Megan Duncan Muddy River News Correspondent
HANNIBAL, Mo. — When Show Me HH Farms first opened its then 10-acre sunflower field to the public two summers ago, a bigger goal was in mind. Owners Kent and Kathy Brown, alongside their son and daughter-in-law Phillip and Amberlyn Brown, bought a cold press that same summer and have been producing all-natural sunflower oil…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The campaign trail for Hannibal Mayor Candidate Kristy Trevathan had a rainy start during her launch party Wednesday night, but spirits were not dampened. A packed house gathered under the pavilion at the Hannibal Riverfront to hear Trevathan’s goals if elected as Hannibal mayor. The window to file as a candidate in…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — “Sound of Freedom,” a movie starring Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino, is based on the story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. Department for Homeland Security Agent who set up a sting operation to rescue children from international child trafficking. It begins with a father dropping his children off to a high-profile…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Three individuals have officially thrown in their hats to run for Hannibal Mayor. Barry Louderman, Kristy Trevathan, and Stephen Colyar filed for candidacy in Hannibal Mayor special election to be decided on the Nov. 7 ballot. The deadline for candidates to file expired Tuesday at 5 p.m. The person elected will finish…
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PALMYRA, Mo. – The belles of the ball were announced over the weekend at the Marion County Fair. Elina Reed was named Miss Marion County. Elina, of Palmyra, is the daughter of Lance and Tamara Reed. Elina joined the Palmyra FFA Chapter in 2019. She is a varsity cheerleader at Palmyra High School and is…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – The Hannibal community stormwater committee got a peek underground at a more than 120-year old stormwater drain where rocks have collapsed around the system. The drain is underneath a small hole in the ground of the Hannibal Police Department parking lot. While the parking lot is under repair, the HBPW took pictures…
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I stood on the platform, suited up in gear to safely attach me to a zipline. I was about to soar above the treetops instead of falling to my death. I had prepared for this moment in the months leading to our Dominican Republic trip. Scape Park is an adventure park with nine interactive ziplines,…
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Mark Twain Area Ukulele Club invites people to strum along at ukulele jam sessions starting Thursday
SAVERTON, Mo. — The Mark Twain Area Ukulele Club is offering ukulele jam sessions, starting Thursday, Aug. 3. These gatherings will take place the first and third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Genesis Bible Church Fellowship Hall, 12613 Saverton Drive in Saverton. There is no fee to participate. Ukulele…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council (HREDC) has selected Maria Kuhns as the new executive director of the organization. The decision was made by a search committee comprised of board members following an extensive search process. Hal Benedict, board president of HREDC, said, “We are thrilled to have Maria take on the…
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LOUISIANA, Mo. – John Davis, of Ravenscraft Realty, is taking the real estate business underground. Davis recently listed a “one-of-a-kind property,” located along Hwy 79 near Louisiana on five acres, is a 575 square foot one-bed, one-bath cabin on steel stilts that sits at the base of the hillside. Underneath the property is where it…
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“Can you spare a square?” It was mid-movie, and I sat there wishing I hadn’t drank all that Mountain Dew. I finally found a lull in the plot, got up, and said, “excuse me!” and “so sorry!” to about 15 pairs of knees. Moments later, I sat in relief, and I heard a little cough…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The umbrellas set up over several of the public computers at the Hannibal Free Public Library are not for decoration, instead they are protecting the electronics from dripping water. Buckets sit on the floor to collect water in other areas of the library and when rain is forecasted, the library employees are…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – Good food, cool cars, and some famous faces will be found in Hannibal starting July 21 and 22. The fourth annual Hannibal Bar-B-Q Festival will be held at 4015 Market and hosted by Heartland Auto Body and Towing. It will be two nights of live music, with Friday night dedicated to rock…
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I stared at her in the mirror. She looked lifeless, a little bleak. She had no certainty of the future. She couldn’t tell me who I am. She could just reflect what was already there. Blond hair. Hazel eyes. Pants size depending on the French fries-to-stretchyness ratio of the material. Height depending on the angle…
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MONROE CITY, Mo. — California’s Proposition 12, which imposes livestock confinement regulations on farmers around the country who sell to the state, became the law of the land on July 1. Scott Hays is a fifth generation pork producer at Two Mile Pork in Monroe City, and when it comes to livestock, he believes local…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to appoint Melissa Cogdal as the Hannibal City Clerk, replacing Angel Zerbonia. The council unanimously voted last month not to retain Zerbonia after an investigation for a hostile work environment. Cogdal has served as the deputy city clerk since June 2022. She took on…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal Mayor Pro Tem Mike Dobson confirmed Wednesday at the Hannibal City Council meeting he will request for a judge rehear impeachment charges against Third Ward Councilman Stephan Franke. Marion County Associate Judge John J. Jackson granted a motion to dismiss impeachment charges against Franke on June 6, who represents the 3rd…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Caden Friedlein, who has cerebral palsy and wears a cochlear hearing device, anxiously waited his turn to grab a brush and slosh paint on a fence. He beamed as he talked about his favorite activity. Caden waits for the fence painting event all year long. His parents, Shawn and Amy Friedlein, and…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal’s favorite couple spent their last full day as Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher in Central Park selling raffle tickets to support the future of Tom and Beckys long after they go through the program. Koryn Miller, the 2022-23 Official Becky, and Dallas Nicholson, a Tom Ambassador, stood in the Tom and…
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HANNIBAL, MO. – When Claudia Hollister sees the start of National Tom Sawyer Days in Hannibal, she sees her childhood. The Hannibal Fourth of July festivities are a family tradition for Hollister, the second vice president for press and media relations for the Hannibal Jaycees. For her family, it was more than a drive downtown…
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MARION COUNTY, Mo. — After recent rain, the Marion County Commission sent notice on Thursday evening that it is downgrading the recent open burn ban to a burn advisory. A burn advisory is to alert people of the potential for dangerous fire conditions. Marion County Presiding Commissioner David Lomax asked for everyone use common sense…
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HANNIBAL, MO. – Nothing says Fourth of July in Hannibal quite like a mud-covered volleyball players sloshing knee-deep and diving face first into the sludge. It’s the 44th annual Mud Volleyball at National Tom Sawyer Days. From kids to adults, it’s a tradition for many who play and who sit in the stands cheering trying…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – Kristy Trevathan announced Thursday morning she will run for Hannibal Mayor during a gathering at Riverview Park. A special election for Hannibal City Mayor will take place on Nov. 7. Candidates can file petitions on July 11 through Aug. 1. The person elected will finish former Mayor James Hark’s term, which runs…
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PALMYRA, Mo. — Missouri Department of Transportation officials are reaching for a big goal — the number zero. The initiative is “Show-Me Zero” and MoDot hopes that will one day be the number of traffic crash fatalities in Missouri. On Wednesday evening, MoDot officials and local citizens gathered at the Sesquicentennial Building in Palmyra, Mo.…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – The Fourth of July fireworks craze isn’t quite as busy this year due to dry conditions in the area. Brent Newman, owner of B&L Discount Fireworks, said many of his customers are purchasing fireworks with hope that the rain will come before the holiday or with a plan to delay celebrations until…
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I recently ran into a 20-something friend at Walmart. As she told me about her career aspirations and a possible move to another state, her cart called out to me: two bottles of wine, a frozen dinner for one, and a bag of party Snickers, which I know she fearlessly displays on her coffee table.…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – Destiny Mantia’s life changed forever on September 20, 2014 when her husband Corey and 1-year-old son Parker were killed by a drunk driver. The driver, who had a suspended license, slammed into the family’s Chrysler Town and Country at a speed of 87 MPH on September 20, 2014 on highway 47 between…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – When Aiylinn Gower, 6, and her brother Kasen Hill, 4, held a lemonade stand and helped their mom with a garage sale, they had no idea the Hannibal Police Department would show up to issue them a citation. Aiylinn and Kasen were among the first kids to receive a “ticket” from the…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – Hannibal Police Chief Jacob Nacke hopes to soon welcome new officers on board. The City of Hannibal budget was approved by the city council Tuesday night, which included 10 percent raises across the board for City of Hannibal employees. The raises were approved by council in a special meeting held on May…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. – The Hannibal Public School District publicly opened the doors on Wednesday for the first time of what will become the Hannibal Innovation Campus. After more than a year of planning and negotiations, the school district announced the acquisition of 4417 McMasters Avenue, the building that was once Jack’s, then ShopKo and then…
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