Bernard Riley 1939-2025

Bernard Joseph Riley, 86, of Maryville, Missouri, passed away August 25, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care in Saint Joseph, surrounded by family.

He was born on August 13, 1939, to Thomas and Vivian (King) Riley on the three-generation Riley family farm in Ravenwood, Missouri; where his grandparents (John and Anna Riley) had been early settlers and his father Thomas was born. He married Sharon Luke on June 20, 1964, and they moved to the farm in 1966 where they raised their family. His roots ran deep on that farm.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother George Riley and sister-in-law Barbara Riley.

An early advocate for organ donation, stating, “Don’t take your organs to heaven – heaven knows we need them here!”, Bernard donated a kidney to his brother George in August 1994. He never gave it a second thought to donate and he was able to see the result of his gift for another ten years; saying “He’s not heavy Lord, he’s my brother.”

Bernard was a member and attended St. Gregory’s Barbarigo Catholic Church in Maryville. He was a 40-year member of the Tri-C American Legion Post 464, Conception Junction, Missouri. Since 1989, a member of the Maryville Bearcat Fraternal Order of Eagles and served many offices including State President and South-Central Regional President. He was inducted into the “Missouri State FOE Hall of Fame” in 2023 and received the “Missouri State FOE Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2025.

Bernard and his brother John had once followed the wheat harvest in Montana. He served his Country with the US Army National Guard in Maryville from 1958-65. He had worked for Allison Concrete in Stanberry, had delivered Falstaff Beer for Jim Vawter in the area, and had once owned the Palms Bar in Maryville from 1963-66. He was a farmer and raised cattle and hay. And he had worked as a union carpenter for 37 years, working for Grace Construction, and for Lehr Construction of St. Joseph.

His survivors include his wife of over 61 years, Sharon of the home in Maryville; his children, Christine Standiford (Wayne Corcoran), and children Ashley (Jordan) Smith, Amanda (Cori) Wardlow, and Angela Standiford, Raymond (Patti) Riley, and children, Lukas Riley, Johnathan Riley, Kristen Patterson, Shannon (Josh) Milbourn, and Justin (Hannah) Patterson, Roger Riley, (Jessica Klinefelter), and children, Abigail (Dakota) Hoecker, Gabriella Riley (Ari Ross), Saleena Scholbrock, and Caleb Fields, Sara (Doug) Freemyer, and children, Shelby (Gary) Wyant, and Kameron Freemyer, Rex (Tanya) Riley, and children, Brianna (Cory) Rosenbohm, Vanessa Riley, and Andrea Riley; his brothers, John and Leo (Linda) Riley, and sister-in-law, Mary Riley, 17 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

There will be a parish and family Rosary at 4:30 PM on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at St. Gregory’s Barbarigo Catholic Church, Maryville; followed by a FOE memorial. The visitation will continue from 5:30-7:00 PM.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 1, 2025, at St. Gregory’s. The burial, with military honors, will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Conception, Missouri. The funeral service will be live streamed through the church.

Services are under the direction of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the diabetes education program with Deby Hull at Mosaic Medical Center, Maryville, the Midwest Transplant Network, and the Freudenthal Center for Parkinson's Disease in Saint Joseph.

Missouri First State to Exempt Capital Gains Tax

By the Missouri Department of Revenue

Missouri House Bill 594 (HB 594), recently signed into law by Governor Mike Kehoe, is landmark legislation that eliminates tax on capital gains for individuals and provides a path for corporations in Missouri to do so, as well. This bill makes Missouri the first state in the nation to completely exempt such tax for individual filers.

“The department is already preparing for next year’s tax season and we are making the adjustments required to accommodate this and other new laws that affect taxpayers,” Director of Revenue Trish Vincent said. “It is always a good thing when we can implement changes that put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Missouri citizens.”

The key provisions in HB 594 are outlined below:

For Individuals: Effective January 1, 2025, individuals can deduct 100% of all capital gains reported for federal income tax purposes when calculating their Missouri adjusted gross income. This applies to both short-term and long-term capital gains from assets such as stocks, real estate, and cryptocurrency.

For Corporations: Corporations can deduct 100% of capital gains from their federal taxable income when the top individual income tax rate in Missouri falls to 4.5% or lower. The corporate subtraction will take effect in the tax year following the year in which this rate reduction occurs. For 2025, the top individual income tax rate is 4.7%, meaning corporations will not be eligible for the deduction in tax year 2025. 

Tax preparers may want to review client withholdings and adjust them downward if clients are expected to be affected by this new subtraction. 

 

Opinion -- Missouri Ballot Initiative Would Establish Right to High Quality Public Education

By Missouri Right to Education

The Missouri Right to Education campaign is preparing to begin signature collection to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot that would guarantee every child in Missouri the right to high-quality public education.

Missouri is facing a number of challenges as we work to strengthen our communities and grow our economy. With an aging population and Missourians now dying at a faster rate than they are being born, it is essential that we give people every reason to make Missouri their home.  With the biggest driver of home selection being access to quality education, it is essential that Missouri raises its national profile through a constitutional commitment to that end.

Our constitution currently requires the legislature to provide free public schools, but there is no reference to our children having the “right” to adequate, thorough, and uniform high-quality education. Without a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to education, parents lack strong legal standing to hold the state accountable should it not uphold that right.

“This amendment is not about politics,” said Spencer Toder, Director of Missouri Right to Education. “It is about putting Missouri’s kids’ futures in writing. This will give teachers, parents, and communities the power to advocate for our students and make sure they get the kind of education that prepares them for a successful life.” 

The proposed amendment’s language has been submitted to the Secretary of State. To ensure voters have clear and accurate ballot language for the amendment, the campaign has filed a legal challenge to the state’s initial summary, which Toder asserts is false. “Why Secretary Hoskins would attempt to mislead voters who just want kids to have a right to education is beyond me, but we are confident that the courts will require fair and accurate language, and once that process is complete, we will begin signature gathering.”

The campaign emphasizes that the amendment does not add new programs or restrict educational opportunities. Its sole purpose is to ensure Missouri’s children have access to strong public schools across the state, no matter where they live. Missorians who are interested in getting involved in the effort can sign up to volunteer and contribute at MOEducation.org.

“The passing of this amendment will be a beacon to growing businesses across the country that Missouri is serious about fostering the most educated and prepared workforce possible.” Toder said. “Through a right to education, we will ensure a brighter future for Missouri.”                                  

 

Route M Bridge Near Denver Now Open

The East Fork River Bridge on Worth County Route M is now open following a deck replacement project. Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, reopened the bridge on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

The bridge on East Fork River Bridge has been closed since April 21.

Two other bridges are also included in this project -- the Zounds Creek Bridge on Gentry County Route B and the Middle Creek Fork Grand River Bridge on U.S. Route 169 in Worth County. For more information about this project, visit: https://www.modot.org/projects/us-route-169-route-b-and-route-m-bridge-rehabilitation-gentry-and-worth.

All work is expected to be completed by December 2025.

MoDOT asks drivers to work with us by always buckling up, keeping your phone down, slowing down and moving over in work zones. Know before you go and check what work zones you might encounter at traveler.modot.org.

Get project and work zone news straight to your email by signing up for eUpdates. Information is also available 24/7 by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or by visiting www.modot.org

Hali Smith, Jaxcynn Hansel Hammer Mercer in Jamboree

North Harrison is looking to capitalize on its late season run last year, returning many of the same players that were on that squad. In the Jamboree, Jaxcynn Hansel and Hali Smith each bashed three hits. The hitting was spread out with Lani Briggs, Ava Rinehart, and Addison Milligan all getting two and Andi Nail beating out a scratch hit. Nail showed a newfound ability to move runners, as she sacrificed herself twice to bring runs home. A newcomer, Becca Welling, was crushing the ball hard in practice and it carried over into the jamboree as she hit a rocket back to Kristen Tracy for a hard out in the Worth County game and showed the ability to make contact. Ciera Hilburn showed potential to be a slugger as a freshman, once crushing a practice rubber fungo ball as hard as any softball and nearly taking out her partner, Erica Gerken, during hitting drills. Luckily, Gerken, the pitcher for the Shamrocks at the time, had plenty of experience dodging missiles. It is starting to pay off as Hilburn has started putting live pitching into play as a senior this year, hitting one solidly but right at someone in the Worth County game. Raegan Hogan, a freshman, is learning to be a slapper; if it pays off, she has good speed and has a chance of beating out anything she gets in play. 

The Shamrocks can slug with anyone with their one through five hitters. Their success will depend on how their six through nine hitters continue to progress and step up for third year coach Justin Joiner. 

Against Mercer, North Harrison was able to put it together as Addison Milligan singled with one out in the first. Milligan took second and third on wild pitches and Rinehart walked. Rinehart continued sprinting down to second and Mercer threw down, allowing Milligan to steal home for a successful double steal to make it 1-0. Jaxcynn Hansel's Texas leaguer dropped inn to score Rinehart and Hansel stole second. Hali Smith reached on a fielder's choice to short as Hansel took off for third and made it. Raelin Hogan walked and Becca Welling grounded out to score Hansel. Andi Nail beat out a scratch hit and the ball got away to allow two more runs to cross the plate and make it 5-0.

Kathryn Parkhurst, Lani Briggs, and Addison Milligan all walked and Ava Rinehart's fly ball was dropped, scoring Parkhurst. Jaxcynn Hansel wore one to force in another run. Hali Smith singled to score one and the cutoff throw got away to score another. Raegan Hogan drew another walk and Hansel scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-0.

Sari Rogers beat out an infield hit, took second and third, and scored on Lily Stark's groundout to put Mercer on the board at 10-1.

Becca Welling walked, advanced on Andi Nail's grounder, and took third on a wild pitch. Lani Briggs singled her home, allowing Welling to win a $1 bet as she crossed the plate. Three more Shamrocks singled in Addison Milligan, Ava Rinehart, and Jaxcynn Hansel and Rinehart came home on a wild pitch as the Shamrocks made it 14-1.

Mercer rallied in its half of the third as Paisley Wells and Lanie Rogers walked and Kylie Holt, Payton Davis, and Sari Rogers all singled before Addison Milligan stopped the bleeding with a catch to secure the 14-4 win. 

Kambree Briner Goes Six for Six as Tigers Sweep Jamboree

Kambree Briner went 6 for 6 for the Worth County softball team and nobody could get her out in either game as the Tigers won a slugfest from North Harrison and easily beat Mercer in the nightcap. The Tigers are playing the numbers game, with only ten out and already down one player in Riley Ridge (ankle). They had another scare when catcher Audrey Runde plunked pitcher Kristen Tracy during the first game during warmups; however, Kristen stayed in the game and moved to first as Megan finished out the first game and won the second. If the Tigers can make it through the season unscathed, then Briner figures to be quite a force for the Tiger squad this year.

Worth County 11, North Harrison 7

The Shamrocks had beaten the Tigers in Bethany this summer, but two walks and a scratch hit by Briner loaded the bases for the Tigers to start the first. A dropped fly ball opened the floodgates as three Tigers crossed the plate. Megan Tracy scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

But North Harrison had gotten into plenty of high scoring slugfests during their late charge last year and they bounced right back as Lani Briggs started off with a triple to right. Ava Rinehart singled to center to score Briggs, stole second, and circled the bases on an errant throw to cut it to 4-2. Addison Milligan walked, Jaxcynn Hansel beat out a scratch hit, and Hali Smith singled home a run to make it 4-3 and put Hansel on third. Hali stole second and then Andi Nail grounded out and Becca Welling, a new player trying out softball for the first time, hit a rocket that Kristen Tracy knocked down, but her only play was at first as the Shamrocks took a 5-4 lead.

Kennedy Murphy reached on an error and Audrey Runde walked before Kambree Briner seemingly put a hex on the ball as she hit a bad hop single that bounced well over Hali Smith's head for her second scratch hit, scoring Murphy. Kristen Tracy doubled and all three Tigers scored as the Shamrocks threw the ball around to make it 8-5. The lower part of the order came through as Rayleigh Smith singled home Rylee Ruckman to make it 9-5.

After the injury scare, things could have snowballed for the Tigers, but Megan Tracy stepped in and struck out the first batter she faced and Rayleigh Smith caught a pair of balls in right field to get the Tigers out of the second inning with no damage done.

Audrey Runde and Kambree Briner singled to start the Tiger third, with Briner taking second on the unsuccessful throw to third. Kristen Tracy, showing no ill effects from being plunked the previous inning, crushed a double to score them both to make it 11-5.

Addison Milligan and Jaxcynn Hansel walked to start the Shamrock third. Hali Smith beat out Kambree Briner's throw from second and it got away as Milligan scored, Hansel took third, and Briner second. Andi Nail grounded out to score Hansel before Rylee Ruckman retired the last two Shamrock batters at shortstop.

Worth County 13, Mercer 1

Megan Tracy fought the strike zone to start off the first, but got two strikeouts to get out of the inning. Audrey Runde singled and Kambree Briner crushed a triple to put the Tigers on the board. Kristen Tracy reached on an error and Briner scored. Kristen and Megan Tracy both came home on wild pitches and Rayleigh Smith grounded out to score Rylee Ruckman to make it 5-0 after one.

Tracy settled in during the second and Kambree Briner helped out with her glove, snagging Emma Stark's screamer. 

Kennedy Murphy walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Kambree Briner's magic bat struck again as she stretched a single into a double to score Murphy. Kristen Tracy singled Briner to third and Kambree scored on a wild pitch. Addison Gray doubled to left to score Tracy to make it 8-0.

Kennedy Murphy walked and Briner's magic bat struck again as she singled. Megan Tracy walked to load the bases and Addison Gray got her second straight hit, singling to right. The ball got away and Gray made it to third as the bases cleared, making it 11-0. Rylee Ruckman singled to left and Kennedy Murphy walked to force in a run to make it 13-0.

Megan Tracy walked the first two batters and a throwing error let in the first run, but Addison Gray caught a fly ball and doubled a runner off second to end the game.

Missouri Now Allows Forfeiture of Vehicles for Resisting Arrest

Missouri House Bill 495, signed by Governor Mike Kehoe, now allows for impoundment and forfeiture of a vehicle if the driver is convicted of a felony for resisting arrest.

However, if the vehicle was stolen, the legal owner can retain legal rights to reclaim it. They can file a police report, provide proof of ownership, and request a post-seizure hearing. Owners need to prove that the vehicle was stolen, they had no knowledge or involvement in the crime, and they took reasonable steps to report the theft.

To recover a lost title, owners can apply for a duplicate title with the Missouri Department of Revenue. Fill out all owner and vehicle details, such as the VIN, year, make, your legal name, and Missouri address. Your signature must be notarized. Cost is $8.50 for a duplicate title fee and $6 for a processing fee for a total of $14.50.

Some jurisdictions can require payment of towing or storage fees even if the owner was not at fault. Owners can request a waiver.

House Bill 495 does not override existing protections for innocent owners. Missouri courts have typically upheld the principle that forfeiture should not punish uninvolved parties.

The preceding does not constitute legal advice. Please consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.