Kearney Sinks the Pirates on Senior Night

Kearney entered their last regular season game against the Belton Pirates with a 6-2 record and ranked 4th in Missouri Class 4.  Emotions were high as a boatload of Bulldogs were recognized in a pre-game ceremony that featured 26 senior players and their families.   

Senior Brock Colhour started the Bulldog scoring with an incredible 85 yard punt return with 5:38 to go in the first quarter.  

Senior Brock Colhour started the Bulldog scoring with an incredible 85 yard punt return with 5:38 to go in the first quarter. Photo by Chrystan Ferrell

The Pirates would send a shot across the bow when QB Cooper Schrum found Elias Walker in the corner of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown pass.  After this Belton score, the Kearney defense would batten down the hatches and not allow another point on the night. 

The Bulldogs would use their entire arsenal to add 5 more touchdowns in the remainder of the game. 

At 10:21 to go in the second quarter, Corbin Emmons scored on a 3-yard rushing TD to extend the Bulldog lead 14-7.  After a tremendous defensive goal line stand by the Bulldogs led by Seniors Tyler Jarrett and Carson Shears, Rooney would fire a shot to Cameron Emmons for a 35-yard TD pass on 4th and 12 to make the score 21-7 with :20 seconds remaining in the half.  

To start the 2nd half, Belton would attempt an onside kick but the Bulldogs anticipated they may run a rig and easily recovered the ball after a devastating block from Cameron Emmons cleared the way. 

After a Rooney bullet pass to Cameron Emmons moved the ball inside the 10-yard line, Theo Grace scored his first TD of the season from the “Ham package”.  The play made famous by his brother Zach last season extended the Kearney lead to 28-7. 

On the subsequent kickoff, Coach Minnick would order an onside kick of his own.  Junior Kicker, Jacob Dillon, executed the play to perfection as he kicked and recovered the ball.  Dillon was also a perfect 6-6 on PAT’s for the night. 

The Bulldogs would find paydirt 30 seconds after the onside kick with a 49-yard pass play from Casey Rooney to Manny Linthacum. This made the score 35-7.  Rooney would find Trent Dostal in the back of the endzone on a 30 yard play action pass to complete the scoring with 11:16 to go in the game. 

With the final score of 42-7, Kearney extended their streak to 6 games of scoring 40 or more points while holding their opponents to under 13 points. 

Kearney finishes the regular season in shipshape at 7-2.  The Bulldogs will play the Benton Cardinals at home next Friday to open District play. 

Kearney Chamber Partners with Teladoc Health

The Kearney Chamber of Commerce today announced a new partnership with Teladoc Health to provide the Chamber’s business members with access to whole-person virtual health care.

Cathy Sapp, Senior Broker Director at Teladoc Health, says “helping businesses across Missouri remove the strain of an employees’ out-of-pocket doctor and mental health costs is key to helping employees stay healthy and productive.”

Teladoc Health uses proprietary health signals and personalized interactions to drive better health outcomes across the full continuum of care, at every stage in a person’s health journey

This unique Chamber benefit puts the individual rather than the healthcare system at the center of employee’s health by virtually integrating all the healthcare services necessary to meet a full set of physical, mental, socioeconomic needs and connecting this care to a 24/7 engagement platform.

With only 48% of businesses in the state offering group health insurance, Teladoc offers a valued benefit for companies that simply don't have the budget to provide traditional health insurance, is a great fit for ineligible employee groups like part-time and gig workers, and a proven tool to leverage virtual first services to offset claims expenses for companies with self or level-funded health insurance.

“Our business member employers will benefit greatly by offering this Teladoc solution, called HealthiestYou and it aligns with the Chamber’s goal of providing resources and services that help even our smallest business members with their health care needs” says Stacie Bratcher, Executive Director of the Kearney Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, please visit https://www.teladoc.services/kearneychamber

Liberty Hospital, University of Kansas Health System Announce Intent to Partner

On Thursday, October 19, the Liberty Hospital Board of Trustees voted to pursue a partnership with The University of Kansas Health System. The board’s decision marks a major milestone in Liberty Hospital’s search for a strategic growth partner, an extensive process that began last May.

During the coming days, leaders at Liberty Hospital and The University of Kansas Health System will work together exclusively to finalize a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI). The signing of the LOI will define alignment, identify shared goals for a strong partnership and begin all remaining due diligence to determine the terms of a final agreement.

During the coming days, leaders at Liberty Hospital and The University of Kansas Health System will work together exclusively to finalize a non-binding Letter of Intent

“From the outset, we focused on finding a partner who will invest in increasing access to high-quality care, offers a great cultural fit, and upholds our commitment to the community and our employees,” Raghu Adiga, MD, Liberty Hospital’s president and chief executive officer, said. “We believe The University of Kansas Health System is uniquely positioned to support us in bringing world-class clinical excellence to the Northland and northwest Missouri, making exceptional healthcare as close and convenient as it can be.”

While the specifics are still being determined, hospital leaders agree the partnership will be mutually beneficial – and most importantly, it will improve access to high-quality healthcare north of the river. Through this partnership, Liberty Hospital will have the opportunity to expand services and enhance patient experience with greater access to innovative treatments, specialists and a seamless continuum of care. As a Kansas City-based academic health system, The University of Kansas Health System will have the opportunity for a broader presence in the Northland and northwest Missouri.

Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Health System, says this is an opportunity to expand access to the leading edge of healthcare. “Liberty and the region deserve access to the highest quality care close to home. Together, we can deliver the full spectrum of care while keeping care local.” 

Tammy Peterman, MS, RN, FAAN, president of the health system’s Kansas City Division, said, “We share with Liberty Hospital and its leaders a commitment to a patient-first approach focused on quality and service. Our proven ability to recruit and retain world-class talent, and the ability to partner with the Liberty Hospital medical staff and teams to expand access to groundbreaking treatments locally, will create an impact for patients and the community for generations to come.”

The immediate next step in the process is to finalize the LOI. The final agreement is expected to be announced in the coming months, as Liberty Hospital approaches its 50th anniversary celebrations in February 2024. In the meantime, all care and operations will continue as usual for both health systems; nothing is changing for Liberty Hospital patients or employees.

“A partnership of this caliber takes time to plan, but we remain committed to transparency and will continue to provide updates as the process continues,” said Dennis Carter, chairman of the Liberty Hospital Board of Trustees. “We sincerely thank every health system who joined us in this exploration – extraordinary enterprises, all of them – and we look forward to the many possibilities ahead with The University of Kansas Health System.”

Liberty Hospital has been sharing updates online throughout this exploration. To follow along, visit libertyhospital.org/herewegrow.

Residents Invited to Sheriff’s Town Hall Meetings

Clay County Sheriff Will Akin

Clay County residents can get answers to their questions about Proposition A and what’s happening at the Sheriff’s Office at one of two upcoming town hall meetings.

The meetings will be:

- 6 to 7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 25, at the North Oak Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 8700 N. Oak Trafficway, KCMO

- 6 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 2, at the Woodneath Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 8900 N.E. Flintlock Rd., KCMO

Sheriff Will Akin will answer residents’ general questions about the Sheriff’s Office. He also will share information about Proposition A, which asks voters on Nov. 7 to approve a $1 monthly fee on cellular devices to fund the County’s portion of the regional 911 system.

Bulldogs Finish Strong at Golf Tournament

Kearney High School Girls Golf team members JoJo and Jessi Kutch finished their 2023 season with notable results on Oct. 16-17 at the Class 3 Missouri State High School Girls Golf Tournament.

“Both girls did an outstanding job of playing golf and representing Kearney School District,” Head Coach Troy Resler said. “This has been a great season for our entire team, and I’m proud of the effort put in by all of our golfers.”

Both girls did an outstanding job of playing golf and representing Kearney School District. - Head Coach Troy Resler

JoJo, a senior, shot a 95 on day one and an 89 on day two. She finished with a 184 and tied for 60th place. Jessi, a freshman, shot a 98 on day one and an 85 on day two. She finished with a 183 and tied for 57th place.

JoJo ended her high school golf career as the 2023 Suburban Conference Blue Division Champion, 2023 All-District, and a three-time state qualifier.

“She had a great senior season and a phenomenal high school golf career,” Resler said.

Jessi is one of the very few freshmen to qualify for the state tournament. She finished her first year of high school golf as a 2023 Suburban Conference Blue Division All-Conference honoree (tied for third) and 2023 All-District.