KSD to Host Annual Resource Fair

Kearney School District is hosting its 2024 Back-to-School Resource Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, and 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, at Hawthorne Elementary School, which is located at 1815 S. Jefferson St. in Kearney, Mo.

The annual Back-to-School Resource Fair features school supplies, backpacks, gently used clothing and other community resources for students in need. The event is designed to ensure that every child in KSD has the support they need to thrive in the upcoming school year, according to District Social Worker Meeghan Masters.

“Last year we were able to help 256 students be ready for their first day of school,” Ms. Masters said. “This is only possible because of the help of many partners from across the community.”

Families are asked to register their children for the resource fair in order to help organizers plan and run the event. Visit bit.ly/ksd-resource-fair-24 to complete a short online registration form.

Donate Items

KSD social workers will be collecting new and gently used clothes and shoes and distributing them during the Back to School Resource Fair. They need clothes and shoes in all sizes, from youth small to adult XXL. Basic school supplies are also needed. Donated clothes, shoes and supplies may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Aug. 5-9 at Hawthorne Elementary.

Buy A Shirt & Give A Shirt

Purchase a custom KSD back-to-school shirt for $17 and one will be donated for a student who attends the Resource Fair. A shirt can also be donated directly for just $8.50. Visit the Buy-A-Shirt-Give-A-Shirt site to learn more.

Donate Money

Monetary donations directly fund the fair and can be made to: Kearney R-1 School District, Attn – Back to School Resource Fair, 150 West State Route 92, Kearney, MO 64060

Volunteer

The fair is a great opportunity for individuals, families and organizations to volunteer for community service. Visit the online sign-up form to register as a volunteer.

For more information about the 2024 KSD Back to School Resource Fair, contact Meeghan Masters at mastersm@ksdr1.net.

KSD’s 2024-2025 academic year starts on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Important back-to-school information is available and updated online at www.ksdr1.net/back-to-school.

To learn more about how to enroll a child in KSD, visit our enrollment webpage, call (816) 628-4116 or email reghelp@ksdr1.net.

Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Plan a Safe July Fourth Holiday

The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages all Missourians to have a safe and happy holiday week. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri roadways and waterways to enforce traffic and boating laws and offering assistance as needed.

The Highway Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) and Operation Dry Water over the July Fourth holiday. Operation Dry Water specifically targets impaired vessel operators.

During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.

The 2024 July Fourth holiday counting period will be from 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers and being courteous on the water. Never operate a vessel if you’ve consumed alcohol. Boaters need to be aware that it is illegal to discharge fireworks from a vessel. Leave all fireworks in a safe place on shore. Remember to share the waterway, watch your wake, and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!

Anyone needing assistance or who witnesses criminal activity while traveling on Missouri’s roadways or waterways can contact the nearest Highway Patrol troop headquarters by calling the Patrol Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. Motorists may call 1-888-275-6636 to check for road construction along their travel route.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KPGZ Radio Adds Softball to Bulldog Sports Coverage

102.7FM KPGZ is excited to announce it is adding radio coverage of Kearney High School home softball games to the Bulldog Radio Network this fall. This will be the first season the radio station has covered softball games.

Bulldog radio network announcers Kelly Gentry and Eric Stevens will be calling the home softball games beginning at 5 pm on Tuesday, September 10, when the Bulldogs face Staley High School.

“WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE BRING BULLDOG SOFTBALL TO 102.7, AND THAT OUR LISTENERS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC TO HAVE THE SOFTBALL GAMES ON THE RADIO.” - BRIAN WATTS. PHOTO BY RAY WEIKAL.

“We had great success announcing Bulldog baseball games this spring,” said 102.7FM general manager Brian Watts. “We are excited to be able bring Bulldog softball to KPGZ, and that our listeners are enthusiastic to have the softball games on the radio.”

Parents and fans requested softball and baseball games to be broadcast on the radio station last year, but logistics and the time frame of getting the broadcast setup were obstacles for the station. With more time, KPGZ was able to work on the details and can now produce quality game broadcasts for fans.

Bulldog sports game broadcasts bring a vast audience to the radio station. Broadcasts of high school sports bring double or triple the listening audience to 102.7FM. The station now broadcasts football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball to a wide audience around the world on the radio, their website 1027KearneyMO.com and the KPGZ mobile app.

Sponsorship spaces are available at all levels and can be reserved now by calling Brian Watts at 816-826-1111.

Jim Dickerson contributed to this story.

Allen Graduates Police Command Program

The Kearney Missouri Police Department announced on Friday, June 28, tha Captain Brian Allen is a new graduate from the School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) at Northwestern University, Class #580. Captain Allen is the first ever from the department to graduate from this course.

Allen and his fellow graduates completed the 10-week Staff and Command program held at the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Their class consisted of 18 students from multiple agencies across the country including: Clay County Missouri Sheriff's Office, Gladstone Missouri PD, Lee Summit Missouri PD, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Quincy Illinois PD, Clinton County Missouri Sheriff's Office, St. Joseph Missouri PD., Platte County Missouri Sheriff's Office, Kearney Missouri PD., Prairie Village Kansas PD, Polk County Florida Sheriff's Office, and Overland Park Kansas PD.

The Northwestern School of Police Staff & Command is the most academically rigorous program available for experienced mid- and upper-level supervisory personnel. Through an innovative combination of academic principles blended with practical applications, this intensive curriculum focuses on areas critical to successful senior law enforcement leadership and management.

Since 1983, SPSC has graduated more than 565 classes, and more than 21,000 students consisting of some of the best and brightest professionals in the field. Through an innovative combination of academic principles with practical applications, the

The 10-week SPSC curriculum zeroes in on such critical command-level content as planning and policies, media relations, organizational behavior, budgeting and resource allocation, human resources, statistics, project management, traffic, and more. Students are academically challenged through written examinations, projects, presentations, quizzes, and a staff study paper which are required parts of the curriculum.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

MoDOT Continues Work on Route 92

The Missouri Department of Transportation is conducting resurfacing operations and ADA improvements on Missouri Route 92 between the Nation Road Roundabout and Missouri Route 33 in Kearney. Work will continue starting daily at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10 until Monday, July 15 at 4 p.m.

All MO Route 92 and I-35 ramps will be closed during weekend work. Motorists should expect delays. All work is weather permitting.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit our website at www.modot.org/kansascity.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.