Kearney Parks Offers Youth Baseball & Softball Camps

Young athletes looking to sharpen their skills on the diamond this summer won’t want to miss the 2025 Youth Baseball & Softball Camp, hosted by Kearney Parks and Recreation in partnership with Play It Again Sports - Liberty.

The four-day camp, running from July 21 to 24 at Mack Porter Park, promises to be a high-energy, skill-focused experience for players of all levels, ages 6 to 14. Campers will receive expert instruction from Coach Wheeler, a veteran with over 10 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and high school levels. Known for helping more than 20 players advance to higher levels of competition, Coach Wheeler brings a dynamic and encouraging coaching style aimed at helping young athletes grow in ability and confidence.

Sessions are split by age group, with campers ages 6 to 9 meeting from 10 am to noon, and those ages 10 to 14 attending from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. The cost is $125 per participant.

Registration is now open and will remain available through Wednesday, July 16. Interested families are encouraged to sign up early, as space may be limited.

For more information or to register, visit the Kearney Parks and Recreation WEBSITE or contact their office directly at (816) 628-4142.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Dominate Grandview with Fourth-Inning Explosion

Tyler Maynard made 3 rbi’s and hit a homerun - photo by David Haggart

The Kearney Bulldogs baseball team delivered a commanding 13-0 shutout against the Grandview Bulldogs on Wednesday, April 30, lighting up the scoreboard with a seven-run surge in the fourth inning that sealed the victory in front of the hometown crowd.

From the first pitch, it was all Kearney. Senior standout Tyler Maynard set the tone early with a two-run blast over the left field fence in the bottom of the first. Cameron Taylor followed with an RBI double, and Caleb Fletchall chipped in a sacrifice fly to give Kearney a quick 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added to the tally in the third with a clutch double by Luke Tucking, extending the lead to 6-0. Then came the fireworks in the fourth. Maynard’s RBI double kicked things off before Trey White ripped a single to drive in two more. Kavan Mortensen followed with a bases-clearing single, bringing in three runs, and White capped off the inning with a triple to bring the score to 13-0.

On the mound, Easton Haggart was lights out. The ace right-hander gave up just one hit over five shutout innings, striking out seven and walking three to secure the win.

Offensively, Kearney racked up 11 hits. Taylor was perfect at the plate, going 3-3, while Maynard, White, and Mortensen each tallied three RBIs. The Bulldogs showed great patience at the plate as well, drawing seven walks—two each from Grant Bogert and Brock Scott.

Kearney’s aggression on the base paths kept Grandview on its heels all game. The Dawgs stole 12 bases, with Taylor, Tucking, Bogert, and Trent Dostal each swiping multiple bags. The defense backed up the dominant pitching, turning a double play and committing zero errors. Fletchall led the team with four defensive chances.

Grandview’s only hit came from Chase Ransom, who went 1-2. They managed a double play on defense but couldn’t keep up with Kearney’s relentless attack.

Kearney’s season record now stands at 12-9. The next broadcast of Bulldog baseball on 102.7FM will be on Monday, May 5 as Kearney hosts the Winnetonka Griffins. Pregame starts at 4:30 and the first pitch is at 5 pm.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Teen Missing After Boarding School Bus in Glenaire

*** 8:30 pm Update: Thanks to alert residents who contacted law enforcement when they saw her this afternoon, Cheyanne McCaslin has been located in Glenaire and is safe.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing 15-year-old girl who was last seen Monday morning.

Cheyanne McCaslin was spotted getting on her school bus in the 100 block of Johnson Road in Glenaire, but never arrived at any of her classes at Discovery Middle School in Liberty, authorities said. Investigators noted that McCaslin also left her phone at home.

Cheyanne was last seen on a school bus Monday, April 28. Cheyanne did NOT get on the school bus Tuesday morning and did not attend school that day, nor did she go to school Wednesday. Residents in a nearby neighborhood, however, did have video of her walking about the same time many of the school’s students were boarding buses yesterday morning.

She was wearing black shorts with a gray hooded sweatshirt with a Liberty Blue Jay logo on it, and she was carrying a backpack with sunflowers.

Cheyanne is described as 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 115 pounds. She has long, light brown hair, wears glasses, and was last seen Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 816-407-3700.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Vigilant Citizen, Traffic Stop Lead to Arrest of Fugitive

A routine act of community vigilance and a simple traffic stop led to the arrest of a fugitive who had evaded justice for more than 18 years.

On Sunday, April 27, a concerned Greenfield neighborhood resident noticed a suspicious vehicle that didn’t appear to belong in the area. The citizen promptly contacted authorities, and officers from the Kearney Police Department responded to investigate.

After locating the vehicle, a Kearney patrol officer observed the driver commit a traffic violation. During the stop, the driver was unable to provide a driver's license, any form of identification, or even a Social Security number.

Due to the suspicious circumstances, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene with a mobile fingerprint scanner. Once the suspect’s fingerprints were analyzed, officers discovered the man’s true identity — a 38-year-old from Kansas City, Kansas, wanted in connection with two violent felony offenses in Johnson County, Kansas.

The man had been on the run from both state and federal authorities for over 18 years. He was taken into custody by Kearney Police and transported to the Clay County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

Further investigation revealed the man had also been living in the United States illegally for several years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been notified, and federal authorities are expected to pursue additional charges after the resolution of his felony cases.

Kearney Police praised the alert citizen for their quick action, which ultimately led to the capture of a long-sought fugitive. The Police Department also reminds residents that if you see something suspicious to say something.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kansas City Firefighter Dies After Being Stabbed by Patient

Graham Hoffman - Kansas City Fire Dept.

A Kansas City firefighter-paramedic has died after being stabbed by a patient he was transporting to the hospital early Sunday morning, according to the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD).

Authorities say that just before 1 am on Sunday, April 27, KCFD crews were dispatched to North Oak Trafficway and Highway 152 for what was described as a routine medical call. The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) reported that the call originated as a welfare check after a woman was seen walking along the westbound lanes of the highway.

When emergency responders arrived, they placed the woman into an ambulance for transport to a hospital. During the ride, the woman allegedly attacked and stabbed firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman in the chest with a sharp object. Hoffman's partner pulled over to assist and attempted to subdue the patient but was also assaulted in the process.

Both firefighters were rushed to the hospital. Hoffman, 29, initially suffered life-threatening injuries, while his partner was reported to have non-life-threatening injuries. Despite medical efforts, city officials confirmed around 3 pm Sunday that Hoffman had died from his injuries. During a press conference later that afternoon, KCFD officials said Hoffman had been stabbed in the heart.

Hoffman had been with KCFD since 2022 and typically served out of Station #42. He was working overtime when the fatal incident occurred.

Shanetta Bossell - Clay County Sheriff’s office photo

The suspect, identified as Shanetta Bossell, is now in custody and faces charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, and resisting arrest. She is being held on a $1 million bond. Records show that Bossell had recently been held at the Clay County Detention Center on April 23 and 24 for assaulting an officer and had been released on bond shortly before the deadly incident.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.