Powerful Pitching Propels Kearney to Shutout Victory

The Kearney Bulldog softball team dominated on the diamond Saturday, shutting out the Winnetonka Griffins 10-0 behind a stellar pitching performance from Kate Landewee. The right-hander was nearly untouchable, striking out 11 batters and allowing no hits or runs over five innings, with just one walk.

Kearney’s offense wasted no time getting started, putting four runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Alyssa Quick kicked off the scoring with a sacrifice fly, followed by Morgan Pennington’s single, a walk drawn by Kate Stumpenhaus, and a line drive single from Chloe Garrett—each driving in a run.

The Bulldogs kept the pressure on in the second, tacking on two more runs thanks to a sacrifice fly by Pennington and a single down the left field line from Stumpenhaus. Their momentum continued through the third inning, where Garrett launched a solo home run to left field and Brooke Paalhar came through with a single that brought home two more runs.

Winnetonka’s Mackenzie Halderman took the loss, pitching four innings and giving up 10 runs—eight of those earned—on 10 hits, while striking out three and walking six.

Kearney racked up 10 hits throughout the game, with Paalhar leading the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 and driving in three runs. Garrett, Paalhar, and Reese Narron each collected two hits. Kennedi Casey showed patience, drawing three walks and stealing two bases. The Bulldogs’ discipline at the plate paid off, as they drew a total of six walks. Defensively, the team played error-free ball, with Caroline Jury contributing 12 plays to anchor the field.

With this win, Kearney moves to the final round of the Class 4, District 8 tournament and play the Platte County Pirates on Tuesday, October 21 at 4:30 pm.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

NKC Mayor Addresses Ongoing Royals Stadium Discussions

North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith announced that the city is still actively engaged in substantial talks with the Kansas City Royals about the possibility of building a stadium and related development within North Kansas City.

According to Smith, these negotiations are part of a larger collaborative process that will eventually involve the State of Missouri, Clay County, and city officials. While some details of the discussions must remain confidential for now, Mayor Smith emphasized his commitment to keeping the public informed and maintaining transparency throughout the process.

Mayor Smith outlined several core priorities guiding the city’s approach. Foremost among them is the protection of North Kansas City’s long-term financial health. He underscored that any agreement must fairly benefit residents, businesses, and the Royals, describing the goal as a “win-win-win” outcome. The mayor also stressed the importance of safeguarding local neighborhoods, assuring residents that game-day operations—including traffic and parking—would not disrupt residential areas north of Armour.

In addition, Smith said the city is focused on leveraging the potential stadium project as a catalyst for broad infrastructure upgrades. North Kansas City has master plans for water, sewer, and other systems, and the mayor sees outside investment associated with the Royals project as a means to accelerate much-needed improvements for the community.

Engagement with local residents, businesses, and the wider Clay County community will be essential if plans progress, Smith noted. He pledged to prioritize open and ongoing communication, ensuring that all stakeholders are part of the process. Mayor Smith concluded his statement by expressing his honor to serve North Kansas City and his ongoing commitment to updating the community as talks continue.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Clay County Completes Nation Road Infrastructure Improvements

Clay County, Missouri, is celebrating the completion of two significant infrastructure projects on Nation Road, marking a major milestone in the county’s ongoing efforts to improve public safety and transportation. The projects involved stabilizing the streambank and realigning the roadway, as well as constructing a new bridge over Rock Creek.

Motivated by severe rains in 2022 that led to streambank erosion and the closure of Nation Road, county officials acted quickly to address the damage and prevent future issues. The improvements included reshaping and reinforcing the embankment, enhancing stormwater drainage systems, and relocating the roadway approximately 30 feet north to increase safety and durability for drivers.

The new bridge over Rock Creek replaces a nearly century-old structure originally built in 1925. The replacement is a modern steel girder bridge that is wider, longer, and sits higher than the previous span, making it more capable of handling current traffic volumes and better prepared to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Clay County Commissioner Jerry Nolte highlighted the long-term benefits of the projects, stating, “These improvements represent an investment in safety, resilience, and the long-term reliability of our county infrastructure. We truly appreciate the patience of residents during this project. Thanks to the careful planning and cooperation of our partners, we’ve rebuilt stronger and safer for the future.”

The design work was completed by Veenstra & Kimm, Inc., and construction was carried out by Decker Construction. Funding was made possible through $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stormwater Grants. County officials expressed gratitude to community members, staff, and project partners for their dedication and teamwork in bringing these improvements to fruition.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Girls Golf Team Earns Conference Title and State Qualifiers

The Kearney High School Girls Golf team wrapped up their season in spectacular fashion last week, securing championship honors and sending three players to the state tournament.

On Wednesday, October 8, the Bulldogs took center stage at the Suburban Blue Conference Tournament held at Excelsior Springs Golf Course. Demonstrating depth and consistency throughout their lineup, Kearney posted a team score of 390 to clinch first place and the 2025 conference crown.

Leading the charge was Kindell Owen, who carded an impressive 77 to claim the individual gold medal. Teammate Jessi Kutch followed closely with a 94, earning third place, while Amina Jardak finished sixth with a 109. Brennan Judkins and Makenna Sallee rounded out the top eight with scores of 110 and 111, respectively. All five Kearney golfers received All-Conference honors, underscoring the team’s depth across the board.

The team’s momentum carried into the next day at the Class 3 District 4 Tournament at Hodge Park Golf Course. Facing tough competition, the Bulldogs posted a team score of 380, securing a bronze medal. Owen led once again with an 82 to finish second overall, with Kutch’s 88 good for sixth and Jardak’s 96 earning 12th place. Their performances not only brought home medals, but also earned Owen, Kutch, and Jardak All-District recognition and qualification for the upcoming state tournament.

The trio will represent Kearney at the MSHSAA Class 3 State Tournament, scheduled for October 20–21 at Twin Hills Golf Course in Joplin. Coach Troy Resler and the entire team celebrated a championship week, as the Bulldogs look ahead to making their mark on the state’s biggest stage.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KCK Woman Arrested After Attempting to Evade Felony Warrant

A 41-year-old woman from Kansas City, Kansas, was arrested last Saturday, October 11, following a traffic stop in which she tried to conceal her identity from police officers.

According to Kearney Police, the incident began when officers pulled over a vehicle whose registered owner was wanted on a felony warrant out of Johnson County, Kansas. The female passenger closely resembled the wanted individual but repeatedly denied being her, even providing officers with a fake name and a Social Security number that did not match her identity. The number she gave was registered to a man, raising further suspicion among the officers.

Despite her persistent denials, the officers presented her with a booking photo from the Johnson County Jail taken just two months earlier. The photo clearly showed the woman's real name and confirmed her identity as the person sought in connection with a felony warrant.

Confronted with this evidence, the woman admitted to being the wanted individual. She was subsequently taken into custody without incident.

The felony warrant stemmed from her failure to appear in court for her third DUI offense, and she was being held on a $20,000 bond. Following her arrest, she was booked into the Clay County Detention Center, where she awaits extradition back to Kansas to face charges.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.