News

I Love Local shopping campaign extended

Published by admin on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 9:56am

So far the month has been a bit like Groundhog Day before Bill Murray learns to cherish the moment. Classes have been canceled, repeatedly. Games and events have been postponed, and postponed again.

Trudging out to protect newborn livestock goes on day after day.

But there is now officially one good thing about this particular February.

Deputy Madness fundraiser to give DARE program a boost

Published by admin on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 9:54am

North Callaway school staff members and Callaway County sheriff’s deputies will renew a one-year-old basketball rivalry March 20.

But don’t mistake these players for mere athletes competing for a good cause.

These are gladiators.

10 Questions with...David Reetz

Published by admin on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 9:51am

“I love what I do,” said David Reetz. What does he do? Well, for the past 28 years he has owned a music store – Mexico Music – on the downtown square, where he also offers music lessons. He has played in an award-winning family gospel band.

He earned a degree in music education from Central Methodist University. Oh, and he has been a high school teacher at Madison, North Callaway and part time for Community R-6. His subject? Yes, music.

Reetz plays guitar, bass, ukulele and other instruments. But his first love was jazz trombone.

Food and Drink: Beekeepers turn out local honey, keep it simple

Published by admin on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 9:46am

Honey has been a culinary staple since before recorded history, but not stored in containers shaped like teddy bears.

The first such jars were introduced in 1957 and became synonymous with grocery store honey – golden, syrupy and all rather uniform. Once in a while a label might be adorned with “clover,” as if to distinguish it from the other golden, syrupy nectars.

Otherwise, the labels read “honey.”

Food and Drink: A darker shade of ale

Published by admin on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 9:44am

Some people have favorite beers that suit them no matter the occasion. Others, however, consider certain brews to be seasonal in nature – bright wheat beers for the summer, a marzen to welcome the fall, for instance.

But judging by the somewhat less than favorable conditions of the past few weeks, tis the season for the heftier savor of dark-hued ales.

The Boone County Brown from Bur Oak Brewing Company in Columbia is a welcoming American brown ale, with a creamy head and friendly aromas of toasted grain and cola.

Riding in style with Sydenstricker

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 9:07am

Some students take the bus to school. That’s all well and good, but for Drew Feger, another option proved more appealing - at least for one special day.

Drew was surprised during Catholic Schools Week as he got to ride to school in style Friday, Feb. 5, thanks to Sydenstricker Nobbe, Mexico. Sydenstricker donated a “Drive to School in a Big Green Tractor” for the annual St. Brendan’s online dinner auction in October. Feger’s parents Josh and Beth were the highest bidder of the unique - and fun - auction item.

Mexico purchases A.P. Green site for $300,000

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 9:05am

The city of Mexico offered the winning bid of $300,000 for the old A.P. Green property that had been owned by Abacus Industrial Holdings during a Sheriff’s auction at the Audrain County Courthouse on Feb. 9.

Mexico’s was the only bid on the site, which covers 90 acres and includes the administrative buildings along Green Road.

“It’s safe to say the city never wanted to own the property,” said Mexico City Manager Bruce Slagle. “The city had to protect our investment.”

Noble Health shares ideas for hospital; new CEO announced

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 9:00am

Amy O’Brien was introduced as the incoming CEO of what will be the Noble Health hospital in Mexico.

That was one bit of information provided at a town hall-style gathering of 40 invited guests at the Mexico Knights of Columbus building on Wednesday night.

Noble Health signed an asset purchase agreement with SSM Health in January to acquire St. Mary’s Hospital Audrain. The Kansas City-based company with a focus on providing rural health care expects to take over operations sometime in March.

New scanner to limit contact at Audrain County Jail

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 8:59am

Less than a week after the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office had a full body scanning device installed at the jail, guards identified something unusual on a man entering the facility.

He was hiding a container of methamphetamine.

But Sheriff Matt Oller explains that the scanner, which went into service toward the end of January, is not intended to catch inmates or visitors red handed.

“We wanted a way to limit the amount of physical contact,” Oller said.

Vandalia aldermen adopt budget

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 8:56am

By the end of the Vandalia Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9, the city had reviewed and approved the budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022, beginning March 1.

The detailed review of the budget by Darren Berry, the city administrator, covered item by item. He noted that “fund balances are strong and that we came out in the black this year.”

The city continues to look at capital improvements. Berry noted an expenditure of $12,197 for code book review and over $700,000 for electric conversion.

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