May 2022

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The hometown varsity baseballers broke even for the regular season in varsity baseball. And then, they topped .500 in the postseason.

CHILLICOTHE – Another Excelsior Springs varsity boys tennis season is over. The season ended May 10 with a 5-0 road loss to Chillicothe in the Class 1 District 15 Tournament.

ORRICK – After 18 years at Orrick, longtime coach and teacher Mitch Comstock has moved on. But he has not moved far away.

INDEPENDENCE – On May 9, Ethan Edwards fought through the Missouri heat to qualify for state competition once again. Edwards, who graduated May 13 from Excelsior Springs, qualified for the Class 4 state tournament by placing in a five-way tie for ninth among 58 finishers at the Class 4 District 4 Tournament at Drumm Farm Golf Club.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Three retiring district employees received a sendoff from district leaders when the Board of Education met May 9 at the Support Services Center. Deputy Superintendent Jaret Tomlinson presented a gift bag to each person: Randy Barnes, a Career Center teacher; Vicky Goetz, director of the Rockin’ Tiger Club; and Donna Petree, a paraprofessional at the high school.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – School district personnel will receive raises for 2022-23. On May 9 at the Support Services Center, the Board of Education approved 4% pay hikes to base salaries and a salary schedule step for administrators; certified staff members; PAT/tech workers; Rockin’ Tiger Club personnel; and nurses, licensed practical nurses, maintenance workers and administrative assistants, or “classified” employees.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating four reports that an Excelsior Springs School District staff member assaulted several Cornerstone Elementary School students. The sheriff’s investigation is separate from district and Missouri Childrens Division investigations.

At some point, others who recall the lost world of real conservativism – people who, like me, campaigned and voted for Ronald Reagan, and who cheered George H.W. Bush’s work to create a “kinder and gentler” nation – need to look U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in the eye, and themselves in the heart, based on this reality:

Calling all conservatives. The real ones.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Lainey Creason avoided sentimentality as she bid farewell to Excelsior Springs High School. The final speaker of the commencement ceremony May 13 in the high school gym, she acknowledged the class would miss high school.