Sedalia Democrat's Podcast: Recent Episodes

Sedalia Democrat

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The 2022 McKinley Day was held Thursday evening at the Missouri Fair Agriculture Building. Political signs at the entrance, and a host of State candidates inside greeted an estimated 400 people gathered to meet the politicians and hear them speak. Presiding county commissioner David Dick, himself up for re-election, explained to the Democrat the origin of McKinley Day. “McKinley Day started because president McKinley came to Sedalia,” Dick explained. “It was connected with the railroad, so he came here and they've always celebrated his birthday. A lot of counties have Lincoln Days, but we have McKinley Day. McKinley was a...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 23 12:51 a.m.: Gene K. Robinson, 64, of the 3100 block of Brianna Boulevard, was arrested after a  vehicle stop at West 10th Street and Thompson Boulevard. The owner was known to have a revoked driving status, and during the course of the investigation it was determined the driver was intoxicated. A search found a pipe used for smoking drugs in his...

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Mid-Missouri Artists June 30 Program:  “Fused Glass and Mixed Media Art" Canceled The June 30 Mid-Missouri Artists program “Fused Glass and Mixed Media Art” has been canceled due to illness of a presenter.  We hope to reschedule the program for a later date.

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Chilhowee woman injured in Johnson accident Krystal M. Aita, 37, of Chilhowee, sustained moderate injuries at 8:59 a.m. Thursday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Aita was driving a 2003 south on MO F at Southwest 1000 Road when she swerved to miss an animal. She was reportedly wearing a seat belt, and was transported to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg by Johnson County Ambulance District. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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Jeff Dull and Jason Heany at the Law Offices of Dull & Heany would like to announce an addition to their firm with attorney Kent Harding who is accepting appointments out of their Sedalia office location as well as the Clinton law office. Kenton (Kent) Harding graduated from Louisburg High School in May of 2006 going on to attend Pittsburg State University where he graduated in 2010 with a prelaw degree Majoring in Political Science with a minor in History. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in May of 2014 with an emphasis in...

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Charles “Cliff” Lear will observe his 96th birthday June 27. He was born June 27, 1926, in Pattonsburg. Before retiring, Charles was a school administrator and is a World War II Air Force veteran. His hobbies are reading and playing Texas hold’em.  He is widowed and had one child, now deceased. Birthday cards may be sent to Charles at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.                    

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Aunt Dimity and the Enchanted Cottage,” by Nancy Atherton. “Book of Night,” by Holly Black. “Clive Cussler’s Dark Vector,” by Graham Brown. “By the Book,” by Jasmine Guillory. “Book Lovers,” by Emily Henry. “Bloomsbury Girls,” by Natalie Jenner. “Breathless,” by Amy McCulloch. “The Boardwalk Bookshop,” by Susan Mallery. “22 Seconds,” by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. “The Book Woman’s Daughter,” by Kim Michele Richardson. Nonfiction “African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Freedom,” by David Hackett Fisher. “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic,” by Bill Gates. “Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, a Life...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous Because We Care and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; First Christian Church, 200 S. Limit Ave. Call 660-221-2221....

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Lakeview, B&B Bar and Restaurant. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: Cole Camp City Park. Wednesday No run. Friday No run.

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Martin Warren Chapter learns about Museum of Missouri Military History The Martin Warren Chapter, Missouri Society, Sons of the American Revolution (MOSSAR) held its regular meeting on June 18. The program was presented by Charles Machon, director of the Museum of Missouri Military History in Jefferson City. Machon’s slides of the numerous displays inside and outside the Museum showed artifacts donated by the men and women of Missouri that participated in the American Civil War through to the most recent of military engagements of the United States. The Museum houses exhibits beginning from 1808, the activation date of the Missouri...

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The following people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court:  Kendra L. Griffin and Jeffery L. Griffin; Michelle R. Lillard and Paul B. Lillard; Daniel Williams and Megan Williams; Angel D. Estrada and Raul Estrada; Kailey E. Allen and Brett C. Allen; Samantha M. Marriott and Herbert M. Meek.

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by East Sedalia Baptist Church.  Monday: Chicken breast filet, potatoes and gravy, peas, banana and milk. Tuesday: Chili, pimento cheese sandwich, crackers, apple and milk.  Wednesday: Salisbury steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, brownie and milk.  Thursday: Chicken Alfredo, breadstick, corn, cookie, peaches and milk. Friday: Pork chop, posh potatoes, green...

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Ronnie and Emma Conner, of Nevada, Missouri, announce the engagement of their daughter Alisha Conner to Cole Faulconer, both of Monet. He is the son of Jeff and Chris Faulconer, of Ozark. The future bride graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s of science degree in hospitality management from Missouri State University. She is a general manager with Drury Hotels. The future groom graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice and a minor in Spanish from Drury University. He is employed with the Department of Justice in Springfield. A wedding is planned for Aug. 20, 2022,...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “A Face to Die For,” by Iris Johansen. “Horse,” by Geraldine Brooks. “Local Gone Missing,” by Fiona Barton. “The House Across the Lake,” by Riley Sager. “The Ghosts of Paris,” by Tara Moss. “Ordinary Monsters,” by J.M. Miro. “Death by Tart Attack,” by Tamar Myers.. Nonfiction “We Refuse to Forget,” by Caleb Gayle. “Scars and Stripes,” by Tim Kennedy. “The Catch Me If You Can,” by Jessica Nabongo.

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Hunter Wayne Hoelscher, 22, of Lone Jack, and Kennedy Anne Blake, 20, of Hockley, Texas; Alan Scott Springer, 39, and Heather Nicole Parrott, 33, both of Smithton; Jesse Leon Menge, 22, of Houstonia, and Megan Ruth Bender, 20, of Knob Noster; Justin David Ivie, 39, and Emilee Dawn Dahman, 40, both of Windsor; Teagan Elliot Trammell, 23, and Noelle Lillian Sunnarborg, 22, both of Sedalia; Andrew Jay Collins, 30, and Mitsuyo Ito, 31, both of Whiteman Air Force Base; Jordan Thomas Watt Sr., 31, and Veronica Nicole Poort,...

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Saturday will be the 12th Annual Firefighters Memorial Ride hosted by Sedalia Firefighters 103. The ride leaves Liberty Park at 11 a.m., and will continue to Versailles, Laurie, Stover, and Cole Camp before returning to Sedalia. “We have the firefighter’s memorial down at Liberty Park,” firefighter Jeremy Pepin said. “We fully fund that ourselves, Local 103 does, there's no cost to the citizens.” Construction, maintenance, and the expansion of the Firefighter’s Memorial is paid for through funds raised by the run. “We started this 13 years ago trying to raise funds to build that and it took off,” Pepin said....

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Over the last week, gas prices have fallen slightly from record highs but remain at a high point, stretching the pocketbooks and wallets of Americans. Although prices have fallen below a gallon, they still will be at the highest rates this season for the Fourth of July.  The week is seeing a slight decrease in gasoline prices, with the average costs in Missouri falling 1.3 cents per gallon, averaging .70 a gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy's survey of 3,940 stations in Missouri. On Thursday, in Sedalia, gas prices ranged from .59 to .64. On Thursday, according to GasBuddy's...

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A time-honored tradition for kids and teenagers continues this summer with the Boy & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri summer program.  The summer program provides activities for children from kindergarten through teenagers, with the Parkview Elementary site for kindergarten through fourth grade and the First Baptist Church site for fifth grade and up.  Communications Director Emily Schmidt said that they host a 10-week summer program every summer to give them something to do during the day but also give them academic time, reading time and playtime. “This summer we have a big focus on literacy,” Schmidt said. “Next week...

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun the process of updating Harry S. Truman Lake’s Master Plan for the first time since October 1988. Public comments can be submitted until July 1. “The Master Plan is the strategic land use management document that guides our management and development of the project’s recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of the project,” Truman Lake’s Park Manager Bradly Wright said. “The Master Plan guides efficient and cost-effective management, development and the use of our grounds.” The last time the plan was changed was in October 1988. A revision means bringing...

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Immanuel makes donation Immanuel United Church of Christ in Sedalia recently donated 20 to the Community Cafe Program. The money was the result of a special offering collected at Easter.   Taylor Chapel to host fish dinner Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, 400 N. Lamine Ave., will host a fish dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25. Menu will feature fish, spaghetti, coleslaw, bread, and dessert for a donation of . For more information call 660-281-6012.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 22 12:10 p.m.: Nolana A. Edwards, 23, of Raytown was arrested after officers were dispatched to GameStop, 3040 West Broadway Boulevard, in reference to a theft. The suspect was later located near the intersection of West Broadway Boulevard in South Moniteau Avenue when a traffic stop was conducted. Stolen property was recovered and returned. During the investigation the suspect was placed under...

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Mid-Missouri Artists to host fused glass, mixed media program MMA members Barb and Mike Byrne will present the Thursday, June 30, program, “Fused Glass and Mixed Media Art,” for Mid-Missouri Artists.  Work by both artists can currently be viewed in the MMA Summer Exhibition in the UCM Gallery of Art and Design along with work by other members. That exhibit and the Great Gossamer Exhibition can be viewed through July 8. The MMA June program will begin at 7 p.m. in the Arts and Crafts Room of the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St. Barb Byrne began her...

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University of Saint Mary Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michelle Metzinger has announced the Spring 2022 dean's list. The following USM students ended the semester with a 3.5 GPA or better. Montrose: William Steward Warsaw: Keegan Glenn

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Is there a more important question in life than how to live purposefully? Everyone wants their life to matter, but how can we know that we’ve lived purposefully? What makes a life well lived? While there’s inevitably various good things to do in life to make a difference, there’s only one way for our lives to truly have lasting meaning and purpose. A purposeful life is one that is reconciled to its Creator. More than mere chance, humanity was created for a purpose and is defined and determined by our Creator. The good news of the Bible is that the...

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The Sedalia Fire Department has been authorized to purchase two squad trucks at once to avoid price-hikes and chip shortage delays. At Monday’s Sedalia City Council meeting the council unanimously passed an ordinance to purchase both light squad trucks from Feld Fire for the fixed price of 1,050. Wednesday, Sedalia Fire Chief Matt Irwin explained the reasoning for purchasing the squad trucks. “What we have found is that responding the big trucks out to medical calls and going to public events and those sorts of things we're putting a lot of miles on the trucks, we're putting a lot of...

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A Sedalia artist who enjoys drawing is branching out by creating a mural and acting in plays and musicals for the Liberty Center Association for the Arts. Marco Caesar, who graduated from State Fair Community College in December, created his first mural for the Sedalia CASA children’s room this spring. Caesar will also direct his first play this fall for LCAA. A 2013 Smith-Cotton High School graduate, Caesar said drawing is his first love, but in college, he learned to take a broader interest in art and took painting classes there. “They wanted to get across that it’s important to...

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West-Central Independent Living Solutions recently partnered with the Habitat for Humanity to bring accessibility to the home of Jim and Carroll Brown in Marshall. The couple have lived in Marshall since 1969 and enjoy being involved in the town’s community. In recent years, however, several health issues have brought Carroll to and from the doctor and the hospital. The steps in and out of their home became a major challenge for Carroll as she is mostly bed bound and even presented issues for ambulance crews transporting gurneys. “Many people in WILS six-county service area, like Carroll Brown, often find themselves...

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On Wednesday morning, Smith-Cotton Junior High students ran a lemonade stand outside of the school in honor of Vivian Meyer.  Sixth-grade math teacher Ashley Kruse said that her summer school students have been working on ratios and proportions so in the first week of summer classes they spoke about perfecting a lemonade recipe.  “They did a whole taste testing thing,” Kruse said. “They learned real quickly that too much lemons make the lemonade too tart and too much sugar makes its way too sweet so they figured out their ratios there.” During the second week of summer school, the class...

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Graduation weekend for the Sacred Heart School Class of 2022 included a Senior Luncheon at the Sedalia Country Club for graduates and their parents. During the program,  Ian Viscarra (attending State Fair Community College), Kiley Beykirch (attending Texas Christian University), and Claire Smeltzer (attending Truman State University) each received ,000 from the McCarthy Toyota Scholarship. The McCarthy Toyota Scholarship was established in 2015 to recognize and financially support deserving SHS graduates.  Allie Finney (attending State Fair Community College) and Bruno Saucedo (attending William Jewell College) were each awarded ,500 from the Jim and Barbara Cooney Scholarship. The Cooneys are both...

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Volunteers needed to take older adults to medical appointments Those who enjoy driving and making a difference for older adults, should consider becoming a volunteer for Care Connection’s Provide a Ride program. Volunteer Provide-a-Ride (PAR) drivers transport aging adults to and from out-of-county medical appointments in the volunteers’ personal vehicles. Drivers may be reimbursed for their mileage. “This program is important because it allows us to have someone local to take a client without transportation to a medical appointment out of town without having a wait,” Penny Humphrey, Care Connection transportation coordinator, said. “The driver also will wait and transport...

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Two from Marshall hurt in Saline accident Charles C. Doss, 24, of Marshall sustained minor injuries, and Lyecel M. Medina-Orozco, 32, of Marshall, sustained moderate injuries, at 4 a.m. Tuesday in a Saline County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, A 2003 Honda driven by Doss east on 260th Street at Quartz Road ran head-on into a 2013 Chevrolet driven by Medin-Orozco, who was traveling westbound. Neither driver was wearing safety devices, Dobbs was transported by private vehicle to Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Medina-Orozco was transported by Slater EMS to University of Missouri Medical Center.  Information is...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 19 2:16 a.m.: Jessica Yasmine Quetzecua, 29, of the 1800 block of South Montgomery Avenue was arrested after a traffic stop at West Broadway Boulevard and South Limit Avenue on a vehicle that was observed speeding. It was determined Quetzecua was intoxicated and she was transported to the Sedalia Police Department then the Pettis County Jail where she was booked and released...

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Cole Camp High School recently announced students named to its fourth quarter honor roll. Principal’s List Ninth Grade: Colby Benn, Lillian Brown, Alexis Casdorph, Madison Cooper, Dalila Fanin, Elizabeth Gavrishchuk, Summer Hagen, Eastynn Holt, Grace Koenke, MacKenzie Moellman, Anastasia Procopisen, Ashlyn Russell, Bailey Stoppel, Emma Thayer, Shane Wallace 10th Grade: Jerra Allen, Dalton Brandt, Matthew Bright, Emily Burdick, Cassidy Carl, Kennlee Cooper, Aiva Cruse, Ashlyn Degraffenreid, Gentry Dieckman, Reid Harrison, Tyler Howard, Tori Luebbering, James Matiychenco, Randy Mitchell, Cora Oelrichs, Connor Rogers, Camille Schear, Matt Sims, Grady Strathman, Gracie Thompson, Madison Treece, Ashton Whitson 11th Grade: Gabe Adams, Toby Benn,...

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During the week of June 13-June 19, there were 33 new cases reported to Pettis County Health Center. Last week there were 45 reported to PCHC. There are three new cases hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center plus one who is in ICU on a ventilator but no longer on covid precautions.

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Liberty Center Association for the Arts Junior Theatre students will present "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Jr." at the Hayden Liberty Center this weekend. Director Lucy Lemke Clark said, "Matilda Jr." is published through MTI Publishing Co. as part of their MTI Junior Theatre. The storyline for the musical was written as a book by Roald Dahl that was published in the 1980s. "I remember reading it in school with my second-grade teacher," she noted. "And then there was a movie that came out, I'd say in the early 90s with Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. "So, it's one of...

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The Sedalia Police Latent Crimes Division announced a juvenile was taken into custody after a search warrant was served in the 2500 block of South Woodlawn Drive Friday. During the search items were discovered stolen from the salons as well as other contraband. An investigation into a string of salon burglaries, thefts from vehicles, and even a vehicle theft began in April and continued until June 16. Salon Bash on West Main Street had a window bashed in and money stolen in April. But that wasn’t the end of their burglary attempts. “They've came back twice since the original break-in...

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With the Fourth of July only a couple of weeks away, Sedalia Parks and Recreation is still looking for parade entries to add to the day of fun.  Savannah Lynde, special events and marketing manager, said this year Parks and Rec is sponsoring the parade again.  “This will be the first time in two years since we haven’t been able to since COVID,” Lynde said. “The theme this year is ‘America’s Superheroes.’ So our thought with that was, with everything that has happened in the last two years there are a lot of people that can be qualified as a...

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Warrensburg woman injured in Johnson accident Merissa R. Bailey, 22, of Warrensburg, sustained moderate injuries at 5:19 p.m. Monday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Bailey was driving west on 1800 block of NW Highway 2  in a 2008 Nissan when she swerved to avoid striking an object in the roadway, traveled off the left side of the road, struck a ditch, and overturned. Bailey was wearing a seat belt, and was transported by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Stover woman hurt in Morgan accident Tiffany D....

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Rockhurst University announced its Spring 2022 dean’s list, a special recognition for students who meet certain requirements of academic excellence. Students on the list must make a grade point average of at least 3.5.  The following students from the area were named to the dean’s list: Clinton: Ashton Cook Green Ridge: Candace Hilt Holden: Ellan Harder, Lilly Spring Kingsville: Ruth Engling Marshall: Hannah Hartwig, Grace Haug, Aiza McClinton, Addy Wright Montrose: Sudie Callahan Nelson: Martha Waller Sedalia: Kaleb Woolery

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I’m not perfect. In fact, I’m far from it. Last week I posted this to my Facebook page: “I thought that I was a good person, but the way that I react when people drive slowly in the left lane would suggest otherwise.” And it’s true. I get weary of it. If you’re riding with me when it happens you might see my hands go up and hear me say, “See? This is why Jesus had to be born in a stable!” After all, we do know that Joseph had to have been in a hurry! And then there are...

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On Wednesday the 8th of June, my wife and I, along with her sister and our brother-in-law, made what had always been an annual visit to her hometown of Willow Springs, Missouri.  The trip was always a time of visits with my wife’s family who stayed in that area, while part of the family moved to Sedalia in the ‘60s. I have always loved to visit with people, especially those whom I have not seen for a while, and I like it even more if they happen to be relatives.  Last week, we got to visit with people we had...

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Bothwell internal medicine and pulmonary clinics moving Bothwell Internal Medicine Specialists and Bothwell Pulmonary Specialists will be closed June 30 and July 1 to move from their current location at 1712 S. Lafayette to 2301 S. Ingram. The clinics are moving to the site of the former Bothwell orthopedics clinic, and patients will be seen at the new location beginning July 5.  Bothwell Internal Medicine Specialists focuses on adult health issues and provides pulmonology and nephrology services. Clinicians include Dr. William Woolery, Dr. Blake Brooks and Nurse Practitioners Rene Boland and Shawna Sapaugh. The clinic’s phone number will remain the...

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The terms “landmark” and “historic site” and “listed on the National Register” are often used without a clear understanding of what each of these terms means and does not mean. Today begins a series of columns on these terms and others that may be used to designate historic places and buildings.  In 1966, the federal government passed the Historic Preservation Act. This legislation was designed “to identify buildings, structures, sites, and objects of historical, cultural, archaeological, engineering, or architectural significance on a national, state, or local level.” These items are listed on the National Register of Historic Places kept by...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 20 8:37 p.m.: Sam Lee Branstetter, 77, of Sedalia was arrested after officers responded to Liberty Park, 1500 W. Third St., for a report of a male subject with his pants down. Based on witness statements and officer observations the subject was transported to the Pettis County Jail he was placed on a 24-hour hold for first-degree sexual misconduct.  9:32 p.m.: Troy...

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The Sedalia-Pettis County Amateur Radio Klub (SPARK) is gearing up for next weekend’s 2022 Field Day event. Ham radio operators across North America will establish temporary ham radio stations in public locations during the ARRL Field Day, Saturday, June 25 and Sunday June 26 at 3700 W. Broadway Blvd. in Sedalia. The annual field day showcases the science and skill of amateur radio and serves as crucial practice in case of emergencies where other lines of communication have been destroyed. “Field Day is just a great opportunity for Ham radio enthusiasts to get their gear out and see how to...

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On June 19, the Sedalia Police Department and Pettis County Deputies began searching for a stolen vehicle shortly after it was reported around 4:44 a.m. The search would result in a pursuit ending over 40 minutes down the road in California, Missouri.  With assistance from the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office, the stolen vehicle was located by SPD. The subject, Paul Ramos, 43, of Sedalia, fled. This prompted a chase around Sedalia as police attempted to deploy Stop Sticks.  Ramos, already having a felony warrant out of St. Louis County, escaped from the city limits going east into Morgan County. With...

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Pettis County is now six weeks away from the Aug. 2 primary election, which means today, June 21, is the beginning of absentee voting.  The Pettis County Clerk’s office will mail out almost 600 absentee ballots but that number can increase as they receive additional applications.  Before Aug. 2, the Clerk’s office will be mailing out sample ballots to everyone registered to vote along with a photo and the address of the Courthouse Annex, 215 E. Fifth St., the new location of the clerk's office.  Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada said that if voters feel like they can’t make...

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Jaime Reed, PA-C, has joined the Bothwell Health Center-Truman Lake team in Warsaw. Reed recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving nearly 25 years. He received a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medicine in 2008 and a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2009 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha through the Department of Defense. Physician assistants (PAs) are mid-level clinicians who provide patient care under the guidance and supervision of a collaborating physician. They can evaluate and treat illnesses, order and interpret labs and tests, prescribe medications, perform procedures, assist in surgeries and make rounds...

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Two women in serious condition after Benton accident Tammy J. Rash, 58, of Clever, sustained serious injuries, and Holly J. Eierman, 33, of Edwards, also sustained serious injuries at 8:22 a.m. Saturday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, The crash occurred as Rash was turning west on U.S. Highway 65 from westbound Barnum and pulled into Eierman’s path. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, Eierman was transported by a MU Air ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia. Rash was transported by Life Flight Eagle to Mercy Hospital in Springfield.  Two from Windsor hurt...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 17 9:18 a.m.: Michael K. Wright, 60, of the 400 block of Welch Court, was arrested after officers were dispatched to Walmart for a trespassing complaint. Officers observed the suspect urinating into a trash can near one of Walmart's entrances, and he was issued a summons for indecent exposure.  11:11 p.m.:  Marcus D. Minor, 44, of Union, was arrested after officers conducted...

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Boys & Girls Clubs to host chicken sale Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri and Tyson will host a truckload sale on Friday, June 24.  The Tyson truck will be parked from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center parking lot with 20-pound boxes of various chicken products available for sale. All proceeds from the truckload sale will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs, which is seeing record enrollment at its Summer Program and gearing up for a busy school year. Products available include boneless skinless breast filets, raw leg quarters, raw wings, fully cooked...

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During daily meetings from June 13 to June 17, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: June 13: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended the National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA) Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  Congressional Candidate Bill Irwin introduced himself and visited with those in attendance.  June 14: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended the NENA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. June 15: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended the NENA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza attended a Conference Call meeting in regard to the Regional...

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June 6 Ana Rosa and Jose Lemus to Faviola Lemus, section 14; township 46; range 23; La Monte, block M, lots 185, 183, 184. Barbara L. Baszler Cooke to Benjamine W. and Leslie Michelle Archambault, section 15; township 44; range 21. Bryan J. and Monica A. Werner to Dilbert G. and Sheila L. Clark, Brentwood Manor Subdivision, lot 48. C and S Sales LLC to Berryman Shed Properties LLC, sections 17, 20; township 44; range 21. C and S Sales LLC Beery Shed Properties LLC, section 17; township 44; range 21. Roman Zubkov to Mary and Thomas Iliff, Bullard’s S...

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There were 4,120 students who earned spring 2022 semester honors at Kansas State University.  To qualify for a semester honor, a student must have achieved a GPA of 3.75 or higher over 12 graded credit hours. Those who obtain semester honors also get commendation from their deans and have the academic honors placed on their permanent records. The following is a list of students from the local area who received these honors: Knob Noster: Hunter Southard    Sedalia: Maia Smith    Warrensburg: Matthew Finnane     

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BRHC Auxiliary The Bothwell Health Center Auxiliary Board met on June 8 in the Hospital Board Room with 15 members present. President Karen Kay Taylor called the meeting to order. The May Board Minutes were read and approved. The Treasurer’s Report was also read and approved. The total volunteer hours worked for the month of May were 1,434 hours. The following members received their new volunteer hour pins in the month of May: Elaine Bryson, 800-hour pin; Freida Ingram, 5,500-hour pin; Joyce Kolsky, 2,000-hour pin; Marge Watson, 2,500-hour pin. Special recognition was given to Jim Monroe for his to-date volunteering...

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Norma Porter will observe her 81st birthday June, 21. She was born June 21, 1941, in Colchester, Illinois. Before retiring she was a CNA and worked in upholstery. She enjoys sewing and weaving on a loom. Norma has four children, Diann Steele, of Sedalia, Rhonda Curtis, of Tennessee, Tom Porter and R.L. Porter, both of Illinois; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.   Birthday cards may be sent to Norma at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Jackson Schmidt, 14, of Sedalia, and his Team Roping partner Paden Evans, 15, of Princeton, finished fourth overall in the Missouri High School Rodeo State Finals and are now headed for the National Finals in Gillette, Wyoming, July 17-23. Jackson’s mom, Randi Battson, and step-father, Jed Battson, have been training Jackson to be in rodeo on their southern Pettis County ranch since before was barely able to walk. “The first time I ever sat on a horse I was two weeks old,” Schmidt said. “I started showing horses for walk, trot, and horsemanship, whenever I was young, then mom told...

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For reasons I won’t go into, I’m coming late to the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, which sometimes happens in the column-writing business. The horrible murder of 21 people — 19 of them school children — has renewed demands that ways be found to prevent such tragedies. Stricter gun control, mental health screening, monitoring of social media, and tighter school security — which was virtually nonexistent at Uvalde — are among the proposed steps. Some of the ideas I’ve read about may have merit, but a famous quotation from Henry David Thoreau comes to mind: “There are a thousand hacking at...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous Because We Care and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; First Christian Church, 200 S. Limit Ave. Call 660-221-2221....

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Nohaud and Sandra Azan, of Sedalia, announce the engagement of their daughter Amanda Azan to Todd Hauser, the son of Donald and LuAnn Hauser, of Humboldt, Kansas.  The future bride was raised in Sedalia and graduated from Baylor University and Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry. She practices in a general dental practice in Kansas City, Missouri.  The future groom was raised in Humboldt, Kansas, and is a graduate of Emporia State University and the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is an attorney for a firm in Lee’s Summit. A wedding is planned for July 30 in Lee’s...

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Patricia Decker will observe her 90th birthday June 20. She was born June 20, 1932, in Norwalk, Connecticut. Before retiring, she was a teacher and she enjoys reading, painting, solitaire on her tablet and teaching ESL. Patricia has two children, Amanda McClain and George Lipps, both of Sedalia; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Birthday cards may be sent to Patricia at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday No run. Wednesday 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville Walmart. 1:15 to 3:45 p.m.: Lone Elm. Friday 9 a.m. to noon: Brooking Park. 1:15 to 4 p.m.: Monsees Lake.

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On June 16, the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force, in cooperation with the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office, completed two animal rescues in Sedalia. Between the two locations, a total of 13 dogs and eight cats were recovered from dangerous and inhumane conditions. “Upon arrival, ACT found super unsafe and unsanitary conditions,” Missouri Humane Society Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Gary Lowder said about the second operation. “The dogs were filthy and underweight. Six of the cats were housed in a mobile home with no ventilation and dangerously hot temperatures.” In the first rescue in the 19000 block...

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Coinciding with the summer reading program, two authors and illustrators will speak at the Sedalia Public Library this month. Colter Jackson, formerly of Otterville and now living and working in New York City, will speak about her new children’s book “The Rhino Suit” at 11 a.m. Friday, June 25, in the Queen City Room. Kevin Sherry, of Baltimore, Maryland, is a graphic novelist who also writes chapter books for Scholastic and picture books for Penguin and Random House. He will speak at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, weather permitting, on the west lawn of the library. Sedalia Public Library Director...

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On June 2, Sedalia School District 200 announced a partnership with Nucor Steel Sedalia that will provide a system of outreach and support for select Smith-Cotton Junior High students.  According to a Sedalia 200 news release, the program will ensure the students have the means to participate in activities and educational opportunities now through their graduation. Participants, who must meet academic, attendance and behavior requirements, also will connect with Nucor team members through field trips and other interactions. Nucor plans to add students to the program each year. S-C Junior High Principal Stacy Curry said the district will pick students...

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In October, I wrote a column titled “Feeling the burnout, big time.” It’s not uncommon for me to get feedback about some of the columns I write, but by far, that one received the most comments. Specifically, how much people related to the problem of burnout. In that popular column, I asked you, my wonderful readers, to keep a promise with me that we’d stop bragging about our long workdays and instead focus on time spent with loved ones. If we bragged about work, we’d talk about an impressive accomplishment rather than how tiring our jobs can be. And we’d...

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Warsaw woman injured in Benton accident Michaela Pearcy, 25, of Warsaw, sustained moderate injuries at 9 a.m. Thursday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred as a 1998 Jeep Cherokee utility vehicle with flashing yellow lights on top, driven by Pearcy east on Route C west of Route T, made a u-turn in the roadway and was struck by a 1995 Ford L8000 driven by James C. Hayes, 65, of Edwards.  Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Pearcy was transported to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton.  Excelsior Springs woman hurt...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 16 11:01 p.m.: Francisco Salvador, 32, of the 600 block of East 10th Street, was arrested after officers responded to a motor vehicle crash. Salvador did not have a driver's license and had an active warrant for failure to appear out of Sedalia for operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was...

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Since 2017, unprecedented changes have come to West Central Missouri. In the wake of these changes, the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission set a committee of stakeholders to chronicle the new economic and social challenges and to reset a course toward continuing development for the communities in Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline counties. This updated strategy is ready for public review and comments will be accepted until June 27. People can view the CEDS and offer comments at https://bit.ly/3OoGUjO or on the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission Facebook page. Individuals interested in reading and commenting in person may visit the...

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Truman State University has released the names of students who graduated at the conclusion of the spring semester. Clinton: Emily Balke Knob Noster: Mollie Jade Lynn Sedalia: Sarah Kathryn Rollings Warrensburg: Natalie Ruth Fatka, Addison Jackson, Shania Montúfar, Ashley Virginia Staab 

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On Nov. 20, Missouri 4-H delegates will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the National 4-H Congress to network with peers from across the country. While there, they will attend workshops, complete service-learning opportunities, and tour some of Atlanta’s famous landmarks. This year, Abigail Arnold was selected from Pettis County. To be selected as a delegate to the National 4-H Congress, Missouri 4-H’ers must complete the Level 3 State Excellence Award process. Each year finalists travel to Columbia to complete their interviews. The top 20 applicants are selected and announced at closing ceremonies during the State 4-H Congress.

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“If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”  I grew up hearing that cliché. It was a staple of the platitudes told to children in the 1990s, as ubiquitous as “you can do anything you set your mind to,” or “good things come to those who wait.” It just was something everyone knew, from the youngest elementary student to the oldest grandparent — so commonplace, in fact, that we all sort of took it for granted.  It’s time to take that tired old saying off the shelf and give it a good dusting. We’ve taken it...

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The Watergate hearings in the 1970s were intriguing, but the Jan. 6 Committee hearings are mesmerizing. Behind-the-scene intrigue, cat fights in the Oval Office, texts designed as subterfuge, testimony from leading Republican members of the Administration, the Bar, and the judiciary – it all blends together in a fascinating tale of hubris and devious political machinations. My eye-rolling moment: Someone testified under oath that Trump told Mike Pence, “I don’t want to be your friend anymore.” Who was running this country? A 5-year-old? But then I started thinking. Well, the election was close. The whole thing was decided by only...

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A historic 130-year-old home on the south side of West Broadway Boulevard at Vermont Avenue is being repainted in preparation for sale. “It’s a great, great house,” said Bethany Stratton with Premier Realty. “It was originally built by John T. Heard, the namesake of the Heard Memorial Clubhouse also on Broadway.” The Queen Anne-style home was built between 1891 and 1895 and originally cost ,000. The current owners owned it since 1999 and were recently relocated after raising three boys in the home. “It is a wonderful house, it has wonderful stained-glass windows,” Stratton said. “All the hardwood floors are...

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WARRENSBURG — David Pearce, executive director for governmental relations at the University of Central Missouri, has an opportunity to impact higher education throughout the state with his recent appointment to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). An interstate organization, MHEC is a compact that brings together member representatives from 12 midwestern states to develop and support best practices, collaborative efforts, and cost-sharing opportunities. It strives to ensure strong, equitable postsecondary educational opportunities and outcomes for all.  According to MHEC President Susan G. Heegaard, MHEC believes that “collaborative actions informed by research and best practices are the catalyst for improving quality,...

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The Johnson County Republican Women will host a candidate forum on Tuesday, June 21 at the Warrensburg Elks Lodge, 822 E. Young St., as part of their Summer Speaker Series.  The forum, moderated by former state Sen. David Pearce, will begin at 6 p.m. with Republican candidates for U.S. House of Representatives District 4 answering predetermined questions. Following a short break, the Republican candidates for Johnson County Presiding Commissioner will begin at 7:30 p.m.  The public is encouraged to attend. KOKO will be broadcasting the event for those who can’t attend.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Wicked Tacos and Street...

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On June 11, the Missouri Cattlemen's Association hosted its 19th annual Steak Fry in the Agriculture Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The event is a fundraiser for the association’s Political Action Committee, a reunion for members and a sort of political caucus.  According to Missouri Cattlemen’s Association President Bruce Mershon, the fry is about far more than just the steak. It is about connections between the people and those who represent them.  “The opportunity for us to gather and influence the political process, that’s what our goal is here,” Mershon said. “This is how we take care of our...

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Two injured in Johnson accident Veronica L. Dobbs, 34, and Timmothy G. Rhoton, 35, both of Knob Noster, both received moderate injuries at 4:50 p.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Rhoton was driving south on Route 23 in a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 when he hydroplaned and spun into a ditch, overturning several times before coming to rest. Both occupants were wearing their seat belts and were transported to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg by Johnson County Ambulance District.  Knob Noster man in serious condition after Johnson accident Lee G....

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Jefferson City woman in serious condition after Moniteau accident Erika Castro, 18, of Jefferson City, sustained serious injuries Sunday in a Moniteau County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Castro was driving west on U.S. Highway 50 in a 2022 Honda Accord when she traveled off the right side of the road, struck two MoDOT signs, a bridge support, and overturned. She was wearing a seat belt and was transported by MU Air to University Hospital in Columbia.  Jefferson City man injured in ATV accident  Jamari C. Todd, 19, of Jefferson City, sustained moderate injuries at 8:48...

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During the week of June 6-June 12, there were 45 new cases reported. Last week there were 48. As of June 12, there are 12,240 positive cases reported to the Pettis County Health Center. The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 115.73 per 100,000 (through June 11) as compared to 75.58 per 100,000 last week, using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. There were 125 tests done for Pettis County residents last week. There is one individual hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center who is in the ICU and on a ventilator.

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KNOB NOSTER — While the Warrensburg Farmers’ Market continues to serve Warrensburg over the summer, the Knob Noster Open Air Market is also serving its own community.  The Knob Noster market is open every third Saturday from May through October. At this market, Knob Noster’s residents are able to buy a wide variety of products from 65 vendors. Some of these vendors sell things like, antiques, food products, T-shirts, tumblers, and soaps.  The market’s administrators are also looking to add some entertainment to the Saturday markets. “On May’s event, we had a band,” said Marty Austin, administrator for the Knob...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 9 8:47 p.m.: Dorothy Brown, 66, of the 500 block of West 22nd Street, was issued a summons after officers responded to the 2100 block of South Missouri Avenue in reference to an animal running loose. Officers made contact with the owner who was issued the municipal citation. June 10 6:30 p.m.: Cheyanne Wiser, 21, of the 2500 block of West Main...

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To inspire the adoption of 5,000 mustangs, the Mustang Discovery Ride sponsored by the Mustang Discovery Foundation is trekking 5,000 miles across the United States.  Mustang Discovery Foundation founder Lisanne Fear is riding 5,000 miles to inspire and educate about 5,000 mustangs in holding.  “I started this trip on Sept. 28 on the coast of Delaware in Cape Henlopen and I’m riding all the way to California,” Fear said. “Right now there is about 5,000 horses standing in holding corrals out west and those horses have been rounded up off the range and they just need good loving homes.” The...

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A donation of thousands of antiques will benefit CASA in Sedalia through an auction planned for June 28. On Monday, Lori Haney, CASA executive director, and Julie Hoffert, CASA director of development, said the donation made by Sedalia philanthropist Sue Heckart includes silver, glassware, artwork, lamps and furniture. Along with those items are unique pieces such as a vintage Burnett organ, a treadle sewing machine with a wooden cover and old records. There is also antique medical equipment belonging to Heckart’s father, who was a physician. Haney noted the donation represents three generations of the Heckart family, who once owned...

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The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office had a new K9 officer recently join the force. Lord is a 3-year-old long-haired Czechoslovakian German Shepherd. Assigned to K9 handler Sgt. Matt Long, Lord and Long recently returned from eight weeks of intense training in Decaturville, Tennessee. “Tennessee is about like Missouri as far as weather goes.” Long said, “so it was very, very, hot. We were trained 10 to 12 hours a day every day. It was very long training, but very good training.” Long described his new partner in much the same way most people see him. “He's very hairy, but he's...

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The Sedalia School District Foundation continues to support Sedalia School District students through awarding Dual Credit Scholarships. During the 2021-22 school year, 12 Smith-Cotton High School students received a scholarship to cover the tuition for one college-level course at State Fair Community College for which the student receives both college and high school credit.  To receive a Dual Credit Scholarship, students must be a junior or senior. Selection is based on GPA, attendance and a written essay. For math and English courses, appropriate placement scores are required. This is the 13th year the Foundation has offered Dual Credit Scholarships to...

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World Blood Donor Day is June 14. The American Red Cross is encouraging people to make a difference by donating blood and platelets. Donors this June receive a e-gift card to their merchant of choice as thanks and automatically enter for a free chance to win a VIP trip to Graceland. This is in honor of Elvis Presley, a former blood donor himself, and the new movie “Elvis” about the music icon. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, platelets or plasma, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Upcoming local blood...

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Laws during the 19th century generally favored a husband over his wife, usually granting him title to any land she brought into the marriage and giving him control over any money she might have had. Societal custom, often more powerful than statutes, offered women few ways to support themselves should a husband die. Custom and the church both frowned on divorce. These standards left women particularly vulnerable to poverty. Most husbands respected their wives and used the property and money to benefit them both. Others were not so considerate. Society was often not so considerate either.  These laws and customs...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 10 2:12 a.m.: Adonis Mason, 26, of the 1000 block of East 16th Street was arrested after a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding at West Main Street near North Plymouth Avenue. It was determined the driver was intoxicated and was transported to the police department for a breath sample. Mason was issued a uniform traffic ticket for speeding and driving...

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Making the Band returned to downtown Sedalia again this year on Saturday with music performed by area youth. And although the day was sweltering, the groups gave their all despite the summer sun. Making the Band is owned by musician and music instructor Justin Lawson, who teaches and provides a program “designed to give the whole band experience.” Students involved form bands, write songs, record, play cover music and perform a live show annually. Lawson said on Monday by phone that the live performances for Making the Band began in 2008. He added this was the second year for the...

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I ran across a quote last week that went like this: “The problem is people really believe that they follow some strong moral compass, but in reality, they are just trying to fit in with their tribe. If their tribe becomes a bunch of bullies, they will too and still think that they are morally superior to the outside tribe.” The quote was posted on Twitter by a person using the pseudonym Shibetoshi Nakamoto. Is the author correct? Is this what we do? I believe so. I’ll offer myself as an example. I am a Christian and have held strongly...

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On Monday, Heartland Hospice reopened as part of Promedica Senior Care and hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 150 S. Limit Ave. Suite 400.  Hospice care is specialized care that focuses on supporting families and their loved ones during an advanced illness. The emphasis is on comfort and quality of life, rather than on finding a cure. Hospice care enables loved ones to live each day to the fullest as comfortably and dignified as possible. One of Heartland’s main goals is to move health care into more rural areas where other health care facilities may be leaving or not considering.  Heartland...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and approved three additional Field Training Officer positions and a CO2 option for a new patient simulator. In his report, EMS Chief Eric Dirck noted that Unit 11 was scheduled for repairs and paint and should be completed in August. “All the other vehicles are up and running right now,” he noted. Dirck said the new bay ramps at headquarters are working well, but a 20-year-old air conditioning unit failed at the Education Building and was replaced. “The fan blades just completely came apart and stripped a bunch of...

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Sedalia Altrusa wins first place At the Altrusa Region Eight Conference in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sedalia Altrusa won first place for the Mamie L. Bass Service Award. The award is given to recognize outstanding club achievement in service to the community. Altrusa International of Sedalia defined four projects to reinvigorate the club and define and implement projects for community members most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The four projects were: • Aug. 23, 2021 — C.A.C.T.U.S. late distribution from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with 113 children receiving school supplies. • Nov. 15, 2021 — Membership collected items and created hygiene...

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Historical Bibles, sometimes forgotten, often leave a trail of documents inside their pages that can lead to descendants. A new Bible Rescue Project has taken life at the Pettis County Museum and inspired a Sedalia woman to learn and return tattered, vintage Bibles to family members. Pettis County Historical Society member Susan Rouchka presented a program on May 23 for members of the society and the Pettis County Museum on the society’s Bible Rescue Project. Rouchka said The Pettis County Museum and Historical Society often receives donated Bibles that have been sold at estate auctions, garage sales or antique malls....

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Both the Sedalia Police Department and the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office announced arrests related to methamphetamine this week. Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders announced a search warrant was served June 9 in the 6600 block of East U.S. Highway 50 after a two-month investigation involving methamphetamine distribution. The raid was conducted by sheriff's deputies and members of the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force.  Jonathan Johnson, 36, of the residence, ran through the apartment with deputies and detectives in pursuit. He ended up in the bathroom and was able to toss a bag of methamphetamine in the toilet. Unflushed matter in the...

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While having my house deep-cleaned, all the books in my home library were removed from their shelves. Putting them back wasn’t a simple task, for my reading interests have changed over the years. The novels that had occupied the prime locations on my shelves don’t interest me as much as they once did, and were transferred to a lower shelf. Not that they aren’t important, but my reading has gravitated more toward nonfiction. However, some fiction didn’t get culled: “War and Peace, “Don Quixote,” “Robinson Crusoe,“ and selected novels by Dickens and Dostoyevsky retained their honored slots. Pride of place,...

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Years after my father died, I began to understand many of the things that impeded our having, at least, a collegial relationship. Much had happened during my teens and college years to affect our seeing each other with something other than wariness and skepticism. Not much changed after that, but I had hoped that when Emily was born, she would be a bridge between him and me. That didn’t happen, although we did reach a sort of détente. After he died, I recognized that his behavior probably originated from what had happened to him in the Philippines during WWII. He...

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When I first took over the editor’s office in 2017, I mentioned to former Editor Bob Satnan, then a contributing columnist on this very page each week, that I was thinking about writing columns for the Opinion page once I had a handle on my new role. He gave me some good advice: don’t force it, and don’t write a column just to write a column. Make sure you have something to say. Well, with this weekly column space, that has been a little more of a challenge (see my mid-May column “When you’re at a loss for words” for...

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Well-known contemporary Christian music artist Jonny Diaz, originally from Florida, will perform in Cole Camp next week. The outdoor concert, a first for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, is sponsored by the church’s Luther League and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Cole Camp. According to the Christian Broadcasting Network, Diaz has opened concerts for Steven Curtis Chapman, Mercy Me, Bebo Norman, Building 429 and Shane and Shane. He has also performed at sizable Christian music festivals across the country. He usually travels as an acoustic act but has a group of musicians who play for him for full-band shows. Susan...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 1 2:36 p.m.: Joshua J. Quick, 31, of Sedalia, was arrested after a traffic stop in a business parking lot in the 3200 block of West Broadway Boulevard for an equipment violation. Quick, an occupant in the vehicle, had an active warrant and was arrested. During a search of his person, methamphetamine was located.  June 10 12:31 a.m. Joseph R. Luera, 44,...

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WARRENSBURG — Firefighter Daniel Brown of the Warrensburg Fire Department left for Ukraine in early April and spent about six weeks working search and rescue with other volunteers.  “I’ve been following the conflict since it first started … I wanted to help and was trying to think of ways I could,” Brown said. “I started seeing pictures of emergency services over there and the conditions they were working in, where they were living and everything they were going through, working 24/7, going through bombings. They could use any and every help possible.”  The invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces...

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Friday, the Sedalia Police Department hosted its inaugural D.A.R.E. Camp. After learning to resist drugs in a classroom setting, the kids had gotten D.A.R.E.’s message. “Drugs are bad,” Alivia Washington said, “and a whole bunch of other things about body systems and how they work.” “They pretty much teach you about, like, different drugs and what they can do to you,” Smith-Cotton Junior High student Riley Comfort said, “and about emotions and how to control them.” “Why not to do drugs and like alcoholic abuse and stuff like that,” Bailey Scott said. SPD is pleased with the success of the...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous Because We Care and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; First Christian Church, 200 S. Limit Ave. Call 660-221-2221....

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Wallace Nelson will observe his 91st birthday June 14. He was born June 14, 1931, in North Dakota. Wallace is married to Charlotte Nelson, of Sedalia. Before retirement, he was a pastor. Wallace preached until he was 80-years-old, he enjoyed making walking sticks and birdhouses and collecting quarters. Wallace has eight children, Bruce Nelson, of Colorado, John Nelson, of Washington, Charlene Patton, of Nebraska, Randy Nelson, of Springfield, Brian Patton, of Iowa, Mike Patton, Mark Patton and Karen Laws, all of Sedalia. Birthday cards may be sent to Wallace at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St.,...

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Students were recognized during the Senior Awards Night event on May 4 in the Heckart Performing Arts Center. Attached is the list of scholarships and awards earned by Smith-Cotton High School's Class of 2022. Paige Morgan Abney: A+ Recognition Scholarship Peter Ronan Adermann: A+ Recognition Scholarship Ariadna Isabela Alonso: Marie M. and Harry L. Smith Scholarship (Mizzou); Franklin Family Scholarship  Carolina Alonso: Steak ‘n Shake Scholarship; A+ Recognition Scholarship  Lexi Lynn Anderson: A+ Recognition Scholarship; Smith-Cotton Softball Booster Club Scholarship; Smith-Cotton Girls Soccer Booster Club Scholarship; Franklin Family Scholarship Hannah Marie Armes: A+ Recognition Scholarship Morgan Lane Arnold: A+ Recognition...

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Sedalia Elks Lodge 125 will host a Flag Day ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14 at the Pettis County Courthouse.  Several area organizations will be participating in the ceremony. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

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Marjorie Allee will observe her 90th birthday June 15. She was born June 15, 1932, in La Monte. Marjorie was a housewife and she enjoyed doing anything outdoors. She has three children, Sandy Otten, Ron Allee and Tim Allee, all of Sedalia. Birthday cards may be sent to Marjorie at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Donna Hayworth will observe her 77th birthday June 12. She was born June 12, 1945, in Sedalia. Before retirement, Donna worked in food service. She has two children, Tracy Garrison, of Smithton, and Julie Hamilton, of Warsaw; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Birthday cards may be sent to Donna at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Mary Estes will observe her 96th birthday June 17. She was born June 17, 1926, in Effingham, Kansas. Before retiring she worked on the proof machine at Third National Bank. She enjoyed sewing, crossword puzzles and church. Mary has two children, Janet Dewey, of Sedalia, and Jennifer Goss, of Eldon. Birthday cards may be sent to Mary at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Cole Camp man in serious condition after Benton accident Glenn T. Miller, 61, of Cole Camp, sustained serious injuries at 9:45 a.m. Thursday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a Chevy 500 driven by Samuel Hershberger, 23, of Versailles, was headed east on Route W when a 1995 Dodge 1500 driven by Miller eastbound on a private road pulled into the path of the Chevrolet.  Hershberger was wearing a seat belt, Miller was not. Miller was transported to Bothwell Regional Center by Cole Camp Ambulance District.  Warrensburg man hurt in Johnson accident Hunter...

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To assist residents in cleaning up debris from the recent flash flooding event from their private property, residents may set flood-damaged materials at the curb similar to collections made by the City during the City’s Clean Sweep Program.  All materials will need to be placed at the curb or between the sidewalk and the street in the greenspace away from overhead lines and trees by 6 a.m. Monday of the Area’s Flash Flood Debris Pick-up Day. Materials will not be collected from alleys where overhead lines inhibit collection by heavy equipment. Collection dates will be Monday, June 13 for residences...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department June 3 1:16 p.m.: Seth Ryan Bourque, 33, of the 1700 block of South Lamine Avenue, was arrested after a vehicle stop at North Park Avenue and West Benton Street for expired registration. Borque did not have a valid driver's license and was placed under arrest, and was booked and released at the Pettis County Jail.  June 8 9:07 p.m.: Joseph E. Fore, 39,...

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Urich woman hurt in Henry accident Corey A. Siewart, 29, of Urich, received minor injuries at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Urich was driving south on Route 7 at County Road NW 401 in a 2004 Chevrolet when she traveled off the right side of the roadway, crossed over the roadway, and struck a stop sign and embankment. She was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton by Golden Valley Ambulance.  Clinton woman hurt in Henry accident Delaney K. McGuire, 19,...

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On Thursday, those attending the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center grand opening were treated to lunch by the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Kathy Harris, of Oak Grove, who owns Silver Springs Ranch, was coordinating the event. Harris said she was helping Patty Wood, president of the Pettis County branch, who was busy with opening ceremonies at State Fair Community College. Wood is also president of the SFCC Board of Trustees. Marvin Dieckman, of Cole Camp and owner of Dieckman’s Livestock Farms, said the group helping out was from the Missouri State Fair Beef House. Pat and Patty Wood own the Beef...

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Every year, senators, state legislators and even Missouri Gov. Mike Parson are joined by cattlemen in scheduling one day on their calendars. On Saturday, June 11, the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association will host its 19th annual Steak Fry in the Agriculture Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The event also coincides with the 39th annual MCA All-Breeds Junior Show, which goes from June 10 to 12. “A lot of people come from all over the state,” said Pettis County Presiding Commissioner David Dick, who is the MCA President-Elect. “It’s like a big family reunion. It’s about everybody getting together.” Attendance for...

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The Sedalia Visual Art Association announced the winners of its Plein air art contest that was hosted last Saturday during the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival. Those participating had three days to paint or draw a downtown scene. Contestants had to work outdoors and on location. Awards were presented at The Art Room. Taking first place and receiving a 0 check was Ivan Levko, of Sedalia, for his painting “Portrait of Charlotte.” Linda Pepper, of Carrollton, took second place with her painting, “Katy Trail Depot.” Pepper received a 0 check. Cecilia Thomas, of Cole Camp, took third place with her...

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I thought I would share with you some very disturbing news that you may not be aware of. Something of great concern that may have slipped by your radar. Now I don’t want everyone to get into a panic when I say this; so, be aware, it will be OK, but did you know that prices are going up? I just bought eggs the other day for over . Gas has doubled. Prices are going up all over. Most of us are not happy campers right now. Ok, if you live in this world, you are aware of this fact....

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Area students were among 221 graduates to receive bachelor’s degrees at Northwestern College during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 14. Twenty-seven students received Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, while the rest of the graduating seniors were granted Bachelor of Arts degrees. Julie Haverly, a 2012 Northwestern College graduate who is director of the Executive Program Management Office for Renewable Energy Group in Ames, Iowa, gave the commencement address. Katelin Looney, of Sweet Springs, graduated with a major in criminal justice. Blake Pomajzl, of Sedalia, graduated with a major in exercise science.   Northwestern College is a Christian college of more...

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Trinity Pyrmont Lutheran Church, north of Stover, is hosting its annual ice cream social at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 12. In the case of rain, the event will be hosted indoors. In addition to the meal and fellowship, Anchor of Hope Mennonite Church of Versailles will be singing. Also, Eugene Beckman from Cole Camp will provide some entertainment.   Sandwiches, hot dogs, chili dogs, pie, cake and ice cream will be served for a freewill donation. The donations will be divided between the food pantries in Stover and Cole Camp. Thrivent is supporting the event with a Thrivent Action Team....

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The summer months are finally upon us! As a former educator, I always looked forward to this break to catch up on tasks that always seemed impossible to accomplish during the school year. The time off was a much-needed break to recharge and recover (for both teachers and kids)! But, I always knew that when that glorious break was over, it was time to get serious about preparing for the “summer slide” that so many kids experience.  If you’re not familiar with the “summer slide,” it refers to the academic regression that takes place for many kids due to the...

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At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, a husband and wife duo will begin teaching in the Green Ridge R-8 School District.  K-12 art teacher Stephanie Link and high school business teacher Josh Link both started out with a degree outside of education. Stephanie has a bachelor's degree in graphic design, an education certificate, and then a master's degree in school administration. Josh has a bachelor's degree in aeronautics, a teaching degree and is working on his master's degree in school administration.  Stephanie has been teaching for the last seven years but Josh has been out of education for...

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A new dog grooming service opened on March 1 in downtown Sedalia, and it is offering full service to canines of all breeds and sizes. Missy Roberts owns the shop located on West Main Street. Her daughter Ashley Williams and friend Cassie Hedderich are both groomers at the shop. Roberts said she has 17 years in the dog grooming business, and Hedderich has 12. For many years, both women were groomers at Bowser’s Bath House, owned by Debby Magdaleno, who recently died. After her death, Roberts decided to open her own grooming business. “I decided to do this instead, so...

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WARRENSBURG — Old Drum Day will be back again this summer on June 11. Hosted on Main Street in front of the historic courthouse, guests will be able to partake in various activities, a food truck, live music, and various vendors in honor of one of Warrensburg’s most beloved dogs, Old Drum.  Old Drum was a hound dog owned by Charles Burden. Drum was killed by Burden’s neighbor and brother-in-law, which ignited a trial and brought Old Drum to fame.  “The average person will know the phrase, ‘dog is man’s best friend,’'' said Joyce Dorrell, secretary of the Board of...

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State Fair Community College has named the following students to the president’s, dean’s and trustees’ lists for the spring 2022 semester. To qualify for the president’s list, students must earn a semester grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 in 12 or more SFCC GPA credit hours. For the dean’s list, students must earn a semester SFCC GPA of 3.5-3.99 in 12 or more SFCC GPA credit hours. The trustees’ list, a level that was added in 2020, requires students to earn a semester GPA of 3.6-4.0 in six or more SFCC GPA credit hours.  President's List Ashland: Mackenzie K. ShuttAuxvasse: Ellie...

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The Sedalia Fire Department has entered into a partnership agreement with State Fair Community College to offer Firefighter I and II courses through the college. “I get emails on a pretty regular basis asking what it takes to get into the fire service,” Shaw said. “It really comes down to five certifications, and four of those come through this program.” Sedalia Fire began teaching the classes at its 16th Street Headquarters six years ago when there was no local instruction available. “Those types of programs were found in the metro areas, so we found ourselves hiring people from the metro...

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Man killed in Johnson County wreck One fatality is reported from a two-vehicle wreck June 7 on Highway 13 at Southeast 300 Road.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the wreck occurred when a 1985 Honda motorcycle, driven by James Slavens, 52, of Lee’s Summit, traveled into the path of and was struck by a 2019 Kenworth tractor-trailer, driven by James Chapman Jr., 44, of Fort Scott, Kansas. Slavens was pronounced dead by Johnson County Coroner Clark Holdren.  Slavens is reported to have not worn a safety device. Chapman is reported to have worn a safety device. The Kenworth is...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 7 7:45 a.m.: Hakeem S. Dickson, 25, of Sedalia, was arrested after officers responded to the 900 block of West Fifth Street for a theft report. The victim stated a male identified as Dickson knocked on her door, asked to use her phone and left with the phone. He was later located and arrested for stealing, transported to the Pettis County Jail...

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When Sedalia received a record rainfall overnight last week, many homes had flooded basements as drainage systems were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water. Dan Carroll, Manager of Missouri Furniture, 5025 S. Limit Ave., had a similar experience when he went to open the store. “I came in at 6:30 on Wednesday morning and could see the water all the way up to the front door,” Carroll said. “Probably 14 years ago, 13 years ago, the building got hit by a tornado, and then we had some small flooding back in 2012. It wasn't near what this was.” A...

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Due to two grants from Verizon Wireless, area children will have a place to relax and play at Sedalia’s Citizens Against Spouse Abuse Inc. Leslie Minton, the education and volunteer coordinator at CASA, said Monday that she wrote a grant for the Verizon TCC Gives Grant and received ,500 in mid-2021. The money was used to create a “teen room,” which was completed in the fall of 2021.  “A couple of years ago, we partnered with Verizon with their More than a Phone Program,” Minton explained. “Which provides four months of service to survivors of domestic violence. “Through that, we...

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On May 12, the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department announced the Liberty Park bridge would be closed for repairs due to deterioration.  Parks Project Manager Matt Harris said the bridge had deteriorated and was in terrible shape.  “The contractor, Castro Plastering, what he did is he came in and built it back up with a concrete patch mix and trying to get all the line back where they needed to be,” Harris said.  Over time and through weathering and age, a lot of the lines and detail work on the bridge were lost.  “There has been some repairs in the...

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Jim Perry has been named publisher of the Sedalia Democrat and Warrensburg Star-Journal, as announced this month by Phillips Media Group, the Democrat’s parent company. Perry has a long history with Phillips Media and most recently was the publisher of the Harrison (Arkansas) Daily Times from 2015 to 2021. During that time, he also became the publisher of other Phillips publications, including the West Plains Daily Quill, Baxter Bulletin, and Newton County Times.  Perry served as the Phillips Media special projects manager and worked with several Phillips newspapers, including the NEMO Trader, Kirksville Daily Express and Crier. “I wanted to...

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Lone Jack woman hurt in Johnson accident Karla D. McAlister, 65, of Lone Jack, sustained moderate injuries at 6:18 p.m. Monday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 1998 Ford F550 driven by Cordell E. Boyd, 27, of Kingsville, was south on NW 1601 Road at U.S. Highway 50 and failed to yield. He hit a 2005 Buick LeSabre driven by McAlister, who was eastbound on US 50. Both drivers were wearing a seat belt. McAlister was transported by ambulance to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton. Versailles woman injured in Morgan accident ...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 7 1:15 a.m.: Adam M. Moore, 38, of Cole Camp, was arrested after Sedalia police responded with Sedalia Fire to a fire alarm at a business in the 3400 block of West Broadway Boulevard. After being informed by SFD nothing was found, SPD officers were informed by the business’ staff that they had the subject on video pulling the alarm. Officers were...

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The Office of the Registrar and the Graduate School at Northwest Missouri State University have released the names of students who completed requirements for degrees at the conclusion of the 2022 spring semester. Knob Noster: Virginia Lucille Barker Sedalia: Avery Ryan Mather and Krysta Lea Ott Warrensburg: Beth H. Tiller Windsor: Clairissa Grace Barnes, Rebecca Lynn Crump, Carlton James Fowler

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In 1911 when Sedalia’s City Council decided to raise money to improve Liberty Park, it determined to sell bonds to raise the money necessary for the improvements.  The Sedalia Democrat-Sentinel encouraged passage of the bond issue in regular editorials explaining exactly how the bonds were to be sold, and how the money would be used. The articles thus focused on how the improvements to the park would benefit all the residents, directing their somewhat patronizing remarks to the working class and to African Americans who would be paid when many of them would be hired to work on the various...

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During the week of May 31-June 5, there were 48 new cases reported, an increase of 12 as compared to 36 new cases last week. As of June 6, there are 12,194 positive cases reported to Pettis County Health Center as compared to 12,146 positive cases on May 30 and 12,110 positive cases on May 23. The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 75.58/100,000 (through June 4) as compared to 28.34/100,000 last week, using the CDC website.  There were 78 tests done for Pettis County residents last week. There is one individual hospitalized at Bothwell Regional...

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There are so many adults who have grown up in toxic environments. I am one of them. I don’t have the horror stories that many people do and I am grateful for that, but my life growing up was very painful for me. I believe that we only know pain and grief to the level at which we experience it. If a person grows up in a home where drugs are prevalent, there is physical and emotional abuse as well as neglect, they will have a different perspective of a toxic childhood than I do. And that is why it’s...

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Alley to close between Harrison & Sixth  The City of Sedalia plans to close the alley between South Harrison Avenue and South Missouri Avenue and West Sixth Street and West Seventh Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, June 6 to allow for a garage to be demolished.  Residents routinely using the alley for access to garages or backyard parking will need to park on adjacent roadways during this time. This work is weather dependent and inclement weather may result in the work being rescheduled to a later date. South Park to close for work With the inclement weather...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Family Affair,” by Robyn Carr. “Flint and Mirror,” by John Crowley. “Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garmus. “Let’s Not Do That Again,” by Grant Ginder. “Crimson Summer,” by Heather Graham. “The Children of the Hill,” by Jennifer McMahon. “God of Neverland,” by Gama Ray Martinez. “Three Debts Paid,” by Anne Perry. “Blood Sugar,” by Sascha Rothchild. “The God Left Undone,” by Adriana Trigiani. Nonfiction “Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy,” by Judd Apatow. “Healing: When a Nurse Becomes a Patient,” by Theresa Brown. “Damn Lucky: One Man’s Courage During the Bloodies Military...

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As your state legislator, I have been asked by a number of people over the last few weeks my opinion on the events that have taken place across this great nation. I have been very guarded in my response as I have a distrust of the national media and have always believed that reacting to something as horrific as these events should take time making sure we have all the facts.   I can’t imagine what the families of Buffalo and Uvalde are going through or what the families of Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook went through and are still...

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I think I’ll ride the train next week. I have to meet my kids, who are spending a week at their grandparents’ farm in rural Illinois.  As a single traveler, it’s an easy choice. Amtrak is relaxing for me. No need for vigilant driving on Interstate 70. No stressing about putting a couple hundred extra miles on my minivan or spending to fill up my tank. Just me and my snacks and a good book, watching the Missouri farmland go by for only one way! Can’t beat that.  I’d like to ride the train more often. The Missouri...

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Many local students recently received their degrees from Missouri Valley College. To graduate, students must complete 120 credit hours of study, including 40 hours of upper-division courses, with a grade point no fewer than 2.0 and no grade lower than a “C”.  The following are students from the area who graduated. Clinton: Tynan Braymiller, Kyoka Nakai, Jakob Yates Cole Camp: Warren Smith Gilliam: Albert Foster Houstania: Anna-Clara Eckhoff Marshall:  Brandon Aguilar, Brecon Antrillo, Zachary Baker, David Barnett, Zach Boschert, Emma Bright, Vivian Buie, Rylea Burton, Ashley Dawson, Sydney Fornshell, Patrick Galiano Fornazari, Clarissa Hagler, Demitria Heard, Sara Hisle, Kelly James,...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Lioness,” by Chris Bohjalian. “Sparring Partners,” by John Grisham. “The Boardwalk Bookshop,” Susan Mallery. “Hidden Pictures,” by Jason Rekulak. “Bloomsbury Girls,” by Natalie Jenner. “The Cherry Robber,” by Sarai Walker. “Murder on Madison Square,” by Victoria Thompson. “The Sweet Life,” by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Nonfiction “Homestead Recipes,” by Amanda Rettke. “The Trayvon Generation,” by Elizabeth Alexander. New DVDs “Batman.”                                                                    New Audiobooks “Nightwork,” by Nora Roberts.

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During daily meetings from May 30 to June 3, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: May 30: Courthouse closed in observance of Memorial Day. Presiding Commissioner David Dick and Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza attended a Memorial Day ceremony at Crown Hill Cemetery. May 31: The commission held general discussions regarding a proposed bike route. Sheriff Brad Anders discussed budget updates and upcoming meetings with the Pettis County school district superintendents regarding school safety. June 1: Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Association Chief Program Officer Rhiannon Franklin and Major Gifts Manager Jennifer Wenkel gave an informational presentation to the...

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Mary M. Saylor will celebrate her 95th birthday June 5. She was born on June 5, 1927. Mary was married to the late James V. Saylor. She has four children, Linda (Darrell) Dillon, of Houstonia, Carol (Michael) Cramer, of Sedalia, Terry (Vicky) Saylor, of Sweet Springs, and James A. (Kathy) Saylor, of Fayette. She is an active member of Parkview Christian Church in Sedalia and she enjoys sewing, crocheting, playing cards and games, drawing and reading.   Her greatest joy is found in spending time with friends and family. Birthday cards may be mailed to Mary at Cedarhurst Independent Living Center,...

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On June 11, a father is set to open a card collection shop called Karson’s Cards, named after his daughter Karson.  Owner Cody Copas named Karson’s Cards after his 3-year-old daughter Karson, whom he shares with his girlfriend, Nichole Aldana.  “The idea for the card came from Cody, he’s always been an avid sports collector,” Aldana said. “He has an online group that he runs for other collectors. They just do live videos of each other, they go to lots of sports card shows, just building a community of other people who like to collect sports cards and memorabilia.” Copas...

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At 6 p.m. Sunday, Pettis County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the 1500 block of Crestview Drive in Pettis County regarding an animal complaint. Deputies located one dog that appeared to have been dead for some time. They noted several of the many dogs on the property did not have adequate food or shelter and were standing in stagnant water. Some of the animals were attached to chains that were caught on debris scattered throughout the yard. Deputies arrested Kourtney L. Kreisler, 24, and Amber Kreisler, 31, for 24 counts of animal abuse or neglect. Formal charges had not been...

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Four Sedalians hurt in Benton accident Galina V. Popa, 24, Vera V. Popa, 27, Lyubov Y. Popa, 51, and Vasily I. Popa, 53, all of Sedalia, received minor injuries at 9:06 a.m. Sunday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the accident occurred as a 2018 Toyota driven by Vasiliy Popa was traveling south on U.S. Highway 65 north of Route HH and slowed for a right-hand turn. A 2010 Ford driven by Andy R. Schlaback, 47, of Sweet Springs, overtook and struck Popa’s vehicle in the rear. Everyone was wearing seat belts, the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests June 2 12:44 a.m.: Stormy Joe Drolllinger, 25, of the 300 block of Hancock Avenue, was arrested after being observed speeding on West Main Street. A traffic stop at Main Street and Gentry Avenue revealed the driver had been smoking marijuana in the vehicle and was intoxicated. He was transported to the police department where he refused a breath sample, so a search...

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Boonslick Regional Library’ Monday 9 a.m.: Hughesville City Hall. 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 9:30 to noon: Warsaw, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor. Friday 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Bunceton. 1 p.m.: Prairie Home, Duncan Diner. 1:15 to 3:45 p.m.: Prairie Home.

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Parker Adam Howland, 23, and Cheyenne Rose Burks, 24, both of Netawaka, Kansas; Kortney Suzette Kreisler, 24, and Gregory Allen Wyrick Jr., 31, both of Sedalia; Nolon Donald Carter, 21, of Kirksville, and Sarah Kathryn Rollings, 22, of Sedalia; Robert Charles Mitchell, 23, and Jodie Erin Rapp, 22, both of Warrensburg; Miguel Quetzecua, 41, and Anselma Hernandez, 41, both of Sedalia; Brayden Carl Ballard, 20, and Olivia Maree Poteet, 19, both of Sedalia; Reilly Daniel Hyatt, 22, and Elizabeth Sueann Clark, 28, both of Sedalia; Scott Dean Woolery,...

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Since the mass shooting in Buffalo, and including Buffalo, the United States has experienced 38 mass shootings (“mass shooting” is when four people are either killed or wounded). This year alone, through May, mass shooters have killed at least 256 people. They have “injured” 1,010 (“injured” could be “slightly wounded” or something more serious, such as “paralyzed”). As of June 1, 232 mass shootings have occurred in the United States, when compared with 240 in all of 2021 (https://wapo.st/3tfUVIe). In many of these shootings – not all – the shooter obtained the weapon legally. This could be, for instance, an...

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Sunday evening on West Broadway Boulevard involving Sedalia Police officers and a 22-year-old Sedalia man, Masen T. Moore. MSHP stated on Twitter that it has been made aware through social media posts of the potential existence of additional witnesses. The patrol is encouraging any witnesses to come forward with information by calling 816-622-0800.

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The Hotel Bothwell, a member of the Ascend Collection of Choice Hotels International, located in Sedalia’s historic downtown, was awarded the 2021 Gold Hospitality Award, which honors the highest rated properties within Choice Hotels 6500 franchised properties around the world. “Choice Hotels Gold Awards are based on a ranking system that measures key areas such as guest satisfaction and superior service,” said Erica Eisenmenger, Vice President of Furnell Companies, which owns the hotel. “The hotel’s General Manager, Tiffany Bryant, and her staff are an elite and extremely deserving team,” Eisenmenger added.  Gold awardees represent the top 10% of hotels within...

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May 23 Sharon Hilchie, Kimberly Elizabeth Smith and Steven Laurence Smith to Casey Joseph Curry, Southwest Village, block 2, lot 10. Web & Sons to Martha B. Alberigo, section 5; township 45; range 21; Fairview Place, block 18. Brennon O. and Taylor A. Millsap to Destiny Anderson, Ritter’s Addition, block 6, lot 4. Jose Reyes and Eloisa Rubio to Brenda Alvarenga and Erick Turcios, Woodlawn, lot 144. May 24 Garry and Mary Breashear to PTW Properties LLC, section 9; township 45; range 21. Adam D. and Jennifer Templeton to Christianna and Keifer M. Martin, Petree V and J 2nd Addition,...

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Musician Squeek Steele, 83, delighted the audience Friday morning as she played ragtime, a tango, and a unique piece titled “Chicken Chowder.” Steele, of Virginia City, Nevada, has memorized 2,300 pieces of music that take in various genres. Playing before an audience without sheet music comes as quickly to her as slicing soft butter. All the music is stored in her head. This fantastic concept garnered her fame in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1988 for playing more music by memory than anyone else. After her performance on Friday, Steele told the Democrat she spent three weeks in...

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One stand-out pianist among many during the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival this week is Adam Swanson.  Swanson is a world-class pianist and an expert in vintage American popular music. This is his 15th year playing at the festival, returning after some years away due to various reasons, between scheduling issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. Swanson opened the week with a morning symposium on his master’s thesis, which focused on a “one-of-a-kind recording session” of three pioneer African American composers and pianists of ragtime music: Eubie Blake, Joe Jordan and Charles Thompson. The session, put together by “Ragtime Bob” Darch,...

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Once the melodic keys of a piano become silent in downtown Sedalia and the indoor concerts come to an end, Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival performers and patrons move the fun over to the Best Western State Fair Inn ballroom for an After Glow Party.  The After Glow Party pays homage to the Rent Parties, sometimes call a House Party, that were hosted in the Harlem Renaissance era. These parties were a social occasion where tenants hired a musician or band to play and pass a hat around to collect money to pay their rent.  More than 100 years after...

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When Masen Tyee Moore shot at Sedalia Police officers on West Broadway Boulevard last Sunday evening, he was killed by return fire. Jylan Todd has a 2-year-old son with Moore and took exception to the Democrat’s article earlier this week recounting the 22-year-old’s lengthy arrest record. “I don't believe that we should look back on his criminal record from when he was a juvenile, you know?” said Todd, who was no longer in a relationship with Moore. “We all make some mistakes as a juvenile. His more recent infractions with the law? I understand that.” Todd described how she was...

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On June 6, Heart of America Redistribution Solutions and Support will launch its summer food service program for kids.  The service offers free lunch Mondays through Fridays for those 18 years old and younger. This year, due to a lift on COVID-19 restrictions, the program is requiring all meals to be eaten on site. “No more grab and go,” Summer Food Coordinator Sue Foster said.  The program is funded through USDA and administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The goal is to provide meals for kids during the summertime when school lunches are no longer an...

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Since the opening of The Art Room in January 2021, the business has continued to grow. Besides offering its many and varied classes, it is now branching out to offer art camps for children this summer. The Art Room is owned by Dr. Teresa Gatton, a family practice physician at Katy Trail Community Health. Staff at the business include Manager India McCullough, Events Coordinator Virginia Ward, and Jenny Adderley, of Otterville. McCullough and Adderley will oversee the various art camps that begin on Monday. McCullough noted they would offer art camps for different age groups through July. Children ages 3...

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Early ragtime music was the highlight of the kick-off performance in the Stark Tent Thursday morning at the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival. Ramona Baker, 21, of California, enjoys learning and playing early ragtime and exemplified that in her performance of “Ragtime Drummer” (1903), “The Dynamite Rag” (1910), “My Babe from Boston” (1899), “A Kansas Two-Step” (1895), and “Southern Hospitality” (1899). Baker said her father, Clint Baker, is a traditional jazz and ragtime musician and her mother, Alisa, is a percussionist. She was surrounded by ragtime and ragtime performers all her life, and her journey into the genre was no...

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Pettis County and City of Sedalia officials met at the Sedalia-Pettis County Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday afternoon to discuss assessing water damage to county and city property. Later that night, the Pettis County Commission and Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson issued a disaster declaration. “This official declaration invokes certain emergency powers for use by the Mayor in addressing the effects of the disaster,” the news release stated. “Such powers facilitate quicker actions to mitigate damages to public infrastructure and property of citizens, as well as, timely restoring essential operations and services.”  To classify the water damage as a state of...

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Thursday morning at the Sedalia Downtown Pavilion, Mayor Andrew Dawson welcomed the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival back to Sedalia. The festival hasn’t been in Sedalia since 2019, and fans of the eclectic piano music were eager to hear the music of Ramona Baker, Virginia Eskin and festival Artistic Director Bryan Wright as they kicked off the weekend with a few tunes. “It's wonderful, it's a thrill, I've missed it terribly,” Wright told the Democrat. “The people here are always so welcoming. It's an opportunity to visit with friends from all over the country, there's nothing like it.” Wright lives...

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On May 31, the Pettis County Commission issued a press release defending the solid waste management facilities ordinance that was passed on Feb. 24.  In May, the Pettis County Development Company LLC and Presidio Environmental Services LLC filed a federal lawsuit against Pettis County challenging the validity of the order and other related claims. Last week, Mid Missouri Waste Systems LLC filed a lawsuit in Missouri state court requesting that the order be declared invalid and other related claims.  The ordinance resulted from input from Pettis County residents and interested parties along with public comment from various stakeholders.  “They’re suing...

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Have you ever brought your houseplants inside from being out all summer and then found yourself in a battle with various insect pests for most of the winter? Whiteflies are the most common. They develop rapidly in warm temperatures such as a heated house and are difficult to control because pesticides are usually not very effective. An easier way is to trap them on a sticky trap. Whiteflies will not fly very far, so a sticky trap is more effective. You may need more than one trap if the plant is large. Plan on one about every 12 inches or...

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WARRENSBURG — The Warrensburg Pride Festival is set to celebrate the guys, gals and non-binary pals that make up the LGBTQIA community for the second year.  The “Gay Agenda” for the event features drag shows, Q and A’s and vendors throughout Saturday, June 4, at the Elks Lodge, 822 E. Young Ave.  Anthony Plogger is the Warrensburg Pride Festival event coordinator and co-owner of Nclusion, based in Columbia.  “After such a successful event last year we want to continue the tradition,” Plogger said. “We had such great positive feedback from those who attended that we wanted to keep this tradition...

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Westlake Ace Hardware in Sedalia is gearing up to host its annual Fan Drive benefitting The Salvation Army from June 1-19. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Fan Drive. Since starting the campaign in Sedalia, close to ,000 has been donated, equating to more 200 fans given to those in need. During the Fan Drive, Westlake Ace customers are asked to donate by rounding up their purchase at the register. All funds go toward buying new box fans for local Salvation Army commands. Donations to the Fan Drive can be made at all area local Westlake Ace stores....

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NoBro Art Events will take place Saturday in downtown Sedalia coinciding with the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival.  Artists will have work on exhibit at Pro-Velo, Two-Bit Barber Co., Ohio Hair Co. and Craft Beer Cellar. Local musicians will perform live from noon to 7 p.m. at Craft Beer Cellar, 700 S. Ohio Ave. All events are free and open to the public.  Food trucks will be available.

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The following students were named to the Green Ridge Elementary school honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2021-22 school year. A Honor Roll Third Grade: James Bohon, Kendyll Britt, Ian Burton, Rianna Hagedorn, Kyla Jasper, Scarlett Mahin, Timothy Orlov, Dale Rupe, Ethan Smith, Sophia Verbovshchuk, Waylon Walters Fifth Grade: Mya Edington, Alita Lemanski, Angelina Orlov, Kaelyn Weisenburger Sixth Grade: Alayna Brosch, Jett Bugg, Gage DeVorss, Hallie Meyer A and B Honor Roll Third Grade: Christian Atkins, Justin Fisher, Oliver Garcia, Jackson Goodman, Leigh Goodman, Palina Logvinenko, Creek McSwain, Ryder Meyer, Brantley Netz, Daniel Oleynic, Nicholas Zuvich Fourth Grade:...

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Wednesday, officials announced the City of Sedalia was selected as a 2022 recipient of a National Park Service – Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant. The National Park Service recently announced .275 million in Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants to 11 recipients in 10 states. The grants support economic development through the preservation of historic buildings in rural communities across the country. Being selected as one of only 11 recipients across the country is a great distinction that brings a substantial reward to Sedalia’s historic preservation efforts. Sedalia officials including Mayor Andrew Dawson and Community Development Director John Simmons gathered at...

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When Kathleen Boswell began planning a trip to Poland to help Ukrainian women and children refugees, she never realized the impact the trip would have on her and those in need. Boswell flew out of Columbia on May 10, routed through Chicago and Helsinki, Finland, to Warsaw, Poland. Her final destination was Wroclaw, Poland, with a population of 750,000. This colorful, old-world city has taken in 300,000 Ukrainian refugees since Putin’s war began on Feb. 24. Through connections, Boswell helped out at the three-story Light Café Church building with Pastor Wojtek Kowalewski and his wife, Agnieszka Kowalewska. Before leaving on...

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Torrential rains early Wednesday caused damage across the City of Sedalia. Flooded culverts backed up and flooded numerous basements and street intersections quickly became underwater. Randy Emmons of Koppers sells railroad ties to the Union Pacific and was driving past the new rail spur this morning to find it was extensively damaged. “I just drove by and seen it,” Emmons said. “I used to do a lot of construction work and building lakes and stuff, all I could say is they had more rainfall than they had pipes to handle the overflow. I'm going to say it pushed them up....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 21 8:30 p.m.: Carlos A. Ciniceros Ramirez, 28, of Independence, was arrested after a traffic stop in the 2400 block of West Broadway Boulevard. It was determined the driver was intoxicated and he was transported to the police department and issued a uniform traffic ticket for driving while intoxicated, speeding, and improper lane usage. May 26 11:16 p.m.: Theodore Parker, 58, of...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department  Incidents May 26 4:17 p.m.: A referral was received from the Children's Division regarding a child sex crime committed by a juvenile. The matter was investigated and referred to the juvenile office. June 1 7:39 a.m.: Officers responded to the area of East Fourth Street and South Engineer Avenue in reference to a small child wandering the area unsupervised. Bystanders stayed with the child...

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Beginning June 2 and until further notice, the City of Sedalia has closed the alley behind 100 to 114 W. Main St. as the result of a building sidewall failure. The remainder of the alley is open. 

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The Sedalia/Pettis County Chapter of the NAACP will host its 22nd annual Juneteeth Celebration on Saturday, June 18 at Hubbard Park, located at Missouri Avenue and Johnson Street. The opening ceremony is at 2:45 p.m. This year’s event will include a dunk tank, basketball contest, soccer contest, cake walk, donut-eating contest, watermelon eating contest, classic car show and a silent auction. Food vendors will be on site and the park’s new splash pad will be functional. There will be music all day, including The Supermatics Band, featuring former Sedalian Arthur Seabury. The Juneteenth King and Queen will be crowned as...

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The 50-plus teachers and retired teachers of Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa will host a rummage, bake and plant sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 3 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3700 W. Broadway Blvd. The proceeds from past sales have enabled the chapter to present local area senior graduates with 0 college scholarships. The public has continued to support this scholarship rummage and bake sale for many years. The result of this support has made it possible for Beta Alpha to promote the college education of many local students.  Alpha Delta Kappa is an...

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The Roger Garlich Activity Center will host a game day from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the center, 4415 W. Main Street Road. The event is open to all individuals receiving services from the Center for Human Services and MPower. Spouses and a guest are welcome, but all guests must be approved by Social-Leisure Chairperson Chanisty Lambert at 660-826-4401 ext. 352. Activities will include bingo, karaoke, a dunking booth, face painting, balloon twisting and much more. There will be prizes. Hot dogs, chips, snacks and drinks will be provided. Please no guests under the age of 16....

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The Johnson County 4-H Council will host the 20th annual Farm Time Fun competition at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9 on the Johnson County Fairgrounds.  This year will again include an adults Farm Time Fun race following the younger kids. The 2022 competition will be a timed obstacle course. The two teams from each age division with the fastest times will move on to the final round. Awards will be given to the top three teams in each age group.  There is a fee of per team of four. If registered in time, each team member will receive a...

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Both of the traditions I serve, the ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal churches, follow the Revised Common Lectionary to determine the scripture passages which will be read and preached at worship on Sundays. I like the rhythm and discipline of the lectionary and I embrace the challenge of preaching on passages I might not choose if left to my own choices. In both traditions, we are just now coming to the end of the season of Easter, which is sometimes called the “Great 50 Days.” This year the season extends into early June. The 17th chapter of John’s Gospel is appointed...

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Two men injured in Johnson accident Andrew M. Anderson, 18, of Holden, and Aaron W. Reedy, 39, of Lone Jack, both sustained moderate injuries at 10:33 a.m.Tuesday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred as a 2011 Ford Fiesta driven by Reedy was stopped on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 50 east when a 2018 Buick Enclave driven by Anderson traveled off the road, striking the Ford.  Both drivers were wearing seat belts and were transported to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway...

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During daily meetings from May 23 to May 26, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: May 23: Auditor Beverly Dillon discussed the remaining CARES funds.  The County Clerk/Elections Office completed its move to the Pettis County Annex on Fifth Street St that began on Friday.  Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended a proclamation signing with Gov. Mike Parson in Butler. May 24: Bid opening for “Building Assembly.” One bid was received and accepted from Construction Services Group to put together a metal building at the Road and Bridge Department for ,680. The Commission had general discussions regarding office spaces within...

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Horace Mann Elementary said goodbye to its oldest students on Friday, May 27, with the traditional Fourth Grade Walk. The departing fourth graders, who will attend Sedalia Middle School in the fall, were congratulated by their younger peers as they walked Horace Mann's hallways one last time, then were greeted with hugs and congratulations from teachers and family members once outside.

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Missouri 4-H is continuing its partnership with Feeding Missouri and Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids to educate people about food insecurity in Missouri and to do something about the issue. Pettis County 4-H members wrapped up their drive to fight hunger across the county on April 30. They collected food and monetary donations at local community clubs and the MU Extension Office, partnering with Woods and a Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri site in Sedalia to help local food pantries including Open Door, the La Monte Food Pantry, and the Pettis County Mobile Pantry.  Over...

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The following students were named to the Lincoln R-2 Elementary honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2021-22 school year. “A” Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Cree Childers, Izeck Mcown, Preston Breshears, Owen Clevenger, Lilly Dendish, Adison Eckhoff, Logan Fauble, Briley Ferguson, Nadia Filatov, Jasmine Hardey, Rozlyn Hoehns, Daniel Kaminskiy, Jermey Levy. Fifth Grade: Abigail Eckhoff, Zackiel Cole, Piper Dulaban, Benton Paxton, Nevaeh Quick.  Sixth Grade: Braeden Ferguson, Colton Hercules, Jayden Lomax, Molly Strozewski, Kyra Tate, Ryleigh Bain, Grayson Rutherford, Jacob Spicer, James Treece. “B” Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Josiah Helland, Ashley Hinrichs, Russell Lomax, Aubree Quick, Cody Siercks, Samuel...

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A man has died after exchanging gunfire with Sedalia Police on Sunday evening. According to information from Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Andy Bell, the shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29. A male suspect exchanged gunfire with the police on West Broadway Boulevard. The Pettis County Ambulance District transported the man from the scene and, according to MSHP, the man was pronounced dead.  MSHP reports no officers were injured and no other citizens were involved. West Broadway Boulevard between South Quincy Avenue and South Grand Avenue remained closed late into the night as law enforcement officers...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court:  Alicia R. Williams and Paul E. Williams; Michelle R. Sewell and Bradley J. Sewell; Dan L. Staples and Linda Staples; Igor V. Sapozhnikov and Yuliia Shylina; Lynn M. Bishop and Kendra L. Bishop; Danny Read and Loretta Read; Alma I. Cuevas and Vicente Ubaldo Ramirez.

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Lilyan “June” Barnes will observe her 96th birthday June 2. She was born May 2, 1926, in Gentry. Before retiring, Lilyan was an LPN and she enjoyed needlepoint with yarn and was a seamstress. She has two children, Terry Barnes, of Columbia, and Sherry Vuagniaux, of Sedalia. Birthday cards may be sent to Lilyan at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Like many people, I have searched for the magic diet that would give me back the 29-inch waist I enjoyed as a boy. I have not found it yet, but I am still looking.  I have tried nearly all of the so-called miracle diets at some point in my life, but the weight refuses to leave and stay gone. I look in the mirror every morning and imagine what it would be like to see my ribs again.  As a boy of 17, I was skinny enough that I barely made the height/weight limit for the U.S. Navy at 4’11...

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The following students were named to the Sacred Heart Elementary and High School honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2021-22 school year. “A” Honor Roll 12th Grade: Kiley Beykirch, Coen Brown, Alex Karigan, Emily McDonald, Arly Ponce-Estrada, Claire Smeltzer, Noe Umana-Ramos, Ian Viscarra Mendez, Natalie Walker. 11th Grade: Miguel Alejo, Abby Arnold, Caiha Auxier, Cade Brown, Kate Carney, Laura Granados, Jordan Hill, Mariana Restrepo, Emma Siron, Eli Smeltzer, Abby Tippie, Jaden Velando. 10th Grade: Spencer Aeschbacher, Samantha Altena, Ellie Coruna, Jackson Manning, Carter Rice, Reuben Smith, Shea Smith, Mariah Van Leer. Ninth Grade: Sophie Anderson, Carys Auxier, Sophia...

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“The United States is a bad place to be a baby right now. It’s a bad place to be a mom or a dad or a kid. Since 1973, we have all of us, pro-life or pro-choice, run wild with the assumption that a child is a choice. That society owes nothing to parents and babies. That we’re all in this for ourselves and worst of all, that our values, our economy, all our politics should have some other ultimate goal than making this country a good place to live for those on whom the future of our nation depends.” ...

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Ringen Brushy 4-H club The Ringen Brushy 4-H club met May 11 at the Warehouse Event Center. There were 21 members present.  The Secretary’s minutes were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report was read and approved. Several club members gave project reports. Those who did were RJ Asbury had a sheep show, Loralei Strange had a goat show, Chandler Parrot had a woodworking meeting, and Eadlin Hedgpeth had two pig shows. The club still has projects with no leaders. The projects that need leaders include Butterfly Wings, Golf, Welding, Staying Healthy, Interior Design and Photography. The May demonstrations were: Chandler...

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With dances and smiles, around 100 students will take the stage on Saturday to perform 30 dances. Adding to the production are dance routines that include the students’ fathers.  Studio A Dance Conservatory’s spring production, “A Time to Dance,” revolves around the theme of time. Owner and Director Anna Crumley Nelson said this is the 12th year for Studio A to present a spring recital. She added that she kept thinking of a clock and decided to name the production using the word “time.”  “All the songs either talk about a moment in time, a time in history, or a...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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During the Kiwanis-sponsored Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on May 7, the William A. Schien Scholarship for 0 was presented to Leia Goodman, a Smith-Cotton High School graduate, by Sedalia Kiwanis Club Treasurer Greg Wehrman. Wehrman said Goodman was chosen from a number of applicants. She was in the National Honor Society for three years, JROTC member for four years, company commander for three years and Cadet of the Year for 2022. She was on the cross country team for three years, led the team as captain and qualified for Academic All-State all three years. Goodman was the creator of the Teen...

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Now, years later, I still feel my heart stop, my stomach lurch. Emily – whispering into the phone: “We’re under a desk. Lights are off. We got a text. A live shooter is wandering around the hall.” That incident ended peacefully, although Emily didn’t know what happened to the guy with the gun. Max and I were shaken. The terror that struck us then, however, is nothing when compared with the terror of parents waiting in a building to hear whether their babies have been massacred by someone using a weapon of war. I try to remain dispassionate about my...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday No run, Memorial Day. Wednesday 10 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m. to noon: Smithton City Park. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Park.

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During the April Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education meeting, the board and Smith-Cotton High School engineering instructor Michael Wright discussed the possible construction of a robotics facility.  At the May meeting, the board approved that Wright and Team SCREAM would raise funds (0,000) for the new facility.  “We have experienced a tremendous amount of growth on our robotics teams and we have a lot more students wanting to participate,” Wright said. “We’ve had a lot of success as a team and with that success comes more interest in the program.”  The district had designed a new engineering wing...

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Editor's note: Liberty and Centennial pools did not open Saturday, May 28 as planned due to cold water temperatures, according to information from the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department. Saturday, the Sedalia Parks Department opened Centennial and Liberty Park pools for the summer. The lifeguards have been hired and trained, pool equipment maintained, surfaces bleached, and water tested. Aquatics Manager Clara Scott had a final staff meeting at Liberty pool Friday afternoon to make sure everything was ready for the season. “The whole process with cleaning the pool, filling it, getting it ready, takes about three to four weeks,” Scott said....

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Bidding farewell is never easy, but Thomas Piché Jr., the curator and director of the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, said he feels it’s time to go.  Piché, who took the position 14 years ago, is the second curator/director at the museum located on the campus of State Fair Community College. He came on board after the retirement of Douglass Freed. Piché plans to retire on June 30.  “One of the greatest joys of working at State Fair Community College has been experiencing the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art and getting to know Curator/Director Tom Piche,” SFCC President Dr. Joanna...

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Who knew that my column from a mere seven days ago would ring true again so quickly? I feel like I could copy and paste the majority of it here and it would still apply. Different day, different location, similar ending.  As someone who writes and edits for a living, I find myself at a loss for words. Any loss of life in such a violent manner is tragic, but to lose more than a dozen young souls, along with several adults, all at once from gun violence feels beyond comprehension. I think we can all agree that when children...

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The Sedalia Public Library and Boonslick Regional Library will soon launch their summer reading programs in an effort to keep kids reading throughout the year. Both libraries have the theme “Oceans of Possibilities” for their programs.  Sign-ups for the Boonslick Regional Library’s program will kick off with parking space decoration on June 1. Sedalia Public Library’s Summer Reading Club will open registration for preschool through 12th grade on June 6, with a special ocean trail mix available for the kids through June 12. Adults are also encouraged to participate by filling out challenge sheets. Both libraries will host a variety...

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Charlie Crockett and Stoney Larue will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Missouri State Fair Grandstand.   Crockett is known as an American blues, country and Americana singer and songwriter. Since 2015, he’s released 10 albums, with “Lil G.L.’s Blue Bonanza'' reaching No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Blues Album chart. According to his website, at age 37, and in the six years he’s been recording, he has invested as much time in the studio, recording storytelling songs, and making storytelling videos as he has been performing live shows in the U.S. and Europe. His music is...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 26 12:46 a.m.: Joshua Adam Kisner, 30, of Kansas City, was arrested after officers contacted a traffic stop for expired registration near the intersection of East 14th Street and South Ingram Avenue. Kisner was found to be operating the vehicle without an operator's license and was transported to the police department and issued a summons. Incidents May 25 2:58 p.m.: An officer...

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The American Red Cross is encouraging people to give blood and platelet donations this summer. In memory of Elvis, who was a blood donor himself, and in honor of the new film “Elvis”, the Red Cross is offering a chance to win a VIP trip to Graceland for all blood and platelet donors this June. Any donors during the month will be automatically entered into the drawing. The trip for two includes airfare for the round trip, a three-night stay at the Guest House and a VIP tour experience. Additionally, donors will receive a e-gift card to their merchant...

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Stover motorcyclist injured in Morgan accident John B. Angell, 55, of Stover, sustained moderate injuries at 10:10 p.m. Monday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2009 Ford Escape driven south on Route J north of Webb Road by Golden S. Belcher, 48, of Stover, slowed for an animal in the roadway and was struck in the rear by a 1992 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail driven by Angell. Angell, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported by Mid-MO Ambulance District to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. Blackburn juvenile hurt in Saline accident ...

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A benefit collaboration between the Sedalia Symphony and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Warrensburg supporting Ukrainian women and children refugees was a success. Since Mother’s Day, the event has raised almost ,000. Refugees will receive donations from the event through Church World Services, an ecumenical Christian organization that has provided humanitarian relief worldwide since World War II. In addition, Sedalia Symphony Conductor Dr. Jerrode Marsh said donations are still coming in due to the concert that featured the Singing Saints, a boys’ concert choir of Concordia, and members of the Sedalia Symphony. “That was a very special time,’ Marsh said of...

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A public-private partnership created the Downtown Pavilion Project, which opened at noon Thursday with its official ribbon-cutting. Furnell Companies Vice President Erica Eisenmenger and David Furnell, President of Furnell Investments, cut the ribbon to the applause of gathered dignitaries, businesspeople, and friends. “We are so excited to see this project come to fruition and excited to share it with the community,” Eisenmenger said of the unique partnership between Furnell Companies and the City of Sedalia.  The pavilion will soon be used for the upcoming Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival and is scheduled to be used by the City of Sedalia...

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SMITHTON — Smithton's Introduction to Literature juniors and seniors came together during the school year to write a short novel that was published this month.  English teacher Elizabeth Carver said that in the fall semester, she has her students do some creative writing. One of the projects they wanted to do was a short story based on a different one they had already done.  Once Carver received those stories back, she knew the six students were strong writers and wanted to do something more with them. Carver has had two classes publish a book in the past.  “We took a...

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Southern New Hampshire University announced the following students were named to the Winter 2022 President's List. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits; undergraduate day students must earn 12 credits in the fall or spring semester, and online students must earn 12 credits over two consecutive terms (EW1 & EW2, EW3 & EW4, or EW5 & EW6). Knob Noster: Aslynn Hubbard, O'Corye' Atkins, Valencia Jarrett and Jonathan Van Malsen  Whiteman Air Force Base: Britney Hodges

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The recently established Concordia Music Conservatory is offering summer music camps on the campus of St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia.  CMC Instrument Camp will be for students entering grades 4-12, hosted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6-10.  CMC Choir Camp will be hosted June 13-17 and has two tracks: a mini-track for children entering K-3 and regular camps for those entering grades 4-8; both tracks are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The K-3 choir mini-track will have more music-themed games and activities, additional free time, and an optional 2 p.m. early pickup.   Students in...

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The City of Sedalia received a Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant through the Missouri Department of Conservation.  The grant provided funds for the completion of a partial tree re-inventory along certain street rights-of-way and on public property, such as public parks. The results of this project help the city to better understand its urban forest’s composition, structure, and tree maintenance needs; plan for both short-term and long-term resource allocation; develop risk management strategies; and enable the City to promote the economic, environmental, and social benefits its trees provide to the community.    This year’s partial re-inventory included 1,531...

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The following artists and photographers received awards at the 41st Mid-Missouri Arts Fine Arts Show hosted May 14-15 in the Warrensburg Community Center.  Approximately 120 entries by 32 artists and photographers were judged by Norma Herring, of Overland Park, Kansas. Show visitors enjoyed music Saturday afternoon by Gary Moege and Sunday afternoon by the Sunday Schoolhouse Jammers. Artistic Excellence, Best of Show, and People’s Choice awards included a money amount. Honorable Mention Merit awards were recognized with a ribbon. Amateur Best of Show: Frieda Bacon (Warrensburg) “Beauty is Timeless.” Artistic Excellence Awards: Bacon, “Marley” and “Consolation;” Sandra Garber (Warrensburg) “Asian...

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Smith-Cotton High School senior Lucy Mahalovich has accepted academic and music scholarships at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.  Mahalovich, the daughter of Amy and Tim Mahalovich, is a four-year letter winner in band and theatre and a two-year letter winner in choir. She is a member of National Honor Society, serving as historian for the S-C High Chapter in 2021-22. She was named Outstanding Freshman in Band in 2019, served as a drum major for the Smith-Cotton Tiger Pride Marching Band in 2021 and 2022, and received the Senior Achievement Award in Band for the 2021-22 school year. Mahalovich...

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The City of Sedalia will observe the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 30.  Offices in the Municipal Building and the City’s Materials Management Site at 27882 Highway U will be closed in observance of the holiday. Weekly trash pickup for the week of May 30 will follow the normal collection schedule.   All City offices, including the Materials Management Site, will re-open for normal business hours on Tuesday, May 31.   

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Maplewood Church will host Vacation Bible School, for ages kindergarten (completed) through grade six, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 6-10. The church will also have a Sports Camp, for ages 7-12, from 8 a.m. to noon June 13-16 at Sedalia Middle School. There will be instruction in wrestling, soccer, basketball, and gymnastics. Register for both events at maplewood-church.com. 

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Two from Marshall injured in Saline accident Rebecca R. Sanders, 27, of Marshall, sustained moderate injuries, and Nathaniel Snelling, of Marshall, sustained minor injuries at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday in a Saline County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2013 Chevrolet driven by Tyler E. Gerard, 26, of Marshall, was southbound on Lime Avenue. It traveled across Route 240 and struck a 2010 Dodge, driven by Sanders with Snelling as the occupant, which then traveled off the roadway and came to rest in a ditch on its passenger side. The Chevrolet traveled off the roadway and came...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 18 8:41 a.m.: Ronald J. Blum, 57, of the 1600 block of West Third Street, was arrested after a traffic stop at West Ninth Street and South Moniteau Avenue for a driver known to be revoked. The vehicle also had a driver's side tail light out and expired registration. Blum was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, booked, and released with...

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On May 21, the Smith-Cotton class of 2022 walked across the stage and received their diplomas at the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Once 5 p.m. hit, the S-C high school symphonic band began the “Pomp and Circumstance” processional as staff led the students from the tunnel to their seats. “I stand here in awe of the hard work and dedication that each of these graduates has exhibited to be our honored guests this evening,” Sedalia School District 200 Superintendent Steve Triplett said. Triplett added that the responsibility of the school district is to ensure its graduates...

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I remember when my children first began to tell little lies. They would take something right in front of me and when I would ask if they had it, they would look up at me with big eyes, hide it behind their backs and shake their head no. I’m still not sure at what point in a small child’s intellectual growth they begin to understand that they might get what they want by utilizing a lie. I have often wondered if it’s a learned behavior or if it is something that is simply within us. The Bible says that we...

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During daily meetings from May 16 to May 20, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: May 16: The Commission went into closed session for legal counsel. Present was Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer and attorney Travis Elliott. May 17: Sedalia Business Women representatives Robin Balke and Diane Simon discussed the possibility of a memorial to Hazel Palmer to celebrate the 100 years of service of the Sedalia Business Women.  May 18: Commission discussed the Joint Communications Pay Program with Joint Communications Director Dannye Lauder.  May 19: Bid opening for “Transfer Sweeper.” One bid was received from Van Keppel of Kansas...

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Employees of Guesa USA, which owns Dairy Queen and Steak ‘N Shake, discovered vandals had broken into the concession stand they run under the Grandstand on the Missouri State Fairgrounds on Monday. “We were out here Friday to have the Pepsi machines coolers delivered,” Suzie Simons said Monday. “We came in this morning to have the ice machine turned on to get ready for an event, and that's when we discovered it.” According to information from Guesa USA owner Jorge Guevara, the total damage is estimated at ,000. He told the Democrat via email that he’s not sure if the...

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During its 25th year, 68 Whittier High School seniors graduated Friday night during ceremonies at the Heckart Performing Arts Center. This year saw the highest number of graduates for the school and included both day and night students. Whittier Director Martin White addressed the large crowd of family friends, saying that the school is growing. “Not only in students, but look out here in the audience,” he added. “On behalf of our 68 graduates of Whittier High school class of 2022 and our Whittier staff, welcome to our prestigious 25th graduation ceremony.” While recognizing guests, White honored outgoing Sedalia School...

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On Monday, Sedalia Middle School hosted a cardboard boat race at the Joseph W. Arbisi Memorial Swimming Pool. The race pitted Sedalia School District 200 administrators versus the Sedalia police and fire departments.  The police department’s “U.S.S. F.D. Destroyer” took first place. The school district boat was piloted by Superintendent Steve Triplett and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd Fraley. The vessel was built by high school students from Sedalia’s Project Lead The Way, which helps students better pursue education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields.  “I don’t know anything about building a boat, but these kids build robots...

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40 & 8 to host annual Memorial Day barbecue The 40 & 8 will host its annual Memorial Day barbecue from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, May 30 at Liberty Park. They will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, polish sausage, baked beans, chips and a drink.  The cost is plus [post_excerpt] for extra meat. There are sit-down and curbside options. The event is open to the public.  High Point to host Memorial Day event High Point Cemetery in Hughesville will host a Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29.  Changing oil to feed the children Jim’s Express...

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I remember when my children first began to tell little lies. They would take something right in front of me and when I would ask if they had it, they would look up at me with big eyes, hide it behind their backs and shake their head no. I’m still not sure at what point in a small child’s intellectual growth they begin to understand that they might get what they want by utilizing a lie. I have often wondered if it’s a learned behavior or if it is something that is simply within us. The Bible says that we...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 17 12:20 p.m.: Cosa W. Hoskins, 32, of the 900 block of West Third Street, was arrested after officers were dispatched to the area of West Fourth Street and South Missouri Avenue in reference to a domestic disturbance involving a firearm. The victim was able to drive to the police department and report the suspect, who was apprehended in the 800 block...

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Garden City man injured in Johnson motorcycle accident Ethan K. Arthurs, 20, of Garden City, sustained moderate injuries at 9:44 p.m. Sunday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Arthurs was driving north on Route 13 south of SW 910 Road on a 2020 Harley-Davidson when he struck a pothole and lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn and eject him. He was wearing a helmet and was transported by ambulance to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.  Kansas City woman hurt in Morgan accident Karla M. Young, 33, of Kansas City, sustained minor...

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Fighting a life-long illness is difficult for anyone, but through the kindness of the Sedalia community, one teen is finding she’s not alone in her struggles. Eden Hoeffling, 16, the daughter of Alena and Aaron Hoeffling of Sedalia, is a soon-to-be junior at Smith-Cotton High School and a cheerleader. On Monday, she was surprised with the completion of a “she-shed.” The shed, built in her family’s yard, is a gift from the Sedalia Dream Factory. In addition, many individuals and businesses in the community helped realize the dream for Eden.  The Dream Factory is a nonprofit organization that is not...

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There are a lot of careless and reckless drivers in Sedalia (not all of them Sedalians, of course). Hardly a week goes by that I don’t see drivers running stop signs, red lights and exceeding the speed limit by a good margin. Some of them are driving heavy trucks. In one week I saw two semis run red lights at Broadway and Limit. Had other motorists not stayed put, the result could have been disastrous. Traffic fatalities in Missouri last year reached 1,007, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). It was the highest death toll in 15 years....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 23 11:36 p.m.: Darren Alexander Morey, 26, of the 100 block of West 14th Street, was arrested after officers responded to a business in the 400 block of West Broadway Boulevard for a subject reportedly sleeping in the ATM line. Officers performed standardized field sobriety tests on the subject and determined he was driving while intoxicated. He was also driving with a...

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Volunteers needed to place American flags Volunteers are needed to place and remove American flags on veterans’ graves in observance of Memorial Day.  Everyone will meet at Crown Hill Cemetery at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 28 to place the flags. The flags will be removed at 5 p.m. Monday, May 30. Breakfast will be served Saturday morning after the placement at American Legion Post 642, 2016 W. Main St. If a grave is missed, call Larry Brooks at 660-620-1044 or Larry Stevenson at 660-473-9226. SFCC offices to close at noon on Fridays in June, July The State Fair Community College...

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Diane Bartholomew, vice president of academic affairs for Missouri Valley College, has announced the Spring 2022 dean's list. The requirements for the dean's list are a 3.3 or higher grade point average; at least 12 graded hours for the semester and no "D," "F," or "Incomplete" grades for the semester.  The following students from the area were named to the dean's list: Clinton: Kyoka Nakai, Jakob Yates Houstonia: Anna-Clara Eckhoff Hughesville: Courtlin Sanders Jamestown:  Harley Hagenhoff, Dalton Oerly La Monte: Marissa Koebel Lexington: Kylie Aversman, Sophia Bales, Jailyn Christophene, Kathryn Payne, Laci Phillips, Lincoln: William Beaman, Carly Hovendick Malta Bend:...

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During the week of May 16-22, there were 10 new cases reported, a decrease of seven. As of May 16, there are 12,110 positive cases reported to the Pettis County Health Center as compared to 12,099 on May 16 and 12,082 positive cases on May 9. There is one individual hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to two last week. There were zero deaths reported last week for a total of 161.

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Monday, Mayor Andrew Dawson and Fourth Ward Councilwoman Rhiannon Foster joined Public Works crews to test their newly purchased street milling machine. In an alley near Sixth Street and Osage Avenue, the milling machine proceeded to grind off the top few inches of old asphalt and run the ground up roadway up a conveyor belt to a waiting dump truck. This one piece of equipment should drastically improve the way the city fixes its streets. “We don't have to lease it,” Dawson said, “which means it can run more throughout the summer. Whenever the asphalt plants open, they can be...

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On May 18, state Rep. Tim Taylor, R-Bunceton, visited Smithton School to present the Glory of Missouri Awards to middle school students.  The Glory of Missouri Awards is a courtesy resolution awarded by the Missouri House of Representatives. The award is signed by the student’s state representative and personalized with each student’s name and the accompanying virtue defined within the context of the Glory of Missouri.  The award is given to students who exemplify the virtues of greatness; knowledge, liberty, equality, law, justice, fraternity, education, progress, honor, truth, virtue, temperance, enterprise and charity.  The Glory of Missouri and its virtues...

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is reminding citizens ahead of the Memorial Day holiday that safety should always be part of your weekend plans.  Memorial Day weekend is a highly anticipated opportunity for people to enjoy Missouri’s state parks, lakes, sporting events, and attractions. This means more travelers on Missouri’s roadways and an increase in boating traffic on the state’s lakes and rivers.  Drivers and boat operators are reminded to follow all Missouri laws and be courteous. Always wear a seat belt when traveling in a vehicle and wear a life jacket when near, on, or in the water. This...

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Author’s note: Last week, I received an inquiry about who did the concrete work on the Liberty Park Lagoon and Bridge. The answering machine ate the message, so I couldn’t return the call. This coming series of columns will attempt to identify the workers.  Sedalia made plans for major improvements in 1911. The citizens passed bond issues that would enable the city to refurbish Liberty Park and build a meeting place or a convention hall there. They also planned to build a new city hall and a new hospital for African Americans. Prior to the bond election, the Sedalia Democrat...

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On March 22, the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office received its first speed trailer to help combat speeding in the county.  The equipment, purchased for ,764, is a Stalker Speed Radar Trailer with a top display with Certificate of Accuracy Speed Sensor II, solar panel, and a Traffic Analyst Application fitted thumb drive for data collection. The purchase was made possible by the Missouri Department of Transportation Kansas City District’s Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety (MCRS) under the statewide Show-Me ZERO Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Statewide, MCRS provides annual funding to MoDOT’s seven districts. GIS Director James Thiesen completed the grant...

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Numerous events will be happening in the area during the weekend of Saturday, May 28. NoBro at the Daum The NoBro at the Daum exhibit is from May 21 through Aug. 21 at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, 3201 W. 16th St. The opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 1 and coincides with an artist talk by Erica Daborn on her “Dialogues with Mother Earth” exhibit. The Daum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  Memorial Day At 11 a.m. Monday, May...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court:  Daygun Marie Weber and Nicholas Lawrence Weber; Jeremy A. Fly and Jessica L. Fly. 

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In the past few weeks, it has become increasingly clear that the 1973 Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision will be overturned, ending almost half a century of legal standing for a woman’s right to terminate the life of a fetus. In the past few weeks, it has also become increasingly clear that American babies are suffering through a national crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Great Depression. If you want to know what I mean, just go to Walmart and stand in front of the formula aisle. Pitifully empty. Frantic parents pass by, hoping to...

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Sunday, Sacred Heart High School graduated its smallest group of seniors in years. “This weekend is all about giving these 13 people the love, the recognition, and the honors that they have earned and truly deserve,” Sacred Heart President Mark Register said. Gathering in the school gym, parents, teachers, family and friends gathered to celebrate the graduates who had persevered through COVID. “Thank you for dedicated teachers, dedicated staff and a dedicated community of believers to help these young people who graduate today take on whatever challenge and obstacles come their way,” Fr. Joseph Corel said. “Help them to make...

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Scenes of Sedalia will soon take on a new look as a local avant-garde photographer begins a new project featuring miniatures and superheroes. Brett Butler, who collects all types of dolls and vintage toys, is known for his unusual photos of dolls and action figures doing everyday activities that often tell a story. He also shoots small films of the toys. Butler studied photography under Allan Piece at the Boca Raton Museum Art School in Florida, and has a Bachelor's Degree in Digital Cinematography and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing from Full Sail University. His work...

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Gas prices keep setting records, and with a forecasted national average of .16 a gallon, according to GasBuddy.com, U.S. prices have increased 51% since last year’s average of .04 per gallon. GasBuddy surveyed drivers and found 58% still plan on hitting the road. At the Phillips 66 Truck Stop in Sedalia, all the drivers had noticed the shock at the pumps. “It's high right now and I think it's going to keep on going up until Memorial weekend,” Chris Mittenburg said. “I get 10 and 1/2 miles per gallon. I’m going to have to pay it one way or another,...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Christopher Thomas Kranz, 32, and Brittany Lynn Baker, 27, both of Sedalia; Brandon Lee Blaylock, 40, and Desaray Dawn Pycke, 20, both of Hughesville; Auston Hall Carlock, 32, and Samantha Carla McNeal, 42, both of Smithton; Billy Goodsell Helvey III, 31, and Roxana Elaine Himes, 32, both of Sedalia; Edward Peter Gavrishchuck, 19, and Evelina Esther Tsygankova, 19, both of Sedalia; Matthew Richard Mitchell, 29, and Samantha Leigh Moscatiello, 24, both of Sedalia.

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Helen G. Steele Music Club The Helen G. Steele Music Club met May 11 at the Heard Memorial Club House.  President Rhonda Chalfant led the memorial service for two members who passed away this year, Helen Coffelt and Trudy Knight. Memories were shared by attending members as they reminisced about both ladies’ contributions to the Music Club and the community. Chalfant led a recap of the music programs for this year, revisiting the following programs: “More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Pipe Organs,” with Beth and Dan Eckles; “Music to be Alone By” with “One Stop Train;” “Woodwinds”...

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Mr. and Mrs. John Bozarth celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on May 14. Virginia Clevenger and John Bozarth were married on his birthday; Mr. Bozarth will be 80 on May 14. The couple were married at the Open Bible Church in Sedalia. The couple has three children, the late John Bozarth Jr., and Ruby Larsen and Mary Hill, both of Sedalia; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Anniversary cards may be sent to the couple at 600 N. Quincy Ave., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Justin Moore with Heath Sanders will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug 20 at the Missouri State Fair Grandstand. The concert is presented by CFM Insurance. According to Justin Moore’s website, he is a “multi-platinum hitmaker.” Over the last 10 years, Moore has built a “loyal following” with his traditional county sound. He is climbing the country charts with the single, “With a Woman You Love,” a song that is following the same projection as his 10th No. 1 hit, “We Didn’t Have Much.” Moore is an Arkansas native and his fan base has helped to boost his fifth studio...

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Sammons Mary Sammons observed her 85th birthday May 21. She was born May 21, 1936, in Pettis County. Mary was married to the late Glenn Sammons. Before retiring, she was a bank teller and she enjoys crafts, quilting and playing the piano. She has three children, Joy Elliott and Mike Opher, both of La Monte, and Vanesa Chapel, of Sedalia. Birthday cards may be sent to Mary at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.   Williams Nita “Jean” Williams will observe her 94th birthday May 22. She was born May 22, 1927, in Eaton,...

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This has been a tumultuous week. I find myself at the end of it sitting in my chair, shaking my head. Unfortunately, we have all gotten used to waking up some random morning to find that some hateful person has taken a gun into some public place and shot any number of people who were simply going about their business, never guessing that walking into wherever it is would be their last purposeful act. That we have gotten used to it says too much about this country – both its acquiescence and subservience to gun violence. I will say repeatedly...

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Four Smith-Cotton High seniors created a project to help their peers and were rewarded with national recognition. Makaio Cook, Isabel Juan, Draigon Stephens and Maekayla Walters earned first place in the Project-Based Learning category at the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) National Career Development Conference, hosted May 5-7 in Dallas. JAG is a nationwide program that prepares students for success during and after high school by focusing on employability skills and addressing community issues and solutions. Smith-Cotton JAG Advisor Amanda Harvey said the Project-Based Learning Event is a presentation on a project, product or event developed at the students’ school...

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WARRENSBURG — Pastor Heather Jepsen has been leading the First Presbyterian Church in Warrensburg for the last decade, creating a more inclusive environment and continuing the church’s commitment to helping the community. 2022 marks Jepsen’s 16th year in ordained ministry. Her first church was in a small town in Washington state, which is where she’s from, and then her family moved to Warrensburg in 2012. Jepsen, her husband Lars, son Henry and daughter Olivia have been in the ‘burg ever since. Jepsen took what some may see as an unusual path to ministry. She said she didn’t grow up in...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 19 8:35 p.m.: William Charles Macron, 53, of the 600 block of South Montgomery Avenue, was arrested after the Sedalia police K9 unit stopped a vehicle at East Saline Street and North New York Avenue for a registration violation. A passenger immediately fled the vehicle and a perimeter was set up by patrol officers. K9 Rocky was deployed to track the suspect,...

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Like many of us, I’ve become desensitized to the frequent news alerts on my phone reporting the latest mass shooting or other acts of violence. I’m no longer shocked when I hear of such news, as it probably hasn’t been too long since I read about a similar situation. Different day, different location, same ending. And still, as frequent as these horrific acts of violence may be, I will never be able to wrap my head around the motivation these shooters have for taking the life of another.  To think, the people walking into that Buffalo, New York, grocery store...

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State Fair Community College hosted its 2022 graduations Friday and Saturday in the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds.  The main ceremony began at 7 p.m. Friday with the scraping of shoes across the floor as staff and graduates made their way to their seats. Parents cheered in excitement between hushed whispers as their grad came out from the tunnel.  Once everyone was seated, instructor Justin Wright gave the invocation before the Smith-Cotton JROTC presented the colors and Amollie Stoermer sang the national anthem.  “You are a special class for me as this is my last main commencement...

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David Esser, Chairman of the Central Business and Cultural District board, stood before the Sedalia City Council on Monday night to report on the CBCD’s successes. “The façade program, that’s our biggest thing, downtown is looking beautiful because of it,” Esser said Monday. “We currently have two facades underway, Becca’s Framing, she’s getting her building tuckpointed, and it will be sharpened up quite a bit, then Main Street Logo did an engineer survey.” Tuesday, Esser spoke with the Democrat and explained the Central Business and Cultural District’s mission. “It’s to make improvements to the district,” Esser explained. “It's a tax...

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For the first time since 2019, the United Way of Pettis County will host a live Day of Action event on June 11 at Vermont Park.  Executive Director Samantha Gilpin said on Monday that United Way couldn’t host the annual event for two years due to COVID. However, she’s pleased to have the event live once more and added they need volunteers for the day.  “The Day of Action was previously called the Day of Caring,” Gilpin explained. “And this will be a return for us. We have not held this event since 2019, so it’s our first time back...

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Leeton woman injured in Johnson accident Barbara J. Smith, 60, of Leeton, sustained moderate injuries at 10:39 a.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Smith was driving west on SW 910 Road in a 2007 Buick Lucerne when she attempted to avoid a deer and the roadway, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a post and rocks, and came to rest in a shallow creek. She was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.  Stover man in serious condition after Morgan accident ...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 16 10:12 a.m.: Juvintino Brenden Martinez, 31, of the 600 block of East 10th Street, was arrested after officers responded to West Broadway Boulevard and South Osage Avenue for a report of a vehicle being driven by a possibly intoxicated male suspect. Martinez was located, confirmed to be intoxicated, arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and placed on a 24-hour hold...

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A Green Ridge Alumni Luncheon honoring the class of 1972 will be hosted at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 28 at the Green Ridge Rec Center. All former students are invited to attend and bring a covered dish. For more information, call Linda Harvey Reed at 660-851-0477.

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Civil Air Patrol Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron and Sedalia Cadet Flight hosted 12 glider cadet orientation flights for CAP cadets at the Sedalia Regional Airport on Saturday, May 14.  Every CAP cadet under age 18 is eligible for five flights in a powered aircraft (usually a single-engine Cessna), five flights in a glider aircraft, and an unlimited number of backseat flights when conditions allow. Orientation flights are always free to cadets.  Survey data has repeatedly shown that the No. 1 reason youth become CAP cadets is an interest in flying. Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the...

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Country music star Sam Hunt will take the State Fair Grandstand stage, presented by CFM Insurance, on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Missouri State Fair. Opening for Hunt is Sean Stemaly. Multi-platinum selling, award-winning hitmaker Hunt has accumulated over 11 billion global streams. His debut album “Montevallo” produced four No. 1 singles including “Leave the Light On,” “Take Your Time,” House Party” and “Break Up in a Small Town.” “Southside,” his sophomore album, debuted to critical acclaim and was one of the top country albums of 2020, landing No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album features songs...

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The United States entered the Great War, now called World War I, in 1917. While many opposed the U.S. becoming involved in what was considered a foreign war, patriotic fervor marked the time in Sedalia.  Men registered for the draft; others volunteered. Sedalia High School went so far as to offer a diploma to any student who quit school to enlist (a promise it failed to keep after the war ended). People, often under pressure from bond committees and their quotas, bought war bonds to help finance the war. Pacificists made donations to the American Red Cross.  The local Red...

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A week and a half ago, I had major back surgery. It has left me alone with my television, as the medication skews my ability to read. I needed a break from the news and documentaries, so I searched Netflix for a comedy. I came across the movie “Senior Year” and thought I would give it a try. The acting wasn’t the best, but the storyline was fun. A young girl (coincidentally named Stephanie) had successfully gained the popularity that she had always dreamt of, when she was purposely dropped during a cheerleading stunt, leaving her in a coma for...

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Monday evening, the Sedalia City Council voted unanimously to nominate George R. Smith College to the Sedalia Historic Preservation Commission as a local landmark.  The historically Black college was the alma mater of ragtime composer Scott Joplin and was destroyed by fire in 1926. It is now up to the commission to decide what form of designation will be placed, but it has been suggested a roadside plaque on Saline Street could commemorate the college. Ward 4 Councilwoman Rhiannon Foster, Chairwoman of the council’s Community Development Committee, also introduced David Esser, Chairman of the Central Business and Cultural District board,...

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Monday afternoon, Mayor Andrew Dawson donned his hiking boots, grabbed a walking stick, sprayed his pants legs with insect repellent, and marched across a field north of Saline Street near the railroad spur to check out the remains of Sedalia’s historically Black college. A half-mile north of the road stands a circle of brush where Dawson found crumbling foundation pieces strewn throughout the overgrown site. “This was the site of the George R. Smith College,” Dawson said. “That was a college that Scott Joplin had attended.” The college, founded in 1882 and destroyed by fire on April 26, 1926, was...

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After several years of showing work downtown, NoBro Art Events will exhibit the work of its artists at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art beginning Saturday, May 21. NoBro Art Events have hosted downtown pop-up exhibits, usually four times a year, since 2016. Dustin Schmidt, who co-organizes each show with Lucas Richardson, said they were contacted by Daum Director/Curator Thomas Piche’ Jr. about having a summer show in the Goddard Gallery. He added work was submitted to the Daum last Friday, where Piche’ chose the pieces to include in the show.  Schmidt said he’s pleased the museum recognizes NoBro’s talents....

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WARRENSBURG — The Missouri Department of Transportation will host a public hearing later this week regarding Highway 13. The hearing will discuss road improvements on Highway 13 from Interstate 70 to Route 50. MoDOT Project Manager Jodie Puhr said the hearing will allow the department to show the public what it proposes for Route 13 and an opportunity for public comment. She explained that MoDOT is proposing to add four passing lanes, two northbound and two southbound, from I-70 to Route V at the roundabout. There would also be a two-way left-turn lane on the south end, around County Road...

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The Sedalia License Office in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center will be closed Saturday, May 28 to Monday, May 30 to observe Memorial Day. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 31.

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Flags will be placed on veteran graves on Saturday, May 28 at Crown Hill, Memorial Park and Highland Scared Garden cemeteries in Sedalia. At 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, there will be a ceremony at Crown Hill Cemetery. The event is sponsored by all area veterans’ groups. The guest speaker is Rich Heigert, the national vice-commander of The American Legion. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served at American Legion Post 642, 2016 W. Main St. in Sedalia Memorial Day events will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29 at the La Monte Cemetery. The event is sponsored by...

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Residents living in and around Sedalia can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with screenings by Life Line Screening. Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3700 W. Broadway Blvd. in Sedalia, will host this event May 26. Screenings can check for: • The level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health. • HDL and LDL Cholesterol levels. • Diabetes risk. • Bone density as a risk for possible osteoporosis. • Kidney and thyroid function. Consultants will work with customers to create a package that...

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During the week of May 9-15, there were 17 new cases reported, a decrease of two. As of May 16, there were 12,099 positive cases reported to the Pettis County Health Center as compared to 12,082 on May 9 and 12,062 positive cases on May 2. There are two individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to one last week. One person is in CCU. There were zero deaths reported last week for a total of 161.

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On Tuesday morning, Heber Hunt's first- and second-grade students hosted a ribbon-cutting for an inclusive playground.  The ribbon-cutting was part of the service-learning day kick-off, where each grade level at the school had a different project. Fourth-grade students helped bring smiles to people's faces and decorated the doors at local nursing homes, third grade helped raise funds for Relay for Life, kindergarten made birthday kits for Open Door and first and second grade raised money to buy inclusive playground equipment and made blacktop paint inclusive games.  Second-grade teacher Lindsay Henry said there was a big need for inclusive playground equipment...

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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a mouthful of words that can make a head tilt in confusion. Perhaps most associated with scuba diving as a treatment for deep-water divers to avoid decompression sickness, known as “the bends,” the therapy can also be used to treat a variety of other health problems like chronic wounds. A chronic wound is a wound that doesn’t heal within five to eight weeks, which can lead to infection, illness or even the loss of a limb. Such was the case for Pam Harris, of Sedalia, who broke four toes in late 2020. On a visit to...

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In the rapidly evolving world of cancer treatment, Bothwell Regional Health Center patients have access to some of the most advanced testing available.  Bothwell has recently begun working with Caris Life Sciences, an organization that provides personalized genetic testing for different types of cancer. The American Cancer Society describes personalized or “precision” medicine as a method of care in which health care professionals evaluate a patient’s needs based on their genes, or in the case of cancer patients, the genes in their cancer cells. This allows clinicians to plan and tailor care to an individual and their unique needs. For...

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Getting a haircut is a mundane occurrence for most people — just another task on the to-do list. However, getting a haircut can be a powerful means of helping someone in need.  Annette Smith, executive assistant to the Chief Nursing Officer at Bothwell Regional Health Center, and Dr. Misty Todd, family and women’s health physician at Bothwell Cole Camp Clinic, both know how important a haircut can be. Between them, they have donated their hair to charity a combined 10 times.  Recently, Smith and Todd made a plan to donate together, both choosing the charity Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit...

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On April 11, Bothwell Wound Healing Center was named a recipient of the Center of Distinction award by Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. The center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92% and a successful wound healing rate. This is the fifth time the Wound Center has been recognized by Healogics.  Keith Morrow, Clinic Operations vice president at Bothwell Regional Health Center, expressed appreciation for the center’s success in 2021 despite the extraordinary circumstances presented by the pandemic. “We’re really proud of the team’s efforts to...

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Bothwell Regional Health Center was honored May 3 with an Excellence in Donation Award from Midwest Transplant Network (MTN), a federally certified, nonprofit organ procurement organization that works with organ, eye and tissue donors, their families, hospitals and other professional partners. Bothwell received the award for having a 40% or greater tissue donation conversion rate. In 2021, Bothwell had 10 donor heroes, and its conversion rate, which is the measure of the percentage of eligible deaths that become donors, was 50%. In the United States, 20 people a day on average die because of the lack of available organs for...

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The entire issue of COVID-19 vaccination has been subject to vigorous public debate. There have been disagreements, polarized opinions, misinformation, and fears about threats to individual freedom. There also have been concerns about preventable deaths due to low vaccination rates that, in some cases, have fueled new variants, which can threaten the health of Americans.  The wide-ranging personal preferences about vaccination include those who clamor to get as many doses of vaccine as quickly as possible, while others view vaccination as a fate worse than death. With the approval of multiple boosters for different age groups at varying intervals, the...

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Cindy McKeon, Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Laboratory Services director, has been named a QHR representative to HealthTrust’s Laboratory Advisory Board for a three-year term. QHR Plus helps independent hospitals achieve cost savings and connects hospitals with HealthTrust, a group purchasing organization (GPO) that negotiates prices for drugs, devices and other medical products and services on behalf of hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, physician practices, nursing homes and home health agencies.  HealthTrust advisory boards are comprised of member clinicians, leaders and supply chain representatives who are subject matter experts in their respective fields. Board members actively participate in supplier and product evaluations...

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Thanks to Burrell Behavioral Health’s partnership with Bothwell Regional Health Center and a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, two psychologists will be at Bothwell for one year, beginning in July.  HRSA awarded the grant to the National Psychology Training Consortium (NPTC), an internship program that prepares entry-level psychology practitioners to work in health care settings and provide mental health services. “The grant’s focus is on workforce expansion with an emphasis on rural areas,” said Dr. Kristen Thompson, Pediatric Integration system director for Burrell. “As a leader in...

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Mary Hamline used to plan her day around how fast she could find a restroom. Hamline, 75, suffered for nearly four years from an overactive bladder, and its most common symptom of the sudden need or urge to urinate. “It was at a point where I had to use the restroom every 15 or 20 minutes,” she said. “I live in Lincoln, 25 miles from Sedalia, so even a trip there meant I needed a plan. I was constantly worrying about where I could stop anywhere I went.” According to the Urology Care Foundation, as many as 30% of men...

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Tina Boggess has been making a difference in Sedalia even before Jeff Leeman asked her to run as Ward 2 City Councilwoman. Now into her second term, there has been no stopping her. Former Mayor John Kehde has known Boggess for years and said he respected her work on the Sedalia City Council. “When she served with me as mayor she was heavily involved in different projects within the city,” Kehde said. “She was always very active and was on the Community Development Committee and was very active with that group. We've done some significant things for the development of...

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Ivory Grille’s executive chef has ventured into the world of sweets. On May 4, Chris Paszkiewicz and his wife, Lynn, opened Cow Bird Creamery and Sweets in the same building as Roadside Relics. Paszkiewicz said the name Cow Bird comes from when he and his wife were living in Florida and saw their first cowbirds, which perch on the back of a cow. The cowbird protects the cow from insects and the cow protects the bird from land predators.  “It’s about being a good neighbor,” Paszkiewicz said.  Cow Bird Creamery and Sweets, 2600 W. Broadway Blvd. Suite A, is focused...

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JOHNSON COUNTY — Wisper Internet has launched a new wireless broadband tower in Johnson County to serve households in the Knob Noster area. The new tower, which went online last week, is on the outskirts of Knob Noster on 175th Road and ranges 8-10 square miles. Monte Miller, Public Relations and Advocacy Specialist, said this will be Wisper’s first tower in Johnson County, but the company has plans for additional service in the area.  According to a news release, the new tower is part of Wisper’s pledge to provide wireless internet service to rural communities across six states as part...

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Thursday evening, the Sedalia Optimist Club hosted its Respect for Law banquet at the Sedalia Country Club. “Everybody should know May is Law Enforcement Month,”said Jason Myers of the Noonday Optimists’ Club. “But we honor all of public safety first responders, not just law. I mean, it's very important to honor them because of what they do every day to keep everybody safe.” “The Respect for Law Banquet is one of the programs that Optimist International asked their clubs to do every year. We’ve been doing it for a number of years, I think since 1982 when I joined the...

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Sedalia’s Brenton Ryan will make his opera debut in Germany and London this year. He credits his Smith-Cotton High School German teacher for his knowledge of the German language.  Ryan told the Democrat by email that he would debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Germany. The Bayerische Staatsoper is the most prominent opera house in Germany and one of the biggest opera houses in all of Europe, next to Royal Opera at Covent Garden in London, England, and Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. “I will be singing the role of Pedrillo in Mozart’s opera, “Die Entführung aus dem...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Baxters,” by Karen Kingsbury. “When She Dreams,” by Amanda Quick. “In the Blood,” by Jack Carr. “Robert B. Parker’s: Revenge Tour,” by Mike Lupica. The Wrong Victim,” by Allison Brennan. “Little Souls,” by Sandra Dallas. “The Children on the Hill,” by Jennifer McMahon. Nonfiction “Deaf Utopia,” by Nyle Dimarco. “Nazi Billionaires,” by David De Jong. “Good Eats 4: The Final Years,” by Alton Brown. New DVDs “Dolphin Island” “Uncharted”                                    New Audiobooks “A Family Affair,” by Robyn Carr. “Killing...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court:  Tiffany Patton and Mark Partton; Mackenzie L. Richey and Clinton L. Rickey.

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16-year-old Warsaw boy injured in Benton accident  A 16-year-old Warsaw boy was moderately injured at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the boy was an occupant in a 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer driven by a 17-year-old juvenile male from Warsaw north on Route MM north of Westwind Lane. The crash occurred as a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 16-year-old male from Warsaw, also northbound on Route MM, attempted to pass and struck the Trailblazer, which traveled off the right side of the roadway, overturned, and struck a utility pole...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 12 2:35 p.m.: Derrell Anthony Whitley, 36, of the 400 block of North Prospect Avenue, was arrested after an officer took a theft report from a business in the 1400 block of South Limit Avenue. Whitley stole a speaker from the store and was later contacted in the 400 block of North Prospect Avenue. He returned the speaker and was issued a...

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Columbia College recently announced its dean's list for the Spring 2022 semester. To be named to the dean's list, a student must have completed 12 semester hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale.  The following students who received the honor from the area include: California: Corina Castillo,  Rebecca Hamilton, Josue Isidro, Miranda Linnenbrink, Tristan Porter, Gwendolyn Yarnell Centerview: Montana Mistler Green Ridge: Emily Dove Ionia: Camryn Schear Knob Noster: Gavin Jones Marshall: Duffin Makings Tipton: Abby Backes Versailles: Matti Hoeppner and Kenneth Purington Warrensburg: Meredith Palmer

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WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg Main Street is hosting a Movie on the Lawn series this summer, beginning with a collaboration with Sterling Elementary.  The Movie on the Lawn series will feature movies on the third Friday of May, June and July.  Each movie is targeted to reach a wide variety of audiences to enjoy. The first in the series is a family-friendly movie on the courthouse lawn on May 20 in Downtown Warrensburg. The event is free and for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.  Activities prior to the showing will begin at 6 p.m. and...

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That’s the last time I’ll complain about damp, cool weather in May.  I read yesterday that the Jan. 6 committee has issued subpoenas to five members of Congress who appear to have taken part in the insurrection last year. The five had previously been asked to interview with the committee to tell their part of the story, but had indignantly declined, calling the committee’s activities a “witch hunt” and the committee itself “illegitimate.”  I am puzzled by their actions, as well as their continued denigration of the committee. I am, moreover, gobsmacked by members of Congress’ calling the riot at...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Sunday a.m.: Shake it Up Sunday, if you are white attend a black church, if you are black attend a white church; Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, 400 N. Lamine Ave., or Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. For more information, call Marge Harlan at 660-851-0077. Noon and...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville, Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 9:30 a.m.: Cole Camp City Park. Noon: Cole Camp Senior Center. 1:30 p.m.: Lincoln Community Care. 1:45 p.m.: Lincoln City Hall. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park.  Friday 9 a.m.: Lakeview Healthcare. 9:15 a.m.: YMCA Early Childhood Learning Center. 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater Main Street. 4 p.m.: Stoney Ridge Village. 

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Sedalia Photo Club The Sedalia Photo Club hosted its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21 at Sacred Heart Parish Center. Carolyn Bauer, vice president, informed members on photo contests and opportunities. April’s monthly photo theme was “shoes.” The color print winners were Betsy Gerke and Bev Gerke. The black and white print winners were Betsy Gerke, Bev Gerke, and Carolyn Bauer. Club members took pictures of still life settings. The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 19 at Sacred Heart Parish. The monthly photo theme will be “arch (natural or manmade).”

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: David Todd Cisneros, 43, and Ashton Marie Stewart, 29, both of Sedalia; Tyrone Jay Coffin, 21, and Irina Viktorovna Melnichuk, 23, both of Everett, Washington;  Galen Lee Garretson, 28, of Sedalia, and Lorene Catherine Eigsti, 39, of Smithton; Coby Lane Seiz, 25, and Kelsy Shea Haider, 23, both of Kansas City; Colby Dean See, 29, and Britney Mae Bales, 30, both of Columbia; Christopher Thomas Kranz, 32, and Brittany Lynn Baker, 27, both of Sedalia; Nicholas William Moulton, 28, and Elisha Marie Miller, 28, both of Sedalia; Victor...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by board members and friends of the program. Monday: Chicken and noodles, green beans, banana, and milk. Tuesday: Meatloaf, posh potatoes, mixed veggies, cookie, and milk. Wednesday: Pulled pork on bun, potato salad, baked beans, apple and milk.  Thursday: Ham and beans, cornbread, salad, tropical fruit and milk. Friday: Tenderloin...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Under the Golden Sun,” by Jenny Ashecroft. “The Match,” by Harlan Coben. “Give to Others,” by Donna Leon. “The Long Weekend,” by Gilly MacMillan. “The Summer Getaway,” by Susan Mallery. “The Echoes,” by Jess Montgomery. “Dawnshard,” by Brandon Sanderson. “The Kaiju Preservation Society,” by John Scalzi. “Her Last Affair,” by John Seales. “One Italian Summer,” by Rebecca Serle.  Nonfiction “Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back,” by Stacey Y. Abrams. “Ways and Means: Lincoln and His Cabinet and the Financing of the Civil War,” by Roger Lowenstein.  “The Vaccine: Inside the Race...

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Community Blood Center (CBC) announced a blood emergency, as school breaks and increased travel have caused an alarming drop in donations over the past month. The blood supply currently stands at a two-to-three-day level, with types O and B at just a one-to-two-day supply. This is well below the ideal inventory of five to seven days. The local blood supply has still not recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and is not able to sustain significant drops in donations. The shortage has recently reached emergency levels due to school breaks and increased travel, resulting in a dramatic drop...

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The menu at the Sedalia Senior Center for May 14-21 includes: Monday: Pineapple ham, yams, roasted asparagus, wheat roll, butterscotch pudding.  Tuesday: Mushroom burger, roasted rosemary potatoes, California vegetables, wheat bun and cherry cobbler. Wednesday: Rosemary Dijon pork roast, mashed potatoes/gravy, Normandy vegetables, wheat roll and strawberry cake.   Thursday: Barbecue chicken, baked beans, peas, wheat roll and ambrosia.  Friday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes/gravy, green beans, wheat roll and cook’s feature. 

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FLORENCE — In time for the summer season and the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Diamond S Ranch is opening its glamping, camping, hiking, and wedding services. Donnie Sattler, a captain with the Sedalia Fire Department, and his wife Stefanie Aziere-Sattler, a local artist who works for the Hayden family, own the Florence-based business. Tucked back in rural Morgan County on 60 acres, the couple has created a peaceful getaway. So far, they have created a hiking loop, two large glamping (tent) sites, a 6-acre lake, and are building a treehouse camping site with plans for a lodge cabin. Diamond S...

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The Central Missouri Coin Club will host its 62nd annual Coin, Stamp & Hobby Show from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 20 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1708 Elm Hills Blvd.  There will be 27 tables and people can buy, sell or trade coins, currency, stamps and collectibles. There will be drawings for door prizes. Lunch on Saturday is provided by the Daughters of Isabella. Admission is free.

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American rock bands Tesla and Fuel will perform on the State Fair Grandstand stage, presented by CFM Insurance, on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Missouri State Fair. Tesla’s legacy is alive and well as they continue to record and perform at venues all over the world. Their list of hits, starting with their album “Mechanical Resonance,” which debuted in 1986, went platinum with iconic hard rock hits including “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.” Their follow-up album, “The Great Radio Controversy,” produced double-platinum sales figures with the album’s first single “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” and the ballad “Love Song.”...

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Sacred Heart art teacher Jacqueline Nehring teaches all grades and knows her students from first grade through high school love sharing their artistic creations. “It makes me proud, and it makes them proud,” Nehring said, “but I feel like when you do it yourself and create it yourself and you just take it home, your fridge is something, but when you get to see it and you get to point which one is yours, I think it brings it to a different level of appreciation.” Nehring decided to create Sacred Heart’s inaugural Student Art Show and allow the young artists...

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WARRENSBURG — Six schools in the Warrensburg School District have been designated as a Purple Star School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  The designation is awarded to a military-friendly school or district. This is the first year DESE has awarded the designation and it is valid for three years.  “I think this designation is huge,” Warrensburg Middle School Principal Brandon Figg said. “Warrensburg, at least 20% are military-affiliated families, just with Whiteman (Air Force Base) being so close and this is just ensuring that everything's in place in the schools to make it easier for the families...

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The Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at State Fair Community College will host, at no cost, a one-hour Grow with Google Digital Skills for Everyday Tasks webinar from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, May 19, online. Seating is limited, and registration is required.  In today’s market, 81% of consumers visit a business’s website before buying. National Grow with Google speaker Bryan Caplan will present Digital Skills for Everyday Tasks using Google to help owners improve websites and promote their businesses online. He will discuss best practices on creating a free Google Business listing and advertising on Google. Caplan will...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 11 2:00 a.m.: James Henry Kreisel, 26, of the 1000 block of State Fair Boulevard, was arrested after a vehicle stop in the area of West 10th Street and South State Fair Boulevard for a brake light out. Kreisel was intoxicated and was taken to hospital and then the Pettis County Jail where he was booked pending release to a sober person....

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An exhibit exploring the varied concepts of spirituality will open on June 1 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. A first of its kind, the exhibit was delayed twice due to the pandemic. The Great Gossamer 2022 Exhibit will take place in the Art Center Gallery on the UCM campus, with a three-day opening from June 1 to June 3. The exhibit, organized by scientist and author John Hess and artist Rich Monson, will run through July 7. Information provided by the pair notes that “spirituality is a gossamer-thin aspect of human nature, critical in the search for...

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Smith-Cotton High School's Baccalaureate Service for the class of 2022 will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15 at the Heckart Performing Arts Center at SCHS. I am a member of the Pettis County Minister's Association. In fact, I am the oldest member of the Association, having been a member for 25 years.  We are Christian ministers representing a diverse cross-section of churches and ministering organizations in our community. This space in the Democrat is filled by our members, last week's observance of the National Day of Prayer at the Pettis County Courthouse was arranged by one of our members,...

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The Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee will conduct the annual Memorial Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony at the gravesite of Air Force 2nd Lt. George A. Whiteman at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21. The site is located in the Memorial Park Cemetery, at the intersection of 32nd Street and Green Ridge Road in Sedalia.  At 11:27 a.m., a flyover of four T-38s from Whiteman Air Force Base is scheduled to perform a missing man formation, weather permitting.

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Smith-Cotton High School senior Wyatt Flandermeyer has accepted a scholarship to perform with musical ensembles at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Flandermeyer, the son of Mary and Chris Flandermeyer, is a four-year letterman in band at S-C. A trombone player, he was named to the West Central Missouri Music Educators Association All-District Honor Band all four years of high school and was selected for the WCMMEA All-District Jazz Band in 2022. He made the Missouri Music Educators Association All-State Band in 2020 and the All-State Honorable Mention Band in 2022. At the MSHSAA District Solo/Ensemble Festival, Flandermeyer received...

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Just before 9:30 a.m. Thursday, workers at the Sedalia Democrat were surprised to see a man in handcuffs chased west down Fourth Street by a Pettis County Sheriff’s deputy. Efforts to catch up with the deputy led several blocks west as police cars, officers on foot and even a drone canvassed the streets near Sacred Heart School, which went into lockdown. According to Sheriff Brad Anders in a press release, Malachi Q. Sims, 20, was arrested during a court appearance at the Pettis County Courthouse for several charges. Handcuffed and being escorted to the Pettis County Jail across the street,...

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Overland Park man hurt in Morgan accident Randy W. Osler, 74, of Overland Park, Kansas, sustained minor injuries at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Osler was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu West on Route DD when he traveled off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck an embankment, and rolled over. Osler was wearing a seat belt, and was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center by ambulance. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do...

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Smith-Cotton senior Elias Washington figures to get at least a few cuts at Liberty Park Stadium going forward. Primarily a first baseman, Washington made his signing with Three Rivers Community College official with a ceremony at the high school Wednesday. “It means a lot because whenever I figured out I wanted to play baseball in college, it felt like a real grind just trying to get looks,” Washington said. “Once I finally knew I was going to go to Three Rivers, it was really exciting.” Heading into Thursday’s game against Helias, Washington was leading the team through 31 played with...

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During the week of May 2-8, there were 19 new cases reported, an increase of one. As of May 9, there are 12,082 positive cases reported to the Pettis County Health Center as compared to 12,062 positive cases on May 2 and 12,041 on April 25.  There was one individual hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to zero last week. There were zero deaths reported last week for a total of 161.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 6 10:51 p.m.: Eric D. Dotson, 42, of Slater, was arrested after a traffic stop near the intersection of East Broadway Boulevard and South Main Avenue for a license violation. The driver was found in possession of methamphetamine and a pipe and was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. May 10  3:12 a.m.: Brandon J. Cooper, 33,...

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Benton accident kills one, injures five  One person was killed and five were injured at 4:55 p.m. May 7 in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2014 Chrysler 200 driven by Ramteja Mudiyala, 28, of Overland Park, Kansas, was westbound on Highway 7 near Majorville Road and attempted to pass another vehicle on a hill. A 2002 Chevrolet 1500 traveling west driven by Jacob A. Ruggles, 31, of Ash Grove, attempted to avoid striking the Chrysler and traveled off the right side of the roadway. The Chrysler attempted to avoid striking the Chevrolet...

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Warrensburg Main Street and The Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce invite you to the second annual Come, Sip, Shop event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14 in Downtown Warrensburg. Enjoy an afternoon of sipping on regional wines, tasting local beers and spirits within 10 downtown retail stores. Come, Sip, Shop will feature a variety of alcoholic beverages to taste that are made not too far from home while visitors shop locally. This event will begin in the Jack Moore Community Room in the Chamber of Commerce and Amtrak station building on the left side. Check in for this event...

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The Sedalia Moose Lodge 1494, 119 Winchester Dr., will host a baked potato lunch fundraiser Friday, May 13. Orders may be picked up at the lodge or delivered. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, May 11. Plain potatoes are , chili potatoes, pulled pork potatoes, and broccoli and cheese are . Extras are sour cream and bacon bits, 50 cents each, shredded cheese, jalapeños and barbecue sauce. To order, call the Sedalia Moose Lodge at 660-826-6631.

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Two Sedalia churches are partnering to bring relief to Ukrainian refugees by hosting a concert and bake sale on Sunday. Wesley United Methodist Church and the Sedalia Tabernacle, a Ukrainian church, will present both traditional Ukrainian and American music and offer a bake sale filled with traditional goodies. Anne Temple, with Wesley, and Venessa Rudishina, with Sedalia Tabernacle, are organizing the event. Tempel and Rudishina said the event would raise money for various needs in war-torn Ukraine. Tempel emphasized if anyone wants to make a difference, now is the time. “We hope to get as many people in the community...

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BATON ROUGE, La. — Two area students were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Local students include Allison Fox, of Sedalia, at Drury University and Brittney Thompson, of Sedalia, at the University of Central Missouri. They are among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 6 2:06 a.m.: Floyd E. Flippin Jr., 56, of the 300 block of West Sixth Street, was arrested near the intersection of West 16th Street and South Osage Avenue for resisting arrest and two misdemeanor failure to appear warrants. Officers performed a subject check on a person operating their bicycle into oncoming traffic. The subject failed to stop after commands from officers....

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Two hurt in Pettis accident An infant and a woman suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 9:15 p.m. Monday in Pettis County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Brenda S. Thurman, 63, of Bunceton, was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox east on state Route HH, east of Gleen Road, when she struck a farm implement driven by Richard G. Helmig, 67, of Otterville. The report states the implement was partially over the center of the roadway.  Thurman and a female infant in her vehicle were both taken by a family member to Bothwell Regional Health Center....

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Pettis County Ambulance District Paramedic Ryan Shelton was honored this week for saving the life of a Pettis County man on Easter. EMS Chief Eric Dirck presented the Life Saving Award to Shelton on Tuesday night at the PCAD Board of Directors meeting. Shelton saved Norman Alcorn, who was choking on a piece of meat on April 17. Alcorn and his family, wife Linda Alcorn, daughter Dena Morris, granddaughter Allyson Martin and grandson-in-law Brandon Martin, attended the meeting. Before presenting the award, Dirck recounted the incident that saved Alcorn’s life. “Three weeks ago, on Easter Sunday, we were called out...

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Salem Cemetery of Pettis County will host its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, May 16 at Maplewood Church Fellowship Hall. The meeting is open to all members. The board has had a busy year and wants to share what has been accomplished and share potential plans that were discussed at the meetings. 

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Wednesday, Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders announced an arrest in an April 9 shooting on Goodwill Chapel Road in southeast Pettis County. Dustin C. Arnold, 25, was allegedly involved in a disturbance Monday at the Goodwill Chapel Trailer Park, 26517 Goodwill Chapel Road. Arnold is alleged to have shot a subject in the abdomen and fled the scene, headed toward Highway M. “Anytime that we get something like that, multiple deputies are en route, that’s a priority call,” Anders said. “The thing with that is the bullet went through a vehicle door, through two strong sheets of steel on the...

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State Fair Community College recognized Dr. Rhonda Hutton Gann, SFCC Health Sciences dean, as the 2022 Distinguished Alumni. She will be the keynote speaker for SFCC’s Health Sciences pinning and commencement at 1 p.m. and the 7 p.m. general commencement ceremony, both of which will be hosted May 13 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds.   Hutton Gann has been a nurse for 40 years, graduating from SFCC’s nursing program in 1982 as an LPN and again the next year as an RN. Prior to coming back to her alma mater, she climbed the leadership ladder...

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Sedalia Police are warning of more petty thefts, or “crimes of opportunity” occurring in Sedalia. Frequently you may read a crime report like this in the Democrat’s daily police reports: 9:46 a.m.: Officers responded to the 2500 block of Stephenson Avenue in reference to a theft from a vehicle. Around worth of items were taken from a vehicle that was unlocked overnight. No suspects have been identified at this time.  “Most of the thefts from vehicles that we see come from unlocked vehicles,” Cmdr. Joshua Howell of the Sedalia Police Department said. “We call it trying door handles, thieves...

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Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, the sole supplier of blood and plasma to patients at 44 area health care facilities, needs blood for local use. Donations are needed to help build back reserves after high recent usage. Blood drives around the CBCO service region serve a vital function in preserving the good health of our community. Windsor area residents will have the opportunity to donate from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19 at United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall, 216 S. Main in Windsor. All drive participants will be entered to win a 0 grocery gift card during...

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On April 8, State Fair Community College announced its 2022 Instructor of the Year award recipient.  Students submitted 157 nominations, and 80 candidates were nominated for the three awards: Instructor, Adjunct and Staff Member of the Year. A committee of six students and two staff members selected the winners.   Radiologic Technology Instructor Danielle Beaumer was named Instructor of the Year. She received an Associate of Applied Science and an Associate of Arts from SFCC before receiving a Bachelor’s of Health Science from Central Methodist University.  Beumer began at SFCC part-time in 2006 before becoming a full-time instructor in 2013....

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The Sedalia/Pettis County Branch NAACP will offer two 0 scholarships for use next year at a not-for-profit college, university or technical school. The scholarships are open to any student who will be graduating from high school, who is attending a not-for-profit academic institution, or who will be graduating from college and wishes to pursue a graduate degree next year. The NAACP scholarship committee does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, creed, political party affiliation, military status, or disability. The application involves two letters of recommendation; a transcript...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and presented a Life-Saving Award, discussed prayer before meetings, and the Windsor Ambulance District sales tax. EMS Chief Eric Dirck recognized PCAD Paramedic Ryan Shelton for saving the life of Norman Alcorn, who was choking on a piece of meat on April 17, Easter Day. Although the family tried to do the Heimlich Maneuver on Allcorn, they were unsuccessful. When PCAD arrived, Shelton attempted to retrieve the obstruction and was unsuccessful. Medics started CPR and Shelton tried once again with success. Allcorn was taken to Bothwell Regional Health Center...

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On Thursday, April 28, the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees met in the Hopkins Board Room to reject dining renovation bids, Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center furniture purchases and accepted multiple bids.  The board brought back two sections of the agenda, introduction of new employees and institutional report. These two sections have not been on the agenda since the beginning of COVID-19.  Kayla Todd, who helps coach the speech and debate team, presented one of her students who grew tremendously through the program. The student had never participated in speech and debate until she came to SFCC and...

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The Sedalia Historic Preservation Commission is hosting activities to celebrate the community’s history during the month of May for National Preservation Month.  People can hunt for architectural clues around Sedalia during the weeks of May 2, May 9, May 16, and May 23. Each Monday, five clues will be listed on the City of Sedalia’s Facebook page. Test your all-about-Sedalia knowledge by finding each item, snapping a picture and sending your pictures to jcornine@sedalia.com. At the end of each week, a winner will be drawn for a gift certificate from a local business.  From 6 to 8 p.m Saturday,...

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The Spring Fling Art Show at the Hayden Liberty Center is up in time for the performances of “Legally Blonde the Musical” and will remain up through Friday, May 13. The annual juried show is hosted by Sedalia Visual Art Association and gives awards in two-dimensional, three-dimensional and junior categories. The judge for the show was Hannah Reeves, the co-owner of Sager Reeves Gallery in Columbia.  On Tuesday, SVAA President Linda Hoover talked about the show’s diversity. She noted she believes it’s a “fabulous show.” “I think it’s like our best (show),” she added. “The judge even commented that even...

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Drivers can expect lane closures and occasional traffic delays on three routes in Henry and Benton counties for a resurfacing project beginning the week of May 9, the Missouri Department of Transportation said. These are the routes impacted by this project: • Henry County Route Y from Henry County Route C north approximately 9.5 miles to Missouri Route 52 in Windsor. • Benton County Route H from U.S. Route 65 south of Lincoln east approximately 14 miles to Benton County Route B • Missouri Route 2 from Johnson/Henry County line south of Leeton east approximately 10 miles to Henry County...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 3 3:01 a.m.: Michael Anthony Fillicetti, 39, of the 4200 block of West Main Street, was arrested after a traffic stop at West 20th Street and South Ohio Avenue. The driver was found to have a revoked driver's license and was transported to the Pettis County Jail, where he was booked and released. 3:41 a.m.: Michael D. Tomlinson, 29, of Tipton, was...

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I never thought that I would live to see a “Ministry of Truth” department within the United States Government. In fact, the thought never crossed my mind until I read about it last week. My initial response was to believe it was a joke. I knew that someone had started this as satire and it went viral. I knew that there would be no way that a department such as this could exist under the first amendment of the Constitution. But alas, I was wrong. The newly created Disinformation Governance Board is part of the Department of Homeland Security. I...

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Between 1875 and 1883, the Rev. Edwin Brown platted three additions to Sedalia far to the east of the city center, where the original plat and other early subdivisions were located. The additions, according to the 1882 History of Pettis County, were near the recently built a Pacific Railroad Shops and the M.K.&T. shops, both of which had been built in east Sedalia in 1872-73. The Rev. Brown had been sent to Sedalia in 1865 by the Home Missionary Board of the Baptist Church. When he came to Sedalia, he purchased 40 acres of land and built a large house....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests May 2 11:57 a.m.: Louis G. Davis, 39, of Sedalia, was arrested after a vehicle stop at West Main Street and Thompson Road. An occupant of the vehicle was seen driving the vehicle prior to the stop and was arrested for driving with a suspended license.  Incidents April 6 7:02 p.m.: Officer Fox and K9 Ace were requested to assist the Missouri State...

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Three hurt in Morgan crash Shannon N. Meyer, 25, of Tipton; Dalton J. Meyer, 25, of Tipton, and Cody M. Taylor, 31, of Camdenton, all received minor injuries at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2002 Ford F350 driven by Taylor attempted to negotiate a left turn and turned into the path of a 2004 Ford F150 driven by Meyer.  All three occupants were wearing seat belts. The Meyers were transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City. Taylor was transported to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.  Information...

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Monday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting started with service awards for Sedalia Fire Chief Matt Irwin at 25 years and Sedalia Police Cmdr. Josh Howell at 15 years. The council welcomed fire recruits Robert Ladd Jr., Brinton Beard, and Paul Humble as they were pinned with their new badges and became firemen. Also receiving recognition was SFD operator/driver Roger Wiskur, who recently retired after 33 years of service and was presented with a Henry rifle.  In the Finance and Administration portion of the meeting, three ordinances went to vote before the council. An ordinance to allow a waiver for open...

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Rene Vance is a board member of the Sedalia Senior Center and helps coordinate delivery of nutritious meals to seniors from the modern kitchen at the Heckert Community Center. Vance stood before the Sedalia City Council Monday night to ask for help getting more volunteer delivery drivers. “With brand new councilmen, I wanted to introduce myself as a board member,” Vance said. “I'd seen most of them come through the line with various clubs, Optimists, Lions Club, because they come and they eat at the Senior Center, which is a blessing that we’re here, I mean, I am so tickled...

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State Fair Community College Radiology Technology students attended the Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists (MoSRT) Annual Conference in Columbia on April 7 and participated in a bowl competition with radiology students from programs across Missouri and won first place.  Students on SFCC’s bowl team were Nathan Nall of Lake Ozark (second year), Grace Sloan of Miami, Missouri (second year), Braden Adams of Boonville (first year), and alternate Nicole Hockett of Warsaw (second year).   April Young, SFCC’s Radiologic Technology program director and MoSRT president, had the honor of presenting the award to her own students at the conference. SFCC Radiologic...

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The Shelter Insurance Foundation awarded a [post_excerpt],500 scholarship to Logan Mahin, a graduate of La Monte High School. Shelter Agent Troy Curtis sponsors and partially funds this scholarship.  Beginning the fall after the recipient’s high school graduation Mahin can direct the scholarship funds toward tuition, fees, or campus housing for any course of study and leading to an academic degree at any accredited college or university.  A committee of local high school officials and community leaders selected the local recipient. The committee considered each applicant’s scholastic achievements, educational goals, citizenship, moral character, and participation and leadership in school and community...

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Kari Mergen, the marketing director for the Missouri State Fair, was recently awarded the Missouri Travel Alliance Presidential Award. Carolyn Crooker, the immediate past president of the Alliance, presented the award to Mergen during a luncheon on April 28 at the Special Olympics Building in Jefferson City. Crooker, also the director of the Sedalia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the award was presented to Mergen for “going above and beyond to ensure the success of the MSF each year.” “She was a big player on the team that brought the Missouri State Fair back after the pandemic in 2021, even...

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Pettis County added 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 12,062, according to the Pettis County Health Center. Free at-home COVID-19 test kits are available for pickup at the Bothwell Walk-In Clinic located on the first floor of the Bothwell Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St. in Sedalia. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Results from at-home tests are known in about 15 minutes. Staff at the Walk-In Clinic also administer standard PCR COVID-19 tests from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30...

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Sedalia Knights of Columbus will host an all-you-can-eat Family Night Buffet from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 at 1708 Elm Hills Blvd.  On the menu is fried chicken, fried fish, barbecue ribs, meatloaf, ham and beans, Coleslaw, fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, cornbread, pies, cobbler, lemonade, tea and coffee. The cost is for adults, for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. 

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On Wednesday and Thursday, the Smith-Cotton High School art department is hosting an art show in the auxiliary gym.  The art show consists of at least one piece from 480 students in the art classes with many different mediums like sculpture, fibers, pottery, drawing, painting, mixed media. There is also a designated area for seniors in the art department to present multiple pieces of art.  Art teacher Heather Sparks said students get to pick what they would like in the show.  The art show also includes the University of Central Missouri contest winners from the High School Regional Exhibit. Smith-Cotton...

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High school seniors enrolled in the State Fair Career and Technology Center on the State Fair Community College Sedalia campus teamed up to bring books to the children at the Loftus Early Childhood Center.  The students enrolled in the Graphic Design program at SFCTC wrote and designed children’s books using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. They used their skills in desktop publishing and typography to layout their illustrations and stories. The books were printed and saddle-stitched, so students also experienced preparing files for publication.  Copies of the books were presented to the students enrolled in the Early Childhood Professions program...

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Tuesday, an allegedly suicidal and intoxicated suspect led Sedalia police on a chase through the city, leading to a police car being rammed, the car stopped with stop sticks and the suspect being pepper balled and arrested. “We received a call from a witness, who saw on the suspect’s Facebook Live, that he was taking pills in an attempt to harm himself,” Sedalia Police Cmdr. David Woolery said Wednesday. “We tried making contact with the suspect, who ultimately contacted our Pettis County Joint Communications.” The 34-year-old male suspect, of Sedalia, made a veiled threat to harm himself or others. “He...

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During the first week of May, the Smith-Cotton High School National Honor Society, JAG and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) members are honoring faculty and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week.  While it is labeled as Teacher Appreciation Week, the district is honoring all faculty and staff members since there are many who don’t have their own appreciation week.  S-C Library Media Specialist Lorin Blackburn Thierfelder said NHS has done a lot in the last eight years with Teacher Appreciation Week but is excited this year because it’s not just NHS.  “JAG has given flowerpots with succulents to every teacher,”...

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Grace Goodwin is trading shades of blue as she’s set to play high-level hoops somewhere outside of Pettis County for the first time. The State Fair Community College sophomore and former Sacred Heart standout is off to finish her playing career at Columbia College in a signing made official at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on Friday afternoon. “It’s close to home, a really good school and their basketball program has always been good,” Goodwin said. “It’s exciting. I’m definitely nervous, but excited to finally leave Sedalia for the first time.” Goodwin emphasized the Cougars’ frequent appearances in the...

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A concert planned for Mother’s Day in Warrensburg will benefit Ukrainian refugee mothers and their children. The Sedalia Symphony is partnering with Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Warrensburg to host the fundraising event, supporting women and children refugees via Church World Services. This ecumenical Christian organization has been around since World War II and provides humanitarian relief worldwide. Symphony Conductor Dr. Jerrode Marsh said the concert will feature the Singing Saints, a boys’ concert choir with more than 50 members from St. Paul’s Lutheran High School in Concordia that she directs. It will also involve members of the Sedalia Symphony. “(The...

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The 30th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, “Stamp Out Hunger,” will be hosted Saturday, May 14.  Darren White, the regional manager at The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, said this is the first food drive since 2019 due to the pandemic. He added it’s the largest one-day food drive in the nation. The Food Bank partners with the Local Post Office for the project. “We’re excited to have it back on board,” he said. “And hopefully, we can bring in a lot of food for this. “This is actually the Post Office’s drive,” he continued....

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The Sedalia School District 200 is a melting pot of many different cultures, languages and personalities. In that pot, there are many students who need help with translating for their families so the district's bilingual family liaison steps in to help. Maria Martinez Flores has been the lead interpreter for the past year but she has been a bilingual interpreter since 2016. She began as a receptionist before becoming a medical care coordinator at Katy Trail Community Health where she interpreted a lot.  Martinez Flores comes from Spanish-speaking parents and she would interpret for them when she was in school. ...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 25 1:36 p.m.: Officers responded to a business in the 100 block of East Broadway Boulevard in reference to a possible theft. The business reported that on April 22, an individual came into the store and was able to fraudulently load approximately 0 from the store to an online account without actually providing the store any money. The suspect has not been...

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Despite a chilly pre-race rain, the Lub Dub 5K/10K was hosted at Bothwell Regional Health Center Saturday morning to raise money for heart health. After two years off for COVID, the Bothwell Foundation’s Lub Dub entrants crossed the starting line shortly after 8 a.m. in a light mist. “People don't mind running in the rain, that's soft mist that was falling earlier, that's my favorite kind of weather to run in, it's just so soft and it's very nice,” Rick Schlesselman, Race Director, said. “The only thing is we don't want is lightning or thunder and we didn't have any...

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The University of Missouri Extension – Business Development Program recognized State Fair Community College’s Missouri Small Business Development Center and its Director Kelly Asbury for several accomplishments at its April professional development conference.   SFCC’s Asbury and its MOSBDC received recognition for placing in the Top 5 for Highest Number of Counseling Hours. The MOSBDC at SFCC received one of six Overall Performance Center Awards for creatively serving clients, building relationships with stakeholders, and working hard to enhance the Missouri SBDC presence in the college’s MOSBDC region. The college’s MOSBDC also received the Most Innovative Center Award for recognizing and...

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The City of Sedalia will close South Park Avenue to the north of Broadway Boulevard and south of West Sixth Street to through traffic from 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. Residents along South Park Avenue will be able to access their driveways during this time. The City's contractor will be installing storm sewer improvements in the area to reduce overtopping of street gutters and curb inlets. Heavy equipment and personnel will be in the area and it was determined the safest alternative is to close the street during this period to through traffic to...

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Warsaw man hurt in Benton accident Jerald Doop, 42, of Warsaw, sustained minor injuries at 4:25 p.m. Saturday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, an unknown driver was piloting a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan West on Route H east of Highway 65 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and struck a tree. Occupants Doop and Carl D. Humphrey, 33, of Warsaw, were not wearing seat belts. Humphrey was released at the scene and Doop was taken to Bothwell Regional Health Center by Warsaw-Lincoln Ambulance District. Windsor man killed...

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April 25 Michael and Katie Fisher to Walter W. Clark Trustee, Frances L. Clark Trustee, Walter Wayne Clark Trust and Frances Louise Clark Trust, section 11; township 45; range 21. Deric and Marissa Veith and William and Sherry Gorrell to Joselin Recinos de BVougher and David Bougher, Subdivision, Haleg, lots 9, 10, block 7.  Zong Shan He and Xue Li Li to Eric and Savannah Mantonya, Subdivision Southva, lot 7, block 9; section 8; township 45; range 21. Alexsandr and Lyudmila Shscherbina to Natalya Sholotuk and Vitalii Zhura, Subdivision, Camv, lot 5.  Jacob and Anastasiya Gudishvili to Kristi S. Parker,...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Wyatt Lee Bashore, 26, and Taylor Renee Conn, 21, both of Sedalia; Cameron Glenn Anderson, 28, and Jamie Jaqueline Johnson, 26, both of Green Ridge; Ryan Wayneik Booze, 41, and Harley L. Hursman, 33, both of Sedalia; Jeremy Bryant Biggs, 29, and Whitney Rachel Rissler, 30, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

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Happy May Day! May Day is an ancient European festival celebrating the coming of the summer. Across the pond, it’s still observed today, and in some countries, it’s one of the biggest holidays of the year. From Sweden down to Italy, Great Britain east to Russia, folks light bonfires, put up maypoles, attend carnivals and dances, and decorate with lots and lots of flowers. It’s a lucky day, a day to celebrate budding love between sweethearts, give gifts, and drink with friends. But we don’t really do May Day in the U.S. anymore, even though it’s a huge part of...

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During daily meetings April 25 to April 29, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: April 25: The Commission approved and presented a resolution in congratulations to Cadet Jenesis May, of Smith-Cotton High School, for being awarded the JROTC National Drill Championship Title.  April 26: Citizen David Brown visited with the Commission. April 27: The Commission approved Ordinance 02-2022#1843 as it pertains to a No Parking Zone on Crestview Road.  Commission approved two supplemental change orders for two bridge projects, one for a No Cost Extension of Time on BRO #40 (Harding) and the other for Springfork Road Bridge for...

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Thursday afternoon, a call came across Pettis County first responders’ radios announcing the retirement of Sedalia Fire Department Driver/Operator Roger Wiskur. Friday, Wiskur admitted he was caught slightly off guard by the all-agency dispatch. “I didn't know it was happening at that moment,” Wiskur said. “Traditionally when people are retiring, they give them a last alarm that says how long they've been there, the number of years, and what their rank was. It's kind of touching.” Wiskur said he still remembers the day he joined the Sedalia Fire Department. “It was Feb. 6, 1989, there was about 6 inches of...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 28 3:36 a.m.: Amanda D. Meyer, 26, of the 19000 block of Maltsbarger Road, was arrested after Sedalia Police stopped a vehicle at 13th Street and Montgomery Avenue for a registration violation. During the course of the stop, it was determined the driver had a suspended driver's license and a Pettis County warrant with a ,000 Bond. The driver was transported to...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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I’m officially the ninth and final editor to lead a Democrat newsroom at 700 S. Massachusetts Ave. By the time you read this, we will no longer be operating on Massachusetts Avenue. If you’re reading it over the weekend, our staff is moving everything to our new home at 111 W. Fourth St., which will open Monday morning. It’s been a long journey to get here. Talks of finding a new building had been happening for a while. Then came building shopping. Finally, we landed on the former Sedalia Water Department building, and thanks to a Sedalia City Council vote,...

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Through the years, the Sedalia Democrat has been at several different locations and under the direction of many publishers and editors. As the Democrat moves into its new building on West Fourth Street, the newsroom took a look back at the newspaper’s location history. 108-110 W. Fourth St; 1919-1967  In 1919, the Sedalia Democrat purchased the Sedalia Captial and along with this purchase was the move to 108-110 W. Fourth St.  In the Oct. 7, 1967, edition, Editor George H. Scruton wrote about the history of the Sedalia newspapers for the open house edition printed at 700 S. Massachusetts Ave. ...

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Sedalia author Jack Miller’s new book of short stories delves into several different genres with detail, precision and imagination. Miller, a contributor to the Sedalia Democrat, published a book of poetry in 2021. He said the new book, “Sins and Revelations,” is a compilation of fiction stories based on some truth. Miller’s book has sexual content and isn’t for children.  He begins with his favorite short story, “Liberty Call,” in Cuba. The story features enlisted Navy and a character based on a Native American military friend, “Hal,” along with ladies of the evening. In the book, Miller explores the world...

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An additional fundraiser for Chevi Meyer, 5, of Green Ridge, who has stage four cancer, will be hosted by Bob Goalder and the U9 Bandits. The team will play a doubleheader at 6 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 4 at Liberty Park. The game will be played on the small field by the tennis courts. The Bandits will donate for every run they score that night to Chevi’s family to assist with the ongoing costs of medical care and treatments. The team would like to challenge other teams competing in the Big Game Baseball League to match their donations...

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Team members from Missouri State Parks invite the public to attend informational meetings throughout the state to provide their input and comments and to ask questions about the park and its operations. Park team members will be present to answer questions and provide information.  Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Sappington African American Cemetery State Historic Site, Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site and Boone’s Lick State Historic Site: The open house for these state historic sites will take place west of Columbia at Arrow Rock State Historic Site’s Tavern Lawn, under the tent. The historic site is located at 39521 Visitor...

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A Versailles man was sentenced in federal court this week for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm. According to information from the Western District of Missouri U.S. Attorney’s Office, 37-year-old Nathanael Owen Davis was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 180 months in federal prison without parole. On Nov. 18, 2021, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. A Miller County sheriff’s deputy stopped Davis, who was driving an SUV on Scrivner Road in Miller County, on Jan....

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As I read the news last week, I was transported back to Watergate – when Richard Nixon was assuring us that he wasn’t a crook, although Bernstein and Woodward were telling us every morning in the Washington Post that he was.  We were left in a quandary. If people liked Nixon, he was right! The Post was lying! Nixon was not a crook! If they didn’t like Nixon, Nixon was lying! The Post was telling the truth! Nixon was covering up his involvement in a scheme designed to keep him in office. Never mind that he was obviously going to...

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Numerous events will be happening in the area during the weekend of Saturday, May 7. SFCC student art show State Fair Community College’s student art exhibition opened April 14 in the Goddard Gallery of the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art on the Sedalia campus. Admission is free.   This year’s exhibition will showcase new directions and introduce new technologies that the students are exploring in the Art program, including computer-based VR (virtual reality) tools. The students’ artwork will be displayed through May 8.   Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and...

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State Fair Community College students placed in the top three spots in six categories at the National Professional Agriculture Students (PAS) conference in March in Minneapolis, Minnesota.    Seven SFCC agriculture students attended along with Brad Driskill, Agriculture program coordinator. They competed in contests designed to develop skills required by employers in the agriculture industry, attended workshops and a career fair, listened to speakers, and participated in mock interviews. SFCC brought home two first-place finishes, three second-places and one third-place. More than 400 students and instructors attended the national conference.   Results for SFCC students are as follows:  Career Planning...

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Although it’s old news by now, I want to go back to U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s suspension from Twitter, for it has a lot to tell us about how Big Tech operates. What terrible offense did our congresswoman commit that got her suspended? Did she threaten to kill someone? Did she use offensive language to describe her primary opponents in the U.S. Senate race in Missouri, or Democratic candidates for the seat? No, she did something much worse — she revealed that she’s not a believer in transgenderism. For the Politically Correct Police, that was sufficient to shut her down...

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Boonslick Regional Library  Monday  9 a.m: Hughesville City Hall. 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park.  Wednesday 9 a.m.: La Monte R-IV School. 9:45 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m.: Green Ridge R-III School. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Otterville R-VI School. 9:30 to noon: Smithton Diner. 1 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Manor. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pillory Grove, Katy Park. 

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Brenda L. Harrelson and Michael E. Harrelson; Maria G. Meek and Alexander S. Meek; Elizabeth D. Sykes and Shelby L. Sykes. 

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The Lady Roadrunners couldn’t take the past few weeks for granted. It wasn’t just a home stand, it was the homestand. State Fair Community College softball played its first 20 games away from Sedalia. It amounted to a rocky 3-17 start during which the team scored what was then a season-high seven runs in the last outing of that stretch. Finally, the team returned home and swept a doubleheader with East Central College on April 2, and after four games back on the road, began a 12-game homestand at Centennial Park. The results? A stark contrast. SFCC won a handful...

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At Tuesday evening’s Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees meeting, Mayor Andrew Dawson was welcomed to his seat on Bothwell’s board. As mayor, Dawson is obligated to also serve on the hospital board, and Tuesday was his first evening. In the Board Education part of the meeting, Dr. Matt Triplett, the hospital’s hematology and oncology specialist, spoke to the board about exciting developments in cancer research and treatment that promise to revolutionize oncology and chemotherapy. After doctors determine the type of cancer a patient is dealing with, doctors need to know how far the disease has progressed. “Traditional cancer...

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WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg High School will present its spring play this weekend with performances of “The Diviners.” The play is set in a small town in Indiana during the Great Depression era where the audience is introduced to a family who has experienced some trauma.  “We meet Buddy Layman, who was saved by his mother from drowning at 3 years old so he has some brain injury from that trauma. We meet Jennie Mae, his sister who has grown into a mom role for him,” theatre teacher Kayla Helms explained. “A preacher comes to town who has given up on...

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Two injured in Johnson accident Michelle M. Daniels, 56, of Concordia, sustained moderate injuries and a 15-year-old male from Concordia received minor injuries at 3:02 p.m. Tuesday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2005 Toyota Sienna driven south on Highway 23 near Highway E by John M. Church, 55, of Sedalia, was turning and was struck by a 1996 Nissan Maxima driven north by Daniels. Everyone was wearing a seat belt. Daniels and the juvenile occupant were transported by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Marshall man...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 26 8:28 p.m.: William M. Chapman, 37, of the 900 block of East Sixth Street, was arrested after a vehicle stop near West 18th Street and South Beacon Avenue for no front plate and failure to signal. The driver had a suspended driver's license. The driver was released with charges of driving with a suspended license and failure to maintain financial responsibility. ...

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For the first time in three years, the Sedalia Literacy Council will host its annual Tea and Auction on Sunday. Betty Albrecht, council chair, said the last time the Tea was hosted was in 2019, before the pandemic. However, she noted council members are excited to be bringing the fundraising event back live and in person. “We feel tremendous,” Albrecht said with a smile. “It’s such an uplifting thing and we’ve been so ready for this.” Noreen Loveall, the event co-chair, added that every time they were unable to have the event, they were “so disappointed.” “We are all so...

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Casting Crowns, a contemporary Christian rock band, will perform at the Missouri State Fair Tuesday, Aug. 16, along with We Are Messengers, a group originally from Ireland now based in the U.S. Casting Crowns began in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall, who serves as the band's lead vocalist, as part of a youth group at First Baptist Church in downtown Daytona Beach, Florida.  The group is known for the songs “Praise you in the Storm,” “Who am I,” I Know You’re There,” and “Scars in Heaven.” They currently have a new album, “Healer,” which was written during the pandemic...

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He joked that the juicy Mizzou stories may have to wait for a tell-all book, but local sports icon Kim Anderson still kept the room entertained as a guest speaker during Tuesday’s Sedalia Optimist Club meeting at the Heckart Community Center. "This place is unbelievable," said Anderson, whose recent retirement as Pitt State men's basketball head coach put an end to a career on the sidelines that lasted almost 40 years. “We're going to move back here and I can't wait to get in and use some of it. It's something really great for Sedalia." One of Smith-Cotton's most storied...

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Wednesday afternoon, a mock vehicle accident took place at Smith-Cotton High School to warn students about the consequences of distracted or drunk driving.  Mangled cars were placed in the parking lot, and student actors played injured and even dead accident victims. “We’re teaming up together to put on this presentation,” Sedalia Fire Inspector Jamie Volk said. “We have Sedalia Police Department, Pettis County Ambulance District, the Sedalia Fire Department and Bothwell ER staff coordinating with us to make this event happen today. It's a training scenario and a teaching event to educate the children because prom is coming up soon....

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Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day and Reader’s World is celebrating by having the newly-elected Sedalia mayor read a children's book.  Reader’s World Manager Tammy Goodwin said Independent Bookstore Day is a national day to promote independent bookstores, which are not part of a chain such as Barnes and Noble. Shopping at a local bookstore can provide money for the community through tax dollars and support to local employees and owners.  “We try to give back by advertising in local schools for their events, we donate items to different auctions that raise money for causes or local schools,” Goodwin said. “A...

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A mental health event sponsored by DeFeet and underwritten by the Zero Suicide Coalition is slated for Saturday at the Nucor Pavilion on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Organizer Robin Balke, vice president of DeFeet, said the “Let’s Talk About This,” a Mental Health & Suicide Awareness Event, will occur from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature live music, spoken word artists, NoBro visual artists, food vendors, and 12 resource booths. A stage is available for the performers, and Balke said 100 chairs would be placed in the pavilion’s center. At the same time, the resource booths...

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Public speaking skills will take center stage at the first ever Public Speaking Showcase, co-hosted by State Fair Community College’s Communication Studies and Speech and Debate Team.  The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at 6 p.m. Monday, May 2, in the Stauffacher Theatre on the Sedalia campus. The event will be live streamed on the college’s YouTube channel.   Students in 28 sections of public speaking offered during spring 2022 were invited to nominate the best speaker from their class as a semi-finalist. These courses were offered during 12-, 16-, and second 8-week sections...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and discussed seeking bids to renovate the sleeping quarters at the state Route TT PCAD Station. EMS Chief Eric Dirck was not present. Instead, Chief Financial Officer Jamie Luebbering reported remotely from the PWW Media’s abc360 Conference in San Antonio, Texas. She noted the conference talked about new audits in the works, billing issues and reductions in Medicare. “I also met with the attorneys doing our claim review,” she noted. “And they said that would be about done in June.” She told board members about an upcoming board training...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 19 9:02 p.m.: Juan Pablo Uribe Sr., of the 1500 block of South Vermont Avenue, was arrested after an officer met a caller at the Sedalia Police Department who wished to report that someone was withholding their mail. The suspect was identified and issued a summons for stealing.  April 22 2:35 a.m.: Larry R. Milks, 34, of the 22000 block of Highway...

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Warrensburg woman injured in Johnson accident Marion Roper, 49, of Warrensburg, sustained minor injuries at 7:45 p.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Roper was traveling south on Highway 23 at SE 275 Road in a 2021 Ram 1500, when she traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a road sign, and overturned. She was wearing a seat belt and was taken to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg by Johnson County Ambulance District.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements...

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The Sedalia School District 200 will be hosting a long-term facilities plan community meeting at Smith-Cotton Junior High next week.  The district has hired the architectural firm Hollis + Miller, of Kansas City, to do a facilities assessment. Superintendent Steve Triplett said the firm is in the process of analyzing all of the buildings in the district.  “They are looking at capacity size, evaluating structure,” Triplett said. “A lot of our buildings are getting up there in age so we need to figure out, as we look to the future, how to best utilize the spaces that we have.” Another...

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The State Fair Community College Speech and Debate team competed in Phi Rho Pi’s “The Gateway to Gold” National Tournament in St. Charles from April 4-9. There were 41 community colleges competing.   Phi Rho Pi is the National Community College Forensic Association and Honor Society. It is committed to increasing knowledge and appreciation of forensic arts at the community college level. It was founded in 1927 by Texan Sylvania Mariner and is one of the oldest forensics organizations.   SFCC students who competed were sophomore Allyson Sampson of Quincy, Illinois, and freshman Joshua Kofahl of Jefferson City. SFCC faculty...

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Washington Elementary’s school counselor, who is also a licensed professional counselor, helps students work on mental and emotional problems.  Michelle Hofstetter said that in her position as a counselor, she is in direct services with students like individual counseling, group sessions and conflict resolution. Then there is the curriculum side such as counseling classes that the district provides to all classes from kindergarten through fourth grade.  Hofstetter’s education experience is a little different compared to others. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in art history, her first master’s from the University of Phoenix for elementary education...

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April 18 James B. Rice III and Christina A. Rice and Timothy S. and Cynthia L. Helmig to the Rice Building LLC, Subdivision Martsm2, lots 1, 2, block 38. Kenneth E. and Mary Elliot to Ryan and Nicole Cramer, Subdivision Sedalia. Dennis Davidson to Emma M. Stone, Subdivision Arlingha, block 13. Bell Plumbing Supply Co. Inc. to BTI Contracting LLC, section 32; Township 46; range 21. Kathryn Joan Egner to Dane Marcus and Kandas Nicole Kroeger, section 36; township 45; range 21. Patrice B. Jennewein, Tome Jennewein, Mark J. Hewett and Shelley Hewett to Gary W. and Denise M. Fries,...

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri FFA Association named William Hardin, of Sedalia, an Honorary State FFA Degree recipient at the 94th Missouri FFA Convention.  Hardin is a Missouri State Fairgrounds Maintenance and Grounds Technician, employed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.  Hardin has assisted in setting up and organizing numerous events concerning Missouri FFA, including Food Insecurity Day, Greenhand Conferences, and State FFA Convention. He also maintains arenas that are used for FFA cattle and horse shows during the Missouri State Fair and the offseason alike. Hardin said he is “always willing to assist with events hosted by the Missouri...

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Whittier High School teacher Jennie Guerrini is the recipient of the Superintendent’s Bell Ringer Award for March. The monthly award is a way for Superintendent Steve Triplett to honor Sedalia 200 staff members who put the district’s mission statement into action and those who display exemplary effort in celebrating student success. Winners are selected from nominations made by staff members and administrators. Guerrini’s nominator wrote: “Ms. G has worked at Whittier for 20+ years and at Night School for the past 12. During this time, she has gone above and beyond what normal expectations for teachers are. She provides a...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 25 8:06 p.m.: Brandon S. Wells, 42, of the 700 block of East 18th Street, was arrested after a traffic stop in the area of East 17th Street and South Collins Avenue. The driver was determined to be operating the vehicle with a revoked driving status and was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail.  April 26 12:48 a.m.: William M....

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Pettis County added 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 12,041, according to the Pettis County Health Center. According to the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Monday, the case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 28.34/100,000 as compared to 233/100,000 last week, using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. There were 104 tests done for Pettis County residents last week. The vaccine breakthrough for the week of April 11-17 was eight of 17 (47%) of which four were boosted. For the week of April 18-24, the...

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A rash of break-ins at hair salons and tanning salons has left several local businesses sweeping up broken glass, boarding up windows, and wondering why they were targeted. Salon Bash at 2800 W. Main St. was broken into overnight Sunday. “My business partner came in and she walked back to the back to get a list of supplies that we needed, and she thought that one of the girls had left the window open because it was kind of chilly,” co-owner Bobby Houston said. “She crunched on some glass and realized that they had thrown a rock and busted the...

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I have found myself pleading with time to slow down, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Just yesterday, I was a teenager patiently waiting to turn 16 so that I could drive myself wherever I wanted to go. I would daydream about driving across the country with a friend like Thelma and Louise (plus or minus the mischief). I finally made it and found that it was highly frowned upon by my parents to run amok across the country and that it actually took money to accomplish these universal travels that I so desired. So, I got a job....

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There is a shortage of low-income housing and rental apartments in Sedalia, and newly re-elected Ward 2 Councilwoman Tina Boggess is hearing about it from her constituents. “A lot of folks are asking ‘when are we going to get something, when can we get the housing we need?’” Boggess said. “They just can’t find any housing, especially rental housing at this time available in the area so they're leaving to places like Warrensburg or Marshall, and we don't want to lose individuals, we want to keep those tax dollars here.” Boggess hopes to work soon with Mayor Andrew Dawson on...

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An Adair County Ambulance was struck in the passenger side by a Ford pickup Monday morning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 65 and Highway HH in Pettis County.  Three people were sent to the hospital from the ambulance and one from the pickup, according to Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders. Around 10:02 a.m. Monday, Pettis County Joint Communications was alerted by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper that he was in pursuit of a vehicle that failed to stop, initiating a chase west on Highway HH. The driver was later identified as Logan J. Parker, 21, of Sedalia. Pettis...

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Community theatre at the Hayden Liberty Center is back with the production of “Legally Blonde.”  Producer Linda Pappert, of Marshall, said this is the first community theatre musical to hit the stage in eight years. Although the Liberty Center has produced several children’s musicals, it has been almost a decade for an adult production.  “Community theatre is back,” Pappert said on Monday. “We are really excited, not only myself, but many actors travel to Jefferson City or Versailles … but it’s really nice to have it in your hometown.” She added the cast is “fantastic.” “Some of the lead players...

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The American Red Cross encourages communities to give blood or platelets for patients in need.  This spring, it’s important the Red Cross maintains a readily available blood supply for those who rely on transfusions for treatment. Since donated blood has a limited shelf life, supplies must be constantly replenished to ensure a sufficient inventory of blood products. With no substitution for blood and no way to manufacture it, volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for patients with sickle cell disease, car accident victims and parents experiencing difficult childbirths.  As a thank-you, those who come to give blood,...

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State Fair Community College will host a reception for President Dr. Joanna Anderson from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the lobby of Charles E. Yeater Learning Center on the Sedalia campus.  A presentation will be at 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Anderson will retire as the college’s fifth president on June 30. During her nine years of service, SFCC expanded programs across all academic divisions including dental hygiene, behavioral health, occupational therapy, sonography, and radiology. Anderson bolstered the college’s athletic programs, oversaw the 50th-anniversary year-long celebration for the college in 2019, helped the college...

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A search for the “average working man’s house” in the turn of the 19th into the 20th century Sedalia is difficult. Some information about the cost of houses is available in a pamphlet published by I. Mac DeMuth in 1898 called “A Feast of Cold Facts,” which extols the virtues of Sedalia as a location for new factories. In the section “Is the City Growing?” DeMuth listed 35 building permits issued between June and December 1898. Two of these were for the erection of public school buildings; one was for an addition to the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School...

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After months of preparation and renovations, the Sedalia Democrat will open its doors at its new downtown Sedalia location next week. The Democrat’s last day at its current leased building, 700 S. Massachusetts Ave., will be Friday, April 29. The first day at 111 W. Fourth St. will be Monday, May 2. The Democrat’s phone number will remain the same, although phone service will be interrupted during the weekend as staff members move to the new building. Operating hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday will also remain the same. “It has been a lot of work...

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One of the more successful Kaysinger Conference coaches in recent years is headed southeast. Otterville athletic director and girls basketball head coach Jay Allen resigned from his posts last month and was hired as girls hoops coach earlier this week by Eugene in the Cole County R-V District. “It just seemed like it was time, and it’s a good time for a new challenge for me, if that makes sense,” Allen said. Trimming the duties on his plate played a factor in the decision, also. “I have been wanting to reduce the amount of time I spend away from my...

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The road to Liberty Park Stadium and a Kaysinger Conference Baseball Tournament Championship begins Saturday in Benton County. Cole Camp and Lincoln will host all of Saturday's tournament action, as the two sites did for the conference's softball bracket. Action starts with three play-in games in the morning, beginning with La Monte and Stover at Lincoln and Tipton against Green Ridge in Cole Camp at 9 a.m., with the third pitting Smithton against Otterville in Bluebirds territory at 11:15 a.m. First pitch for the quarterfinals begin at 1:30 p.m. with Windsor facing the winner of Tipton and Green Ridge. The...

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Friday, Pettis County Eastern District Commissioner Israel Baeza addressed an issue concerning almost everyone: potholes. But not just any potholes — the ones that tend to develop where county roads and state roads meet.  The county commissioners have been receiving a lot of complaints from residents of Pettis County only to investigate and find the roadway damage is actually on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s right-of-way. “I think it's just a matter of educating people where the county and where the state ends,” Baeza said Friday. “A lot of people think that because the state road is within the county,...

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When I accepted my job at the Democrat in July 2013, I barely knew anything about my new city. At the time, I was still living in Warrensburg with some college roommates. I’d spent the last four years as a University of Central Missouri student, and before that, I lived most of my life in Lee’s Summit.  I was getting to know Sedalia through my work as a reporter, but I realized that once I moved into my one-bedroom apartment in June 2014, I didn’t have much in the way of personal connections outside the newsroom. Thankfully, a fellow UCM...

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WARRENSBURG — The second annual Day of Honor and Remembrance, hosted May 30 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, will recognize veterans and current servicemen and women.  The event, sponsored by the West Central Missouri Veterans Assistance League, will occur on Memorial Day. Latisha Koetting, the supervisor of volunteer services, said there are three donation tiers; the deadline for submissions is May 10. Koetting noted the event is to honor veterans living or deceased and those currently serving in the military.   The donation top tier features a light pole banner costing 5. “Those are hanging out in front...

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The following students were named to the La Monte R-IV Elementary honor roll for the third quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Third grade: Joseph Brandkamp, Dani Burrow, Jayce Jennings, Bailey Jones, Case Purchase, Ryeson Sams, Abbigail Simons, Gael Tolentino. Fourth grade: Natalie Arroyo, Ryker Fernell, Kinzie Hall, Jose Hernandez, Christopher Morales-Comfort, Amenia Reynolds, Kaylee Shull. Fifth grade: Yitsel Arroyo, Vanessa Cardenas, Sherlyn Diaz, Brody Gann, Isabelle Green, Belen Ibarra, Regina Jackson, Chris O'Dell, Jovanny Olmedo, Tracey Pahua, Osvaldo Perez, Ruby Priest, Hayden Smeraldo, Jessica Torres, Dominic Wilbern. Sixth grade: Colin Arnold, Alex Comfort, Maritza Dedios, Ethan Durham, Marcos Lemus,...

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On Friday afternoon, fifth-graders from Sacred Heart School participated in the Living Museum and brought historical figures back to life. The fifth-grade curriculum includes reading a biography. To make it more fun, each student draws the name of a historical figure in January and then has to read a biography of that figure. The students have to take notes on their figures and then work on a presentation. Fifth-grade teacher Michelle McDonald added that the students create costumes and props to go with their presentation and then continue to work on it until the big day.  “There’s due dates along...

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Marvel and Disney are known for their Easter eggs and clever references hidden throughout many films. Area residents may find a Warrensburg reference tucked into the producing credits of the newest Marvel streaming series, “Moon Knight.” From Warrensburg to L.A. Grant Curtis, a Warrensburg native living in Los Angeles, is an executive producer on the latest Disney+ project from Marvel Studios. Curtis has deep roots in west central Missouri, as his mother is a Smith-Cotton graduate, his father grew up in La Monte, and his grandfather was a Sedalia pastor; his parents still live in Warrensburg. Curtis is a 1990...

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During daily meetings April 18 to April 22, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: April 18: Commission met with Sheriff Brad Anders, I.T. Director Luke Goosen and Facilities and Grounds Coordinator Bret Manuel to discuss projects in the Sheriff’s Department.  Auditor Beverly Dillon discussed bill processes.  Treasurer Kim Lyne discussed TIF processes. April 19: Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger visited with the Commission. The Commission approved entering the first round of ARPA funds, with interest, for internal use by application within the County to be disbursed through General Revenue.  The Commission tabled the decision regarding the remaining CARES funds...

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On Thursday, Pettis County Prosecutor Philip Sawyer and Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders announced the purchase of a new K9 unit. Lord is a 3-year-old Czechoslovakian long-haired German Shepherd.  “He is a narcotics and patrol dog,” Anders said Thursday, “meaning he will do tracking, handler protection, everything that comes with a full-blown patrol dog.” Assigned to K9 handler Sgt. Matt Long, Lord and Long are training at the Kilo-2 Working Dogs facility in Decaturville, Tennessee. David McGruder is the owner and trainer at Kilo-2. He said he has enjoyed working with Lord and knows he will prove to be an...

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Patricia “Trish” Siebert will observe her 83rd birthday April 28.  She was born April 28, 1939, in Chester, Montana. Before retiring, Patricia worked as a clerk and secretary. Patrica has two children, Dean Fox, of Sedalia, and Steve Campbell, of White Fish, Montana.  Birthday cards may be sent to Patricia at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333, W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by East Sedalia Baptist Church. Monday: Meatball hoagie, cole slaw, banana and milk. Tuesday: Baked chicken, posh potato, green beans, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Beef stew, cornbread, peaches and milk.  Thursday: Chicken pot pie, Au gratin potatoes, pudding and milk. Friday: Country fried steak, potatoes and gravy, corn, cake and...

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“Every day you get older. Now that’s a law.” — Butch Cassidy By the time you read this, Max and I will have celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary. I find this impossible to believe. It seems that yesterday I was a 30-year-old ingenue (of sorts) looking naively forward to the life that awaited. Today, 38 years later, no longer an ingenue (of sorts), I still look forward. But I also look back. I do that with anniversaries. My birthday? A time to reflect on what has happened in the year just past, and to lay out hopes for the year...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “Dream Town,” by David Baldacci. “Beautiful,” by Danielle Steel. “Kingdom of Bones,” by James Rollins.  “Memphis,” by Tara M. Stringfellow.  “Three Debts Paid,” by Anne Perry.  “A Family Affair,” by Robyn Carr. “Once a Thief,” by Christopher Reich. “Robert Ludlum’s: The Treadstone Transgression,” by Joshua Hood. Nonfiction  “The Montessori Home: Create a Space for Your Child to Thrive,” by Ashley Yeh. “More than Words: The Science of Deepening Love & Connection in Any Relationship,” by John Howard.

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Numerous events will be happening in the area during the weekend of Saturday, April 30. Book Walk National Library Week is April 3-9, and the Sedalia Public Library and Boonslick Regional Library are celebrating the entire month of April by hosting a Book Walk. Plan some time to walk with your favorite young reader and tour downtown while reading one story from Boonslick Regional Library from April 1-15 and another story from the Sedalia Public Library from April 16-30. Book check-out cards are available from participating downtown merchants and both libraries. The check-out cards will guide you through the story...

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This weekend I’m headed home to rural Illinois to go mushroom hunting with my father. I’m hoping to return with a pound of yellow morels. Maybe even two. But even if I don’t, there will be other delicious things for me to find.  In the woods, there will be bright green stinging nettles, delicious (and harmless) when cooked. There are slender sassafras trees. Their roots are the traditional ingredient for root beer and their leaves make filé powder for gumbo. There are also other mushrooms, brown pheasant backs and white oysters. If I’m really lucky, I might spot a patch...

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Ringen Brushy 4-H Club The Ringen Brushy 4-H Club met April 13 at the Warehouse Event Center. There were 36 members present.  The secretary’s minutes were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was read and approved. The club received all of the T-shirts. There was a motion to take the 4-H feeding Missouri non-perishable food to the Methodist Church in Smithton. Josie Peck had a cake decorating meeting, and a feed meeting. Eadlin Hedgpeth had a poultry meeting, cake decorating, and feed meeting. Lorelei Strange had a horse and feed meeting. Codee Niebrugge had a dog meeting.  Our April demonstrations...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:30 a.m. to noon: Cole Camp City Park. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park. Wednesday 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater Main Street.  Friday 9:30 a.m. to noon: Smithton Diner. 1:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove Katy Manor. 

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 20 9:26 a.m.: Koehn Leath Eisenberg, 28, of Sedalia, was arrested after an officer responded to Bothwell Regional Health Center in reference to a possible domestic assault. The assault occurred in the 2600 block of West Broadway Boulevard at approximately 7:26 p.m. April 20. Officers located the suspect in the Bothwell parking lot and transported him to the Pettis County Jail where...

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St. Charles man in serious condition after Morgan motorcycle accident  Nicholas E. Koenigsfeld, 18, of St. Charles, sustained serious injuries at 7:28 p.m. Thursday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Konigsfeld was riding a 2017 Honda CBR500 motorcycle south on Route W at Bryan's Way when he traveled off the left side of the road and was ejected. He was wearing a helmet and was transported by MU Air to University Hospital in Columbia.  Smithton woman hurt in Pettis rollover accident Pamela S. Staus, 52, of Smithton, sustained minor injuries at 9:44 a.m....

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The menu at the Sedalia Senior Center for April 24-30 includes: Monday: Chicken pesto sandwich, broccoli salad, fresh grapes, ciabatta bun and vanilla pudding. Tuesday: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, baby carrots, wheat roll and pineapple upside-down cake.  Wednesday: Pepper steak with rice, green beans, blushed pears, wheat roll and snickerdoodle cookie.  Thursday: Roast turkey, mashed potatoes/gravy, peas, wheat roll and chocolate cake. Friday: Ham and asparagus quiche, tri tater, spiced peaches, biscuit and cook’s feature. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “The Deepest of Secrets,” by Kelley Armstrong. “Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘em Dead,” by Elle Cosimano. “A Very Nice Girl,” by Imogen Crimp. “The Christine Affair,” by Nina De Gramont.  “Sierra Six,” by Mark Greaney. “Vladimir,” by Julia May Jonas. “Think of Me,” by Frances Liardet. “Steal,” by James Patterson. “Our American Friend,” by Anna Pitoniak. “Diablo Mesa,” by Douglas Preston. Nonfiction “White Lies: The Double Life of Walter White and America’s Darkest Secret,” by A.J. Baime. “Bone Deep: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case,” by Charles Bosworth. “Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture,...

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Mr. and Mrs. Mevin and Thierfelder will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception, planned by their children, from 2 to 5 p.m. April 30 at the Otterville Community Building, 211 E. Grover St. in Otterville.  Joann Arnold and Mevin Thierfelder were married at Lamine Baptist Church on April 29, 1962, by Pastor William Morgan.   The couple was blessed with four children, M. Chris (Mary) Thierfelder, Leslie (Christie) Thierfelder, Mike (Nancy) Thierfelder and Melissa (Kenneth) Schlesselmann; 14-plus grandchildren, 25-plus great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. The family invites friends and family to celebrate their special day. They will serve cake,...

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Bothwell Regional Health Center has won a bid at auction for a building at 700 S. Hancock Ave.  Vice President of Clinic Operations Keith Morrow had been searching for a suitable space to put a walk-in clinic and had kept an eye on the building, which formerly housed the family practice of Dr. Joy S. Gronstedt. “We knew Dr. Gronstedt was either going to sell it or lease it and then she put it up for auction,” Morrow said. “That's basically how we found out that it was officially being sold. That's her building that she just retired from.” Bothwell...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Cody James Schlbi, 25, and Grace Vivianne Moser, 24, both of Sedalia; Viktor Tsymbal, 21, and Emmy Valentenovna Shevchenko, 19, both of Sedalia; Peter Elwood Volkenant, 74, of Windsor, and Sharon Ann Norman, 65, of Sedalia; Ruslan L. Buyanovskiy Sr., 42, and Michaela Jo McDaniel, 28, both of Sedalia; Josilyn Breann Harms, 23, and Vance Dean Hesse, 23, both of Cole Camp; Jeffery Ryan Campbell, 30, and Kathryn Anne Sisney, 25, both of Knob Noster; Charles Conrad Kruse III, 25, and Hailey Maureen Heimsoth, 25, both of Windsor;...

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During Monday night's Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education meeting, the board approved the use of the CASE Benchmark Assessment.  CASE is a predictive assessment that is geared toward the state accessed core areas and can be used from sixth grade to 12th grade.  Director of Curriculum for Secondary Education Beck Brownfield said the benchmarks are designed to give the district better data on how students are performing in the state standards throughout multiple points in the school year.  “A lot of benchmarks assessment that you see are aligned to the state standards for a grade level holistically,” Brownfield...

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WARRENSBURG – Warrensburg Main Street and the Warrensburg Farmers’ Market will kick off the 2022 season with the Moonlight Market from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30.  Many of the regular season vendors as well as pop-up artisans will be around the courthouse square as well as live music and food trucks.  Moonlight Markets were created to help the farmers’ market reach a different audience while bringing a family-friendly event into Downtown Warrensburg. Main Street stated in a press release that the 2021 Moonlight Market was the first year for an evening Farmers’ Market and the community showed up,...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Kenneth W. Wood and Sarah S. Wood; Christopher Naylor and Lydia Naylor; Marianne E. Quick and Cody J. Quick; Don Legend and Janet R. Roberts; Melissa A. Stover and Mark D. Wheeler; Sally A. Zinevich and Matthew J. Zinevich; Cassidy D. Hodges and John B. Hodges; Danielle R. Cooper and Brock E. Cooper; Amber N. Owen and Mathew R. Wilson. 

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 2 to 8 p.m.: Ukrainian Festival at the downtown Sedalia Pavilion. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray...

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Smith-Cotton went local in its choice for the newest face of its boys basketball program. Ben Lyles was hired as head coach in a move made official during closed session of Monday’s Sedalia 200 Board of Education meeting. “I am excited to begin working with Coach Lyles as our new boys basketball coach,” S-C athletic director Rob Davis said. “Our hiring committee was impressed with his understanding of our community and his detailed vision for the future. Coach Lyles will build positive connections with our student-athletes and all stakeholders involved with the boys basketball team." On the desire over the...

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Sacred Heart senior Bruno Saucedo will unite with a Sedalia native to play his collegiate soccer. The Gremlins attacker’s signing with William Jewell College was commemorated at Sacred Heart on Thursday, April 14, inking his National Letter of Intent to play for head coach Eddie Horn. In just one year with the Gremlins, Saucedo has made an impact across more than just soccer. But on the pitch, he was a critical part of the play moving forward, topping the 25-goal mark for a team that finished 12-10-2. His best performance of the year came against Christian Fellowship on Sept. 17...

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As a thank you to Sedalia and Pettis County for their support of Ukraine, the Sedalia Tabernacle Church will host a Ukrainian Festival on Sunday in downtown Sedalia. Church member Essie Onufreychuk said on Wednesday the outdoor festival will include Ukrainian foods, games, activities for children, and music and worship. Stations will be set up underneath tents so the event will take place rain or shine. She added children will have the opportunity to make traditional flower crowns and paint a picture of the Ukrainian flag. Onufreychuk added stations will be set up from 2 to 6 p.m. that feature...

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Missouri FBLA welcomed 4,000 registered attendees from 354 chapters to the largest State Leadership Conference in the nation April 10-12.  For the first time in two years, members and advisers gathered in person to expand their leadership, compete in various events, and connect with members from across the state. FBLA members competed in over 75 events ranging from Accounting and Agribusiness to Social Media Strategies and UX Design. The Top 10 individuals/teams in each event were awarded medals onstage at JQH Arena. The Top 4 in each event took home trophies and will advance to the National Leadership Conference this...

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A new crafts consignment store is soon to open at 412 S. Ohio Ave.  Happiness Handicrafts has been a dream of Anita Barrick and her husband, Dick, since they bought the building in 2012. “I wanted to do something in retirement where I could do my crafting but not be isolated because I will turn into a hermit and that's not a good thing,” Barrick said Wednesday. “The purpose of this is so I can sew and crochet all day and not be stuck up in the apartment.” The Barricks have beautifully renovated the building across from the Pettis County...

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Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, R-District 4, announced that a member of her staff will visit Sedalia from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at the Pettis County Courthouse to meet with local residents and assist Missourians experiencing problems with a federal agency.

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April is National Minority Health Month — a time to raise awareness about health disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority populations. The American Red Cross is reminding blood and platelet donors it’s critically important to maintain a stable blood supply this spring to support those with chronic illnesses and other blood needs in the U.S.   Blood transfusions remain one of the most critical treatments for patients like those living with sickle cell disease – the majority of whom are of African and Latin descent – and beta thalassemia major, which disproportionately affects those of Asian descent. Additionally,...

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri will welcome 84 people as new U.S. citizens at the Kansas City Public Library’s downtown Central Library on Thursday. U.S. Bankruptcy Chief Judge Brian T. Fenimore will preside, and Paige Wymore-Wynn, court executive, will administer the Oath of Allegiance. The citizenship candidates originate from 34 countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Congo (Kinshasa), Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Vietnam and...

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During the JROTC awards ceremony on April 6, it was announced that two long-term instructors of the program would be retiring at the end of the school year.  Lt. Col. Harry Cunningham has been with the program since 2009 and Sgt. Maj. Randall Woods has been with JROTC since it began in 2004.  Cunningham wanted to start working with JROTC after working with the ROTC program at Penn State in 1998. He was allowed to go to Fort Dixen, New Jersey, for a JROTC summer camp. He was still on active duty, and he saw a lot of older individuals...

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State Fair Community College’s Ag Club will host its first Tractor Cruise fundraiser on Saturday, April 30, with a round trip starting at the Sedalia campus to Green Ridge. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Drivers will meet at 9 a.m., and the cruise will begin at 9:30 a.m.  Cost is and for FFA members. Lunch will be provided. Tractors have a minimum 10 mph requirement, and drivers must hold a valid driver’s license. No duals, implements or trailers allowed.  Registration will take place the day of the event. The club accepts cash or checks only. Proceeds will...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 19 6:38 p.m.: Lindsey Pahlow, 27, of the 300 block of East 13th Street, was issued a summons after a vehicle stop in the 3100 block of West Broadway Boulevard. Pahlow had a suspended driver's license and was issued a citation and a court date and was released at the scene.  Incidents April 18 4:36 p.m.: A caller to the police department...

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Warrensburg limited errors and free passes to get the better of rival Smith-Cotton in Monday afternoon's 9-3 win at Liberty Park Stadium. Senior Derek Nicas threw a complete game for ‘Burg, allowing four hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts in the battle of the Tigers. “I can’t say enough about Derek,” said Warrensburg head coach Chris Coombs, whose team was coming off a pair of losses, including a 28-18 home defeat against Bolivar. “On the mound, he controlled every at-bat. He got ahead of the hitters, threw strikes, no walks; and that’s what he does. He gets ahead...

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State Fair Community College’s student art exhibition is on display at the Goddard Gallery of the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art. Traditional media such as digital photography, ceramics, charcoal drawing and graphic design now have a more modern category for students to explore, virtual reality. “In painting class, we really focused on the painting process, whereas VR really focused on just trying to understand that new technology,” art teacher Don Luper said. “That included the introduction to a 3D printer, sculpting in a virtual world versus sculpting a piece of clay or piece of metal. Using VR in drawing, we...

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When our children approached school age, Darren and I began having serious discussions about where we would send them. We went back and forth in our minds about public school because we were nervous about what that would mean for their spiritual growth. It’s not that we believed that kids who didn’t have faith were “bad” but we knew how we were when we were young. We were basically “unchurched” until we were teens. By then we were accustomed to doing things our own way. We didn’t have the foundation, structure and comfort that church (when done right) brings children....

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Lorin Fahrmeier, of Lafayette County, who comes from a long agricultural background, was named the Missouri State Fair Foundation executive director last week. Fahrmeier began the position on Monday, replacing outgoing director Wendy Faulconer. She and her husband, Bret, and children Murphy, 10, and Pip, 4, own a you-pick farm of strawberries and blackberries near Lexington, and they also raise beef and pork and own a winery. Fahrmeier said their children are fourth-generation fair exhibitors. Before taking the Foundation position, Fahrmeier previously worked for 11 years at the University of Missouri Extension.  In a release from the Foundation, Fahrmeier explains...

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JOHNSON COUNTY — Two people have been arrested in connection with a Sunday night homicide in Johnson County. According to a news release, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded on April 17 to the 100 block of Southwest 250 Road in rural Warrensburg in reference to multiple gunshots being heard. When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered a victim, identified as 47-year-old Clifford Heffele, of Warrensburg, deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.  A second victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries from a single gunshot wound and was transported to an area hospital. During the course of the investigation, Brandon L. Nodine, 28, of...

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On Tuesday morning, the Pettis County Commission met in commission chambers to discuss and approve how to use the county’s first round of the American Rescue Plan Funding.  The commissioners have had multiple discussions on how they would use the first round of ARPA funding but were having difficulty deciding how to proceed because the regulations changed regarding what the funds could be used for.  Once the commission researched through a 1,100-page document to see what they can and can’t do, they began to discuss what would be best for the county.  The funding provided under ARPA provides an opportunity...

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For the last several weeks, columns have concentrated on the lavish homes of wealthy Sedalians during the mid-to-late 19th century. Today’s column will discuss why it is difficult to find information about the typical house of the average working man and his family; future columns will discuss the average family’s house. Information about the houses of average families is difficult to find for several reasons. First, when the Sedalia Democrat and other newspapers advertised homes for sale, they generally gave rather vague descriptions. For example, the ads told the general location of the house but did not give the exact...

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Jenesis May was so focused on following commands that he didn’t realize he was the last cadet standing. May, a sophomore cadet from the Smith-Cotton JROTC Tiger Battalion, is the 2022 national champion in the armed individual drill event, which was held as part of the Army Drill National Championships hosted last week in Daytona Beach, Florida. Almost 300 cadets flooded the competition floor to vie for the title. As trained military experts excused cadets who failed to complete commands with precision, May remained in the hunt. “They would call out different movements, and they would call out trick commands;...

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As I sit down to write each day, I try to make it something light that will hopefully remind people of our better days. I usually write about my memories of childhood, and while I have always tried to use just the humorous parts of that childhood in the stories, with what is going on in Ukraine at this time, I realize people of my generation must be remembering WWll, which happened during our growing up years at this time.  The awful war in Ukraine today looks horribly similar to that one, and when I see the pictures of bombed-out...

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Pettis County added 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 12,027, according to the Pettis County Health Center. As of April 18, there are 12,027 positive cases reported to Pettis County as compared to 12,010 positive cases on April 11 and 11,991 positive cases on April 4. The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 233/100,000 as compared to 47.24/100,000 last week, using the CDC website. There were 178 tests done for Pettis County residents last week. There were 107 Influenza cases reported last week, only two being Type B....

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On Monday night, the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education met at the Smith-Cotton High School Commons to vote on board leadership and discuss adding a new robotics area and assessment purchases.  The night began with a regular session meeting where the board approved insurance renewals, transition to Securely Filtering System, transitional kindergarten, restructure plan for administration salary/director/Extra Duty and election results.  Once this section was over, the board adjourned sine die to begin the reorganization of the board.  President Diana Nichols and secretary Barbara Schrader took the oath of office after being re-elected in the April 5 municipal...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 18 7:49 p.m.: Dale Wade Kabler, 53, of Kansas City, was arrested after an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of East 14th Street for a report of a male who would not leave the facility after being told to do so by security. Kabler was arrested for first-degree trespassing and was transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was...

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It was a big night at Monday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting as a full house witnessed the swearing-in of Andrew Dawson as Mayor. Outgoing Mayor John Kehde was congratulated on a successful four years and was spoken of kindly by Dawson. “Leaving office, you are leaving us with a cleaner Sedalia,” Dawson said. “You don’t see as many piles of trash sitting around, we completed the rail spur and brought Nucor in, built the community center, a place where we can all gather together as members of this community. Under your leadership, our community has flourished in a time...

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Kingsville man killed in Johnson accident Dennis L. Miller, 75, of Kingsville, was killed and Jeffrey A. Davis, 49, of Knob Noster, sustained minor injuries at 6:27 p.m. Monday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Miller crossed the eastbound lane of U.S. Highway 50 at County Road West 1601 in a 2005 Hyundai Elantra into the path of a 2014 Ford F-250 driven by Davis. The Elantra skidded, traveled off the roadway, struck a light pole and overturned. The Ford skidded, traveled off the road, overturned and struck a traffic sign. Miller was...

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WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg Main Street will be hosting the Downtown Art Walks in 2022.  The monthly events will feature nights of local art, music, food trucks and a pop-up Farmer’s Market.  Art Walks have moved from First Fridays to Third Wednesdays from April through September. The Art Walks 2022 season will be hosted from 5 to 7 p.m on the following dates: April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.  Local artists and musicians will showcase their talents and provide local art for sale and show. Art Walks will now host a limited number of...

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The Connect for Effect Volunteer Fair will provide senior adults with a chance to visit with representatives of many nonprofit groups in Johnson County. Connect for Effect will take place at the Johnson County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 26. Admission is free. The fair, sponsored by Care Connection for Aging Services and AmeriCorps Seniors, will include exhibits showcasing many of the nonprofits that rely on volunteer support to serve the public. Among those who are expected are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County, Camp Valor Outdoors, Care Connection for Aging Services, City of Warrensburg...

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Monday was Mayor John Kehde’s final day in office and he greeted people with the optimist greeting that has become his signature phrase. “It is the best day ever, for sure,” Kehde said. “I feel good about it, I think we've had great accomplishments. We have a great staff as a city and with the cooperation of the community we’ve done some incredible things.” “Best day ever,” City Administrator Kelvin Shaw said, recognizing the greeting. “That attitude is catching. Just like a bad attitude is catching that good attitude is catching, it sets a positive tone to look forward, and...

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April 11 Andrew Thomas and Andrea Nicole Moore to Marcelino Martinez Lemus and Maria Cruz Arroyo Barajas, Subdivision Lamo, lots 202,203. Lois J. Hoehns to Nicholas J. and Allison Marie Asbury, section 2; township 44; range 20.  Glenda A. Finley to Nicholas J. and Allison Marie Asbury, section 2; township 44; range 20.  Vasiliy and Alina Melnik to Sergey and Nadezda Zhura, section 10;township 47; range 21. April 12  Specialized New Homes LLC to Robert and Nilla Rebikh, Subdivision Rolling8, lot 1.  Gisela Ann and Earl Crouch to David and Heather Sullivan, section 21; township 45; range 23.  Phyllis E....

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Area artists and photographers are invited to attend the April 28 meeting and program for Mid-Missouri Artists at 7 p.m. in MultiC of the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St.  Amy Jenkins will present a program on “Marketing for Artists,” a topic that has been requested by several MMA members. Jenkins is the director of marketing and strategy at WILS, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities.  Prior to her work there, she was the marketing and communication manager at the Elliott Student Union for two years and a contractor with the 509th Bomb Squadron for 14 years.  When she's...

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The Kaysinger Horse Show Circuit competed in Sedalia for the first time on Saturday with plans to return. Contestants showed their horses in the Coliseum on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. President Jon Stroebele, of Lone Jack, said Monday they had 120 contestants and 566 entries. The ages of the contestants ranged from 2 to 75. He noted they were extremely pleased with the turnout for the show, especially since this was the first time for the Kaysinger Circuit to show in Sedalia.  “It was a really big turnout for us,” Stroebele said. “We made the decision this year to step...

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The Warrensburg Schools Foundation has announced tickets for the 2022 Todd Hamann Memorial Golf Tournament raffle are available for purchase. One lucky winner will be pulled to receive their choice of a set of Calloway Rogue Irons or a 0 gift certificate to the Mules National Pro Shop. Tickets can be purchased at warrensburgfoundation.ejoinme.org/hamanngolf22 or by stopping by Central Office, 201 S. Holden St. in Warrensburg.  Tickets are one for or three for . The tournament will take place Friday, June 3, at Mules National Golf Club. The raffle winner does not need to be present on the day...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Pettis County Sheriff's Office Incidents April 11 12:19 a.m.: Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of Clinton Road in 32nd Street. During the traffic stop, a passenger in a vehicle traveling east threw a piece of sliced cheese at the driver of the stopped vehicle. The K-9 unit was able to gather the vehicle’s license plate information from the patrol vehicle’s license plate reader. Deputies...

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Two Gravois Mills teens hurt in Morgan accident A 17-year-old male from Gravois Mills sustained moderate injuries, and a 15-year-old male  from Gravois Mills sustained serious injuries at 1:33 p.m. Saturday in the Morgan County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the 17-year-old was driving a 1991 Cadillac DeVille west on Troutdale Road when he traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree. Neither teen was wearing a seat belt, and both were taken to University Hospital in Columbia by air ambulance. Slater man in serious condition after Saline accident Lester A. Bryant,...

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A former Smith-Cotton High School business teacher moved into the Family and Consumer Science department to teach students about parenting and relationships, while also advising both the senior class and Future Business Leaders of America.  Lakin Janke graduated high school from the Lake of the Ozarks before attending Missouri State University for four years. She transferred to William Woods University and completed her Business Administration degree. Janke went back to the University of Central Missouri to earn her master's in Educational Theory.  “As a FACS teacher, I teach parenting, child development and interpersonal relationships,” Janke said. “Child development and parenting...

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The Missouri State Fair announced on Monday that ZZ Top will perform at the State Fair Grandstand this year. ZZ Top will take the stage Wednesday, Aug. 17 as part of the Raw Whiskey Tour. According to the rock band’s website, ZZ Top is working on a new album, “RAW,” that was recorded in connection with the band’s popular and critically lauded 2019 Netflix documentary, “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.” The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and is known for defining songs such as “LaGrange,” “Tush,” “Cheap Sunglasses” and “Sharp Dressed...

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WARRENSBURG –– To keep the mood light and the season fun, the Bluebirds might not be vocalizing dreams of state, but their scorecards are doing the talking. Cole Camp went back-to-back as Kaysinger Conference Boys Golf Tournament winners with Thursday afternoon’s round at Mules National Golf Course in Warrensburg. In comparison, last season the Bluebirds carded a 370 to win, with Matthew Bright's 81 good enough to tie for the individual first-place trophy. On Thursday, the team shot a collective 340, with none of their top-four above a 90. The team was led by Tyler Howard’s 83, followed by Spencer...

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The Smith-Cotton Junior High show choir, Sound Effects, had a great season under the direction of new director Kayla Bradley.  Sound Effects is the seventh and eighth-grade show choir at the junior high school. The choir went to three competitions during their season and placed in each one. They got second place in Rockbridge, fifth place in Webb City and second place in Battlefest (Columbia).  “Overall, after not having a season last year because of COVID, I thought this one was pretty good,” Bradley said. “It went really well and I know they were very proud of the work they...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Mary E. Mosier and Timmey D. Mosier; Larry W. Johnson and Teresa F. Johnson; Amanda H. Johnson and Jerod D. Johnson; John Seaman and Kathryn Seaman. 

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The Smith-Cotton Junior High show choir, Sound Effects, had a great season under the direction of new director Kayla Bradley.  Sound Effects is the seventh and eighth-grade show choir at the junior high school. The choir went to three competitions during their season and placed in each one. They got second place in Rockbridge, fifth place in Webb City and second place in Battlefest (Columbia).  “Overall, after not having a season last year because of COVID, I thought this one was pretty good,” Bradley said. “It went really well and I know they were very proud of the work they...

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Three local music students were awarded scholarships recently through the Sedalia Symphony Society and will give a performance during the last concert of the season on Monday, April 25. Wyatt Flandermeyer, a Smith-Cotton High School senior, and Daniel Vosmith, a Cole Camp High School senior, both received the Harold J. Johnston Scholarship. The scholarship was  named in honor of the late Symphony Conductor Harold Johnston. The two 00 scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors within a 30-mile radius of Sedalia through an application and audition process. Alisa Sonnik, a Smith-Cotton High School senior, received the Edith Donath Scholarship, which is...

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With Spring rains easing up and the sun shining brightly, Sedalia Parks and Recreation landscapers were busy this week raking, picking up branches, mowing and planting flowers. “We're getting everything ready for Spring and Summer kicking into gear,” Savannah Guthrie, Parks Activities Director said Thursday. “Spring’s already starting back up again and landscaping crews are working hard, we're ready to go for summer.  “Today they're over at Convention Hall, they’re getting the rose garden back up and going for the season,” she continued. “It's going to be blooming and we have all the beautiful plants again, now that all, hopefully,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Pettis County Sheriff's Office Incidents April 14 6:01 p.m.: A caller from the 5100 block of South Limit Avenue reported to the Sheriff's Office that someone had stolen her medication. The investigation continues. Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrests April 14 10:20 p.m.: Matthew W. Algur, 53, of Clinton, was arrested in Benton County for driving while intoxicated and no insurance. He was transported to the Benton County...

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SEWARD, Neb. — Jacob Brandt, a senior from Knob Noster, received an award when Concordia University, Nebraska's department of art announced this year's awards and scholarship recipients during the Annual Student Art Show on April 4. These awards and scholarships are earned based on a student's artwork in the annual Student Art Show that was on display in the Marxhausen Gallery of Art from March 27 to April 12. Concordia's department of art awards and scholarships include: Class of 1933 Endowment: Preference will be given to students in Lutheran teaching via education and service to the church. To be considered...

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Beaman Arator 4-H Club  Beaman Arator 4-H Club’s monthly meeting was called to order by Noah Garrett at 6:30 p.m.  on April 11 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Wyatt Ream led pledges. Roll call of “'my favorite thing to do on Easter,” was answered by nine members. The minutes were read and approved. The treasury has 3.67 plus 1.70 in the paper Clover account.    Tractor Supply Paper Clover campaign was explained. Wyatt Ream moved that our club participate in the campaign this spring. Levi Eppenauer provided the second. The motion passed. After more discussion, Carlee Sanders moved that the club...

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After 14 years in the making, on May 2, a new documentary called “The Misty Experiment: The Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail” will be available on public television stations across the country.  The Misty Experiment documents the urgent adjustment in U.S. strategy and tells of the psychological and physical challenges faced by the daring airmen who volunteered to test tactical theories. The story is of the U.S. Air Force pilots who volunteered for top-secret missions to stop weapons from being transported from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.  “Misty” was the radio callsign used by the F-100F Fast...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 9:20 a.m.: Cole Camp R-I School. 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Cole Camp City Park.  12 p.m.: Cole Camp Senior Center. 1:30 p.m.: Lincoln Community Care. 1:45 p.m.: Lincoln City Hall. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park.  Friday 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Brooking Park. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: Monsees Lake. 

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Two from Waverly hurt in Johnson accident Jennifer D. Worley, 43, of Waverly, sustained moderate injuries, and Jerimi D. Worley, 41, also of Waverly sustained minor injuries at 12:50 a.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jerimi Worley was headed north on state  Highway 13 at Northeast 1150 Road in a 2017 Nissan when he traveled off the left side of the  roadway and struck a ditch. Neither of the Worley’s were wearing seat belts, both were transported to Western Missouri medical center in Warrensburg by Johnson County ambulance District.  Lake Ozark...

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Members of St. Patrick Catholic Church presented The Stations of the Cross by circumnavigating the church in costume on Good Friday. “The Stations is a mix between teenagers and adults,” St. Patrick member Osmaro DeLeon said. “There are between 20-22 actors. The main character is Jesus, played by Mario Rojas. We practiced maybe twice a week in the last six weeks. We ordered 20 different costumes from Mexico, and everybody got trained according to that time.” Parishioners spent a lot of money and time to enact the final hours of Jesus, Pastor David Veit said.  “The tradition of the church...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  5 p.m.: The Word...

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A chapter is closing, but there is more story left to tell. Last weekend, Editor Nicole Cooke invited current and past Sedalia Democrat employees to stop by the paper’s home base on South Massachusetts Avenue for a final visit before operations move to the former Sedalia Water Department space downtown. It was a chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce about our time doing what is so much more than a job. Nicole and the current staff had been working to clean out the building, so it had that “used to be lived in” aura you get after...

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Heckart Community Center closed for Easter  The Heckart Community Center will be closed on Sunday, April 17 in observance of the Easter holiday. It will resume normal business hours on Monday, April 18. SFCC Horticulture Club to hold spring plant sale  State Fair Community College’s Horticulture Club will host a community spring plant sale from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 25-29; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 2-6 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 at Potter-Ewing Agriculture Building on the southwest corner of Sedalia campus past the Residence Hall. The...

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There appears to be a healthy wave of bipartisan support within the Legislature to boost the pay of public school teachers, and Missourians should do everything in their power to encourage lawmakers along this path. The state’s future depends on having well-educated kids who perform at grade level, head to college or technical school well-grounded in the basics, and enter the workforce prepared for the demands their future employers put on them. It all starts by attracting talented and highly motivated teachers whose salaries reflect the extraordinary demands placed upon them. For too long, the misguided mentality in Jefferson City,...

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Back when my wife and I kept a sailboat on the Lake of the Ozarks, wind (up to a point) was a good thing, for without it we were becalmed. But the wind velocity we’ve been seeing in Sedalia lately is another matter. I can’t recall another first quarter of the year (with a good hunk of April thrown in at no extra charge) that’s seen such fierce winds. As an example, on Wednesday the Sedalia Regional Airport recorded wind gusts up to 47 mph. Chicago has always been known as the Windy City, but maybe some Chicagoans should come...

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With floppy longish brown hair and a gentle face, Doug Linder was unremarkable to look at – except if you consider that he was 6’10” and weighed about 150 pounds. When I first saw him, because he wasn’t much older than I, I assumed he was a classmate who had played basketball somewhere. That, however, wasn’t the case. Doug Linder taught Constitutional Law. The book for the course was over 1,000 pages long and was written by the Granddaddy of Constitutional Law, Laurence Tribe. Though the text intimidated me, I loved the class. Tracing cases through U.S. history was fascinating,...

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Gann Laverna Gann will observe her 70th birthday April 17. She was born April 17, 1952, in Marshall.  Laverna was married to the late Roy Gann.  She worked at Con-Agra Foods and at Fitzgibbon Hospital as a housekeeper. She enjoyed antique shopping.  Laverna has one child, Christopher Gann, of Sedalia.  Birthday cards may be sent to Lavrna at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St. Sedalia, Mo. 65301.    Thomas Roy “Zeb” Thomas will observe his 93rd birthday April 22. He was born April 22, 1929, in Sedalia. Roy is married to Valmer Thomas, of Sedalia. Before retiring,...

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During daily meetings April 11 to April 15, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: April 11: Assessor Chris Woolery discussed the re-appraisal process for his department. Auditor Beverly Dillon discussed Insurance processes. April 12: Presiding Commissioner David Dick and Western Commissioner Jim Marcum attended the Missouri Association of Counties Legislative Days in Jefferson City.  April 13: Pettis County LERF Board met in the Commission Chambers for their Quarterly Meeting.  Citizen Bill Taylor visited and discussed roads with Western Commissioner Jim Marcum.  Road and Bridge Office Administrator Amber Bridges visited with the Commission. GIS Director James Theisen gave updates on...

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Heartland Hospice/ProMedica, with the help of all the local papers, has successfully started a Sewing program for all Heartland/ProMedica patients. Volunteer Week will be celebrated from April 17 through 23.  Catherine Schembri, volunteer coordinator, has met so many wonderful sewing groups in the last couple of months. Heartland had walk-ins with homemade quilts, pillows and bibs. Schembri has been speaking with several sewing groups in surrounding towns and the response is overwhelming.  The ladies have all been so gracious that there are over 100 quilts and pillows and bibs at the office. Heartland has three locations: Butler, Independence and Sedalia...

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Numerous events will be happening in the area during the weekend of Saturday, April 23. Book Walk National Library Week is April 3-9, and the Sedalia Public Library and Boonslick Regional Library are celebrating the entire month of April by hosting a Book Walk. Plan some time to walk with your favorite young reader and tour downtown while reading one story from Boonslick Regional Library from April 1-15 and another story from the Sedalia Public Library from April 16-30. Book check-out cards are available from participating downtown merchants and both libraries. The check-out cards will guide you through the story...

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At Thursday evening’s Sedalia Parks and Recreation Board meeting, the Heckart Community Center topped the agenda, but this time it was for behavior issues that had been happening in the month since the Grand Opening.  Fights, peeing in anything but the toilets, and even sexual liaisons in various locations had been mentioned on Facebook and even in police crime reports. While not addressing every specific incident, Parks and Rec Director Amy Epple indicated there had been some issues. “With anything new is going to come a few hiccups,” Epple said. “Anytime that you open any business or anything that you...

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We live in a world where so many people have lost all hope.  For some, it is because their family has or is falling apart. When someone has one expectation of what family is or should be and then another family member sabotages that expectation, then family members lose hope. Expectations of economic security are dashed when a good job is lost and there seems to be no hope of replacing it. While jobs may be plentiful at this time, it doesn’t mean that they will be what we might have expected. Hope is lost when sudden or even chronic...

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Guest artist BINKBEATS will perform live from the Netherlands via Zoom from noon to 1:30 p.m. April 29 and the University of Central Missouri will produce the performance in Hart Recital Hall.  BINKBEATS, Frank Wienk, is a Dutch electroacoustic musician with an international reputation. Wienk’s compositions “transcend the realms of IDM, jazz, hip-hop, classical, ambient pop, minimalism and techno” the BINKBEATS states.  Since 2018, BINKBEATS is expanding his international renown through collaborations with DJ Krush, Luwten and Jameszoo. BLINKBEATS was chosen by Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams to compose the score for the documentary “American Jail.” BINKBEATS will also give...

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Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri was well represented during the 2022 Missouri State Youth of the Year competition, held April 12-13 in Jefferson City.  Chase Stone, 16, and Anthony Sisemore, 11, enjoyed two days of fun activities, meeting with local legislators and an awards luncheon. Both also had the opportunity to meet with Gov. Mike Parson and speak about the importance of afterschool programs in communities.  “Chase and Anthony did such an amazing job representing our Club,” said Director of Operations Tyler Hudson. “And after two years of virtual Youth of the Year events, it was great...

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On Saturday, April 2, the women of the Sedalia Zone of the Lutheran Women in Mission, LCMS, an auxiliary of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, met for their Spring Rally. The Rally was hosted by Esther Circle, Martha Circle and Missionary Society Circle societies of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cole Camp. The theme was "Make a Joyful Noise" from Psalm 98:4-6.  There were 52 ladies in attendance. President Leticia Harms led the business meeting. Pastor Trues, of Trinity in Cole Camp, delivered the devotion. A presentation was made by Rich Miller, board member of the Trinity School of Music in...

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A Monday morning chase left two women injured and their kidnapper arrested. According to information from Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders released on Thursday, at 5 a.m. April 11, Deputy Jimmy Moore and K9 Cav attempted to stop a red Dodge truck in the area of Broadway Boulevard and Arlington Avenue. Upon activation of the deputy’s lights and siren, the driver, later identified as Devon E. Stout, fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed. “There was hardly any traffic, if any, reported at the time,” Anders said, “so he (Moore) was safely able to pursue him (Stout).” ...

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On Thursday afternoon, the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees welcomed new board members and voted on the board’s new leadership.  In the April 5 municipal election, candidates Tim Carr, Amie Breshears and Tom Oldham were elected as the next board members, Carr and Breshears for six-year terms and Oldham for a two-year term.  Once the new members were sworn in by board President Randall Eaton, President Joanna Anderson recognized outgoing members Eaton and Nick La Strada. The board then voted on new board officers, electing Patricia Wood, who previously served as vice president, as president.  “Taking the reins...

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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting entries for its annual photo contest. Winning entries will be featured on the department’s social media platforms. The deadline to submit photos is Oct. 1. Entries can include images from anywhere in Missouri, featuring natural resources, state parks and historic sites, natural phenomena, outdoor recreation, scenic landscapes, weather, wildlife and people enjoying the outdoors. Contestants can submit entries in the following categories: • Natural Resources: Photographs of Missouri’s air, landscapes and waterways. • Unique Places: Photographs taken within one of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites. For a list of all parks...

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As chance would have it, a recent toe surgery has led a Sedalia woman to feel the compassion to travel to Poland to help refugee Ukrainian mothers and their children. As news statists state, 90% of Ukrainian refugees are women and children, due to the men staying in Ukraine to fight against the Russian invasion. Kathleen Boswell noted she was immobilized due to toe surgery and she watched news of the war night after night. One newscast showed young Ukrainian mothers housed in a former Polish theatre sleeping on mats with their children. On the stage where many performances had...

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Word of Life Evangelical (Ukrainian) Church presented a traditional Bread of Hospitality to First United Methodist Church last Sunday after a Ukrainian Aid concert. The total donations received at the event will be announced after all donors have turned in their contributions, according to Pastor Vladimir Dub of the Word of Life Church. Dub announced that the youth of his congregation will have a Ukraine Aid car wash from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23 in the parking lot of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1513 S. Limit Ave. The church is still accepting donations of new bedsheets and towels,...

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The fourth annual Marriage and Family Conference will be hosted April 22 and 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 104 Butterfield Trail in Cole Camp.  The event will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and continue at 9 a.m. Saturday. This year’s conference theme is titled, “Oh, Lord! What Shall I Do Now?” This free workshop is sponsored by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations of the Cole Camp Regional Ministry (Holy Cross, Mt. Hulda, St. John, and Trinity) and the Sedalia Circuit, which extends to the communities of Camdenton and Versailles to Warsaw, Appleton City, and Sedalia.  The conference aims to grow...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 6 5:00 p.m.: Kallie N. Bennett, 33, of the 300 block of East 26th Street, was arrested after an officer was dispatched to a business in the 100 block of East 16th Street regarding a theft. The business owner said Bennett had taken two cans of beer earlier and was back in the business but fled prior to police arrival. Bennett was...

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Area artists and photographers are being sought to submit entries for the Mid-Missouri Artists 41st Fine Arts Show. The show will be free and open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. May 14, and 12:30 to 4 p.m. May 15 at the Warrensburg Community Center Gymnasium area, 445 E. Gay St. Monetary awards and ribbons will be awarded in Professional, Amateur and Photography divisions. A People’s Choice Award is decided by a tally of persons who view the show, to select their favorite work of art.  The show is open to all media and artists 16 years of...

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Thursday was the first day of the season for the Street Food Throwdown hosted at the Missouri State Fairgrounds, bringing in delicious food and new food trucks to Sedalia.  The Munch Truck, of Warsaw, opened its truck doors on March 13 by mother and son-in-law duo Dillon Sanders and Jennifer Mizanskey. Both are running the truck full-time.  Sanders said he and his family had just left Las Vegas after being in the Air Force for seven years and lived off of food trucks when they lived there.  “So when we moved back, we decided there was not enough food trucks...

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Smith-Cotton girls soccer needed less than a minute of the second half to dispatch rival Warrensburg in Tuesday’s 8-0 win at the Susie Ditzfeld Memorial Soccer Complex. It became a much abbreviated contest thanks to a flurry of first-half goals followed by a finish from S-C senior forward Adamaris Ramirez, her fourth of the afternoon, to trigger the mercy rule. “We were confident, and with the past years of how intense and aggressive they were, this year, beating them and being successful against them was a real confidence booster,” Ramirez said. “It does bring the confidence up, which is what...

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Missouri Department of Transportation crews will begin the annual process of striping roadways across mid-Missouri, beginning Monday, April 11. Crews will start on minor routes where paint has faded, or no shoulder lines are in place. The process will then move to major routes, such as interstates and four-lane roadways, later this spring. Motorists will encounter slow-moving lines of trucks with flashing lights, boards with flashing arrows and signs that say, "Wet Paint." Drivers are reminded to stay behind the last truck in the striping train, which is placed well behind the striping truck. This will give the new paint...

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Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced that 46 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture committee. These students are seeking higher education at a university/college of their choice and will be recognized on April 22 during the annual State FFA Convention in Columbia. Scholarship applicants were evaluated in a variety of areas including Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, community involvement and leadership roles.  Since 1992, the Youth in Agriculture committee has awarded 761 scholarships totaling 5,000. The scholarships are funded...

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Clinton woman hurt in Henry accident Bernice E. Martin, 72, of Clinton, received minor injuries at 12:55 p.m. Tuesday in a Henry County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2020 International driven by Mark Z. Lindsey, of Smithville, was northbound on state Highway 13 at state Route M when he failed to slow as a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado driven by Belinda E. Meyers, 49, of Clinton, turned and the International struck the Chevrolet in the rear. Everyone was wearing their seat belt. Occupant Martin was transported by EMS to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton. Information...

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In almost a week, the Missouri honey bee swarm season will be buzzing around the state as bees begin collecting pollen and nectar from various plants.  Once flowers begin to bloom and give off a sweet fragrance in the air, residents can start to see swarms or clumps of honey bees, a healthy swarm, moving to a new home. Swarm season will last about six weeks in the Pettis County area unless it gets dry; then the bees won’t move as much.  Clayton Lee, former president of the Missouri State Beekeepers Association, explained why bees are so important.  “The importance...

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Courtney Price, a nurse at Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Canon Cancer Center, has been selected as the first-ever 2022 McDonald’s Outstanding Nurse from more than 1,100 nominations. The award honors nurses who exhibit the ultimate dedication to their patients and who go above and beyond to ensure the community’s well-being. Price almost sent the email saying she had won to the trash bin. “I was emailed yesterday, and I was pretty surprised. I called and I made sure that wasn't a spam email, it just caught me off guard.” Price said. “It came to my work email and occasionally we...

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On Wednesday afternoon, two community figures hosted a Community Engagement Fair at Smith-Cotton High School to help juniors and seniors get involved after they graduate.  Sedalia Ward 1 Councilman Tom Oldham and Sedalia Business Women President Robin Balke spearheaded the event at the high school.  “Myself and Robin Balke are both extremely active in our community. Robin is poised with a lot of questions on where somebody can get resources, how can somebody be involved, what is there to do in our town and she happily obliges and answers those questions all day long,” Oldham said.  Oldham is involved in...

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EMS Chief Eric Dirck spoke this week at the Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors meeting about EMS on the Hill Day, sponsored by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. He explained that the NAEMT is a national organization that organizes the annual EMS day. The event takes leaders from across the nation such as EMS chiefs and administrators and they go to Washington, D.C., wear their Class A uniforms, and visit with congressional staff, representatives and senators. This year’s event was hosted April 4-8. “We present as a team the issues that are important to us,” Dirck...

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KNOB NOSTER — As part of Month of the Military Child, First Lady Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona joined students during a visit Wednesday, April 13, at Whiteman Elementary School and Knob Noster High School.  After flying into Whiteman Air Force Base, Biden and Cardona spent time visiting preschoolers at Whiteman Elementary as they did crafts about gardening and farming, then joined eight Knob Noster students for a roundtable discussion about the Student 2 Student initiative within the school district.  The students, ranging from elementary students to high school seniors, and Whiteman Elementary Counselor Hailee Wickham...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 11 10:33 a.m.: Charles Raymond Holmes, 44, of the 1700 block of South Park Avenue, was arrested after being interviewed in relation to an ongoing investigation. Holmes was arrested at the police department and taken to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked and held for 24-hours pending charges of sodomy. 1:04 p.m.: Lila L. Weaver, 34, of the 1500 block...

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April is National Minority Health Month — a time to raise awareness about health disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority populations. The American Red Cross is reminding blood and platelet donors it’s critically important to maintain a stable blood supply this spring to support those with chronic illnesses and other blood needs in the U.S.   Blood transfusions remain one of the most critical treatments for patients like those living with sickle cell disease – the majority of whom are of African and Latin descent – and beta thalassemia major, which disproportionately affects those of Asian descent. Additionally,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 12 9:55 a.m.: Tara M. Dillon, 38, of Tipton, was arrested after officers were dispatched to a business in the 4400 block of Wisconsin Avenue for a theft report. It was determined that Dillon had stolen from the business on three separate occasions. She was transported to the Pettis County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold pending a charge of shoplifting....

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911 dispatchers across the nation are getting some well-deserved appreciation this week for the difficult and often stressful job they do sending first responders to help people in distress. “The second week of April has been declared as National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. This year it runs from April 10 through April 16,” Dannelle Lauder, Director at Pettis County Joint Communications, said. “Every agency or public safety entry point will choose to celebrate that time with whatever works for that agency, every agency will have something different.” Dispatchers, also known as communications specialists, are invaluable to agencies like the Pettis...

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Liberty man injured in Saline accident Chase D. McDonald, 22, of Liberty, sustained minor injuries at 9:45 p.m. Monday in a Saline County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, McDonald was driving west on I-70 at the 70-mile marker in a 2018 Kenworth when he experienced an equipment failure, causing the vehicle to travel up the right side of the roadway and strike a guardrail. McDonald was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall by Sweet Springs Ambulance District. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not...

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The 15th annual Living Last Supper and Living Crucifixion will be presented on Wednesday, April 13, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church gymnasium, 701 S. Massachusetts Ave. in Sedalia, with performances by Faith in Action.  The production explores the thoughts of the disciples and those who surrounded Jesus in the days leading up to His sacrifice on the cross. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the performance starting at 7 p.m. Seating is on a first-come basis. A freewill offering will be taken. For more information, contact the church at 660-826-1164. 

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Bikini Bottom must be protected from an exploding volcano at all costs and theatre students at State Fair Community College plan to do that in the production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” Ryan Mahannah, SFCC theatre productions instructor and program coordinator, said the production will begin on April 21 and run for two weekends. There will also be a character dinner theatre at the Saturday performances that includes a child-friendly dinner. The cast will meet the children in costume at the dinner. “It’s a new musical,” Mahannah said. “The rights just came out within the last year. It was on Broadway...

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State Fair Community College’s student art exhibition will open April 14 in the Goddard Gallery of the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art on the Sedalia campus. Admission is free. A public reception with refreshments will begin at 7 p.m.   This year’s exhibition will showcase new directions and introduce new technologies that the students are exploring in the Art program, including computer-based VR (virtual reality) tools. The students’ artwork will be displayed through May 8.   The annual show is open to all students taking studio art classes at the college. Each year about 50 students exhibit close to 100...

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State Fair Community College recently became an Education Member of Smart Automation Certification Alliance, a nonprofit organization that seeks to develop and deploy modular Industry 4.0 certifications for a wide range of industries.    Consequently, SFCC will be able to provide its Industrial Maintenance students with no-cost, accessible certifications that demonstrate they have obtained critical “connected systems” skills that give them a competitive advantage in today’s job market. By this fall, as students move through their coursework, they will be able to earn certifications in technical skills relevant to industrial maintenance such as developing, building, programming, maintaining, and troubleshooting automation...

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As temperatures rise, humans and animals become meal tickets for ticks. Heartland disease, an emerging infectious disease first found in northwestern Missouri in 2009, is another reason to take precautions against ticks, said University of Missouri horticulture specialist and entomologist Tamra Reall. Heartland disease symptoms include fever, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle pain and low white blood cell counts, which prevent the body from fighting infection. April to June is the peak time for tick-related emergency room visits, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To prevent tick bites and disease, Reall said people need to...

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A Sedalia man has been sentenced in federal court for attempting to hire an undercover law enforcement agent to murder the victim in a pending statutory sodomy case. According to information from U.S. Western District of Missouri Attorney Teresa A. Moore, 58-year-old Jon Mark Wilson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on April 5 to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 28, Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of the use of interstate facilities (the use of a cell phone and crossing state lines) in the commission of murder for hire. Wilson admitted that...

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In the late 19th century, Sedalia’s position at the intersection of two major railroads, the Missouri Pacific railroad and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroad, as well as the narrow gauge Warsaw and Southern railroad and the Lexington branch of the Pacific railroad, enabled Sedalia to become a center of wholesale and retail trade.   In 1898, according to I. Mac Demuth’s boosterish pamphlet A Feast of Cold Facts, the amount of total wholesale trade in Sedalia was [post_excerpt],727,000. One of the wholesale firms that contributed to that amount was the Beiler Grocery Company.  Samuel Beiler had built a partnership...

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When we were young parents trying our best to figure out the rules of engagement with tiny humans, there was no such thing as social media or the internet via cell phone. I’m so thankful for that. It would have been nice to have had a doctor at the tip of my fingers when we were on vacation or to find the Chuck E. Cheese nearest us. But then again, the adventure was part of the lasting memories. That’s one reason that I still love the rivers so much. It’s peaceful. Cell phone signal is poor, so there is no...

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Julie Sampson-Carpenter, 4-H Youth Program Associate with the University of Missouri Extension Office, is loaning incubators, and the Tyson hatchery is donating hundreds of fertilized eggs to local schools, daycare centers, and 4-H youth programs to teach children embryology, otherwise known as hatching chicks. “This spring we've had 40 classrooms throughout Pettis County involved with over 762 youth,” Sampson-Carpenter said. “It's from pre-K all the way up to sixth or eighth graders or even for a science class project. Mostly the participants are in pre-K through third grade.” The extension office loans the incubators, which are wood or styrofoam boxes...

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KNOB NOSTER — Knob Noster State Park is seeking volunteers to find bugs in the waterways.  A macroinvertebrate survey evaluates the populations of insects, and the occasional gastropod, that reside in water.  “A good portion of our insects will spend half their lifecycle in the water before they go through metamorphosis and come outside of the water,” Park Naturalist Chris Edmondson said. “Things like dragonflies, mayflies, caddisflies and we have little snails and things like that, that live in the water and are still invertebrates but they’re macro. So they’re small, but not super-duper small.”  The survey will take place...

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Many Sedalia School District 200 students are learning English as their second language, and English Learner teachers are there to help.  Shellene Dore is in her first year of teaching EL but has been teaching for over 20 years. Dore previously taught fifth grade at Parkview Elementary, taught writing and grammar, and was an ELA teacher.  The EL program is doing things a little differently, so Dore is spending more time going into classrooms and working with students there instead of pulling them out of class.  Dore explained the EL department helps students who are learning English for the first...

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The Center Human Services will introduce a new program next month that will offer services not only for children but for adults as well. The Applied Behavioral Analysis Program is spearheaded by Kayla Holland-Orell, 27, the  administrator of clinical behavioral services at the center. Holland-Orell recently moved back to Sedalia from Kansas City with her husband Jacob Orell and their daughter Bradley, 18-months. She noted she’s come full circle because her mother, Linda Holland, has worked at CHS for almost 30 years.  “I have grown up in this field all my life,” Holland-Orell said. “I’ve known the center my whole...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 10 3:47 p.m.: John David Jones, 61, of the 700 block of South Kentucky Avenue, was arrested after a vehicle stop in front of the Pettis County Sheriff's Office on South Lamine Avenue. The stop was originally to check if the registered owner, whose Missouri driving privileges have been revoked, was driving. However, during the course of the stop, the driver committed...

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Warrensburg woman hurt in Johnson accident Kimberly Watts, 59, of Warrensburg, sustained minor injuries at 3:54 p.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Mark A. Daniels, 20, of Warrensburg, was eastbound on U.S. 50 and pulled into the path of, and was struck by, a 2015 Kia Optima driven by Lakota C. Theoni, 19, of Warrensburg. Watts, an occupant in the Chevrolet, was taken by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Everyone was wearing a seat belt.  Information is taken from...

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Scooter’s Coffee franchisees in the Omaha, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Kansas City, Missouri, areas are teaming up with their customers in April to raise donations that will directly support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Through the end of April, more than 50 participating Scooter’s Coffee locations in the Omaha and Kansas City area markets will accept donations at checkout as part of a “Compassion Ukraine” fundraising effort with YouCanFreeUs Foundation, which will directly support Ukrainian refugees. Customers may add a donation of [post_excerpt] or more to their Scooter’s Coffee tab at checkout, and donations at most participating locations will be...

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The Center for Human Services recently hosted its 2021 Employee of the Year and Service Awards luncheon.  Honored at the luncheon were several employees celebrating milestone years of service. Alexia Drum and Karla French celebrated 20 years of service; Bonnie Bingaman, Linda Holland, Donna Snider and Susan Mergen celebrated 25 years of service; and Molly Scheiner celebrated 30 years of service. The following employees received CHS Employee of the Month honors in 2021: Patricia Stolle, Tamra Bolden, Mary Conley, Brittany Prichard, Polly Stolte, Robin Moran, Dallas Carver, Janet Dover, Deanna Counts, Julie Roark, Bryon Jacques, Karen Nolting, Jill Smasal, Abby...

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April 4 Giorgi Mukhiashvili to David and Rebekah Stone, Subdivision Robb, lots 16, 17, block 3. Specialized New Homes LLC to Yevgeniy and Lyumila Ruzhyev, Subdivision, Rolling8. Anatoliy D. and Angela Izoita to Ivan and Nataliya Brichka, section 10; township 46; range 21. Charles K. and Renee L. Pyle to Tyler B. Colgan, Subdivision Robb, lot 15, block 3. Betty Jean and Jose Michael Jones to R and R Investments and Logistics LLC, Subdivision Halet, lot 5, block 1. April 5 Dale W. Yelton Trustee, Dale W. Yelton Trust, Elizabeth H. Yelton Trust and Elizabeth H. Yelton Trustee to Sandra...

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Pete Melby returned to his rural home on Goodwill Chapel Road Wednesday to find a Central Missouri Electric Co-op representative in his driveway. “I went to talk to him, and he informed me that all of our cedar trees along the front of our property, 39 of them, had to be removed,” Melby said. Melby’s row of neatly trimmed cedar trees lining the front of his property were directly beneath an electric line, but had never been a problem in the past. “We've lived there 24 years,” Melby explained. “In the past they have always come along and trimmed the...

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A Sedalia man was killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in Pettis County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Victor S. Yuzkov, 63, of Sedalia, was killed, and Karen E. Hull, 69, of Raymore, and Sharon A. McDonald, 77, of Raytown, both sustained minor injuries at 3:43 p.m. Thursday. The report states driver Yuzkov and occupant Hull were attempting to cross the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 65 in a 2013 Nissan and drove into the path of a 2017 Ford Edge driven by MacDonald. After the impact, the Nissan rolled over into the median and came...

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On the outskirts of Sedalia, a new animal boarding and daycare facility is making plans to open for residents.  The Bark House Bed and Biscuit is owned by couple Kaitlyn and Austin Cunningham, hardcore animal lovers. They are also corgi breeders.  Bark House will be a pet boarding facility in the basement of their new home that they are refurbishing. Kaitlyn, who works at Flat Creek Veterinary Hospital, noticed there was a large need for animal boarding locally. She hopes to be a veterinarian one day.  The Bark House will be another piece of the puzzle for the Cunninghams. Austin...

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State Fair Community College, all extended campus locations and the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art on the Sedalia campus will close Friday, April 15, for spring holiday. The college will reopen April 18.  The Daum Museum will be open 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 16 and will close Sunday, April 17. Regular museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, call (660) 530-5888 or visit the Web site at www.daummuseum.org.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center that provides technical training...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Caramel Pecan Roll Murder, by Joanne Fluke. “One Step Too Far, by Lisa Gardener. “Targeted,” by Stephen Hunter. “Dark Horse,” by Gregg Hurwitz. “Nothing to Lose,” by J.A. Jance. “The End of Getting Lost,” by Robin Kirman. “Quicksilver,” by Dean Koontz. “House of Sky and Breath,” by Sarah J. Maas. “Circus of Wonders,” by Elizabeth Macneal. “A Thousand Steps,” by T. Jefferson Parker. Nonfiction “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace,” by John Avion. “Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker’s Life,” by James Curtis. “Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage,” by Heather Havrilesky. “Price Wars: How the Commodities...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction  “A Sunlit Weapon,” by Jacqueline Winspear.  “True Biz,” by Sara Novic. “What Happened to the Bennetts,” by Lisa Scottoline. “Citizen K-9,” by David Rosenfelt. “The Candy House,” by Jennifer Egan. “A Ballad of Love and Glory,” by Reyna Grande. “The Dickens Boy,” by Thomas Keneally. Nonfiction  “Time Is a Mother,” by Ocean Vuong. “Happy Days,” by Gabrielle Bernstein. “Mission Possible,” by Tim Tebow.  New Audiobooks “French Braid,” by Anne Tyler.

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Odessa woman hurt when a gravel truck overturns in Johnson County Adele M. Ernsbarger-Waye, 63, of Odessa, sustained minor injuries at 12:57 p.m. Thursday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ernsbarger-Waye was dumping gravel on County Road NW 901, south of County Road NW 975, in a 2016 Freightliner when it overturned and struck a fence. She was transported by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 7 5:42 a.m.: Porter N. White, 62, of the 1600 block of South Prospect Avenue, was arrested after officers were dispatched in reference to a domestic assault that occurred earlier in the evening. The victim stated a man known to her hit her in the face, breaking her glasses and causing injury to her face. White was arrested, transported to the Pettis...

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As anyone who reads my weekly columns already knows, my boyfriend and I bought our first home in November. The house is in excellent condition, and we patiently waited for months to find just the right house that could use some projects to freshen up the look but not anything that required major renovations or construction.  That’s exactly what we found. The 1970s ranch-style house has plenty of space indoors and out for all of our belongings. There is enough room to stretch our legs without feeling like we’re on top of each other, and items aren’t constantly piled everywhere...

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Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa  The Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, international honorary sorority for women educators, met Monday, Mar. 28, 2022, at Christ & Trinity Church and via Zoom. Thirty members were present. President Marina Scheiner called the meeting to order. Karen Twenter gave the devotion titled “A Woman in Prayer.” The guest speakers for the evening were Justin Koehn, owner of Ozark Coffee, and Kyler Zimmerman, Assistant Manager. Minutes from the February meeting from Secretary Holli Goodrich were approved. The treasurer’s report from Mary Beatty was approved.  Jenny Crane reported correspondence received was a...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by First United Methodist Church. Monday: Pork riblet on hot dog bun, baked beans, macaroni salad, brownies and milk. Tuesday: Lasagna roll, corn, salad, cookie and milk.  Wednesday: Pulled pork on bun, cole slaw, tropical fruit and milk. Thursday: Chicken breast filet, hominy, green beans, pudding and milk. Friday: Meatloaf...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Cody James Schlbi, 25, and Grace Vivianne Moser, 24, both of Sedalia; Viktor Tsymbal, 21, and Emmy Valentenovna Shevchenko, 19, both of Sedalia; Peter Elwood Volkenant, 74, of Windsor, and Sharon Ann Norman, 65, of Sedalia; Ruslan L. Buyanovskiy Sr., 42, and Michaela Jo McDaniel, 28, both of Sedalia; Josilyn Breann Harms, 23, and Vance Dean Hesse, 23, both of Cole Camp; Jeffery Ryan Campbell, 30, and Kathryn Anne Sisney, 25, both of Knob Noster; Charles Conrad Kruse III, 25, and Hailey Maureen Heimsoth, 25, both of Windsor;...

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It’s six weeks later, and the war in Ukraine is still raging. I cannot fathom the atrocities that are occurring in that country every day. Ukrainians’ pain and suffering are overwhelming, and the pictures we see on the news are horrifying.  The Russians have bombed hospitals and buildings that doubled as shelters, including a building where the word “children” was displayed so that it could not be mistaken for a military site, as well as a theater where hundreds of civilians were trying to stay safe. Yesterday, the Russians bombed a train station, killing civilians attempting to leave the city...

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Over 3,500 high schools across the country maintain Junior ROTC programs. Over 400,000 high school cadets take part in this program nationally, bringing citizenship, discipline, personal responsibility, and leadership into the lives of young men and women who choose to participate. The cornerstone for many JROTC units is their drill team, which performs in many local and regional drill meets throughout the school year. At the pinnacle of drill meets is the National High School Drill Team National Championships.  Smith-Cotton High School has been accepted to compete at the 2022 Nationals. Less than 5% of thousands of JROTC units nationally...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  5 p.m.: The Word...

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During daily meetings April 4 to 8, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: April 4: Citizen Bill Stouffer visited with the Commission and inquire regarding ARPA Funding. April 5: Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza spoke to Cub Scout Pack 61. April 6: Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended the Cattleman’s Association meeting. April 7: Dick attended the Beef Check-Off meeting April 8: Bid opened for jail cameras. No bids received.  Baeza attended the Smith-Cotton High School Career Day, where students were able to experience the importance of budgeting through real-world scenarios through the “Reality Check” program.  Dick attended the Missouri Cattleman’s...

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I sometimes hear, usually second or third hand, that some local Democrats feel I’ve been unfair to their party in my columns. Before I answer that charge, I need to know which Democratic Party we’re talking about, for there are two of them. I grew up and came to adulthood when what I will term traditional Democrats dominated and defined the party. I think of President Harry Truman, the first Cold War president, who in 1949 presided over the formation of NATO to deter Joe Stalin from invading Western Europe. There were Democratic senators, such as Stuart Symington of Missouri,...

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I have been a “stay-at-home mom” since 2017. It’s a great gig. I love spending each day with my kids — they’re fascinating little people and it’s a great joy and privilege to have so much time with them. Boy, do I have a lot of time with them.  One of the less-talked-about aspects of being a stay-at-home mom is the sheer amount of hours you are in the presence of your own children. My day usually starts with them waking me up, crawling into the big bed for a pre-dawn snuggle. Then it’s off to school for my daughter....

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Andre’ D. Taylor, Ph.D., a 1991 Smith-Cotton High School graduate who is now a renewable energy scientist in New York, was inducted on Thursday into the Academy of Chemical Engineering at his Alma Mater, Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Taylor is the son of Salome Taylor, of Sedalia.

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Lucille Meyers will observe her 97th birthday April 11. She was born April 11, 1925, in Sedalia. Lucille was a homemaker and enjoys game shows on television, reading, playing cards and bingo. She has four children, Kathy Burt, of Sedalia, Chuck Meyers, of Barnett, Donna Hooker, of Columbia, and Pat Philliber, of Springfield. Birthday cards may be mailed to Lucille at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Robert Walkington will observe his 82nd birthday April 10. He was born April 10, 1940, in Marshall. Robert is married to Martha Walkington, of Sedalia. Before retiring he was a welder and enjoyed square dancing, car shows and restoring cars. Robert has two children, Shane Walkington and Gina Staus, both of Sedalia. Birthday cards may be mailed to Robert at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9 a.m.: Hughesville City Hall. 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 9 a.m.: La Monte R-IV School. 9:45 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m.: Green Ridge R-III School. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Applewood Christian School. Friday 9 a.m.: St. Joseph Catholic School. 9:15 a.m.: Pilot Grove C-4 School. 9:45 to 11:45 a.m.: Bunceton. 1 p.m.: Prairie Home, Duncan’s Diner. 1:30 p.m.: Prairie Home R-5 School. 2 to 3:45 p.m.: Prairie Home.

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Christina Asher and Robert Asher; Deidre Esquivel and Mark Esquivel; Carla Williams and Joshua Williams; Justin L. Anderson and Sarah E. Anderson; Terri L. Forsee and David B. Forsee; Austin L. Wood and Victoria E. Wood; Kimberlie E. Windle and Ryan B. Windle; Christopher G. Raines and Olivia E. Raines; Sandra R. Johnson and Lomond K. Johnson.

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The Rotary Club of Sedalia is celebrating over 100 years of service in the local community with its 46th annual Rotary Auction to be hosted April 22.     A young lawyer, Paul P. Harris, began Rotary in 1905 in Chicago. It grew quickly with Kansas City being the 11th club in the nation and St. Louis the 13th. By 1921, when Sedalia began its Rotary Club, the organization had spread internationally to Scotland and Canada. Twenty-Three Sedalians gathered on Aug. 29, 1921, at the Hildebrandt’s European Hotel and Café on East Second Street to talk about forming a Rotary....

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and appointed officers for 2023 along with swearing in new board member Kim Graves. Graves was sworn in by Pettis County Clerk Nick LaStrada. Graves filled the PCAD District 4 board position held by former incumbent John Fritz. In the April 5, Municipal Election newcomer Graves received 495 votes to Fritz’s 273. Also, during the meeting, EMS Chief Eric Dirck noted in his report that the bay windows at PCAD Headquarters had been replaced and gave an estimate about the headquarters gutter replacement. He added under Computer and Telephone Systems, under...

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LINCOLN –– Cole Camp’s Ashley Campbell and her teammates were well aware of the recent outcomes of the Kaysinger Conference Softball Tournament. “Lincoln’s won it since like 2016, we knew that coming in,” she said. Her recollection of history was spot-on: La Monte was the last team other than the Lady Cardinals to top the conference tourney, beating Cole Camp in 2016. On the wrong side of a one-run game six years ago, this time the Lady Bluebirds came out on the right side of history against their rivals, defeating Lincoln 11-10 in Saturday’s championship game. The two teams faced...

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Sedalia Parks and Recreation has been planning this Saturday’s Easter Egg Hunt at Liberty Park for some time and last week a team of 50 volunteers stuffed more than 18,000 eggs for the event. Special Events and Marketing Manager Savannah Lynde has overseen the preparations for Saturday as well as working on many other projects at Parks and Recreation as the seasons change. “We’re prepping for spring and we’re prepping for all of our summer stuff too,” Lynde said. “Everything’s kind of getting into motion as the weather’s getting nicer.” Though the Heckart Community Center is finished, there are still...

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Wednesday evening, Smith-Cotton High School JROTC hosted its awards ceremony in the Heckart Performing Arts Center.  At the end of the ceremony, the JROTC instructors introduced the Battalion Commander for the next school year, passing the torch from current Battalion Commander Skylar Brines to new leadership.  Lt. Col. Harry Cunningham said the instructors look at the whole package of a cadet when deciding on the next Battalion Commander.  “One who can lead, who has high standards, one to whom the cadets can look up to and respect and follow,” Cunningham said. “It’s hard for cadets to follow someone that isn’t...

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Gravois Mills man injured in Morgan accident Charles J. Myrick, 42, of Gravois Mills, sustained moderate injuries at 9:11 a.m. Tuesday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Myrick was driving west on Route P east of Harbor Road in a 2007 Ford E250 when he traveled off the right side of the road, struck a retaining wall, and overturned.  Myrick was transported by Lake West Ambulance District to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties...

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LA MONTE — Next to La Monte Meats just south of U.S. Highway 50 is 7 Sisters Greenhouse. Two tidy, flower-filled greenhouses are adjacent to the meat market.  Corina Zimmerman runs the counter at La Monte Meats and when she has someone wanting plants, she runs across the parking lot to serve them. “My dad is the owner of La Monte Meats,” Zimmerman said. “There’s seven of us girls in the family…I'm the oldest, and then yeah, we're all kind of involved, take turns.” Sisters Miranda and Charlene work in the meat processor as well and stepped out into the...

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State Fair Community College is partnering with Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs to host its first summer manufacturing camp June 13-17 in the new Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center on the Sedalia campus. SFCC’s camp, Advanced Manufacturing Projects Camp–Inspiring the Next Generation of Makers & Innovators, is open to students 12 to 16 years of age. The five-day camp will start at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.   NBT is a charitable foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International. Its purpose is to support individuals in discovering their interest in high-tech manufacturing and to encourage the pursuit of...

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Warsaw man in serious condition after I-70 accident James S. Miller, 58, of Warsaw, sustained serious injuries at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday in a Saline County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Miller was driving west on I-70 at mile marker 66 in a 2003 Dodge Ram when he struck a westbound 2023 Freightliner driven by Aleou Secka, 29, of St. Louis. Seca was wearing a seat belt, Miller was not. Miller was transported to Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 6 9 p.m.: Apreil Zentner, 47, of the 2200 block of West First Street, Matthew E. Zentner, 39, of the 2200 block of West First Street, and Shannon Louise Brown, 39, of the 1400 block of South Sneed Avenue, were issued summons after officers were dispatched to Heckart Community Center, 1800 W. Third St., for a fight in the parking lot. Officers...

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GREEN RIDGE — In a perfect world, rainbows, unicorns, teddy bears and stars are magic to a 5-year-old. In a perfect world, there is no sickness or cancer, but through the support and love of a whole community, the magic is still there for Chevi Meyer, 5, who has stage four cancer.  Chevi, a kindergartner at Green Ridge R-VIII School, is the daughter of Bubba Meyer and Destiny Strickland. The family said Chevi is battling stage four Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in the soft tissue. Chevi’s cancer, a lump in her right cheek, was noticed by...

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With the goal of raising 0,000 to help victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a local congregation has scheduled a community concert Sunday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church, 916 Thompson Blvd. in Sedalia. The Word of Life Evangelical (Ukrainian) Church will present a concert of instrumental and vocal music from 5 to 6 p.m., which will be its third fundraising event in recent weeks.   Admission to the concert will be free, and a free-will donation will be accepted "People from different towns in central Missouri have attended our previous events, like, coffee, lunches, bake sales, KFC ...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 5 8:36 p.m.: Thomas D. Averbeck, 70, of Sedalia, was arrested after officers responded to the 700 block of West Pettis Street for a report of trespassing. Averbeck was found trespassing on the property and when confronted by the property owner an argument ensued. He was arrested, found to be in possession of methamphetamine, and was transported to the Pettis County Jail...

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For the second year, the Sedalia Moose Lodge awarded scholarships to area seniors in a special dinner ceremony this past week. Steve Ratliff, chair of the 2022 scholarship programs, said last year they presented three 0 scholarships. This year that number increased. Receiving the scholarships were Devyn Keller, Van-Far High School in Vandalia; Keegan Brewer, from Sweet Springs High School; and Courtney Balke, Madison Canon, and Addison Guffin, all of Smith-Cotton High School. Ratliff noted that Canon, Guffin and Keller received their scholarships from the Sedalia Moose Lodge, while Balke received her scholarship from the Moose Legion and Brewer from...

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There was a little boy who stayed home sick one Palm Sunday with his mom. When his dad got home, he had a palm branch. The little boy asked, “Why do you have a palm branch?” The dad answered, “When Jesus came into town the people waved palm branches to welcome and honor him, so we got palm branches today.” The boy looked disappointed and said, “The only Sunday I miss, and it is the Sunday Jesus shows up.”  This Sunday is Palm Sunday. That may mean a lot to you, including fond memories from over the years celebrating Jesus'...

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All during the week, Sacred Heart School’s junior high presented science fair projects in the school's common area.  Each of the sixth, seventh and eighth graders made projects based on the scientific method and did their own experiments to find the results.  Science teacher Mariela Messina said the students learn how to solve real problems.  “So we look for what is interesting for me, what am I curious about? How that works, can I fix something? Can I prove that it’s wrong?” Messina said. “It’s stuff like that, that we may be curious about and I try to inspire them...

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Northwest baseball and Sacred Heart softball swirled out of Tuesday with wins against their respective counterparts. The Mustangs baseball team defeated the Gremlins 9-4 at Liberty Park Stadium behind a strong outing from starter Gavin Killion, who already spun a no-hitter recently. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and no walks with nine strikeouts. Mustangs head coach Tanner McKee, with a strong rotation at his disposal, talked about planning out the usage of pitchers a week or even longer in advance with conference or district opponents on the schedule in mind, and with several of the other Northwest...

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Northwest baseball was very good last spring. The Mustangs finished with a record of 16-4. They averaged 10.1 runs per game, and allowed just 2.6. Those marks were significantly better than the two teams that went to the Final Four in the past decade, and improved over the district championship sides in 2018-19. But 2021 was without the trophies of those aforementioned recent years. This season, Northwest returns the entirety of its roster from last, but any lack of accomplishment then wasn’t due in any part to taking for granted that those juniors would be around for another go according...

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After a tight race, President Diana Nichols and Secretary Barbara Schrader were re-elected to the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education during Tuesday’s municipal election.  Nichols received 2,109 (28.95%) votes, Schrader received 1,893 (25.98%) votes, Brain Smith received 1,538 (21.11%) votes, Michelle Quattlebaum received 1,436 (19.71%) votes and Serena Cronk received 295 (4.05%) votes.  Nichols said she is proud of the community and the way the results show the Sedalia school district has a lot of people who believe in it and support it.  “I think that’s the main thing is that the community is behind the district and...

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An incumbent and a newcomer were elected to the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees during Tuesday’s municipal election.  Tim Carr retained his seat and Amie Breshears was elected to the board. Carr received 3,500 (38.04%) votes, Breshears received 2,488 (27.04%) votes, Billy Foster received 1,795 (19.51%) votes and Christopher Guffey received 1,388 (15.09%) votes. Voters in Benton County and the City of Otterville also elected Carr and Breshears to the board.  Carr was appointed by the board in March 2021 to fill a vacancy left by Jim Page, who had four years left in his six-year term. The...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors will have a new member after newcomer Kim Graves defeated incumbent John Fritz for the Sub-district 4 seat in the April 5 municipal election. Graves received 495 votes (64.29%), while Fritz received 273 votes (35.45%). “I’m honored that the citizens have chosen me. And I hope I can be as diligent in my oversight as possible,” Graves told the Democrat by phone Tuesday night.  2022 was Graves’ first time running for the PCAD board. He is a former educator in the Sedalia School District 200. He is involved with Wesley United Methodist...

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Proposition A passed Tuesday night during the Pettis County municipal election, garnering almost 70% of the votes. Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders’ department will soon have new, increased funding after the .5% tax passed to help him out. “Amazing, overwhelmed, I don't even know what to say,” Anders said. “This isn't about me; this is about this team that has built the reputation of this department. All I did was tell the story.” In past months, Anders repeatedly told the story of a department desperately in need of more equipment, more manpower, and more money for jail renovations and staff....

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Pettis County voters exceeded Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada’s prediction for the April 5 municipal election, with 21.97% of registered voters (5,770) casting a ballot. La Strada, who had predicted a 17-18% turnout when talking with the Democrat on Friday, called it an “unbelieveable turnout.” In 2017, the turnout was 21.87%. “I’m honored to be part of the election process. It’s an honor to actually see people are getting engaged in local elections and proud of Pettis County,” La Strada told the Democrat by phone after all precincts were reporting around 9:20 p.m. “My prediction with the Democrat was...

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The election for Ward 1 Sedalia City Council favored incumbent Tina Boggess over Chris Marshall by 61% Boggess to 38% Marshall. “It was exciting, it really was,” Boggess said. “I really appreciate those that have voted for me, they’re putting their trust in me and that I’m going to do what I need to do for them, and I appreciate that, I appreciate that, I appreciate all of the support.” Boggess was not only happy to win a second term but was also glad Proposition A succeeded. “Looking at Proposition A, seeing that it’s passing,” Boggess said. “I definitely wanted...

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Smith-Cotton boys golf came narrowly close to taking first place in Monday’s Columbia Classic Invitational, the team's first tournament action of the season. S-C collectively shot a 336, edged by just four strokes by Gold Division winner Hickman in a field that also included CMAC opponents Battle and Rock Bridge. Keaton Mateja shot an 80, which tied for second individually, while Karson Weymuth took fifth with an 82. It followed up a second-place finish last Wednesday in a tri-meet at Marshall with Helias at Indian Foothills Golfcourse where the Tigers shot a 159, 13 strokes behind Helias. There, Boyd Callis...

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The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for northeastern Pettis County, south central Saline County and southwestern Cooper County until 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. According to information from NWS, at 7:10 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 8 miles east of Houstonia, or 12 miles north of Sedalia, moving east at 40 mph.  Locations impacted include Boonville, Pilot Grove, Bunceton, Hughesville, Blackwater, Lamine and Clifton City. This includes Interstate 70 in Missouri between mile markers 74 and 100. People in these areas should take cover now. Move to a basement or an...

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United Way of Pettis County is nearing the end of its 2022 campaign, and Executive Director Samantha Gilpin is already looking forward to beginning the 2023 campaign. “We're just wrapping up our 2022 campaign,” Gilpin said. “I came into this role at the tail end, I didn't start my position until Jan. 3, and they had already initiated their Industry and Business campaigns. Several of our in-person events last year were canceled due to COVID, so after we wrap that up, we're going to start ramping up for our 2023 campaign.” But the 2022 campaign still has one large event...

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At the end of every school year, the Smith-Cotton High School National Honor Society seniors complete a senior project.  The 2022 seniors knew they wanted to do something relevant to what is happening currently that could make an impact. With that in mind, they thought about those affected by the crisis in Ukraine.  According to NHS advisor Lorin Blackburn Thierfelder, many members of the school, community and the City of Sedalia are of Slavic origin, and thus have direct ties to this situation, whether through family, friends, or general tensions in their home country. As a result, NHS has dedicated...

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When I was out and about Saturday night, something happened that had me a little irked. Clearly, that wasn’t Duke losing in Coach K’s last ride. I had missed something in pro wrestling, and I was mad. Look, no major live sporting event is good without a crowd, but WWE, already in a bit of a divot, suffered woefully from the lack of an audience during the height of the pandemic. And I think its writers knew it, too. It felt like a boxer pulling punches. There’s probably some strategy to that, though it did concede some great talent to...

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It’s the day after our local elections, but I don’t know what happened yet. I have a deadline of Tuesday at noon, so I won’t know the results until long after this is submitted. I do know one thing: I’m glad that this round is over! No matter who wins or what happens, this election cycle has been difficult for our community. Worse yet, there are a couple more coming in the near future. My hope is that we have all learned from this election cycle that we don’t have to do this to each other. I understand that no...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 25 3:52 p.m.: Susan Dawn McNeal, 41, of the 500 block of South Ohio Avenue, was issued a summons after a vehicle stop in the 500 block of East Fourth Street for expired registration. A computer check showed McNeal's driving privileges had been revoked and she was issued a summons.  Incidents March 30 12:45 p.m.: Officers conducted a warrant check in the...

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At the end of 1861 near the beginning of the Civil War, Sedalia’s population was, according to the 1882 History of Pettis County, approximately 300. At the war’s end in 1865, the population was approximately 1,000. Despite the population increase, Sedalia was still a “village of box houses” with few “substantial” buildings. In the years after the war, Sedalia grew rapidly. The 1882 History refers to Sedalia as a “missionary of a New Business Gospel” that was rapidly becoming a center of the area’s wholesale and retail trade. Between June 1865 and June 1866, the number of stores in Sedalia...

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Pettis County added 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,991, according to the Pettis County Health Center. “On March 31, the Governor transitioned from pandemic to endemic stage,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “As a result, the data available from the Department of Health and Senior Services has changed significantly. Data such as positivity rates, number of tests conducted and vaccination rates will no longer be available at the county level. The Department of Health and Senior Services will provide weekly updates on Friday of cases in...

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Hayden Liberty Center Executive Director Diane Burnett will step down on April 15 and the center is looking to fill two positions. “Our outgoing Executive Director, Diane Burnett, has decided to pursue other avenues,” a statement from the Liberty Center Association for the Arts Executive Board stated. “Diane was an integral contributor to the conception, partnership, and fruition of the beautiful Cooney Arts Studio that is proudly staged on the second floor.  “In addition, we will always appreciate her enthusiastic research and presentation of the LCAA Community Theater’s history of productions in celebration of our 100th anniversary,” the statement went...

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Clinton women hurt in Henry accident Dana D. Hale, 39, of Clinton, sustained minor injuries at 11 p.m. Monday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Hale was driving north on NW 251 Road north of NW 300 Road in a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse when she traveled off the right side of the roadway and through a field entrance, striking several trees before coming to a stop under a trailer. She was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Golden Valley Hospital in Clinton.  Hale was arrested for driving while intoxicated and released...

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Monday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting started with a video of the destruction in Odessa, Ukraine, presented by the Sedalia Tabernacle Church. Ward 4 Councilman Steve Bloess drove out to the church’s location on Highway B to meet them to get help for Ukrainians suffering during Russia’s incursion. “We were just looking for Ukrainian people,” Bloess said, “and of course, here the places you go are several of the churches. They were very enthusiastic and said that their youth group had already wanted to do a festival.” Bloess hopes to bring all the Ukrainian people, churches, and institutions in the...

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Below are the results of contested races and ballot questions in the April 5 municipal election in Pettis County, according to unofficial results from the Pettis County Clerk’s Office. An asterisk denotes the winners. Zero precincts reporting: City of Sedalia Ward 2 Tina Boggess (incumbent):  Chris Marshall:    City of La Monte Mayor Ronnie McNeive (incumbent):  Tabbatha Holland:    City of Green Ridge Alderperson Charles Raymond Martin:  Tony Turner:   Justin Tucker:    Smithton R-VI School District (two seats) Jake Gieschen:  Jason Brown (incumbent):  James Trelow:  Brian Conardy:    Pettis County R-XII (Dresden) School District (two seats) Keri Dickman:  Addison Eckles: ...

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Nearly four months have passed since Darian Weeks’ UFC debut. It’s far longer than the four days Weeks had to prepare for that fight, a unanimous decision defeat at UFC on ESPN 31 to Bryan Barberena, a veteran with over a dozen fights with the organization. "I think I learned [from it] that the lights don't bother me as much as I thought they would," Weeks said in an interview last Wednesday while in New Mexico. “And I felt like my athleticism is second-to-none at that level. You always dream of wanting to get there, but you have in the...

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a nationally recognized month created to bring awareness to the social, criminal, physical, and mental health issues that rape and sexual assault pose in society.  Rape and sexual assault can happen at any time but April is used to highlight survivors and the experiences they have been through.  Sexual violence refers to sexual activity where consent is not obtained or freely given. It occurs any time a person is forced, coerced or manipulated into any unwanted sexual activity. The range of sexual violence includes rape, sexual assault, incest, sexual exploitation, unwanted or inappropriate sexual...

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During daily meetings March 28 to April 1, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: March 28: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum attended the World of Asphalt Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.  Auditor Beverly Dillon discussed changes in natural gas providers. March 29: Marcum attended the World of Asphalt Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.  March 30: Citizen Scott Gardner visited with Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza.  Marcum attended the World of Asphalt Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.  Baeza attended the Smithton High School Career Day, where students were able to experience the importance of budgeting through real-world scenarios through the “Reality Check” program.  March 31:...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Incidents March 30 11:33 a.m.: An officer met a victim in the police department lobby who wished to report  unauthorized transactions on her bank statement. She provided copies of her banking information and a report has been completed.  12:02 p.m.: An officer took a property damage report in the lobby of the police department. The victim said that overnight March 29, someone damaged their...

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Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors candidates answered questions Friday during the Pettis County Pachyderm Club meeting at Best Western State Fair Inn. Incumbent John Fritz, PCAD treasurer, and former Sedalia educator Kim Graves are both running for the PCAD Board Sub-district 4 seat in the April 5 municipal election.  Pachyderm Club President Megan Page asked the men several questions and then allowed the audience to also ask questions. Graves has lived in Sedalia since 1979 and owns a parking lot striping business. Fritz was appointed to the PCAD Board in 2018 and began serving in 2019. After serving...

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With several highly contested races on the ballot, Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada is hoping for a high turnout in Tuesday’s municipal election. So far, absentee voting has been steady, according to La Strada. Things started out slow, and having plenty of rain and snow during the last six weeks hasn’t helped in-person absentee voting. But, La Strada said his office had more than 20 voters on Friday and nearly 20 on Thursday.  “With the weather, there’s been a lot of rainy days during this process, so we’ve had some slow days. Things are starting to pick up,” he...

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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and dozens of people packed into Sedalia council chambers Friday to hear a proclamation read by Pettis County Presiding Commissioner David Dick and Ward 1 Sedalia City Councilman Thomas Oldham, lauding the work of Child Safe of Central Missouri. “We live in a time where a child's innocence has become the target starting from the womb, to the classroom, to their home. They are bombarded with images and innuendos in their movies, TV programs, their literature, classroom discussions, and a home life that could be their own personal hell,” Oldham said. “I commend you...

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Two injured after Truman Lake boat capsizing Dakota L. Sade, 29, and David C. Dinwiddie, 66, both of Marshfield, sustained minor injuries at 2:28 p.m. Saturday near the Sparrow Foot boat ramp of Truman Lake when their boat swamped. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Dinwiddie was traveling west on Truman Lake toward the ramp when the boat took water over the bow, swamped and capsized.  Dinwiddie was not wearing a life preserver, but Sade was. Both were transported to Golden Valley Hospital in Clinton. Warrensburg woman in serious condition after Johnson accident Karen L. Carter, 78, of...

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March 28 Oran Keyth Hartt Jr. to James W. and Maurita M. Rissler, sections 33, 34; township 45; range 21. Gordon Scott and Kimberly Rieckhoff and Lea Anne and Larry Bell to Virginia A. Taylor Trust, sections 14, 4; township 46; range 23. Igor and Liudmyla Erenciuc to Vitaliy and Lily Feytser, section 5; township 45; range 22; section 32; township 46; range 22. Patrick E. and Chong H. Dillions to Matthew A. Dreiman, Subdivision Map6, lot 93. Michael C. and Monica F. Johnson to Ebbin P. Cook, section 3; township 45; range 21. Matz Properties Partnership to Scott and...

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The Missouri Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College will host a no-cost retirement planning presentation for people who are self-employed or small business owners. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, in Thompson Conference Center in the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center on the Sedalia campus. Co-sponsor Central Bank will provide a free lunch for attendees. Registration is required.  Presenter Brett Hudson, Central Bank CFP vice president and financial advisor, will be the presenter. Hudson has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Management from Columbia...

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On Friday afternoon, practice matches began for the FIRST Central Missouri Regional robotics competition at Smith-Cotton High School.  The competition is being hosted by Smith-Cotton’s Team SCREAM and KC Stem Alliance. This is the third of three regional competitions.  There are teams from five different states at the Central Missouri Regional: Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and Minnesota.  Each team has its own name, team numbers, swag, and of course, robots. Each team had a chance to practice Friday before moving into qualification matches on Saturday and Sunday.  The 2022 season will be the first and last competition for many high...

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Care Connection for Aging Services and AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP are teaming up to sponsor “Connect for Effect,” a springtime volunteer fair for retirees and the nonprofit community organizations that need and appreciate their services. “Connect for Effect” is seeking community groups that need volunteers to become exhibitors at the event scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.  Exhibitors will be offered display space for free at the fair, which will include breakout sessions on Johnson County tourism, fitness tips, spring appetizers, and gardening. The Warrensburg Senior Center will provide a boxed lunch, available...

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Smith-Cotton Junior High’s theater teacher shows students the joys of being on the stage as well as some debate skills.  Theater and Speech teacher Rylan Swank has been with the Sedalia School District 200 for eight years. He first started as a theater teacher and then moved over to the vocal music department before moving back to the theater department at the junior high.  Swank grew up in St. Joseph before going to Culver-Stockton College to earn his music education degree. He got his position at the junior high right after graduating from college and hasn’t looked back since. Swank...

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State Fair Community College’s Missouri Small Business Development Center, The LearningForce and University of Central Missouri will host a no-cost Electric Arc Safety training from 2 to 5 p.m. April 19 in Thompson Conference Center on the Sedalia campus in Heckart Center.  The training was developed and funded under OSHA Susan Harwood Grant and is available only to participants from small businesses (250 employees or less). Seating is limited, and registration is required. This interactive training provides participants with knowledge of electric arc behavior and injury prevention by using laboratory and real-life arc videos. Participants will learn the different types...

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Saturday was filled with activities around Sedalia, and with fantastic weather, people were out and about.  The Home and Garden Show, sponsored for the second year by the Sedalia Democrat, was at the Mathewson Exhibition Center and Sedalia Mayor-Elect Andrew Dawson and Pettis County Presiding Commissioner David Dick read a proclamation for the staff at CASA, praising the work they do for survivors in abusive situations. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. “It's really great to have both the City and the County officials show up,” Lori Haney, Executive Director of CASA, said. “We have to work with both our...

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It was a weekend of firsts for Team SCREAM. The Smith-Cotton High School competitive robotics team captained the winning alliance at the FIRST Robotics Central Missouri Regional on Sunday, April 3, in the S-C gym; joining them on the top-ranked alliance were the Broncobots from Lee’s Summit North High and the Jesubots from Rockhurst High in Kansas City. In the finals, they defeated the No. 3 alliance, featuring teams from the Park Hill School District and the Barstow School, both in Kansas City, and the Burger Bots from Warrensburg. It was the first time that Team SCREAM entered regional elimination...

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The Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department announced that effective Friday, April 1, all youth 15 and younger wanting to use the facility without their parent will need to sign a contract/memo of understanding along with their legal guardian before they can enter the facility.  This must be done in person.   The rules are simple and will be strongly enforced. Those who can't follow the rules will lose their rights to use the facility and all other park amenities. The fitness area and track will not be accessible to those 15 and younger without a guardian unless approved by full-time...

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Hanger Cattle, of Sedalia, is a new member of the American Angus Association, reports Mark McCully, CEO of the national breed organization headquartered in St. Joseph. The American Angus Association, with more than 25,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on over 19 million registered Angus. The Association records ancestral information and keeps production records and genomic data on individual animals to develop industry-leading selection tools for its members. The programs and services of the Association and its entities — Angus Genetics Inc., Angus Media, Certified...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 2 12:38 a.m.: Tracy L. Bellew, 41, of Kansas City, was arrested after a vehicle stop at West Broadway Boulevard and South Kentucky Avenue. She was transported to the Pettis County Jail for several charges including possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and concealing a drug in a county Jail. 2:14 a.m.: Crystaline C. Dodson, 43, of Ionia, was...

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A special community Easter service returns this year to the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Easter @The Mathewson, sponsored by the First United Methodist Church, will once again be hosted inside the Mathewson Exhibition Center. The last Easter service at the Mathewson Center was in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. FUMC Lead Pastor Candace Fowler said on Monday there was no service in 2020, although in 2021, the church hosted an outdoor event. She added it’s exciting to bring the service back indoors. “I’m excited and hopeful,” she noted. “I think it’s a beautiful opportunity to unite the community for such an...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “French Braid,” by Anne Tyler. “The Book of Cold Cases,” by Simone St. James. “The Diamond Eye,” by Kate Quinn. “The Recovery Agent,” by Janet Evanovich “Angels of the Pacific,” by Elise Hooper. “Reptile Memoirs,” by Silje Ulstein. “In a New York Minute,” by Kate Spencer. “A Beacon of Light,” by Linda Byler.  Nonfiction “100 Countries, 500 Ideas,” by National Geographic. “Raising Critical Thinkers,” by Julie Bogart. New Audiobooks “The Recovery Agent,” by Janet Evanovich.

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Mermaid Confidential,” by Tim Dorsey. “Beneath the Stairs,” by Jennifer Fawcett. “The Arc,” by Tory Henwood Hoen.  “The Berlin Exchange,” by Joseph Kanon. “City of the Dead,” by Jonathan Kellerman.  “Cleopatra and Frankenstein,” by Coco Mellors. “The Horsewoman,” by James Patterson. “Abandoned in Death,” by J.D. Robb. “Black Cake,” by Charmaine Wilderson. Nonfiction “The Lords of Easy Money: How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy,” by Christopher Leonard.  “Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski,” by Ian O'Connor. “Drop Acid: The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid-The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood...

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William and Susan McClure, of Sedalia, announce the engagement of their daughter Hannah McClure, of Columbia, to Graham Jenkins, of St. Louis. The future groom is the son of Mark and Robin Jenkins, of Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska. The future bride graduated in 2007 from Green Ridge High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics in 2011 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her graduate degree in Public Affairs and Nonprofit Management in 2017. She is employed at the University of Missouri Extension. The future groom graduated in 2008 from Fort Fairfield High School in Fort Fairfield, Maine. He...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Smith-Cotton Class of ‘69. Monday:  meatball hoagie, coleslaw, banana and milk. Tuesday: Baked chicken, posh potato, green beans, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Beef stew, cornbread, peaches and milk.  Thursday: Chicken pot pie, Au gratin potatoes, pudding and milk. Friday: Country fried steak, potatoes and gravy, corn, cake, milk

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Smith-Cotton track registered a trio of first-place finishes at Tuesday’s meet involving four other schools, including host Warrensburg. In the Girls' 1,600-meter run, Leia Goodwin and Josefina Reyes went 1-2 for the Lady Tigers, including Goodwin's winning time of 6:25.66. The 1,600-meter event was good for the Tigers on the boys' side as well. Clay Pilliard took first, also, beating a pair of Lafayette County runners by roughly five seconds with a mark of 5:13.53. S-C's other first-place win came in the Boys' 300-meter hurdles, with Derek Grubb beating the pack in 40.4 seconds. Grubb got second in the triple...

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A former basketball standout and a staple of the school’s athletics will be recognized by State Fair Community College next month. Former men’s basketball player Kenny Chery, along with Denny Perkins, the longtime voice of the Roadrunners, will be inducted into the SFCC Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2022 at a ceremony on May 12. Chery, an Honorable Mention All-American and First-team All-Region 16 selection his sophomore year of 2013, helped the Roadrunners to a 20-10 record by averaging 16.4 points, ninth-best for a single season in program history. That season, Chery led SFCC in an upset...

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The menu at the Sedalia Senior Center for April 4-8 includes: Monday: Barbecue pork, California vegetables, Coleslaw, wheat bun and banana pudding. Tuesday: Hand-pattied Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes/gravy, green beans, wheat roll and cheesecake.  Wednesday: Chicken parmesan with pasta, peas, baby carrots, tortilla and oatmeal cookie. Thursday: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, roasted asparagus, wheat roll and cherry starburst cake. Friday: Lemon pepper fish, baked potato, honey carrots, wheat roll and cook’s feature.  

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The Smith-Cotton High School chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 30 new members during an induction ceremony Wednesday, March 23, in the Heckart Performing Arts Center. The event included the change of chapter officers and student leadership of the Community Café; and the annual awarding of honorary NHS membership to a member of the S-C High faculty. Chapter President Ethan Moore announced that teacher Corie Hickman was selected for honorary membership. This year’s inductees: Karmya Bronson, Analesia Lorenzo, Isabelle Lyles, Brooklynn Payne, Dakota Acosta, Kyle Ayers, Ziek Barth-Fagan, Calvin Brewer, Sky Dennis, Stephanie Diaz, Savannah Ditzfeld, Chloe Eckhoff, Emily...

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Easter at the Mathewson will return this year. The doors will open at 9 a.m. with the service beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 17 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds.  The theme is “Life in the Garden.” The service is free and open to the public.

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Officer Tony Karr with the Sedalia Police Department announced Wednesday that the department will be hosting its first-ever D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) Camp in June. “We're shooting for June 10 and 11,” Karr said. “That's going to be our primary date. If the weather doesn't cooperate, a backup date June 24 and 25 has been planned.” The two-day camp will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Karr noticed many agencies across the country are hosting D.A.R.E. camps as a way to further engage the students involved in D.A.R.E. “I learned about them, and I thought it...

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After a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Camp Blue Sky is coming back this summer with a theme built on SteamPunk. Camp Blue Sky was founded in 1998 as a nonprofit, week-long arts day camp. The camp is taught by professionals and emphasizes “creative problem-based learning.” It will take place July 25-29 on the campus of State Fair Community College. The theme this year is “Gears, Rivets, Cogs — Mechanical Art.” Camp Blue Sky Co-chair Kimberly Allen noted the board is excited to finally host the camp again.  “One of the things that we do is come up...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Incidents March 30 10:06 a.m.: An officer spoke with a victim in the 1200 block of East Sixth Street who reported a firearm was stolen. There is currently not enough information available to enter the firearm into the system. Pettis County Sheriff's Office Arrests March 31 12:40 a.m.: Ricky A. Miller and Jennifer L. Nabors were arrested after a high-speed chase involving deputies and...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 28 1:27 p.m.: William Freaderick Fizer Sr., was arrested after a traffic stop near West Fifth Street and South Ohio Avenue. He was transported to the Pettis County Jail, booked for driving with a suspended driver's license and released.  March 29 7:38 p.m.: Corey E. Debates, 31, of the 900 block of South Vermont Avenue, was arrested after officers were dispatched in...

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Old Drum Open Mic will kick off its return with music, stories, poetry, and essays for its next program from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 7 at Java Junction in downtown Warrensburg. Old Drum Open Mic produces its showcase event on the first Thursday night of each month. Prospective presenters can schedule appearances through the Old Drum Open Facebook page. Old Drum Open Mic programs are designed to provide a venue for the presentation of original and creative works. The programs are free and open to the public. 

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I use the voice-text tool on my phone a lot. It is convenient to let voice-text do the typing for me instead of typing my message out on that tiny keyboard. I even use voice-text when I draft emails from my phone. As technology has improved, the voice-text tool has become more and more accurate. It is not perfect, though. When I say names, the voice-text gizmo is likely to spell them wrong or forget to capitalize the first letter. The vagaries of voice-text can be humorous. They can also be embarrassing. It pays to proofread! Recently, the voice-text gizmo...

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Every spring, attention turns to trash that has accumulated on roadsides during the winter months. The Missouri Department of Transportation invites all who use Missouri roads to join in doing some spring cleaning throughout April. MoDOT spends about million annually to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of right of way along 34,000 state highway miles. No MOre Trash! Bash is an annual outreach of MoDOT’s year-round litter control efforts. “We are asking all Missourians to find ways to help clean Missouri’s roadsides during the Trash Bash month of April,” said Becky Allmeroth, MoDOT chief safety and operations...

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WINDSOR — Residents in the Windsor Ambulance District will be asked to consider a change in how it collects tax revenue in the April 5 municipal election. Currently, the WAD relies solely on property tax revenue to provide services to residents, in partnership with the Pettis County Ambulance District. The ballot question posed to voters asks if the property tax levy should be reduced along with imposing a new 0.5% sales tax. According to information provided by the WAD Board, if approved, the changes would “shift a portion of the financial burden from property owners.” The information states that other...

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Jack Robinson is running unopposed for Jeff Leeman’s seat as First Ward City Councilman in the April 5 municipal election. Leeman did not file for re-election. The Democrat interviewed Robinson on several subjects, including his predecessor. “I know Jeff,” Robinson said. “I thought he did a good job, I think the whole council does a good job. I'm not running because I've got an agenda. I would like to continue many of the things they've done and try not to destroy anything that's good.” Robinson has attended some of the City Council meetings to familiarize himself with the processes of...

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WARRENSBURG — As part of the University of Central Missouri’s efforts to promote conversations with distinguished visitors, UCM will host civil rights activist, author and educator Angela Davis for a public presentation at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, in Hendricks Hall.  Davis’ speech is free and open to the public.  The event is sponsored by the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity. Davis, born in Birmingham, Alabama, is the daughter of two teachers and is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies at the University of Santa Cruz, a California institution where she spent 15 years on...

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Teenagers of the Word of Life Ukrainian Church in Sedalia invite area residents to a concert of  instrumental and vocal music on Sunday. It will be from 4 to 5 p.m. at the church, 3851 S. Park Ave. Admission is free, and a free-will offering will be accepted to help war-ravaged people in Ukraine.   The 20-piece orchestra “Gloria” will be conducted by Natasha Lobus, and the 20-voice choir will be directed by Deanna Shcherbina. Liza Gavrishuk will be the pianist. In addition to performing some Ukrainian hymns and popular songs, the two groups will also present English songs, including...

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For the first time in two years, members of 5th Street Improv will take the stage Friday and Saturday night at the Hayden Liberty Center.  The group’s last performance was in January 2020, before the pandemic. Danielle Knight, who co-directs with Carl Hutcherson, said their comedy performances were beginning to take off well when COVID hit and shut them down. She added they are extremely happy to be back on stage in front of a live audience.  “After so long being off (stage), it’s just wild to think about ‘here we are and we’re able to do that again,’” she...

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Smith-Cotton High School seniors Caroline Beard and Alisa Sonnik have received honorable mention for the 2022 Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri's top academic students in the graduating class of 2022. The announcement was made by S-C High Principal Wade Norton. Missouri Scholars 100 is a program sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. Schools across Missouri nominate candidates, with selection based primarily on a formula using the student's grade point average and ACT or SAT score. Each student nominated had first to meet criteria of an "Academic Decathlon," which included 10 events...

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On April 2 and 3, Smith-Cotton High School’s Team SCREAM will host the Central Missouri Regional. Team SCREAM is S-C’s competitive robotics team, comprised of roughly 50 students and coached by engineering instructor Michael Wright. Team Captain Levi Barth-Fagen, a senior, talked to the Democrat about how Team SCREAM has done during the 2022 season and what it is like being back to normalcy after not competing for two years due to the pandemic.  “We started off the build season pretty well,” Barth-Fagen said. “We had the design team come up with the idea of the robot, and then we...

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WARRENSBURG — University of Central Missouri Theatre and Dance and UCM Music will present the Broadway hit and Tony Award-winning musical “Fun Home” over the next two weekends.  Based on the popular autobiographical graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, the musical performs at 7:30 p.m. April 1-2, 2 p.m. April 3 and 7:30 p.m. April 7-9 in the Highlander Theater on the UCM campus. An ASL interpreter will be provided for the April 7 performance. The April 3 performance is Pay-What-You-Can with a minimum of [post_excerpt].  “Fun Home” contains...

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During Monday night's Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education meeting, a new transitional kindergarten program at Heber Hunt Elementary was discussed for the 2022-23 school year.  Transitional kindergarten is intended for students who need additional support in early childhood and have late birthdays; April, May, June and July. These students will receive kindergarten instruction but at a slower pace. It helps build a bridge between pre-kindergarten to the kindergarten year.  Heber Hunt Principal Angie Meyer said they needed a program like this during the 2021-22 school year. The school had 21 students with May, June and July birthdays.  “We...

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The Missouri Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College will host, at no cost, a one-hour webinar titled Grow with Google – Sell Online with Ecommerce Tools from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, April 18. Seating is limited, and registration is required.  National Grow with Google speaker Bryan Caplan will walk participants through the ins and outs of establishing a website on Google. Caplan will explain how to sell products online using an ecommerce store built with Shopify and how to use tools such as Local Opportunity Finder and Grow My Store.   While the webinar is no-cost,...

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“Mr. Gillespie, I’m real irrigated with you,” Frank Jones said to my father one day, as civics class was ending. Daddy gently corrected Frank’s pronunciation and apologized for whatever he had done to “irritate” Frank that day  Today, I am “irrigated” because I had my column all lined out in my head, and then I watched some of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for the new Supreme Court Justice nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson. I was really “irrigated” as I watched men disrespectfully and continually interrupt a woman who was trying to answer questions and explain her answers. I saw people...

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In case you hadn’t noticed with our numerous Facebook live streams of candidate forums and all the candidate Q&A and ballot question articles we’ve published recently, there is an election just around the corner. The April 5 municipal election has no shortage of important races and issues to vote on. Every single voter in Pettis County has at least two items to vote on. Proposition A, if approved, would dedicate one-half of 1% sales tax to provide funding for current and future operations of the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office. Revenues generated by this sales tax would be used to fund...

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WINDSOR — The City of Windsor is asking voters to consider a .5% sales tax to repair sidewalks and roads.  Mayor Rick Rollins is hopeful voters will support the imposition of the tax in the April 5 municipal election.  The Democrat spoke with Rollins on what this sales tax would fund, and what would happen if it doesn’t pass. “We’ve been doing a lot of roadwork in Windsor, but we have a lot more work to do because of the long time that had passed since we had done work,” Rollins said. “To continue, we need more funds. The half-percent...

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On Friday afternoon, the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees candidates attended a forum hosted by the Pettis County Pachyderm Club at Best Western State Fair Inn.  The candidates for two six-year terms are Christopher Guffey, incumbent Tim Carr and Billy Foster, all of Sedalia, and Amie Breshears, of Warsaw. Board President Randy Eaton and Board Secretary Nick La Strada did not seek re-election in the April 5 municipal election. Voters in Pettis and Benton counties and the city of Otterville elect trustees to serve on the governing board of SFCC. Each candidate was allowed a two-minute introduction statement,...

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Michele Laas, RN, BSN, was announced as the new Chief Nursing Officer of Bothwell Regional Health Center by CEO Lori Wightman during Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.  Laas has been serving as Bothwell’s Director of Clinic Nursing. In her role as CNO, Laas will lead a staff of almost 250 nurses while seeing to their clinical education and development. “I am excited,” Laas told the Democrat. “Folks here inspire me, we have good people who work here and I've known a lot of them for a long time.” Laas is a graduate of State Fair Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing...

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JEFFERSON CITY – This week, the Missouri Department of Agriculture celebrates the state’s position nationally in agriculture production.  Missouri is home to 95,000 farms, employs nearly 460,000 people in agriculture, forestry and related industries, and has an estimated economic impact of .7 billion. Agriculture remains the state’s number one economic driver, supporting both rural and urban communities from farm to fork. “We are excited to celebrate National Agriculture Week, and we are proud that the industry remains alive and well in the Show-Me State,” Gov. Mike Parson said. “As a third-generation farmer, I’m committed to ensuring the next generations have...

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On March 22, the Sedalia Kiwanis Club celebrated its 100th anniversary with many guest speakers, a centennial project and joyous smiles.  Kiwanis is a community civic organization that focuses on serving children. It provides service to kids and the club does it locally in a variety of ways. There is a Key Club at Sacred Heart, Bringing Up Grade (BUG) Award for third and fourth graders in the Sedalia School District 200 and an annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast that recognizes area premier youth leaders nominated by churches and parishes.  Gary Beckman, Sedalia Kiwanis Club President and Lt. Gov of Division...

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During daily meetings March 21 to March 25, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  March 21: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza attended the Central Missouri Cooperative ribbon cutting. Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission meeting in Jefferson City.  The Commission signed a Proclamation recognizing March 22 as “Kiwanis Club of Sedalia Day” in honor of the club’s 100th anniversary. Taylor Burks, United States 4th District Congressional candidate, stopped by the Pettis County Courthouse to visit with the Commission and other elected officials. March 22: The Commission met with Hoover...

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From 7 a.m. Monday, March 28 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 12, South Park Avenue between West Broadway Boulevard and West Seventh Street will periodically be lane restricted with heavy equipment and workers present in and along the roadway while stormwater improvements are made along South Park Avenue. Travelers in the area may want to find an alternate route to their destination to avoid delays due to the construction project. Impacts to drive approaches into residences, businesses, and alley accesses will be minimized and should allow them to remain open while work is completed in the area.    This project...

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A presentation about the National Steamboat Museum, which will be built at Marshall Junction, will take place Monday night, March 28 at Sedalia City Hall. The 7 p.m. event is hosted by the Pettis County Historical Society and the Sedalia Preservation Commission. Carla Humphreys, president of the Historical Society, said the event will host retired state Sen. Bill Stouffer and his daughter Katie Shannon, who will both speak. Humphreys added light refreshments will be served. She said the Historical Society is excited the senator and his daughter are coming to Sedalia. “They’ve been to other historical societies in the last...

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Inflation continues to eat away at your buying power, with the rate reaching 7.9% in February, a level not seen in more than 40 years. As bad as that is, things are actually worse, for the Labor Department doesn’t include energy and food prices in the consumer price index due to their volatility. Were they figured in, we’d be seeing a much higher inflation rate. What is inflation? Here’s a short definition: A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing power of money. Note the important word ”general.” Inflation isn’t just higher prices here and there, it’s higher...

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JEFFERSON CITY — Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division issued an order to show cause why restitution, civil penalties and other administrative relief should not be imposed against a company and four individuals that allegedly offered and sold at least 0,000 in unregistered homemade “silver and gold certificates.”  Between April 2018 and August 2020, Robert Craig Bridgforth, through an entity he reportedly called Liberty Gold and Silver, allegedly offered and sold securities instruments to six investors in Missouri, including four elderly residents from Warrensburg, Independence and Oak Grove.  The certificates were said to be collateralized by gold or silver....

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A Drexel man has been convicted after shooting at law enforcement officers while fleeing a failed bank robbery. According to a news release from the Western District of Missouri U.S. Attorney’s Office, 30-year-old Jacob Allen Monteer was found guilty following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, March 21, bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a drug user in possession of firearms.  Monteer remains in federal custody without bond. On Nov. 30, 2017, Monteer attempted to rob US...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday  9:30 a.m. to noon: Cole Camp City Park. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park. Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Otterville R-VI School. 9:30 a.m. to noon: Smithton Diner. 1:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Manor. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Park. 

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The State Fair Community College Board of Trustees voted at its regular meeting on Thursday to increase salaries and wages for employees amidst inflation and to raise tuition following the pandemic. The compensation to employees will include a 1.2% increase to the faculty salary base and an increase in overload compensation for full-time faculty to 0 per credit hour. Faculty will also be advanced one step on the salary schedule. Non-instructional staff wages will increase by 3% and the college will raise its minimum hourly wage to per hour. Adjunct faculty and part-time classified staff will also see increases...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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16-year-old Centerview girl in serious condition after Johnson accident A 16-year-old girl from Centerview is in serious condition after a 5:40 p.m. accident Thursday in Johnson County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, she was driving west on Route VV in a 2002 Ford Ranger when she left the roadway, returned to the roadway, began to skid, left the roadway again, overturned, and came to rest in the roadway. She was not wearing a seat belt and was taken to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg by Johnson County Ambulance District. Holden motorcyclist in serious condition after hitting...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Mark Sultanov, 18, and Daryna Matsko, 18, both of Sedalia; Teresa Lee Deans, 57, and David Ward Glenn, 58, both of Warsaw; Aaron Langdon Roberts, 38, and Hester Elaine Graham, 44, both of Sedalia; Reagan Nicole Morton, 29, and Nicholas Ryan Gallagher, 38, both of Sedalia; Michael Blaine Rogg, 65, and Jessica Margot Dalton, 49, both of Sedalia. 

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The Daughters of Isabella The Daughters of Isabella met March 14 at the Knights of Columbus Hall.  Jean Gallagher reported on the April 8 Sistine Chapel Exhibit. The trip includes a visit to the Sistine Chapel Exhibit, mass said by Fr. Joe Corel at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, lunch at the Spokes Restaurant, and a narrated tour of the Cathedral. The bus leaves Thompson Hills Shopping Center at 8 a.m. that day and arrives back in Sedalia by 5 p.m.  The cost is per person. Those interested in going should contact Jean Gallagher at 660-827-4016 or fausttour@gmail.com....

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “One Italian Summer,” by Rebecca Serle. “The Tobacco Wives,” by Adele Myers. “The Chase,” by Candice Fox.  “The Summer Getaway,” by Susan Mallery. “Her Last Affair,” by John Searles. “Murder at the Porte de Versailles,” by Cara Black. “Before Buckhorn,” by B.J. Daniels. Nonfiction  “Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces 2004-2021,” by Margaret Atwood.  “I Was Better Last Night,” by Harvey Fierstein. “In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss,” Amy Bloom. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Robert B. Parker’s Bye Bye Baby,” by Ace Atkins.  “Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?” by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn.  “Find Me,” by Alafair Burke. “The Last House on the Street,” Diane Chamberlain. “The School for Good Mothers,” by Jaessamine Chan.  “Something to Hide,” by Elizabeth George. “Seasonal Work: Stories,” by Laura Lippman. “The Maid,” by Nita Prose. “No Land to Light On,” by Yara Zgheib. Nonfiction “Stolen Focus: Why you Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again,” by Johann Hari. “Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich,” by Harald Jahner.  “Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 24 11:36 p.m.: Thomas L. Gibbs, 34, of the 1100 block of South Harding Avenue, was arrested after officers were dispatched to East 28th Street and South New York Avenue for a vehicle stuck in a grass patch. Contact was made with Gibbs, who was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated – drugs. He was transported to the Bothwell Regional Health...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Lisa M. Stathem and Philip C. Stathem; Yuri A. Gonzalez Soto and Ernesto C. Perez; Tanya Steel and Tyler Steele. 

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by St. Vincent de Paul Parish. Monday: Chicken and noodles, green beans, banana, and milk. Tuesday: Meatloaf, posh potatoes, mixed veggies, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Pulled pork on bun, potato salad, apple and milk  Thursday: Ham and beans, cornbread, tropical fruit milk. Friday: Pork fritter on bun, macaroni salad, orange...

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There will be no shortage of events and activities for area residents during the weekend of Saturday, April 2. Home & Garden Show The Sedalia Democrat is hosting its second annual Home & Garden Show from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 2. More than 30 regional vendors will be in the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds, ready to talk with area residents about their home and garden needs. In addition to the vendor booths, there will be live presentations and demonstrations. Door prizes will also be given out at the top of each hour.  Thorni Ridge...

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The message from State Fair Community College baseball head coach Jud Kindle after being swept by Crowder College in Monday’s doubleheader at Liberty Park was clear as can be. “Honestly, I don’t think we came out to play,” Kindle said. “They beat us today in about every aspect that you can. They hit better than us, pitched better than us, played better defense than we did. I think we’re a better team than we showed today.” State Fair combined for seven runs on 10 hits when they dropped both games to Crowder in Neosho on Saturday. On Monday, they lost...

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A home doubleheader that resulted in a pair of defeats Saturday to Oak Park helped illustrate what Smith-Cotton has to fine tune going forward. The Tigers (0-3) fells 12-2 in the matinee game, then put together some offense late in the second outing but still dropped that one, 10-7. Although the Northmen outhit Smith-Cotton by a slim margin, it was a number of errors that led to the disparity in score in the second contest. Jonathan O'Connell threw 2 1/3 innings, but just two of the eight runs he allowed were credited as earned. Some of those runs helped marginalize...

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In collaboration with Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, Bothwell Regional Health Center will host a Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays starting April 18 and ending June 13 in the Bothwell Education Center at 600 E. 14th St. in Sedalia. The group will not meet on Memorial Day, May 30. One of the least addressed concerns in society is grief, which is the normal and natural reaction to loss. The Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program, based on the Grief Recovery Handbook, will guide those who wish to work through their loss issues and move beyond...

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Three candidates are vying for the Pettis County R-XII (Dresden) Board of Education in the April 5 municipal election.  Keri Dickman and Addison Eckles are running for re-election in the 2022 election for their second term. Dickman and Eckles were first elected in 2019. Lynn Alexander is also running for the election.  Members serve a three-year term. Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. Why are you running for office? Dickman: I value the opportunity to serve and support my...

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The Center for Human Services will host a Poker Run on Saturday, April 30.      The event starts at Yeager’s Cycle, 3001 S. Limit Ave., for motorcycles and Bryant Motors, 2901 S. Limit Ave., for Jeeps and ends at the Sedalia Knights of Columbus Hall with a dinner. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., kick stands up at 11 a.m., and all wheels in by 5 p.m. The first 75 people to register will receive an event shirt.  For more information or to sign up, call 660-826-4400 ext. 368. All proceeds will support the Center’s mission of “Life Without Limitations.”

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Two candidates are seeking the Sub-district 4 seat on the Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors in the April 5 municipal election. Candidates are John Fritz and Kim Graves. Members serve a three-year term. Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. Why are you running for office? Fritz: Public service is part of who I am, and I believe my experience in EMS delivery remains a good value to the residents of Pettis County. My commitment to creating the...

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Sacred Heart students will be performing “Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE! Jr.” at the Liberty Center Association for The Arts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The musical is based on an Emmy-award winning ‘70s cartoon series, and with catchy songs like “Conjunction Junction” and “Elbow Room,” people of all ages may well recognize the educational songs. With direction from Chelsea Turner and musical direction by Darrin Hartman, the cast has been rehearsing for months and is in full dress rehearsal this week at the Liberty Center. “The idea of doing ‘Schoolhouse Rock,’ partially because it’s so integral to so many of...

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Missouri Western State University conferred a total of 371 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates during the Summer and Fall semesters in 2021. Graduates came from 19 states and three foreign countries. Clinton: Jackson Dean Schmedding Holden: Haileigh Reana Sizemore Sedalia: Betty Deondra Brown

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The Mid-Missouri Artists will host “Inspiration!” a meeting and program, presented by Janet Bonsall, at 7 p.m. March 31 in the Warrensburg Community Center.  Bonsall received a Bachelor of Science in Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and then earned a master's degree and a doctorate in Technology Education.  Bonsall and her husband, Denny Humphrey, moved to Warrensburg in 1981 where she taught photography at UCM for 30 years and served as coordinator for the bachelor's and master’s degree programs.  “I will talk about my beginnings in photography, my ‘photo themes’ and my pandemic bird photography project,”...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 20 10:38 p.m.: Shawn William Miller, 46, of the 1000 block of South Osage Avenue, was issued a citation after officers observed a driver on a moped fail to signal. A check with dispatch showed Miller's driving status was suspended. He was placed under arrest and released roadside with the citation. Incidents March 23 11 p.m.: Officers conducted a traffic stop at...

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Just in time for spring home improvement season, the Sedalia Democrat is hosting its second annual Home & Garden Show on April 2. More than 30 regional vendors will be in the Mathewson Exhibition Center ready to talk with area residents about their home and garden needs. Vendors include real estate, insurance, windows, doors, decking, fencing, concrete work, lumber, building supplies, storage facilities, guttering, mowers, roofing, landscaping, decorations, cleaning, heating and cooling, pest control, and many others. Many of the vendors will be offering specials only available at the Home & Garden Show. “We’re excited to bring back the Home...

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Known as the “Boeing Gypsies,” 500 families moved and traveled with the Boeing Minuteman Missile Defense Program in the ‘60s and ‘70s, a program that involved the Sedalia area. The stories of those families are now captured by the pen of Myrna Messer, whose husband worked for Boeing from 1964 to 2000. Myrna and her husband, Ray Messer, now both 88, live in Derby, Kansas. They spoke with the Democrat by phone on Wednesday and Myrna noted she wrote and published “The Boeing Gypsies: The Families Behind the Minuteman Missile Program” at the urging of their son Jim Messer, of...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 18 1:47 a.m.: Rickey Garvel Christian, 43, of the 2400 block of Plaza Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop in the 1700 block of Clarendon Road for failure to maintain a lane. The driver had a suspended driver's license and was intoxicated. Christian was arrested, transported to the police department and the Pettis County Jail where he was booked on charges...

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Church Women of Sedalia will meet Monday, March 28, at the Reed Center on East 24th Street at Killion Drive. A social will begin at 11:30 a.m. and those attending should bring a sack lunch and drink. The meeting will begin at noon. CWU will be collecting personal care items for Open Door. These will be given in bags passed out to people that are displaced by fire, tornado, etc. Bring any type of personal care item, full size, such as shampoo, soap, washcloths, deodorant, etc.

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Members of a Ukrainian church in Sedalia have planned two community events to help those suffering due to the Russian invasion of their native land.   The Word of Life Evangelical Christian Church has scheduled a song and prayer gathering to support Ukraine at 4 p.m. Sunday in front of the Pettis County Courthouse. Pastor Vladimir Dub and other leaders of the church will speak, and members of the church choir will present vocal and instrumental music.  The program will also include the acceptance of donations of cash, non-perishable food items and clothing that will be sent to the people...

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We are rapidly approaching Resurrection Day, commonly known as Easter. Christians the world over eagerly await this day. It is the day that we remember what God has done for all people, everywhere.  People call it a Christian holiday, but if the others only knew. You see, everyone was saved that first Easter. Jesus said it before He died. His last words were, “It is finished." He had completed His part. His resurrection, three days later, ushered in a new era for all humankind, but His death was the key.  There were several interesting phenomena that occurred at Jesus' death....

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During a meeting this week, the Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors approved many items concerning PCAD’s Strategic Plan. The plan, a first for the six-year-old district, was spearheaded by EMS Chief Eric Dirck along with committee members, Chief Financial Officer Jamie Luebbering, Assistant Chief Roy Pennington, Battalion Chief Lance Dempsey, Board Treasurer John Fritz and Board member Steve Davis. The plan took six months to come to fruition. A draft was presented to the board in a planning session last week and the final copy was submitted for approval Tuesday night.  Dirck said on Wednesday, he felt it...

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Gravois Mills women hurt in Morgan accident Kernene B. Schickler, 74, of Gravois Mills, sustained minor injuries at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Schickler was driving east on Route O at Pelican Point Road when she traveled off the right side of the road and collided with a ditch and tree. She was transported by Lake West Ambulance District to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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After the last two Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education candidate forums, graduation rates have become a topic of discussion and led to a debate about which candidate was correct.  Board President Diana Nichols used the five-year rate of 96.88% and candidate Brian Smith used the four-year rate of 89%. Simply, both Nichols and Smith are right.  Smith uses the traditional four-year graduation rate, which is generally when most students would graduate.  Students entering the ninth grade for the first time form a cohort; this is done by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students in the...

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The Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Chamber Awards Banquet on Thursday night at The Venue. After a Year in Review recalling the highlights of 2021, several awards were presented.  Chamber President Will Weibert, who is also the Publisher of the Democrat, presented the President’s Award to GUESA USA, represented by Jorge Guevara. This award is selected by the president as the project most significantly contributing to the list of annual chamber accomplishments. The Military Affairs Committee represented by Karl Kramer received the Volunteer of the Year Award. It is selected by the Membership Development Advisory Team for...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and approved items presented by the Strategic Planning Committee. The Board also heard a report from EMS Chief Eric Dirck, who noted COVID cases are rapidly decreasing throughout Pettis County with only 30 known or suspected COVID patient contacts. He also talked to the Board about the recent snow and ice events. And under vehicle and equipment maintenance, he said PCAD is waiting on an estimate of a weather-related, non-injury accident involving Unit 11 and a truck at state Route TT and U.S. Highway 50. An investigative report is...

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Tuesday’s Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees meeting was both nostalgic and exciting as Mayor John Kehde said goodbye to the Bothwell board, and Michele Laas, RN, BSN, was named Chief Nursing Officer. Interim CNO Marlene Lyon was also hired as Director of Perioperative Services. According to a news release, Laas will be responsible for the leadership, direction, operational support and administrative supervision of all inpatient nursing units, emergency department, and perioperative services. She also will be responsible for the clinical education and development of almost 250 nurses in the hospital. The board members, many brought onto the board...

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HENRY COUNTY — The Henry County R-1 School District named a new superintendent earlier this month. Windsor High School Principal Brad Hunter will take on the role of superintendent on July 1, following interim superintendent Scott Patrick. Patrick was named interim superintendent on Feb. 1 after the death of former superintendent Scott Ireland.  Hunter has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Methodist University, as well as a Master’s in Secondary School Administration and an Educational Specialist degree from William Woods University. He is working on a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from William Woods University. His teaching career...

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Pettis County added 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,930, according to the Pettis County Health Center. The Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force is continuing to receive late case reports and is working with its partners to facilitate timely data reporting. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 3.1% for the past seven days as compared to 1.8% for last week with PCR testing,” the task force briefing stated on Monday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days...

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When Sedalia was chosen as the site of the Missouri State Fair, residents of the towns that were not chosen claimed that the selection process had been unfair for several reasons, one of which was that Sedalia had already claimed to have a state fair. They were both wrong and right. They were wrong; the selection process was as fair as it could have been. They were right; Sedalia had long claimed to have a state fair. What Sedalia had was really a county fair hosted yearly at what would later become Sicher’s Park, now Liberty Park. The 1882 History...

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A dark, dreary, alley at 209 S. Ohio Ave. is due to receive a patriotic mural thanks to a ,000 Market Heritage and Cultural Tourism in Rural Missouri grant. The City of Sedalia is providing an in-kind grant for a total of ,000 to be used for the mural installation by local muralist Stefanie Azier-Sattler. “The owner of the building actually contacted me as he knew I was trying to do a mural, a larger mural than I had done downtown,” Azier-Sattler said. “Most of it is patriotic. There will be one of the old steam engines in it and...

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I don’t want to be affiliated with any particular political platform anymore and I believe there are many out there who feel exactly the same. The radicals on both sides are squeaking the wheel so loudly that it is embarrassing. They are no longer rational, thought-provoking, deep thinkers. They have become bullies to the masses. They want to have things their way, period. No calm, informed, sharing of information and no more attempts at educating themselves before entering a debate. Rational discussion seems to be a trait that is slipping its way into history. If you prove a radical incorrect,...

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Smith-Cotton High School sophomore Alexander Rice has been accepted for the 2022 Missouri Scholars Academy, a program held for three weeks in June at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Only 330 students statewide are accepted each year. According to its website, the academy, “is a residential academic camp that operates seven days each week, enrolls only academically gifted students, and provides a curriculum different from that found in the traditional public or private school. It offers unique opportunities for students to enhance their academic skills; assimilate the accumulated knowledge of the culture; relate to contemporary issues; deepen understanding of themselves and...

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Warsaw woman hurt in Benton accident Amy L. Spunaugle, 50, of Warsaw, sustained minor injuries at 11:58 a.m. Monday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Spunaugle was stopped due to construction while headed north on Route 7 when a 2007 Isuzu driven by Jose O. Oquendo, 56, of North Kansas City, struck the rear of her vehicle.  Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Spunaugle was transported by private vehicle to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 18 12:16 a.m.: Irving Yosimar Catalan Rodriguez, of the 500 block of West Fifth Street, was arrested after an officer was dispatched to Wilkerson Street and South Missouri Avenue to assist on a traffic stop. The driver was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked and released with a charge of driving while intoxicated prior - offender,...

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WARRENSBURG — The scent of fresh-baked bread wafting down Pine Street in Warrensburg is a sure sign of comfort and mouth-watering goodness.  Green Truck Bakery, owned and operated by Carmen Schick, her husband Carl Schick and their son Ryan Schick, has expanded in the last four years. The bakery that began in a small oven in the family’s backyard is now located in a 1,200 square-foot downtown storefront on Pine Street. The Schicks remodeled the 135-year-old building and added a wood-fired oven, increasing the number of orders they could make in a week. The bakery now provides bread for Blackadder...

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Four candidates are contending for two seats on the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees in the April 5 municipal election.  Tim Carr is running for re-election after he was appointed by the SFCC board in March 2021 after the resignation of Jim Page, who had four years left in his term. The Board policy states that the appointee could only serve until the next election, after which, a candidate must be elected for the remaining two years of Page’s term. This is why there is a two-year term that will be filled by Tom Oldham, who is uncontested. ...

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Local players and coaches were widely recognized with postseason awards from the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and Central Missouri media. The MBCA released Wednesday details of its Hall of Fame Class, and the induction that will coincide with honoring all-state players and coaches. Otterville girls basketball’s Jay Allen was selected as National High School Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for Missouri, alongside Vashon boys basketball’s Tony Irons. The 2010s were a good decade for Otterville girls basketball and Allen's teams continued that trend and carried it over into this one with his arrival. The Lady Eagles have gone...

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Monday, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler from Missouri’s Fourth District visited The Embassy, a program for young men coping with life-controlling issues such as drug dependency.  Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, was met on the front porch of The Embassy, 602 S. Moniteau Ave., by Embassy Board Chair Jason McClain, Embassy Executive Director Rick Rogers, Mayor John Kehde, City Councilpersons Andrew Dawson, Tina Boggess and Thomas Oldham, City Administrator Kelvin Shaw and staff members of the Embassy. “I heard of the great work that they were doing here, and I wanted to recognize them,” Hartzler said. “Drug addiction is a huge problem in our society...

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Bothwell Regional Health Center has named veteran nursing leader Michele Laas, RN, BSN, Chief Nursing Officer.  In this role, Laas will be responsible for the leadership, direction, operational support and administrative supervision of all inpatient nursing units, Emergency Department and perioperative services. She also will be responsible for the clinical education and development of almost 250 nurses in the hospital. Laas currently serves as Bothwell’s Director of Clinic Nursing and has more than 25 years of nursing and leadership experience. She is a 1994 graduate of State Fair Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing program and began her career at Bothwell...

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Christine Friedrich, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, has joined Bothwell Walk In Clinic. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide advanced patient care under the guidance and supervision of a collaborating physician. NPs can evaluate and treat illnesses and injuries, order and interpret labs and tests, prescribe medications and perform procedures. Friedrich has several years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner at a minute clinic in Independence and worked as an NP in radiation oncology and neurology medical practices. She most recently worked as an NP for Signify Health in Lee’s Summit. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing from the University of...

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The April 5 municipal election will see either Ronnie McNeive re-elected as Mayor of La Monte or newcomer Tabbitha Holland elected to La Monte’s highest post.  The mayor serves a two-year term. Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. Why are you running for office? McNeive: I am running for a fourth term because I care, and more progress needs to be made for La Monte and our citizens. During the past six years, I have dedicated a large amount...

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For a limited time, the American Red Cross has resumed testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Plasma from routine donations that have high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to help meet the needs of COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems.  At the same time, the Red Cross blood supply remains vulnerable, and individuals are urged to schedule a blood or platelet donation. In the days and weeks ahead, it’s important the Red Cross maintains a readily available blood supply so hospital patients can receive the care they need. To make an...

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Sedalia School District 200 has had many repairs, maintenance and projects over the last decade under the guidance of one of the most humble directors of buildings and grounds. Director of Buildings and Grounds Richie Simons has been with the district for more than 30 years and has been then the director for around 11 to 12 years. Simons leads a small team of eight that covers the entire district.  Simons’ family has been with the district for many generations too, beginning with his grandmother who was director of food services, his mother who was a paraprofessional for the district...

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Jefferson City woman hurt in Morgan accident Lillian A. Waller, 53, of Jefferson City, sustained minor injuries at 5:39 a.m. Sunday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Waller was driving south on Route 5 near Aikensville Road when she struck a deer in the roadway. She was wearing a seat belt, and was taken to Capital Region Hospital in Jefferson City by ambulance. Slater woman injured in Saline accident Elizabeth A. Llewellyn, 75, of Slater, sustained moderate injuries at 3:20 p.m. Saturday in a Saline County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 18 10:11 p.m.: Jon Robert Ferguson, 55, of Nelson, was arrested after a traffic stop at West Pettis Street and North Grand Avenue after failing to maintain the right half of the roadway and failing to stop prior to the stop lines at two streets. Ferguson was intoxicated and was taken to the police department, processed and released for driving while intoxicated. ...

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SMITHTON –– Fall has been the time when lasting soccer memories are made in Smithton. That changed with Monday night’s first-ever match for the newly launched Lady Tigers girls soccer program. It was the culmination of a plan that’s been several years in the making, and one that didn’t come without some risk. Ideas of launching girls soccer in Smithton began in 2020, and at that point, it was with the belief that it might be as a co-op venture with another Kaysinger Conference school. When COVID-19 shut everything down, discussions were picked up the following fall. "We knew that...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Match,” by Harlan Coben. “Wild Irish Rose, By Rhys Bowen. “The School for Good Mothers,” by Jessamine Chan.  “A Safe House,” by Stuart Woods. “Quantum Girl Theory,” by Erin Kate Ryan.  “The Night Shift,” by Alex Finlay. “Crowbones,” by Anne Bishop.  Nonfiction “Climbing the Ladder, Chasing the Dream: The History of Homer G. Phillips Hospital,” by Candace O’Connor. “Inside the Simple Life: Finding Inspiration Among the Amish,” by Susan Hougelman. “Invencible,” by Chiquis Rivera.  New Movies “West Side Story.”

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“Dear March, come in! How glad I am! I looked for you before. Put down your hat — You must have walked — How out of breath you are! Dear March, how are you? And the rest? Did you leave Nature well? Oh, March, come right upstairs with me, I have so much to tell!”  — Emily Dickinson  Sunday, March 20 is the first day of spring. It is forecast to be a beautiful, sunny weekend. I plan to spend most of this time with my family: playing in the yard, testing out my son’s new laser tag set, and...

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Marshall man injured in Johnson accident Joseph R. Wandell, 19, of Marshall, sustained moderate injuries at 1:22 p.m. Thursday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2005 Freightliner driven by Tao Wang, 44, of Hacienda Heights, California, was eastbound on U.S. Highway 50 at Northeast 501 Road when it slowed to make a left turn and was struck in the rear by an eastbound 1999 Pontiac Firebird driven by Wandell. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Wandell was transported by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Illinois women...

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During daily meetings March 14 to March 17, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  March 14: No action taken. March 15: No action taken. March 16: GIS Director James Theisen updated the Commission on ongoing grants. The Commission approved proceeding with Pioneer Trails to develop and update the Hazard Mitigation Plan for the County, which is to begin as soon as possible to ensure completion by Jan. 1, 2024, with Sedalia-Pettis County Emergency Management Agency Director Trisha Rooda as the point of contact for the County. The Commission approved a Building Use Form for Child Safe of Central Missouri...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Brandon Lee Motley, 29, and Emily Raqueal Hickman, 30, both of Sedalia;  David Michael Sherman, 27, and Morgan Rea Carter, 23, both of Concordia; Zachary Lee Headings, 22, and Ranelle Joy Kropf, 23, both of Smithton;  Levi Keith Ross, 23, and Kari Marie Crawford, 27, both of Sedalia;  Brittney Michelle Hollon, 21, and Dakota Lee Byrd, 28, both of Sedalia; Joshua Allen Dieffencach, 34, and Brenda Marie Franklin, 44, both of Sedalia;  Derrick Ray Krause, 36, of Emma, and Megan Leigh Simpson, 22, of Sedalia; Codie Randall Aker,...

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So much is happening: The Heckart Community Center, the local election, balmy weather, the St. Pat’s parade, another book signing at Reader’s World – and of course, war. You won’t be surprised to know that I have something to say about ALL those things, but I metaphorically flipped a coin. War won. Our book club read “Hero of the Empire” last fall. Written by a Kansas City-area historian, it is a historical novel about Winston Churchill’s early years and his participation in the Boer Wars. Most intriguing at the time we read the book was that at a very early...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park.  Wednesday 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater Main Street.  Friday 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Brooking Park. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: Monsees Lake. 

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At Friday’s Pettis County Pachyderm Club luncheon at Best Western State Fair Inn, candidates for the Sedalia City Council Ward 2 seat Tina Boggess and Chris Marshall addressed a host of issues.  Boggess is completing her first term as Ward 2 councilwoman. She and Marshall faced each other in the 2020 municipal election. Below is a sampling of the questions put to them and their answers. Opening statement: Boggess: “The reason why I'm running for a second term is because I believe you need more than two years to get things done. That first year was just a matter of...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Cornerstone Baptist Church. Monday: Pork riblet on bun, baked beans, cookie and milk. Tuesday: Spaghetti, corn, breadsticks, brownie and milk. Wednesday: Stuffed pepper casserole, hominy, tropical fruit and milk. Thursday: Beef and noodles, green beans, pudding, milk Friday: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and cake.

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Sunday a.m.: Shake it Up Sunday, if you are white attend a black church, if you are black attend a white church; Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, 400 N. Lamine Ave., or Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. For more information, call Marge Harlan at 660-851-0077. Noon and...

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Community Retired Teachers Association The Community Retired Teachers Association met March 16 at Christ and Trinity Lutheran Church.  President Carolyn Hays reported on the state meeting of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association. At the meeting in Columbia, the group was greeted by the new executive director, Maria Walden. She began the job in February following the retirement of Jim Kreider. The group also heard legislative reports. Evelyn Porter gave the treasurer's report and Jeanne Curry read the secretary's report.  The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. April 20 at the church. Bothwell Regional Health Center CEO Lori Wightman will...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Britney M. Corpier and Joshua J. Corpier; Joseph E. Arnett and Samara R. Arnett; Kyle B. Evans and John C. Evans.  

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Last Friday night, I witnessed the end of an era: the final edition of the Sedalia Democrat printed in the Sedalia pressroom.  Being the editor of a daily newspaper, I tend to work late, and long, hours anyway, but on Friday night I stayed in the office until around 12:30 a.m. to watch the final papers come off of our Goss Urbanite press. It had been quite a while since I’d stayed late enough to watch the magic happen, and I couldn’t miss its very last run. Once my job was complete, I spent the next hour or so watching...

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Dear Editor: People who know of my many trips to Belarus for mission work have been asking me about the Belarusian involvement with Russia’s attack on Ukraine.  I want to make it very clear that the people of Belarus are against the action. Only their dictator, Lukashenko, who is a Putin “mini-me,” is siding with Russia.  If the citizens are caught wearing blue and yellow or speaking out against the war, they are arrested. Several of the Belarusians I call friends are actively working to get aid to Ukrainians and are giving moral support when they can’t give financially.  I...

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Five candidates are competing for two seats on the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education in the April 5 municipal election.  School board president Diana Nichols and secretary Barbara Schrader are running for re-election in 2022. Nichols has been on the board since 2013 and Schrader is completing her first term. Michelle Quattlebaum, who ran in the 2021 municipal election, is running for the school board again. Also running are Serena Cronk and Brian Smith.  Members serve a three-year term. Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in...

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Constructing a community center in Sedalia has been decades in the making. The late Mayor Bob Wasson talked frequently about the need for such a facility while he was in office in the 2000s. Former Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Mark Hewett attempted to get Sedalia City Council approval during the 2010s. Philanthropist and businesswoman Sue Heckart said she had been on a mission for nearly 20 years to help the city get a community center. Now, the Heckart Community Center is a reality. It’s been a long road to get here, so the Democrat took a look back to...

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After the ribbon was cut Friday morning at the new Heckart Community Center, people were eager to tour the 90,000-square-foot facility. Barney Knight and friends immediately took to the pickleball courts for a foursome match. “Well it's pretty overwhelmingly interesting and cool,” Knight said. “I’m just amazed with the facility, I really am, it really is a top-notch facility.” It didn’t take long after the ribbon-cutting for young Elizabeth Rourke and family to climb the stairs to the fitness center. Elizabeth continued climbing on the new stair-climbing machine. “It’s awesome,” Elizabeth said smiling. “I like it a lot.” Elizabeth’s mother,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 16 3:30 p.m.: Kevin J. Belt, 19, of the 1300 block of South Carr Avenue, was arrested after officers responded to a business in the 1200 block of East Third Street for a domestic assault report. The assault occurred in the parking lot after a verbal argument. The suspect was known to the victim and officers were able to locate Belt after...

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After years of ideas, discussions, planning and construction, the public was finally welcomed into the new Heckart Community Center on Friday. Sedalia Parks and Recreation hosted a Grand Opening ceremony at 10 a.m., then the facility officially opened at 11 a.m. Hundreds of visitors gathered to look at the 90,000-square-foot facility funded through tax revenue, service fees and donations, most notably from local philanthropist and businesswoman Sue Heckart.  Constructing a community center for Sedalia became a reality in 2014 when Parks and Rec purchased the former Jennie Jaynes stadium property in Liberty Park for [post_excerpt] million in 2014. In 2019,...

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Jose Maria Gonzalez, of Sedalia, was among the nearly 1,800 undergraduate, graduate and professional students conferred their degrees in December at the University of Iowa.  Gonzalez was a student in the Graduate College whose program of study was Educational Policy and Leadership Studies. The degree awarded was a Master of Arts.

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A powerhouse in spring softball in recent years, Lincoln missed 2020 as much as anyone, but the program didn’t look as if it had skipped a beat in 2021. The Lady Cardinals, defending Class 1 champs from 2019, were pushed hard by Windsor but won the Kaysinger Conference Tournament in 2021. They went on to lift a district trophy, finishing 22-5. Two of their defeats were to state champs (Skyline, Purdy). Head coach Chris Sanders talked about just how good the “core four” –– Haley Ebeling, Alexis Harms, Cadyn Paxton and Jordan Young –– were as upperclassmen. Those standouts from...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 16 11:09 p.m.: Juan Melendez Ayalo, 38, of the 1000 block of East Broadway Boulevard, was arrested after a traffic stop at West 16th Street and South Osage Avenue. Ayalo was found to have a revoked driving status and was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and charged with driving with a revoked driver's license.  March 20 3:11 p.m.: Kristy D....

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Knob Noster State Park is seeking volunteers to spend 9 a.m. to noon April 2 outdoors and assist park team members for Spring Park Beautification day. Projects will include litter cleanup, trail work, maintenance, exotic and invasive plant control and more.  Individuals, families, groups and organizations are encouraged to volunteer.  To allow team members to prepare projects, registration is required. To register or for more information, call the park office at 660-563-2463. Participants should bring work gloves, insect repellent, drinking water and wear closed-toe shoes.  The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves...

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Knob Noster man in serious condition after Johnson motorcycle accident Robert A. Graff, 53, of Knob Noster, sustained serious injuries at 2:32 p.m. Wednesday in a  Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Graff was driving north on Route 13 at the business Route 13 south junction when he was delayed in observing the intersection, causing him to abruptly apply the vehicle's brakes. The vehicle began to skid and traveled off the right side of the road, overturned, and ejected him. Graff was not wearing a helmet and was transported by Life Flight Eagle air ambulance...

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All-Starz Barbershop will host the fourth annual Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 19 in the University of Central Missouri Ballroom in the Elliott Student Union.  Tickets are , which includes one adult and one child. Additional tickets are per child.  The event will include music, a photographer and a memory keepsake.

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The following local students have been named to the dean’s and president's lists at Drake University. To be eligible for the dean's list, students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the Fall 2021 semester at Drake. Sedalia: Hayden Altena and Bryan Schlotterbeck

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The Charity Garage Sale is returning this spring to the former Gordmans building, 721 N. Charles St. in Warrensburg, with the first event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 17-19 and March 24-26. A wide variety of items will be available, many costing [post_excerpt] or less. Furniture is priced to sell. All proceeds will go to Standing in The Gap Ministries to expand its Men's Victory House program and to Camp Valor Outdoors for its tiny home Veterans Village in Holden that houses homeless veterans.  More dates will be announced later, with a possible location change. For more information,...

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Local McDonald's restaurants across mid-Missouri are celebrating area nurses with the launch of the first-ever McDonald's Outstanding Nurse Awards. “When COVID-19 first hit the community a few years ago, McDonald's was one of the first quick-service restaurants in the community to really react,” Callie Picarella, with Bergman Communications, said. “It was May of 2020 when they offered health care workers a free beverage offer, and they have continued to do that the past two years.” To give the community the opportunity to get involved, the McDonald’s franchises switched it from a beverage offer to this award so the community can...

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Messianic Rabbi Dale Cohen, of Mountain View, Arkansas, will return as a guest speaker to Liberty Life Center Church, 1501 Driftwood, on Sunday. Cohen will speak at the 9:30 a.m. nurture hour and during the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Cohen is a Hebrew and Greek scholar who has worked with the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Israel and has conducted numerous study tours to Israel. He has also served on a variety of archaeological expeditions.  Child care will be available for the service and a love offering will be received.  Cohen plans on leading a trip to Israel in...

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Four candidates are striving for two seats on the Smithton R-VI School District Board of Education in the April 5 municipal election.  President Jason Brown is running for re-election. Also running for election are Jake Gieschen, James Trelow and Brian Conardy. Members serve for three years.  Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. Why are you running for office? Brown: I am running because I want to be involved with local public education. I have been an active and engaged...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 11 12:03 a.m.: Thomas Lloyd Easterberg, 58, of Houstonia, was arrested after a traffic stop at West Broadway Boulevard and South Kentucky Avenue for a license violation. Easterberg was found in possession of methamphetamine and a syringe and was arrested for drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.  March 15 11:20 a.m.: Savannah A. Halferty, 25, of the 700 block of East...

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Three candidates are vying for two seats on the Green Ridge Board of Aldermen in the April 5 municipal election. The candidates include Tony Turner, Justin Tucker and Charles Martin.  Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire and submit a photo. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. Why are you running for office? Martin: Because they don't have enough other candidates that were willing to do it, so I'm just doing it because of that. Turner: To make Green Ridge a better place to move to...

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As the war with Ukraine moves into its fourth week and the world sees more than 3 million refugees flooding into neighboring countries, Sedalia residents are making plans to help with money and clothing. Sharyn Fante-Hession, a member of the Pettis County Democrat Club, and Tina Schroeder, treasurer of the club, are collecting monetary donations for Ukraine. Fante-Hession said on Wednesday the goal is to collect ,000. The money will be given to Vitaliy Shimko, the administrator of the Ukrainian church, Sedalia Tabernacle Church-Skiniya, on March 22 at his business, First Choice Auto Co. The women are encouraging other organizations...

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the weekend, a convoy of truckers arrived in Washington, D.C., to join others who have been there for a week to protest the government’s response to the pandemic. The People’s Convoy consists of people driving semi-trucks, pick-up trucks, campers and even passenger vehicles.  Marcus Coppack, a Smithton native and member of the People’s Convoy, has been in D.C. for two weeks. He spoke with the Democrat via phone to explain what has been happening with the convoy. Coppack now resides in Indiana.  “The scene with the convoy right now (Wednesday morning), D.C. police is blocking all...

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The Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at State Fair Community College and New Growth Women’s Business Center will host a no-cost Small Business Administration (SBA) government contracting certifications overview 11 a.m. to noon April 6 in Fielding Technical Center, Room 217, on the Sedalia campus and via Zoom web conferencing. Registration is required.  Government contracting can be a critical tool for growing businesses and increasing profits. While not all businesses are suitable for government contracting, the SBA has several certifications and business development programs to help those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. The overview on April 6 will...

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Two men injured in Benton accident Harold D. James, 71, of Deepwater, received moderate injuries at 1:15 p.m. Friday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2014 Ford F-150 driven west on state Route 7 was struck by a 2008 Ford Escape driven by Swisher, who failed to yield.  Both men were wearing seat belts. James was transported by Warsaw-Lincoln Ambulance District to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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Voiture 333, 40 &8 will host a yard/garage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Building, 1708 Elm Hills Blvd. Proceeds will go toward American flags for downtown Sedalia, Flags for First Graders, Smith-Cotton High School JROTC and trophies and awards for other programs. 

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University of Saint Mary Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michelle Metzinger has announced the Fall 2021 dean's list. The following USM students ended the semester with a 3.5 GPA or better. Montrose: William Steward Warsaw: Keegan Glenn

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For a limited time, the American Red Cross has resumed testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Plasma from routine donations that have high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to help meet the needs of COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems.  At the same time, the Red Cross blood supply remains vulnerable, and individuals are urged to schedule a blood or platelet donation. In the days and weeks ahead, it’s important the Red Cross maintains a readily available blood supply so hospital patients can receive the care they need. To make an...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Incidents March 14 9:02 a.m.: An officer was dispatched to a business in the 200 block of Winchester Drive for a theft report. An employee stated that sometime overnight Saturday, someone stole six rubber tracks from the shop. The tracks had a combined value of ,800. Shortly after the report was made, the sixth track was recovered in a nearby parking lot. There are...

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Proposition A on the April 5 municipal election ballot will seek voter approval to dedicate one-half of 1% sales tax to provide funding for current and future operations of the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office. Revenues generated by this sales tax would be used to fund agency staffing, improved personnel compensation, and safety equipment, as well as future capital improvements and maintenance of the facilities. “We have a jail that is an aging facility so there's going to be increased maintenance concerns and the increased cost of operations for the sheriff,” Presiding Commissioner David Dick said. “Things inside the jail facility...

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The United Way of Pettis County will host a virtual race from April 24 through April 30.  UWPC Executive Director Samantha Gilpin said this is the first time for the organization to host a virtual race; she added “United We Race” is a 5K. The decision to host a virtual race was due to COVID and the continued spikes in the different variants. Due to the pandemic being in flux, the board felt it was best not to host an in-person race yet.  “We want to keep in mind the safety of our staff, our board, our volunteers and the...

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OTTERVILLE — Two Sisters Dog Salon recently opened in Otterville to provide grooming services for the local community and surrounding areas.  Sisters Jillian Jacovino, 20, and Jenna Halter, 16, started their dog grooming business after they began to notice the need for one in their local area, as well as a grooming business for busy pet owners who might also need service with late notice. Jacovino and Halter receive some help from their mother, Brandy Turner, to do the first rough hair cuts on the dogs.  “We’ve always been animal people, so it was the fact of being able to...

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Stoddard, Bates, Jasper and Lawrence counties, according to a Missouri Department of Agriculture news release. According to the Springfield News-Leader, the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab confirmed positive birds in Pettis, Randolph and St. Charles counties. The MDA news release states samples are delivered to the VMDL at MU for testing if birds are showing signs, or there a sudden increase in mortality in the flock. Then, the NVSL confirms the positive results. HPAI is known to be deadly for domesticated...

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Pettis County added 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,912, according to the Pettis County Health Center. The task force is continuing to receive late case reports and is working with our partners to facilitate timely data reporting. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 1.8% for the past seven days as compared to 4.7% for last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days...

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The State Fair Community College Foundation recently received ,000 from Citizens-Farmers Bank of Cole Camp for its Stronger Workforce, Greater Community capital campaign to help build the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. The new building on the Sedalia campus will expand the college’s capacity to meet the growing demand for technical workforce training and strengthen the communities it serves.   The Citizens-Farmers Bank of Cole Camp was chartered in 1929 when the Citizens Bank and the Farmers Bank in Cole Camp consolidated. Since that time, the Citizens-Farmers Bank has been locally owned and managed and remains committed to serving the...

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Missouri University of Science and Technology is preparing for the 114th "Best Ever" celebration of St. Pat's in Rolla, and the 2021 Queen of Love and Beauty candidates have been announced. The candidates are nominated by various student organizations at Missouri S&T. A committee of students will elect a queen after a series of interviews. The queen and her court will be crowned during coronation ceremonies at 7 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Leach Theatre in Castleman Hall. Honorary Knights and Student Knights will also be honored.  The Queen of Love and Beauty, her court and the rest of the...

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I received an email last week from a reader regarding my column dated March 2. The question was directed toward my statement, “One candidate even suggested that the district did not have a Chief Financial Officer. I couldn’t help but slap myself on the forehead.” The reader asked me to name the CFO for the district. The answer to that question is rather lengthy and I felt that if it was confusing to this reader, it might have also been confusing to others. Therefore, I have chosen to elaborate on my statement and the answer to that question today. Before...

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Albert Parker, a real estate broker by profession, served as Sedalia’s mayor in 1869. During his term, Sedalia grew rapidly. The County Court (now called the county commission) set up a plan to raise money to pay the expense of bringing the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas (Katy) Railroad through Sedalia. According to the 1882 History of Pettis County, the Court authorized the sale of 0,000 in bonds to pay the railroad. The city would later have great difficulty paying off the bonds. The city was in the midst of a real estate boom, with “large amounts of real estate” being...

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Sedalia Shop Local is promoting City-Wide Sidewalk Sales to be hosted on Saturday, April 2. If your business would like to be listed in this promotion, contact Debra Andresen with the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce at 660-826-2222 or Joleigh Cornine with the City of Sedalia at 660-851-7609 by Monday, March 28. Sedalia Shop Local is a partnership established between the City of Sedalia and Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce to help highlight and support local businesses.

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The University of Central Missouri is seeking entries for the 2022 Homecoming theme.  The winner will be notified in early May and receive a jersey signed by Tyreek Hill, wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs.  For contest rules and past themes, visit ucmfoundation.org/homecoming.

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The luck ‘o the Irish has returned to Sedalia with plans for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations taking place Saturday along Ohio Avenue. Ann Adams, a board member with the Sedalia Lions Club, said a parade, sponsored by VFW Post 2591 Ladies Auxiliary, will take place at 11 a.m. with the route beginning at Seventh Street and Ohio Avenue. She added the Lions Club is sponsoring the Bed Races at noon and a Pub Crawl from noon to 7 p.m.  She noted they are still looking for Bed Race entries. It’s to pre-register, online or mail-in, and the day...

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Burrell Behavioral Health recently announced leadership appointments and news about employees excelling in their fields.  Burrell Behavioral Health welcomed a new member to its Board of Directors, representing its Central Region. Stacye Smith is a human resources professional in Columbia. Smith has worked for Shelter Insurance Companies since 1987, starting in the Underwriting Department. She moved from there to Sales Training, then on to become Director of Inclusion and Engagement, and is now the Vice President of Human Resources. She’s served on boards of directors for the Inclusive Impact Institute, Boys and Girls Club of Columbia, the Columbia Chamber of...

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A local music educator is working hard as he splits his time between the Smith-Cotton High School and State Fair Community College music programs.  Drew Fischer is the Associate Director of Band and Orchestra at Smith-Cotton High School and the Director of Bands of State Fair Community College. This is his first school year in both roles.  Fischer went to Lee’s Summit West High School, then got his undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Arkansas. He is finishing his master's degree in music education from the University of Central Missouri.  Fischer explained that music is one of...

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Megan Hartman has been named President and a partner in Callis & Associates Inc., a full-service advertising agency in Sedalia.   Hartman has been with the firm for nearly 10 years, serving in a variety of roles, including Account Executive and Director of Operations.  In making the announcement, Cliff Callis, founder of the agency, said Hartman is well respected by clients, associates and the community and is ready for her new role.   “For the past few years, Megan has run the operations for our business and managed client relationships,” he said. “Quite frankly, she has been integral to the...

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The Alro Steel Board of Directors announced that Randy Glick has been elected to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board.   An experienced leader, Randy started his career with Alro in 1981, working in Corporate Purchasing.  He held various roles, including Inside Sales, Administration Management, and General Manager Alro Plastics. In 1993, he became Corporate Operations Manager, and in 2004, Vice President-Operations.  In 2013, he was named Senior Vice President. Since 2016, Randy has served in his current position of Executive Vice President. In addition to the new roles, he will continue leading the...

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Sedalia Second Ward City Councilman Andrew Dawson is running unopposed for Sedalia mayor in the April 5 Municipal Election and will be sworn into Sedalia’s highest office April 19. With experience on the city council, Dawson is familiar with the workings of municipal governance and recently has been preparing for the position. “I've been through elected official training and was certified in municipal governance,” Dawson said. “That is 14 hours of training that we go through, and then Mayor (John) Kehde has been showing me the ropes.” Dawson said work on the fiscal year 2023 budget has given him a...

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Pettis County Sheriff's Office K-9 Cav has received a donation of body armor, which is both bullet- and stab-proof, thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc. “It's very lucky that we were able to get a grant for that,” Sheriff Brad Anders said Monday. “While he’s a working dog and often seen as a piece of equipment, something that's to be utilized for an intended purpose, of course, he has become part of the family here at Pettis County.” The search for a ballistic vest was started by the Pettis County Pachyderm Club, however,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 9 1:13 a.m.: Elliot Sieger, 20, of the 100 block of Roadrunner Court, was arrested after a traffic stop near Broadway Boulevard and Griffith Lane for failure to maintain a lane. Sieger was intoxicated and was transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked and released with a charge of driving while intoxicated – drugs.  March 10 3:19 p.m.: Timothy...

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A balanced year on the boys’ side was reflected, as were several of the top girls teams in the recently released Kaysinger All-Conference basketball rosters. Seven schools placed a pair on the boys' first team and a trio of schools had three or more on the corresponding girls' team. From Cole Camp, sophomore Reid Harrison and junior Ethan Shearer were first-team picks from the Bluebirds’ team that used four overtimes to lift a district championship and came narrowly close to making the Final Four. As they were in 2021, juniors Connor Lynde and Kyle Eckhoff were first-team selections from Lincoln....

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A lopsided postseason defeat on Smith-Cotton’s own field masked what was otherwise a largely successful 2021 for the girls soccer program. After COVID-19 wiped out the previous spring, the Lady Tigers began the campaign with a double-digit win streak. Head coach Meredith Brick called the 10-game run of wins the longest to start a year in program history to her knowledge, though that it happened wasn’t exactly a shock. “I have confidence in my preparation, and every year I'm getting better at learning my position,” the fifth-year head coach said. “And our personnel, we have a really high work ethic...

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HOLDEN — Nearly 40 years after improperly stored chemicals contaminated land, the Johnson County Economic Development Corporation and Kansas State University Technical Assistance for Brownfields program are heading a discussion regarding the future use of 25 acres in Holden.  The community input session is open to the public and will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 29, at Holden City Hall/Hallar Building. The meeting was originally scheduled for March 10 but was postponed due to weather.  The land is part of the Superfund Redevelopment program, which was established to reclaim and reuse contaminated land.  The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation...

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On Friday afternoon, the Pettis County Pachyderm Club hosted a Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education candidate forum at Best Western State Fair Inn.  Five candidates are vying for two three-year terms on the board. Board of Education President Diana Nichols, who has been on the board since 2013, and Secretary Barbara Schrader, who is in her first term, are up for re-election in April. Michelle Quattlebaum, who ran for the board in 2021, Brian Smith and Serena Cronk have also filed. Each candidate was given three minutes for opening introductions, one minute to answer each question and two...

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Boonslick Regional LIbrary Monday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Fristoe, The Place Cafe. 1:15 to 3:35 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor. Wednesday 9:20 a.m.: Cole Camp R-1 School. 9:30 a.m. to noon: Cole Camp City Park. Noon: Cole Camp Senior Center. 1:30 p.m.: Lincoln Community Care. 1:45 p.m.: Lincoln City Hall. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park.  Friday 9 a.m.: Lakeview Health Care. 9:15 a.m.: YMCA Early Childhood Learning Center. 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater, Main Street.  4 p.m.: Stoney Ridge Village Residential Care. 

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When Amy Epple began as the Recreation Supervisor at the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department on April 28, 2007, she met Mayor Bob Wasson on her first day. “(Parks and Rec Director) Mark (Hewett) talked about, ‘we hired you to get the recreation program going,’ they talked about hopefully we’re getting a community center. It’s just amazing to me; I can remember the first day meeting the mayor,” she recalled. “He was like, ‘we want your background from Warrensburg Parks and Rec, we’re going to get this community center.’”  Fast forward to today, and Epple is the Parks and Recreation...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Wendy L. Whitford and Phillip E. Whitford; Kimberly L. Miller and Ryan M. Miller; Amanda R. Dotson and Eric W. Dotson. 

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During daily meetings March 7 to March 11, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: March 7: Sedalia Mayor John Kehde discussed transportation issues. March 8: No action taken. March 9: The Commission established the ARPA Committee as proposed to develop the process and application for the allocation of funds to be recommended to the Commission for final decision. The committee will be GIS Director James Theisen, Assistant to the Commission Kristen Anderson and Road and Bridge Office Administrator Amber Bridges. Theisen will serve as chairman. Accounting Solutions Managing Partner Robert Wilson and Accounting Solutions Partner Nathan Thomas presented the...

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A bouquet of quince blossoms showed up on my Facebook page today, a picture I took five years ago. That means on March 11, 2017, our quince bushes were heavy with redolent, deep rose-colored blooms. Today? All I see is white fluffy stuff. Yuck.  Because we aren’t able to enjoy its finest feature in Sedalia right now, Emily convinced Max to let her have the convertible for a while. Yesterday, when we were watching snow fall, then stop, then fall again, she sent us a selfie. She was in the car, the top was down, and her hair was flying...

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Gas prices are fast approaching per gallon here. On the West Coast, the average gallon is climbing past .72. The prices of other goods, from groceries to gifts, will soon follow suit. So will energy costs. And health care costs. And all the other costs. The longer Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, the higher prices will likely go. The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer, and the poorest Americans of all will have trouble commuting to work, traveling to medical care and maybe even feeding their kids.  People will struggle right here in Pettis and Johnson...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 24 4:18 p.m.: Don C. Soriano-Palmerin, of the 1400 block of East Ninth Street, was arrested after an officer was dispatched to a business in the 200 block of West Broadway Boulevard for a two-vehicle accident with no reported injuries. Soriano-Palmerin had a suspended driver's license and was transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked and released.  March 7...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Maplewood Church. Monday: Chicken breast filet, potatoes and gravy, peas, banana and milk. Tuesday: Chili, pimento cheese sandwich, crackers, apple and milk.  Wednesday: Salisbury steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, orange and milk.  Thursday: Chicken Alfredo, broccoli, cauliflower and carrot mix, cookie and milk. Friday: Pork chop, posh potatoes, green...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “Run, Rose, Run,” by Dolly Parton and James Patterson. “Shadows Reel,” by C.J. Box. “Caramel Pecan Roll Murder,” by Joanne Fluke. “High Stakes,” by Danielle Steel. “The Lightning Rod,” by Brad Meltzer. “Calder Grit,” by Janet Dailey. “The Golden Couple,” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Nonfiction “The Trials of Harry S. Truman,” by Jeffrey Frank. “Hell’s Half-Acre,” by Susan Jonusas. “The Irish Assassins,” by Julie Kavanagh. Movies “Redeeming Love”

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Road of Bones,” by Christopher Golden.  “Reckless Girls,” by Rachel Hawkins. “Where the Drowned Girls Go,” by Seanan McGuire.  “Undermoney,” by Jay Newman.  “Goliath,” by Tochi Onyebuchi.  “Desolation Canyon,” by P.J. Tracy. “A Flicker in the Dark,” by Stacy Willingham. Nonfiction “Full Out: Lessons in Life and Leadership from America’s Favorite Coach,” by Monica Aldama. “Empower: Conquering the Disease of Fear,” by Tareq Azim.  “The Steal: The Attempt to Overturn the 2020 Election and the People Who Stopped it,” by Mark Bowden. “It Could Happen Here: Why America is Tipping from Hate to the Unthinkable –...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Brent Harland Bird, 46, and Haley Trishanne Wheeler, 27, both of Sedalia; Brandon Michael Lynch, 21, and Erica Javonta Grant, 32, both of Sedalia; Jessica Jane Woodard, 30, and Alyssa Scott Howery, 34, both of Sedalia; Shannon Dean Albright, 37, of Moberly, and Ashley Irene Moore, 34, of Vandalia; Michael Jacob Murphy, 23, and Jessica Elaine Stratton, 25, both of Sedalia;  Daniel Allen Younce, 41, and Chandra Dawn Pingleton, 47, both of Sedalia; Ganai Pintor Sanchez, 37, and Rocio Rosales, 40, both of La Monte. 

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Robert West, of Sedalia, has been interested in rare coins since he was a teenager. Now, at 80, he is still fascinated by coins, especially misprints. “Curiosity killed the cat, because you never know what you're going to find,” West said. “Last Friday, I bought 0 worth of coins and what I was really looking for was wheat pennies for my collection, which I did find a lot, I mean a lot of wheat pennies.” Looking at a pile of pennies, one immediately stood out to his trained eye. “I raked them around and I looked down and all of...

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After 37 years of caring for generations of patients, holding the hands of the sick, and praying with them, a small-town doctor has retired, leaving his Lincoln practice with bright memories and a reflection of the God he serves.  A calling at a young age Dr. Donald K. Allcorn, a physician with Bothwell Regional Health Center, is known for his love of family and the Bible. He began his practice with Lincoln Family Medicine almost four decades ago, following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Donald J. Allcorn, a Sedalia physician.  “I actually started with my dad,” Allcorn said....

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Tammy Hartley will observe her 64th birthday March 18. She was born March 18, 1958, in Germany.  Tammy was a gas station clerk and she enjoys coloring. She has three children, Heather Emillo, and Sarah Hartley, both of Sedalia, and Larissa Hartley, of Columbia. BIrthday cards may be sent to Tammy at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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Patricia Walker will observe her 91st birthday March 17.  She was born March 17, 1931, in Cherokee, Iowa. Patricia is a retired CNA/CMT and she enjoys reading, crossword puzzles and church. She has four children, Joyce Miller, of La Monte, Lynda Yates, of Florida, Robert Moore, of Washington, and Dennis Moore, of Moberly. BIrthday cards may be sent to Patricia at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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Washington Elementary paraprofessional/substitute teacher Britney Stone is the recipient of the Superintendent’s Bell Ringer Award for February. The monthly award is a way for Superintendent Steve Triplett to honor Sedalia 200 staff members who put the district’s mission statement into action and those who display exemplary effort in celebrating student success. Winners are selected from nominations made by staff members and administrators. Stone’s nominator wrote: “Britney is a paraprofessional who has become our building substitute due to shortages with subs/staff members sick. She is so positive, great with kids, and develops such a positive connection with students and staff. ......

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Sedalia Knights of Columbus will host Lenten Fish Frydays from 4 to 7 p.m. March 11, 25 and April 8 at the Sedalia Knights Hall, 1708 Elm Hills Blvd.  The menu will include deep fried and baked fish, mac and cheese, baked beans, green beans, Coleslaw, fried potato chips and wedges, cornbread, tea, lemonade, coffee and water. The cost is for adults and for children 6 to 12. Dessert is available for a freewill donation. Everyone is welcome. 

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Sedalia Seventh Day Adventist Church is hosting Dr. Mark Sandoval as he speaks on health topics such as “Why Do We Get Sick?” “Real Heart Trouble,” “Leaving Your Baggage Behind,” and “A New Heart, A New Life.” These sessions are all part of the Health Restoration Seminar beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 11 and continuing to 10:45 a.m. Sunday program of, “Overcoming Negative Thoughts.” Sandoval is board certified in emergency medicine and lifestyle medicine. He has served as the founder and chairman of H.E.A.L.T.H. by the Book, president and medical director of Uchee Pines Institute, health ministries director of...

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Jesus is a likable guy because Jesus has integrity and is authentic. He states his mission to bring good news to the poor, recovery of sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and then carries out that mission.  Jesus cared for the poor and healed the blind (along with many others). The oppressed were freed because Jesus challenged the powerful to see and care for those on the margins of society. Proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor, referring to the jubilee year, is not easily summarized. The Jubilee Year...

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WARRENSBURG — The University of Central Missouri has been awarded the 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools Gold designation.  Information about the university’s achievement was released this week by Viqtory Media, an organization that provides ratings to recognize companies and institutions of higher education that demonstrate positive employment and education outcomes for military personnel and their dependents.  The 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com. The methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the...

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A ribbon-cutting on Wednesday hosted by the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the expansion of the Sedalia WILS with its Assistive Technology Demonstration Center. Amy Jenkins, WILS director of marketing, told the Democrat by phone Thursday that WILS already had an Assistive Technology program. She added that through a ,000 grant in 2020 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with the No Wrong Door Foundation, WILS was able to create the new center. “With them and along with Missouri Assistive Technology, we worked together to create a demo room,” she explained. “We were hoping it would be open last...

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GREEN RIDGE — On April 5, Green Ridge R-VIII School District and Henry County R-I School District residents will cast their votes on whether to re-district a piece of land from one district to another.  Green Ridge Superintendent Jamie Burkhart said Proposition A is very unique.  “I have not observed this before in my tenure as a superintendent, so we had to get more information from MSBA (Missouri School Board Association) to make sure that everything was being done correctly,” Burkhart said.  The property in question used to be in the Green Ridge district and in the past the family,...

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Earlier this week, Spectrum announced construction is underway on several fiber-optic network expansion projects that will bring gigabit broadband and other Spectrum services to more than 860 homes and small businesses in parts of Cass, Clay and Johnson counties. According to a news release, the buildout is part of Spectrum’s approximately billion investment in unserved rural areas, which includes [post_excerpt].2 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to approximately 1 million customer locations as estimated by the FCC across 24 states in the coming...

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On Feb. 22, officials from Central Methodist University and State Fair Community College signed a new agreement that gives students an easy path to a Master of Science in Athletic Training when they begin at SFCC.  The signing ceremony was held on SFCC’s Sedalia campus and originally scheduled for Feb. 4 but was rescheduled because of inclement weather. The new transfer program between the two colleges allows SFCC students to transfer into CMU seamlessly and potentially complete the MSAT in five years. Students who complete general education and additional physical education courses at SFCC will be able to transfer to...

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At Thursday evening’s Sedalia Parks and Recreation board meeting, the lion’s share of the talk centered on the Heckart Community Center, which will have its Grand Opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18. Parks and Rec Director Amy Epple told board members that crews are working hard to finish the 90,000-square-foot facility in time for the opening in just over a week. “Staff is working hard and we were here last night until 12:30 and back here at 5:30 this morning so we're getting a little tired but we're excited,” Epple said. “When you see the patrons come in...

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The Sedalia Visual Art Association will host a reception for Linda Hoover’s new show from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 18 at the Hayden Liberty Center. The theme of the show is: “Human Beings and Human Doings.” Everyone is welcome to attend.  Ivan Levko’s show will open at the Sedalia City Hall on March 15 and will hang until June 15 with a reception in May. The exact date will be announced later.  The next SVAA meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7 in the basement of the Central Bank of Sedalia Annex, 403 W. Broadway Blvd....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 9 10:51 p.m.: Elisa M. Wittman, 19, of the 500 block of West 24th Street, was arrested after officers responded to a domestic disturbance. Whitman was arrested at the scene and transported to the Pettis County Jail, and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the filing of a third-degree domestic assault charge. Cobe Stark, 19, of the 1200 block of South Garfield...

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Sedalia man hurt in Pettis accident Joshua R. Kamery, 33, of Sedalia, sustained minor injuries at 9:10 a.m. Thursday in a Pettis County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Kamery was driving west on Olive Branch Road in a 2014 Ford Expedition when he lost control of the vehicle and slid off the road, striking a fence and several small trees. He was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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Several members of Mid-Missouri Artists received awards at the 44th Blue Springs Art League Fine Arts Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6.  Barb Byrne placed first in 3-D Sculpture, Ann Hassell placed first and third in Mixed Media, Sande Cromer was awarded an honorary mention in Mixed Media, Duane Limback placed first and second in wildlife photography, Rebecca Limback placed third in Drawing, and Mary Peterson placed third in Portrait.  Entries receiving first place (with the exception of sculpture) will be on view in the Blue Springs Mid Continent Library/North for three weeks following the show.

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Due to the weather, the team has rescheduled the Holden Community Visioning Session for the Business Park for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29.  It was originally scheduled for March 10.

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The National Weather Service has named March 7-11 as Missouri’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week and is asking the public to prepare for weather emergencies that may affect the area. “We use this as an opportunity to remind people to check their safety procedures for severe weather,” meteorologist Brad Charboneau said. “If you live in Missouri, you know the severe weather can happen just about any time of year, but the spring and early summer tend to really be our peak period for severe thunderstorms and the impacts that come along with those.” Flooding, lightning, high winds, and tornadoes that may...

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On Wednesday afternoon, State Fair Community College announced Dr. Brent Bates would be the college’s sixth president.  Bates was selected out of five candidates by the Board of Trustees and will begin his duties as president on July 1.  The college conducted a comprehensive nationwide search with more than 35 applicants vying for the position to become the next president to lead SFCC in central Missouri. The search was started after current President Dr. Joanna Anderson announced in August 2021 her retirement at the end of June 2022. Bates is the Vice President of Education and Student Support Services at...

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The Smith-Cotton High School Math Team placed first in the large school division at the Cole Camp Math Relays on Feb. 26. S-C’s individual and team awards in the large school division:   Smith-Cotton Freshman Team (Zachariah Bogart, Sally Davis, Jeffthan Glaster, and Emerson Kuhlman) received third place.  Smith-Cotton Sophomore Team (Chloe Eckhoff, Anna Goodrich, Jacelyn Lancaster, and Alex Rice) received second place.  Smith-Cotton Junior Team (Bailey N. Brown, Boston Middleton, Dawson Rettke, and Alina Weng) received first place.  Smith-Cotton Senior Team (Michael Castiglia, Adelina Kukosh, Hannah Lauer, and Jessica Tienda) received first place. Smith-Cotton Mixed Team (Caleb Ehlers, Bryson...

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On Wednesday morning, Packers Sanitation Service Inc. met with the Sedalia Fire Department to donate ,500 to the Fire Pup Program.  The Fire Pup Program is an effort between the City of Sedalia and the National Fire Safety Council, a nonprofit, that purchases the Offical Fire Safety Manual that is sent to K-4 school districts in Sedalia. The Fire Pup Program received its largest donation ever from PSSI on Wednesday: ,500.  Fire Chief Matt Irwin said the books are all purchased mid-year and then delivered to schools in October during Fire Prevention Month.  These funds also provide the Fire Pup...

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COLE CAMP — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cole Camp is inviting everyone to “Experience the Word Come to Life” with a print exhibition of “The Saint John’s Bible.” “The Saint John’s Bible” is the first handwritten Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in over 500 years.  The Rev. Stephen Zeller, pastor at St. Paul’s, and his wife, the Rev. Kimberly Knowle-Zeller, said the free exhibit was installed in the church’s fellowship hall this past weekend and will remain on exhibit throughout Lent. The show features 17 giclee prints or illuminations from the handwritten Bible and is open for public...

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Team members at Arrow Rock State Historic Site invite the public to the 31st annual War of 1812 in the West Symposium. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the 1st U.S. Infantry Regiment Living History Organization, the event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 19 and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 20 in the historic site visitor center.  Missouri was the scene of some of the westernmost actions of what was then termed "America's Second War for Independence."  Presentations by noted historians will cover military activities and territorial development in Missouri and...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 4 12:42 a.m.: Carter Rumsey, 18, of Smithton, was arrested after a traffic stop at West 16th Street and State Fair Boulevard for failing to signal and maintain a lane. Ramsey was transported to the SPD and issued a uniform traffic ticket for driving while intoxicated.  March 8 2:54 p.m.: Lindsay Taylor Pahlo, 27, of 1600 block of East 14th Street, was...

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Four injured, one in serious condition, in Sedalia accident Four Sedalia residents were injured at 6:33 p.m. Tuesday in a Pettis County accident. Vita G. Olefirenko, 34, a 4-year-old female and a 2-year-old male all sustained moderate injuries and a 12-year-old female sustained serious injuries. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Olefirenko was driving east on U.S. Highway 50, a half-mile west of Main Street in a 2010 Toyota without headlights in low lighting conditions. A 2005 John Deere driven by Cameron R. Winters, 34, of Sedalia, driving north attempted to cross in front of Olefirenko. Due to...

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The State of Missouri is hosting a career fair in Jefferson City from 2 to 6 p.m. March 16 at the Capital Mall Community Room, 3600 Country Club Drive in Jefferson City. It will feature more than 20 state agencies looking for candidates to start a career in public service.

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Editor’s note: ​​Stephanie looked into the archives to find this column from 2011. She’ll be back to her newly-written columns next week. When traveling by air anywhere in the world, most airlines charge an additional fee to carry extra baggage.  Each traveler is limited to a pre-determined weight limit that is included in the initial cost of the flight, but the airline must charge their customers a little more when they are traveling with extra baggage because the heavier the load, the more fuel the plane requires.   To avoid paying more at the ticket counter, many choose to lighten...

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New York man hurt in Henry County accident Giam L. Ly, 54, of Rochester, New York, sustained minor injuries at 9:27 a.m. Monday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ly was driving south on Route 13 on the Deep Water Bridge in a 2015 Freightliner when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a concrete barrier.  It is not known if Ly was wearing a seat belt. He was transported to Research Medical Center in Kansas City. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which...

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Pettis County added 98 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,7882, according to the Pettis County Health Center. There were a number of late reported cases this week. The number of new cases is 28. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 4.7% for the past seven days as compared to 6.3% for last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Tuesday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 43/100,000. This week...

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State Fair Community College will close all campus locations March 14-18 for spring break. The college will reopen at 8 a.m. March 21.  The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art on the Sedalia campus will be closed March 14-18 but will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. the weekends before (March 12-13) and after the break (March 19-20). The museum will resume regular hours on March 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center (CTC) on the Sedalia campus that provides...

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On Tuesday, the Missouri State Fair Foundation Board of Directors announced its plan for “Making Dreams Come True” at the Missouri State Fair in ‘22. The board approved six initiatives, made possible by generous members and business partners; the initiatives will “lead change rooted in tradition while cultivating growth and innovation.” MSF Foundation Executive Director Wendy Faulconer said this week that the MSF Foundation, with the support of generous donors, will invest [post_excerpt] million to help purchase 200 acres adjacent to the Fairgrounds. “The additional 200 acres will provide unlimited possibilities for future development,” she noted. “An investment of this...

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During February's Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education meeting, the board approved the district’s Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) III plans. ESSER funds are a part of the American Rescue Plan in response to the cost accrued by school districts due to the pandemic. This is the third round of ESSER funding. The plan was also approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The district has been allocated .1 million with the stipulation that a minimum of 20% (.02 million) be used for loss of instruction due to the pandemic; Sedalia 200 plans to use...

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On Monday, Parkview Elementary School Principal Stephanie Jackson was named the 2022 Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal at the MAESP annual Leadership Conference at Lake of the Ozarks. According to information from Sedalia School District 200, Jackson is the 2022 MAESP Central Regional Distinguished Principal honoree; the 11 MAESP Regional Networks nominates a MAESP principal as its Regional Distinguished Principal honoree. From these, one is selected as the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal and will represent Missouri at the National Association of Elementary School Principals NDP Celebration hosted each October in Washington,...

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Editor's note:  This article has been updated to correct the spelling of George Goodman's name. Amid the salons, bars, and shops of downtown Sedalia, Syndicate Armory recently opened its doors at 701 S. Ohio Ave., selling rifles, ammo, and ballistic vests. Owner George Goodman is still stocking the gun store with AR-15s, pistols, and knife-resistant jackets as the Armory prepares for its Grand Opening at 9 a.m. Saturday. “My brother had a business up in Kansas City and we supplied a lot of the police law enforcement community, first responder community,” Goodman explained. “My brother was a private security contractor overseas,...

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As a boy, I was always a little jealous of those kids who were artistic enough to produce drawings that were so much better than the stick figures I would put on paper. I became even more aware of my inability to draw anything recognizable when I started my education at Washington Elementary School on South Engineer here in Sedalia.  I don’t know if they still do so, but back then, every holiday, the teachers would have their students make cards for their mothers and fathers. At Christmas time, I would work hard to make my drawing of Santa Claus...

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The men who signed the contract creating a cost-restricted neighborhood on Broadway Boulevard between Washington and Osage avenues are, for the most part, well known today. Most Sedalians know about Sedalia founder Gen. George R. Smith and railroad magnate Col. A.D. Jaynes. Banker Cyrus Newkirk, while not as well known, is still a recognizable name. The one signer of the contract who remains mostly unknown is Albert Parker. The U.S. Census for 1870 notes that Parker, aged 42, lived in Sedalia and worked as a real estate broker. He had been born in Ohio. His wife Julia, aged 37, had...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 3 4:44 p.m.: A.M. Kuch, 31, of the 2700 block of Graham Drive, was arrested after a traffic stop near South Osage Avenue and West 13th Street for a defective tail light and failure to use a turn signal. The driver's license was suspended out of Oregon. Kuch was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked for...

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Grant applications are being accepted by the Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International. Applicants for the Dorothea Renno-Nadler Memorial Grant should be a female student, college sophomore level or above and pursuing a degree in education at any Missouri institution of higher education. Dorothea Renno-Nadler was a Business Education/Vocational Instructor in the Lafayette County C-1 school district in Higginsville. She was a member of the Mu Chapter and a dedicated teacher who made valuable contributions to her school and community. Delta Kappa Gamma International is a women’s educational society. It promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and...

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The State Fair Community College Foundation recently received ,000 from Gene and Annie Whitaker of Sedalia for its Stronger Workforce, Greater Community capital campaign to help build the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. The new building on the Sedalia campus will expand the college’s capacity to meet the growing demand for technical workforce training and strengthen the communities it serves.  “We are very grateful to Gene and Annie for their gift to the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center,” said Mary Treuner, SFCC Foundation executive director. “We appreciate their strong support of the college and their commitment to keeping our workforce...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and recognized a paramedic and EMT for taking life-saving measures to save two dogs that were inside a house fire. EMS Chief Eric Dirck was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting, and Assistant Chief Roy Pennington presented Community Service Awards to Paramedic Dalton Sidebottom and EMT Adam Allee. “The Community Service Award is awarded to District personnel who went above and beyond their duties and contributed to the community, causing an impact in the community or benefited a member of the community directly,” Pennington said. He noted on Jan....

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Southwest Baptist University has released its Fall 2021 honor roll lists. Area students who are on the honor roll list include: Sedalia: Mathew Baldinger

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At Monday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting, City Administrator Kelvin Shaw went over highlights from last week’s budget work session, listing the line items to receive funding for fiscal year 2023. The top-ranked item seen by the council was the transition of Fire Department pensions to LAGERS, which was funded at 0,000. Dangerous buildings demolition was funded at 0,000, the 353 Neighborhood Revitalization seed money was funded at 0,000, police recruitment incentives were funded at ,000, non-lethal weapons and wrap expansion was funded at ,000, adding a fire staff vehicle was funded at ,000, retail recruitment consulting was funded at...

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Sedalia Ward 1 Councilman Tom Oldham is running uncontested for the two-year term on the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees.  Oldham will be stepping into current member Tim Carr’s seat. Carr was appointed in March 2021 after the resignation of Jim Page, who had four years left in his term. Board policy states that the appointee could only serve until the next election, after which, a candidate must be elected for the remaining two years of Page’s term. This is why there is a two-year term on the ballot. Carr is running for a six-year term in the...

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What began with a rich heritage of racing has become all the richer with a community spirit of giving back and compassion for others.  McCown Brothers Racing began in the 1950s with brothers Morris, Wally, Bud, Ted and Ink McCown, who also owned the McCown Brothers Salvage Yard. In 2008, the name was changed to MC Productions by Morris’ son Larry McCown, who partnered with Randy Combs. McCown said this week, while the races continue, they are used as benefit events to help people in the community.  Racing to benefit others McCown was inspired by his late brother Merlyn, who...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests March 2 5:06 a.m.: Rachel Lynn Belzer, 29, of the 2800 block of Meadowood Drive, was arrested after a traffic stop for a suspended driver's license in the area of North Grand Avenue and William Parkhurst Drive. Belzer was arrested and issued a citation for driving with a suspended driver's license and released.  8:14 a.m.: Amy L. Radford, 40, of Sedalia, was arrested...

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There are some familiar faces behind a new weekend radio talk show at KSIS. Ron Toellner and John Meehan began hosting “Let’s Talk” last year, talking with community leaders on their Saturday morning radio show. The hour-long pre-recorded segment does have an interview feel but is more of a conversation with their guests about the topic at hand.  Earlier this month, I put the hosts on the other side of an interview to talk about their new project. It all began when Toellner retired in 2020 after more than four decades as an accountant and was deciding on his next...

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Feb. 28 M and S Properties of Sedalia Inc. to Dalton Zaremba and Mackenzie Hombs, section 5; township 45; range 21.  Mark Ficken and April Mullett to Brian K. and Andrea L. Hansen, section 23; township 45; range 21.  LM Land Co. LLC to James T. and Sherry R. Lees, section 4; township 45; range 22. Harley E. and Verda E. Hostetler to Harley E. Hostetler Trustee, Verda E. Hostetler Trustee, Harley E. Hostetler Family Trust and the Verda E. Hostetler Family Trust, section 8; township 46; range 20.  James K. and Thonda J. Ulmer to Jimmie D. Raines, Sedalia...

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Appleton City hurt in Henry DWI accident Jessica N. Young, 25, of Appleton City, sustained minor injuries at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in a Henry County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Young was driving south on Route 52 and traveled off the left side of the roadway, crossing Southwest 1100 and came to rest in a field.  Young was arrested for driving while intoxicated and was transported to the Ellett Memorial Hospital in Appleton City and released. Versailles woman hurt in Henry County deer strike Karen A. Baldwin, 79, of Versailles, sustained minor injuries at 9:52 a.m....

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During daily meetings Feb. 28 to March 4, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Feb. 28: Pettis County First representatives Bill Taylor and David Gerken visited with the Commission. Yearly bid opening began at 9 a.m. Present was Larry Harman of Capital Materials, David Holknecht of Vance Bros, and Charlie Thomas of Viebrock Sales. One bid was received for general office supplies, six bids were received for the Sheriff’s Department General and Food, and 28 bids were received for the Road and Bridge Department. The Commission accepted all bids for review.  The Commission appointed Presiding Commissioner David Dick to...

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kansas State University (K-State) Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) program will partner to host a Community Input Session about the potential future redevelopment of the former Martha Rose Chemical/Holden Business Park Superfund Site in Holden. The Community Input Session will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at the Holden City Hall Haller Building, 101 W. Third St. in Holden. During the session, participants will work in groups to identify potential development ideas for the site. The groups will then report their ideas to the larger group in attendance prior to a...

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Sedalia man hurt in Henry accident Brandon L. Nodine, 28, of Sedalia, sustained minor injuries at 3:45 p.m. Friday in a Henry County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Nodine was driving east on Route 7 in a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado when he traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck three mailboxes and two embankments. Nodine was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by Golden Valley ambulance to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Holden woman in serious condition after Johnson accident Deborah L. Couturier, 65, of Holden, sustained serious injuries at...

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WARRENSBURG — With the close of Black History Month, the Johnson County Historical Society has installed a permanent exhibit highlighting the stories of the Black community that has always been a part of Warrensburg and Johnson County.  Tim Reed and Pastor Harry Stevens toured the exhibit Tuesday, March 1, with JCHS President Bruce Uhler.  The exhibit features both uplifting and disparaging tales, highlighting prominent figures from Johnson County as well as the accounts of those who were enslaved.  Two noted figures in the exhibition are Blind Boone and Bruce “Hacksaw” Reed.  Hacksaw was a Warrensburg native who became a professional...

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Last month, The Foundry announced on its Facebook page that it had booked its first pop-up wedding, a quick and easy way for couples to get married.  Owner Virginia Siegel said that for the pop-up wedding she just booked, The Foundry is offering a cake, bouquet, table bouquet, photographer, officiant, a few decorations and the event space.  “It just makes it easier for the couple. All they have to do is come in and get married,” Siegel said.  For some pop-up weddings, the venue might offer a champagne toast or other features; it will be different every time. These weddings...

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MARSHALL JUNCTION — As truckers drove east on I-70 through Marshall Junction, dozens of people stood atop an overpass waving flags Friday. Mike Samson echoed the same reason for greeting the truckers several others expressed. “To show my support for the patriots,” Samson said. “I think the truckers are just standing up to the bull—- in the government today. The overreach of the government is just ridiculous, in my opinion.” Truckers blared their horns upon seeing the flags and people on the overpass; cars also joined in by honking their horns. “Just to show not only the mandates but just...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 27 11:43 p.m.: Trevor Thomas Rialti, 26, of the 1300 block of South Sneed Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop at East Broadway Boulevard and South Mildred Avenue for an equipment violation. It was determined the driver was intoxicated and was arrested and transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center for a blood draw then the Pettis County Jail where he was...

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Evergy will host an energy assistance event for its customers from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, March 8 at The Salvation Army, 1305 E. Limit Ave. in Sedalia. Customers should bring their utility account numbers, proof of income and social security numbers for all members of the household.  The financial relief amounts available from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) have recently doubled for Evergy Missouri customers. Residents can now receive over ,200 in LIHEAP financial relief toward their electric or gas bill. The emergency assistance benefit has increased to over 0 and if a customer has experienced...

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Abagail Gish, of Knob Noster, has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's Fall 2021 dean's list.  Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 are named to the dean's list. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits; undergraduate day students must earn 12 credits in the fall or spring semester, and online students must earn 12 credits in either EW1 & EW2, EW3 & EW4, or EW5 & EW6.

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A mac and cheese cook-off at Craft Beer Cellar Saturday was a tasty way to raise money for the arts. “We host the five monthly art walks up and down Ohio Street,” Dustin Schmidt, co-founder of NoBro Art Events, said. “NoBro stands for North of Broadway. We use this event to raise money for advertising the art walks because that's our primary expense. The chili cook-off and wing cook-offs are very popular, so we didn't want to do something that's already being done, so we decided on mac and cheese.” Craft Beer Cellar was packed as people sampled a lineup...

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Author and Professor John Hess, of Warrensburg, believes every place, no matter how small its ecosystem or where it is, deserves to have its richness known and recognized.  Hess is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, where during his 30-year career he taught ecology, ornithology, evolutionary biology, genetics, as well an occasional advanced photography class in the Department of Graphics. Hess recently published “A Perfectly Ordinary Paradise: An Intimate View on Brawley Creek.” He is also the author of “The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin's Tapestry.” Hess said in a phone interview on Monday he...

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Citizens Against Spouse Abuse Inc., of Sedalia, will observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April by hosting two events on Saturday, April 2. Julie Hoffert, CASA director of development, said that along with the annual 5K poker run, CASA is also offering an Art Exhibit that is free to enter. The 5K is taking place on the Missouri State Fairgrounds and the Art Exhibit will show on the upper level of the Mathewson Exhibition Center during the Home and Garden Show hosted by the Democrat. Hoffert said the CASA Development Committee, made up of various community members, talked about the...

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JOHNSON COUNTY — Motorists can expect various daily lane closures on Route 50 over the next few months due to Missouri Department of Transportation construction. According to a news release, MoDOT will close various east and westbound lanes on Route 50 between Highway 13 and County Road 1501 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The closures will run through Aug. 16. This project along Route 50 includes pavement repair, resurfacing and guardrail replacement. Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be...

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Thursday evening, the annual Police Awards Banquet was hosted at The Venue. Police Chief Matthew Wirt said he is proud of the work his officers do every day. “This is a time to celebrate what they've done and to reward the good things they've done,” Sedalia Police Chief Wirt said, “and then also to let our community know what our officers have done, and then it's a time for all of us to get together as a family.” Officer of the Year was awarded to Officer Davis Mittlehauser. “Davis Mittlehauser is a strong performing, just well-rounded police officer,” Wirt said....

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Last week, the Sedalia School District 200 announced that a new vocal music director will be teaching at Smith-Cotton High School starting July 1.  Mitchell Martinez, of Orrick, graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in vocal music education in 2020 before moving on to Oklahoma State University where he will graduate with his master’s degree in choral conducting in May.  This is Martinez’s first time leading a vocal music department.  “It’s kind of exciting that I finally get to have a program that is just mine…” Martinez said. “I’m really excited to kind of stretch my legs...

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Calvary Baptist Church, 1015 W. 16th St., will host an Adult Bible Study with music from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 7. The guest speaker is the Rev. Patrick Ryan with music by Pastor Don Satterwhite. Snacks will be provided. For further information, call Harmony Baptist Association at 660-826-2070.

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Western Missouri Medical Center is hosting an inaugural Colorectal Cancer Awareness Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30 in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. The event will be hosted next to the Courtyard Café in the main hospital building.  According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the “third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women” in the U.S. Colon cancer is the only cancer that can be avoided with a preventative screening: a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are for individuals 45 and older and are covered by most insurance providers. At the event,...

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE — A crew chief with the 131st Bomb Wing has been selected as the wing’s 2021 Crew Chief of the Year and awarded with an incentive flight in a B-2 Spirit bomber Jan. 9, 2022, here. Master Sgt. Joshua Upton, crew chief with the 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, earned the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Thomas N. Barnes Award after distinguishing himself as an essential leader in the wing’s ongoing mission of delivering B-2 global strike capabilities and strategic deterrence. “I got a good, solid year of hard work and high performance,” Upton said....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 22 7:18 p.m.: Nicholas Huerta, 27, of the 1300 block of South Carr Avenue, was arrested after a search warrant was executed in the 1300 block of South Carr Avenue. Detectives located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and other items indicating marijuana was being distributed from the location, which is within 2,000 feet of a school zone. Huerta has been charged with distributing a...

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More than 700 students received degrees from Missouri University of Science and Technology during commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 17, and Saturday, Dec. 18 at Missouri S&T.  Missouri S&T awards bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of science and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Sedalia: Ethan Hisle and Matthew Walker

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Welcome to IHOP’s favorite week! To the International House of Pancakes restaurant chain, Tuesday, March 1, might as well be Christmas. It’s National Pancake Day. (Cue the band and the fireworks.) Also known as flapjacks, hotcakes, griddle cakes, and johnnycakes (from perhaps “journey cakes” easily carried in saddle bags, or from the Shawnee “janiken” for flat cake), pan-cooked batter as a food source possesses quite a history. Cratinus and Magnes, Athenian comic poets of ancient Greece, included pancakes in their stories, and in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” the knight swears that “the pancakes are good.” In the period of...

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The University of Central Missouri’s Lifelong Learning Series will present “The Thinking Person’s Guide” on Thursday, March 10.  The program features speaker Tony Shaffer, who will share his insights on ways of thinking – a fun exploration of critical, creative and concise thinking accompanied by music, fishing stories and humor.  The program will be at 6:30 p.m. in rooms B and C at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St. in Warrensburg. A native of Sedalia, Tony Shaffer is a poet, teacher, musician, fly fisher and author of “The Spring Branch,” a long poem about “fly fishing, a good...

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WARRENSBURG — The University of Central Missouri is filling a vital position in the area of academic leadership with the appointment of Timothy R. Crowley, Hays, Kansas, as the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.  Crowley begins his new duties April 1. Crowley has served since June 2017 as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at Fort Hays State University, where his duties have included curriculum management, serving as an accreditation liaison officer for the Higher Learning Commission, providing leadership for the Honors College, General Education Program, Center for Civic Leadership and Credit for Prior...

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The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival will be hosted June 2 through June 4. The theme is “Women of Ragtime.” Featured performers include Clint and Ramona Baker, Anne and Jeff Barnhart, Taslimah Bey, Danny Coots, Bill Edwards, Marty Eggers, Virginia Eskin, Frederick Hodges, Brian Holland, Dave Majchrzak, Marilyn Nonken, David Reffkin, Joyce Richardson, Martin Spitznagel, Squeek Steele, Adam Swanson, Virginia Tichenor, Stephanie Trick, and Bryan Wright. The festival’s Artistic Director Bryan Wright is busy compiling concert schedules and Symposia Director Bill Edwards is working on arranging symposia presentations. Special events will include an Early Bird Social/Dance, a Donor Party, and...

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HARRISBURG –– Northwest’s shooting touch evaporated for too long to advance in Tuesday night’s Class 1 sectional. The Mustangs went over seven minutes in the second half without a field goal as Wellsville-Middleton pulled ahead to victory, 54-45. Following free throws by Pierson Tichenor to take a 36-30 lead, Tigers senior Issac Seabaugh (16 points) stroked a corner 3-pointer to spark the beginning of a prolonged run. A bucket by junior Logan Pursifull put Wellsville-Middleton back ahead in the final seconds of the third quarter, and it extended into the fourth quarter. Northwest finally ended an 11-0 run on a...

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Sacred Heart punched its ticket as the third Kaysinger Conference team to reach the quarterfinals with Wednesday night’s victory in Jefferson City. The Gremlins held on at Helias High School with a 64-58 triumph over a Class 2 Salisbury team ranked second in the most recent Class 2 MBCA Poll that Sacred Heart head coach Steve Goodwin described as “tall, athletic, strong. They passed the eye test.” An overwhelming Gremlins run helped them go into the lockers leading by 10 points, one that extended to 17 in the third quarter. “Defensively we got after it,” Goodwin said. “We had good...

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Tipton head coach Jason Culpepper knows as well as anybody how hard it is to slip away from his standout junior guard, Myra Claas. Most know what she can do on offense, but Claas got assigned to Montgomery County’s Malia Rodgers, who Culpepper called all-state caliber, and limited her to four points Wednesday night. “She's getting to the point where she can guard me and lock me down...she's getting better than me and I don't like it," Culpepper said. To lesser surprise, Claas got it done offensively with five 3-pointers and a game-high 23 points in the 59-25 Class 3...

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The circumstances that led Cole Camp to emerge from last weekend’s district tournament helped make the final 10 seconds of Wednesday night’s Class 3 sectional game at Smith-Cotton High School seem somewhat less daunting. The Bluebirds trailed 40-37 with 6.2 seconds to go, but defeated Montgomery County 42-41 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Ethan Shearer. “We can handle about anything after four overtimes in two days and that right there,” said the junior, referencing Cole Camp’s last two games, including a triple-overtime win over Stover in the district championship. “We can go as far as we want.” Reid Harrison and...

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The Department of Social Services has begun accepting applications for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), a new program that may be able to help with a one-time payment for water and/or wastewater bills. LIHWAP can help with disconnection or reconnection fees, threats to disconnect water or wastewater, and current or past due water or wastewater bills. The maximum benefit amount available is 0. LIHWAP will serve eligible individuals through the help of local Contracted Agencies. Individuals with water and wastewater bills who are at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI) may be eligible for help...

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On Wednesday evening, the State Fair Community College Faculty Association hosted a forum for the Board of Trustees candidates.  A small crowd gathered in the Thompson Conference Center along with others joining on Zoom. The candidates for two six-year terms are Christopher Guffey, incumbent Tim Carr and Billy Foster, all of Sedalia, and Amie Breshears, of Warsaw. Board President Randy Eaton and Board Secretary Nick La Strada did not seek re-election in the April 5 municipal election. Two-year candidate Tom Oldham, of Sedalia, is unopposed and did not participate in the session.  Voters in Pettis and Benton counties and the...

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On Tuesday, detectives with the Sedalia Police Department Crime Resolution Unit stopped two vehicles leaving the 1600 block of West Ninth Street, a residence determined to be involved in illegal drug activity. According to a news release, investigators had been receiving complaints from neighbors in the area regarding activity consistent with possible drug sales occurring from the home. Recently, investigators were able to identify individuals residing at the home who are involved in the described activity.  At the first traffic stop, detectives came into contact with the primary resident, Tyler N. Rusk, 29, who was arrested and transported to the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 24 4:31 a.m.: Travis J. Harris, 42, of the 1000 block of South State Fair Boulevard, was arrested after a traffic stop near Highway M and Broadway Boulevard after exhibiting indicators of criminal activity, impaired driving, and observed moving violations. Harris was found to be intoxicated by drugs and in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was placed under arrest, and...

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Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri, in partnership with McCarthy Toyota of Sedalia, is once again offering two graduating seniors a chance to win a [post_excerpt],000 scholarship for their future education efforts.  The Boys & Girls Club Alumni Scholarship invites seniors from the six school districts BGC serves – Smith-Cotton High School, Cole Camp High School, Green Ridge High School, La Monte High School, Leeton High School and Smithton High School – to apply for the funding, which can be used for any post-secondary educational purposes. One Sedalia senior and one senior from an outlying school district will...

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The Smithton R-VI School District announced the following students were named to the honor roll for the 2021-22 fall semester. Honor Roll Seventh grade: Reese Asbury, Larissa Radev. Eighth grade: Austyn Anderson, Makayla Rhodes, Ethan Shapley, Madisyn Sprinkle.  Ninth grade: Cole Bass, Isaac Bradley, Benjamin Harris, Collin May, Conner Petersen, Lane Sanders, Kaitlin Simmons, Nicholas Slaughter.  10th grade: Hayden Asbury, Brock Huffman, Kristen Smith.  11th grade: Baxter Brown, Dwight Huddleston, Jaden Keller, Lillian May, Maverick Rumsey, Abigail White.  12th grade: David Borlak, Jarett Davis, Nathaniel Grissom, Carson McNeeley.  Distinguished Honor Roll Seventh Grade: Skylar Bentley, Charles Clark, Aaden Foster, Callie...

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Wednesday, the cooks from Sedalia’s Care Connection for Aging Services were preparing meals at the new senior center at the Heckart Community Center. This week, they moved from their kitchen at the old senior center on South Washington Avenue. “Our last day was Feb. 28 at the old center, so now this is the only place where we’ll be, it’s our new home,” head cook and center coordinator for Care Connection Machele Thierfelder said. “I've been looking forward to this for years, ever since it was an idea back when (former Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director) Mark Hewett was still...

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Smith-Cotton High School Theatre 3 and 4 students will present their annual Theatre for a Cause on Friday night at the Heckart Performing Arts Center SCHS Speech and Theatre Teacher Elizabeth Carter said the one-act play “Fire Exit,” by Stacie Lents, will feature eight cast members and 11 crew. Directing the play is senior Caroline Beard, who chose for the proceeds to go to Child Safe of Central Missouri Inc. “Theatre for a Cause is an event that we do every year,” Carter explained. “We chose a student the year before and they have an assistant director, and then whoever...

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On Wednesday morning, Sacred Heart School announced its Teacher of the Year during an all-school mass hosted for Ash Wednesday.  Surrounded by pews filled with Sacred Heart students, their families and the congregation, preschool director and teacher Kay Keele, who has been with the school for nine years, was announced as the Teacher of the Year.  Teacher of the Year candidates must demonstrate a positive school spirit, be involved in school, church, and or community activities, achieve an overall above-average evaluation on classroom teaching and have at least six years of teaching experience at Sacred Heart. “This year’s Teacher of...

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COLE CAMP –– Only after both teams had battled for over 40 minutes did a winner become clear in Saturday’s Class 3 district title thriller between Cole Camp and Stover. The Bluebirds pulled away and defeated Kaysinger Conference foe Stover in triple-overtime, 63-50, for the fourth district championship in program history. It’s the first since 2017. “My mentors, coach [Robert] Farrington and William Smart, they raised me,” Cole Camp head coach Kevin Shearer said. “Anytime I can add numbers to the signs on the wall, it’s just a compliment to those men. I’m just honored to be mentioned in their...

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SMITHTON –– The Gremlins emerged Saturday from a district loaded with several other Kaysinger Conference frontrunners more experienced than themselves. Sacred Heart stormed back from a double-digit deficit to beat Lincoln, 45-41, in a Class 2 district title game. Following a span of eight such championships in a decade, it marked the first for Sacred Heart since 2018 when that reign of dominance ended, or at least took a reprieve. “I think it’s just our school,” Gremlins head coach Steve Goodwin said. “We’re used to winning big games. This is my 16th district final, the 15th at Sacred Heart, and...

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A fun, casual evening of fine dining, live entertainment, dancing, and a live auction has been planned for the State Fair Community College Foundation’s Live and In-Person Gala on March 26 in the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on the Sedalia campus.   The event is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. It will feature cocktails and appetizers; dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a dessert dash; a live auction, the Big Time Grain Company band, comedian Chad Thornsberry, and dancing. State Fair Career and Technical Center Executive Director Eric Rehmer will be the master of ceremonies. Garber...

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Green Ridge teen hurt in Henry accident Jonathan D. Parkhurst, 19, of Green Ridge, sustained minor injuries at 5:36 p.m. Monday in a Henry County crash.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Parkhurst was driving east on Route C in a 1995 Jeep Cherokee when he traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree. He was wearing a seat belt and was transported by private conveyance to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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The following students were named to the La Monte Elementary School honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year: Third Grade: Joseph Brandkamp, Dani Burrow, Jayce Jennings, Bailey Jones, Case Purchase, Ryeson Sams, Abbigail Simons, Gael Tolentino. Fourth Grade: Natalie Arroyo, Ryker Fernell, Kinzie Hall, Jose Hernandez, Christopher Morales-Comfort, Amenia Reynolds, Kaylee Shull. Fifth Grade: Yitsel Arroyo, Vanessa Cardenas, Sherlyn Diaz, Brody Gann, Isabelle Green, Belen Ibarra, Regina Jackson, Chris O'Dell, Jovanny Olmedo, Tracey Pahua, Osvaldo Perez, Ruby Priest, Hayden Smeraldo, Jessica Torres, Dominic Wilbern. Sixth Grade: Colin Arnold, Alex Comfort, Maritza Dedios, Ethan Durham, Marcos Lemus,...

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When George R. Smith filed the first plat for the town he called Sedalia and the plats for additions that extended Sedalia south past Third Street to south of Broadway Boulevard, he imagined that the town’s commercial development would move north from the town’s focal point, the Pacific Railroad tracks and their depot on Pacific Street just north of Main Street and Ohio Avenue.  This is likely what Smith had in mind when he and several other wealthy Sedalians built their homes on Broadway Boulevard. They were a half-mile from the noise and smoke of the railroad tracks and the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 23 8:11 p.m.: Keegan Riley Webner, 22, of the 200 block of East 24th Street, was issued a citation after an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East 24th Street In reference to a dog attack. It was determined that a dog knocked the juvenile over, causing injury. The owner was issued citations for dog at large and failure to...

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Dear Editor: Thank you to everyone who met with the Pettis County Commissioners at the Courthouse on Thursday, Feb 24 to voice your opinion about needing an ordinance to regulate landfills in Pettis County. Thank you for coming twice in one day to affirm your voice was heard. (Even amidst freezing sleet!)  And thank you for all those who expressed their opinion to the commissioners by sending or taking in your written opinions and by sending your opinions via the website. Each comment was important. Each comment made a difference.  Citizens from every township were present at the Courthouse or...

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Dear Editor: Good news!  There is action in both the U.S. Senate and the Missouri state legislature to reenact mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) which would be a big win for both US beef producers and consumers. At the state level, two resolutions have been offered (Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 from Senator Doug Beck and House Concurrent Resolution 62 offered by Rep. Tracy McCreery) that call on Congress to pass legislation bringing back mandatory COOL. In the US Senate, a bipartisan group of senators introduced The American Beef Labeling Act (Senate Bill 2716) which would reenact mandatory COOL by requiring that...

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Pettis County added 36 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,789, according to the Pettis County Health Center. There are a number of cases that are being reported without lab data, so the weekly count is underestimating those results.  The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is posting 11,804 positive cases for Pettis County.   “The DHSS website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 6.3% for the past seven days as compared to 15.6% for last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated...

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On April 5, you will be asked to vote on a number of different things depending on where you reside. The first thing that I would like to approach about elections is that we all have an obligation to vote. It is an obligation that is held far too low on our list of priorities based on past percentages of those who have visited the polls. Sometimes we believe that our vote doesn’t matter. Other times we feel that we just don’t have time to go to the polls. Others believe that someone else will do it, so they simply...

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Three Sedalia teens will be tried in Pettis County Circuit Court for the Dec. 10, 2021, killing of 32-year-old Tylar Simon. Friday, Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer released the names of 15-year-old Charles J. Boone, 16-year-old Andrew R. Knoeferl, and 15-year-old Jayden W. Miller, all of Sedalia. In the newly released probable cause statements, police, witnesses and the juveniles recount the events of Dec. 10. On Dec. 2, Boone, Knoeferl and Miller went to Tylar's home to burglarize the residence in the 1800 block of South Kentucky Avenue. The court document states Knoeferl knew Tylar had medical marijuana in...

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Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd Fraley has been named the next Sedalia School District 200 superintendent. The Board of Education approved the hiring decision in closed session during Monday night’s meeting.  In January, current Superintendent Steve Triplett announced he is retiring effective June 30. On July 1, Fraley will officially step into the position of superintendent.  According to a news release, Fraley has served in the district for 24 years, starting as a substitute teacher before becoming a special education teacher at Smith-Cotton High School from 1997 to 2003; he then served as a special education process coordinator for one school...

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COLE CAMP –– Only after both teams had battled for over 40 minutes did a winner become clear in Saturday’s Class 3 district title thriller between Cole Camp and Stover. The Bluebirds pulled away and defeated Kaysinger Conference foe Stover in triple-overtime, 63-50, for the fourth district championship in program history. It’s the first since 2017. “My mentors, coach [Robert] Farrington and William Smart, they raised me,” Cole Camp head coach Kevin Shearer said. “Anytime I can add numbers to the signs on the wall, it’s just a compliment to those men. I’m just honored to be mentioned in their...

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The following students have been named to the fall 2021 dean's list at Southeast Missouri State University. Sedalia: Tayler Gudde Windsor: Taylor Micheals Gudde has also been named to the Southeast Missouri State University President's List for academic achievement during the fall 2021 semester. Students named to the list earned at least a 4.0 grade point average and completed at least 12 hours of standard graded credit in a semester.

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Women in agriculture can improve their risk management skills and network with peers during Annie’s Project courses scheduled for spring 2022.  Hosted by the University of Missouri Extension, Annie’s Project courses feature 18 hours of risk management education. The courses focus on how to manage five types of farm risk: production, market, financial, legal and human resources. Two-course formats will be available this spring. Online courses include self-paced activities and videos, and classes meet each week for 2.5-hour live interactive online sessions. The hybrid course option combines virtual and in-person learning. • The Annie’s Project Online course will bring together...

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Monday evening, the Sedalia City Council hosted its Fiscal year 2023 Budget Work Session in the council chambers. “Tonight, we’re going to go through our annual budget work session,” City Administrator Kelvin Shaw said. “This is the meeting we set aside every year to go through specific items, probably the bigger decision items within the budget.” Shaw led the work session by outlining the work to be done by breaking it into a summary of Revenue vs. Expenditure trends, a review of the budget draft, specific Fiscal Year 2023 budget issues for Council decision or direction and next steps. Ward...

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COLE CAMP –– As they’ve been for the last four opponents, the Lady Cardinals were too much Friday night for Stover over four quarters. The Lady Bulldogs were where they needed to be for the opening quarter –– down just 18-15 –– and for the first several minutes of the second. But as they do, the Lady Cards began to separate, and the momentum began to really tilt on a 3-pointer by Courtney Edwards that made it 25-17 not long after. It came off a loose rebound following a few attempts that didn’t go in from the charity stripe for...

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American Inn, 1217 S. Limit Ave., passed its reinspection Friday.  According to a City of Sedalia news release, American Inn “is now in compliance with City Codes, including the ordinances specific to lodging facilities.” In November 2021, the city sent an order to cease and desist operations at this location due to the business’s failure to comply with established city codes aimed at protecting public safety, and particularly their patrons. Since that time, various city departments have been working with the owners to bring the operations into compliance with these standards. Through efforts of working with building officials, fire inspectors,...

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Dr. Stella Dayrit Roden, soprano, and Amanda Arrington, piano, will present "Bring to Light," a recital of art songs by women composers, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 in Hart Recital Hall in the Utt Music Building at the University of Central Missouri. Admission is free and open to the public. Roden is a music faculty member at UCM and Arrington is a staff collaborative pianist at Kansas State University.

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No day or evening classes will be held, and offices will be closed March 1 at all State Fair Community College locations (Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, and Whiteman Air Force Base) for a faculty and staff professional development day on the Sedalia campus.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center that provides technical training programs for area high school students will be in session March 1 to make up for previous inclement weather closing.    The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art will be open regular hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.  All...

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HUGHESVILLE — Having faced Rick Mills’ Leeton squad in a district championship before,  Northwest head coach Mark Scarbrough knew the task of winning wasn’t going to be easy.  In a Class 1 District 9 title bout that went down to the final second, the Mustangs were able to fit the right pieces together, winning 60-57 on Saturday.  “Talk about a tough, tough opponent,” Scarbrough said. “Rick Mills is one of the all-time great coaches in the state of Missouri. He continues to prove it year after year after year after year. I knew it would be a game like this....

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A young piano student, who wore a jaunty, felt western hat, was chosen on Sunday to conduct a selection during the Sedalia Symphony’s Winter Children’s Concert. The afternoon concert at the Heckart Performing Arts Center was geared toward children. Before the start of the concert, parents could enter the names of their children, ages 5 to 12, to be drawn for a chance to conduct a selection during the concert. Sarah Kehl, 9, the daughter of Ted and Elizabeth Kehl, of southeast Pettis County, was drawn from numerous entries after intermission by Symphony Conductor Jerrode Marsh. After her name was...

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Feb. 22 Stephen and Brenda Swazrtzentruber to Stephen Swartzentruber Trustee, Brenda Swartzentruber Trustee and the Swartzentruber Trust, section 15; township 47; range 20.  Everett Pogue to Christina Carroll, Subdivision Ritch2, lots 5, 6, block 8. Michael L. and Linda K. Ricker to Randy and Vickie Chambers, Subdivision Walthccr2, lot 95.  Byron J. Dillner Trustee, Joy L. Dillner Trustee, the Byron J. Dillner Trust and the Joy L. Dillner Trust to Jeffrey G. and Sherry L. Banner, Subdivision Rainbow1, lot 4, block 4.  Shawn M. and Janis D. Woolery to Cheryl Ruth Woolery, Subdivision, Cott, lot 1, block 10.  Robert N....

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Funding plans were the main focus of Monday night’s Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education meeting at Smith-Cotton High School. Assistant Superintendent Todd Fraley presented a plan for ESSER III funds to the board at a previous meeting. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, as part of the American Rescue Plan, were approved in 2020, 2021 and 2022 in response to the cost accrued by school districts due to the pandemic. Gov. Mike Parson signed the supplemental budget last week, which included allocating ESSER funds to Missouri school districts. Sedalia 200 has been allocated .1 million and a...

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COLE CAMP –– There was a throwback feel to Stover’s 43-39 victory over Tipton in Friday’s Class 2 district semifinal. For much of the game, little of the offense took place outside of the paint. That seemed to suit the Bulldogs just fine. “We’ve focused on it a lot,” Stover head coach Tony Pace said. “What we’ve tried to do is use our guards to spread everything out. Blaine [Broderson’s] still working on his offense, and some nights, it’s spectacular, but when he gets doubled it makes it tough. It helps him to spread it out when the guards play...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 21 11:34 a.m.: James Robert Campbell, 38, of Calhoun, was arrested after a vehicle stop at a business in the 100 block of East 16th Street for a defective brake light. Campbell is a registered sex offender and had failed to keep his residence information current. He was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked and released....

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Independence man in serious condition after Benton accident Jeffrey S. Harris, 53, of Independence, sustained serious injuries at 12:40 p.m. Sunday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Harris was driving east on Lost Valley Road and failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed over Main Street, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a utility pole, returned to the roadway, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a county bridge curb, and came to rest. Harris was wearing a seat belt and was transported to University Hospital in...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:30 a.m. to noon: Cole Camp City Park. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park. Wednesday 9 a.m.: La Monte R-IV School. 9:45 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m.: Green Ridge R-III School. 10:30 a.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Otterville R-VI School. 9:30 a.m. to noon: Smithton Diner. 1:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Manor.  1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Park. 

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WARRENSBURG — With spring cleaning around the corner, Warrensburg Main Street is asking people to clean out their formal dresses to help area high school students headed to prom. Assistant Director Jamie DeBacker said the idea to start a Prom Closet stemmed from Main Street’s annual Prom Parade, which began as a way to allow students to show off their formalwear when the pandemic canceled proms in 2020.  “We wanted to show a way for those who didn’t think prom was in their future, we have a ton of people in our community like me who have prom dresses in...

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In 1991, just eight years before Vladimir Surguy and his family moved to the United States, the Soviet Union was terminated in Ukraine, letting the country become independent. But this wasn’t the last time Ukrainian would have to fight Russia.  On Friday, Vladimir and his son Andrey Surguy spoke with the Democrat about how the current situation in Ukraine is affecting the Slavic community and his family in Pettis County.  “Of course, a lot of worries because we still have family there; my brothers, my sisters, my wife’s brothers and sister, and my nephew and nieces,” Vladimir said.  There is...

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Lincoln University of Missouri announced the fall 2021 dean's list honorees. The LU dean's list comprises undergraduate students completing a full-time load of graded coursework with a minimum term GPA of 3.5.  The fall 2021 dean's list honorees include the following local students: California: MacKenzie Kueffer, Peyton Peters Clayton Winkler and Brooklyn Worthey Fortuna: Robin Jurgensmeyer Jamestown: Ashley Adams, Morgan Heiland and Tristan Jones Lincoln: Sloan Swearngin Marshall: Keyanna Terrill Tipton: Alexander Griggs and McKenna Knipp

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCM  The Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCM met Feb. 15 at the Tipton United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall with 16 attending. Prior to the meeting, an optional pre-meeting member lunch was held at Hometown Café in Syracuse.  Gay Nau and Micki Williams, Presidents Pro Tem, conducted the meeting jointly. The Roll Call, "Downsize, maintain, change, or expand: what’s your preference?” was answered. Ellaine Beeman’s February birthday was recognized. Dorothy Collett, Barbara Harrison, and JoAnn Collier told of plans to utilize the 60-plus-degree weather to lightly prune the Maclay Home grapevines following the meeting. The...

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I’m an opinion columnist. I get paid to be witty and engaging, even mouthy. I’m meant to capture the pulse of the community and amplify it, taking important ideas and pruning them to 600-800 savvy and meaningful words a week. I want my words to inspire you, comfort you, make you think critically, or even make you uncomfortable. The limits of what I can here say are few. The Democrat has never tried to censor me or even reign me in, and I believe that its local leadership is committed to freedom of speech, a free press, and truth. (What...

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The last time Max and I went anywhere other than to see Emily in her home was March 2020. The day we left, the CDC recommended against senior citizens flying. We decided that we weren’t senior citizens regardless of our ages. Nevertheless, we took hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes and used them liberally. The day after we returned, everything shut down.  Max’s retirement, though, seemed to be a good time to venture out. So, being vaccinated and boosted against COVID, we ventured. We covered approximately 3,235 miles – no more than six hours in the car per day – and...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Kimberly I. Harris and Mark S. Harris. 

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During daily meetings Feb. 14 to Feb 25, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: Feb. 14: Citizen JR Chamberlin discussed Houston and High Point roads. The Commission moved the date of the public hearing regarding the proposed waste management ordinance to Thursday, Feb. 24 due to forecasted winter weather issues, to ensure all Commissioners could be present for action and to ensure ample time for public review and comment.  Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza attended the National Association of Counties (NACO) Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.  Feb. 15: Marcum and Baeza attended NACO.  Feb. 16:...

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I sometimes hear from readers who refer to an “editorial” I wrote for the Sedalia Democrat, or a “letter to the editor.” But I write neither editorials nor letters to the editor. I write a column. I’ve always assumed that readers knew the difference between the three types of newspaper opinion writing. But I suspect some may not, so it’s time for a little journalistic shoptalk. Editorials are considered the opinion of the newspaper. Like many papers today that are operating with reduced news staffs, the Democrat doesn’t publish editorials. Letters to the editor and personal columns reflect the opinions...

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Three Sedalia juveniles have been charged for the December murder of a Sedalia man. Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer announced Friday night that he had filed charges against three teenagers in connection with the death of 32-year-old Tylar Simon on Dec. 10 at a residence in the 1800 block of South Kentucky Avenue.  Charles J. Boone, 15, has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, armed criminal action, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree assault and second-degree burglary. He was issued a 0,000 bond, cash or surety. Andrew R. Knoeferl, 16, has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, armed...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “These Precious Days,” by Ann Patchett. Nonfiction “All American Christmas,” by Sean Duffy. “The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World,” by Tim Marshall. “The Library: A Fragile History,” by Andrew Pettegree. “Workhorse: My Sublime and Absurd Years in New York City’s Restaurant Scene,” by Kim Reed.  “Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19,” by Matt Ridley.  “Wish It Lasted Forever: Life With LArry Bird Celtics,” by Dan Shaughnessy. 

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Mr. and Mrs. Randy Durrill, of Warsaw, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a party hosted by their children at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at their home.  Sheila Heinaman and Randy Durrill were married Feb. 22, 1997, at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, by the Rev. Dianz.  Mr. Durrill is retired from Co-op in Sedalia and Mrs. Durrill is the life enrichment coordinator at Cedarhurst of Sedalia.  The couple has four children, Jennifer (Wade) Norton, of Sedalia, Cory (Ryan) Durrill, of Martinburg, West Virginia, Melissa (Nate) Peimann, of St. Charles, and Krista Rutledge, also of...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Billy Ray Turner, 51, and Janelle Rena Vereen, 51, both of Sedalia; Andrew Brock Felker, 29, and Miranda Logan Arnold, 26, both of Sedalia. Jeffery Harold Lynde Jr., 34, and Lori Beth Zeisset, 33, both of Houstonia. 

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 24 4:22 p.m.: Chelsea M. Washington, 29, of the 2400 block of West Main Street, was arrested after an officer responded to the 2400 block of East 10th Street for a child abuse report. Upon arrival, contact was made with the reporting party and the child, who had significant bruising from being slapped while at a childcare provider. The suspect was later...

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Clinton man hurt in Benton accident Austin L. Stackhouse, 32, of Clinton, sustained minor injuries at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2002 Dodge Ram driven by Cody W. Lock, 19, of Deepwater, was southbound on Route 7 and started sliding on the ice-covered roadway, crossed the centerline of the roadway and struck a northbound 2000 Honda Civic driven by Stackhouse. Lock was reportedly wearing a seat belt, Stackhouse was not. Stackhouse was transported by private vehicle to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton.  Kingsville woman hurt in Johnson...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by East Sedalia Baptist Church. Monday: Chicken and noodles, green beans, banana, roll and milk. Tuesday: Meatloaf, posh potatoes, mixed veggies, cookie, roll and milk. Wednesday: Pulled pork on bun, potato salad, apple and milk.  Thursday: Ham and beans, cornbread, tropical fruit and milk. Friday: Pork fritter on bun, macaroni...

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WINDSOR — A Windsor homeowner has been arrested for killing a man he suspected of stealing from his property. Mark A. Fielder, 53, is being held in the Henry County Jail for the shooting death of 41-year-old James R. Fannon. Fielder has been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and second-degree assault. He was issued a 0,000 bond, cash or surety. Around midnight Thursday, Fielder witnessed two individuals in a car fleeing after allegedly stealing what one witness described as three fishing poles from his property. Fielder, and...

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SMITHTON –– The road to Saturday’s Class 2 district championship was paved at the free-throw line for Sacred Heart. Eight of 12 attempts made in the fourth quarter by the Gremlins were good enough to lift them past host Smithton 54-49 in Wednesday night’s semifinal. “I was just hoping we’d shoot some before the end of the night,” said Sacred Heart head coach Steve Goodwin. “We just kept going at it. I thought it was a pretty hostile environment, and our kids hung tough.” “Sacred Heart, we really like winning in this gym.” Air-tight on the scoreboard throughout most of...

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On Thursday, the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees heard many staff and public comments about why the board decided to interview all five presidential candidates instead of only the three who the search committee recommended.  The college began the process of seeking a new president after current SFCC President Joanna Anderson announced in August that she would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. The meeting in the Thompson Conference Center began 45 minutes late due to technical issues with the live stream. The board had to set up a phone on the podium for...

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Thursday, Sedalia Police Cmdr. David Woolery released more details on the Aug. 23, 2021, fentanyl death of Micah Munro, and Tuesday’s arrest of Nathan Riga, 30, of Warsaw. Sedalia police officers responded to the 200 block of South Quincy Avenue for a report of a man who was not breathing. The officers, along with members of the Pettis County Ambulance District and Sedalia Fire Department, began life-saving measures, but after extensive efforts, 24-year-old Micah Munro was pronounced dead at the scene.  Woolery credits the actions of Crime Resolution Unit officers and investigators for cracking the case six months later. “They've...

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A Thursday morning public input session hosted by the Pettis County Commissioners drew a crowd of around 200 people to the third-floor courtroom of the Pettis County Courthouse.  Presiding Commissioner David Dick, Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza, and Western Commissioner Jim Marcum listened as the public addressed them with comments and concerns about the proposed Pettis County landfill. “My name is Steve Jeffery, I represent Pettis County First. As you can see, there are a lot of folks concerned about this issue,” Jeffery said. “It's very important to them, and on behalf of my clients I want to thank the commissioners...

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WARRENSBURG — “VOUCHer; Or, That PTA Play” by Benjamin Gonzales is on the lighter side of a dark comedy and follows the comings and goings of a group of dedicated parents as they work to hold their dwindling PTA group together.  Presented by the University of Central Missouri Theatre and Dance, the play performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-26 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.   ASL Interpreters will be available at the Thursday, Feb. 24 show, and the Sunday matinee is pay-what-you-can.   This play is for mature audiences only. As the production opens,...

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WARSAW, Mo. (AP) — A man accused of participating in the killing of a 4-year-old Missouri girl in what law enforcement theorized was a religious act has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.  Ethan Mast, 36, entered the plea Tuesday, admitting to his role in the death of Jessica Mast, television station KYTV reported. The 4-year-old girl was found dead at her parents' rural Benton County home on Dec. 20, 2020. Investigators said the girl had been severely beaten with a belt and dunked in an icy pond as part of what appeared to be a "religious-type episode," Benton County Sheriff...

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri’s 32nd annual Evening of Heart & Hope, presented by the W-K Family of Dealerships, raised more than 5,000 for local children, including more than ,000 in Whatever It Takes Scholarship funds, thanks to generous support from the Sedalia area community. “After last year’s virtual event, the 2022 Evening of Heart & Hope proved it was time to make up for lost time together,” said Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Gary Beckman. “You could feel the energy in the room; it was great to hear everyone’s laughter and enthusiasm to come...

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OATS Transit is open for regular transportation service. OATS Transit follows Federal Transit Administration requirements, which means face masks must be worn on public transit due to COVID-19 through March 18.  Call the OATS Transit office at 660-827-2611 or 800-276-6287 to schedule a ride or find out about service in your area. Citizens can also visit www.oatstransit.org and click on their county under the tab “Bus Schedules” to view the local schedule. OATS Transit is available to the rural general public of any age, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. It also contracts with a number of agencies to serve their...

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St. Paul’s Lutheran School is hosting a shoe drive fundraiser.  The school is collecting new and gently worn athletic shoes until the end of May or whenever the goal of 700 shoes is met. Donations can be dropped off at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, 701 S. Massachusetts Ave. Shoes can be all sizes but must be pairs of athletic shoes and still wearable.  By partnering with St. Paul’s PTL, the school will get paid for what the students collect and plan to use the funds toward classroom needs, such as science kits, technology, the playground or gym.  After Angel Bins...

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The Green Ridge Community Fire Department will host a pancake and sausage supper from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at the Green Ridge School cafeteria. The cost is for adults and for children 10 and under. Carry-out is available. 

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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) announced the following students were named to the Fall 2021 President's List. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits; undergraduate day students must earn 12 credits in the fall or spring semester, and online students must earn 12 credits in either EW1 & EW2, EW3 & EW4, or EW5 & EW6. Knob Noster: O'Corye' Atkins Whiteman Air Force Base: Britney Hodges and Tyler Stevenson 

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Church Women United, of Sedalia, will host an in-person meeting Monday, Feb. 28 at Reed Community Center on East 24th Street. The social begins at 11:30 a.m. Those attending are requested to bring a sandwich and drink. The regular meeting will begin at noon. The Community Center has asked those who are not vaccinated to wear a mask, otherwise, a mask is optional.

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University of Missouri Extension Pettis County has scheduled a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program workshop at First United Methodist Church Celebration Center, 1701 W. 32nd St. in Sedalia, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday from March 16 to April 20. This free course was developed by Stanford University’s Patient Education Research Center based on the assumption that people with chronic diseases have similar concerns and challenges.  This six-week interactive workshop will discuss with participants problems caused by chronic disease and introduce principles and approaches to chronic disease self-management.  It will allow participants to discuss strategies to take care of their...

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WARRENSBURG — For anyone who needs a break from cooking dinner, the Love What’s Local Committee has an idea for you: participating in the annual Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week is sponsored by the Love What’s Local committee, which is a partnership between the City of Warrensburg, Warrensburg Main Street and the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce. This year, it will be hosted Feb. 25 to March 6. According to a news release, Restaurant Week is “designed to encourage community members to love what's local by trying a new restaurant or menu item, or visiting an old favorite.”  Once the pandemic began,...

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On Wednesday afternoon, Williams Woody Nissan hosted a customer appreciation day to introduce new owners and to say goodbye to the community they have served for many years.  Williams Woody Nissan shared on Facebook on Saturday that, while it was not an easy decision, they would sell the dealership to Stephanie and Chad Morris so they could spend some long-overdue time with their family.  Stephanie and Chad live in Dallas, Texas, but both grew up in Oklahoma.  “The Woody family wanted to retire so they were very selective about who they wanted and how they wanted it handled,” Chad said. ...

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Missouri University of Science and Technology announces the names of students who made the honor list for the Fall 2021 semester. To be included on the honor list, students must have carried a minimum of 12 hours and had grade point averages of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0. California: Wilson Remmel Cole Camp: Ethan Paxson Holden: Jazmyn Baldwin and Faith Sollars Kingsville: Caleb Lawatsch La Monte: Alicia Davis Marshall: Joseph Henke Sedalia: Madeline Allen, Ethan Daly, Malacki Ehlers, Ethan Hisle, Akaycia Mather, Kearn Mccullough, Cayle Mootz, Jorge Noriegapereira, Andrew Sadler, Mason Thompson and Matthew Walker Versailles: Cylan...

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The Johnson County Adult Literacy Program (JCALP) will host the Annual David Cunningham Memorial Scrabble Tournament from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at the Matthews-Crawford Post 131 American Legion Hall, 733 E. Young Ave. in Warrensburg. The tournament will raise money for JCALP and honor the memory of friend and family member David Cunningham, who gave back to his community in numerous ways. The tournament is open to players of all skill levels. Players sign up to play in one of five levels: Child, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Expert. Players can also sign up to play as a...

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WARRENSBURG — Known worldwide for his role in the ground-breaking discovery of “Lucy,” which researchers consider a direct ancestor to humankind, paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson will make a public presentation March 28 at the University of Central Missouri.  The lecture, free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in Hendricks Hall, located on the second floor of the Administration Building. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Johanson, who is a professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University-Tempe and founding director at the Institute of Human Origins, is making his third visit to...

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Audra Reichert is an operating room nurse who lives just across the state line in Illinois. With her son now in college, Reichert decided to once again try being a travel nurse.  A travel nurse is defined as a nurse who gets hired by health care staffing companies to work temporary contracts for hospitals and other health care providers at different locations around the country away from the nurse’s legal tax home. Reichert found the Sedalia contract through an agency. “A nurse agency,” Reichert said, “they’ll put out a list of jobs that are available per state, and you work...

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Broaching the subject of seriousness and realism, the play “Leveling Up” explores the lives of four young people and the decisions they make and the consequences of those ideations. The play opens today and will run this weekend and next. Information from the State Fair Community College Theatre Department said “Leveling Up” is about three 20-something roommates who are glued to their video games. They are masters of the virtual world behind the computer screens in their Las Vegas basement. When one of them uses his gaming skills to land a job with the National Security Agency launching actual drones...

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Green Ridge Presbyterian Church will host a chili and soup dinner from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27. The cost is a freewill offering. 

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Windsor woman in serious condition after Henry crash  Darlene F. Irvin, 55, of Windsor, sustained serious injuries at 5:55 a.m. Thursday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ervin was driving west on Route 52 in a 2008 Lincoln MKX when she lost control of the vehicle on the ice-covered roadway, causing the vehicle to travel off the right side of the road and overturned.  Irvin was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to Research Hospital in Kansas City by Golden Valley ambulance. Two in serious condition after Moniteau County head-on accident...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 22 7:18 p.m.: Nicholas Huerta, 27, of the 1300 block of South Carr Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop at South Kentucky Avenue and West 32nd Street. The driver was intoxicated and was transported to the Pettis County Jail and charged with driving while intoxicated - drugs. Incidents Feb. 23 9:45 a.m.: An officer spoke with a caller in reference to...

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A Warsaw man has been charged with murder in connection with a Sedalia man's drug overdose death in 2021. According to a Sedalia Police Department news release, on Aug. 23, 2021, Sedalia police officers responded to the 200 block of South Quincy Avenue for a report of a man who was not breathing. The officers, along with members of the Pettis County Ambulance District and Sedalia Fire Department, began life-saving measures, but after extensive efforts, 24-year-old Micah Munro was pronounced dead at the scene.  The release states responding officers and members of the SPD Crime Resolution Unit immediately began gathering...

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At Tuesday evening’s Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees meeting, CEO Lori Wightman, Sedalia City Administrator Kelvin Shaw, and Chairman Stafford Swearingen educated the other board members on what they learned by attending the Rural Health Conference recently. “It goes without saying that this is a time of fairly high stress,” Swearingen said, “and one of the presenters had numerous ideas on how to combat stress. What he does before going into surgery is to just have a breathing exercise. Everybody gets together before they go into surgery and they just take deep breaths, and maybe play some Van...

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Dear Editor: The Pettis County Commission is rushing the county into an agreement with the Pettis County Development Corporation (PCDC) to allow a new landfill to open in western Pettis County, near Dresden.  A draft of a county ordinance governing the development and a draft of a Host Agreement with PCDC are very recently made available for public viewing online and in the Pettis County Courthouse. The County Commissioners are scheduled to vote the proposal into effect on February 24th. This will commit Pettis County to an agreement over which we will have little control going forth and which has...

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Tuesday evening, the Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met and discussed plans made by the Strategic Planning Committee and heard an update from Medical Director Dr. David Gustafson. EMS Chief Eric Dirck reported there was a decrease in pre-hospital COVID patient contacts in February with only 29 this month compared to 65 at the same time in January. He also discussed the snow and ice removal costs. He brought up the suggestion of hiring out versus owning a UTV with a blade. “I did want to put a bug in the board’s ear about looking at some cost...

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The Sedalia City Council is a month away from approving the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, and discussions continued during Tuesday night’s meeting. City Administrator Kelvin Shaw gave a budget presentation, offering a look back at Fiscal Year 2022 and a preview of the upcoming fiscal year. He said “the state of the city is great” with an S&P credit rating of AA-, a .5 million budget, .7 million in the General Fund, and a General Fund balance of 65%. “What you appropriate funds for sends a clear message to staff for what your priorities are and the community,” Shaw told...

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On Tuesday evening, the Sedalia Community Educators’ Association announced the Sedalia School District 200 Associate and Educator of the Year in the Heckart Performing Arts Center at Smith-Cotton High School.  SCEA President Shelley Lutjen began the evening by introducing each building-level Associate of the Year, followed by the building-level winners for Educator of the Year. Each winner received a flower, certificate, trophy, and a SCEA grant. District-wide winners are included on a plaque that is displayed in Central Office. “These winners were nominated on and voted on by staff members within their own building. Thank you to all of...

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In between awarding the Associate and Educator of the Year awards, the Sedalia Community Educators’ Association also hosted a candidate forum for the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education on Tuesday afternoon in the Heckart Performing Arts Center at Smith-Cotton High School. Board of Education President Diana Nichols, who has been on the board since 2013, and Secretary Barbara Schrader, who is in her first term, are up for re-election. Nichols, Schrader, Michelle Quattlebaum, Brian Smith and Serena Cronk will all appear on the April 5 ballot. Quattlebaum also ran for the board in 2021. Terms are for three...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 13 8:25 a.m.: Raymond Austin Sampson, 59, of the 1000 block of East Third Street, was arrested after a vehicle stop at West Third Street near South Washington Avenue for license plate lights. Samson was determined to be intoxicated and was transported to the SPD, issued a uniform traffic ticket for driving while intoxicated, and was released to a sober driver. Feb....

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More snowfall and below-freezing temperatures are in the forecast this week for west-central Missouri. According to the National Weather Service, sub-zero wind chills are expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Wind chills are expected to fall to nearly 15 below across northwest Missouri early Wednesday morning. Light snowfall is possible Wednesday night into Thursday. The NWS forecast for Sedalia states a 30% chance of snow is possible after 1 p.m. Wednesday. The high will be near 25 but with wind chill values between -3 and 7. North wind will be 10 to 14 mph with gusts as high as 22...

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Pettis County added 83 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,753, according to the Pettis County Health Center. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 15.6% for the past seven days through Feb. 15, which is a decrease from 25.3% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Tuesday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 217/100,000. This week there were 639 PCR tests and 380 antigen tests for a...

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Pettis County First will host a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3700 W. Broadway Blvd. The public is encouraged to attend as actions to prevent the proposed landfill will be discussed.

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Candidate filing began Tuesday for the Aug. 2 primary election in Missouri. County candidates can file at the Pettis County Clerk’s Office while state and federal candidates file with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office. Filing ends March 29. Candidates must list a political party. Those who win their party’s race in August will go on to the General Election on Nov. 8. U.S. Senate Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., announced last year that he would not be seeking another term after serving since 2010. That announcement led to a long list of candidates making their own announcements to seek Blunt’s...

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Orestes A. Crandall worked as a banker, first establishing the Pettis County Bank and then the Missouri Trust Company, which was reorganized in June 1901 as the Sedalia Trust Company. He was working here at the time of his death in July 1901. He also worked as an attorney, arguing cases before the Circuit Court and the District Court.  In 1877, he was able to combine his skills in finance and law to save Sedalia’s credit rating, and according to his obituary, to save the city’s taxpayers over 0,000 in interest payments. In another case, he was able to save...

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There are varying views about our southern border crisis. Some do not believe it to be a “crisis” at all. They believe that people should be able to enter our country freely, without vetting because they are human. They believe that it is the right thing to do. Other people believe that the problem with immigrants coming across the border will be the loss of jobs that are currently available for citizens of the United States. Personally, I hardly see this as an issue because as of Dec. 31, there were a staggering 10.9 million jobs available. People have chosen,...

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COLUMBIA — Christian Whisler’s season on the wrestling mat was anything but healthy.  The Tipton junior missed more than half of his season due to various injuries. It started off with elbow surgery for nerve damage, and ended with a dislocated shoulder.  Nonetheless, he battled through with an underdog mentality, earning a third-place finish in the MSHSAA Class 1 Wrestling Championships 170-pound bracket on Saturday at Mizzou Arena.  “Without wrestling and also not being able to lift or anything like that, I lost a lot of weight [at the beginning of the season],” Whisler said. “I went from 168-pounds to...

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The first half of Saturday night’s game between State Fair Community College and Moberly Area Community College saw 29 fouls called. At least several of them had Greyhounds head coach Pat Smith up in arms, literally. Just a seat or two away on the bench was assistant coach Timothy Ward. The hardwood at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center is familiar to his feet: Ward played on it multiple times as a Cole Camp Bluebird. “That’s what I was telling these guys, I played a lot of high school basketball in here,” Ward said following the game, a 95-69 win...

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Warrensburg woman hurt in Johnson accident Sonja M. Dupre, 58, of Warrensburg, sustained minor injuries at 11:13 a.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Dupree was merging onto West U.S. Highway 50 at PCA Road in a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer when she struck ice and her vehicle overturned. She was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.  Overland Park man injured in Johnson County accident Richard D. Prim, 42, of Overland Park, Kansas, sustained moderate injuries at 3:42 p.m....

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Missouri State University awarded 1,509 degrees to students in fall 2021. The commencement ceremonies took place Dec. 17, at JQH Arena in Springfield. Cole Camp: Josilyn Harms Knob Noster: Maria Lytle Sedalia: Kirby Lewellyn, Max Martin and Allison Rucker Stover: Jackie Witte Windsor: Hawk Johnson

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrests Feb. 18 11:13 p.m.: Dylan E. Davenport, 28, of Tipton, was arrested in Morgan County for driving while intoxicated – prior offender. He was released on summons.  Feb. 19 11:28 p.m.: Joshua Canbrana, 25, of Sedalia, was arrested in Johnson County for driving while intoxicated – drugs. He was released.  11:53 p.m.: Johnnieray B. Collins, 30, of Warrensburg, was arrested in Johnson...

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Feb. 14 Patricia and Anthony B. Monsees Jr. to Marina Konstantin Solovyanchik, section 7; township 45; range 20. Michael and Shelly Kaplan to Ronnie D. Bush, sedition 3; township 45; range 21. Valerie and Nicholas MMetinez to Jill M. Dulaban, Subdivision Dal-Whi-Mo, lot 8, block 7.  Autumn R. Porter to Michele and Skyler Kathryn Rupard, Subdivision Katy, lot 14. Valmer Thomas to Bruce and Alice Stroble, section 11; township 45; range 23.  Thomas Valmer to Mark D. and Teri H. Curtis, section 16; township 45; range 23. Valmer Thomas to Warner Farms LLC, section 35; township 46; range 23.  Carla...

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With the April 5 municipal election now six weeks away, that means today, Feb. 22 is the first day of absentee voting. Feb. 22 also marks the first day of candidate filing for the primary election in August, which includes county, state and federal offices. Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada said on Friday that his office was set to mail out more than 900 ballots, and that number could increase as they receive additional applications. “If you are a registered voter and feel you cannot make it to your polling location (on Election Day), come to the second floor...

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It has been almost a year since online health and fitness coach Taylor Lutz has started her online platform, Body By Tay.  Body By Tay is an online fitness and health business that aims to help busy women get back into exercising, build the body of their dreams and get rid of the dreaded bloat while still enjoying the foods they love. She said she hopes to beat the stigma of diet culture.  Lutz said some of the changes that customers can see since the business’ beginning in 2021 are more established and professional ways of client delivery.  “I have...

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WARRENSBURG — Fighting fires and filling stomachs, James Wilson has found a way to make his two passions work in tandem.  “I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” Wilson said. “I love to cook. I love cooking for people. Basically, I just got really tired of clocking in (for) people.”  Wilson, a part-time firefighter with the Johnson County Fire Protection District, recently opened a food cart.  Wilson’s business, Street Foods and Catering, was born out of his desire to continue working with the JCFPD. Wilson said a former employer wanted him to stop his work with the JCFPD. Wilson parted ways with the...

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The Missouri Arts Council has chosen local artist and muralist Linda Hoover as one of its four February Featured Artists.  Each month, MAC chooses four artists from around the state and highlights their work on its website. Hoover, 75, of Houstonia, is the Sedalia Visual Art Association president, a former school teacher and is known in the area for her murals. Hoover also works in watercolor, is a portrait artist, and enjoys drawing fun caricatures of people. She received her degree in art education from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and her master's degree from the University of...

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Local artist Nick Bero admits that his love of woodcarving comes from his father, a veteran. “I started sculpting when I was just a kid. My dad, he started chainsaw carving in 1979 after he kind of had trouble finding good employment after the Vietnam war,” chainsaw artist Nick Bero said. “He whittled as a kid, and when he saw a guy doing it on the side of the road with a chainsaw it struck him that a chainsaw is just a big knife, and a lot of the techniques can be applied from knife carving to chainsaw.” Bero had...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Monday: Pork riblet on bun, baked beans, cookie and milk. Tuesday: Spaghetti, corn, breadsticks, brownie and milk. Wednesday: Stuffed pepper casserole, hominy, tropical fruit, roll and milk. Thursday: Beef and noodles, green beans, pudding, roll and milk. Friday: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, roll...

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Last week I could not complete a column because I was in the hospital for a planned lung biopsy. The surgeon used video-assisted surgery to remove a pea-sized piece of tissue from my lower left lung. We had been watching this slow-growing speck closely for almost two years, waiting for it to either recede or reach a size where it could be effectively removed. Unfortunately, this spot was a metastatic synovial sarcoma tumor. This means that my cancer is now classified Stage 4. I will be considered a cancer patient for the rest of my life. This was obviously not...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday No run: Presidents Day Wednesday 9:30 to 11;45 a.m.: Boonville, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater Main Street. Friday 9 to 11:45 a.m.: Brooking Park. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: Monsees Lake. 

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Holly A. Meyer and Shawn K. Vallery; Geoff D. Wiegel and Maggie L. Calkins; Debbie Diaz and Richard Diaz. 

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David and Linda (Smith) Henderson, of Sedalia, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 20. They have one child, Hether (David) Celetti, of Jacksonville, Florida; and one grandson. 

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In a progressive and positive move forward, the Sedalia Symphony Orchestra, now in its 87th season, has formed a collaboration with KMOS-TV for a tentative documentary and will soon publish a history book with Sedalia historian Rebecca Imhauser. Sedalia Symphony Board member Anne Tempel said Friday that she has introduced several novel ideas for the symphony’s approval including the book, the documentary and also filming by KMOS-TV of the Winter Children’s Concert slated for Sunday, Feb. 27.  Tempel said the idea for a history book on the Sedalia Symphony came to her when she visited Reader’s World last year. While...

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Three hurt in Pettis accident Jennifer K. Stout, 50, of Jefferson City; Rachel K. Becker, 30, of Sedalia, and a juvenile female from Sedalia all received minor injuries at 10:20 a.m. Thursday in a Pettis County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred as Martez L. Troy, 36, of Sedalia, was following too close in an eastbound 2003 Ford on U.S. Highway 50 at Crestview Drive. He was unable to stop and struck the right rear of a 2002 Saturn driven by Stout. Everyone was reportedly wearing a seat belt. Stout, Becker and the juvenile...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 11 4:43 p.m.: Oleg A. Mironov, 27, of Sedalia, was arrested after a caller reported that his credit card had been stolen and more than ,700 worth of charges had recently been made on it. Mironov was located in the Walmart parking lot on Feb. 12 and was arrested. A search of his vehicle located items possibly taken from a stolen car...

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As a 30-year-old woman, heart health is not necessarily at the forefront of my health concerns. I know it’s important, but strokes, heart attacks and high blood pressure seem like something older generations should focus on. And with health problems of my own in the last few years, such as being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020, I’ve had other priorities at the top of my health care list.  However, February is American Heart Month and as part of the Bothwell Foundation’s Wear Red Committee, I wanted to share some heart health information that can be beneficial to women of...

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Former Sedalian Erica Harrell Montgomery, a 1995 Smith-Cotton High School graduate, has published her first book, “The Craft Center,” which provides life lessons on kindness, friendship and community advocacy. Montgomery now lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, Riccardo Montgomery, son Devon Leach, 22, and daughter Sariyah Montgomery, 3. Montgomery’s oldest son, Christopher Leach, 24, and her granddaughter Kendra Leach live in Columbia.  The book’s characters center around Montgomery, her daughter and her granddaughter and how making crafts evolves into helping a homeless child. Montgomery is a former preschool teacher who taught in Columbia before opening her own craft shop...

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​​Natural gas customers Traci Spencer and Nancy Sims-Van Buren were shocked when they opened their gas bills this month. “Typically, this time of the year when it gets cold my gas bill usually runs somewhere around about 0 somewhere in that range,” Sims-Van Buren said. “This month when I opened it up it was 8. I thought it was a mistake and called Liberty Utilities, they told me that the gas prices went up and that it’s across the nation. She said that gas prices have tripled.” Sims-Van Buren went online to see if other people were experiencing higher than...

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The first education discussions of Missouri’s 2022 legislative session featured multiple proposed “Parents’ Bill of Rights” bills that could change the range of parental oversight in education.  Some of the bills mentioned in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee centered on parents’ oversight of curriculum, banning the teaching of specific subjects and creating a process to recall school board members. Two of the bills that concern current educators are House Bills 1995 and 1474.  HB1995, sponsored by state Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, would establish “The Parents' Bill of Rights for Student Well-Being." It would include the right to...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Cross-country trips are not as serendipitous as one might imagine. These days, travelers must plan ahead, making sure to have a clean, reputable place to stay every night, as well as a well-planned-out route, just in case something goes wrong. Sometimes, though, serendipity plays a major role in having a good day on the road. And that happened Tuesday. We had left friends in Sanibel and were headed toward St. Augustine, the oldest city in America. About an hour into our trip, we were trying to decide whether to take an alternate route my fickle friend Siri suggested when I...

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Dear Editor:  Regarding the February 11, 2022 coverage of the Citizens for Transparency Sedalia 200 School Board Candidate Forum by the Sedalia Democrat, I feel compelled to help the newspaper bring a more complete view of the evening. One typo is clear in the beginning of the article, as it indicates there are four candidates, then mentions five names. The true number of candidates is five, not four. The article does accurately mention that three declined to attend to answer questions or face the voters, including the two current board members who filed for re-election. While the coverage is certainly...

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To qualify for this list an undergraduate student must attain a semester 4.0 grade point average and must complete at least 12 credit hours. Boonville: Zya Hauptmann and Emily Imhoff Knob Noster: Elizabeth Collier Sedalia: Sadie Rollings Warrensburg: Natalie Fatka, Shania Montufar and Ashley Staab Windsor: Megan Gentes

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Be Forever Young Be Forever Young met at Parkview Christian Church Monday, Feb. 14. Fifteen members attended. President Elayne Gordon introduced herself as a child of God and a follower of Jesus Christ, who had traded his life for hers. Gordon welcomed members and wished everyone a happy Valentine’s Day. Gordon asked the group to raise prayer needs and share blessings members had experienced and then went to God in prayer concerning the same. The club took a minute to remember the passing of James Edwards, who had recently entertained with his vocals and piano. The club sang “Happy Birthday”...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Jack Howard Horn Jr., 57, and Tammy Marie Coffey, 49, both of Sedalia; Aleksandr Vladimirovic Martynov, 26, of Andover, Maine, and Natayla Sergeyevna Zykina, 25, of Sedalia;  Gervase Wayne Lamb Jr., 48, and Monica Sue Bramell, 48, both of Sedalia; Brenten Michael Kinsley, 32, and Tiffany Anne Eldridge, 29, both of Sedalia. 

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Mr. and Mrs. Jack Drexler, of Sedalia, celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary Feb. 11.  Delores Huitt and Jack Drexler were married Feb. 11, 1956, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in St. Louis by Fr. Hamtil. Mr. Drexler is a retired data processing manager. Mrs. Drexler is a retired school bus driver. They have five children, Diane Sackman, of Fenton, Robert Drexler, Thomas Drexler, James Drexler and Michael Drexler, all of Sedalia; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

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JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Community Service Commission (MCSC), in partnership with the Missouri Bicentennial Commission, announced recently that Missourians logged 168,636 hours of service as part of the Bicentennial Community Service Challenge. The challenge was launched last year to call on Missourians to volunteer 200 hours in celebration of the state’s 200th year of statehood. Hundreds of communities and organizations received volunteer support through the challenge, which encouraged Missourians to serve in areas such as COVID-19 response, crisis intervention, food insecurity, tutoring and mentoring, senior services and veteran services. The total hours donated represent an estimated .3 million investment...

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Pettis County Community Partnership recently received a grant for 7,000 that will benefit children in foster care transition into adulthood. The program will launch by mid-March. The grant was awarded through the Children’s Division John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children’s, and Families Children’s Bureau. PCCP Executive Director John Thompson, who applied for the grant and will oversee its administration, said the Youth Future Career Program is intended to assist youth in making the transition to adulthood by offering services such as post-secondary education,...

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In 2022, Bothwell PEAK Sport & Spine is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its Sedalia location.  PEAK Sport & Spine, which has more than 50 locations throughout the Midwest, opened the Sedalia location on Feb. 5, 2007. In 2017, the Sedalia clinic and three other clinics partnered with Bothwell Regional Health Center to expand therapy services in west-central Missouri. Today, Bothwell PEAK Sport & Spine has locations in Sedalia, Marshall, Warsaw, California, Cole Camp, Versailles, Eldon and Boonville. Physical Therapist Sarah Grupe said PEAK offers outpatient rehab, occupational and physical therapy.  “We treat pretty much all ages, wide-range of orthopedic...

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The Office of Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is accepting nominations for the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s Senior Service Award. This is an opportunity for Missourians from across the state to honor outstanding senior citizens in their communities. The nomination form can be found on the Office of Lieutenant Governor's website. The deadline is March 14.  “I encourage Missourians to nominate a worthy senior whose service and dedication to their communities has made a positive difference,” Kehoe said. “As Missouri’s official senior advocate, I enjoy highlighting the contributions of these experienced Missourians, and recognizing them for giving their time, and sharing...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrests Feb. 16 6:43 p.m.: Jesse R. Lancaster, 48, of Sedalia, was arrested in Johnson County for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and speeding - limit 11-to-15 mph over. Lancaster was transported to the Johnson County Jail and released.

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February is the love month. Like so many holidays, it has become completely commercialized. Some people seem to overdo it but I think it can be a good reminder about the power of love. We all have the need to love and be loved. Love is defined in many ways but to completely understand love, we need to go to the source of love. In the Bible, we find many definitions for love and one of my favorites is from the first epistle of John chapter 4 verses 7-11. “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from...

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Warrensburg Parks & Recreation will host a Community Job Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28 at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St. More than 25 Warrensburg area businesses and employers will be sharing their full-time, part-time, and summer job opportunities at this free event; snacks and drinks will be provided. On-the-spot interviews and applications will be available. There are still some spots available for employers. Email alex.threlkeld@warrensburg-mo.com or call 660-262-4616 to reserve your free table.

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The Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners will answer spring lawn and garden questions from the public.  Fielding questions through telephone and email, they will seek answers for horticulture questions including lawn and garden. Questions can be emailed to JohnsonCo@missouri.edu. Prompts should include contact information, the problem or question and include photos if appropriate to relay each situation.  Inquiries can also be presented by calling the Extension Office at 660-747-3193. Regular office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 135 W. Market St. in Warrensburg.   The Extension Master Gardeners provide research-based, unbiased answers to horticulture questions and are trained...

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Sophie Martin, of Sedalia, was named to the Fall 2021 dean’s list at the University of Missouri. The dean’s list is designated to acknowledge the academic accomplishments of students throughout the semester. Martin, a 2020 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, is a junior majoring in elementary education. Her parents are Julia and David Martin. The MU College of Education and Human Development has been preparing educational leaders since 1867 and has programs and outreach in all Missouri counties.

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Jan. 23-Jan. 28 was National Lutheran Schools Week and St. Paul Lutheran School in Sedalia celebrated the theme "In All Things" based on the scripture Colossians 1:15-20 ESV.    On Monday, students came to school in pajamas and they tie-dyed shirts. On Tuesday, students created a crazy outfit. For Wednesday, students celebrated their school by wearing school colors. Thursday, classmates wore sweaters or sweatshirts like Pastor Freeman to celebrate the church and church workers.  Lutheran Church Charities comfort dogs Jessy and Thomas visited the school to share their ministry. Students also spent time skating at The Wheel Thing in Sedalia. ...

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Six hurt as cars crash stopping for Pettis school bus Janice E. Ek, 80, of Independence; Cathleen L. Kruger, 57, of Lincoln; Keith A. Lybarger, 36, of Cole Camp; Chelsea L. Lybarger, 29, of Cole Camp; and two juveniles, a 3-year-old and an infant, of Cole Camp, all received minor injuries at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday in a Pettis County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred as a school bus was stopped on the right shoulder preparing to let kids off. A 2014 Ford Escape driven by Kruger north on U.S. Highway 65 was stopped...

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For the ambulance drivers and EMTs at the Pettis County Ambulance District, going out in snowy weather is just part of their job description. “When that call comes in we have to go,” PCAD Assistant EMS Chief Roy Pennington said. “It doesn't matter rain, snow, or shine, we have to respond and we use our critical thinking skills, our knowledge, and experience to help achieve the goal.” Always ready for that emergency call, EMTs like Regina Makovskiy were found Thursday morning in PCAD headquarters wearing a florescent yellow winter coat with PCAD markings. “I don't always wear this jacket,” Makovskiy...

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HUGHESVILLE –– As teams rev up for the playoffs, Otterville girls basketball got into high gear in the second half to get a road win over Northwest Tuesday night, 51-25. “Our adjustments at halftime are what went right,” Lady Eagles head coach Jay Allen said. “We shored some things up on the defensive end to try and keep them out of particular spots that they try to operate in, and it disrupted them a little bit. At the same time, our interior passing was much improved in the second half. Especially in the third quarter, as Allen noted, where Otterville...

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Smith-Cotton and Boonville may be a game played for a trophy right now, but Friday night’s boys hoops game had some of the ingredients needed for a rivalry to bloom. A partnership between the dealerships in Sedalia and Boonville and the involved schools prompted the recent realization of the W-K Cup, with the boys’ trophy awarded to the Pirates for the first time for their 55-43 win in Sedalia. The full student section on courtwarming night seemed to energize S-C from the start. The Tigers came out sharp and with energy, leading by as many as a handful early in...

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WARRENSBURG — Gov. Mike Parson led a discussion on education and workforce development Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the University of Central Missouri.  The discussion included members of UCM administration, State Fair Community College administration, superintendents from Warrensburg and Knob Noster school districts, the Johnson County Economic Corporation and the Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce.  “We’ve been trying to get out around the state, talk about the vision we’re gonna have after the State of the State,” Parson said.  Parson said the state is going to be financially able to do things the state hasn’t been able to do before.  “Our...

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Tammy Young is pleading for clarification as the Feb. 9 arrest of her son, Donald Christopher Gibbs, has turned her life into a living hell. Gibbs knew he was in trouble after texting to a 14-year-old’s phone, and told his mother what had happened before his arrest. “He was talking to an almost 20-year-old girl on a juvenile’s phone,” Young explained. “The mother of the juvenile got ahold of the messages, and he said, ‘I guess I'm gonna be in trouble,’” Young contacted the girl’s mother, which eventually led to Young being put on a 24-hour hold at the Pettis...

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Caitlyn Carrigan, of Sedalia, is among the more than 600 students who graduated from the University of Mississippi in December 2021. Carrigan, who is a Criminal Justice major, received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree in the School of Applied Sciences. December 2021 graduates are invited to walk across the stage at the University of Mississippi 2022 Commencement exercises, which will be May 4-8. Morning universitywide convocation will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 7 in the Grove. In the case of inclement weather, the convocation will be held in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 14 1:12 p.m.: Dray D. Perry, 29, of the 300 block of McAnally Court, was arrested after an officer responded for a physical domestic disturbance. The officer made contact with both parties involved and a primary physical aggressor was determined in the incident. Perry was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail where state charges of third-degree domestic assault and two...

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A chance encounter with a homeless teen living in his car spurred a local woman to do something about the hundreds of homeless young people in the Sedalia community. Sharyn Fante-Hession, of Sedalia, along with the Pettis County and Benton County Democrat Clubs have worked to collect donations of items and money for items for care bags. The bags were delivered to Smith-Cotton High School on Wednesday and will be passed out to high school students who needed them. Fante-Hession said by phone Wednesday morning that last year, she was downtown running errands when she noticed a young man studying...

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State Fair Community College is now a partner with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a nonprofit organization that works with PreK-12 students and teachers across the United States. SFCC is one of only three institutions in Missouri and the first community college in Missouri to be accepted as a partner with PLTW.  Through PLTW, State Fair Community College is offering high school students interested in a health science pathway the opportunity to get ahead by applying to SFCC and earning biology credits that will apply to an Associate of Arts degree. SFCC is offering BIO 100 General Biology, BIO 103...

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“Mind over Matter,” a free online course to help women improve their bowel and bladder health, will be offered by Care Connection for Aging Services beginning Feb. 25. The program has been proven to help women build the skills and confidence to avoid or improve symptoms of incontinence (bladder and bowel leakage). The area agency on aging is offering the course in three two-hour sessions on Zoom, with limited enrollment to assure trust and privacy. The classes will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 25, March 11, and March 25. The program has been shown to improve bladder symptoms for 71%...

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The Pettis County Commission has rescheduled a public hearing regarding a proposed waste management ordinance and host agreement to 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 in the County Commission Chambers at the Pettis County Courthouse in Sedalia.  The original date was Feb. 17. The change of date is to ensure ample time for public review and comment due to Courthouse weather closures as well as to ensure all Commissioners will be able to attend the vote. Since Jan. 27, the proposed ordinance and host agreement have been available in the Commission Chambers and on www.pettiscomo.com to allow for public inspection. A...

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WARRENSBURG — Smithton R-VI FBLA competed against chapters from 28 school districts Feb. 1 at the 2022 FBLA District 10 Leadership Conference. Over 500 students and advisors gathered at the host facility, the University of Central Missouri, to learn, compete and celebrate at the first face-to-face District Conference in two years. FBLA members competed in more than 60 events ranging from Accounting and Advertising to Social Media Strategies and UX Design. The top performers in each event appeared on stage and were awarded medals.  Top performers advancing to the State Leadership Conference in Springfield during the month of April include: ...

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The State Fair Community College Foundation has more than 0,000 available in endowed and institutional scholarships to award each academic year. For optimum consideration, applications should be submitted by March 1 for a fall semester start. Some scholarships may still be available to apply to tuition and fees before fall.   Scholarships are not repaid; may be renewed, and are awarded on merit, career field, performance, and leadership. All admitted degree-seeking students are eligible to apply using a single online scholarship application.   Students who receive private organization scholarships may apply those funds to their educational costs at SFCC. The...

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Due to forecasted inclement weather, several organizations, schools and businesses are reporting closings. To have your information added to this list, email news@sedaliademocrat.com. Pettis County Mobile Food Pantry postponed The Mobile Pantry scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 17 has been moved to Thursday, Feb. 24 at La Monte Christian Church from 4 to 6 p.m. Updated February dates: La Monte Pantry, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at La Monte Community Center (La Monte residents only). Pettis County Mobile Pantry, Feb. 24, 4 to 6 p.m. at La Monte Christian Church (All Pettis County residents). SFCC to close campus State Fair...

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When the City of Sedalia announced the possible sale of City land surrounding Spring Fork Lake in southern Pettis County, some adjacent property owners looked at the transaction warily. Spring Fork Lake is an idyllic setting for homes and remote properties, and some homeowners aren’t in the mood for a change. But the purchase may be more than new neighbors, the purchase may signify the beginning of a new way of raising crops in Missouri and across the world. Severe drought in California and high transportation costs are making farmers look to using greenhouses, hydroponics, and no pesticide operations in...

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Just as all the snow has melted, the National Weather Service is predicting another round of ice and snow as a weather front moves through the area Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday precipitation will appear as drizzle, turning into a 70% chance of rain and gusty winds up to 36 mph. Overnight Wednesday, there will be rain and possibly a thunderstorm with a low of around 31. South winds at 11 to 14 mph will turn from the north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Thursday will bring rain, freezing rain and...

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Causing the viewer to pause and reflect on the state of the Earth’s environmental state — an installation of 10 murals at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art illustrates a complex future state of affairs. The large charcoal drawings measuring up to 72-by-175-inches were created by Erica Daborn, who was born in England and now resides in Mexico. Daborn received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Royal College of Art in London. The 10 narrative pieces were created on canvas over a 10-year time span and will exhibit at the Daum until May 29. Alongside each piece, Daborn...

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On Tuesday afternoon, a new augmented reality table was introduced in the Smithton R-VI School District to future educate students. The AR table is built from wood with sand placed in the table and then a map can be projected on the sand. When students play or move the sand, the map changes along with what the students are doing.  The table was first introduced at Smithton after fifth and sixth-grade science teacher Staci Harrison and technology director Deaven Kaiser had a conversation back in April of 2021 about doing more hands-on learning in the school.  “Together he and I...

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We have finally found out why the Pettis County Commission has been dragging their feet for months and being so secretive about writing an ordinance to protect the county from a newly proposed landfill. They were waiting for the company, Pettis County Development Corporation ( which is not based in Pettis County nor does it develop the county), to provide them with a “host agreement” written by their lawyers that will let them legally bypass any ordinance to effectively do pretty much what they want.  If passed, the County Commission cannot disapprove of any “reasonable request” to enlarge the landfill....

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Dear Editor: As we know, there is an issue as to the location of the proposed landfill. All landfills will eventually become full and a new one has to be created. Ours unfortunately is becoming full way too fast.  If the city would go back to recycling, the trash deposits would be reduced. When we recycled, my blue bin was always full and my grey [trash] bin had maybe two Walmart bags of trash in it. Recycling reduces the amount of trash. For those who say take your recyclables to the drop off at the yard waste disposal area; well,...

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Nelson man hurt in Saline accident Timothy L. Orender, 64, of Nelson, sustained minor injuries at 11:55 p.m. Monday in a Saline County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Orender was driving east on state Route H east of Norway Avenue in a Jeep Cherokee when he traveled off the north side of the roadway,  struck a mailbox and overturned. He was wearing a seat belt, and was transported by Saline County ambulance District to Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 11 9:52 p.m.: Jacob D. Eaton, 23, of the 1300 block of South Kentucky Avenue, was arrested after officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance. Neighbors called to say they saw two people fighting in the front yard. Eaton was arrested and was transported to the Pettis County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold pending charges of fourth-degree domestic assault.  Feb....

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In the late 1870s, Orestes A. Crandall and his family, including his wife Kate A. Kidd Crandall whom he had married in 1864 in Sedalia — were living in a costly house at 203 West Broadway Boulevard, the southeast corner of Broadway Boulevard and Osage Avenue. The house was just outside the cost-restricted neighborhood set up by Colonel Jaynes and others, so it was not as expensive or as extravagant as theirs. Last week’s column contained an error: although he was of the same generation and equally wealthy, Crandall did not help set up the restricted neighborhood. In 1888, according...

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Jonathan Lopez, of Sedalia, earned dean's list distinction for the fall 2021 semester, one of more than 360 undergraduate students to be recognized. The dean's list comprises undergraduate students who meet requirements in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Professional Schools, and Science and Health. All full-time admitted undergraduate students are eligible for the dean's list. To be included on the dean's list, students must have successfully completed at least 12 credit hours with at least a 3.5-grade point average for the semester. The fall list includes students from 21 states, U.S. territories, and four countries.

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License Office to close for Presidents Day The Sedalia License Office in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center will be closed Monday, Feb. 21 to observe Presidents Day. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22. CIty to close for Presidents Day The City of Sedalia will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21 in observance of Presidents Day. Weekly trash pickup for the week of Feb. 21 will follow the normal collection schedule. The Materials Management Site at 27882 Highway “U” will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21. City offices including the Materials Management Site will re-open for normal...

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Warsaw woman hurt in Benton accident Janelle N. Williams, 26, of Warsaw, sustained minor injuries at 10:50 a.m. Thursday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Williams was driving a 2015 Subaru and was turning westbound onto Balkey Road from U.S. Highway 65 when she was struck by a 2019 Freightliner headed north and driven by Brian C. Bressanelli, 24, of Nixa. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Williams was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center by private vehicle.  Deepwater man hurt in Henry accident Phillip E. Jones, 68, of Deepwater, sustained minor injuries...

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Bothwell Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will be closed from noon Feb. 23 through Feb. 25 to move from its current location at 2301 S. Ingram Ave. to Bothwell Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St.. The clinic will be located on the Healing Arts Center's third floor in suite 301, and patients will be seen at the new location beginning Feb. 28. The clinic’s phone number remains the same at 660-826-5890 and hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bothwell Orthopedics & Sports Medicine specializes in joint replacement, traumatic injuries and sports medicine including arthroscopy, and...

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Two Sedalia residents were arrested after an investigation that began as a report to the Sedalia Police Department on Jan. 25. Donald Christopher Gibbs, 43, and Tammy Young, 63, of the 1200 block of West 11th Street, were taken to the Pettis County Jail where they were booked to be held for 24-hours pending charges submitted to the Pettis County Prosecutor’s Office.  Gibbs has been charged with enticement or attempted enticement of a child younger than 15. He has been issued a ,000 cash-only bond with the condition that he does not use any cell phone, tablet, computer or any...

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WARRENSBURG — A recently-opened business is offering both axe throwing and golf simulators, plus some food, drinks and other fun games. Clubs & Cleavers, 166 SW Business 13 in Warrensburg, opened behind the Old Glory Market in September. The business offers double axe throwing lanes, multiple golf simulators, a small arcade, board games, plus a bar and a small food menu.  “We have a little bit of everything when it comes to family entertainment,” Manager Cameron Mengwasser said. The arcade features skeeball, video games, claw machines, a pool table and a punching bag. Other games include checkers, Connect Four, Jenga,...

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During the month of February, people across the country are honoring different people, events or buildings for Black History Month. Smith-Cotton High School is honoring C.C. Hubbard High School, formerly known as Lincoln High School.  Hubbard was the all-Black school before students started integrating to Smith-Cotton in 1957. The class of 1963 was the last group of kids to graduate from the school and then the high school closed in 1967. All the classes after 1963 graduated from Smith-Cotton. The elementary school later closed its doors in 1973.  The new Lincoln High School was constructed in 1927-28 and was dedicated...

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The Sedalia Police Department announced it has recently received numerous complaints from both citizens and Sedalia School Resource Officers in reference to speeding vehicles in school zones. “We've had more problems this school year with people disobeying the school speed limits,” Sedalia Police Chief Matthew Wirt said. “We wanted to go out and make a special presence in those areas, not only for speed limits but also to make the public more aware of those school zones.” The Sedalia Police Department Traffic Unit and Crime Resolution Unit joined forces to implement a special operation during the months of December 2021...

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri’s 32nd annual An Evening of Heart and Hope, presented by W-K Chevrolet, will be hosted Saturday, Feb 19.  This year’s event is a Mardi Gras-themed benefit that will feature a silent auction, live auction, games, raffles, a tasting station and specialty cocktails. The event will be at the Agriculture Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. It is returning to an in-person event this year after 2021 saw a virtual event due to the pandemic. During this 60th anniversary of the club and the 30th anniversary of An Evening of Heart and...

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This weekend will be a highlight for sports lovers, as the Super Bowl and the 2022 Winter Olympics will overlap on Sunday. You don’t think football fans are the type to watch an international bobsled competition or the figure skating contests? To me, there really isn’t much of a difference. I love watching the Olympics every two years, or every year in the pandemic’s case, because it’s an opportunity we only get every so often. No, I don’t understand why skiing and shooting are combined into a single sport, nor do I fully know the rules of curling, but you...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 9 9:43 a.m.: Donald Christopher Gibbs, 43, and Tammy S. Young, 63, of the 1200 block of West 11th Street, were arrested after an investigation that was reported to the department on Jan. 25. Both subjects were taken to the Pettis County Jail where they were booked to be held for 24 hours pending charges submitted to the Pettis County prosecutor. Gibbs...

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SPRINGFIELD — Morgan Stanley announced that Anita Oplotnik, CRPS, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor and Family Wealth Advisor in its Wealth Management office in Springfield, has been named to the Firm’s prestigious Century Club. This is an elite group composed of the Firm’s top Financial Advisors.  The appointment recognizes Oplotnik’s consistent creativity and excellence in providing a wide range of investment products and wealth management services to her clients. Oplotnik, who has been with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management since 2005, is a native of Lincoln. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Missouri Southern State University as...

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The Sedalia Symphony will bring the world of music alive this month with the Winter Children’s Concert. The performance will highlight fun, musical numbers specifically geared toward youth along with the chance for one child to help conduct a number on stage.  Symphony Conductor Dr. Jerrode Marsh, the director of music at Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, said on Monday she believes this is the first time for a child to have the opportunity to direct a selection during a concert.  “This is new for the symphony,” she added. “I specifically picked literature that I think would engage...

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Feb. 7 Howard Steven Williams Trustee, Howard Steven Williams Trust, Linda K. Williams Trustee and Linda K. Williams Trust to Charles W. and Jewelle E Woody, section 17; township 45; range 21.  Howard Steven Williams Trustee, Howard Steven Williams Trust, Linda K. Williams Trustee and Linda K. Williams Trust to Charles W. and Jewelle E Woody, section 17; township 45; range 21.  Ralph K. and Mary Ellen Howe to Guadalupe R. Canon and Katherine M. Ross, Subdivision Dej2, lot 16, block 2.  Highway H Property LLC to Mayev Express LLC, section 21; township 46; range 21.  Sonshine Properties LLC to...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 11 6:32 a.m.: Curtis Lenard Branch Jr., of Sedalia, was arrested after an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Scott Joplin Court in reference to a physical domestic disturbance. Branch was placed under arrest for second-degree domestic assault and taken to the Pettis County Jail where he was placed on a 24-hour hold pending charges.  8:50 p.m.: Jessica L. Reed,...

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Barnett man killed in Morgan accident Ryan P. Zimmerman, 34, of Barnett, was killed at 3:15 p.m. Saturday in a Morgan County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Zimmerman was traveling south on Seals Road south of Leatherman Lane on a John Deere tractor when he traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. He was pronounced dead by Morgan County Coroner Doc Jones.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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CASA is setting goals for future expansion, which would at some point include a capital campaign; the Sedalia nonprofit organization will also celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2023. The mission of Citizens Against Spouse Abuse Inc. (CASA) is to empower victims of domestic and sexual violence to regain control of their lives through education, advocacy and coordination of community resources. Board President Turf Martin spoke to the Democrat on Friday, noting the number of local CASA clients is growing and there is a need for expansion. Nothing is set in stone but plans would include building a new facility at...

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HUGHESVILLE — Three people have been arrested after a search warrant was served at a Hughesville residence on Thursday. At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the Pettis County Sheriff's Office, Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force, and the Sedalia Police Department's Tactical Entry Unit served a search warrant in the 200 block of Highway H in Hughesville. The warrant was the culmination of a lengthy investigation into methamphetamine distribution throughout Pettis County. “This has been an issue for that community of Hughesville for quite some time,” Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders told the Democrat on Friday. “Prior to my election, I had spoken to...

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Long-time downtown business Kay’s Bridal and Tuxedo is moving to a new location.  After decades at 218 S. Ohio Ave., Kay’s will be in the State Fair Shopping Center in the former home of Hallmark. Owner Kay Shull said she hopes to open Saturday. “That is an interesting story. I’ve told it many times and I’ll tell you,” Shull said of the decision to move. “In October, I had COVID and I have bad veins. I had an upstairs at my store at 218 and so going up and down the stairs is not good.”  Shull had developed medical complications...

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Pettis County added 210 cases on Monday for a total of 11,670 positive cases reported, according to the Pettis County Health Center. According to the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Monday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website reports Pettis County had a positivity rate of 25.3% for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 25.9% for the previous week with PCR testing. The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 302/100,000. This week there were 525 PCR tests and 379 antigen tests for a total of 904. Last week there...

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The following is a sampling of cases resolved in Pettis County Circuit Court from Jan. 31-Feb. 8, according to information from Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer. Jackie R. Jenson, 23, of Green Ridge, was sentenced to two two-year sentences in the Missouri Department of Corrections for two counts of resisting arrest. Cody Hall, 25, of Otterville, was sentenced to 10, seven, four, four, four and four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on six separate matters: attempted burglary, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), tampering with a motor vehicle, stealing, second-degree burglary, and property damage. Zachariah Cameron Sparks,...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “Steal,” by James Patterson. “The Mitford Vanishing,” by Jessica Fellowes. “The Lady’s Mine,” by Francine Rivers. “Desolation Canyon,” by P.J. Tracy. “Black Cake,” by Charmaine Wilkerson. “When We Lost Our Heads,” by Heather O’Neill. “Easter Bonnet Murder,” by Leslie Meier. Nonfiction “The World’s Most Iconic Photographs,” by Kathleen Perricone. “The Last Slave Ship,” by Ben Raines. “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” by Dr. Julie Smith.

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Thelma “Toodle” Smith, of Sedalia, will celebrate her 100th birthday with family and friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 at The Venue, 219 S. Ohio Ave. She was born Feb. 14, 1922.  Thelma has three children, Susan Houston, of Smithton, Dale Dirck, of Windsor, and Dennis Dirck, of Green Ridge; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. 

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Jeffery Harld Lynde Jr., 34, and Lori Beth Zeisset, 33, both of Houstonia. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Out of the Rain,” by V.C. Andrews. “Mercy,” by David Baldacci. “Tom Clancy Chain of Command,” by Marc Cameron. “Guild Boss,” by Jayne Castle. “Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight,” by Janet Evanovich.  “The Unknown Woman of the Seine,” by Brooks Hansen. “The First Christmas: A Story of New Beginnings,” by Stephen Michell. Nonfiction “Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart, the Wild West’s Most Notorious Woman Bandit,” by John Boessenecker.   “The Broken Constitution: Lincoln, Slavery, and the Refounding of America,” by Noah Feldman.  “They Called Us Lucky: The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War’s Hardest...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Parkview Christian Church. Monday: Chicken breast filet, potatoes and gravy, peas, banana, milk and roll. Tuesday: Chili, pimento cheese sandwich, crackers, apple and milk.  Wednesday: Salisbury steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, orange, roll and milk.  Thursday: Chicken Alfredo, broccoli, cauliflower and carrot mix, cookie, roll and milk. Friday: Pork...

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Smith-Cotton girls basketball head coach Kevin Carr didn’t see the ending of regulation the way his sophomore, Zoey Hieronymus, did. In fact, she didn’t see some of it at all, but it turned out best for both. Hieronymus knocked down a game-tying 3-pointer as time in regulation expired, and the Lady Tigers edged out visiting Bolivar in overtime Thursday night, 70-69. "It was almost exact [to how it was drawn up]," Carr said, noting that freshman Eliza Cavanagh was intended to be a decoy while Rilee Jackson opened up space for a shot. Hieronymus countered, "Honestly, we came out and...

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Growing up as a kid, I could be selfish. I liked playing at a friend’s house because he had a pool table and fun things to do. He liked playing at my house because we had a gigantic yard and a treehouse to play in. It was always a debate to see which house we would go play at. Sometimes other friends wanted to come too. Growing up my parents modeled for me what it looks like to care for other people and put their needs before my own. They did this by helping other people in our church, in...

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Enjoy a collection of 10-minute plays as University of Central Missouri Theatre and Dance presents Spring Studios 2022, “A Night of Nights…at Night.”  These plays, to be performed Thursday, Feb. 10, through Saturday, Feb. 12, are directed by UCM students Luke Englert, Molly Ross, Anna Braman and Luke Habjan, with other university students as the cast and crew.  Doors open at 7 p.m. and all Spring Studios 2022 performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Nickerson Hall Black Box Theater on the UCM campus.   Cost is [post_excerpt] per ticket, cash only.   Masks are required for all audience members....

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Pastor Bob Sorge, "the speaker who can't talk," will be guest minister at Liberty Life Center during the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Feb 13.   Twenty-five years ago, Sorge was a prominent worship leader and pastor in Rochester, New York, but because of a debilitating vocal injury, his voice is reduced to a whisper and he is only able to speak for one hour a day. Sorge is the author of over 20 books like “Secrets of the Secret Place” and travels to bring his passionate message of faith and hope to the body of Christ. God has given him...

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The team at Knob Noster State Park is seeking volunteers to assist with spring migration bird surveys at Knob Noster State Park. Bird surveys are low-impact activities that require participants to walk slowly and document seen and heard birds. Surveys use eBird for documentation.  Surveying the migratory birds that utilize the state park during the spring helps assess the ecological status of the area's habitats. The data is used to create future bird checklists and recognize the importance of certain areas. Volunteers will meet at the Knob Noster State Park visitor center at 7:30 a.m. on the scheduled survey dates,...

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A total of 7,683 students were named to the 2021 fall semester honor rolls at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, including 3,410 students named to the President's Honor Roll for earning an A grade in all their courses. Full-time undergraduate students who completed 12 or more hours with a grade point average of 4.00 made the President’s Honor Roll, and students with a grade point average of 3.50 or higher with no grade below a C made the Dean’s Honor Roll. Knob Noster: Stephanie Oakley  Warrensburg: Ryleigh Sherman 

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Local author Rush Walters released his second children's book in “The Adventures of Clim & Joe” series on Feb. 4. The book is subtitled “Tobo.” While stationed at their outpost, Clim and Joe cross the large Ozark River to explore the thick wilderness. They hope to hunt for some dinner. Little did they know that they are not the only people in this part of the woods. Outnumbered by Indians, they do not know what to do. Who will save them?  Walters was raised on his grandpa's famous Clim and Joe stories. When growing up, he spent the night countless...

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Thursday’s Park Board meeting was held in the “90% complete” Heckart Community Center. Parks staff and workers were still busy with a long list of items needing to be finished. “Thirty-six days until we open,” Parks Director Amy Epple said. “Moving along well. The next two weeks a lot will be happening. This Saturday the senior equipment, they have a few pieces that are going to be coming over here, so we're moving that over on Saturday. Inspection will come in, outdoor playground starts on Monday, indoor playground got completed on Tuesday of this week. Elevator inspections on Tuesday of...

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Shop Local Night, hosted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, has been rescheduled to 5-7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St.  The event will feature local home-based and small businesses.  Each purchase will enter a customer’s name into a raffle drawing at the end of the event.  For more information, visit warrenburg.org/event. 

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Missouri State Parks will be launching an enhanced online reservation system at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15 for all state park locations, including Knob Noster State Park.  In order to complete the upgrade, Missouri State Parks will not be accepting new reservations, changes or cancellations from 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 through 6:59 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15.  This includes online reservations at icampmo.com, phone reservations through the call center and reservations made at a state park or state historic site location.  State parks and historic sites will be open under normal, off-season operations during this time. The new reservation system...

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On Thursday evening, Citizens For Transparency PAC hosted a forum for Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education candidates in the Sedalia City Council chambers.  Four candidates will be on the April 5 ballot during the Pettis County Municipal Election. Board of Education President Diana Nichols, who has been on the board since 2013, and Secretary Barbara Schrader, who is in her first term, are up for re-election in April. Michelle Quattlebaum, who ran for the board in 2021, Brian Smith and Serena Cronk have also filed. Two three-year terms are available. Quattlebaum and Smith were present Thursday. Citizens For...

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ARROW ROCK — Well-known Arrow Rock restaurant, Catalpa, is reopening today with a new look, new menu items, a larger dining area and a larger staff. Owner Liz Huff-Kennon said it is a fun place to eat and is much like taking a “mini-vacation.” Huff has operated the restaurant in Arrow Rock for many years. She began the business by serving high-end gourmet meals in a small historic home in the village. When the pandemic hit, she went to plan B. To keep the restaurant open, she began serving gourmet hamburgers, boozy milkshakes and frozen cocktails outdoors under colorful umbrellas....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 9 8:48 p.m.: Troy J. Harms, 40, of the 1200 block of South Grand Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop at West 11th Street and South Grand Avenue for a defective headlight. The driver consented to a search and suspected methamphetamine was found in this pocket. Harms was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and transported to the Pettis County Jail where...

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Two Lady Tigers earned their way to the upcoming girls wrestling state tourney with their performance at last weekend's Class 2 District Tournament held at North Point High School in Wentzville. At 110 pounds, Jazlyn Smith-Freeman (33-9) reeled off four consecutive wins, including a pinfall over Cole Camp's Shakota Wade and later Jailyn Ebert of Fort Zumwalt North in the third-place match. She’ll be joined in Columbia by Jasmine Wolfe (17-16) , S-C's 130-pounder, who fell in the semifinal and then defeated Holt's Zoe Beattie in the consolation semifinal to punch her ticket. The trio of Lily Soendker, Hannah Wright...

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WARRENSBURG — Downtown Warrensburg has a new tenant with the opening of Woodchux, a new axe-throwing business. Warrensburg is the third location for Woodchux. The first location opened in Liberty about three years ago, followed by a location in Excelsior Springs. Chris Barton, a co-owner of Woodchux and operator of the Warrensburg location, said the first two branches had been successful, so they decided to open another in Warrensburg. All three spaces are different, and the Warrensburg space has many more offerings, such as a bar and a mezzanine space that houses a DJ booth and will eventually have private...

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State Technical College of Missouri announced the students who achieved the dean's list during the 2021 Fall semester.  To be placed on the dean’s list, a full-time student must earn a semester grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0 on a 4-point scale. California, Mo: Matthew Bolfing, Acacia Bonecutter, Ross Deeken, Micaiah Garcia, Landen Lipskoch, Caleb McCumber, Kyle Riley and MacKenzie Swillum Clarksburg: Ross Potter Clinton: Gavin Lowe and Tanner Wray Cole Camp: Nathaniel Buckler, Riley Doogs, Christopher Oelrichs and Dayton Oelrichs Houstonia: Matthew Slaughter Marshall: Corey Thieman Nelson: Jason Waller Otterville: Wyatt Watring Sedalia: Austin Bahner, Gage Crane, Zane...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 6 12:46 a.m.: Mark A. Homan, 48, of the 2800 block of Southgate Loop, was arrested after a traffic stop on South Lamine Avenue near East Third Street on a vehicle observed failing to stop at a stop sign. It was determined the driver was intoxicated and Homan was arrested, transported to the SPD, the Pettis County Jail, booked, and released for...

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Sedalia man injured in Benton accident Hunter E. Snyder, 21, of Sedalia, sustained moderate injuries at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Snyder was traveling north on Route F in a 2003 Chevrolet which started to skid and traveled off the right side of the roadway. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Snyder was wearing a seat belt and was transported by Cole Camp Ambulance District to Bothwell Regional Health Center.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol...

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Just after midnight Feb. 3, Pettis County Sheriff’s Sgt. Matthew Long and Deputy Jimmy Moore were out on a non-emergency call. “Somebody was stuck in the snow,” Moore recalled Wednesday. “Pettis County Joint Communications gave out the call of a possible overdose. The female had shallow breathing and was non-responsive.” Long and Moore recognized the symptoms of opioid overdose and rushed to the scene less than a block away. “We have Narcan with every deputy’s vehicle,” Moore said. “It was an overdose. We didn't know if it was intentional or a heroin overdose, or some kind of opioid overdose, so...

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Feb. 7-11 marks National School Counseling Week and the Sedalia School District 200 is spotlighting district counselors.  The week is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, which highlights the impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Counselors have also become a sounding board for students when they need encouragement, are having a difficult time with mental health or just someone to talk to.  Smith-Cotton High School counselor Katie Ellis said this week focuses on what counselors accomplished and what they need to accomplish, as well as moving forward and being...

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Twenty-four members of the Green Ridge Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recently competed in the Missouri FBLA District 10 Leadership Conference hosted at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.   Twenty-eight school districts across Central Missouri represented by more than 500 students and advisors gathered at the first face-to-face District Conference in two years. Members competed in more than 60 events. The top performers in each event appeared on stage and were awarded medals.   The following Green Ridge FBLA members received medals and are moving on to compete at the State Leadership Conference on April 10-12 in...

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A combat recovery course will be offered next week at the First United Methodist Church Celebration Center, concentrating on healing the wounds of war.  REBOOT Combat Recovery is a national faith-based, nonprofit organization. It is not a support group but rather a 12-week course that provides practical help for service members, veterans and their families who are dealing with moral and spiritual wounds from combat trauma.  Information provided by REBOOT stated that in 2020, 99% of those attending the course felt their opinions on faith and spirituality were respected by others, and 82% wanted to stay involved with the program...

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For the second time this season, Lincoln relegated Smithton to a second-place trophy. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers 42-35 in Saturday’s Kaysinger Conference Boys Basketball Tournament title game, a repeat of last month’s Otterville Holiday Classic final. After falling to the Tigers in Benton County 46-35 on Dec. 13, the third meeting this season between the tournament’s top seeds carried the greatest weight. "To me, really, it's a chance to get that No. 1 seed going into districts," said Lincoln junior Mack Hesse. "This is extremely exciting. It's a big win. I love it." What’s unsaid is that the top-seeded...

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Depth proved useful Saturday evening for Tipton, who overcame significant foul trouble to withstand Stover 56-36 in the Kaysinger Girls Basketball Tournament Championship. Two starters, Charlee Bailey and Briar Cox, had three fouls by halftime, and another, Kenna Bixler, had four. “It made us play deeper than we would have, but it really didn’t change too much,” Tipton head coach Jason Culpepper said. Junior Olivia Wolf, one of the team’s reserves, said, “I think that even if I don't play as much, I always have a role on the team, whether that's because we're in foul trouble or someone's not...

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Dear Editor: The proposed landfill by Presido in Pettis County will be located on Buckley Road near La Monte. It will initially effect Dresden, La Monte, Houstonia, Sedalia, Tyson Food, and farms in the area. Two landfills less than 5.3 miles apart is a disaster waiting to happen. According to the EPA, eventually all landfills leak. Chemicals commonly found in leachate include methane and carbon dioxide. Heavy rains wash this caustic leachate into ditches, streams, and fissures in the ground (contaminating ground water). This is possible due to various springs that are located on the proposed landfill property and on...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night and received a ,120.80 check from Missouri Employers Mutual. The board also discussed several issues including the Budget Performance Summary, PCAD Billing Averages and approved Resolution 2022-01 to amend the PCAD operating budget. Brendan Hurley with Assured Partners presented EMS Chief Eric Dirck the check from MEM, an Insurance carrier, at the beginning of the meeting. Hurley said the dividend check was presented because the district has “performed well from a claim standpoint.” “So, the policy term this check represents is April 1, of 2020 to April 1 of...

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If you are a fan of the series “Yellowstone,” you may have seen the quote, “In a world full of Karens, be a Beth.” For those who are unfamiliar with that series or what a “Karen” is, allow me to explain. A “Karen” is someone who complains about everything. It could be anything from the weather to a long line at the grocery store or the way in which someone parked their car. Karens are negative and grouchy. They tend to rub off on those around them and thrive on making others as miserable as they are. A Karen might...

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Smith-Cotton High School AP Language and Composition junior and senior students presented research topics based on Sedalia history to a panel of judges Tuesday morning.  The research topic could be based on a person, place or event. Each student found multiple sources on their subject and compiled them into a research folder. Ten of the students presented their research to four judges, who picked the three students with the best research presentation.  S-C Library Media Specialist Dr. Lorin Blackburn Thierfelder said research is a component of advanced placement language and composition classes.  “When I went to go get trained in...

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The City of Sedalia announced Tuesday it has entered into an agreement with Agrarian Technology Development Co. LLC that may result in the development of the land around Spring Fork Lake. “The lake was originally built by the water department to provide drinking water to the City,” the press release stated. “However, over the years the daily deterioration of the systems rendered this source of drinking water infeasible and has not been used for decades. Not being able to use the lake as a drinking water source, the ongoing maintenance costs create an unnecessary burden on the rate payers of...

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More than 65 motorcycles were on display at the 2022 Show-Me Bike Show hosted Feb. 5 in the Agriculture Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The Sedalia Motorcycle Association has hosted the show for more than 20 years. Vendors filled the middle of the building selling jewelry, personal defense items, head wraps and custom motorcycle engine work. Billy Claycomb entertained the crowd all afternoon before the awards were presented at 6 p.m.   Best of Show: Kelly Wideman, Gasconade. Class 1 – Sportster: first Mark and Stormey Allen, Sedalia. Class 2 – American Cruiser StockL first Frank Rouchka, Sedalia. Class...

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Westminster College announced the students named to the Fall 2021 dean's list for exemplary academic performance. The list of 214 students includes 57 freshmen, 58 sophomores, 36 juniors, and 63 seniors. Those honored include the following: Fortuna: Alexa Jurgensmeyer and Cory Jurgensmeyer Jamestown: Valerianna Gentzsch Marshall: Kate Donnell Otterville: Abby Nichols Versailles: Emma-Lee Geier Warrensburg: Payton Heevner

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When Col. A.D. Jaynes planted trees along Broadway in 1866, the 120-foot wide dirt road suddenly became a “boulevard.” In 1870, Jaynes, George R. Smith, Albert Parker, Cyrus Newkirk and O.A. Crandall agreed to build expensive — ,000 to ,000 — houses on Broadway between Washington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. Most of the houses, built in the then-popular Queen Anne style, sat back from the street on the block-sized lots. The lawns were divided into two sections, a part level with the sidewalk, and a part four to six steps above sidewalk level. A sidewalk reaching toward the house allowed...

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Cole Camp woman killed in Morgan accident Patricia L. Ives, 74, of Cole Camp, was killed, Philip D. Wellington, 70, of Cole Camp, sustained moderate injuries, and Eric S. Friedly, 40, of Otterville, sustained minor injuries at 11 a.m. Monday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Wellington was driving west on U.S. Highway 50 east of state Route 5 in a 2017 Ford Escape and was passing another vehicle when he struck a 2018 GMC 3500 driven east by Friedly.  Ives was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 7 10:41 p.m.: Diego Chavez Portillo, of the 1000 block of South Garfield Avenue, was arrested after officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash at East 16th Street and South Hancock Avenue. One of the drivers involved in the crash had a suspended driver's license and was arrested and released on the scene with a municipal summons for driving while suspended....

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After being hosted virtually last year, the Bothwell Foundation’s third annual Wear Red for Women luncheon and auction is returning as an in-person event and will be hosted from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 at the Foundry in downtown Sedalia.  Lauren Thiel-Payne, Bothwell Foundation executive director, said that to ensure the health and safety of all guests and event staff, COVID-19 testing kits will be made available to each attendee. “We want to be responsible and make sure people are healthy before they decide to attend the luncheon,” she said. “The 10-minute rapid tests have been provided...

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri will be starting a new literacy program thanks to a ,000 grant from The Simmons First Foundation.  The literacy program, Story Scholars, will focus on whole child’s literacy: preparing young children for a lifetime of reading, encouraging middle-aged children to expand their literacy knowledge and engaging older children in literacy service projects. The program will begin in February and go through the end of December while being led by Skyline Site Director Vicki Hart.  Communications Director Emily Schmidt said the Simmons First Foundation offers a grant for educational opportunities. “Vicki and...

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Members of three law enforcement agencies helped de-escalate an emotional situation over the weekend. Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders posted an account of the armed confrontation at 10:20 p.m. Saturday on his official Facebook page over the weekend. The post states law enforcement agencies in Pettis County were made aware of an individual traveling from Johnson County with a 2-year-old child. The man was experiencing significant emotional distress and had made threats to not only harm the child but himself as well. He was reportedly armed. Pettis County deputies located the vehicle and initiated a stop with the assistance of...

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Although snow covered the area and the temperatures were cold, artists with the NoBro Art Event came together to exhibit their work on Saturday inside the historic Lamy’s Building. Saturday’s NoBro show was the second all-inside exhibit hosted at Lamy’s. Dustin Schmidt, who co-organizes the event with Lucas Richardson, said the next outdoor art walk will take place Saturday, April 2. The April Art Walk will return to regular walks with art being highlighted through a stretch of downtown businesses along South Ohio Avenue. Although Saturday’s weather caused some art cancellations, the show consisted of a variety of work including...

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Warrensburg woman injured in Johnson accident Michelle R. Lisher, 29, of Warrensburg, sustained moderate injuries at 9:53 p.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Lisher was driving west on U.S. Highway 50 in a 2016 Hyundai when she attempted to overtake a 1997 International driven by Michael R. Warlen, 61, of Holden. Lisher struck the rear of Warlen’s vehicle, traveled off the right side of the roadway, and overturned. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Lisher was transported to Research Hospital in Kansas City by Johnson County Ambulance District. Information is taken...

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After this week’s snowfall ended, boys and girls with the Legacy Futbol Club shoveled 32 driveways to raise funds for youth wanting to play futbol, a popular version of indoor soccer. The first house shoveled Thursday on South Grand Avenue belonged to Dondi Ramirez, who saw Legacy’s offer to help on Facebook. “I messaged them and said, ‘Hey, do you still have kids shoveling snow?’ He's like, ‘yep,’ and I said, ‘how soon can you be here?’ and he showed up. I was surprised to see so many kids.” Six kids with their two coaches made quick work of Ramirez’s...

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WARRENSBURG — As the COVID-19 pandemic enters yet another calendar year, the Western Missouri Medical Center staff continue to care for patients despite seemingly endless struggles. WMMC CEO Darinda Dick spoke with the Star-Journal on Friday, Jan. 28 and said during the past week, 45 different patients had been admitted with COVID, a new high for WMMC. She said the last record-high was in November 2020, with 28 COVID patients in one week. “We have been very busy and saturated with COVID patients,” she said. “It is starting to slow down a little bit over the last five or six...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Feb. 2 2:19 a.m.: Leslie Eugene Harrell, 43, of the 300 block of North Hurley Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop on Fourth Street for a bad brake light. The driver had Pettis County warrants and a suspended driving status. He was placed under arrest and after an investigation, it was determined the driver was intoxicated by drugs and exhibiting signs of...

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Emma Larimore, 12, is a certified Safe Sitter after taking Bothwell Regional Health Center’s childcare education class last November.  Emma, a sixth grader at Green Ridge Middle School, decided to take the class after her mom, Missi, saw information about the class in the newspaper. “Emma has two younger cousins that she watches from time to time, and she was the perfect age,” she said. “I wanted her to be more confident in herself, and I thought the course would help.”  Bothwell’s Safe Sitter class is for students in grades 6 through 8 to be safe when they’re home alone,...

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Monday night’s Sedalia City Council meeting was brief at only 17 minutes from opening prayer to a closed-door meeting. Police Chief Matthew Wirt presented Cpl. Travis Lorenz with the K9 Unit a plaque in honor of his work with freshly retired K9 Charlie. “Travis has been in law enforcement for many, many, years and he’s spent quite a while with the Canine Unit,” Wirt said, “and you can see by all the law enforcement presence tonight that he’s very well respected and liked.” K9 officer Charlie, age 10, retired Jan. 24 from the Sedalia Police Department and the Chief spoke...

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Bothwell ENT Hearing Instrument Specialist Gerald Young recently assisted Sedalia residents Clyde and Beatrice Jobson obtain the gift of sound once again.  Young helped the Jobsons in applying and qualifying for the Help America Hear Program, a nonprofit organization that helps provide new, high-quality hearing instruments nationwide to men, women and children with limited financial resources. The Jobsons applied to Help America Hear to assist with their purchase of hearing aids. They were approved for ReSound hearing aids. “We started coming to Gerald about a year ago because Beatrice was having a lot of trouble hearing and the hearing aids...

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The sound of pounding shoes and hearts is happily returning to Sedalia in April. After canceling its annual 5K/10K walk/run in 2020 and hosting the event virtually in 2021, the Bothwell Foundation is preparing to bring the Lub Dub back on April 30 for hundreds of runners and walkers to enjoy in person. “We’re excited to be planning for the walk/run to be in person this year,” said Lauren Thiel-Payne, Bothwell Foundation executive director. “While COVID is still circulating in our community, we feel comfortable with hosting this event because it’s outdoors and people can distance from each other yet...

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There are three physical symbols of John H. Bothwell’s legacy in Sedalia — Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site, Hotel Bothwell and Bothwell Regional Health Center. Before his namesakes were complete or even conceived, John Bothwell began planning for the future of Sedalia with a largely unseen gift that has lasted 95 years. On April 10, 1926, one year before Hotel Bothwell was built, two years before Bothwell’s home north of Sedalia was completed and four years before John H. Bothwell Memorial Hospital opened, Sedalia’s earliest benefactor established the John H. Bothwell Hospital Trust, an irrevocable legal document established for charitable...

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Pettis County added 318 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 11,460 according to the Pettis County Health Center. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 25.9% for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 35.1% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 413/100,000. This week there were 725 PCR tests and 504 antigen tests for a total of 1,229....

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Emma Heubi, of Sedalia, has been named to Eastern New Mexico University's dean's list for the fall 2021 semester. To be eligible for the dean's list, a student must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours with a GPA of 3.25 or greater.

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Jan. 31 Sandra Roberts to City of Sedalia, section 34; township 46; range 21.  Angela K. and William F. Rader to James R. Wikstrom, Subdivision Barjr block 8; section 4; township 45; range 21.  Faithful Property Brothers LLC to Ryan C. Woolery and Amber M. Stoltman Woolery, Subdivision Covered Bridge, lot 13.   Jason A. and Brianna M. Bridges to Kieyah and Michael Fyffe, section 29; township 46; range 32.  Donald Frederick Chapin to Jose Almazan, Subdivision Sedalia.  Mark L. and Lydia A. Yoder to Menno M. and Orpha Yoder, sections 30 and 31; township 44; range 23. Michael L....

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This week, the White House announced a new plan to cut the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years. PBS reports there “were no new funding commitments announced Wednesday. But the administration believes it can curb cancer through efforts such as increased screening and removing inequities in treatment.”  You might recall I know a thing or two about cancer. The Biden family does too. In 2015, they lost their eldest son, Beau, to glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. So I really believe the Biden administration is serious about this plan. I don’t think their interest...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Clive Cussler’s The Devil’s Sea,” by Dirk Cussler. “Heard It in a Love Song,” by Tracey Graves. “The Month of Borrowed Dreams,” by Hayes-McCoy. “The French Gift,” by Kirsty Manning.  “Pity the Beast,” by Robin McLean. “The Return of the Pharaoh: From the Reminiscences of John H. Watson M.d.,” by Nicholas Meyer.  Nonfiction “From Paycheck to Purpose: The Clear Path to Work You Love,” by Ken Coleman. “James Madison: America’s First Politician,” by Jay Cost.  “Missions to Mars: A New Era of Rover and Spacecraft Discovery of the Red Planet,” by Larry Crumpler.  ‘Expect the Unexpected:...

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Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa The Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, international honorary sorority for women educators, met Monday, Jan. 24 via Zoom. President Marina Scheiner called the meeting to order and welcomed four prospective members. Thirty-four members were present. Rena Vanderpool gave the devotion. Minutes from the November 2021 meeting from Secretary Holli Goodrich were approved. The treasurer’s report from Mary Beatty was approved. Mary received thank-you notes from Community Café, Open Door, St. Jude’s, and Teach Too. Andrea Eppenauer introduced the speaker for the evening, Kim Knowle-Zeller, a writer and former pastor. She described...

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The first big snow of 2022 has arrived. The evidence is everywhere, from the snowdrifts on our roofs and sidewalks to the tall piles of snow precariously perched on tiny surfaces.  January always seems to be a year long, and it seems the third year of the decade has no plans to slow down as many of us may have hoped. So this week’s snowstorm forced us all to slow down, to watch snow blanket our surroundings, to listen to the silence that always accompanies a big snowfall.  I saw several Facebook comments from people much older than I who...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Dear Editor: I went to the school board meeting January 24th 6:30 pm expecting to hear board members put to a vote mask optional or mask mandate. Made perfect sense to me because not only are we at 39.5% positive rate in our county but Smith Cotton high school cancelled three school days this month because of COVID cases among staff and students. Sixty-two districts reported last Friday's Democrat paper schools canceling one or more days of school because of COVID.  Why wasn't this put to a vote tonight? We are sixth entire counties highest covid positivity rates. Are they...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 25 8:07 p.m.: Hakeem Stephon Dickson, 24, of the 1000 block of Royal Boulevard, was arrested after officers attempted to initiate an investigative stop on a vehicle in the area of West Main Street and South Missouri Avenue. The vehicle fled and a pursuit was engaged. The vehicle came to stop in the 800 block of North Moniteau Avenue. Dickson was identified...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction  “To Paradise,” by Hanya Yanagihara. “One Step Too Far,” by Lisa Gardner. “Abandoned in Death,” by J.D. Robb.  “Notes On an Execution,” by Danya Kukafka. “A Game of Fear,” by Charles Todd. “The Violin Conspiracy,” by Brendan Slocum. “The Christie Affair,” by Nina de Gramont. “City of the Dead,” by Jonathan Kellerman. Nonfiction “The Hag: The Life, Times, and Music of Merle Haggard,” by Marc Eliot. “Energetic Herbalism,” by Kat Maier.

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The University of Central Missouri’s Lifelong Learning Series will present, “Even You Can Write a Memoir: A Guide for Ordinary People” on Thursday, Feb. 10.  The program features speaker Linda Thomas, who will introduce beginners to the craft of writing a memoir.  Materials include an explanation of what defines a memoir, the process of remembering and writing, specific elements memoir writers include in their stories and plenty of inspiration.  The program will be at 6:30 p.m. in rooms B and C at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E Gay St. in Warrensburg. Thomas has taught the craft of writing memoirs...

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Losing a child is a difficult journey for any parent and honoring their memory is ever-present in a parent’s heart. One way to keep that memory alive is by giving back to other children in the community. With that thought in mind, Susan Rouchka, of Sedalia, encourages others to donate to the Promiseland Playground at the First United Methodist Church Celebration Center.  When Rouchka, a member of FUMC who lost her son Sean Darling at age 10 in an accident, heard about the expansion of the Promiseland Playground, she felt a “nudge from the Holy Spirit to make a donation.”...

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Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean's list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during the fall semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). More than 5,000 students were named to the fall 2021 dean's list. These local students made the list: Cole Camp: Jenna Harms and Megan Thomas Concordia: Maggie Pitsch Knob Noster: Olyvia Buzzanga and Rylee Parrott Sedalia: Madeline Davidson, Sarah Hinkson, Max Martin, Marshall Noble, Alexis Shane and Angela Varvaryuk Windsor: Ashley Ebeling

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Jennifer K. Fox and Christopher M. Fox; James J. McGovern and Nancy L. McGovern. 

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This week, the Sedalia Police Department welcomed K9 Rocky to the force.  Officer John Hammond will be Rocky’s handler and has always been interested in working with K9s. “Officer Hammond joined the department four years ago and he has worked hard to step into this very demanding new role,” Chief Matthew Wirt said in a press release this week. “Officer Hammond is no stranger to law enforcement or the SPD. Officer Hammond started as a Sedalia Police Department cadet in 2000 and entered full-time law enforcement in 2006, returning home to the Sedalia Police Department in 2018. Adding Rocky to...

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Velma V. Morley, of Sedalia, will celebrate her 90th birthday with a card shower. She was born Feb. 11, 1932. Velma, who was a housewife, was married to the late Howard (Shorty) Morley. She enjoys flowers, gardening, painting, ceramics, taking care of her cat Lexi, and visiting with family and friends. Velma has two children, Sherry L. Young and the late Edward (Buzzy) Morley, both of Sedalia; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  Birthday cards may be sent to Velma at 3205 S. Washington Ave., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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Almost two years down the road, I feel about the same as I did when we downsized. Maybe that’s because we’ve downsized again – this time, from work. Max has retired from the Public Defender’s office! Voila! A new chapter! This week was a good test of how that chapter will work, because the snow has kept us in almost all week. It was as if we were reliving the pandemic, except this time, Max didn’t have to work. I could tell the first day was challenging. Around 2 p.m., he wandered around, trying to find something to do, then...

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WARRENSBURG — Missouri FBLA District 10 officers welcomed chapters from 28 school districts Feb. 1 at the 2022 FBLA District 10 Leadership Conference.  More than 500 students and advisors gathered at the host facility, University of Central Missouri, to learn, compete and celebrate at the first face-to-face District Conference in two years. FBLA members competed in more than 60 events ranging from Accounting and Agribusiness to Social Media Strategies and UX Design. The top performers in each event appeared on stage and were awarded medals. Students also learned more about entrepreneurship and the effective use of social media in workshops...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Denise Annemarie Bartholomew, 34, and Anthony Michael Sharp, 38, both of Sedalia; John Bradley Watterson, 43, and Amber Lynn Larsen, 40, both of Hughesville; Kevin Lawrence Lentz-Butler, 35, and Rebecca Renee Colgan, 35, both of Sedalia;  Jevon Paul Kempf, 26, of Smithton, and Josie May Shrock, 23, of Sedalia; Veronica Nicole Poort, 29, and Jordan Thomas Watt Sr., 30, both of Sedalia; Troy Anthony Brockman, 50, and Amy Jo Brockman, 46, both of Hughesville; Anthony Manuel Torres, 29, and Brooke Ellen McDowell, 28, both of Sedalia. 

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Our Savior Lutheran Church.  Monday: Meatball hoagie, coleslaw, banana and milk. Tuesday: Baked chicken, posh potato, green bean, roll, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Beef stew, cornbread, peaches and milk.  Thursday: Chicken pot pie, Au Gratin potatoes, pudding and milk. Friday: Country fried steak, potatoes and gravy, roll, cake and...

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The second Kaysinger Boys Basketball Tournament semifinal Tuesday night at State Fair Community College may have only left Sacred Heart let down. Smithton's 56-55 win over the Gremlins had the feel of an instant conference classic. An energetic crowd at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Centeronly added to the atmosphere of a matchup ripe with storylines. Smithton had been winless in the series in over a dozen meetings that spanned a decade long until defeating Sacred Heart in the postseason in 2019, then again in Sedalia in 2020; both victories came by a single point. The two sides entered with...

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For fans of offense, Tuesday night’s might have been the Lincoln-Cole Camp battle to catch. The Benton County rivals met for the third time this season and less than three weeks after their last meeting, with Lincoln taking the rubber match, 57-48, advancing the Cardinals into the Kaysinger Conference Boys Tournament Championship. "Every year we kind of talk about how there's three things we want to accomplish: win the conference, the conference tournament and a district," Lincoln head coach Tyler Burke said. "It's on the checklist and would be really important to win, and [our kids] also know that we've...

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​​Evergy has received customer reports of individuals placing phone calls to customers and calling themselves “Clean Energy” or “Clean Energy Utility.” They claim to work with Evergy and are erroneously informing customers that Evergy will be asking customers to reduce energy use due to the winter weather and cold temperatures. They’re telling customers they will provide free advice and technology to help when Evergy calls on reduced energy use from its customers. “Clean Energy/Clean Energy Utilities” is not an Evergy partner or program.  Evergy does not anticipate electricity shortages during this cold spell. Additional resources at Evergy power plants have...

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As the snow fell hard Wednesday morning, there were as many plows on the streets as cars. Art Simms with B&B Excavating was clearing tons of snow from the Woods West parking lot with a Caterpillar Model 416. “Yes, it's been a pretty heavy snow,” Simms said. “It’s kind of the biggest snow we had for the first of the year.” The team from B&B used two Caterpillars and two plows in a coordinated effort to shove the snow into several mountainous piles. “It's kind of a normal thing that we have every year,” Simms said. “We all kind of...

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For the month of February, Smith-Cotton High School will be spotlighting the C.C. Hubbard High School.  Before changing the name to C.C. Hubbard, the school was originally Lincoln High School and was the Black public high school in Sedalia during segregation. It closed in 1967 once all students started attending Smith-Cotton.  The Hubbard High School facility is now known as the Lincoln-Hubbard apartments and is classified as a historic building.  February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their role in U.S. history. SCHS Principal Wade Norton said he felt...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 31 12:27 p.m.: Jeremiah N. Jones, 42, of the 36000 block of Highway M, was arrested after an officer met with a subject at the SPD regarding a burglary and stolen property. Jones was interviewed and arrested. He was taken to the Pettis County Jail to be held for 24 hours pending a charge of receiving stolen property. Feb. 1 9:37 a.m.:...

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Illinois man hurt in Pettis accident Ethan T. Haege, 20, of St. Libory, Illinois, sustained minor injuries at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday in a Pettis County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Haege was driving south on U.S. Highway 65 in a 2017 Chevrolet when he swerved into the northbound lane to avoid an uninvolved vehicle and was struck by a 2022 Freightliner driven by Todd B. Owen, 51, of Sweet Springs. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Haege was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center by MSHP Cpl. Gates. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway...

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Due to the pandemic, the Women’s Service League of Sedalia has announced it will not host the 2022 Cupid’s Ball and plans to host the 24th Cupid’s Ball in 2023.  The Women’s Service League was organized in 1983 as a philanthropic organization and is dedicated to supporting the community through projects, service and financial assistance. All proceeds are donated to local charities. For more information, visit wslsedalia.org or facebook.com/wslsedalia.

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This spring, the Shelter Insurance Foundation will award a [post_excerpt],500 scholarship to a graduate of La Monte High School. Shelter Agent Troy Curtis sponsors and partially funds this scholarship.  A committee of local high school officials and community leaders will select the local recipient. The committee will consider each applicant’s scholastic achievements, educational goals, citizenship, moral character and participation and leadership in school and community activities.  The name of the recipient will be announced at the close of the school year.   The student may apply the scholarship funds toward tuition, fees or campus housing for any course of study...

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State Fair Community College has named the following students to the President’s, Dean’s and Trustees’ lists for the fall 2021 semester.  To qualify for the president’s list, students must earn a semester grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 in 12 or more SFCC GPA credit hours. For the dean’s list, students must earn a semester SFCC GPA of 3.5-3.99 in 12 or more SFCC GPA credit hours. The trustees’ list, a level that was added in fall 2020, requires students to earn a semester GPA of 3.6-4.0 in six or more SFCC GPA credit hours.  President's List Auxvasse: Ellie A....

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The forecasted inclement weather has led to numerous cancellations. To have your cancellation or closing added to our online list or to Thursday’s print edition, email news@sedaliademocrat.com. Pettis County Courthouse  All divisions of the Pettis County Circuit Court and the Circuit Clerk’s Office will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 2. Court cases previously scheduled for Feb. 2 will be continued as follows: • All domestic/protection order cases for Judge Beard are continued to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7. • All criminal/traffic/municipal cases for Judge Mittelhauser are continued to 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18. • Court Cost dockets for Mittelhauser and Beard...

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Otterville was able to knock down as many 3-pointers in the first half as it did in its entire game against Stover earlier this season, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lady Bulldogs as both top seeds advanced in Monday’s Kaysinger Conference Girls Tournament semifinals. The Lady Eagles connected six times from beyond the arc before intermission but fell 64-47 to Stover at State Fair Community College in a game that was neck-and-neck until early in the third quarter. Down 28-24 entering the second half, Otterville got as close as two points on a 3-pointer by Jenna Halter and...

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For fans of offense, Tuesday night’s might have been the Lincoln-Cole Camp battle to catch. The Benton County rivals met for the third time this season and less than three weeks after their last meeting, with Lincoln taking the rubber match, 57-48, advancing the Cardinals into the Kaysinger Conference Boys Tournament Championship. "Every year we kind of talk about how there's three things we want to accomplish: win the conference, the conference tournament and a district," Lincoln head coach Tyler Burke said. "It's on the checklist and would be really important to win, and [our kids] also know that we've...

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On Saturday, I had a book signing at Reader’s World here in Sedalia, and it was great to have the opportunity to meet not only those people who came for a signed copy of my Poetry book but also to meet the new owner of the store, Mathew Petree, and the great staff there.  It brought to my mind how much fun I had at book signings I had participated in at the late ‘90s version of the store, Sedalia Books and Toys, that was located in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center at that time. Those book signings were not...

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The forecasted inclement weather has led to numerous cancellations. To have your cancellation or closing added to our online list or to Thursday’s print edition, email news@sedaliademocrat.com. Pettis County Courthouse  All divisions of the Pettis County Circuit Court and the Circuit Clerk’s Office will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 2. Court cases previously scheduled for Feb. 2 will be continued as follows: • All domestic/protection order cases for Judge Beard are continued to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7. • All criminal/traffic/municipal cases for Judge Mittelhauser are continued to 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18. • Court Cost dockets for Mittelhauser and Beard...

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Due to the Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service predicting 12-18 inches of snowfall, the City of Sedalia Public Works Department is preparing for a significant snow event over the balance of this week. Public Works Director Brenda Ardrey said it’s all hands on deck and she is even calling in drivers from other departments to operate plows for the next few days. Twelve trucks will work in two 12-hour shifts, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. “We will be using water division staff, sanitation staff, even some of the guys that...

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Three from Lincoln hurt in Benton accident Taylor A. Thompson, 24, and Kimberly M. Martinez, 45, both of Lincoln, both sustained serious injuries while Chad A. Tidwell Kaska, 34, also of Lincoln, sustained moderate injuries at 8:34 p.m. Monday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Martinez was driving a 2006 Nissan East on U.S. Highway 65 at Route AC, but she failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a 2016 Freightliner driven by Kenneth J. Hicks, 60, of Cross Timbers. Martinez was wearing a seat belt and was transported by Life...

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The Office of the Registrar at Northwest Missouri State University announced students named to the honor rolls at the end of the 2021 fall semester. To be included on the Academic Honor Roll a student must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours and attain a grade-point average of 3.50 or above on a 4.00 scale. Students named to the President's Honor Roll have attained a perfect 4.00 GPA for the semester. Boonville: Natasha C. Jenkins Bunceton: Justin D. Luster Concordia: Jonah Dotson Houstonia: Katelyn E. Johnson Knob Noster: Lauren G. Hagle and Paige M. Keith Osage Beach: Kaitlyn M....

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As significant amounts of ice and snow are expected Tuesday evening through Thursday, Sedalia Police Department officers are asking drivers to exercise caution. “While it's possible to drive in bad weather, the best advice is just to avoid it if you can,” Officer Kevin Tylar, with the SPD Traffic Management Department, said. “Situations can turn dangerous very quickly, and the likelihood of getting stranded or getting into a crash are a lot higher. Don't take the chance when it’s possible to avoid going out. Let the road crews do what they're doing, getting the road clear.” This storm will likely...

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Heartland Hospice, soon to be known as ProMedica, is looking for administrative, friendly and sewing volunteers to help provide assistance.  Heartland Hospice, 150 S. Limit Ave. #400, opened its Sedalia location in April 2021 to help provide hospice residents with companionship. Heartland has five locations in Kansas and Missouri, each covering multiple counties.  Heartland/ProMedica screens and trains its volunteers, ensuring safety and quality for patients, families and the volunteers. Volunteers do not need to have any specific kind of experience.  Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Schembri said Heartland Hospice is all built through Medicare and Medicaid.  “This is a program that all...

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Have you ever thought to yourself or said out loud, “After all I have done for him, he does this to me?” Sometimes we find ourselves upset because we freely give of ourselves and our resources only to find that the receiver of our gift is unappreciative or does not reciprocate our generosity. It is a common feeling and one that is difficult to avoid when we are in this situation. It’s normal, but is it a fair way to respond? Giving of ourselves, whether it be time, money, a referral, a gift or any multitude of things should be...

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on the following dates: Friday, Feb. 11, in observance of Lincoln's birthday. Normal operations will resume on Monday, Feb. 14. Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of Washington's birthday. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

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The City of Warrensburg Police and Fire departments will host a Community Blood Center blood drive 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the American Legion, 733 E. Young St.  Blood Drive Chair Jeremy VanWey said the blood drive, previously hosted at the Warrensburg  Community Center, is moving to the American Legion due to space limitations.  Appointments are preferred and walk-ins will be accepted as time slots are available. To schedule an appointment, visit savealife.org/group and enter group code DBHB.  Masks are required for all donors regardless of vaccination status. For COVID-19 safety protocols, visit savealifenow.org/coronavirus.  For medical...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 25 11:09 p.m.: Villiam Anatolly Izolta, 24, of Hughesville, was arrested after a traffic stop on a vehicle with no plates at Thompson Road near Broadway Boulevard. It was determined the driver was intoxicated and Izolta was arrested, transported to the SPD, transported to the Pettis County Jail, booked, and released with a charge of driving while intoxicated - prior offender. Jan....

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Windsor woman in serious condition after Henry crash  Katelind P. Bishop, 24, of Windsor, sustained serious injuries at 10:50 a.m. Friday in a Henry County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2000 Peterbilt driven by Richard D. Miller, of Ulrich, was driving west on state Route 52 at Northeast 350 and was making a right turn when Bishop's 2012 Kia Forte, which was also westbound, failed to yield and struck the Peterbilt. Miller was wearing a seat belt, Bishop was not. She was transported to Research Medical Center in Kansas City by Golden Valley ambulance.  Two...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 31 11:40 p.m.: Crystal G. Thomas, 31, of the 1400 block of East Boonville Street, was arrested after a stolen vehicle out of Columbia was located in the 500 block of West Third Street. The driver was arrested and the vehicle was recovered. Thomas was transported to the Pettis County Jail on charges of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, driving while...

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Evergy announced its crews are ready to respond if the winter storm expected to move across parts of Kansas and Missouri causes power outages. Forecasts in the Evergy service area include the potential for heavy snow and freezing rain Tuesday night and throughout Wednesday evening. “Given the forecast, we have deployed additional resources at Evergy power plants to be prepared for a potential increase in energy demand,” Chuck Caisley, Evergy Senior Vice President, said in a news release. “Our line crews are prepared and, if outages occur, will begin restoring power as soon as conditions are safe.” The release states...

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Broadway Boulevard was once a wide avenue with green space between the sidewalk and the street. Trees lined this space and also lined the street, creating a passageway of trees that had grown together at the top. According to the 1882 History of Pettis County, the trees were planted in 1867 by Col. A.D. Jaynes. The trees, small at the time, appear on the 1869 Bird’s Eye View of Sedalia Map prepared by Albert Ruger. The trees became a part of Sedalia that residents valued and visitors remembered. Some of Sedalia’s most opulent homes were on Broadway. The part of...

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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, heart decorations are abundant, but one display at the Pettis County Courthouse is a cause with a heart. In February, for the last 18 years, Pettis County Public Administrator Charli Ackerman has hosted a Helping Hearts campaign outside her office door. Ackerman oversees the welfare of 130 to 150 clients and the fundraiser benefits the clients with many things they otherwise would not receive. Each year Ackerman raises around ,000 with Helping Hearts — she also gives in memory of her son Nolan Ackerman, 21, who died in a car accident in 2005....

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On Monday evening, the last of the five presidential sessions occurred for the semi-finalist candidates to visit with the public, staff, and students of State Fair Community College in a public forum.  The college began the process of seeking a new president after current SFCC President Joanna Anderson announced in August that she would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Each candidate spent a day and a half visiting the Sedalia campus and included a public presentation with a question and answer session. Each session was from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center. ...

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Marilyn Louise Gertz will celebrate her 90th birthday with a family dinner on Sunday. She was born on Feb. 3, 1932.  Marilyn was married to the late Stanley Gertz. She is retired from the Bothwell Regional Health Center Dietetics Department. Marilyn has three children, Brenda Dye, Barbara Upton and Daniel (Janet) Gertz; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Brittany Nicole Griffin, 27, and Taylor Emmett Decker, 35, both of Sedalia. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Fristoe, The Place Cafe. 1:15 to 3:45 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor. Wednesday 9 a.m.: La Monte R-IV School. 9:45 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m.: Green Ridge City Park.  10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Otterville R-VI School. 9:30 a.m. to noon: Smithton Diner.  1:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Manor. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Park. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Clive Cussler’s the Devil’s Sea,” by Dirk Cussler. “Heard It in a Love Song,” by Tracey Graves.  “The Month of Borrowed Dreams,” by McCoy-Hayes. “The French Gift,” by Kirsty Manning.  “Pity the Beast,” by Robin McLean. “The Return of the Pharaoh: From the Reminiscences of John H. Watson MD,” by Nicholas Meyer. Nonfiction “From Paycheck to Purpose: The Clear Path to Work You Love,” by Ken Coleman. “James Madison: America’s First Politician,” by Jay Cost.  “Missions to Mars: A New Era of Rover and Spacecraft Discovery on the Red Planet.” by Larry Crumpler.  “Expect the Unexpected:...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “A Flicker in the Dark,” by Stacy Willingham. “Her Hidden Genius,” by Marie Benedict. “The Runaway,” by Nick Petrie.  “Disappearance of a Scribe,” by Dana Stabenow.  “Gods and Dragons,” by Kevin J. Anderson.  “Dark Night,” by Paige Shelton.  “Violeta,” by Isabel Allende.  Nonfiction “The Doomsday Mother,” by John Glatt.  “Agent Sniper: The Cold War Superagent & the Ruthless Head of the CIA,” by Tim Tate.  “You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays,” by Zora Neale Hurston. 

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Bridget E. Bruns and Joshua K. Bruns; Carl Ballard and Amy Ballard; Anthony Sharpe and Latreisha Sharpe. 

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Bothwell Health Center Auxiliary Board  The Bothwell Health Center Auxiliary Board met on Jan. 12 in the Chapel Learning Center with 12 members present. President Karen Kay Taylor called the meeting to order. The minutes were read and approved and the Treasurer’s Report was also read and approved. The total volunteer hours worked for the month of December 2021 were 1,490 hours. During this time, the following members received their new volunteer hour pins: Wilma Baslee received 100, Dale Bersano received 400, Karen Cairer received 400, Earlene Knight received 2,500, Sandy Mayfield received 2,000, Judy Naylor received 300, Carol Perkins...

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Windsor boys basketball provided a blueprint for making waves at the Kaysinger Conference Basketball Tournament from a play-in spot last season. Who’s next? The great thing about the event may be that it's nearly impossible to predict. When the Greyhounds made that run last season, they came in 6-8 –– many of those losses came to teams well above .500 –– but as the 7-seed, ran off Green Ridge and Otterville, then upset Lincoln before eventually falling to Smithton in the title game. No one will out look them this year after beating Lincoln in overtime Tuesday night. "We knew...

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Smith-Cotton girls swimming and diving scored a first-place finish at Wednesday’s West Central Classic Championship. The Lady Tigers finished with a total of 375 points, beating out runner-up St. Pius X (343) and third-place Warrensburg, who came in narrowly behind with 340. Two medley teams from S-C captured gold and earned new state consideration times in the process. A quartet consisting of Lauren Chancellor, Camden Youngblood, Mollie Miner and Natalie Parnell hit the finish line in 2:12.37, ahead of the Warriors by just under a second in the 200-yard relay. That same bunch won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:55.10,...

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Smith-Cotton High School senior Maria Decker has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.  Decker, the daughter of Cynthia and William Decker, is a three-time varsity letter winner for the Lady Tigers soccer team. In the 2018-2019 season, she played in all 19 games, scoring four goals as a forward, receiving Second Team All-District honors and making the Independent All Conference Team. In the 2020-2021 season, she played in all 23 games, contributing to 11 shutouts as a defender, and received Second Team All Conference honors (CMAC).  ​​Those defenses that Decker has...

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Our church is hosting a Revival this weekend, January 30 and 31 at 6:00 p.m. I’ve been thinking that some may wonder if we really need Revival. I’d like to address that question and then get each person who is reading this column to consider their own needs. First of all, it is people who have a personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation that need Revival. If a person has never come to the place where they realize that Jesus is their Savior, their sins are forgiven and they are on their way...

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Henry County R-1 School District wrote in a media release on Tuesday saying “It is with great sadness that the district informs you of the passing of our Superintendent, Scott Ireland. Mr. Ireland passed away on Jan. 25, 2022. He has been a valued member of Henry County R1 School District since July 1, 2020, and will be greatly missed. Please remember Mr. Ireland's family during this difficult time.”  

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On Thursday, the regular State Fair Community College Board of Trustees meeting was moved to an online forum.  The board meeting was moved in order to facilitate participation and attain a quorum due to COVID experiences with staff. The meeting was available to the public on YouTube at 3 p.m. To begin the meeting, Facilities Director Justin O’Neal presented a proposal about expanding the campus dining hall and the moving of the campus store and other things. This proposal goes back to the campus master plan made a few years ago.  “What we are proposing we do, is continue on...

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The following students were named to the Lincoln R-2 High School honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Principal’s (“A”) Honor Roll Seventh Grade: Skylar Arbuckle, Reed Bagley, Josie Clevenger, Katy Cook, Emarie Eckhoff, Eden Eichler, Westin Eifert, Aurora Fenner-Harms, Greenlea Harms, Ceanna Johnson, Skyler Kelley, Colton Reedy,  Hannah Rose, Gabriel Torres.  Eighth Grade: John Cramer, Benjamin Eckhoff, Ethan Goosen, Rebekah Helland, Addison Monteer, Dawson Parrott, Damon Salmons, Chevelle Weddle. Ninth Grade:  Haley Brennan, Kaitlynn Brown, Matthew Cook, Jasmine Cooper, Noah Eckhoff, Myles Harms, Makenzie Ingram, Audrey Keuper, Blake Lyon, Alyssa Mellen, Braylin Paxton, Adisyn Pennell,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 23 2:25 p.m.: Jasmine U. McCartney, 31, of the 1600 block of Heck Avenue, was arrested after officers responded to 120 E. 16th St. in reference to a disturbance. It was determined a suspect from a theft was at the business. McCartney was placed under arrest and transported to the Pettis County Jail pending a charge of stealing. Jan. 26 9:24 p.m.:...

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Two Warsaw juveniles hurt Benton accident A 17-year-old male driver from Warsaw sustained minor injuries and his 13-year-old female passenger sustained minor injuries at 7:25 a.m. Thursday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, The driver was driving west on state Route BB in a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 when he began to slide on the ice covered roadway, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned, ejecting the driver. The driver was not wearing a seat belt, and was taken to Bothwell Regional Health Center by EMS, the...

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As the National Red Cross faces its worst blood crisis in more than 10 years, concerns are for patient safety as blood supply levels are falling dangerously low. Information provided by the Red Cross noted the shortage is “forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.” Joe Zydio, the Regional Communication Manager for the American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas, spoke with the Democrat by phone on Thursday. Zydio noted blood supplies usually run low in January, but the decrease in donations is compounded by...

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Thursday morning the Pettis County Commission presented a long-awaited draft ordinance dealing with a proposed waste park in rural Pettis County. Britni Schorran with Pettis County First, a citizen action group opposed to the landfill, was among a small group who gathered in the Pettis County Commission Chambers to read the freshly-printed ordinance and accompanying host agreement. “We wanted to go at this and make sure we're making the right decision from the start and with the ordinance,” Schorran said. “It sounds like they're listening to the constituents, and I think it's a good start.” The ordinance will have 20...

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Scholarships Available through FCS Financial Since 2004, FCS Financial has provided more than 0,000 to Missouri high school seniors seeking higher education. Up to 35 scholarships, each at [post_excerpt],500 will be awarded to children or grandchildren of FCS Financial members. The scholarship deadline is March 1 and recipients will be notified in April. Applicants must be a graduating senior at a Missouri high school and a child or grandchild of an FCS Financial member. Additionally, the student must attain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, an ACT score of at least 26 or rank in the top 20%...

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The following students were named to the Green Ridge Elementary School honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. All A’s  Third Grade: Christian Atkins, James Bohon, Kendyll Britt, Ian Burton, Rianna Hagedorn, Kyla Jasper, Scarlett Mahin, Timothy Orlov, Dale Rupe, Ethan Smith, Sophia Verbovshchuk, Waylon Walters, Nicholas Zuvich. Fourth Grade: Jackson Davenport, Max Knoernschild, Ivas Lemanski, Julia Twenter, Artum Verbovshchuk. Fifth Grade: Zoe Davenport, Cheyenne Dove, Mya Edington, Alita Lemanski, Myah Mahalovich, Macie Nilson, Kaelyn Weisenburger. Sixth Grade: Alayna Brosch, Jett Bugg, Gage DeVorss, Hallie Meyer, Evee Porter, Miles Porter, Brayden Wells. All A’s and B’s ...

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Smith-Cotton senior Alisa Sonnik was selected as the recipient of the Sedalia 200 district-level John T. Belcher Scholarship. Sonnik will receive 0 and moves on to the regional level of the statewide scholarship program, which is sponsored by the Missouri School Boards Association. According to the MSBA website (mosba.org), MSBA FutureBuilders “established the scholarship program in memory of John T. Belcher, who was instrumental in developing innovative financing programs for Missouri school districts. The learning environment for thousands of Missouri’s public school students improved as a result of his work.” Each year, one student in each of MSBA’s 17 regions...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 24 4:14 p.m.: Trenton Granville Sell, 21, of Windsor,  was arrested after a traffic stop near West Park Avenue and West Benton Street for no trailer plate. A check showed the driver's license status was revoked. He was arrested and taken to the police department and issued a municipal ticket for driving with a revoked license. 5:04 p.m.: Amber Lorine Storm Grandstaff,...

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Rehearsals are well underway for the play “Calendar Girls” to be performed at the Haden Liberty Center in February.  Director Jan Bahner said this is the first time for the Liberty Center Association for the Arts to present the play. “Calendar Girls” is based on a true story that became a film starring Helen Mirren in 2003. It’s a story about a group of women in Yorkshire, England, who are part of an association called the Women’s Institute (WI). One of the women loses her husband to cancer and the group of friends planned to honor him by creating a...

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri announced that 16-year-old Chase Stone was named the Club’s teen Youth of the Year for the third year in a row.  Korbyn Thompson and Anthony Sisemore, who won the elementary and junior categories respectively, also competed during the Youth of the Year event on Jan. 18, presented by Inter-State Studio Publishing Co. Youth of the Year is the Club’s premier youth recognition program, which honors outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. Stone, who attends high school in Cole Camp,...

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On Wednesday afternoon, the third of five presidential semi-finalist candidates visited with the public, staff, and students of State Fair Community College in a public forum.  The college began the process of seeking a new president after current SFCC President Joanna Anderson announced in August that she would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Each candidate will spend a day and a half visiting the Sedalia campus and will include a public presentation with a question and answer session. Each session will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center.  The third candidate...

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Proposition A on the April 5 municipal election ballot asks for a half-cent sales tax increase to pay for current and future operations of the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office. This week, Sheriff Brad Anders addressed the need to pass Proposition A in a lengthy Facebook post. “What I am going to say here is going to come with controversy, and I fully understand that moving forward,” Anders’ post read. “This will irritate some, some will understand, and some will be somewhere in the middle. With that said, understand that I am going to simply explain the rationale for what is...

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A hiring committee raved about the new man picked to lead Smith-Cotton football in the years to come. That man, Josh Gray, became officially picked for the job in a Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education closed session Monday evening. Gray, who replaces Charlie McFail at Smith-Cotton, brings a quarter-century of coaching experience with him. That includes the last 16 years at Kearney High School, a tenure that began with 11 seasons as defensive coordinator until he took over as head coach in 2017 after the man who held that position, Greg Jones, left for Liberty North. As part...

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The following is a sampling of cases that were resolved in Pettis County Circuit Court from Jan. 3-18, according to information from Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer. Christopher Lee Hill, 39, of Sedalia, was sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Kobe J. Staten (Case), 18, of Sedalia, was sentenced to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for second-degree assault. Elizabeth M. Jones, 22, of Sedalia, was sentenced to two years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Kevin S. Morrison,...

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Dear Editor: I’ll start this letter with a quote from Gary Burbank (Earl Pitts) a radio personality from Cincinnati, Ohio. “Wake up America.” We have maintained a straight forwards and transparent approach with the commissioners to resolve our issues with the development of a new landfill. We have done this in the form of meeting with them, and formulating a comprehensive landfill ordinance which we hand delivered to them. This ordinance is being used in Lincoln County Missouri. It was challenged in a court of law and was upheld by the decision of the court. So, we did all the...

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On Aug. 4, 2020, the Howe family lost their 16-year-old son Jacob Howe to an accidental overdose but Jacob’s mother, Susie Howe, is taking her experience of loss to help educate Sedalia School District 200 teenagers.  Susie Howe visited Smith-Cotton High School Tuesday morning alongside Erica Elliot from the Pettis County Health Center and Zachary Reimund from Compass Health to talk about Jacob’s life, the feelings surrounding her loss and to educate students about fentanyl, overdoses, and how to ask for help.  Susie began the journey of educating students in the district last year but started at a place closer...

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During the late 19th century, many believed it was essential for a man to amass large amounts of wealth by working hard, by taking advantage of opportunities, and by making opportunities for himself. American Heritage magazine reported that at a time when a sandwich and beer lunch cost only five cents, Baptist minister Russell Conwell earned over [post_excerpt] million delivering a speech called “Acres of Diamonds.” In this speech, Conwell postulated that a man “had a Christian duty to become rich.” The wealth he made was to be used to share with charities that helped the “worthy poor,” those who...

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On Tuesday, it was announced that Sedalia School District 200 Superintendent Steve Triplett will retire effective June 30, 2022.  Triplett has been the superintendent for the last three years and has served as an administrator, educator and coach in the district for the last 29 years. A 1983 Smith-Cotton alumnus, Triplett was first hired in the district in 1993. Since then, he has helped educate parents, children and even grandchildren.  Triplett’s retirement was approved during the Board of Education’s closed session on Monday, Jan. 24.  He said there is no single reason that he is retiring.  “After a lot of...

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Route AA between Benton County Routes VV and YY northeast of Cross Timbers will close from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31 as MoDOT crews replace collapsed pipes underneath the road. All Route AA lanes will be closed where crews are working. Drivers will be able to access driveways and entrances on either side of the work zone, but will not be able to travel through the work zone. Drivers urged to find alternate routes. No signed detour is planned. Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone. Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 24 12:44 p.m.: Eric Joseph Thomas, 20, of the 1300 block of North Kentucky Avenue, was arrested after a vehicle stop in the West Third Street and South Prospect Avenue for expired registration. Thomas was arrested for driving with a suspended driver's license and transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was booked and released.  Incidents Jan. 20 4:57 p.m.: Officers...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night to approve several issues and noted COVID-positive transports were increasing. EMS Chief Eric Dirck was not in attendance and the chief’s report was given by Assistant Chief Roy Pennington, who noted January COVID positive transports were up 30% from December’s numbers. Pennington added the Stryker stair chairs arrived and are now in service and the previous stair chairs will be sold. As of Thursday, Jan. 20, the repair on the doors and ramps is still pending and should be completed by May or June. Pennington added the Pediatric Advanced...

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Our world has changed in what feels like the blink of an eye. It cannot be attributed to any one thing, but a multitude of occurrences that have quickly impacted the way in which we live. It feels as though we are experiencing shell shock. We were bombarded by a series of grenades and now our ears are ringing so loudly that we can’t hear what anyone around us is saying. We can only guess and we are afraid because there is nowhere to turn or look for truth other than up. Crime is running rampant because a group of...

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. District Court of Western Missouri will welcome 250 people as new U.S. citizens Thursday, Jan. 27, at the first ceremony hosted at Union Station in Kansas City.  The ceremony is hosted by Welcoming KC, an initiative of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, REACH Healthcare Foundation and several other community partners. U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes will preside and Paige Wymore-Wynn, court executive, will administer the Oath of Allegiance. The citizenship candidates live in Battlefield, Blue Springs, Boonville, Cassville, Carthage, Chillicothe, Columbia, Country Club, Cross...

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Mayview woman in serious condition after Johnson accident Jacqueline A. Worley, 72, of Mayview, sustained serious injuries, and James D. Worley, 76, of Mayview, sustained minor injuries at 9:08 a.m. Monday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, James Worley was driving south on state Route 13 bypass at Blackwater River in a 2002 Ford when he attempted to pass a 2001 Ford driven by an unknown passenger. Worley lost control, struck a guardrail, and overturned. The Worleys were wearing seat belts. James Worley sought his own treatment. Jacqueline Worley was transported to Western...

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The following students were named to the Sacred Heart School honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. “A” Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Catherine Alvarado-Ruiz, Charlotte Cox, Hunter Engles, Ava Figge, Hunter Grose, Aiden Hardin, Isabella Hernandez, Sarah Kehl, Sophia Perez, Ryder Pettis, Vaida Sparks, Matias Urbina Morelos. Fifth Grade: Zachary Anderson, Aspen Carl, Violet Conant, Johnhenry Cordia, Avery Dillon, Madison Hill, Cooper Hladik, Josh Lucchesi, Abram May, Easton Reid, Keaton Sanders, Dinah Wetzel. Sixth Grade: Izaiah Cervantes, Sidnee City, Addie Figge, R.J. Hladik, Margaret Knox, Maggie Van Leer. Seventh Grade: Emily Alvarado-Ruiz, Paisley Carl, Juliet Conant,...

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Tuesday evening’s Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees meeting began with CEO Lori Wightman reading a heartfelt letter from the wife of a stroke victim from Nov. 29. “I headed to Bothwell Regional Medical Center as fast as I could,” the letter stated. “The security officer acted fast with a wheelchair and shortly after the nursing staff came out. They took my husband and began evaluating him and called a Code-Stroke.” The hospital’s newly formed Code-Stroke team was at the board meeting as Wightman read the letter, thanking them for quickly handling the stroke victim and getting him transferred...

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For a kicker, it can be about slowing down big moments, but life right now is moving fast for Blake Grupe. A 2017 Smith-Cotton grad, Grupe recently entered the navy blue and gold-tinted spotlight that is Notre Dame football. He entered the NCAA transfer portal following the completion of Arkansas State’s season and also garnered significant interest from other Power 5 programs, but never seemed in doubt of his next destination when the Irish came calling. “You hear the history of Notre Dame, the winning culture; they’re not just a football team, they’re a worldwide icon,” Grupe said in a...

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On Monday afternoon, the second of five presidential semi-finalist candidates visited with students, staff, and the public. The college began seeking a new president after current SFCC President Joanna Anderson announced in August that she would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Each candidate will spend a day and a half visiting the Sedalia campus and will include a public presentation with a question and answer session. Each session will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center.  Monday’s presentation was from Dr. Michelle Schutt, the Vice President of Community and Learner Services...

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On Monday night, the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education met at the Heckart Performing Arts Center to provide a COVID-19 update and some changes the members are considering for employees affected by COVID-19.  Assistant Superintendent Jason Curry provided a COVID-19 update. Since classes opened on Jan. 5 with masks optional, the district has canceled school twice due to illness-related reasons. The first was due to 13 sick driving staff members from First Student Sedalia and the second from 108 staff members through the Sedalia 200 being ill and only 21 substitutes available. Superintendent Steve Triplett spoke about what...

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Skyline Elementary’s mixed-age class will be selling Valentine Grams to help raise funds for Mercy Rest Stop.  Teacher Tonya Edgar said her class of second and third graders chose a community service project to raise money and this year Edgar had heard of Mercy Rest Stop.  “I did a little bit of research and I thought it (Mercy Rest Stop) would be good and I talked to the kiddos,” Edgar said. The class will be selling Valentine's grams from Feb. 7 to Feb.14. Students and parents can buy a gram to send every day or just once for [post_excerpt].  The...

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Holden man in serious condition after Johnson accident  Colin M. Morelock, 20, of Holden, sustained serious injuries and a 16-year-old male from Holden sustained minor injuries at 10:05 a.m. Friday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Morelock was driving east on state Route 58 in a 1998 Ford when he failed to navigate a curve, went off the right side of the road, overcorrected, traveled off the left side of the road, began to overturn, and struck a highway sign.  Morelock was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to Research Medical...

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During daily meetings Jan. 18 to Jan. 21, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Jan. 18: The Commission met with Anderson Engineering Vice President Gary Strack and GIS Director James Theisen to discuss ongoing projects in the County. The Commission went into closed session for legal counsel.  The Commission moved to table the vote for the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget for further review.  Jan. 19: Bill Turner gave information updates on the proposed Mercy Rest Stop for Pettis County.  Jan. 20 The Commission met with Sheriff Brad Anders for general discussions regarding his department. Also present was County Clerk...

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Saturday evening, the 2022 Central Missouri Ag Banquet was hosted on the Missouri Fairgrounds, and returning after a year off for COVID was the annual pie auction. Janice Klenke has helped with the banquet and auction for 15 years. “What we do is we raise money to pay for them (various local livestock shows) to rent the fairgrounds for their event,” Klenke said. “We pay for their judges to judge the event and then we also pay for the insurance for them to be able to have this on the fairgrounds and then with the money that we have left...

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Jan. 18 Matz Properties LLC to Ralph H. and Jacqueline Redd, Ware Subdivision, lot 19. Jacob and Nicole Heisterberg to Sandra Stroburg, Arlington Heights Subdivision; section 2; township 45; range 22.  Donald C. Lemons to Lynn Marie Bacon, section 28; township 47; range 21.  Joe and Lynne Welton to Tejeda Servando Diaz, section 9; township 45; range 21. Joe Lynn and Lynne Welton to Joe Lynn and Lynne Welton, section 9; township 45; range 21.  Murlin and Eloise M. Lange to SC Fisher Properties LLC, section 8; township 45; range 21. Blanca Elizabeth Gomez to Daniel Hernadez and Danira Sofia...

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Pettis County added 906 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 10,590, according to the Pettis County Health Center. This is more cases than the previous record month of November 2020 with 1,389 and a positivity rate of 35.45% “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 39.4% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 30.5% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past...

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Stephanie Craig has joined Callis & Associates as Operations Manager. In this new position on the agency’s strategic marketing team, Craig is responsible for overseeing the internal workflow of all projects and managing schedules and workload for production personnel.  Craig will collaborate with all members of the agency to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. She has a diverse background that includes customer service, project management and process supervision. “We are excited to have Stephanie on our team to help manage internal processes,” said Callis President Cliff Callis. “As our agency has grown, we have implemented a...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 13 1:03 p.m.: James D. Baker, 47, of the 500 block of West Seventh Street, was arrested after officers responded to a business in the 4400 block of Wisconsin Avenue in response to a theft. A white male entered the store and exited with a coat valued at . The suspect in the case was identified and later arrested. Baker was issued...

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The 2020 Class 1 state champions will be led by a new face when football season rolls around this fall. News that Windsor football head coach Jake Vencill’s position was opening up was confirmed with a posting seeking applicants on Wednesday. Vencill is expected to take the offensive coordinator position at Washington High School. The Class 5 program, a force in the 1970s under the late Jim Scanlan, has won a combined 25 games over the past three years. The move is unofficial until his resignation and subsequent hiring at the next board of education meetings for Henry R-1 and...

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Smith-Cotton coach Michael Franklin will be on the move following the completion of the 2021-22 school year.  Franklin was announced as the next head coach of Knob Noster High School in a press release on Friday, Jan. 21. He’ll also be in charge of the school’s weights and conditioning program as a physical education teacher and serve as an assistant track coach.  "It's always been a dream of mine to be a head football coach," Franklin said in a phone interview Friday evening. "I'm just excited to get that Opportunity at Knob Noster. After speaking with the administration there, it...

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Sometimes a player returning from injury is just as good as a mid-season impact transfer. Probably even better in the case of Jamar Madge Jr. A 6-foot-3 guard out of Raytown South, where he was a Class 4 All-State player, Madge arrived in Sedalia last season after committing to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he spent a season and appeared in 26 games. Upon stepping on the floor as a Roadrunner, Madge looked the part of a player who would find his way back to Division 1. He scored in double-figures in his first 10 games, including a high of 21 points in...

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After decades, a World War II Purple Heart has come home to family after being found in a barn in Clinton.  Retired Air Force and Navy veteran Van Swearingin and his wife, Denise, of rural Sedalia, were surprised to receive a call Feb. 6, 2021, from Larry and Donna Jones stating they had found a Purple Heart and obit in their barn belonging to his grandfather, the late World War II veteran PFC William Grady Curry.  “His wife is the one who messaged me on Facebook,” Denise said. “She found my name and it said it was Swearingin … and...

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During daily meetings Jan. 18 to Jan. 21, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Jan. 18: The Commission met with Anderson Engineering Vice President Gary Strack and GIS Director James Theisen to discuss ongoing projects in the County. The Commission went into closed session for legal counsel.  The Commission moved to table the vote for the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget for further review.  Jan. 19: Bill Turner gave information updates on the proposed Mercy Rest Stop for Pettis County.  Jan. 20 The Commission met with Sheriff Brad Anders for general discussions regarding his department. Also present was County Clerk...

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The University of Missouri fall semester 2021 dean’s list is now available. During the fall 2021 semester, 11,488 undergraduate students earned the academic distinction to be named to the dean’s list. Cole Camp: Brooklyn N. Cross, Jamison Wade Farrar, Keygan C. Fox, Seth M. King, Aiden W. Murphy, Willy Ehren Murphy, Ashley Paige Schear and Evan J. Shearer. Houstonia: Mallory Paige Ford, Emily A. Gregory and Remingtin L. March. Hughesville: Rylan Dane Chamberlin, Avery Powell and William Richard Boone Schroeder. Ionia: Hannah N. Anderson. Lincoln: Bailey J. Crouch. Mora: Mikayla Elice Acklin. Sedalia: Abbey Lynn Ahern, Hannah Elizabeth Beebe, Katelyn...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by St. Vincent de Paul Church.  Monday: Pork riblet on bun, baked beans, macaroni salad, brownie and milk. Tuesday: Spaghetti, corn, salad, breadsticks, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Stuffed pepper casserole, hominy, tropical fruit, roll and milk. Thursday: Beef and noodles, green beans, pudding, roll and milk. Friday: Roast beef, mashed...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 19 7:10 a.m.: Malachi Quamayne Eugene Sims, 20, of the 2400 block of Southwest Main Street, was arrested after a female subject came to the police department to report that she was being harassed by a male subject. Sims was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold in the Pettis County Jail pending a charge of second-degree harassment.  6:33 p.m.: Bridget M....

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After more than 50 years on South Massachusetts Avenue, the Sedalia Democrat has announced it will be moving to a new location in downtown Sedalia later this year. The Democrat opened its current office at 700 S. Massachusetts Ave. in 1967. As the newspaper industry across the country continues to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift in how readers consume the news, the Democrat has decided to leave its current leased building and purchase a building at 111 W. Fourth St. “While I know change can be hard, especially for a long-standing company like the Sedalia...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Ricardo Pascual Banuelos, 21, and Bernice Martinez, 19, both of Sedalia;  Larry Don Sprinkle, 43, and Stephanie Nicole Landers, 46, both of Sedalia; Veronica Nicole Poort, 29, and Jordan Thomas Watt Sr., 30, both of Sedalia. 

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Union Pacific Railroad has notified the City of Sedalia that beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, UP will be making improvements to the rail crossing at the street intersection at North Park Avenue. Travelers will need to plan alternate routes as the roadway will be closed to through traffic during the planned construction period. The closest through street to the east of North Park Avenue is North Grand Avenue.

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It’s over bitterly cold nights like Thursday’s when the Sedalia Warming Shelter is most appreciated. “The wind chill was definitely below zero,” said Kirk Martin with the Warming Shelter. “We open up at 15 degrees real-feel wind-chill with clear skies, or if we have a 50% or better forecasted precipitation, we open up at 30 degrees, those are our trigger points.” Located in the basement of St. Vincent de Paul St. Patrick Parish, 415 E. Fourth St., the Warming Shelter has been busy for the past few nights. “Fourteen or 15 have been here for the last couple days,” Martin...

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On Thursday, another area school district announced it would be canceling Friday classes due to a staffing shortage.  The Smithton R-VI School District sent out a letter to families telling them of the cancelation and following the district tier model once they return to school on Monday.  The district experienced a drop in staff attendance from 92.68% last Thursday to 81.71% this Thursday. During that same time frame, the COVID-related absences among staff have risen from 50% to 93.33%. It is becoming increasingly difficult to not only fill these absences but to maintain vital programs across the district for our...

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Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCM  The Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCM met Jan. 18 at the Tipton United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall with 19 attending. Prior to the meeting, an optional pre-meeting member lunch at Bobbio’s Eatery in Tipton was enjoyed.  The business meeting was conducted jointly by Presidents Pro Tem Micki Williams and Gay Nau. The Roll Call, “Name your favorite Wildflower,” was answered. Members’ January birthdays, Janet Mulcahy Jan. 13  and Kathy Coffman, Jan. 18, were recognized.  Yearbooks for 2022 were distributed by Kendra Johnson and were received with positive comments and appreciation for her efforts. ...

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It’s funny how a song or even a single sound can transport you somewhere else. Maybe it makes you feel a little happier for a few minutes on a dreary day, but so many times, it makes you think of a quick moment in time long past. Many of you in your late 20s or 30s with a Facebook page most likely saw the announcement for the When We Were Young concert slated for October in Las Vegas. More than 60 bands will be featured, all of them now a little faded from the limelight after reaching their height of...

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“He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?” -Psalm 147:16-17  First, some thick wool socks. Then, long underwear, the kind with a waffle pattern. Or leggings lined with fleece. A T-shirt. A fuzzy, pilly sweater with sleeves that hang down to the palms of your hands. Sturdy overalls of canvas or waterproof bibs. A heavy coat that matches your personal style: a wool peacoat, a down jacket, a bulky Carhartt. Then, gloves. Cheap cotton ones. Fuzzy yellow work gloves with red wrists that you...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Final Case,” by David Guterson. “Targeted,” by Stephen Hunter. “Find Me,” by Alafair Burke. “End of Days,” by Brad Taylor. “Reminders of Him,” by Colleen Hoover. “The Last Dance of the Debutante,” by Julia Kelly. “The Good Son,” by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Nonfiction “Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today,” by Valerie Bertinelli. “Apparently There Were Complaints,” by Sharon Gless. “Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich, 1945-1955,” by Harald Jahner.

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Before I begin lamenting some of the latest discoveries in the Jan. 6 investigation, please indulge my telling one more Terry Teachout story. I have been reliving many of our adventures and meetings over the past week, and one prank that had been languishing on the edge of my memory made me laugh out loud.  Jewell’s band and choir had been invited, along with many other Kansas City-area colleges’, to participate in performing a huge piece of music with conductor Maurice Perez and the Kansas City Symphony (at that time, it was known as the Kansas City Philharmonic) – the...

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Friday began the first of five visits for the presidential semi-finalist candidates for State Fair Community College.  The college began the process of seeking a new president after current SFCC President Joanna Anderson announced in August that she would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Each candidate will spend a day and a half visiting the Sedalia campus and will include a public presentation with a question and answer session. Each session will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center.  The first candidate is no stranger to SFCC: Vice President of Education...

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Liberty Center Association for the Arts announced the upcoming production of “Legally Blonde.”  This musical is based on the novel “Legally Blonde” by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others and she successfully defends exercise queen, Brooke Wyndham, in a murder trial. Throughout the show, very few characters have faith in Elle Woods but she manages to surprise them when she defies expectations while...

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Alexander Griggs, of Tipton, graduated from the Lincoln University of Missouri Law Enforcement Training Academy on Dec. 16.  Griggs is a member of the second graduating class to complete Lincoln's program. Lincoln launched the training center earlier this year, the first historically Black college and university to house its own police academy. Cadets receive hands-on, practical training in a variety of situations including domestic violence calls, traffic stops, burglary scenarios, crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques. The evolving curriculum will include such innovations as virtual reality simulators for future classes, says Academy Director Gary Hill. "The vision of this program was...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 19 12:35 a.m.: Elizabeth Laine Scheider, 23, of the 600 block of East Ninth Street, was arrested after a traffic stop on Lamine Avenue and Seventh Street for signs of impairment including driving on the wrong side of the road. Scheider was intoxicated, had a suspended license, and a Phelps County warrant. She was arrested, taken to the SPD, the hospital, and...

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The Pettis County Commission will host a public hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 in the County Commission Chambers at the Pettis County Courthouse to take action on a proposed Waste Management Ordinance and Host Agreement. Beginning on Jan. 27, the proposed ordinance and host agreement will lay in the Commission Chambers for 20 days to allow for public inspection. A moment dedicated for public comment will be available during the hearing and throughout the 20-day layover period. Public comments may be made before the bench during regular session but must also be submitted in writing. The Commission generally...

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Barnett man hurt in Morgan accident Jason M. Coffman, 22, of Barnett, sustained minor injuries at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, A 2011 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Lester K. Comstock, 47, of Versailles, was driving west on Route C and slowing to turn left on Route AA with a 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by Zachary D. Gradinger, 20, of Kansas City, behind his vehicle, when it was struck in the rear by a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Kaufman,  forcing it into the Silverado. All drivers were wearing seat...

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My first real job was as a janitor at a funeral home when I was 16 years old. All I remember about my first day was the surreal realization that I was working around corpses. As morbid as it sounds, from that moment on my life has involved dealing with death and dying. When I became a pastor, I ministered at more deathbeds and funerals than I ever imagined. Eventually, death hit closer to home. Within the past five years, my childhood best friend tragically died, my wife and I suffered two miscarriages, and currently a dear, young pastor friend...

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OSAGE BEACH — The Missouri Cattlemen's Association recognized Bailey Popejoy (Marriott), of Stover, as the 2021 Leadership Development Award recipient at the 54th annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show hosted Jan. 7-9 in Osage Beach.  The MCA Leadership Development Award was formed to acknowledge individuals who are dedicated to growing and expanding the association and creating new leaders within the industry.  Popejoy is a former president of the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association and leader of the Morgan County 4-H Beef Program. In those capacities, she’s supervised approximately 25 youth in their beef projects in Morgan and Benton counties...

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As the Grand Opening for the Heckart Community Center draws near, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple already has a plan for restoring Convention Hall to its former glory. “Convention Hall is a great piece of park property,” Epple said Thursday. “The building was built in 1911, it's not going anywhere.” With all eyes on the opening of the Heckart on March 18, users of Convention Hall are also anticipating the move. “I can't wait, on the way here I'm thinking, ‘two more months, two more months,’” Nanci Bergmeier said during a break from pickleball Thursday. “I mean, it's awesome...

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The private pesticide applicator license issued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture is required for producers wanting to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides. Application by unlicensed workers under the supervision of licensed applicators will no longer be allowed. Agricultural producers needing to obtain or renew certification of this license must take this pesticide safety training every five years. You must be 18 years of age and directly involved in the production of agricultural commodities to obtain this license. In response to COVID-19, in-person training sessions will have masks and sanitizer available for those who wish to use them. MU...

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About 50 people gathered in the Council Chambers at the Sedalia Municipal Building on Thursday night to voice concerns regarding the proposed Mercy Rest Stop project planned for downtown Sedalia. Plans are to construct the Mercy Rest Stop at 314 W. Benton St. next to the Open Door Kitchen. The Democrat first reported about the Mercy Rest Stop and Information Center almost exactly one year ago, in January 2021. At the time, the plans were to “provide the homeless and nearly homeless with the ‘necessities of life’ such as 24/7 sanitary restroom facilities, a 24/7 water source, showers, laundry, cooling...

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Calvary Baptist Sedalia, 1015 W. 16th St., will host a revival at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31 with Pastor Michael T. Byrd Sr., a dynamic young pastor from St. Louis. Anyone that wants to be challenged and encouraged in their faith should come. For more information, call 660-826-5011.

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Even if last season was less than ideal, Smith-Cotton boys basketball didn't have the prospect of a winless season hanging over its head. The team collected a pair of wins in its third and fourth games of the year at the Willard Tournament. It wasn't until an extended quarantine that a losing streak began on Jan. 9, 2021, and followed the Tigers the rest of the year, amounting to 11 losses by the end. This winter the losses have kept piling up. Some reasonable opportunities to get the upper-hand have been within reach thus far; an overtime loss at home...

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Tuesday, the Missouri Barber Company opened its doors after four friends joined forces to take over 520 W. Broadway Blvd., formerly Wolfy’s. Jason Joy, Joshua Hesse, Stephanie Flick and Rory Colburn are so comfortable together that walking into the Missouri Barber Company is like coming home for them and their clients. “I've known Rory for a long time now,” Joy said. “Then Josh and I worked together, and then Rory and Stef worked together, and it just kind of happened that we all converged at the same time.” The perfect space became available when Wolfy’s relocated, and The Missouri Barber...

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On Jan. 5, Smith-Cotton High School’s library and the Sedalia Public Library formed a partnership to increase students’ access to digital reading material from the public library.  S-C Library Media Specialist Lorin Blackburn Thierfelder said she wanted to find an easier way for students to get audio and e-books, which led her to Sora.  “When I was talking to the original rep, it was right before COVID hit in 2020, so when we did have to go home and go virtual, it was amazing to still do library programs,” Thierfelder said.  Thierfelder expanded the program and bought the Gateway Awards,...

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The following students were named to the Pettis County R-V (Northwest) School District honor roll for the first semester of the 2021-22 school year. A Honor Roll Veronica Fayuk, Deanna Kozlenko, Natalia Kyvyrzhik, Elaina Buckley, Emma Kirchu, Bevin Kreisel, Caleb Martin, Gabby Meyer, Emma Newton, Elliot Nieters, Kimbree Pummill, Carlee Sanders, Lianna Silchuk, Izzabella Ulmer, Maryann Walker, Allison Ballenger, Olivia Butler,   Kaelin Garrigus, Aubrey Hollon, Gage Killion, Matthew Kozlenko, Kayden O’Bryan, Kevin Zarate, Shelby Dotson, Abby Martin, Valerie Meyer, Maisie Richardson, Zoe Richardson, Kit Shane, Karli Smith, Grace Walker, Hannah Watterson, Austynn White, Maddie Willmuth, Gavin Killion, Katie Martin,...

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To ensure the health care services and programs it offers meet the needs of the community it serves, Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall is seeking input from citizens throughout Saline County and its service area. Fitzgibbon is encouraging interested stakeholders and patrons to complete an online health needs assessment that is designed to take less than 10 minutes to complete. Data released by state and national health agencies ranks Saline County residents low in "healthy behaviors" and high in several indicators of poor health, including high numbers of people who are obese, who smoke and who suffer from chronic diseases such...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 18 2:47 a.m.: Melissa D. Cartmill, 40, of the 400 block of North Hurley Avenue, was arrested after a vehicle stop in the area of Moniteau Avenue and Broadway Boulevard for failing to dim headlights and indicators of impairment. She was taken to a hospital and then to the Pettis County Jail where she was placed on a 24-hour hold pending charges...

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The Missouri Cattlemen's Association elected its 2022 leadership during the 54th annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show.  Bruce Mershon, of Jackson County, will serve as the 2022 MCA President. "I'm incredibly grateful to the members for the opportunity to help lead MCA in 2022,” Mershon said. "Working together, we can meet the challenges facing our industry and improve the livelihood of Missouri cattle producers."  David Dick, of Pettis County, will serve as president-elect. Chuck Miller, of Miller County, was elected to serve as vice president. Marvin Dieckman, of Benton County, will serve as treasurer, and Charlie Besher, of...

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Two school districts in Pettis County have canceled school the rest of the week due to illness-related reasons.  On Wednesday, Sedalia School District 200 posted on its Facebook page that due to inclement weather and staff shortages, classes will be canceled on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21. The current forecast is calling for wind chills to be between -5 and -10 over the next two days. The post states there were 108 staff members out on Wednesday due to illness and other personal reasons, with only 21 substitute teachers available.  Typically, when Sedalia 200 cancels school, the Boys & Girls...

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Below-freezing wind chill values are expected through the end of the week. According to the National Weather Service, northwest winds gusting to 25 to 30 mph were expected throughout Wednesday in west central Missouri. Wind chill values were expected to fall below zero Wednesday evening and remain below zero through Thursday morning. The coldest wind chills of 15 to 20 below are expected along and north of Highway 36. Sub-zero wind chills are expected Friday morning along and north of I-70. On Thursday, skies will be sunny with a high near 16, a low around 2, and wind chill values...

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The Sedalia Public Library invites preschool through 12th grade library patrons to sign up for Winter Reading 2022 starting Jan. 18.  This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland of Books,” so grab your winter coat and join the fun. For more information, stop by the library and pick up a January newsletter, visit sedalialibrary.com, or call 660-826-1314 and talk to the Children’s Librarian.

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The State Fair Community College Foundation recently received another ,000 gift from the Gene Haas Foundation for the college’s Precision Machining Technology program. The Gene Haas Foundation’s primary goal is to build skills in the machining industry by providing grants and scholarships for CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine technology students and NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) credentials.   SFCC’s relationship with the foundation developed about seven years ago when the college purchased nine CNC machines for its machining program from Haas Automation Inc., headquartered in Oxnard, California. The company, founded by Gene Hass in 1983, is the largest machine...

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Around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sedalia Police Department officers with the Crime Resolution Unit served a search warrant in the 1300 block of South Lamine Avenue related to an ongoing drug investigation. “Originally we had gotten some complaints from neighbors in the area,” Sgt. Kevin Klein said. “We started doing some surveillance on the residence, developed leads, did some other investigative techniques to establish probable cause and got a search warrant.” While detectives were speaking with a resident at the front door, 24-year-old Cameron D. Williams, of the residence, was spotted by officers covering the perimeter exiting a second-story window onto...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 11  2:05 p.m.: Shyanne Nicole Meyer, 25, of the 19000 block of Maltsberger Road, was arrested after a vehicle stop near East Fourth Street and South Massachusetts Avenue for improper registration. A check revealed the driver did not have a driver's license and drug paraphernalia was found. Meyer was arrested but ultimately released so she could make a court appearance. Jan. 14...

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At Tuesday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting, the City had to pass two seemingly random resolutions to qualify for a 0,000 Community Development Block Grant. Worth potentially [post_excerpt] million a year with matching funds, the grants will go a long way toward fixing Sedalia’s crumbling sidewalks.  The resolutions both passed unanimously. The first, which City Administrator Kelvin Shaw said was already in place, was a resolution establishing rules and regulations regarding the use of excessive force during non‐violent civil rights demonstrations. “This is not because we've had any problems,” Shaw said. “It's not because we're going to do anything different,...

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Author’s note: I apologize for the incorrect information in last week’s column. I gave 1919 as the year of Thomas Yount’s birth rather than the correct year of 1892. Thomas Yount was a successful insurance agent who actively worked to better Sedalia through his participation as a fire warden for the Council of Defense during World War II, for his work selling war bonds during World War II, and through his membership in Kiwanis, a service club. His wife, Mildred, was a homemaker who followed the stereotype of the time that a man’s success could be seen in his wife’s...

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Warsaw man seriously injured in Benton motorcycle crash Richard A. Richardson, 53, of Warsaw, sustained serious injuries, and Katrina A. Moore, 50, of Warsaw, sustained moderate injuries at 5:05 p.m. Monday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Richardson was driving a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle west on Golf Road at Truman Road when he failed to stop at the intersection and traveled off the roadway. The vehicle overturned and both occupants were ejected.  Both riders were exempt from safety devices. Moore refused treatment on scene and Richardson was taken by Life Flight to...

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In two months, the Heckart Community Center will officially be open to the public with expansions on current classes and programs offered by the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department.  “There is going to be a lot for people to do at the community center. It’s not just a pool, it is a huge building,” Special Events and Marketing Manager Savannah Lynde said.  There will be three courts to play basketball, pickleball and volleyball, plus batting cages that will drop down from the ceiling. There will be a fitness center upstairs, and guests can use the walking track for free without...

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JOHNSON COUNTY — K9 Boss will be retiring from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at the end of January.  “His age is starting to catch up to him,” K9 handler Robert Watkins said. “He’s been on the road since July of 2016, so a little over five years. He is 7 and a half years old.”  Boss started his career with the Sheriff’s Office with Eric Norris. Watkins became Boss’ handler in January 2018 when Norris retired.  Watkins said the average age for a dog to retire from service is 8 years old.  Watkins said there were other factors, including...

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The Christmas and New Year's holidays have come and gone; the leftover candy has almost disappeared, and the only thing remaining of the leftover food in our house is a ring around my middle that I fear will last all through the year.  I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year as I did. There was a COVID hitch to my wife and I’s holiday, however, as part of our family refused to get the vaccine, which meant we had to have two Christmases. The upside of that was our house was not crowded, and I got to...

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Do those you love really know how much you love them? When we are first married, the honeymoon period is fantastic! All we think about is how much we love each other and how sparkly life is going to be now that we know that we will be together forever. That feeling is so special. But suddenly we find ourselves doing the everyday tasks of working, cleaning, cooking, paying bills and meeting other commitments. When life becomes “normal” we sometimes forget to say, “I love you” or “I love spending time with you.” It’s not that we don’t want to,...

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The following students were named to the Cole Camp High School honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Honorable Mention  Ninth Grade: Nickolaus Botelho, Luis Chavez, Spencer Godwin, Adam Kammeyer, Emelia Root. 10th Grade: Katya Boychuk, Dalton Brandt, Austin Clark, Morgan Wagner. 11th Grade: Abigail Bowlin, Kimberly Corpening, Braden Jonson, Sergey Timoshchuk. 12th Grade: Gage Cross, Vivian Eddingfield, Patrick Olsen. Honor Roll Ninth Grade: Patience Butler, Alex Chavez, Dorothy Graves, Carson Hoke. 10th Grade: Emily Burdick, Renee Hakala, Tori Luebbering, Gracie Thompson, Madison Treece. 11th Grade: Colton Banks, Judd Harms, Macie Robb. 12th Grade: Wyatt Bryan,...

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Tuesday, the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office announced two Sedalia residents were arrested after a Sunday evening vehicle pursuit.  The incident started at 7:51 p.m. when Sedalia Police Department officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of West 16th Street and South Kentucky Avenue for a vehicle failing to stop at a stop sign. The driver, later identified as 32-year-old Travis D. Martin, failed to stop and the officers initiated a vehicle pursuit, which continued into the county where officers terminated the pursuit. One minute later at 7:52 p.m., the Pettis County K-9 unit observed the same vehicle...

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Pettis County added 632 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 9,684, according to the Pettis County Health Center. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 30.5% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 25.5% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Tuesday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 864/100,000. This week there were 1,225 PCR tests and 816 antigen tests for a total of 2,041....

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrests Jan. 14 11:52 p.m.: Camerin A. Lewis, 23, of Kansas City, was arrested in Morgan County for a misdemeanor warrant out of Saline County, possession of 11-35 grams of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, exceeding the posted speed limit - 84 in a 60, and driving while intoxicated - alcohol. She was transported to the Morgan County Jail. Jan. 15 1:53...

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Monday marked the 100th birthday of beloved actress the late Betty White. Nationwide people honored her memory by bringing donations to local animal shelters and rescues, including the Sedalia Animal Shelter. Kevin Walker, of Sedalia, organized one of several Betty White Challenge groups, which brought food and cleaning supplies to the shelter on Monday. Walker met Sedalia Animal Control Officer Troy Schneider at the shelter along with several other donation volunteers. This particular group donated dog and cat food, pet clothes, bleach, cat litter, blankets, laundry soap, paper towels and dish soap. Schneider said the shelter appreciates all the donations...

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​​Overnight Friday, Katy Park Baptist Church, 901 W. 24th St., was broken into. An alert from the church’s Ring camera alerted youth pastor Ryan Stone and church secretary Kristen Stone, who drove to the scene after calling the police. “We've discovered two items that were missing, there may be more,” Richard DeFord, Associate Minister, said. “The first one is the safe out of our church office, which he worked considerably hard to get out of the building. We have them on camera moving the safe out of the building and you can hear him in the parking lot drop it...

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Earning a spot on Drury University's dean's list means a student earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury.  In the fall semester, the following students made the day school dean's list: Boonville: Hannah Gross. Cole Camp: Madi Luebbering. Concordia: Rin Colwell and Lauren Fiene. Green Ridge: Allison Fox. Marshall: Matthew Huston and Allison Weber. Odessa: Jalah Jordan and Cassidy McGonigal. Sedalia: Alex Esquivel and Emma Sharp. Warsaw: Kolby Estes.

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Over the next few months, Bothwell Regional Health Center is conducting its triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and requesting feedback from the community through a survey that is available until Feb. 9. The online survey is available at brhc.org/health-survey. Printed copies are at all Bothwell clinics and at community health partner locations including Pettis County Health Center, Katy Trail Community Health and Benton County Health Department. Russian and Spanish surveys are available upon request. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential. Respondents who include their email address will be entered into a drawing...

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Wentzville man in serious condition after Morgan accident Brian L. Vanleer, 59, of Wentzville, sustained serious injuries at 4:55 p.m. Friday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Vanleer was traveling east on U.S. Highway 50 at Morgan County Drive in a 2016 Hyundai Elantra when a 2017 Ford F350 driven by Carlin J. Zimmerman, 21, of Versailles, rear-ended his vehicle. This forced Vanleer’s vehicle into the path of a 2013 Ford F150 driven west by Cory A. Thieman, 19, of Marshall. The F-150 struck the Elantra.  Everyone except Zimmerman was wearing a seat...

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Jan. 10 Jessica F. and Stanley D. Coffle to Scott and Brandi Cole, Cotton Subdivision, lot 9, block 6.  Gaylon K. and Mary E. Alfrey to Aleksey and Alyona Shcherbina, section 8; township 44; range 21. Amanda Duchone to Katelyn S. Olvera, McVey Subdivision, lot 9.  James J. McGovern Trustee, Nancy L. McGovern Trustee, James J. McGovern Trust and Nancy L. McGovern Trust to James J. McGovern, section 36; township 48; range 20; section 25; township 48; range 20.  Roderick W. and Stephanie D. Bollinger to Dana Sanchez, Walthcc1 Subdivision, lot 8.  Jan. 11 Bobbie L. Gaus to Joseph Veneziale,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrests Jan. 14 11:52 p.m.: Camerin A. Lewis, 23, of Kansas City, was arrested in Morgan County for a misdemeanor warrant out of Saline County, possession of 11-35 grams of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, exceeding the posted speed limit - 84 in a 60, and driving while intoxicated - alcohol. She was transported to the Morgan County Jail. Jan. 15 1:53...

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The Sedalia City Council has been presented a petition signed by several citizens expressing concerns regarding the Mercy Rest Stop project being planned by another group. The City has also been contacted by the organizers of the project to explain their goals and express their concerns that there may be some inaccurate rumors circulating.   Therefore, the City has scheduled a public forum to bring together everyone interested in this project to discuss the plans and facilitate a meeting of the minds on how best to proceed in addressing everyone’s concerns. Everyone interested is encouraged to attend.

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GREEN RIDGE — In April 2021, Green Ridge voters approved a no-tax-increase bond issue, called Proposition GR-8 Tigers, for the Green Ridge R-8 School District.  Green Ridge Superintendent Jaime Burkhart said the bond issue was .25 million for the purpose of providing funds for the safety and security upgrades to the Green Ridge school.  Burkhart said the district needed a fire alarm upgrade, some door security devices, additional lighting, needing to replace roofing, heating ventilation and air conditioning system, and wanted to enlarge the gym restrooms.  This also includes needed electrical upgrades and any other repairs or improvements with the...

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A new-look offense had State Fair Community College women’s basketball humming late in Friday night’s 59-48 win over Jefferson College. Locked in a one-possession battle in the second half, the Lady Roadrunners battled for several baskets before a 3-pointer by Autumn Wallace (14 points) made it 61-53 with 7:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. “Yeah, it seemed [big at the time] to me; it got me excited,” Wallace said. At that point, a continuing theme of the night took precedence: feeding the post. Freshman post Kaylani Hoskin used her frame to battle for several buckets underneath and help secure a...

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Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Twenter, of Sedalia, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Jan. 10. Patricia White and Ruben Twenter were married Jan. 10, 1952, at St. Patrick Catholic Church.  Mr. Twenter is retired from County Distributing Co. and Mrs. Twenter, who was a homemaker, is also retired.  The couple have seven children, Sarah (Bob) Storey, of Omaha, Nebraska, Susan (Jim) Van Horn, of Sedalia, Philip Twenter, of Sedalia, Jackie (Mike) Stratton, of Sedalia, the late Chris Twenter (widow Sue Twenter, of Lee's Summit) and the late Timothy Twenter and Cynthia Twenter; 11 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. A surprise reception hosted...

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Although COVID has postponed the Hayden Liberty Center’s gala, the “Celebration of the Century” slated for Jan. 29, plans have been made to host the popular fundraising event Saturday, March 5 and the center needs the community’s help.  LCAA’s fundraising galas began in 1983 and were hosted until 2000. Rhiannon Foster, who is co-chairing this year’s event with Rachel Dawson, said the elaborate galas became known as the most anticipated fundraising event in Sedalia. The 2022 Gala theme is celebrating the Liberty Center’s 100th anniversary. In the past, some themes were “Lady Liberty,” “Casino Royale,” “The Roaring ‘20s,” “The Best...

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During daily meetings Jan. 10 to Jan. 14, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Jan. 10: No action taken. Jan. 11: Juvenile Officer Kindra Harms discussed the “Raise the Age” Legislation. Jan. 12: The Commission met with Pettis County First representatives Bill Taylor, Mark Edwards, David Curry, Allen Ream, and David Gerken. Also present as an observer was Harv Ebers. The Commission approved to lay a copy of the proposed Waste Management Ordinance for public viewing. The ordinance will be available for the public to view for 10 business days beginning Jan. 20. A public notice will be published...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Juan de Jesus Estrada Perez, 30, of Sedalia, and Lucia Cardenas, 25, of Sedalia; Darryl Darnell Burkes Sr., 50, and Christina Denise Carter, 45, both of Sedalia; Justin Donald Weissert, 20, of Lakemoore, Illinois, and Faith Clare Thomas, 21, of Tipton; Wyatt Arnold Haywood, 26, and Molly Kay Evans, 25, both of Kansas City. 

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Arthur Fry, of Otterville, will celebrate his 90th birthday Sunday, Jan. 16.  He is a lifetime farmer and still actively farms his land in Otterville. 

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by First Baptist Church.  Monday: Chicken breast filet, potatoes and gravy, peas, pudding, milk and roll. Tuesday: Chili, pimento cheese sandwich, crackers, cinnamon apples and milk.  Wednesday: Salisbury steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, peaches, roll and milk.  Thursday: Chicken Alfredo pasta, breadsticks, broccoli, cauliflower/carrot mix, cookie, and milk. Friday: Pork...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “Along the Saltwater Sea,” by A. Deborah Baker. “God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen,” by Ryhs Bowen. “Claws for Alarm,” by Rita Mae Brown. “State of Terror,” by Hillary Rodham Clinton. “The Hidden Child,” by Louise Fein. “The Book of Mother,” by Violaine Huisman. “The Party Crasher,” by Sophie Kinsella.  “Dear Santa,” by Debbie Macomber. “Grave Reservations,” by Cherie Priest.  “No One Will Miss Her,” by Kat Rosenfield. “The Last Checkmate,” by Gabriella Saab.  Nonfiction “The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization are Destroying the Idea of America,” by Victor Davis Hanson. “Liberty is Sweet:...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Last House on the Street,” by Diane Chamberlain. “The Starless Crown,” by James Rollins. “Lightning in a Mirror,” by Jayne Ann Krentz. “The Maid,” by Nita Prose. “Something to Hide,” by Elizabeth George. “The Magnolia Palace,” by Fiona Davis. “It Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover. “Quick Silver,” by Dean Koontz. Nonfiction  “Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny,” by Ann Marks. “U.S Vehicles & Heavy Weapons of the Vietnam War,” by David Doyle.

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Dr. and Mrs. Chester Kirkpatrick will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary Jan. 18.  Dorothy Towner and Chester Kirkpatrick were married on Friday, Jan. 18, 1952, at First Baptist Church in Sedalia by the Rev. Thomas Croxton.  Dr. Kirkpatrick was an optometrist in Sedalia. Mrs. Kirkpatrick worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and was a homemaker.   The couple has three children, Dr. Glen (Lori) Kirkpatrick, of Parkville, Karla Foster, of Jefferson City, and Don (Shelly) Kirkpatrick, of Leawood, Kansas.   Their celebration will be with family, due to the current COVID situation.

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Be Forever Young  Be Forever Young met at Parkview Christian Church on Monday, Jan. 10. Twenty members attended. President Elayne Gordon introduced herself as a child of God and a follower of Jesus Christ, who had traded his life for hers. Gordon welcomed members back to the first meeting of 2022. Gordon asked the group to raise prayer needs and share blessings members had experienced and then went to God in prayer concerning the same. The club sang “Happy Birthday” for Sherri Hancock and Dave Stockton. Gordon read the meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. The treasurer’s report...

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I’m 30, so I remember the days of loud dial-up sounds and selecting which VHS, and eventually which DVD, we wanted at Blockbuster for a weekend movie night. I didn’t get a cellphone (a flip phone at that) until I was 16 and started my Facebook profile in high school. I got an iPhone during my sophomore year of college solely because I wanted to be able to check my email throughout the day while on campus, as I was a reporter for the Muleskinner, a marketing and events intern at the Kansas City Zoo, and a full-time college student. ...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Ira D. Demois and Violet L. Demois; Charles M. Adams and Donna J. Adams; Daniel R. Smith and Destiny C. Smith;  Yolanda Garcia and Anastacio de Dois Padilla. 

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Sunday a.m.: Shake it Up Sunday, if you are white attend a black church, if you are black attend a white church; Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, 400 N. Lamine Ave., or Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. For more information, call Marge Harlan at 660-851-0077.   Noon...

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For some reason, I can’t remember when I met Terry Teachout. I met him at Jewell, but was it in class? In the Cage, Jewell’s hangout spot? Choir? Wherever, whenever, we became fast friends quickly. We laughed a lot and he wowed me with his vast knowledge of just about everything. I knew I would never meet anyone more brilliant. We planned our class schedules together so that we wouldn’t have to take the mundane required music classes without friendly reinforcements. Dr. Forbis, who first played pro football and then found his calling as a teacher and conductor with a...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday No run, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Wednesday 9:20 am.: Cole Camp R-I School. 9:30 a.m. to noon: Cole Camp City Park. Noon: Cole Camp Senior Center. 1:30 p.m.: Lincoln Community Care. 1:45 p.m.: Lincoln City Hall. 2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Lakeview Healthcare. 9:15 a.m.: YMCA Early Childhood Learning Center. 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater Main Street. 4 p.m.: Stoney Ridge Village Residential Care. 

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So Christmas came, and you didn’t get that trip to Europe you’d been dreaming about? Did you know you can visit, in a manner of speaking, several European cities without ever leaving Missouri? Some are within easy driving distance from Sedalia. Florence, an Italian jewel, is located not many miles southeast of Smithton. Rome can be found southeast of Springfield. As long as you’re in Italy, you might want to visit Verona, which is just south of I-44 in Lawrence County. Time to move into Germany. Our first stop is Westphalia south of Jefferson City, which looks like it stepped...

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Sacred Heart School canceled school on Thursday and Friday due to a large absence of faculty.  President of Sacred Heart School Dr. Mark Register said that in a nutshell, it was the adults in the school that were sick and that it wasn’t a student problem.  “We had on Wednesday, leading up to the cancellations, we had nine faculty and administration out,” Register said.  Register added that that is about a third of the school’s full-time instructional force. Five out of the nine ill faculty members were due to COVID-19 reasons. Some were close contact quarantines, while the other staff...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 9 2:34 p.m.: Douglas M. Draheim, 51, of the 5400 block of South Limit Avenue, was arrested after an officer responded to a business in the 3400 block of West Broadway Boulevard for a theft report. The store manager said two fraudulent checks were passed in the store in the amount of 6.10. Draheim was known to be in the Pettis County...

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Friday, Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple gave a tour of the new Heckart Community Center to a very special guest, Sue Heckart. “It's always nice to bring Sue in here and let her see just the impact that this building is going to have,” Epple said. “I tell her I hope that we are representing her family name well and I'm pretty confident that I think we are, and just reminding her how awesome it is to give this gift to this community.” Heckart hadn’t toured the building in six weeks and was amazed as workers put the...

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Versailles man in serious condition after Morgan accident Andrew M. Martinez, 32, of Versailles, sustained serious injuries at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Martinez was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 north on state Route 5 near Millifork Lane when the vehicle traveled off the right edge of the roadway, struck numerous embankments, became airborne, then overturned numerous times. Martinez was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do...

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While this week has been sunny and relatively warm for January in Missouri, snow is in the weekend forecast. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will continue to be in the low 50s and 40s Thursday and Friday with lows in the high 20s. On Friday, there is a 20% chance of rain after noon with wind gusts as high as 18 mph. Friday night, rain and snow are expected between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., followed by snow after 1 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 90% and snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible. On...

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Accumulating snow is forecast for much of the state Friday evening beginning in the northwestern part of the state and moving southeast overnight continuing through Saturday. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges people to avoid travel if possible. If you must travel Friday night or Saturday, use extra caution, anticipate slower travel times and consult the Traveler Information Map for road conditions. “The forecast is calling for a wet, heavy snow accumulating on roads throughout the day Saturday,” said Natalie Roark, MoDOT state maintenance director. “The heavier the snow, the more difficult it is to clear. Motorists should be prepared...

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The Sacred Heart Speech team competed at the Lexington tournament the weekend of Jan. 8-9.  Sophie Anderson took second place in Storytelling. Mariah Van Leer placed third in Humorous Interpretation. Lexi Owens took fifth place in Radio Speaking. Sarah Hill and Jordan Hill contributed to team points. 

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 31 3:48 a.m.: Billie B. Brown, 34, of the 1000 block of East 10th Street, was arrested after officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East 16th Street for a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was recovered shortly after and returned to the owner. The suspect was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and charged with second-degree domestic...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 31 3:48 a.m.: Billie B. Brown, 34, of the 1000 block of East 10th Street, was arrested after officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East 16th Street for a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was recovered shortly after and returned to the owner. The suspect was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and charged with second-degree domestic...

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Today marks 63 days until the Heckart Community Center’s Grand Opening and Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple told the Park Board on Thursday her staff was spending about 80% of their time getting ready. “Most staff are working seven days a week right now,” Epple said. “A lot of things are going on, but we're happy and we're excited for March 18 at 10 a.m.” Although the pools are dry now with final touches still underway, it won’t be long until they are finished. “They're finalizing right now with some tile and some lights in the pool and...

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Versailles man in serious condition after Morgan accident Andrew M. Martinez, 32, of Versailles, sustained serious injuries at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Martinez was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 north on state Route 5 near Millifork Lane when the vehicle traveled off the right edge of the roadway, struck numerous embankments, became airborne, then overturned numerous times. Martinez was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do...

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The office of Central Methodist University Provost Rita Gulstad recently announced the students included on the Fall 2021 dean's list. Almost 1,000 students across all campuses and online learning met the requirements for placement, including a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester. The following local students were among those who met the requirements for recognition: Bunceton: Madelynn Olyvia Myers. Cole Camp: Maddison Suzanne Cook and Paige Elizabeth Rose Doogs. Concordia: Tina Leann Bohlman and Grace Eleanor Stumbaugh. Florence: Clarissa Homan. Green Ridge: Michael Andrew Hoos. Knob Noster: Carolyne Ann Corbett, Jordyn Haley Davidson and Lindsey Elizabeth...

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Tuesday afternoon, Bothwell Regional Health Center reported opening a centralized COVID-19 outpatient management clinic at the Healing Arts Center, 3700 W. 10th St. The hospital stated the outpatient clinic was opened in response to high levels of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the community. “The most recent data from the health department,” Dr. Philip Fracica, Chief Medical Officer at Bothwell, told the Democrat on Wednesday. “What they've been doing is wastewater analysis to actually look at the genetic makeup of the virus that is shed through the bowel movements, and the most recent indication is that we are at 100%,...

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The office of Central Methodist University Provost Rita Gulstad recently announced the students included on the Fall 2021 dean's list. Almost 1,000 students across all campuses and online learning met the requirements for placement, including a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester. The following local students were among those who met the requirements for recognition: Bunceton: Madelynn Olyvia Myers. Cole Camp: Maddison Suzanne Cook and Paige Elizabeth Rose Doogs. Concordia: Tina Leann Bohlman and Grace Eleanor Stumbaugh. Florence: Clarissa Homan. Green Ridge: Michael Andrew Hoos. Knob Noster: Carolyne Ann Corbett, Jordyn Haley Davidson and Lindsey Elizabeth...

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The public is invited to attend a memorial observance of the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, on the Pettis County Courthouse west lawn in Sedalia. Local pastors and community leaders will lead the event. The observance will begin with the tolling of bells, followed by prayer, music, and an address by the Rev. David Bannister, pastor of Crossroads Church of God, and then a prayerful march around the courthouse. It will end with recommitment, prayer, and song. The event is outside to allow for participation and health precautions.  The anniversary of...

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Several misconceptions about the Mercy Rest Stop have neighborhoods near the proposed building site, 417 W. Pettis St., thinking the facility will be a homeless shelter but organizers say this is not true. As the Democrat has reported in past articles: “The facility, to be built on the property of the Open Door Kitchen, will provide the homeless and nearly homeless with the ‘necessities of life’ such as 24/7 sanitary restroom facilities, a 24/7 water source, showers, laundry, cooling and warming stations, and a place for resources and communication, plus a place to meet agency caseworkers to obtain assistance.” Bill...

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Mid-Missouri Artists collected donations of children’s art supplies and cash, an annual project, for Survival House in Warrensburg.  Community members were able to leave donations in a collection box in the Warrensburg Community Center. Prior to Christmas, a generous supply of art materials and a check for 0 were delivered to Survival. Persons interested in becoming members of MMA are encouraged to come to the Jan. 27 meeting at 7 p.m. in MultiC of the Warrensburg Community Center. The focus of the meeting will be on planning for 2022 activities and events. Those present will select an Art Challenge for...

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It is amazing what turning the page can do. It can bring the conclusion to a cliffhanger in a book you can’t put down. It can provide information when searching for knowledge. It can bring a new year by simply turning the page on a calendar.  I’m one of those people who keep two calendars. I know, every organizational tool will tell you this is a big no-no. However, I continue with this practice. I have a calendar on my phone and I have a paper calendar that I use for journaling events, keeping to-do lists, and planning for long-range....

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It is amazing what turning the page can do. It can bring the conclusion to a cliffhanger in a book you can’t put down. It can provide information when searching for knowledge. It can bring a new year by simply turning the page on a calendar.  I’m one of those people who keep two calendars. I know, every organizational tool will tell you this is a big no-no. However, I continue with this practice. I have a calendar on my phone and I have a paper calendar that I use for journaling events, keeping to-do lists, and planning for long-range....

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Tuesday afternoon, Bothwell Regional Health Center reported opening a centralized COVID-19 outpatient management clinic at the Healing Arts Center, 3700 W. 10th St. The hospital stated the outpatient clinic was opened in response to high levels of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the community. “The most recent data from the health department,” Dr. Philip Fracica, Chief Medical Officer at Bothwell, told the Democrat on Wednesday. “What they've been doing is wastewater analysis to actually look at the genetic makeup of the virus that is shed through the bowel movements, and the most recent indication is that we are at 100%,...

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Several misconceptions about the Mercy Rest Stop have neighborhoods near the proposed building site, 417 W. Pettis St., thinking the facility will be a homeless shelter but organizers say this is not true. As the Democrat has reported in past articles: “The facility, to be built on the property of the Open Door Kitchen, will provide the homeless and nearly homeless with the ‘necessities of life’ such as 24/7 sanitary restroom facilities, a 24/7 water source, showers, laundry, cooling and warming stations, and a place for resources and communication, plus a place to meet agency caseworkers to obtain assistance.” Bill...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 31 3:48 a.m.: Billie B. Brown, 34, of the 1000 block of East 10th Street, was arrested after officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East 16th Street for a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was recovered shortly after and returned to the owner. The suspect was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and charged with second-degree domestic...

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Accumulating snow is forecast for much of the state Friday evening beginning in the northwestern part of the state and moving southeast overnight continuing through Saturday. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges people to avoid travel if possible. If you must travel Friday night or Saturday, use extra caution, anticipate slower travel times and consult the Traveler Information Map for road conditions. “The forecast is calling for a wet, heavy snow accumulating on roads throughout the day Saturday,” said Natalie Roark, MoDOT state maintenance director. “The heavier the snow, the more difficult it is to clear. Motorists should be prepared...

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The following students were named to the Lincoln R-2 Elementary honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Principal’s ‘A’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Preston Breshears, Noah Brown, Cree Childers, Gavin Cloud, Lilly Dendish, Addison Eckhoff, Briley Ferguson, Nadia Filatov, Rozlyn Hoehns, Jeremy Levy, Jentry Schenewark. Fifth Grade: Brody Cramer, Piper Dulaban, Abigail Eckhoff, Benjamin Goosen, Remington Keuper, Benton Paxton. Sixth Grade: Cheston Adams, Ryleigh Bain, Braeden Ferguson, Corbin Gilmore, Moriah Helland, Jayden Lomax, Grayson Rutherford, Molly Strozewski, James Treece. Regular ‘B’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Owen Clevenger, Zoey Collins, Logan Fauble, Jasmine Hardey, Josiah Helland, Hinrichs...

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Today marks 63 days until the Heckart Community Center’s Grand Opening and Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple told the Park Board on Thursday her staff was spending about 80% of their time getting ready. “Most staff are working seven days a week right now,” Epple said. “A lot of things are going on, but we're happy and we're excited for March 18 at 10 a.m.” Although the pools are dry now with final touches still underway, it won’t be long until they are finished. “They're finalizing right now with some tile and some lights in the pool and...

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The annual Point-in-Time count, which counts the homeless population in Pettis County, will occur this year although volunteers are needed.  Due to the pandemic, the Pettis County Community Partnership didn’t host the count last year. PCCP Director of Housing Chessa Dixson said on Wednesday although the count will happen this year, volunteer numbers are low. The count is slated for the evening of Jan. 26, and data will be collected from dusk to dawn on Jan. 27. Volunteers are only asked to help with the count for a few hours on the evening of Jan. 26.  “We are still needing...

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While this week has been sunny and relatively warm for January in Missouri, snow is in the weekend forecast. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will continue to be in the low 50s and 40s Thursday and Friday with lows in the high 20s. On Friday, there is a 20% chance of rain after noon with wind gusts as high as 18 mph. Friday night, rain and snow are expected between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., followed by snow after 1 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 90% and snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible. On...

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The annual Point-in-Time count, which counts the homeless population in Pettis County, will occur this year although volunteers are needed.  Due to the pandemic, the Pettis County Community Partnership didn’t host the count last year. PCCP Director of Housing Chessa Dixson said on Wednesday although the count will happen this year, volunteer numbers are low. The count is slated for the evening of Jan. 26, and data will be collected from dusk to dawn on Jan. 27. Volunteers are only asked to help with the count for a few hours on the evening of Jan. 26.  “We are still needing...

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The following students were named to the Lincoln R-2 Elementary honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Principal’s ‘A’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Preston Breshears, Noah Brown, Cree Childers, Gavin Cloud, Lilly Dendish, Addison Eckhoff, Briley Ferguson, Nadia Filatov, Rozlyn Hoehns, Jeremy Levy, Jentry Schenewark. Fifth Grade: Brody Cramer, Piper Dulaban, Abigail Eckhoff, Benjamin Goosen, Remington Keuper, Benton Paxton. Sixth Grade: Cheston Adams, Ryleigh Bain, Braeden Ferguson, Corbin Gilmore, Moriah Helland, Jayden Lomax, Grayson Rutherford, Molly Strozewski, James Treece. Regular ‘B’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Owen Clevenger, Zoey Collins, Logan Fauble, Jasmine Hardey, Josiah Helland, Hinrichs...

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Versailles man in serious condition after Morgan accident Andrew M. Martinez, 32, of Versailles, sustained serious injuries at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Martinez was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 north on state Route 5 near Millifork Lane when the vehicle traveled off the right edge of the roadway, struck numerous embankments, became airborne, then overturned numerous times. Martinez was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do...

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Tuesday afternoon, Bothwell Regional Health Center reported opening a centralized COVID-19 outpatient management clinic at the Healing Arts Center, 3700 W. 10th St. The hospital stated the outpatient clinic was opened in response to high levels of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the community. “The most recent data from the health department,” Dr. Philip Fracica, Chief Medical Officer at Bothwell, told the Democrat on Wednesday. “What they've been doing is wastewater analysis to actually look at the genetic makeup of the virus that is shed through the bowel movements, and the most recent indication is that we are at 100%,...

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The office of Central Methodist University Provost Rita Gulstad recently announced the students included on the Fall 2021 dean's list. Almost 1,000 students across all campuses and online learning met the requirements for placement, including a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester. The following local students were among those who met the requirements for recognition: Bunceton: Madelynn Olyvia Myers. Cole Camp: Maddison Suzanne Cook and Paige Elizabeth Rose Doogs. Concordia: Tina Leann Bohlman and Grace Eleanor Stumbaugh. Florence: Clarissa Homan. Green Ridge: Michael Andrew Hoos. Knob Noster: Carolyne Ann Corbett, Jordyn Haley Davidson and Lindsey Elizabeth...

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Several misconceptions about the Mercy Rest Stop have neighborhoods near the proposed building site, 417 W. Pettis St., thinking the facility will be a homeless shelter but organizers say this is not true. As the Democrat has reported in past articles: “The facility, to be built on the property of the Open Door Kitchen, will provide the homeless and nearly homeless with the ‘necessities of life’ such as 24/7 sanitary restroom facilities, a 24/7 water source, showers, laundry, cooling and warming stations, and a place for resources and communication, plus a place to meet agency caseworkers to obtain assistance.” Bill...

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For the first time in Sedalia School District 200 history, school was canceled last Friday due to a lack of bus drivers. Sedalia 200 and First Student have created a new contingency plan if a similar situation happens again.  At 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, Sedalia 200 alerted all parents that school was canceled for the day because 13 of 29 drivers were ill. Out of the 13 drivers absent, only one was a COVID-19 close contact; the rest had bronchitis, influenza or were out for scheduled surgeries.  First Student, a business that contracts with Sedalia 200 to provide bus...

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All State Fair Community College campus locations (Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, and Whiteman Air Force Base) will close Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center (CTC) that provides technical training for high school juniors and seniors on the Sedalia campus also will close Jan. 17.  The college and CTC will reopen at 8 a.m. Jan. 18. 

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Mid-Missouri Artists collected donations of children’s art supplies and cash, an annual project, for Survival House in Warrensburg.  Community members were able to leave donations in a collection box in the Warrensburg Community Center. Prior to Christmas, a generous supply of art materials and a check for 0 were delivered to Survival. Persons interested in becoming members of MMA are encouraged to come to the Jan. 27 meeting at 7 p.m. in MultiC of the Warrensburg Community Center. The focus of the meeting will be on planning for 2022 activities and events. Those present will select an Art Challenge for...

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While this week has been sunny and relatively warm for January in Missouri, snow is in the weekend forecast. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will continue to be in the low 50s and 40s Thursday and Friday with lows in the high 20s. On Friday, there is a 20% chance of rain after noon with wind gusts as high as 18 mph. Friday night, rain and snow are expected between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., followed by snow after 1 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 90% and snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible. On...

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Accumulating snow is forecast for much of the state Friday evening beginning in the northwestern part of the state and moving southeast overnight continuing through Saturday. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges people to avoid travel if possible. If you must travel Friday night or Saturday, use extra caution, anticipate slower travel times and consult the Traveler Information Map for road conditions. “The forecast is calling for a wet, heavy snow accumulating on roads throughout the day Saturday,” said Natalie Roark, MoDOT state maintenance director. “The heavier the snow, the more difficult it is to clear. Motorists should be prepared...

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The annual Point-in-Time count, which counts the homeless population in Pettis County, will occur this year although volunteers are needed.  Due to the pandemic, the Pettis County Community Partnership didn’t host the count last year. PCCP Director of Housing Chessa Dixson said on Wednesday although the count will happen this year, volunteer numbers are low. The count is slated for the evening of Jan. 26, and data will be collected from dusk to dawn on Jan. 27. Volunteers are only asked to help with the count for a few hours on the evening of Jan. 26.  “We are still needing...

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The Sacred Heart Speech team competed at the Lexington tournament the weekend of Jan. 8-9.  Sophie Anderson took second place in Storytelling. Mariah Van Leer placed third in Humorous Interpretation. Lexi Owens took fifth place in Radio Speaking. Sarah Hill and Jordan Hill contributed to team points. 

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The Sacred Heart Speech team competed at the Lexington tournament the weekend of Jan. 8-9.  Sophie Anderson took second place in Storytelling. Mariah Van Leer placed third in Humorous Interpretation. Lexi Owens took fifth place in Radio Speaking. Sarah Hill and Jordan Hill contributed to team points. 

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The following students were named to the Lincoln R-2 Elementary honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Principal’s ‘A’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Preston Breshears, Noah Brown, Cree Childers, Gavin Cloud, Lilly Dendish, Addison Eckhoff, Briley Ferguson, Nadia Filatov, Rozlyn Hoehns, Jeremy Levy, Jentry Schenewark. Fifth Grade: Brody Cramer, Piper Dulaban, Abigail Eckhoff, Benjamin Goosen, Remington Keuper, Benton Paxton. Sixth Grade: Cheston Adams, Ryleigh Bain, Braeden Ferguson, Corbin Gilmore, Moriah Helland, Jayden Lomax, Grayson Rutherford, Molly Strozewski, James Treece. Regular ‘B’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Owen Clevenger, Zoey Collins, Logan Fauble, Jasmine Hardey, Josiah Helland, Hinrichs...

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Today marks 63 days until the Heckart Community Center’s Grand Opening and Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple told the Park Board on Thursday her staff was spending about 80% of their time getting ready. “Most staff are working seven days a week right now,” Epple said. “A lot of things are going on, but we're happy and we're excited for March 18 at 10 a.m.” Although the pools are dry now with final touches still underway, it won’t be long until they are finished. “They're finalizing right now with some tile and some lights in the pool and...

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The public is invited to attend a memorial observance of the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, on the Pettis County Courthouse west lawn in Sedalia. Local pastors and community leaders will lead the event. The observance will begin with the tolling of bells, followed by prayer, music, and an address by the Rev. David Bannister, pastor of Crossroads Church of God, and then a prayerful march around the courthouse. It will end with recommitment, prayer, and song. The event is outside to allow for participation and health precautions.  The anniversary of...

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The public is invited to attend a memorial observance of the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, on the Pettis County Courthouse west lawn in Sedalia. Local pastors and community leaders will lead the event. The observance will begin with the tolling of bells, followed by prayer, music, and an address by the Rev. David Bannister, pastor of Crossroads Church of God, and then a prayerful march around the courthouse. It will end with recommitment, prayer, and song. The event is outside to allow for participation and health precautions.  The anniversary of...

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State Fair Community College has invited five semi-finalist candidates to the Sedalia campus as part of the search for the college’s next president. Each visit will last a day and a half and will include a public presentation with a question-and-answer session to follow. All members of the community and SFCC service region are invited to attend.  The public sessions will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center in the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center. Attendees can submit feedback on each candidate’s presentation and Q&A. “This is a great opportunity to meet each candidate and...

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State Fair Community College has invited five semi-finalist candidates to the Sedalia campus as part of the search for the college’s next president. Each visit will last a day and a half and will include a public presentation with a question-and-answer session to follow. All members of the community and SFCC service region are invited to attend.  The public sessions will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center in the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center. Attendees can submit feedback on each candidate’s presentation and Q&A. “This is a great opportunity to meet each candidate and...

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For the first time in Sedalia School District 200 history, school was canceled last Friday due to a lack of bus drivers. Sedalia 200 and First Student have created a new contingency plan if a similar situation happens again.  At 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, Sedalia 200 alerted all parents that school was canceled for the day because 13 of 29 drivers were ill. Out of the 13 drivers absent, only one was a COVID-19 close contact; the rest had bronchitis, influenza or were out for scheduled surgeries.  First Student, a business that contracts with Sedalia 200 to provide bus...

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For the first time in Sedalia School District 200 history, school was canceled last Friday due to a lack of bus drivers. Sedalia 200 and First Student have created a new contingency plan if a similar situation happens again.  At 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, Sedalia 200 alerted all parents that school was canceled for the day because 13 of 29 drivers were ill. Out of the 13 drivers absent, only one was a COVID-19 close contact; the rest had bronchitis, influenza or were out for scheduled surgeries.  First Student, a business that contracts with Sedalia 200 to provide bus...

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All State Fair Community College campus locations (Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, and Whiteman Air Force Base) will close Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center (CTC) that provides technical training for high school juniors and seniors on the Sedalia campus also will close Jan. 17.  The college and CTC will reopen at 8 a.m. Jan. 18. 

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All State Fair Community College campus locations (Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, and Whiteman Air Force Base) will close Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center (CTC) that provides technical training for high school juniors and seniors on the Sedalia campus also will close Jan. 17.  The college and CTC will reopen at 8 a.m. Jan. 18. 

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It is amazing what turning the page can do. It can bring the conclusion to a cliffhanger in a book you can’t put down. It can provide information when searching for knowledge. It can bring a new year by simply turning the page on a calendar.  I’m one of those people who keep two calendars. I know, every organizational tool will tell you this is a big no-no. However, I continue with this practice. I have a calendar on my phone and I have a paper calendar that I use for journaling events, keeping to-do lists, and planning for long-range....

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Mid-Missouri Artists collected donations of children’s art supplies and cash, an annual project, for Survival House in Warrensburg.  Community members were able to leave donations in a collection box in the Warrensburg Community Center. Prior to Christmas, a generous supply of art materials and a check for 0 were delivered to Survival. Persons interested in becoming members of MMA are encouraged to come to the Jan. 27 meeting at 7 p.m. in MultiC of the Warrensburg Community Center. The focus of the meeting will be on planning for 2022 activities and events. Those present will select an Art Challenge for...

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For the first time in Sedalia School District 200 history, school was canceled last Friday due to a lack of bus drivers. Sedalia 200 and First Student have created a new contingency plan if a similar situation happens again.  At 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, Sedalia 200 alerted all parents that school was canceled for the day because 13 of 29 drivers were ill. Out of the 13 drivers absent, only one was a COVID-19 close contact; the rest had bronchitis, influenza or were out for scheduled surgeries.  First Student, a business that contracts with Sedalia 200 to provide bus...

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State Fair Community College has invited five semi-finalist candidates to the Sedalia campus as part of the search for the college’s next president. Each visit will last a day and a half and will include a public presentation with a question-and-answer session to follow. All members of the community and SFCC service region are invited to attend.  The public sessions will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Conference Center in the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center. Attendees can submit feedback on each candidate’s presentation and Q&A. “This is a great opportunity to meet each candidate and...

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Today marks 63 days until the Heckart Community Center’s Grand Opening and Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple told the Park Board on Thursday her staff was spending about 80% of their time getting ready. “Most staff are working seven days a week right now,” Epple said. “A lot of things are going on, but we're happy and we're excited for March 18 at 10 a.m.” Although the pools are dry now with final touches still underway, it won’t be long until they are finished. “They're finalizing right now with some tile and some lights in the pool and...

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Several misconceptions about the Mercy Rest Stop have neighborhoods near the proposed building site, 417 W. Pettis St., thinking the facility will be a homeless shelter but organizers say this is not true. As the Democrat has reported in past articles: “The facility, to be built on the property of the Open Door Kitchen, will provide the homeless and nearly homeless with the ‘necessities of life’ such as 24/7 sanitary restroom facilities, a 24/7 water source, showers, laundry, cooling and warming stations, and a place for resources and communication, plus a place to meet agency caseworkers to obtain assistance.” Bill...

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Accumulating snow is forecast for much of the state Friday evening beginning in the northwestern part of the state and moving southeast overnight continuing through Saturday. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges people to avoid travel if possible. If you must travel Friday night or Saturday, use extra caution, anticipate slower travel times and consult the Traveler Information Map for road conditions. “The forecast is calling for a wet, heavy snow accumulating on roads throughout the day Saturday,” said Natalie Roark, MoDOT state maintenance director. “The heavier the snow, the more difficult it is to clear. Motorists should be prepared...

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The following students were named to the Lincoln R-2 Elementary honor roll for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Principal’s ‘A’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Preston Breshears, Noah Brown, Cree Childers, Gavin Cloud, Lilly Dendish, Addison Eckhoff, Briley Ferguson, Nadia Filatov, Rozlyn Hoehns, Jeremy Levy, Jentry Schenewark. Fifth Grade: Brody Cramer, Piper Dulaban, Abigail Eckhoff, Benjamin Goosen, Remington Keuper, Benton Paxton. Sixth Grade: Cheston Adams, Ryleigh Bain, Braeden Ferguson, Corbin Gilmore, Moriah Helland, Jayden Lomax, Grayson Rutherford, Molly Strozewski, James Treece. Regular ‘B’ Honor Roll Fourth Grade: Owen Clevenger, Zoey Collins, Logan Fauble, Jasmine Hardey, Josiah Helland, Hinrichs...

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The Sacred Heart Speech team competed at the Lexington tournament the weekend of Jan. 8-9.  Sophie Anderson took second place in Storytelling. Mariah Van Leer placed third in Humorous Interpretation. Lexi Owens took fifth place in Radio Speaking. Sarah Hill and Jordan Hill contributed to team points. 

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 31 3:48 a.m.: Billie B. Brown, 34, of the 1000 block of East 10th Street, was arrested after officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East 16th Street for a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was recovered shortly after and returned to the owner. The suspect was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and charged with second-degree domestic...

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Tuesday afternoon, Bothwell Regional Health Center reported opening a centralized COVID-19 outpatient management clinic at the Healing Arts Center, 3700 W. 10th St. The hospital stated the outpatient clinic was opened in response to high levels of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the community. “The most recent data from the health department,” Dr. Philip Fracica, Chief Medical Officer at Bothwell, told the Democrat on Wednesday. “What they've been doing is wastewater analysis to actually look at the genetic makeup of the virus that is shed through the bowel movements, and the most recent indication is that we are at 100%,...

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The City of Sedalia will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Weekly trash pickup for the week of Jan. 17 will follow the normal collection schedule. The Materials Management Site at 27882 Highway U will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17. City offices including the Materials Management Site will re-open for normal business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 18. 

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The Sedalia License Office in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center will be closed Monday, Jan. 17 to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18. 

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Mid-Missouri Artists collected donations of children’s art supplies and cash, an annual project, for Survival House in Warrensburg.  Community members were able to leave donations in a collection box in the Warrensburg Community Center. Prior to Christmas, a generous supply of art materials and a check for 0 were delivered to Survival. Persons interested in becoming members of MMA are encouraged to come to the Jan. 27 meeting at 7 p.m. in MultiC of the Warrensburg Community Center. The focus of the meeting will be on planning for 2022 activities and events. Those present will select an Art Challenge for...

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All State Fair Community College campus locations (Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, and Whiteman Air Force Base) will close Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center (CTC) that provides technical training for high school juniors and seniors on the Sedalia campus also will close Jan. 17.  The college and CTC will reopen at 8 a.m. Jan. 18. 

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While this week has been sunny and relatively warm for January in Missouri, snow is in the weekend forecast. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will continue to be in the low 50s and 40s Thursday and Friday with lows in the high 20s. On Friday, there is a 20% chance of rain after noon with wind gusts as high as 18 mph. Friday night, rain and snow are expected between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., followed by snow after 1 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 90% and snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible. On...

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It is amazing what turning the page can do. It can bring the conclusion to a cliffhanger in a book you can’t put down. It can provide information when searching for knowledge. It can bring a new year by simply turning the page on a calendar.  I’m one of those people who keep two calendars. I know, every organizational tool will tell you this is a big no-no. However, I continue with this practice. I have a calendar on my phone and I have a paper calendar that I use for journaling events, keeping to-do lists, and planning for long-range....

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View Details

The annual Point-in-Time count, which counts the homeless population in Pettis County, will occur this year although volunteers are needed.  Due to the pandemic, the Pettis County Community Partnership didn’t host the count last year. PCCP Director of Housing Chessa Dixson said on Wednesday although the count will happen this year, volunteer numbers are low. The count is slated for the evening of Jan. 26, and data will be collected from dusk to dawn on Jan. 27. Volunteers are only asked to help with the count for a few hours on the evening of Jan. 26.  “We are still needing...

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Due to the pandemic, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration has been canceled. However, in lieu of the celebration and in conjunction with the Betty White Challenge, the Sedalia/Pettis County NAACP is encouraging individuals to donate to the Sedalia Animal Shelter. Donations can be in the form of cash, food, blankets, kitty litter, etc. Contact NAACP President Alona Reid at 810-813-2359 or drop off items before Friday, Jan. 14 at the Lincoln Hubbard Apartments, 711 N. Osage Ave. 

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Colorado man in serious condition after Benton accident Josiah A. Snelgrove, 38, of Nevada City, California, sustained serious injuries at 5:43 p.m. Tuesday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Snelgrove was driving east on Lost Valley Road in a 2006 GMC when he began skidding, crossed the roadway, traveled off the left side of the road and overturned, striking a telephone box. Snelgrove was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to University Hospital in Columbia by Life Flight. He was arrested in Benton County for driving while intoxicated and failure to...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 10 11:05 p.m.: John Alexander Zaremba, 57, of the 1600 block of Country Club Boulevard, was arrested after a traffic stop for failing to maintain a lane on South Limit Avenue near West Seventh Street. The driver was intoxicated and was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, booked, and released.  Jan. 11 12:20 a.m.: Dimitry Sheblanoff, 50, of the 200 block...

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Versailles man in serious condition after Morgan accident Andrew M. Martinez, 32, of Versailles, sustained serious injuries at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Martinez was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 north on state Route 5 near Millifork Lane when the vehicle traveled off the right edge of the roadway, struck numerous embankments, became airborne, then overturned numerous times. Martinez was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do...

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The public is invited to attend a memorial observance of the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, on the Pettis County Courthouse west lawn in Sedalia. Local pastors and community leaders will lead the event. The observance will begin with the tolling of bells, followed by prayer, music, and an address by the Rev. David Bannister, pastor of Crossroads Church of God, and then a prayerful march around the courthouse. It will end with recommitment, prayer, and song. The event is outside to allow for participation and health precautions.  The anniversary of...

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The office of Central Methodist University Provost Rita Gulstad recently announced the students included on the Fall 2021 dean's list. Almost 1,000 students across all campuses and online learning met the requirements for placement, including a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester. The following local students were among those who met the requirements for recognition: Bunceton: Madelynn Olyvia Myers. Cole Camp: Maddison Suzanne Cook and Paige Elizabeth Rose Doogs. Concordia: Tina Leann Bohlman and Grace Eleanor Stumbaugh. Florence: Clarissa Homan. Green Ridge: Michael Andrew Hoos. Knob Noster: Carolyne Ann Corbett, Jordyn Haley Davidson and Lindsey Elizabeth...

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Injuries already dulled the production Sporting Kansas City received from forward Alan Pulido in his first pair of seasons with the club. Now, they appear set to wash out his third entirely. The club announced Tuesday that the Mexican international is expected to miss the entire 2022 MLS season. He's set to undergo surgery in Los Angeles on Monday and be sidelined for nine to 12 months. Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes clarified that it was related to the injury the 30-year-old suffered in early 2021 with the Mexican National Team, which required a minor surgery to try and alleviate...

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Sacred Heart avoided a home blowout and nearly completed a huge comeback but fell short on senior night Tuesday to visiting Lincoln, 49-46. Connor Rice had two tries in the final 15 seconds from the outside to tie the game, the first a relatively unguarded attempt, but neither fell. “This one means a lot,” said Lincoln junior Mack Hesse, who led his team with 16 points. “Coach [Tyler Burke] has been here for a while and he said he's won like one time here in the past seven years. It was big to come and beat them on their senior...

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The first stepping stone for many young musicians through the Sedalia School District 200 is in their junior high years.  Sedalia 200 Assistant Director of Bands Stephen Broadbent has been with the district for 12 years. He started as the assistant band director at the junior high and has become essential to music education in the district.  Broadbent graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Instrumental Music and then later with a Master of Art in Education, Music.  “I choose music education, oddly enough, because music was challenging,” Broadbent said. “It...

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Several staff members received Years of Service Awards and the notice of an annual election was approved during Tuesday evening’s Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors meeting hosted in the PCAD Educational Center. EMS Chief Eric Dirck presented the Years of Service Awards to PCAD Paramedic Sean Jordan for eight years, Paramedic Paula Jordan for six years, Charles (Bobby) Schieber for five years, and EMT Nathan Smith for five years. Not present but also receiving awards were Paramedic Florian Hammer for eight years, Paramedic Haley Greene for five years, EMT Britney VanBooven for six years, and EMT Matthew W....

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The following students were named to the Smithton School fifth and sixth-grade honor roll for the first semester of the 2021-22 school year: A Honor Roll Zane Kenyon, Deianeira Moore, Iliya Shershyn, Drew Bray, Madelynn Cole, Cash Conardy, Eadlin Hedgpeth, Codee Niebruegge, Carter Riley, Zoie Shapley, Harly Smith, Samuel Sokolov, Cierra Sprinkle, Maya Stevens, Mason Trelow. B Honor Roll Eric Adereyko, Braden Byerly, Laton Criner, Breanna DeVorss, Addison Kamery, Blake Lightcap, Vadim Modnov, Cassandra Parker, Kylee Scheel, Anna Shimko, Brooklyn Southard, Corey Taber, Tyler Wilson, Karsen Asbury, Colt Conardy, Landon Eastep, Kiley Gaylord, Cory Pond, Trevor Thorne.

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In every generation and in every community, certain individuals rise to the top, not in terms of wealth, but in terms of the respect others have for them. Their hard work and the ability to give of themselves for the betterment of the all members of the community engender respect. Sedalia has had some such individuals. Col. Jaynes seems to have been such a person. Mrs. Christina Richards was such a person. It seems likely that Thomas and Mildred Yount were also such people. The Younts were mainstays of Sedalia’s business, civic, and social life from the 1930s through the...

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The Warrensburg Convention and Visitors Bureau’s grant program was established to provide startup funding to nonprofits hosting events, programs and sporting events that promote the development and growth of overnight tourism in Warrensburg.  The WCVB has awarded more than ,000 to area nonprofits in grant funding. The WCVB 2022 grant program application deadline is Jan. 28. Applications and grant information can be found at VisitWarrensburg.com, under the About Section. For more information regarding the WCVB grant program, contact Marcy Barnhart at marcy.barnhart@warrensburg-mo.com or 660-262-4611 or visit the Warrensburg Visitor Center at 407A E. Russell Ave., Suite 2. 

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The University of Central Missouri’s Lifelong Learning Series will present “Hiking Adventures” on Jan. 20.  David Curtis, retired director of Warrensburg Parks and Recreation, will share what life is like on the hiking trail and how to manage it.  The program will be at 6:30 p.m. in rooms B and C at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St. in Warrensburg. Curtis and his family moved to town from St. Louis in 1977 when he accepted the position of director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Warrensburg.  What was originally planned to be a four- or five-year...

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Union Pacific Railroad has notified the City of Sedalia that beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 through 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, UP will be making improvements to the rail crossing at the street intersection at Engineer Avenue. Travelers will need to plan alternate routes as the roadway will be closed to through traffic during the planned construction period. 

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With winter coming on strong and temperatures dropping daily, many are scrambling for heating options. The Sedalia Fire Department urges caution though when heating your home, as heating fires are the second leading cause of home fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. “These are our coldest months and people are using space heaters,” Sedalia Fire Chief Matt Irwin said. “They're using their stoves to heat their houses, and in a lot of our older homes in Sedalia the wiring isn't designed to carry space heaters or a multitude of space heaters.” Irwin has seen fires each winter caused by...

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OSAGE BEACH — Missouri Cattlemen’s Association collegiate cattlemen members competed in the second annual Collegiate Cattlemen’s Showdown on Saturday, Jan. 8, during the 54th annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Osage Beach.  The event encourages young members to showcase their knowledge and passion for agricultural issues through interactive conversations. “The Collegiate Cattlemen’s Showdown is a great opportunity for collegiate members to demonstrate their knowledge about the cattle and agriculture industries,” said Elizabeth Brooks, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association intern. “The debate-style event is set up to facilitate healthy discussions and allow these college students to share their voices when...

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Have you ever been in the middle of explaining something or telling a story only to be interrupted by someone who has a story of their own to tell? Or maybe you have made a statement during a discussion and someone belittles your opinion because they believe you are wrong. If we are honest with ourselves, all of us can probably admit to having been on both sides of these scenarios. I have a story that I can beat almost anyone with: My son was just shy of 11 pounds when he was born and I had him naturally. That...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 10 12:14 p.m.: William M. Franklin, 44, of Windsor, was arrested after a traffic stop in the 1200 block of East Broadway Boulevard. Franklin was driving with a suspended license and was released with a uniform traffic ticket. Incidents Jan. 6 4 p.m.: An officer met with a victim in the SPD lobby in reference to a hit-and-run accident. The victim stated...

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Team SCREAM kicked off its 2022 season on Saturday with eight weeks to design and build its 2022 robot.  Team SCREAM is a competitive robotics team comprised of 53 students from Smith-Cotton High School, 14 volunteer mentors from different manufacturing companies in Sedalia and Head Coach and engineering instructor Michael Wright. Team SCREAM competes in an organization known as FIRST, which is an international robotics competition.  “Our students design and build competitive robots and compete with other schools and teams from around the world,” Wright said.  Team SCREAM travels to regional competitions and also hosts a competition at Smith-Cotton known...

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Saturday, the Sedalia City Council hosted its 2022 Strategic Planning Session, a meeting where the City’s goals for the next fiscal year are prioritized. “I think we start in October, right around that time frame,” Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Leeman explained. “During the council regular council sessions, the departments come in and explain what their budgetary items are needed and that kind of thing, so that's how that process starts. We hear a final presentation again (today) and then we set the priorities by a vote. We may come back and look at this again later on and to see...

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WARRENSBURG — Sweet treats are in abundance with a local chocolate-dipping business based in Warrensburg that’s owned by two young entrepreneurs. XOXO Creations, owned by Kassandra Diaz, of Sedalia, and Kalynn Halderman, of Warrensburg, opened around Feb. 14, 2021. The women said on Monday the business is doing well and they are already taking orders for Valentine’s Day this year. Both women work full-time; Diaz is the office manager of Soderburg Roofing, of Warrensburg, and Halderman is the general manager. Diaz added XOXO Creations began with her love for dipping treats into chocolate. “I started doing it in my free...

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While the 2022 Get Fit Challenge will continue, the Sedalia Democrat and Warrensburg Star-Journal have decided to cancel the upcoming Get Fit Health Expo. The purpose of the Get Fit Challenge is to promote a healthy and happy lifestyle in Sedalia, Warrensburg and surrounding communities by offering unique opportunities and spreading the word of all things healthy in the area. “After taking a year off from the Get Fit Health Expo due to the pandemic, we were looking forward to bringing it back in 2022, but unfortunately, we are canceling the expo due to time constraints and interest levels,” Publisher...

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WARRENSBURG — Volunteers, community members and legacy board members who have gone above and beyond were recognized during the annual Warrensburg Main Street Evening of Excellence on Thursday, Jan. 6.  “Evening of Excellence is our opportunity, from Warrensburg Main Street, to recognize all of our volunteers and all of the people who have contributed to our partnership campaign,” Executive Director Jill Purvis said. “Everybody here has supported Warrensburg Main Street in some way or another over the past year and this is just our opportunity to thank you.”  Main Street has been operating as a nonprofit organization since 1994.  Purvis...

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Pettis County added 397 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 9,052, according to the Pettis County Health Center. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 25.5% for the past seven days which is an increase from 14.9% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “For the month of December, there were 821 positive cases reported for a positivity rate of 17.48%. The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is...

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During daily meetings Jan. 3 to Jan. 7, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Jan. 3: The Commission went into a closed session for urgent discussions pertaining to personnel.  The Commission held general discussions regarding the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget.  Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer made inquiries regarding grants that pertain to his office. Jan. 4: The Commission attended a meeting at the Pettis County Road and Bridge Department to discuss upcoming projects, budgets, and policies.  Jan. 5: The Homeland Security Planner for Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission had the Commission sign grant documents for the Pettis County Emergency Management...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Jan. 7 8:21 a.m.: Colten M. Ditton, 31, of the 2200 block of East Broadway Boulevard, was arrested after a traffic stop for speeding near East Broadway Boulevard and South Merriam Avenue. The driver was found to have a suspended driver's license out of Kansas and was arrested and later released with a municipal court summons for driving with a suspended license. 6:18 p.m.:...

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Bothwell Regional Health Center welcomed Dr. Mark Covington, general otolaryngologist, to Bothwell Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dec. 2. Covington regularly practices at Kansas City-based Ascentist Healthcare and will see patients at Bothwell ENT on Thursdays. He has more than 20 years of experience and will diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders, ear infections, nose and sinus problems including allergies and throat problems such as tonsillitis, difficult swallowing, salivary gland disorders, tumors and more. “Dr. Covington is an excellent addition to the Bothwell team for providing specialty care of the ear, nose and throat,” said Keith Morrow, Bothwell Clinic...

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Dear Editor: Lot of things I don't believe in but one thing I do believe in is science and sometimes you have to watch it for yourself to become a believer.  Right now so many people don't believe masks work protecting against COVID. Here is the truth. Google “Institute of Tokyo masks.” Scroll down, click on Japan Times. This mask experiment is from October 2020 in Japan. Professors there did a live experiment putting two mannequin heads in a glass box with COVID virus. One head no mask, other head with mask. Using a device on the head with no...

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Efforts in Missouri have stepped up over the last several years to prevent human trafficking in the state. With January being National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, state agencies have partnered to help combat the ever-increasing crime.  January is the anniversary of the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Joining forces in the prevention of human trafficking are the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement.  “Human trafficking remains a growing concern in Missouri, particularly along the interstate corridors,” MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna said in a media release on Friday. “That makes...

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On Monday, Jan. 3, United Way of Pettis County welcomed a new executive director.  Samantha Gilpin applied for the position after moving to Sedalia in October to be a little closer to home, Gilpin has worked in insurance since 2014 before taking on the role as executive director.  She replaces former Executive Director Catterina Riddle, who recently left for a new position after joining United Way in late 2020. “It’s been a whirlwind so ultimately my job is to make sure we cultivate those relationships with our funded partners and the organization within the community,” Gilpin said. “Ideally we focus...

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Harrisonville man hurt in Johnson accident Corbin T. Hall, 18, of Harrisonville, received moderate injuries at 10:49 p.m. Saturday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Hall was driving west on state Route 2 at Southwest 1921 Road in a 2010 Chevrolet when he failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the roadway, and struck a tree.  He was transported by private vehicle to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Hall was not wearing a seat belt. Barnett man in serious condition after striking fallen tree Robin D. Wallace, 44, of Barnett, sustained serious...

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The Missouri Limestone Producers Association (MLPA) recognized Boone Quarries and Mid-Missouri Limestone on its Safety Honor Roll Awards at the recent MLPA convention. The award honors the top safety sites in Missouri, and both companies achieved multiple awards for their operations, including:  • Consecutive-Year Honor Roll Award (23 years) – Boone Quarries (West Quarry, Columbia) • Consecutive-Year Honor Roll Award (10 years) – Boone Quarries (Sedalia) • Consecutive-Year Honor Roll Award (7 years) – Boone Quarries (Huntsville) • Consecutive-Year Honor Roll Award (5 years) – Boone Quarries (Boonville) • Consecutive-Year Honor Roll Award (5 years) – Boone Quarries (Marshall) •...

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The Sedalia Police Department Crime Resolution Unit announced Thursday an early morning warrant service in the 1400 block of South Beacon Avenue related to a drug investigation. Entry was gained through the front door and contact was made with two male and two female subjects, police said. All the subjects were detained without incident. Investigators performed a detailed search of the residence, where methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia items were located. While processing the residence, officers noticed obvious code violations and personnel from City of Sedalia code enforcement responded to the scene to evaluate the home. The primary resident, Erin L....

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At 5 a.m. Friday, Sedalia School District 200 parents received an alert that school was canceled due to a large number of ill First Student driving staff.  Following the email of the cancellation, Superintendent Steve Triplett emailed a statement to parents explaining the situation and taking full responsibility for not having a comprehensive plan in place to address the issue.  Triplett stated the district has worked with First Student to have a contingency plan should manageable numbers of drivers be absent. This plan was based on five or six absent drivers. The district and First Student could combine routes or...

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We’ve arrived in the lull that is January. Once we’ve passed New Year’s Day, there usually aren’t any significant events to look forward to. The skies are mostly gray, the landscape seems dull, and the temperatures are usually unpleasant.  2022 has not been off to a good start. Due to working remotely or trying to use earned PTO days before they expired on Dec. 31, I haven’t worked five days in a row in my office since before Thanksgiving, meaning this five-day week has felt two weeks long. It also started with two newsroom employees out sick, so I pulled...

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​​Aimee Caldwell is a family nurse practitioner and owner of I.V. Balance Hydration Therapy. Caldwell opened her business Dec. 1 after seeing the success of IV infusion businesses around the country. “My son is a baseball player so we had seen them a lot in Kansas City,” Caldwell said. “Between baseball games, I had taken him to get an infusion.” While her son topped off on some fluids, Caldwell noticed a business model she could get behind. “This is something I've always wanted to do,” Caldwell said. “I knew that Sedalia could benefit from this, and I thought between the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 5 6:57 p.m.: Carol Renee Gann, 53, of the 300 block of West 10th Street, was arrested after officers responded in reference to a disturbance. The complainant stated an intoxicated female was yelling threatening comments. Gann was arrested, became combative, and was transported to the Pettis County Jail. She was placed on a 12-hour hold pending state charges of peace disturbance and...

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WARRENSBURG — With the 2022 theme, “Living the Dream: Live and in Color,” the University of Central Missouri will host a variety of special events in January on campus and in cooperation with local organizations to honor the legacy of civil rights leader and humanitarian Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.   The Freedom Scholarship Fundraiser, Community Praise and Worship Service, and the annual Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce Community Service Awards Luncheon are among these special events, in addition to other opportunities at UCM’s Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit campuses. For more than three decades, UCM has conducted activities specifically designed to...

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “The Twelve Jays of Christmas,” by Donna Andrews. “Over My Dead Body,” by Jeffrey Archer. “Child of Light,” by Terry Brooks. “The Apollo Murders,” by Chris Hadfield.  “Forgiving Paris,” by Karen Kingsbury. “Silverview,” John Le Carre. “2 Sisters Detective Agency,” by James Patterson. “Death at Greenway,” by Lori Rader-Day. “Best in Snow,” by Daivd Rosenfelt. “The Butler,” by Danielle Steel. “Last Girl Ghosted,” by Lisa Unger. Nonfiction “To Rescue the Republic: Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union and the Crisis of 1876,” by Bret Baier.  “The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family,” by Ron Howard....

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Calvary Baptist Church.  Monday: Meatball hoagie, coleslaw, banana and milk. Tuesday: Baked chicken, posh potato, green bean, roll, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Beef stew, cornbread, peaches, brownie and milk.  Thursday: Chicken pot pie, beets, pudding, applesauce and milk. Friday: Country fried steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, roll, cake and...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9 a.m.: Hughesville City Hall. 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 9 a.m.: La Monte R-IV School. 9:45 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m.: Green Ridge R-III School. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Otterville R-VI School. 9:30 a.m.: Smithton Diner. 1:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Manor. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Park. 

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Sedalia Optimist Club The Sedalia Optimist Club recently celebrated 75 years of service in the Sedalia community. In October, a new president, officers and board members were installed: President John Schwenk, Vice President Charlotte Scholl, Secretary/Treasurer Jason Myers. Board members are Virgil McDonald, Craig Matz, Sonny Broyles, Mike Mittenburg, Herschel Cantrell, Tyler Hudson, Nicci Ragsdale and Richard Nelson. 

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Jakob Auston Shull, 27, and Mayley Marie Sherman, 28, both of Sedalia; Eric Leslie Collier, 44, and Kristy Mae Cardwell, 53, both of Sedalia; Thomas Joseph Oldham, 31, and Kali Amber Heavener, 23, both of Sedalia;  Jordan Ross Dey, 28, of Sedalia, and Kourtney Ann Reading, 31, of Commerce, Oklahoma; Ceagan Randall Cardenas, 28, and Christopher Tran Harvey, 39, both of Carrolton. 

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My dear readers:  This column will be a short one. On Christmas Day, as I returned home from family festivities, my arms began to hurt. No big deal. I often deal with chronic muscle pain, especially when I’ve been busy or stressed. The next day, my arms and legs hurt. I fell asleep early, right in the middle of the living room floor.  By the 28th, I slept all day, alternating ibuprofen and Tylenol for the pain and rarely waking up for more than an hour or two at a time. My mother, father and sister, with whom I had...

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Walt and Mary (Hoke) Sands, of Sedalia, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are both retired. The couple has two children, Heather and Holly; and two grandchildren.

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Paris Detective,” by James Patterson. “The Hawthorne School,” by Sylvie Perry. “Invisible,” by Danielle Steel. “A Man of Honor,” by Barbara Taylor Bradford. “The Paris Bookseller,” by Kerri Maher. “Hello, Transcriber,” by Hannah Morrissey. “Curse of Salem,” by Kay Hooper. Nonfiction  “The Queen’s Men,” by Oliver Clements. “Will,” by Will Smith. “The Churchill Sisters,” by Rachel Trethewey. 

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Jessica R. Hice and Tyler R. Hice; Ashlee M. Jeronimo and Andres Jeronimo-Alcantar. 

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My mother probably had PTSD. Who could blame her? It isn’t every day that a building falls on your head – and that’s exactly what happened to her. The Hyatt Hotel in Kansas City – well, part of it, anyway – fell on her head. It took her a long time to recover – concussion, fractured vertebrae, damaged balance nerve – but she did. From that time in 1981, however, she was easily depressed and tended toward distress. She became wrapped up in tragedies, following them closely, oftentimes personally identifying with victims. She was incapable of pulling herself away from...

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A Pettis County man has been arrested after a months-long investigation by multiple agencies. In a statement released by the Pettis County Sheriff's Office Thursday afternoon, it was announced the Sheriff's Office, Sedalia Police Department, and Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force joined together in a months-long investigation into 39-year-old Christopher Lee Hill. During the investigation, detectives gathered enough information for a search warrant on the residence. Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, the Pettis County Sheriff's Office, SPD, Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force, and Pettis County K-9 unit, with assistance from the Johnson County/Warrensburg Police Department SWAT team, conducted a no-knock search warrant at...

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The Sedalia Police Department has a new team of officers on patrol. Officer Shania Fox and K9 Officer Ace are back from 10 weeks of training and are on the streets, bringing abilities never seen in Sedalia. “It's another resource for the department, the county and other agencies as well,” Sgt. Kevin Klein, coordinator of the SPD K9 Unit, said. “Ace is trained in areas that our other canines in past haven't been, with the bite-work and having been a fully-trained patrol dog, doing article searches and all that type of stuff that we haven't had in the past.” Bite-work...

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Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders had officially reached his first year in office as of Jan. 1.  During Anders’ first year, the Sheriff’s Office has achieved, learned and added many necessities and accomplishments.  “It’s been a learning process but I think it’s gone well,” Anders said.  Anders spoke about many of the changes the Sheriff’s Office has seen in a year’s time like the restructured command staff, the creation of a new position of chief deputy, the creation of the records division, the change to 12-hour shifts so there are more deputies on the road, the hiring of two new...

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On Monday, Jan. 3, the Pettis County Commission laid the 2022 fiscal year budget out for its 10-day sitting period before it can be finalized.  The Commission goes through this process every year so county officials and the public can look at the budget and possibly change some things before it is finalized.  Presiding Commissioner David Dick said budget requests are typically made with the idea that these are things the county needs to be doing eventually but the county may not have the revenue to do it immediately or it may be done in phases.  The Commission doesn’t outright...

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For the fifth year in a row, the Sedalia Democrat and Warrensburg Star-Journal are challenging the community to get a little healthier with the Get Fit Challenge. The purpose of the Get Fit Challenge is to promote a healthy and happy lifestyle in Sedalia, Warrensburg and surrounding communities by offering unique opportunities and spreading the word of all things healthy in the area. Over the past four years, hundreds of teams have participated in the challenges, and those who reached the finish line lost thousands of pounds. “After taking a year off from the Get Fit Health Expo due to...

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Fathers and daughters are encouraged to dress up, put on their dancing shoes and have a special evening together Jan. 15 at the Windsor Father/Daughter Ball. Coordinator Cortney Blythe, the owner of the Hair & Beyond salon in Windsor, said this is the third year for the ball, noting last year it was canceled due to the pandemic. She added the event is hosted as winter entertainment for young children and their fathers and to raise money for community-based needs.  Blythe said proceeds from the last three events have gone toward upgrades at Windsor’s Farrington Park.  “This will be the...

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We don't hear the word “fundamental” very much anymore. It has become a word that is politically incorrect. Our primary use of it is to label people terrorists. We are especially fearful when we discuss the fundamentals of a religion. And yet, whatever endeavor, it is important to know the fundamentals. The basics. The characteristics that define a thing, or an activity. If your plumber doesn't know the fundamentals of plumbing, your new pipes will leak!  This column is about two fundamentals of Christianity. Not from the point of view of a theologian, but more for the individual who chooses...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 29 11:47 p.m.: Joseph Wayne Bartlett, 39, of Slater, was arrested after a traffic stop near East Fifth Street and South Hancock Avenue for an equipment violation. The driver was found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  Incidents Jan. 5 7:26 a.m.: An officer was dispatched to Liberty Park, 1500 W. Third St., in reference to a property damage report. A...

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With the 2022 Missouri legislative session underway, three local legislators talked to the Star-Journal about their bills and thoughts on the new session. As the Economic Development Committee chairman, state Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, said he’ll be focused on jobs, workers, and workforce development in rural Missouri. He has filed more than a dozen bills, including SB644, which deals with modifying provisions relating to agricultural tax credits such as wood energy, meat processing facilities, and agricultural production. It would extend the sunsets on those credits, several of which already expired. SB644 also proposes establishing the "Missouri Rural Workforce Development Act,"...

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Dr. Diane Bartholomew, vice president of academic affairs for Missouri Valley College, has announced the Fall 2021 dean's list. The requirements for the dean's list are a 3.3 or higher grade point average; at least 12 graded hours for the semester and no "D," "F," or "Incomplete" grades for the semester. The following students from the area were named to the dean's list: Clinton: Kyoka Nakai and Jakob Yates. Fortuna: Kasey Doyel. Houstonia: Anna-Clara Eckhoff. Jamestown: Harley Hagenhoff and Dalton Oerly. La Monte: Marissa Koebel. Lincoln: William Beaman and Carly Hovendick. Malta Bend: Nicholas Ortzian. Marshall: Brandon Aguilar, Steven Argueta,...

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In collaboration with Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, Bothwell Regional Health Center will host a Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays starting Jan. 10 through March 7 in the Bothwell Education Center at 600 E. 14th St. in Sedalia. One of the least addressed concerns in society is grief, which is the normal and natural reaction to loss. The Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program, based on the Grief Recovery Handbook, will guide those who wish to resolve their loss issues and move beyond their grief to a richer quality of life. The Grief Recovery Method...

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A new sewer main extension will require East 16th Street at its intersection with South Monroe Avenue east to South Marshall Avenue to be closed to all traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10. Travelers are encouraged to find an alternate route during this period to avoid delays in their travel plans. This work is weather and equipment dependent and may be affected by inclement weather or equipment breakdowns.

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The Sedalia Warming Shelter, located in the basement of St. Vincent de Paul St. Patrick Parish, 415 E. Fourth St., will open at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5 and stay open until 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7. All times are subject to change based on the weather forecast. 

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An idea to introduce art into the Pettis County Jail has snowballed into hosting an inmate art contest later this month. Chris Branstetter, Pettis County Jail kitchen administrator, said from the Sheriff's Office on Tuesday that inmates were allowed to create artwork about six years ago. Artwork from that project was hung in the jail lobby so it could be seen by visitors. From that idea, Branstetter decided to introduce an art contest, which was approved by Sheriff Brad Anders and Capt. Skyler Viebrock. “To kind of give them an incentive I thought about doing a contest,” Branstetter noted. “I...

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Sedalia Animal Shelter Manager Randi Battson has a New Year’s resolution. “This is the year that we really want to focus on promoting good pet practices,” Battson said. “We want to educate owners and help them to become better owners.” The problem, Battson said, is the increase the shelter is seeing in dogs running at large and bite cases. In 2020, there were eight bite quarantine dogs and in 2021 there were 15. “Whether it was an accidental reaction or an intentional aggressive situation, those owners are responsible for those animals,” Battson said. “If the victim wanted to press charges...

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The Sedalia Public Library will resume Toddler Time (2- 3-year-old), Preschool Storytime (3- 5- year-old), Children’s Book Club (kindergarten through third grade) and Last Monday: STEAM (fourth through sixth grade) in January. Stop by the library and pick up a January newsletter, visit sedalialibrary.com, or call and talk to the Children’s Librarian for more information.

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The Parents As Teachers program will offer free developmental screenings for children age 3 months to 5 years on Wednesday, Jan. 12, and Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Loftus Early Childhood Center, 2004 Tiger Pride Blvd. Screening times are 3:30, 4:45, or 6 p.m. Screenings are by appointment only and eligible children must be residents of Pettis County and not yet in kindergarten. The areas screened include speech, vision, hearing, language, readiness and motor skills; there also is a health questionnaire. To schedule an appointment and for more information, call the early childhood center at 660-851-9200.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 3 11:23 a.m.: Yuria Y. Onika, 26, of the 19000 block of Zinn Road, was arrested after a traffic stop for speeding at 65 mph in a 35 mph zone at West Broadway Boulevard and South Beacon Avenue. A check showed the driver had surrendered his driver's license in the state of Washington and was not valid in any other state. The...

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The inaugural Miss Missouri Volunteer Pageant will be hosted over the weekend with Miss Sedalia Volunteer present.  Brooklyn Bryant, 23, was crowned Miss Sedalia Volunteer on Dec. 3 after an interview, resume and essay submission. Bryant will be competing with other local winners in the first Miss Missouri Volunteer Pageant from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9 at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in St. Louis.  “So what I had to do was submit my resume and show all the volunteer service I have done in the last two years, I also got to choose my own personal initiative of what...

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The Benton County Route H/Cole Camp Bridge near Edmondson opened to traffic Monday, Jan. 3. This bridge was closed in September while contractor crews removed the bridge deck/driving surface and replaced it with a new surface. In addition, new guardrail was installed at the ends of the bridge. The contract also included removing and replacing the bridge deck/driving surface on the Missouri Route 83 bridge over U.S. Route 65 south of Warsaw, which was completed in October. The prime contractor was Hartman and Company Inc., of Springfield, and the total project cost was [post_excerpt].98 million.

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Benton County Route A between Route JJ and Haw Creek Road northeast of Cole Camp will close from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10 so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can replace a collapsed pipe underneath the road. All lanes of route A will be closed where crews are working. Drivers will be able to access driveways and entrances on either side of the work zone, but will not be able to travel through the work zone. Drivers are urged to find alternate routes. No signed detour is planned. Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the...

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Tentative plans to host the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival as a live, in-person event this year are well underway.  Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation President Doug Freed and Vice President John Simmons spoke to the Sedalia City Council Monday night about the plans. The Democrat reported that the city typically contributes ,000 each year to help sponsor the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival, but those contributions were not needed in 2020 and 2021 as the annual four-day event was canceled due to the pandemic. Freed and Simmons said the board is planning for a June 2022 event but will...

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Compass Health Network announced a new opportunity for employees currently pursuing or interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the areas of counseling, psychology, or social work.  The company is partnering with local colleges and universities across Missouri, such as Lindenwood University, University of Missouri-Columbia/St. Louis, and the University of Central Missouri, to provide an enhanced tuition benefit exclusively for Compass team members. Compass Health Network is working to establish additional educational partnerships in the future.  The scholarship program will pay up to ,000 of tuition costs per academic year for Compass employees at the start of the semester. Students...

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Nearly one-third (30%) of U.S. home fires involving Christmas trees occur in January. With this post-holiday fire hazard in mind, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) strongly encourages everyone to keep the festive memories and remove the hazards by disposing of Christmas trees promptly after the holiday season. “As much as we all enjoy the look and feel of Christmas trees in our homes, they’re large combustible items that have the potential to result in serious fires,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “The longer Christmas trees remain in homes, the longer they present a risk.” ...

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Tentative plans to host the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival as a live, in-person event this year are well underway.  Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation President Doug Freed and Vice President John Simmons spoke to the Sedalia City Council Monday night about the plans. The Democrat reported that the city typically contributes ,000 each year to help sponsor the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival, but those contributions were not needed in 2020 and 2021 as the annual four-day event was canceled due to the pandemic. Freed and Simmons said the board is planning for a June 2022 event but will...

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Sedalia is sometimes a step behind the rest of the nation; that's also been the case with the COVID-19 virus. The virus hit the area hard last year, but months later than neighboring states. This year the omicron variant is also hitting the area later than others.  Dr. Philip Fracica, Chief Medical Officer at Bothwell Regional Health Center, says Sedalia is still dealing mostly with the delta variant and is still behind the rest of the country this season. “I would kind of characterize it as an extension of the delta wave,” Fracica said. “Delta was still going strong when...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Jan. 1 4:16 p.m.: Sandy Kaye Thomas, 63, of the 1500 block of East Seventh Street, was arrested after officers responded to a business in the 1200 block of East Third Street in reference to a subject that was trespassing. Thomas had previously been issued a non-expiring trespass warning for the business by the SPD. He was issued a municipal summons.  Jan. 4...

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Local Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates were honored by the Lincoln University of Missouri School of Nursing in a pinning ceremony on Dec. 10. The Lincoln BSN grads from the area included the following: California: Gunner Baquet Tipton: Madison Knipp

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My Christmas wish came true this year! It all started 36 years ago. Darren and I started dating when I was 18. He already had a daughter who was 3 years old. Three years later, she would become my bonus daughter. When I was 24 we welcomed daughter number 2 and when I was 28 God blessed us with an 11-pound man-child. We watched and guided them as they grew, always believing in their hearts and abilities. In the back of our minds, we knew that the day would come when they would take flight out of the nest but...

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Author’s note: The promised column about Sedalia’s early hospitals did not happen because of problems finding sources; it will happen later. Today’s column continues the series about the Jaynes family. Anderson D. Jaynes and his wife, Mary Brown Jaynes, seemed to have a perfect life. He was a success in business, involved in the establishing of the Katy Railroad and active in Sedalia’s banking. She was mistress of a magnificent house and entertained presidents and other dignitaries. The couple had five talented and well-educated children. However, their lives were touched with sadness, as several of their children died young. One,...

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Col. Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provided the following preliminary statistics related to the New Year’s holiday weekend: No one was killed in a traffic crash during the 78-hour counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30 and ended at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2022 New Year’s holiday counting period. During the 2022 New Year’s counting period, troopers investigated 406 traffic crashes with 91 injuries and no fatalities. Troopers arrested 94 people for driving while impaired. Last year during the 78-hour New Year’s...

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The new year may have just started, but the Missouri State Fair is already looking ahead to August. On Monday, the Missouri State Fair thanked its fans “for an amazing 2021” and announced the 2022 theme will be “Buckets of Fun.” “We are getting things ready to bring you Buckets of Fun in 2022,” information from the State Fair states. “Mark your calendar and make plans to start crossing things off your State Fair bucket list at the 2022 Missouri State Fair, Aug. 11-21 in Sedalia!” The Missouri State Fair was recently recognized for excellence in agriculture education, sponsorship, competitive...

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE — Whiteman Air Force Base has canceled the Wings Over Whiteman Air and Space Show, tentatively scheduled for June. Base officials canceled the event due to competing mission priorities. For now, Whiteman Air Force Base will focus its resources on executing nuclear operations and global strike. “This decision was not made lightly, as we know many of our service members, their families and our surrounding communities look forward to such an exciting event,” said Col. Daniel Diehl, 509th Bomb Wing commander. “We plan to devote the next few years to creating the best possible airshow experience...

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Stover woman hurt in Pettis crash A Stover woman suffered moderate injuries in a single-vehicle accident at 3:06 p.m. Friday in Pettis County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Angela J. Kenig, 45, was driving north on state Route M south of Ringen School Road when she experienced a medical episode. Her vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a fence. The vehicle continued down the fenceline before striking two tree stumps and becoming airborne. It then struck a tree and came to rest. Kenig, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken by...

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Hy-Vee Inc. announced it will host its fifth “Best of Local Brands” summit in February to expand and enhance the product offerings at its more than 280 retail stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One hundred new brands were selected from the first three summits combined and are available to Hy-Vee customers. The summit will consist of 15- to 30-minute virtual presentations from selected suppliers. The summit will take place from Wednesday, Feb. 16 to Friday, Feb. 18.   Hy-Vee is accepting submissions for its “Best of Local Brands” summit online at www.rangeme.com/hyveebestoflocal22q1 in...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 28 7:32 p.m.: Ryan Neal Warden, 40, of the 29000 block of Brown Springs Road, was arrested in the 2400 block of South Limit Avenue for driving while intoxicated-prior offender and driving with a suspended license. An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle he observed not maintaining its lane. During the investigation, it was determined the driver was intoxicated and...

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Dec. 27 Janis Kay and Robert John Zimmerman to John Robert and Terri Zimmerman, section 14; township 45; range 22. Elmer N. and Danyale R. Ragus to John Hendrix, Southwest Village, lot 3, block 7. Mykel and David Schlotterbeck to Torri P. Webb, section 9; township 45; range 21.  Marilyn Treece and Richard G. Helmig to Kempf Brothers Farms 3 LLC, section 18; township 47; range 20. Matz Properties Partnership to Jose D. Morales, Pacific Heights, lots 16, 17, block 6. Jose D. Morales Bejarano to Kemberlee A. Lewis, Pacific Heights, lots 16, 17, block 6. CCB Sedalia Properties LLC...

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Volunteers are encouraged to come to the Sedalia Retrieving Freedom Inc. event on Jan. 15, which will not only focus on cleaning and maintenance but also walking and playing with the resident dogs.  Retrieving Freedom Inc., a tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofit organization, provides service dogs for military veterans and for children who have autism. It was founded in 2011 by Scott Dewy and Charles Dwyer, with the first facility established in Waverly, Iowa. The .5 million Sedalia location is the headquarters facility, which sits on property donated by Bob and Barbara Hayden. Jessica Coble, the Missouri facility manager, said by phone...

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LEETON — A Camp Valor Outdoors warrior is helping to repair an electric wheelchair for a veteran who was confined to his home.  CVO warrior Kyle Hookey first heard of CVO after joining the American Legion and then also from being from the local area.  Hookey started out with one of the fishing trips that CVO hosted and then after that, he started going to camp and helping with stuff. “Then I help around the camp with whatever needs repaired, help with cooking stuff for events and stuff like that,” Hookey said.  There were a couple of electric wheelchairs at...

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During Monday night's meeting, the Sedalia City Council heard its last strategic planning presentations for the upcoming 2022-23 budget. The council has heard from city department directors over the last few months as the city enters budget planning season.  The first of three presentations came from President Doug Freed and Vice President John Simmons of the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation. The city typically contributes ,000 each year to help sponsor the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival, but those contributions were not needed in 2020 and 2021 as the annual four-day event was canceled due to the pandemic. Freed and...

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Volunteers are encouraged to come to the Sedalia Retrieving Freedom Inc. event on Jan. 15, which will not only focus on cleaning and maintenance but also walking and playing with the resident dogs.  Retrieving Freedom Inc., a tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofit organization, provides service dogs for military veterans and for children who have autism. It was founded in 2011 by Scott Dewy and Charles Dwyer, with the first facility established in Waverly, Iowa. The .5 million Sedalia location is the headquarters facility, which sits on property donated by Bob and Barbara Hayden. Jessica Coble, the Missouri facility manager, said by phone...

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Pettis County added 255 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 8,655, according to the Pettis County Health Center. There is a significant backlog in reporting cases from the holiday weekend, so these numbers probably do not reflect all of the cases. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 14.9% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 12.1% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The locally calculated positivity rate...

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Bothwell Family Health will be closed Jan. 6 to move from the third floor of the Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St. to Suite 203 on the second floor. Patients will be seen at the new location beginning Jan. 7. The clinic’s phone number remains the same at 660-827-2500 and hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bothwell Family Health provides primary and behavioral health care, and providers include Dr. Ashley Tardieu, Dr. Terry Chance and Nurse Practitioner Audrianna Ruffel.

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “City of Time and Magic,” by Paula Brackston. “Do I Know You?” by Sarah Strohmeyer. “The Hunger of Crows,” by Richard Chiappone. “The Wicked Widow,” by Beatriz Williams. “The Return of the Pharaoh,” by Nicholas Meyer. “To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before,” by Lizzie Shane.  “After She Falls,” by Carmen Schober. Nonfiction  “How to Sous Vide,” by Daniel Shumski. “The Least of Us,” by Sam Quinones.  “Silenced No More,” by Sarah Ransome. 

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 29 7:05 p.m.: Vladimir T. Shalev, 33, of the 29000 block of South Grand Avenue, was arrested after officers attempted to conduct a vehicle check at a business near Main Street and Winchester Drive. Officers made contact with the driver, who was arrested for driving with a revoked driver's license, being a fugitive from justice, a Pettis County warrant, and a warrant...

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And just like that, she’s 33. When did 33 years pass? How did they simply fly by? How did things change so that when I see her, she lives in a house and cooks dinner and does her own laundry? Ike Skelton told me once that he knew his son had become an adult when his son picked up the tab for dinner. Ike’s son had just turned 40. So even though I see our child’s now being an adult, we still have a few years to go.  It’s hard to reminisce about a lifetime. Some days are more memorable...

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Planet Fitness this week opened its new facility at 3117 W. Broadway Blvd. in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center and Manager Anna Armstrong said business has been brisk. “It’s busy all the time,” Armstrong said. “Everybody is seeing that the parking lot is getting full and they’re noticing that. We changed our sign up front and we advertised on the marquee so it's been grabbing a lot more attention. We've been constantly doing tours and showing people the facility and they're just falling in love with it and enjoying the new fitness center that has come to Sedalia.” Roger and...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Peyton T. Buchanan and Macie R. Buchanan; Brandon L. Pyatt and Cheyenne M. Pyatt; Victoria V. Comer and Michael W. Comer. 

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Christians around the world celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God became Man, on Dec. 25, again this year. Lots of planning and work goes into the celebration of his birthday: Christmas cards made or written and addressed, presents purchased (in-store or online), the house and maybe the yard decorated, food purchased and prepared, guests invited and calendars planned for parties. So, all this preparation for the birthday, then on the day of his birth, hopefully, the family gathers, presents open and prayers said together with the congregation at the Church.  Now that we celebrated his...

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A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Pettis and Johnson counties from late Friday night through Saturday evening. According to the National Weather Service, widespread wintry precipitation is expected across the region. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 8 inches and ice accumulations of around one-tenth of an inch are possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. The watch covers portions of east central and northeast Kansas and central, north central, northeast, northwest and west central Missouri. Highest snowfall totals are likely along and north of St. Joseph to Chillicothe to Kirksville. Greatest ice accumulations are likely...

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The hostility toward religious rights that has been coming out of Washington is unprecedented in American history. The little town of Point Lookout, Missouri, is the home of the College of the Ozarks, a small Christian school designed for those with limited income. In place of tuition, every student is assigned a campus job at “Hard Work U.” A relative of mine who graduated from the college last summer said the education she received was “phenomenal,” the professors “stellar.” I was impressed that a college with an enrollment of only 1,426 students would have so many PhDs on its faculty....

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As we look back on 2021, it can be hard to find the blurry line where 2020 ended and 2021 began. Many of the themes we experienced in the first year of a new decade carried over into this year. While the pandemic has continued into year two and is about to enter year three, it looks different this time around. The world slowly came back to life as events returned, athletics returned to full capacity, businesses kept their doors open consistently, and school was no longer virtual, although Zoom is now a standard business tool. We all started coming...

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Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, the Democrat will not have a print edition Saturday, Jan. 1. The next print edition will be Tuesday, Jan. 4. In the meantime, readers are encouraged to visit sedaliademocrat.com to read new stories.

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Bradley Eugene VanMeter, 31, and Olivia Heather Marsha Taylor, 31, both of Lincoln; Robert Raymond Tuttle III, 39, and Skye Charisse Lefebvre, 30, both of Sedalia; Curtis Eugene Benson, 65, and Tammy Lynn Vogt, 52, both of Sweet Springs; Aaron Wayne Craig, 31, and Kayla Kristine Durham, 30, both of Sedalia; Dustin Joe Simmons, 35, and Ashley Lynn Sims, 34, both of Sedalia. 

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Mike and Diana Jones, of Sedalia, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Dec. 29. They have two children, Michael Joens, of Virginia, and Sam Jones, of Sedalia; and four grandchildren.  Mike and Diana met at California State University in San Bernardino, California. They are both retired school teachers. 

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With single-digit temperatures plus freezing rain and snow predicted, the Sedalia Warming Shelter will open its doors for the first time this season on Saturday and Sunday nights.  Warming Shelter Meal Coordinator Kirk Martin said on Thursday the shelter will once again be housed in the St. Vincent de Paul St. Patrick Parish. He noted the shelter is open when the real-feel temperature or wind chill is 15-degrees on a clear day and when it is 30-degrees with a 50% or greater chance of precipitation. On Thursday, the National Weather Service placed Sedalia under a winter storm watch and is...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Parkview Christian Church.  Monday: Chicken and noodles, posh potatoes, tomato and zucchini, banana, roll and milk. Tuesday: Meatloaf, Au Gratin potatoes, mixed veggies, cookie, roll and milk. Wednesday: Pulled pork on bun, potato salad, baked beans, applesauce and milk.  Thursday: Ham and beans, cornbread, salad, tropical fruit and milk....

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Richard Parkhurst and Judy Downey were married on Sunday, Dec. 26, 1976, at First Christian Church in Sedalia by the Rev. Bob Magee.   They celebrated their 45th anniversary in Kansas City at the 21c Hotel & Museum (Former Savoy Grill) followed by dinner at the Stock Hill Grill. Together they have two children, Jon and David, and five grandchildren. 

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “April in Spain,” by John Banville. “The Book of Magic,” Alice Hoffman. “Marked Man,” Archer Mayor.  “We Are Not Like Them,” by Christine Pride. “The Survivors,” by Alex Schulman.  “Fright Night,” by Miriam Toews.  Nonfiction “Say Their Names: How Black Lives Came to Matter in America,” by Curtis Bunn.  “World War C: Lessons from the Pandemic and How to Prepare for the Next One,” by Sanjay Gupta. “The Redemption of Bobby Love: A Story of Faith, Family, and Justice,” by Bobby Love.  “The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped...

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Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Randall, of Sedalia, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Dec. 30. Betty Stohr and Ralph Randall were married Dec. 30, 1961, at Sacred Heart Church.  Mr. Randall is retired from Missouri Public Service Co./Aquila, Inc. Mrs. Randall is a homemaker.  The couple has five children, Brenda Gutierrez, Barbara Carney, Steve Randall, John Randall, and Patty Bock, all of Sedalia; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 22 10:27 p.m.: William Mike Allen Eaton II, 24, of the 200 block of South Prospect Avenue, was arrested near the intersection of West 17th Street and South Moniteau Avenue for driving while intoxicated. An officer observed a vehicle turn from South Ohio Avenue onto West 17th Street without using a turn signal. The officer conducted a traffic stop and during the...

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Columbia College announced its dean’s list for the fall 2021 semester. To be named to the dean's list, a student must have completed 12 semester hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Bates City: Sydney Nieweg. Boonville: Kole Ficken, Katrea Pinkett and Morgan Shellady. Bunceton: Kerby Gerling. California: Rebecca Hamilton, Josue Isidro and Paige Miller. Centerview: Montana Mistler. Green Ridge: Emily Dove. Ionia: Camryn Schear. Jamestown: Matthew Stewart. Knob Noster: Nolan Jackson. Marshall: Duffin Makings and Stephanie Newberg. Pilot Grove: Chloe Schlotzhauer. Rocky Mount: Dorothy Pfeiffer. Syracuse: Nicole Leclaire. Tipton: Abby...

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Spire Missouri Inc. has filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to adjust the infrastructure system replacement surcharge (ISRS) on the bills of its Spire East and Spire West natural gas customers. The surcharge first appeared on Spire East and Spire West customer bills in 2004. Spire seeks the adjustment to reflect infrastructure replacement investments made by the natural gas company from June 1, 2021, through Nov. 30, 2021. Spire’s application includes pro forma ISRS costs for December 2021. These costs for natural gas pipeline replacements and relocations are not currently included in Spire’s rates. The current...

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Benton County Route P between Old 65 and Warner Avenue, west of U.S. Route 65, north of Lincoln will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4 and Wednesday, Jan. 5. MoDOT crews will be replacing collapsed pipe underneath the road.  All lanes of Route P will be closed where crews are working. All lanes will be open during nighttime hours. Drivers will be able to access driveways and entrances on either side of the work zone, but will not be able to travel through the work zone. Drivers urged to find alternate routes. No signed detour...

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KNOB NOSTER — On Jan. 1, Missouri State Parks will be hosting its First Day Hike at state parks and historic sites across Missouri. Participants can choose from free, guided hikes that range in difficulty from easy to moderate and offer breathtakingly scenic adventure for the first day of 2022. A press release from Missouri State Parks details the hikes. “The state is putting it out to around 34 other state parks in Missouri that will be hosting,” said Melissa Hall, Assistant State Park Superintendent at Knob Noster State Park, “and it's a pretty big annual thing. This is several...

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Warrensburg woman hurt in crash A Warrensburg woman suffered moderate injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 6:11 p.m. Tuesday in Johnson County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Daniel R. Evans, 23, of Whiteman Air Force Base/Knob Noster, was driving south on state Route 13 when he failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was struck by a northbound vehicle driven by 75-year-old Ginger M. Matthews. Matthews was taken by the Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg for her injuries. Reports indicate both drivers were wearing a seat belt. Evans’ 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer...

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The Pettis County Commission along with Auditor Beverly Dillon met Wednesday morning to try and zero out the 2022 fiscal year budget.  Like many other businesses and companies, multiple county officials were out of the courthouse Wednesday due to COVID, the flu and taking vacation due to the two holidays that fall a week apart.  The county’s general budget is currently million off-budget, so the plan was to try and zero out some numbers before the deadline at the end of January.  Assessor Chris Woolery joined in on the budget discussion to talk about some overage on the assessor’s...

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Third graders at Parkview Elementary celebrated Holidays Around the World on Monday, Dec.  20. With passports in hand, students traveled to five different countries, sampled food, and had holiday fun. In China, they sampled Chinese long noodles with chopsticks and wrote wishes for 2022, the year of the Tiger. Their next stop was Mexico where students celebrated Los Posadas. They learned the legend of the poinsettia and ate chips and salsa. Their third stop was Germany where they made gingerbread men and tried gingerbread cookies from Germany. Next students traveled to Israel to learn about Hanukkah and the Festival of...

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Sedalia’s tourism revenue is rebounding after a year of COVID with projections for 2022 looking good as well. Carolyn Crooker, the executive director for the Sedalia Convention & Visitors Bureau, said on Wednesday that compared to 2019, a 10-month look at lodging tax revenue for 2021 (January through October) shows a ,000 increase. The total revenue for January through October is 0,000 with the total for 2019 (January through December) being 6,000. Lodging tax revenue in 2020 was down ,000 due to COVID. Crooker added she thinks Sedalia tourism revenue is comparable to the rest of the state, which is...

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WARRENSBURG — Located on the grounds of the Central Missouri Speedway just outside Warrensburg, Pub 13 offers burgers, sandwiches, and a full bar five days a week.  The new business opened in August and is owned by Earl and Susan Walls, who have also owned the speedway for decades. Earl told the Democrat last week that he had speedway employees who wanted to work year-round and he was looking for a way to earn more income in the off-season, so the idea for a restaurant began. “This was kind of an attempt to help pay the taxes and keep people...

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At Tuesday’s Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees meeting, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Phillip Fracica dove deep into educating members on the omicron variant of the coronavirus.  Fracica said it was known the virus would morph and evolve, gradually accumulating slight changes, but omicron “came out of left field” and did not fit this pattern. It appeared from nowhere with a very large number of changes. “Unfortunately, a large number of the new mutations are in critical areas of the virus where the vaccination-induced natural immunity and monoclonal antibodies all work to protect,” Fracica said. Therefore, Fracica said patients...

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Tuesday was the last day of candidate filing for multiple municipalities in Pettis County, including cities, school boards and first responder districts for the April 5 municipal election. Filing began Tuesday, Dec. 7. City of Sedalia Ward 2 Councilman Andrew Dawson is unopposed in his campaign for the position of mayor. Mayor John Kehde’s four-year term ends in April. Dawson filed for mayor on the first day of filing and remained the only mayoral candidate when filing closed Tuesday.  Dawson joined the council in February 2019 when Kehde appointed him to fill a vacancy after the unexpected death of Councilman...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night at the PCAD Educational Center and presented Resuscitation, Survivor and Inter-Service Awards and Commendations.  EMS Assistant Chief Roy Pennington presented the awards and commendations to vehicle accident survivor Megan Bremer and to those who helped save her life on Oct. 30 — Pettis County Ambulance District crew members Dustin Hubbard, RN, and Dovetta Birch, EMT, and Pettis County Fire Protection District Capt. Tom Dugan.  Pennington said Bremer’s accident occurred on U.S. Highway 65 north of Sedalia. “Megan Bremer, who is with us here tonight, sustained serious life-threatening injuries,” he...

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A Cole Camp woman has been charged after a Christmas Eve traffic stop led to drugs. According to information from Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders, around 1:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 24, deputies conducted a drug interdiction traffic stop in the area of U.S. Highway 50 and state Route T. The stop was made in conjunction with a Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force investigation.  Deputies contacted the driver, 44-year-old Crystol R. Streett, and attempted to obtain consent for a vehicle search.  Shortly after the request, Streett fled in her vehicle. A pursuit was initiated reaching speeds of approximately 95 mph. Stop sticks...

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May Jaynes, the daughter of Col. Anderson and Mary Brown Jaynes, married Dr. Everett Wood in 1903. Colonel Jaynes had died in 1886; Mary had died in 1900, leaving the property to the remaining family heirs. In 1904, Dr. Everett Wood purchased the Jaynes family home on Broadway Avenue between Ohio Avenue and Osage Avenue.  Shortly after he purchased the property, Dr. Wood built an annex to the home to serve as their living quarters, made some renovations to the house, and established a private hospital there, naming it Maywood in honor of his wife. Wood’s management and the service...

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For the first time in at least six years, our entire immediate family is together. There have been two new additions since then which brings our new total to 12.  Imagine; two people start out with a little bit of nothing and a short 32 years later have 12 people to call their own.  The really neat part of it is that we’re not done adding to this family.  Ryan, as the youngest, is holding all of the cards now as to when the next daughter and grandchildren will come. He’s only 25, so I haven’t broken out the relationship...

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The State Fair Community College Foundation announced the appointment of Sam Ditzfeld to its board of directors. The board currently has 20 members.  Ditzfeld, a graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, is vice president of Ditzfeld Transfer Inc. located in Sedalia, one of the Midwest’s leading transportation, warehouse and distribution service providers. It is a family-owned and operated company that includes residential and commercial container and trash services and charter bus services. He and his wife, Lisa, have a son, Lincoln, and a daughter, Kennedi.  In accepting the position, Ditzfeld said his desire to serve on the foundation’s board is to...

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SMITHTON — The Smithton R-VI School District made some changes to its COVID-19 guidelines after a recent Board of Education meeting and a ruling from Cole County Circuit Court.  A letter released from the Smithton School District on Dec. 21 describes changes to the district’s “Return to Learn” plan. Prior to the letter, the district has been mask optional the entire 2021-22 school year and hasn’t reached a point from its local data to require masks.  Superintendent David Bray said district officials have been searching for ways to keep healthy students in school throughout the pandemic. The district has constantly...

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Juvenile hurt in Johnson accident A 14-year-old male from Warrensburg suffered moderate injuries in a single-vehicle accident at 11:10 a.m. Monday in Johnson County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the juvenile was driving a 2019 Polaris east in the 200 block of Northeast 191st Road when the vehicle slid on a curve and overturned. The juvenile, who was using a safety device, was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital for his injuries. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 27 7:07 p.m.: Amanda C. Nicholson, 42, of the 800 block of East 11th Street, was arrested at her residence for fourth-degree domestic assault and two failure to appear warrants. An officer was dispatched to a disturbance. During the investigation, it was discovered one of the parties had outstanding Pettis County warrants and was the primary aggressor. The suspect was arrested and...

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OTTERVILLE –– The Lady Eagles were among those who booked their place in the semifinals with a win in Monday’s opening round of action at the 27th Annual Otterville Holiday Classic. Entering as the top seed in the girls’ bracket, Otterville won handily over Bunceton with Prairie Home, 73-35. Most of the damage came in the first half, which included a 28-point second quarter for the Lady Eagles. After coming out a bit slow out of intermission, they picked it back up and coasted. “It’s hard not to be happy with a comfortable win,” Otterville head coach Jay Allen said....

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The City of Sedalia wants residents to make plans to dine out in January 2022 at local restaurants with the chance to have their meal paid for by an area bank sponsor.  Restaurant Month is a time to highlight the local restaurants around Sedalia and provide help during one of the slower months for restaurants. The new promotion is part of the Sedalia Shop Local effort started earlier this year as a partnership between the City of Sedalia and the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce. Joleigh Cornine, Planner and Downtown Specialist for the City of Sedalia, said this will be...

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Col. Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provided the following preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday weekend. Eight people died in traffic crashes during the 78-hour counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23 and ended at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26. Troopers investigated 310 traffic crashes involving 92 injuries and four fatalities. Troopers arrested 67 people for driving while intoxicated. Last year during the 78-hour Christmas counting period, there were 746 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, 10 people were killed and another 10 were injured. During the 2020 Christmas holiday, troopers...

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Woman hurt in Johnson crash A Warrensburg woman suffered moderate injuries in a single-vehicle accident at 2:45 a.m. Thursday in Johnson County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Catalina C. Soles, 18, was driving west on state Route Y west of Southeast 921 Road when her vehicle struck a deer. Soles, who was wearing a seat belt, declined medical treatment from the Johnson County Ambulance District. The 2011 Infiniti was totaled. Windsor man seriously injured in ATV accident A Windsor man suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle accident at 12:22 p.m. Thursday in Johnson County. According to a...

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Located in a small nondescript building on East Broadway Boulevard, a store filled with a wide assortment of all new items has amassed clientele who love looking through and purchasing the shop’s ever-changing merchandise. Overstock Outlet Sedalia, 815 E. Broadway Blvd., opened Jan. 1, 2021. The store’s owner, Stacey White, said business has been good for the shop that carries almost everything but the kitchen sink. On Monday morning, customer Misty Fender, of Florence, was shopping with her children. She said she first shopped at the store around Thanksgiving and she keeps coming back. Fender noted the store has so...

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​​The holidays are times for good food and family. To many that also means tamales. Blue Ramirez, Catering Manager at El Espolon Mexican Restaurant, said tamales bring families together to pass the traditions. “Families come together,” Ramirez said. “That's when grandma or mom is teaching all the younger generations like their spices, their authentic ‘kick,’ or herbs, that they put into their meat. Everybody’s in the kitchen putting the masa on the corn husks and then wrapping them, so they're looking forward to eating the tamales.” Olga Rodriguez Castaneda, the owner of Taqueria Morelos, is selling a lot of orders...

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Pettis County added 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 8,400, according to the Pettis County Health Center.  There is a significant backlog in reporting cases from the holiday weekend, so these numbers probably do not reflect all of the cases. “The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 12.1% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 11.1% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The locally calculated positivity rate...

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Bothwell Regional Health Center announced its top baby names for 2021. Six girl and six boy names hold the title of most popular. The list was compiled from the most common names of the 361 babies born at Bothwell this year.  The most popular girl names were Olivia, Madelyn, Hannah, Paisley, Elaina and Lilly. Olivia was the only girl’s name to also appear on the 2020 top list. The most popular boy names for the year were Jackson, Lucas, Theodore, Elijah, Bryson and Sebastian, and no boy names were repeated from the 2020 list. Although these names were the most...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 19 1:30 a.m.: Mark S. Conley, 47, of Otterville, was arrested near the intersection of East Broadway Boulevard and South Summit Avenue for driving while intoxicated-persistent offender. An officer observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed that was failing to maintain a lane on Broadway. The officer conducted a traffic stop and during the investigation, it was determined the...

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Hy-Vee Inc. announced the launch of two websites with ship-to-home services: Hy-VeeDeals.com and ShopPetship.com. The two websites will make a variety of bulk grocery products, home goods and pet supplies available to shoppers throughout the United States. Hy-VeeDeals.com, the company’s existing website that aggregates all weekly ads, digital coupons and hot deals, now also features bulk products that can be shipped directly to customers. Customers can order their favorite snacks to fill the pantry, as well as household essentials, cleaning products and housewares. Customers can also purchase household staples in bulk, saving time and money. Additionally, in-store shoppers will be...

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WARRENSBURG — After more than a year with an interim chief at the helm, Ken Jennings has been named the new chief of the Warrensburg Fire Department. The City of Warrensburg made the announcement on Facebook on Monday morning.  “Please join us in welcoming Kenneth Jennings as our new Fire Chief,” the post states. “Chief Jennings has over 20 years experience in fire service and has served the Warrensburg Fire Department since 2002. We're excited about the next chapter for the Warrensburg Fire Department.” Jennings most recently served as a battalion chief with the WFD and a volunteer firefighter with...

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I have no idea why my brain retrieved this decade-old memory, but my now late father-in-law’s Christmas wish list had included a pair of binoculars. To be honest, I thought it was an odd request. Lenard hadn’t hunted since he was a boy, he’d given up his Chiefs’ season tickets years ago and he and my mother-in-law Ruth were no longer able to take sight-seeing vacations. Why would he need to be able to take a closer look at faraway objects? Amber explained that her dad didn’t want a closer look at the far horizon. To the contrary, he wanted...

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Holiday tournament season action gets back underway Monday with a full slate of games at the Otterville Holiday Classic. In the girls bracket, fifth-seeded Lincoln plays the first quarterfinal at 11:30 a.m. and takes on Hermitage (5-2). The host Lady Eagles are the top-seeded side and clash with Bunceton (0-9) at 2:30 p.m.  Action in that bracket resumes at 5:30 p.m. when 3-seed Iberia (3-6) battles Smithton. The final girls game of the evening is at 8:30 p.m. when No. 2 Northwest matches up with Slater (1-6). The two teams already met in Hughesville on Dec. 9, when the Lady...

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As we are celebrating Christmas, I would like to encourage each of us to reflect back from whence we came to where we are now. Let us reflect on the real reason for this glorious season.  I hope that something I may say will give us something to think about. During the time of our Savior's birth, the scripture tells us that angels came to shepherds who were watching over their flock by night. I found, through research, that customarily the task of watching the sheep by night was given to the young men in three-hour shifts unless there was...

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I have an ear worm: Placido Domingo’s “Once Again It’s Christmas Time This Year.” It circles round my brain unceasingly, probably because it seems impossible that another year has gone by – this one in fast forward. And yet it has. Tomorrow night, my little family will gather for the first time in our now-not-so-new living and dining room, and I will put the new kitchen to its first real test: dinner for 12 people. I have figured out where to put them all, and I have a game plan for putting together a simple dinner. Dessert, however, will be...

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Many may wonder who built the Missouri State Fair Main Gate, especially since it is now undergoing renovations. The mystery was solved when the daughter of the late Paul Edward Roberts Sr. called to say her father created the ironwork on the historic gate in 1935. Charlotte Ramey, of Sedalia, is one of 11 children belonging to Paul and Georgetta Marie Roberts. Ramey along with her brothers Terry and Dennis Roberts recently reminisced about their father, a Sedalia welder and Pearl Harbor survivor, noting their large family was close and filled with love, much like the Waltons on television.  An...

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While families gather for the holidays, veterinarians like Chad McNeal, DVM at Thompson Hills Animal Clinic in Sedalia, warns there may be hazards in the holidays for pets. “Candies are probably at the top of the list,” McNeal said. “Chocolate, you know, people are baking, and they turn their back and next thing you know the dog’s on the table and then you’ve got to bring him in, and we have to make him vomit, so it's kind of gross but at least it doesn't smell so bad when it happens.” The Humane Society of Missouri offers tips for festive...

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Due to the Christmas holiday, the Democrat will not have a print edition Saturday, Dec. 25. The next print edition will be Tuesday, Dec. 28. In the meantime, readers are encouraged to visit sedaliademocrat.com to read new stories. Also, the Democrat office, 700 S. Massachusetts Ave., will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 to allow our employees to spend Christmas Eve with their families. 

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Parkview Elementary teacher and media specialist Kathy Zink is the recipient of the Superintendent’s Bell Ringer Award for December. The monthly award is a way for Superintendent Steve Triplett to honor Sedalia School District 200 staff members who put the district’s mission statement into action and those who display exemplary effort in celebrating student success. Winners are selected from nominations made by staff members and administrators. Zink had numerous nominations for the award. One wrote that Zink “builds good relationships with her students and offers a friendly environment for them. She helps promote a love for reading in her library...

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During daily meetings Dec. 20 to Dec. 22, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Dec. 20: The Commission went into a closed session for discussions regarding personnel.  Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza led an executive board meeting for the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission. Dec. 21: Citizen Mike Brown came to discuss the U.S. Highway 65 overpass project with Western Commissioner Jim Marcum. The Commission hosted a Christmas appreciation lunch for the employees of the County in the Commission Chambers. Dec. 22: No action taken. Dec. 23: Courthouse closed in observance of Christmas. Dec. 24: Courthouse closed in observance of...

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Windsor man hurt in Johnson accident Daniel L Hanson, 42, of Windsor, sustained minor injuries at 11:47 a.m. Wednesday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Johnson was traveling south in a semi-truck on state Route 13 south of Northwest 700 Road when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, returned to the roadway and overturned. Hansen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg by the Johnson County Ambulance District. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 17 8:55 p.m.: Jamie Marine Parish, 45, of the 700 block of East 15th Street, was summoned after officers responded to a business in the 3200 block of West Broadway Boulevard for a theft investigation. Parish was identified as having stolen items on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 totaling approximately 0. The stolen items were recovered and citations were issued for stealing. ...

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Christmas is here.  Are you happy?  Or do you always end up feeling let down and depressed, surrounded by a sea of stale decorations and crumpled wrapping paper?  Does it feel like a holiday? Or a disaster?  Are you at peace? Or are you consumed with worry and anger about bills, COVID, politics, health, family, the nation? The world?  Does all the work and waste and worry leave you wondering what you’re even celebrating? Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!  Ahem.  Lights, please.  “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping...

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As I write this on Christmas Eve Eve (“Friends reference, anyone?) in my office at the Democrat, things are pretty quiet. Only a few of us are at work today, with many of our coworkers starting the long holiday weekend early.  Christmas music is softly playing on my laptop while I sip on a peppermint mocha from Ozark Coffee. I’ve been trying to think of what to write about with Christmas only single-digit days away, and not much has been coming to mind. Except for string. As kids, my younger sister and I received plenty of presents from Santa Claus,...

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A Warrensburg woman is the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. Marla Tobin, MD, FAAFP, received the 2021 award at the Academy’s 73rd Annual Meeting hosted Nov. 12-13 at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale. A committee of family physicians chose Tobin from nominations made by patients, community members, and fellow physicians.   According to a news release, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes members, nonmembers, and entities for their long-time dedication to advancing, contributing, and supporting the MAFP and the specialty of family medicine.  “Dr. Marla Tobin from Warrensburg has shown long-term dedication...

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HOLDEN — Camp Valor Outdoors is bringing a little Christmas cheer to homeless veterans as it opens its first three tiny homes.  Last weekend, CVO finished installing appliances and WiFi into the first three tiny homes in its Veterans Village project that plans to house and rehabilitate homeless veterans in the Johnson County area.  Executive Director and Founder of CVO John Schwent said they found out in 2019 that 30 homeless veterans in Johnson County were relocated to other counties and they wanted to know why. According to Schwent, there wasn’t anywhere for the veterans to go in Johnson County....

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JEFFERSON CITY 一 Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn and Missouri State Veterinarian Dr. Steve Strubberg approved livestock movement papers for nine reindeer.  Mr. Santa Claus from The North Pole applied for the permit this week, providing proof of the healthy herd through a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection signed by licensed veterinarian Dr. Hermey Elf. Team leader, Rudolph, underwent additional testing to prove he’s the most famous reindeer of all.  Although mischievous, Mr. Claus will be coordinating his deliveries to nice boys and girls with his scout elves sitting atop many Missouri shelves. “I’m excited to see so many deserving children...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Sedalia PUblic Library Fiction “Criminal Mischief,” by Stuart Woods. “Boy Underground,” by Catherine Ryan Hyde. “Death at Greenway,” by Lori Rader-Day. “The Undertakers,” by Nicole Glover. “Sharpe’s Assassin,” by Bernard Cornwell. “Marriage Can Be Mischief,” by Amanda Flower. “At the Crossroads,” by B.J. Daniels. Nonfiction “Call Us What We Carry,” by Amanda Gorman.  “The Defense Lawyer,” by James Patterson. “The Great British Baking Show: A Bake for All Seasons,” by Paul Hollywood.

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Lorenzo Ladiner and Ashontai D. Ladiner; Bailey L. Paris-Schroer and Frederick E. Schroer; John Watterson and Lisa Hoskins Watterson; Dave W. Dotson and Shauna M. Dotson; Leslie L. Wehmeyer and Tracy D. Wehmeyer;  Kelly M. Burnett and Norman E. Burnett; Tonya A. Alvarez and Anthony E. Alvarez. 

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Mr. and Mrs. Wood, of Sedalia, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 26.  Patty Parks and Pat Wood were married Dec. 26, 1971, at East Sedalia Baptist Church in Sedalia.  Mr. Wood is an owner/operator of Wood Family Farms and Mrs. Wood is a retired educator from Sedalia School District 200.  The couple have two children Stacey (Chad) Follis, of Farmington, and Brian (Becky) Wood, of La Monte; and four grandchildren. They celebrate every day with God's blessings of their love, family, and friends with a lifetime of sharing and caring to go.

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Boonslick Regional Library Fiction “When Ghosts Come to Call,” by Wiley Cash.  “The Killing Kind,” by Jane Casey. “Under the Whispering Door,” by T.J. Klune. “Once in a Lifetime,” by Mary Monroe.  “The Last Graduate,” by Naomi Novik. Nonfiction “Feeding the Soul Because It’s My Business: Messages of Joy, Love, and Freedom,” by Tabitha Brown.  “Women, Food, and Hormones: A 4-week Plan to Achieve Hormonal Balance, Lose Weight, and Feel Like Yourself Again,” by Sara Gottfried. 

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Cornerstone Baptist Church.  Monday: Pork riblet on bun, baked beans, macaroni salad, brownie, milk. Tuesday: Spaghetti, corn, salad, breadsticks, cookie, milk. Wednesday: Stuffed pepper casserole, hominy, tropical fruit, roll, milk. Thursday: Beef and noodles, green beans, pudding, roll, milk. Friday: Closed New Year’s Eve.

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Martin Warren Chapter, Missouri Society Sons of the American Revolution The Martin Warren Chapter, Missouri Society Sons of the American Revolution (MOSSAR),  presented the Emeritus Membership Certificate to Christian “Kit” Schwensen at the regular chapter meeting on Dec. 18.  Emeritus membership is awarded to any member who has paid National Society dues as a Regular Member for 50 years, contiguous or not. An emeritus member is exempt from all annual dues payable to the National Society. Schwensen, a Warrensburg resident, is a Member-at-Large of the MOSSAR. Schwensen joined the NSSAR in about 1967 and his Patriot Ancestor is Christopher F....

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Dalton Aaron Spencer, 21, and Emily Breann Knoernschild, 22, both of Sedalia;  Aleksandr Modnov, 25, and Yekaterina Dmitrievna Sheblanova, 19, both of Sedalia;  Michael Dee Bryan, 58, of Florence, and Teresa Lynn Tylar, 54, of Green Ridge. 

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Kathleen “Kathy” Randall will observe her 78th birthday Dec. 30. She was born Dec. 30, 1943, in Pettis County. Kathleen was married to the late Larry Randall. Before retiring, she was a factory worker and she enjoys reading, bingo and playing on her computer.  Kathleen has four children, Terry Randall, of Cole Camp, Lorrie Rogers, of Mora, Lisa James, of Missouri, and Mikey Randal, of Sedalia; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Birthday cards may be sent to Kathleen at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 20 2:28 p.m.: Sergey V. Slivinskiy, 33, of Sedalia, was arrested after officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Winchester Drive for a report of a subject who had returned to the reporting party's residence after stealing her vehicle Saturday. Officers were informed that the suspect left the scene on foot and he was located behind the Holiday Inn Express, 3909...

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State Fair Community College men’s soccer added Sacred Heart standout Ian Viscara to its ranks for next season, a move commemorated by last week’s signing ceremony in the Gremlins’ gymnasium.  "It feels pretty nice to get it done, and it's the next step for my future," Viscara said.  A native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Viscara has been a difference-maker for the Gremlins since he put on the jersey.  After netting a six-pack his first season, Viscara broke out with 20 goals and nine assists his sophomore season when Sacred Heart finished 16-9. In his senior campaign, he both scored and...

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VFW Post 2591 is moving forward with projected plans for a 0,000 renovation at the post located on South Ohio Avenue, which includes a donation by the Hayden Freedom Foundation given on Dec. 16. Cathy (Hayden) Van de Linden, the treasurer for the Hayden Freedom Foundation of Sedalia, said they have known VFW Senior Vice Cmdr. Kyle Edwards for a long time. She added Edwards spoke to her brother, Bobby Hayden, about the plans to renovate the VFW building. “No. 1 (it’s) to help revamp that end of town,” she explained. “So, they thought that would be a good catalyst...

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In addition to gifts under the tree this weekend, Christmas 2021 is also bringing lower gas prices to Missourians. According to GasBuddy, an online fuel savings platform, the national average price of gasoline is down 10 cents per gallon since Thanksgiving. A news release from GasBuddy issued last week states that the national average on Christmas is projected to decline to .25 per gallon. This is a penny away from 2013’s Christmas tally of .26 per gallon, the priciest Christmas on record, but there remains a chance prices in 2021 could still land just above the previous Christmas record. While...

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A [post_excerpt],000 Seitz Fundraising Endowment SAE grant has been awarded to Ivy Elwell, of La Monte. SAE grants are designed to help FFA members create or expand Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete. An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture-related business, work at an agriculture-related business or conduct an agricultural research experience. Upon completion, FFA members must submit a comprehensive report regarding their career development experience. This year 32 different sponsors made 39 different types of SAE grants available. A full list of sponsors can be found on the...

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The Missouri Department of Agriculture is offering 30 high school students representing 4-H clubs and FFA chapters as well as farm families throughout Missouri the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture through the 2022 Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA). MAbA is a competitive program for sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related degrees and careers.  The students selected will have a yearlong opportunity to learn about the unique opportunities for careers in the Kansas City area, volunteer at the Missouri State Fair and learn more about the agriculture industry in Jefferson City. The 2022 schedule will be finalized in the spring and will...

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The Sedalia License Office in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center will be closed Friday, Dec. 31 to observe New Year's Day. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3.

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Below is a sampling of cases that were resolved Dec. 6 to Dec. 21 in Pettis County Circuit Court, according to information from Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer. Christina Horn, 28, of Sedalia, was sentenced to two years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and an additional 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after her probation was revoked. Nathan D. Chrisman, 37, of Kansas City, was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after his probation was revoked. Gerald Keith Farrow, 38, of Kansas City, was sentenced...

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KNOB NOSTER — Brian Kniskern recently retired after serving 24 years as the Knob Noster city marshall.  Kniskern moved to Knob Noster in 1992, joined the Knob Noster Police Department in 1995 and became the chief in 1997. He won his first election for city marshall in 1998.  Kniskern applied to be an officer in Knob Noster after retiring from the U.S. Air Force. “Looking around for a job, I went and worked at the university, at the time it was Central Missouri State University, now UCM,” Kniskern said. “I worked there for about a year and a half and...

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Wednesday, students in the Sacred Heart School Key Club stuffed 150 stockings for the 509th Security Forces at Whiteman Air Force Base. Around 13 students in the Sacred Heart Key Club assembled the stockings at the parish business center before heading over to Whiteman to hang the stockings on the 509th airmen’s barrack doors. “Some of them won't be able to go home for the holidays,” Key Club member Noe Umana-Ramos said. “This is just a way to give thanks to them and give them some special gifts.” Each stocking had gifts picked out by Key Club members as well...

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When the Pettis County Relay for Life returns in 2022, it will be back to its regular season culminating in the big event in June.  Relay for Life hosted its 2021 event in October after the American Cancer Society announced in-person events couldn’t be hosted until after July. Compared to 2019 when Pettis County Relay made close to ,000, the event raised ,000 in 2021 due to COVID-19.  “Now that we can do in-person events, we’d like to get back to the June event. Fall is really hard with sports and school activities going on…” Relay for Life Pettis County...

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Clinton woman hurt in Henry accident Mary M. Garber, 64, of Clinton, received minor injuries at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Garber was traveling south on County Road Northwest 221 in a 1996 Ford when she attempted to turn left onto state Route 7 and turned into the path of a 2021 GMC driven by Judy K. Gann, 73, of Clinton, causing Gann’s vehicle to strike Garber's vehicle. A 2016 Ford driven by Richard L. Tanner, 59, of Assaria, Kansas, then struck Garber's vehicle. All three drivers were wearing...

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Taylor Burks came to Sedalia on Friday to speak to the Pettis County Pachyderm Club about his run for Congress. The decorated U.S. Navy Commander and first-time Republican Boone County Clerk sought to persuade the Sedalia audience with his rural Missouri bona fides. “I've taken a term limit pledge, I've said 10 years is my max,” Burks said. “If you can't do the job that people want you to do in 10 years you should probably let someone else try. My wife and boys are staying in the district so I'm gonna be one of those congressmen that commute back...

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On Wednesday, Dec. 15, Smith-Cotton JROTC participated in its JROTC Program for Accreditation (JPA) inspection, which occurs every three years. The JPA inspection consists of multiple phases that are judged by a series of inspectors.  The first event from the JPA inspection is the in-ranks inspection of the cadets. All cadets are required to answer a series of questions asked by inspectors from the University of Central Missouri ROTC, Missouri Army National Guard and active-duty recruiters for the area. Each cadet is expected to stand at attention and answer questions about the curriculum. Cadets’ uniforms are critiqued and judged, as...

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The Missouri Press Foundation, in partnership with the Missouri School of Journalism and Reynolds Journalism Institute, announced the all-new Rural Missouri Newspaper Scholarship. A deadline of Jan. 31 has been set for the first applications to be submitted for consideration for the first year of funding, awarded for the 2022-23 academic year. A need-based award, the Rural Missouri Newspaper Scholarship will provide up to ,000 for qualifying students attending the Missouri School of Journalism for four years. Students chosen for the program must be pursuing a degree in journalism or strategic communication, and upon graduation students receiving the scholarship will...

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With a plan to involve a younger generation and to repair communication barriers, Alona Boggess-Reid, the newly elected president of the Sedalia Chapter of the National Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will begin her two-year term in January. Boggess-Reid assumes the position from current President Rhonda Chalfant, Ph.D., who will remain as first vice-president. Information supplied by Boggess-Reid noted she is a 1970 graduate of Smith-Cotton Junior/Senior High School. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Oakwood College (now University) in Huntsville, Alabama, and a Master of Arts degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University in...

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The State Fair Community College Board of Trustees met in the Thompson Conference Center on Tuesday to approve multiple purchases and the addition of a new behavioral health degree program.  The board approved the addition of an Associate of Applied Science degree in Behavioral Health Support introduced by Vice President of Educational and Student Support Services Brent Bates.  “There is a critical need in the state for behavioral health technicians,” Bates said. “We were approached not only by the Department of Mental Health in the state but also local Compass and Burrell Health to help solve their workforce needs in...

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Otterville senior Josie Neal scored 20 points alongside teammate Katie McKinney at last week's W-K Holiday Shoot-Out, but her game to remember came just a few days before in a win over Climax Springs. She scored 17 in that victory, including the 1,000th point of her career. “We tried to run a play at the beginning of the game because I only needed three points, but I airballed it,” said Neal, who instead passed the milestone with a pair of layups. Scoring has proven to be a family affair with Josie following in her brother Jake’s footsteps. He’s also in...

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Three from Warsaw hurt in Benton accident Bobby J. Foster, 32, Amanda G. Foster, 29, and an infant boy, all of Warsaw, were hurt at 1:30 a.m. Monday in a Benton County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Bobby Foster was driving a 2011 Kia Sorento north on Route MM north of McLaughlin Road when he crossed the center of the roadway, traveled off the roadway, struck a fence and overturned. Everyone was wearing a restraining device. Amanda Foster and the infant suffered minor injuries and were transported by private vehicle to Bothwell Regional Health Center. Bobby...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Incidents Dec. 16 4:16 p.m.: An officer responded to Hubbard Park, 601 N. Missouri Ave., for a report of two stolen pitbulls. The victim stated she arrived home at 3:30 p.m. to find her two pitbulls, valued at ,000 each, missing. She stated she called Animal Control and was informed by them that they had received a phone call about the dogs around 3...

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The WCVB 2022 grant program application deadline is Jan. 28, 2022.  Applications and grant information can be found at VisitWarrensburg.com under the About Section. The Warrensburg Convention and Visitors Bureau’s grant program was established to provide startup funding to nonprofits hosting events, programs and sporting events that promote the development and growth of overnight tourism in Warrensburg.  The WCVB has awarded more than ,000 to area nonprofits in grant funding. For more information regarding the WCVB grant program, visit VisitWarrensburg.com or contact Marcy Barnhart at marcy.barnhart@warrensburg-mo.com, 660-262-4611 or visit the Warrensburg Visitor Center at 407A E. Russell Ave., Suite 2,...

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OATS Transit is open for regular transportation service. OATS Transit follows Federal Transit Administration requirements, which means face masks must be worn on public transit due to COVID-19 through March 18, 2022.  Call the OATS Transit office at 660-827-2611 or 800-276-6287 to schedule a ride or find out about service in your area. People can also visit www.oatstransit.org and click on their county under the tab “Bus Schedules” to view local schedules.  OATS Transit is available to the rural general public of any age, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. We also contract with a number of agencies to serve their...

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Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers are offering a reminder that every driver can help make roadways safer this holiday season. Last year over the Christmas holiday, there were 746 traffic crashes during the counting period. In those crashes, 10 people were killed and another 310 were injured. This year’s traffic crash counting period begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26. Drivers and occupants are reminded to wear a seat belt, pay attention while driving, and not drink and drive. Travelers are reminded that holiday drivers will affect traffic patterns and that they...

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On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office confirmed the death of 37-year-old Tommy D. “Guy” Collins, a former Marine and Sedalia resident missing since Thanksgiving week. By press release, Morgan County Sheriff Norman Dills confirmed Collins’ body was located on private property near Highway M and Pond Road. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office received a report Friday, Dec. 17 of a possible deceased person on the property.  Collins had reportedly last been seen in Warsaw in late November, according to Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders. On Saturday, Dec. 18, with the assistance of the Kansas City, Missouri Police...

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Dear Editor: On April 6, 2021, while voting, I learned of the proposed 95-acre landfill on Buckley Rd. between La Monte and Dresden.  I researched the Pettis County Development Company by visiting their website. I also observed an identical website for Presidio Environmental. I went to the Missouri Secretary of State’s website to see what I could find out about who set up these companies and what their standing was.  About a week or so later I read two articles in the Sedalia Democrat. One was about Tom Dunne and Derrick Standley and the proposed “Waste Park.” The other was...

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Merry Christmas! This time of year always causes me to pause and reflect on what that statement really means to me. Dec. 25 may not be the exact date that Jesus was born. This has been debated by theologians for centuries. However, it is the day that we have chosen to celebrate the birth of our King. There are so many people who believe that this day is simply a time to gather with family and exchange gifts to show our love for one another. That is a custom that has evolved over the years and it is one that...

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The next to the youngest of Col. and Mary Brown Jaynes’ children was Flora May, generally referred to as May. Like her sisters, she was well educated and artistically talented. However, while a great deal is known about her sisters, less is known about her.  Her obituary, which only covered approximately six column inches in the Sedalia Democrat and used a third of those column inches to describe her father and his home, simply described her as a “prominent clubwoman with a well developed sense of civic pride.”  May Jaynes’ life was far more complex than the publicity about her...

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Taylor Burkes came to Sedalia on Friday to speak to the Pettis County Pachyderm Club about his run for Congress. The decorated U.S. Navy Commander and first-time Republican Boone County Clerk sought to persuade the Sedalia audience with his rural Missouri bona fides. “I've taken a term limit pledge, I've said 10 years is my max,” Burkes said. “If you can't do the job that people want you to do in 10 years you should probably let someone else try. My wife and boys are staying in the district so I'm gonna be one of those congressmen that commute back...

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Everyone got in on the action Saturday afternoon for Smithton boys basketball head coach Richie Pond's 200th victory at the school, including his son Ryan, a 5-foot-11 freshman forward. "It's pretty cool, because obviously it's his 200th win, and we played a team I could actually go in against and play a little," Ryan said following the 53-22 win over Norborne at the W-K Holiday Shoot-Out. The Tigers would have held Norborne scoreless in the first quarter if not for a long 3-pointer at the buzzer by Keyton Laire that ended it 20-3. Not long before that, Pond began to...

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The Warsaw R-IX School District is welcoming home a new superintendent in July 2022 to fill a void that has been in the district since this summer.  On Dec. 10, Warsaw announced it has hired past Atheltic Director, Assistant Principal, and high school math teacher Scott Gemes as its new superintendent.  Gemes said that he knew that were some changes made over the summer and a position would be opening up. The position opened at the end of October.  “I found out through some connections to Warsaw and through different websites that we have and organizations,” Gemes added.  Once Gemes’s...

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Tornado victims in Kentucky received a trailer full of donated supplies collected by the Sedalia Moose Lodge 1494 Saturday. “The Missouri and Kansas Moose Association decided early in the week that they wanted to do something to help out Kentucky,” Kevin Long, the Administrator at the Sedalia Moose Lodge said. “They sent out an email to everybody to all the lodge administrators all over Missouri and Kansas trying to do this and so we took it and ran with it. Starting on Wednesday morning and by the time we were done I think we collected around ,000 worth of products...

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The Sedalia City Council met Monday evening to discuss a number of issues and heard a presentation from Public Works Director Brenda Ardrey to be used for 2022’s Strategic Planning Session on Jan. 8. Ardrey gave an overview of the Public Works Department to enlighten the council members as they prepare for budget work sessions from February through March, culminating in an adopted budget at the last meeting in March. “The good news for this year and 2022,” Ardrey said, “we did complete the 2018 water system improvement, all the piping’s done, all the valves are in place, all the...

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For the second time in recent memory, Smith-Cotton girls basketball had a field day with Central Kansas City. The Lady Tigers dominated from the get-go to pick up a 84-39 victory in the penultimate game of Saturday’s slate of action at the W-K Holiday Shoot-Out in Sedalia.  The last time S-C scored that many points came two seasons ago in a 99-14 blowout of the Lady Blue Eagles at the Rolla/US Bank Holiday Tournament. Outscoring Central 24-7 in the first quarter, the Lady Tigers continued to pour it on with a 9-0 run to start the second quarter that prompted...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 17 9:57 a.m.: Kiara Renee Willis, 20, of the 1800 block of South Lafayette Avenue, was arrested after officers observed a vehicle speeding on 32nd Street in a school zone. A check on the driver showed she had a suspended driver’s license. Willis was placed under arrest, transported to the Sedalia Police Department headquarters, and released with a municipal citation for driving...

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Callis & Associates recently promoted Kyle Meek to Digital Services Director. In his new role, Meek has assumed additional supervisory responsibilities and become a member of the leadership team. As Digital Services Director, Meek plans, develops and maintains modern and responsive websites and leads the digital team in digital advertising strategy, SEO strategy and implementation, marketing automation and data analysis. He oversees all work pertaining to website and digital marketing, including strategy and design.  Callis President Cliff Callis said Meek is a valuable member of the ad agency’s team and deserving of new responsibilities. “Kyle has grown up in our...

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The State Fair Community College Foundation recently received ,000 from Central Trust Company and Central Trust Bank of Sedalia for its Stronger Workforce, Greater Community capital campaign to help build the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. The new building on the Sedalia campus will expand the college’s capacity to meet the growing demand for technical workforce training and strengthen the communities it serves.  The Central Trust Bank has operated in Pettis County since 1883 and has a history of contributing to organizations and projects that improve the quality of life in the community it serves.  “The foundation and college are...

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MORGAN COUNTY — A Sedalia man missing since late November was found deceased last week. Monday afternoon, Morgan County Coroner Bill Jones confirmed the body of Jimmy D. “Guy” Collins was found Friday. Jones did not release further details and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office did not return calls from the Democrat by press time. As reported by the Democrat last Thursday, the 6’1, 180-pound Marine was the subject of a Missouri Missing poster seeking information of his whereabouts. He was last seen Thanksgiving week in Morgan County.

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Stover man in serious condition after Benton County accident Dustin A. Rambo, 25, of Stover, sustained serious injuries at 10:10 p.m. Sunday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Rambo was driving east on state Route 52 west of Brockman in a 2007 Pontiac when he began to slide, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, became airborne, overturned, struck a tree, and was ejected. Rambo was wearing a seat belt and was transported to University Hospital in Columbia by Life Flight Eagle. Sedalia woman in serious condition after Johnson...

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Dec. 13 Nicholas Ramey, Kelsey Ramey, Phillip Ramey and Julie Ramey to Bohdan and Lidiya Tsipan, section 2; township 45; range 21.  James Jordan Tatum and Kristi L. Hadder-Tatum to Michael E. and Kimberly G. Lefevers, Katy, block and 5.  Christine A. Kellar to Petru Samian, Felix, lot 12, block 2.  Robert L. Schilb to Amanda M. Cooper Trustee, Ashley M. Hill Trustee and Robert L. Schilb Trust, Westview, lots 11, 12, 12, block 32.  Britney and Stephen M. Brandkamp to Mireya Barrera, Map 8, lot 60, block P. Janice H. Daleen, Karen Daleen Rexroad and George Rexroad to QDMG...

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Pettis County added 189 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 8,260, according to the Pettis County Health Center. “The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 11.1% for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 14.5% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The locally calculated positivity rate for the week of Dec. 8-14 was 12.6%. The case count per 100,000 for this time period is 347/100,000. This week there were...

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SpoFest founder James Bryant has published his first chapbook featuring dark haiku. The book, “In the Dead of Night Vol. 1” was released on Amazon Kindle eBooks on Dec. 17. Haiku is a Japanese-style poem of 17 syllables in lines of five, seven and five that usually describes nature. Bryant said by phone on Monday he has conformed to the 17 syllables and five-seven-five format but has taken his work a step further creating a darker look at haiku. He added this is his first chapbook and noted it is “exhilarating” to finally have it published.  Bryant said the “entire...

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It doesn’t matter all that much if a given opening day really is extremely significant–the November portion of the firearms deer season–or merely heralds the most likely day to be unsuccessful–spoonbill snagging season–hunters and fishermen are hardwired to move mountains in order to participate.  That said, there are outliers.  The alternative weapons portion of the deer season is one of them. This portion’s now-more-than-a-generation-old genesis was a muzzleloader-only season that required hunters to purchase a muzzleloader-only permit and to use it and only it during all of the various firearms seasons.  The introduction of inline ignition systems had sparked a...

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In the absence of a deep run in the Class 1 football postseason, Lincoln boys basketball head coach Tyler Burke had the entire roster at his disposal earlier than in recent years. “Honestly, this was kind of the year where we have a lot of experience coming back and thought we would hit the ground running,” Burke said. “It just hasn’t worked out that way with injuries and illness.” Aside from averaging 67 points in two victories over winless Warsaw, the Cardinals entered the W-K Shoot-Out scoring 35.5 points per game in their other four contests, all defeats. The scoring...

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PILOT GROVE — No deficit was too large for Sacred Heart to overcome against Leeton in the Pilot Grove Tiger Classic championship game. The Gremlins overcame a 13-point halftime difference Saturday, winning 65-59. “We started playing defense,” Sacred Heart head coach Steve Goodwin said. “We started talking and communicating a little bit. When you’re going against Rick (Mills), who is one of the best ever, if you don’t do everything right, you’re going to get embarrassed.” Sacred Heart (9-0) outscored Leeton 34-25 in the second half including a 27-9 run in the third quarter. The Gremlins hit 13 shots from...

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Smith-Cotton came painfully close to picking up its first win of the season Thursday night, but fell in overtime to visiting Versailles, 92-89. Needing to foul down one in the final moments, S-C sent to the line Adam Radcliff, who made both his free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining. Smith-Cotton got the ball inbounds, but traveling was called on sophomore Dominick Glover, and Versailles dribbled out time afterward to seal the win. ​​"It stings," S-C head coach Mike Franklin said. "All season, I've been telling the boys to keep their heads up and keep fighting through adversity. We were finally...

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Windsor was unable to dispatch Chilhowee Friday evening the way the rest of its conference brethren have so far this year. The Lady Greyhounds kept pace in the first half but fell further behind in the second half in a 49-36 defeat at the W-K Holiday Shoot-Out at State Fair Community College. Chilhowee had just two points in the first 6:30 of the game until an old-fashioned 3-pointer by freshman post Lexi Miller and a conventional one by Kenzi Myers gave the Lady Indians an 8-7 lead to finish the opening quarter. The Lady Indians held onto a 19-15 lead...

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Mules golf coach Tim Poe is set to become a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Poe, who is in his 31st season at the helm, will be enshrined alongside 21 other members of the Class of 2022 on Sunday, Feb. 6, at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. Poe’s Mules have made 27 straight NCAA postseason appearances,including six top-five finishes and a runner-up finish in 2010. Poe has also led the Mules to 15 MIAA Championships and seven regional titles. At Central Missouri, Poe has produced 96 All-MIAA golfers, 34 All-Region selections, 25 All-Americans, eight MIAA players of the...

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Smith-Cotton wrestling stayed undefeated in Central Missouri Activities Conference compeition following Tuesday’s home tri-meet with Fulton and Rock Bridge. Fulton didn’t bring a girls team to dual, but its boys team got the better of the Tigers to open the action, winning 54-24. “They’re a top-10 ranked team in their class, so we knew going in that would be a tough battle,” S-C head coach Joe Hulsey said. Heavyweight Kwan Watkins and 182-pounder Keaton Belsha each got victories against the Hornets, and both were also triumphant for Smith-Cotton in the 36-23 win over Rock Bridge to close out the evening....

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On the heels of its best season, State Fair Community college women’s soccer owes some of its success to talented players just down the road. The Lady Roadrunners are plucking another player out of the backyard in Smith-Cotton senior Adamaris Ramirez, whose commitment was commemorated on Dec. 7 at the high school. "It's a really big deal," Ramirez said. "I'm one of the first females in my family to go to college at all. I've been working for this for years." As a girl with a soccer ball at her feet since she was a 3-year-old, it makes sense Ramirez...

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Regulars driving through the Denny’s parking lot today were greeted by employees Barbara Debates, Chrissy Cook and Rebecca Pardee who were informed Wednesday the restaurant was closing. “This was my first job,” Debates said. “I have been here 12 years and just finally stepped up and took over as GM at the beginning of the year when we lost our manager to an unexpected death. There's so many feelings, we're not just coworkers, it's a family.” Denny’s regional manager came to the Broadway Boulevard location and taped a notice to the door alerting customers of the permanent closure of the...

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For a decade and a half, the Community Cafe has provided meals for those in need. What was started by a high school student continues through student leadership and community support.  Kristen Allcorn, now known as Dr. Kristen Allcorn Killen M.D. of Springfield, opened Sedalia’s Community Café 15 years ago. Currently, Smith-Cotton High School teacher Jay Lutjen oversees the student-run project. Lutgen, who has supervised the Café for four years, noted on Thursday that SCHS student Anna Johnston is the coordinator for the project. Lutgen added besides students, a wide variety of groups are now involved with volunteering at the...

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The winners for the 2021 Christmas Light Contest were announced Wednesday morning and new Sedalians Angela and C.J. Spatz took first place after making an elaborate holiday display that pays homage to them and their life.  Angela, originally from Chicago, and C.J, originally from Alabama, have decided to permanently make Sedalia their home after spending the last 10 years at four different duty stations due to C.J. being an air traffic controller for the Air Force.  “My husband and I were just so thrilled, it’s great to be recognized but really it is just amazing that we are able to...

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During daily meetings Dec. 13 to Dec. 17, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Dec. 13: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum attended the MFA State Delegate Meeting. There was an informal meeting with Pettis County First Representatives Bill Taylor, Dennis Hudson, Marilyn Bogard, and Britni Schorran.  Dec. 14: The Commission held general discussions regarding the 2022 fiscal year budget and holiday schedule.  The Commission designated the Treasurer and Auditor to prepare the 2021 Financial Statement. Dec. 15: The Commission met with Pettis County First Representatives Randy Hudson, Mark Edwards, David Curry, Britni Schorran, Dennis Hudson, and Wes Lazenby to present...

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Dear Editor: Pettis County: We have one chance to regulate another proposed landfill in Pettis County. It lies with the County Commission.  Pettis County First has been working with the commissioners nonstop since May. We hired an environmental lawyer with 33 years experience in environmental law to help draft a waste management ordinance to control and regulate any future landfills. We proved to the Commissioners that the commissioners have the authority to adopt such an ordinance under Missouri Law: 260.215. This can be done.  It has been said the landfill will start out with just 10 acres. But they have...

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It’s called scarelore. It used to come via chain email or a report on the TV news. Now we see it mostly on Facebook. Usually it’s a screenshot, sometimes a “like and share” post with emojis. Sometimes it’s shared by a popular figure — an influencer, a podcaster, or politician.  “Sex traffickers are watching you. They’re marking your car with a secret code that shows how many children are inside. It happened to my friend.”  “Kidnappers put empty car seats in the middle of the Walmart parking lot to get concerned women to approach. Then they snatch you! Be safe...

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You can guess that I generally follow rules. I always knew that Mother would kill me if she discovered I had broken any of the rules, and old habits die hard. But I became a rule breaker a few years ago.Turns out I picked a good one to break. At our annual conference in 2013, municipal judges were shocked to hear we were to start charging an additional cost on each conviction, money that would go to the Sheriffs’ Retirement Fund. This was new. The cost was not, however. It had been established by statute in the 1980s but...

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Recently, reporters and I have heard from more than a few people who were upset due to a lack of coverage in a particular area. A grandparent emailed to ask why her grandchild’s high school athletic team wasn’t getting more coverage. An irritated community member called to ask why a holiday-related event didn’t make it in the paper.  Unfortunately, there are some pretty simple answers to those questions: we didn’t know about it. When it comes to sports, we have one sports editor for the Sedalia Democrat and one for the Warrensburg Star-Journal. Joe and Bryan are some great employees,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 16 9:34 a.m.: Stephon L. Fisher, 26, from Kansas City, Missouri, was issued a summons after a traffic stop in the area of East Broadway Boulevard and Montgomery Avenue for speeding.  Fisher had a suspended driver's license out of Tennessee and was issued a uniform traffic ticket and released at the scene. 10:54 a.m.: Andrew T. Jones, 43, of the 1700 block...

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Slater woman hurt Saline accident Maria D. Fuentes, 45, of Slater, sustained minor injuries at 6 a.m. Thursday in a Saline County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Fuentes was driving west on Missouri Route 240 at 247 Road In a 2009 Toyota Corolla when she swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway and struck a ditch. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on the driver's side. Fuentes was wearing a seat belt, and was transported by Slater EMS to Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which...

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Upcoming local blood drives Nearly two years into the pandemic, everyone has earned a holiday break with their family and friends. But as the nation gathers again for celebrations this season, the American Red Cross, which provides 40% of the country’s blood, is facing historically low blood supply levels.  Busy holiday schedules, breaks from school and winter weather all contribute to a drop in blood and platelet donations this time of year. Those factors, combined with the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, make it vital for donors to make an appointment to give as soon as possible. If more donors don’t...

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Finally, some love for state employees by the boss. And just in time for Christmas. Not that Gov. Mike Parson hasn’t shown appreciation for state employees previously. He has. Among other things, he’s taken many opportunities to boast of their accomplishments and he’s given them days off work. He’s also pushed for increased pay for them. But this time it’s different. His support for state employees is on a new level. And it’s overdue. The governor on Monday proposed setting a -per-hour minimum wage among state employees and giving them an across-the-board 5.5 percent cost of living raise. He plans...

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Schroeder Marjorie Schroeder will observe her 85th birthday Dec. 19. She was born Dec. 19, 1936.  Marjorie was a housewife and enjoys playing bridge.  She has two children, Lisa Rehm, of Warsaw, and Carol Norman, of Rogersville. Birthday cards may be sent to Marjorie at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.    Jageles  Ethelene Jageles will observe her 73rd birthday Dec. 21. She was born Dec. 21, 1948.  Ethelene was the administrative assistant at State Fair Community College for 31 years. She was a skilled seamstress and loved crafts, quilting and line dancing. ...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY Each day: AA meets at 417 E. Pettis St.  Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 417 W. Pettis St., sedalia12x12aa@gmail.com. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 10:15 a.m. to noon: Warsaw, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor. Friday Christmas Eve

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Gabriel Fernandez-Serrano, 22, and Edemi Quetzecula-Pascual Lourdes, 23, both of La Monte; Eduardo Guzman Nunez, 34, and Miriam Elizabeth Ponce, 39, both of Sedalia; Michael Robert Walstead, 49, and Kathleen Mae Simons, 25, both of Sedalia; John William Sloboda Jr., 36, and Jasmine Rose Huff, 27, both of Sedalia; Dalton Levi Berg, 20, and Alexius Nicole Hedrick, 21, both of Houstonia. 

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Ringen Brushy 4-H   The Ringen Brushy 4-H Club met Dec. 8 at the Warehouse Event center. There were 34 members present. The club thanks everyone who attended. Members welcomed one new member.  The secretary’s minutes were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was read and approved. For the January community service, members are donating hats and gloves to area schools. It was motioned by RJ Asbury and second by Brody Brown. A vote was taken and approved to donate hats and gloves to local schools. In November members donated 177 pounds of nonperishable food to Open Door Food Pantry. Club...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by several volunteers from different churches.  Monday: Chicken breast filet, potatoes and gravy, peas, pudding, milk and roll. Tuesday: Chili, peanut butter sandwich, crackers, cinnamon apples and milk.  Wednesday: Salisbury steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, peaches, roll and milk.  Thursday: Baked ham, Au gratin potatoes, green beans, cake, roll and...

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Sedalia Public Library Fiction “The Winter Guest,” by Pam Jenoff. “W.E.B. Griffin: Rogue Asset,” by Andrews and Wilson. “Isolate,” by L.E. Modesitt Jr. “Miss Moriarity, I Presume?” by Sherry Thomas. “The Brides of Maracoor,” by Gregory Maguire. “Daughters of the Resistance,” by Lana Kortchik. “Medusa’s Ankles: Selected Stories,” by A.S. Byatt. Nonfiction  “Led Zeppelin: The Biography,” by Bob Spitz. “Ramsay in 10: Delicious Recipes Made in a Flash,” by Gordon Ramsay. “Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs,” by Ann R. Williams. 

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Dear Editor: The Hayden Liberty Center recently offered good family-fun entertainment hosting The Scott Green Magic Show. Mr. Green performed twice, one evening show and an afternoon matinee for the very young crowd. Both audiences were astounded and amazed, delighted and surprised!  The evening show was well-received by the oohing and aahing heard. A pianist added flair to the shows. A stage manager helped with props and gift card giveaways. The afternoon matinee, comprised of a tough crowd, did not let Mr. Green get away with anything,  it seemed.  Despite these kids' close scrutiny, the magician ended up with a...

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Smith-Cotton High School Choirs hosted its first in-person holiday concert since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday night.  In 2020, all of the choirs had pre-recorded their holiday songs and released them at a later date for the families to see. For many concert-goers that meant not seeing many of the famed holiday traditions like the Hallelujah Chorus that is sung by both current and past members of the Smith-Cotton Choral Society.   Vocal Music Teacher Bryce Hesterman, from Smith-Cotton High School, said that the kids from the two advance schools would be performing Thursday night.  “So it’s the kids...

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Larry McCown is keeping the memory of his friend Ronnie Ditzfeld alive. McCown hosted a memorial fundraiser last summer in memory of Sedalia’s well-known philanthropist, who died last December due to COVID, and he spoke fondly of him on Thursday with the Democrat. McCown, the owner of MC Promotions and Paint K-O, is known for hosting auto races in the area for the last five decades. McCown said the Ron Ditzfeld Memorial Devil Classic that was hosted on July 29 will become an annual event. This year’s event raised ,000 with money going to the Smith-Cotton High School JROTC and...

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Councilman Andrew Dawson has filed his candidacy for the 2022 Sedalia mayoral election. Dawson is a Smith-Cotton High School graduate, who is a part of his family’s small business, Custom Auto, and has been for the past 20 years. Dawson said his campaign will focus on his love and commitment to Sedalia by championing the public's interest. “I've pretty much dedicated myself to a life of service,” Dawson said. “And that was just the natural progression of it. I was a community volunteer, that evolved into an advocate for the neighborhood, and that evolved into counselman and so this is...

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A Facebook post by Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders late Wednesday evening may leave Sedalia residents with more questions than answers. Anders’ Facebook post read, “Information on the event on Mimosa: A resident discovered a believed to be live grenade that was in a relative's home. Deputies responded and contacted Whiteman Air Force Base who sent out a group of extremely professional, very knowledgeable specialists. The grenade was moved to a safe place near Walnut Hills Golf Course after a decision was made not to drive it through town to another location to detonate it.  C4 was buried with the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 15 8:33 p.m.: Radu B. Clobanu, 30, of the 800 block of East 16th Street, was arrested after a vehicle stopped for speeding near South Limit Avenue and Engineer Drive. He was transported to the Pettis County Jail and charged with driving with a suspended license.  Incidents Dec. 15 10:34 a.m.: An officer was dispatched to the 1400 block of South Prospect...

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Springfield man injured in Henry accident Hunter A. Pyle, 21, from Springfield, sustained moderate injuries at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Kyle was driving south on Missouri Highway 13 north of state Route Z in a 2017 Hyundai Elantra when he traveled off the left side of the road and struck the end of the guardrail overturning multiple times. He was wearing a seat belt, and was transported by Golden Valley EMS to Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar.  Windsor woman hurt in Johnson accident  Karen I. Stewart, 68, of...

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The Sacred Heart yearbook staff for the 2020-21 school year received national recognition as a recipient of the Jostens National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award at the silver level. To be considered for the award, the yearbook staff has to meet specific criteria in the areas of creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, successfully managing the creation process, and completing the yearbook on deadline. Over 17,000 schools nationwide partner with Jostens to publish a yearbook. Sacred Heart’s student yearbook staff, under the direction of faculty member Nikki Howell, was among the 2% of schools nationwide to receive the award....

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Mt. Pleasant to host Christmas program Mt. Pleasant Church will present its Christmas Program at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19. There will be specials as well as a Christmas Pageant. Refreshments will follow in the fellowship hall. Santa is planning a stop to visit with the children. Everyone is welcome. The church is located between Lincoln and Warsaw off U.S. Highway 65 on McDaniel Road to Mt. Pleasant Church Avenue.

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One song we sing every year during this special season is "Joy to the World." The inspiration for this hymn came to Isaac Watts from Psalm 98, which states, “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!  For He has done marvelous things.” Verse 4 says, “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.” The lyrics start with, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” but for the Seventh Day Adventists who were looking for additional inspiration altered this carol when they chose to focus on the Second Coming. They changed...

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The following students were named to the St. Paul Lutheran School honor roll for the first trimester of the 2021-22 school year: A Honor Roll Third and fourth grade: Mazzy Dobrowski, Finley Fisher, Eli Moss, Hadley Randall. Fifth and sixth grade: Vesper Dobrowski, Ruby Schulze, Makenna Gerlt, Emma Shull, Logan Griggs. Seventh and eighth grade: Addison Snyder and Cora-Mae Cook. A/B Honor Roll Fifth and sixth grade: Stella Davis, Yarasdi Duenas, Ethan Snyder, Hailyn Sutton, Natalia  Tutevich. Seventh and eighth grade: Olga Tutevich, Gabriela Petree, Zachary Weber, Sarah Jo Davis. B Honor Roll Third and fourth grade: Stanley Davis, Kasen...

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Symphony hosts visit by Dr. Kelts The Sedalia Symphony Society funded a visit by Dr. Christopher Kelts, director of Orchestra Studies and associate professor of Music at Missouri State University in Springfield, to the Smith-Cotton Junior High School and Smith-Cotton High School beginning orchestra classes on Dec. 1  and 2. This included 85 junior high students as well as 35 high school students. Kelts visited each class both days during their regular orchestra class time in preparation for their concerts hosted on Dec. 8 and Dec. 14.  A video will premiere on YouTube with the link being sent to students...

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The Smith-Cotton High School Math Team placed first in the large school division at the Warrensburg Math Relays on Dec. 11.  Individual awards for S-C participants Algebra Simplify 9: Bryson Middleton, first place; Emerson Kuhlman, second place; Zachariah Bogart, third place; Jeffthan Glaster, fifth place. Graphing 10: Lydia Tester, first place; Chloe Eckhoff, second place; Jacelyn Lancaster, third place. Graphing 11: Caleb Ehlers, first place; Boston Middleton, third place. Calculators & Computers: Teagan Berger, second place; Chloee Crafton, third place; Jessica Tienda, fifth place. Functions: Hannah Lauer, first place; Michael Castiglia, second place; Alisa Sonnik, third place; Gabriel Sokolowski, fourth...

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The Sedalia License Office in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center will be closed Friday-Sunday, Dec. 24-26 to observe Christmas Day. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27. 

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 14 9:39 p.m.: Joshua Andrew Winkler, 29, of the 700 block of East 15th Street, was issued a summons after officers responded to a business in the 3200 block of West Broadway Boulevard for a report of a theft. Contact was made with the suspect and it was determined through investigation he had stolen approximately worth of items. Winkler was issued...

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USDA Rural Development has instituted a program that is beneficial to “very low-income” individuals and also seniors who need help with housing repair.  Known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, it helps homeowners who need to repair, improve or modernize their homes through a loan or with a grant to remove safety and health hazards.  Information provided by the USDA stated the program is available because it wants to help people stay in their own home and keep it in good repair. Owning a home and keeping it in good repair is beneficial to both families and their communities....

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The Sedalia Police Department announced Wednesday it had taken three juveniles into custody in reference to the homicide that occurred Dec. 10 at 1815 S. Kentucky Ave.  Detectives from the SPD Criminal Investigations Bureau and Crime Resolution Unit worked with the Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Pettis County Juvenile Office. According to a news release, many of the leads, legal processes, and interviews were worked outside of normal business hours and the SPD thanked both county offices for the dedication and assistance provided during the investigation.  Further investigation will continue over the next few weeks as detectives continue...

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All Bothwell clinics will be closed Dec. 25 for Christmas Day so staff can spend the holiday with their families. All clinics, except Bothwell Walk In Clinic, will also be closed Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve, Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve and Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. The Walk In Clinic will be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31 and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 1. The Walk In Clinic’s holiday hours are subject to change due to staffing issues related to COVID-19. Call the clinic at 660-827-7900 before visiting. COVID-19 testing...

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on the following dates: Friday, Dec. 24 in observance of Christmas. Normal operations will resume on Monday, Dec. 27. Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of New Year's Day. Normal operations will resume on Monday, Jan. 3.

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A mother and her two daughters have started their own online business called Wickz and Stones, selling crystals and candles.  Jamie Webner said she has collected crystals ever since she was a little girl and has always been drawn to them. Once her daughter, Keegan Webner, 22, said she wanted to start making candles, she decided to turn both into a business.  Over the last decade, Jamie started looking more into crystals and their metaphysical properties and learning more about them. Jamie thought about taking some courses for alternative healing and medicine; she is already a radiology technician.  “I started...

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A family is seeking help in locating a Sedalia man who has been missing since late November. Jimmy D. “Guy” Collins is an ex-Marine who was last contacted by his brother, Tommy Collins, through Facebook messenger Nov. 2. “There are quite a few people that have talked to him right there at Thanksgiving, the week of, and he wasn't the type of guy to go missing without giving a phone call or something,” Tommy said Wednesday. Tommy forwarded a missing person poster to the Democrat created by Missouri Missing, a support and information group out of Jefferson City. Tommy has...

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The City of Sedalia offices will be closed in observance of the holidays on Friday, Dec. 24,  Christmas Eve and Friday, Dec. 31, New Year's Eve. All trash pick-ups for the week of Dec. 20 and the week of Dec. 27 will occur one day early. The Materials Management Site will close at noon on Dec. 24 and will be closed on Dec. 25. The Materials Management Site will close at noon on Dec. 31, 2021 and will be closed on Jan. 1. City offices will reopen for normal business hours after the Christmas holiday on Monday, Dec. 27 and...

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State Fair Community College’s newly formed Speech and Debate team competed in its first-ever C. Preston Thomas Study Break and Gateway Swing Tournament at Webster University in St. Louis Dec. 4-5.  SFCC students who competed were sophomore Allyson Sampson, of Quincy, Illinois, and freshman Joshua Kofahl, of Jefferson City. SFCC Communications Instructor and Head Coach Kaila Todd accompanied the students.  The tournament followed the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) format that is a two-on-two limited preparation format of debate. Students are given a new topic each round and have 15 minutes to prepare their case for that round. As a...

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The 1882 History of Pettis County identifies five of the six children born to Col. Anderson and Mary Brown Jaynes of Sedalia. The five children are also identified in the 1880 census. The children are William Vinton, aged 20; John Brown, aged 18; Hattie Ellen, aged 16, Flora May, aged 14, and Jennie Susan, aged 10. Neither source lists Clara, a daughter born in 1876 who died in 1879 at age 3 and is buried in the family plot at Crown Hill Cemetery. The 1882 History describes the children as “fine and exceptionally well-reared” and skilled in music, painting, and...

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Tim Jones went to Organic Remedies in Sedalia Tuesday to pick up some THC edibles like many chronic pain sufferers in Missouri have since medical marijuana products became legal over a year ago. “I've been through several major surgeries and they had me on pain medication,” Jones said, “And it’s just not good to be on that for an extended length of time. I was looking for alternatives.” Jones is what Organic Remedies manager Sierra Miller would classify as one of the cannabis shop’s typical customers. “The average customer is a medical patient in their middle age to late age...

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Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders has waded into the COVID mask controversy that has the Sedalia School District 200 at loggerheads with state Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Pointing out that he’s the chief law enforcement officer in Pettis County, Anders told the Pachyderm Club on Friday: “I felt I needed to do something.” He just doesn’t know exactly what that something is. Schmitt issued a cease-and-desist order against school districts having mask mandates, including Sedalia District 200, after a Cole County Circuit Court ruled the mandates were unconstitutional. The Sedalia district maintains that it has the legal authority to require...

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Do you ever feel as if your life and the world are caving in on you? Do you feel as though you receive the short end of the stick a lot of the time and others seem to sail through life without a problem? Do you ever feel as though you’re alone with all of life’s struggles? I want you to know that you are not. Sometimes it is easy to begin feeling sorry for ourselves because bad things happen, one right after another. We scroll through social media and see all of the highlights of the lives of others...

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The Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors met Tuesday night at the PCAD Educational Center where the board unanimously approved the 2022 budget for ,875,920.96. The budget included the approval of a 2033 EEV Traumahawk X-Series LTD Type III Custom Ambulance costing 8,394. Capital expenses included in the budget are the ambulance purchase along with equipment 0,944; facility improvements 1,901.09; EMS equipment ,777.54; and the construction of the new satellite station 5,000; for a total of [post_excerpt],414,622.63. Under operations, EMS Chief Eric Dirck discussed call volume and noted in his report that they are reviewing EMS standby procedures for...

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The Sedalia Community Educators Association is looking for the Educator of the Year in the Sedalia School District 200. Educator of the Year is an educator who is nominated by staff, administrators, the community, parents or students who stands out, influences students, makes a difference and works well with other staff members.  “We used to just do it within the building, so the staff members within a building would choose their educator but we’ve taken that to another level now,” SCEA President and fifth-grade STEM teacher Shelley Lutjen said.  The Educator of the Year nomination forms are advertised through social...

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A new salon is open in downtown Sedalia that will not only offer full service but also provide educational opportunities for young hairstylists. The Chubby Hairstylist & Co. opened on Dec. 6. Salon owner Nichole Aldana said on Tuesday she opened the shop along with a longtime friend and fellow stylist, Blanka Briones. Both went to cosmetology school together nine years ago at the American College of Hair Design in Sedalia. “We became friends in cosmetology school,” she noted. “We might work apart for a minute and then we always just gravitate back to each other.” Both women are cosmetology...

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Three hurt in Morgan County collision Gloria T. Fields, 44, of Eldon, sustained serious injuries, Larry Fields, 39, of Eldon, sustained moderate injuries, and Richard J. Kennedy, 72, of Rocky Mount, sustained minor injuries at 3:09 p.m. Monday in a Morgan County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2001 Ford E250 driven north on Route Y just south of Wonderland Lane by Richard Kennedy turned into the path of a 2005 Expedition driven south by Larry Fields. Both drivers and the occupant were wearing seat belts. The Fields’ were transported to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage...

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ARROW ROCK — The Arrow Rock-based Missouri River Bird Observatory has announced the creation of an award to recognize the service of Missouri lawmakers who support legislation benefiting Missouri’s birds and their habitats. The first honoree of this award is state Rep. Timothy Taylor, R-Bunceton. Taylor sponsored HB369, the “Prescribed Burning Act,” which defines liability as it relates to the use of prescribed fire. Before this legislation, Missouri was one of only five states that did not have such a definition in state statute. This will allow landowners and contractors to purchase liability insurance for conducting prescribed burns and increase...

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State Fair Community College celebrated 53 Health Sciences students with a commencement, pinning ceremony and awards on Dec. 13 at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on the Sedalia campus.  Twenty-five students received their Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (RN) degrees and 26 received Professional Certificates in Practical Nursing (LPN). These graduates attended classes on the Eldon and Sedalia campuses. Two students received their Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology.  Amber Taylor, of Warrensburg, and Holland Ross, of Jefferson City, were recognized as recipients of SFCC’s Practical Nursing Excellence Awards. Jolynn Johnson, of Eldon, and Maya Farr,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 13 8:40 a.m.: Mattie L. Hood, 30, of the 1800 block of South Warren Avenue, was issued a summons after a vehicle stop near Clinton Road and Matthew Drive for failure to yield to oncoming traffic. The driver had a suspended driver's license and a probable cause search of the vehicle yielded marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia, which were seized for...

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Pettis County added 173 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 8,071, according to the Pettis County Health Center.  “The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 14.5% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 13% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Tuesday. “The locally calculated positivity rate for the week of Dec. 1-7 was 16.35%. The case count per 100,000 for this time period is 389/100,000. This week there were...

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Friday, members of the Sedalia Police Department Crime Resolution Unit, Tactical Entry Unit, and K9 Unit served search warrants related to ongoing drug investigations. The search warrants were initially served in the 1000 block of West Fourth Street and the 300 block of East Second Street.  Contact was made with five adult subjects who were all secured without incident. A third search warrant was later served in conjunction with the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force and Pettis County Sheriff’s Office at a storage unit located within Pettis County, which the investigation revealed was being used for criminal activity.   K9 Ace...

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Gardner Denver Sedalia employees were gifted last week with a sweet thank you. Bothwell Regional Health Center returned a subzero freezer borrowed from the plant filled with over 260 Dairy Queen Dilly Bars for its employees in appreciation for using the freezer for nearly a year. In December 2020, plant leaders loaned the freezer to Bothwell, and it was used to hold COVID-19 vaccines, which need to be stored at extreme temperatures. Bothwell recently received a new Stirling Ultracold freezer from Katy Trail Community Health, which meant Gardner Denver could have its freezer back. The freezer is used at the...

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Warsaw man injured in Benton accident George M. Hall, 65, of Warsaw, sustained moderate injuries at 2:05 p.m. Saturday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Hall was driving north on Coldspring Avenue in a 1994 Ford F-150 when he traveled off the right side of the road and overturned down an embankment, striking a fence. He was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center. Versailles man in serious condition after Morgan accident Lee R. Loman, 57, of Versailles, sustained serious injuries at 2:10 p.m. Sunday in a Morgan...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 10 12:23 p.m.: Trevin B. Umbles, 30, of the 2300 block of Hendricks Drive, was arrested after a traffic stop for expired registration near South Limit Avenue and West 14th Street. Umbles was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold pending state charges of driving with a suspended license.  8:14 p.m.: Darci L. Shipley, 61,...

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During daily meetings Dec. 6 to Dec. 10, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Dec. 6: The Commission tabled a vote regarding the Tract 19 Agreement Amendment to be re-examined for a vote on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Pettis County First representatives David Gerken and David Curry voiced concerns regarding landfills and issues with garbage trucks littering through town.  Dec. 7: The Commission went into a closed session for legal counsel as it pertains to a potential case.  The Commission met with Payroll and Benefits Specialist Marie Kringle to discuss sections of the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget.  Dec. 8: The...

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Every year, Sedalia Parks and Recreation has a jammed-packed calendar full of holiday events for families to enjoy before Christmas Day.  With less than two weeks before Christmas, Parks and Rec is slowing down its event line-up with a few activities left to do.  Parks ad Rec will be hosting Cookies with the Clauses from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at Convention Hall.  Children ages 5 through 12 are able to decorate and take home half a dozen cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the event. Special Events and Marketing Manager Savannah Lynde said kids will be...

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As the COVID pandemic continues, its effect is being felt not only by those who get the virus but by those who have other illnesses and injuries, some as simple as a broken foot or ankle. It was this weekend that AFC Urgent Care and Primary Care found it was short on crutches. A Google search by owner Jorge Guevara showed they were not alone in this dilemma. Because of COVID, the supply pipeline for aluminum was backlogged and ordering crutches was out of the question. Guevara along with AFC Clinic Administrator Jessica Southard decided they would come up with...

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GREEN RIDGE — ​​This Saturday, Whiskey Ridge Rescue in Green Ridge hosted its first-ever Deck the Stalls event. Rescued horses in all states of rehab gently waited as children and parents alike greeted them and showed them the love they perhaps had been missing before their arrival. “It's just a fun, family, community event, something to get the kiddos out here and help see what we’re all about,” Jami Taylor, owner of Whiskey Ridge Rescue, said. “This is our first Deck the Stalls, we've got a few other events, our Halloween event was our second time this year and then...

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Monday afternoon, the Sedalia Police Department announced an arrest in the fatal shooting on Friday morning on South Kentucky Avenue. Officers and detectives have been working to investigate more than 40 leads since the incident occurred. According to a news release, officers and detectives found the suspects involved during the homicide were under the age of 18, so they are considered juveniles. The Pettis County Juvenile Office has been assisting with the investigation. SPD detectives have also taken one juvenile into custody for the homicide. The name of the suspect has been withheld as required by law when dealing with...

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WARRENSBURG — It’s been one year since Refuge on Ming opened its doors to help the homeless population in Johnson County. Since then, 150 people have sought shelter inside, whether for one night or months.The nonprofit opened Nov. 10, 2020, after several years of work to obtain, renovate and staff the home at 207 Ming St., Warrensburg, which is now a 20-bed shelter. According to Nick McDaniels, a member of the Board of Directors, 25 individuals were helped into long-term or stable housing. Refuge on Ming has partnered with Missouri Valley Community Action Agency, which has an office set up at the...

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For the second weekend in a row, locals will have the opportunity to root on a fighter with nearby roots doing battle on ESPN. This time it’ll take place in the squared circle, as Jose Zaragoza, a Sedalia resident (billed out of Jalisco, Mexico), fights on the main card of Saturday’s event that features top-10 pound-for-pound boxer Vasily Lomachenko. It will be the first major boxing card held at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden in nearly two years. "Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, all the big names have fought here," Zaragoza said in a phone call Friday evening. "Now,...

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Six area musicians will take the stage in a five-hour live Christmas performance at the Craft Beer Cellar Saturday night.The event, Thickmas 2021 an Acoustic Christmas Show, organized by Sedalia musician Brandon Stuart, 29, will feature several music genres. Stuart said he has been performing solo for about 3 to 4 years and has been helping promote the work of others for around two years.He added he is seeing a “renaissance” for live music performances in Sedalia.“It’s kind of ironic with COVID and stuff,” he noted. “But this time, like five years ago, you couldn’t find a lot of places...

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Smith-Cotton girls basketball’s rally against Warrensburg came a mistake away from becoming complete. Down by two points with 2.9 seconds left, a travel was whistled against the Tigers in all white. The walk set the Tigers in all maroon up for a 59-55 win Tuesday at Smith-Cotton High School. “This team has been battling back all year, down by 10 in the fourth quarter we gave us a chance to at least win it,” Smith-Cotton head coach Kevin Carr said. “A part of that is learning to play in tight games like that. We’re still a fairly young team, but...

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Tipton girls basketball has hosted some memorable matchups with other top-10 sides over its recent run of dominance, but Thursday’s was as forgettable as it gets for the Lady Cardinals. Leeton, last year’s runner-up in Class 1, got revenge on Tipton from last season in the way of a 72-44 win. It marked Tipton's largest margin of defeat at home since a 59-23 loss on Dec. 5, 2016 to California, who that year finished second place in Class 3. "I thought we lacked anyone on the court who stepped up and said, 'I don't want this to happen,'" Lady Cardinals...

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​​After recovering from a nasty cold (Covid negative, just a darn, all-the-Puffs-in-the-house cold), a health scare with Emily (all is well), another different health scare for me that was related to concern for Emily (all is well), it is almost time to enjoy the season. The fall semester concludes next week, and as usual, God has seen to it to give me just the clients I need when I most need them. As I discovered when I was in my little room in Kabul, while Christmas Day is a nice day, I most enjoy the preparation for that day –...

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Welcome Club to host luncheon for former members Former members of the Sedalia Welcome Club are having a Christmas luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16. It will be hosted at the Sedalia Country Club. Members are asked to call Pat Rinehart at 660-620-2939 for reservations by noon on Dec. 14.   

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We’ve got new COVID drama in town. Happy freakin’ holidays.  Attorney General Eric Schmitt has issued a cease and desist order to Missouri public schools that continue to enforce a mask mandate for all students. This order comes on the heels of recent court circuit court case Robinson v. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in which Judge Daniel Green of Cole County ruled to defang much of the DHSS directive on COVID mitigation. Specifically, Judge Green wrote that DHSS has violated the Missouri Constitution and state statutes in the following ways:  The DHSS regulations violate separation of powers...

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Friday morning at around 3:30 a.m. the Sedalia Police were called to 1815 S. Kentucky Ave. in reference to a gunshot victim. Sedalia Police, Sedalia Fire, and the Pettis County Ambulance District responded to the residence and found Tylar Simon, 32, suffering from a gunshot wound. “We got called out this morning about a subject that was shot,” Cmdr. David Woolery said. “The subject was home in bed whenever some people came in and possibly a disturbance ensued and one of the homeowners was shot.” Neighbor Scott Botello said he usually never locks his doors in the day in the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 17 1:09 p.m.: Maleenia Bishop, 19, of the 2000 block of East 17th Street, was arrested after an officer was dispatched to Break Time, 2801 W. Broadway Blvd., regarding a theft report. Store personnel reported a former employee took merchandise and cash from the business in November. The suspect was interviewed at her residence in the 2000 block of East Seventh Street...

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Warrensburg woman in serious condition after Johnson accident Ashley M. Ferreira, 37, of Warrensburg, sustained serious injuries at 12:20 a.m. Thursday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ferreira was driving north on state Route  23 near Southeast 600 Road in a 2012 Chevrolet when she crossed the center of the roadway, traveled off the left side of the road and overturned. Ferreira, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle. She was taken to Research Medical Center in Kansas City by Johnson County ambulance District. La Monte man hurt...

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Jackson Diana Jackson will observe her 66th birthday Dec. 13. She was born Dec. 13, 1955.Diana was a factory worker and enjoyed going to lunch. She has two children, Brenda Butler, of Sedalia, and Crystal Chandler, of Texas. Birthday cards may be sent to Diana at the Sylvia G Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301.  LaneIrene Lans will observe her 78 th birthday Dec. 13.She was born Dec. 13, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas. Irene is married to Norman Lane, of Sedalia.She was a housewife and enjoyed walking and taking long drives. Irene has five children, Mark Lane, Rance Lane and Shannon...

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Fiction“The Actual Star,” by Monica Byrne.“Nice Girls,” by Catherine Dang.“The Royal Correspondent,” by Alexandra Joel.“The Slow March of Light,” by Heather B. Moore. “Snowflake,” by Louise Nealon. Nonfiction“The End of Trauma: How the New Science of Resilience is Changing How We Think About PTSD,” by George A. Bonanno.“Unbound: My Story of Liberation and Birth of the Me Too Movement,” by Tarana Burke. “Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty,” by Anderson Cooper. “Forever Young,” by Hayley Mills.“The Raging 2020: Companies, Countries, People and the Fight for Our Future,” by Alexander John Ross. “The Perfect Day to Boss Up: A Hustler’s Guide to Building...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court:Cristina Pena-Gonzalez and Rigoberto Gonzalez;Kevin W. Moore and Candice D. Moore;Chelsea E. Russell and Travis L. Russell   © 2021, Creative Circle Media Solutions | Support  

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On Monday, December 6, 2021, at the Sedalia School District 200 Board Meeting, the Sedalia School District Foundation presented, on behalf of the Brendan Eisenmenger Student Impact Fund, a total of ,300 in disbursements to school administrators to assist with holiday, food and basic needs of their individual building’s students.  The fund was established in memory of former Sedalia Middle School Principal Brendan Eisenmenger.  Through memorials donated in Eisenmenger’s name, the Brendan Eisenmenger Student Impact Fund is used to directly impact and enrich the individual and collective lives of Sedalia School District 200 students by identifying and funding specific needs and educational...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to:Brett Duane Fox, 47, and Crystal Leigh Williams, 44, both of Sedalia;Anthony Charles Collins, 30, and Allison Renee Morey, 25, both of Sedalia;Michael Ryan Stetzenbach, 30, and Jaylynne Elizabeth Labus, 30, both of Sedalia;Gabriel Thomas Croker, 39, of Greenwood, Indiana, and Capri Angelic Taylor, 39, of Sedalia; Ricardo Guzman Murillo, 50, and Maria Julia Velasquez Gonzalez, 48, both of Sedalia;Corey Hunter Paxton, 25, and Elezabeth Laylean Harmon, 22, both of Sedalia;Colten Miner Ditton, 31, and Candace Renee Keckler, 30, both of Sedalia. 

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations. To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481.SUNDAYAll day: AA Hotline number is 660-826-9608.Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 201 E. Sixth St., in First Baptist Church Annex, 660-829-2527.1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613.3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic. 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous Because We Care and...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039. Meals will be delivered by several volunteers from different churches. Monday: Meatball hoagie, cole slaw, banana and milk.Tuesday: Baked chicken, posh potato, green bean, roll, cookie and milk.Wednesday: Beef stew, cornbread, peaches, brownie and milk. Thursday: Chicken pot pie, beets, pudding, applesauce and milk.Friday: Country fried steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli, roll, cake and milk.

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Monday9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Fristoe, The Place Cafe.1:15 to 3:45 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor.Wednesday9 a.m.: Cole Camp Senior Center.9:30 a.m. to Noon: Cole Camp City Park.1:30 p.m.: Lincoln Community Care.1:45 p.m.: Lincoln City Hall.2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park.Friday9 a.m.: Lakeview Health Care.9:15 a.m.: YMCA Early Childhood Learning Center. 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Boonville Walmart.1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Blackwater Main Street. 4 p.m.: Stoney Ridge Village Residential Care. 

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Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCMThe Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCM met at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 7, at the Co-Mo Electric Coop Public Meeting Room.  Twenty-three were present, including guests Leslie Smith, of Grain Valley, Debbie Harper, of Clinton, and Yolanda Allison, of Tipton. The meeting room was decorated with a Christmas tree on the gift table and seasonal centerpieces on the dining and food tables. The luncheon was catered by Sharon Silvey, of California. Micki Williams furnished napkins, plates and utensils for the meal.  Barbara Harrison reminded the group that an optional Pre-Meeting Member lunch would be held at 11:30...

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A spirited comeback attempt Wednesday night fell short for the Lady Roadrunners, who lost 75-70 to Labette Community College at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center. The first half for State Fair Community College was a forgettable one. The Lady Cardinals (7-2) made 6-of-14 3-pointers, whereas State Fair made none of its eight attempts. Labette gathered 10 offensive rebounds on 17 misses to just five on 18 missed attempts for SFCC. It amounted to a 23-point lead late in the second quarter for the Lady Cards. “We didn’t guard anybody, there was no communication; we weren’t in a stance [to...

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Saturday’s result wasn’t what Sedalia native Darian Weeks had hoped for, but more opportunities await him in the octagon. Weeks, a welterweight, made his promotional debut at UFC Vegas 44 and lost a preliminary fight by unanimous decision on ESPN to Bryan Barberena. Judges Mike Bell, Junichiro Kamijo and Tony Weeks all scored the bout 29-28 in favor of the UFC veteran, who was originally scheduled to fight Matt Brown on the event’s main card, but Brown was forced to pull out (COVID-19 positive test) and Weeks got the call to step in on four days’ notice. Leg kicks from...

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HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL Sacred Heart 47, Northwest 35 The Gremlins improved to 6-0 on the year by knocking off Northwest in the Kingsville Tournament Championship Friday night. Tanner Damlo scored a game-high 15 points and Connor Rice contributed 11 points with eight rebounds for Sacred Heart, who had five scorers in double figures in the semifinal victory over La Monte. Pierson Tichenor led the Mustangs with 10 points. Smithton 88, Helias JV 82 (OT) The Tigers (5-0) kept their undefeated start to the season going by topping Helias JV to win the Tipton Boys Tournament Saturday night. Smithton's Tom...

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On Dec. 4, the Smith-Cotton JROTC Drill Team competed in its first drill meet of the season in Ozark.  The Drill Team won second place overall and placed in four separate individual event categories: Unarmed Regulation commanded by Cadet Luisa Cinta, Unarmed Colorguard commanded by Cadet Lee Hall, Armed Regulation commanded by Cadet Skylar Brines, and Armed Exhibition commanded by Cadet Thomas Gardner.  Cadet Kaitlin Norman from the Unarmed Team took first place in the Individual Drill Down (IDD) out of over 150 cadets when tested on their execution of individual drill commands and their composure under pressure.

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On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the Missouri Attorney General’s office sent a cease and desist letter to Sedalia School District 200 Superintendent Steve Triplett regarding the district’s mask requirement.  One day earlier, the Missouri Attorney General’s office sent a letter on Dec. 7 to school districts and local public health authorities informing them that local public health orders regarding the coronavirus are null and void because of a recent Cole County Circuit Court judgment. The letters stated the entities must rescind their orders. On Thursday, Chris Nuelle, press secretary for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, told the Democrat that the orders...

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A young Pettis County man received the honor of being awarded the Next Gen Award by Osborn Barr Paramore (OBP), an independent and women-owned full-service marketing communications agency located in St. Louis and Nashville, Tennessee. OBP said in a media release that the Next Gen Award category recognizes an individual from an up-and-coming generation who is 21 years of age or under. The Next Gen Award recipient demonstrates uncommon leadership through community service efforts or innovative thinking throughout their rural community. Recipient Monty Cornine, 17, a senior at Northwest High School in Hughesville, said by phone on Wednesday he received...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Incidents Dec. 8 10:05 p.m.: An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East 10th Street in reference to a sex crime. The caller said her son had been sexually assaulted by another juvenile. There have been no arrests made at this time. Pettis County Sheriff's Office Arrests Dec. 8 8:03 p.m.: Antonio Quetzecua-Marcos was arrested after a traffic stop in the area...

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At Thursday evening’s Park Board meeting, Sedalia Parks and Recreation Director Amy Epple proudly showed the inaugural program guide her staff had produced. “For the last 10 or 12 years every year I keep saying I want to do an activity guide,” Parks Director Amy Epple said, “just to get all the information out there to everybody. What a better time to do it than for the Heckert Community Center?”   The twice-a-year publication is an opportunity to showcase everything offered by the Parks Department and to educate the taxpayers on where their money goes within the department. “It will...

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Bethel United Methodist Church, 22150 Smelser Road in Hughesville, is inviting everyone to its Christmas program at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. The program will be followed by a carry-in Christmas dinner at noon. Bring a salad, vegetable or dessert. 

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Since it is Christmas time, I am on my best behavior. My politeness is off the charts. If you are following me into a building there is a great probability I will hold the door open for you. If someone needs some cash, and I have some cash, I am apt to give it away. I am a bright ball of goodness during the Christmas season. If someone is hungry, I will feed them. I am a better father and husband. Name a positive trait, and you will find it in me.  I’m not really like that, but it is...

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La Monte United Methodist Church, 400 N. Main St., will host its 12th annual bake sale and craft bazaar from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and a chili luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bazaar will feature handcrafted items and homemade goodies. 

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WARRENSBURG — The inaugural Joy of Sharing Gala will emphasize the impact of Journey Home for those in need.  The gala will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at the White Rose Pavilion, 107 Ming St. in Warrensburg. Journey Home provides individual case management for each client entering the program. “We are going to provide an update, just of the year that we have been operating, just based on the number of clients we’ve helped, the clients we’ve seen transition into permanent housing or transitional housing,” Co-Director Melissa Werner said. “We’ll have a testimony from one of our individuals that...

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WARRENSBURG — After a thorough review of video, photographs and other supporting materials, Guinness World Records has confirmed the University of Central Missouri now officially holds the title for the largest ridden parade of mules.  This record-setting achievement was reached with the help of 50 mules and their riders during UCM’s Homecoming parade Oct. 23 in Warrensburg. “We are beyond thrilled to be named as the record holder for the largest ridden parade of mules,” Jackie Jackson, associate vice president for the UCM Alumni Foundation, said.  Jackson helped organize the event. UCM was the first organization to attempt this particular...

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Clinton woman injured and Henry accident Theresa L. Maher, 59, of Clinton, sustained moderate injuries at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday in a Henry County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Maher was driving south on state Route 7 in a 1998 Chevrolet S10 when she traveled off the left side of the roadway, overcorrected, traveled back onto the roadway, and overturned, coming to rest across both southbound lanes. Maher, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by Lifeflight Eagle to Research Medical Center in Kansas City.  Driver flees Johnson accident leaving injured Versailles man  Ronald R. Proehl,...

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Heber Hunt Elementary teacher Susie Howe’s third graders participated in an Authors’ Tea on Friday, Dec. 3. The event was a celebration of the publishing of “Our Small Moments,” a hardbound compilation of the students’ narrative stories. The students took turns reading the story they had written and showing off the illustration they made. After the readings, the classes shared punch and cookies as a snack. Howe said the students learned many important concepts throughout the writing and illustrating process. “They took experiences that they had in their lives and brainstormed lists. They took ideas and wrote several drafts to...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 7 10:53 p.m.: Millenia Bishop, 19, of the 2000 block of East Seventh Street, was arrested after officers responded to a property damage report. Contact was made with the caller who stated someone threw a metal object at her window causing it to shatter. After an investigation, Bishop was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail where she was booked and...

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The first- through fifth-grade classes at Sacred Heart School are helping make and distribute blessing bags for members of the St. Vincent De Paul parish.  These bags will provide recipients with some necessities like tissues, fun things like candy and prayers from the children.  Sister Mary Ruth Wand from St. Vincent De Paul Parish said the blessing bags will be going to 115 80 and older parish members this year.  Wand spoke about the constriction COVID-19 has caused in the parish community as well as connection.  “Our contact was so restricted, I just wanted to find a way for the...

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE — The Whiteman Area Leadership Council has been awarded a grant for a housing study by the Military Community Reinvestment Grant Program. The ,750 grant will pay for a study to assess the housing needs within a 30-mile radius of Whiteman Air Force Base, which includes Pettis County. “The Whiteman Area Leadership Council is grateful to receive this important financial assistance from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. With this grant, we can be proactive in identifying housing needs and confirming areas to be strengthened. We thank the Missouri Military Preparedness & Enhancement Commission (MMPEC) and...

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The Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture Committee are accepting applications for Youth in Agriculture scholarships for Missouri high school seniors graduating in 2022. The application form can be found on the Fair’s website. Applications should be submitted to the Missouri State Fair and must be postmarked by Feb. 1. Applicants must submit an original copy of their application and three additional copies.  These scholarships are possible thanks to the contributions of many individuals and companies supporting Youth in Agriculture. A total of 46 scholarships amounting to ,500, the largest amount ever, will be awarded as follows: ●...

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Kingsville man seriously injured in Johnson accident Joseph A. Spencer, 32, of Kingsville, sustained serious injuries at 3:27 p.m. Tuesday in a Johnson County accident.  According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Spencer was driving south on Route AA south of Northwest 1901 Road in a 2005 Chevrolet when he traveled off the right side of the road, overcorrected, struck a ditch, and overturned. Spencer was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. He was transported to Research Medical Center in Kansas City by Johnson County Ambulance District. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports,...

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Sedalia artist Chester Lux has created nearly 200 aluminum cast art pieces in the last five years — 37 of those pieces are now in a solo show at the Hayden Liberty Center.  Lux, also known by his artist name Trevor Mopletoplehead, said the show consists of both his newer abstract pieces, portraits he’s created of well-known celebrities plus a couple of three-dimensional chests. His work will be highlighted Friday with an artist’s reception at the Liberty Center. The reception is hosted by members of the Sedalia Visual Art Association.  “This is a big step to have a show like...

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The Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at State Fair Community College will host a no-cost, three-session course on Customer Discovery: Unlocking the Mystery for Success. This training provides methods and tools that are relevant to for- and non-profits, community organizations, and small business owners and managers. Sessions will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 11, 25 and Feb. 1 in Fielding Center on the SFCC Sedalia campus. Registration is limited and required to participate. Early refinement of business strategies increases the odds for start-up and long-term success when discovery practices are diligently applied. Participants will develop a Business...

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When Nov. 23 comes each year, I have to stop and reflect on the tragedy that happened on that day, and what I was doing and where I was back then. I am always a little surprised that it has been so long ago, I guess because I remember it so vividly, as I am sure many people do.  The what I was doing, was serving in the U.S. Navy, and the where was Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. My wife was waiting in Mayport, Florida, for me to get back to the states with our daughter.  I may remember that day...

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The 19th-century ideology of “separate spheres” placed women in the home creating a safe and beautiful refuge for her husband, away from the stresses of the work world, whether he was a captain of industry or a factory worker. A beautiful home was considered a must, whether the home was an elaborate mansion or the humble cottage of a workman. The wife was expected to purchase or make beautiful items to decorate the home. Harpers Bazaar, one of the prominent magazines of the day, commented that “a love of the beautiful is a refining influence” and that a “love of...

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Pettis County R-V School District (Northwest) recently announced it was selected to participate in the new Missouri Postsecondary Advising Initiative, which will place trained advisors into high schools, alongside current school counselors, to provide students with individualized college and career support. Northwest High School is among 40 schools selected to participate in the initiative’s inaugural cohort.  The Missouri Postsecondary Advising Initiative was launched in fall 2021 by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in partnership with philanthropic organization rootEd Alliance. The three-year initiative, which is funded by federal COVID relief dollars, aims to ensure all high school...

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Tuesday was the first day of candidate filing for multiple municipalities in Pettis County including cities, school boards and first responder districts for the April 5 municipal election. Filing ends at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28. City of Sedalia Four Sedalia City Council seats are available in the April election. Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Leeman, Ward 2 Councilwoman Tina Boggess, Ward 3 Councilman Lucas Richardson and Ward 4 Councilwoman Rihannon Foster all have terms expiring in April. On Tuesday, Foster, Richardson and Boggess all filed for re-election. All three are in their first term on the council. Terms are for...

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Warsaw woman injured in Benton accident Joyce D. Cardwell, 62, of Warsaw, received moderate injuries at 2:27 p.m. Monday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Cardwell was driving a 2017 Ford Escape east on Lost Valley Road when she began to exit the vehicle, which was still in reverse. The vehicle began traveling backward and the door struck the driver.  Cardwell was transported by Warsaw-Lincoln Ambulance District to Bothwell Regional Health Center.  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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The State Fair Community College Foundation recently received 0,000 from Gardner Denver for its Stronger Workforce, Greater Community capital campaign to help build the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. The new building on the Sedalia campus will expand the college’s capacity to meet the growing demand for technical workforce training and strengthen the communities it serves.  “We employ over 250 folks here at the Sedalia facility with a wide variety of technical skill-sets today including machinists, material handlers and assemblers,” Paul Dick, Vice President of Operations at Gardner Denver-Ingersoll Rand, said. “As a matter of fact we actually have over...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 6 10:57 a.m.: Alla V. Mischuk, 35, of the 5600 block of South Limit Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop for a driver known to be revoked. A computer check confirmed Mischuk had a revoked driving status, and she was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail, where she was placed on a 24-hour hold pending a charge of driving...

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The National Honor Society at Smith-Cotton High School is doing various service projects to help give the community Christmas spirit.  The service projects include activity or color bags for elementary students, Adopt a Family, and Christmas cards for veterans.  NHS adviser Dr. Lorin Blackburn Thierfelder said NHS has done the activities bags for five years. The members saw a large number of students going home for winter break who didn’t know what they would do with their time because school wouldn’t be in session for two weeks.  NHS wanted to do something educational but also fun, so it started with...

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The Smith-Cotton High School Class of 2022 is raising funds for Project Grad this week with an online auction.  Funds raised will help provide graduating seniors with an opportunity to celebrate graduation after the graduation commencement ceremony in a safe and fun way. Typically it takes around ,000 to host the event. There are several fundraisers planned. Right now, people have the opportunity to bid on 44 auction items available online through Sunday, Dec. 12. In addition to items to bid on, people can also donate to the Smith-Cotton Project Grad on the bid site. The auction is at www.32auctions.com/scprojgrad. ...

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Although COVID has slowed progress on the Mercy Rest Stop this last year, plans are still moving forward with 0,000 raised and 0,000 needed to begin construction. The board is still seeking donors.  The facility, to be built on the property of the Open Door Kitchen, will provide the homeless and nearly homeless with the “necessities of life” such as 24/7 sanitary restroom facilities, a 24/7 water source, showers, laundry, cooling and warming stations, and a place for resources and communication, plus a place to meet agency caseworkers to obtain assistance.  “Our need is as strong as ever here in...

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As a result of low blood donor turnout in recent months, the American Red Cross is heading into the holidays with its lowest blood supply in more than a decade at this time of year.  The ongoing effects of COVID-19 and a summer spike in delta variant cases significantly challenged the nation’s blood supply heading into the fall. The pandemic also resulted in fewer blood drives at schools and colleges, contributing to a 34% drop in new blood donors from last year, one of the largest year-to-year decreases. Locally, the Missouri-Arkansas Red Cross Region has experienced a 13.4% decrease in...

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Sedalia Salvation Army has put out a call for bell ringers to work outside of Walmart, JCPenney and Woods West through the holiday season between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. “These next couple of weeks are crunch-time,” Magen Hudson with the Salvation Army said. “We're needing volunteers to ring bells for us outside of JCPenney, Walmart, Woods West. We’re also needing people to help us out here to give out Christmas toys and Christmas food and kind of get all that organized. We’ll start distributing the Christmas boxes Dec. 13, so we have just over a week...

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Archie woman injured in Henry accident Jamie L. Moore, 22, of Archie, sustained moderate injuries at 10:42 a.m. Friday in a Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Moore was driving south on Northeast 501 Road in Calhoun in a 2018 Subaru Legacy when she traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. She was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Cass Regional Hospital in Harrisonville by ambulance. Oak Grove man in serious condition after Johnson accident Kyle T. Bowman, 35, of Oak Grove, sustained serious injuries at 10:18 p.m. Friday in...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov . 25 11:18 p.m.: Cody A. Harvey, 29, of the 1500 block of Vermont Avenue, was arrested after a traffic stop on Wilkerson Street near South Harrison Avenue. Harvey was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail where he was placed on a 12-hour protective custody hold for driving while intoxicated-alcohol. Nov. 29 12:04 p.m.: Angela Ileen Teeter, 42, of the...

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When a loved one dies and especially dies tragically, the family wants others to remember their name. They want them to not be forgotten and so it is with the late 2nd Lt. George A. Whiteman, who was 22 when he was killed Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor — 80 years ago today. Many know him as the namesake of Whiteman Air Force Base but one Sedalia woman is keeping his name and memory alive through performances as his aunt Mildred Whiteman Rogers. Kathleen Boswell has been portraying Aunt Mildred since 2006 and gets emotional when she talks about...

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Sedalia Salvation Army has put out a call for bell ringers to work outside of Walmart, JCPenney and Woods West through the holiday season between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. “These next couple of weeks are crunch-time,” Magen Hudson with the Salvation Army said. “We're needing volunteers to ring bells for us outside of JCPenney, Walmart, Woods West. We’re also needing people to help us out here to give out Christmas toys and Christmas food and kind of get all that organized. We’ll start distributing the Christmas boxes Dec. 13, so we have just over a week...

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At Monday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting, Police Chief Matthew Wirt and Fire Chief Matt Irwin went into detail describing the functions of their respective departments to assist in 2022’s strategic planning sessions. During the Public Safety portion of the meeting, Wirt talked about the tasks his department handled during the past year. “Since Nov. 30 we've responded to 32,587 incidents,” Wirt said. “That does include our traffic stops and self-initiated activities, 8,126 traffic stops, we've issued or arrested 1,794 people and 107 juveniles. Those are some of our basic numbers, that works out to be about 97 incidents per...

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Pettis County added 133 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,690, according to the Pettis County Health Center.  “The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 13% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 8.3% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “This week there were 349 PCR tests and 262 antigen tests for a total of 611. Last week there were 967 tests. The positivity rate for November was...

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On Monday night, the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education met at the Smith-Cotton High School Student Commons to review the mask policy before the beginning of Christmas break.  The meeting began with students from Sedalia Middle School playing “Jingle Bells” and “The Good King” with string instruments after they sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”  The board also brought in a sign-in sheet for anyone wanting to speak during the regular board meetings.  Superintendent Steve Triplett that a judgment out of the Cole County Circuit Court has a stay of order until Dec. 22. It is the...

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A Pettis County firefighter and a homeowner were injured in a fire on Southwood Lane at Southwood Circle in southeast Pettis County Saturday afternoon.  Emergency crews responded to the fire after a controlled burn lit a plastic culvert on fire and caused the roadway to collapse. The homeowner was transported to a hospital in Columbia in unreported condition. The firefighter was treated on scene and later sought care at a hospital, Pettis County fire reported. The roadway was temporarily filled in with dirt.

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On Monday night, the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education met at the Smith-Cotton High School Student Commons to review the mask policy before the beginning of Christmas break.  The meeting began with students from Sedalia Middle School playing “Jingle Bells” and “The Good King” with string instruments after they sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”  The board also brought in a sign-in sheet for anyone wanting to speak during the regular board meetings.  Superintendent Steve Triplett that a judgment out of the Cole County Circuit Court has a stay of order until Dec. 22. It is the...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to: Jimmy Larue Fairfax, of Sedalia, and Rebecca Jean McNeal, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Riley William Sopko and Kirstin Elizabeth Weller, both of Sedalia;  Anastasia Eduardovna Chernova and Sergey Vladimirovich Balaban, both of Sedalia; Tyler Byan Smith and Madison Beth Hiatt, both of Sedalia;  Sofiya Vladimirovna Balaban, of Wellford, South Carolina, and Samuel Sam Yarovoy, of Blaine, Washington; Noble Kyle Moore Jr. and Janlyn Renea Miller, both of Sedalia; Sarah Joann Roland and Samuel Stephen Potter III, both of Sedalia; Glenn Eugene Lawrence and Katrina Jo Bell, both of...

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The Martin Warren Chapter, Missouri Society, Sons of the American Revolution (MOSSAR) conducted a Patriot Grave Marking on Nov. 20 for James DeMasters, a Patriot of the American Revolution.  DeMasters, a native of Virginia, enlisted in the American Army at the age of 16 in 1779. He participated in several major battles including the Battle of Charleston, South Carolina, during which he was captured. DeMasters soon escaped and joined the forces of Gen. Francis Marion, known as “The Swamp Fox.” In May 1781 following the capture of Fort Friday, DeMasters requested and was granted a discharge by Gen. Nathanael Greene,...

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Deborah “Debbie” Strunk will observe her 64th birthday Dec. 11. She was born Dec. 11, 1957, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Deborah was an employee at the Sheltered Workshop, and she enjoys doing latch hook kits and watching television.  Birthday cards may be sent to Deborah at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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After a few years without it, the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back a revamped version of Leadership Sedalia. The renovated program, now called Lead Sedalia, will begin in 2022 with a class of 20 students.  According to information from the Chamber, ​​”the goal of Lead Sedalia is to enhance the leadership skills of participants to improve Sedalia’s future, familiarize participants with the community, establish effective peer relationships among participants, and to educate participants on how to move people and ideas into action.”   “Over the past year, we have put together a committee. We looked to Chamber...

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Students in the Creative Foods 2 course at Smith-Cotton High School competed in their own Chopped food competition Wednesday through Friday.  Cooking competitions in the Creative Foods courses have been a tradition at Smith-Cotton for many years with Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Elizabeth Shaffer expanding on that tradition.  “We used to just do Cupcake Wars in Foods 1 and now we have expanded it to Food 2 and international food as well,” Shaffer added.  Cooking competitions like this are good for students because it requires them to work together, to cooperate, and it is a reflection of the skills...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Dec. 2 12:12 a.m.: Jason Brian Warren, 43, of the 1100 block of South Grand Avenue, was arrested in the area of East Fourth Street and South Brown Avenue for walking in the roadway. Prior to this, the subject was lingering in the area and appeared to be hiding in the shadows behind trees watching a house belonging to a woman known to...

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Christopher M. Wickern passed away on Sunday, Nov. 21. I knew him as a deacon and a friend, but you might know him as “The Real Santa Claus” of Sedalia. Chris and his wife Patsy acted as Santa and Mrs. Claus for hundreds, if not thousands, of local children. He will be greatly missed.  Way back in 1897, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon had a hard question. So her father told her to ask a trusted authority — in this case, the now-defunct newspaper The New York Sun. So she wrote in, and Francis P. Church, editor of the paper, wrote her...

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Donna Wiedeman will observe her 74th birthday Dec. 7. She was born Dec. 7, 1947, in Clinton, Illinois. Donna is married to Dave Wiedeman.  Before retirement, she was a medical technologist, and was active in church, enjoyed painting and remodeling and crafts.  Donna has one child, Ryan Wiedeman, of Sedalia.  Birthday cards may be sent to Donna at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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I’ve often expressed my disagreement with President Biden, so when he does something right, fairness requires that I recognize it. That something is the recently announced AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. It’s a strategic defense alliance in the Indo-Pacific region aimed at countering China’s rapidly expanding navy and territorial claims. Freedom of the seas is essential for maritime nations, both for naval operations and world trade. While other countries observe the traditional 12-mile limit, China has claimed most of the South China Sea as its personal possession. But it no more belongs to China...

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I don’t know about you, but I am ecstatic that Hannah and Matthew Petree took the plunge and rescued Sedalia by purchasing Reader’s World. Not only does the bookstore offer a refuge in a world gone mad, it gives Sedalians a convenient opportunity to shop locally and find just the right gift for those who have everything else – including ourselves. I had been bereft when I had read about its closing, even wondering if I could round up a consortium of people to make the buy. The news of the purchase was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY All day: AA Hotline number is 660-826-9608. Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 201 E. Sixth St., in First Baptist Church Annex, 660-829-2527. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7...

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Studio A Dance Conservatory’s annual Nutcracker ballet is branching out this season to include a local celebrity dancer, four Sedalia Fire Department firefighters and tea at the Hotel Bothwell.  Anna Crumley Nelson, studio owner and director of “Suite Dreams: The Tale of the Nutcracker,” noted this week, after COVID, they are excited to be dancing at full capacity again. Her plans are to also incorporate the local community into the production over the next few years. Of the students, the youngest dancer this year is her daughter Aveline, 2, and the oldest Lauren Grupe, 17, who plays the Sugar Plum...

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The Sedalia Optimist Club celebrated its 75th year as a civic club in September. The Sedalia Optimist Club was chartered in September 1946 and remains a primary organization for supporting local youth. Optimist Clubs are in the U.S. and all over the world. The Sedalia Optimist Club has helped thousands of youth in the last  75 years through many programs, projects and fundraisers.  Optimist Club West Missouri Gov. Eric Brockus was on hand to deliver a statement along with presenting a letter of appreciation and proclamation by Optimist International President Mark Weinsoff for 75 years of service. 

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Carol Lang will observe her 87th birthday Dec. 9. She was born Dec. 9, 1934, in Pilot Grove.  Before retiring she was a registered nurse; after retiring she worked at Katy Manor.  Carol has five children, Linda Sundy, of Sedalia, Jim Lang, of Columbia, Joe Lang, of Sugarland, Texas, Jeannie Lang, of Charleston, North Carolina, and Jeff Lang, of Texas.  Birthday cards may be sent to Carol at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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During daily meetings Nov. 29 to Dec.3, the Pettis County Commission completed the following:  Nov. 29: The Commission reappointed Dennis Dove to the Johnson Grass Control Board. Nov. 30: Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer visited. County Collector Marsha Boeschen discussed possible changes in her office. Dec. 1: The Commission discussed courthouse use during the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade with Facilities and Grounds Coordinator Bret Manuel. IT Director Luke Goosen discussed projects in the Jail as pertains to the IT Department. The Commission had discussions with Sheriff Brad Anders, Captain Tollie Rowe, Manuel, and Goosen regarding projects in the...

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Boonslick Regional Library  Monday 9 a.m.: Hughesville City Hall. 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.: Hughesville Main Street. 1:30 to 4 p.m.: La Monte City Park. Wednesday 9 a.m.: Applewood Christian School. 9:30 a.m.: E.W. Thompson State School. 10:15 to noon: Warsaw, Walmart. 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor.  Friday 9 a.m.: St. Joseph Catholic School. 9:15 a.m. Pilot Grove C-4 School. 9:45 to 11:45 a.m.: Bunceton. 1 p.m.: Prairie Home, Duncan Diner.  1:30 p.m.: Prairie Home R-5 School. 2 to 3:45 p.m.: Prairie Home. 

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Christmas is often seen as a time of miracles, hope and goodwill. A time when the most unlikely and wonderful occurrences can happen. In 2019, a chance meeting of two Sedalia families, a little boy and a vintage tricycle was the catalyst for a heartfelt friendship seasoned with hope. Tom McCown, the owner of Cartillac Bike, met Mary Heather by accident while working at the Katy Depot in Sedalia. McCown is known in the area for restoring bicycles and creating unusual three-wheel bikes with baskets. Mary knew McCown worked on bicycles so she called him and asked him to restore...

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OK readers, the time is finally here: Christmastime. Enough of me complaining about people celebrating too early (but really, if decorating for Christmas in October or November brings you joy, then go for it!) or urging you to give Thanksgiving a proper celebration. It’s time for Christmas trees and hot chocolate and cheesy made-for-TV Christmas movies and all of the other festive things that come with this season. This weekend I’ll be decorating our home for Christmas, in between doing some new homeowner chores, and you can bet that I’ll be doing it with a Christmas movie on TV and...

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A long-awaited opportunity arrives Saturday night for Darian Weeks. The Sedalia native is making his octagon debut Saturday at UFC Vegas 44, headlined by a bantamweight fight between future hall-of-famer Jose Aldo and Rob Font. In a Zoom call Thursday from Las Vegas, Weeks, a Smith-Cotton graduate, said that his nerves ahead of the bout weren’t too out of sorts. “I’ve been anticipating this moment,” Week said. “It’s the opportunity I was eager to grab. I feel like I am where I’m supposed to be.” Unusual circumstances transpired to finally open the door for his first fight in the sport’s...

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The 2020-21 season may have been a shortened one, but State Fair Community College men’s basketball has already racked up two more wins this campaign than it recorded then. The Roadrunners controlled the paint and shot well from the perimeter in Wednesday night’s 112-62 home victory over Next Level Prep. Their latest win extended the Roadrunner's streak to seven games, matching the longest for the program since the 2017-18 season. That run four seasons ago also coincided with Brown’s first seven regular-season games in Sedalia. “It’s good, and right now we’ve had some good wins on the road, too,” said...

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Charlie McFail has retired as Smith-Cotton football head coach, per a Sedalia School District 200 release Thursday afternoon. The move will become official when the Board of Education accepts his resignation at Monday's meeting. An alumnus of the program, McFail was added to Mark Johnson's staff in 2008, and became Tigers defensive coordinator in 2009, a position he held until succeeding Ryan Boyer, who left to become athletic director and head football coach at Warsaw, in 2017. In the release, McFail said, “Football has been great to my family and myself. Spectating, playing, coaching – it has all offered countless...

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Roster movement for Sporting Kansas City began Tuesday just several weeks ahead of the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft. Most significant was the decision to decline Ilie Sanchez. The 31-year-old Spaniard, a product of FC Barcelona's La Masia youth academy, joined the club in January 2017 and appeared in 171 games for Sporting. Traditionally a midfielder, he was deployed primarily this season at center back due to injuries. Sanchez was making [post_excerpt] million, fifth-most on the roster, indicating that money was the driving force behind the decision. Amadou Dia, Wilson Harris, Luis Martins, Roberto Puncec and Brooks Thompson also had contract...

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Teammates sit around one player in the State Fair Community College Tech 2 building, and the name of the game is Call of Duty: Warzone. It’s one of two titles, along with Rocket League, that the Roadrunners eSports team will compete for NJCAAE national championship honors in over the next week or so. On Tuesday evening, the five-man Warzone team took turns playing solos –– last semester, for example, the NJCAAE format was 3-on-3 –– and offered constructive criticism to teammates after a round. The program altogether is in its inaugural year, but that all five of its players for...

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Everyone was seemingly at Children’s Mercy Park for Sunday afternoon’s MLS Western Conference Semifinal. Somehow, it was Sporting KC themselves that were most absent. Part-owner Patrick Mahomes and George Brett were part of the fire-code capacity crowd rightfully deflated by Bobby Wood’s game-winning goal a minute into stoppage time of the 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake. "We just weren't there, we weren't in the game as we normally are for some reason," Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. "It's hard for me to say [why]." Sporting lacked “that pop,” as Vermes put it, from the get-go. Aaron Herrera caught...

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Kaysinger Conference and Class 3 coaches alike have to be wondering when it’s going to be time for a Tipton girls basketball rebuild. They don’t make hourglasses that size, even in Disney movies. “I don’t know, we just keep getting lucky,” Lady Cardinals head coach Jason Culpepper said. Culpepper knew that the follow-up to a state title game appearance in 2020 (which came following a 27-2 season) was going to be a challenge. But it can’t be a surprise that his team rose to the challenge. “The window was just narrow,” Culpepper said. “We knew we had a chance to...

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At 7:30 a.m. Friday, a leaking vat of hydrochloric acid caused West Main Street to be closed as low-lying clouds of caustic vapor drifted across roads and between businesses in the mostly industrial area. The acid fumes at concentrations above 25% become hydrogen chloride gas, forming dense white vapors due to condensation with atmospheric moisture. The acid in the tank was estimated to be around 30% and caused thick, white vapor to form in the area. Sedalia Fire Department Capt. Daniel Shaw told the Democrat they got lucky for two reasons. “The wind direction was in our favor and actually...

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Sacred Heart School has begun promoting its 2021 Hall of Fame nominations application.  The SHS Hall of Fame is a way for Sacred Heart to honor individuals and groups who have been a part of Sacred Heart’s success.  The first time inductees were nominated into the Hall of Fame was in the spring of 2017 after the SHS Foundation, the alumni association, and school leaders came together to build the criteria and the application process.  Sacred Heart accepts nominations all through the year but the school begins promoting the nomination process from October to December. So, the school is still...

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Trinity Pyrmont Lutheran Church will host its 16th annual Ole Tyme Christmas in the Country at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.  This year’s theme, “A Cowboy's Christmas Dream,” will be a dialogue between several shepherds and Trinity’s pastor, Eugene Moll. It will be about events occurring in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago and about how those events were all prophesied in the Bible prior to the birth of Jesus.  Their dialogue will be interspersed with songs by some of the Trinity congregation, a chorus of angels, a choir, a women’s trio from Cole Camp and a solo by the...

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After a Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Thursday, the new VA community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) will open its doors to veterans at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Columbia Veterans Affairs officials along with Chamber members and city dignitaries assembled Thursday morning at the new facility for the official ribbon cutting. Ground was broken for the new facility in October 2020, and it has increased in size from 6,223 square feet at the original location on West 10th Street to 10,961 square feet at the new Winchester Drive location. It now has 18 exam rooms versus 12. And in addition...

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Skyline Elementary special education teacher Jill Kindle is the recipient of the Superintendent’s Bell Ringer Award for November. The monthly award is a way for Superintendent Steve Triplett to honor Sedalia 200 staff members who put the district’s mission statement into action and those who display exemplary effort in celebrating student success. Winners are selected from nominations made by staff members and administrators. Kindle’s nominator wrote: “Jill works so hard with our children at Skyline. She is always finding ways to praise their hard work and recognizes their efforts no matter how big or small. She is an advocate for...

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Thanksgiving is a time of the year where we pause and get together with family and friends. It is a time to eat turkey and other great food, play games, watch football, and get ready to shop on Black Friday. Many get a nap in after eating. My wife loves to watch the parade in the morning.  This is just one day to give thanks in the year. What can be done to thank the Lord all year long?  Psalm 100:1-5 in the New Living Translation says, “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with...

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Arrow Rock State Historic Site staff members invite the public to experience an old-fashioned Christmas in the village from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. The site buildings will be open and decorated for Christmas, and visitors can tour the buildings and visit with interpreters. Visitors may stumble upon the judge and lawyer as they get ready to end the year in the Old Courthouse, travelers from the trail in the taproom of the tavern, young ladies preparing for Christmas and the schoolmarm taking a break in the academy, a family preparing for Christmas in the George Caleb Bingham...

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The Liberty Center Association for the Arts is announcing auditions for the upcoming play “Calendar Girls” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13 and Tuesday, Dec.14, at the Hayden Liberty Center in the Thompson Theatre.   “Calendar Girls” tells the story of when Annie’s husband, John, dies of leukemia, how her friends in Yorkshire Women’s Institute come up with a creative way to raise money to honor the memory of a loved one: by posing nude for a calendar! These small-town women are not prepared for the stir that their actions will cause or the strain it will put...

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Liberty Center Association for the Arts’s Essential Theatre will present a free performance of "A Christmas Carol" at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, before the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. This reader's theatre performance adapted by Carl Hutcherson from Charles Dickens’ original novel will last approximately 90 minutes. Reader's theatre focuses on narration and dialogue to convey the story within a minimal and suggested setting. The relaxed atmosphere allows the audience to use their imaginations freely.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 28 4:41 p.m.: Joshua Bohannon, 37, of Osceola, and Alexandra J. Bohannon were issued summonses after officers were sent to the 300 block of Chestnut Drive in reference to an animal complaint. It was determined that two dogs had gotten out of the house and began chasing two subjects who were walking their dog in the area. No one was injured. The...

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COLUMBIA — The Friends of Rock Bridge Association and staff at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park have created a self-guided tour of the park's many trails as a way of getting nature-lovers to visit the scenic area during December. “This is part of our First Day Hikes initiative,” said Miranda Frederick, Division Information Officer with Missouri State Parks. “It's just encouragement to get people outside to experience the outdoors and explore State parks and historic sites. From Dec. 7 to Jan. 3, anyone who participates can register online to receive an email with 12 scavenger hunt questions to answer as...

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Holiday musical treats are on the Sedalia Symphony’s roster for Sedalians this coming week, with the first being Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday and the second its annual POPS Concert on Monday.  The “Messiah” will be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at the First United Methodist Church, 916 Thompson Blvd., and the POPS Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 the Heckart Performing Arts Center, 2010 Tiger Pride Blvd. For the “Messiah,” information provided by the Symphony stated the Community Chorus, under the direction of Sandy Cordes, will be joined by Cheryl McCollester on piano, Debbie Mueller on organ,...

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The Sedalia Fire Department was awarded 0,545 after applying for an Assistance to Firefighters grant and is using those funds to purchase new breathing apparatus for its firefighters.  Chief Matt Irwin said Sedalia was lucky to be chosen for the federal grant. “It's a highly competitive grant,” Irwin said. “I believe this year there were 2,000 departments that applied for grant funds, and I think only about 400 departments actually won grants.” The equipment has already been ordered and is desperately needed as much of the department’s equipment is either broken, in need of expensive repairs, or is nearing its...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 30 11:14 a.m.: Daniel J. Jones, 33, of Sedalia, was arrested after officers responded to the 2700 block of West 16th Street for a suspicious person. Officers made contact with Jones who had been entering a truck that did not belong to him. The owner of the truck wished to pursue charges. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Pettis County...

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Reader’s World is opening a new page thanks to a new protagonist who is saving the community bookstore.  Matthew Petree, 37, of Sedalia, along with his wife, Hannah, and his 6-month-old daughter Harlow officially became the new owners of Reader’s World, 1400 S. Limit Ave., on Dec. 1.  The long-time book lovers first heard the local bookstore was closing through a Facebook post in October.  “We had been long-time customers and we have been very pro-spend locally,” Matthew said.  The Petrees were big on wanting to spend their money locally, especially when the pandemic began and many purchases were forced...

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Thanks to the work of the Wear Red for Women Committee and the Bothwell Foundation, 31 area parks, event centers, churches and more have life-saving devices to help provide care in an emergency. Since 2020, the foundation has hosted the Wear Red for Women luncheon and auction that has raised funds to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) where people work, learn, play or pray in Sedalia and in surrounding communities. An AED is a small, lightweight device that allows first responders and individuals to treat sudden cardiac arrest by delivering a shock to the victim’s chest, ideally restarting their heart....

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SMITHTON — Students at Smithton R-VI School will have the opportunity to increase their reading skills and learning abilities thanks to a donation by the Pettis County Community Partnership. PCCP Executive Director John Thompson delivered six C-Pens Tuesday morning to Principal Andrew Turner and Title 1 Reading teachers Tamara Lemons and Angela DeHaven. The pens help students with dyslexia read more efficiently. Smithton has seven students with the diagnosis of dyslexia and 38 at-risk. Thompson, a retired educator, principal and superintendent, said PCCP is known for helping people with housing, but he also wants the organization to be known for...

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Bothwell welcomed third-year medical students Madison Bulger, Magdaleno (Mags) Gutierrez and Brittney Marshall as the first Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LINC) students this summer. The three are in the University of Missouri School of Medicine Rural Track Pipeline Program and will be at Bothwell for clinical training for one year. In contrast to a traditional block curriculum, the students have been meeting and following their patients across multiple care settings and different disciplines.  The rural LINC program includes a variety of educational methods over the course of the year. Students participate in the care of children and adults in outpatient clinics...

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Dr. Philip Fracica, Bothwell Regional Health Center’s chief medical officer (CMO), is ready to answer the community’s medical questions. “Dr. Phil” started what is planned to be a regular segment on KDRO 1490 AM and 101.3 FM on Monday, Nov. 8 with host Charlie Thomas. Fracica has been on Thomas’s morning show several times in the last few months talking about the COVID-19 virus and answering questions about available vaccines. “The last time I chatted with Charlie, he mentioned there tended to be a lot of callers when he interviewed me,” Fracica said. “He asked whether I would be willing...

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During the 19th century, several ideas came together in a way that influenced the architecture and decorating of homes. One was the idea that a person who had wealth was entitled to a large, opulent home that would demonstrate his wealth and prestige to others, whether friends who visited the home or those who merely saw the exterior as they passed by.  Another was the “landscape beautiful” idea, which postulated that attractive landscapes had a positive effect on humans, who would be inspired by the beauty around them to be better, more well-behaved people, no matter what their social status. ...

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Injuries and trauma can be preventable. However, in a fast-paced world, many people tend to overlook prevention measures that help avoid injuries and sometimes life-threatening medical emergencies.  Different from an illness, traumatic injuries refer to severe physical injuries such as an accident, violence or natural disaster that happen quickly and require immediate medical attention. The types of injuries is an extensive list with falls, followed by motor-vehicle crashes as the most common. From Jan. 1, 2020, to Jan. 1, 2021, more than 41,000 traumas occurred in Missouri.  Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Time Critical Diagnosis Coordinator (TCD) Shari Riley has years...

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Just as Superman keeps his distance from kryptonite, men tend to keep their distance from the doctor’s office. Many men, perhaps even as young boys, are taught to be strong, tough and to forgo pain. This belief can carry well into adulthood and include thoughts that visits to a physician only need to happen for serious illness or injury. However, this perception can be dangerous for a man’s health. Preventive medicine plays a key role in keeping men active and strong.  Preventative medicine is exactly what it sounds like, it’s meant to prevent sickness or disease before it happens. Preventative...

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California man in serious condition Moniteau accident Paul L. Ransdell, 55, of California, sustained serious injuries at 5:12 p.m. Monday in a Moniteau County accident According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 2022 Ford F250 driven by Matthew J. Reed, 36, of California, was driving east on U.S. Highway 50 at Business 50 junction when he attempted to negotiate a left turn and drove into the path of westbound Gabrielle J. Fields, 22, of California, in a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Ransdell was an occupant in the Chevrolet. Cargo from the F250 struck the front of a 2020 Ford...

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WARRENSBURG — Plans are in place to extend the Spirit Trail into Knob Noster State Park.  The park is planning to break ground for the trail in the summer of 2022 and the trail is expected to be completed in 2023.  Funds for the project are through the Department of Natural Resources, which oversees all state parks.  Spirit Trail Coalition Chair David Peerbolte said the trail serves as a recreation trail but also serves to connect communities.  “Right now, it is a small trail that goes from Warrensburg, Business 13 essentially, all the way to the state park,” Peerbolte said....

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BENTON COUNTY — A Warsaw man, Jason Lewis Kroenke, 25, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Nov. 23 shooting death of his girlfriend, Tarah D. McIntyre, 27. According to the probable cause statement, deputies responded to the 11000 block of Leisure Drive after the report of a self-inflicted gunshot wound by McIntyre. Benton County Sheriff’s Office Detective John Snyder arrived on scene to find McIntyre face-up in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to her neck, just below the jaw. Resuscitation efforts on McIntyre were unsuccessful. “I observed (McIntyre) in the position...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 25 3:19 p.m.: Kimberly R. Porter, 36, of the 1900 block of South Prospect Avenue, was arrested after a vehicle stop in the 1800 block of South Prospect Avenue for a registration violation. A computer check revealed Porter’s driver's license was revoked. She was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, booked, and released. Nov. 29 7:42 a.m.: James J. Ritchie, 45,...

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Crisp fall weather and upcoming holiday months are joyful times, but illnesses like the flu and COVID-19 can put a damper on high spirits. Runny noses, coughing and hospitalizations are not something people want to deal with when preparing a Thanksgiving turkey or shopping for the perfect holiday gifts. Being prepared and proactive for winter viruses should be on everyone’s holiday to-do list.  It’s no secret vaccines are currently a hot topic of conversation, which is why it’s important to understand the reason behind recommended shots. Vaccines help the immune system fight infections faster and more effectively. When a vaccine...

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Missouri’s voter-approved Medicaid health insurance expansion is finally underway, which means some low-income college-age people, single adults and families can be treated for their health and medical issues by a provider or in a hospital at little or no cost.  Medicaid is a federal and state program that helps people with limited income and resources with their health care costs. Before Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment in August 2020 to allow more people to be covered, the people who qualified for the program included pregnant women, children, someone responsible for a child under 19, someone with a disability or...

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Mike Shipp, a former paramedic and recently retired colonel from the U.S. Air National Guard, is now at Bothwell Walk In Clinic as a certified physician assistant. He joins more than 30 other advanced practice providers (APP) working at Bothwell’s 20-plus clinics and in the hospital. An APP is a health care provider who is not a physician but who performs medical activities typically performed by a physician. They educate patients about their diagnoses and treatments, improve patients’ health and wellness and provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Advanced practice providers are most commonly nurse practitioners or physician assistants and can handle...

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Below is a sampling of cases that were resolved Nov. 1 to Nov. 29 in Pettis County Circuit Court, according to information from Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer. Derek B. Roberts, 42, of Clinton, was sentenced to three 10-year sentences in the Missouri Department of Corrections on three counts of child pornography. Kasey Lynn McKay, 33, of Knob Noster, was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after her probation was revoked. Viktor Gregovskyy, 31, of Sedalia, was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after his probation was revoked. Adam Moore, 37,...

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Online ordering and in store pickup have been convenient tools for people with busy lifestyles or who are not as mobile. Including curbside grocery pickup or deliveries from an online marketplace like Amazon, there are many options. One service people may not think of is the convenience of ordering and picking up medical equipment. Medical equipment is used at home to aid in better quality living and can range from oxygen equipment and supplies to wheelchairs. Medical equipment is meant to be used over and over again, unlike single-use equipment, such as bandages or consumable medication.  Bothwell Regional Health Center...

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Missouri’s transportation system consists of 33,830 miles of roads and 10,399 bridges, both of which rank among the largest for any state in the nation. The Missouri Department of Transportation working with its statewide regional planning partners has identified [post_excerpt] billion in annual unfunded needs. From the broader unfunded needs, MoDOT has developed a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of projects into funded projects as state and federal transportation funds increase. The public is invited to two meetings to discuss the draft updated High Priority Unfunded Needs list for transportation in the Kansas City Missouri Region....

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Impact Signs Owner and CEO David Goodson announced his candidacy for Pettis County Presiding Commissioner on Tuesday afternoon at the Pettis County Courthouse.  Goodson along with his wife, Julie, attracted a crowd in the lobby of the courthouse before making his announcement.  During Goodson’s speech, he spoke about when he and his wife founded their now nationwide, multi-million dollar business.  “As our business grew, we had many options of places to locate our headquarters. We choose Pettis County because it’s our home and we are proud of our community and want to be part of its success,” Goodson said.  Goodson...

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​​On Nov. 22, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Green ruled that health orders issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services regarding COVID-19 restrictions are unconstitutional. One of the main segments addressed was the DHSS providing authority to local health boards to close businesses, schools, churches and other entities. It also addresses mask mandates, COVID-19 tracking and quarantine mandates. This order will surely become a hot topic at the next Sedalia School District Board of Education meeting scheduled for Dec. 6. It is currently unclear to me exactly how much time counties will be granted to make these...

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Renovations are underway for the historic Main Gate on the Missouri State Fairgrounds with funds provided by the Missouri Bicentennial Commission. MSF Director Mark Wolfe announced last week that the restoration of the gate, built in 1939, was well underway. “The Historic Main Gate on 16th Street is an icon for the fairgrounds,” Wolfe said in a media release. “It is the first impression many fairgoers have when they enter the grounds. We were excited when the Bicentennial Commission told us they wanted to fund the renovation of the gate as a lasting project on the fairgrounds to commemorate the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 19 10:59 p.m.: Jared Steven Schantz, 51, of Fort Branch, Indiana, was arrested after a traffic stop on South Limit Avenue and West 20th Street for speeding. The driver was arrested and transported to the police department then the Pettis County Jail where he was placed on a 12-hour hold pending a charge of driving while intoxicated-prior offender. Nov. 21 3:19 p.m.:...

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Warsaw man injured in Benton motorcycle accident Charles A. Keckler, 57, of Warsaw, sustained moderate injuries at 6:05 p.m. Friday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Keckler was driving east on Sterett Creek Village Drive on a 1992 Yamaha Enduro when he traveled into the intersection, lost control on loose gravel, overturned, and was ejected.  Heckler was not wearing a helmet and was transported by private conveyance to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton.  Clinton woman hurt in Henry accident Mary F. Kirkpatrick, 50, of Clinton, sustained minor injuries at 3:05 p.m. Friday...

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After a weekend of holiday shopping during Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, it’s time for what’s at the heart of the season: giving. Giving Tuesday is a national campaign to encourage donations and volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations. Numerous Pettis County charities are in need of assistance. To have your organization’s information added to this list, email news@sedaliademocrat.com. Cancer Perks The annual virtual Christmas tree is back and Cancer Perks is adopting eight families instead of four this year. Also, the 12 needs of Christmas began the Monday before Thanksgiving.  Anyone interested in donating or looking for more information...

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Burrell Behavioral Health was named one of the Missouri behavioral health providers receiving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Community Mental Health Centers Grant. Burrell will be awarded .5 million a year for two years, for a total of million. The goal of the grant is to enable Burrell to support and restore the delivery of clinical services that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while providing resources to address the increased mental health needs of Community Mental Health Center staff. This grant will provide services to clients, support IT needs to enhance telehealth services and focus on...

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Pettis County added 75 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,765, according to the Pettis County Health Center.  “The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 8.3% for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 8.6% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “This week there were 349 PCR tests and 262 antigen tests for a total of 611. Last week there were 967 tests.” According to the Pettis County Health...

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The Big Cheeze is a food trailer aiming to make mouths water across mid-Missouri. Recently purchased by Carrie Vaughn, The Big Cheeze was parked along Ohio Avenue last week, requested by Jammin’ Nuggets Music to support hungry shoppers on Black Friday. “The Big Cheeze is new to me, I actually bought it a couple of months ago,” Vaughn said. “The lady that owned it actually is from Sedalia. It’s been quite a job, I've never really been in the food industry and getting all the necessary documents, my food handlers license, learning that whole process has been quite a bit.”...

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Northwest High School ranked first with a score of 100 in PRiME Growth in Mathematics for the middle level. Northwest High School, grades 7-12, was placed in the Western Plains region with 117 other schools and 60 other school districts, including 57 elementary schools, 43 are middle schools and 18 schools with no classification.  PRiME cap growth scores at 100 and schools may have growth scores over 100.  The Missouri Regional Student Growth Report is the Policy Research in Missouri Education (PRiME) Center’s second publication on student growth in Missouri.  According to the article released by PRiME Center from Saint...

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The Heard Memorial Club House is busy baking cookies again this year. Order cookies for delivery on Dec. 4 by calling Judy at 660-827-3545 or buy your cookies during the Sedalia downtown Christmas parade Dec. 4, 5 to 8 p.m. at the Heard House booth, near the corner of Fifth Street and Ohio Avenue, in front of the Fox Theatre.  All sales to benefit the beautiful, Historical Heard Memorial Club House. The cost is per box. 

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WARRENSBURG —  Jennies soccer didn’t necessarily have a poor first half against Minnesota State Mankato in the NCAA Division II Central Regional semifinal round. It just needed to find a way to finish things off. When the 43rd minute arrived, junior Kassie Newsom sent a pass from sophomore Nayeli Gallo into the back of the net. The score was exactly what the No. 1 seeded Jennies needed as they fought back from behind to a 4-3 win Sunday, Nov. 21, at the UCM South Recreation Complex. “That one right before half was the big one to get us back in...

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Windsor denied Thayer's 2-point conversion in last year's Class 1 semifinal, and did the same on the Bobcats' first touchdown Saturday. But the Greyhounds couldn't stave off the hosts altogether, as Thayer defeated Windsor 30-22, ending a 27-game unbeaten streak. A Greyhounds offense averaging 42.5 points entering the afternoon was kept off the board all the way until the final four minutes of the first half when senior running back Dalton Witherspoon broke several tackles on a 21-yard touchdown run up the right side. By that time, Windsor was already in a two-score deficit. Jackson Willison scored his first touchdown...

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There’s an old theory in sports about addition by subtraction. Smith-Cotton boys basketball head coach Mike Franklin isn’t saying what’s taken out of the equation isn’t significant. But he is intimating that there’s something to the equation. “We lost five seniors, but we have seven seniors this year,” Franklin said before a preseason practice. “We had a big junior class I knew would be really good leaders this year, and they have a ton of game experience. These practices so far have been great. They’re buying into what we’re doing, the energy has been good, and kids are holding each...

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WARRENSBURG — Jennies volleyball wasn’t experiencing anything completely new when it found itself trailing Northwest Missouri State by two sets in the MIAA Championship game Saturday, Nov. 20, on Dr. Peggy Martin Court at the UCM Multipurpose Building. Back on October 8, Central Missouri trailed Nebraska Kearney 2-0. It ended up winning. 3-2. Fast forward 42 days, the Jennies rallied again, this time against Northwest Missouri State. The result gave them a MIAA Tournament Championship to go alongside their MIAA regular season title. “Having been through that, that really helped them,” Central Missouri head coach Flip Piontek said. “Even though...

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For the first time in over a decade, a new coach walks the sidelines for Lady Roadrunners basketball. Not all those seasons were forgettable. But last year? Very much so. Following an extended period of success, State Fair Community College women's basketball won 14 games in 2017-18, then combined to win a game less than that the next pair of seasons. In last season's shortened campaign, the Lady Roadrunners finished a dreadful 1-18, shooting just 34.5% from the floor. It began with some memorable seasons, but the Kevin Bucher Era ends, and now begins the start of a new one,...

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When she arrives on campus, Rockhurst University women’s basketball will be getting a Bailey Brown who’s still reaching for her ceiling. "I still want to get better, and I don't want to settle for what I am now," said Brown. "I know that no matter what you do, you're not going to be ready for that first college game." The Smith-Cotton senior, a two-time All-District forward, recently signed to play in Kansas City for the Hawks. “It’s super exciting,” said Brown, who originally visited there near the end of her junior season. “It’s a really good school academically. [When I...

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I’ve never been able to repress a chuckle whenever I hear about a business that’s holding a “Grand Opening” months after it first opened its doors.  I'm not going to do that anymore.  Instead, I’m going to nod my head and smile knowingly, because I now know why. I signed all the papers and wrote all the checks necessary to make the Cooper County property now known as “The Island” mine on June 11.  Since then I’ve spent about a third of my time there camping, fishing, hunting squirrels, setting up deer stands and working on various and sundry other...

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Smith-Cotton boys swim and dive got a podium finish from its trip to the Class 1 state finals last weekend in St. Peters. Junior Clay Pilliard, in one of his two events, took seventh place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:56.82. “In the prelim finals he broke his school record time, then turned around in the finals and broke his own record again,” S-C head coach Michelle Steger said. “He was psyched up, did great, and looked strong. We watch his splits and communicate through the board we use to tell him what lap he’s on. If...

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Winter district assignments and classifications were released by MSHSAA last Friday. The biggest changes come in Class 5 and Class 6, both of which see the elimination of sectionals in favor of shrinking the total number of districts to eight, thus increasing the amount of programs in each district. Naturally, that means a more difficult road to a district title with some loaded with multiple Final Four candidates. Last season, Smith-Cotton's manageable district that also included Capital City saw Jefferson City upset Helias. This year, the Tigers land in Class 6 District 7 with Battle, Blue Springs, Blue Springs South,...

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A majority of area basketball teams got their seasons underway before the Thanksgiving break, and most will resume next week in one of a number of tournaments that tip-off either Monday or Tuesday. Smithton plays Monday night (7:30 p.m. scheduled start) as the six-seed in the 83rd Girls Tipton Tournament. The Lady Tigers will open against New Bloomfield, led by Curt Riley, who is in his first year as head coach with the program but owns 539 career wins and was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014. They’ll either face the winner of Capital City,...

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Helped in no small measure by people like me who make their living telling other people everything they need to know about whitetail deer–and a lot of things they don’t–conventional wisdom now holds that deer have an all but supernatural ability to use not just their five senses but also their, for want of a better word, intuition. There’s more than a germ of truth to that assumption, as is evidenced by the deer’s unique ability among large mammals to flourish in environments that are dominated by human beings. On the other hand, the more skilled and intelligent any animal...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039.  Meals will be delivered by Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. Monday: Pork riblet on bun, baked beans, macaroni salad, brownie and milk. Tuesday: Lasagna roll, corn, salad, cookie and milk. Wednesday: Pulled pork on bun, coleslaw, tropical fruit and milk. Thursday: Chicken filet, hominy, green beans, pudding, roll and milk. Friday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes,...

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Boonslick Regional Library Monday No run. Wednesday 9 a.m.: La Monte R-IV School. 9:45 a.m.: Green Ridge Post Office. 10:15 a.m.: Green Ridge R-III School. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Green Ridge City Park. Friday 9 a.m.: Otterville R-IV School. 9:30 a.m. to noon: Smithton Diner. 1 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Manor. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Pilot Grove, Katy Park. 

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Each fall, the Sedalia Business Women honor a member with the Woman of the Year Award. Earlier this month, the honor was bestowed on two women instead of just one. Bothwell Regional Health Center CEO Lori Wightman and State Fair Community College President Dr. Joanna Anderson were the 2021 recipients of the SBW award.  Betty Albrecht, Woman of the Year Committee chair and 2020 Woman of the Year recipient, announced the two women as recipients for the 2021 award during the Nov. 4 Public Relations dinner at the Shrine Club. According to a news release, Anderson and Wightman then served...

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Dear Editor: As current residents and voters of Pettis County, we have concerns about the proposed landfill in the La Monte and Dresden area. The health, safety, and the environmental problems that come from an unregulated landfill plus the appearance of our county from the trash and what the extra traffic will do to the roads in the area are our main issues. After attending the Informational Meeting presented by the Pettis County First Group, it was good to know our County Commissioners have some control and power under section 260.215 to impose local county regulations over landfills. With Lincoln...

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Two people have been arrested after a drug-related search warrant was served Wednesday. According to a Sedalia Police Department news release, around 11:35 a.m. Nov. 24, members of the Crime Resolution Unit and Uniformed Operations Bureau responded to the 400 block of North Mill Avenue to serve a search warrant related to an active investigation involving drug activity, and information regarding numerous individuals with active warrants staying at the home. Upon arrival, contact was made at the front door with one of the residents and entry was gained into the home.  Inside, officers made contact with four male subjects, and...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations.  To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481. SUNDAY All day: AA Hotline number is 660-826-9608. Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 201 E. Sixth St., in First Baptist Church Annex, 660-829-2527. 1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613. 3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic.  7...

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For more than a century, a statue of Thomas Jefferson has stood in the city council chambers in New York. But it’s earmarked for removal, as the cancellers have struck again. That Jefferson, a Virginian, was a slaveholder is a serious blot on his historical reputation. But that alone doesn’t define this complex man, who was one of our most prominent Founding Fathers. Here are some of the things that Jefferson accomplished: He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, which is second only to the Constitution among our founding documents. In his draft he included a condemnation...

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There are some changes happening to the Recorder of Deeds website that will better serve Pettis County residents.  Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger said the office’s website site is still located on the Pettis County website but there are now different options. Last year, the recorder’s office added an online index book. Now there is an opportunity to fill out an application, plus icons for subscription services for the office database. “A person can be at home and fill out the whole marriage application, have all their information and then when they call us and make an appointment then they...

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I know that by the time Democrat and Star-Journal readers take a look at this column, Thanksgiving will be in the rearview mirror and thoughts of the Christmas season will be full steam ahead. But after the last year of ups and downs, I wanted to take a chance to share what I’m thankful for. There are plenty of things to be thankful for on any given day, but here are a few that are on my mind for Thanksgiving 2021. • Last year was a rough road for my health, and after a better start to 2021, this summer...

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Lillian Reed will observe her 85th birthday Dec. 1.  She was born Dec. 1, 1936, in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. Before retiring she was a cook at Big Beaver Restaurant in Pennsylvania and owned a restaurant. She loved to travel and loved cooking.   Lillian has one child, Douglas Bleigh, of Pennsylvania. Birthday cards may be sent to Lillian at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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As I looked out of my window when I got up this morning, I saw leaves all over the ground; that yesterday was still clinging to the trees. It was mainly the product of the strong winds that came through the area overnight, but not all of it.  I have to admit I haven’t picked up a rake this year, and as I looked out of that window this morning, I began to think of how to keep it that way. I had already used a sore back excuse to keep from bringing holiday things out of the attic, so...

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After a stellar week of Thanksgiving baking and cooking, Sedalia’s newest bakeshop will open again on Saturday, raring to go for the Christmas season complete with plans for cooking classes this January. Broadway Carry-Out Cuisine, owned by Paula Walter, opened for business Nov. 8 and as word of mouth spread, Walter found herself cooking up a storm this week. Walter has deep roots in the Sedalia food scene — her parents Paul and Lorraine Walter owned the Pacific Café and opened the Colie Drive-in along with two other food businesses. Walter is a former high school home economics teacher from...

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Edward Lackey, will observe his 88th birthday Dec. 1.  He was born Dec. 1, 1933. Edward is married to Janice Lackey.  Before retiring, he sold carpet and furniture, was the manager at Safeway and owned rental properties.  Birthday cards may be sent to Edward at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, 3333 W. 10th St., Sedalia, Mo. 65301. 

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During daily meetings Nov. 22-26, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: Nov. 22: Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Presiding Commissioner David Dick attended the Missouri Association of Counties Annual Meeting.  Nov. 23: Marcum and Dick attended the Missouri Association of Counties Annual Meeting.  Nov. 24: The Commission held general discussions relating to the 2022 fiscal year budget.  The Commission held general discussions regarding the Pettis County Policy and Procedures.  Nov. 25: Courthouse closed.  Nov. 26: Courthouse closed.  The census for the Pettis County Jail for the week of Nov. 22 is 150 inmates. The Pettis County Commission meets at...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrests Nov. 24 10:40 a.m.: Hannah M. Randolph, 28, of Excelsior Springs, was arrested in Saline County for felony possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Randolph was released. Nov. 25 4:31 p.m.: David A. Ortiz, 28, of Knob Noster, was arrested in Pettis County for driving while intoxicated, failure to maintain the right half of the roadway, and...

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The Village of Hughesville will host a Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. There will be a bake sale at 1 p.m. After the parade there will be a chili contest at 3 p.m.; everyone is welcome to participate in the contest.  Everyone is welcome to donate baked goods for the bake sale. Anyone can also enter a float, car or golf cart in the parade. Hughesville also is accepting donations for the Christmas Parade.  

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t’s my favorite holiday – Thanksgiving. This year, we did “Franksgiving,” as Emily couldn’t get home until late Thursday night. We ate on Friday. Food was plentiful and easier than I thought to prepare – after all, I have only one oven now and a cooktop with two fewer burners.  I gave thanks that I had a place to prepare dinner! I was also thankful that we were able to be together to eat it. I was even grateful for the mess afterward. It felt, well, almost normal. More grateful than I, though, I’m sure, is Kevin Strickland. The man...

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Dresden 4-H Club   The Dresden 4-H Club held a meeting on Sunday, Nov. 14, at the La Monte Methodist Church. There were 11 members, nine guests and two leaders present with one new member. The American and 4-H pledges were led by Samuel Dehan and Phillip Jones. Membership roll call was “Which food do you like best: Carrots or Apples?” Members gave updates on what they had done since the last meeting. Phillip Jones has been working on shooting his bow for shooting sports. Laney Pace and Tinlee Jones talked about finishing their horse area so they can practice...

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Shoppers hitting the stores early for Black Friday deals was evident by the cars flooding local parking lots, but that wasn’t in the plan for local shopper Carrie Martin. “I didn't get up too early, I got up about 7,” Martin said. “I have found good deals everywhere. JCPenney had good deals. Menards is my favorite because we have 13 grandkids and they have gifts so you can get them four gifts and spend or , that keeps us within our limit, so you don't over-do Christmas.” Headed out shopping with the same budget as last year, Martin...

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court: Justin A. Persinger and Tiffany L. Persinger; Deborah M. Hagenhoff and Jared L. Hagenhoff.

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The Sedalia Symphony Society will be presenting two special holiday events. Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at the First United Methodist Church, 916 Thompson Blvd. The Community Chorus, under the direction of Sandy Cordes, will be joined by Cheryl McCollester on piano, Debbie Mueller on organ, and the Symphony Ensemble composed of Eleanor Ballenger, Julie Willadsen, Hannah Wagenknecht, Caleb Ehlers, Mary Margaret Dale, Elizabeth Kehl, Laura Fluty, Michael Moellman, Dr. William Decker, Robert Koffman, and Jim Van Horn. There is no admission charge. This is Symphony’s gift to the community. Masks are optional.  The...

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COLE CAMP — To kick off the holiday season, Cole Camp will combine tours of area churches with a Christmas concert next weekend. Both events are free.  Roxy Viebrock and Susan Kyle are organizing the self-guided church tours in conjunction with Benton County Tourism. The free tours will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, and feature 17 churches. Eleven churches will be open for tours while six will be drive-by only. Information provided by Kyle said as the state of Missouri continues to celebrate its 200th anniversary, Cole Camp’s Bicentennial Committee has planned one last event in...

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The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is launching a statewide partnership to tackle Missouri’s teacher shortage.  On Nov. 9, DESE announced a new digitally-powered recruitment platform called TeachMO.org to identify and cultivate the next generation of teachers throughout Missouri. This done in a collaborative effort supported by the nonprofit TEACH, schools, universities, and education organizations across the state.  The state of Missouri is investing million over the next three years into TeachMO.org recruitment and retention initiatives.  “In Missouri, average teacher attrition rates for the last six years are more than 11%,” The DESE news release said. “This...

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This year’s Sacred Heart students collected a record five tons of canned goods and brought them to Open Door for distribution throughout the community. “It’s a tradition in STUCO,” Kiley Beykirch, Sacred Heart Student Council President said. “It's always something that we do. It is a really good cause, obviously, Open Door provides food for a lot of families, but also the friendly competition motivates high schoolers to donate more, which in turn, is good for charity.” Bringing the cans to Mass, every student can participate in the donation and the friendly competition with other classes. “The elementary and junior...

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The Center for Human Services hosted the 13th annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day at County Distributing in Sedalia. A total of 540 runners and walkers participated in person or virtually. All proceeds go toward supporting the CHS mission, “Life Without Limitations.”  Below are the winning times for the in-person races:  5K Run Male First: Sam Wilhelm 16:30 Second: Blain Broterson 17:38 Third: John Brothwick 19:49 5K Run Female First: Sarah Formen 21:32 Second: Kim Windle 22:42 Third: Kaslyn Gail. 23:27 1 Mile Male First: Jared Owens 6:36 Second: Elliott Clark 6:38 Third: Jacob Muin 7:36 1 Mile Female First:...

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BENTON COUNTY — A Warsaw man has been charged with murder in relation to a fatal shooting Tuesday morning. According to information from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, around 4:16 a.m. Nov. 23, dispatch received a call from an address in the Bent Tree Harbor subdivision in Warsaw reporting an accidental shooting. Upon arrival, deputies attempted life-saving measures on the victim but were unable to revive her. The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Tarah D. McIntyre, of the residence. Tuesday morning, 25-year-old Jason L. Kroenke, of the residence, was taken into custody on a 24-hour investigative hold. On Tuesday...

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WARRENSBURG — Though the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future may not make an appearance, the annual Dickens Christmas festivities are set to include Scrooge Spirits as Downtown Warrensburg takes a step back in time.  The event, organized by Warrensburg Main Street, kicks off with Father Christmas arriving by train at 9:30 a.m. and festivities will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 in Downtown.  “We’ve added a new event this year, called Scrooge’s Spirit Stroll,” Main Street Director Jill Purvis said. “This is going to be just a few stops and it is going to be...

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The fourth annual University of Central Missouri First Lady’s Holiday Charity Concert, set for Wednesday, Dec. 1, will benefit Survival Adult Abuse Center Inc.  UCM Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. in Hendricks Hall. A reception will precede the concert.  The concert, featuring performances by UCM students and faculty, is free and open to the public. Donations can be made of items such as winter wear, gifts for Survival clients or financial contributions to the organization’s general operating fund.  UCM First Lady Robin Best is working with UCM Bands to make this event possible.  The pre-concert...

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With the holiday shopping season officially underway, area organizations are reminding shoppers of the importance of supporting local businesses. Nov. 27 is Shop Small Saturday, a nationwide effort to support local businesses. In Warrensburg, Shop Small Week Hide and Seek is returning thanks to Warrensburg Main Street. A Shop Small heart will be hidden in various businesses from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3. If you find one, scan the QR code to be entered to win a prize package. Clues will be posted on Main Street’s social media. “You can also be entered by snapping a photo of your receipt...

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Matthew 25:35-40 is that familiar passage in which Jesus tells his followers that when he was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, a stranger, or imprisoned, they provided for him. Puzzled by this statement, they asked him when it was that they did all this. The answer was then and remains now that just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (Matt. 25:40) Jesus also told them you always have the poor with you (Matt. 26:11) and so we have. The poor, our neighbors who struggle to...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 24 2:48 a.m.: Cody Christian Paxton, 29, of the 900 block of East Boonville Street, was arrested after a vehicle stop near South Limit Avenue and East Broadway Boulevard for a headlight out and signs of impairment including stopping for a green light. It was determined the driver was intoxicated by drugs, and during a search of the car after a positive...

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While some items may be hard to find this holiday season, the University of Central Missouri is the place to go for original and creative gifts at the annual Holiday Market.  The event is planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 at the ballroom of the Elliott Student Union.  Showcasing many different vendors from the UCM student, faculty and staff community, this will be an opportunity to peruse tables of unique gifts and crafts. The market will include more than 50 vendors ranging from gourmet food, arts and crafts, clothing and more.  Santa's Workshop for kids, co-sponsored by...

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As a result of low blood donor turnout in recent months, the American Red Cross is heading into the holidays with its lowest blood supply in more than a decade at this time of year.  The ongoing effects of COVID-19 and a summer spike in delta variant cases significantly challenged the nation’s blood supply heading into the fall. The pandemic also resulted in fewer blood drives at schools and colleges, contributing to a 34% drop in new blood donors from last year, one of the largest year-to-year decreases. Locally, the Missouri-Arkansas Red Cross Region has experienced a 13.4% decrease in...

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Ulman Woman in serious condition after Johnson accident  Kaela A. Sandquist, 18, of Ulman, sustained serious injuries and Johnny R. Fields, 20, of Ulman, sustained minor injuries at 9:33 Tuesday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Fields was driving west on U.S. Highway 50 at Northwest 1971 Road in a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, and was following too closely behind a 2002 Peterbilt driven by Ray L. Greseth, 26, of Wanamingo, Michigan, when the tractor-trailer slowed to turn right into a business and the Chevrolet struck the back of the truck. Greseth was wearing...

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The Sedalia Elks Club will host its annual Christmas Basket Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 28 at the Sedalia Shrine Club. The Elks is raising money for 125 food baskets to be delivered to needy families in the community.  The breakfast includes sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and pancakes. The price for adults is and also includes Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers. The price for children is for ages 6-12; ages 5 and younger eat free.  The Club will also host a raffle with five 0 cash prizes and other items.

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“As winter approaches, an evaluation of proper nutritional and reproductive management will assist in obtaining optimum productivity in the beef operation and increase the likelihood of seeing a profitable cow herd,” says Andy McCorkill MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist.   MU Extension Livestock Specialists McCorkill and Patrick Davis are working together to provide a fall beef cattle producer management workshop at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in Buffalo. The one-night meeting will be at the Dallas County R-1 Schools Alumni Center located at 205 S. Hickory St., Buffalo. “Workshops will cover winter cattle nutrition and reproduction management strategies,” said Davis. Topics...

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When the 117th Congress passed The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, it included .5 billion in relief funding to help providers in rural areas. The State of Missouri got 5.5 million to disperse, and Bothwell Regional Health Center received a whopping ,081,061.93. Chief Financial Officer Steve Davis told the Democrat he was surprised by the Tuesday email alerting him of the massive funding H.R.1319 sends to Bothwell. “That alleviates the extra expense of overtime, extra shifts, having to hire contract staff at a very expensive rate, so that was very good news today,” Davis said. “That was not on...

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During the Tuesday night meeting of the Pettis County Ambulance District Board of Directors, 10 staff members were recognized with service awards and Chief Financial Officer Jamie Luebbering announced relief funds were received on Tuesday, EMS Chief Eric Dirck noted the staff members present Tuesday night were a “partial gathering” of the day shift. “The unique thing about this crew (they) are what I call our original staff,” he said. “They have been here since 2013, some part-time, but most of them full-time. Bobby (Sanchez) came along a little later, but everyone on this list has been here since the...

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Dear Editor: As the holiday season approaches with most of us having to-do lists that increase as the days go by, I had an epiphany of sorts. While I am in my own world of chaos, I started thinking back on the last two holiday seasons and the harrowing times brought on by what seems to be the never ending Covid nightmare. Realizing in spite of this virus still surrounding us, we are safer today, and, we are less apt to be infected  now because of our dedicated PCHC. Why this organization has become a lightning rod for the very...

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Col. Anderson D. Jaynes, one of Sedalia’s leading early citizens, came to Sedalia in 1864, just four years after Sedalia’s founding. Accordng to the 1882 History of Pettis County, Jaynes moved from Ohio, where he had recently been mustered out of the U.S. Army, 141st Regiment Ohio Volunteers, as the regiment’s term of service had expired. Jaynes had served well during his time in service, being commissioned as a colonel by the Ohio governor in the regiment the governor commissioned him to raise and equip. He had spent his military service in Ohio in charge of sending supplies and troops...

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State Fair Community College invites the community to its annual Jingle on the Green from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2 on the Sedalia campus. The event is free, and parking will be available in all campus lots.   At 6 p.m., SFCC President Dr. Joanna Anderson will give a welcome and opening remarks in Stauffacher Theatre. The free celebration features thousands of luminarias, lavishly decorated trees, musical performances, Christmas book readings, desserts and drinks, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, and student and faculty technical demonstrations and displays. Rowdie the Roadrunner and Frosty will be spreading holiday cheer throughout the...

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Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Democrat will not have a print edition Thursday, Nov. 25. The next print edition will be Friday, Nov. 26. In the meantime, readers are encouraged to visit sedaliademocrat.com to read new stories.

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Dear Editor: You know, you can call a trash dump a “repository,” like Derrick Standley does, all you want but it’s still a trash dump. And no amount of verbal lipstick can hide the smell, the blowing trash, the polluted water, the falling land values and the poor air quality that surrounds it.  Derrick Standley has already developed one landfill in Pettis County and now he wants to repeat that disaster.  Pettis County First, a group of local citizens and property owners, has presented a very reasonable solid waste ordinance to the County Commissioners to control this development. Call your...

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Western Missouri Medical Center hosts a Diabetes Support Group from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of every other month in Conference Room 1 at WMMC's main hospital building. The group will meet Jan. 25, March 22, May 24, July 26, Sept. 27 and Nov. 22 in 2022.  The seminar is free and led by a registered dietitian, answering general questions and concerns about diabetes. This event is open to those managing diabetes, as well as their loved ones, prediabetics and interested community members. For more information, contact Sherry Roberts, RD, CDE at 660-262-7717.

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The State Fair Community College Board of Trustees met in the Thompson Conference Center on Tuesday to discuss Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education grants and charter bus donations.  The board approved the DESE Area Career Center Construction Grant that awards SFCC 0,000 for the Career and Technology Center portion of the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. House Bill 2 for the 2022 fiscal year budget allocated million to the DESE for the design, renovation, construction and improvement of career technical schools provided that the costs are shared at a ratio of 50% from the state and 50%...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 22 6:44 p.m.: Cassidy D. Hodges, 29, of the 400 block of Welch Court, was arrested after a civil standby request. The female involved revealed she had a 0 cash-only Pettis County warrant. After investigation, it was also determined she had also assaulted the caller. She was arrested on the warrant and placed on a 24-hour hold pending a state charge of...

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Two Knob Noster girls hurt in Pettis ATV accident Two Knob Noster girls, ages 15 and 14, sustained minor injuries at 2 p.m. Monday in a Pettis County ATV accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the 14-year-old driver failed to negotiate a left-hand curve, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned. Both occupants were wearing safety devices but were ejected.  They were transported by Pettis County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.  Norborne man in serious condition after Saline accident Timothy A. Langton, 54, of Norborne, sustained serious...

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Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It provides us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for that are otherwise taken for granted. I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband, three well-rounded, beautiful children and five wonderful grandchildren. I am thankful for my modest home, our two loveable dogs and a comfortable place to rest my head at night. I am thankful for my friends who are willing to be honest with me when I’m wrong and are my cheerleaders when something goes very right. I...

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Col. Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds everyone there will be an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Drivers should remain alert to changes along their normal route. Regardless of traffic patterns, safety should remain a priority. The counting period for the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28. Troopers will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., enforcing all traffic laws, and available to assist the public.  Over the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, 12 people were killed and 379 injured in 1,166 traffic crashes....

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The Warrensburg Police and Fire departments will be hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at 415 Commander Drive.  To schedule an appointment, visit donate.savealifenow.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/71340.  All presenting donors: ● Must wear a mask covering mouth and nose at all donation locations regardless of vaccination status. ● Must be 14 days symptom-free if recovered from COVID-19. ● May not donate if they have a positive diagnostic test or experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days. ● May not donate if they are currently on self-quarantine restrictions. The Community Blood Center does not test for...

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More Missourians are expected to travel and gather together this year for larger Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations after a quieter holiday season in 2020 because of COVID-19. State Fire Marshal Tim Bean is advising people to reduce the risk of fires as we enter the five-week period of elevated fire hazards. “Thanksgiving begins a five-week period of elevated fire hazards, with the three tops days of the year for cooking fires all occurring between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day,” Bean said. “Candles and holiday decorations are also fire hazards, and the top three days of the year for candle fires...

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MORA — A new concept in building trades is being introduced by a local rancher that has a three-pronged business plan, includes children and adults and takes one back to the roots of blue-collar work.  With technology and computers seeming to rule the world and the lives of many youth and parents, David Von Holton, co-owner of Von Holten Ranch with his wife Brandy, has begun a new venture, “Building with David.” The business offers custom furniture pieces, the one-time purchase of wooden puzzle kits and an in-home building subscription service.  David noted 90% of the business will focus on...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 19 9:52 a.m.: Shannon Renee Spruell, 39, of the 200 block of West Sixth Street, was arrested after a traffic stop near West Broadway Boulevard and South Vermont Avenue because the registered owner's license status was revoked. Spruell was arrested, transported to the Pettis County Jail, and booked on a State charge of felony driving with a revoked license. 2:24 p.m.: James...

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Though sweet potato is one of the most widely served side dishes at Thanksgiving dinner today, it probably wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving in 1621, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. According to an account by Plymouth settler Edward Winslow, waterfowl, venison and seafood dominated the meal. He also mentions corn.  “Everything else at the three-day feast is speculative,” Trinklein said. In his journals, Christopher Columbus records encountering sweet potato during his fourth voyage to Yucatan and Honduras, and he is credited with introducing it to Spain around 1500. Colonists took sweet potato back to...

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Nov. 15 Shane M. and Mariah Zink to Kristina Parker, section 4; township 45; range 21. JML Remodeling Properties LLC to JML Contracting and Properties LLC, Green Ridge Evered, block M.  Paulena Gail Rhodes to Dawn Lynn and Austin E. Lewis, section 3; township 44; range 21.  Jose Almazan to Diego Almazan, section 33; township 46; range 21.  Farrell J. Segebrecht to Robert and Judy Camp, DeJarnette IRA 1st, lots 2, 3, block 10.  James R. Harrison, Peggy Harrison, Mark R. Harrison and Pamela Harrison to Carla J. Brock, Rainbow Addition 2nd Subdivision, lots, 9, 10, block 7.  Nov. 16...

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While gas prices were predicted to be on the rise last week, they have now fallen in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. According to information provided by GasBuddy, last week predicted that only 32% of American drivers will drive to gatherings for Thanksgiving this year compared to 65% in 2019, and those who did choose to drive would be met with record gas prices. “The national average price of gasoline is projected to decline to .35 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day, still amongst the highest we’ve seen in over seven years,” GasBuddy noted.  “But there remains a remote chance that...

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Every year on Thanksgiving, residents from all across the county gather in front of Hotel Bothwell to officially celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.  The annual Thanksgiving night lighting and fireworks display first began in the fall of 1999 after Furnell Companies took ownership of Hotel Bothwell in 1998.  Furnell Investments Inc. Vice President Erica Eisenmenger said the first lighting ceremony in 1999 was a simple affair with fewer than 30 people in attendance but it has grown since then.  “The lighting is a great opportunity to kick off the holiday season,” Eisenmenger added.  The lighting and firework show...

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Pettis County added 83 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,690, according to the Pettis County Health Center.  According to the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Monday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website reports Pettis County has a positivity rate of 8.9 % for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 9.5% for the last week with PCR testing. The locally calculated positivity rate for the week of Nov. 8-14 was 10.25%. This week there were 571 PCR tests and 396 antigen tests for a total...

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Author and Army veteran Jeremy Amick and two of the veterans featured in his books, “Liberty’s Wounds” and “Together As One,” were at W-K Chevrolet in Sedalia for a book signing Saturday. “We are actually showing several of them. ‘Show-Me Veterans’ is one of the most recent books and covers the entire state and highlights about 150 veterans from Missouri, Civil War through more recent conflicts,” Amick said. “The two gentlemen I’m with today, I’ve written their biographies. James Shipley from Tipton, he was a mechanic and crew chief with the Tuskegee Airmen, and then also Bryce Lockwood is the...

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A local man has been charged after the Sedalia Police Department conducted a drug investigation. According to an SPD news release, just after 6 a.m. Monday, members of the Sedalia Police Department’s Crime Resolution Unit and Tactical Entry Unit responded to the 300 block of North Heard Avenue to serve a search warrant related to an ongoing drug investigation. Entry was made through the front door where three adult subjects and two juveniles were found. A male suspect believed to be involved in the illegal drug activity was detained without incident. A detailed search of the male suspect’s room revealed...

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Three from Cole Camp injured in Benton County DWI accident An 8-year-old female and an 11-year-old male from Cole Camp received moderate injuries, and Jeremiah J. Casdorph, 40, from Cole Camp received serious injuries at 9:15 p.m. Sunday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Casdorph was driving south on U.S. Highway 65 in a 2005 Mitsubishi Galant when it traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch, became airborne, overturned, and came to rest on its roof.  All passengers were wearing seat belts and were transported to Bothwell Regional Health...

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The elementary schools in the Sedalia 200 school district all spend different ways celebrating Thanksgiving together.  Each year, students in the elementary schools spend the day building crafts, disguising paper turkeys, making pilgrim hats, learning about the history of Thanksgiving, and most of all having fun with their teachers and friends at school.  This year students are able to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on a Friday, the best day of the week for any student, due to the school board extending Thanksgiving break.  Heber Hunt Elementary School celebrates the holiday each with a Thanksgiving feast, Principal Angela Meyer said there...

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The Sedalia Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas Parade in downtown Sedalia. This year, the parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. The alternate date will be Dec. 11. The theme is “Christmas at the Movies.” “We're super excited to be able to have the parade because last year we were unable to because of COVID, and so this year we're excited to be able to offer the nighttime parade again,” said Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debra Andresen, Friday. “Parents can bring their kids out, we'll have food trucks, and of course,...

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MORA — A new concept in building trades is being introduced by a local rancher that has a three-pronged business plan, includes children and adults and takes one back to the roots of blue-collar work.  With technology and computers seeming to rule the world and the lives of many youth and parents, David Von Holton, co-owner of Von Holten Ranch with his wife Brandy, has begun a new venture, “Building with David.” The business offers custom furniture pieces, the one-time purchase of wooden puzzle kits and an in-home building subscription service.  David noted 90% of the business will focus on...

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Wednesday the American Inn, 1217 S. Limit Ave., was served a Cease-and-Desist order by the Sedalia Police Department. Multiple instances of illegal activity, a lack of a business license, the inability to pass fire department safety inspections, and an unwilling attitude from management to work with the City led to the closure of the business. “There certainly appears that there's been some criminal activity going out of that facility that the management maybe could have could have worked with us better to help stomp that out, but there are other things at play here as well,” City Administrator Kelvin Shaw...

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Dear Editor: I was very surprised that it took the bank in the small town of La Monte, MO to post a full page notice in the November 6, 2021 edition of the Sedalia Democrat concerning what the current administration is trying to get passed as a part of the Budget Reconciliation package.  All banks would be required to report all bank account deposits and withdrawals to the IRS for tax verification purposes. With all of the banks and financial institutions that are in Sedalia, why haven't some of them been speaking up in public? This is something that everyone...

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During daily meetings Nov.15-19, the Pettis County Commission completed the following: Nov. 15: The Commission met with Sheriff Brad Anders to discuss ongoing projects in the Jail. Citizens David Brown and Dan Lowe visited and inquired regarding the proposed landfill. Nov. 16: Pettis County First Representatives Mark Edwards and Bill Taylor visited with the Commission. A pre-construction meeting was held with Anderson Engineering and Cale Seymour for the Springfork Road Bridge Project. Present: Anderson Engineering Design Engineer Mitch Gibler, Anderson Engineering Construction Project Manager Kurt Mester, Owner of Seymour Construction Cale Seymour, GIS Director James Theisen. Nov. 17: Robert Brundage...

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Dear Editor: I was very surprised that it took the bank in the small town of La Monte, MO to post a full page notice in the November 6, 2021 edition of the Sedalia Democrat concerning what the current administration is trying to get passed as a part of the Budget Reconciliation package.  All banks would be required to report all bank account deposits and withdrawals to the IRS for tax verification purposes. With all of the banks and financial institutions that are in Sedalia, why haven't some of them been speaking up in public? This is something that everyone...

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The Kansas City “Star” reported that a parent group in Liberty is pushing back on the school’s proposal to ban some books from the school library.  The arguments began when other parents objected to certain books, saying that certain words and attitudes and ideas are inappropriate for students to read. I immediately remembered when I was seven, and my dad came around the corner. I was reading an 87th Precinct book. Daddy: “Here! What are you doing?” Me: “Reading.” Daddy: “But you shouldn’t be reading THAT!” Me: “Why not?” Daddy: “Well, harrrrumph! Harrrrumph!” Befuddled about what to say, he said...

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Upward Bound students at Smith-Cotton High School recently raised funds to support the Community Café.The UB Student Leadership Board sold meat sticks to raise money for the Sedalia/Pettis County Community Café, which provides a meal at no cost each weeknight. The Leadership Board presented Anna Johnston, the café’s student director, with a 0 check to support the café’s efforts. The Leadership Board also volunteered to provide and serve a meal at the cafe.Upward Bound President Ethan Moore said, “While Upwards Bound's main purpose is to guide our students to the path of secondary education, we also highly value meaningful participation...

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When it gets close to the end of the year, there are only two types of Americans. And both of them live in my house. I recently overheard my children “arguing” in the bathroom as they were brushing their teeth and getting ready for bed. My four-year-old son, in his usual exuberant fashion, was singing loudly: “We WISH you a Merry Christmas, we WISH you a Merry Christmas, we WISH you a Merry Christmas, we WI —“ My seven-year-old daughter cut him off abruptly with a bellow: “IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS YET!!!!!” She’s right. Heck, I only just rolled the rotting jack-o-lanterns off my front...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case.Sedalia Police DepartmentArrestsNov. 175:23 p.m.: Nathanael A. David, 32, of the 2800 block of South Ingram Avenue, was arrested after an officer responded to Break Time, 808 East Broadway Boulevard, for a verbal disturbance. A computer check revealed one of the two subjects had a revoked driver’s license yet had driven to the store. David was arrested and transported to the Pettis County Jail pending State charges of...

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18-year-old from Whiteman AFB in serious condition after Johnson accident Breckin D. Harden, 18, of Whiteman Air Force Base sustained serious injuries at 9:37 p.m. Wednesday in a Johnson County accident.According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Harden was driving east on Highway 50 in a 2015 Subaru BRZ when he failed to navigate a turn, traveled off the right side of the road, and struck a tree. Harden was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to Research Hospital in Kansas City by Johnson County Ambulance District. Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not...

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Depending on when you read this column, I’ll officially be a homeowner this weekend.After years of living in a dorm, the Sigma Kappa Sorority house, apartments and a rental house, I’m jumping into the world of owning a home for the first time. After nearly a year of searching for the right house, we finally found one back in October. We didn’t pick the best time to search for a new home with low inventory during an ongoing pandemic. Viable houses were on the market for barely a day before going under contract. Luckily, I have a flexible schedule at work...

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Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some meetings may be canceled or postponed. Please call the organization for information on cancellations. To have your event or meeting listed or changed, send details to fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000 ext. 1481.SUNDAYAll day: AA Hotline number is 660-826-9608.Noon and 7 p.m.: Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 Non-smoking group, Sunday through Saturday; at 201 E. Sixth St., in First Baptist Church Annex, 660-829-2527.1:30 p.m.: Open Door Soup Kitchen, 417 W. Pettis St. Call 660-827-1613.3 p.m.: Call to the Nation to Pray, pray where you are during the COVID-19 pandemic. 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous Because We Care and...

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Pettis County Recorder of Deeds Barbara Clevenger recently issued marriage licenses to:Christian Lee Mason, 21, and Micaela Renee Black, 20, both of Sedalia; Larry Joe Ream, 59, and Jeamette Ann Tumlinson, 55, both of Sedalia;Matthew Louis Barkacs, 30, and Kassandra Dawn Wilson, 30, both of Sedalia;Kurt Randall Walder, 25, and Jessica Ann Schibi, 22, both of Warrensburg; Taylor Michael Gillam, 25, and Elizabeth Ann Cooper, 22, both of Sedalia; Jason Edward Vanderpool, 48, and Gennifer Elaine Hix, 35, both of Marshall;Jacob Tyler Myszka, 19, of Kansas City, and Taylor Nicole Allen, 17, of Sedalia;William Charles Gebelein, 30, and Katelyn Shanice Maupins, 23, both...

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Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to seniors, the homebound and handicapped citizens of Sedalia. The food is prepared by Superior Vendall and is delivered by volunteers. Meals cost . For more information on receiving meals or becoming a volunteer, call 660-826-5039. Meals will be delivered by Sedalia area realtors.Monday: Chicken breast filet, potatoes and gravy, peas, pudding, milk and roll.Tuesday: Chili, peanut butter sandwich, crackers, cinnamon apples and milk. Wednesday: Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, cake, roll and milkThursday: CLOSED Friday: CLOSED

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Fiction “Game On,” by Janet Evanovich. “Mercy,” by David Baldacci. “The Christmas Promise,” by Richard Paul Evans. “The Dark Hours,” by Michael Connelly. “A Line to Kill,” by Anthony Horowitz. “Never,” by Ken Follett. “Clive Cussler’s: The Devil’s Sea,” by Dirk Cussler. Nonfiction “Not All Diamonds and Rose,” by Dave Quinn. “The Book of Hope,” by Jane Goodall.  “The Writing of the Gods,” by Edward Dolnick.

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These people were recently granted divorces in Pettis County Circuit Court:Misty A. Cook and Nicholas W. Cox;Erin Gottschalk and Trevor Gottachalk;Janet L. Disney and Randy J. Disney;Jill Newton and Robert Newton;Logan D. Brashears and Kalie R. Brashears. 

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Mr. and Mrs. Ted Williams, of Sedalia, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with a family dinner Nov. 21.  Merrilyn Struck and Ted Williams were married Nov. 21, 1981, at the First Christian Church in Carrollton.  Mr. Williams is the owner of Williams Family Farms, Inc. and Mrs. Williams is retired from State Fair Community College. They have two children Laura (Jeremy) Goss, of Cole Camp, and Melissa (Wyatt) Shipman, of Blue Springs; and two grandchildren Will and Emma Shipman.  The couple is planning an anniversary trip at a later date.

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Fiction“Twisted Tea Christmas,” by Laura Childs.“The Inheritance of Orqufdea Divina,” by Zoraida Cordova.“Rock Paper Scissors,” by Alice Feeney.“The Unknown,” by Heather Graham.The Wedding Guest,” by Susan Mallery.“Apples Never Fall,” by Liane Moriarty. “Keep Me Warm at Christmas,” by Brenda Novak.“Foul Play,” by Stuart Woods.Nonfiction“Travels With George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy,” by Nathaniel Philbrick. 

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Monday9:30 a.m. to Noon: Cole Camp City Park.2 to 4 p.m.: Lincoln City Park.Wednesday10:15 a.m. to Noon: Warsaw, Walmart.1:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Warsaw, Drake Harbor.FridayNo run. 

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Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCMThe Grow and Glow Garden Club FGCM met at the Co-Mo Electric Coop Public Meeting Room at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16. Guests, Ardi Ash, and Leanne Sparks were welcomed by Barbara Harrison, club president.   The Roll call “How do, or will you use herbs in your life?” was answered by the 16 members and two guests. Vision of Beauty Calendars were distributed by Gay Nau. Harrison handed out new Garden Club Manuals and inserts that had been purchased.   Janet Mulcahy gave an update of plans for honoring Veterans at the Versailles Blue Star Memorial Christmas Tree Lighting...

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Two historical homes in Sedalia will be on tour Saturday with the proceeds going to a good cause. The homes at 501 W. Broadway Blvd. and 200 W. Broadway Blvd. were built by Sen. John T. Heard in 1891 and 1906. The Heard Memorial Club House, at 200 W. Broadway Blvd. is hosting the event with proceeds going back to the home’s upkeep. Stacey Beard, chair for the fundraiser, said the owner of the home at 501, Susan Daly, reached out to club members. “Their home is on the market now and it’s more tourable,” she noted. “We have always...

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Sedalia Parks and Recreation will be opening Light Up Liberty again this year with some new displays to shine the Christmas spirit.  Light Up Liberty will begin on Nov. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. so that guests can enjoy the downtown lights event at Hotel Bothwell before making their way down to Liberty Park.  Special Events and Marketing Manager Savannah Lynde said that there will be 10 new displays this year at the park along with a new Christmas Tree in the Liberty courtyard area and a new 30-foot light-up tree by the lagoon.  “Another thing we added...

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Magic will be in the air this Saturday and Sunday at the Hayden Liberty Center as nationally known Chicago magician Scott Green performs on stage. The event is sponsored by Liberty Center Association for the Arts Board Member Karen Ellebracht and her husband Steve and several Sedalia businesses.  According to Green’s website, he graduated from law school and passed the bar in 2009. Also in 2009, he was named one of the 100 best young writers in America. Although these accomplishments were great, he turned to the performance art of magic and now entertains and performs hundreds of shows a...

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Care Connection to provide help with Health Insurance Marketplace Care Connection has licensed navigators who can provide one-on-one, unbiased information and enrollment help for people interested in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Open enrollment for the 2022 plan year began Nov. 1 and continues through Jan. 15, 2022. To get coverage by Jan. 1, you must apply by Dec. 15. Care Connection has several navigators who are specifically trained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help consumers, small businesses, and their employees as they look for health coverage options through the Marketplace.   Licensed navigators help people register on...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Oct. 25 10:35 p.m.: Mark W. Balch, 31, of the 200 block of South Quincy Avenue, was arrested in the 900 block of Winchester Drive for safekeeping. Officers responded to a verbal domestic and upon arrival the male subject, who was intoxicated, became aggressive toward the officers. He was taken into custody and transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center and then to the...

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Colorado couple injured after hitting deer in Lafayette County Silvia Yolany Ruiz Olivia, 40, of Greeley, Colorado received moderate injuries at 3:45 a.m. Nov. 18 and a passenger, Fransisco Alvarado, 33, also of Greeley, Colorado, received minor injuries, as she was driving in Lafayette County. The crash occurred as she drove her vehicle eastbound on I-70 and a deer entered her path. The vehicle struck the deer before stopping  Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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As we approach the time we celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to talk to you about nine guys who missed Thanksgiving. Not the holiday but what the holiday is all about. It is probably the most popular Thanksgiving text of all time found in Luke 17. Jesus is on one of His many road trips when He meets 10 men who have contracted the most dreaded disease of their day, leprosy. This disease can take 30 years to run its course, all the while wreaking grotesque damage to the body. Add to this the emotional pain. Lepers were cut off from...

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Dear Pretender releases new album this week The Band Dear Pretender comprised of Casey Samson (Vocals/Guitar), Evan Stratton (Guitar/ Vocals), Kyle Borchers (Bass/Vocals) and Jason Joy (Drums/Piano) released a new album, ”One Thing At A Time” on Nov. 16. The album was recorded at Lo-Field Studio, and mixed by Kyle Borchers.  Joy noted the band hadn't planned on getting back in the studio so soon after their first record, but as with many others, COVID-19 had a “strong hand” in changing their plans. After the first record came out the band was able to make a few “splashes'' and were...

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Pleasant Hill woman hurt in Henry accident Mary A. Blackmore, 23, of Pleasant Hill, received minor injuries at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday in Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Blackmore was driving west on state Route 2 at Route D in a 2007 Pontiac when she traveled off the roadway and overturned, coming to rest in a ditch.  Blackmore was wearing a seat belt and was transported by the Windsor Fire Department to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Alabama man seriously injured in Pettis motorcycle accident Charles D. Dodd, 70, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, sustained...

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The 18th annual Santa’s Helpers Memorial Toy Run will be hosted Nov. 27.  Toys will be collected from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Cole Camp Fire Department and from 1 to 2 p.m. at Yeager’s Cycle Sales Inc. The Sedalia Police Department will escort riders from Yeager’s Cycle to The Salvation Army, 1200 E. Broadway Blvd., and arrive at 2:15 p.m. All toys and monetary donations go directly to The Salvation Army in Sedalia.  The event is rain or shine. Ride a motorcycle, drive a car or truck — all are welcome. For more information, call Mike at 660-668-4751...

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Smith-Cotton High School instrumental music students performed Saturday in all-district auditions at Warrensburg High School. Competing with about 325 students from 35 schools, more than 20 S-C students earned all-district recognition, with five Tigers – Holden Fox, Barrett Neal, Wyatt Flandermeyer, Lennyn DeLeon and Alisa Sonnik – being awarded first chair for their instrument. Based on their all-district placements, the following students are eligible to audition for all-state honors on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Hickman High School in Columbia: Fox, Brewington, Flandermeyer, DeLeon, Wyatt, Sonnik, Brandon Biggs, Caleb Ehlers, Aaron Dmitruk, Regina Robinson, Darren Sanchez, Eddie Alvarez, Ethan Fones, Isaiah...

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State Fair Community College’s TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program celebrated its 20th anniversary on Nov. 8 with a reception in Yeater Learning Center on the Sedalia campus. Current students, alumni, TRiO staff, and employees gathered to reflect on how the program has helped more than 800 first-generation students graduate from SFCC and continue on to earn bachelors’ degrees. The TRiO programs began under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. In 1968, TRiO Student Support Services was added as the third program, making a “trio” of federal outreach and support programs. However, TRiO has grown to eight...

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Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada is visiting high schools throughout the county to bring awareness to voting.  La Strada and his team, which consists of Hiram Carlos, Samantha Candelas, Maurize Robinson, Merari Peña, and Magaly Peña, have or will host voter drives at local high schools and State Fair Community College for all students who are 17 and a half and older. Their purpose is to get students engaged in the election process as the 2022 midterm election approaches.  La Strada said voter drives are something they have always done since he has taken office.  “We’re not obligated by...

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The American Legion Department of Missouri Boy Scouts Committee announced that the Eagle Scout of The Year program for 2022 is underway. The program at the national level grants the winner a ,000 scholarship and three other Eagle Scouts each receives a ,500 college scholarship. Prospective nominees must be a registered, an active member of a Boy Scouts of America unit chartered to an American Legion post, American Legion Auxiliary unit of a Sons of The American Legion squadron or be an active member of a Boy Scouts of America unit and have a parent or grandparent possessing up-to-date membership...

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Missouri’s last surviving Tuskegee Airman and a survivor of the 1967 USS Liberty attack will be at W-K Chevrolet this Saturday along with military author Jeremy Amick for a book signing. Amick will sign his books “Together as One,” about Tuskegee Airman James Shipley, 98, of Tipton, who served during World War II; “Liberty’s Wounds,” which gives the account of Marine veteran Bryce Lockwood, of Stratford, who survived an attack on the ship in 1967; and “Show-Me Veterans” that highlights veterans throughout Missouri.  Charlie Guthrie, a Navy veteran of Marshall and a friend of Amick, will also attend the event....

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The Sedalia Fire Department and Sedalia Police Department have teamed up again this year to raise funds for Community Santa by growing facial hair. “This is a good program because it's something for officers to do, something that’s different, something that helps morale,” Chief Matthew Wirt said. “It provides a friendly competition between the police department and the fire department. We started it three years ago to help raise funds for different charities In the community. This year once again is the Community Santa, which of course is a good program throughout the community.” So far, the police department has...

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Sam Childers, known as the Machine Gun Preacher, is returning to Sedalia to give his testimony of deliverance from drugs, crime and violence on Friday at Olive Branch Baptist Church.  Childers spoke at the church in June 2019 and recently asked Pastor Jason McClain if he could return this November to speak again. He will talk about how he turned his life around and began rescuing children in war-torn eastern Africa. Childers’ story was captured in a Hollywood movie, “Machine Gun Preacher” starring Gerard Butler, and was based on his book, “Another Man’s War.”  His early life was one of...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 10 5:58 p.m.: Diana S. Smith, 48, of the 400 block of East 27th Street, was arrested after a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into thefts from motor vehicles. During the course of the search warrant, several items associated with illegal drug activity were found and seized. Smith was charged with possession of a controlled substance and a failure...

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I recently read a meme on Facebook that said this: “Imagine if my husband monitored my bank account, forced medical treatment on me that I didn’t want so that I could work, charged me by the mile every time I drove…wouldn’t you want me to get out of that abusive relationship? If yes, why do we let the government do it to us?” When I first heard about President Biden’s request to monitor all bank transactions over 0, I laughed because I was certain that someone was spreading misinformation. I was wrong. It was a real proposal. After receiving much...

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In their first musical since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Smith-Cotton High School theater students will perform “High School Musical” this weekend. SCHS Speech and Theatre Teacher Elizabeth Carter said on Tuesday there are around 40 students in the cast, plus 10 backstage and 10 who are playing live music. She added the students are excited to be back on stage. Carter said the musical is about the characters Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez who meet during winter break and sing together. During winter break they find they have chemistry and a connection to each other. “Then it turns out that...

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WARRENSBURG — Thrifting-savvy customers have one more chance to shop the Charity Garage Sale this year. The Charity Garage Sale will be hosted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 18-20 at 721 N. Charles St., Warrensburg, in the former Gordmans building. Christina Burke, co-owner of Axion Internet Services and a former Warrensburg Animal Rescue board member, said this will be the last sale for the year. She added that the garage sale organizers set an ,000 fundraising goal for the year and are now only ,000 away from reaching it. “We thought we were crazy but we’re almost there,...

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All interested persons are invited to attend the 7 p.m. Nov. 18 meeting of Mid-Missouri Artists at the Warrensburg Community Center Arts and Crafts Room. All MMA meetings/programs are free and open to the public.  Artist Stefanie Aziere-Sattler will present the program based on her creation of the mural along the Spirit Trail. The 4-mile-long, 10-foot-wide asphalt trail connects from the Warrensburg East Hale Lake Road trail and runs along state Route DD until it climbs Bristle Ridge. At Bristle Ridge, people can view the 100-foot painted visual depiction of Johnson County, past and present. Trail travelers can capture a...

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In his pamphlet “A Feast of Cold Facts,” Sedalia booster I. Mac DeMuth described the First Christian Church dedicated in 1889 by noting the seating capacity, the range of utilities, the pipe organ, and the elaborate parlors. He fails to mention the “pictured windows” that presented images of Bible stories. When the old building was demolished in 1964, several of the windows were moved to the new church. Here they continued to present images of stories and characters from the Bible.  Four of the windows are in a room off the hallway near the west entryway. The windows are placed...

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Two Sedalia women injured in Johnson accident Lisa L. Morris, 35, of Sedalia, received minor injuries, and Carolyn E. Newbill, 40, of Sedalia, received moderate injuries at 5:25 p.m. Monday in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Morris was driving a 2007 Acura east on U.S. Highway 50 near state Route D when she overtook and struck Newbill who was driving a 2015 Dodge east. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Morris was treated at the scene while Newbill was transported by Johnson County Ambulance District to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.  Knob...

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Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri recently received a generous ,000 donation from Shane and Phillip Smith, of Bothwell Peak Sport and Spine. The donation will help fund programs at BGC’s six outlying Club Sites, specifically programs designed to increase academic success, improve healthy lifestyles and introduce members to the dangers of drugs and alcohol, particularly opioids.  “We are thankful to Shane and Phillip for this generous donation,” said Executive Director Gary Beckman. “Through our Neighborhood Assistance Program, which offers 70% tax credits for business owners, we are able to reap the rewards of local supporters investing right...

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Pettis County residents may see delays on roads being plowed this winter due to operator shortage statewide.  Becky Allmeroth, chief safety and operations officer for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said that being short operators is nothing new to Missouri, but it is more extreme this year.  “We are dealing with just extremely high turnover and we have been for the last five years, which our turnover has been about 600 employees per year, average about 50 per month,” Allmeroth said. “This year, we’re going on seven straight months where we’ve lost 70 employees per month and then it’s been...

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State Fair Community College and extended campus locations will close at 5 p.m. Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving break. The college will be closed Nov. 24-26 and will reopen at 8 a.m. Nov. 29.  The State Fair Career and Technology Center for high school students on the Sedalia campus will close Nov. 24-26 for Thanksgiving break and reopen Nov. 29.  The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art on the Sedalia campus will be closed Nov. 24-26. The museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 28. Regular museum hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m....

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The Christmas season is almost here, and The Salvation Army in Sedalia is in need of some help as they offer help to Pettis County residents in need. The Salvation Army is taking applications for Christmas assistance until Dec. 3. Pettis County residents can sign up in person at 1200 E. Broadway Blvd. from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. Applications can also be mailed or emailed to the Salvation Army. Applicants will need proof of ID, proof of address and proof of income. Magen Hudson, of the Salvation Army,...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 15 9:05 p.m.: Marshall G. Buesing, 37, of the 1100 block of East 14th Street, was arrested after officers responded in reference to a domestic disturbance. The victim stated her husband was intoxicated, broke down the door and assaulted her. The suspect was identified, arrested, and transported to Pettis County Jail pending state charges for domestic assault, property damage, and knowingly burning...

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The Sedalia License Office in the Thompson Hills Shopping Center will be closed Nov. 25-28 to observe Thanksgiving. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29.

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A covert investigation by the Sedalia Police Department Crime Resolution Unit (CRU) over the past several months has led to the arrests of nine Sedalia residents found to be distributing drugs throughout the community. “Our big idea with it is to really work on those individuals who try to avoid our normal investigative techniques in search warrants,” Sedalia Police Chief Matthew Wirt said Tuesday, “and instead seek out people that are doing a lot of hand-to-hand transactions, secret transactions where they avoid where we might come to their house and do a search warrant.” A statement released Tuesday by the...

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On Monday night, the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education met at the Smith-Cotton High School Student Commons to make its monthly decision on the district’s mask policy.  The board will continue to revisit the mask policy every 30 days but is trying to come up with a solution on when students, staff, and faculty could stop wearing masks.  Superintendent Steve Triplett is recommending the board approve option three: When the Pettis County positivity rate is below 5% and the daily absences due to COVID-19 of both staff and students combined within a school building is less than 3%,...

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At Monday evening’s Sedalia City Council meeting, presentations were given by outside service contractors and city department heads to be used for strategic planning and to show the public the purpose for expended funds and how they compare with other City priorities. The Finance and Administration Committee under Chairman Steve Bloess and Vice Chairwoman Rhiannon Foster presented the council with four items for consideration. The first presentation was from OATS, which provides transit service in Sedalia, with a ,000 offset from the City so more affordable transportation may be provided to more individuals. “We of course have ongoing costs associated...

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Pettis County added 101 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,607, according to the Pettis County Health Center.  “The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 9.5% for the past seven days which is an increase from 7.6% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday.   “The locally calculated positivity rate for the week of Nov. 1-7 was 11.31%. The case count per 100,000 for this time period is 236.1/100,000. This week there...

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Several veterans and an active-duty serviceman were honored Sunday with Quilts of Valor at First Christian Church. Organizing the event was Jeannie Braswell, a church member and also the group leader of the local United We Sew with the Quilts of Valor Foundation. The local group is composed of four church members and five members of the Sedville Crazy Quilt Guild. The quilters selected four men from the church to honor Sunday between services, Veteran John Swearngin, who served from 1962-65 with the U.S. Navy; veteran David Menefee, who served from 1956-62 in the Army National Guard; veteran Jack Blackwell,...

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State Fair Community College bestowed emeritus status to 10 former members of the SFCC Board of Trustees on Sunday, Nov. 14, in the Thompson Conference Center in Heckart Science and Allied Health Center on the Sedalia campus.   The ceremony recognized the service of Duane Brodersen, Kenneth Brown, Robert Farrington, Jerry Greer, Robert Hoskins, Gary Noland, Judy Parkhurst, Donald Proctor, Geraldine Schrader and Ron Wineinger.  According to a news release, eligible candidates must have two letters of endorsement to serve as evidence of distinguished service, good standing with the college and have served a minimum of 12 years on the...

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case. Sedalia Police Department Arrests Nov. 12 7:41 p.m.: Tyral Zachary Sloan, 23, of the 3700 block of South New York Avenue, and Michael Allen Blanton, 35, of the 500 block of East 10th Street, were arrested after a vehicle stop in the area of South Marvin Avenue and East Broadway Boulevard for moving violations. The driver  and occupant were found to be in possession of marijuana and...

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Lincoln man hurt in Benton accident Ricky W. Shepard, 21, of Lincoln, sustained minor injuries at 9:10 p.m. Sunday in a Benton County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ricky Shepard, 56, of Lincoln, was driving west on Route C at Stevens Avenue in a 1997 Dodge when he struck an animal in the roadway.  Shepard was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by a family member for treatment.  Two hurt in Henry accident  Aylissianna N. Bowen, 23, of Clinton, sustained serious injuries, and a 3-year-old female from Kansas City sustained moderate injuries at 6:06...

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Missouri’s transportation system consists of 33,830 miles of roads and 10,399 bridges, both of which rank among the largest for any state in the nation. The Missouri Department of Transportation working with its statewide regional planning partners has identified [post_excerpt] billion in annual unfunded needs. From the broader unfunded needs, MoDOT has developed a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of projects into funded projects as state and federal transportation funds increase. Two meeting opportunities will be hosted on Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the Southwest District in Joplin and in Springfield. The presentation materials and a comment...

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Nov. 8 Rebecca J. Sieving to Lusan J. McNeal, Thompson Hills Addition, lot 133.  Nicholas and Holly A. Gentges to Eleesha Ann McMillin, West View Addition lots 32, 33, block 2.  Kelly J. and Charlotte L. Altis to Faithful Property Brothers LLC, Covered Bridge Estates Plat 2, lot 13.  Petru D. and Lilya A. Damian to Roberta Cable and Niki Coburn, West View Addition, lots 2, 3, block 10. Alexsandr and Lyudmila Yakovchuck to Edward D. and Karina V. Tseona, section 18; township 45; range 21.  Charles Edward and Alexandria Lee Zumsteg Cypert to Jeffrey and Samantha Arnwine, Morris and...

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Preschool through third graders are invited to sign up for the Sedalia Public Library program “Letters to Santa: Take n’ Make” from now until Nov. 19.  A bag with letter writing supplies, craft, snack, and a gift from the library will be available for pick up Nov. 22-28 and each child who returns their letter to Santa’s special mailbox in the Children’s Department will receive a letter from Santa in the mail. Stop by the library, 311 W. Fifth St., or call 660-826-1314 to sign up.

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