This year was a difficult one for our community, with an unprecedented amount of violent crime that reached national media coverage several times. Despite these terrible incidents, Excelsior Springs really has a lot to cheer about. There are wonderful things happening in our local organizations. They deserve your attention, time, and money, for their efforts are tireless and their missions give back to the greater good. What follows is a review of 2022, including the top read stories for each month. It’s highly likely that we may have missed amazing things. If you want them to be added, let us know.
January
January’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
• Citizen Russell Wenz takes on the 100 Mile Dreadmill Challenge, raising money for those less fortunate
• COVID hit record numbers
• Halberstadt Homes Community Challenge brings in over 920 pounds of pet food for Good Samaritan Center
• The Excelsior Springs Community Foundation was announced and serves as a financial vehicle for local groups to offer charitable endeavors locally
• Candidates were announced for municipal election: School Board Josh Brown, Kalyn Goode, and Tray Harkins City Council Sharon Donat, Brent McElwee, and Mark Spohn
• Fowler’s Furniture opens in Crown Hill Plaza, expanding from Richmond
• Ideker Quarry in Mosby expands, despite public concerns
• City Council reconsiders the Pit Bull Ban
• City was recognized for being a “Community for All Ages”
Issues: January 2 | January 9 | January 16 | January 23
February
February’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
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• Thrive Excelsior was given a Silver Award (highest level) in the Communities of Excellence Assessment and Recognition Program
• Cultural Guild holds Murder Mystery Fundraiser
• Sheriff Will Akin announces fentanyl crisis in the Northland
• Lady Tiger Wrestlers place 2nd in District competition
• ESHS Boys Wrestling sent 5 to State Competition
• ARPA funds were distributed to the City
• Travis Taylor Retires from ESFD after 33 years of service
• Contractors do walk through of Hall of Waters to assess damage
• Excelsior Roasting Co. opens
• Senior Landen Davis Places 2nd in 132 lb. weight class MSHAA Class 2 State Championship
• Tigerettes place 1st in Division 3 State Championship
Issues: February 6 | February 13 | February 20 | February 27
March
March’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Citizen Spotlight: Jim and Daphne Bowman
Citizen Spotlight: Lani O’Dell
ES Welcomes Wild Bunch
Citizen Spotlight: Josh Campbell
• Dari-B opens on March 1st!
• Wild Bunch, a craft mall, opens to the public
• Police hold first ever promotion ceremony
• Superior Wall razed
• ESH Awarded 2022 Outstanding Partner in Prevention
• Chamber holds Annual Dinner
• ES Middle School holds poetry reading downtown at Bohemian Sage Gallery
• Heart delivered on Regent St. for the Parade of Hearts throughout the Northland
• Downtown Excelsior Partnership sells out of tickets for the Sippin’ Into Spring
• Community’s first art installation constructed at Century Bark Dog Park
• Thrive Excelsior’s Citizen Leadership Academy begins
• City holds Listening Post about dangerous dogs ordinance
Issues: March 6 | March 14 | March 20 | March 27
April
April’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Teacher Placed on Leave
ES Events
• Excelsior Springs High School Band holds successful Night with the Band fundraiser at The Montgomery Event Venue
• Casa Di Vite International Wine holds ribbon cutting celebration in the downtown
• Municipal Election is held and winners included Tray Harkins and Kalyn Goode for School Board and Mark Spohn for City Council
• Chamber Begins Hop and Shop Trolley
• Bret and Monica O’Dell acquire Excel Nutrition in Crown Hill Plaza
• Excelsior Springs has City-Wide Garage Sale
• ESHS Theatre shows “Brighton Beach Memoirs”
• Over 100 participate in the Good Samaritan Centers Tortoise and the Hare 5k Walk/Run
• ES Area Career Center students participate in SkillsUSA Week
• New Dollar General opens next to Casey’s General Store
• Community Center outdoor pool expansion announced
• Parks and Recreation’s Annual Earth Day Cleanup takes place downtown
• Work begins on old Standard building downtown on Thompson Ave.
• Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast held at the Elms Hotel & Spa
• Kevin and Sonya Morgan giving State Historic Preservation Award in Jefferson City, MO
• ES Hospital holds community’s first ever Spring Into Health Fair at the Community Center and High School
• Gatsby Days returns with a staged robbery, poetry readings, and more in the downtown
Issues: April 3 | April 10 | April 17 | April 24
May
May’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Detainee Dies in Police Custody (ESPD later cleared of any wrongdoing)
Clay County Sheriff Reports on Teacher Allegations
Cornerstone Teacher Cleared of any Wrongdoing
Citizen Spotlight: Terri Irons
• Sam Webb is signed to the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders
• The Elms Hotel & Spa open new coffee/wine bar to their lobby
• Blue Sparrow starts ES Rocks Facebook Group which begins fun of finding painted rocks around town
• Chamber holds a Spring Carnival
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Chamber Announces Star Shuttle added to trolley fleet
• Farmers State Bank opens
• High School Seniors graduate
• Dementia help group formed by Susan Senger
• Historic Preservation Committee gives awards
• ESHS Baseball wins District competition
• Beyond Wellness and Yoga opens in the downtown
• Little Free Pet Pantry is built by youth citizen Sophia Stephenson and constructed at the Century Bark Dog Park
• Two Farmers Markets open on Wednesdays, one in the morning at the Community Center, the other in the evening Downtown
• Pairings by Van Till opens in the downtown on Thompson Ave.
• Memorial Day ceremony at American Legion
• DEP offers ARPA Funding for Downtown Business facades
• ES Hospital accepts Freedom Award from Secretary of Defense Employer Support program
• Rotary offers Shoes for Orphan Souls
• Summer Reading program starts at the library
• Waterfest vendors announced
Issues: May 1 | May 8 | May 16 | May 23 | May 29
June
June’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Citizen Spotlight: Charles Bigham
Citizen Spotlight: Troy Snelling
Genealogical Society Honors Million Founding Family
Car Seats for Claudia begins
• Excelsior Springs Health Care Foundation holds Golf Tournament in support of the Excelsior Springs Hospital
• Million Family Founders were celebrated at the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives
• Youth Fishing Day at Powell Lake
• Vietnam veteran Darryl Couts takes Honors Flight
• Downtown Excelsior Partnership holds Wine Fest with over 20 wineries participating
• ESHS student Lucas Dillman made All-State Honors in Baseball for a 2nd year in a row
• Fishing River Watershed Study announced
• The Candy Jar opens downtown next to Ventana Gourmet Grill
• Waterfest successfully took place in the downtown after a hiatus due to Covid and storms
• Car Seats for Claudia honors 5 year old’s life
• Ameren gifts air conditioners to Good Samaritan Center
Issues: June 6 | June 12 | June 19 | June 26
July
July’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Citizen Spotlight: Darla Sims
Citizen Spotlight: Linda and Jody Pasalich
WWII Purple Hearts Laid to Rest
• The Elms Hotel and Spa offers fireworks for the community on the 4th of July
• Jacob Duncan finishes mural on Atlas Saloon in the downtown
• The Elms Hotel & Spa renames restaurant 88 The Elms to Three Owls
• Neighbors in Westwood Hills hold Flamingo Fridays
• Slightly Off Broadway Theatre performs The Sound of Music
• Gregg Williams Foundation/Educational Foundation holds Golf Classic tournament
• ESHS Tiger Football holds annual service day for the community
• Wyman School power plant demolished
• Rotary holds Grocery Grab fundraiser that went to ESSD who gifted to a family in need
• Moments and Memories opens in the downtown on the corner of Spring and Thompson Ave.
• Sonic Pothole gains attention of the community
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched
• Go Car Wash announced to build next to McDonald’s
• Troy’s Bar and Grill opens downtown
• Pizza Murphy’s closes
• Clay County Prosecutors offer “no true” decision in teacher abuse allegation
• ESPD cleared of wrongdoing in detainee’s death
• Michael Fitzgerald steps down as Chamber President
• Community Center breaks ground on Phase 2 development project
• Mayor Sharon Powell delivers State of the City
• Friends of the Wells fundraiser took place at Dubious Claims Brewery in effort of mineral waters return
* ESPD makes history with four ranked sergeants, two being female
Issues: July 3 | July 10 | July 17 | July 24 | July 31
August
August’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
South Dakota license plates
ES criminals feel sting of law enforcement effort
Treehouse Foods sells
EMS quick response saves life of resident
Citizen Spotlight: Sherri Branson Hurt
• Primary Election takes place
• Muffin Top Bakery moves to Zona Rosa
• Reports of wrong way drivers on Highway 69
• City announces $21.5 million RAISE grant to go toward infrastructure on the west side of town
• Wild Bunch re-opens after roof replacement
• ESHS Hall of Fame inductions
• Jill Evert chosen to fill school board vacancy
• Excelsior Citizen presents at Google Community News Summit in Chicago, IL
• Treehouse Foods sells to European investment firm for $950 million
• BBQ Fly In on the River returns to the downtown
• Back to School events kick off
• Pit bull ban is replaced with a Dangerous Dogs ordinance
• Excelsior House of Hair holds Open House
• BluBox Boutique moves directly across Broadway next to Broadway Bar & Grill and Molly Roberts Studio
• City begins Minor Home Repair program
• ES Fire Department sells shirts for annual Breast Cancer Awareness
Issues: August 1 | August 7 | August 15 | August 21 | August 28
September
September’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Homicide Suspect Surrenders
ES City Wide Garage Sales
Minor League Basketball Team
ESPD Gets Confession and Weapon
• Woods Memorial Christian Church begins donations of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the community
• Train merger public hearing takes place at Montgomery Event Venue
• Fall City-Wide Garage Sales take place the weekend after Labor Day
• ESSD Receives Meritorious Budget Award
• Excelsior Springs Job Corps holds Signing Day on campus
• MoDOT fills in beloved Sonic pothole
• ReeceNichols Excelsior Springs office holds annual Red Flag Friday at McDonald’s in support of the Ronald McDonald House
• Julie Rash takes Gold at USA Pickleball Tournament
• ESPD Holds National Night Out
• Overnight shooting leaves one dead, one in critical condition, Keith Bass, II arrested
• Missouri Historic Preservation Commission holds “Show Me Social” in Excelsior Springs
• City holds Fishing River Watershed Workshop at Excelsior Springs Community Center
• Downtown Excelsior Partnership (DEP) raises $10,000 at annual dinner, hires Kati Lawrence
• El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant announces opening plans on property where The Garage was previously
• Pickball Court opens in Regent Park
• Shamrock Ranch holds ribbon cutting
• ESSD moves forward with plans for new elementary downtown
• ES Hospital welcomes new Primary Care physicians, Dr. Gartin and Dr. Wilson
• City participates in Good Neighbor Week
• Missouri Photo Workshop is held in downtown Excelsior Springs, with professional photojournalists capturing citizens in the community
• Solana opens in downtown on corner of Elizabeth St. and Broadway
• ESSD celebrates Homecoming with parade in downtown
• Downtown properties announce move from fixed income to market rates
• City hosts Household Hazardous Waste collection
• DEP holds Mug Shots downtown
Issues: September 4 | September 11 | September 18 | September 25
October
October’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
ES Police Department Investigating Kidnapping
ES Police Department Shot Suspect in Custody
“My Friends Didn’t Make it Out”
Charges Filed Against Haslett
Excelsior Springs Police Department Seeking Information in Kidnapping Case
• Sweet Affair Bakery opens in Crown Hill Plaza
• Mediacom’s Janet Wesley retires after 30 years of service, local office closes
• Excelsior Springs School District announces $44,000 T-Mobile Grant for the Early Childhood Center
• Minor League Basketball Team Scream is announced for Excelsior Springs
• Mid-Continent Public Library Board slashes budget by millions
* Woods Memorial Christian Church continues financial blessings in the thousands to Excelsior Springs non-profits and charitable organizations
• Excelsior Springs man involved in shooting with Topeka Police
• ESHS Tennis place in district tournament
• ESHS Band and Colorguard take 1st at Warsaw Marching Festival and were also awarded Grand Champions
• Eagles Club hosts fundraiser for injured officer
• Ray’s Lunch offers credit card payments for the first time
• Jessica Higginbothum becomes new Elms Hotel & Spa General Manager
• Spire announces rate increases
• Citizens meet at Siloam Park for Prayer Vigil
• Y Liquor celebrates 50 years in business
• Excelsior Citizen holds Meet the Candidates event at Other Trails Coffeeshop
• Hitch Hive Honey’s Natalee Summers wins Junior Beekeeping Award by Missouri State Beekeepers Assoc.
• Juree Short closes Boulevard Florist on Elms Blvd after 26 years of service to the community
• Brian Rice selected as new Chamber President
• Lithia Landing Project announced
• City Manager Molly McGovern awarded Community Activist Award by Excelsior Business Women of Missouri
• Community Unity Rally held in honor of emergency responders at Tiger Stadium
• Cultural Guild holds Monster Ball
• ES Health Care Foundation holds Annual Dinner
• Amazon Delivery driver found dead, possible dog attack
• ES School District Superintendent remains absent
• ES Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Camron White gives elementary students lessons on fire safety
• The first Witch Way to the Wine event was a hit for the Downtown Excelsior Partnership
Issues: October 2 | October 9 | October 16 | October 23 | October 30
November
November’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
QuikTrip is Coming to Excelsior Springs
Timothy Haslett, Jr appears in court
Citizen Spotlight: Katie Zornes
Orscheln bought by Tractor Supply Co.
– Excelsior Springs Scream wins first home match
– Excelsior Springs School District holds Holly Days event for staff
– Job Corps unveils railcar training facility
– Clay County Sheriff holds Citizens Academy
– ESHS performs Addams Family musical
– Museum holds Annual Dinner
– Missouri Municipal League holds Regional Meeting in Excelsior Springs downtown at Pairings by Van Till
– Sturm Bros celebrates five years in business in the downtown
– Solana and The Loft holds Grand Opening
– Governor Parson appoints Calan T. McConkey as Associate Circuit Judge for 7th Judicial Court
– Ava Donegan recognized for aiding officer during shooting
– Deputy Superintendent Jaret Tomlinson moves into superintendent role with superintendent’s continued absence
– ESHS Boys Soccer Clinch 2nd Straight Class 2 District 8 title
Issues: November 6 | November 13 | November 20 | November 27
December
December’s Top 5 Most Read Stories were, in order:
Student Struck by Hit and Run Driver
Crash on Salem Takes Two Lives
5 Excelsior Springs teenagers injured in rollover crash
Crime Scene Fence Removed from Haslett property
• Holiday Homes Tour offers 5 local homes decorated for the holidays organized by the ES Christmas Committee
• American Legion holds Toys for Tots breakfast fundraiser
• Canadian Pacific Holiday Express train rolls through town
• Starbright Creations embroidery shop open at Crown Hill Plaza
* Shop with a Cop event
• Cornerstone Elementary students offer gifts for local veterans
• Sewer rates lowered by more than 8%
• The Elms and Downtown Excelsior Partnership recognized at Keystone Awards
• Chamber Annual Luncheon awards local businesses
• Crash on Salem takes beloved local waitress, Vicky Kohler
• Groups conduct food drives in support of local pantries
• ES Hospital opens Behavioral Health Department to address local mental health care
• Jim Dusek, Jr, owner of Rite-Way Automotive passes away
Issues: December 4 | December 11 | December 18 | December 25
We keep the local news free thanks to advertisers and individual contributions!
- Obituary | Jan Stryker
- Excelsior Springs Boys Soccer Secures Back-to-Back Road Wins
- Excelsior Springs Weekly Horoscopes – September 30-October 6, 2024
- Talk of the Town – September 23-29, 2024
- Lady Tigers Golf Improves at Chillicothe Tournament, All Players Hit Season-Best Scores
- Excelsior Springs Hospital Announces October Health and Wellness Classes
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