Filer retiring after 32 years in Harrisonville School District

Harrisonville School District Director of Communications Jill Filer, right, talks with former school board president Tina Graef during a retirement reception Filer announced her retirement during the school year, and after 32 years in the district she will be retiring at the end of June.
During her final months before retirement, Jill Filer has enjoyed the chance to go back to the roots of what brought her back to the Harrisonville School District just 32 years ago.
Harrisonville Police Chief Darla Harris, left, is sworn in by City Clerk Daniel Barnett during Monday’s board of aldermen meeting. Harris served as interim police chief last year after former Chief John Hofer retired.
Harris promoted to Harrisonville police chief
The city of Harrisonville has a new police chief. Darla Harris, who has been with the department for three years, was sworn in to the post during Monday night’s board of aldermen meeting.
The District chef Douglas Geyer, left, talks to daytime bartender Aaron “Buff’ Norman after a lunch rush last Thursday. Geyer has brought his decades of chef experience to the Harrisonville square restaurant, while also trying to live up to his family’s legacy in the community.
Chef proves you can come home again
The name Geyer can bring a smile to the faces of many in and around Harrisonville. For many years Norm Geyer, along with his wife Gail, was the smiling face serving in a variety of capacities around the community.
Officials from the city of Harrisonville and Donaldson held a ribbon cutting last week for the expansion of the company’s Harrisonville plant. Donaldson doubled the size of the plant with the project. Pictured, from left, are Harrisonville Economic Development Director Jim Clarke, Harrisonville City Administrator Brad Ratliff, Harrisonville Mayor Mike Zaring, Industrial Solutions President Guillermo Briseño, Donaldson Sales Director John Falk and Industrial Air Filtration Vice President Mauricio Goes.
Ribbon cutting celebrates Donaldson expansion
International business owner Guillermo Briseño was in Harrisonville last week to celebrate a $6.4 million project that had been in the works for about 18 months.
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Residents in the area are warned to be on the lookout for counterfeit bills which have recently been discovered.
Police warn to watch for counterfeit bills
Residents in the area are warned to be on the lookout for counterfeit bills which have recently been discovered.
City of Adrian approves budget, changes fireworks rules
ADRIAN – Sidewalks and fireworks were on the top of mind of the city’s aldermen at their monthly meeting Monday night. Both topics required changes in plans moving forward.
Robert Moore, a 99-year-old World War II veteran, spent most of his life living in Harrisonville, other than the two years he spent in the Philippines. He recently moved to Foxwood Springs living facility in Raymore, but he still remembers his time in the service as he was a typist for the Philippines War Crime Trials.
WWII veteran recalls war's end
Bob Moore details his life fairly simply: “I lived in Harrisonville 97 out of the 99 years of my life. The other two years I was serving in World War II.”
Harrisonville Board of Aldermen approve outdoor alcohol use
The Harrisonville Board of Aldermen on Monday night approved an ordinance which will allow outdoor consumption of alcohol during special events on the city’s square.
Mike Baker
Controversy surrounding basketball coach divides Sherwood community
CREIGHTON — Opposing views about Sherwood boys basketball coach, Mike Baker, has created a stir at two recent school board meetings.
Local News

City of Pleasant Hill not ready to open renovated parks

PLEASANT HILL — School is officially out for the summer, but city officials are urging residents to avoid the local parks until the construction is completely finished.

Harrisonville school board approves increased pay schedules

In an effort to keep up with surrounding school districts, the Harrisonville Board of Education unanimously approved increases for a handful of salary schedules for the 2025-26 calendar year at last week’s meeting.
Sports

Pleasant Hill girls soccer finishes third at state

FENTON – It might not have been the game they hoped for, but the Pleasant Hill Chicks won their final game of the season topping Logan-Rogersville 4-2 in the third-place game of the 2A state tournament here on Saturday.
The Pleasant Hill girls track and field team placed fourth at the Class 4 state championship. It was the Chicks' second state trophy in three years.

Pleasant Hill girls earn state trophy, break records

For the second time in three years, the Pleasant Hill girls track team brought home a trophy from the Class 4 state championship.

Norris adds 2 more state medals to collection

At the 2025 Class 4 state track and field meet held at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, the Harrisonville girls track team were among the top programs in the state.

Pleasant Hill girls soccer advances to state semifinals

PLEASANT HILL — The Chicks soccer team accomplished something in Saturday’s state quarterfinal contest that hadn’t been done in the Class 2 state tournament since 2013.
Drexel junior Grace Francis finished third in the 300-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the Class 1 state meet.

Bobcats medal in 7 of 8 state events; Midway earns 2 state medals

Drexel High School track and field athletes showed up and showed out at the MSHSAA Class 1 State Championship earning top-five finishes in seven out of the eight events they participated in over the weekend.

Most Read Local Stories
Obituaries
Don A. Sousley
January 21, 1932 – June 5, 2025
Ann Lorraine Edwards
November 11, 1936 – May 28, 2025
Walter W. Bruens
March 31, 1929 – May 28, 2025
Cheryl Sue Thomas
April 1, 1947 – May 13, 2025
Gary Wayne Downey
December 24, 1942 – May 8, 2025
Opinion

Minich: History can paint tragic pictures

I will admit I am an emotional guy. I can get very excited and happy when things are good. I can be very sad and I readily admit I am a big boy who cries.

Minich: In a class by ourselves

My wife, Leslie, was impressed when she first learned both Jason Sudeikis and Paul Rudd graduated from the same high school as me. After knowing that, she gleefully shared with everyone that she could name the three hottest men to ever graduate from Shawnee Mission West: Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd and her husband.

Minich: Lifelong lessons and clean desks

Last week, the area schools closed out the school year and children from kindergarten to graduating seniors performed the annual ritual of cleaning out their desks or lockers or wherever they store things these days and hauled off a year’s worth of rubbish.

Minich: Post office not delivering for you

I normally like to use this space to share a humorous tale, a personal memory or discuss a pressing issue I think folks should know about. On rare occasions, I use this column to complain. As much as I dislike doing so, that is what I am left with this week.
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The staff blog
Once again, Pixar hit me in the feels, and had my eyes watering on multiple occasions last weekend. Sad thing is, I had a hunch it might happen because the first one has a couple very emotional scenes.
Folks my age and a bit younger have arguably seen this amazing animated classic. Now it’s time to show it to the next generation.
This 2011 masterpiece which was nominated for an Academy Award is arguably one of the under the radar movies, especially in the 2010s.
There are just a handful of days left to listen to Christmas music before people find it weird or give you dirty looks, so if you’re like me, take the time and dive in head first. Of course, I like …
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