The Riverside Art Guild and Current River Heritage Museum will host an opening reception from 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at the museum for local artist Lisa French. Select pieces of French’s work will be on display from July 20-Aug. 10 at the Current River Heritage Museum. The exhibit is free to the public...

Back to school immunization clinics at the Ripley County Health Center will be as follows: July 25, 29, 31, Aug. 5, 12 and 15. Don't wait until the last minute to get your child's immunizations. Give them a great beginning and get your shots early. Bring your shot record with you and a parent or guardian must accompany the child to sign the authorization. For more information, call 573-996-2181...

School will begin on Thursday, Aug. 15 with the first morning bell ringing at 7:55 a.m. Upcoming Important Dates: Open Enrollment: New students may register on Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, Aug. 1 from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Students must have their immunization records, birth certificate, and social security card with them. ...

Registration for the 2019-20 school year for Naylor R-II School (grades K-12) will be held Monday, Aug. 5 and Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. for walk-ins or if necessary by appointment only. Elementary students will enroll in the elementary office and 7-1/2 will enroll in the Jr./Sr. High counselor’s office. Parents/students need to bring their shot records, birth certificates, proof of residency, social security cards and the address of their previous school...

Citizens interested in reinstating the fall soccer program packed the community center at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16 when the Doniphan city council met for its regularly scheduled third-Tuesday meeting. Mayor Dennis Cox read aloud a letter from Jared Baker, the current director of the soccer program. ...

The Ripley County Commissioners met Wednesday, July 10 at 9 a.m. Members Present: Presiding Commissioner Jesse Roy, Associate Commissioner Gary Emmons and Associate Commissioner Andy Towell. Members Absent: None New Business: The meeting was called to order by Presiding Commissioner Roy. Minutes of the prior meeting were approved...

The Ripley County Fair will return to a four-day schedule this year after experimenting with a three-day event in 2018. Fair dates are Sept. 4-7. Non-livestock exhibits will be accepted from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the 4-H building. The fairgrounds will open for livestock entries at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4...

When Diane Smith first toured the Current River Sheltered Workshop, she had doubts it was the right place for her grandson born with Downs Syndrome. “I thought Devon can’t do this. He can’t be disciplined enough not to disturb others and get his work done,” Smith said...

Four youngsters from West Point United Pentecostal Church will match their Bible Quizzing skills this coming week against teams from across the U.S. and Canada. The West Point team earned a trip to the North American Junior Bible Quizzing nationals by placing second at the state contest held in June at St. Louis...

RON SMITH Staff Writer Fortunate. Brad Hagood uses the word often when discussing his climb up the ranks from teacher and coach to principal then district school superintendent. Hagood made a difficult choice midway through last school year when for the first time in 24 years he decided to change schools and become superintendent at Doniphan R-I...

As they approach the membership numbers necessary for a club affiliation, a new group of local gardeners are turning to a traditional summer treat to rally support. Whether you prefer the plump juicy domesticated blackberry or it’s tangy, prickly wild counterpart, the Ripley County Gardening Club invites all to the inaugural Blackberry Festival set for July 26-27 in Downtown Doniphan...

What do you get when you mix political candidates, live music, food and a day on the lower Current River? Freedom Float. Several candidates who have announced their intentions to be on next year’s ballot will join with a pair of live bands and the Ripley County Democratic Women for a two-part event July 27-28 at Rocky River Resort in Doniphan...

A mix of country and pop classics is on tap for Saturday evening’s Pickin’ On The Square in Downtown Doniphan. Guest performers will be Paul Wisdom of Doniphan and Frankie Lane of Hayti. Music is set to begin at 5 p.m. Admission is free and concessions are available. Everyone is welcomed to bring a lawn chair and enjoy an evening of live music on the courthouse square...

Donations of clothing, shoes and non-perishable food items are needed for the Every Kid Counts Back To School Clothing Drive to be held Saturday, Aug. 3, at the West Point Church gym. Drop-off locations in Doniphan include Southern Bank, Peoples Community Bank, Bank of Grandin, Ozark Federal Credit Union, Fred’s and West Point Church...

Ticket sales have begun for the area’s most unique prize drawing. For the third consecutive year, Ripley County Toys 4 Tots will give away a customized boat, motor and trailer on the final night of the county fair on Sept. 7. Tickets are $100 apiece with a limit of 200 to be sold. Ticket buyers also will be eligible for consolation prizes including two rifles from Casteel’s Corner gun shop in Doniphan. They include a Ruger Ranch .243 and a Ruger 10-22...

St. Benedict Church in Doniphan will celebrate the 160th anniversary of its founding Friday, July 26, with the grand opening of its new parish hall. A ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony will be held at noon followed by a free fish fry at the Dr. Jack G. and Shirley J. Hunt Parish Hall...

The Doniphan city council met Tuesday, June 26, to handle regular business since lack of a quorum kept them from activity on the usual third Tuesday of the month. During the last meeting of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, mayor Dennis Cox suggested that anticipated revenue from timber and property sales be included in the budget...

Pre-registrations are being accepted for the annual ‘School Readiness’ event hosted by the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency. The event is set from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, at the Doniphan High School gym. There is no cost to participate, however, all those attending are required to pre-register...

A night of bluegrass and country gospel music will be featured at the next Pickin’ On The Square set for Saturday evening, July 13, at the Ripley County Courthouse. Featured performers will include the Bob Lewis Family and Buzzard Run along with individual groups from various churches...

Route B in Ripley County will be reduced with a 10.5 width restriction as contractor crews perform pavement overlay. This section of roadway is located from Route 160 to Route 142. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, July 22 through Friday, Aug. 9 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily...

A basic football skills camp for students entering grades 3-6 will be held Tuesday, July 30, at Doniphan High School. The ‘Next Brother Up’ Doniphan Football Camp will be a fun day for athletes. The Dons coaching staff will provide instruction in basic fundamentals and skills for all positions...

Is there anything more rewarding than the taste of sweet, tangy, crispy smooth blackberry cobbler after a morning spent tangled up in brambles, picking the juicy purple fruit? Swathed in a dollop of vanilla ice cream, there is no better dish on earth but, blackberry season is short so, come to the first ever Ripley County Gardening Club Blackberry Festival and celebrate all things Rubus ursinus...

There will be an art camp for young people at the Community Center, 105 Washington St., downtown Doniphan July 8-12. Morning session will be from 9 a.m. - 12 noon for ages 7-11. An afternoon session will be from 1 - 4 p.m. for ages 12 and up. Class size is limited to insure personal instruction, pre-payment in full secures placement. ...

A ‘donation only’ yard sale in honor of the late Douglas Dalziel was a huge success on Saturday, June 22, as his surviving family was able to gift the Lean On Me Food Pantry with $867 cash along with 50 pounds of frozen meat and various canned goods...