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Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Keep your eyes to the skies
We all need to be prepared to watch the weather Friday.
Haven't seen this in a while - a level 3 out of 5 severe weather probability.
All the ingredients look to come together Friday afternoon/evening for an all hazards storm threat.
-Greg@660weather
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Kelly Melzer named Support Staff Employee of the Year
Congratulations to the 2026 Harrisonville Schools Support Staff Employee of the Year, Kelly Melzer
Sponsored by the Sherwood Community Bank, this award recognizes support staff members who make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families.
Melzer has served the district for eight years. In her finalist video, she shared, “The impact I make as a school social worker is often defined by the victories that happen outside the classroom to make success possible within it. By addressing barriers to learning, I help ensure every child has a genuine opportunity to thrive.”
Melzer also received a $100 award from Sherwood Community Bank.
Congratulations, Kelly—we are proud to celebrate the impact you make each day!
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Drexel receives Blue Shield designation
The Missouri Blue Shield Program was created by Governor Kehoe in January 2025 through Executive Order 25-03. In 2025, 201 Missouri communities earned the Blue Shield designation, recognizing local governments’ significant efforts to reduce crime and foster law enforcement – community partnerships to strengethen public safety. The opportunity to earn the Blue Shield designation for 2026 opened on February 4, 2026. Communities that earned the Blue Shield designation in 2025 had to reapply this year to be approved once again.
“The Blue Shield program has shown what’s possible when communities commit to prioritizing law enforcement and public safety,” Governor Kehoe said. “After awarding $50,000 grants to more than 200 communities last year, we’re continuing that work by welcoming new communities and renewing Blue Shield designations for counties, towns, and cities that remain committed to the program.”
“Strengthening public safety and committing to joint law enforcement community – citizen safety efforts is what the Blue Shield Program is all about and the Department of Public Safety is honored to work with communities like Drexel, that have answered the Blue Shield challenge,” said Mark James, Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS). “Last year, the essential equipment provided by Blue Shield grants included 388 mobile data terminals, 351 body cameras, 151 license plate readers (LPR), 102 ballistic vests, 91 interoperable radios and 56 vehicles. We look forward to getting additional important equipment and training to our partners in local law enforcement.”
Mayor Aubrey Deal and Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Harris were unavailable for comment. However, said Chief Downey, “The Blue Shield Program is of significant importance to Missouri Law Enforcement agencies. Particularly for smaller cities, as it pertains to the affiliated grant funds. These grant funds are critical, and allow us to procure necessary equipment without impeding on the city’s budget. We are already looking forward to the next grant cycle which will allow us to keep our equipment fresh and up-to-date.”
Communities are eligible for a Missouri Blue Shield designation based on their dedication to reducing crime, making substantial investments in public safety, and developing strong collaboration with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. Each participating community’s commitment is reviewed annually to ensure continued alignment with the program’s goals.
Communities that earn a Missouri Blue Shield designation will receive grant funding for law enforcement training and equipment as part of Governor Kehoe’s Recommended Budget for the State Fiscal Year 2027, provided the General Assembly approves the funding. The Governor’s FY 2027 budget appropriated $10 million to the program for equipment and training grants. Communities will also be featured on Governor Kehoe’s social media pages as well as the DPS website to highlight their participation in the program. A map of 2025 Blue Shield communities is available here.
Drexel has earned consecutive Missouri Blue Shield designations because of its exceptional commitment to public safety. Through community policing initiatives and a staunch commitment to our stakeholders, especially our school community. Drexel has demonstrated a strong and ongoing commitment to protecting its residents. This designation affirms Drexel’s effort to create a safer, more secure environment for all who live and work here.
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Angela Diggs named Educator of the Year
Congratulations to the 2026 Harrisonville Schools Educator of the Year: Angela Diggs, Health Services Instructor at Cass Career Center
This award, sponsored by the Harrisonville Public School Foundation, recognizes outstanding educators who make a lasting impact on students and the school community.
Diggs has served Harrisonville Schools for 13 years and brings 26 years of experience in education. She was selected for this honor by a panel of outside judges who interviewed four finalists. Finalists were chosen through a nomination process that included input from students, staff, and families.
The judges shared, “Her commitment to students is clear in everything she does. She spoke about the importance of being part of each student’s journey and strives to be the kind of nursing instructor she once needed. Her passion for teaching, combined with her focus on supporting and guiding students through real-world experiences, truly stood out.”
Congratulations, Angie—we are proud to celebrate the impact you make each day!
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Adrian welcomes new South Ward Alderman
During the Adrian Board of Aldermen meeting this week, Mayor Matt Cunningham recognized outgoing south ward alderman Jeff Vick (above) by presenting a plaque honoring him for 6 years of service. During a rather emotional response, Vick thanked everyone for the honor to serve and expressed sincere thanks for being allowed to contribute to the city as alderman. In short order, Mark Graves was sworn in to fill the position (below) who quickly got down to business as the alderman worked through a very busy session.
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Obituary - Kathryn A. “Kathy” Ballou
Kathy lived a life defined by intellect, conviction, and a quiet but unmistakable sense of purpose. An accomplished academic leader and master educator, she devoted decades to strengthening higher education and advancing healthcare and nursing programs across the country. She was known for her ability to bring clarity to complexity, guiding institutions through change, accreditation, and innovation with both vision and practicality.
Throughout her career, Kathy held numerous leadership roles, including Founding President and Kleist Endowed Professor of Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences, Dean and Professor at Graceland University, and Associate Dean at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In each role, she left institutions stronger, more focused, and better prepared for the future. In later years, she returned to her roots as a nurse. She became a hospice nurse at Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Outside of her professional life, Kathy cultivated a rich and thoughtful inner world. She loved classic films,especially those featured on Turner Classic Movies, and had a deep appreciation for English literature, particularly the works of Jane Austen and Beatrix Potter. She also delighted in the world of Downton Abbey, finding comfort and enjoyment in its characters and stories. Kathy loved animals and throughout most of her life you would find at least two cats, and a cute Welsh Corgi.
She carried a dry sense of humor often subtle, sharp, and delivered with perfect timing. Among close friends, that reserve gave way to a playful silliness that revealed a lighter, more carefree side.
Kathy was a lifelong collector of Barbies, a passion that began in the early days of the iconic doll and remained with her throughout her life. She was also drawn to the unusual and meaningful, keeping collections of crucifixes and distinctive rocks, both small reflections of a curious and contemplative mind.
She held firm beliefs about fairness and justice, standing consistently on the side of the oppressed. She lived by the conviction that as long as one person is oppressed, no one is truly free, a principle that guided both her professional work and her personal life.
Kathy was a woman of faith who believed in God and in His son, Jesus Christ, and she was a member of Clinton’s Episcopal Church. In the final six years of her life, she faced Alzheimer’s disease with quiet resilience.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace (“Vince”) and Berniece Edmonds, and her younger brother, Alan Edmonds.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Ballou, and her brother, Kent Edmonds and his spouse Sonya.
Kathy’s legacy is one of lasting impact on institutions, on students, and on those who knew her well enough to see both her strength and her quiet humor.
In faith, we trust that she now rests in the presence of God, restored and at peace, her mind made whole and her spirit carried into eternal light through Jesus Christ.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri, and are pending at this time.
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