building was originally built by Bill Foster in 1975 to serve as his office space for his business, Foster Brothers Contractors and Builders.
Meadows said the space is very much built like a 1970s office building, which means it does not provide the practical space needed for a coffee shop. The building also needed a lot of plumbing work as there is only one small bathroom located within it. Meadows said the owner agreed to complete some renovations himself.
Every year Northwest’s Alternative Spring Break takes a service trip to help communities in need. This year the group is going to Florida to help the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance with restoring shoreline and reefs. To help cover the cost of the trip, Ten Squared Women of Nodaway County donated $9,000 to Alternative Spring Break.
Ten Squared Women is a women’s nonprofit organization with members from Nodaway County and surrounding counties. The requirement to be a part of the group is a $100 donation four times a year. Amanda Twaddle is the founder of the organization and helps maintain the nonprofit.
“We meet quarterly, typically at the (Carl and Cheryl) Hughes Fieldhouse and you don’t even have to attend the meetings,” Twaddle said. “We just meet and we get to discuss and hear presentations from organizations, or nonprofits in the community, and then we vote as a group and then that’s who receives the donation for that quarter.”
SEE DONATION | A4
As the second semester continues toward the end of the year, there is still one big event students are looking forward to — the spring concert held by the Student Activities Council.
This year, Northwest will be hosting musician Russell Dickerson at 7 p.m. April 19 in the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse. Dickerson is a country singer-songwriter.
There is a lot that goes into planning the spring concert. Co-Directors of Concert Programming Emily Hansen and Olivia Rubsam are in charge of the behind the scenes process.
“Back when we first officially signed with Russell Dickerson, I got a folder from his team with pictures and songs and all his branding stuff he uses,” Hansen said. “I had to create a marketing plan, but like half of the stuff that I didn’t think about, like credential, stickers, the staff t-shirts, volunteer t-shirts, all that stuff had to be included in the marketing plan because it all has to be approved by him.”
Hansen handles the marketing side of planning, while Rubsam handles the logistics. Rub-
Russell Dickerson will be performing at 7 p.m.
April 19
in the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse.
sam said some of her tasks are getting volunteers for the event and making sure spaces, like hotel rooms and dressing rooms are reserved. One big aspect of making sure the concert gets running and goes smoothly is communication with the University. Rubsam said the concert impacts so many different departments that communication is important to keep things moving. Hansen said there is a timeline that has to be followed to keep them on track. Every month there are different tasks that have to be accomplished by the end of the month.
SEE CONCERT | A4
Laurie Belshe is a 50-year-old single mother of three from Hamilton, Missouri. She loves cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and taking care of her two cats. Recently, Belshe received a rare diagnosis, followed by months of further unpleasant news that turned her life upside down.
Belshe’s father drove her to an emergency room Oct. 11, 2023, due to an intense migraine headache and extremely high blood pressure, something Belshe said was a high blood pressure crisis, which occurs when there is a sudden, severe blood pressure increase, according to Mayo Clinic. It is considered a medical emergency, as it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart attack and stroke.
After an hour-long drive to Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri, Belshe was admitted and was told she would have to undergo a number of scans. She sent her dad back to his home, but no more than five minutes later, she was given devastating news.
The scans had shown a rare tumor in her right carotid artery called a paraganglioma. These can occur at specific nerve cells anywhere throughout the body, but they are most common in the head and neck, according to the National Library of Medicine. These tumors can cause many symptoms including high blood pressure and headaches.
“I was kind of numb,” Belshe said. “I had never heard of anything like it before. I was scared because I was in a smaller hospital and the emergency room. Of course, with the headache and the blood pressure, they immediately did scans of my head and neck,
many researchers believe most paragangliomas in the carotid artery are benign, but they are unable to conduct a biopsy because it is a vascular tumor and too many risks are involved.
When Belshe went to Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, in Kansas City, Missouri, she said nobody there had ever seen a tumor like hers except for one doctor, who had seen a few during medical training.
After doing some research, Belshe discovered the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, is a designated “Center of Excellence for Care of patients with Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma” according to its website. There are only six other centers in the United States that specialize in rare tumors such as these.
Belshe has since made two trips to Iowa to gather more information on the tumor. The first trip was made in November and the second in February.
“It was a good feeling because they were so confident and had had experience with them,” Belshe said. “It was kind of a relief to be talking to somebody that wasn’t quite as nervous or uneasy. We did find out mine’s small. Because of the paraganglioma they repeated a couple of scans, and they actually found a lump in my left breast and I was diagnosed with breast cancer November 9.”
Belshe said being diagnosed with stage 1A breast cancer came with a lot of heavy emotions. She said she buried herself in research through the internet, feeling like she had to leave no stone unturned. Belshe also wanted to make sure there was no connection between the paraganglioma and breast cancer, which her doctors do not believe are related.
not are related
did scans of my head and and they found that tumor real quick. And then they immediately did an MRI. Then the y shi pp ed me lights and sirens by ambulance to a bigger hospital. So it was very scary.”
Th ese tumo r s are u s ually benign, but can be cancerous according to Mayo Cl in ic . Be ls he s ai d
In order to be g in chemothera py , Belshe has to have all of her teeth extracted, which she said she’s had mixed emothe different medications she has been on took a hard hit on her teeth B elshe’s
In order to begin chemotherapy,
tions on. Having twins combined with erent medications she has been Belshe’s oncologist looked and told her chemotherapy with poor teeth can make a person sick, and possibly septic,
“I’m just ready to get started on the chemotherapy and the radiation so that I can put the breast cancer behind me and then continue to keep up with the paraganglioma.”
When Belshe was 41 years old, her 43-year-old brother died of colorectal cancer. She said her brother taught her a lot about building up positivity and remaining determined.
since he was sick, some of the advances and all, it’s just pretty amazing.”
Belshe said she has a wonderful support system that has helped her through her journey. She said the small actions from the people around her have helped her most.
so she will be getting them all removed “I’m at that now where I’m to it all over Belshe said.
“I’m at that point now where I’m just ready to get it all over with,” Belshe said.
“He taught me a lot about battling cancer with grace and dignity, but still knowing that you’re blessed and being thankful all at the same time,” Belshe said. “I hate that he passed away. I miss my brother. But wow, to look back now and at the things that my family and I did learn and the advances in medication, even just in the last nine, 10 years
“It’s just the little things that people have been doing,” Belshe said. “You get jaded in this world these days. And then when you get news like this, and then you get more news, and then you get more news, the good really does come out and people. I’m really seeing it and it just lifts my heart and it just makes me want to fight harder and want to be more positive.”
Belshe has a fundraiser through Angel Link to bring awareness of her journey and raise funds for medical expenses and travel.
neurs involved in B.O.S.S. Coffee.
Business Owners Sharing So-
lutions Coffee hosts business seminars for local entrepreneurs at the Maryville Public Library at the end of each month. Many say the classes are helpful for learning and growing their businesses.
For years, local business owners have gone to the public library for coffee and connection on a Tuesday morning while they wait to sit down in front of the projector to learn new tips and tricks for running a business. B.O.S.S. Coffee is a collection of businesses and organizations coming together that have been hosting these seminars for years.
Enterprise Facilitator at Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation Adam Summers said these meetings are open to anyone in business.
“(The meetings are for) business owners and anybody interested in starting a business, even if they just have an idea … that’s kind of the main target but anybody and everybody is invited,” Summers said.
Each meeting has a presentation from a local business owner, followed by a roundtable discussion with a group of entrepre-
Tuesday, they listened to Rebecca Lobina, a multi-program director at Missouri Small Business Development Center, who talked about target audiences and advertising.
Lobina talked about the “Who, where, what and how” of a business’s audience, focusing on knowing who they are, where else they like to shop, what is important to them and how to advertise.
She emphasizes “Human connection instead of just a sell, sell, sell approach,” when it comes to advertising. Lobina said a beneficial point for business owners to take away from her presentation is to focus on their customers.
“I would say, understand who your target market is because a lot of people believe that everyone is their target market and that’s just not true,” Lobina said. “And just understanding that the better you understand the market, the easier it is to reach them and communicate and to relate with them, which helps the bottom line.”
After attending Tuesday’s meeting, Sylvia Chloupek, owner of Sylvia Chloupek Desserts, said the most helpful part of the presentation was how the tips gave her confidence in her abilities as a business owner.
“I think the confirmation that
my gut instincts toward business are important and that I’m on the right path,” Chloupek said. “The marketing I’m doing is what I should be doing. I have a good grasp on my target audience.”
Chloupek has been attending B.O.S.S. Coffee for about three years and has even hosted a seminar herself. Chloupek said the meetings are a great way to network and make connections in the community and she attends them to learn new tips.
The information available in these presentations and the connection aspect are the reasons why Lobina said she recommends college students attend them. Lobina works closely with the University as part of MSBDC’s job is educating, and she believes B.O.S.S. Coffee’s seminars could be beneficial to college students.
Lobina said besides just networking, experience is important in the business world. She advises students to get out and look for ways to build up their knowledge of business.
“Any real-world experience they can get if they’re looking to go into business would be extremely helpful,” Lobina said. “Even if it’s something as simple as job shadowing … just ask somebody.”
The 2024 Super Bowl was memorable to many for a multitude of reasons. For some, it may have been the Kansas City Chiefs’ third championship in five years. For others, it may have been Usher’s halftime performance.
For one Chiefs fan, it was a mixture of both — and with quite a seat to watch it all happen from. A monitor engineer is the individual in charge of the sound the band or artist hears while it’s performing.
And that’s who Tyler Harris is. And that’s what he did. And he did it for Usher. And he did at the 2024 Super Bowl as 129.3 million watched from around the world.
“Oh, it’s fantastic,” Harris said. “It’s something that nobody can take from you. It's a fantastic achievement. And, whether the average person knows it or not, that's obviously the goal, right, is to try and put on the biggest, best shows that we can.”
While what’s “best” will be up for debate until the end of time, Harris — as a member of the halftime show production crew — was part of the most watched telecast in broadcast history, according to NFL Football Operations.
Even with a performance that lasts fewer than 15 minutes, Harris said it takes months of preparation. And, whether it be in those preparatory months, the day of or in the actual performance, Harris said there are a lot of moving parts.
It’s something that nobody can take from you. It's a fantastic achievement."
TYLER HARRIS MONITOR TECHNICIAN FOR USHER
“It’s definitely not for a new person,” Harris said. “But, there's probably 30 people in support staff between our team, the team of people that was provided by the NFL and the team that does the show year to year. So, when you have that many people that are that experienced, you can really come together and do some great stuff.”
Years before he ever showcased his skills on perhaps the biggest stage possible, Harris was a student at Northwest from 2009-13. He took classes in Wells Hall as a media major, and he spent the 2013 spring semester as a production director for KZLX.
He said he was able to experience a small sample of almost every possible avenue through audio and radio.
“I found out by trial and error that what I liked most was the live aspect because there's no do overs, you don't sit in the studio and listen to a band record the same riff 1000 times,” Harris said. “You play it, and if you're good, you shine. And, if not, people will realize it.”
While Harris is now helping organize concerts for the Super Bowl, the first ever concert he mixed was at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park. He said he managed a group of 10-12 other students, they built the sound system, mixed the audio for the band and held a free concert for everyone.
“That was the first dip in the water that really showed me what I liked about it,” Harris said. “That also gave me the experience so that when I
graduated, I was able to find a company that did what I wanted to, and then I had enough experience that they would also be interested in me.”
That company was Digital Sound Systems, Inc. in Lenexa, Kansas. There, Harris served as an audio technician from January 2014 to June 2018. In 2018, Harris said he quit, started his own LLC and began touring as an engineer.
And it did not take long for Harris to find stardom. In just a few months, Harris signed a contract with Tech N9ne and worked with the Kansas City Star from October 2018 to July 2021.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, concerts were one of the first events to be shut down. As life slowly returned to normal, Harris said he put himself back on the market by performing at weddings.
Eventually, he earned the chance to work as a monitor engineer and stage manager for a band called Code Orange, who opened for Korn on one of its tours.
Harris said he built a relationship through that tour that pushed him to start contracting with the company Sound Image, an audio business based out of California. Sound Image gave him a contract with alternative folk band The Lumineers. Then, Harris served as a PA Tech from May 2022 to December 2022 and was in charge of putting up the speakers for the show.
For the last two years, Harris has done what he did for Usher — mixed the sound the performers hear as a monitor technician. Harris said it’s inspiring to have worked with the artists he has and to perform at the places he’s been, including Coachella, the national anthem for the NFL’s Monday Night Football and the Missouri Symphony.
“No one would ever know the name or the face behind who did that,” Harris said. “But, afterward, you can look back and you can go to social media — whether it be a festival or a show like the Super Bowl — and see all the people that appreciated the music or whatever event that you're doing sound at. And, (you can) see all the outpouring of gratuity from people getting to watch their favorite artists, so that part's always super rewarding.”
Whether it be positive or negative feedback, Harris said he and other colleagues do indeed keep up with what others say about it afterward.
“Everybody in the concert industry will grade themselves based on the experience because, at the end of the day, we're providing a service,” Harris said. “So, if you think that you had a great show, and then you get on social media — where your boss is also going to be getting inundated by people saying, ‘It sounded horrible, I can't believe how bad that was’ on a show — then, you know that you're not achieving the desired results.”
Despite reaching what would likely be the peak of other individuals’ careers, Harris will have just a short break before he’s on the road again. And, he’ll be right back in a major event.
While he could not say exactly who, Harris said he’s set to be support staff for an artist that is headlining Coachella April 12-21 in Indio, California. Usher announced a North American tour, and Harris said he’s waiting to see if he’ll be brought on for that as well.
While he may not be giving a public performance before then, Harris will still be using the time beforehand to prepare. Even with all the pressure and commitment that can come from his work — whether it be the fast-paced expectations during shows or the different decisions — Harris said it’s all worth it in the end.
And while Harris may have been primarily focused on the Super Bowl’s halftime show, he was also just as tuned into the Chiefs’ battle with the San Francisco 49ers as the rest of the Kansas City faithful.
“I was born and raised like 10 minutes from the Chiefs’ stadium,” Harris said. “So, getting to work the halftime show when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl was crazy. I was so ecstatic when they won.”
for the week of Feb. 29
Northwest Missouri State University Police Department
Feb. 27
There is a closed investigation for a fire alarm in Roberta Hall.
Feb. 24
There is a closed investigation for Ryan King 18, having possession of a fictitious/altered driver’s license in Parking Lot 10.
There is a closed investigation for a vehicle accident between Mackenzie D. Baker, Zachary S. Brown and Harmony Houg in Parking Lot 42.
Feb. 22
There is a closed investigation for a liquor law violation in South Complex.
Feb. 20
There is a closed investigation for a vehicle accident between Logan Cook and Callie Spunaugle in Parking Lot 20.
Maryville Department of Public Safety
Feb. 26
There was an accident with Robert W. Goff, 38, on East South Avenue and Ivory Road.
Feb. 24
There was an accident between an unknown driver and Colby R. Beattie on the 25000 block of Liberty Road. There was an accident between Stephan Mullins, 68, and Sean P. Hastings, 52, on the 1000 block of South Main Street.
Feb. 23 A summons was issued to Connie S. Kennedy, 82, for failure to maintain right half of roadway on the 500 block of West South Hills Drive.
Feb. 22
There was an accident between Joshua G. Sweat, 32, and Vickie K. MacAfee, 65, on the 2300 block of South Main Street. Sweat was charged with careless and imprudent driving and no valid driver’s license.
There was a summons issued to Matthew H. Hager, 34, for disorderly conduct on the 300 block of East Summit Drive.
There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 200 block West Ninth Street.
Feb. 21
There is an ongoing investigation for disorderly conduct on the 400 block of East Second Street.
There was an accident between Martin C. Sherry and Akilah Bryan, 27, on the 2000 block of South Main Street.
There is an ongoing investigation for assault on the 400 block of James Avenue.
There is an ongoing investigation for harassment on the 100 block of West Ninth Street.
Feb. 20
There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 300 block of West Seventh Street.
Feb. 16
There was an accident between Neil C. Poldberg, 42, and Michelle M. Whitlock on the 2300 block of South Main Street.
CONCERT
CONTINUED FROM A1
“We’re not saving anything to like the last month to finish, like everything for the concert should be done at least two weeks or a month before the concert,” Hansen said. “So pretty exciting, also nerve wracking too.”
Some students have been unhappy with the decision of having two country artists on campus in a row. It has not gone unnoticed by Hanson or Rubsam. Hanson said they have to look at the demographics of Maryville and what’s good not only for Northwest, but for the community as well.
The survey sent out to students at the beginning of the year was a part of how the genre for the concert was chosen.
COFFEE
CONTINUED FROM A1
“He had said that he would move the plumbing under the floor and figure out some extra electric, because espresso machines take a high amount of electricity,” Meadows said. “Also, we have to have certain sinks for regulations. You have to have a triple stainless steel sink and then a stainless steel hand washing sink and different space measurements and a lot of plumbing and electric goes into it.”
Meadows said the owner had planned to have the
Maryville City Council approved a contractual agreement with Geo-Comm, Inc. for dispatch services at its meeting Feb. 26.
Geo-Comm, Inc. supplies software and maintenance support to the Northwest Regional Communications Center, which provides emergency dispatch services to Nodaway County.
Maryville Police Department Interim Police Chief Mike Stolte requested a three-year extension on the contract because he said the Geo-Comm dispatch mapping program is utilized multiple times daily by the Northwest Regional Communications Center. The program helps dispatchers find nearexact locations in emergencies. He said the dispatch map interfaces within one system and maps in all the jurisdictions MPD covers.
A contract extension will also allow emergency services in the area to utilize Next Generation 911, an initiative aimed at improving the overall 911 service structure in the United States and Canada. In 2020, Maryville Public Safety purchased equipment compatible with Next Generation 911’s goals, but it has yet to provide all resources in accordance with the protocol.
“This program is vital in confirming locations of emergency and 911 open line calls,” Stolte said. “The dispatch map is updated regularly with survey and landowner data to include jurisdictional boundaries and road closures etc. A mapping program with these features is required for a Next Generation 911 status.” Stolte’s proposal was a threeyear maintenance contract for
“If students aren’t filling out the survey, then we can’t really hear their opinions,” Rubsam said.
Hansen said she isn’t looking for someone who just has good and popular songs, but someone who also has a good stage presence, and she said Dickerson checks those boxes for her.
SAC is looking for volunteers to help run the con-
cert the day of. Hansen said going to Fraternity and Sorority Life chapters is where they advertise most for volunteers, but anyone is welcome to join.
“We have different committees that we delegate stuff to the day of the concert,” Hansen said. “So just finding the volunteers and organizing all that and making sure that they’re trained before the concert, that was another big thing.”
Hansen and Rubsam are still working on finishing organizing the concert and said it has been a lot of fun.
“
I’m sure that Maryville will be good to me and support it even though I’ve been late on the opening date, which is just out of my hands completely.”
ELLA NOEL MEADOWS
OWNER OF MEADOWS COFFEE MILL
plumbing work completed by December but things have gotten behind. She was not fully aware of how far behind the process was, so in January, she began doing as much remodeling as she could herself.
She has taken down wallpaper, patched walls and painted the outside of the building. Meadows said she brought in a friend who is a carpenter and they ripped up old tile and put down new tile. She said the owner plans on completing the plumbing work sometime this week.
“After that, I can train my employees in the coffee industry, how the safety precautions work,” Meadows said. “I can get the health inspector in there, and then I can actually set an opening date. Here in these next couple of weeks, I’ll be able to say exactly when we will be opening up.”
Meadows said she hopes to open the shop in the coming months, before the end of the spring semester. She has already hired most of her staff, which she said are being patient as they await the shop’s opening. She said she will likely do another round of hiring as the school year ends and summer begins.
Meadows Coffee Mills’ hours are still tentative, but
a total amount not to exceed $32,769.32. The Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes $10,611.06 for the first year of the contract. The extended contract will provide updates to software systems used by the Northwest Regional Communications Center.
Stolte also requested an upgrade on Glock pistols for the MPD, which includes the added technology of back row red dot sights, which he said has proven to increase accuracy, speed and situational awareness for officers. The contract is through GT Distributors, Inc., which Stolte said is well-known and will offer tradein value on MPD’s old pistols.
Twenty of the department’s Glock 45s can be traded in for $928.72 a piece for a total amount of $18,574.40. MPD would also receive credit for 17 Glock 17 Gen5s at a rate of $298.59 a piece for a total of $5,074.50 and for three Glock 19 Gen5s at a rate of $305.50 making for a total of $916.50.
Stolte sought approval of a contract not to exceed $12,583.40. He said the Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes $24,000 in the general fund for replacement of equipment. The Council approved the contract.
There was also an ordinance to approve a contract with Spire Construction, Inc. for storm drainage improvements in Donaldson Westside Park. There is only one storm drain in the park, which has caused the field to develop wet spots.
Maryville Parks and Recreation received one quote from Spire Construction for $55,355, which will repair drainage tiles, inlets, dugouts and outfield fences at the park. The Council approved of the contract.
DONATION
CONTINUED FROM A1
Twaddle said her mom and Alternative Spring Break Advisor Amy Nally nominated the group and Alternative Spring Break President Morgan Jaeger came to one of the meetings to present.
“It’s important to be able to give to them because we’re providing funds for, you know, young adults to be able to forgo a traditional spring break and do something to better our community,” Twaddle said.
Jaeger said 15 members of Alternative Spring Break are going to Florida, and so far the group has raised $9,000 on top of the donation. The money from Ten Squared Women is going toward a fund for students who might need financial help. Jaeger said she doesn’t want costs to be the reason people don’t go on the trip.
“It helps people who aren’t in great financial standing, but want to have this opportunity,” Jaeger said. “So it will benefit current students a little bit, but most of it is being put away for future students because we try to keep that scholarship fund pretty substantial throughout the years.”
Meadows said she hopes for the shop to be open daily. When the shop does open, she is planning to offer a 10% discount for Northwest students if they show their student IDs.
Meadows said she hopes to do more promotions in the future and offer student-oriented activities, like possible musicbased events and small arts and crafts sessions. She said promotions, opening day updates and more information can be found on the shop’s social media pages and its website.
Meadows said she is appreciative of those who have kept her shop in their thoughts while they await its opening. Although there have been setbacks along the way, Meadows said she is optimistic that the shop will open at the right time.
“It’s been a little frustrating because I have a lot riding on this, obviously,” Meadows said. “But I’m very hopeful. I know that God will work it out whenever he’s planning on working it out. I’m sure that Maryville will be good to me and support it even though I’ve been late on the opening date, which is just out of my hands completely. It’s been stressful but it will happen when it’s supposed to.”
Student organizations are not allowed to receive direct funds from the school. Jaeger said Student Senate is the only opportunity for them to get money besides fundraisers. Senate appropriated $2,000 toward the trip at the Nov. 14 meeting.
Alternative Spring Break has done other fundraising through various sales.
“
It’s a great way for people to see the world.”
MORGAN JAEGER
ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK PRESIDENT
The cost per person fluctuates each year depending on the amount of students going on the trip. Last year, around seven people went, and it cost around $800 per student, but with the number of students attending doubling this year it is around $1,000.
“Some of these people have never been out of Missouri or their hometown before they came to college, so it’s a great way for people to see the world,” Jaeger said.
Your body changes with age, that’s OK
JULIANNA LAWRENCE Columnist @jsonthemoon
I’ve been 20 years old for more than seven months now, and even the thought of a fitting room scares me.
People say your body changes after your teens, but nobody talks about how hard it becomes to accept that change.
When I was in high school, I remember going to weights for two hours a day and then coming home to eat a fivecourse meal with late-night Little Debbie snacks and I never gained a pound. Now, I feel like if I eat a bowl of Cheerios, it’ll take me weeks to slim down.
When you hit your 20s, everyone seems to have something to say about your weight. You’ve reached adulthood and make your own food and go to the gym on your own time. If you don’t look a certain way, then it feels like you’re looked at as lazy, disgusting and hideous. “You’ll need to lose 40 more pounds in order to fit into my wedding dress,” are words that came from my own grandmother.
Your body changes every day, and we don’t have full control of how and when that happens,
When you become an adult, your weight can fluctuate every day. Studies have shown that the average weight fluctuation for an adult is 2.2 to 4.4 pounds over a few days, according to PubMed Central. You may feel like you look different every day, and you’re not alone with that.
It becomes more difficult with age to look just the way you want. There are so many factors that can cause stress, hormonal imbalance and weight gain. Moving out of your home, going to college and starting a career all in 10 years is an enormous amount of pressure for a person, and trying to control your body at the same time can be frustrating.
Knowing the difference between becoming healthier and trying to look different is very important. Regular exercise, taking vitamins and eating healthy foods can make your body and mind feel better. But, looking at yourself in shame for something that is inevitable will cause you much more harm than good.
Your 20s are a time to live and be who you are. Don’t waste this time looking in a mirror for hours trying to figure out what to fix. Your mentality is more important than how many pounds you weigh. Make the most of what you have instead of shaming yourself for what you don’t.
You are not who you used to be, you look different now, and finding healthier habits is much more important than changing who and what you are.
You are not 16 years old anymore, and that is OK. You look and feel different now and that is OK. You’re not the same size as you were five years ago, and that is completely OK. Life comes with many daily struggles in your 20s and a lot of things you are not prepared for. Don’t add anymore unnecessary pressure on yourself.
So, go treat yourself to a Little Debbie and give yourself a break. Your body is a temple, but even temples change over time.
OUR VIEW:
Throughout the last couple of months, we have written about numerous tragedies, misfortunes and setbacks that have left long-lasting impacts on people’s lives. The most recent is Laurie Belshe who was diagnosed with a rare tumor in her right carotid artery called a paraganglioma.
With each story and each person who is affected, it leaves us with a sense of wanting to do more. We can do more than sympathize with someone about this difficult event in their life and do something that will make a positive change.
Small steps can make a huge difference to someone who is going through a hard time and needs support.
Whether it is donating five dollars to a GoFundMe, bringing in items for a clothing or food drive, simply taking some time out of your day to volunteer in the community, or just listening to someone who needs to talk can make a difference when it really matters.
During the year, there are many opportunities each week to help out on campus. You can provide support with events, and donate money or other items to different philanthropies and organizations at nearly all times during the school year.
In the community, there are many different organizations and businesses who accept volunteers.
YOUR VIEW:
THE STROLLER:
Lettuce Dream, a greenhouse that helps individuals with disabilities with career education, also has volunteers to help with harvesting, transplanting, seeding and other general greenhouse cleaning throughout the year. It takes volunteers on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Maryville Ministry Center has been open for over 30 years and has been providing the community and surrounding areas with food, clothing and other necessities for people in need. The center takes volunteers throughout the week to help with the food pantry and clothing items. People can help by stocking shelves, sorting food, bagging food and sorting clothing.
The Nodaway County Senior Center serves hot meals and delivers them to people in the community Monday through Friday, and has the option for frozen meals for people to have on evenings and weekends. Volunteers can help in the kitchen on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays by packing and sealing home-delivered meals, filling the serving line with food items needed for lunch service and more. People can also help by offering to pick up groceries or donate other necessities to people in need.
People can volunteer at the New Nodaway Humane Society Tuesday through Saturday each week to help
JUVAAN SABAROCHE Sophomore Computer Science
“I have just arrived in Maryville but in Dominica in my village, I would visit the sick and elderly and assist them with any tasks they may need help with.”
KRISTIN DAVIS Senior Biochemistrystaff by interacting with the animals and giving them some extra attention and exercise. To volunteer at the humane society, people need to take a one-time class to teach them what to do in different situations that could potentially happen while they are volunteering. The shelter also has a fostering program where people can temporarily care for animals until they are adopted.
There are also other opportunities in surrounding areas where people can volunteer or donate to the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nodaway County, North Star Advocacy Center, Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County, United Way of Nodaway County and many other organizations who need some extra hands and items to help serve those in need.
You don’t have to donate hundreds of dollars or even full days of your time, simply helping out whenever you can is enough to make a difference in many people’s lives.
The next time you find yourself with some downtime or some extra money, food or clothing, consider volunteering or donating to the many different organizations and people in the community who need some extra help. Your assistance can make a big difference in someone’s life.
“I have done some volunteer work in this organization that I am in called Women in Science Society. We picked up and collected trash from a nearby highway to help the environment.”
SAMUEL CASTLE Junior Psychology
“In South Africa, we celebrate Mandela Day. So for 67 minutes, we dedicate our time to support a charity or local community and my friends and I make sandwiches for the homeless and give it to them. The 67 minutes symbolize the number of years the former President Nelson Mandela fought for human rights.”
Your Bearcat is ready for hot girl walks
You know that quote, “You never know what you have until it’s gone”? I finally understand what people mean when they say this.
Last week, when the weather finally got warm enough to trade in our winter coats for short sleeves, I felt like I started to come out of hibernation. As I started to defrost back into my normal self, I remembered what truly brings me joy
— hot girl walks. I didn’t know how much I missed them until I put on some shorts, laced up my tennis shoes, busted out the overthe-ear headphones and started walking around the neighborhood. I started to remember what grass looked like, what it felt like to be outside for more than five minutes without shivering, and best of all, I got to see other people walking their dogs.
There’s just something about walking aimlessly for an undetermined amount of time on a weekday that thrills me. You don’t know joy until you know hot girl walks.
Now, I could probably say this every time spring comes around. I always forget just how much I value the small things in life, like being able to walk around town carrying my emotional support water bottle
with no care in the world but the uneven sidewalk in front of me.
Now that we’ve hopefully left the winter in the rearview, I am ready to get back to my regularly-scheduled routine of hot girl walks and feeling connected with nature.
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
Maryville boys wrestling’s season came to a close following the Class 2 State Tournament Feb. 21-23.
Freshman 165-pound Kedrick Watkins was the only participant from the Spoofhounds in the state tournament. Watkins went two and out in his matches at state. He lost his first match via major decision 12-3, he followed up with an 11-2 loss via major decision in his second match of the day.
Coach Tyler Nickerson has completed his first year at the helm of the Spoofhounds in softball and wrestling. While both campaigns may not have gone how he hoped, he said they are the stepping stones for things to come.
Two of the freshmen on the wrestling squad made it to the blood rounds of the Class 2 District 4 Tournament. Cousins Kedrick Watkins and freshman 215-pound Kade Watkins have both proven they have the potential to be big pieces for the Spoofhounds.
“We saw growth and development,” Nickerson said. “We took some steps forward as a program from last season. We had a lot of kids start to find their own identity and just continue to build up from what they did last year.”
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“We had a lot of kids start to find their own identity and just continue to build up from what they did last year.”
TYLER NICKERSON WRESTLING COACH
Kade Watkins started his school year playing football, putting him a little behind his competition, conditioning-wise. However, he still attained his goal of making it to the blood round at the district tournament.
The Spoofhounds’ twin senior wrestlers 126-pound Tanner Turner and 152-pound Tucker Turner finished out their final campaigns and careers in districts. Tanner Turner
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The Bearcats’ (20-6, 14-6 MIAA) next matchup will be its regular season finale against Missouri Southern (19-7, 15-5 MIAA) at 1:30 p.m. March 2 in Joplin, Missouri. In the last meeting, the Bearcats won 69-59 Nov. 30.
“It feels like a long time ago,” Meyer said. “ So, I mean, they are better than they were at that point in the season, and we feel like we are, too.”
With the Central Region Tournament coming up, Northwest looks to make its return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. Junior guard Peyton Kelderman, along with many members of the team, are new to the feeling and what late-season play entails.
“I think it is definitely something we are looking forward to,” Kelderman said. “I feel like it is exciting, and it kind of gives extra motivation for these next two games just to finish as strong so we can get as high of a seed as possible.”
The No. 6 Bearcats (22-4, 18-2 MIAA) have met the Bronchos (19-9, 11-9 MIAA) and Lions (13-13,11-9 MIAA) once already this season, and they won both of those matchups. Central and Southern have each clinched a spot in the tournament, too. But, with a tied conference record, they’ll both be looking to increase their chances of a topsix seed and a first-round bye.
While Northwest won the last three meetings with Central, the last time the Bearcats were in Edmond, they lost by 11 points Jan. 12, 2023. This season, the Bronchos are 8-3 at home and 5-6 in away games. Bearcat coach Ben McCollum said Central has made offensive adjustments recently, and he expects the Bronchos to play hard.
“At home, they’re a different animal,” McCollum said. “They’re
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placed second at the Midland Empire Conference Tournament Jan. 20, Mid-Buchanan Invitational Tournament Jan. 6 and the Quad State Tournament Jan. 27. Tucker Turner placed second at the conference championships and fifth at the Mid-Buchanan Invitational Tournament.
Tanner and Tucker Turner were both leaders on the mat and in the classrooms. Many of the wrestlers on the team used them as models of who to be on and off the mat according to Kade Watkins.
Kade Watkins said Tanner Turner was the wrestler he looked up to the most because of his work ethic.
“He worked hard and did everything that was best for the team,” Kade Watkins said. “He was probably one of the best at conditioning on the team. He put so much work into it, and that’s just who I looked up to the most in the wrestling room and in school.”
Kade Watkins said his goal for next season was to gain some muscle and lose some fat so he can start lifting and returning his opponents.
Nickerson said he was impressed with Kedrick Watkins and how he handled himself this season. Kedrick Watkins was the only freshman who wrestled in the Class 2 165-pound division and has given the Spoofhounds a beacon of light as they look to turn the program into a consistent podium placer at the state tournament.
gonna be tough. They’re very, very well coached. Still think (they are) one of the better teams in the conference, regardless of record. We’re gonna have to be ready.”
Northwest’s game with Central presents the opportunity for one of the top defenses in the country to go against one of the top scorers in the country.
The Bearcats are second in Division II, giving up merely 59.8 points per game. Bronchos’ junior guard Jaden Wells is the MIAA’s leading scorer with an average of 20.9 points per contest. After the contest with Central, the Saturday showdown with Southern will be the regular-season sendoff. The Bearcats will look to give themselves any momentum possible heading into the postseason, and they’ll be protecting a 12-game win streak against the Lions.
“Southern, that place is one of the toughest places to play,” McCollum said. “Nowhere in the
“Boy, they just came together as a team, really stepped up and did some fantastic things,” Masters said. “It was pretty neat to see them take that step together and really bring back what could have been gone.”
Junior Joel Dos Santos took home the first-place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.27. Closely behind Dos Santos was sophomore Truman Hare who finished with a time of 21.31. Both Dos Santos and Hare’s times put them as No. 1 and No. 2 in Northwest’s all-time record book for the indoor 200.
Dos Santos, the Buenos Aires, Argentina, native, said that it was pretty cool to have his name at the top of the record book. He also said having Hare’s name next to his is awesome to see, and he has high expectations for the sophomore.
“You know, it means a lot,” Dos Santos said. “I also had a lot of fun during the race. I am really proud of Truman, and I know he’s 19 right now, and he’s in a really good spot to be the future of the team. I am really proud of him.”
Along with Dos Santos and Hare, sophomore Maxime Touron put his name atop the Bearcat record books. In the 800-meter run, Touron finished with a time of 1:50.99 — which was enough to take home first place at the conference meet. The time also put him second in the event in school history, with the only time better than that being himself when he ran a 1:50.25 in the Bearcat Invite Feb. 3. Masters said the ability of both teams to perform highly was not the only thing he was proud of. For him, the interaction and love for one another was a great sign of the state of the program.
“We have a close team, great culture, a family and it was apparent that we have great support of each other,” Masters said.
MIAA is easy. Just gotta be ready.”
As the regular season winds down, Northwest has not only solidified itself as one of the best defenses in the nation, it’s also emerged as one of the top shooting teams in the country.
This season, the Bearcats are first in the MIAA in field-goal percentage (51.2%), 3-point percentage (40.2%) and they’re second in free-throw percentage (78.5%). Their field-goal percentage is also the fifth-best in all of Division II.
To have a team that’s able to make it from anywhere on the floor, rather than development, McCollum said recruiting is the No. 1 priority.
“I have a saying, ‘Shooters won the war,’ — I don’t know where I stole that from, but I stole it from somewhere,” McCollum said. “For us, we try to make sure the kids play to their strengths and take quality shots. If you take good shots, you’re gonna make more of them.”
Districts
bring rematch for Maryville boys in semifinalsWESLEY MILLER Managing Editor | @wesleymiller360
It’s postseason time for Maryville boys basketball. After finishing the regular season with an overall record of 16-7, the Spoofhounds are set for their first game of the Class 4 District 16 Tournament.
Maryville clinched the second seed in the tournament, which gave the team a first-round bye for the quarterfinals Feb. 27. After their regular-season finale with Chillicothe Feb. 22, the Spoofhounds will have six days off before their semifinal matchup Feb. 29. Coach Matt Stoecklein said the break is definitely beneficial.
“Fresh legs make a huge difference,” Stoecklein said. “When we played Savannah (Feb. 16), we gave them off Wednesday (Feb. 14). And, just having that day off completely — no practice, no game, no nothing — they came in so much fresher.”
Having the first round off also presents a bit of a challenge for Maryville. The Spoofhounds not only have to wait to find out who they’ll play next, but they also have just one day to prepare.
Ahead of the first-round result between third-seeded Chillicothe (204) and sixth-seeded Cameron (4-22), Stoecklein said Maryville has to adapt, but the other team will need to also.
“You try to get ready for more than one thing at one time, which isn’t easy, but the other team has to do the same thing,” Stoecklein said. “That’s something every team has to deal with.”
The Hornets and Dragons met Feb. 27 for a chance to advance to the semifinals, and Chillicothe claimed the 59-48 win in Chillicothe, Missouri. Now, the Spoofhounds will officially rematch with the Hornets — after playing Chillicothe in just their last time on the court.
The semifinal showdown will also give Maryville a chance for some relatively quick revenge. The Spoofhounds ended the regular season with a 56-40 loss to the Hornets Feb. 22.
After building back up some momentum by winning five of its previous six contests before the meeting with Chillicothe, Maryville saw it snapped with its
biggest loss this season to a Midland Empire Conference opponent. While the conference standings were already decided, the Spoof-
hounds’ loss to the Hornets also ended their five-game win streak over their conference foe. Ahead of the loss, junior guard Lucas Vierthaler said he
Last tournament before start of conference play next for softballANDREW CLARK Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest softball is preparing for another weekend’s slate of games at the William Jewell Tournament March 2-3 in Liberty, Missouri.
The Bearcats have a record of 7-7 — the best record in the program’s first 14 games since 2021. Northwest offensively ranks first in the MIAA with a .427 on-base percentage, while the team is also third in the league in batting average (.334), home runs (11) and walks (58).
Coach Naomi Tellez said even though the Bearcats offense looks good on paper, the offense is not quite where it needs to be yet.
“The biggest thing for us right now is, even though our offensive numbers are good, it just doesn’t feel good,” Tellez said. “Like, our two speedy kids obviously can just touch the ball and run. That’s never gonna slump, but, you know, our 3-4-5 hitters have kind of gone through the wringer for maybe, you know, the past six or seven games.”
When Northwest travels to Liberty, it will take on William Jewell (6-8) and Wayne State (2-2) in two doubleheaders.
The two William Jewell games will feature a matchup of a productive offense by Northwest and a dominant pitching staff for Jewell. The Cardinal pitchers are coming into the contest with an earned run average of 3.06, and they’ve held opponents to a .283 batting average.
The key to both games may be each team’s weaker half, Northwest’s pitching and defense versus the Jewell offense. The Bearcats’ pitching staff has a 5.03 earned run average — ranked 12th in the MIAA. Their defense also has a .955 fielding percentage, which ranks 10th. For Jewell, the offense is only hitting .243 as a team and
has a .323 on-base percentage.
One of the Bearcats who will look to help on the defensive side is junior shortstop Annie Gahan. The Kirkwood transfer saw her first action in a Bearcat uniform in the Washburn Invitational Feb. 23-25. Gahan started all five games at shortstop, with only one error on 19 opportunities, while going 5-for13 at the plate with four RBIs.
Tellez said the plan was always to have Gahan at shortstop, with senior Lela Bryant at third base and junior Skylar Pieper at first base. But, plans changed when Gahan started to have elbow pain in the fall and ended up having surgery on her ulnar collateral nerve in November.
“
The biggest thing for us right now is, even though our offensive numbers are good, it just doesn’t feel good.”
NAOMI TELLEZ
SOFTBALL COACH
Gahan said she knew she was going to miss the first few weeks of the season when she planned the surgery. But, she was cleared to return by Northwest’s Head Athletic Trainer Matt Cannella Feb. 18.
After not participating in scrimmages from November to February, Gahan said she was surprised to see her name in the lineup before the 2-1 win against St. Cloud State Feb. 23.
“I was not really expecting it just because it was like my first game back,” Gahan said. “So, it was a good feeling to know that, like, even though I had been hurt, (Tellez) had the faith in me to go out there and do what I gotta do to help the team win.”
Gahan said she takes pride in backing up her pitchers at shortstop. By playing good defense, Gahan said she hopes to take some pressure off the pitchers and allow them to relax.
The William Jewell Tournament is the last chance for the Bearcats to get games in before the start of MIAA play. Gahan said one thing the team needs to improve upon is the ability to bounce back after a loss in the first game of a doubleheader. This season, Northwest’s record after losing Game 1 of a doubleheader is 1-3, with the lone win coming against Minnesota-Crookston Feb. 25.
“I think just to kind of build confidence as a team and keep our energy up after games because all of our games are doubleheaders, “ Gahan said about the team’s focus going forward. “So, obviously you have to have a lot of energy to come into the game like that, and so I think just keeping our energy up and just staying positive — even if you aren’t having the best game — is what’s gonna win you games.”
expected physicality from Chillicothe.
“Chillicothe’s got two bigs who do most of their scoring,” Vierthaler said. “So we need to keep them out of the paint, on defense at least.”
However, Stoecklein said when it comes to preparing for districts, it’s not just about focusing on the other teams.
“You focus on yourselves and what you need to improve on — and then who you might face,” Stoecklein said.
For the 2022-23 season, Maryville made it to the district championship before falling 51-46 to top-seeded Lafayette-St. Joseph March 3, 2023, at St. Joseph-Benton High School.
The Spoofhounds will look to change their fate as they search for their first district title since 2019. And, they’ll do so at a similar site with Lafayette being the host. When it comes to tough environments, Vierthaler said he just worries about himself and his team.
“My mindset, first of all, is just to drown out the crowd,” Vierthaler said. “And, it shouldn’t matter to us because we’ve played big games before.”
This season, Northwest women’s basketball had been fi ghting for the top spot in the MIAA standings. The Bearcats sat third in the conference standings going into their last matchup inside Bearcat Arena this season with the team atop the standings, Missouri Western, Feb. 24. However, Northwest fell to its U.S. Highway 71 foe in blowout fashion with a score of 67-44.
The Griffons were able to lock up the first seed in the MIAA Tournament March 6-10, and now the Bearcats will have to fight for seeding in the last week of the regular season where. Northwest is playing its final two games on the road.
First, they face Central Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 29 in Edmond, Oklahoma. The last time the Bearcats played the Bronchos it ended in an upset as Central won in 71-57 fashion Jan. 18.
Coach Austin Meyer has been preparing his squad with film from its last matchup against Central. He said he hopes to get a little revenge from the last time the two teams met.
“Numbers-wise, defensively, they aren’t as good Western, but they are a good defensive team,” Meyer said. “They get in lanes — it’s a different look — and we gotta take care of the ball, can’t give them live-ball turnovers. Kind of the same stuff we talked about during Western’s game. And, we know where we are at this season, it is a huge game for us.”
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UP NEXT
NW vs. Central Oklahoma 5:30 p.m. Feb. 29 Edmond, Oklahoma
Northwest’s track and fi eld teams competed at the MIAA Indoor Championships Feb. 23-25 in Topeka, Kansas. The Bearcats took home first place in six separate events for men and women.
Northwest’s track and field teams will have
NW vs. Missouri Southern 1:30 p.m. March 2 Joplin, Missouri 22
qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships.
For the Northwest women, they finished the three-day competition in second place with 108 points. They only trailed Pittsburg State, who ended with 221 total points. It was the third straight year of the women finishing as runners-up to the Gorillas. Coach Brandon Masters said he was really happy with how the women performed. Masters
said the coaches thought there was a pretty good chance the team would finish highly at the conference meet.
“Our women were fantastic from the beginning and really put themselves in a place to shine,” Masters said. “We thought we could be second without a whole lot of issues.”
Freshman Jadyn Barnes won the 600-yard run with a time of 1:23.10. Junior Luisarys Toledo won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:11.01. The distance medley relay team of juniors Bailey Blake and Alyna Thibault and sophomores Lydia McGlocklin and Whitney Post ran a first-place time of 11:56.16.
In the 400-meter dash, senior Tiffany Hughey took first with a time of 52.65 — a program record, a MIAA Indoor Championship record and the best mark in Division II this season.
The Bearcat men finished in third place behind Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. Northwest tallied 75.5 points, while the Lions posted 83 and the Gorillas scored 212. Masters said the men struggled on the first day, and after a team meeting, was pleased with how the team responded.
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After title win, Bearcat men aim to stay focused in final week of regular season
Northwest men’s basketball once again sits atop the MIAA after clinching its 11th-straight conference regular season title with a 65-57 win over Missouri Western Feb. 24. With the No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament March 6-10 already secured, the Bearcats look to close out the regular season on the road against Central Oklahoma Feb. 29 in Edmond, Oklahoma, and Missouri Southern March 1 in Joplin, Missouri. Junior forward Byron Alexander said there can be some late-season slippage with titles already won, but he believes the team will stay focused.
“It is kind of difficult,” Alexander said. “I think
UP NEXT NW vs. Central Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29 Edmond, Oklahoma NW vs. Missouri Southern 3:30 p.m. March 2 Joplin, Missouri
the main thing we need to worry about is the games coming. They’re two teams that are capable of playing well and can beat us. So, we need to just keep the mindset of, ‘Keep getting wins, keep playing hard and keep competing.’”
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