Sedalia Community Helping Hands celebrates completion of 50 homes

Members of Sedalia Community Helping Hands pose for a photo on Tuesday, April 8, as they celebrate the completion of their 50th home project. From left on the back row are Brice Bell, Traves Williams, Robin Balke, Ray Marquez, and Wayne Rhoads; from left on the front row are Paul Beard, Sharyn Fante-Hession, Stephen Hession, David Esser, and Stacey Beard.

Sedalia Community Helping Hands celebrated completing its 50th home repair during its board meeting on Tuesday, April 8. Sharyn Fante-Hession, the secretary of SCHH, said the organization …

State Fair Community College gets ready for Spring Plant Sale

SFCC students Sunny Morris and Emma Keith tend plants at the college greenhouse at the Potter Ewing building, 3201 West 16th St, Thursday in preparation for next week’s Spring Plant Sale.

Students Emma Keith, Sunny Morris and Timothy Garrigus were busily tending plants inside the State Fair Community College greenhouse for the Spring Plant Sale on Thursday, April 17 at the Potter …

Pettis County Courthouse centennial celebration planned for May 10

A 100th anniversary celebration is planned for May 10, 2025 at the Pettis County Courthouse. Tours of the historic building, music, special guests and family fun will commemorate the day.

On Saturday, May 10, there will be a celebration of 100 years of the Pettis County Courthouse. Pettis County Commission members said they have been planning the centennial celebration for …

S-C's Jeffthan Glaster to attend Missouri Fine Arts Academy

On Tuesday, April 15, Chick-fil-A announced it awarded Smith-Cotton senior Jeffthan Glaster a $25,000 scholarship. He was one of 12 recipients nationwide to receive this honor. The scholarship will allow Glaster, a third-generation Mexican immigrant, to become an orthopedic surgeon through the University of Missouri-Kansas City's B.A./M.D. Program.

Smith-Cotton High School senior Jeffthan Glaster has been selected to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy June 1-14 at Missouri State University in Springfield in the vocal and orchestral …

Missouri State Treasurer visits Center for Human Services

Pettis County Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza, Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek, Center for Human Services CEO David Kramer and Pettis County Treasurer Kim Lyne gathered Wednesday, April 16, at the Center for Human Resources to raise awareness of the MO ABLE savings program.

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malik visited the Center for Human Services on Wednesday, April 16, to offer a financial lifeline to some disabled people through a MO ABLE. Individuals who …

Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson speaks to reporters Thursday after being the lone Republican vote against a proposal to reinstate the abortion ban overturned by voters in November.

Missouri abortion ban clears House, heads to Senate

The top Republican in the Missouri House said Thursday that a proposed constitutional amendment to ban abortion approved by his GOP colleagues doesn’t go far enough to protect victims of sexual …

Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, sits at her desk on the Senate floor. Carter has filed a bill for three consecutive years on school accreditation and accountability.

Missouri school accreditation bill passes Senate for first time after three years

The Missouri Senate sent a bill to the House Thursday that would overhaul the state’s accreditation and accountability system in order to give local school districts more control. State …

State Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks to reporters in April 2022.

Missouri Democrats filibuster GOP effort to overturn sick leave

Missouri Democrats stonewalled a Republican effort to roll back a voter-approved paid sick leave law, blocking action in the Senate for more than nine hours before GOP leadership adjourned the …

Local Briefs for April 18

Pettis County announces road closure The Pettis County Road and Bridge Department announced that Anderson RD, between BB HWY and J HWY, will have daily road closures beginning next week in …

Fourteen students were selected for the 2025 Who’s Who at UCM honor. Not pictured is Aka'Ne Tinsley.

Sedalia student named to 2025 Who’s Who at UCM

Recognized for their academic excellence and strong community involvement, University of Central Missouri (UCM) seniors Marie Hall and Alyssa Robertson are the recipients of the 2025 Charno Award, …

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Linn shuts down Lone Jack

Smith-Cotton senior Jakobe Linn strikes out the final batter to help the Tigers defeat Lone Jack 5-1 in the Smith-Cotton Tournament championship game on Saturday, April 12. Read the story …

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MU Extension hosting short-term operating plans workshop

If key decision makers on a farm are unable to make decisions for a short time (2 weeks to 6 months), how well would their farm operations continue? Join University of Missouri Extension for an …

Missouri Farmers face setbacks after recent severe weather

Farmers across Missouri are grappling with widespread damages to crops, livestock, and infrastructure following a series of severe weather events that swept through the state earlier this month. …

Police reports for April 17

Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 15 9:56 a.m.: Joint Communications began receiving calls from a specific phone number in the 700 block of South Ohio Avenue. 23 total …

PHOTO: Fire recruits work simulated house fire on East 11th Street

Police Reports for April 16

Sedalia Police Department

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Missouri lawmakers approve bill targeting pending abortion lawsuit

Police Reports for April 15

Crash Reports for April 15

City of Sedalia signs collective bargaining agreement with Fraternal Order of Police

Missouri expands safe disposal efforts with awareness campaign

ToRCH Be Well Leadership Board awards grant

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Smith-Cotton track and field qualifies for Kansas Relays in six events

Smith-Cotton senior Julie Kuehner competes in a relay race during the Smith-Cotton Quad on March 21. Kuehner is a part of the girls 4x800-meter relay team that will compete in the 2025 Kansas Relays this weekend.

Smith-Cotton track and field will be represented in six events at the 2025 University of Kansas Relays on Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19, at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. The …

State Fair softball drops two against Crowder College

State Fair Community College softball lost its doubleheader to Crowder College 11-3 and 11-3 on Tuesday, April 15, in Neosho. In the first game, SFCC took a 2-0 lead after the top of the …

Berry tosses gem in Otterville’s win over Sacred Heart

Otterville junior Gabe Berry recorded 18 strikeouts on the mound Tuesday, April 15, helping the Eagles …
Smith-Cotton baseball overcomes rough first inning, trounces Hickman

After Smith-Cotton baseball fell behind 5-0 in the first inning, its plan went to chipping away at the …
Northwest’s Johnson surpasses career strikeout milestone

Tanner Johnson has reached a coveted milestone in his baseball career.

Smith-Cotton boys golf continues to display growth

It was not a perfect round for Lucas Limanskiy, but earning a medal at his first home meet was …
Area Roundup: Windsor baseball places second in home tournament

Windsor baseball finished as the runner-up of the Windsor Tournament after losing to …
Smith-Cotton holds ribbon-cutting for activities complex expansion

Overlooking the new practice fields at Smith-Cotton High School, Sedalia 200 Superintendent Todd …

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Education

Chad Williams to be inducted into S-C Hall of Fame

Former Sedalian and 1993 Smith-Cotton High School graduate Chad Alexander Williams will be inducted into the S-C Hall of Fame at 6:30 p.m. May 1 during the Spring Vocal Music Concert.

Lincoln Academic Team heads to quarterfinals after district win

The Lincoln R-2 Academic Team is heading to the quarterfinals after clinching the District Championship title earlier this month.

UCM, Green Flower push education amid Missouri marijuana boom

WARRENSBURG — Missouri has seen an increased need for cannabis education for businesses and individuals looking to enter the industry since the passage of the 2022 Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3, also known as the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. This initiative officially legalized adult-use cannabis sales in Missouri in February 2023.

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Business

Burrell Behavioral Health names Mat Gass as its new CEO

For just the third time since its founding, Burrell Behavioral Health has a new chief executive officer. Mat Gass will be just the third CEO since Burrell Behavioral Health was founded in 1977.

Creative Palette customers show off their art. The business is located at 216 Main St. in Warsaw and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, along with 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Pearcy

Creative Palette brings big city fun to small town Warsaw

WARSAW — Nestled in the heart of downtown Warsaw, Creative Palette is more than just an art studio—it’s an ever-evolving hub for creativity, community and connection.

On Wednesday, March 26, Lindsey Starr, owner of Artistic Isle in downtown Sedalia, stands outside her building next to a mural created by Paul Woronecki of Lincoln. She opened the art supply business in 2023 and offers art classes.

Photo by Faith Bemiss-McKinney | Democrat

Artistic Isle offers art supplies, classes

Artist Lindsey Starr has returned home to Sedalia to offer others the opportunity to be creative.

Bothwell earns Acute Heart Attack Ready recertification from The Joint Commission

Bothwell Regional Health Center has been granted continued compliance of its Acute Heart Attack Ready (AHAR) certification from The Joint Commission, demonstrating its ability to quickly diagnose heart attacks, including the most severe type, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEMI occurs when a major artery supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart is completely blocked.

The Ag Forward Estate Planning Forum featured Kent Lang, CPA with Anchor Point; Wesley Tucker with MU Extension; and Attorney Jim Buckley with Buckley and Buckley Attorneys at Law. It was hosted by Brett Hudson, Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Central Investment Advisors.

Photo by Chris Howell | Democrat

Ag Forward forum provides estate planning advice

An interactive estate planning panel was hosted by Central Bank of Sedalia and State Fair Community College on Tuesday, March 25, at the SFCC Thompson Conference Center.

Skelly’s Ice Cream Shoppe, a 100-year-old gas station transformed into an old-fashioned ice cream shop in Stover, has long been a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

Photo courtesy of Skelly's Ice Cream Shoppe

Skelly’s Ice Cream Shoppe to host spring cruise-in event

STOVER — The rumble of classic engines and the gleam of polished chrome will fill the streets of Stover as Skelly’s Ice Cream Shoppe, 401 W. 2nd St., welcomes car and motorcycle enthusiasts to its Car & Bike Cruise-In on Friday, April 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.