Board of Education Welcomes New Member

Kearney School District's Board of Education welcomed its newest member, Jake Klingensmith, with a swearing-in ceremony during a special session this morning at the central office.

Klingensmith is filling the board position vacated by Len Broughton, who voluntarily resigned from the post this year after being relocated due to his job. Klingensmith will complete the remainder of the term of Broughton's board position until the April 6, 2026, election. He will have the option to seek election for a full term.

Kearney School District announced the board vacancy at the April 16, 2025, board meeting. Applications were received from several community members interested in filling the vacant position. The board interviewed three candidates at a Special Board Meeting session on April 22. A recommendation to appoint Klingensmith was approved at the board's June 18 business meeting.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Clay County Announces Safety Excellence Awards

The Clay County Public Health Center has announced the winners of its annual Food Safety Excellence and Pool Safety Excellence Awards, recognizing local establishments that went above and beyond to protect public health in 2024.

“These recipients demonstrated an unwavering commitment to health and safety,” said Robert Gilliland, Section Chief of Environmental Health. “They consistently paid attention to the details and took their responsibility seriously. We’re proud to celebrate their efforts.”

Food Safety Excellence Awards

A total of 93 food establishments—representing the top 12% of those inspected—earned the 2024 Food Safety Excellence Award. These businesses met strict criteria, including a full year of operation with no repeat violations, no follow-up inspections, and no confirmed cases of foodborne illness.

Among them, 23 were honored with “Gold Standard” status for earning the award three or more years in a row.

Clay County’s food inspection program covers a wide range of establishments beyond traditional restaurants, including food trucks, school cafeterias, hospitals, nursing homes, bars, caterers, churches, convenience stores, and event vendors. In 2024, CCPHC’s 11-member environmental health team conducted 1,490 routine inspections, 372 temporary event inspections, and followed up on 155 food-related complaints.

Local winners in Kearney included:

• Club At MariMack

• Coco Street Fudge

• Fair Share Farm*

• Hawthorne Elementary*

• Kaji Sushi & Grill

• Kearney Early Education Center*

• Kearney Middle School*

• Kearney Nutrition

(*denotes “Gold Standard” recipient)

Pool Safety Excellence Awards

Twenty-six recreational water facilities—22% of all those regulated in Clay County—received the 2024 Pool Safety Excellence Award. Seven facilities achieved “Gold Standard” status, placing them in the top 6% for consistently safe and clean operations.

Award-winning pools met tough criteria such as maintaining proper certifications, avoiding repeat or serious violations, and having no confirmed waterborne illness outbreaks. In total, the environmental health team conducted 474 inspections of recreational water facilities including neighborhood pools, civic centers, spas, and spraygrounds.

For a full list of award recipients or more about Clay County Public Health’s safety programs, visit www.clayhealth.com.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts Contributed to this story.

Clay County Sheriff's Office Warns of Sophisticated Jury Duty Scam

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new and highly deceptive phone scam making the rounds today. A scammer claiming to be a Clay County deputy is contacting numerous residents, urging them to return a call to 816-200-0795. The number connects to what appears to be an official Clay County Sheriff's Office phone tree — but officials confirm it is a fraudulent system.

“This is a scam,” Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Manager Sarah Boyd said in a statement. “It may sound convincing, but do not engage with it.”

The fake phone tree mimics a real administrative phone system, but all menu options funnel the caller to the same selection: “civil service.” From there, victims may be directed to a website that falsely claims to be related to federal civil services. The site appears legitimate at first glance, but on closer inspection, all links redirect to a single account log-in page — and the domain ends in .org, not .gov as all authentic federal websites do.

The underlying scam follows a familiar pattern: targets are told they missed jury duty and now face a warrant for their arrest unless immediate action is taken. However, the added layers of a fake phone system and fraudulent website make this version more convincing — and more dangerous.

The official administrative number for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office is 816-407-3750, and the non-emergency line is 816-407-3700. Any residents receiving suspicious calls are encouraged to report the incident and not provide personal or financial information.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Fireworks Stands Opening in Kearney

Fireworks stands are popping up around Kearney, but consumers will have to wait a few more days before they are legally allowed to shoot off their noisemakers.

Fireworks vendors are allowed to be open from 9 am to midnight every day from June 20 until July 5.

The Kearney Police Department reminds residents that fireworks may only be discharged from June 28 to July 3, between the hours of 9 am to 10 pm. On July 4, fireworks may be discharged between the hours of 9 am to 11 pm. Fireworks may not be fired or discharged except on the individual’s own property or with the permission of the property owners.

People should not fire any fireworks in a way that would threaten or injure another person. Fireworks may be discharged at other times and places with the permission of the City. Bottle Rockets are ILLEGAL in Kearney City Limits.

Fireworks vendors are allowed to be open from 9 am to midnight every day from June 20 until July 5.

This year Kearney’s fireworks celebration will be on Thursday, July 3. The fireworks display will be at Jesse James Park and the city will have inflatables for the kids and a free concert featuring Platinum Express. The concert starts at 7:30 pm, and the fireworks start at 9:30 pm.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Invites Community to Help Shape Future of Pedestrian Connectivity

The City of Kearney is inviting residents to help shape the future of transportation and livability through the new grant-funded Connected Kearney Plan, a comprehensive initiative focused on enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, downtown improvements, and sidewalk connectivity.

An Open House event will be held Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Kearney Senior Center, 600 N. Jefferson Street. Community members are encouraged to attend and provide feedback as the city works to create a more walkable, accessible, and vibrant community.

The Connected Kearney Plan is funded by a grant from the Mid-America Regional Council’s Planning Sustainable Places (PSP) program and builds on findings from the city’s recent Transportation Master Plan. Residents voiced concerns about unsafe crossings, missing or deteriorating sidewalks, and a lack of trail connections—issues the new plan directly aims to address.

The initiative centers around three key goals:

• City-Wide Connectivity – A long-term strategy to link neighborhoods, parks, schools, and key destinations across Kearney with safe, inclusive pedestrian routes.

• Downtown District Improvements – Revitalization plans for downtown include improved streetscapes, safer intersections, traffic calming, and better parking and public spaces.

• Sidewalk Inventory and Improvements – A full inventory of existing sidewalks will help identify gaps and prioritize repairs or new construction to improve walkability citywide.

City officials say ongoing community involvement will be essential as the plan progresses, with more engagement opportunities to come.

For updates or to share your input, residents can visit the city's website or attend the July 10 Open House. As city leaders put it, “Together, we’re building a more connected, accessible, and thriving Kearney for everyone.”

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.