Boys Wrestling Earns District Title

The Kearney High School Boys Wrestling team delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 MSHSAA Class 3 District 4 Tournament in Belton, thrilling supporters with an impressive display of resilience and teamwork. The tournament, held over Friday and Saturday, quickly became a fierce competition between Kearney and St. Michael the Archangel, with Kearney trailing for much of the event. However, the Bulldogs rallied at critical moments, turning the tide when it mattered most.

Both teams sent eight wrestlers to the championship finals, setting up a dramatic finish. The Bulldogs seized the opportunity, winning six of eight finals matches—including several decisive head-to-head victories over St. Michael—to clinch a tie for the District Championship in the tournament’s final match.

Kearney’s performance was impressive across the board. The team boasts nine state qualifiers, eight finalists, and six district champions. All 13 Kearney wrestlers advanced to the second day of the tournament and contributed valuable team points. The Class 3 State Qualifiers from Kearney are: Tyler Bell (106 lbs, Champion), Brayden Robinson (113 lbs, Runner-up), Landon Westfall (120 lbs, Champion), Phoenix Shelton (132 lbs, Champion), Kendahl Davis (150 lbs, Runner-up), Kale Davis (157 lbs, Champion), Kale Tucking (175 lbs, 4th Place), Carter Temple (215 lbs, Champion), and JD Romero (285 lbs, Champion).

Coach Jake Hill, his staff, and the entire Bulldog team were commended for their toughness, teamwork, and determination throughout the tournament. The community now looks forward to seeing what the state qualifiers can accomplish in the next round as they continue their remarkable season.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Chipotle Coming to The Shoppes at Kearney

The Kearney Board of Aldermen has given the green light to a site plan for a new Chipotle Mexican Grill at The Shoppes at Kearney Shopping Center. This move brings a well-known fast-casual dining option to the city’s commercial corridor.

Proposed by Star Development, the project involves constructing a 2,500-square-foot restaurant that will follow Chipotle’s latest design and include a drive-thru lane for digital and mobile preorders, along with a “bailout lane” to help keep traffic flowing smoothly. The site, spanning 1.94 acres on the south side of Watson Drive, boasts high visibility from Interstate 35—making it easily accessible for both residents and travelers.

Mayor Randy Pogue expressed enthusiasm for the development, describing it as a quality addition that will provide a popular dining choice, create new jobs, and strengthen the city’s retail sector. Economic Development Director Carolyn Yatsook echoed these sentiments, noting that the arrival of Chipotle demonstrates Kearney’s continued appeal for business investment.

The new restaurant will complement the existing offerings at The Shoppes at Kearney, further enriching the city’s selection of dining and retail and supporting long-term economic growth. Construction is expected to begin in the spring, pending completion of the permitting process.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Sheriff’s Office launches Special Victims Unit

To manage an increasing caseload of sexual crimes – especially internet crimes against children – the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a Special Victims Unit.

“Sex crimes are investigations that require highly skilled and dedicated investigators who can be solely focused on that discipline,” Investigations Division Captain Chris Johnson said. “By dedicating people to train in and have a solid understanding of sex crime case law, statutes and investigative analysis, it will make for better outcomes for victims.”

The new Special Victims Unit consists of a sergeant and detective. While they will investigate all sex-related crimes, a majority of their caseload is composed of child sexual abuse material cases. These ICAC (internet crimes against children) investigations require detectives trained and certified in specialty investigative techniques, and only a few agencies in Clay County have them. The Sheriff’s Office takes on cases for jurisdictions who do not have certified ICAC investigators.

ICAC tips typically come from internet service providers, photo hosting sites or social media or messaging platforms that detect child sexual abuse material. Those tips go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which then distributes them to local jurisdictions like the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for investigation. The Special Victims Unit executed two search warrants last month in regard to these cases, and investigation is ongoing.

Due to the material to which they will be exposed, Special Victims Unit investigators will meet quarterly with a mental health clinician.

Sergeant Jeremy Fahrmeier will oversee the new unit.

“These types of investigations are critical,” Sergeant Fahrmeier said. “We have a lot of work to do and will be working very hard to remove the predators in our community to create a safer environment for our children and the public.”

KPGZ News - Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.

BROOKE PAALHAR HITS 1,000!

Brooke Paalhar Scored 1,000 Points in her High School Basketball Career and Etched Her Name in Record Books on Senior Night

It was a night of celebration and milestones at Kearney High School on Tuesday, February 17, as senior guard Brooke Paalhar surpassed the 1,000-point career mark. The achievement came in dramatic fashion during the Bulldogs’ "Senior Night" showdown against Excelsior Springs, a game in which the hometown Bulldogs dominated with a convincing 57-46 victory.

Brooke, who has been a mainstay of the Bulldogs' offense for four years, entered the contest nearly unaware of how close she was to the elite scoring threshold. “I had no idea until today,” she admitted in an interview with KPGZ 102.7 FM after being named the Intercept Fiber Player of the Game. She finished the night with 22 points, cementing her place in Kearney basketball history.

Brooke acknowledged her teammates and community as those who have helped her along the way, "I could definitely not have done this without them [my teammates]. All my credit goes to them because they got me to where I am."

The 1,000-point milestone is just the latest accolade for the multi-sport star, who has already signed to play softball for the University of Utah and recently broke school records with over 200 career hits on the diamond.

Brooke has been the engine for Kearney (14-9) this year, delivering consistent high-level performances:

• Scoring: Averaging 16.1 points per game, with a season-high of 27 points against Van Horn.

• Efficiency: Shooting an impressive 50% from the field.

• Versatility: Leading the team with 5.3 assists and 2.9 steals per contest.

With the regular season winding down, the Bulldogs turn their attention to the Class 5 District 8 Tournament. Kearney enters as a formidable contender with the following final regular-season matchups:

• Feb 20: vs. Smithville Warriors (Home) – 7:00 PM

• Feb 24: at Grandview Bulldogs (Away) – 7:00 PM

• Feb 26: vs. Winnetonka Griffins (Home) – 7:00 PM

• March 2–6: District Tournament at Kearney High School

Bulldog fans can follow Brooke and the Bulldogs on their playoff journey by tuning into local game broadcasts on 102.7 FM KPGZ.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

School District Announce Awards Nominees

Kearney School District is proud to recognize our 2026 Team KSD Awards school-level honorees! These are educators and support professionals who exemplify the very best of our district’s vision, mission and values. The honorees were selected from nominations submitted by KSD employees.

“Every day, these team members support students, collaborate with colleagues and families, and help foster school cultures where kids feel known, challenged, and cared for,” Superintendent Emily Miller said. “We are grateful for the expertise, leadership, and heart they bring to KSD.”

2026 School Teacher of the Year Honorees:

• Kearney Early Education Center: Michelle Grote, Early Education Teacher

• Dogwood Elementary: Kristina Behrendt, 1st Grade

• Hawthorne Elementary: Katy Foster, 3rd Grade

• Kearney Elementary: Heather Oldham, 1st Grade

• Southview Elementary: Sheena Anello, Speech Teacher

• Kearney Middle School: Lindsey Zoz, Special Education Teacher

• Kearney Junior High: Samantha Rothfuss, English Language Arts

• Kearney High School: Dr. Brad Miller, Chemistry

2026 School Support Staff of the Year Honorees:

• Kearney Early Education Center: Stephanie Dolinar, Puppy Pound Lead

• Dogwood Elementary: Jaden Hensley, Paraprofessional

• Hawthorne Elementary: Emily Boyer, Building Substitute

• Kearney Elementary: Greg Nelson, Custodian

• Southview Elementary: Amanda Textor, Social Worker

• Kearney Middle School: Sam Hansen, Custodian

• Kearney Junior High: Ariel Jones, Paraprofessional

• Kearney High School: Kellie Parker, Paraprofessional

• Central Office: Marsha Bartow, Executive Administrative Assistant - Academic Services

All of these school-level award recipients will be recognized at the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Banquet on April 21. They will also be celebrated during the Team KSD Awards & Retiree Reception on Thursday, April 30. That’s when the 2026 KSD Teacher of the Year, Support Staff of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Partner in Education of the Year award recipients will be revealed.

KPGZ News - Ray Weikal contributed to this story.