LEADER CLINTON COUNT Y
Thurs., April 18, 2024 |
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Plattsburg, Lathrop and Gower, Mo.
LATHROP R-II SCHOOLS
Board welcomes new member, buys new devices by brett adkison leader editor
The Lathrop R-II Board of Education approved a big purchase of new tech devices on Wednesday, April 10. The board approved
a plan to buy 190 new Chromebooks for $63,860 through Trafera, an educational technology outlet. Trafera beat a pair of bids from Bluum ($70,215) and CDWG ($70,925) for the devices. Lathrop R-II
WEATHER
An EF-1 Tornado Struck on Tuesday
technology director Jake Brown added in his report that the district used Trafera for their last purchase of Chromebooks, and he’s had a good experience with their warranty services.
Of those new Chromebooks, 80 will be cycled in at the high school, 80 at the middle school, and 30 will be cycled in at the elementary as they become needed. At the high school and middle school, senior and
eighth grade devices will be taken out of service at the end of this school year and used as spares and replacements. The board also certified the results of the ||Continued on A2
TIGERS ON THE RUN
INSIDE One Section | 12 pages
LHS’s Coots tosses a gem Senior Keaton Coots throws a no-hitter as Lathrop upsets KCI power Mid-Buchanan. || PAGE A7
Wilcox Earns a Big Honor Lathrop Elementary Counselor LeAnna Wilcox was presented with a big regional award. || PAGE A12
by brett adkison leader editor
A welcomed batch of rain in Clinton County on Tuesday morning turned into a cause for worry, as strong thunderstorm activity developed into a tornado warning in Plattsburg, Lathrop and the southern half of the county. The warning was issued shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, and ran until 10:30 a.m., when it was downgraded to a tornado watch and thunderstorm warning. The specific line of storms that forced the warning developed southwest of Kansas City and took a strong northernly tract. The warning area stretched from the intersection of 169 Highway and I-435 south of Smithville, up and through the paradise region, and included Kearney, Holt, Lathrop and Plattsburg. Reports of damage trickled in afterward. The Clay County Parks Department announced that the Camp Branch Campground at ||Continued on A2
Sheriff ’s Calls for Service See what calls for service the Clinton County Sheriff ’s Department recently fielded through dispatch. || PAGE A3
Community........A5 Opinion..............A4 Legals..............A10 Sports................A7
THE LEADER Est. 1895
It was a sunny-yet-windy day Thursday, as Plattsburg High School hosted its annual PHS Invitational track meet. The Plattsburg Lady Tigers finished third in the team standings, while the Plattsburg boys finished in ninth. For results, turn to page A7 of this edition. (Above) Plattsburg speedster Izzy Parra takes her turn in the relays Thursday at PHS . brett adkison | the leader
SPORTS
Plattsburg football to remain in 8-man in ‘24 by brett adkison leader editor
The Plattsburg Tigers football team will be playing eight-man football for another year. The Tigers completed the first of three planned seasons in the eight-man division this past fall, but an uptick in enrollment this spring could have seen the team forced back to the 11-man ranks ahead of schedule. But head football coach Brandon Boswell
said last week that the high school’s effective enrollment (juniors, sophomores, freshmen) came in at 141, below the 150-student cutoff for eight-man football. Plattsburg moved down to eight-man football in 2023 due to low enrollment and participation. But 2024 is likely to be the final year for the Tigers in eight-man, as Coach Boswell said enrollment for Fall 2025 is projected to be over 150, and the program
has seen a considerable increase in participation. “I’m grateful that I can say that our participation seems to be ahead of schedule and by the fall of 2025 we are projected to have 17 juniors and seniors combined on our roster, so we won’t be forced into the scenario of having to start sophomores and freshmen,” Boswell said. “Our current eighth grade and seventh grade combined are projected to make up
25 spots on our roster by that time. That will be six more athletes than what we originally projected. “At Plattsburg, the high school and middle school football staff are doing a lot of things to try to make our programs more about having a great experience along with winning. Winning isn’t totally in our control, but providing a positive experience and a culture of personal success and joy is.”
After going winless in 2022 in 11-man football, the Tigers thrived at the eight-man level last fall, going 10-1, winning a district championship and earning a spot in the state rankings. Boswell said he was proud of the athletes. “Normally, change from 11-man to eight-man is difficult, but our kids, school board, administration and community embraced it,” he said. “We had ||Continued on A2
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VOL. 129, NO. 26