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By Emilie Rumble Imagine stepping over the threshold of a building that is more than 100 years old and finding yourself immediately traveling through time. That is exactly what you will do when you walk through the doors of Sparks Retail, which was most recently home to Golden Rose Auction, and traveling further back in time once the home of the Ben Franklin owned by LaVerne and Joyce Dabney, found on the south side of Lafayette Street on the Downtown Square of Edina. On May 19, 2026, Jesse and Tammy Sparks opened a variety store at that historic site and…
MEMPHIS, MO – The new medical staff officers of Scotland County Hospital officially took office at the April Board meeting. The officers are Kelsey Davis-Humes, DO – Chief of Staff, Matthew Ragsdell, DO – Vice-Chief of Staff, Nicholas Comstock, DO – Secretary Dr. Davis-Humes is a Family Medicine Physician and works at Memphis Medical Services and Wyaconda Medical Services. She is also one of the physicians that delivers babies in the Women’s Center at the Hospital. Dr. Matthew Ragsdell is an Orthopedic Surgeon and he works at Memphis Medical Services. Dr. Comstock is a Family Medicine Physician and he works…
People of Interest Identified in Lindsey Watts Investigation By Echo Menges EDINA, Mo. — June 12, 2026 — Investigators have identified people of interest in the disappearance of Lindsey Watts, 35, as the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and multiple law enforcement agencies continue their investigation into the Edina woman’s disappearance. Watts was reported missing by her family on May 20. The sheriff remains tight-lipped about details of the investigation’s progress, which is standard practice during active criminal investigations. “I’m not focused on winning in the court of public opinion. I’m focused on winning in a court of law. Our investigators…
University of Missouri Extension NOVELTY, Mo. – Waterlogging and flooding are among the most damaging weather-related stresses in crop production worldwide, and their impacts are increasing as extreme rainfall becomes more frequent. Flooding ranks second only to drought among abiotic stresses. Research by Gurbir Singh, a soil scientist with University of Missouri Extension at MU’s Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm, along with Gurpreet Kaur, assistant research professor in the MU School of Natural Resources, and others, shows how excess water affects crops, soils and nutrient management, and outlines strategies farmers can use to reduce losses. Flooding submerges plants, while…
JEFFERSON CITY – The Department of Public Safety has awarded a total of $1.455 million to 108 fire departments across the state to bolster the firefighting capabilities of small volunteer departments that provide critical protection to their rural communities. The Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant provided up to $15,000 for the purchase of equipment to small volunteer departments with annual operating budgets of $50,000 or less, where resources for essential firefighting equipment can be strained. “Missouri’s firefighters stand guard, protecting our communities from fires, natural disasters and other emergencies each and every day,” Governor Mike Kehoe said. “We’re glad to…
By David Sharp Highland placed in seven events at the May 23-24, 2026 Class 2 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City, Mo. The Lady Cougars scored 23 team points, good for ninth overall in the state. Senior Chris Gaus competed in the Class 2 boys 100m dash, placing 12th overall in 11.34 seconds. Senior Bailie Crist placed fifth overall in the Class 2 girl’s Javelin competition with a toss of 125’6”. Senior Chevie Sharpe won the Class 2 Girl’s Bronze medal in the 1600m run. Her time was 5:08.55 seconds. Cougar junior Porter Peters placed 13th overall in…
By David Sharp Knox County senior Cooper Clair won three Class 1 State Championships at the May 23-24, 2026 Class 1 Boys Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City. Clair won the boys 200m dash in 22.01 seconds. Cooper Clair won the silver medal, good for second place in the boys 100m dash in 11.05 seconds after winning his heat race the previous day. Cooper Clair, Anthony Bruegenhemke, Creighton Karhoff, and Grayson Miller won first place in both the boys 4x100m and 4x200m relay events. Knox County won the boys 4x200m relay in 1:30.98 seconds. The Eagles won the boys…
By Echo Menges EDINA, Mo. — Thursday, May 21, 2026 – Knox County has a new interim prosecuting attorney following the recent appointment of former Prosecutor Andrew Boster to the bench. Judge Matthew Wilson signed an administrative order on May 20 appointing Chelsea Fellinger, 33, of rural Canton in Lewis County, as interim Knox County prosecutor effective at 12:00 a.m. on May 21. Fellinger was officially sworn in Thursday morning, May 21, at the Lewis County Courthouse by Wilson. Fellinger has served as assistant prosecuting attorney in Lewis County since 2018 and was elected Lewis County prosecutor in 2022. She…
By Echo Menges EDINA, Mo. — Hundreds gathered Saturday evening on the Knox County Courthouse lawn in Edina for a community prayer vigil for missing Edina woman Lindsey Watts as the search for the 35-year-old entered its fifth day. Residents from across Knox County and surrounding communities joined local pastors, law enforcement supporters, family members and friends during the hour-long vigil organized by the Knox County Ministerial Alliance. Pastor Brian Burton of Edina Assembly of God Church opened the vigil by encouraging the community to remain hopeful while continuing to support both the family and investigators. “We come together as…
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By Emilie Rumble Imagine stepping over the threshold of a building that is more than 100 years old and finding yourself immediately traveling through time. That is exactly what you will do when you walk through the doors of Sparks Retail, which was most recently home to Golden Rose Auction, and traveling further back in time once the home of the Ben Franklin owned by LaVerne and Joyce Dabney, found on the south side of Lafayette Street on the Downtown Square of Edina. On May 19, 2026, Jesse and Tammy Sparks opened a variety store at that historic site and…
Read More MEMPHIS, MO – The new medical staff officers of Scotland County Hospital officially took office at the April Board meeting. The officers are Kelsey Davis-Humes, DO – Chief of Staff, Matthew Ragsdell, DO – Vice-Chief of Staff, Nicholas Comstock, DO – Secretary Dr. Davis-Humes is a Family Medicine Physician and works at Memphis Medical Services and Wyaconda Medical Services. She is also one of the physicians that delivers babies in the Women’s Center at the Hospital. Dr. Matthew Ragsdell is an Orthopedic Surgeon and he works at Memphis Medical Services. Dr. Comstock is a Family Medicine Physician and he works…
Read MoreArea Obituaries
Janice Kay Browning, age 74, of Knox City, Missouri, passed away Monday May 25, 2026. She was born December 12, 1951, in Quincy, Illinois, to Louis Earl and Opal Marie Huges. She was united in marriage to John Raymond Totsch who passed away April 30, 1979. To that union, four children were born, Robbie Earl, Michelle Marie, Michael Raymond, and Jason Seldon. In 1980, she was united in marriage to Sandy Gene Browning in Knox City, Missouri, and to this union, Rex Dean was born. She was preceded in death by her parents; twin brothers, David and Daniel Postal; her…
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Patricia Ann Pinson, age 96, of Edina, Missouri, passed away May 31, 2026, in the LaBelle Manor Care Center in LaBelle, Missouri. She was born April 23, 1930, in Alsey, Illinois, the daughter of Lewis Roy and Lola Lucille Coats Day. She was united in marriage to Jesse Ray Pinson, on August 13, 1950, in Kirksville, Missouri, and he preceded her in death on February 19, 1993. Patricia was also preceded in death by her parents, two sons, Thomas Roy Pinson and David Ray Pinson, two grandsons, Scott and Josh Pinson, one granddaughter Julie Diane Pinson and two sisters Judith…
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Layton Kenneth “Kenny” Roberts, 93, of Macon, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Boone Hospital in Columbia. Born on November 10, 1932, in Mendon, Missouri, he was the son of James Layton Roberts and Delma Ruth (Blackman) Roberts. Kenny was a proud graduate of Rothville High School and continued his education at Northeast Teachers College, earning a master’s degree. He devoted his life to education, serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator from 1958 until 1990 in numerous Missouri communities, including Novinger, Marceline, Lebanon, LaBelle, Knox County, Canton, Linn County, Fairfax, Cairo, St. Clair, and Bosworth.…
Read MoreArea Sports
By David Sharp Brashear scored 14 runs on ten hits, powering to a 14-2, six inning win over Higbee (3-11) in baseball play at Kirksville High School. The contest was moved due wo wet grounds at Higbee. Cole Erwin and Quincy Chapman drilled one out RBI hits for a 1-0 Brashear (7-2) first inning lead. Bailyn Halley plated Kienii Scott with another run producing hit in the Wild Tiger second. Jacob Love reached on an error and stole home during the second inning rally. Chase Price led off the Tiger second inning with a double. Brashear hurler Bailyn Halley fanned…
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Missouri Independent
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