Looking Back on the News of 2025
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Compiled by Emilie Rumble
JANUARY 1, 2025 – RETIREMENT – After 47 years of being in business, Frank “Junior” and Barb Crabtree announced their retirement and sale of the Frank’s Appliance in Edina to a new local business owner. IN MEMORY – Alan Lee Shumaker and Donna Kay Rowlison.
JANUARY 8, 2025 – SWORN IN – Knox County elected officials were sworn into office on December 30, 2024, ahead of the New Year by Knox County Associate Circuit Judge Tom Redington: Sheriff Carl Knoche, Western District Commissioner Bill Whiles, Eastern District Commissioner John Greenley, Coroner Alan Rimer and Public Administrator Theresa Hamlin. LAWSUIT FILED – Whistleblower, Michelle Gilbert, former administrative assistant to the Knox County Commission, filed a lawsuit against Knox County and the County Commission on Gilbert’s termination alleging workplace harassment, misconduct, retaliation and wrongful termination. BIRTHS – Josie Layne Snelling, daughter of Brittney and Tyler Snelling of Kirksville, Missouri, was the first baby born in 2025 at Blessing Hospital, Quincy, Illinois. Macie Autumn Weiler, daughter of Russell and Amy Weiler, of Rutledge, Missouri, was the first baby born on January 1, 2025, at the Scotland County Hospital, in Memphis, Missouri. IN MEMORY – James Laverne Willier, Richard Cecil Jones- Hayden, Jani Reed Miller, Beverly Price Givens.
JANUARY 15, 2025 – MISSOURI HISTORY – Northeast Missouri Senator Cindy O’Laughlin (R-18th District) became the first woman to lead Missouri officially assuming her position as president pro tem of the Missouri Senate during the 103rd General Assembly on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. IM MEMORY – Reba Ann Florea, Howard Webb, Phillip Wesley Gragg.
JANUARY 22, 2025 – NEW DIRECTOR – Mary Ann Banks, of Edina, Missouri, was welcomed after the New Year as the director of the Knox County Nutrition Site. DEMOLITION GRANT FUNDS – The City of Edina was notified December 31, 2024, that they had been approved to receive a Community Demolition Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $347,350. IN MEMORY – Alice Colleen Daggett.
JANUARY 29, 2025 – 47 YEARS OF SERVICE – Dot Kriegshauser was honored with a retirement reception following 47 years of service as an employee of C&R Market in Edina on January 25, 2025. IN MEMORY – Eldon Kenward Klocke, Karen Kigar Light.
FEBRUARY 5, 2025 – HONORED FOR SERVICE – Citizen’s Bank of Edina honored Debbie Peters for more than 46 years of dedicated service and faithful employment with a daylong reception on January 29, 2025. Bank staff: Front (l-r) James Penn, Julie Smith, Miranda Glasgow, Debbie Peters, Tara Lowe, Sharon Hettinger, Casie James, Frances Jones, and Harley Powers. Back (l-r) Debbie Dooley, Beth Strange, Tammy Harsell, Doug Mayer, and Megan England. APPOINTMENT – Brig. General Gordon R. Meyer was appointed Chief of Staff-Air for the Missouri National Guard, responsible for full-spectrum support of 2,300 Airmen across two wings in the Missouri Air National Guard for local, state and federal missions. IN MEMORY – Rose Ann Binkley Klote and Marjorie Ellen Gittings.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025 – STATE OF THE STATE – Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe gave the State of the State address on January 28, unveiling a sweeping set of proposals emphasizing record investments in K-12 education, increased school choice., and call for modernization of the state’s school funding formula.
FEBRUARY 19, 2025 – MOURNS – Governor Mike Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at all government buildings in honor of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Shelbe Faye Butner, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on January 30, 2025, while conducting a training exercise at Fort Stewart United States Army Post in Georgia. IN MEMORY – Madelyn Ruth O’Brien, Larry Ray McGlothlin, and Chris Bradfute.
FEBRUARY 26, 2025 – TAKES A STAND – The Knox County Commissioners joined with local agricultural leaders at the Knox County Courthouse to recognizes the county as a Missouri 75th Agri-Ready Designated County. IN MEMORY – Elizabeth Betty Kurth, Althea Kaleen Patterson, Ryan Michael Lewis, and Paul W. Oberholtzer.
MARCH 5, 2025 – HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION – A missing person search warrant was served by seven law enforcement agencies at the Hurdland residence of Jessica Rudd, 409 W. State Street on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Details of the identity of the person found inside the residence or the circumstances surrounding the death have not yet been released. IN MEMORY – Larry Lumley.
MARCH 12, 2025 – DEDICATED SERVICE – Edina Postmaster Chris Harrison retired following nearly 39 years of faithful service to local USPS offices. REOPENED – The Baring Pos Office officially opened to the public on Monday, March 3, 2025, approximately 17 months after the old post office was destroyed by an EF2 tornado on August 4, 2023. The new post office was rebuilt by new property owner Shannon Downing in an effort to keep postal service in the town of Baring. IN MEMORY – Martha Marie Huse, Elza Dale Hustead, Denis Michael Howard, and Tina Hinds.
MARCH 19, 2025 – DESTROYED – Emergency responders left their lunches sitting when the call to a housefire with flames penetrating the windows at the Chaz and Amber Boatman home at 205 W. Marion St, Edina, came on Monday, March 17, 2025. IN MEMORY – William (Bill) Davis Hayes, Donna Cardwell, and Lisa Callahan.
MARCH 26, 2025 – DONATIONS SOUGHT – Local business owner and community leader Randy Carlson has dealt with the challenges of reviving historic buildings for several years and supports the demolition of dilapidated commercial buildings on the Edina Square. Carlson is seeking donations to help fund a portion of the demolition project. IN MEMORY – Atticus Kenobi Mosby, Steven Francis Allen, Esther Ann Plowman, Elizabeth Ann (Betsy) Barnes, Susan Elaine (Johnston) Ladwig.
APRIL 2, 2025 – GRANT FUNDING – The Edina Volunteer Fire Department received a $8,700 grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation which was matched by the City of Edina to help purchase new equipment for firefighters. DONATIONS – Local donors, Family Foods, Dollar General and C&R Market, all of Edina, were presented certificates of appreciation by Carolyn Snelling for the businesses donating 34,000 pounds of food to the Knox County Food Cupboard in 2024. MILESTONE – Larry and Doris Goodson celebrated 76 years of marriage on March 27, 2025.
APRIL 9, 2025 – VETERANS CONTRACT CANCELED – Due to cancellation of the VA contract, local Veteran Larry Stone, a resident of Knox County Nursing Home was to be transferred out of KCNH on April 10 to another facility. IN MEMORY – Cheryl Lynn Kline.
APRIL 16, 2025 – SMILE PROGRAM – The Second Circuit Treatment Court programs have made positive impact on the lives of clients with the efforts like SMILE program. Dr. Lisa Bosch partnered with the treatment court team executed by Treatment Court Administrator Jane Moore and is overseen by Second Circuit Treatment Court Judge Tom Redington. RECOGNITION – Crystal Peavler was recognized as an All-American Insurance Agent by Country Financial. Peavler has also earned notable recognition as an All Star, Pro Status, Insurance Agent of the Year, and Country Club honors. IN MEMORY – John Raymond Kincaid III and Betty Ann Harrison.
APRIL 23, 2025 – AWARD – The Honorable Thomas P. Redington, Associate Circuit Judge of Knox County was awarded the 2024 Claire McCaskill Award, one of Missouri’s highest honors in the field of treatment courts, which recognizes leaders who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to helping individuals in recovery through innovative, compassionate, and evidence-based court practices. IN MEMORY – Rick Fischer, 66, one of Missouri’s most recognized radio personalities, passed away Thursday, April 17, at Capital Regional Medical Center in Jefferson City. Fischer was the voice of KMEM Radio, 100.5
APRIL 30, 2025 – EGG HUNT – The courtyard was filled with families during the Knox County Ministerial Alliance First Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The Easter bunny arrived on the Edina VFD firetruck and was welcomed by eager children. A free raffle found 150 children signed up for the drawing of prizes which included six bicycles and various other prizes. Over 3000 plastic easter eggs were hunted by the children. HONORED – Representatives, Karen Hall, Charlotte Mitchell, Carol White, and Anna Park from The Clothes Closet received the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award from Crystal Murr of the Knox County Extension Office on April 28, 2025, during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. PROM ROYALTY – Mattie Ward and Terry Ogden were crowned Queen and King of the Knox County High School Prom. IN MEMORY – Eva Lavaun Hatfield and Maynard Leon Johnston.
MAY 7, 2025 – VETERAN DOESN’T MATTER – Cancellation of the VA contract with the Knox County Nursing Home resulted in Veteran Larry Stone having to move from KCNH to a nursing facility in Macon County, which has created hardships for Larry with health issues which included double digit weight loss for him and the decision for him to be moved onto a locked memory care unit. SUSPENDED – The Knox County Water Board unanimously stopped
the other children in the family for the upcoming school year. IN MEMORY – Lyle Leon Van Houten.
JUNE 4, 2025 – MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES – The Knox County American Legion Posts #261 of Edina, #358 of Knox City, #290 of Novelty, and the Veterans of War #4822 joined forces in a heartfelt Memorial Day service at the Knox County Community center on May 26, 2025. Community members gathered at Newark Park on May 24, 2025, to Remember and Honor fallen military service members in the fourth annual observance. Knox County Chapter of Wreaths Across America kicked off fundraising with a fish fry on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, in the effort to remember veterans in Knox County in December with a wreath on their grave. BIRTH – Tad and Paige Mallett of Memphis are parents of a daughter, Ivy Mae, born May 22, 2025, at Scotland County Memorial Hospital. ANNIVERSARY – John and Janice Moyer celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2025. IN MEMORY – Terry Lee Gosney, Coleen Jane Roush, and Dixie Ann Gillaspy.
JUNE 11, 2025 – FISHING DAY – Bright Futures Knox County hosted the annual Youth Fishing Day at Edina City Lake and the 4-H/ FFA Fairgrounds on May 31, 2025. More than 70 youth fishers and their families competed for prizes for the biggest, smallest and most fish caught. IN MEMORY – Gary D. Bowman.
JUNE 18, 2025 – RESCHEDULED – Cordelio Power confirmed that the NEMO Wind project construction is set to begin in early summer 2026, due to federal permitting and tariff-related matters affecting timing and costs. MATCHING GRANTS AWARDED – The Missouri department of Conservation announced the awarding of Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grants: Edina RFD $4,610; Baring FD $2,358.93; Newark RFD $461.00; Rutledge VFD $2,796.25; Western Lewis Co. FPD $10,000. IN MEMORY – Lila Frances O’Malley and Dennis D. Schwedler. BIRTH – Sutton James Wilkens was welcomed to the family by his big sister, Sawyer Renee and their parents, Cody and Autumn (Florea) Wilkens of Ewing, Missouri.
JUNE 25, 2025 – PRESENTING HISTORY – The Knox County Historical Society to host Wade King’s presentation on “Bloody Bill” Anderson, and the guerrilla warfare of northern Missouri during the Civil War on June 30, at the Knox County Nutrition Site. TRIBUTE – Edina native Lisa Blake to take the stage in the Muddy River Opera Company presentation of Veni Vidi Verdi on June 28, 2025, at John Wood Community College, Quincy, Illinois. LINCOLN Days – The Knox County Republican Committee is hosting the annual Knox County Lincoln Day Celebration at the Knox County Community Center on June 28, 2025, with guest speaker J.J. Carrell, former border patrol agent and author; RNC Committeeman David Lightner; State-Wide Elected officials; State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin; State Representative Greg Sharpe; 4th Dist. Rep. Candidate Keith Gudehus; and State Senate Candidate Sarah Graff. IN MEMORY – Donald Stanley Kutcher.