August 2025

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part story on Orrick Superintendent Chris Russo, who shared why he was drawn to the district, plans for transition from principle to the new position, top priorities for the year and lessons carried from the classroom.

A family-owned transportation company in Excelsior Springs recently welcomed a visit from U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer as part of her nationwide tour to meet with businesses and employees.

A major investment in city facilities ranged from mowing fairways to purifying pool water, with Excelsior Springs leaders authorizing long-term purchases and contracts that will guide local operations for years ahead.

I don’t normally write about sports, as my usual stories focus on city council meetings, court proceedings or features about community members. However, for the third year in a row, I happily found myself at Chiefs training camp with my press badge on, notebook ready and my heart open to whatever I might learn, and I do mean learn.

Excelsior Springs students will begin the school year under new handbooks, tighter limits on cell phone use and an additional police officer assigned to school buildings, as the Board of Education approved a series of measures at a recent meeting.

Young talent takes center stage

Engines rumbled through Lawson earlier this week as bikers lined up to escort a 12-year-old girl to her first day of school, a gesture meant to remind her she is not alone after allegedly being attacked last week.

Residents of a quiet local neighborhood will not see the house at 21 Dawn Avenue expanded into a larger sober living facility after the Excelsior Springs City Council agreed to issue an official written denial at a recent meeting. The unanimous decision followed months of back-and-forth between the property owner, Oxford House representatives and city officials over whether the zoning code should be waived to allow more than four unrelated individuals to live together in the single- family district.

An Excelsior Springs man will serve five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to two felony counts of second-degree domestic assault. The charges stem from a July 2024 incident in which he was also originally charged with another felony of third-degree assault of a special victim. Brandon M. Ladd, 30, was given a suspended execution of a seven-year prison term for the first assault charge and a suspended imposition of sentence for the secondin Ray County Circuit Court. Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Walden presided.

Oasis Outreach Ministries hosts annual concert