Today's latest

Missouri’s unemployment rate rose over the past year, according to the state’s September job report, which was released after delays caused by the federal government shutdown that began in October.

The report shows Missouri’s unemployment rate increased from 3.7% in September 2024 to 4.1% in September 2025. An estimated 132,000 Missourians were unemployed in September.

Despite the increase, Missouri’s unemployment rate remains 0.3 percentage points lower than the national average and has stayed below the U.S. rate for the past decade.

Several industries posted job gains over the year. Manufacturing employment grew by about 500 jobs, business services added more than 4,000 jobs, and the leisure and hospitality sector increased by roughly 500 jobs.

Other sectors saw declines. Mining, logging and construction recorded job losses, while private education and health services shed more than 3,000 jobs. The state also lost about 500 federal government positions.

State labor officials say the data reflects a mixed employment picture, with growth in some sectors offset by declines in others as the labor market continues to adjust.

Brownville Concert Series

The 2025 season for the Brownville Concert Series ends this weekend with its holiday show, featuring the New York City based nightclub performer Carole J Bufford.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is encouraging birders across the state to join the National Audubon Society’s 2025 Christmas Bird Count, taking place Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, 2026.

The annual census brings together thousands of volunteers throughout the United States, Canada and beyond to document bird species, movements and population trends. The long-running community science project provides researchers with valuable data that helps guide conservation efforts.

Missourians interested in surveying an area and reporting their bird sightings can learn more at Audubon’s website under the conservation section.

The Nodaway County Economic Development Corporation has received more than $200,000 through Missouri’s Neighborhood Assistance Program, the state’s tax credit initiative aimed at boosting community and economic development.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development administers the program, commonly known as NAP, which offers state income tax credits to Missouri-based companies that support approved local projects. The goal is to encourage investment in entrepreneurship, renovation and revitalization efforts across the state.

NCED officials say the newly awarded funds will support a series of renovation and revitalization projects in Maryville and throughout Nodaway County.

Businesses or individuals interested in participating in the NAP program can contact the Nodaway County Economic Development Corporation at 660-582-4490.

For the first time in four decades — and only the third time in 70 years — St. Joseph will see a new city clerk take office next year.

The city announced last month that longtime City Clerk Paula Heyde will retire and officially step down on Jan. 30, 2026. Deputy Clerk Kaycee Garton will assume the role in February.

In a statement, Mayor John Josendale praised Heyde’s dedication and institutional knowledge. “Paula is the life and soul of the city, she knows more than anybody when you think about longevity… She’s taught me a lot,” he said.

Heyde began her career with the City of St. Joseph in 1983. She became city clerk in 1987, succeeding Walter Welsh, who retired after 34 years in the position.

Garton, a St. Joseph native, joined the city as a police officer in 2018 before moving into administrative work. She has served as deputy clerk under Heyde.

Heyde says she looks forward to retirement and plans to spend more time traveling and visiting with family.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is inviting K–12 students across the state to take part in the 2026 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free” contest, an annual competition that challenges participants to decorate a trash can as part of MoDOT’s anti-littering campaign.

The contest encourages students to promote the “No MOre Trash!” message while showcasing their creativity. Schools and home-school programs may submit a decorated trash can in one of four age categories. Entries will be judged on creativity, adherence to the contest rules, and effective use of the theme and logo.

First-place winners in each category will receive $200 for their school. Those top entries will then be considered for the grand prize — $600 and a trophy.

There is no entry fee, but participants must submit an online entry form, photos, and a release form by March 13.

More information, including contest rules, required forms, and a gallery of past winners, is available at here.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — For those looking to add a bit of spring brightness during the long winter months, horticulture experts say paperwhites are an easy and fragrant option for indoor growing.

University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein says paperwhites produce clusters of star-shaped, sweet-scented flowers that help lift spirits during the darker days of December and January. He notes the bulbs are simple to force into bloom and make a fun project for children.

Paperwhite bulbs are commonly sold in ready-to-use kits. Once planted, they typically bloom within four to six weeks. They can be grown in potting soil or in a shallow bowl filled with gravel and water. Gardeners should keep water at the base of the bulbs to prevent rotting and store bulbs in a cool location before planting. Trinklein says paperwhites are not winter-hardy in Missouri and should not be planted outdoors.

Cool temperatures are essential to keeping the plants compact and attractive. Trinklein recommends starting bulbs around 45 degrees. Once leaves emerge, growers can move them to a bright, cool window. Nighttime temperatures in the 50s help prevent the plants from becoming too tall.

Gardeners should also monitor water quality. If water begins to smell unpleasant, Trinklein advises gently flushing and replacing it.

Paperwhites will not rebloom after their initial flowering, so Trinklein suggests enjoying their beauty while it lasts and discarding the bulbs once the blooms fade.

The Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce has named Daniel Nelson as the 2025 “Grinch,” selecting him to serve as Grand Marshal of the Downtown Maryville Yuletide Magic Christmas Parade taking place Friday evening.

Each year, community members vote for the honorary title, with proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit chosen by the winner. This year’s contest raised $1,425.34, all of which will go to Nelson’s selected organization, the Nodaway County Senior Center.

The parade steps off at 6 p.m. from Franklin Park and will make its way down Main Street to the Courthouse Square. Spectators can catch a glimpse of the newly crowned Grinch leading the procession.

The Chamber expressed appreciation to all who donated and to the finalists who participated in the annual holiday fundraiser.

Clinton & Charles Robertson/Flickr

(KMAland) -- As hunters gear up for one of the most popular seasons in the state, Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials say deer populations in the western portion of the state continue to struggle.

The first gun season for deer begins on Saturday and runs through December 10th, while the second gun season picks up on December 13th and runs through December 21st. Speaking on the latest "Outdoors in KMAland," Iowa DNR Wildlife Biologist Matt Dollison says the deer population in western Iowa is "not in a great place." He says that's reflected by doe harvest continuing to be restricted during the first gun season in all of the counties along the Missouri River, along with antlerless quotas for 2025-26 reduced to zero in Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Cass, Harrison, Shelby, and Audubon counties in KMAland.

"I feel like we might be seeing a little uptick in population here in Fremont County down here in the southwest corner--just from what we're seeing and what folks are seeing on the landscape, especially in the Loess Hills," said Dollison. "Other counties, not so much and we haven't seen the rebound we've been hoping for at all. Like for instance, one of our technicians sat in a tree for five days in a row in Page County, right in the middle of a rut, and he saw two deer, he said, in five days."

Dollison says the likely factors in the struggling deer population in western Iowa include major outbreaks of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, or EHD, over the past 10 years, and potentially not reducing antlerless quotas soon enough. Meanwhile, Dollison says deer are large enough to fend off most predatory animals. He notes that animals such as coyotes, overall, aren't believed to have a significant impact on the current lack of deer in western Iowa.

"Coyotes actually do take a significant number of fawns, but they always have," said Dollison. "I've heard numbers as much as 25-to-50% of fawns being killed by coyotes in different research studies, which seems like a lot, but it's always been a factor. The research projects and most of the people in the know on the subject don't think that coyotes have a very significant effect on deer populations."

Additionally, Dollison says Iowa DNR staff have begun ramping up efforts to collect samples for Chronic Wasting Disease testing in deer. Three cases were reported in 2024 in southwest Iowa, including ones in Fremont, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties, while another case of CWD was reported in Crawford County earlier this year.

"Especially early in the week, we're driving the roads and picking up roadkill of deer and getting those sampled for CWD and we'll be gearing up for a lot of monitoring, especially during the gun seasons that are coming up for deer," said Dollison. "So we'll be driving around and trying to get samples and if people are killing deer out there and they don't mind, please give us a call because we'd like to sample them for CWD. We haven't met our quotas anywhere except for Cass County so far, so we'd love to sample those. If folks are seeing roadkill of mature deer, we'd appreciate a heads up about that as well."

CWD is a neurological disease, similar to mad cow disease, that attacks the brain of an infected deer, causing the animal to lose weight, display abnormal behavior, lose body functions, and die. Dollison says the disease is 100% fatal in deer. But he notes that most people don't see the "clinical signs" in deer, primarily because it takes a long time for them to appear.

"We've had, I think, maybe two deer out of hundreds that (have tested positive for CWD), we've only had two showing clinical signs," said Dollison. "Almost all the deer were perfectly healthy and when we'd cut the lymph nodes out of the neck and send them off, they come back positive for the disease. It takes about three years before (symptoms start showing) in the deer and they have to contract the disease from another deer generally. Then the deer, they already die from other causes or they are harvested by hunters already before they start showing clinical signs."

Since the Iowa DNR began testing for CWD in 2002, over 530 deer have come back positive for the disease. For more information on the diseases and how to submit samples, visit the Iowa DNR's website. You can also contact Dollison at 712-350-0147. The full "Outdoors in KMAland" segment is available below:

Maryville’s first-ever dog park is now open to the public, offering residents a new space for their pets to run and socialize.

The Sunshine Bark Park, located off Halsey Street on the city’s east side, features a fenced-in area where dogs can roam freely. The initial phase of the project also includes new sidewalks, an asphalt driveway and landscaping improvements throughout the site.

Additional amenities — including dog water fountains, lighting and a washing station — are expected to be installed once weather conditions allow. Winter weather arrived before construction was fully completed, causing some delays, officials said.

“It’s open. We haven’t had a ribbon cutting — we are still waiting on some utility work to be done — but it’s available for use, and it’s another addition to our park inventory in the city of Maryville,” Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Stubblefield said. He noted that a formal ceremony will likely be held in the spring.

The project cost roughly $500,000 and was funded through the city’s local parks sales tax.

The City of Trenton has hired a veteran municipal administrator to serve in an interim capacity as the community continues its search for a permanent leader.

Scot Wrighton began work this week after being recruited by the hiring firm Interim Solutions and unanimously approved by the city council during a special meeting on Nov. 17. Wrighton brings more than 30 years of experience in city management in the United States and abroad. He previously served as city manager in Kirksville, Missouri, and Decatur, Illinois.

Interim Solutions is conducting the search for a permanent city administrator. The city removed Ron Urton from the position earlier this summer, and former clerk Cindy Simpson had been filling the role in the interim.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four Republican-led states agreed to settle lawsuits against the federal government over access to voters’ citizenship data, ending a dispute that began with the Biden administration in advance of the 2024 presidential election.

Officials in Iowa, Florida, Indiana, and Ohio entered the settlement with the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem roughly a year after the states individually sued the agency under President Joe Biden. They had alleged the previous administration was withholding information about citizenship status that they needed to determine whether thousands of registered voters were actually eligible to cast a ballot.

Each of the states could soon run searches for thousands of voters using names, birthdays and Social Security numbers through the federal government’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program. It has been significantly upgraded under the Trump administration. In turn, the settlement says the states may share driver’s license records with the Department of Homeland Security “to assist in improving and modernizing” its database.

The information sharing is likely to be a focal point of the 2026 midterm elections. Voting rights groups have already sued the administration over the expanded program, known as SAVE, arguing that the recent updates could result in eligible voters being unlawfully purged from voter lists. Separately, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has asked at least half the states for their complete voter rolls, a request that Democratic elections officials have questioned out of concern that the data would be provided to DHS.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is inviting the public to a Tree Care Workshop at its Northwest Regional Office on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The workshop, led by forester Tim Wolfe, will cover basic pruning practices, proper care for the surrounding environment, identification of tree species and key elements of tree health.

The event will run from 5–7 p.m. Registration is required and is available on the Missouri Department of Conservation website under the events tab.

For questions or additional information, participants may contact Wolfe at timothy.wolfe@mdc.mo.gov.

As fall foliage reaches its peak, the University of Missouri Extension is encouraging residents to think twice before raking and bagging fallen leaves.

Tamra Reall, a horticulture field specialist with MU Extension, says leaves provide vital winter habitat for pollinators. About 70% of bee species nest in the ground, and many native bees hibernate inside dried flower heads and stems during the colder months. Birds also rely on access to seed heads and the insects sheltering there as a winter food source.

Reall says reducing the disturbance of perennials can help protect pollinators. Leaving a natural layer of leaves insulates garden beds, creates organic-rich compost, and can help suppress weeds. She cautions against shredding leaves in flower beds because the process can destroy overwintering eggs and larvae. Instead, she recommends allowing insects to break the leaves down naturally. Leaf piles used for composting should also be left to decompose on their own.

More information is available in the MU Extension guide, “Making and Using Compost,” which can be downloaded here.

The St. Joseph School District Board of Education held a work session last week to review findings from an outside financial analysis, brought in after the district discovered budgeting errors totaling tens of millions of dollars in recent years.

At the board’s direction, administrators hired Linda Quinley, executive finance director for the Missouri School Boards’ Association, to conduct a third-party review. Quinley outlined her conclusions during the session, pointing to a significant drop in enrollment and attendance as a primary factor. The district has lost more than 1,200 students in recent years, a decline she said has reduced state revenue by about $2.8 million.

“As student attendance and student enrollment decline, you’re getting less from the state, and that’s a little piece of the ‘how-we-got-here’ story,” Quinley said.

She noted additional contributors to the shortfall, including minimal property value growth in St. Joseph, which limits property tax revenue, and delays in seeking federal reimbursements.

Quinley warned the board that without corrective action, the district risks harming the broader community. “You have to have adequate reserves to pay your bills on time,” she said. “You cannot risk missing payroll. You cannot miss paying your partner vendors in a timely manner, so they can keep their small businesses open and pay their people.”

She recommended the board hold regular budget check-ins, ask more detailed financial questions and ensure reimbursements are requested promptly. While she emphasized the district is “not in a financial crisis,” she cautioned that it could reach that point without improved practices.

The district has already begun responding to its financial challenges. On Nov. 24, the board approved a consolidation plan that will close Pershing and Eugene Field Elementary Schools and convert Lafayette High School into a middle school. The decision followed months of community discussion and analysis.

St. Joseph’s City Hall is shining in new holiday colors this season as newly installed exterior lighting illuminated the building for the first time last Friday.

The upgrade adds City Hall to the community’s long-standing tradition of festive displays at Krug Park and Hyde Park. The inaugural lighting features green and red LED fixtures to mark the start of the Christmas season.

City officials say the adjustable LED system will allow the building to be lit for holidays, community events and awareness campaigns throughout the year.

The project is part of a series of ongoing improvements planned as City Hall approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027. Recent upgrades include new sidewalks, period-style exterior lighting and fresh interior paint in hallways.

The City of St. Joseph has certified its slate of candidates for the April 7, 2026 municipal election, setting the stage for multiple competitive races as campaigning begins.

To qualify for the ballot, candidates were required to circulate petitions and collect 250 certified signatures for the offices of mayor or councilmember-at-large. District council candidates needed 75 signatures from residents within their district.

City Clerk Paula Heyde said all eight council seats will be on the ballot this cycle, along with the mayor, as the city begins a plan to stagger terms. “The district council members will only serve a two-year term. Everyone else will serve a four-year term,” Heyde said. “And then in two years, the district council will be up for election again for a four-year, and then that will begin the staggering.” She said the change is intended to limit large turnovers and ensure experienced members remain on the council as new members join.

Mayor John Josendale will face three challengers in what will be the city’s only primary race on Feb. 3. “The only candidates that will be on the ballot in February is the mayor, because there weren’t enough candidates for the other positions to have a primary,” Heyde said.

Four residents have filed to challenge the four incumbent councilmembers-at-large, and races have formed in Districts 3 and 4. Heyde noted that overall, slightly fewer candidates filed this year compared to past cycles.

This election marks the final filing period overseen by Heyde, who is retiring in January after more than 40 years with the city.

Once on the brink of extinction, the American bald eagle is again thriving — a recovery now celebrated each winter at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. The species fell to an all-time low of just over 400 nesting pairs nationwide in 1963. After decades of conservation work, the population has rebounded to an estimated 316,000 eagles, including more than 71,000 nesting pairs.

The resurgence led President Joe Biden to officially designate the bald eagle as the national bird on Christmas Eve in 2024. About 30 miles from the Northwest Missouri State University campus, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host the 46th Annual Eagle Days on Dec. 6–7 at Loess Bluffs. The event coincides with the southbound migration of bald eagles, trumpeter swans, ducks and geese, offering visitors a chance to view wildlife closer to home. Interpretive stops along the refuge’s trail will feature spotting scopes for viewing birds in distant marshes.

Staff from the World Bird Sanctuary will also give live eagle presentations at refuge headquarters, showcasing birds rehabilitated from injuries that prevent their return to the wild. Conservationists note that wildlife visibility can vary with weather conditions.

Visitors hoping to improve their chances of spotting eagles and other species are encouraged to bring binoculars or cameras.

The filing period for candidates seeking school board positions across several regional districts opens Tuesday, Dec. 9, with many districts preparing for elections scheduled for April 6, 2026.

In the Maryville R-II School District, Superintendent Philip Pohren said prospective candidates should file at the district’s central office on South Munn Avenue.

“Candidates can come to central office, pick up forms, drop off forms,” Pohren said. “Deadline is 5 p.m. December 30. District office will be open from three o’clock to five o’clock on that day, December 30, for any candidate filings that need to still come in. Other than that, we will be closed to observe the same schedule as our students will be on regarding Christmas break.”

Incumbent board members seeking re-election must also file during the same period if they intend to run for another term.

The Maryville R-II School District has started discussing its long-range facility needs as board members consider a plan to guide projects and maintenance over the next five years.

The district operates four school buildings, multiple office locations across the city and a technical school. Recent upgrades — including major improvements at Eugene Field Elementary and modernization projects at the middle school, high school and athletic facilities — were funded through the $23 million voter-approved Proposition JUMP.

Superintendent Philip Pohren said several items are expected to be included in the new facility plan, such as resurfacing the track and constructing the district’s first tennis courts. Maryville’s teams currently rely on facilities at Northwest Missouri State University.

Pohren said parking and bus lane improvements may also be reviewed. He credited the district’s strong financial position to decisions made by former superintendents. “Dating back to Larry Linthicum and then Becky Albrecht, and with the help of Logan Lightfoot, [they] made some really good decisions with finances to invest dollars that would generate some additional interest for us that we could use on projects, and so we are sitting in a really good spot,” he said.

A key part of the planning process will be studying enrollment trends. Maryville R-II currently serves about 1,500 students, and Pohren said a demographics study would help the district track local birth rates and statewide shifts. He noted that possible changes to Missouri’s open enrollment policies could affect the district.

During a recent work session, the board also discussed employee salary schedules. Along with facilities, staffing remains the district’s largest expense.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time health experts say is critical for highlighting the widespread impact of a disease that claims more lives each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. The economic burden is also significant, costing the United States more than $400 billion annually and an estimated $7 billion in Missouri alone.

Medical professionals say the month offers an opportunity for individuals to learn how to detect diabetes early. Anyone age 35 or older is encouraged to receive regular screenings for Type 2 diabetes.

Deb Hull, a diabetes educator at Mosaic Medical Center–Maryville, works with pre-diabetic patients to make healthy lifestyle and diet changes. Hull leads both group and individual classes focused on prevention and management. She stresses the importance of avoiding ultra-processed foods, noting that symptoms of Type 2 diabetes often develop gradually.

Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, progresses much more quickly, said Mosaic educator Nena Riley. Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include high blood pressure and being overweight.

Hull and Riley encourage individuals to speak with their medical providers about both forms of diabetes and to be prepared to take action if symptoms or risk factors emerge.

Feminism, women’s rights, family —these are some of the themes in Theatre Northwest’s latest show, “When We Were Young and Unafraid.”

The play, by Sarah Treem, takes place prior to Roe v. Wade in the early 1970s. The story focuses on Agnes Engles, who owns a bed and breakfast, which is turned into a women’s retreat center. Engels was fired from her job as a nurse for performing abortions. Along with Engles, the center is also run by her daughter Penny Engles, a young and rebellious 16-year-old girl.

Show dates were 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13; Nov. 14 and Nov. 15; and 2 p.m. Nov. 16, in the Studio Theater at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. Senior Billie McCoy said portraying Agnes was a different experience from previous roles.

“A lot of my characters have very strong opinions and Agnes, although she is helping women get abortions and helping women, she's also just very neutral,” McCoy said. “I have had to change a lot of myself because I'm a very opinionated person, so becoming Agnes is a lot different.”

Penny adds another perspective to the women’s retreat as a determined woman who also wants to be “normal” like the other teenagers in her life.

Penny, played by Emercyn Koski, a first-year psychology student at Northwest, made her acting debut at Northwest with this production. Koski said her psychology background gives her a different perspective.

“I’ve definitely thought very deeply about her, especially because she gets very influenced by (character) Mary Anne in the show,” said Koski. “My psychology studies, and just looking at her from farther away, I can see how easily influenced she is; and at the point of life that she is being a teenager, just how her personality was affected.”

The bed and breakfast welcomes a wide variety of characters, such as Hannah, a raging feminist in the 1970s who is looking for a lesbian utopia. Another character is Paul, a music teacher fleeing to the island from Chicago to avoid what he calls “a hippie invasion.” The main resident of the bed and breakfast is Mary Anne Rainer, a woman who flees an abusive relationship at the bed and breakfast and becomes a mentor for Penny.

Freshman Phoenix Erwin portrayed Hannah. She said the diverse cast became a very close group.

“We're such a small cast; we're so tight-knit, so we can really get to know each other and connect,” Erwin said. “I mean, we've put things together so quickly, but we haven't really hit any major road bumps or anything. It's been great."

“When We Were Young and Unafraid” was directed by Senior Paige Waddingham. Integrated into this show are both serious and divisive topics, but it balances these with lighthearted humor.

The show tells stories ranging from trying to ask a boy out to the prom to escaping an abusive relationship. Waddingham said while the specifics are fictional, some of these events happen to real people.

“I just kind of reminded them (the cast) how real this was, so that, while there's really dark, serious moments, it's also like something that gets brushed under the rug,” Waddingham said. “From the very beginning, I shared my vision, and they really adapted that into both scenes; so where it can transition quickly is, one, because of their talent, and two, because we all kind of understand that's the world.”

As work continues on a long-planned pedestrian alleyway project in downtown Maryville, the city is inviting artists to submit proposals for a new mural that will cover three building walls along the renovated passage.

Deanne Davison, the city’s director of tourism, said Maryville is open to working with artists of varying backgrounds and experience levels. “Anyone is eligible to submit a proposal,” Davison said. “At this point, we’re not necessarily looking for completed designs, but we’re looking for people who may have experience in murals or in large-scale artwork.”

The alleyway project, which broke ground in October, aims to transform the space between The Pub and Midwest Bank into a community gathering area featuring a playground, public art, a small pavilion and benches. The addition of murals is expected to further energize the redeveloped urban space.

Davison said several artists have already expressed interest. “Whether it’s someone who’s already done artwork in the community or done something locally, we really feel like we can get someone who is going to be able to reflect the interests of the property owners and also reflect different elements of our community identity,” she said.

Public art is already a growing feature of Maryville’s downtown, including several murals. Davison pointed to the mural on the side of Maryville Florists as an example of how artwork can help shape the city’s character. “In a social media-driven world, having those Instagrammable moments is incredibly important,” she said. “It brings a vibrancy and a sense of community when you see artwork that you connect to.”

Artists interested in submitting ideas or learning more about the project can contact Davison at 660-562-8001 or visit maryville.org.

The Lied Public Library will launch its new Iowa Adventure Pass Program on Nov. 23, giving library cardholders free access to a dozen regional attractions and cultural sites.

The program was developed by Library Director Andrew Hoffman in partnership with the Friends of the Library, a volunteer group that supports library services. Hoffman said the pass is part of the library’s effort to broaden its offerings beyond traditional materials.

“The last couple years we’ve started offering a library of things so you can borrow equipment and board games and metal detectors and telescopes,” Hoffman said. “And one of the things that we wanted to offer was experiences that maybe you can go out and go to a museum or a venue with your family.”

To participate, residents must hold a Lied Public Library card, be adults in good standing, and live in Page County, excluding the cities of Shenandoah and Essex.

The Adventure Pass will provide access to 12 regional venues, including the Glenn Miller Museum, mini golf at the Sports Plex in Shenandoah, the Maryville Hangar, and family passes to the Omaha and Des Moines children’s museums.

Hoffman said the library hopes to grow the program. “We’re excited. We’re hopeful that we will continue to expand the number of venues. Actually, there’s about two or three that we’re still in talks with to hopefully add in the spring,” he said.

More information about the Adventure Pass and other library programs is available on the library’s website.

The St. Joseph School District Board of Education will convene another public hearing this evening as it continues its prolonged search for a plan to stabilize district finances and reshape the struggling school system.

During a Nov. 17 meeting, board members discussed two consolidation proposals but failed to narrow the options. Plan 2, which calls for the closure of Benton High School, offers the greatest cost savings, while Plan 7 — closing Lafayette High School — is recommended by district administrators as the most viable long-term option.

The board had initially voted on Oct. 27 to pursue a three–high school model following extensive public input, but later reversed that decision. A final vote on a consolidation plan is scheduled for Nov. 24.

At Monday’s meeting, Board Member Whitney Lanning urged the board to settle on a single plan before that vote.

“I thought at one point we had all agreed that we would not go into the Nov. 24 meeting with two different plans, because we’ve seen what happens: we choose something and then we change our minds,” Lanning said. “So to prevent that from happening we need to have another meeting on Wednesday and a public hearing on Monday.”

The Wednesday meeting, held tonight, is expected to produce a single recommended plan.

Administrators, Buchanan County commissioners, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and numerous residents have pressed the board to make a decision and move forward. But in a Facebook post after Monday’s meeting, Lanning expressed doubts, saying she has little confidence that “the board will make any decision at all.”

The Maryville Chamber of Commerce has elected three board members to serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Eric Henry, market president at Connections Bank in Maryville, and Natalie Schouten, assistant store director at the Maryville Hy-Vee, were selected as new members during the Chamber’s October meeting.

Sara Stiens, owner of Brighton Wellness Spa in Maryville, was also reappointed and will serve her second and final term, which runs through 2028.

The selections were approved last month by a vote of the Chamber board.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will return to Chillicothe next week, marking its 27th annual stop as it continues a tradition that stretches across North America. The train is scheduled to pull into town on Nov. 26 — the day before Thanksgiving — offering an afternoon of free entertainment and holiday festivities.

Organizers expect the train to arrive on the tracks near Lowe’s at about 2:45 p.m. The brightly lit railcars will feature this year’s theme, “CPKC Has Heart,” highlighting the Canadian Pacific Kansas City network’s focus on community support and giving. The Holiday Train is known for its elaborate light displays, decorated railcars and onboard performances that take place as it travels along the freight line’s route.

This year’s Chillicothe stop will include live music from Smash Mouth and JJ Wilde. The concert is free, and the event is open to the public.

The Holiday Train tour spans the CPKC rail line, which connects communities from Mexico, through the Midwest, and across Canada from coast to coast. Throughout its nearly three decades, the train has become one of the company’s most recognizable charitable efforts.

Since the program began, the Holiday Train has raised more than $25 million for nonprofit initiatives, with donations collected at each stop to support local food banks and community organizations. Organizers say the goal remains the same each year: to bring holiday cheer while helping neighbors in need.

Mosaic Medical Center - Maryville

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Mosaic Medical Center in Maryville has been recertified as a Level 3 Stroke Center by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and has also earned a new designation as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital.

The Level 3 certification recognizes hospitals that are equipped to support suburban and rural communities by providing rapid stroke assessment, diagnostic imaging and initial therapeutic interventions. Staff at these facilities are specially trained to identify stroke symptoms quickly and begin treatment to stabilize patients before they are transferred to higher-level stroke centers if needed.

The Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification further indicates that Mosaic Maryville can deliver timely, evidence-based care during the critical early stages of a stroke. The designation requires hospitals to maintain 24/7 stroke response capabilities, including access to imaging services and the ability to administer clot-busting medications.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, nearly 70 hospitals statewide were certified stroke centers as of 2023. Mosaic’s Maryville and St. Joseph medical centers remain the only certified stroke facilities in northwest Missouri, providing a key regional resource for emergency stroke care.

Gavin McGough

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Northwest Missouri State University is embarking on a strategic planning process which will guide university strategy, development, and projects for the coming years. President Lance Tatum, in his third year in the position, announced the plan at a meeting of staff and faculty on Nov. 6. The university's current strategy is outlined in the 'Adventure 2030' plan, which was developed during President John Jasinski's tenure.

The new plan, to replace "Adventure 2030," is titled, "Excellence: The Northwest Way. " In announcing the effort, President Tatum said that changes to the world of higher education are requiring the university to update its strategy. At a committee meeting of the Northwest Missouri State University Board of Regents on Oct. 21, President Tatum said those changes mean this plan will also be short-lived.

"I doubt it will be a ten-year plan," he said at the time. "Things are moving so rapidly in higher education. There is so much unpredictability as it relates to student enrollment, funding, federal intervention, and so on, that we will probably make a recommendation to have a plan that does not extend to a full ten years."

It appears that prediction has played out, as "Excellence" will take the university only through the next five years, expiring in 2030. Public colleges and universities in Missouri are anticipating a forthcoming reduction in state funding as general revenues are predicted to drop.

Despite the challenges, while speaking at the plan's launch Tatum said Northwest is well-positioned. It boasts athletic accomplishments, excellent facilities, and strong fundraising campaigns.

The planning process will be guided by broad input from faculty and staff, as well as an advisory group. Once drafted, it will be sent to the University's Board of Regents for adoption.