BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — Pike County, Missouri Collector Tara J. Eskew says 2026 tax freeze applications are now available. New applicants may pick up an application at the Collector’s Office or access one online at pike-collector.com. Residents already enrolled in the program should have received renewal forms by mail. Eskew says those residents should review their information, make any needed corrections, and return the form to the Collector’s Office. Renewal is required to rem

BARRY — The American Red Cross will hold a Barry Community Blood Drive on Monday, June 8. The blood drive will take place from noon to 5 p.m. in the United Methodist Church Fellowship Room at 720 Perry Street in Barry. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or using the Blood Donor App. Donors can also save time by using RapidPass before their appointment at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass. The Red Cross says donors who give blood between

LOUISIANA. — The Louisiana City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a city budget totaling more than $2.54 million in expenses for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including nearly $677,000 for the Police Department. The council approved Bill 7256 on Tuesday, June 2, appropriating funding for city departments and uses during the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2026, and ending May 31, 2027. The vote came after council members previously tabled the proposed budget while

CLARKSVILLE — Residents and others who care about the future of Clarksville are invited to take part in a community discussion later this month focused on connecting the city’s past, present and future. The public event, titled “Care About Clarksville?,” will be held Monday, June 29, at 6 p.m. at Clarksville Memorial VFW Post 4610, located at 105 North First Street in Clarksville. Organizers are inviting community members to attend and share their ideas about Clarksville and

PITTSFIELD — Young anglers will have several opportunities to learn and practice fishing skills this month during youth fishing clinics at King Park Pond. The clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to noon each Tuesday and Thursday through June 25. Each clinic is limited to 20 youth participants, but children may register for more than one session. Fishing poles and bait will be provided. Participants may also bring their own fishing pole. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to r

CARROLLTON -- A Greene County man has been sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in a methamphetamine possession case. Geoffrey J. Scott, 45, appeared before Judge Zachary Schmidt on Monday, June 1, and pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of more than 15 grams but less than 100 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 1 felony. Scott received an eight-year prison sentence, with credit for 42 days already served. He was also recomm

LOUISIANA — Drivers traveling between Louisiana and Eolia could encounter lane restrictions later this month as the Missouri Department of Transportation prepares for resurfacing work on Route D in Pike County, Missouri. MoDOT says resurfacing on Route D, from Missouri Route 79 near Louisiana to U.S. Route 61 in Eolia, is tentatively scheduled to begin in late June. The project is part of a series of seal coat and resurfacing operations underway or planned across Pike and Lin

PLEASANT HILL — The 2026 Pike County Fair opened Tuesday in Pleasant Hill and continues through Saturday with four more nights of carnival rides, livestock shows, tractor pulls, racing, live music and the fair’s demolition derby finale. The fair is being held at the Pike County Fairgrounds at 210 West Clay Street in Pleasant Hill. Gates open nightly at 5 p.m., with general admission including the petting zoo and grandstand entertainment. Wednesday’s schedule includes the Beef

MISSOURI — Missouri residents who use unstaffed state conservation shooting ranges could be required to purchase a small game permit under a new proposal from the Missouri Department of Conservation. MDC says the permit proposal follows increased damage and misuse at more than 35 unstaffed firearms shooting ranges across the state. Conservation officials say some users have damaged range signs, booths and other infrastructure, while also leaving behind spent shells, targets a

LOUISIANA — The City of Louisiana is accepting applications for a vacant Ward IV City Council seat following the resignation of Councilman Daryle Wallace. The city announced that Wallace resigned from the Louisiana City Council because of a change in residency. Wallace had been listed as one of the city’s two Ward IV representatives, alongside Councilman John Phillips. Residents interested in the vacant council position may submit an application to the City Clerk at Louisiana

JEFFERSON CITY — Nonresident deer hunters in Missouri will be limited to one antlered buck during the upcoming 2026 deer season under a regulation change approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission. The Commission approved the change during its May 29 open meeting in Washington, Missouri, following recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The new limit reduces the nonresident antlered buck bag limit from two to one for the 2026 season. Qualified nonr

LOUISIANA — Residents who want to change their Dayne’s Waste Disposal trash service level for the upcoming August 1 service cycle must submit a signed form to the Louisiana Water Department by June 30. The city is reminding customers that trash service changes may be made only twice each year, with changes taking effect on February 1 or August 1. Residents who are satisfied with their current trash service do not need to take any action. The city’s trash service form lists se

PITTSFIELD -- The February 2021 Pike County Finance Committee minutes state that a Paycom representative gave a 30-minute presentation on the company’s finance software. The publicly available minutes reviewed for this story do not identify additional competing software proposals considered during that meeting. One month later, during the March 17, 2021 Finance Committee meeting, board member Amy Gates made a motion to approve Paycom contingent upon funding from federal Recov

' ATLAS — Atlas Cafe has closed its doors after announcing that Sunday, May 31, would be its final day of operation. The locally operated cafe, located at the corner of Highways 54 and 96 in Atlas, announced the closure in a message to customers, saying the decision was difficult but necessary. “Unfortunately we’ve had to make the tough decision to close the cafe,” the business stated. “It’s not been an easy decision for us, but it’s what we have to do.” Atlas Cafe thanked cu

LOUISIANA — The Louisiana City Council has delayed action on the city’s proposed 2026–2027 operating budget after questions were raised about funding for the Louisiana Police Department. Council members met in special session Friday night to consider the proposed budget. During the meeting, Ward 4 Councilman John Phillips made a motion to table the budget vote until additional information can be presented regarding the police department portion of the spending plan. The moti

PITTSFIELD — A longtime Pike County, Illinois business is welcoming customers at a new location after a fire destroyed its former home earlier this year. Wright Place Car Sales held a grand reopening Saturday, May 30, at its new location at 1232 West Washington Street in Pittsfield, marking a new chapter for owner Peter Wright and a business that has served the community for 35 years. The reopening comes four months after Wright Place Auto Body was destroyed by fire at its fo

SCOTT COUNTY — Drivers in Scott County will need to plan for a lengthy bridge closure beginning Monday. The Hoots Road bridge over Interstate 72 is scheduled to close for reconstruction and is expected to remain closed through the end of August. The bridge is located between the Old U.S. 36 and I-72 interchange and the Illinois Route 100 and I-72 interchange. The closure means local traffic that normally uses Hoots Road over I-72 will need to use alternate routes for nearly t

PIKE COUNTY, IL — One of Pike County’s best-known autumn traditions is making a comeback. Organizers of Pike County Fall Pickin Days say the Pike County Color Drive name and tradition are being revived this year, bringing renewed attention to the countywide fall weekend that has long drawn visitors through Pike County’s small towns, backroads, scenic countryside, and local attractions. The event is set for the third weekend of October and will once again invite visitors to e

CARROLLTON -The Greene County Agricultural Fair is underway in Carrollton, with this year’s event marking 100 years of the fair’s grandstand. The fair continues through Saturday at the Greene County Fairgrounds, located at 233 East Illinois Route 108. Gate admission is $5, and children 5 and under are admitted free. Fair board member Mark Walker said the carnival includes 12 rides this year. Nightly carnival armbands were reduced to $25 after a change in the company operating

BOWLING GREEN - The Pizza Hut in Bowling Green is among the Missouri locations listed as part of the company’s retro “Pizza Hut Classic” push. The Bowling Green location is listed at 4 Town Center Drive, Suite A, Bowling Green, MO 63334. Pizza Hut’s own location page confirms the restaurant offers dine-in service, along with carryout and delivery, and lists the phone number as 573-324-5075. The retro-style effort is bringing back the look and feel many customers remember from