The Kirksville-Thousand Hills Rotary Club recently donated $600 to the Rotary District 6040 Shoes for Orphan Souls campaign. Donations of cash, new shoes and socks are delivered to Buckner International, based in Dallas, Texas. Buckner distributes the shoes and socks to children of all ages in orphanages around the world. The shoes and socks contribute to better health, education, and self esteem. Over the 20-plus years that the program has been going in Northeast Missouri, area Rotary Club members and friends have purchased and donated over 400,000 pairs of shoes.

Captain Experiences has just released a new report about the U.S. states that will be most impacted by the 2024 cicada double brood.

The statewide gas price average in Missouri is $3.33 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Missouri Weekend Gas Watch. That price is two cents less compared to this day last week and is three cents less per gallon compared to this day last year. Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Missouri, drivers in Jefferson City and St. Louis are paying the most on average at $3.46 while drivers in Joplin are paying the least at $3.13 per gallon. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.67, which is four cents more compared to this day last week and flat compared to price per gallon at this same time last year, according to AAA Gas Prices.

Beverly Krusemark 83, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Born on September 9, 1940, in Springfield, Illinois, Beverly was the daughter of Edward and Opal Krusemark.

Jim Sparks 91, of Kirksville, Missouri, formerly of Ewing, Missouri departed this life on Sunday, April 14, 2024. He was the son of Erie P. Sparks and Laura (Davis) Sparks, he was born in Quincy, Illinois on June 8, 1932. Jim was united in marriage to Emma (Claus) Sparks on August 9, 1953.  Emma preceded him in death on October 26, 2021.

Joseph “Joe” Harold Epperson passed away in his home March 29, 2024. He is the son of the late Harold Money Epperson and Stella Lathella (Thurman) Epperson. One sister, E. Beth Fralicx (Ron) of Foristell survives, as does an Aunt Linda (Thurman) Sloan of Macon, and many cousins.

Autumn Lindsey (Sparks) Early, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, passed peacefully into the loving arms of our Lord on April 9th, 2024, while clutching her Miraculous Medal. She was surrounded by love, familiar comforts and cherished memories in her beloved home in Leawood, KS. Autumn’s devout faith, courage, and selfless attitude during her years long battle with breast cancer was an inspiration to all who knew her. Autumn epitomized the “I am Third” values of God first, others second and yourself third.

Anita E. Peavler, age 93, of Edina, MO passed away Thursday, April 4, 2024, in the Knox County Nursing Home in Edina, MO.  She was born in South Gifford, MO, November 27, 1930, the daughter of Robert Ross and Evalyn Bailey Burnett.   She was united in marriage to S. E. “Buck” Peavler on September 16, 1948, in LaPlata, MO and he preceded her in death on August 8, 2006.  Anita was also preceded by her parents, one son Gary Peavler, one brother Gerold Burnett and a grandson James Peavler.

The Truman State baseball team dropped a home series against Missouri S&T over the weekend, losing the first three games before ending the set with a 7-5 win on Sunday. The Bulldogs are now 7-17 in conference play and in 12th place while Missouri S&T improved to 12-12 and moved into seventh.

The Truman State softball team ran into a tough stretch of games in a pair of road weekend doubleheaders. They opened play on Saturday by dropping both games of a doubleheader to McKendree, losing 7-6 and then 10-2. They then traveled to play Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday and dropped two more close games, losing 1-0 and 4-2.

The Scotland County baseball team headed to Unionville to face some tough competition in the Putnam County Tournament on Saturday. The Tigers opened play with a game against host Putnam County, who came into the weekend with a 12-1 record, and fell 11-6. They then played a strong Green City team in the third-place game and fell 9-7 when a late rally came up short.