Platte-Clay Hosts Annual Blood Donation Event

The Community Blood Center and Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative is asking for donors’ help.

Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative is inviting the community to participate in a blood drive on Wednesday, October 8th, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The event will take place in the meeting room at 1000 W. Highway 92.

As a token of appreciation, all donors will receive a free pizza cutter. Those interested in donating can sign up at savealifenow.org/group using the group code EF2R.

Most people donate whole blood—approximately 1 pint. After donation, your blood is separated into its components (red blood cells, platelets, and plasma) for distribution to local hospitals.

It usually takes about one hour from registration through refreshments to donate and people can donate whole blood every 56 days.

For more information, contact Amanda McQuerrey at (816) 903-7355 or via email at amandam@pcec.coop. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference and save lives!

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

14th Annual Oktoberfest Returns this Fall

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 4th, when Kearney downtown transforms into a lively festival for its 14th Annual Oktoberfest. From noon until 6 pm, the heart of Kearney will be filled with the sounds of live music, laughter, and the cheers of friendly competition.

Make plans to join friends and neighbors for a day packed with entertainment and excitement, all while supporting local charities such as the Kearney Chamber of Commerce and the Kearney Enrichment Council.

The festivities begin early with the Oktoberfest 5K—Das Bier Run!—from 9 am to noon, inviting runners and walkers to kick off the day with energy. The celebration officially starts at noon, when the Mayor taps the first beer on the Main Stage, followed by a performance from the Studio 320 Dance Team. Throughout the afternoon, enjoy demonstrations from Limitless Karate and KHS Robotics, performances by the KHS Band & Cheer team, and music by The Brian McCarty Band from 1 to 3 pm. Later in the afternoon, The Craftsmen keep the momentum going with live tunes from 3 to 6 pm.

Meanwhile, Washington Street buzzes with activity. From 1 to 5 pm, compete in the Cornhole Tournament hosted by Dunns Guns and Dunns Flooring & Blinds, while 102.7FM KPGZ delivers classic hits throughout the day. Various Oktoberfest competitions—Barmaid Stein Carrying, Keg Toss, and Stein Holding—invite participants to showcase their strength and skills, with sign-ups available at the KEC vendor booth and the Old Firehouse.

All day long, enjoy the Knight's of Columbus Beer Tent offering beer, wine, and seltzers, along with delicious options from food trucks, local vendor booths, and kid-friendly activities like face painting and inflatables spread across Lion's Park and Washington Street. Oktoberfest 2025 in Kearney promises a memorable day of fun, camaraderie, and community spirit. This event is free to the public.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Police Arrest Two Involved with Stolen Vehicle

On Sunday, September 14, Kearney Police officers conducted a traffic stop on 92 Highway near QuikTrip after noticing a vehicle displaying a license plate reported stolen from Leawood, Kansas. All occupants of the vehicle were detained during the investigation.

The female passenger repeatedly provided police with false names and Social Security numbers. Deputies from the Clay County Sheriff's Office responded to assist and used a fingerprint scanner to confirm her identity. The passenger, identified as a 29-year-old woman from Kansas City, was wanted in Nebraska for felony possession of dangerous drugs and in Colorado for possession of a stolen vehicle, both with no bond allowed.

After being identified, she admitted to possessing drugs. Officers recovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, and several syringes loaded with a mixture of both substances. She was arrested and transported to jail on her outstanding warrants and now faces additional felony charges for possession of a controlled substance in Clay County.

The driver of the vehicle was also taken into custody for possession of stolen property. Both individuals were booked into jail following the incident.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs are 3-0 with 34-14 Win over Smithville

Kearney took another step forward in conference and district competition with a hard-hitting 34-14 victory over rival Smithville. The Warriors and Bulldogs are top-ranked teams in both Missouri Class-4 and the Suburban Blue Conference.

Kearney took another step forward in conference and district competition with a hard-hitting 34-14 victory over rival Smithville. Photo - Eric Stevens.

On a hot, 80-plus degree night in which both teams fumbled twice and turned the ball over on downs, it was a gritty performance that lived up to the hype of a long-standing rivalry.

“I’m proud of our kids’ effort. To be honest, I think we can play a little better than what we did, but anytime you beat a Smithville program, you're happy regardless of what the score is,” said head coach Logan Minnick. “That's a really good football team.”

Kearney linebacker Kale Tucking set the tone physically with a forced and recovered Smithville fumble in the opening minutes of the game.

The Bulldogs scored first late in the first quarter on a Carter Temple 22-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Best.

Temple scored on a 3-yard keeper midway into the second quarter. A missed 2-point conversion attempt left the score 13-0.

Temple finished the game scoring three rushing touchdowns (19 carries for 80 yards) and two passing touchdowns (9 of 14 for 111 yards).

Smithville’s workhorse running back, Lincoln Roske had 97 rushing yards on 19 carries, but a stout Bulldog defense forced him into two fumbles and held him to one touchdown.

Roske scored on a 3-yard carry with two minutes to play in the first half. The Bulldogs answered with a Carter Temple goal-line blast into the endzone, giving Kearney a 20-7 halftime advantage.

Temple threw to running back Dryden Hendrix on a spectacular 40-yard catch and run with 4:28 to go in the third quarter.

Smithville came back with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quinten Morse to Peyton Steffen with 9:22 remaining in the game.

“After they get that touchdown on fourth down – what a catch by (Steffen) – we had two guys on it, and he still comes up with it,” said Minnick. “I told our offense, (Smithville) is not getting the football back. We're going on a 7-minute drive here. We're closing this game out. We're going to play Kearney football, we're not going to put it in the air, we're going to run the football and win in the weight room.”

With 52 seconds remaining, Carter Temple scored on a 3-yard keeper for the 34-14 win.

Kearney travels to Class-6 Park Hill next week. Bulldog linebacker Aiden Arellano, one of the team’s leading tacklers who had 14 tackles in this game, sees room for improvement.

“We need to play better than we did tonight,” said Arellano. “We obviously did very well but that's not our best.”

The most satisfying part of this story is the Kearney Bulldogs just beat their state-ranked rival by 20 points and held them to two touchdowns. And according to the head coach and team leaders, this 3-0 Kearney Bulldog football team – with a nasty defense, a dual-threat, touchdown machine at quarterback, starter-level player depth across the roster, and a state-level, top-tier coaching staff – all recognize there is so much more to accomplish.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Excelsior Springs Irish Festival Returns October 4–5

Excelsior Springs will once again celebrate Irish culture this fall as the Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and Shamrock Hills Vineyard and Winery host the second annual Excelsior Springs Irish Festival. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, from 1 to 7 p.m., and Sunday, October 5, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Shamrock Hills Vineyard and Winery, just minutes from the city’s historic downtown.

Following the success of its inaugural year in 2024, organizers expect even larger crowds to gather for two days of music, food, and family fun. The festival will feature continuous live performances from both Irish and regional entertainers. Saturday’s lineup includes Eddie Delahunt, Stolen Apples, The Canterberries, and the O’Riada Manning School of Irish Dance. On Sunday, audiences can enjoy the St. Andrew Bag Pipers and Dancers, And So It Goes, Biscuit Boys, and the Kian Bryne Band.

Beyond the stage, the festival will offer a range of attractions. Visitors can sample culinary favorites, enjoy beer tents featuring both local and Irish-style brews, and taste wine produced at Shamrock Hills. Yard games and other family-friendly activities will be available, with children 12 and under admitted free of charge.

General admission is $20 per day, with a discounted $30 two-day pass available through October 3. Tickets at the gate will remain $20 per day.

Parking will be available at both Shamrock Hills Vineyard and Winery and The Shamrock Ranch, located at 12300 Shoemaker Road in Excelsior Springs.

The festival is presented through a collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce, Shamrock Hills Vineyard and Winery, Itchin’ 2 Go Travel and Tours, The Shamrock Ranch, Gann Asphalt & Concrete, American Legacy Construction, and the Excelsior Citizen. Organizers say the event highlights community pride and cultural celebration while also supporting local businesses and tourism.

Additional details, including a full entertainment schedule and tickets, can be found HERE.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.