallen during the day and a continuous rain falling throughout the night. Mound City sought to take full advantage, running James Schoonover right up the middle. The Panthers got two first downs on their initial drive, but then fumbled the ball away and Cody Green pounced on it for the Tigers. A bad snap drove the Tigers back to their own 24, but then Eli Mullock broke off a pair of 10-yard runs for a first down into Mound City territory. But they stalled at the 30 and the blocking broke down as Worth County turned the ball over on downs.

Mound City was faced with fourth and two at the Tiger 36, but then James Schoonover found a big hole and rumbled 35 yards down to the one before Eli Mullock caught him from behind. Schoonover scored from one yard out on the next play to make it 6-0 with 4:31 left in the first.

Eli Mullock took the snap out of the wildcat formation and ran for 11 yards and a first down to the Panther 35. An offsides penalty and Alex Harmening's three yard run got Worth County another first down at the Mound City 24. A pair of false starts set up third and 17 for the Tigers, but Bryce Ross threw a short pass to Alex Harmening and his catch and run for 15 yards set up fourth and two at the 16. But Eli Mullock was stopped one yard short at the 15 and Mound City took over on downs.

Mound City had trouble hanging onto the ball in the slippery conditions and a halfback pass by Schoonover fooled nobody as he came under a heavy rush and his throw was well off the mark and Mound City was forced to punt. Three straight carries by Eli Mullock netted seven yards and Worth County elected to gamble and went for it on fourth and three. But a bad snap gave Mound City the ball back on the Worth County 25 with a short field to work with.

The critical sequence of the game happened next. Alex Harmening dropped Zach Kahle for no gain and then John Hinz dropped Schoonover for one yard. A counter by Thomas Shiflett only got three yards and Mound City was faced with fourth and five at the Tiger 20. Lucas Schawang went on the keeper around right end and was seemingly stopped for no gain. But Worth County's tackling woes, which had haunted them so badly in the first meeting between the two teams, came back to bite them at the worst possible time as someone tried to arm-tackle Schawang, who broke the tackle and was gone for a 20-yard touchdown with 8:36 left in the half.

Everything started to snowball from there. Wyatt Rush muffed the ensuing kickoff and Mound City pounced on it; four plays later, James Schoonover was in the end zone from two yards out to make it 18-0 with 7:02 left. With 6:16 left, on their second play from scrimmage, Worth County had a bad snap which resulted in a safety to make it 20-0, forcing them to kick it back to Mound City.

On the ensuing drive, Worth County stiffened up and forced Mound City into a fourth and two at the Tiger 14, but James Schoonover's cutback run converted it into a first down at the 7. Mound City tried a shot into the end zone, but Dallas Greenland broke it up to deny them. Two cracks at the line set up fourth and goal at the one, but the Tigers held as Lucas Schawang was denied on a quarterback sneak. Eli Mullock bounced outside for a 16 yard gain to get the Tigers out of the hole, but then Alex Harmening was stood up and stripped of the ball; that set up James Schoonover's 22-yard run with 1:09 left. Zach Kahle ran in the extra points to make it 28-0.

Worth County tried to air it out, but Bryce Ross' pass was way underthrown and Miles Jumps intercepted it and returned it all the way to the Tiger 8. Two plays later, James Schoonover was in the end zone from one yard out and he ran in the extra points to make it 36-0 at the half. The snowball effect continued in the second half as Worth County fumbled away the first play from scrimmage and Mound City took it in four plays later as James Schoonover dove into the end zone to make it 42-0 with 10:43 left in the game.

The game threatened to end right then and there thanks to the mercy rule, but Worth County was able to keep Mound City from scoring from there. Alex Harmening's 10-yard run got the Tigers a first down into Mound City territory at the 26, but they stalled there and the Panthers took over on downs. But then the fumble bug hit Mound City as they fumbled away their second play and Tyler Schmitz pounced on the loose carom. But Worth County could not take advantage as three cracks only netted three yards and a delay of game and a fumble gave the ball right back to Mound City. Mound City continued to struggle with moving the ball as two false starts and two fumbles drove them back 10 yards and they were forced to punt.

Worth County converted a first down, but they stalled at their own 33 and were forced to punt. The kick was a good one and it pinned Mound City back on their own one. Mound City rode the back of Schoonover and got out of the hole and drove to their own 24. Schoonover then broke several tackles on his way to a 26-yard run to the Tiger 30. But then a botched handoff was recovered by Cody Green, denying Mound City their best chance to end the game on the mercy rule.

Neither side could move the ball in the rain and mud until late in the game, when Worth County took over on downs at their own 32. Finally, Eli Mullock reversed his field for 15 yards to the Mound City 33. A false start and a fumble stalled the Tigers momentarily, but Dallas Greenland's 10-yard and and a diving catch by Cody Green for 13 yards of a pass from Bryce Ross put the Tigers on the Panther 16. Eli Mullock got five yards to the 11 and two cracks from Alex Harmening got Worth County into the end zone with 1:09 left in the game to make it 42-6.

Early Intervention Key to Preventing Underage Drinking

Gary Hillebrand of Preferred Family Healthcare facilitated a discussion on the ongoing problem of teen drinking in the county; he said that the earlier that people intervene, the more likely that alcohol use among teens can be prevented. The meeting was held at the United Methodist Church in Grant City Monday and was attended by Tim and Betty Hayes, Lori Wimer, Clella Goodwin, and Superintendent Matt Robinson. Hayes said that his concern was drugs and alcohol and that in a lot of places where he has lived, “alcohol is like water in a faucet.” Betty Hayes added that frequently in this area, teens have adults buy it for them through some place that will sell it.

Clella Goodwin, guidance counselor at Worth County R-III, said that there were a lot of kids who were busy, but for those who were not, there was a perception that “there was nothing to do.” Consequently, they will go and hang out with young adults who will supply them with alcohol and “I don’t know how to help.” Hillebrand said that was a problem even among large communities; he said that they did surveys of teens in cities as big as Chicago and that even there, there was a perception that there was nothing to do. He said that part of the problem was inflation, seeing that stuff that used to cost $1.50 or so now costs $10 or more, well outside of family budgets.

Hillebrand said that the downside with many one week programs was that “it is one week and they’re done.” He said that people were dealing with a life and death situation because there were situations in which a split second decision meant the difference between life and death.

The prevention service field, of which Preferred Family Health is a part, has grown tremendously as people everywhere were seeking answers to drug and alcohol abuse. Hillebrand said that when he first began working for the company, he knew everyone by name, but that now they had grown to over 600 employees, 23-24 facilities around the State of Missouri, and one facility as far away as San Antonio. The nearest facility to this area is Liberty, which can be reached at (816) 407-1754. They have prevention specialists like Mr. Hillebrand, school based programs, community based training. Preferred Family Healthcare is designated as a Regional Support Center and is certified by the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Hillebrand said that communities knew better than Preferred Family Health what their needs are; “My job is to facilitate and figure out what you want and how we can help you.”

Turning to early intervention, Hillebrand said that in Missouri, 11½ was the average age of first use of alcohol. He said that what they have found is that the longer that they can delay the first onset of alcohol use, the less likely that kids were to have problems with alcohol. He said that the more likely that teens were to stop usage before 30 days, the better outcomes there would be as well. Ideally, Hillebrand said that based on what is known about the human body, people should not start drinking before the age of 25, when the body is much better able to handle the effects of drinking. “Earlier, it becomes poison,” he explained. He said that if the body doesn’t function well, then underage drinking can lead to alcoholic poisoning, a potentially fatal condition.

Hillebrand said that there were other drug problems that were there in addition to alcohol. For instance, there were constantly different drugs being tried. However, Missouri remains the top state for meth production, with 807 labs busted in the state last year compared to 142 for California.

“It takes the whole community to address these problems,” said Hillebrand. He added that the best chance of getting government money for a program was if there was evidence that a program works. He said that other criteria were implementation, evaluation, and sustainability.

Hillebrand said that there was no such thing as a drug which gets rid of pain that was not addictive. “If there is a drug that is out there that gets rid of pain, you will want it again and again,” he said. He said that any substance that alters the mind, body, or spirit could be classified as a drug – even water or air. For instance, he said that people have died of water overdoses from rupturing their bowels. He said that people could also die from hyperventilation from breathing too much air and that hospitals had to keep oxygen tanks locked up so that people would not steal them and use them to get high. “I can go to the grocery store and get all the things I need to get high,” he said.

Therefore, Hillebrand said that it was a matter of what was taught. In addition, he said that it was a matter of programs as well; for instance, the City of St. Joseph requires anyone who serves alcohol to take tests regarding serving alcohol. He said that what they found was that they were less likely to serve alcohol to minors and more likely to call the police if minors attempted to purchase alcohol. Other communities have sought to become smoke-free; for instance, a student-led initiative making the Worth County school a smoke-free campus was successfully implemented. And Hillebrand said that sometimes, it was a matter of culture change. “You have to decide which way you want to go,” he said.

Hillebrand said that he had worked in drug treatment with kids who had given their lives over to drugs; for instance, he worked with one kid who had spent $300 per day on his cocaine habit. In addition, he didn’t work for it, but obtained the money illegally. “Even that kid wished that someone had told him no when it came to alcohol,” he said. Hillebrand said that even if your kid doesn’t drink, “What if your non-drinking kid is killed by a drunk driver?”

Ultimately, Hillebrand said that if people didn’t act, then they would be asked, “Why didn’t you do anything” whenever there was a tragic situation involving alcohol. As an example of what can happen, Hillebrand said that there was one tragic situation involving alcohol which caused a multiple pileup and fatalities in England, which has been used as an ad campaign against irresponsible drinking. In it, there was a small child screaming, “Please make mommy and daddy wake up!”

He said all these sorts of things were preventable but that one of the main obstacles was the stigma involved. For instance, he said suicide was preventable, but that there was a stigma about talking about it and a wrong perception that if you talk about it, it would make people more likely to commit it. He said that there was also a stigma regarding mental illness as well; 80% of suicidal people have some sort of mental disorder. Hillebrand said that addressing these issues involved talking about these sorts of situations and that the same thing was true with drugs or alcohol.

There are plenty of myths about underage drinking addressed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. One myth was that alcohol is not as harmful as other drugs; however, it has been found to increase risk of many other diseases such as cancer. Another myth is that alcohol is a good way to loosen up at parties; however, it also makes people do things they wouldn’t normally do such as get into fights or have sex. Drinking alcohol is not cool as is frequently perceived because it can cause bad breath and weight gain.

There is also a perception that all the other kids drink; however, more than 70% of youth from 12 to 20 have not had a drink in the past month. Another myth is that people can sober up quickly; however, it takes 2-3 hours for a single drink to leave the body. Nothing can speed up the process, including coffee, taking a cold shower, or “walking it off.” Another myth is that adults drink; therefore, kids should drink as well. However, a young person’s brain and body are still growing; drinking alcohol can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism.

Tigers Set School Record in Playoff Win

Worth County set a school record for most points scored in the playoffs as they dismantled Tarkio 76-30 in the opening round of state playoff action Friday. The Indians used a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns and another long kickoff return to stay in the game for much of the first half. But then Worth County got the momentum back right before the break and pulled away to trigger the running clock. The previous record for most points scored in a playoff game for Worth County was 70 in the state championship game against Hardin-Central in 2007.

The opening kickoff went over the Tarkio back's head and Dallas Greenland and Dalton Welch led a swarm of Tigers who buried the Indians at the 11. Three runs only netted three yards for Tarkio as Eli Mullock and John Hinz stopped a run and Jordan Harding filled hard on another play to deny them. On the ensuing punt, Worth County rushed the kicker and got a hand on the punt, which squibbed out of bounds at the Tarkio 20. Worth County was faced with third and five, but an offsides penalty gave them the first down at the 10 and then Alex Harmening picked up a block from Cody Green and then dove into the end zone for the extra points to make it 8-0 with 9:02 left.

But Tarkio made a momentum-changing play when Dillon Noland ran straight up the middle for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff. Kyle Livengood ran in the extra points for Tarkio to tie it up at 8-8. Worth County got off three running plays, but then threw an interception that gave the ball right back to Tarkio at their own 35. But then Tarkio, faced with fourth and two at the Tiger 37, elected to punt and gave the ball back to the Tigers at their own 15 after the punt went into the end zone. This time, Worth County would not be denied as Eli Mullock got three carries behind the blocking of Cody Green to move to the Tarkio 36. Finally, Alex Harmening got a block from Dallas Greenland to spring him in the clear and he scored his second touchdown, a 36-yard scamper, to put Worth County back up 14-6 with 3:32 left in the first quarter.

A long kickoff return by Noland was called back by a block in the back penalty, but Tarkio still got the ball in good field position at their own 38, and it set up their next score. A pass interference penalty moved the ball to the 27 and then Tarkio lined up Alex Toben at quarterback and the tall Livengood at receiver. Livengood caught a 22-yard pass that went to the Tiger five; two plays later, Dillon Noland was in the end zone. Livengood's run put Tarkio up 16-14.

Worth County came right back down the field following a successful third down converstion as a spread draw to Eli Mullock got 10 yards to the 35. Bryce Ross then came in at quarterback and was used as a decoy as Tarkio sold out to stop the pass and Eli Mullock bounced to the outside with 11:27 left in the second quarter to make it 22-16. Dallas Greenland ran in the extra points for Worth County.

Alex Toben lined up at quarterback for Tarkio and moved them right down the field with his feet, picking up carries of 12 and 8 yards. Kyle Livengood converted a third and two with a two-yard run to the Tiger 12. But then the Tigers made a goal line stand as Tyler Schmitz belted Toben and shook him up for the rest of the game. Cody Green and Dallas Greenland broke up passes in the end zone and then Cody Mandeville dropped what looked like a sure touchdown pass that would have tied it up and the Tigers held on downs at the 13.

Worth County converted their third consecutive third down as Bryce Ross came in at quarterback and threw a 12-yard strike to Eli Mullock to the 32. A late hit moved the ball into Tarkio territory at the 33. Bryce Ross threw an incomplete pass, but then Alex Harmening's sweep picked up seven yards and then Eli Mullock got a block from Harmening to pick up 13 more to the Tarkio 13. Alex Harmening got 12 yards down to the 1 and then Eli Mullock got blocks from Kevin Stoll, Cody Green, and Dallas Greenland to get into the end zone with 4:49 left. Mullock dove into the end zone on the two point conversion to make it 30-16.

But Worth County's kickoff woes continued as Cody Mandeville ran back the ensuing kickoff for a score; Livengood ran in the extra points to make it 30-24. Two running plays for Worth County went nowhere after they were pinned back on their 18, but Tarkio did not take advantage of their good fortune this time as Bryce Ross aired it out to Eli Mullock for a 32-yard pass to get the Tigers out of a third and ten hole. The ref tacked on a 15-yard roughing the passer play that shook Ross up down to the Tarkio 15. Eli Mullock's sweep went to the three. A false start moved it back to the 8, but then Eli got a block from Dallas Greenland to get into the end zone to make it 36-24 with 2:50 left.

Tarkio moved into Tiger territory with a 17-yard pass to Mandeville and then tried to air it out to cut it to one possession. However, two passes were incomplete; the second one was broken up by Bryce Ross in the end zone. Finally, Toben aired it out one too many times and Eli Mullock intercepted it and returned it to the 34.

Two running plays went nowhere, but once again Bryce Ross came in to bail the Tigers out; a short pass to Alex Harmening netted six yards to the Tarkio 39 and then Ross aired it out to Eli Mullock for the score with 47.6 seconds left to make it 42-24. Tarkio made a bid to score before the half and a couple of complete passes got the ball to the Tiger 26. But then Kevin Stoll got a sack on the final play of the half and Worth County went into the break with all the momentum.

Tarkio kicked off and Adam Summers got a good runback to the 35 to set Worth County up for their first score. Eli Mullock broke tackle after tackle and got a block from Dallas Greenland to the Tarkio 9. Alex Harmening was sacked for a loss of three, but then Bryce Ross came in as a decoy as Eli Mullock's cutback run made it 48-24 with 10:47 left.

Alex Toben went nowhere on two plays as Dallas Greenland ran him out of bounds and then he was gang tackled on the next play. Eli Mullock broke up a third down pass as Tarkio went three and out. A short punt gave Worth County good field position at their own 36 and they took advantage as Eli Mullock handed off to Dallas Greenland for 16 yards to the 28 as he got a block from Alex Harmening. Eli Mullock got five more as he got a block from Wyatt McClain to the 23. An option play lost one yard, but then Eli converted third and six as his cutback run netted 12 yards down to the 12. Mullock got a block from Kevin Stoll and picked up six more and got a facemask penalty added on, moving the ball down to the three. Two plays later, Dallas ran a trap play into the end zone as he squeezed through a narrow gap to score and make it 54-24 with 6:10 left in the third.

Tarkio got driven backwards on their next series as a substitution infraction moved it back to the 22. Hinz then dropped Toben for no gain. Adam Summers blitzed on the next play and got a sack and a fumble as Tarkio was moved all the way back to the 8. Brian Hall recorded a sack on the next play and Kevin Stoll recovered after the ensuing scramble to give Worth County the ball at the Tarkio 9. Worth County only needed one play to score as Bryce Ross lined up at quarterback and bulldozed his way into the end zone with 4:20 left to make it 60-24.

Dalton Welch made one of his signature hits, burying Mandeville to put Tarkio in a hole to start the next drive. Toben ran for five on the next play, but then Livengood nearly fumbled it away as he got a shot from Tyler Schmitz and Adam Summers. Dallas Greenland and Alex Harmening dropped Livengood for no gain on the next play to force Tarkio to punt.

Alex Harmening got eight yards to the 35 as he got a block from Kevin Stoll, but then a block in the back drove Worth County back and they got in a third and 20 hole. But a defensive holding penalty made it third and 10 and then Bryce Ross scrambled his way for a 19-yard run and a first down to the 26. A substitution infraction moved the ball to the 31, but Eli Mullock got a block from Alex Harmening on an option from Ross as he picked up 10 yards to the 21. Eli got three more to make it third and two, but a botched shovel pass lost eight yards. But then Bryce Ross aired it out to Dallas Greenland for the remaining 23 yards to put Worth County up 68-24 as Wyatt Rush ran in the extra points.

Tarkio finally got on the board in the second half, using a seven play 57 yard drive capped by a 9-yard pass to Noland with 8:55 left that made it 68-30 against the second string. The Indians then threw in the towel and turned things over to their JV. Tarkio intercepted a long pass and started at their 21, but they couldn't take advantage and were forced to punt, giving Worth County one last scoring drive to trigger the running clock. Worth County got into a third and eight hole, but Andrew Mullock dragged a host of defenders for 11 yards to the Tiger 33. Wyatt Rush got five more to the 28 and then Dakota Owsley got 18 more yards as he bounced outside to the 10. Two plays later, Owsley was in the end zone; Wyatt Rush ran in his second conversion of the night to make it 76-30 with 2:23 left. Tarkio got a pair of long runs as the clock wound down, but ran out of time before they could get in the end zone.

Worth County was able to score on all but two of their possessions; they owned third downs against the Indians, converting eight of 11 third down conversions against the Indians. They also converted two fourth downs against them. Eli Mullock rushed for 208 yards on 26 carries; Alex Harmening added 85 yards on 8 carries. Bryce Ross had 32 yards and Dallas Greenland 25. Ross was 7 of 10 through the air for 108 yards.

Boil Advisory

The City of Grant City has notified the Sheridan Express Friday that the City of Grant City is under a boil advisory until further notice due to another water leak.

Bridge Repairs on Route W June 7th

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that Route W in Worth County has been scheduled for bridge deck repairs on Monday, June 7th (weather permitting.) Area maintenance crews will be working two miles east of Parnell. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and flaggers will be directing motorists. The work is scheduled to take one day to complete.

For more information about this or other projects being handled by MoDOT, please call our toll-free customer service hotline at: 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (1-888-275-6636).