“That’s powerful. That’s America.”
The Inside Story About One Northeast Missouri Man’s Journey to Become a U.S. Citizen By Echo Menges For those of us born into it, citizenship is often something we don’t think much about. We grow up with a passport, the right to vote, the ability to work and live freely — and rarely question whether that will ever change. But for Javi Gil, 51, of rural Rutledge, none of those things were guaranteed. Not even after spending decades in the United States, raising a family, leading a fire department, and dedicating his life to public service. When delays in renewing…
Read MoreScotland County Rotary Meets
Justin Shearman, the new Missouri Department of Conservation Agent assigned to both Scotland and Schuyler Counties presented a program to the members of the Rotary Club of Scotland County on January 14, 2026. Agent Shearman is a 2013 graduate of Washington High School in Washington, Missouri. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 2015-2020. He is a graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles with a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology. He currently resides in Memphis. There were 20 graduates in his class from the MDC Agent Academy. During the training academy, the agents spend six months housed…
Read MoreTrooper Cole T. Hinshaw Promoted To Corporal
Brandon M. White, captain of the Field Operations Bureau, announces the following promotion effective January 16, 2025: Trooper Cole T. Hinshaw will be promoted to the rank of corporal. Hinshaw was appointed to the Patrol on August 3, 2020. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to Troop B, Zone 6, Clark and Scotland counties. On February 1, 2022, Hinshaw transferred to Zone 11, serving the citizens of Randolph and Monroe counties. Hinshaw was then assigned to the Troop B water patrol division in June 2023. In September 2024, he was designated as a Troop B…
Read MoreNominations Open for Gaber Founder’s Award for Excellence at Hospice of Northeast Missouri
Nominations are now open for the Gaber Founder’s Award for Excellence. The award was established in 2023 thanks to the generous donation by Drs. Ron and Elsie Gaber of Kirksville to the Hannibal Regional Foundation to support hospice services in northeast Missouri. The endowment created assists in recognizing hospice care workers and volunteers who go above and beyond in their service to hospice care and the patients of Hospice of Northeast Missouri. Nominations for this prestigious award are accepted for both hospice team members as well as volunteers. Nominations are open until March 9, 2026 and the nomination form can…
Read MoreMyFreeTaxes.com Available for Free Tax Filing through United Way
Hannibal, Mo. – In partnership with United Way Worldwide, United Way of the Mark Twain Area is promoting My Free Taxes®, a free and secure online tax filing service for individuals and families who earned less than $89,000 in 2025. With no local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites available in the five counties of the United Way of the Mark Twain Area (Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, and Shelby Counties), this is the only option to file federal and state taxes for free locally. MyFreeTaxes.com allows residents to file from their phone, tablet, or computer, often in under an hour.…
Read MoreOutdoors With Kevin Fox: Making Plans for 2026
I wrote last week about thinking of planning a fishing trip for 2026. I hope it at least got you thinking about getting out and enjoying the many opportunities God has provided us on this planet. Many, many years ago — perhaps 30 if not a little more — a friend, my dad and I traveled to Upton, Wyoming, to go on a pronghorn antelope hunt. I’ll be honest: I was nervous about the trip. I planned for it all summer and did a lot of shooting with my Remington Model 788, chambered in .243. I did this because I…
Read MoreScotland County Girls Roll Over Brashear
By David Sharp Scotland County defense fueled several Lady Tiger runs on the way to a 60-27 win at Brashear. The January 8, 2026 varsity girls contest saw the visiting Lady Tigers shoot the ball and defend very well. Scotland County leaped to a 12-2 lead. Elle Hamlin scored with 2:52 in the game. Scotland County employed an effective half court trapping defense, causing Brashear to turn the ball over. Scotland County led 16-11 after the first quarter. Maddie Moots sank a pair of Brashear (8-5) free throws late in the opening period. Scotland County held Brashear to three first…
Read MoreScotland County Boys Claim Win At Brashear
By David Sharp Scotland County staked out a five point lead during the opening moments of their non conference varsity boys game at Brashear and powered to a 67-48 win. Carter Clatt led three SC boys in double figures with 19 points. Scotland County caused turnovers with their size and defense. Brashear battled back within a 7-5 deficit when Kienni Scott took the rock off the glass at the 2:54 mark of the first quarter. Levi Clark canned a three seconds later for the 7-5 Scotland County lead. Tayte Richmond led a late first quarter Scotland County surge to a…
Read MoreRONALD RAYMOND “RON” HENKENIUS
Ronald Raymond “Ron” Henkenius, age 84, most recently of Pella, Iowa and formerly of Bloomfield, Iowa passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the Comfort House in Pella, Iowa. The son of Raymond Albert and Clara B. (Klahs) Henkenius, Ron was born in Carroll, Iowa, on August 10, 1941. He grew up on his parent’s dairy farm and graduated from Carroll Kuemper High School in 1959. Following graduation, he attended the St. Margaret Hospital school of nursing program in Kansas City, Kansas where he met Grace Wilhelm. They were married on June 19, 1965, in Kansas City, Kansas. To…
Read MoreMemphis Awarded Federal Grant to Demolish Blighted Properties
MEMPHIS, Mo. — The City of Memphis has been awarded a federal demolition grant to address slum and blight by tearing down a dozen uninhabited residential and commercial structures throughout the city. Memphis is one of five communities in the Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission service area to receive funding through the program. Other recipients include Queen City, Downing, Wyaconda and Kahoka. In total, the NEMO RPC helped secure nearly $1.3 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist communities in clearing abandoned and hazardous buildings. According to the grant application, Memphis will…
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