Higginsville Advance News

LEXINGTON, MO – Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Hillbrener announces that Martin Constante, Jr, 38, of Lexington, Missouri was convicted on February 5, 2026, of two counts of statutory rape and one count of possession of child pornography, along with two other felonies. At trial, evidence was introduced that Constante committed these acts at a hotel located in Lexington as well as at a local orchard. Numerous witnesses testified over the course of the three-day trial, which was litigated by Prosecutor Kristen Hilbrenner.

The Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that criminal charges have been filed in connection with an investigation involving a school employee and an 18-year-old student. Following a referral and subsequent review of the reports provided by Lexington Police Department, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Ashley Dobson of Lexington, Missouri, a school employee, with sexual contact with a student, in violation of Missouri law.

The Lafayette Regional Health Center Auxiliary is offering $1,000 scholarships to eligible students.

Lafayette County Retired School Personnel (LCRSP) will meet on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 2:30 P.M., at the FCS Financial Office building, 4100 MO-13 BUS Hwy, HIgginsville, MO. Brigade Command Sergeant Major Retired Don Kerrick Lilleman will speak. Other agenda items include discussion of bills in the MO Legislature that could affect MO public schools and other community services and the PSRS/PEERS retirement system. Retired teachers and support staff, active teachers and support staff, spouses, and the general public are welcome to attend.

The Lafayette County Democratic Central Committee and Club will convene on April 14th at 5:30 PM. The meeting will be held at the Fairground Park Administration Building, situated at 801 West 29th Street, Higginsville, MO 64037.

The Lafayette County Health Department will be closed Tuesday, April 7th, for staff development/training. The Health Department will resume regular service hours on Wednesday April 8th 8:30am – 4:45pm.

Our next Blood Drive: Date: 04/08/2026 Start Time: 08:00 AM End Time: 01:00 PM Where: Lafayette County C1 High School, East Gym Address: 807A W. 31st St. Higginsville, MO 64037 Step 1: Visit - https://donate.savealifenow.org/donor/schedules/sponsor_code and click enter the code KCMM. You will be presented with a list of available blood drives that we sponsor. Select the drive that is most convenient for you and choose your preferred time to donate.

The Concordia R-2 School District Board of Education has selected Jeremy Covey to fill the role of District Superintendent.

The City of Sweet Springs is the latest community to be awarded a 2026 Missouri Blue Shield designation by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Next week, on April 7th, the Lafayette County voters will be heading to the polls. There will be three candidates running for the Lafayette County C-1 School Board. Please meet Mr. Matt Parks, our last candidate to be introduced.