News

When the Excelsior Springs Christmas Parade moved through downtown, a group of family members walked with a purpose much heavier than holiday cheer. Their presence was a reminder that Andrew Frantz is still missing, nearly three years after the 31-year-old disappeared. For his relatives, taking part in the parade was not about celebration. It was about refusing to let the community forget a son, brother and father who has never come home.

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Editor’s note: This is the second and final installment in a two-part series on holiday stress. Part One explored expectations, comparison, perfectionism, parenting pressure and strategies for managing emotional overload during the holidays. Part Two focuses on boundaries, warning signs, community resources and ways to support loved ones during a difficult time of year.

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A youthful athlete isn’t necessarily an inexperienced athlete, as Excelsior Springs varsity girls wrestling coach Scott Schwab would probably attest. As proof, Schwab could point to his own team this season.

A Rayville man facing felony and misdemeanor charges has been released from custody after a judge reduced his bond. Following an August vehicle theft investigation, Gregory Don Marrant, 36, was charged with a class D felony of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and a class B misdemeanor of firstdegree trespassing.

Excelsior Springs Hospital is approaching the holiday season with a focus on practical support, offering two December programs designed to help residents reduce stress, manage medications and stay grounded during a time that can be both joyful and overwhelming. Rather than leaning into the frantic pace that often defines the final weeks of the year, the hospital is using education to help families and older adults navigate the pressures that tend to rise as calendars fill and routines shift.

Residents could see lower sewer bills starting Jan. 1 after city leaders approved a reduction in both the base rate and per-gallon sewer charges, trimming costs for customers while keeping the utility’s reserves on solid footing.

The Excelsior Springs Farmers Market is being recognized statewide for its work connecting local families with food education, community resources and fresh produce. The honor comes through the Missouri Grown Education and Outreach Award, which highlights markets making a broad community impact through programming and partnerships.

A woman found dead along Fredericksburg Road earlier this week is at the center of a hit-and-run investigation in Excelsior Springs after police said she was struck and killed by a vehicle that left the scene.