Sheriffs, Prosecutors Retirement System up for Vote

There will be a lot of ballot questions for Missouri voters to consider on election day next month. One of them directly impacts the state's sheriffs and prosecutors: Amendment 6.

This is the ballot language: "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?"

Voting yes supports the resumption of a $3 court fee that was established in state statue in 1983 for the creation of the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System. It is not a tax. It is a court fee for those who are found guilty of a crime in the state of Missouri. Judges can still opt to waive the fee if they determine financial hardship.

This fee was in place from 1983 until 2015, when a lawsuit brought against the Retirement System went to the Missouri Supreme Court. The court ruled sheriffs and prosecutors were not part of the "administration of justice."

Advocates for sheriffs and prosecutors asked state legislators to let voters decide whether the administration of justice includes salary and benefits for sheriffs, prosecutors, and retired sheriffs and prosecutors. That's why the issue is now on the ballot.

If Amendment 6 doesn’t pass, the sheriffs' retirement system is projected to be bankrupt in 9 years, and the prosecutors' system in 15 years.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office submitted story.

Bulldogs Shutout Tigers in Conference Game

The Kearney Bulldog Varsity softball team put another notch in their win column against the Excelsior Springs Tigers on Monday, September 30. The Kearney shutout the Tigers in a Suburban Blue Conference game, 5-0.

Brooke Paalhar broke the tie in the third inning with a home run to left field in the third inning, scoring three runs.

Brooke Paalhar broke the tie in the third inning with a home run to left field in the third inning, scoring three runs. Then and singled in the fourth inning, scoring one run.

Macy Morrow led the Bulldogs with three hits in four at bats and Kennedi Casey collected two hits in three at bats.

Alyssa Quick pitched all seven innings in a gem of a game. She struck out 12 batters and allowed four hits and zero runs over seven innings while walking none.

Other highlights include:

Alyssa Quick went 1-3

Morgan Pennington went 1-3

Jocelyn Lincoln 1-3

Ryleigh Van Emmerik went 1-3

Kearney is now 22-4 on the season and 6-0 in conference.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Community Covenant Church Hosts Bed Build

The Kearney Community Covenant Church is asking Kearney residents to help with a “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” bed build this fall.

The bed build idea was started in Kimberly, ID, with the idea to provide handmade beds to children who don’t have beds of their own. This build is for kids in the Platte and Clay County area.

Volunteers from the Kansas City North Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace will build, deliver, and set up a minimum of 80 beds complete with bedding and a stuffed toy for area children.

To accomplish this build, volunteers need at least $20,000. The Kearney Covenant Church is accepting donations in any amount for this event. Residents can send money to Community Covenant Church P.O. Box 318, Kearney, MO 64060. People can also donate online at KearneyCovenant.com/giving.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Asks for Help with Transportation Comments

The City of Kearney is asking residents for assistance with three transportation grants through the Mid America Regional Council. Comments through MARC’s grant portal will help Kearney’s rankings for grant awards for infrastructure projects.

Kearney is competing with other cities the Kansas City metro area for federal grant dollars that will fund over 150 transportation projects. The city has applied for grants to fund three city projects: the 19th St. Complete Street Project, the Kearney Pathways Project, and the Nation Rd. Complete Street Project.

“Your comments will positively affect the rankings of Kearney’s applications, and we need your support,” reads the city’s social media post. “It only takes a few minutes to increase Kearney’s chances of being selected for grants for these projects.”

MARC is now seeking public comments on those applications. To read the project details and make comments on each project visit gis2.marc2.org/suballocated/publiccomment.html. Comments are accepted until October 4.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs 5-0 in Homecoming Win over NKC

For the second consecutive week, the Kearney Bulldogs roughed up a Class 6 opponent with unmistakably dominant play at the line of scrimmage – offensive and defensive.

Kearney senior running back Tristan Williams and junior running back Corbin Emmons both scored two rushing touchdowns before halftime. Kicker Jacob Dillon connected on the point-after kicks follow three of those touchdowns and ran for a 2-point conversion on the other, taking the Bulldogs to halftime with a 29-0 lead. 

Kearney’s opening possession in the second half was an 84-yard kickoff return for touchdown by senior Grant Noland.

Kearney’s opening possession in the second half was an 84-yard kickoff return for touchdown by senior Grant Noland. North Kansas City hadn’t touched the football, and the third quarter score loomed large for the Hornets at 36-0.

Junior quarterback Brad Doll stepped in for the starter, Carter Temple in the fourth quarter and scored on a 3-yard keeper to effectively ice the game at 43-0 following the Jacob Dillon PAT.

Late in the fourth quarter, North Kansas City junior quarterback Stephen Thomas broke a tackle on a sweep to the left and ran 80 yards untouched to the end zone for the Hornets’ only score. A missed 2-point conversion left the final score at 43-6.

“We’re getting better every week I think that's pretty evident,” said Bulldog head coach Logan Minnick. “We thought we could win the line of scrimmage this week which was going to be huge in this game with (North Kansas City) wanting to run the ball and us being able to keep it away from them at times.”

Kearney’s defense continues to play fast and physical, pressuring opposing quarterbacks, stopping the run, and neutralizing the passing game in the secondary. Senior Linebacker Theo Grace had 12 tackles, Grant Noland had six and sophomore defensive back Aidan Arellano finished with 4.

Kearney had 56 total plays to the Hornets’ 29, and Kearney had 23 first downs to North Kansas City’s 4.

“I'm so proud of how our kids came out and executed a game plan almost to perfection on a week which I call distraction week and others call homecoming week,” added Minnick. “I’m so excited for our fans, our community; what an awesome day today. It’s the biggest parade I think I've seen here in a long time.”

The 5-0 Kearney Bulldogs are on the road next week. They’ll play at Grain Valley on Friday, October 5. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.