KNHS Business Teacher. Former Managing Editor of Digital Publishing @dsj_now/NPG Regionals. Former @MadisonMallards Webcast Intern/ KOMU 8 Reporter
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Articles by Derek Brizendine
Thank you for taking a chance
I joined the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal staff in 2016. My first interview for joining this team was in the spring of 2016. When I came in for my first interview on a Saturday morning, I had no idea what the next four years would have in store for me. I have met a number of incredible people, made lots of new friends, worked with some of the best coworkers a young journalist could ask for and made memories that will last a lifetime.
Warrensburg's Baldwin finishes seventh in his division at the 2020 Junior Amateur
Warrensburg's Baldwin finishes seventh in his division at the 2020 Junior Amateur
Integrity Roofing, Siding, Gutters & Windows partners with local ministry
WARRENSBURG — A project a year-and-a-half in the making neared completion on Monday, June 29, thanks to the partnership between a Warrensburg business and a Warrensburg ministry.
Integrity Roofing, Siding, Gutters & Windows partners with local ministry
Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
Johnson County Fairgrounds transformed into theater for 'Moana JR.'
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Bentley rewarded for community service
WARRENSBURG — Tarl Bentley was ready to mow his yard Friday morning, June 19, when his wife told him she thought he should wait until the afternoon. Then about noon, there was a knock on Bentley's door. As he opened the door, his sister-in-law was waiting on the door step. She told him to come outside because he had a surprise on its way but it wasn't there just yet. "I had no idea whatsoever," Bentley said.
Local barrel racer makes most of trip to Texas
WARRENSBURG — Emma Allen, 15, has always dreamed of holding a big check with her name of it after winning a barrel racing competition. That dream became a reality on March 7. Allen took first in the 3D in the Patriot Short Go in Fort Worth, Texas. "All I can say is wow," Allen said in a Facebook post. "DozinFirewater gives me 110% every run and today was no different.
Holmberg family helps clean up city parks
Nathan and Scott Holmberg spend some time Sunday afternoon, June 7, picking up trash at Sherpards Park in Warrensburg. Scott, his son, Nathan, and other family members also spent part of Saturday, June 6, cleaning up trash at Lions Lake. Scott said the desire to clean the parks came in response to a social media post on Friday, June 5, that negatively commented on the maintenance of Lions Lake. ??? and his family also took time Saturday to clean up trash at Cave Hollow Park.
Get to know the Leeton High School spring sports seniors
LEETON — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn't be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what each senior has planned for after high school. Each senior who responded answered the same questions. The responses are in the same order to reflect the questions below: Position played or track and field event.
Get to know the Crest Ridge High School spring sports seniors
CENTERVIEW — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn't be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what each senior has planned for after high school. Each senior who responded answered the same questions. The responses are in the same order to reflect the questions below: Position played or track and field event.
Veteran organizations host altered Memorial Day cereomies
WARRENSBURG — American Legion Post 131 and VFW Post 2513 in Warrensburg hosted altered Memorial Day 2020 events due to COVID-19. The leadership of Legion Post 131 and VFW Post 2513 announced they decided to cancel the traditional formal ceremony on Memorial Day. There was guest speaker, music or lunch this year. There were ceremonies to honor the veterans buried in Memorial Gardens and Sunset Hill cemeteries and those who are engraved on the monument at the Johnson County Courthouse.
Get to know the Holden High School spring sports seniors
HOLDEN — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn't be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what each senior has planned for after high school. Each senior who responded answered the same questions. The responses are in the same order to reflect the questions below: Position played or track and field event.
Get to know the Knob Noster High School spring sports seniors
KNOB NOSTER — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn't be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what each senior has planned for after high school. Each senior answered the same questions. The responses are in the same oder to reflect the questions below: Position played or track and field event.
A to Z: A to Z: Warehouse helps fill the gap for those in need
WARRENSBURG — Pallets, boxes and packages are stacked to ceiling at the Jeremiah 29:11 warehouse all with the same purpose - helping someone in need. Jeremiah 29:11 started in August of 2018 and is a program of Manna Harvest. The warehouse stores goods and products that are brought as donations from retailers throughout the county. The products are new and are donated to the warehouse as a result of overstocking or they come from a region where there is an abundance of the item.
Get to know the Chilhowee High School spring sports seniors
CHILHOWEE — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn't be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what each senior has planned for after high school. Each senior answered the same questions. The responses are in the same order to reflect the questions below: Position played or track and field event.
Another season in the books
WARRENSBURG — From the first fall high school sports practice of 2019 to the spring high school sports season being canceled, what a year. The Week Seven Rewind concluded our 2019-2020 Cliff Harris' Warrensburg Ford and Cliff Harris' Warrensburg Chrysler Athlete of the Week voting. I know, we could talk for days about what was and what could have been for athletes during this year. Though, let's not forgot about the great accomplishments of our athletes throughout the year.
United From a Distance: Flags are placed on veterans' graves for Memorial Day
United From a Distance: Flags are placed on veterans' graves for Memorial Day
Parade honors Warrensburg High School seniors
WARRENSBURG — Music, car horns and cheering filled the streets of Warrensburg on Friday, May 15, as part of the Warrensburg High School Senior Parade. The Warrensburg High School Project Grad '20 hosted the parade. The parade allowed community members to celebrate the graduating class of 2020 as seniors paraded through the streets of Warrensburg. Cars were decorated to celebrate the seniors and posters lined the streets in their honor as well.
Parade honors Warrensburg High School seniors
Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Parade honors Warrensburg High School seniors
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Get to know the Warrensburg High School spring sports seniors
Sadie Misner Submitted Photo WARRENSBURG — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn’t be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what each senior has planned for after high school. Each senior who responded answered the same questions.
A SALUTE TO THE SENIORS: Coffee shop honors Knob Noster graduates
Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.. Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Coffee shop honors Knob Noster graduates
Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Scattered thunderstorms. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
WE MISS YOU: Social Distancing Parade allows friends, family to safely see loved ones
WARRENSURG — Car horns honked, posters were made and balloons hung out the windows of vehicles as the Social Distancing Parade on Tuesday, May 12, allowed friends and family to safely see the residents of Harmony Gardens & The Arbors — Assisted Living & Memory Care by Americare. The parade started in the parking lot of Grover Park Baptist Church.
Get to know the Kingsville High School spring sports seniors
KINGSVILLE — While the spring high school sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors saw their high school careers cut short by a year. What shouldn’t be forgotten is the work they put in to get to this point. This is a time to reflect on that hard work and see what some of the seniors have planned for after high school. Each senior that responded answered the same questions. The responses are in the same order to reflect the questions below: Position played.
WE MISS YOU: Social Distancing Parade allows friends, family to safely see loved ones
WE MISS YOU: Social Distancing Parade allows friends, family to safely see loved ones
Warrensburg hosts basketball tournament
Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Rain likely. Low 47F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Johnson County Emergency Management Agency office houses Emergency Operations Center
Cloudy with periods of rain. Thunder possible. High 63F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Jake Wirthwein recognized with award at Mizzou
WARRENSBURG — Jake Wirthwein, Warrensburg High School graduate and current member of the University of Missouri's track and field team, was recently named an honoree of the Lathrop GPM 3 Stripes Club. The athletics department at Mizzou announced Wirthwein received the recognition for the week of March 30. The award recognizes student athletes for their work in their sport, in the classroom and in the community.
Twister Sports looks to create sense of normalcy with online classes
WARRENSBURG — Normalcy - the driving word behind Twister Sports moving its classes online during the COVID-19 pandemic. As local and state stay-at-home orders keep people from being out in public like they are used to, Twister Sports is using technology to create and continue a sense of normalcy for it athletes. "It's really important for the kids that they can continue having some sense of normally in this time," Danielle Johnston, an owner at Twister Sports, said.
‘Hay’ there Mr. Easter Bunny
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Community members attend Air Force's public hearing at Knob Noster High School
KNOB NOSTER — Before new CDC guidelines limited the number of people in a gathering, the U.S. Air Force hosted a public hearing on March 12 at Knob Noster High School. The U.S. Air Force invited the public to attend a public hearing to provide community input on the Air Force Reserve Command F-35A Operational Beddown Environmental Impact Statement.
'Bear hunts' become a new craze during time of social distancing
WARRENSBURG — The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to make changes to our daily lives. Stores have changed their hours, limited who is allowed to shop and limited how many people can shop at one time. Restaurants are serving takeout, sports are on a pause, schools are closed and as of Monday, the Missouri is under a "Stay Home Missouri" Order. Even playground equipment is being blocked off to help prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing is becoming a new normal.
Local legislators react to Gov. Parson's 'Stay Home Missouri' Order
JOHNSON COUNTY — Gov. Mike Parson's "Stay Home Missouri" Order goes into effect on Monday, April 6. He announced the order on Friday, April 3. Local legislators have shared their thoughts on the order. Rep. Brad Pollitt - District 52 "I appreciate that Gov. Parson has taken a conservative, local approach while asking Missourians, if not for their own health, at least for the safety of their neighbors, to follow the CDC recommendations.
Community members give back during COVID-19 pandemic
WARRENSBURG — Community members are pulling together to help each other get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Warrensburg High School junior Allison Adlich recently helped fill Little Food Pantries throughout town. The pantries serve as a place for people to share and take non-perishable food items, such as crackers, baby formula, baby food, pull-tab canned goods, microwaveable popcorn bags, rice, granola bars, dried pasta, pasta sauce, boxed pasta mixes, cereal and peanut butter.
Johnson County Volunteer Fire Auxiliary hosts lone fundraiser of the year
WARRENSBURG — Coming off a weekend of serving Johnson County firefighters while crews throughout the county fought numerous fires, the community showed support of the Johnson County Volunteer Fire Auxiliary at its lone fundraiser of the year on March 14 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. The annual Spaghetti Dinner and Live Auction drew about 200 people.
Johnson County churches alter schedules, routines due to spread of coronavirus throughout the country, world
WARRENSBURG – Churches throughout Johnson County have announced altered schedules and change in their routines due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) through country and the world. Some have canceled upcoming services while other have announced changes to cleaning routines and church practices. LIFE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Life Church of the Nazarene, 603 E.
Schools continue food services during extended closure
JOHNSON COUNTY — When most students throughout the county went on spring bring, there was a plan to return to school within a couple days or a week, depending on the length of the school's spring break. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a change in those plans. Social distancing quickly became a normal phrase in the word bank. For some schools, the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 even caused them to cancel their spring break in-person activities, such as the Adventure Club in Warrensburg.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: The show must go on
Well, this March has truly lived up to the madness associated with the third month of the year. Just not in the way we usually think of it. This time of year usually draws sports fans together as spring is in the air and college basketball teams are on a journey to etch their names into history. March days are typically filled with basketball marathons before closing out the month with the start of a new baseball season.
Sadie Misner becomes second player in program history with more than 1,500 career points
WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg senior Sadie Misner once again etched her name into the Lady Tiger basketball history books as she is now the second player in program history to score more than 1,500 points in her high school career. The senior eclipsed the mark in her final high school game, in the district semifinals against Grandview in which she scored 26 points. She finished her high school career with 1,509 points.
Ridge View students help RISE prepare for upcoming Inclusive and Adaptive Egg Hunt
WARRENSBURG — Second grade students are Ridge View Elementary combined a passion for helping others with daily learning as they helped RISE Community Services prepare for its upcoming Inclusive and Adaptive Egg Hunt. Bo Kirchhoff's class collected plastic eggs and items to stuff the eggs with for its Spring Project Based Learning Activity.
Holden St. Patrick's Day Parade powers through light rain
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Community members show support for the Johnson County Fair Association
WARRENSBURG — Community members rallied together at the end of February to raise funds for the Johnson County Fair Association at its annual Hog Roast and Dessert Auction. The dinner took place Feb. 20 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. People throughout the community made desserts that were auctioned off. All profits benefited the Johnson County Fair Association.
Warrensburg hosts spring concert, dinner
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Cosplay for Hope hosts Virtual Hope-Con
WARRENSBURG — Cosplay for Hope is taking to the internet to bring people joy amid the worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Gov. Mike Parson announced on Friday, March 20, that people are not allowed to meet in groups of 10 people or more to help prevent the spread of the virus. Then on Saturday, March 21, he outlined a new statewide social distancing order. The order takes effect at 12:01 a.m., Monday, March 23, and lasts until 12:01 a.m. April 6.
Organizers look to reschedule Diecast Cars and Toy Show
WARRENSBURG — After the first Diecast Cars and Toy Show in 2019 in Warrensburg was a success, building on with a followup show will have to wait due to the worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and recent CDC recommendations. The first show Diecast Cars and Toy Show in Warrensburg took place in October 2019. The second show of its type in Warrensburg was planned for Saturday, March 21.
Warrensburg baseball looks to replace 11 seniors from 2019 roster
WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg baseball will look to replace 11 seniors from its 2019 roster in 2020. “Great kids, I loved that class,” Warrensburg coach Chris Coombs said. “So in some ways we are starting over. So it is hard to replace 11 seniors. But at the same time, we have five kids that had significant playing time that I would say are starters.
Warrensburg track and field looks for leadership from all-state returners
WARRENSBURG — The Warrensburg track and field team looks to its all-state returners as leaders in 2020. Coach Brad Small said the team will look to Libby Brown, Gabby Hoke, Tabby Boldt, Joe Stewart, Carter Bell and Ayden McGee for strong performances and to lead the team in 2020. He said the goal is also to fill some gaps and put together another strong boys 4x100m relay. “We are hoping to put together another solid boys relay team,” Small said.
Defense to be a strength of Warrensburg soccer in 2020
WARRENSBURG — Third-year head coach Bryan Olivas said defense will be a strength of Warrensburg soccer in 2020. “We are going to rely on the defense, a lot, to win games,” Olivas said. “I have always said, build from the back.” Warrensburg brings back a core of its back line from 2019. “With having three out of the four defenders back it is going to be huge, plus the goalie,” Olivas said.
Warrensburg tennis working to define itself for 2020 season
WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg tennis will look to fill four of its varsity singles spots from the 2019 season in 2020. Warrensburg went 13-1 last season with its lone loss to Thomas Jefferson Independent in postseason play to end its season. Warrensburg will look to senior, and two-time state qualifier, Cory Conley to help lead the team in 2020. “He is going to be a leader and he is already setting himself up to be that leader of the team,” Warrensburg coach Scott Maple said.
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