Nathaniel Meiss is moving on from El Paso-Gridley
Meiss on Monday was announced as the new head boys basketball coach at Seneca
a school roughly 100 miles northeast of Peoria
winning 306 games with four Class 2A regional titles and seven 20-win seasons
"We are incredibly excited to bring coach Meiss into the Seneca Fighting Irish family,” Seneca superintendent Dr
and ability to build meaningful relationships with students and the community make him the ideal leader for our boys’ basketball program
This is a tremendous step forward for our athletics department."
IHSA sports: 6 interesting things about the new IHSA enrollment classes for 2025-26
Meiss led the Titans to a 22-9 record with his senior all-state son Micah Meiss
El Paso-Gridley won the Heart of Illinois-McLean County Tournament and ended its season in a Class 2A regional semifinal loss
"We are very excited to become part of the Seneca Fighting Irish community," the elder Meiss said in the release
Meiss replaces Russ Witte, who in April retired from coaching after 16 seasons at Seneca
The school won an IHSA state championship in 2006 under hall of fame coach Doug Evans
Meiss was named the 1994 Journal Star Small-School Boys Basketball Player of the Year after helping guide Eureka to a 1994 Class A state runner-up finish
ExpandNathaniel Meiss (Provided by El Paso-Gridley High School)
Seneca High School on Monday announced the hiring of Nathaniel Meiss as the Fighting Irish’s next head varsity boys basketball coach
“We are very excited to become part of the Seneca Fighting Irish community,” Meiss said in a statement released by the school
Meiss will be taking over at Seneca after a successful 16-season run as the head coach at another of the state’s winning Class 2A programs
Meiss’ teams posted a 306-148 record (.674 winning percentage) with seven 20-win seasons
“We are incredibly excited to bring Coach Meiss into the Seneca Fighting Irish family,” Seneca superintendent Dan Stecken said
strong character and ability to build meaningful relationships with students and the community make him the ideal leader for our boys basketball program
“This is a tremendous step forward for our athletics department.”
Seneca went 25-9 last season and won the Tri-County Conference championship but will see all-stater/three-time Ottawa Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year Paxton Giertz graduate later this month.
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Join us for a 12-hour food drive Friday, 6am to 6pm, in Redding or Chico. Help stuff a RABA or B-Line bus at Les Schwab with food donations!
LIVE UPDATESHighway 99 project in Gridley aims to boost improvements statewideby Cameron Patera
GRIDLEY, Calif. — A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of a transformative project on Highway 99 through Gridley, aimed at enhancing safety and aesthetics. The upgrades will include comprehensive improvements to drainage systems, pedestrian accessibility, and pavement reinforcement to extend its lifespan.
Sergio Aceves, Director of Caltrans District 3, expressed optimism about its potential impact. "When you look at our entire state highway system, there's always more needs than there is funds, so we have to be good stewards of those funds. So yeah, this will lead to future projects," he said.
The $30 million project is funded by the State Highway Protection Program, Butte County, and the City of Gridley. This is with support from the California Highway Patrol, Gridley Police Department, and local taxpayers. While these groups did not directly provide funding, Caltrans considers them integral to the construction efforts.
The rehabilitation project is expected to span two seasons, with completion projected for October 2026.
LIVE UPDATESMother murdered: Judge rules insanity in Gridley man's chilling 'devil' hallucination caseby Ashley Harting
— A Butte County judge found a Gridley man not guilty by reason of insanity on Tuesday after he admitted to killing his mother because he believed she was "an impostor of the devil" during a mental health crisis
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Hugo Cardenas
the court received reports from two forensic psychologists
leading to the insanity verdict and a placement hearing set for May 25
The psychologists' reports indicated that Cardenas was experiencing delusions and auditory hallucinations on the day of the killing
He believed his mother was an imposter and the Devil in disguise
Cardenas acted under the belief that he was ridding the world of evil
noting that Cardenas stabbed his mother 40 times
Both experts concluded that Cardenas was incapable of understanding the nature or wrongfulness of his actions at the time
meeting California's legal standard for insanity
"This case is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact that untreated or inadequately treated severe mental illness can have—not only on the afflicted but on the families and communities around them," Ramsey said
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Avalos-Cardenas family
While we recognize that justice looks different in cases involving legal insanity
we are committed to ensuring that Cardenas receives the treatment necessary to protect the public and prevent future tragedy
Keeping our community safe remains our top priority."
Cardenas will return to court to be formally committed to a secure California State Hospital for treatment
He will remain there until he petitions the court for a jury trial to determine if he has regained his sanity and is no longer a danger to others
Cardenas now faces a potential life sentence in a state mental hospital
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– Wild horses and burros from public rangelands will be available for adoption Saturday and Sunday
in Gridley. The Bureau of Land Management will offer 14 adult horses
Anyone interested can preview the animals when they arrive at the fairgrounds at about 3 p.m
and adoptions begin with a silent auction from 9 to 10 a.m
Animals not adopted during the auction will be available all-day Saturday until 5 p.m
“These horses are healthy and ready to train,” said Doug Satica
manager of the BLM Litchfield Off Range Corral near Susanville
“They have been vaccinated against all common equine diseases
Adopters must be at least 18 years old and have facilities that meet BLM requirements.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states
The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation
and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations
An official website of the Department of the Interior
photo by: Screenshot taken with permission of the Douglas County Court
Mark Gridley appears via video conference from the Douglas County Jail during a hearing on Feb
The Lawrence school district is claiming that it is not vicariously liable for the alleged sexual battery of a 6-year-old student in February by a speech pathologist at her elementary school
and is asking the Douglas County District Court to throw out that portion of a lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed against the school district in March on behalf of a student who alleged that she was sexually abused by Mark Gridley
a former speech pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School
and that the district knew Gridley had a “propensity for unwanted or abusive contact” with minors but failed to investigate prior allegations
In the district’s response to the student’s lawsuit
attorney Gregory Goheen asks the court to dismiss the petition for damages
would be vicariously liable under the law only if Gridley had been acting within the scope of his employment
are “not within the scope of (his) employment as a speech pathologist,” Goheen writes
The test for determining whether a person is acting within the scope of his employment under the Kansas Tort Claims Act
hinges on whether the act by the employee was done for his personal benefit or was in furtherance of the state’s business
whether there was express or implied authority to perform the act in question and whether the employee’s act was reasonably foreseeable by the state
Gridley’s actions were for none other than his own benefit,” Goheen writes
and cannot be thought of as in furtherance of the state’s business; nor was there any kind of authority permitting the acts; nor was the abuse a foreseeable result of employment
“As a matter of law,” Goheen wrote
“the claims related to childhood sexual abuse are not within the scope of employment under any scenario.”
In his response, filed Thursday night, Goheen does not specifically address the plaintiff’s claims that the district is liable for negligent hiring and retention and negligent supervision
identified as Daughter Doe to protect her privacy
alleged in her initial filing that prior to Gridley’s hiring
Gridley engaged in acts of misconduct consistent with a dangerous propensity for unwanted or abusive contact with minor children.”
does not detail what the prior allegations of misconduct were or where they happened
The suit claims that school district administrators and employees had been notified of the conduct and that the district had been asked to investigate
The lawsuit does not specify who in the district had been notified but states that the district failed to investigate further
Gridley, 61, was arrested Feb. 8 and is being held at the Douglas County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. His next court date is May 8, when Judge Amy Hanley will decide whether he is competent to stand trial
The latest headlines from the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports.com
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GRIDLEY, Calif. — A student at Gridley High School remains in the intensive care unit (ICU) after being stabbed on campus Wednesday morning
the Gridley Police Department (GPD) provided further details about the incident
Police said School Resource Officer Ashley Carson responded to a report of a person down in the boys' locker room at 9:40 a.m
Officer Carson found the injured juvenile and quickly called for additional resources
They said the student sustained a stab wound and was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment
the California Highway Patrol notified Gridley police of a juvenile possibly connected to the incident
The juvenile was detained and taken to the Gridley Police Department for questioning
REPORT | Teen detained after school resource officer finds student stabbed at Gridley High School
Gridley police were notified by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) about a juvenile passively connected to the stabbing incident
The juvenile was ultimately detained and taken to the GPD for questioning
police said the juvenile suspect was booked into the Butte County Juvenile Hall on felony charges
possession of a weapon on school grounds and concealed carry of a dirk or dagger
The names of the arrested juvenile and the victim will not be released in accordance with California law
Superintendent of Gridley Unified School District
sent a statement to the Northstate's News on Thursday
"In response to the event that occurred at Gridley High School yesterday
we want to assure the community that the well-being of our students and staff is our top priority
We are committed to providing immediate and ongoing support to those affected
Our school has partnered with counselors and mental health professionals who are available to provide one-on-one counseling and group sessions for students and staff alike
These services will continue throughout the coming days and weeks to ensure everyone has access to the support they need
We understand that emotional recovery is a process
and we are here to support each individual in the way that best meets their needs
and parents to reach out for assistance if needed
We will continue to work together as a community to navigate this challenging time and ensure that every member feels supported and cared for
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the health and safety of all
In regards to additional details regarding the incident itself this remains an active investigation involving minors and no additional information is available at this time."
Report a correction or typo.
LIVE UPDATESTeen arrested for Gridley High stabbing attends court
plea delayed for psychological examby Hannah Gutierrez
GRIDLEY, Calif. — A 15-year-old charged with stabbing a student at Gridley High School appeared in court on Wednesday but did not enter a plea
according to District Attorney Mike Ramsey
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Teen charged with attempted murder after shocking stabbing at Gridley High School
which took place in the boys' locker room in late March
The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and is recovering from their injuries
was arrested by Gridley Police and booked into Butte County Juvenile Hall
The teen was charged with felony assault of a deadly weapon
the suspect's public defender requested a two-week continuance to conduct a psychological exam before entering a plea
The court has scheduled the teen's next appearance for April 23
A history teacher at El Paso-Gridley High School has been named teacher of the year by the state historical society
The Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award is given annually by the Illinois State Historical Society to K-12 teachers for developing and implementing outstanding ways of engaging students in their study of Illinois history
is a former Illinois state historian and originator of the Illinois History Program
El Paso's Project XV Museum [named after the 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution] began as a class project in Michael Melick's U.S
the idea blossomed into the state’s only museum dedicated to the topic of voting rights
The museum's landmark exhibit is the restored barbershop of David Stother
A ribbon cutting for the exhibit took place at the museum's gala earlier this month
Melick received the award on April 26 at the state historical society’s annual banquet
includes just one other teacher whose district is in McLean County
Mark McBride of Tri Valley High School in Downs won the award in 2017
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Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInKANSAS CITY
(KCTV) - A newly-released court affidavit outlines disturbing claims against a former speech therapist for the Lawrence School District
Mark E. Gridley
is charged with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14
He is also charged with one count of kidnapping
Police said a parent of a student at Prairie Park Elementary School called to report an alleged sex crime involving Gridley earlier this month
the parent said his student was pulled out of class for a speech therapy session
The parent told officers the session seemed odd because the student’s therapy had previously ended
The parent then told police that his child reported some disturbing details
including claims that Gridley placed bandages over his eyes during the session
The remainder of what allegedly happened is outlined in the redacted affidavit below
WARNING AFFIDAVIT CONTAINS DISTURBING DETAILS
Mark Gridley Affidavit by heidikctv5 on Scribd
The child went to the Children’s Advocacy Center for a forensic interview
The child also said he believed Gridley recorded all sessions
surveillance video from inside the school showed Gridley removing three bags of items from his office before police executed a search warrant
Lawrence police said they are also investigating additional claims against Gridley involving other children
His next court hearing hasn’t been scheduled yet
Mark Gridley Affidavit by heidikctv5 on Scribd
Gridley Wins Gold in Day Four of ACC Championships2/21/2025 9:41:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
vsNCAA Women's Championships
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