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Stories by Garrett Fuller
Basketball tournament honors California student
CALIFORNIA, Mo. -- Basketball was life for Lucas Oswald.The gymnasium was packed Saturday at California High School as 30 teams helped Matt and Tabby Oswald honor their son more than two years after h...
September 25, 2023
Vendors, entertainment showcased at 33rd annual Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival
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September 20, 2023
California Elementary third graders celebrate grandparents
Grandparents were on hand Friday morning at California Elementary School in order to join their grandchildren for activities. Third-grade students learned more about their grandparents while completin...
September 20, 2023
Honoring Our Heroes returns
Mid-Missouri knows how to honor its veterans.It also knows how to respect its first responders, health care workers and teachers.More than a hundred people gathered in Latham Family Memorial Park for ...
September 13, 2023
High Point home successfully moved
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September 13, 2023
Historic High Point home being moved
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September 6, 2023
Railroad mural chugging along
Chris Scheppers, Dale Wheatley and Dennis Holliday worked Friday to make progress on the railroad mural being painted north of the railroad tracks at 405 S. Oak St. in California. Holliday, a Jef...
September 6, 2023
High Point Homecoming celebrates community
HIGH POINT, Mo. -- Another summer has closed out with the 30th annual High Point Homecoming celebration.For those 30 years, David Gier and other High Point Community Renewal Association members have c...
September 6, 2023
Jamestown Lions Club debuts new shelter
JAMESTOWN, Mo. -- For the past 60 years, the Jamestown Lions Club has celebrated Labor Day weekend with a variety of events.The organization continued the tradition with its usual assortment of events...
September 6, 2023
New Old Swiss Road culvert completed
Drinkard Construction Get It, LLC, crew members posed atop a culvert Aug. 30 after they finished the construction on Old Swiss Road near Kratzer Road north of California. First district (northern...
September 6, 2023
U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce visits California
Lucas Kunce knows what living paycheck-to-paycheck can be like.The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate grew up in an impoverished Jefferson City household, he said Aug. 23 during a town hall meeting at t...
August 30, 2023
Bull riding returns to Moniteau County Fairgrounds
Hold on as long as you can.That was the goal for bull riders and mutton busters Saturday during Amped Up Pro Bull Riding Tour's stop at the Moniteau County Fairgrounds. In addition to hosting bull...
August 30, 2023
Moniteau County Library Director announced retirement after 14 years
Connie Beauchamp is leaving after 14 years at the Moniteau County Library.She announced her retirement in an Aug. 22 post on the library's Facebook page. Once known as the Wood Place Library, Beau...
August 30, 2023
Burn ban is back
A California burn ban is back.Hot weather and dry conditions caused California Fire Department Chief Brad Friedmeyer to prohibit burning inside California city limits. He said the ban will last until ...
August 25, 2023
California R-I tax rate to remain the same
The California R-I Board of Education was chipper as it walked through district facilities to see completed upgrades Aug. 16.Impressed with the various upgrades to enhance facilities and improve secur...
August 23, 2023
Library summer reading programs served more than a thousand students
After approving the library tax rate, the Moniteau County Library trustees heard updates on several items.
The library's board of trustees was informed of the summer reading program's success, progres...
August 23, 2023
Cole R-I maintains tax rate
RUSSELLVILLE -- The Cole R-I Board of Education begrudgingly approved change orders to the elementary school playground following nearly an hour of discussion.The changes -- which address unforeseen i...
August 22, 2023
Safety, facility upgrades improve California schools
District infoWebsite: www.californiak12.org.First day: Aug. 23.Last day: May 16.Central officeSuperintendent: Daniel Williams.Assistant Superintendent: Matt Abernathy.Address: 211 S. Owen St., Suite B...
August 16, 2023
New high school administration team joins Cole R-I School District
District infoWebsite: www.coler1indians.org.First day: Aug. 23.Last day: May 9.Central officeSuperintendent: Jeff Jennewein.Address: 13600 Route C, Russellville (inside high school).Phone: 573-782-331...
August 16, 2023
Eagles Club kicks off fair with annual breakfast
California Fraternal Order of Eagles volunteers served breakfast Saturday in Centennial Hall on the Moniteau County Fairgrounds. The Eagles served biscuits and gravy along with other breakfast fa...
August 9, 2023
Jamestown Ministerial Alliance helps students prepare for school
The Jamestown Ministerial Alliance's school supply giveaway was held Saturday in the Jamestown Community Building. The ministerial alliance has held the giveaway every year for at least the past 1...
August 9, 2023
Countywide community emergency response team being established
Moniteau County residents are establishing a community emergency response team (CERT).Anyone wishing to help their community is invited to join an upcoming review session regarding the program.CERTs, ...
August 9, 2023
Quilting for a cause
Local quilters are helping the California Nutrition Center acquire new equipment.The Bookworm Quilters are a group of eight to 10 women who craft special Quilts of Valor for active military and vetera...
August 9, 2023
Work on railroad-theme mural has started
A track-side mural honoring California's railroad history has received the green light.After selecting a location, Gail Hughes' dream of honoring the community's railroad history can now c...
August 2, 2023
Granny Basketball League returns to California
Imagine basketball without running, jumping, hovering.That was what spectators witnessed Saturday night as Granny basketball made a return to California when a local team, of varying ages and genders,...
August 2, 2023
California High School ag department named most outstanding program in state
California High School's agriculture department was recognized as outstanding for its variety of hands-on opportunities and inclusiveness.The Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (...
August 2, 2023
Nonprofit entity for library project approved
After months of waiting, the Moniteau County Library can now proceed with its building project.With a necessary separate nonprofit approved by the Missouri Secretary of State's Office, the library...
July 26, 2023
California R-I board prepares for CSIP
A time and date has been set for the California R-I Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP) committee's first meeting.The specifics of the meeting were discussed at the July 19 California R-I Bo...
July 26, 2023
Hydroponics, swine barn and more drive hands-on agriculture education
California High School is expanding hands-on opportunities for agriculture students.After dedicating the Denker Livestock Education Center in May 2022, the high school agriculture department continues...
July 26, 2023
New Eagles president hopes to grow organization
Nearly a decade after joining the California Fraternal Order of Eagles, Jim Hudson is now in charge of the organization.
As president, Hudson hopes to grow the nonprofit by continuing to bring in more...
July 19, 2023
Moniteau County hosts Missouri Young Farmers tour
For the third time since 1978, a statewide tour witnessed the variety of agriculture in Moniteau County.
Many businesses and farms were showcased Friday and Saturday as the California Young Farmers gr...
July 19, 2023
Library trustees receive clarification on building process
The path forward for the Moniteau County Library's building project is now a little clearer.
Because the library, as a public body, cannot take on long-term debt obligations without taxpayer approval,...
July 19, 2023
More parking, enhanced safety coming to elementary-middle school campus
A crew from Higgins Asphalt, of Tipton, endured the heat Friday as they spread hot asphalt onto the California elementary and middle school campus' front parking lot. The concrete island that once...
July 12, 2023
Russellville Lions light up the night sky
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July 12, 2023
Nutrition Center celebrates retirement of board members
Dee Butts, Jim Plaster and Misty Finley were honored on Friday at the California Nutrition Center. Dee Butts, Jim Plaster and Misty Finley are retiring from the California Nutrition Center's board...
July 5, 2023
Drought cancels California fireworks display
There will be no fireworks this Fourth of July.California has joined many surrounding communities in canceling its Independence Day fireworks show. The cancellation was the result of an ongoing drough...
July 2, 2023
Railroad mural coming to California
One of Gail Hughes' dreams may finally come true.Although Hughes, a longtime California resident who was "a mover and a shaker" in the community, died Jan. 21, one of his passion project...
June 28, 2023
Hawthorn Bank gives back with customer appreciation lunch
Hawthorn Bank gave away pulled pork sandwiches by Dicus BBQ, drinks and held other giveaways Friday at its California branch for a customer appreciation event. Democrat photo/Garrett...
June 28, 2023
Library still awaiting Secretary of State approval of separate nonprofit
The waiting game continues for a key piece needed for the Moniteau County Library's new facility to move forward.Work on the project has been suspended until the Missouri Secretary of State's ...
June 28, 2023
Hoback Fence hosts fish fry, car show in open house event
Classic cars, childrens' games and a bounce house were part of the open house event Saturday at Hoback Fence in High Point. Guests were treated to free fried fish and potato chips at the event. Th...
June 28, 2023
California school board approves substitute pay raise
Although summer has just begun, the California R-I Board of Education is already preparing for the upcoming school year.The board approved a slew of items for the 2023-24 school year at its June 21 me...
June 28, 2023
Winners of the Prairie Home Fair’s ‘Better Babies Contest’
The Better Babies Contest was held during the Prairie Home Fair. Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Chris Hughes, of Columbia, holds his 11-month-old daughter Journey Rearick on T...
June 28, 2023
Burger Foundation donates life-saving devices to city
Burgers' Smokehouse realizes the importance of having life-saving equipment on site.After an automatic external defibrillator (AED) helped save the life of a Burgers' Smokehouse employee, the ...
June 21, 2023
Annual Chamber golf tournament a success
Local businesses traded their offices Friday for California Country Club's greens.Golfers braved the heat Friday as they circled twice around California Country Club's nine holes for the 19th ...
June 21, 2023
Back to the drawing board
The Moniteau County Sheriff's Office is pressing pause on its building project after contractors raised several questions during a Thursday pre-bid meeting.Architects at The Architects Alliance, o...
June 14, 2023
Virtual reality training, new stun guns coming to sheriff’s office
A "new era in less-lethal technology" is coming to the Moniteau County Sheriff's Office as it reportedly becomes one of the first agencies to acquire a new stun gun.A new virtual reality...
June 14, 2023
Cole R-I breaks ground on high school addition
RUSSELLVILLE -- The Cole R-I School District is growing.
To facilitate its rapid growth, the district broke ground Wednesday on its new eight-classroom addition at Russellville High School. The expans...
June 8, 2023
Crime Watch learns more about CERT program
JAMESTOWN -- A new program could help Moniteau County first responders during large-scale emergencies.A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can assist first responders by helping them assist peop...
June 7, 2023
Ed Morse Chevrolet California celebrates end of transition
Many gathered Friday at Ed Morse Chevrolet California to celebrate the dealership's Grand Opening with hot dogs, hamburgers, T-shirts, hats and other giveaways. Micki Meyer, of California, won a p...
June 7, 2023
Family fun at annual Annunciation Catholic picnic
A dining room full of people enjoy home-style fried chicken, smoked pork and sides Sunday at the Annunciation Catholic Church picnic. Many came from all over for the meal, along with other activities ...
June 7, 2023
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