May 2025

With the 2024-25 school year now complete, the Excelsior Springs School District (ESSD) is reflecting on the accomplishments, partnerships and experiences that shaped a meaningful academic year. The district extends its appreciation to students, families and staff for their continued commitment to learning, growth and community.

A simulated virus outbreak swept through Clay County last week, but instead of panic, it sparked planning. Local agencies came together to test how they would respond if the threat had been real and every second counted.

Even with a major setback earlier this year, the tradition of honoring fallen service members continued Monday as the Clay-Ray Veterans Association hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony in Excelsior Springs.

For the second time this year, a vehicle went airborne and crashed through the roof of the Clay-Ray Veterans Hall. On the morning of May 28, a middle-aged man, later identified as Excelsior Springs resident Corrie Wright, was injured when his vehicle left the roadway and became lodged in the roof at 208 Veterans Memorial Drive in Excelsior Springs.

Many residents near the Idecker mine shared their views on continued operations in the area during the recent public hearing. Melanie Thompson: “I think the repercussions of the blasting and all the stuff that’s going on are going to be a lot more damaging than what we will reap if we go with them.” Nathaniel Beeghly: “We have Desert Storm veterans, small business owners, working-class people and these are the families getting hurt here.

A quiet rural town became the epicenter of a battle over land, blasting and quality of life during a recent public hearing, as Mosby citizens and nearby county residents confronted Idecker Inc. over its proposed underground mining expansion.

The Excelsior Standard, May 23, 2025 Paul Raymond Schwebach, age 86 of Excelsior Springs, died Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at his home, surrounded by family. Mass of Christian burial was scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

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We say it all the time – be kind. We write it on bumper stickers, hang it on classroom walls and post it on social media with pastel backgrounds and pretty fonts.