News - The Mexico Ledger

Van-Far school board approves budget, teacher base pay

Editor The Van-Far R-I School District Board of Education approved adopting the 2025-26 budget at its June 19 meeting. Also looking ahead into the 2025-26 school year, the district will … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 7/9/25

Roofing crews work on a recent day at Mexico High School.

Construction for bond projections continues this summer

Crews at Mexico High School have performed work recently that is necessary but not readily visible to students, staff and patrons entering the school. That work? Roofing. More readily … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 7/9/25

Kaitlyn’s Cleaning Service LLC was awarded a Progress Award during their ribbon cutting ceremony.

Local high school sweethearts become self-made entrepreneurs

When Kaitlyn Camp started selling Rainbow vacuums, she had no idea it would lead to a business of her own. Kaitlyn and her co-owner and husband Devin have turned an accidental side hustle into a … more

By Sky Strauss, Staff Writer | 7/9/25

Tyronn Lue, center, was in Mexico Saturday to celebrate the dedication of a C2C building that will bear the name of his mother and grandmother, Kim and Olivia.

C2C dedicates building on former Garfield School site

Kim Lue described a journey in seeing her son grow from a boy to man, and that journey now includes her son’s involvement in a building that will bear her and her mother’s name, Olivia. … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 7/9/25

Accident reports, July 2-4

Three-vehicle crash injures four people AUDRAIN - Four people were injured in a three-vehicle wreck July 2 on Missouri 22 east of Thompson. All four people were transpoirted by ambulance to … more

7/8/25

MPSD responds to fires, fireworks over July Fourth weekend

Some fires happened Friday that were caused by fireworks, according to a news release from the Mexico Public Safety Dpeartment. On Friday, at 3:30 p.m., MPSD personnel responded to a grass … more

7/7/25

MPSD: Residents should follow parking, fireworks rules

Mexico Public Safety Department officials remind residents that with two community fireworks shows this weekend, they need to be aware of parking regulations. The Mexico Noon Lions will be … more

7/2/25

Sara Forester volunteers at Birthday Blessings by making cards, wrapping gifts and transporting goods to Children’s Divisions for delivery. She is wrapping insulated tumblers for their Bigfoot Summer Care Packages. The nonprofit made 130 of these to send to kids around the state.

Birthday Blessings gears up for annual July Toy Drive

Birthday Blessings is gearing up for its third annual July Toy Drive to help them meet needs and spread cheer in the Missouri foster community. Locally, they provide services to about 175 kids in … more

7/2/25

MAC members appointed to steering committees for the 2025-2026 term

The Missouri Association of Counties announced the presidential appointments for the association’s six Policy Steering Committees, with the list including Audrain County Associate Commissioner … more

7/2/25

Peoples Savings Bank of Rhineland Announces Acquisition of farmbank

Peoples Savings Bank of Rhineland, a leading provider of community-focused financial services, recently announced a definitive agreement to acquire farmbank, headquartered in Green City, Missouri, … more

7/2/25

Opening Statement

I’m Jacob Shellabarger, and I’ve served as Audrain County’s Prosecuting Attorney since 2009. Since 2014, I have served as the full-time prosecuting attorney for Audrain County. … more

By Jacob Shellabarger, Audrain County’s Prosecuting Attorney | 7/2/25

Mexico High School seniors receive more than $1.2 million in scholarships

The Mexico High School seniors of the Class of 2025 received many honors and accolades, including over $1.2 million in scholarships from local, state and collegiate sources, according to a news … more

7/2/25

Nathan Mai-Lombardo, deputy city manager and community development director for the city of Mexico, speaks before a packed house at the Mexico City Council meeting on June 23. [Don Munsch]

Residents sound off about code enforcement ordinance at Mexico council meeting

Nathan Mai-Lombardo proposes changing how landlords manage their properties in Mexico, as part of an effort to improve the state of code enforcement in the city. Some property owners appeared at … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 7/2/25

It’s a Jeep Thing [Photo gallery]

Jeeps came from far and wide to invade the Mexico square Saturday for the first-ever Jeep Thing. “I could not have asked for a better day overall,” event chair Barb Jones said. … more

Photos by Sky Strauss, Staff Writer | 7/2/25

Independence Day weekend area events

Expect fun and fireworks in the weekend forecast. Thursday Vandalia Area Fair Eastern Missouri Truck Pullers LLC and Xcalibur Tractor Pull will host their annual Tractor Pull in memory … more

By Sky Strauss, Staff Writer | 7/2/25

No rain at this parade [Photo gallery]

According to Mayor Clifford "Red" Wenneker, Auxvasse parades have had a reputation for coming with rain. But thankfully, the sun was shining and Main Street was packed on Saturday for the … more

Photos by Sky Strauss, Staff Writer | 7/2/25

Accident reports, June 24-30

Four people injured in two-car wreck BOONE - Four people were injured after they were involved in a two-vehicle collision June 27 at Missouri 763 north of Prathersville Road. Two Columbia … more

7/1/25

Mexico home damaged by fire

A Mexico home sustained various damages after a fire Monday. There were no injuries. Mexico Public Safety Department personnel responded at 10:55 a.m. to the fire at a home in the 2700 … more

7/1/25

Fire causes minimal damage to structure

No injuries occurred and minimal damage happened after a structure fire Thursday in Mexico. Just before 3:50 p.m., Mexico Public Safety Department personnel responded to the 800 block of … more

6/27/25

State Treasurer Vivek Malek, left, visited Mexico in April to discuss MO ABLE program as well as unclaimed property. Sitting to his left is Audrain County Treasurer Patty Meyers. [Don Munsch]

State treasurer encourages everyone to search the state's largest lost and found

In June, the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office will kick off annual outreach efforts for unclaimed property and publish a total of over 175,000 names for those who have unclaimed property worth … more

6/25/25

ACHD Special Programs Manager Katie Swaim, RN, BSN, left, presents a certificate of completion as a workplace wellness specialist through the Wellness Alliance to Brandi Meyer, LPN, for coursework as ACHD's new Corporate Health Specialist. Meyer completed the six-week training recently online that will help her provide health services to area corporations and businesses in the Audrain County community.

ACHD names LPN Brandi Meyer as new corporate health specialist

A long-time Audrain County Health Department nurse has recently been promoted to the position of corporate health specialist. Brandi Meyer, LPN, was also recently certified as a Workplace Wellness … more

6/25/25

Tony Rutherford (right), a member of the Vandiver Village Board of Trustees, presents a check for $5,000 to CMVMF board member Brad Lower.

Vandiver Village makes gift for Veterans Monument

Members of the Vandiver Village Board of Trustees have donated $5,000 to the Central Missouri Veterans Monument Foundation to help build the planned Central Missouri Veterans Monument. The … more

6/25/25

Audrain County recorder: Be aware of fraud

Audrain County residents should be aware of property fraud, and Teresa Allen, recorder of deeds for the county, said people may now sign up for property fraud alerts. Allen said her office … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 6/25/25

North Callaway R-I School District Superintendent Kenya Thompson makes a point during the board’s June 19 meeting. [DON MUNSCH]

North Callaway school board approves budget, teacher pay

New teacher base salaries, the 2025-26 budget and a small increase to breakfast prices for the upcoming school year were approved Thursday at the North Callaway R-I School District Board of Education … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 6/25/25

Mexico Public Schools Superintendent Troy Lentz, left, talks about an issue during a June 17 meeting as School Board President Jessica Ekern listens. [Don Munsch]

Mexico Public Schools board approves budget, salary protocol

The Mexico Public Schools Board of Education approved the district’s budget for the 2025-26 school year at its June 17 meeting. The board also approved the 2025-26 salary protocol, … more

By Don Munsch, Editor | 6/25/25