By Echo Menges MEMPHIS, Mo. — After years of discussing overcrowding inside the Scotland County Courthouse, county officials have begun relocating six county offices into the new Scotland County Administrative Building, a move commissioners say will create more room for county government while preserving the courthouse as the county’s judicial center. During a video interview Thursday morning, June 11, Scotland County commissioners provided an update on the transition as offices began moving into the former bank building purchased by the county. “We’ve been short of space for quite a while here in the courthouse,” Presiding Scotland County Commissioner Duane Ebeling…

Families gathered Saturday, June 13, at the Scotland County Fairgrounds for the annual Kids Safety Day + Ag Day. The free community event gave children a chance to meet local first responders, explore emergency vehicles and take part in activities focused on safety and agriculture. Throughout the day, children visited interactive stations and watched live demonstrations, including fire safety activities and rescue techniques. The Scotland County Fire Department demonstrated vehicle rescue methods using the Jaws of Life, showing how firefighters remove parts of a damaged vehicle during an emergency response. The Gorin Fire Department also sponsored a water fight, giving…

Seasonal retailers may legally sell fireworks in Missouri from June 20 to July 10 JEFFERSON CITY – As Missourians prepare for a summer filled with even more festivities and celebrations than usual – including the “America 250” commemoration and FIFA World Cup events in the Kansas City area – the Division of Fire Safety is urging residents to keep safety at the forefront of their planning. “Because July 4th – the largest fireworks event each year – is also the 250th anniversary of American independence this year, we expect to see more gatherings and an uptick in the use of…

MEMPHIS — Scotland County R-I had 12 of its 14 buses approved during the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s 2026 annual school bus inspection program. The district’s results showed 85.7 percent of buses approved during the initial inspection. One bus, or 7.2 percent, was listed as defective, and one bus, or 7.1 percent, was placed out of service. The Patrol requires defective buses to be repaired within 10 days. Buses placed out of service must be repaired, reinspected and cleared by Patrol personnel before they can be used to transport students. The annual school bus inspection program is conducted by the…

Performers from Ozark Lyric Opera in Springfield, Missouri, delighted and awed the audience with the production of its new folk musical ”Dream Big: The True Tall Tale”, which was inspired by the life of Ella Kate Ewing known around the world as the “Missouri Giantess”. The Opera company played to a sold-out crowd at the Memphis Theatre on June 4, 2026, for a special hometown engagement for the Memphis community. The production is based on the award‑winning children’s book “Stand Straight, Ella Kate” by Missouri author Kate Klise, with music by Ruell Chappell of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and arrangements…

NEMR was proud to sponsor two local students on the 2026 FRS Youth Tour, an annual leadership and educational opportunity that brings together students from rural communities across the country for an unforgettable experience in Washington, D.C. Representing NEMR was Charlotte Tallman of Downing, daughter of Erin and Trenton Tallman, and Brynlee Wesley of Queen City, daughter of Joshua and Maria Wesley. The students traveled alongside approximately 100 of their peers and several chaperones for a week of learning, leadership development, and exploration of the nation’s capital. During their time in Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Brynlee toured the U.S. Capitol,…

MEMPHIS, MO – The new medical staff officers of Scotland County Hospital officially took office at the April Board meeting. The officers are Kelsey Davis-Humes, DO – Chief of Staff, Matthew Ragsdell, DO – Vice-Chief of Staff, Nicholas Comstock, DO – Secretary Dr. Davis-Humes is a Family Medicine Physician and works at Memphis Medical Services and Wyaconda Medical Services. She is also one of the physicians that delivers babies in the Women’s Center at the Hospital. Dr. Matthew Ragsdell is an Orthopedic Surgeon and he works at Memphis Medical Services. Dr. Comstock is a Family Medicine Physician and he works…

University of Missouri Extension NOVELTY, Mo. – Waterlogging and flooding are among the most damaging weather-related stresses in crop production worldwide, and their impacts are increasing as extreme rainfall becomes more frequent. Flooding ranks second only to drought among abiotic stresses. Research by Gurbir Singh, a soil scientist with University of Missouri Extension at MU’s Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm, along with Gurpreet Kaur, assistant research professor in the MU School of Natural Resources, and others, shows how excess water affects crops, soils and nutrient management, and outlines strategies farmers can use to reduce losses. Flooding submerges plants, while…