Area News

MILAN, Mo. — Candidate filing for the Aug. 4, 2026, primary election in Sullivan County closed March 31, with several local races set for the ballot, according to the county clerk’s office. Melissa VanDusseldorp, a Republican, filed for circuit clerk. Three candidates filed for recorder of deeds, including Shari Hopkins, a Democrat, and Republicans Rose Page and Brooke Wyant. Rachael Hall, a Republican, filed for re-election as county clerk, while Chris May, a Republican, filed for presiding commissioner. Adam L. Warren, a Republican, filed for associate circuit judge. No candidates filed for prosecuting attorney. Multiple candidates filed for the Sullivan…

These men and women were elected to serve on the Missouri Angus Association board of directors and are pictured at the 2026 Missouri Angus Association Annual Banquet, Feb. 21 in Columbia, Mo. Pictured seated from left are Roger Behlmann, Saint Paul, past president; Josh Gilbert, Oldfield, president; Holly Meyer, Koshkonong, president elect; Jeff Rhode, Stewartsville, vice president; Darla Eggers, Mexico, secretary; Dave Eversole, Rocheport, treasurer; and Julie Conover, Holden, executive director. Standing from left are Matt Jordan, Savannah, district 1 director; Chad Sampson, Kirksville, district 2 director; Ryan Meyers, Mexico, district 3 director; Mark Womack, Doe Run, district 4 director;…

By Phyllis Fleshman The Milan Chamber/Main Street held a Trivia Contest on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Milan Elks Lodge. There were 9 teams competing to receive the “Thumbs Up Award.” All the teams had very close scores, but first place went to the Tequila Mockingbird team. Second place was Builder’s Hardware team and third place went to North Missouri Realty team. Delicious pizza was prepared by the Elks Lodge.

Friday, March 27 marks 23 years since Sue and I took the leap and purchased The Media, The Edina Sentinel, and the LaBelle Star. Which begs the question: how exactly did we get here… and why didn’t anyone stop us? My newspaper career started back in 1986 with the Omaha World-Herald, where I managed newspaper carriers across northeast Nebraska. Back then, carriers were “little merchants.” Customers paid the carrier, the carrier paid the paper, and I made sure nobody disappeared with the money. It was part accounting, part babysitting, and part detective work. If a carrier quit, we audited their…

By Emily Bontrager For centuries, April Fools’ Day has been celebrated across different cultures. Each year on April 1, people play pranks and practical jokes on one another, often revealing the trick with a cheerful, “April Fools!” The exact origins of the holiday remain unclear. According to the Library of Congress, one theory traces the tradition back to ancient Rome and a festival called Hilaria, celebrated around March 25. “In Roman terms, March 25 was called ‘the eighth of the Calends of April,’ which associates the festival strongly with April 1,” the Library notes, though it adds there is no…

COLUMBIA, Mo. — New federal tax changes will affect some seniors and car buyers beginning in the 2025 tax year, providing potential deductions on income for seniors and certain vehicle purchases, according to Andrew Zumwalt, director of the University of Missouri’s Personal Financial Planning program. Deduction for filers 65 and older For taxpayers age 65 or older by the end of the year, the law allows a deduction of up to $6,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married couples filing jointly, assuming both spouses are age 65 or older. “While this tax benefit is often referred to as ‘no…