Bulldogs Send Five to State Boys Golf

The Kearney High School Boys Golf team finished second at the 2024 Class 4-District 4 Tournament with a 347 as a team.

As the district runner up, all five Kearney High School golfers qualified for the Class 4 State Tournament on May 13-14 at Dalhousie Golf Course in Cape Girardeau. This is the first time since 2023 that the Bulldogs have qualified as a team for state golf tournament.

Will Staab finished T-13th, shooting an 87 and was selected for the All-District team. Carter Smith earned the same honor by finishing in fourth place with an 80.

State qualifiers:

Alex Gustafson

Will Staab

Aiden Tyner

Carter Smith

Carter Brock

Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Missouri Health Advisory Regarding Consumption of Cannabinoids

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has issued a vital health advisory concerning the potential risks associated with the consumption of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. This advisory comes as a response to a recent increase in availability of products containing hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids and the emerging concerns regarding the health effects of these substances, especially among youth.

These intoxicating compounds are currently untested in humans, unregulated and sold to the public without restriction. Until safety data is available for human consumption, Missourians are advised to avoid these products.

According to the advisory released by DHSS, hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids, including but not limited to delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and THC-P, have been found in various products available in the market. These cannabinoids, while derived from hemp, possess psychoactive properties similar to delta-9 THC found in marijuana, and their consumption can result in impairment and adverse health effects.

Currently, a wide variety of foods, beverages, purported dietary supplements, and other commodities containing hemp-derived compounds, both intoxicating and non-intoxicating, are available online and in traditional brick-and-mortar establishments in Missouri. These products are marketed progressively and assertively in eye-catching ways to attract public consumption, particularly that of young consumers.

Consumption of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids puts individuals at risk for poisoning, unintended intoxication, contaminants and byproduct effects on the body, impaired driving and more.

“It is highly concerning how accessible these products are to the public, especially our youth,” said Paula F. Nickelson, director of DHSS. “There is no way for consumers to know exactly what is in the product they are consuming and just how intoxicating it may be.”

Missouri consumers are urged to only purchase cannabis-infused products from state-licensed dispensaries. These regulated facilities adhere to strict quality control measures and provide transparent information about the contents and potential risks associated with their products.

If a product is sold outside of a Missouri-regulated cannabis dispensary, product labels should be checked when possible to identify and avoid the following product ingredients, which are hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids: Delta-8 THC, Delta-6 THC, Delta-10 THC, Delta-11 THC, THC-A, THC-O, THC-P, THC-V, THC-JD, PHC, HHC, HHC-P and HXC. However, it is important to note there is no regulatory authority verifying these product labels are accurate.

Reported from submitted press release.

Kearney Musicians Hit Right Notes at State

The Kearney High School band and choir sent several musicians to state contests this spring. Many students came back with Gold ratings.

Choir

The Kearney High School Choir excelled during the MSHSAA State Solo and Small Ensemble Contest held on April 25. The vocal music students performed admirably on the day with seven competing events. Of those events, five of them received Gold Ratings while the other two received Silver Ratings.

Gold

Kate Martens, Lia Wilson, Archer Schmidt, Arianna Sypniewski, Ryan Bowles, Connor Green, Logan West, Delayne Boyd – Mixed Double Quartet

Ryan Bowles – Vocal Solo

Emi Eberhardt – Vocal Solo

Logan West – Vocal Solo

Connor Green – Vocal Solo

Silver

Aiden Vasquez (JH) – Vocal Solo

Arianna Sypniewski – Vocal Solo

Band

Kearney High School Band students gave some equally great performances at the MSHSAA State Solo/Ensemble Festival. The band took 13 qualifying students to this event. Seven earned Gold, five Silver, and one Bronze.

Gold Performances included:

Avery Morgan

Kieran Cooper

Hailey Robertson

Phoebe Taylor

Emma Daniel

Alex Kinstler

Andie George

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Mobile Mammography Stops at Platte-Clay

The Mobile Mammography 3-D imaging bus is coming to Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative on Wednesday June 5th from 9 am to 5. Platte-Clay is located at 1000 W State Route 92 Highway in Kearney.

Platte-Clay worked with Diagnostic Imaging Centers P.A. to bring this service to Kearney.

Here are the guidelines to schedule your mammography session:

- When scheduling your mammogram, tell your scheduler that the appointment is on the mobile coach for Wednesday June 5th.

- Women 35 to 39 years of age are eligible for a screening baseline mammogram. They should check with their insurance provider prior to the screening for plan eligibility and coverage.

- Your most recent screening mammogram should be 12 months or more prior to the current mammogram for insurance coverage reasons. Please check with your insurance provider for coverage if you are earlier than 12 months.

- Women only women over 40 years do not need an order.

- Please complete the breast imaging form in the medical records release form, then provide them at your time of your appointment.

- You will also need a photo ID your insurance card and the name of your primary care physician.

- On the day of your mammogram please refrain from wearing deodorant lotion or perfume from the waist up. Also wear a two piece outfit so you don't have to fully disrobe.

To schedule your appointment, call 914-344-9989. Walk-ins are welcome.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Fallen Warriors Memorial Ceremony Details Finalized

Details of the Fallen Warriors Memorial dedication were announced last week as construction continues at Jesse James Park, north of Kearney. The ceremony will take place on Memorial Day, May 27, at 10 am.

Sheriff Will Akin named keynote speaker at the fallen warriors memorial dedication

Kearney Chamber of Commerce executive director Stacie Bratcher will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Sheriff Will Akin will be the keynote speaker.

As a tribute to these fallen heroes, KPGZ News will publish biographies of the soldiers as provided by Rich Kolb of the Kearney-Holt Fallen Warriors Memorial.

E. Howard Porter

Birthplace and date: Platte County, MO

Home of record: Smithville/Paradise

E. Howard grew up on a farm one mile from Paradise. He attended school in Smithville, yet maintained close ties to Paradise, becoming a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows there, for example. Early in the war, Howard worked for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. in San Diego, Calif.

Although not required to serve because of his age and occupation, he nonetheless joined the service out of a sense of obligation after a close friend from Smithville was killed over the English Channel. He enlisted on Sept. 16, 1943, trained in St. Joseph, Mo., and was sent overseas in January 1944 to the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater.      

As a C-46 pilot with the Air Transport Command (ATC), he ferried supplies over the Himalaya Mountains into China. Stationed at Calcutta in the Assam Valley of India, his outfit, Station No. 2, 1325th Base Unit, flew from Chabua Airfield. After only a couple of months of overseas duty, he lost his life. Upon take-off from Kunming, China, he and his co-pilot were killed when Chinese civilians overloaded the back of the plane, causing it to crash. Flying the “Hump” was extremely hazardous: the ATC lost 328 planes in crashes, killing 1,314 crew members and losing 345 missing. The ATC in the CBI was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation on Jan. 29, 1944 – the first non-combat outfit earning this prestigious honor. The Chinese-erected Kuming Monument pays tribute to all the Hump crews who perished.  

Porter was initially buried in China, then his remains were removed to the Punchbowl in Hawaii, and finally returned home in 1947. He left behind a wife, Virginia, and a 1-year-old daughter, Claudia, in San Diego. His second daughter was born on Victory-Japan Day in August 1945. His parents, two sisters and younger brother still resided in Missouri then. Brother Mac Porter is a long-time, prominent resident of Kearney.  

Robert E Seuell

Birthplace and date: Paradise, March 24, 1921

Home of record: Holt, Clay County

Robert was single and a clerk when he enlisted on Jan. 17, 1942, at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. He had a brother, Maurice. Trained as a tail gunner on a B-29 bomber, he was in the Army Air Forces for one year and nine months before his untimely death at Blythe Army Air Base in Riverside, California.

The Army Air Forces used the airfield there as a heavy bombardment crew training base for the 2nd Air Force’s 16th Bombardment Training Wing. The 34th Bombardment Group was assigned there on Dec. 15, 1942.  The mission of the training school was to prepare combat air crews for shipment overseas. It was that duty that claimed Seuell’s life on Oct. 4, 1943. Aircraft training took a horrendous toll in lives during WWII. At Blythe alone, 126 airmen were killed in accidents.

The memorial in Jesse James Park will serve as a permanent site of remembrance, a focal point for Memorial and Veterans Day activities. Remembering the names and lives of those who gave all is a sacred obligation, and today all three communities can be proud that this debt has been symbolically paid in full.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.