Leader Publications

Leader Publications Once a week but never weakly. Leader Publications, Jefferson County’s only weekly newspaper company, was founded in 1994 in Festus, Mo.
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It publishes four community newspapers with a combined circulation of more than 77,000. The first edition of the Jefferson County Leader came off the presses on Aug. 25, 1994. It was distributed free by direct mail to every home in the Missouri communities of Barnhart, Pevely, Herculaneum, Crystal City, Festus, Hillsboro and De Soto, as it still is today. The Arnold-Imperial Leader, which served t

hose two ZIP codes as well as Kimmswick, began publishing on Aug. 24, 1995. The West Side Leader began as a monthly on May 30, 2013, quickly grew in popularity and readership and became the company’s third weekly newspaper on May 14, 2014. It covers the western Jefferson County communities of Fenton, High Ridge, House Springs, Cedar Hill, Byrnes Mill and Dittmer. In February 2017, the Leader started publishing the Eureka Leader, which is mailed to more than 10,900 households in the Eureka, Mo., 63025 ZIP code and the Wildwood, Mo., 63040 ZIP code every other week. The paper expanded to the Wildwood ZIP code in January 2021. In 2008, the company earned eligibility for a Requester Periodicals permit from the United States Postal Service when it collected more than 35,000 requests for delivery from its household deliveries. The company also publishes Grand Times, a magazine for senior readers which is inserted in the Leader newspapers in conjunction with very popular Senior Expo community events. The company always has emphasized strong local news content, running a 40 percent “news hole,” an unusually high percentage for free newspapers. That commitment to news has brought the company dozens of editorial awards over the years from both the Missouri Press Association and the National Newspaper Association. It also has earned the company a loyal and large roster of advertisers, ranging from local merchants to nationwide retailers. Those strong relationships, for both ROP and insert customers, are reflected in numerous awards the company has earned from the Missouri Ad Managers Association. In 2011, Leader Publications jumped into the digital age with www.myleaderpaper.com. The newspaper's online product now has an average of about 500,000 pageviews monthly and includes banner ads, online classified ads, breaking news and features unique to the website. Leader Publications also keeps in touch with readers and advertisers through social media. Follow the Leader on Facebook, as well as Twitter, TikTok and Instagram at . Leader employees are actively involved in Jefferson County’s communities and civic organizations. With owners/operators on site, the company remains committed to its cornerstone values of strong local news coverage, customer service and community involvement.

ICYMI: Crystal City High School will hold homecoming activities next week with spirit week activities, a parade and a fo...
10/04/2025

ICYMI: Crystal City High School will hold homecoming activities next week with spirit week activities, a parade and a football game.

Crystal City High School will hold homecoming activities next week with spirit week activities, a parade and a football game.

10/04/2025

FINAL Crystal City 13, Roosevelt 0 (forfeit)
FINAL De Soto 36, Fredericktown 7 (Dragon QB Cannon Kisner scored 3 TDs, De Soto blocked a punt)
FINAL Perryville 35, Jefferson 0 (Blue Jays shut out for first time since 2021)
FINAL Northwest 48, Fox 20 (Cohenn Stark scores 4 TDs, Drew Spratt 3, including a 33-yard fumble return as Lions surge to 5-1)
FINAL Hillsboro 41, Windsor 12
FINAL Pattonville 40, Seckman 27
FINAL Festus 46, North County 21
FINAL Valle Catholic 31, Ste. Genevieve 13
FINAL Eureka 28, Rockwood Summit 7
FINAL Grandview 36, Herculaneum 26
Blackcats needed conversion to make it 1-possession game
4Q: Reeves 2 TD run, 2:14, conversion pass failed, 36-26 Eagles
4Q: Cameron Brooks intercepts Reeves after ball was tipped, 6:30
4Q: Wyatt Keim 4 TD run, 8:48 Smith PAT 36-20 Eagles
Grandview recovers Herky fumble, end 3Q
Walker broke several tackles to end zone
3Q: Isaac Walker 24 TD run, :57 Smith PAT 29-20 Eagles
Blackcat scoring drive 6:48
3Q: Gavin Feltmann 15 TD pass from Reeves, 5:22 conversion pass failed, 22-20 Eagles
3Q Blackcats take opening kickoff of second half, convert on 4th down on pass to Luebbert; Herky holding penalty negates TD; another Herky penalty negates Clark Struck Hoffman run inside 5;
HALFTIME Grandview 22, Herculaneum 14
Pass interference on Herky, :22
2Q: Duncan 67 TD pass from Reeves, :27, run failed, 22-14 Eagles
2Q: Eagles WR Cameron Brooks 53 TD pass from Martin, :44 Wyatt Keim conversion, 22-8 Eagles
2Q: Blackcat RB Chase Luebbert 8 TD run, 3:22 Tanner Duncan pass from Reeves 14-8 Eagles
Dallas Fritschle intercepts Martin at Grandview 33, 6:50
2Q Martin intercepts Herculaneum QB Keaton Reeves at own 20 at 8:51
1Q: QB Brendan Martin 1-TD run Aaron Smith PAT, 0:00 14-0 Eagles
1Q: Isaac Walker returns blocked punt for Grandview TD, 8:07 Aaron Smith PAT 7-0 Eagles
Herculaneum at Grandview Quad County Conference football

A St. Louis man allegedly sped away from a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who was trying to stop him because he w...
10/04/2025

A St. Louis man allegedly sped away from a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who was trying to stop him because he was speeding while riding a motorcycle north on I-55 in Imperial.

Andrew Lee Bates on Aug. 19 has been charged with felony aggravated fleeing and six misdemeanors after he allegedly sped away from a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper while riding a motorcycle on I-55 in Imperial.

The Leader has posted obituary information for the following people:Erma Lee Sellers, 92, ArnoldLinda Jone White, 80, Ar...
10/03/2025

The Leader has posted obituary information for the following people:

Erma Lee Sellers, 92, Arnold
Linda Jone White, 80, Arnold
James M. Pope, 88, French Village

www.myleaderpaper.com

ICYMI: Walkers and side-by-sides will gather at the De Soto Elks parking lot for the De Soto Goes Pink fundraising event...
10/03/2025

ICYMI: Walkers and side-by-sides will gather at the De Soto Elks parking lot for the De Soto Goes Pink fundraising event on Saturday.

Walkers and side-by-sides will fill up at the De Soto Elks parking lot for De Soto Goes Pink on Oct. 4.

The annual Lenhard Family Light Show-Halloween Edition, a free activity, opens tonight and runs this weekend through Sun...
10/03/2025

The annual Lenhard Family Light Show-Halloween Edition, a free activity, opens tonight and runs this weekend through Sunday at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus, and then will be offered nightly from Oct. 9-31.

The annual Lenhard Family Light Show – Halloween Edition, a free activity, opens tonight and runs this weekend through Sunday at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus, then will be offered nightly from Oct. 9-31.

A 59-year-old House Springs man died this morning after being struck on Hwy. 30 by a Ford Escape.
10/03/2025

A 59-year-old House Springs man died this morning after being struck on Hwy. 30 by a Ford Escape.

Richard Lee Kraus, 59, of House Springs died Oct. 3 after being struck by a Ford Escape on Hwy. 30.

The city of Arnold announced it has hired Anthony Traxler, Maplewood’s Public Works director and assistant city manager,...
10/03/2025

The city of Arnold announced it has hired Anthony Traxler, Maplewood’s Public Works director and assistant city manager, as city administrator. He is scheduled to start working for Arnold on Oct. 30.

The city of Arnold on Oct. 3 announced it has hired Anthony Traxler, who is Maplewood’s Public Works director and assistant city manager, as the next city administrator.

Beginning at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 3, MoDOT will close all lanes in both directions of Hwy. 67 at I-55 in the Festus area t...
10/03/2025

Beginning at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 3, MoDOT will close all lanes in both directions of Hwy. 67 at I-55 in the Festus area to demolish the old northbound I-55 bridge over Hwy. 67. Work continues until 6 a.m. Saturday with nightly closures this weekend.

Beginning at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 3, MoDOT will close all lanes in both directions of Hwy. 67 at I-55 in the Festus area to demolish the old northbound I-55 bridge over Hwy. 67, until 6 a.m. Saturday, then will close them again from 9 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday and from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Mon...

ICYMI: A new farmers market, sponsored by the Festus Main Street Association, will operate from 8 a.m. to noon every Sat...
10/03/2025

ICYMI: A new farmers market, sponsored by the Festus Main Street Association, will operate from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday in October starting this weekend.

Festus Farmers Market, a new venture sponsored by the Festus Main Street Association, is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday in October starting this weekend.

Join Autumn Ridge Residences - Independent Living & Residential Care for the 3rd annual Car Show 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Satur...
10/03/2025

Join Autumn Ridge Residences - Independent Living & Residential Care for the 3rd annual Car Show 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. All proceeds benefit Kade’s Playground, so come out for a fun day that supports a good cause.

The Operation Game Thief hotline allows Missourians to protect nature by reporting poaching. To report possible violatio...
10/03/2025

The Operation Game Thief hotline allows Missourians to protect nature by reporting poaching. To report possible violations, call a local conservation agent or 800-392-1111.

De Soto man sentenced in elk poaching case.

Address

503 N 2nd Street
Festus, MO
63028

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16369377501

Website

https://forms.gle/1dqrzJ6GBC6PAzzP9

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Once a week but never weakly

Leader Publications, Jefferson County’s only weekly newspaper company, was founded in 1994 in Festus, Mo. It publishes four community weekly newspapers with a combined circulation of 72,000. The first edition of the Jefferson County Leader came off the presses on Aug. 25, 1994. It was distributed free by direct mail to every home in the Missouri communities of Barnhart, Pevely, Herculaneum, Crystal City, Festus, Hillsboro and De Soto, as it still is today. The Arnold-Imperial Leader, which served those two ZIP codes, began publishing on Aug. 24, 1995.

The West Side Leader began as a monthly on May 30, 2013, quickly grew in popularity and readership and became the company’s third weekly newspaper on May 14, 2014. It covers the western Jefferson County communities of Fenton, High Ridge, House Springs, Cedar Hill, Byrnes Mill and Dittmer.

In February 2017, the Leader started publishing the Eureka Leader, which is mailed to more than 6,000 households in the Eureka, MO, ZIP code. The company also publishes Grand Times, a magazine for senior readers which is inserted in both Leaders three times per year and numerous special sections that promote community events. The company always has emphasized strong local news content, running a 40 percent “newshole,” an unusually high percentage for free newspapers. That commitment to news has brought the company dozens of editorial awards over the years from the Missouri Press Association and the National Newspaper Association. It also has earned the company a loyal and large roster of advertisers, ranging from local merchants to nationwide retailers. Those strong relationships, for both ROP and insert customers, are reflected in numerous awards the company has earned from the Missouri Ad Managers Association. Leader employees are actively involved in Jefferson County’s communities and civic organizations. The company sponsors events at major festivals and hosts popular events of its own such as its annual Wedding Fair and four Senior Expos each year. With owners/operators on site who are Jefferson County natives, the company remains committed to its cornerstone values of strong local news coverage, customer service and community involvement.