Pulaski County Daily News

10/04/2025

The Pulaski County Commission will meet on Monday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. in the Pulaski County Courthouse.

Agenda items include ARPA/opioid request review/approval, Sheriff Stacy Ball regarding a Missouri Blue Shield Grant approved for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, and a Road and Bridge Department trailer purchase for the Eastern District; comments by visitors and commissioners; and a closed session for legal, real estate and personnel matters.

10/02/2025

Otis Dale Keeling, 87, of https://www.facebook.com/TeagueAndSons/posts/pfbid0dTjMRHF1RXCBu47iSUETbgd5efs4Hv2yRPK4jcwhTs9ohFogdSZYXoDcQsEQWyurl

Otis Dale Keeling, age 87, of Dixon, Missouri, passed away on September 28, 2025, at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. He was born on May 25, 1938, in Neosho, Missouri, to Claud and Leta (Kimbrough) Keeling, who preceded him in death.

In addition to his parents, Dale was preceded in death by his son, Kevin Keeling; sister, Bonnie Schrimpsher; and brothers, Floyd and Winfred Keeling.

He is survived by his devoted companion of more than 40 years, Judy Ann Rollins; his only son and daughter-in-law Waylon & Rhonda Keeling, Ron Jr. & Donnie Rollins; grandchildren, Jessica & Tiera Keeling, Kloee (Isaac) Farrow, Dillon Keeling, Brandi Martin, and Donnie Baker; as well as numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, his sister, Melba Harrington, and brother, Billy Keeling.

A 1956 graduate of Waynesville High School, Dale proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1961, receiving an honorable discharge. Following his service, he pursued his passion for racing, owning and driving his own car at tracks across Missouri, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan until his retirement from the sport in 1967.

Dale went on to become a successful businessman, owning and operating Dale’s Used Cars, Keeling’s Auto Auction, and the 1606 Club in Dixon. Away from work, he was an avid golfer, earning recognition and awards for his skill. As one of the first members of Oak Hill Country Club in Dixon, he was later honored with a lifetime membership.

Family time was especially important to Dale. When his boys were young, he enjoyed taking them camping at Lazy K Campground at Bagnell Dam, where they spent many happy days fishing and swimming together.

Dale will be remembered as a proud veteran, a passionate sportsman, and a devoted family man whose legacy lives on in the lives of those who loved him.

Services for Otis will be held on Friday, October 3rd, 2025 at Pisgah Baptist Church, 14446 Columbia Rd, Dixon, MO.

Visitation: 10:00am
Funeral: 11:00am

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Pisgah Baptist Church.

10/02/2025

Currently attending the City of Waynesville MO Municipal Government Finance and Human Resources Committee. Members present are Councilmen Bob Hyatt, Ryan Bland, and Trudy Dils, along with Sean A. Wilson - Mayor; City Administrator John Doyle; City Clerk of the City of Waynesville Michele Brown, Finance Director Amber Box, and other city staff.

Committee members have voted to move the closed session, normally at the end of the meeting, to the beginning, and have gone into closed session.

Committee members have returned to open session about 6:30 p.m. after more than an hour of closed session.

Doyle reported that the city is about $1 million over expected revenues in the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget.
"It is probably not unusual at this time of year to be about a million over budget.... we have a $300,000 want list in one department. That's the one side; we are going to peel this back to reality."

Doyle reported on plans to enable customers to monitor their energy usage by time of use.
"We aren't there yet but we are close... we are going to have conversations with the utility committee on how to address this."
Bax noted that the city already alerts residents to avoid using high-energy appliances such as washers and dryers at peak usage time.

Bax and Doyle asked committee members to review the draft budget and make any suggestions on budget matters to city staff to be included in preparing the second draft.

Responding to questions from Mayor Wilson, Bax said the Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport has never earned money and currently budgets for a $300,000 annual loss divided between the two cities, but if it ever did make a profit, the profit would be divided between the cities.
Doyle said the airport, like the police and some other non-revenue-generating departments, needs to be viewed as a service to citizens. Doyle noted that lack of air service could expose U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood to potential BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) consequences.

Committee adjourned.

10/02/2025

Bridgette Babette Sigmon, 63, of formerly of

View Bridgette Babette Sigmon's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

10/02/2025

Currently attending the City of Waynesville MO Municipal Government Emergency Services Committee. Members present are Councilmen Bob Hyatt, Ryan Bland, and Don Hayden, Ward 2 Waynesville Councilman, and Sean A. Wilson - Mayor, along with City Administrator John Doyle, City Clerk of the City of Waynesville Michele Brown, Police Sgt. Josh Hazel, Deputy Fire Chief Jordan Light, Chief Dispatcher Karen Crismon of the Waynesville Central Dispatch, Daniela Breedlove of the Waynesville/Saint Robert Animal Shelter, and other city staff.

Breedlove reported 97 dogs so far the year taken into the shelter for St. Robert, 104 for Waynesville, and 68 for Fort Leonard Wood along with 24 cats. (The two cities do not have feline facilities.) In St. Robert 72 were adopted, 24 returned to owner, and none euthanized. In Waynesville, 57 were adopted, 38 returned to owner, one euthanized, and two deceased. In FLW, 32 were adopted, 31 returned to owner, one euthanized and one still in house.
The total number of animals currently in house is 12.

Crismon reported 721 calls for service in Waynesville and 296 in Richland.
Crismon: "I just got two new dispatchers with experience."
Hyatt: "How do you get those?"
Crismon: "Kidnapped."
Crismon said one of the dispatchers came via word of mouth and other had been in another agency on maternity leave.

The Waynesville Police Department representative said tomorrow's Waynesville High School homecoming parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. with downtown streets being blocked about 2:15 p.m.

Committee members have gone into closed session.

10/02/2025

Currently attending the Pulaski County Commission. Members present are Presiding Commissioner Gene Newkirk, Western District Commissioner Andy Helms, Eastern District Commissioner Kevin Davis, and Deputy Clerk Lorna West, along with Chief Deputy Rex Larson of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and County Treasurer Dan Whittle. Dave Ernst; Pulaski County Clerk is absent.

Larson announced that the sheriff's department has received additional grants; Sheriff Stacy Ball plans to be at Monday's commission meeting to present information on those grants.

Commissioners have adjourned early due to lack of business.

10/02/2025

Linda Kay Layman, 81, of

View Linda Kay Layman's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

10/02/2025

The City of Waynesville MO Municipal Government Finance, Human Resources and Governmental Affairs Committee will meet on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m. in city hall.

Agenda items include citizens comments; financial matters; monthly updates; first draft of the 2026 fiscal year budget; overview of the PayPro kickoff meeting on Oct. 1; other business of an Oracle NetSuite kickoff scheduled for the week of Oct. 13 and the annual Westgate Community Improvement District board meeting on Oct. 31; a closed session for contracts; and setting the next meeting for Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.

10/02/2025

John Harrison Jacoby Sr., 77, of

John Harrison Jacoby Sr., was born on November 17, 1947, in Waynesville, Missouri, to John Harrison Jacoby I. and Maude Marie Gray. He later moved to Alton, Illinois, where he was affectionately nicknamed Johnny Jump Up by Bessie Hadley Murrell, his adoptive parents, who had taken him in and treated

10/02/2025

The City of Waynesville MO Municipal Government Emergency Services committee will meet on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. in city hall.

Agenda items include citizen comments; a 2026 budget review; updates from the Waynesville/Saint Robert Animal Shelter, Waynesville Central Dispatch, fire department, and Waynesville Police Department; special events; unspecified other business; and setting the next committee meeting for Nov. 6 at 4 p.m.

10/02/2025

The Pulaski County Commission will meet on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 9 a.m. in the Pulaski County Courthouse.

Agenda items include ARPA/opioid request review/approval, comments by visitors and commissioners, and a closed session for legal, real estate and personnel matters.

10/01/2025

Wayne Daniel Gifford, 70, of

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