Cuba Free Press
Cuba News

City of Cuba dedicates new pickleball courts

The city of Cuba held a dedication ceremony on Sept. 26 for the new pickleball courts. The courts were a donation from the Chymiak Family Foundation. Mayor Pitts Lesesne opened the ceremony by …

Aldermen approve using third-party drug, alcohol program

City Clerk Lainie Garbo said on Sept. 15 that the natural gas system requires a drug and alcohol program. Upon undergoing an audit, the system was found to require plan amendments, probable areas of …

ROCKAEL Ride is set for this Saturday

The Rockael Stubblefield’s Future of Agriculture Trust will meet at 10 a.m. on Sept. 26 for its ROCKAEL Ride. A side-by-side trail ride and poker run is the highlight of the day and benefits …
Crawford R-2 News
Cuba’s R-2 District School Board met for the first time during the 2026-2027 school year Sept. 29 and heard various updates from administrators and its student representative about how the school …
Allison Heads and Seth Adderly were crowned Cuba High School Homecoming queen and king on Oct. 2 in front of a full Wildcat Pride stadium before this year’s Homecoming football game against …
Various Cuba R-2 School District administrators, board members and staff expressed excitement for the new school year and applauded the recent renovations on campus during the Aug. 19 meeting. …
Public hearing set for water and sewer rate increase in Bourbon
It was announced on Sept. 15 by Bourbon City Clerk Stacy Blake that, after calculations by the Department of Natural Resources, they produced a spreadsheet showing how much the city must raise its …
Bourbon to post no-thru truck traffic signs on Route 66
Mayor Sky Huddleston suggested on Sept. 15 that the city post no-thru truck traffic signs on Route 66. Over the past few meetings, the board has made it abundantly clear that the city cannot …
Crawford R-1 News
Bourbon High School band students on Sept. 15 presented the Bourbon School Board with complimentary tickets to their Missouri Music Educators Association conference performance. The band was one of six high schools in Missouri selected to perform, which will be on Jan. 29, 2027, at the Tan-Tar-A Conference Center.
Bourbon School District programs continue to improve support of student success
Bourbon High School Principal (BHS) Casandra Haar announced on Sept. 15 to the Crawford County R-1 Board of Education (BOE) that when looking at the End of Course (EOC) assessment scores, English 2 …
Bourbon R-1 settles on standard Hudl package
Crawford County R-1 Board of Education on Aug. 17 revisited a June 16 discussion regarding a Hudl subscription, eventually reaching a compromise as officials prepare to cut spending. Discussion …
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror
Steelville News
“Art Squared” is the latest exhibit at Steelville’s Gallery Zeke, which features paintings by local artist that features natural and outdoors scenes from in and around the Steelville area. Pieces in the exhibit were donated by artists in Steelville Arts Council’s Summer Plein Air event and will be auctioned off to support the work of the Arts Council and Gallery Zeke.

Art Squared exhibit comes to Gallery Zeke

Art Squared opened Oct. 2 as the latest exhibit at Steelville’s Gallery Zeke. The exhibit showcases artwork painted by participants of the Steelville Arts Council’s Summer Plein Air event, …

Steelville Forward plans holiday market, discusses future of the Jonas Museum

Members of Steelville Forward, a community action group comprised of local business owners and city officials, met Sept. 28 at the Steelville Country Club for their monthly meeting. The group …
City Clerk Jamie Griffith (left) swears in newly appointed Ward 2 Alderman Jennifer Hurd (right). Hurd was unanimously appointed by the Steelville City Council to fill a seat that became vacant when former Ward 2 Alderman Jason Ward was appointed to the mayor’s seat in August.

Hurd appointed as Ward 2 Alderman

Steelville City Aldermen and Mayor Jason Ward voted unanimously to appoint Jennifer Hurd to the position of alderman for Ward 2 during the Sept. 21 city council meeting. Hurd was sworn in following …
Steelville R-3 News

Steelville R-3 approves $6M bond sales for facility improvements

At its monthly meeting on July 23, the Steelville R-3 Board of Education unanimously voted to approve a resolution authorizing the sale of $6 million in general obligation bonds. The funds from the …

Steelville Aldermen hear updates from city engineer, public works

City Engineer Terris Cates updated the Steelville Board of Aldermen on July 6 about funding and proposed projects. Cates said that the Spring Street bridge at Hoppe Spring Park will be made into …

Steelville R-3 approves budget for upcoming school year

The Steelville R-3 Board of Education approved the fiscal budget for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Superintendent Steve Vetter brought the proposed budget into discussion. “It talks …

Saint James Press
St. James News

Water quality concerns being investigated by city, residents are urged to report irregularities

St. James Public Works officials began investigating concerns about the water quality in parts of the city after residents reported foul-smelling and discolored water in their homes. On Sept. …

What to know about preneed funeral services, protections

Preneed funeral contracts can help individuals and families plan ahead and pay for funeral expenses before they are needed. Contracts are pre-agreed upon, written and paid for by licensed sellers who …

Team Anita Golf Benefit opens registration

Registration for teams and sponsors is now open for the 13th annual Team Anita Golf Benefit. Teams and sponsors should register on or before Oct. 9 in order to participate. This year, the …
St. James R-1

St. James 5th Annual Tiger Trot set for Saturday

The St. James R-1 School District’s 5th Annual Tiger Trot Thanksgiving 5k run/walk and 10k run on Nov. 29 is all about exercise, community spirit and raising money for a good cause. Funds from …

St. James R-1 school board filing opens Dec. 9

Filing opens on Dec. 9 for the April 2026 municipal election. The St. James R-1 Board of Education has three seats up for three-year terms. The three board of education seats are currently held …

St. James R-1 receives grant for district, community engagement

The St. James R-1 School District was awarded $17,263 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as part of the 2025 Non-playground Scrap Tire Grant. The district will use the grant to …

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Obituaries
John Edward Tabaka Jr.
John Edward Tabaka Jr. of Viburnum, Missouri was born on Monday, November 8, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri to John Edward Tabaka Sr. and Norma Jean (nee Turner) Tabaka and passed away on Sunday, …
Kathy Margaret Summers
Kathy Margaret Summers of Bourbon, Missouri was born on December 19, 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri to Edward and Emma Jane (Comfort) Dunn and passed away Sunday, September 20, 2026 at the age of 78 …
Mary Ann Splittorff
Mary Ann Splittorff of Bourbon, Missouri was born on February 26, 1957 in Sullivan, Missouri to Robert and Joanna (Jinkerson) LaChance and passed away Sunday, July 5, 2026 at the age of 69 years. …
Marianne Simmerly
Marianne Simmerly of St. James, Missouri was born August 31, 1958 in Springfield, Missouri to Truman and Neva (Wimberley) Hardin and passed away Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the age of 68 years. …
Holly Lynn Sidwell
Holly Lynn Sidwell of Rolla, Missouri was born July 11, 1986 in St Louis, Missouri to Larry Edward Sidwell and Sandra Kay Slawson and passed away on Tuesday September 15, 2026 at the age of 40 years. …
Phyllis Joan Kendall
Phyllis Joan (Harris) Kendall of Rolla, Missouri was born on September 9, 1933 in Freemont, Nebraska to Guy Shelby Palmer and Helen (Gudgel) Palmer and passed away Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the …
Sports
Lady Tigers 0-2 at Hermann Tourney
The St. James High softball squad finished 0-2 in the Hermann Tournament, held Saturday, Oct. 3. The Lady Tigers lost to eventual tourney champion Mark Twain 15-0 and to host Hermann 11-7 in the …
St. James freshman Hallie Kleffner was runner-up in a dual meet against Rolla Thursday, Oct. 1 at Oak Meadow Country Club.
Kleffner runner-up in meet at Rolla
The St. James High girls’ golf team traveled to Oak Meadow Country Club in Rolla Thursday, Oct. 1 to face its Phelps County rival in an 18-hole dual meet. Rolla won the match 417-433. …
Lady Tiger volleyball team ends win with win
Ending the week with a victory, the St. James High School volleyball squad defeated Chamois 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19) in a varsity-only contest Friday, Oct. 2 at Chamois. Earlier in the …
Here is the St. James High School boys’ cross country team, which captured the St. James Invitational last week at Maramec Spring Park. From left, Ryder Byfield, Josh Rinehart, Ashton Moreland, Eric Bolte, Kylar Hodge, Tristin Barton, Kypton Earney, Isaac Siders and Dylan Stricklin.
Host Tiger boys repeat as the St. James Invitation champs
St. James junior Ashton Moreland insists his best competition this season has come in practice, surrounded by some equally impressive teammates. However, he admitted his sprint to the finish …
Cardinals cross county team competes in St. James, MS boys earn first place
Steelville Middle School and High School cross country teams competed in the Sept. 29 St. James Invitational at Maramec Spring Park. SHS boys earned third place as a team on the backs of three …
Jazmyn Hurd (above) receives a serve on Pink Night.  Alex Helms (below) eyes the ball as she winds up to spike.
SHS volleyball team beats Belle after falling to Cuba, Licking
After a tough start to the week against stiff competition, Steelville High School’s volleyball team earned a hard fought victory on the road against Belle to end the week on a high note. The Lady …
Cuba and Bourbon’s High School and Middle School cross country teams competed Sept. 29 at Maramec Spring Park in the St. James Cross Country Invitational.
Cuba, Bourbon cross country teams compete in St. James
High School and middle school Wildcats and Warhawks competed in the Sept. 29 St. James Invitational at Maramec Spring Park. Bourbon High freshman Elijah Frederick was the top high school runner …
Abbi Payne (left) reaches up and sends a shot over the net.  Kenzii Withorn (above left) elevates to spike the ball. Brynn Miller (above right) eyes the ball as she tips it over the net.  Allie Sutton (right) sets the ball over her head.
Lady Warhawks whip Dixon, fall to Plato
Bourbon High School’s volleyball team finished its week strong with an Oct. 1 win in straight sets over Dixon. The Lady Warhawks fell to a tough Plato team Sept. 29 and are now 6-14-2 on the year …
Dawson King (left) catches the ball and goes to apply a tag to a Kingston baserunner. Garrett Wallis (center) fields a ground ball and winds up to throw to first base.  Anson Hormann (right) slides safely into third base. Jonathan Poole (below right) catches a pick-off attempt at first base as a Kingston runner dives back.
Bourbon Warhawks wallop Kingston, remain undefeated
Bourbon High School’s baseball team defeated Kingston Sept. 28 at home to move to 4-0 on the fall season. The Warhawks’ scheduled Oct. 1 game in Richland was canceled due to inclement weather in …