News

With the April 4 election quickly approaching, Clay County Public Health Board candidates answered questions about issues and philosophies affecting Clay County Public Health. Voters will be faced with choosing two of the three candidates — John Barth, Kathy Ellermeier and Lancer Gates — to fill the open four-year terms.

Due to possible technical and procedural issues with an impaneled grand jury, the case of Timothy Haslett, accused of rape and eight other offenses, is headed back to the Clay County Grand Jury at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 22.

Western Governors University (WGU) Missouri has announced the return of its “Fund My Classroom” initiative, issuing a call for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate their proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding.

On Saturday, 16 Excelsior Springs youngsters will pursue their dreams of being state-qualifying wrestlers. Representing the Excelsior Springs Youth Wrestling Club (ESYWC), the grapplers will compete that day in the Missouri USA Wrestling Region A Tournament at Staley High School in Kansas City.

The Excelsior Springs City Council recently approved issuance of a grant geared to improving visitor experience in the city’s downtown district. The council agreed issuance a $50,000 grant from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Downtown Excelsior Partnership (DEP) to install a new wayfinding system.

The Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse-Free Environments (SAFE) was recently given insight into two programs available in the city. CommCARE CEO Kristin Feeback shared information regarding Engaging Patients in Care Coordination (EPICC) and 988 the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline programs.

The Excelsior Springs City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Excelsior Spring School District (ESSD) regarding the use of community safe rooms during weather-related events.

A crowd of about 50 community members, administrators and teachers gathered at Lewis Elementary recently to tour the 70-year-old building and learn more about a proposition that, if passed, would allow a new school to be built.

Clay County Sheriff Will Akin signed the 30x30 pledge to increase the representation of women in law enforcement, becoming the first Sheriff’s Department in Missouri to participate in this initiative.

The Excelsior Springs Historic Preservation Commission is accepting nominations for their Historic Preservation Awards Program. Awards will be given for two categories, Commercial and Residential. Property owners who have made significant improvements to historic properties may be nominated by anyone in the community.