Sophia Smith was crowned Little Miss Firecracker and Cord Davis was crowned Little Mr. Firecracker at the 4th of July festivities.
Chet Sloop, son of Jeremy and Paige Sloop, was the winner of the baby contest.
Stella Pyeatt gets encouragement from her mom, Hallie, in the Watermelon Eating Contest. Stella earned a cash prize for her efforts.
Jacob McMahon gets low during the Watermelon Eating Contest on Saturday, July 5.
Maeve Roup competed in the Watermelon Eating Contest and earned a cash prize.
Ethan Hunter earned a cash prize in the Watermelon Eating Contest.
Sophia Bare earned a cash prize in the Watermelon Eating Contest.
Graham Kohout earned a cash prize in the Watermelon Eating Contest.
Lane Lewis won a cash prize in the Watermelon Eating Contest.
Luxtyn Daugherty earned a cash prize in the Watermelon Eating Contest.
Chase and Bailey Finnell got 1st and won $100 in the painted rock scavenger hunt.
Zeppelin Greene placed 2nd and won $75 in the painted rock scavenger hunt.
JJ McRaven placed 3rd and won $50 in the painted rock scavenger hunt.
Luxtyn Daugherty won the Duck Race.
The weather was perfect for the pool activities at the park.
Jackson Henggeler, Daxxyn Moore, and Maddie Henggeler sold some tasty treats at the park.
Kids attending the Rock Port 4th of July festivities at the park got to play in foam and bubbles in one giant foamy frenzy.
There were plenty of bubbles and foam at the Rock Port 4th of July festivities at the park.
Participants of the Independence Day Celebration Color Run throw some colored powder to kick off the race.
Kipton Waigand was the overall winner of the Color Run.
Olivia Roup, Sheena Roup, and Joanna Burke enjoyed a “colorful” stroll around Rock Port during the Color Run.
Chris Christians, left, won the Color Run slowest award and Lillian Blue Buckner, right, won an award for having the most color.
Nolan and Henry Waigand stop playing in the inflatable obstacle course just long enough for a photo op.
A parachute drop was one of the many activities enjoyed by the children attending the Rock Port Independence Day Celebration.
Winners of the Old vs. Young Volleyball Tournament, from left to right, are: Carter Oswald, Grace Oswald, Maggie Osburn, Dylan Kemerling, Alex Mattson, and Mason Kingery.
Playing on a Young Volleyball Team, from left to right, are: Olivia Roup, Tatum Vogler, Chaney Vogler, Dylan Lair, Westyn Amthor, and Aidan Burke.
Playing on a Young Volleyball Team, from left to right, are: Reid Ellis, Brock Holmes, Logan Ellis, Kinley Lair, Talyn Amthor, and Stevie Gaines.
Playing on an Old Team in the Old vs. Young Volleyball Tournament, from left to right, are: Emily Graham, Paige Sloop, Paige Masonbrink, Darian Thomas, Denver Ilsley, and Jacob Masonbrink.
Playing on an Old Team in the Old vs. Young Volleyball Tournament, from left to right, are: front row – Caitlyn Ward, Codie Sloop, Kimberly Daugherty, and Jordyn Jakub; and back row – Drew Ellison, Clay Amthor, and Colin Nahkunst.
Clay Amthor gets low and attempts to receive the ball.
Grace Oswald puts her body on the line to dig the ball out of the sand.
Codie Sloop and Caitlyn Ward both dive for the ball during the 4th of July Old vs. Young Volleyball Tournament.
Mason Kingery stuffs Aidan Burke’s spike in the championship game during the Old vs. Young Volleyball Tournament.
The winning Young vs. Old Softball Team pictured, from left to right, are: front row – Maggie Osburn, Dylan Kemerling, Tayden Cook, Dylan Lair, Braylyn Wood, and Mya Wray; and back row – Westyn Amthor, Caden Stoecklein, Tony Osburn, Alex Madson, Ryder Herron, River Dow, Landon Wiederholt, and Justin Miller.
Members of a Softball Young Team, from left to right, are: Presley Carlson, Stevie Gaines, Brylea Shrader, Case Millsap, Blaise Krogen, Brock Holmes, Rylan Hunter, Harper Roup, and Wyatt Huntley.
Members of a Softball Young Team, from left to right, are: front row – Bertie Meyerkorth, Ali Ellis, Jovie Millsap, Harper Wood, Briar Daugherty, Blaykleigh Daugherty, and Baylin Lewis; and back row – Rush Lewis, Ethan Hunter, Archer Meyerkorth, Grady Cook, Josh Schlueter, Cooper Daugherty, and Cy Vogler.
Members of a Softball Old Team, from left to right, are: front row – Thea Lewis, Sam Giddinge, Kimberly Daugherty, Paige Sloop, and Myrle Cunningham; and back row – Jake Moutrie, Josh Hayes, Christopher Roup, Clay Amthor, Drew Ellison, Trevor Beatty, Nathan Nell, and Jeremy Sloop.
Members of a Softball Old Team, from left to right, are: front row – Jayme Wood, Gracie Hopkins, Caylee Lair, Trystan Lair, Madison Alitz, Jordan Shrader, and Clay Vogler; and back row – Ransom Lair, Jeff Jakub, Shane Anderson, Jeff Geib, and Troy Cook.
Decked out in her 4th of July gear, Stevie Gaines prepares to stand in the batter’s box.
Archer Meyerkorth blasts the ball into the outfield.
Briar Daugherty takes a hack at an incoming pitch.
Sam Giddinge fouls off a pitch during the Young vs. Old Softball tournament on the 4th of July.
Cy Vogler makes the throw from near second base to record the out.
Drew Ellison flips the ball towards home base from the mound.
Chuck Davis from Hamilton, Missouri, pictured above driving Hyper Tension / IH 460, had a pull of 299.45’ to win the 6000 Hot Rod Class in the Muddy River Rumble.
Driving Code Red / Formal 450, Levon Reiff from Stanberry, Missouri, had a pull of 280.9’ to win the class of Non Turbo Tractor.
Driving Maxed Out / Dodge, Jared Macklefresh had a pull of 331.93’ to win the Super Street Diesel Class.
Brad Stoll from Hopkins, Missouri, had a pull of 354.99’ to place second with his tractor, The Gambler / IH 806.
Eldon Adcock from Guilford, Missouri, driving Ratalope / JD 4255, had a pull of 292.29’ and finished in second place.
The Independence Day Celebration last week included a fireworks display held Thursday night, July 3, 2025, in the Rock Port city park. The park was filled with people happy to sit back and watch the sight and sound show.
The Rock Port Chamber raised $7,480 for this year’s fireworks show. Donations received as of July 8, 2025, include: Rock Port Tourism Board, $5,000; Pam Henderson, $50; Atchison County Mail, $100; Rita Stevens, $35; Burke & Sons Lumber, $75; Dan and Janette Stanton, $50; Mike and Fran Minter, $100; Lee Roy Sickman and Jan Taylor, $50; Steve and Tab Waigand, $50; Wayne and Connie Shandy, $100; Keith and Phyllis Ottmann, $100, Melvin and Sally Moore, $175; Anonymous, $50; Anonymous, $45; and Stella Pyeatt, $1,500.
Muddy River Rumble
The Rock Port Chamber of Commerce presented the first Muddy River Rumble Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Atchison County Fairgrounds. Results of the event are as follows:
8500 Pro Farm (13 MPH) – Doyle Bounds, Albany, Missouri, Missouri Mule / AC D21, 272.42’; Austin Potter, St. Joseph, Missouri, JD4255, 270.22’; Gary Puckett, Hamilton, Missouri, Bad Company / IH 856, 256.46’; Chuck Swinford, Conception Junction, Missouri, Last Minute / IH 1066, 254.48’; Tierra Wandlfuh, Savannah, Missouri, Papa’s Buck, 229.54’
6000 Hot Rod – Chuck Davis, Hamilton, Hypertension / IH 460, 299.45’; Eldon Adcock, Guilford, Missouri, Ratalope / JD 4255, 292.29’; Tyrone Pankau, Hopkins, Missouri, All American, 283.32’; Rod Hosman, Hamilton, Colorblind/ IH, 281.72’; Kade Pankau, Hopkins, Shameless/ Farmall, 267.08’; Jim Bradberry, The Machine/ S10, 282.77’
Super Street Diesel – Jared Macklefresh, Rushville, Missouri, Maxxed Out / Dodge, 331.93’; Dylan Mazer, St. Joseph, 01 GMC, 18.55’
8500 Pro Field A Pump – Delvon Hannah, Bolckow, Missouri, Farmall MTA / IH 1066, 310.07’; Greg Potter, St. Joseph, JD 4255, 299.56’; Sam Bounds, Albany, Missouri Mule / AC D21, 292.57’; Charles Swinford, Conception Junction, High Hopes / IH1066, 273.14’; Lane Wandfluh, Savannah, Papa’s Buck JD 4230, 263.83’; Waylon Puckett, Hamilton, Bad Company/ IH 856, 295.32’; Scott Walker, Clearmont, Missouri, Mighty Max, 44.56’; Jerry Dollen, Mineola, Iowa, 180 Proof/ Allis Chalbers, 253.43’; Ed Walker, Tarkio, Missouri, Blue Ribbon Binder
9000 Lb. Pro Field P Pump – Jerrica Hess, Maryville, Missouri, Why Not / JD 4430, 355.43’; Brad Stoll, Hopkins, The Gambler / IH 806, 354.99’; Chris Ruoff, Chillicothe, Missouri, Gettin It Deere / JD 4440, 352.13’; Steve Stoll, Stanberry, Missouri, Red Majesty / IH 1066, 350.48’; Brent Roberts, Hopkins, Plowin Now / JD4255, 348.39’; Conner Ruoff, Chillicothe, Stateline Hooker / JD 4440, 242.11’
2.6 Diesel Pick Up – Scott Barcus, Hopkins, Coal Train Dodge, 285.63’; Russ Harms, Virginia, Nebraska, In Harms Way / Dodge 2500, 283.98’; Addalea Barcus, Hopkins, Adds Up / Dodge, 278.48’; Earl Coder, Effingham, Kansas, Blow By, 276.11’
Non Turbo – Levon Reiff, Stanberry, Code Red/ Farmall 450, 280.9’; Keaton Hannah, Cawood, Missouri, IH 656, 275.28’; Delvon Hannah, Bolcklow, Farmall MTA / IH 1066, 267.58’; Crew Hoyt, Burlington Junction, Young Gun / IH 460, 261.14’; Andy Boyer, Agency, N2 Deep / Oliver 880, 259.87’; Parker Chambers, St. Joseph, 4-Play / IH 560, 258.61’; Will Boyer, Agency, Oliver 880, 255.25’; Wyatt Boyer, Agency, Oliver 880, 1’
