Year in Review: 2025

2025 Year in Review July through December

July 2025

The Scotland County Fair was held July 5 through July 12. The Scotland County Fair Queen was Zada Ketchum.

The Ketchum family was named the 2025 Scotland County Farm Family.

Scotland County R-1 announced a new cross-country program. Toni Middleton was hired as the new cross-country coach for both the middle school and high school teams.

Dr. Robert Remis was the June Spirit of SCH winner.

The Scotland County Fair crowned their 2025 4-H Royalty. The royalty were Lucas Hamm, Prince; Brooke Jackson, Princess; Morgan Jackson, Queen; and Rhet Ketchum, King.

The Rotary Club of Scotland County held their annual banquet. This year’s Rotary scholarship recipients were Brenna Phillips, Owen Brown, Payton Miller, Beau Triplett, and Cody Briggs.

Mike Scott talked about how newspapers matter, but delivery delays are hurting everyone.

Jayme Engelbrecht, FNP-C, was the new Family Nurse Practitioner at Scotland County Hospital & Clinics.

The Scotland County Hospital received a $2,500 grant from Tri-County Electric Cooperative Foundation to help purchase a multipurpose microscope.

Rutledge Chapter #343 celebrated an occasion honoring Connie Ward, Carol McCabe, and Delinda McQuoid with 50-year membership pins.

International Rotarians from Africa visited northeast Missouri.

Scotland County Hospital celebrated its 55th Anniversary.

Larry Riney retired after 65 years behind the barber’s chair.

Three highway projects were approved for Scotland County in Missouri’s $13.3 Billion Transportation Plan.

Jackie Baker, RN, was named the July Spirit of SCH winner.

Kyle Shelley joined the Scotland County Farm Bureau as their new insurance agent.

NEMOnews Media Group was named to E&P’s 2025 “Media That Matters” Class.

Dr. Davis-Humes completed the Leading Physician Well-being Certificate Program.

August 2025

Hannah Montgomery of Memphis was crowned the 2025 Teen Miss at the 78th annual NEMO Fair Pageant.

Memphis Community Players presented “Clue: On Stage.”

The Scotland County Hospital partnered with NEMO AHEC for M*A*S*H Camp.

A breath test question triggered a mistrial in Sheriff Whitney’s DWI case.

CEO at Scotland County Hospital and Clinics, Meagan Weber, DPT, MBA, was named on the Becker’s Hospital Review 2025 edition of “Women hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to know” list.

The Scotland County Historical Society broke ground on the Pheasant Airplane hangar on August 23.

The August Spirit of SCH winner was Kaitlyn Woods.

Wyaconda Medical Services held an open house to showcase the clinic’s remodel.

The 2025 Antique Fair King and Queen were Bub and Brenda Wilson.

Janet Long, won the Scotland County Hospital/Sigler Square Auxiliary Quilt at the Scotland County Antique Fair.

Zach Boushard was named the pastor at Memphis First Christian Church.

September 2025

The Smithsonian’s Museum in cooperation with Missouri Humanities brought the national traveling exhibition “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” to Memphis.

The Scotland County Junior High marching band took part in the Downing Appreciation Days Parade.

Kierstyn Moore brought home a 5th place medal in her first Cross-Country event of the year.

The September Spirit of SCH award went to Bambi Brown.

The Lady Tigers were victorious in the first golf match at home.

NEMOnews Media Group won five first-place awards at the Missouri

Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Heritage tours continued throughout Scotland County as part of the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.”

October 2025

The Scotland County Memorial Library hosted a free movie matinee.

Carter Clatt and Lilly Frederick were crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

Gorin Mayor Teel Pflum raised concerns over closings of two key railroad crossings near Gorin.

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives presented its Distinguished Service Award to Emery “Buster” Geisendorfer.

Larry Clark was honored with the A.C. Burrows Award.

The Ketchum Family were selected as the Scotland County Missouri Farm Family.

Governor Kehoe announced Lindsay Gravett as the Circuit Judge in the First Judicial Circuit.

Memphis native Kendra Middleton planned to create a short film titled “Memphis, MO.”

Keeley Brown qualified for state golf.

The Scotland County Marching Tigers participated in the Clark County Parade of Champions.

Rutledge Chapter #343 Order of the Eastern Star presented a 50-year membership pin to Lucinda Guthrie.

Lindsay Gravett was sworn in as the first female presiding judge of the 1st Judicial Circuit of Missouri.

A familiar local business welcomed new ownership. Countryside Flowers & Gift Shop was purchased by Tasha Fadiga, Jared Fadiga, and Kristy Eggleston.

Scotland County celebrated national 4-H week. Local 4-H members participated in events all week.

Keeley Brown finished 46th at the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls Golf State Championship. This is Scotland County’s first year with a girl’s golf program. During the season, Keeley was the individual medalist at Scotland County, Putnam County and finished in 2nd place at the Lewis and Clark Conference Tournament. She finished 13th place at the Class 1, District 3 tournament.

The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the revocation of Scotland County Sheriff Bryan Whitney’s driver’s license. Whitney continues to maintain his innocence.

Memphis FFA teachers lead Scotland elementary students through the Ag Moves curriculum.

November 2025

Kevin Fox wrote a story in 2005 about John Payton Byrne being laid to rest in Scotland County, where he was born. The Memphis Democrat looked back at the story to remember veterans and their sacrifice.

Gorin residents pressed the county commissioners over the railroad closures near Gorin.

Scotland County’s Kierstyn Moore and Georgia Taylor qualified for state at MSHSAA Class 1- District 3 meet.

Dr. DeBlieck was the November Spirit of SCH winner.

An independent audit of Scotland County 2024 financial statements found the county’s records to be accurate under state-prescribed accounting rules but identified a material weakness in its federal award reporting. The audit determined that the county failed to properly complete its Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), a federally required report detailing the use of grant funds.

December 2025

The Memphis Chamber held their annual Lighting of the Square on December 5.

Automated license plate reader cameras are expanding across Northeast Missouri, helping law enforcement track stolen vehicles and criminal suspects.

Rutledge Chapter #343 Order of the Eastern Star honored Sister Janet Deaton with a 50-year pin.

Memphis Lodge #16, A.F. & A.M. presented Warren Shoemaker with a 50-Year pin. Shoemaker also received a Past Master apron, presented by his son, Matt.

A 102-year-old steam engine took center stage at this year’s Midnight Gladness on December 5, as crowds gathered outside Dutch Garden Nursery.

NEMR announced they will bring high-speed fiber internet to homes in businesses in the Downing area.

Wesley McSparren received the NSDAR Good Citizens Award.

The 1st annual Foster Youth Christmas Party was held in Memphis. The 1st Circuit Children’s Division collaborated with the NE Widows Sons offering local foster youth and their families a fun-filled evening.

A rock truck driver from Greentop is lucky to be alive after a violent rollover crash in Knox County.

A Gorin home was destroyed by fire, leaving four people homeless.

Joy Johnston was the December Spirit of SCH winner.

A new minister, Jake Levett, was hired at Downing Christian Church.

The Gorin District Volunteer Fire Department was approved for a state equipment grant of up to $15,000 from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Cheyenne Neagle, RN, BSN, CRHCP, Director of the Rural Health Clinics at Scotland County Hospital received the 2025 Rural Health Champion Awards from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.