Pulaski County Daily News

12/02/2025

Currently attending the Crocker R-II School Board.

Crocker resident Justin Smith is objecting to the way in which board member BJ Medlen's fundraiser for the school was handled.
Smith: "I'm not here to complain or condemn; I'm here to say, 'Just make it right.'"
Medlen said he tried repeatedly to get answers on who in the school district the funds should be given to; he said today was the first time he's received information on where the check should be written.

Board members are receiving reports on the library and from the Parents as Teachers program.

Crocker High School Principal Aibeen Holland is reporting.
"We're trying to set a culture of high expectations for our building."

The superintendent is reporting.

Board members have gone into closed session.

Board members have returned to open session and adjourned.

Following the meeting, Medlen clarified that he will be writing a $2000 check; another person already turned $1000 over to the district from the fundraiser.

Tonight's meeting will be the last for Doug Jacobsen, the retired Crocker Elementary principal who has returned on an interim basis to head the elementary school but will not be continuing after Christmas. No public announcements have yet been made on the principal position.

12/02/2025

Betty I. Hess, 95, of daughter in

BETTY I. HESS, daughter of Adam and Faye Wright James, was born in Laclede County, Missouri, on May 22, 1930, and departed this life on November 28, 2025, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-five years. In 1947, Betty graduated from Lebanon High School. She made friends easily and

12/01/2025

Currently attending the Pulaski County Commission. Members present are Presiding Commissioner Gene Newkirk, Western District Commissioner Andy Helms, Eastern District Commissioner Kevin Davis, Dave Ernst; Pulaski County Clerk, along with Sheriff Stacy Ball and Chief Deputy Rex Larson from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, County Coroner Roger Graves, County Assessor Dan Whittle, and County Treasurer Mack Wilkerson.

Preston Kramer of MoDOT Central Missouri District and Bonnie Prigge of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission are presenting proposals for transportation improvements.

Kramer noted that most of I-44 was built in the 1960s and doesn't meet current engineering and construction standards. While people aren't driving on the original I-44 surface, which has been overlaid many times with newer concrete, in some places the underlying roadbed is failing.
Kramer said some parts of I-44, due to the number of crashes, need to have consideration for additional lanes, passing lanes, and outer roads.

Davis noted that additional Amish community members have moved into the Dixon area.
"We've had two accidents with them already.... I need 'share the road' signs."
Davis said the signs need to be on Creek Road, Highway O, Highway 28, Highway C, and parts of Highway 133.
Kramer: "We are actively looking to where to put 'share the road' signs because if you put them everywhere people don't pay attention.'

Waynesville Sean A. Wilson - Mayor asked whether anything can be done on congestion on Ichord Avenue between Historic Route 66 and Exit 156; City of Waynesville MO Municipal Government City Administrator John Doyle asked about the relationship between that project and addressing a possible overpass on I-44 connecting GW Lane and Southside Drive and extending Southside Drive to connect to Superior Road to provide an additional route between Waynesville and St. Robert.
Doyle: "When you have a wreck or a shutdown on I-44, Route 66 becomes I-44.... it is really a traffic nightmare for us."

City of Saint Robert, Missouri City Administrator Anita Ivey noted a large number of wrecks on Y Highway.

City of Dixon, MO Municipal Government Alderman Justin Thompson said the Jerome construction project, combined with the Highway 28 bridge at Exit 163, has "crippled our ambulance" and emergency personnel response to emergencies in getting people to hospitals.
Thompson also asked where advertisements for bid had been posted for MoDOT construction projects in the Dixon area, since out-of-town contractors were brought in to do construction work which many local contractors could have done. Prigge and Kramer said the Dixon project was bid out about four years ago.

Prigge is discussing emergency management plans with the county commissioners.

11/28/2025

Winfred Joseph “Joe” Rasmussen, 70, of

Share Memories and Support the Family.

11/27/2025

Come in or log in, we’re always available at Security Bank of Pulaski County! The bank offers consumer loans. Whether you need new equipment, a larger facility, a more complete inventory, accounts receivable, or construction financing, Security Bank of Pulaski County can offer the solution you need.

11/26/2025

Emergency personnel are on the scene of a trailer fire near the junction of Hardin Lane and Hope Drive with heavy smoke showing.

Agencies include Fort Leonard Wood Fire Department and Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District, and likely others not yet verified.

The state fire marshal's office has been called as of 4 p.m. to do a fire investigation.

11/26/2025

April Lorraine (Cole) Hodakowski, 54, of

Share Memories and Support the Family.

11/25/2025

Currently attending (via Microsoft Teams) the Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport Board.

Waynesville City Administrator John Doyle noted that discrepancies in the budget for employee compensation are largely due to many airport employees who are retired military personnel declining the offered insurance because they have Tricare.

Board members are considering reappointing Randy Becht to the airport board. Doyle said Becht is a former board member who had planned to move out of the area, but has returned and is willing to accept reappointment.
"He is fully planning to attend the next airport meeting, and I know as Waynesville we are pretty excited to have him back on the board."
Becht has been reappointed.

The airport operations manager is reporting that fuel sales are low, but that's common at this time of year. Maintenance is being done on one of the fuel trucks.

Carola Prewett is reporting for Contour Airlines.

Robert Osborne is reporting for Burns & McDonnell on engineering and construction of the new airport terminal.
"Things are progressing really well; American Water is onsite working on the water main and Laclede Electric Cooperative is working on electric line .... we are moving ahead on making this a real terminal."

Board adjourned; next meeting Jan. 27.

11/25/2025

Mary Sue McClain, 83, of burial in Missouri Veterans Cemetery - Fort Leonard Wood

Share Memories and Support the Family.

11/25/2025

The Crocker R-II School Board will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. in the Crocker school administration building.

Agenda items include public comments including local resident Justin Smith; financial matters; discussion items with program updates on guidance and counseling from Bonnie Cotrel and Jeanna Mendez, on library services from Jennifer Houlehan, and on PAT (Parents as Teachers) from Brandy Harrison and Megan Sherrell, reports from Crocker Elementary interim principal Doug Jacobsen and from Crocker High School principal Aibeen Holland, and a report by Superintendent Ashley Burton on the 2025 APR summary, MUSIC liability insurance renewal, transportation report comparison and procedure updates; a closed session for legal and personnel issues; action items of approving staff resignations, classified staff recommendations, substitute list, procedure update and addition/update to the student handbook; and setting the next board meeting for Jan. 6 at 5 p.m.

11/25/2025

Security Bank of Pulaski County offers fixed-rate loans. Whether customers are buying a home, refinancing a mortgage, buying a car or planning a vacation, the bank can offer a wide variety of secured and unsecured loans at competitive rates and flexible terms.

11/25/2025

MoDOT Central Missouri District personnel have announced the following list of general highway maintenance and construction work planned in the mid-Missouri area from Monday through Sunday, Nov. 24-30.

Most routine work zones will stop for the Thanksgiving holiday, but some long-term work zones and closures will remain in place. If possible, work zones will stop at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and could resume the morning of Friday, Nov. 28.

Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays. Statewide, other moving operations such as pothole patching, mowing, and pavement repairs continue in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change.

Pulaski County

Route 28: Pedestrian facility upgrades continue from East A Street to Chestnut Street in Dixon.

Route 7: Pedestrian facility upgrades continue in Richland at Route A.

Work on both the Route 28 and Route 7 projects will require temporary closures of pedestrian facilities and intermittent single-lane closures with flaggers to direct motorists through the work zone. The projects are scheduled for completion in November 2025.

Phelps County

Route D: Bridge rehabilitation continues over I–44, approximately 7 miles southwest of Doolittle. The bridge is CLOSED, with a signed detour in place. During construction, unexpected deterioration was uncovered which will require additional work. At this time, the expected completion date for the rehabilitation is not known.