Hope's Safe Haven, now a part of three of Southwest Missouri's Outreach Victim Advocate programs, has established an office at 811 Owen Mill Rd—Suite C4 in Stockton. With the main office in Bolivar since 2004 and outreach offices in Buffalo and Stockton, the organization is committed to providing extensive services. Francesca Suarez, an outreach advocate from Stockton, will be available at the office four days a week, ensuring a wide range of support for the community.

The El Dorado Springs Lions Club presented Hunger Warriors with a donation of $600 and a collection of peanut butter, to help feed food insecure students in the El Dorado Springs school district. Some students rely on school breakfast and lunch for nutrition, and Hunger Warriors currently provides over 130 students with a sack of simple, non-perishable food to eat over weekends and school holidays. Thank you to all who helped the Lions Club collect peanut butter, including Mercy clinic, Girl Scouts, and eXp Realty. Monetary donations to Hunger Warriors can be made at MidMissouri Bank anytime.

On Monday evening, a ceremony to honor veterans from the past and present was held at the Veterans Memorial Park at the Stockton Dam. Members of the American Legion Post 230 Color Guard, Sons of the American Legion, Sons of the AM Vets, Stockton Elks Lodge, and VFW members all worked together to honor our veterans. Members of the community showed up to help honor our veterans as well and watch the ceremony that consisted of a MIA/POW Table, National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a Flag Retirement ceremony.

Some Cedar County senior citizens have been inquiring about where to get an application for the Department of Revenue Senior Property tax freeze program for 2025. The short answer is that the county is in the process of implementing the tax freeze. The long answer is that the Missouri Department of Revenue decision has proved extraordinarily complicated and costly for counties and perhaps not even worth the effort of seniors who apply, depending on what the freeze saves them. Applications will have to be filed and notarized yearly.

Fire Chief Kenny Daniels was present at the Stockton Board meeting on October 16 to discuss the needs and expenses of the fire department and the development of more extensive policies and procedures with the board. At one point, board member Bobby O'Keefe suggested a sales tax to offset some of the yearly $50,000 expense coming out of general revenue, but Mayor Brandon Cahill immediately and emphatically opposed the tax. As the discussion ended, the board, including O'Keefe and the fire department chief, agreed that a sales tax was not the answer: they should explore grants and creative ways to offset some of the cost.

Last Saturday, downtown El Dorado was buzzing with excitement as the Wayside Inn Museum Chili Cookoff fundraiser kicked off. Eleven teams showcased their expertise in making chili at the event. The crowd enjoyed live music, vendors, and of course, chili.

The first annual installation ceremony for Stockton middle school students entering the JAG, or Jobs for America's Graduates program, was held this past Friday at 1 p.m. Thirty-five students were installed.

Last Saturday, the Sons of AMVETS Squadron 116 organized the Inaugural Bikes for Vets event. The event boasted an 8-class motorcycle show, a wide array of vendors, food trucks, games, prizes, a silent auction, and a fish fry.

Last Friday, the Stockton Tigers took a long bus ride north to take on the Sherwood Marksman on the Sherwood campus near Creighton, Missouri. The Tigers scored on their first, second, and fourth possessions, taking a 28-8 lead into the locker room at the half. In the second half, the Tigers added four more touchdowns enroute to a lopsided victory against the Marksmen, winning 57-14, scoring eight touchdowns in all. In addition to the offensive juggernaut, the defense played outstanding, forcing four turnovers and two turnovers on downs. Quarterback Easton Hubbard and running backs Jack Rickman and Logan Reser broke off multiple long gains as Sherwood had no answers to the Tigers' run game. The receivers, Preston Rains and Landon Sexton, made multiple highlight reel catches, adding to the excitement of another big win. The Tigers amassed 370 yards of total offense, with 300 yards coming on the ground. Sherwood was only able to muster 89 yards of total offense on the night.