News

Emmy Beyeler of Kearney will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Helsinki, Finland. She is expected to serve for 18 months.

LIBERTY — Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening its first location in Liberty on Tuesday, Aug. 20, according to Annie Gradinger, communications spokesman for the company.

LIBERTY — The first five teachers representing the inaugural class for Liberty Schools’ Grow Your Own Teachers program are gearing up to take on their first assignments as certificated teachers for the district. The five attended orientation last week and are part of the 79 new teachers for the district.

KEARNEY — Registrations for events in the annual Jesse James Festival in Kearney are open. The annual festival will take place this year Sept. 14 and 20 through 22. For a full rundown of all this year’s fun, be sure to get your copy of the Sept. 12 Courier-Tribune as it includes a special guide to the festival. The guide will also be available online at MyCourierTribune.com/ special_sections/festival_guides. Parade Entries for the festival parade are being accepted through Saturday, Aug. 31.

SMITHVILLE — More than 100 students from Smithville High School spent hours each day over the course of the first full week of the month at school, working to become a cohesive marching band. The marching band camp united color guard members and the band.

KEARNEY — The start of the 2024-25 academic year is just around the corner. To help prepare for the first day of classes, the Kearney School District is encouraging students and their parents/guardians to attend their school’s open house on Thursday, Aug. 15.

LIBERTY — Development was on Liberty Mayor Greg Canuteson’s mind Monday, Aug. 12. During a city council meeting, the mayor spoke about engaging a design team to look at updating the Liberty Police Department headquarters.

CLAY COUNTY — A slew of state races and ballot questions were decided by those casting their votes in the Aug. 6 primary.

CLAY COUNTY — Two women and a man are facing felony charges after the Clay County Sheriff ’s Office Drug Task Force recovered a large number of explosives and drugs from a Kansas City residence while serving a search warrant Friday, Aug. 2. The Special Tactics and Response Team arrested Cory D. Young, 46; Erika Lahr, 32; and Tammie L. Cole, 52, in the 6500 block of North Hickory Street in connection with a drug trafficking operation. According to investigators, a search of the duplex uncovered several firearms including two AR-15 rifles, a semi-automatic rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, a .22-caliber revolver and a 12-gauge shotgun; more than 100 pounds of explosive powder; more than a dozen hand grenades; hundreds of rounds of ammunition; and other explosive-making components.