Editor: We would like to thank our community for the outpouring of Christmas spirit and love shown to our residents at Colonial Home this holiday season. We were happy to have the Doniphan High School choir and local churches sing Christmas carols to our residents as well as receiving visits from Doniphan, Gatewood and Naylor students...

A Honor Roll Carson Arnold, Bella Barnett, Maguire Baucom, Macy Baugh, Mia Baugh, Hailey Bradley, Brandon Burton, Vance Cates, Jaylyn Cook, Allison Crumley, Montana Cunningham, Nolan Czerwonka, Jaylin Dutton, Emily Ederer, Landon Freeman, Taylor Gambling, Tristan Gettings, Deven Gunter, Marissa Harder, Luke Howard, Alayna Jackson, Trey Jackson, Ady Jones, Abbigail Kallbreier, Jaden Leonard, Jessica Lovins, Kirsten March, Riley McDaniel, Kelsey Meyers, Desiree Mischka, Don Andrew Moore, Jacob Oldham, Audra Pendergrass, Paula Quero I Lacasta, Karissa Rice, Christian Richmond, Ashley Robinson, Justin Schroeder, Nitasha Scott, Ricky Shi, Madison Sisco, Cecily Sopko, Jamy Swofford, Melanie Szepelak, Thea Thompson, Angel Tidwell and Timberley Turner.. ...

Winter is a great time to add valuable fish habitat to your farm pond. Using your old Christmas tree or a recently cut cedar or hardwood for fish habitat in your farm pond is a great way to congregate fish and improve fishing. Having adequate cover for fish is essential to the health and productivity of your pond. ...

3rd Grade Thomas Barre, Sophie Berry, Kailyn Coomer, Noah Dasch, Mackenzie Dixon, Ryley Hendrix, Tre’von Hilgert, Riley Knapp, Jackson Martin, Kinsley McGonigal, Eliana Rhamy, Kynlei Summers, Levi Vandergriff, Camden York, Emiellia Amaro, Preston Campbell, Ashton Huckabee, Reagan Lour, Cheston Meadors, Aubrie Shepherd, Addison Somers, Caleb Spicer, Marcus White, Anthony Wilson, Brycen Bryant, Kelsie Harber, Josey Kennon, Madilyn Large, Mallory McColley, Max Meadors, Hailey Payne, Davin Price, Hunter Radford, Kylee Royer, Blaine Schlief, Lacey Smith, Sophie Walker, Savannah Harp, Phillip Hawks, Chase Langley, Cloe Mize, Layla Sradling, Rachel Stadler, Jodie Arnold, Logan Chambers, Lindley Mara, Isabella McNeary, Dasha Pritchard, Jacob Swift, Braiden Bailey, Lauren Becker, Jordyn Davis, Jaxson Ferguson, Alaina Grace, Geoffrey Kallbreier, Leah March, Garrett Moore, Teegan Pulliam, Caedan Swihart, Cassidy Verkuilen, Lacey Anderson, Audrey Braschler, Jazlynn Croy, Brody Hunt, Jayce Lewis, Shiloh Ponder, Trenton Reynolds, Hannah Sherrion, Jayden Walters, Brandon White, Shane Lovins and Adin Burns.. ...

Community urged to support concert and National Salute to Veteran Patients Ticket distribution for veterans and their guests to attend the annual John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Valentines for Veterans Concert has begun.  The concert will feature popular country music soloist, Neal McCoy.  McCoy is a two-time “Entertainer of the Year,” with three platinum albums, one Gold album, and numerous #1 and Top-10 hit singles such as, No Doubt About It, You Gotta Love That, Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, and If I Was a Drinking Man. . ...

The Ripley County Commission met Wednesday, Jan. 8, for its first meeting of 2020. Budget issues are taking priority as all departments work to get the new year’s budget ready for a public hearing scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. in the county chambers at the courthouse...

Doris “Sue” Coats Grooms was born Jan. 29, 1944 and passed away Dec. 29, 2019 at the age of 75 years 11 months. Sue was the daughter of Thurman Earl and Lela Louise (Grooms) Coats. On Nov. 21, 1964, Sue married the love of her life, James Clyde Grooms, who cared for her devotedly after she suffered two strokes in 2001...

The one-cent sales tax for Ripley County Memorial Hospital hasn’t been collected since September. But on paper, it still exists. On April 7, Ripley County voters will be asked to officially dissolve the special sales tax. A majority of ‘yes’ votes on the Ripley County Memorial Hospital ballot issue would dissolve the sales tax...

With one week left for candidates to file, a contested race has developed for three expiring seats on the Doniphan R-I Board of Education. Jane Stilwell and incumbent Steve Burke have added their names to the ballot for the April 7 school board election joining incumbent David Maple and Deborah Lathum...

Kimberly Marshall of Naylor recently uncovered a $50,009 top prize on a Missouri Lottery’s “Snowglobe Cash” Holiday Scratchers game. She purchased her winning ticket at Patsy’s Daily Convenience at Fairdealing. In the most recent fiscal year, Missouri Lottery players in Ripley County won more than $2 million in prizes. ...

The Doniphan City Council met at the Doniphan Community Center on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. The council set a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. concerning the annexation into the city limits of property owned by First Church of God on Highway 142 East adjoining the city...

In the words of the 2019 Ripley County Educator of the Year, being an ag teacher is ‘about as good as it gets.’ “It’s one of the best jobs you can be. I tell my kids that all the time,” said Matthew Pendergrass, an ag teacher and FFA advisor for 21 years...

With one week left for candidates to file, a contested race has developed for three expiring seats on the Doniphan R-I Board of Education. Jane Stilwell and incumbent Steve Burke have added their names to the ballot for the April 7 school board election joining incumbent David Maple and Deborah Lathum...

Route A in Ripley County will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under the roadway. Weather permitting, Route A will be closed in between Missouri Route 21 and County Road 21S-1 on Monday, Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m...

Two people were returned to Arkansas to face burglary charges after their arrest Tuesday, Jan. 7, at a Ripley County residence near where a stolen boat, motor and trailer were recovered. The Ripley County Sheriff’s Department identified the pair as Kendra L. Walker, 33, of Doniphan, and Michael J. Nolan, 36, of Lafe, Ark. Both were taken to the Clay County, Ark., Jail after signing extradition waivers before Associate Circuit Judge Thomas D. Swindle in Ripley County Circuit Court...

No contested races have yet to develop for the April 7 school board and municipal elections in Ripley County. Filings began Dec. 17 and will continue through Jan. 21. Doniphan R-I, Naylor R-II, Gatewood R-III and Lone Star R-IV all will be filling three board of education positions in April...

The Ripley County Extension Council has announced the candidates for the 2020 election. Seven candidates will be on the ballot. The five receiving the most votes will be elected to two-year terms. Dates for the election are Jan. 20-27. All county residents ages 18 and older may vote...

While many were remembering veterans recently on Veterans Day, Missouri author Lonny Thiele was remembering the unsung veterans of World War I - mules. Thiele, a former reporter for The Prospect-News who resides in Poplar Bluff, is something of an authority on mules. ...

A new Missouri law moving back the start of the school year will require calendar changes for districts that typically start in early to mid August such as Doniphan R-I. During the Dec. 17 regular business meeting of the R-I board of education, superintendent Brad Hagood asked board members for suggestions and recommendations as work begins putting a calendar together for the 2020-21 school term...

The Ripley County Commission spent the last day of 2019 signing payroll checks for the county’s 47 full-time/ part-time employees. When budget work begins for Fiscal Year 2020, there are three full-time employee requests to be considered. The prosecuting attorney’s office and the sheriff’s department ended the year a little short so it was hoped both had contacted the appropriate vendors about late payments. ...

Landowners should preregister for their desired workshop date and location. Landowners can learn to use prescribed fire as a land management tool at free prescribed-fire workshops presented by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The following workshops are planned in January and February throughout the Ozarks:...