Local

It's tax time and the deadline is approaching

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:33am

In November Audrain County collected $3.2 million from taxpayers. In December, that figure will skyrocket to $23 million. The reason is simple.

“No one wants to pay their taxes early,” explained county collector Kate Becker.

Personal property and real estate tax bills, along with county merchant license renewals, went out during the first week of November, continuing a process that operates like clockwork. And by the numbers everything seems clear. There are percentages levied for school districts, fire districts, county revenue and more.

Mexico Parks Department to discuss pool fees

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:27am

Mexico’s Parks and Recreation Department called an unusual January board meeting after failing to reach a quorum at their scheduled Dec. 7 session.

The decision was made because time is running out on some final details related to the fairgrounds pool project, particularly a recommendation for the fee structure. The department’s board typically takes January off, but director Chad Shoemaker felt the matter could not wait for February.

Health Department orders new contract tracing process

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:26am

A recent steep increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Audrain County has led the Audrain County Health Department to modify how contact tracing will be managed. ACHD is asking those that are positive for the virus to take immediate action to isolate and inform individuals that they have been in close contact with.

As of Wednesday there were 176 active cases in the county, with 142 in Mexico and 15 in Vandalia. There were 82 cases on average in the first week of November.

Patrolling the aisles: Shop with a Cop adjusts for pandemic, heads to Walmart

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:22am

Shop with a Cop returns to the aisles of Walmart, but it will look a little different this year.

Yes, the occasional spirited lightsaber fight might break out between a kid and a law enforcement officer – it’s happened in the past – but this time around the process will be spaced out. Instead of a two hour spree, shopping will take place throughout the day in small groups.

The first shoppers arrive for cookies, hot chocolate and fun around 8 a.m. The last group will begin filling shopping carts close to 5 p.m.

10 questions with...Keiunna Thompson

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:13am

Keiunna Thompson is an elf.
 
Not really – she serves as an early head start teacher at the Williams Family Support Center in Mexico. But she also fits into a jolly uniform and plays the role of Santa’s helper for the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce come December.
 
And so you might catch sight of Thompson as she performs her elfin duties on the courthouse square, talking to children and picking up letters from the Letters to Santa mailbox.
 

Little Dixie responds to rural fire

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:11am

At 7:55 p.m. Thursday, the Little Dixie Fire Protection District was dispatched to 21851 Audrain Road 328 in reference to smoke in a one-story single family dwelling. Upon arrival found fire in the kitchen which had spread up into the attic.

Crews made an interior attack and quickly extinguished the fire. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen and attic above.

The fire district responded with two engines, three tankers, a rescue truck and 22 fire personnel.

Burning Question of the Week: What is Santa’s favorite cookie?

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:01am

Kiarah Harris plans to leave cookies out for Santa.

Why not? She has a child and it’s tradition – families have been treating the jolly old elf for decades. Besides, Harris is a baker and owner of The Cookie Club in Mexico.

Her display is stocked with 15 to 20 different options at any given time. And, she says, “the combinations you can create are endless.”

New Martinsburg restaurant is smokin’

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 9:58am

It’s Tuesday, shortly after 1 p.m., and Traci Wilson has sold her last pork burger and locked the door for the day.

That’s the way it goes at Okie Doke BBQ & Catering in Martinsburg – when the food runs out, it’s closing time. When they first set up along Highway 19 outside a shuttered insurance office one day this summer lines formed quickly, with people drawn to the comforting aroma of smoldering oak and hickory. They started serving at 10:30 in the morning and were sold out just over an hour later.

“Martinsburg has welcomed us big time,” Wilson said.

Laddonia expects digital meters to pay off

Published by admin on Sat, 12/12/2020 - 6:41am

By Dave Faries
Editor
Laddonia is set to install digital water meters at all city locations. The work should take place over the next two months and involve 160 accounts.
The decision to upgrade the system was made by Laddonia Board of Aldermen after research into digital meters in use by other communities and a presentation on the system. The city contracted with Schulte Supply out of St. Peters, Missouri for the installation. Laddonia’s board expects to spend around $50,000 on the project.

More broadband coverage coming to Audrain County

Published by admin on Sat, 12/12/2020 - 6:37am

The Federal Communications Commission announced on Monday $1.6 million has been allocated to support high-speed broadband access in Audrain County through two service providers. It is part of the commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase 1 auction that intends to deliver 5G to people in rural America.

In Missouri, the auction allocated $346,297,660.20 in support to expand broadband to 199,211 unserved homes and businesses over the next 10 years. All locations in Missouri that were eligible for the auction will be receiving access to gigabit-speed broadband.

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