South Missourian News

“I cannot put into words the feeling I felt whenever I heard the words “you have cancer,” said Stephanie Honeycutt-Smith, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 30s. A resident of West Plains and Oregon County native, Smith was diagnosed in April of 2012 after a self-exam...

Recently, I had an opportunity to hear Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn speak at the Webster County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. You’ll rarely find a more enthusiastic champion for Missouri agriculture. A fifth-generation Missouri farmer, Chinn and her husband operate a 1,600-sow hog facility and feed mill in Shelby County. ...

Grand Gulf State Park, located on Hwy. W outside of Thayer, has recently seen improvements and construction. The public is invited to view these upgrades at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and informational meeting on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 9:45 a.m. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will present improvements made to the park, including construction of a new overlook platform and installation of eight new interpretive panels. ...

By Richard Proffer, Community Economic Development Field Specialist A question facing many rural towns today is how can they survive? They are losing population, youth and jobs. How can it be turned around? A turn around in small towns can happen if the community is willing to commit to its future and make the necessary changes. Not as easy as it sounds but it can be done...

Grand Gulf State Park, located on Hwy. W outside of Thayer, has recently seen improvements and construction. The public is invited to view these upgrades at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and informational meeting on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 9:45 a.m. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will present improvements made to the park, including construction of a new overlook platform and installation of eight new interpretive panels. ...

Mammoth Spring Chamber of Commerce met at Woods Riverbend Restaurant on Thursday, Oct. 8. Though most of the year’s events have been canceled, the chamber is still planning its annual Christmas parade. President Trena Spears welcomed those in attendance and shared condolences about the community’s loss of Steve Russell, who was a Mammoth Spring resident. Russell was active in the chamber and overall community, serving on many boards and always lending a helping hand...

The South Missourian News reported in June about Oregon County’s “cautious” plans to spend $1,235,262 – the amount received from state officials as part of the CARES Act funding. At that time, Oregon County Presiding Commissioner Patrick Ledgerwood said not a dime had been spent, as guidelines for how the money could be spent were still evolving...

Each year, the National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education...

Area schools including Alton R-IV, Couch R-I, Koshkonong R-III and Thayer R-II, announced their students will receive free breakfast and lunches through Dec. 31, 2020 or until USDA funds run out. This is an extension of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Program...

Thayer Fun & Friends Senior Center is seeking bids for work needed at the facility. The facility is seeking to have a mop sink installed for which a place has been delegated for placement. In addition, gutters are also in need of being installed. The center previously had to cancel a curbside meal event due to flooding. Regional Lead for Thayer and Alton centers Meghan Haenel stated they need a system to help route the water a different place...

Thayer School District elevated their response level to COVID-19 to yellow or tier two after the first positive case student on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Yellow level includes the campus being open with high protocols in place to mitigate spread of coronavirus. This includes face coverings required for 4th grade through 12th grade students, staff and faculty when social distancing is not possible. This began on Thursday, Sept. 24...

Alton student, Chaney Janes, has received recognition as the National Beta Club’s 6th Grade Language Arts Champion. To receive this honor, she competed in the state Language Arts competition in Springfield, Mo. where she received fifth place qualifying her for national competition...

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Circuit Court Judge Steven Privette ruled land located in the Wild and Scenic Easement, which was acquired by the Department of Natural Resources to be sold. At trial in August, plaintiffs Van McGibney and James Conner, Trustee, were “seeking a declaratory judgement that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lacks authority to purchase lands for a public park which lands are located within the boundaries of the Federal Wild and Scenic Easement. ...

Create Bridges is offering another unique opportunity for local businesses. It was recently announced a series of three webinars would be made available through Create Bridges and Retail Minded Founder, Nicole Leinback Reyhle. Reyhle is an industry retail expert, author and Small Business Saturday spokesperson. ...

The Howell County Commission has established a grant program using CARES Act funds for small businesses in Howell County to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. The Howell County CARES Small Business Relief Program is designed to provide businesses impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency with financial relief through an application-based reimbursement program. ...

Students taking classes at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) during the 2021 spring semester will see a change in the semester’s structure. Instead of offering most classes during one 16-week session, most classes will be divided between two eight-week block sessions...

National Voter Registration Day was Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft urged Missourians to register to vote or verify their registration. In a press release, Ashcroft gave more information about the upcoming election. “With the Nov. ...

The City of Thayer has been awarded $150,000 to purchase a new truck in helping update the current fleet. Fire Chief Mark Arnold is thrilled to receive the grant and said the addition of a new truck will “help the city tremendously”. A press release was issued Monday, Sept. ...