March 2025

Inspirations Dance Academy wins first at Topeka Performing Arts Center

Inspirations Dance Academy Competition Team won high marks at Dance Champs Competitionin Topeka, Kan. on March 7 through 9.Forgotten Stuffies, an Acro-Gymnastics Group featuring Addison Workman, Avery Davies, Billie Clardy, Charley Phillips, Elizabeth Ingersoll, Grayson Wise, Harper Werner, Hayvin Irwin, Hope Zahnd, Miley Ward, Meredith Weichinger and Zoie Beaman, earned Star Platinum and First Place Overall.Harper Werner & Kylie Madget, performed their Jazz duet, I'll Be There For You, earning a Platinum and 5th Place Overall.Miss Mary's Garden, a line featuring the entire team, Addison Workman, Alexia Collings, Avery Davies, Billie Clardy, Charley Phillips, Elizabeth Ingersoll, Grayson Wise, Harper Werner, Hayvin Irwin, Hope Zahnd, Izzy Naber, Josie Combs, Kylie Madget, Marleigh Weichinger, Mercy Zahnd, Meredith Weichinger, Miley Ward, Olivia Campbell, Payton Campbell, Piper Thompson, Taylin Brennan and Zoie Beaman, earned a Star Platinum Award.Dreaming, a Large Group Jazz, featuring Addison Workman, Billie Clardy, Grayson Wise, Harper Werner, Izzy Naber, Kylie Madget, Marleigh Weichinger, Mercy Zahnd, Miley Ward, and Zoie Beaman, also earned a Star Platinum.Charley Phillips, Elizabeth Ingersoll, Josie Combs, Olivia Campbell, Payton Campbell, and Piper Thompson, performed a Jazz Small Group, Let It Grow, earned a Star Platinum.Grow As We Go, Lyrical Group, Alexia Collings, Avery Davies, Billie Clardy, Izzy Naber, Kylie Madget, Payton Campbell and Taylin Brennan earned Star Platinum.I Feel the Earth Move, a Tap Group, featuring Grayson Wise, Harper Werner, Izzy Naber, Kylie Madget, Payton Campbell, and Piper Thompson earned Star Platinum; Miley Ward performed her Jazz solo, I Don't Like to Show Off, earning a Star Platinum; Izzy Naber, with her Musical Theatre solo, You Can't Stop the Beat, earned Star Platinum; Billie Clardy, Elizabeth Ingersoll, and Josie Combs, performed a Jazz Trio, You Can Tell She's A Princess, earning a Platinum; Alexia Collings & Zoie Beaman, performed a Jazz Duo, Take on the World, and earned a Star Platinum; Piper Thompson's Tap Solo, Shake a Tailfeather, earned a Star Platinum; Grayson Wise's Open Solo, Let's Go Crazy, earned a Star Platinum; Billie Clardy, B.E.A.T, Acro Gymnastics, Star Platinum; Taylin Brennan, Wildflower, Lyrical, Star Platinum; Harper Werner, Rock Star, Open, Star Platinum; Kylie Madget, Ready or Not, Open, Star Platinum; Avery Davies, Where the Wild Things Are, Star Platinum; Elizabeth Ingersoll, I Got You, Acro-Gymnastics, Platinum; Grayson Wise and Izzy Naber, Macarena, Tap, Platinum; Avery Davies & Miley Ward, That's My Girl, Open, Platinum; Alexia Collings, My Tears Ricochet, Lyrical, Star Platinum.“We enjoyed competing in a beautiful venue this weekend,” said Mary Ingersoll, owner of Inspirations Academy and Director of the Competition Team.

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Avenue City archers aim for state glory in nation’s second largest tournament

Avenue City School is bursting with pride as 20 of its skilled archers have earned their place at the 2025 Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) State Archery Championship. They are currently competing until March 22, and have been since March 19.This prestigious event, organized by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF), is held at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo.The school community demonstrated its unwavering support with a lively pep assembly and state send-off for the archery team on March 14.Students, faculty, and parents united to celebrate the team's remarkable achievement and offer encouragement.Coached by the dedicated Tim Jones and Ashley Davis, the Avenue City team has honed their archery skills throughout the season.

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VanSchoiack visits county commission

For the week of March 17, the Andrew County Commission had a busy Monday morning.The commission wanted to remind Andrew County residents that the annual Dust Form must be completed, signed and brought to the Andrew County Clerk's office by the end of work on March 31. The form is available in the County Clerk's office on the first floor of the Andrew County Courthouse.

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Council hears cemetery proposal

A variety of topics were discussed at the March 17 city council meeting.During public testimony, two residents brought up issues discussed at the March 3 meeting.Ralph Stanton spoke about the trailer park located at South 7th St. He voiced concerns about zoning as well as dangerous and unsightly conditions.Councilman Keven Schneider answered Stanton by stating “The council wants to find a solution.

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Missouri General Assembly Passes Nearly $2 Billion Supplemental Budget Bill

The Missouri Legislature has approved a $1.9 billion supplemental spending bill to fund state agencies through June 30, answering Governor Mike Kehoe’s call for expedited funding to cover essential expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year.HB 14 includes critical support for public schools, summer food programs for children, and senior services like home-delivered meals and transportation.A key provision allocates $14 million to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to sustain essential services such as meals, transportation, and personal care, preventing a funding shortfall that would otherwise cut off support by the end of the month. The bill also directs $142.4 million to fully fund public schools under the foundation formula, covering increases mandated by last year’s education legislation and offsetting a lottery revenue shortfall.Additionally, $103 million is set aside for federally funded summer food programs for children.Other allocations include funding for the Department of Natural Resources for wastewater management, resources for the Department of Mental Health to clear its waitlist for services for the developmentally disabled, and funding for the Department of Agriculture to hire staff to address the ongoing bird flu outbreak.The bill reduces funding for developmental disability and behavioral health services by $49 million from the originally requested $129.8 million, reflecting updated projections of lower demand by June 30.

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Defendant has until April 28 to make a decision

The Andrew County Sheriff's Department served an order of protection on a 44-year-old man informing him he couldn't go near or harm the person who obtained the order of protection.However, as a courtesy a deputy escorted the man to the house and allowed him to go in and retrieve his personal items.The deputy saw and heard Stephen Craig Strong enter a basement room and this was followed by a sawing sound. Before the sawing stopped the electrical power throughout the home went out.Strong exited the room with a battery powered saw and said, "I got a work order to cut the power."Further discussion with Strong led to him saying the woman wasn't staying in his house.The state proceeded to charge Strong with felony driving while revoked and misdemeanor violation of an order of protection.In an amended complaint, Andrew County Prosecutor Monica Morrey added a charge of felony tampering with a witness.Associate Circuit Judge Emily Bauman reviewed the case and issued a warrant for Strong's arrest and no bond on Feb.

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Savannah Savages turnover lineup in 2025

The Savannah Savages aren’t coming into the 2025 season empty-handed, but there will be a wave of newcomers in the lineup. But even with those changes, the program with three-straight 20-win seasons believe they will be successful again this season.“There's a lot of excitement, and a little bit of sadness, but just ready to give it one last run,” Senior Landon Noland said.

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