Food Safety Excellence Award Winners Announced

The Clay County Public Health Center released the winners of the 2023 Food Safety Excellence Awards. This year’s winners represent the top 15% of establishments overseen by Clay County Public Health Center.

This award recognizes food establishments that continue to successfully follow the Clay County Food Code, exhibit outstanding food safety and sanitation practices, and achieve exceptional inspection results during the calendar year. To qualify for the award, they must meet multiple criteria such as having been open and operating for the full year with no repeated violations, no follow-up inspections needed, and no confirmed cases of foodborne illnesses.

Food Safety Excellence Awards were given to the following food service businesses in Kearney: Arby’s, Dogwood Elementary, E. Howard Porter VFW Post #5717, Fair Share Farm, Gino’s Italian Cuisine, Guardian Angels Care Center, Hand in Hand, Hawthorne Elementary, Kearney Early Education Center, Kearney High School, Kearney Junior High School, Kearney Middle School, McDonald’s, Paisley Perk, Pilot Travel Center/Taco Bell, Price Chopper Bakery, Quick Trip, Southview Elementary, Starbucks Coffee, Talented Tots Learning Center, and Westbrook Care Center.

The following businesses were Gold Standard award winners that have won three or more years in a row: Dogwood Elementary, Fair Share Farm, Guardian Angels Care Center, Hand in Hand, Kearney Early Education Center, Kearney High School, Kearney Middle School, Paisley Perk, Price Chopper Bakery, and Southview Elementary School.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

BITS Hosts Bull Ride Action

Better in the Saddle Equine Assisted Programs returns with professional bull riding action this summer in Kearney. The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27 at Jesse James Park.

The bull ride is produced by Amped Up Productions, and proceeds will go to help Better in the Saddle to meet the physical and psychological needs of people with disabilities and youth at risk with the aid of specially selected and trained horses.

Better in the Saddle helps individuals from young kids to adults in their 50’s and 60’s to strengthen their bodies and minds by developing physical, mental and emotional capabilities through interaction with certified instructors, coaches, specially trained equine and dedicated volunteers.

“I would offer an invitation to anybody to come watch that process that a horse has with those people. It’s amazing,” reflected program leader Jay Bettis on Kearney Live. “The horse’s heart will heal anything. It’s not only good for the riders, but good for the people who volunteer.”

The evening activities start with mutton bustin’ at 6:30 pm for young kids. Signups for that begin at 6 pm at the announcer’s stand and the cost is $10. For older and braver cowboys there’s mini bull riding and barrel racing. After that the professional bull riders come out to compete at 7:30 pm.

Gates open at 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and tickets to get in are only $10 for adults; kids 6 and under get in free.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KHS Hosts Youth Drama Camp

Young Bulldogs can take centerstage during the 2024 Kearney High School Youth Drama Camp.

This year’s camp will be held Monday, July 29 through Thursday, Aug. 1, in the high school commons. Registration is open to all youth entering grades K-8 starting this fall. The cost is $45 per child, which includes a camp T-shirt.

Youth Drama Camp attendees will participate in small groups and develop their stage, theatre and dancing skills with fun games and activities. The camp is also an opportunity for theatre veterans at KHS to help teach younger students, according to Drama Director Haley Kernes. Camp fees will help fund future high school theater productions.

Camp Hours:

Grades K-4 — 8:15 to 11:15 a.m.

Grades 5-8 — 12:15 to 3:15 p.m.

Visit the REGISTRATION WEBSITE to learn more and sign your child up today.

 Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Fire Adds Ballot Questions in August

The Kearney Fire and Rescue Protection District has two questions in the August election for district voters to consider. If approved the initiatives will fund much needed equipment, additional staff and a second location.

Residents of the Kearney Fire District will be voting on Question 1 and Question 2 in the August ballot. Question 1 asks for an extension of the current bond that passed in 2010.

Artist rendering of an additional fire station near 144th st. and plattsburg rd.

“When the current bond was approved by the voters in 2010, we had responded to nearly 1200 calls in 2009,” reports Kearney Fire Chief Pratt. “In 2023 we responded to nearly 2300 calls with more than 1300 of those calls being emergency medical calls.”

Funding from the no tax increase bond extension will provide funds for capital expenditures which include building a second station on the west side of I-35, immediate purchase of a new pumper for the new station, immediate replacement of a 2001 pumper, purchase a third ambulance in 2027, and replace the 2013 aerial in 2028.

Question 2 asks for a half-cent sales tax increase. Funding from the sales tax will be used for funding new staff positions at the second station, funding the increased operating costs of the second station including utilities, personal protective gear, and building maintenance, funding other equipment replacement projects including heart monitors, radios, self-contained breathing apparatus, and vehicle extraction tools, and reduce the need for future property tax increases.

“Currently the property-owning residents of the district carry the entire financial load of the district through real estate and property taxes,” said Chief Pratt. “The sales tax allows funding from people who visit or travel through the district and make use of our Fire, EMS, and Rescue services.”

The district covers 82 square miles stretching from the Liberty city limits and Highway 69 (and includes Prairie Field and Private Gardens) to Arley and near Watkins Mill State Park. 

“We’re trying to balance service and response times in the entire district,” stated Pratt. “A new station built on the west side would decrease the response time with expanded staff and closer proximity to people who live in that area.”

Both questions must be approved by voters for the project to move forward. Election day is Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Asks for Connected Trail Grant Help

The city of Kearney is asking residents to help secure a grant through Mid America Regional Council (MARC) to secure funds to build its Keeping Kearney Connected Trail Plan.

MARC has grant funding set aside for communities to help plan sustainable places and the city of Kearney has applied to receive money for sidewalks and trails.

“There is $900K available to Missouri communities to develop a plan for better sidewalks, trails, pathways, and improved crossings,” reads an email from Kearney Economic Development Director Carolyn Yatsook. “The City of Kearney has applied for some of this funding and is competing with other communities in the Kansas City metro and we need your help!”

City of Kearney staff are asking residents to submit public comments directly to MARC which will positively affect the rankings of Kearney’s application. Comments can be submitted in the GRANT PORTAL. Viewers will see a list of all applications, click on the “view project” tab for Kearney, MO and write your supportive comment. The comment period closes on July 22nd at 11:59 pm.

Kearney is also working with the Clay County Parks Department to build a two-phase Smithville Lake to Kearney Trail Project. 

Phase one will begin with a connection from Jack Rabbit Bend Access to Arley Access at Smithville Lake. The second phase will be from the Arley Access to Mack Porter Park in Kearney. With the addition of this trail, the city of Kearney will also consider extending their sidewalks from Dogwood Elementary north to phase two of the trail. It will also allow a connection to downtown Kearney. This project is the start of a greater goal of multi-use trails going from Smithville Lake to Watkins Mill.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.