Kearney to Host Community Discussion on License Plate Cameras

Kearney residents will have a chance to see how the city’s license plate camera system works and ask city officials questions about its use during a community event Nov. 10.

The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Annunciation Community Center, 705 N. Jefferson St. It will open with a demonstration of the Flock system, covering how Kearney police use the cameras, what information they collect and the safeguards in place.

After the demonstration, residents can speak one-on-one with the mayor, members of the Board of Aldermen and the police chief to ask questions and share feedback. Police officers, city staff and a Flock representative also will be available to answer questions.

Kearney uses 14 Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras. According to the city, the cameras help police investigate crimes, locate missing or endangered people, recover stolen vehicles and property, and identify vehicles associated with wanted people.

The Board of Aldermen first approved the cameras in March 2023. In 2024, the city entered into a five-year agreement for 14 cameras at an annual cost of $35,000.

The cameras capture still images of passing vehicles on public roadways, along with license plate information and vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color. Each image is associated with the date, time and camera location. The cameras do not use facial recognition, record audio or identify drivers or passengers. They also do not issue speeding or red-light tickets.

The city acknowledges that the technology raises questions about privacy, access to information and accountability. The Nov. 10 event will give residents an opportunity to discuss those issues directly with officials.

Following the event, the city plans to conduct a community survey so residents can provide additional feedback on Kearney’s use of the cameras.

For more information on the city’s use of license plate reader technology, visit kearneymo.us/departments/police/flock_cameras_.php

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Cross Country Sweeps Four Conference Titles

Kearney High School swept all four team championships at the Suburban Blue Conference Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Platte Ridge Park, pushing through cold, windy conditions on a challenging course.

The Bulldogs won the varsity girls, varsity boys, junior varsity girls and junior varsity boys divisions. Izzy Fowler led the varsity girls with an individual conference championship, while the JV girls claimed the first seven places for a perfect team score.

Fowler finished in 20 minutes, 36 seconds, three seconds ahead of teammate Ayla Lehman, who placed second. Scarlett Carpenter finished fourth and Drew Gustafson took fifth, joining Fowler and Lehman in earning first-team all-conference honors. Kearney won the girls team title with 17 points.

Zolah Williams placed eighth, Kadence Vanderau finished ninth and Lenny Watts took 10th. All three earned second-team all-conference recognition.

The varsity boys claimed their championship with 28 points. Cameron Fowler led Kearney with a third-place finish, followed by Hunter Phipps in fourth, Alex Gustafson in sixth and Luke Vanderstel in seventh. Each earned first-team all-conference honors.

Jackson Vasquez finished eighth, Korban Gomer placed ninth and Mason Woods took 13th, earning second-team all-conference honors.

In the JV girls race, Kearney runners occupied the top seven spots, producing a perfect score of 15 points. Carley Lusby won the race, followed in order by MacKenzie Deitchler, Annabelle Krehbiel, Sami Phelps, Maci Bates, Darcy Taylor and Anna Hermon.

The JV boys rounded out the sweep with 16 points. Cooper Wernimont finished first, Reid Perkins took second, Blake Immesberger placed third and Jaxson Bowers finished fourth. Lucas Fredlund added a sixth-place finish.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Youth Basketball Registration Open Through Nov. 15

Registration is open for Kearney Parks & Rec’s youth basketball season, with divisions for students in first through sixth grades. Families have until Sunday, Nov. 15, to register at a cost of $100 per player.

Regular registration began Oct. 5. The program runs from Nov. 30, 2026, through Feb. 20, 2027, with separate divisions for first and second grades, third and fourth grades, and fifth and sixth grades.

Games will be played on Saturdays at Hawthorne Elementary School beginning after the Kearney School District’s winter break. Practices are tentatively scheduled to begin in early December, depending on registration numbers.

Teams will practice on weekday evenings at various Kearney elementary schools. Practice schedules will depend on gym and coach availability and may include Wednesdays.

All teams are coed, and players will be assigned randomly by computer. Each player may request one buddy as a teammate, but both players must request each other for the pairing to be honored. No team transfers will be granted.

Players can register for youth basketball at KearneyParks.com.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Falls to Smithville Despite Strong Lueken Performance

Kearney out-hits Smithville 6-5, but the Warriors hold on for a 3-1 win

Rehgan Lueken struck out 12 Warriors, and didn't walk a single batter. Photo: KAle Davis, BackRoads Designs.

Sometimes you do almost everything right and still come up short. That was the story Saturday, October 17, as the Kearney Bulldogs dropped a tough 3-1 decision to the Smithville Warriors despite one of the best all-around performances  from pitcher Reghan Lueken.

Lueken was simply dealing in the circle. She went the full seven innings, struck out 12 Warriors, and didn't walk a single batter. She gave up just five hits and three runs all day, which during most games is more than enough to get a win.

Smithville got on the board first in the top of the first inning. A passed ball allowed a run to score, giving the Warriors an early 1-0 lead.

Kearney's bats finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, and fittingly, it was Lueken who did it herself. The cleanup hitter launched a solo home run to center field to put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard and fired up the home crowd.

Reese narron. Photo: KAle Davis, BackRoads Designs.

Smithville answered right back in the top of the seventh. Marleigh McDonald hit a solo shot to right field to add an insurance run, and the Bulldogs couldn't put together a rally in their final at-bats.

Kearney out-hit Smithville six to five. Reese Narron led the way with two hits, and Lueken went 1-for-3 with the team's only RBI.

It stings to lose a game like this, especially with Lueken putting the team on her back in the circle and at the plate. But if the Bulldogs keep getting pitchers like Reghan Lueken and keep making solid contact like Reese Narron, Ellie Switzer, and Kate Stumpenhaus, the wins are will keep coming.

Bulldog Softball. Photo: KAle Davis, BackRoads Designs.

The Bulldogs finish their season at 21-11. Amazing season for some amazing players.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Kickoff Senior Night with 44 Unanswered Points

Kale Tucking scored three touchdowns on two punt returns and a kickoff return. Photo: Kale Davis, Backroads Designs.

The Kearney Bulldogs (8-0) scored 44 points in the first quarter, in a lopsided 58-8 victory over the Grandview Bulldogs (3-5).

Kearney senior Kale Tucking scored twice early in the first quarter, returning back-to-back 65- and 45-yard punts for touchdowns, tying the Missouri state record for single game punt returns for touchdown.

Tucking’s two punt returns for touchdown tied former Kearney Bulldog and Mizzou safety, Tommy Saunders’ record from 2003.

Kearney’s Cruise Emmons hauled in a Carter Temple pass and ran eight yards to the endzone for six points. Landon Carkeek was a perfect 8-for-8 on point after kicks.

Kearney senior quarterback Carter Temple tucked the ball and easily slipped past the Grandview defense 26 yards for his first touchdown of the night. His second was through the air, dropping a lofted spiral directly into the hands of Luke Denston, with no defenders in sight, for the 34-yard catch and score.

Grandview was backed inside their 1-yard line with 1:12 to play in the first quarter. Kearney’s defense forced a safety, and the resulting kickoff was returned 60 yards by Kale Tucking for his third touchdown in Kearney’s 44-0 opening quarter.

Kearney Head Coach Logan Minnick pulled the starters, giving two second-team seniors opportunities to make big plays on Senior Night.

“I've never coached in a game where the same kid ran three kicks back,” said Minnick. “I’m so proud of the kids’ effort tonight, and so cool for our seniors to be honored.”

“This has been a special senior class here. And to get so many seniors in the end zone, with two punt returns and a kick return was awesome. Atlas Owen with a big pick six, excited for him and then we got Graham Davis in the end zone there as well,” Minnick added.

Senior Graham Davis scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, completing a clock-controlling drive by the second unit offense. “Coach Minnick was looking down the sideline (at practice) and he said, ‘Graham Davis, you want to score a touchdown this week?’ and I was like, oh yeah, you know it,” Davis said.

Atlas Owen heard the home crowd roar as he returned a 72-yard interception for a touchdown. “I saw the quarterback throw, and I’m thinking, I gotta get that,” Owen said. “So I just watched (the ball) into my hands, catch it, start running, and I'm just hoping no one catches me. It was amazing, that's gonna keep playing and playing the rest of my life.”

Grandview’s last-minute touchdown and 2-point conversion will remain a footnote in the minds of Kearney’s junior varsity defense, some of whom are seniors, still contributing, always learning, and stacking up unfinished memories of a Kearney Bulldog football season that is far from over.

Kearney will play their last regular season game next week at Ruskin (2-6) on Thursday, October 22.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.