December 2025

From impulsive decisions to heightened emotions, adolescence can feel unpredictable for both youth and the adults guiding them. A recent virtual workshop helped parents and caregivers better understand how the developing brain influences behavior and why that understanding matters for prevention.

Excelsior Springs officials approved a series of infrastructure, development and administrative actions that will affect multiple areas of city operations, ranging from the demolition of a deteriorating structure to changes in zoning review fees and long-term lease agreements.

The Excelsior Standard, Dec. 19, 2025 Bernice Kessler Bernice Caroline Kessler, 92, of Lawson passed away peacefully Dec.

Lillah Shue had her back was against the wall – or rather, near the mat – in her final wrestling match of the Excelsior Springs High School Girls Tournament. Leading Richmond’s Abigail Smith 12-2 near the end of the final period, the Excelsior Springs senior suddenly found herself in danger of being pinned.

Some people truly enjoy cold weather and they are entitled to their opinion. However, for many others, myself included, the ongoing cold spell in Missouri feels less like a natural seasonal change and more like a disruption to everyday life.

MIRANDA JAMISON A table of handmade crafts became the foundation for a much bigger achievement, allowing a young business owner to reach a goal on which she refused to give up. Kaylee Guettermann, 13, of Kansas City, recently brought her small business to The Overlook at Crystal Lakes, where she continued selling handmade items after reaching the goal that first motivated her work.

The Excelsior Standard, Dec. 19, 2025 Sept.

The Excelsior Standard, Dec. 19, 2025 Lucille Duncan Lucille Duncan, 93, of Lawson went home to be with the Lord Dec.

With a new season approaching, the leadership of the high school baseball program is changing, paving the way for a fresh direction for the upcoming year. That change places Cale Lyons at the helm of the Excelsior Springs High School baseball team as the district prepares for its next chapter on the field.

The opening session of Beacon Mental Health’s winter workshop series challenged families to examine the role of social media in daily youth life, presenting new research on notifications, algorithms and mental health, before the subsequent two sessions expanded on early brain development and prevention.