Girls Wrestling Team Shines at National Tournament

The Kearney High School girls wrestling team traveled to Akron, Ohio to compete in the prestigious Women of the Ironman Tournament, a competition widely recognized as one of the nation’s toughest high school wrestling events. Seven Bulldogs represented Kearney, demonstrating exceptional class and competitiveness in a tournament featuring more than 120 teams, many of which included nationally ranked programs and individual athletes.

Despite contending with illness throughout the week, the Bulldogs put forth an impressive performance, securing a 6th-place finish overall. Four Kearney wrestlers reached the Top-8 podium, underscoring the team’s remarkable resilience and skill on the mat.

Individual highlights included Zolah Williams, who advanced to the semifinals and ultimately claimed 3rd place. Williams lost only to the eventual champion and did not surrender a single point for the remainder of the tournament. Myla Woolridge, competing while sick and unseeded, delivered a standout performance by upsetting a nationally ranked opponent and last year’s Ironman runner-up, earning 6th place. Carli Vargas continued her success on the national stage, pinning her way to the championship finals and finishing as runner-up after facing a familiar opponent from Bixby, Oklahoma. Ella Chavez also reached the podium, securing 6th place after multiple hard-fought victories over state medalists in a challenging bracket.

All seven athletes displayed tremendous grit and sportsmanship in one of the country’s most demanding tournaments. The Bulldogs will return to action on December 18–19 at the KC Stampede, held at Hale Arena.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Artists Wanted for Inflatable Soccer Ball Art

Go North KC is now accepting applications for a Call for Artists to design original artwork for a 20-foot diameter inflatable soccer ball that will be featured at community events and public gatherings in the region.

Bold in scale and designed to be experienced from every angle, the inflatable soccer ball will serve as a highly visible, photo-friendly centerpiece—inviting residents and visitors to engage with art in a fun, accessible format inspired by the global spirit of the game.

This project is an opportunity to spotlight creative talent and bring something truly eye-catching to our community events. We’re excited to see artists’ styles and ideas come to life on a unique three-dimensional canvas.

The selected artist will create a full-surface design for the inflatable soccer ball. Like a traditional soccer ball, the piece is constructed from stitched pentagonal and hexagonal panels, allowing the classic soccer aesthetic to remain visible while still offering artists an expansive spherical surface to design. Artists may choose to reference the panel structure—or design as if the ball were a continuous, uninterrupted surface.

This Call for Artists will be conducted in two phases:

• Phase One (Initial Application): Artists submit references of existing work and a brief statement of interest. No original concept is required at this stage.

• Phase Two (Finalist Concepts): Five (5) finalists will be invited to create and submit design concepts for the inflatable soccer ball. Each finalist will receive a $100 honorarium.

From the finalists, one artist will be selected and awarded a $2,000 contract to complete the final artwork for production.

• Artists will be asked to submit:

• 3–5 examples of existing work

• A brief statement of interest

A current résumé or artist bio

Full details, submission instructions, and the application link are available at:

https://gonorthkc.com/callforartists. Submissions are due: January 4th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

KPGZ News – Megan Sahlfeld contributed to this story.

K-9 Havoc Assists in Arrest on 92 Highway

Over the weekend, a traffic stop conducted by a day-shift officer on 92 Highway near McDonald's led to the arrest of a 28-year-old Camden, MO man.

Photo by Kearney Police Department.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended license and active warrants for his arrest. K-9 Havoc was called to the scene and alerted officers to the presence of contraband in the vehicle.

A search revealed approximately 13 grams of packaged methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded handgun. The driver, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Officers safely took the suspect into custody, and Kearney Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit filed in-custody charges for felony possession of a controlled substance and felony unlawful possession of a firearm.

Bond was set at $50,000, and the suspect was booked into the Clay County Detention Center on the new felony charges.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

AutoZone Site Plan Approved in Shoppes at Kearney

The City of Kearney approved a site plan for a new AutoZone store at 780 Watson Dr., making an exciting addition to the Shoppes at Kearney Shopping Center. The project brings enhanced retail services, new investment, and additional job opportunities to the community.

AutoZone, a national retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories, operates thousands of locations across the Americas and continues an aggressive expansion strategy, according to the company's website. AutoZone also notes that with each new location, they aim to offer a wide selection of parts and accessories for cars, SUVs, vans, and light trucks, supporting both everyday drivers and local service providers.

"We're excited to welcome AutoZone as the newest addition to our community," said Mayor Randy Pogue. "This project reflects the momentum we're seeing in local investment and represents a strong vote of confidence in our city's future. Our residents will benefit from added services, and this new store will help stimulate further commercial growth and opportunity."

AutoZone's 2024 Annual Report highlights the company's pride in "going the Extra Mile" for customers and communities, bringing both retail convenience and a commitment to corporate responsibility to every location.

Construction of the new store is expected to begin by Q2 2026. Further details, including the opening date, will be announced once finalized.

KPGZ News – Carolyn Yatsook contributed to this story.

Clay County Parks Launches Master Planning Initiative

Clay County Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites has begun the development of a comprehensive Master Plan designed to set clear goals, objectives, and strategies for the future management and growth of its parks system. The plan aims to provide direction for the department by forecasting community needs and outlining an actionable path forward.

To execute this initiative, the county has engaged CHM Government Services, PROS Consulting, RDG Planning & Design, and ETC Institute, bringing together expertise in government services, planning, and public engagement. The resulting Master Plan will serve as the guiding vision for the agency, including recommendations backed by research and data, as well as measurable actions that are straightforward for staff and stakeholders to interpret and implement.

Public participation is a key component of the planning process, with opportunities for engagement from county staff, key stakeholders, elected officials, and community members. A notable opportunity to share input will be at the 30th annual Eagle Days event at Smithville Lake, which features live eagle programs presented by Operation Wildlife.

Residents are invited to visit the project booth to offer ideas and feedback. Eagle Days will be held Saturday, January 3 at the Paradies Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse, located at 18212 Golf Course Drive in Smithville, Missouri.

For further details about the Master Plan and opportunities to participate, visit the Clay County Parks and Historical Sites Master Plan project website at Engage RDG.

Clay County Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites manages over 6,000 acres of parkland, including two championship golf courses, 80.5 miles of trails, 752 campsites, two marinas, swim beaches, docks, shelters at Smithville Lake, two museums, historic sites, and parks such as Rocky Hollow and Tryst Falls located between Kearney and Excelsior Springs. For questions, contact John Davis, Parks Director at parks@claycountymo.gov.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.