News

November brings a season of reflection and thankfulness across Excelsior Springs elementary schools. At Lewis, Cornerstone and Elkhorn, students and staff are focusing on gratitude while continuing to strengthen academic skills, celebrate attendance and prepare for the busy holiday season.

Editor’s note: This is the final in a two-part series covering historian and author Mark Gardner’s presentation during the Fall on the Farm celebration at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site and State Park. Part one, which appeared in the Oct. 24 edition, highlighted Gardner’s introduction and his research into the historical ties between the Watkins and James families through Civil War– era letters preserved at the site. Part two continues with Gardner’s discussion of the James brothers’ wartime experiences, leading to their infamous years as outlaws, the Pinkerton raid that shook the county and the enduring legacy of Missouri’s frontier history.

JACKSON SOOTER places his Hot Wheel on the starting block, ending the competition in third place. MIRANDA JAMISON | Staff

The power of mentorship is coming to Excelsior Springs in a new way this fall as local organizations work together to bring Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Kansas City to the community. The evidence- based mentoring program has helped thousands of youth across the region build confidence, improve academic performance and form lasting connections with positive adult role models.

For nearly half a century, the Excelsior Springs Fire Department (ESFD) has made fire prevention education a priority. This fall, firefighters continued that tradition by visiting classrooms across the district to share practical lessons on safety, prevention and preparedness.

Voters will soon decide whether to expand the city’s limits to include farmland and roadways west of town, a decision that could determine how growth, zoning and mining oversight unfold for years to come.

Beacon hosts Trunk-or-Treat.

Classic rides, candy fill Orrick streets.

For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in rural Missouri, access to quality healthcare often depends on luck – the luck of finding a doctor who understands their needs, a clinic that can keep staff or transportation that gets them to an appointment, according to IntellectAbility President Dr. Craig Escudé, who specializes in care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) aims to change that.