Bulldogs Take Fourth at District Tournament

The Kearney High School Varsity Girls Golf Team earned fourth place in the Class 3-District 4 Tournament at Eagles Landing Golf Course in Belton on Monday, October 14.

The Bulldogs had a total team score of 420. The individual results included:

Kayla Resler – 92 (8th Place & All-District)

Jessi Kutch – 103 (tied for 16th Place)

Amina Jardak – 111

Brooklynn Cheek – 114

Malia Fairchild – 119

“Our whole team improved so much from a year ago,” Head Coach Troy Resler said. “They battled hard and earned the respect of everyone here at the District tournament.”

By finishing their rounds at 109 or less, Resler and Kutch punched their tickets to the State Tournament, which will be held at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield on Oct. 21-22.

Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Kearney to Switch Trash Service in 2025

The City of Kearney voted to switch residents’ trash and recycling service at the October 7, Board of Aldermen meeting. The current waste disposal agreement expires on December 31, 2024. City leaders agreed to a contract with Redgate Disposal, LLC in 2025.

Kearney received four bids for waste disposal starting in 2025. The lowest and best bid was from Redgate Disposal. The agreement with Redgate will be a three-year contract with two optional three-year renewals.

“They were the only contractor that offered a credit for recyclables,” reported city administrator Shelia Ernzen. “In addition to weekly trash and recycling service, they will allow residents to call and schedule a free bulky item to be picked up every week from the curb. That would be in addition to the regular spring and fall bulky pickup.”

The contract includes penalties for missed pick-ups, and Redgate will also provide pick-up services at city locations including the recycling center.

Residents will see a cost increase of $2.67 for a single trash receptacle and recycling bin. Additional carts will cost $4.36.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Fall Bulky Trash Pickup Begins October 21

Kearney’s Fall Bulky Trash Pickup will begin in less than two weeks. Bulky items will be picked up October 21 – 24.

Each household is allowed to place up to 4 yards of bulky trash items at the curb for pickup by 7 am on their pickup day.

Accepted items include: furniture, washing machines and dryers, lawnmowers (which must be empty of any fuel or oil), barbeque grills without propane tanks, carpeting (packed up to four-foot-long rolls that are securely tied, weighing less than 40lbs. Two rolls count as one item), mattresses and box springs, wood (must be bundled in 4-foot lengths, with each bundle weighing less than 40lbs), miscellaneous debris (must be in bags that are no bigger than 39 gallons and weigh no more than 40lbs. Two bags equal 1 item).

Items not accepted include: white goods/appliances (whether freon has been drained or not, Missouri Law prohibits white goods/appliances in MO landfills), hazardous waste (flammable, corrosive, explosive, toxic, or radioactive materials, including engine oil, fuel tanks, paint, fluorescent light bulbs, etc.), automotive batteries, tires, compressed gas cylinders, riding lawnmowers, glass panels where any dimension exceeds four feet, yard waste, brush, or tree limbs, rocks, bricks, or concrete, latex or oil-based paint, fertilizer, pesticide, solvent, construction material larger than 4x4, roofing material, loose flooring materials, or railroad ties, liquid waste, solid waste and recycling materials that are collected as part of regular service, and any waste or material that is prohibited from being received, managed, or disposed of at a landfill.

Find your pickup day by entering your address into the City’s INTERACTIVE MAP.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Shuts Out Raytown South 50-0

The 7-0 Bulldogs racked up 337 yards of offense on 45 plays in a conference game against the Raytown South Cardinals. The Cardinal offense was smothered by a dominant Bulldog defense that pressured Ray South’s senior quarter back, Troy Jefferson all night – totaling 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss.

Senior all-purpose football player, Grant Noland opened the first-quarter scoring with a 48-yard punt return. Jacob Dillon added the extra point giving Kearney a one touchdown lead. Minutes later junior wide receiver Hudson Best scampered to the endzone on a 22-yard carry followed by a 2-point conversion. The Bulldogs led 15-0.

Tristan Williams added his second touchdown on a 17-yard carry late in the third quarter.

The second quarter began with a Tyrus Smith, 2-yard carry from the heavy formation (also known as the Ham Package), giving the senior all-state center his first score as a ball carrier. “We practiced it yesterday and got it done,” said Smith. “It felt like I was back in the day, playing running back in little league. It felt natural,” Smith said.

“Tyrus looked like Jerome Bettis right there, said head coach Logan Minnick. “We got the big fella in there. I was excited for him, and I know the kids were excited for him too,” Minnick added.

Senior running back Tristan Williams led the Bulldogs with 63 yards on 12 carries, scoring the first of his two touchdowns with 4:27 to go in the second quarter. Dillon’s PAT gave Kearney a 29-0 lead.

With less than a minute on the clock, Bulldog senior wide receiver Trent Dostal caught a 50-yard pass from quarterback Carter Temple to set up a 2-yard follow-up touchdown throw – again to Dostal – on the next play. Kearney went to halftime with a commanding 36-0 lead after the Dillon PAT.

Coach Minnick talked about Trent Dostal’s skill sets: “Yeah, Trent plays both ways and he's really good at both, and on special teams. We’re very fortunate to have him. I’m very excited for him to finally get his time out here under the Friday night lights because he's earned it.”

Tristan Williams added his second touchdown on a 17-yard carry late in the third quarter and Jacob Dillon was accurate on the PAT.

At 43-0, the running clock gave the Bulldogs just enough time for the second unit and JV teams to score as sophomore Kale Tucking dashed 51 yards for the final score of the game and the shutout. Bulldogs 50, Raytown South 0.

“There's a lot of leadership in the locker room,” said Senior Trent Dostal. “I see a lot of the seniors telling the younger kids what they see out there, and that way, the younger kids know what to do. Those younger kids are also paying attention in the film room. They're also there on Sundays, always looking to get better,” said Dostal.

The 7-0 Kearney Bulldogs host Winnetonka on Friday, October 18. 102.7FM will broadcast the game. Pregame begins at 6:40. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

MoDOT Closes 19th Street for Repairs

The Missouri Department of Transportation will close eastbound and westbound 19th street on the west side of I-35 in Kearney for drainage repairs next week.

The closure will be between the roundabout and Nation Road starting on approximately Monday, October 14 at 6 a.m. and continue until Thursday, October 17 at 5 p.m. 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. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.