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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
California Primary: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Takes the Lead as Ballots Trickle In
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton took the lead late Tuesday evening, a few hours after the polls closed. President Trump endorsed Steve Hilton this week. “CALIFORNIA: Vote today for Steve Hilton for Governor. He will work with me and the Federal Government, the money…
FIRED! Scott Pelley Out at CBS News After Meltdown With Management
Screencap of Twitter/X video. Just yesterday, Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes had a total meltdown on management at CBS News, accusing the new chief Bari Weiss of trying to ‘murder’ the show. Now Pelley is out at the network. They are not renewing his contract….
NEW: US Central Command Says US Forces Intercepted Iranian Missiles and Conducted Self-Defense Strikes on Iranian Military Site
President Donald Trump and the mysteriously absent Iranian leader Mojtala Khamenei US Central Command announced on Tuesday evening that US forces defended against Iranian attacks and executed “self-defense” strikes against an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island. The US strikes on Qeshm Island…
BREAKING: Supreme Court Allows Alabama to Use Congressional Map that Favors Republicans – Sotomayor Fumes
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday evening allowed Alabama to use its 2023 congressional map that favors Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Last week, Alabama asked the Supreme Court to intervene after a lower court blocked its new congressional map. Alabama’s request to toss…
Obituaries
Debbie DeAnn Petrechko
Debbie DeAnn Petrechko, 69, of Norborne, passed away, May 27, 2026, at her home, in Norborne, Missouri. She was born April 30th, 1957 on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Chillicothe, Missouri; daughter of Calvin Forrest and Fern Evelyn (Wright) Green….
Mary Lou Hursman
Mary Lou Hursman, 81, of Higginsville, died on May 27, 2026 at Research Medical Center.
James Wansing
James Wansing, 25, of rural Marshall, MO, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2026, at his home.
Larry Ray Haesemeier
Larry Ray Haesemeier, 71, of rural Sweet Springs, MO, died Thursday, May 28, 2026, at his home.
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
Be Free!..
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” When you woke up this morning, you faced an old enemy. That enemy was not an invading army or a…
The American Spirit..
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Much has been written about the extraordinary virtues and values of the American spirit. How is it that our nation came to express…
An Aroma of Sacrifice..
John 12:3 “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” Once contained in a bottle, now covering the feet…
The Fragrance of Worship..
Psalm 29:2 “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Worship often evokes images of stained-glass windows or dimly lit cathedrals, accented by candlelight, but true worship is not dependent on a setting or atmosphere….