LANCASTER, Mo.- The Schuyler County Council on Aging received project approval for the Neighborhood Assistance Program through the Department of Economic Development to incentivize fundraising for the Schuyler County Nutrition Site. This means if you have a Missouri tax liability from a business or farm, you can direct these dollars towards this project and receive 70% tax credits. The tax credits are applicable in the current year or can be carried forward for up to five years. The project runs from January 2025 to December 31, 2027. The intent is to raise the funds in 2025 and 2026 and build the facility in 2027. Tax credits available for this project amount to $245,000 which is 70% of the $350,000 goal for the project from the DED Neighborhood Assistance Program. This is not a grant, but rather a way for businesses to reinvest their Missouri tax dollars to improve food security and quality of life for rural residents through continuation and growth of critical services.

This 501(c)(3) has been feeding the community for 43 years, serving over 20,000 meals in fiscal year 2024. The organization primarily serves individuals 60 and older, disabled, and low income. Services are offered in a congregate setting and in-home delivery, regardless of their ability to pay. In order to continue these services, a new facility is needed. The current 1905 building has structural issues, a leaking roof, outdated appliances which make them difficult to repair, is energy inefficient, and is not ADA compliant.

Your tax preparer should be able to assist you with the process which involves filling out the application form (Missouri CDTC-770) and getting your signature notarized. Then send the application form, donation, and documentation to the Schuyler County Council on Aging for review. They will then submit it to the Department of Economic Development. For exact guidance on the documentation, see Community Finance Tax Credit Application Companion Guide at https://ded.mo.gov/sites/ded/files/media/pdf/2024/09/Community-Finance-Companion-Guide.pdf . 

Donations should be made to the Schuyler County Council on Aging. The form, donation, documentation, and your tax preparer’s contact information should be sent to Schuyler County University of Missouri Extension, P.O. Box 310, Lancaster, MO. 63548. The phone number is 660.457.3469 (after 5 or weekends, call 660.216.2972) or e-mail thompsonsar@missouri.edu. Sara Thompson or Darla Campbell are the contacts.

“The county has a successful history with the Neighborhood Assistance Program as it was utilized to build the ball fields at Spencer Lake, the Schuyler County Ministerial Alliance Food Room & Blessings Thrift Shop, and the Schuyler County Community Center in Glenwood” says Darla Campbell, MU Extension Community Development Specialist.

With your support, the community can build a stronger rural infrastructure that keeps older residents in their homes longer with better health, nutrition, and social connectivity.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent nearly 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit, will speak at Truman State University at 6 p.m. March 26 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium. 

Hinton was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1985 in Alabama. With the assistance of the Equal Justice Initiative, led by attorney Bryan Stevenson, he won his release in 2015. Since his conviction was overturned by the United States Supreme Court, Hinton has become a sought-after speaker and author of “The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row,” which was selected for Oprah’s Book Club and is a New York Times bestseller.

“‘The Sun Does Shine’ is Hinton’s story from the perspective of someone who faced an unimaginable ordeal being sentenced to die for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet through it all, his message of hope, faith and justice is resounding,” said Elizabeth Wiles, director of interdisciplinary studies and chair of legal studies and pre-law programming at Truman. “It is a powerful memoir, and this event is sure to be a transformative experience for anyone from any background.”

Hinton may be familiar to audiences from his inclusion in Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy,” later adapted into a movie of the same name. At the time “Just Mercy” was originally published, Hinton had yet to be exonerated. “The Sun Does Shine” gives readers the firsthand account of his redemptive journey.

Presented as part of Truman’s Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series, Hinton’s presentation is free and open to the public.

RUTLEDGE, Mo.-  Reports of a suspicious person led to the arrest of a Moberly man in Scotland County on Saturday morning. 

Scotland County Sheriff Bryan Whitney told KMEM News that his office received a call on Thursday regarding a white male that appeared to be living out of a tent in the vicinity of the Rutledge Cemetery.  Sheriff Whitney went to the scene to investigate, but found that the camp had been removed and the subject was nowhere to be found.

On Friday, another report was received of the same person walking through a wooded area about a mile east of Rutledge.  Upon arrival, authorities were again unable to locate the subject.  However, an image of the man was found on a hunter’s trail camera in the vicinity of the sighting.

At 11:30 Saturday morning, a Scotland County Sheriff’s Deputy located the person of interest in Rutledge.  After making contact, the deputy determined that the subject was 47-year old Shane Russell Loomis of Moberly.  It was determined that there was an active warrant for Loomis out of Knox County for 3^rd Degree Misdemeanor Assault.  Loomis was taken into custody and delivered to Knox County authorities.  The warrant for Loomis indicated a $1000 cash-only bond. 

Shane Russell Loomis, 47 of Moberly, was captured on a hunter's trail camera near Rutledge on Friday.  He was arrested on Saturday on a Knox County warrant for 3rd Degree Assault.

(Photo courtesy Scotland County Sheriff's Department)

MEMPHIS, Mo.- The Scotland County Hospital/Sigler Square (formerly known as the Scotland County Care Center) Auxiliary recently made a financial donation to the hospital to go towards the new treatment chair that was purchased for the Wound Care Clinic.

The new chair has electronic controls for height adjustment, leg rest and reclining backrest adjustments, which allows the patient more comfort during treatment and makes treatment more manageable for the caregiver. Less bending, turning and stretching to get to the wounds by the caregivers and easy access into and out of the chair for the patient, makes this chair a welcomed addition to the Wound Care Clinic.

The Auxiliary is a not-for-profit organization that raises money through sales at the Hospital Gift Shop, Antique Days quilt raffle, pecan sales and Christmas Bazaar cookie sales. The Auxiliary meets every third Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Residential Care Facility at Sigler Square in Memphis. Membership dues are $1 annually and new members are always welcome.

The Scotland County Hospital/Sigler Square Auxiliary recently made a financial donation to the hospital to go towards the new Wound Care Clinic treatment chair.

L-R: Ashley Harvey, RN, BSN, Karen Biggs, Cindy Knauss, Cindy Myers, Beverly Moore, Twila Stevenson, Terry Arnold, Dr. Miller-Parish, Bonny Hatfield and Maryanna Troutman seated in the new chair.

(Photo courtesy Scotland County Hospital)

MEMPHIS, Mo.-  A Holden, Missouri, man is in custody in Scotland County.  Scotland County Sheriff Bryan Whitney reported to KMEM News that Jacob L. Frederick was arrested Tuesday morning in Memphis.  Frederick is charged with a felony count of Sodomy or Attempted Sodomy in the 1^st Degree.

Court documents indicate that the charge is in relation to an incident in Scotland County on August 21, 2023, involving deviant sexual intercourse with a person incapable of giving consent.  Frederick is being held in the Scotland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash-only bond.  Frederick is scheduled to appear in Scotland County Associate Circuit Court on Wednesday at 11 am.