Cheer Team Tops Regional Meet

The Kearney High School Cheer squad earned the first-place trophy at the Kansas City Regional Championships on September 29 in Liberty.

The varsity cheer squad traveled to Liberty High School after a jammed-packed week of Homecoming festivities to compete in the championships. Their regional routine included a 1-minute cheer and 2 minutes of music to knock out the top scores in stunts, tumbling, pyramids, basket tosses, dance and creativity.

“The team was electric and had the entire session clapping at the end of their performance,” KHS Cheer Head Coach Erin Schmeltz said.

The Bulldogs are now the 4A Large Regional Champions. The squad heads to state in November.

“These girls have worked hard since June on top of being students, holding jobs, being active in other organizations, and having normal teenage lives,” Assistant Coach Kassidy Robertson said. “If you see a KHS cheerleader today, be sure to congratulate them!”

Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Sheriffs, Prosecutors Retirement System up for Vote

There will be a lot of ballot questions for Missouri voters to consider on election day next month. One of them directly impacts the state's sheriffs and prosecutors: Amendment 6.

This is the ballot language: "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?"

Voting yes supports the resumption of a $3 court fee that was established in state statue in 1983 for the creation of the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System. It is not a tax. It is a court fee for those who are found guilty of a crime in the state of Missouri. Judges can still opt to waive the fee if they determine financial hardship.

This fee was in place from 1983 until 2015, when a lawsuit brought against the Retirement System went to the Missouri Supreme Court. The court ruled sheriffs and prosecutors were not part of the "administration of justice."

Advocates for sheriffs and prosecutors asked state legislators to let voters decide whether the administration of justice includes salary and benefits for sheriffs, prosecutors, and retired sheriffs and prosecutors. That's why the issue is now on the ballot.

If Amendment 6 doesn’t pass, the sheriffs' retirement system is projected to be bankrupt in 9 years, and the prosecutors' system in 15 years.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office submitted story.

Bulldogs Shutout Tigers in Conference Game

The Kearney Bulldog Varsity softball team put another notch in their win column against the Excelsior Springs Tigers on Monday, September 30. The Kearney shutout the Tigers in a Suburban Blue Conference game, 5-0.

Brooke Paalhar broke the tie in the third inning with a home run to left field in the third inning, scoring three runs.

Brooke Paalhar broke the tie in the third inning with a home run to left field in the third inning, scoring three runs. Then and singled in the fourth inning, scoring one run.

Macy Morrow led the Bulldogs with three hits in four at bats and Kennedi Casey collected two hits in three at bats.

Alyssa Quick pitched all seven innings in a gem of a game. She struck out 12 batters and allowed four hits and zero runs over seven innings while walking none.

Other highlights include:

Alyssa Quick went 1-3

Morgan Pennington went 1-3

Jocelyn Lincoln 1-3

Ryleigh Van Emmerik went 1-3

Kearney is now 22-4 on the season and 6-0 in conference.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Community Covenant Church Hosts Bed Build

The Kearney Community Covenant Church is asking Kearney residents to help with a “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” bed build this fall.

The bed build idea was started in Kimberly, ID, with the idea to provide handmade beds to children who don’t have beds of their own. This build is for kids in the Platte and Clay County area.

Volunteers from the Kansas City North Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace will build, deliver, and set up a minimum of 80 beds complete with bedding and a stuffed toy for area children.

To accomplish this build, volunteers need at least $20,000. The Kearney Covenant Church is accepting donations in any amount for this event. Residents can send money to Community Covenant Church P.O. Box 318, Kearney, MO 64060. People can also donate online at KearneyCovenant.com/giving.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Updike Receives Citizen of the Year Award

The Kearney Chamber of Commerce presented five prestigious awards at its fourth annual Harvest Gala on Thursday, September 26. The Citizen of the Year Bob Tate Memorial award was presented to Lyle Updike of Updike BBQ.

Matthew Hoyt, Lyle Updike, Jason Hoyt, Shawn Barber

Members of the Kearney area business community came dressed in their best Cuban attire to the Chamber’s “Hot Havana Nights” themed gala event at the Tobacco Barn Farm. The event celebrated area businesses with food, entertainment, and Business Excellence Awards.

The first award presented was the Rising Star award. This award recognizes a new business or a business that reignited, rebranded, or reinvented itself over the last year. The winner of the Rising Star Award was T7 Custom Sports & T7 Lets Play.

The next award was the Chamber Dedication award. This award celebrates a person, business, or organization who has exhibited dedication to the Chamber through service, support, and/or tenure of membership. The Chamber Dedication award went to Shawn Barber of Conrad's Kitchen and Patio.

The third award was the Biggest Community Impact award. This honor recognizes a person, business or organization that has had the biggest impact on our community in the last year. The winner of this award was Jason Hoyt and Kearney Trust Company.

The next award was the Business of the Year award. The Business of the Year award was introduced by the Ambassador Committee. Business of the Year nominees are former Business of the Month recipients, who are nominated by that committee. This honor went to Farm Fresh Meats.

Kristen Atwell, Lyle Updike, Stacie Bratcher

The final award of the evening was the Citizen of the Year award. This award is given to recognize an outstanding member of the chamber community who, through their personal involvement, leadership abilities, and selfless giving of their time and talent, has positively affected Kearney and the lives of its citizens. The Citizen of the Year Award honors those who’s contributions to Kearney have been both a recent effort resulting in a substantial benefit to the community, and a steady, reliable long-term history of service to Kearney. This award was presented to Lyle Updike of Updike BBQ.

"Lyle does a phenomenal job of recognizing those who deserve it most – our military, veterans and first responders,” reads a Chamber of Commerce announcement. “He volunteers his time and talent to serve those who deserve it most, not just in Kearney, but all around the northland."

Brian Watts contributed to this story.