Kearney Police Foil Juvenile Burglary Plot, Three Arrested

A planned series of commercial burglaries in Kearney was thwarted this past weekend thanks to the swift actions of Kearney Police.

On Saturday, March 8, officers from the Criminal Investigations Unit and Patrol Division received a tip about a group of juveniles planning a string of burglaries in the area. As part of proactive patrol efforts, midnight officers were on the lookout when they spotted two individuals walking along Highway 33 at around 2 am. The suspects, dressed in all black with ski masks and carrying large bags, immediately fled on foot upon seeing the officers.

Following a brief search of the area, both juveniles were located and detained. In addition to their ski masks, officers found the suspects wearing socks over their shoes to conceal their footprints, as well as black gloves. One of the juveniles further revealed they had stolen their parent’s vehicle and parked it nearby as a "getaway" car.

Upon investigation, the vehicle was found occupied by a third juvenile, who had been waiting for the other two. Police contacted the parents of the minors involved, and the Clay County Juvenile Office was alerted. The case has now been forwarded to their office for further investigation.

No injuries were reported, and police continue to investigate the motives behind the planned burglaries.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

School District Awards Honor Top Teachers and Support Staff

Kearney School District is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025 Team KSD Awards, recognizing 17 exceptional individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their roles.

The Team KSD Awards recognize employees who exemplify the world-class teaching and learning and support work that happens every school day in our classrooms and on our campuses. They have demonstrated a long-term commitment to Kearney School District, are outstanding professionals, support their students and colleagues, and are serious about serving our community.

"I don't think it's a big secret that the single most important part of KSD is our team. Their commitment to excellence from pre-K through graduation is why we consistently produce great results," Superintendent Emily Miller said. "This year's Team KSD Awards winners are truly the best of the best. I am so proud of each of them and grateful for their contributions. I encourage our entire community to join us in celebrating these extraordinary Bulldogs!"

The award selection process started in January when the district invited staff members to nominate deserving candidates for their school's 2024 Teacher and Support Staff of the Year awards. One certified teacher and one support staff member were selected as this year's recipients from each school within the district.

These individuals embody the core values of Kearney School District, including integrity, respect, future readiness, student focus, and resilience. They serve as role models for our entire community.

2025 School Teacher of the Year Award Recipients

• Early Education Center – Holly Anderson

• Dogwood Elementary – Nicholas "Nic" Mattson

• Hawthorne Elementary – Chelsea Miller

• Kearney Elementary – Nanette Stout

• Southview Elementary – Rachel Terrill

• Kearney Middle School – Lauren Thomas

• Kearney Junior High – Molly Kuebler

• Kearney High School – Kassidy Robertson

2025 School Support Staff of the Year Award Recipients

• Early Education Center – Donna Lance

• Dogwood Elementary – Ashley Bricker

• Hawthorne Elementary – Theodore "Scott" Henrichs

• Kearney Elementary – Kalie Dickson

• Southview Elementary – Jaclyn "Jaci" Mick

• Kearney Middle School – Brian "B.J." Webster

• Kearney Junior High – Jennifer Duncan

• Kearney High School – Lacy Howdeshell

• KSD Central Office – Stacy Holtzclaw

These honorees will be recognized at the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Excellence in Education Awards Banquet on April 23. All Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year award recipients will be celebrated by the district along with our 2025 retirees during the Team KSD Awards and Retiree Reception on May 1. That is when the district’s Teacher of the Year Award and Support Staff of the Year Award recipients will be revealed, along with KSD's 2025 Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year award recipients.

The reception is sponsored by the KSD Education Foundation. The district Teacher of the Year Award recipient will be given a $250 cash award and $750 classroom grant from the foundation, which will also give a $250 cash award and $250 classroom grant to the district Support Staff of the Year Award recipient.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Senior Property Tax Relief Enrollment Ending Soon

The deadline to apply for the Clay County Senior Real Estate Property Tax Relief Program is rapidly approaching, with the enrollment period set to close at the end of the month. The program has received an overwhelming response, with over 13,000 applications submitted so far.

Due to the high volume of applications, each submission is being manually processed and reviewed, which means some applicants may not receive confirmation of their status before the deadline. However, county officials are assuring residents that they are working diligently to process every application and determine eligibility, ensuring that all qualified applicants will receive the benefits they are entitled to.

"We appreciate the patience and participation of the community in this important program," said a county spokesperson. "We encourage anyone who has not yet applied to do so before the enrollment period ends."

To assist those still in need of help, several pop-up events will be held this month. Additionally, the Liberty Administration Building and the Gladstone Annex remain open to walk-ins, as long as applicants have all necessary documents. The online application portal is also available throughout the month for those wishing to apply remotely.

For questions or updates regarding an application, visit ClayCountymo.gov/sb190

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Parks Announces Return of Pickleball Leagues

Kearney Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the return of its popular Pickleball Leagues for 2025. The program will feature a six-week league schedule, followed by a seventh-week double-elimination tournament.

The leagues will run on weeknights from 6 pm to 10 pm, with a special Ladies Morning League on Tuesdays from 8 am to noon.

All league divisions will be played on courts 1-7 at the Kearney Pickleball Complex, located at 619 E 19th Street. The leagues cater to a variety of skill levels, from true beginners to advanced players. The divisions include:

Beginner's League: Designed for newcomers to the sport who want to learn and improve through gameplay.

Social League: For beginner to intermediate players seeking a fun, lightly competitive environment.

Advanced Social League: For experienced players looking for a more relaxed yet skilled competition.

The program offers several league options, including mixed doubles (two female players, or one male and one female player). The minimum age for participation is 18.

The program is designed to provide a fun and competitive experience for players of all skill levels. Participants can look forward to both friendly competition and the chance to improve their skills.

Kearney Parks and Recreation is also offering one day Youth Pickleball camps. The camps are designed to teach the fundamentals of Pickleball, including the rules of the game, the different parts of the court, serving, scoring and basic shots used in a game.

Participants will need to supply their own paddle, a water bottle, and proper court shoes. Water will be available at the courts to fill bottles as needed and there is also a restroom onsite.

Participants should contact Joe Landewee at KearneyPickleball@gmail.com for paddle and shoe recommendations along with any other questions.

For more details and to register for leagues or camps, residents are encouraged to visit KearneyParks.com.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Students to Host School Board Candidate Forum

Kearney School District residents have an opportunity to learn more about this year’s Board of Education candidates during a public forum hosted by student leaders from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 in the auditorium at Kearney High School.

This public forum is being sponsored by the school’s Student Advisory Board, Student Council and National Honor Society. Kearney High School seniors Jacob Dillon and Emmy Gates will emcee the event. The school is located at 715 E. 19th St. in Kearney.

Voters will make their selections to fill two spots on the school board during the April 8, 2025, municipal election. Those positions are currently held by John Kern and Meredith Cole, neither of whom are seeking reelection.

All four school board candidates have been invited to participate in the high school’s public forum:

• Christina Lindsay

• Michael Joe Hickey

• Justin Paul Cook

• Jason Klindt

At the public forum, the candidates will be given a brief opportunity to introduce themselves and then the moderators will ask questions submitted by their fellow students. The candidates will be given an equal amount of time to respond to each question. The questions will not be shared ahead of time.

In Missouri, school boards are composed of seven non-partisan, volunteer elected officials who each serve three-year terms. The primary job of the school board is to employ the superintendent and set the strategic goals and policies for the district, according to the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA). The board’s other roles include facilitate public engagement in order to help meet stakeholder expectations, oversee the Superintendent of Schools, who in turn is solely responsible for district management and operations, monitor district progress toward meeting the Board goals, and govern itself effectively, efficiently and with transparency.

Residents must be registered by Wednesday, March 12 in order to cast their votes in the April 8 election. Visit the Missouri Secretary of State’s website for more information.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.