Donkey Basketball Brings Laughter and Community Spirit KMS

Photo: Dairyland Donkey Ball, LLC 

Kearney is gearing up for a night of wild fun as Donkey Basketball takes over the gym at Kearney Middle School on Thursday, October 9th. The event promises an evening filled with laughter, friendly competition, and a true sense of community.

This is no ordinary game. Local business owners, police officers, teachers from every Kearney school, Mayor Randy Pogue, and Superintendent Dr. Emily Miller will saddle up and ride donkeys as they dribble and shoot their way into basketball history. The unpredictable antics of live donkeys on the court create a unique and hilarious spectacle you won’t want to miss.

Doors open at 6:15 pm and tip-off is set for 7 pm. Tickets are available for $10 in advance through the Kearney Middle School Facebook page or $15 at the door, with free admission for preschool children. Families can enjoy more than just the game—donkey rides, a Kiss the Donkey contest, a photo booth for capturing smiles, and plenty of treats at the concession stand ensure entertainment for everyone.

Donkey Basketball promises to be a night of family fun and nonstop laughter, so mark your calendars and prepare for a memorable evening with the Kearney community. Join in the excitement on Thursday, October 9th, at Kearney Middle School, and experience a sporting event you’ll never forget!

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Casey and Landewee Lead Win Over Griffins

Casey was unstoppable at the plate, collecting three hits in four at bats. Photo: David Haggart.

Kennedi Casey and Kate Landewee had standout performances on Monday, September 22, as the Kearney Bulldog softball team cruised to a 10-0 victory over the Winnetonka Griffins.

Casey was unstoppable at the plate, collecting three hits in four at bats. She doubled in both the second and fifth innings and added a single in the fourth, driving the offense forward throughout the game.

Pitcher Kate Landewee was equally impressive, commanding the mound with 15 strikeouts. Over five innings of work, Landewee didn't allow a single hit or run, issuing just one walk in a near-perfect outing. Her dominance ensured the Griffins never gained momentum.

Kearney took control early, jumping ahead in the bottom of the second inning. Reese Narron kicked off the scoring with an RBI single, followed by Casey’s RBI double, and Alyssa Quick’s two-run single. The team built a comfortable lead and never looked back.

On the other side, Winnetonka’s Mackenzie Halderman was tagged with the loss, pitching four and one-third innings and giving up 10 runs—eight of them earned—on 11 hits. Halderman managed to strike out three and walked two, but Kearney’s lineup proved too much to handle.

Kearney racked up 12 hits overall. Casey and Narron each tallied three hits, batting back-to-back and keeping the pressure on the Griffins’ defense. Brooke Paalhar and Casey both drove in three runs, providing crucial support for the team’s offensive surge. Ellie Switzer chipped in with two hits out of three at bats.

The defense was flawless, with Kearney not committing any errors during the game. Caroline Jury anchored the field, handling 15 chances without a misstep, helping secure the shutout win. The combination of powerful hitting, dominant pitching, and precise defense resulted in a memorable game for Kearney. The Bulldogs are now 13-3 on the season.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Shut Down Park Hill Air Attack

During the previous two weeks, Park Hill scored 74 points on the prolific arm of quarterback Zane Thomas and his favorite target, Dante Dixon. The Kearney Bulldogs allowed only one touchdown as homecoming spoilers in a 14-7 win over the Trojans.

Coach Minnick and the Bulldogs put on a clock-management clinic as they ran time off the board and finished in the victory formation for a 14-7 win. Photo by Eric Stevens.

Thomas opened the Park Hill scoring early with a 45-yard strike to Dante Dixon. On Kearney’s follow-up drive, Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple powered his way behind the offensive line for two yards into the endzone. Drew Nelson tied the score at 7-7 with the PAT.

With 5:39 to go before the half, on 4th-down and eight, Kearney’s defense pressured Zane Thomas into an overthrown endzone pass intended for Dante Dixon. The Bulldogs took over on downs, eventually going to halftime with a 7-7 tie.

Park Hill couldn’t score on their first possession of the second half. The Bulldog defense held them to a missed field goal attempt, giving the Kearney Bulldogs the opportunity to capitalize on their ball-control, running offense.

Kearney’s offensive line became their best defense by keeping the explosive Park Hill offense on the sideline. Carter Temple and company drained the game clock by running over the left side of the offensive line for almost nine minutes in the third quarter and into the fourth when Temple broke free to the endzone for his second score of the evening.

With Kearney leading 14-7, Park Hill had a chance to score in the fourth quarter with a first-and-goal at the Kearney 8-yard line. Dante Dixon caught a Zane Thomas pass at the 3-yard line. On fourth down, Kearney cornerback Conner Reid batted down the scrambling Zane Thomas pass attempt and the Bulldogs took over on downs.

“I want to give a huge shout out to the offense on that touchdown drive there in the third quarter, when we took almost nine minutes off the clock,” said head coach Logan Minnick.

“We're always going to play really good defense. They're gonna keep us in every game we play. They gave up one touchdown early and then locked in when we made a couple little adjustments. Then it just comes down to physicality,” Minnick added. 

Coach Minnick and the Bulldogs put on a clock-management clinic as they ran time off the board and finished in the victory formation for a 14-7 win.

The Bulldogs are 4-0 for the season. They’ll face another Class-6 opponent next week at North Kansas City.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Highway Patrol Launches STORM Team to Enhance Safety

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced the creation of a new initiative aimed at improving public safety throughout the state. Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Patrol, unveiled the Strategic Traffic Operations and Rapid Mobilization (STORM) team, a specialized group designed to proactively target criminal activity and dangerous driving on Missouri roadways.

The newly formed STORM team consists of 23 troopers with a wide range of expertise, including canine units, officers trained in impaired driving enforcement, hazardous moving specialists, interdiction officers, and motorcycle officers. The Patrol’s Aircraft Division will collaborate closely, providing aerial support during STORM operations.

Operational since September 1, 2025, the STORM team has already begun deployments across the state. The first major operation took place on September 16, 2025, when ten STORM team members and the Aircraft Division conducted a focused enforcement effort throughout Jackson County.

Their primary targets were hazardous driving behaviors and drug-related activity. The operation led to 72 traffic stops, 89 warnings, 5 citations for speeding, 14 citations for hazardous moving violations, and 27 citations for non-moving violations. Additionally, officers made 18 misdemeanor arrests and 12 felony arrests and seized one firearm.

The STORM team is expected to be deployed as needed across Missouri, concentrating on areas with high crash rates and significant criminal activity. According to the Patrol, STORM will also assist other law enforcement agencies in tackling issues like street takeover events and related criminal conduct. The initiative reflects a broader commitment by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety to make Missouri safer for residents and visitors alike.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

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.