Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Baby Cereal Recalled

On Thursday, Beechnut Nutrition initiated a voluntary recall of Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Baby Cereal, Lots number 093470 and 103470 with expiration date of May 1st, 2022. There are 8,831 cases. Product may contain elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.

New Superintendent, Chris Healy, Introduces Himself

By Superintendent Chris Healy

Dear Worth County R-III Students, Staff, Parents, and Fellow Tigers,

As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, I’m Chris Healy, and I would like to introduce myself and say that I am honored to be the new Superintendent at Worth County R-III. I am excited to take a big step in my career and lead the school district that has played a significant role in the majority of my life. The tradition and success of the school has and will continue to be made possible because of the caring and talented people in the building and the support of the school board and community.

I moved to Grant City in the fall of 1989 for the beginning of my kindergarten year. I graduated from high school in 2002 at Worth County R-III. After graduation, I attended Northwest Missouri State University and majored in Computer Science. While getting my degree, I knew that education was an avenue that I wanted to keep open so I also completed my mathematics education certification. I was fortunate to be offered a position to teach high school math at Worth County in the fall of 2006 and have been here ever since. While teaching and coaching I completed my Masters in K-12 Administration and Specialist in Superintendency, both from Northwest Missouri State University.

Worth County R-III has been an integral part of my life. First, as a student and child of an administrator and music teacher. Later, as a teacher, administrator, coach, parent, and community member. I am looking forward to the challenge of continuing the success of our district, as well as focusing on goals for improving the education of our students.

I have been fortunate to be able to be involved in the leadership of the district office over the past year to get acclimated to the new position. I would like to thank and congratulate Dr. Matthew Martz on his retirement and commend him on leaving the district in a good position. I admired his passion of being a lifelong learner with a growth mindset and will strive to continue myself.

During the summer, there is always extensive work going on to take care of our facilities. The custodial and maintenance staff do a tremendous job and take pride in keeping our facilities safe and looking good. We are currently in the process of a large flooring project throughout the school. We are excited to complete the project and get people in the building to see the improvements early in the fall for the start of the school year. Be on the lookout for an open house date to see the improvements. The first day of school is August 24.

Again, I am extremely honored and excited to be the new Superintendent at Worth County R-III. Our mission is to, “... equip students with the character traits and academic skills to be productive, caring, problem-solving adults in our society.” With our 275 students, highly qualified and caring staff, administration, board of education, and a supportive community, I feel like we are in a position to continue to produce students that are ready to be productive members of our communities.

Go Tigers!

Grain Valley Man Injured in Wreck Near Maryville

A Grain Valley man was injured in a wreck near Maryville Friday morning at around 3:10 am. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2010 Chevy Impala driven by Aaron Sartin (32) of Grain Valley and a 2016 Peterbilt driven by Lonnie Tompkins (56) of Maryville were southbound on Route 71 and 330th Street six miles south of Maryville. The Peterbilt was turning onto Route 71 from 330th when the Chevy came over the hill crest and struck the Peterbilt in the rear driver axle. Sartin received moderate injuries in the wreck and was taken to Mosaic in St. Joseph. Tompkins was not injured.

Texas Man Ejected, Seriously Injured in Pattonsburg Wreck

A Texas man was seriously injured after being ejected from his vehicle in a wreck Thursday at around 4:39 pm five miles north of Pattonsburg. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2008 Freightliner driven by Robert Dunagan (58) of Leander (TX) was northbound on I-35 at the 83.6 mile marker when he lost control, crossed the median, continued across the southbound lanes, drove off the west side of the roadway, and overturned, ejecting Dunagan. He was seriously injured and taken to Liberty Hospital.

Sheridan Man Injured in Wreck

A Sheridan man was injured in a wreck near Gilman City Thursday morning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2017 Ford F-150 driven by Roger Fletchall (58) of Sheridan was westbound on Route H at around 10:12 am, while a 2021 Buick Enclave driven by Thom Baker (70) of Kent (IA) was southbound on Route 13 five miles west of Gilman City. The Ford turned into the path of the Buick, which struck the front driver’s side of the Ford. Fletchall received minor injuries and was taken to Harrison County Hospital in Bethany. Baker was not injured.

One Killed, Four Injured in Rock Port Wreck

One person was killed and four people were injured, including three children, in a wreck near Rock Port Wednesday evening. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2018 Toyota Sienna driven by Emily Ptacnik (34) of Omaha was southbound on I-29 and Mile Marker 107 three miles south of Rock Port at around 7:38 pm, while a 2018 Hyundai Sonata driven by Jovannah Ross (38) of Omaha was northbound.  The Hyundai began to slide, crossed the grass median, and entered the southbound lands, striking the front of the Toyota with the passenger side. Ross was killed in the wreck. Ptacnik and three children who were with her in the Toyota received minor injuries and were taken to Mosaic in St. Joseph. 

Family Donates to Worth County Fairgrounds Association

The Worth County Fairgrounds Assn. has received a donation from the family of the late Allen Davidson in memory of their father who was a local farmer and a former Worth County Farm Bureau board member.  Mr. Davidson was an enthusiastic supporter of our local 4-H and FFA youth and participated in many area events with his horse-drawn equipment. 

In the fall of 1994, the county Farm Bureau board discussed procuring land and developing a “Fairgrounds” facility in the county with an emphasis on use as a 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock facility. Over the years, various groups had “looked into” procuring a permanent fairgrounds.  Board member Allen Davidson told of at least one serious discussion approximately 40 years before about the need for a fairgrounds, and he himself had been a part of an unsuccessful attempt in the more recent past. Those various efforts had “gone nowhere” but the need was still there. The Farm Bureau Board was unanimous in its support of the project and its willingness to put feet to the effort to find a property and get it developed. Allen served on the committee to search out a suitable property and those initial efforts resulted in what is today’s Worth County Fairgrounds. 

The Worth County Fairgrounds Association would like to thank the Davidson family for their memorial gift, but especially for the encouragement and support that Allen gave to the fairgrounds project.