Absentee Voting Begins for Clay County Residents

Absentee voting for the April 7, 2026, General Municipal Election in Clay County officially began on Tuesday, February 24.

Eligible voters who are unable to be present on Election Day—whether due to travel, disability or illness, religious commitments, serving as an election worker or first responder, or other reasons outlined in Missouri statute 115.275—can participate by casting their ballots absentee.

Residents may vote absentee in person at the Clay County office located at 100 W. Mississippi St, Liberty, MO 64068, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Alternatively, voters can request a mail-in absentee ballot by contacting 816-415-8683 or visiting VoteClayCountyMo.gov.

The Absentee Ballot Request Form can be printed and filled out by hand or completed online and printed, but the voter’s original signature is required before submission. Applicants must provide their name, select the election, enter their residential address, and, if needed, a different mailing address.

Additional information such as the last four digits of the Social Security Number, date of birth, and a contact phone number is required. Every application must include the reason for absentee voting and be signed by the applicant; a marking option is available for voters with disabilities unable to sign.

Completed absentee ballots can be returned by mail or in person. Ballots must be notarized unless the voter is incapacitated or confined due to illness, is a caretaker, or is a military voter.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KHS Girls Soar at State Swim

The Kearney High School Girls Swim & Dive team delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 MSHSAA State Championship Meet held in St. Louis, marking a significant achievement for Kearney School District. The Bulldogs finished their season with a strong showing against top contenders from across Missouri, securing 21st place out of 58 teams—their best state finish in five years.

Kaylie Gerber

Standout swimmer Kaylie Gerber captured Kearney’s lone state medal, earning seventh place in the 50 freestyle. Gerber entered the meet as the No. 7 seed, set a personal record in preliminaries to move up to the No. 5 seed, and capped off her run with another strong swim in finals to claim the medal. She also demonstrated remarkable resilience in the 100 butterfly, overcoming a last-minute goggle issue before her preliminary race. Gerber regrouped, advanced to the second day, and broke the one-minute mark for the first time, finishing ninth in the state with a time of 59.86.

This year’s state roster featured a young squad, mostly underclassmen, who rose to the challenge. The Bulldogs qualified at least one swimmer in nine of eleven events, advanced two relays to finals for the first time since 2019, and saw an individual swimmer qualify for day-two finals for the first time since 2021.

Additional highlights from the meet included a 16th-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay and a 14th-place finish in the 400 Freestyle Relay after qualifying for finals and dropping more time on the second day. The team also celebrated several personal records and strong individual finishes from its talented, emerging group.

Coach Trevor Woehrman, his staff, and all the student-athletes are being congratulated for an outstanding season. The district expressed pride in the growth, grit, and determination shown by the team throughout the year.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Boys Wrestling Earns District Title

The Kearney High School Boys Wrestling team delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 MSHSAA Class 3 District 4 Tournament in Belton, thrilling supporters with an impressive display of resilience and teamwork. The tournament, held over Friday and Saturday, quickly became a fierce competition between Kearney and St. Michael the Archangel, with Kearney trailing for much of the event. However, the Bulldogs rallied at critical moments, turning the tide when it mattered most.

Both teams sent eight wrestlers to the championship finals, setting up a dramatic finish. The Bulldogs seized the opportunity, winning six of eight finals matches—including several decisive head-to-head victories over St. Michael—to clinch a tie for the District Championship in the tournament’s final match.

Kearney’s performance was impressive across the board. The team boasts nine state qualifiers, eight finalists, and six district champions. All 13 Kearney wrestlers advanced to the second day of the tournament and contributed valuable team points. The Class 3 State Qualifiers from Kearney are: Tyler Bell (106 lbs, Champion), Brayden Robinson (113 lbs, Runner-up), Landon Westfall (120 lbs, Champion), Phoenix Shelton (132 lbs, Champion), Kendahl Davis (150 lbs, Runner-up), Kale Davis (157 lbs, Champion), Kale Tucking (175 lbs, 4th Place), Carter Temple (215 lbs, Champion), and JD Romero (285 lbs, Champion).

Coach Jake Hill, his staff, and the entire Bulldog team were commended for their toughness, teamwork, and determination throughout the tournament. The community now looks forward to seeing what the state qualifiers can accomplish in the next round as they continue their remarkable season.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Chipotle Coming to The Shoppes at Kearney

The Kearney Board of Aldermen has given the green light to a site plan for a new Chipotle Mexican Grill at The Shoppes at Kearney Shopping Center. This move brings a well-known fast-casual dining option to the city’s commercial corridor.

Proposed by Star Development, the project involves constructing a 2,500-square-foot restaurant that will follow Chipotle’s latest design and include a drive-thru lane for digital and mobile preorders, along with a “bailout lane” to help keep traffic flowing smoothly. The site, spanning 1.94 acres on the south side of Watson Drive, boasts high visibility from Interstate 35—making it easily accessible for both residents and travelers.

Mayor Randy Pogue expressed enthusiasm for the development, describing it as a quality addition that will provide a popular dining choice, create new jobs, and strengthen the city’s retail sector. Economic Development Director Carolyn Yatsook echoed these sentiments, noting that the arrival of Chipotle demonstrates Kearney’s continued appeal for business investment.

The new restaurant will complement the existing offerings at The Shoppes at Kearney, further enriching the city’s selection of dining and retail and supporting long-term economic growth. Construction is expected to begin in the spring, pending completion of the permitting process.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Sheriff’s Office launches Special Victims Unit

To manage an increasing caseload of sexual crimes – especially internet crimes against children – the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a Special Victims Unit.

“Sex crimes are investigations that require highly skilled and dedicated investigators who can be solely focused on that discipline,” Investigations Division Captain Chris Johnson said. “By dedicating people to train in and have a solid understanding of sex crime case law, statutes and investigative analysis, it will make for better outcomes for victims.”

The new Special Victims Unit consists of a sergeant and detective. While they will investigate all sex-related crimes, a majority of their caseload is composed of child sexual abuse material cases. These ICAC (internet crimes against children) investigations require detectives trained and certified in specialty investigative techniques, and only a few agencies in Clay County have them. The Sheriff’s Office takes on cases for jurisdictions who do not have certified ICAC investigators.

ICAC tips typically come from internet service providers, photo hosting sites or social media or messaging platforms that detect child sexual abuse material. Those tips go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which then distributes them to local jurisdictions like the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for investigation. The Special Victims Unit executed two search warrants last month in regard to these cases, and investigation is ongoing.

Due to the material to which they will be exposed, Special Victims Unit investigators will meet quarterly with a mental health clinician.

Sergeant Jeremy Fahrmeier will oversee the new unit.

“These types of investigations are critical,” Sergeant Fahrmeier said. “We have a lot of work to do and will be working very hard to remove the predators in our community to create a safer environment for our children and the public.”

KPGZ News - Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.