Boone County Journal

By Xavier Asher, Boone County Journal The Ashland Police Department will be purchasing seven new mobile radios for patrol vehicles under a new state grant. The grant is a part of Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Blue Shield communities program meant to help local police departments that are making an effort to crack down on crime. Kehoe announced $10 million in state grants for 200 communities on Oct. 2.

Submitted by Donna Smith Travelers from the Southern Boone Senior Center and Boone County Journal pose for a picture in Toronto, Canada. The group of 85 traveled by bus and even visited Niagara Falls on the trip from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11.

By Boone County Journal staff The Dandy Lion Cafe’s last day at its current location is Oct. 25. According to a Facebook post from the cafe, the team will begin packing up the cafe on Oct. 26 to have everything removed by Oct. 31. The cafe will hold its final Dandy Karaoke in the current location at 7 p.m. Oct. 24. The post said the cafe is looking for a new location to reopen. “To say that we are devastated would be an incredible understatement,” the post read.

By Cassidy Brown, Boone County Journal Southern Boone School District Superintendent Tim Roth noted the district is awaiting a six-figure reimbursement for the construction of the Workforce Development Center at a school board meeting on Oct. 13.

By Rich Ward, Contributor The Ashland Folks on Spokes group rode from North Jefferson to the 7-mile mark on Oct. 16. Alvyne, Donovan, Jim, Sharon, Barbra, Charlie, Susan and Rich joined the ride. It was a beautiful day for a bike ride. The trail is beginning to show signs of fall with the changing colors of the trees and the leaves covering the trail. We headed to Wainwright to visit the Memorial for the Methodist Church. The bell from the church still stands.

Submitted by Robinson-Yager Funeral Home Billie Sue Moreau lived an amazing 95 years until her passing at the home of her daughter after a brief fight with cancer on October 19, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Billie was born on May 15, 1930, in Boone County, Missouri, to Jesse C and Alma E. “Higgins” Green. She was the youngest of 9 children. On May 28, 1949, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Moreau, in Cedar City, Missouri. They shared an amazing 72 years until his passing in 2021.

By Boone County Journal staff Southern Boone High School celebrated Senior Night before the Oct. 17 football game against Osage. Senior football players, band members and cheerleaders were recognized along with their families. Southern Boone lost to Osage, but senior Pryce Bonnot had two turnovers on defense — recovering a fumble and intercepting Osage at the end of the third quarter. Senior Trenton John directed the marching band during the halftime performance.

By Cate Willey, Boone County Journal Students at Southern Boone Elementary School had the chance to swap and receive new books last week as part of its annual book swap program. Once a month, Southern Boone Elementary hosts a schoolwide book swap. Books are set out in a designated classroom, and each class has a scheduled time to pick or swap out a book to take home. The tradition has been running at the elementary school since the 2018-19 school year.

By Ernie Wren, Contributor Fall means football and food for many, and I’m happy to report “The New Hartsburg Grand” has opened to rave social media reviews. Many of us were watching as this beautiful building was auctioned off online, and thankfully, it went into capable hands. From all reports, the service, food and atmosphere are excellent. A highlight of any visit is that you can go eat and watch the Chiefs play while experiencing the historical building.

By Jacob Miklas, Columbia Missourian Another lawsuit has been filed in the ongoing controversy in the Ashland Police Department where at least three officers have been discharged or put on leave over reports of wrongdoing among the force. The latest lawsuit was filed Oct. 14 by former Ashland Police Sgt. Andrew Worrall. His lawyer submitted a petition against the city of Ashland claiming he was wrongfully terminated after making a whistleblowing complaint against another officer.