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Weekly Trivia Question
Which Missouri town hosts the annual Pershing Days festival in honor of General John J. Pershing?
(Hint: He was a famous World War I general.)
Last Week’s Answer:
Last week’s answer, “Which Missouri town is home to the famous giant fork sculpture?” is Springfield, where the 35-foot fork stands outside an office building.
Hometown Business Spotlight
Hometown Business Spotlight: Gordon Building Center
When it comes to creating, building, and improving your home or commercial space, Gordon Building Center in Salisbury, Missouri, is your trusted local resource. They provide a broad range of innovative building materials and solutions designed to add value, enhance ...
Local News
Chariton County Schools Buzz with Achievements, Competitions, and Upcoming Events
Chariton County’s small school districts are wrapping up a strong quarter filled with academic honors, athletic successes, student leadership, and community engagement. Thunder Baseball Co-op Heating Up The Thunder baseball co-op, which includes students from Brunswick R-II, Keytesville R-III, and Northwestern R-I, has kicked off…
Chariton County Schools Celebrate Final Four Wildcats, Thunder Team Spirit, and Student Achievements
Chariton County schools are celebrating student achievements and exciting athletic milestones this week! From the Brunswick Wildcats advancing to the Class 1 Final Four in Columbia, to Keytesville and Northwestern students supporting their Thunder teammates, and Salisbury students excelling in music and science competitions, the…
Hometown Business Spotlight: Salisbury Meat Market and Processing
Located just a quarter mile outside Salisbury on Highway PP, Salisbury Meat Market and Processing has been serving Mid-Missouri for over 43 years. This family-owned and operated business combines traditional craftsmanship with modern services, offering custom meat processing and a well-stocked retail shop full of…
Keytesville R-III School District Names New Principal, Seeks 7–12 Mathematics Teacher
The Keytesville R-III School District in Chariton County, Missouri, has announced a significant leadership change for the 2026–2027 school year. In addition, the district is now accepting applications for a 7–12 mathematics teacher position at Keytesville High School, offering a unique opportunity for educators seeking…
State News
HJR 173/174: Promised Income-Tax Relief or a Sales-Tax Trap for Rural Missouri?
A custom combine crew rolls through a 200-acre soybean field outside Keytesville, wrapping up harvest for a local farmer. The bill comes to around $7,000 for the job. Right now, that labor charge is not subject to Missouri sales tax. But if voters approve House…
Senator’s Wife Serves as Executive Director of Nonprofit Receiving Steady $350,000+ in Government Grants
CHILLICOTHE — Public records show that Karie Black, wife of Missouri State Senator Rusty Black (R-District 12), serves as executive director of a Chillicothe nonprofit that receives hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in government grants administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary…
Who Does Rusty Black Actually Represent? $640K+ From Outside Donors Floods His Campaigns
Chariton Beacon Investigation — Missouri State Senator Rusty Black (R-District 12) was elected to represent 18 rural counties in north Missouri — a district defined by family farms, small towns like Chillicothe and Trenton, livestock auctions, and working-class communities. Yet a comprehensive review of every…
Governor Mike Kehoe’s 2026 State of the State Address: Fiscal Discipline, Tax Reform, and Potential Challenges for Rural Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — On January 13, 2026, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe delivered his second State of the State address, marking one year since his inauguration. In a speech centered on themes of resilience, government efficiency, and long-term growth, Kehoe outlined a vision for Missouri’s…
US & World News
Rep. Brandon Gill Introduces Legislation to Ban Taxpayer-Backed Mortgages for Illegal Aliens
Texas Congressman Brandon Gill has introduced legislation to end the use of American taxpayer dollars to back mortgages for illegal aliens and other non-permanent residents. The bill will finally prioritize citizens for federal housing programs designed to help Americans achieve homeownership. Gill announced the Homeownership…
Daveigh Chase, Voice of Lilo in ‘Lilo & Stitch’ and Star of ‘The Ring,’ Dead at 35; Official Cause of Death Revealed to be AIDS
Former child actress and voice actress Daveigh Chase died earlier this month at the age of 35. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has officially ruled the cause of death as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with chronic polysubstance use listed as a secondary cause. Chase,…
WATCH: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Brushes Off Reporter Asking Why He’s Walking Through House Side of Capitol
Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas brushed off a reporter asking why he was walking through the House side of the Capitol. The Supreme Court on Monday morning issued blockbuster opinions on mail-in ballots, Humphrey’s Executor and other cases. The high court will issue its…
President Trump Announces Nomination For Labor Secretary
President Trump on Monday afternoon announced he is nominating Keith Sonderling to serve as Secretary of Labor. Keith Sonderling is currently the Acting US Secretary of Labor. Full statement from President Trump: It is my Great Honor to announce that I am nominating Keith E….
Obituaries
Houston Max “Houy” Randolph Jr.
Houston Max “Houy” Randolph Jr., 75, passed away on June 25, 2026, leaving behind a family and community that loved him deeply.
Frank Phillip “Phil” Tandy
Frank Phillip “Phil” Tandy, 83, of Odessa, Missouri, passed away at home on Friday, June 26, 2026.
Scott William Romans
Scott William Romans, 59, of Higginsville, formerly of Mayview, died on June 20, 2026 at Centerpoint Medical Center.
Opinion
Reclaiming True Conservatism: Principles That Built America
At its core, conservatism is about preserving the proven traditions, values, and institutions that have sustained human flourishing across generations. As Edmund Burke, the father of modern conservatism, observed, society is a partnership: “not only between those who are living, but between those who are…
Partiality is Detestable
Partiality is the act of giving preference to one over another. In Leviticus, the Lord is commanding that those who rule should not show favor to the poor in order to show favor to the great. The term poor is one that can be interchangeable…
The Irony of Peace: Watching Iran Through a Lens of Prophecy and Uncertainty
As I sit here, half a world away, in Mendon, Missouri, scrolling through the latest headlines at 2:43 AM, the situation in Iran commands attention. Protests that erupted late last month over economic hardships have morphed into a nationwide cry against the regime, met with…
Yes, You Can Legislate Morality — And The Bible Commands It
For years, Christians in America have been met with a familiar phrase whenever moral issues enter the political sphere: “You can’t legislate morality.” The saying sounds wise, even tolerant. It gives politicians an escape hatch and allows society to avoid the uncomfortable task of drawing…
Devotionals
Don’t Stop Now!..
Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God…
The Only Thing That Counts..
1 Corinthians 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” The apostle Paul was a speaker par excellence, schooled by the finest scholars the world could offer. He could…
He Knows..
Job 23:10 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Scripture needn’t be lengthy to be powerful, and here, in Job’s threefold declaration, is inspired proof. He knows. What does God know? As the…
Through God’s Lens..
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” As Christ-followers, our goal is to daily follow the will of God. Yet sometimes our perspective makes discipleship harder than it…