May 2022

Moving moments from city history on display

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Video from a city festival in the 1930s – including images of Native Americans, cowboys and a stagecoach – is available on a new, widescreen monitor at the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives, 101 E. Broadway.

THIS NEW MONITOR at the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives, shown by museum Director Kathy Duncan, provides video from a Mulesta Festival in the mid-1930s, including this cowboy with a six-shooter. J.C. VENTIMIGLIA | Staff

After aiding with investigation of Polo fires, state withdraws

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

RICHMOND – Law enforcers continue to look for a person with whom they wish to speak after a deadly arson fire, and Missouri Fire Safety completed work and withdrew from the investigation. Caldwell County Sheriff Mitchell Allen said the “vehicle of interest” is a black Ford Escape SUV with tinted windows and possibly a black, male driver.

THE CALDWELL COUNTY Sheriff’s Office released this image of a vehicle of interest in the deadly Polo-area arson fire May 10. CALDWELL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

SWAT arrests Lathrop man after hostage escapes

4 years ago By News Staff

LAKE ARROWHEAD – The Tri-County SWAT team arrested James Larson Jr., Lathrop, after a standoff in a Lake Arrowhead residence. Although “severely assaulted and tortured for two days,” the alleged victim later escaped to a neighboring house, called the police and had to undergo hospitalization, based on Clinton County Sheriff’s Office information and published reports.

Investigative squad examines Excelsior Springs jail death

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Benjamin Chase, 21, Excelsior Springs, died while in custody in the city jail. Excelsior Springs Police Chief Gregory Dull said he asked the Clay County Investigative Squad to investigate “for transparency and accountability” to the public. Many departments ask for outside reviews of unusual circumstances for the same reasons, he said.

Standing for democracy not easy, but necessary

4 years ago By News Staff

Calling for unity against Vladimir Putin for the unprovoked invasion, indiscriminate destruction and war-crime murders of civilians in Ukraine is easy. Talk is cheap.

Area schools expect benefit from funding for school buses

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – “Full funding” for public school transportation might translate to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Excelsior Springs and Richmond school districts. Richmond School District Transportation Director Jeff Southwick said, when the school year concludes in a few days, then the district will focus on possible savings.

JARET TOMLINSON assistant superintendent

Sheriff’s office investigating reports of assault on students

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

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.

Clay County Sheriff continues its investigation on a Cornerstone teacher

County investigative squad examines city jail death

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Benjamin Chase, 21, Excelsior Springs, died while in custody and the death is being reviewed by another law enforcement agency, the Clay County Investigative Squad, Excelsior Springs Police Chief Gregory Dull stated. Dull said he asked for the outside investigation “for transparency and accountability” to the public. Many departments ask for outside reviews of unusual circumstances for the same reasons, he said. “They’ll determine exactly what happened,” Dull said.

The death of Benjamin Chase while in ESPD custody is under review

Post Office conducts food drive Saturday

4 years ago By Jack ‘Miles’ Ventimiglia

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Excelsior Springs Post Office will collect food for community members in need Saturday, acting Officer in Charge Kat Bollinger said Monday. “We’re not supplying bags this year,” Bollinger said.

Parks buys structure for space

4 years ago By Shawn Roney

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Parks and Recreation Department is getting a larger maintenance building. On May 2, the City Council approved Parks and Rec/Community Center Director Nate Williams’ request to buy a 60-by-64-foot building for $375,750.