News

Irish spirit, community connection shine at festival

Plans for Excelsior Springs’ expanding trail system advanced this week as the City Council approved a change order to repair unstable soil along the Dry Fork Greenway, one of the city’s largest park and transportation projects.

The future of Excelsior Springs’ western edge now hinges on a November ballot question that could redraw city limits and determine who controls key corridors for development and infrastructure. City officials hosted a public listening session to explain the proposed annexation, which would add more than 50 parcels and several roadways between Cameron and Rhodus roads in unincorporated Clay County.

Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse Free Environments (SAFE) is highlighting youth prevention efforts this month with a focus on prescription drug safety, fentanyl awareness and alcohol-free homecoming celebrations.

Entrepreneurship is not a one-time spark but a fire that needs to be tended, said Excelsior Springs business owner Daphne Bowman as she delivered the opening keynote at the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference.

Excelsior Springs elementary schools are welcoming October with a full calendar of activities, from science exploration and literacy nights to football events and fall parties. Across Lewis, Cornerstone and Elkhorn, administrators are emphasizing student growth, family engagement and the importance of daily attendance.

A strong local economy doesn’t always begin with a corporation or large employer. Sometimes, it starts with one person who decides to open a bakery, design jewelry or sell homemade candles.

Tourism may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about economic growth in small towns, but Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development Educator Richard Proffer argued it should be. Speaking during the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference session “Increasing Your Town’s Entrepreneurial Opportunities Through Tourism,” Proffer noted rural tourism can fuel job creation, support local businesses and spark cultural revival in communities with fewer than 5,000 people.