The Laclede County Record

08/07/2025

A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Take a peek at last weekend’s “Pics from the Past” feature!
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Sunny Slope School District organized in 1912

1. Sunny Slope School District 99 was the last rural school district to be organized in Laclede County. It was located in south central Laclede County off Route O near the Wright County line. The school was created from parts of Gardner and Stony Point school districts in 1912. Tom Rue donated land for the school since he thought it was too far for his children to travel to Stony Point School near Pease, Mo. It was built on a sunny slope in the center of the new district. The first teacher was Harry Hill. The school closed in May 1958 due to low attendance and the district transported the students to the adjoining Gardner School District. Directors at that time were Ira L. Snow, Ira B. Moore, Leslie T. Rue and William “Bill’’ Jemes. Verbia Howell was the last school clerk and Silas Green was the last teacher. The school is shown here in 1914. First row, from left, Elva Stewart, Lee Dinkens, Leslie Rue, Henry Fincher, Otto Rue, Ben Jones, Morris Jones, Philo Rue, Hershel Davis, Erman Davis, Ines O’Dell, Verlia Jinkens, Lura Rue, Janie Stewart, Sara Stewart; second row, Ira Jemes, Leonard O’Dell, Joe Fincher, Nora Rue, Letha O’Dell, Lillie Rue; third row, Ira Snow, Elmer Parker (a visitor), Glover Snow, Sylvia Snow, Dolly Jones, teacher; Lizzie Bohannon, Sylvia Rue and Bessie Fincher.

2. The school in 1940.

3. Sunny Slope School in March 1956. First row, from left, Gary L. Snow, Judith A. Daniels; second row, Buel L. Jemes, Mary M. Rue, Joy L. Snow; third row, Eldon L. Jemes, Vernon L. Daniels, Ruby J. Daniels and Verlin L. Weaver.

4. Sunny Slope School in 1940s. Students identified are Marjorie Daniels, William Daniels, Lena Sue Moore, Jackie Hodges, Betty Boston, Billy Hodges, Paul Walker, Teen Howell, Susie Moore, Tommy Boston and Billy Joe Howell.

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Got vintage photos or memories to share—or want to suggest a topic you haven’t seen? Reach out to our historian, Kirk Pearce, at [email protected] or call 417-532-9131 and ask for Kirk.

08/07/2025

EDIT: Responders were wrapping up the scene in the 2200 block of Audrey Lane when the Record left at 9:17 p.m.
Original: Local fire departments are on fire attack on a home on Audrey Lane. The street is shut down. It’s wise to avoid the area.

08/06/2025

You can now read the August 7th issue of the Weekly Trader online at www.myweeklytrader.com, or pick up a copy at select stores. Check it out below! ↓↓↓
Follow our Trader page for more!

08/06/2025

08/06/2025

08/06/2025

For more on what happened during the meeting after the Record due to print day constraints, please see the video description.

This video is a recording of the Laclede County Commission’s public meeting on August 5, 2025. This video has seen no significant cuts or alterations.Princip...

08/06/2025

Six out of six precincts have reported for the election. The final count:
Lebanon voters have narrowly voted NO (50.81%, 125 votes) on the lodging tax increase. 49.19% of Lebanon voters (121 votes) voted YES.
There were 246 ballots cast in the Aug. 5 special election.
EDIT: Note that these results are unofficial. They will be officially verified on August 7 at 8:15 a.m. on the second floor of the Laclede County Government Center.

08/06/2025

Ballots are coming into the Laclede County Government Center to decide the fate of Lebanon’s potential lodging tax increase.
For absentee ballots, 17 people (56.67%) voted YES for the increase and 13 people (43.33%) voted NO. There were 30 total absentee ballots.

08/05/2025

The Lebanon R-3 School District will have its federal after-school funding for this year after all.
In July, the Record reported that the district had been unsure whether the federal government would release after-school programming funds from the $6.8 billion freeze states had first learned about June 30. This sparked a conversation on how the district would manage their program without the funds.
Other stories this issue cover the Laclede County Commission meeting on Tuesday, MSU Lebanon Alumni Association's Senior Send Off, and updates in the Jacob Ross and Sidney Fredrick Wilson V court proceedings.

The Lebanon R-3 School District will have its federal after-school funding for this year after all. In July, the Record reported that the district had been unsure whether the federal government would …

08/05/2025

08/01/2025

VFW 4107 Post Commander Jamie Folsom told the Record that the Internal Revenue Service had informed the organization that it had regained its tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(19) organization, retroactive to November 15, 2022. The reinstatement resolves a significant financial concern for the organization.
Other stories this issue cover Tuesday's Lebanon-Laclede County Library programming, Wednesday's property tax public hearing, Lebanon Swim Club results from Junior Olympics, and Downtown Lebanon's awards from the Missouri Main Street Connection Inc.'s annual conference.

Effective Wednesday, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4107 is once again a tax-exempt organization, according to Post Commander Jamie Folsom. Folsom informed the Record that the Internal Revenue …