Zimmerman family’s 1923 engine draws crowd, powers holiday fun By Echo Menges MEMPHIS, Mo. — A 102-year-old steam engine took center stage at this year’s Midnight Gladness event on Friday, Dec. 5, as crowds gathered outside Dutch Garden Nursery south of Memphis to watch history in motion. Richard Zimmerman, of rural Memphis, fired up his 1923 Eclipse steam engine — built in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania — to power a rotating swing ride for children. The hiss and churn of the machine, paired with the laughter of children spinning in the crisp winter air, brought a sense of wonder and nostalgia to…

Hannibal Regional hosted an official groundbreaking for the new state-of-the-art cancer center to be built in Kirksville on Tuesday, December 2. More than 100 community members joined in the event, celebrating a major milestone in Hannibal Regional’s journey to bring radiation oncology services back to Kirksville. Leading the ceremony, Hannibal Regional President & CEO Todd Ahrens shared, “Today marks a very important step to bringing radiation oncology back to Kirksville, as we break ground on our new, state-of-the art cancer center, which should be open to patients in early spring of 2027.” Joining Mr. Ahrens at the podium was Mr.…

The 1st Circuit Children’s Division collaborated with the NE Widows Sons offering local foster youth and their families a fun-filled evening. Attendees enjoyed varies activities: Homemade hot cocoa, soup and an array of sweets. Children engaged in making ornaments, decorating cookies, and getting their faces painted. The evening’s peak was a visit from Santa Claus. We extend gratitude to all contributors, including the VFW Post 4958 in Memphis. Those interested in donating to future events are encouraged to contact the Widows Sons: Marlin Oberholtzer at 660-341-8680 or Bradley Hamner at 660-341-2454. Back row: Sherri Oberholtzer, Marlin Oberholtzer, Tegan Burbridge, Aimee…

There’s a very old saying: “When God closes a door, he then opens a window.” It has been attributed to both Helen Keller and Alexander Graham Bell. However, it may be in the movie The Sound of Music where it takes on a more Christian reference, according to experts. It implies that when things don’t go according to our plans, there may be benefits or possibilities elsewhere. It’s a good saying for an optimist. It’s like Noah saying, “Well, the garden drowned out, but now I have more time to fish!” I’m an optimist by nature, and I think it’s…

The rush to capitalize on lucrative federal tax incentives is driving utility-scale solar developers into Missouri’s agricultural heartland, treating prime farmland as a cheap, disposable commodity. This solar land rush has created an imbalance of power, leaving small, rural counties financially exposed and fundamentally changing their way of life—often before residents even know what is happening. The Asymmetry of Expertise: Uneven Negotiation Solar developers arrive armed with a team of lawyers, specialized financial analysts, and land acquisition experts who negotiate billion-dollar contracts daily. They face a rural county commission often comprised of part-time, volunteer, or minimally compensated citizens whose primary…

By Emily Bontrager Recipes that stand the test of time and have been passed down through generations are treasured in my family, and I imagine they are in many other families as well. Small boxes of recipes sit in my family’s baker’s cabinet, each one holding a piece of our own type of culinary history. Inside these boxes are recipes that have been saved, handwritten, cut out, or copied onto recipe cards. Some come from my grandmother, Alberta York; my great-grandmother, Ione Gilbert; my great-great-great-aunt, Olive Evans; my parents; and even a few from myself from when I used to…

By Echo Menges GORIN, Mo. – Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 – A home in Gorin was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning, leaving four people and two pet dogs displaced just two weeks before Christmas. The family lost all of their possessions in the fire. Volunteer firefighters from the Gorin and Rutledge volunteer fire departments and the Scotland County Ambulance District were dispatched to the fire at approximately 7:44 a.m., arriving to find the home fully engulfed in flames, according to Gorin VFD Fire Chief Kenneth Hoover. When firefighters arrived, flames were visible from windows on the south and west…