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Weekly Trivia Question
Which Missouri town is known as the birthplace of ragtime composer Scott Joplin?
(Hint: He wrote many of his compositions here.)
Last Week’s Answer:
Last week’s answer, “Which Missouri city is home to the historic Union Station?” is Kansas City, where the station has been revitalized into a major attraction.
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 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…
Chariton County Classrooms & Courts: Student Success, School Spirit, and Winter Highlights
Students across Keytesville, Northwestern, Brunswick, and Salisbury schools continue to excel academically, compete at a high level in athletics, and remain deeply involved in extracurricular and community-focused activities. This in-depth Chariton Beacon roundup highlights student achievement, school spirit, and important district updates from across Chariton…
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
WOKE AND STUPID: Maryland Democrats Push Bill That Would Require Tampons in Every Public Men’s Restroom
Screencap of YouTube video. Democrats in Maryland have figured out a new way to waste everyone’s time and money. They want to require the placement of free tampons in all public men’s rooms. This is another virtue signal from Democrats who just can’t stop falling…
President Trump to Appear Live on ‘The Five’ on FOX News Thursday 3/26/26
Screencap of YouTube video. President Trump is slated to make a live appearance on The Five on FOX News tomorrow, Thursday, March 26 at 5 PM. It’s not surprising that he would choose to appear on this particular program. The Five is consistently the network’s…
OH GOODY: Stephen Colbert Hired to Write New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie – Destined for Failure?
(The Late Show with Stephen Colbert / YouTube screen shot) Stephen Colbert, host of the now short-lived Late Show, has already lined up a new gig for the summer. He is writing a new Lord of the Rings movie. Yes, really. Colbert is apparently a…
WATCH: Trump Goes Off Script During NRCC Speech and Eviscerates Democrats for Behavior at State of the Union Adress
President Trump delivers remarks at the National Republican Congressional Committee fundraising dinner – March 25, 2026 President Trump on Wednesday took a break from his teleprompter while speaking to House Republicans, and he cooked the Democrats for how they behaved during his State of the…
Obituaries
Willene Clastine Bratton
Willene Clastine Bratton, 86, of Richmond, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at her home.
Ken Marshall Cox
Ken Marshall Cox, 85 of Higginsville, Missouri, formerly of Dover, Missouri passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Lafeyette Regional Hospital.
Joyce Eilene Kite
Joyce Eilene Kite, 82, of Odessa, Missouri, passed away on March 23, 2026, at Centerpoint Hospital. Joyce was born on March 17, 1944, in Independence, Missouri, to William and Mary (Coen) Semler.
Opinion
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…
The Pro-Life Establishment Is Actively Thwarting Abolition—Why Christians Must Take a Stand
For decades, many Christians have assumed that supporting the pro-life movement meant standing for the protection of unborn children. We donated, we lobbied, we voted—but what if the very organizations we trusted were actively preventing abolition of abortion? Pastor Jeff Durban, founder of End Abortion…
Devotionals
Arise O Sleeper..
Jonah 1:6 “What do you mean, sleeper?” Some see Jonah as a story fit for Sunday School, but I think adults would be surprised at how much they can relate to him. Jonah faced a dilemma: obey God or follow his own reasoning. Jonah chose…
Jump!..
Revelation 3:8 “…See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Before we consider the verse before us, we must remember that in…
Rescue Me!..
Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find…
Change your World..
Acts 21:11-13 “…Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him…