Bulldog Boys Wrestling Takes Sixth at State

The Kearney High School Boys Wrestling team finished in sixth place and two Bulldogs earned individual championships at the MSHSAA Class 3 state tournament on Saturday, March 1.

Ryder Shelton garnered gold at 132 lbs. He was joined at the top spot by his teammate Carter Temple at 190 lbs. Brayden Robinson took fourth at 106 lbs, and Blain Turpin finished in sixth place at 144 lbs.

Individual Highlights (with comments by Head Coach Jacob Hill):

Brayden Robinson – 4th Place (106)

This was sophomore Brayden Robinson’s first trip to the State Tournament and he made the most of it by finding his way on the podium. He wrestled great both days beating some tough competition to finish in 4th place.

Ryder Shelton – State Champion (132)

The senior Bulldog went out on top. Ryder finishes his career as a four-time state finalist and three-time state champion with over 150 career varsity wins. He won all of his matches by bonus points including his finals match with a major decision leaving no doubt he is one of Missouri’s best this year.

Blaine Turpin – 6th Place (144)

This was senior Blaine Turpin’s third trip to the state tournament and first time coming home with hardware. Blaine made the semifinals, which guaranteed his spot on the podium. Blaine’s last win of the tournament was career win 100.

Carter Temple – State Champion (190)

This was sophomore Carter Temple’s second trip to state and the second year in a row he has come home State Champion. Carter showed some serious heart and gutted out a state finals win in overtime.

Other Team Results:

113 Oliver Lee 1-2

120 Phoenix Shelton 1-2

126 Landon Westfall 2-2

157 Kale Davis 1-2

175 Eli Helberg 0-2

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Deputies Arrest Fentanyl Dealer After Pursuit, Fire

Clay County Sheriff’s deputies were able to arrest a man for multiple violations after he fled in a stolen vehicle and on foot on Friday, Feb. 28.

Deputies identified a stolen vehicle on 69 Highway in Mosby, prompting a pursuit when the driver refused to stop. The chase ended near the hotel at the entrance to Industrial Drive near North Church Road in Liberty, where the driver veered off the road and fled on foot. The passengers in the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement.

Employees from nearby businesses assisted deputies by pointing them in the direction the suspect had run. With support from the Liberty, Missouri Police Department, officers located and safely apprehended him.

However, as he fled, the stolen vehicle caught fire. The Liberty Fire Department responded quickly and put out the fire. No injuries were reported from the fire.

One of the passengers later revealed that he had met up with the driver, Johnny J. Peguero-Taveras, to purchase fentanyl and other drugs. Peguero-Taveras now faces felony charges for fleeing from law enforcement and tampering with a vehicle. Authorities also discovered he has outstanding warrants in multiple counties.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Sheriff’s Office to Break Ground on New Resource Center

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is set to break ground on its first major construction project in 25 years—the Clay County Law Enforcement Resource Center. This state-of-the-art facility will enhance training opportunities for law enforcement personnel, featuring an indoor shooting range, a 60-person classroom, and dedicated spaces for defensive tactics and decision-making training. The center will also incorporate cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality training technology.

Designed to meet the evolving training needs of the Sheriff’s Office, the new facility will ensure deputies are well-equipped to serve the growing Clay County community. The project is funded through federal grants, with Piper-Wind Architects, Inc. leading the design and Straub Construction serving as the general contractor.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Details:
📅 When: 2 p.m., Friday, March 7, 2025
📍 Where: 16414 N.E. 116th St., Kearney, Mo.

Media and community members are invited to attend.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Greenhouse Manager Charged with Stealing

The former manager of a Kearney greenhouse is facing charges related to a multi-year embezzlement scheme that allegedly amounted to $150,000.

Court records from the Clay County, Missouri Circuit Court, filed on February 26, reveal that 55-year-old Matthew J. Nelson, of Olathe, Kansas, has been charged with theft in connection to the scheme while managing the nursery in Kearney.

According to a probable cause statement from the Kearney Police Department, authorities were called to Marshall Trees and Nursery, located at 1100 N. Jefferson St., around 11 am on November 20, after reports of a theft. Upon arriving, the business owner claimed that Nelson had stolen over $150,000 between September 9, 2018, and September 13, 2024. Nelson allegedly wrote unauthorized checks to himself from the nursery's account and deposited them into his personal accounts.

Investigators discovered that Nelson manipulated the business’s bookkeeping system to make it appear as if the checks were paid to vendors. A subpoena revealed that a total of 71 checks had been cashed since 2018.

Nelson was arrested on January 7. During questioning, he confessed to the theft, explaining that he felt unappreciated by his employers and expressed guilt over his actions. He admitted to the crime in full.

Nelson now faces charges of stealing over $25,000. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and face a $10,000 fine. A criminal summons was issued on Friday, and an initial court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 3. No additional details have been released at this time.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Board President Earns Distinguished Certification

Kearney School District Board of Education President Darlene Bailey was honored on Feb. 19 for earning a Distinguished Certification from the Missouri School Boards’ Association.

Dr. Bailey garnered this recognition by satisfactorily completing 64 Certified Board Member Credits and other professional development requirements. She previously earned her Essential, Advanced and Master certifications.

She also engaged in a variety of leadership, advocacy and presentation activities. This work included:

• Attending two MSBA core meetings, with at least one in the current year

• Reading one book from the MSBA Booklist for Reading Requirement and submitting a Reading Reflection

• Observing a school board meeting in two other districts and submitting a Board Meeting Observation form

• Completing eight activities involving leadership, advocacy and presentations in her most recent three years of board service

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.