News

As Excelsior Springs looks toward 2026, the outlook shared by community leaders and local voices reflects a city building on momentum while continuing to prioritize connection, accessibility and quality of life. From neighborhood programs and recreational offerings to major infrastructure projects and regional collaboration, the year ahead is being shaped by both growth and intention.

For three Excelsior Springs firefighters, earning a badge represented the culmination of a year defined by training, growth and accountability and the beginning of a deeper responsibility to the community they serve.

A grand jury indictment has significantly expanded the criminal case against a former Excelsior Springs church youth volunteer, adding multiple felony charges tied to a child sex abuse investigation. Excelsior Springs resident Donald Aaron Axtell, 37, was originally arrested and charged with two felonies of second-degree statutory rape and possession of child pornography and one misdemeanor of furnishing or attempting to furnish pornographic material to a minor.

A boundary dispute west of Excelsior Springs has moved deeper into the court system as the City of Mosby formally answered Excelsior Springs’ annexation lawsuit and filed a counterclaim asking a judge to rule that Mosby’s annexation has legal priority and that Excelsior Springs’ competing annexation is unlawful. The filings before the Clay County Circuit Court concern a months-long dispute over rural land along Cameron Road and Rhodus Road, where both cities approved annexation measures covering overlapping territory inthe November election.

Winter break can feel long for teens, especially when school routines disappear and there are few places left just to be together without expectations or pressure. Excelsior Springs Parks and Recreation and Community Center (ESPRCC) is responding by opening the community center for a teen-only evening designed to feel relaxed, welcoming and intentionally unstructured.

As winter approaches and more residents face isolation and food insecurity, Excelsior Springs Hospital is stepping into an educational role, helping connect community members with support programs while also finding creative ways to make health education more accessible and engaging.

The payment deadline for Clay County real estate and personal property tax bills has been extended to Jan. 30.

Editor’s note: This is the final of a twopart Ray County Voices series featuring Missouri Army National Guard service member Cale Lyons. This installment will focus on overseas deployments, family life during extended separations and the challenge of transitioning between military and civilian life. Part One examined Lyons’ path into military service, early deployments and the impact of spending holidays away from home.

From discreet nicotine pouches to high-potency THC products, the substances available to youth today are changing rapidly. A recent virtual workshop focused on helping parents understand what those changes mean and how early prevention can reduce risk.

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