NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
Kitchen fire occurs in local apartment, building cleared
For most, it was a regular Saturday night.
For those who live in Tower View Apartments on Walnut Street, it involved sirens, evacuation and fire.
The Maryville Fire Department was paged at 10:33 p.m. Saturday, regarding a grease fire.
Maryville Fire Chief Jace Pine said apartments three and one were the only affected areas in the building.
“There was some water damage to apartment one from suppression efforts, but the fire damage was contained to apartment three with a little bit of smoke smell, probably in the main common hallway,” Pine said.
Along with the Maryville Fire Department, the University Police Department, Maryville Police Department, Jackson Township Rural Fire Protection District and Nodaway County Ambulance District also arrived at the scene.
Pine said the fire was put out by 10:42 p.m. and the scene cleared by 11:35 p.m. There were no injuries due to the fire.
The Maryville Fire Department is primarily a volunteer department. Despite this, Pine said the response time that night was commendable.
“Jackson Township runs automatic mutual aid with us, and they brought two or three trucks and quite a few members as well,” Pine said. “So for a volunteer department, we had a great response and a great fire knockdown, able to contain that to the one apartment.”
Once the fire department got to the apartments, Pine said it was able to
access apartment three through the main hallway.
“They opened the apartment door to find heavy smoke conditions inside and advanced into the kitchen,” Pine said.
Pine said there were no issues extinguishing the fire and that it was contained in the kitchen of apartment three. Otherwise, the only other damage was caused by smoke.
Because the resident of apartment three shut her door on her way out, Pine said, the fire and a majority of the smoke were contained while other residents evacuated.
“You know, that was probably a big contributing factor to not having extreme fire spread for this incident was closing that door and containing it to that apartment,” Pine said.
Along with shutting doors, Pine said he also recommends individuals have either a small fire extinguisher or fire blanket on hand in their household.
He also said when cooking, it is important to stay nearby at all times because a fire could occur unexpectedly.
“This was a pretty good example of how quickly a cooking fire can get out of hand, how quickly a cooking fire can be ignited,” Pine said. “The two takeaways from that are always, always, always be present and vigilant while you’re cooking, regardless of what that might be, and also ensure you close the door while you sleep at night and on your way out of an apartment building.”
Following the fire, Pine said the resident of apartment three found a different place to sleep for the night. He said apartment three is not in livable condition.
“I don’t know if the landlord will be able to find her a place to go for the time being, but it is going to have to have some pretty serious remodel on the inside,” Pine said.
From tight budgets to rigorous requirements to vast competition, it is often difficult for small towns and communities to receive financial support in the form of grants.
Maryville, however, has consistently secured numerous grants for its infrastructure and development projects over the years. The town — with just over 10,000 residents — is able to do this largely due to one thing: a detailed city comprehensive plan.
Maryville’s comprehensive plan was adopted in 2012 and developed by RDG Planning & Design. Now that most of its original priorities are completed or are expected to be completed by spring 2026, the city is developing a new comprehensive plan called Maryville Momentum 2045.
Software transition begins first phase, end goal 2028
The University is transitioning into a different enterprise system — a project said to affect every office on campus.
An enterprise system is the software used to manage, track and control business operations. Previously, Northwest has used the enterprise system Ellucian Banner to manage the finance, human resources, employee information and student information on campus. Workday will eventually replace Ellucian Banner.
Northwest’s executive sponsor for the project Stacy Carrick is heading the overall project. She said she communicates between Northwest’s leadership team and the project implementation team regarding the strategic plan. The project implementation team is a group of faculty members who are steering the progress of the transition.
She said Workday will allow for integration within the system and include more mobile features.
“Workday is a much more modern, what they call a cloudbased system,” Carrick said. “So there’s going to be more streamlined processes…It’s going to be a much easier flow, much more modern technology, being able to do more things on your phone, which is what our current generation is all about.”
To organize all the necessary information, Carrick said 16 systems are used within Ellucian Banner. Now with Workday, only six systems will be needed.
A grease fire was put out Sept. 6 in apartment three of the Tower View Apartments. Maryville Fire Chief Jace Pine said the department had great response time, having the scene cleared within an hour after they were paged.
ANNA BAILEY NEWS EDITOR
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
DAKOTA OSWALT Managing Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
Church offers car services through clinic
RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @RaieaSalerno
The heat blazed as mechanics fulfilled their volunteer obligation — fixing cars to prepare for winter, no matter how many they had to work on.
Laura Street Baptist Church hosted its second car clinic 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 after a two-year hiatus. The clinic provides free car services for single mothers and widows in the community who sign up, including oil changes, battery replacements and brake inspections. The services aimed to safely prepare vehicles for the wintertime.
Maryville community member Shelina Ferguson is a single parent, and heard of the event through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She said she is thankful for any sort of help she receives from the community.
“I don’t know what all they (Laura Street Baptist Church) do, but I’m thankful for whatever,” Ferguson said. “They asked if I needed anything done, I said I really didn’t know what my vehicle needed, but I knew that I was close for an oil change, and so I’m grateful for that.”
Laura Street Baptist Church coordinated with AutoZone to help provide parts and services. The total cost of the parts donated totaled nearly $20,000.
Cale Sterling, an employee at AutoZone, worked as the shop manager during the event.
He called in orders for parts as needed to help repair vehicles.
He said the church had great success with the event two years ago and wanted to bring it back.
“I’m not sure why, but they weren’t able to do it last year,” Sterling said. “Whenever I came into the church — I had joined in
my Bible Study — we had been talking about stuff we can do to help the community out.”
Sterling said 14 cars were worked on at the clinic two years ago. The number of participants doubled this year with an estimated 28 slots filled. He said he had more parents-in-need on call in case the clinic had the space and time to accommodate them.
Since the car clinic was a big success, Sterling hopes it will happen next year, and he said he is ready to help out again.
One mechanic at the event, Kenneth Browning, is from Patton, Missouri, but goes to Laura Street Baptist Church with his girlfriend, who had told him about the car clinic.
Browning drove an hour for the event. He expressed his desire to use his skills to help women in the community.
“I just hate to see when wom-
New restaurant in The Hangar provides seasonal menu, customer talks encounter
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
Maryville residents can now add a new stop to their evening meal rotation. Located in The Hanger Entertainment Com-
plex, Stage Door Bistro is in its third week of business.
The farm-to-table restaurant has a variable menu that will shift with the seasons as different products are available from local vendors.
Ravenwood resident Carol Morin made a visit to Stage Door Bistro during its second week of business. She said considering the early dinner time it had been when she visited, the restaurant was filled with a considerable number of people.
Once seated, Morin said she ordered the jalapeno popper wontons for an appetizer, which she described as great-tasting and rightfully spicy. Following, she ordered the BBQ brisket platter, which came with a side of macaroni and cheese and a baked potato.
“I mean…the food was good, the atmosphere was good,” Morin said. “Our waitress was just as sweet as she could be.”
en who can’t afford to maintain their car, you know, (are) going to the wintertime with inadequate stuff,” Browning said. “I like working on stuff.”
He said this event takes a lot of stress off those who cannot afford regular services to maintain their vehicles, and he was happy to help. Melissa Trickle is a volunteer helping with food to serve to mothers who stop by alone or with their children. She said she has enjoyed caring for the children at this pop-up, allowing mothers a space to relax during hard times. She watched the children as the mothers relaxed inside the church while their cars underwent servicing.
She said she thinks other communities and churches should offer similar services to help the public, knowing what a big difference it makes in Maryville.
“I think there’s a need for it
in our community,” Trickle said. “You know, not everybody has somebody that can fix their car for them. People do need that in our community.”
Browning said he felt the same way, and is open to participating in future service opportunities similar to the one by Laura Street Baptist Church.
Sterling said free community events allow those in need to focus their finances on other priorities that may be more important. He said it was a blessing to help others in his community, and has enjoyed it so far.
Ferguson said the church should consider hosting this event again in the future, since it allowed her some relief regarding her car. She said she hopes it will do the same for others in the future.
“With being a single parent, any little bit helps,” Ferguson said. “I think it’s amazing.”
Our waitress was just as sweet as she could be.”
CAROL MORIN STAGE DOOR BISTRO CUSTOMER “
Morin said she wished she could have ordered the tiramisu for dessert, but was too full from her meal.
The mission of Stage Door Bistro is to welcome its guests with heartfelt service, hospitality and food that honors local roots, according to the Stage Door Bistro website.
“We believe that great food starts at the source, which is why our dishes highlight produce, meats, and dairy sourced from nearby farms and artisans we know and trust,” Stage Door Bistro’s website said.
Overall, Morin said her experi-
ence was good; however, she said inside the restaurant was colder than she would have preferred. She recommends others bring a sweater with them while visiting.
Morin also said during her experience, the service was slow; however, she believes they will become quicker once they have been in service longer.
“Not that we’re ever in a hurry, but you know, some people are, and I think that might discourage people that it did take a while,” Morin said.
Morin posted a comment under a Facebook post on the Stage Door Bistro’s page, sharing what she ate and describing her experience. In the comment, she mentioned the slow service.
Stage Door Bistro replied to Morin’s comment, saying they apologize for being slow and appreciate her support.
“We apologize for it being a bit chilly and slow; however, we will speed up as we get into the swing of things,” the comment said.
Morin said she is glad Stage Door Bistro is in Maryville. She said she plans on returning to the restaurant, and she believes other community members will also enjoy their time there.
Stage Door Bistro is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and open 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The first open hour of business Wednesday through Saturday is also a happy hour.
Maryville community member Bryan Sobotka helps fix a car during the Laura Street Baptist Church car clinic Sept. 6. This is the second car clinic hosted by the church.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
The Hangar employee Alex Chaney prepares an order at the business’ new restaurant Stage Door Bistro Aug. 27. The Hangar is located at 1602 S. Main St. in Maryville, which also features a theater and an arcade.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING
City welcomes new boutique, offers new style
In Maryville, a new store may have caught the eyes of those looking to expand their closet. The store, called Rustic Revival Boutique, officially opened its doors Aug. 8, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Maryville had been without a major clothing store outlet until the recent addition of Marshalls in the fall of 2023. Marshalls, however, has a limited selection of clothing, and those looking outside the trends might come up short. For those, a solution has been found.
Rustic Revival Boutique is a Western-inspired clothing store featuring a mix of styles. Positioned on the outside of the town square at 114 E. Second St., the boutique has thrown itself onto the list of local businesses on the strip near the center of town.
Owner Kenna Coulter is the mind and face behind Rustic Revival Boutique. She said she
created the store with the idea of capturing something more than just an outfit; she wanted to show all the joys of rural life.
“I love Western fashion and I could never find it anywhere,” Coulter said. “And if you can, I could never find it for a reasonable price.”
Coulter said she focuses on keeping her prices reasonable while still providing a high-quality product. She has also recently added Wednesdays to the store’s days of operation, making the store open to the public four days a week instead of three.
Coulter said she wants to continue to grow her business.
The addition of another business day and a new fall-themed product drop that just came out — from Halloween-inspired tees to farmer-themed sweatshirts for cold nights during harvest season — are two of her current outreach attempts.
“We are looking to...stay consistent and build,” Coulter said. With brand growth comes new products for the store, and
Coulter said she already has her path set. As of now, her store consists of items such as home décor, accessories and apparel.
Maryville resident Max Reiff said Rustic Revival Boutique is different from what has seen in Maryville.
“I really enjoyed the home décor section,” Reiff said. “The style is very unique and nothing like I’ve seen in Maryville.”
Reiff said the section offers everything from throw pillows
to picture frames, and shows Coulters’ creative and artistic inclinations outside of clothing.
Coulter said she is complacent about how the store is doing right now, but she is also preparing for future growth in the store behind the scenes.
“I’m trying to expand a little bit at a time, but I’m hoping (it happens) sooner than later,” Coulter said.
Coulter said she realizes her store may not have the funding
Marshalls does, but she said the effort she puts in and the quality of her products both surpass that of the in-town competitors.
Reiff agreed with this; he said he believes Maryville residents will enjoy Rustic Revival Boutique.
“Marshalls has a much more in-trend style,” Reiff said. “This store offers a more niche collection for the people who prefer that Western style.”
Northwest alum prepares to open her own bookstore, cafe
She has always been a storyteller. Now, her love of writing has led her to open a space for writers to share the same love of storytelling.
Plot Twist Café, created by local author and Northwest alum Bailey Harms, will soon open in November at 215 W. Fifth St.
“It’s called that because it’s a book cafe,” Harms said. “But also, when I was running market research in town, several people recommended that exact name. So it seems perfect.”
Harms said she hopes to support local and regional authors through her business by promoting creativity and confidence with writers in the area. Just like many entrepreneurs, she started her creative
journey at a young age.
She has been writing since she was in middle school. She has penned over a dozen novels and has published eight. Apart from writing, she has always had the dream of opening a bookstore. She started a Kickstarter this summer, July 25, that ended Aug. 24, having successfully funded and surpassed the campaign goal of $15,000.
Kickstarter is an online crowdfunding platform where the public can help donate funds to various projects. Harms had merchandise donors could receive based on their donation amount. It is an all-or-nothing platform, meaning if a project is not fully funded by the deadline, no money will be collected and allocated toward the project.
The funds will help build the cafe, license the building and buy decor and books.
“Ever since I started college here, I’ve been wanting a bookstore,” Harms said.
“There hasn’t been one since long before I started here, so
I’ve just really never known Maryville with a bookstore. This spring, I got the idea to open a bookstore.”
Harms said the total cost of Plot Twist Café will be around $25,000-30,000. On her Kickstarter, it said the total start-up cost will be around $32,000.
Half of the funds will be from her own savings, and the other half will be from the Kickstarter campaign that ran over the summer.
“This funding is going to go towards building the cafe,” Harms said. “The building I have picked out is perfect for the bookstore side of things, but there is not a dedicated cafe space in terms of sink and counter space and stuff. So a decent amount of the budget will go to that.”
Like Harms, Senior Instructor of Communication and Mass Media Jason Offutt is also an author. He said he was excited to hear about the cafe opening, since any endeavors to promote reading in a community is a good effort. He said it helps broaden
the mind.
He said no matter the reading genre, whether it is a novel or comic book, it helps boost creative thought.
“Anything that promotes reading, I’m completely behind it,” Offutt said. “I’m a big fan of libraries. I’m a big fan of bookstores. Hopefully, this does help promote reading.”
Harms said she agrees bookstores and libraries are good for communities.
While promoting local and regional authors, she plans to have book signings at Plot Twist Café, and said she hopes to start with Offutt.
Offutt said Maryville has many talented people, and he is proud a Northwest student is working to put them on display, including with the book signings. He said she should be proud to be opening a store, as he respects business owners and the effort they put into their businesses. Harms said she wants to engage with her community as much as possible. She said the space at Plot Twist Café will feature commodities like board games so people can engage with the cafe, even if they decide not to buy books.
“I want it to be a community and family-friendly space that people can enjoy while sipping drinks,” Harms said. “It’s also just more access to books. Making literature accessible to the public is never bad. It’s always a positive.”
Rustic Revival Boutique employee Layna Murphy writes down reminders for tasks that need to be completed for the shop Sept. 5. The new boutique is located at 114 E. Second St.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
CRIME LOG
for the week of Sept. 11
Maryville Department of Public Safety
Sept. 8
There was a summons issued to Ella A. Simon, 21, for failure to obey a school bus stop sign on the 200 block of East Edwards Street.
Sept. 3
There is an ongoing investigation for theft of services on the 400 block of West Coopers Street.
There was a summons issued to Kelsey B. Moore, 34, for driving while intoxicated, excessive acceleration, failure to maintain financial responsibility and no headlamps after dusk on the 500 block of North Buchanan Street.
There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 900 block of North Main Street.
Sept. 2
A license plate was recovered at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.
Sept. 1
A purse was recovered at the Bilby Conservation Area.
Aug. 31
There was a summons issued to Diego A. Barron, 20, for minor in possession, possession of a fake ID and failure to comply on the 1700 block of East First Street.
Aug. 30 There was a summons issued to Thomas W. Dorris 63, for no valid driver’s licence, failure to maintain financial responsibility and equipment violation on the 1200 block of South Main Street.
There is an ongoing investigation for a hit and run at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.
Aug. 27
There is an ongoing investigation for domestic assault on the 200 block of Volunteer Avenue.
Aug. 26
A summons was issued to Savannah M. Colwell, 20, for minor in possession and leaving the scene of an accident on the 300 block of East Summit Drive.
Aug. 23
There is an ongoing investigation for a boat accident at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.
FROM A1
The city decided to partner with the same company once again. Amy Haase, RDG Planning & Design urban planner and principal, said the new comprehensive plan will evaluate key priorities and potential growth opportunities in the city over the next 10-20 years. Haase said community participation is important, and the plan should be driven by all Maryville residents.
“I think we try really hard to get as much community input as we can,” Haase said. “We’ve had monthly polling surveys going on, and we’ve been getting some good feedback from that. We had kind of a community roundtable event earlier in the summer that was also really well-attended, and got some really good feedback from that.”
The monthly polls on the Maryville Momentum 2045 website each highlight a different element of the new plan. The previous month’s questions are still available to be answered through the site as well.
Community members were able to learn about the plan and give their suggestions during design workshops 5-7 p.m. Sept. 3 and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 4, both at the Maryville Public Safety building. Haase and Laura Peters, RDG Planning & Design urban planner and design professional, were at these workshops to meet with residents and sketch their ideas for land use in real time.
Maryville City Manager Ryan Heiland said his main hope for the workshops was to gather ideas.
“Whether it’s the downtown area, whether it’s their specific neighborhood, things that they would like to see included in that 20-year vision of Maryville…the more ideas, the more input, the
Senate swears in nine members
While filling vacancies at the Sept. 9 meeting, Student Senate was held up on who to vote in for inclusion representatives.
Senate began with three inclusion representative positions that needed to be filled. The nominated candidates were On-Campus Rep. Emily Thrash, sophomore Cathryn Saboor and senior Aleigha Horton.
Horton said she wants to be an inclusion representative because she wants to help individuals with mental and physical disabilities feel more included on campus. Through her position at Nodaway County Services, and as an off-campus representative and an inclusion committee member on Senate last year, she believed there was a need for this.
“I was on inclusion last year for my job as a health care worker,” Horton said. “I worked there specifically because I wanted to make sure that all of our events that we had on campus was inclusive for anyone of any physical or mental capacity.”
Thrash said she hopes to help students feel more connected with their culture, as she is adopted and understands the struggle of feeling disconnected from her culture.
She was on the inclusion committee her first year on Senate. Thrash’s goal this year was to continue her membership on the inclusion committee.
Saboor was referred to the position by Inclusion Rep. Maria Nino-Elliot. Both are a part of the Center for Engagement and Community Connections.
WORKDAY CONTINUED FROM A1
Senior Class Rep. Alora Bucey asked Saboor why she wanted to join Senate. Saboor said she understands what it is like to be a background voice on campus, and wanted to help bring those voices out for others.
“Being able to advocate for people to be their bigger voice is something that I want to do,” Saboor said.
After discussion, Nino-Elliot mentioned concerns over the Center for Engagement and Community Connections wanting to have a freshman be an inclusion representative.
Eventually, Senators voted Thrash and Saboor in to fill two of the three inclusion representative positions, leaving one spot vacant.
Freshman Nepali student Roshni Lama and sophomore Emilia Ramanauskas ran for the remaining two international representative positions.
Ramanauskas said she comes from multiple backgrounds as her parents are from Lithuania. She said she has had an opportunity to visit various countries like Spain and Morocco as an effort to recruit more international students on campus.
She said she aims to bring more cultural awareness and diversity to Northwest as an international representative.
Lama explained that her country’s current politics and protests have affected her, and this is what inspired her to run for the position.
“I’m from Nepal, it’s a small country,” Lama said. “On September 8, we had a big protest from the Gen Z generation. It
Northwest is in the first phase of the implementation called Workday Platform, according to Northwest’s Workday information webpage. This portion focuses on University faculty and staff, and will go live July 1, 2026.
Krista Barcus, a member of Northwest’s Workday steering team, said by using Workday, the University’s future will be benefited.
“We are very paper-driven,” Barcus said. “A lot of our processes that we have for employees is paper, and so we will go to having that housed in one system, and those transactions will be done electronically instead of on paper...
Workday will help us be more efficient, timely
was a protest talking about the country’s corruption that has been going on for ages and ages, and that took a really bad turn. We lost 20 lives that day, and some of them were students.” Lama said she was thankful for the moment to have a chance
and accurate for our employee information.”
Barcus said every time someone manually enters data into the system, there is room for error. Workday will minimize this concern.
Carrick agreed with this; she said processes will be more streamlined while using the new platform.
“Employees are going to have access to the information at their fingertips,” Carrick said.
Because Workday will handle employee information, input from faculty and staff it is important to the workday steering team.
To explain, she used the example of hiring a new employee. She said once a someone is hired, paperwork is submitted to the human resources office to allow that employee to be set up in the necessary systems. As of now, that work is done manually, but with Workday, the process will become automated.
to represent other international students on campus, and aims to build connections and help international students feel safe on campus. Lama and Ramanauskas were voted in for both of the international representative positions.
Carrick said the payroll system and cycle topics will continue to be discussed during the implementation process. She said a decision has yet to be made.
“Our payroll today, we’re not able to pay as frequently as some of our employees would like us to,” Carrick said. “We pay monthly, and Workday will allow us to have the functionality to pay it on a more streamlined basis, maybe every two weeks. ”
The second and final phase of Workday will involve students. This implementation will begin March 2026, but will not go live until February 2028. Carrick said students will not notice any differences until it goes live.
It is expected that once the deliverables from the Workday Student phase go live, the transition into the new system will be complete.
better,” Heiland said.
Another aspect of the Maryville Momentum 2045 website is an interactive map of the city. Residents can place a green marker over an area to suggest their ideas for improvement. For concerns or issues they see in town, they can place a red marker. At the time of this publication, 157 contributions have been made to the map. All markers are anonymous.
One issue many residents seem to have is with roads, and Haase said street connectivity — especially on the south side of town — has been brought up a lot through these conversations. The 2012 plan introduced the South Main Corridor Improvement project, which includes adding a third lane to South Main Street. Haase said RDG Planning & Design will build off of those plans.
“Right now, when you’re turning to move around, down around South Main (Street), all that traffic gets onto South Main (Street), and if you just want to move around
and not go through that area all the time, you don’t really have a lot of other alternatives,” Haase said. “That came up at our public meeting, and it continues to be kind of an issue that we’ve heard about.”
Roundabouts can be one safety solution. Recently, two roundabouts were mentioned in regard to the city’s First Street Roadway Improvements; one at First Street and Icon Road, and the other at First Street and Munn Avenue.
While the roundabout plans were not initiated by RDG Planning & Design, Haase said roundabouts aren’t anything her company will shy away from.
“The roundabouts…they’re a great way to slow traffic and decrease the severity of an accident,” Haase said. “The big thing there that the traffic engineers will also tell you is that, in a roundabout, the reason they’re safer is you don’t get T-bone accidents... so that’s what makes them safer.”
Haase said another aspect the community has talked about is
the diversity of housing options for its residents. Specifically, rental options are a topic she said has both come up in conversation and been marked on the map.
“We definitely need new housing in the area,” one marker on the map reads. “So many houses are being bought up by landlords and flipping into apartments of rentals. We need affordable housing for regular people or soon all you’re going to have is college kids.”
Virginia Gumm and her daughter Teresa Gumm, both Northwest graduates, attended the Sept. 3 workshop. Teresa Gumm said they did this because they are trying to get some land developed. Virginia Gumm said her parents built the Mary Mart Shopping Center on South Main Street. Teresa Gumm said her parents had a hand in many other of the city’s properties and businesses over the years.
“They’ve helped grow the town of Maryville, for sure,” Teresa Gumm. “Now we’re just trying to
get some more growth, because she’s (Virginia Gumm’s) got key pieces of property, actually, that are considered the gateway to the city, on the south end.”
Teresa Gumm said she was told in the workshop that Maryville has around 240 beds hotel-wise, but it needs over 300. Both her and Virginia Gumm agree the city should provide that service.
“It’s actually our only real possibility to progress big…We want to have the best to be the best,” Virginia Gumm said.
Former City Councilman Jeff Funston, who served one threeyear term from 2012-2015, also made an appearance at the Sept. 3 design workshop. He said he was part of the last city comprehensive plan, and said he’s glad to see progress in Maryville.
“It takes a lot of work to keep moving forward in the quality of life in the community… (I’m) pleased to see the effort being put forth here to keep Maryville…going in a positive direction,” Funston said. “I think we’ve done an amazing job, considering we’re out of the rail system, out of the interstate system, Maryville has been able to move forward.”
Heiland said the main aspect he’s noticed from the community is the level of interest and involvement the people seem to have in the process, especially through the online element of it.
“I think there’s been a lot of input and ideas from that part of it, but other than that, I think people are really interested in infrastructure improvements,” Heiland said. “I think they’re interested in more (of)...the aesthetics of the community and what we can do to make things look better as well as function better.”
Consulting services with RDG Planning & Design are set to cost $122,000; Maryville’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes a total of $150,000 for comprehensive plan updates.
Northwest sophomore Cathryn Saboor gets voted into an inclusion representative position during the Student Senate meeting Sept. 9.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @RaieaS
Maryville community members Virginia Gumm, Teresa Gumm and Laura Peters, RDG Planning & Design urban planner and design professional, examine the maps of the Maryville community at the design workshop Sept. 4.
JORDAN WILT CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
There’s no escaping politics; embrace it
HANNAH
CLAYWELL Editor-in-Chief @Hannah_9504
We have reached a point in the United States where you simply must be politically aware. Every day, everyone on this planet — not just this country — receives news about the political state of our country. It’s not a passing thought anymore; you can’t go on social media without seeing multiple posts about the U.S. political leaders. More than 5 billion people around the world are active on social media, so I know most of us are seeing it. No matter which side you are on or who you support, there is too much happening in the political world not to pay attention. It’s important to have a general knowledge of the events happening outside of the U.S. — even if you don’t think it affects you. Most countries are connected to us in some way, so chances are it will impact the U.S. at some point.
I understand that political news pushed to the general public almost always has negative connotations. Out of those who follow political news generally, 82% say the content is overwhelmingly negative, according to the American Survey Center.
It’s hard to want to follow politics when there’s not a lot to look forward to. I have to take breaks when it gets too overpowering in my day-to-day life, and I recommend you do the same. However, you need to stay up-to-date on what’s happening — especially if you are voting.
If you plan on voting in any local or national elections, you have to research what you are voting for. Every vote counts, so make sure you’re proud of that vote.
Almost all of us at this University are old enough to vote, so we’re old enough to care. Register to vote if you’re eligible — Northwest hosts events to help you do this — and don’t push politics out of your life. I’m not going to harp on the “register to vote” campaign, though I think the sentiment will always stand.
I’ll admit, I am an outlier on political knowledge, with my emphasis in reporting being on politics. Even before I knew this was what I wanted to focus on, I had a general knowledge, and it’s getting more important every year.
You can’t pretend politics have no impact on you anymore. It dominates conversations, affects our coursework and influences our social media consumption. You can’t get away from it, and you shouldn’t try.
I’m not saying you need to read all of the political coverage that comes out; I’m saying you need to know how this is affecting you. Politics and our day-to-day lives go handin-hand, and we can’t pretend they don’t.
You may not think it impacts you, but that’s not an excuse to be naive. At some point — right now — it will affect us all.
THE STROLLER:
Your Bearcat is too old for new memes
It’s official — I’m old. I don’t understand half of the references children are making these days, even though I am, selfproclaimed, chronically online. I can feel myself turning into my parents, constantly saying “Huh?” every time a new meme comes around on the internet. Hand me my bifocal lenses. This whole “6…7” meme going around is going to be the death of me. I don’t understand it, and I really don’t
want to, but everyone says it every five seconds. I can’t escape it. I’m filled with blinding hatred every time I hear it.
I just want to scroll on TikTok in peace, but since Generation Alpha has taken over, I can’t. Why are they even on there? I’m fine with an age restriction on TikTok now that I’m officially old.
I have to embrace this new era of life I’m entering — I’m old and I’m not ashamed of
it. I’d rather be old than make these obnoxious jokes. This is the hill I’ll die on. I’ve come to terms with being old — largely because my 15-year-old brother makes sure to tell me every time he sees me. It totally isn’t hurting my feelings at all. At all. Stop asking.
So if you see this Bearcat walking around campus, there’s a good chance I’ll have a cane in hand, wearing an
oversized knit sweater, complaining about the youngsters. I don’t know how I’ll handle any of the stairs anymore. Maybe I’ll start referencing Vines to combat the Generation Alpha humor. Someone needs to take a stand against the death of original — and actually funny — jokes. If that person has to be me, then so be it.
Personal tragedies are not for entertainment; show respect
On a typical Saturday night in Maryville, a likely sight is students walking around town; however, some students decided to make an extra stop this past weekend.
An apartment fire occurred at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. As the sirens blared, it was not a surprise that students started to talk, both in person and online. It is likely some asked what had happened or where the sirens were coming from; but others had decided to take their curiosity up a notch.
The Editorial Board believes making an effort to travel over to the location of the fire is crossing the line of respectful curiosity. If our homes were burning, we would not want people standing and watching. If someone is already nearby, we can understand watching as people leave the building and first responders begin their work. However, making the decision to travel to the site simply to watch is not OK.
There needs to be more respect for personal tragedies, like structural fires, and for those directly impacted by such — no matter the size or effect of the event.
Not only should there be more sensitivity towards those impacted
YOUR VIEW:
Do you think there needs to be more sensitivity during personal tragedies?
by fires, but any personal adversity. This includes car crashes, the loss of a loved one, serious injuries or any event that causes a person to feel negatively affected.
The evening of the fire, there were posts on YikYak from users asking questions similar to, “Who else went to watch the apartment burn down?” This is not OK. Imagine the stress a growing crowd could cause during an active fire. The people could take up space needed by the first responders and their equipment. This can also lead to the first responders not being able to do their jobs, risking people’s lives. Their job is already hard; we should not be making it harder.
It also disregards the emotions of the people who live in the apartments and are likely focused on the possible outcomes of the situation. Overall, we believe this was a disrespectful decision made by those watching.
Recently, structural fires have felt like a semi-frequent experience in Maryville, but just because we are used to seeing the headline does not mean the impact is any less emotional for those involved.
In February 2025, there was a
KYRA ROBBINS Freshman English Education and Criminology
“I do think others don’t quite understand what’s going on, and I think if we just told them — like, educated them what was happening and how important it was — that they would automatically be more sensitive.”
TRAYVON MCCALIB Senior Business Management
house fire, in December 2023, there was an electrical fire at the Nodaway Humane Society and in March 2024, another electrical fire caused multiple tenants at the University Point Apartments to be displaced. In all of these events, people’s and animals’ homes were damaged, and in the house fire, a life was lost. These are serious outcomes of an event made to feel like a joke by people standing outside for fun. This is not a joke and we cannot be treating it in that way.
Every other Thursday, when papers are handed out to students, one of the most popular reads is the crime log. It can be entertaining to look for recognizable names or interesting events. However, these are real people — many of whom are students just like us — and those involved in car accidents or stolen property cases are working through personal adversity.
The Editorial Board is asking us all to keep in mind that personal tragedies are a part of life and not for our entertainment. Next time you witness something, remember it is OK to be curious, but don’t get in the way.
“Yes, because lives could be at stake and human life is precious.”
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
SAVANNAH RANDAL Senior Creative Writing
“I would say yes, just because you don’t always know what the other person is going through. You just have to have that sensitivity, knowing you don’t know all the story.”
OUR VIEW:
ANNA CASE CARTOONIST
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
NEXT WEEK IN SPORTS
NW FB
Texas A&M-Kingsville
1:30 p.m. Sept. 13
Maryville, Missouri
MHS FB
@ Chillicothe
7 p.m. Sept. 12
Chillicothe High School
NW SOC
@ Maryville
4 p.m. Sept. 12
St. Louis, Missouri
vs. Southwest Baptist
3 p.m. Sept. 17 Bearcat Pitch
MHS SB
@ Benton
9 a.m. Sept. 13 Heritage Park
@ Jefferson (Conception Junction)
5 p.m. Sept. 15 Jefferson (Conception Junction)
FIRST WIN
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Northwest player talks leaving an impact on teammates
CLAYTON CULP Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest soccer senior forward Margaret Madden has been playing the game since preschool; now, a few games into her final season, her main goal is finishing strong.
The ’Cats opened up their season Sept. 5 at Bearcat Pitch against the Northern State Wolves, taking a 3-0 win. Madden was able to put one in the back of the net in the 88th minute to get her first goal of the season and put the game away.
“I started playing soccer in preschool, and I always loved it,” Madden said. “My parents put me and my siblings in this sport, and I was the one that stuck with it. Then I moved to Nebraska and kept up with the clubs, and told my parents that if it is anything to do with soccer then it’s a ‘Yes’...(I) knew that soccer was my favorite.”
Madden said after the recruitment process and visit with Northwest, she knew immediate-
Using the Ichabods’ mistakes against them came into play during the second quarter, with senior linebacker Parker Bowen collecting an interception. The Bearcats did not turn the miscue into points, however, as an Ichabod intercepted the ball in the endzone. Still in the lead at the third quarter, the Bearcats scored another touchdown on an 11-yard run from Myers to put the score up 20-0. Myers was credited 50 yards rushing against Washburn.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Zechariah Owens saw the field against the Ichabods and helped the team extend its lead 27-0 with a 17-yard pass to senior tight end Gannon Gragert for a touchdown. The Ichabods answered back with a 69-yard touchdown pass and an extra point in the fourth quarter for their only score of the game, avoiding the shutout.
“We took a great step week two; thought we played tremendously better,” McMenamin said. “Was it luck? Skill? I don’t know. Anybody can do it once, we’ll see what happens again. I think we’ll take another giant step because these kids love playing with each other. They celebrate together.”
Redshirt freshman running back Quincy Torry scored the last touchdown of the game off a 77-yard drive to put the final score 34-7.
Taking the win in week two, the ’Cats have high expectations going into week three against Texas A&M Kingsville. The last time they were matched up with the Javelinas was in 2010 when they took a 16-7 loss. Kickoff against the Javelinas will be 1:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at Bearcat Stadium.
“We’re not the most talented group, you know; very few times are you ever going to be the most talented group,” McMenamin said. “But these guys play their butts off, and they care for each other. The locker room is such a good spot right now because, whether you’re a freshman or a senior, you’re one of us. It’s the Bearcat DNA.”
ly it would be the place for her; she said she felt most at home and welcomed at Northwest.
“I came here on a visit and got to go with some other girls on the team; and something different about mine (from others’ visits) was I got to tour the school with them (the soccer players) instead of the coaches, and so I got to meet more of the team and the girls, and I just loved everyone,” Madden said. “The coaches were super nice; very understanding of the process and everything.”
Before recruitment at Northwest, Madden said she experienced a major setback that made finding a new home more diffi-
VOLLEYBALL
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cult, though her time at Northwest has been a major comeback.
“When I was going through my recruitment process at my very first college — when I was a sophomore — I tore my ACL and I had to kind of start everything from scratch,” Madden said.
With this being Madden’s senior year, she said she really wants to focus on the team and making the conference tournament.
“For this season, I want to have more of a team-oriented mindset,” Madden said. “I really want us to be great and make the conference tournament; and since it’s my senior season, I really want to make the regional tournament again. The goal is to have a lot of
“I feel like Drury has potential to do that (pressure),” Woerth said. “Sometimes you put the pressure on yourself, and even if we play a lower team, we might find ourselves in a situation where we’re making too many errors and not serving or passing well.”
One of the players who stood out to Woerth during the Fort Hays State Tournament was senior outside hitter Maja Noehrer, who played all six rotations during the tournament — something she is not used to.
“I thought Maja (Noehrer) stepped in and did
SOFTBALL
CONTINUED FROM A1
Although the ’Hounds tallied multiple errors in the field, Kemper said the defense was better than in past games. On the mound, Hornickel said she tries to brush the miscues off and move on.
“I try to focus in more and not let it get to me,” Hornickel said. “Sometimes it doesn’t, but I’ve got to do my job and trust the defense to do theirs; and if
fun with this last year and get to know all the girls, and just enjoy my last season of soccer, and not have any regrets.”
Head coach Marc Gordon is hoping Madden, with her level of experience, will help shape the team this season as they continue.
“We’re still trying to sort each other out a little bit; we have some new faces and things,” Gordon said. “I think that our speed of play can still improve.”
The ’Cats will finish off week three of the regular season with a game 4 p.m. Sept. 12 in St. Louis as they kick off against the Maryville Saints.
a nice job playing six rotations, playing middle back, giving us stability in that area,” Woerth said. “I feel like her serve is very good and can get people out of system.”
Looking ahead to the Drury Tournament, the Bearcats are preparing for whatever is to come their way — whether it’s a short serve or a cut hit to the back row.
The team is set to serve against Lane 11 a.m. Sept. 12 in Springfield to start its tournament.
“We really want to build on that consistency,” Noehrer said. “We’re a pretty new team, I feel like we have a lot of things to work on, but I also see a lot of potential. I see us being under the top teams in our conference.”
not, then just move on to the next batter.”
Hornickel gave her defense the opportunity to step up and make a big play when Berry hit the ball up the middle, all the way to the fence.
Spoofhound sophomore center fielder Mercedes Hall collected the ball and relayed it to sophomore shortstop Jesslyn Grayson, who threw it to sophomore third baseman Avah Eckley, who made the tag and got the out.
“It was a big out for us be-
cause that would have been a triple in the books, so it was a huge momentum killer for them and it momentum uplift us,” Kemper said.
Kemper said she is hoping the team will bring the energy and what they learned into its game against Lafayette (St. Joseph). The ’Hounds have fallen to the Fighting Irish (1-2) in every game since Oct. 9, 2020, where Maryville edged by 5-3. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 11 in St. Joseph.
Northwest soccer senior forward Margaret Madden prepares to cross the ball in the team’s 3-0 victory over Northern
State Sept. 5. Madden’s goals for her senior season are to have fun and make the regional tournament.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
BY ANNA CASE DESIGNER
Northwest tennis team highlights diversity
LEAH COX Asst. Sports Editor | @byleahcox
Every day, junior tennis player Bernardo Henriques laces up his shoes and begins the 15-minute walk from his home to the
tennis courts at Northwest, a big difference from his home city of Matosinhos, Portugal.
Being an international student without a driver’s license in the U.S., he walks or leans on his teammates and team manag-
er for rides — whether it’s a latenight trip to Walmart or an offcampus activity.
For him, everyday life is a lesson in adaptation, learning to navigate a new town and culture. Head coach Mark Rosewell said Henriques’ experience is far from unique. This season, 15 of the 18 men’s and women’s tennis players come from outside the United States, each adjusting to life in Maryville while pursuing their dreams on and off the court.
“College tennis, really, in Division II, is a majority of international players because the whole world plays tennis,” Rosewell said. “Now we’ve been doing this here at Northwest for about 50 years.”
Portugal
For Henriques, tennis has always been a family affair. Growing up in Portugal, he watched his father play and quickly developed the same passion for the sport. After competing for more than a decade, the game has taken him across the world.
Moving to Maryville has been a major adjustment. From the moment he arrived, Henriques said he noticed the difference in atmosphere and competition compared to back home.
“It’s very different here,” Henriques said. “The environment is really good, the energy. I really enjoy playing here. I think it’s what I need now, just to have this kind of energy and motivation every day. I love it.”
The transition to being a student-athlete in the United States has been especially meaningful to Henriques. He said in Portugal, balancing sports and academics is nearly impossible because of the course load. At Northwest, he has finally found the opportunity to grow in both areas.
“In Portugal, you need the whole day to study,” Henriques said. “You have six hours of classes every day, then you need to study a lot for exams and keep going to school. Here, it
was hard in the beginning, but now it’s fine. More than fine, I’m even thinking to do a master’s.”
Whether he stays in the United States or decides to travel elsewhere after graduation, he said tennis has already created so many opportunities to grow.
“At the end of the day, it opened me a lot of doors,” Henriques said. “I met a lot of friends, a lot of good people. I think the most important thing is tennis and the people you meet and the memories you have.”
Although he said he is grateful for the opportunities tennis has brought him, the distance from home has tested him. Over 4,250 miles away, the support system he once had in Portugal is now replaced by phone calls and video chats.
He said even though he speaks with his family every day, the homesickness never fully goes away.
“Sometimes it’s hard,” Henriques said. “They miss me and I miss them, but I think at the end of the day, it’s like a family here.”
Japan For senior Miru Nonaka, tennis has always been intensely personal. Growing up in Gifu, Japan, she started playing after watching her sister on the court.
When she first started playing, it was more out of obligation than passion. “In the beginning, I didn’t
want to play,” Nonaka said. “But as I played more, I started liking it and wanted to improve.”
That individual mindset followed her to college. She began her collegiate career at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes program.
Before becoming a Bearcat, she said her performance was largely personal and she only focused on her individual performance. When she transferred after the 2023-2024 season, that all changed.
“Tennis is an individual sport, so I played kind of lonely every time,” Nonaka said. “Now, I’m a part of the team and I’m so glad to be here.” Learning to shift her focus from herself to the team wasn’t easy. Nonaka said she initially didn’t know how to contribute beyond playing her own matches. Over time, she stepped into a leadership role. She became a team captain and learned how to guide practices, support her teammates and encourage others to do the same — skills she never imagined developing.
“Being on a team changed me a little bit,” Nonaka said. “When I was a freshman, I didn’t know what to do for the team. Now I try to bring them together and lead them. It’s a lot of personal growth.”
Nonaka’s journey shows that international athletes’ success isn’t just measured in wins and losses, but also learning to navigate new team dynamics, embrace change and grow on and off the court.
INFOGRAPHIC
Coach leads team to first victory
First-year head coach John McMenamin officially secured his first win at the helm of Northwest’s coaching staff, 34-7 against the Washburn Ichabods Sept. 6.
Following the first win, the Bearcats will play at home for the first time this season in their next game, Sept. 13. McMenamin is anticipating another win with the Maryville family behind him.
“The hair still stands up on the back of my neck now,” McMenamin said. “Playing in it (Bearcat Stadium) was second to none; I know I took it for granted playing in it. You think this might be how every home stadium is, or just how every community is. Then you go away from coaching, and you realize just how special Maryville was as a community.”
When McMenamin played as a Bearcat, he was a part of the two back-to-back national champion teams in 1998 and 1999. He was coached by Mel Tjeerdsma, who is a role model for the football program and is also the namesake of the field in Bearcat Stadium.
Not only is it the first home game for McMenamin, but it is the last home opener for senior linebacker Carter Edwards. In the season opener, Edwards took a rough tackle and had to be helped off the field, and it was unclear if he would be able to play against the Ichabods.
“I am feeling good,” Edwards said. “I’m feeling a lot better and ready to have the home opener and see everybody in Maryville out at the game.”
Edwards has been a leader for the Bearcats so far this season, gaining six tackles for the team in its 38-14 loss against Minnesota State Aug. 28 and two solo tackles against Washburn.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet — I think it will at kick-off,” Edwards said. “ I mean, time flies when you’re having fun and playing football with your best friends and in a great place. I’m excited to show the people in Maryville what we can do at home. I think they’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
Coming into the game against Washburn, McMenamin’s focus for the team was chasing perfection and learning from mistakes.
Following kick off, the ’Cats had the ball rolling early with a 13-yard touchdown from senior quarterback Chris Ruhnke to senior running back Jackson Miller — with a missed extra point kick, the team was up 6-0 with 8:19 remaining in the first quarter.
As the clock ticked down, Bearcat defense stopped the Ichabod drive, giving the ball back to offense. Ruhnke connected with senior wide receiver Dominic Myers for an 18yard touchdown, putting the team up 13-0.
“You know, our defense played tremendously well,” McMenamin said. “Washburn made some small mistakes, but this is a crack just enough for us to slip in, and then we capitalized.”
22.
Volleyball opens season on the road, prepares for another trip
Opening the season on the road isn’t easy, but Northwest volleyball used it as a learning experience to figure out how the team handles pressure.
Head coach Amy Woerth said the team is learning how to bounce back from losses within tournaments and recognizing that one loss does not define the outlook of the season.
“I feel like we bounced back well; the last team we played was Cameron, (Missouri), and match-up-wise, I feel like we were the better team,” Woerth said. “Sometimes you have to prove it on the court, and sometimes that doesn’t happen in your favor because you’re maybe not playing someone at the highest level.”
In the first game of the Fort Hays Tournament, Sept. 5, the Bearcats matched up with Arkansas Tech. The ’Cats gained their first win of the season with a three-set sweep. Later in the day, the team fell to Rockhurst by the same margin.
The Bearcats faced Cameron Sept. 6, where the team held Cameron in the first set (259, 25-14, 25-14). Something that Woerth has been challenging the girls to do is to execute
Softball remains winless after run-rule loss to Cameron; strains for positivity
Maryville softball’s (0-6) struggles at the plate continued in its game against the Cameron Dragons (4-6) Sept. 9, falling 13-0 in its six-inning run-rule loss, extending their losing streak to six games.
Despite the lopsided score, head coach Brylee Kemper saw progress in the team’s approach.
“It was definitely better than some other games we’ve had,” Kemper said. “I think they’re starting to get a good feel working with each other. Today we did a lot better putting the ball in play, but now we just need to figure out how to get good, solid contact instead of hitting it right at them.”
The Dragon’s pitching staff shut out the ’Hounds, collecting seven strike outs between their two pitchers, freshman Kendall Berry and sophomore Irelynn Rosie Williams. Cameron jumped ahead with five runs in
the first inning — including a two-run home run from Berry — putting the Spoofhounds in the hole. Maryville senior pitcher Phoebe Hornickel, the only varsity pitcher on the roster, pitched the entire game.
“Phoebe (Hornickel) is a veteran pitcher, so it’s nice to have that experience,” Kemper said. “She stays cool, calm and collected, and that helps the younger players stay composed too.”
Hornickel tallied one strikeout and gave up two home runs, one by Berry and another by Dragons senior catcher and third baseman Lillian Klenk.
Maryville collected a single hit from senior first baseman Ella Eckley. The team only had six runners on base throughout the
or
at a high level and hit in the hundreds.
Getting back in the groove after a loss is sometimes difficult, but the ’Cats are using it as motivation for their upcoming four-game stint in the Drury Tournament Sept. 12-13, where they will once again face Cameron in their last game of the tournament.
“I felt like we kept our standard and kept where we needed to be,” Woerth said. “We hit in the three-hundreds, which is extremely high for us. We didn’t make a lot of errors, so we didn’t give them a lot of points. In fact, in one of the matches that we played against them, we earned 22 of our 25 points by what we did.”
Senior setter Ella Caffery notched 36 assists and 12 digs for the team against Cameron, and the team’s hitters hit .343 with 51 kills.
The Bearcats are on the road again this week in Springfield, Missouri, where they will face four teams: Lane College and Drury Sept. 12, and East Central College and Cameron Sept. 13. Woerth sees one of their opponents, Lane College, in particular, as a new challenge to overcome. She also feels like there will be pressure on the Bearcats for this upcoming tournament.
Northwest football freshman running back Adrian Cooper hurdles his own lineman during a scrimmage Aug.
The Bearcats redeemed themselves from a week one loss with a 34-7 victory over Washburn Sept. 6.
OLIVIA WALLACE SPORTS EDITOR
game, most of whom reached on errors
walks.
LEAH COX Asst. Sports Editor | @byleahcox
Maryville softball senior pitcher Phoebe Hornickel throws out a pitch in its 13-0 loss in six innings to Cameron Sept. 9.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Northwest volleyball senior setter Ella Caffery sets a ball during practice Sept. 2. The Bearcats beat Cameron 3-0 Sept. 6.
JORDAN WILT CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_