August 2021

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – On Aug. 13, Excelsior Springs Parks and Recreation, or ESPR, celebrated the opening of the Rainbow Splash Park alongside the community center.

JEFFERSON CITY – After Missouri’s GOP-dominated General Assembly and Gov. Mike Parson refused to honor voter-approved Medicaid expansion, court rulings required funding; and now, the Missouri Department of Social Services will comply.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Gary Sanson crossed the finish line one last time after competing in the Missouri American Water MR340 July 22. Sanson finished in 47 hours, 17 minutes.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Assistant Superintendent Heather Gross gave a cautious forecast for fall enrollment growth at the district’s new Early Childhood Center, or ECC. Gross, who oversees student services, told the Board of Education near the end of its Aug.

RICHMOND – There is plenty to unpack regarding the release of U.S. Census Bureau numbers, including… • If the numbers are accurate, then Excelsior Springs’ population fell quickly and dramatically, but there are reasons for doubt; • Richmond’s population cleared the 6,000 hurdle; • Clay County gained more people in the past decade than the entire population of neighboring Ray County; and • Ray County lost population.

When it comes to my life, Oscar Wilde is usually correct. Wilde, you might remember from your high school or college literature classes, was a 19th-century writer – specifically, a playwright and novelist – and a controversial figure in his day.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Varsity softball coach Megan Rawie expects her Tigers to find a groove quickly, a must during a high school season. “Building chemistry the first few weeks of practice, (as) opposed to waiting until mid-season, will be a challenge for us, since the season goes so quickly,” Rawie said.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – In a COVID world, keeping the Tigers healthy could be the biggest challenge they face this volleyball season, coach Kathryn Beile acknowledged. “Just because it is a new year doesn’t mean the precedent rules from last year are not still in play, and my hope is to keep the team as healthy (as possible) as we undergo the new school year,” Beile said.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – One thing that will help prepare the Excelsior Springs girls golf program for the competition the Tigers will see this fall is the course they practice on every day. “Our girls have an advantage because we have one of the most difficult courses around,” coach David Stalder said.

WASHINGTON – At the weekly Republican leadership press conference, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt shared local news stories about Missourians who have become seriously ill or lost family members to COVID and urged others to get vaccinated.