Memphis Democrat
CORY E. SIMERL
Cory E. Simerl of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on October 6, 2025, at Corpus Christi Medical Center. He was born June 27, 1985, in Kirksville, Missouri, to Danny and Kimberly Simerl of Memphis, Missouri. Cory was their only child. After graduating from high school, Cory left Memphis and began a career as a welder,…
Read MorePepsi-Cola Memphis Bottling Company Sold to WP Beverages After 96 Years of Local, Family Ownership
By Emily Bontrager A nearly century-long era of local, family-owned business in Memphis is ending. Pepsi-Cola Memphis Bottling Company, founded in 1929 and operated by three generations of the Johnson family, has been sold to WP Beverages, a Midwest-based Pepsi bottler and distributor. The transition in ownership took effect on November 3, 2025. The business…
Read MoreNortheast Missouri Schools Earn Strong Marks In 2024-25 Annual Performance Reports
By Mike Scott, NEMOnews Media Group The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released its 2024-25 Annual Performance Reports (APR), giving a data-driven look at how public schools are performing across the state. For Northeast Missouri, the results are encouraging — every district remains fully accredited, and most continue to exceed state…
Read MoreMiss Lewis and Clark County Pageants Held
The Miss Lewis & Clark, Miss Lewis & Clark’s Teen and Miss Clark County’s Teen competitions were held Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Clark County Middle School gym. From left, Celia Medeiros was crowned Miss Lewis & Clark’s Teen; Ananya Senthil, Miss Lewis & Clark; and Darby Rollins, Miss Clark County’s Teen.
Read MoreOld Dog Learns New Trick
There were four gadwalls circling over the lake. It looked like they were going to drop into the middle of the lake at any moment. Because of that, I hit them hard with the duck call. I don’t know what I said to them—or what they thought I said—but instead of landing, three of them…
Read MoreJOHN WESLEY REDDING
John Wesley Redding, 70, of Memphis, Missouri formerly of Fairmont, Missouri, passed away Sunday, November 2, 2025, at his home with his family by his side He was born November 18, 1954, in Carthage, Illinois to Robert Otis and Leola Maxine (Pruett) Redding. John was united in marriage to Linda (Webster) Redding on June 25,…
Read MoreHospital Auxiliary Donates Money For New Wound Care Center Treatment Chair
The Scotland County Hospital/Sigler Square (formerly known as the Scotland County Care Center) Auxiliary recently made a financial donation to the hospital to go towards the new treatment chair that was purchased for the Wound Care Clinic. The new chair has electronic controls for height adjustment, leg rest and reclining backrest adjustments, which allows the…
Read MoreDr. Davis-Humes Advocates for Rural Health Care in Jefferson City
Dr. Kelsey Davis-Humes, Family Practice Physician at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, participated in the annual Missouri Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) Advocacy Day in Jefferson City on February 25, 2025. She joined approximately 80 family physicians/ residents advocating at the state capitol building. “I had the privilege of meeting with both Rep. Greg Sharpe…
Read MoreScotland County Farm Bureau to Celebrate “Thank a Farmer Week”
The Scotland County Farm Bureau joins with the Missouri Farm Bureau in celebrating the Agriculture community by hosting events throughout the first week of March, known as “Thank a Farmer Week”. The Scotland County Commissioners signed a proclamation on February 19 to honor this occasion. There are over 1.9 million farms in the United States.…
Read MoreMemphis License Office Open Again
JEFFERSON CITY — Through a competitive bid process, the Missouri Department of Revenue has awarded a new management contract for the License Office in Memphis, Missouri to Taylar Townsend. License offices are operated by independent contractors but directed by the Missouri Department of Revenue. The Memphis office closed unexpectedly on January 21, due to the…
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