The Mexico United Way will host their 4th annual Power of the Purse fundraiser tonight in the Gymtorium at Missouri Military Academy.
Amantha Wilson with the United Way explains the concept of the power of the purse:
Tables are still open, or individuals can attend for $50 at the door.
Doors open at 5:30 for a social time with dinner at 6pm. The event hopes to raise $20,000 to help fund nine area agencies.
Michael Daugherty and Brendan McKeown recap everything going on in sports in about 22 minutes (because 2’s are always wild).
For Wednesday, September 9, there was no shortage of things to talk about:
The Tigers continue their preparations for the Border War this weekend in Lawrence against KU
Mizzou Women’s Basketball releases their schedule
THE NFL IS BACK TONIGHT!!!!!!
A WILD night of tennis takes place at the US Open with history in the making
Can the Cardinals get back to .500 before season’s end?
What are some of the next steps for the Royals?
A final goodbye
We talked about all that and more…
Here’s the audio for anyone who missed it.
The Mexico Young Farmers Truck and Tractor Pull kicks off tonight.
Gates open at 4 p.m. and the action will get underway during the 6 p.m. hour.
Kyle Roth spoke about what it takes to get the event going at the fairgrounds off of Highway D in Mexico.
There is a monetary prize for the overall winner. The proceeds go to the Mexico Young Farmers Scholarship Fund, the Mexico FFA Chapter, and Audrain County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Audrain County 4H Fairgrounds.
Get ready for an afternoon of shopping and fun in downtown Mexico.
Mexico Market Madness, sponsored by Mainstreet Mexico, is happening Sunday, September 13, from noon to four p.m.
The downtown flea market will feature vendors selling antiques, collectibles, handmade items, home décor and more. Food trucks will also be on hand.
Anyone can set up a booth to sell unwanted items or promote a local business.
Vendor spaces are $25, or $30 to request a specific spot.
Sign up at the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce or Kate’s Hallmark Shop.
The rain date is September 20.
The Mexico School District’s tax rate will remain unchanged for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The Board of Education approved a rate of $4.6191 per $100 of assessed valuation during its August 18 meeting.
Superintendent Troy Lentz says the district’s adjusted assessed valuation is about $255 million. That’s a decrease of roughly $12 million, largely due to property that was incorrectly included in last year’s valuation.
Lentz says despite the changes, the district expects revenues this year to remain mostly flat compared to last year.
The Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce will honor Spartan Light Metal Products with its 2026 Commerce and Industry Award.
The award recognizes Spartan’s more than three decades of investment in Mexico, including four expansions and a second manufacturing facility focused on large-tonnage die casting.
Today, Spartan’s Mexico operations span nearly 289,000 square feet and employ more than 300 people, making the company one of the community’s largest employers.
The award will be presented October 20 during the Chamber’s annual Commerce and Industry Dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
The evening will also feature the E. Warner Williams Excellence in Business Award, with four local businesses nominated.
A former Centralia police officer accused of domestic violence has been sentenced to five years of probation.
Curtis Higby of Mexico pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic assault, reduced from a first-degree charge, and unlawful use of a weapon. Prosecutors dismissed five other felony charges as part of the plea agreement.
Higby was accused of a pattern of domestic violence involving a romantic partner between February and August of 2025. Some allegations involved a firearm and were captured on camera.
His probation prohibits contact with victims, except as allowed by family court. He must also complete a mental health evaluation and remain under close supervision.
Correction
A pistol seized by the Mexico Public Safety Department was returned to its owner, Not Higby
Last week, the Children’s Therapy and Early Education School in Mexico held a ribbon cutting for their new playground renovations, hosting an event for students, families, and community members.
Tony Robertson slid down the slide to cut the ribbon in honor of his late wife Sara C. Robertson, who worked at the facility for many years before her passing in 2023.
Tony Robertson said that Sara’s legacy will be more than in just the equipment, but the enjoyment that every child takes from using it.
The playground was resurfaced to make it more accessible to children with mobility aids. It also had other safety improvements, as well as a new spinner and shade structure.
The Country 96 St. Louis Cardinals Red Cross Media Blood Drive in Mexico exceeded its goal Monday.
Organizers were hoping to collect 23 units of blood, but donors gave 28 units during the drive at the Mexico Elks Lodge.
The blood drive comes as the Red Cross continues to face a blood shortage across the country.
Organizers say every donation can help patients in need, and donors were also eligible for an Amazon gift card.
A Mexico man was arrested Monday for drug charges.
Authorities executed a search warrant early this week for 32-year-old Jeremy Farris. According to court documents, Farris had prior drug-related convictions.
Upon searching the residence, officers found a chrome cylinder with white powdery substance and other drug paraphernalia.
The probable cause statement says that there were also two children under 18 living in the residence at the time.
Farris was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Farris was being held in the Audrain County Jail on a $15,000 bond, cash or surety.
He has a bond review hearing scheduled for August 18 at 10 a.m.
The family that donated the land for Green Estate Park has filed a lawsuit against the City of Mexico, saying that the city has failed to maintain the property under the terms of their agreement, and is asking that the city comply with those terms, or alternatively, return ownership back to the donors.
The suit was filed on August 6 by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, was brought by Warren C. “Renny” Smith, Jr. Smith donated approximately 143 acres to the city in November 2005.
The complaint says that the city accepted the gift subject to the terms that they would performing ongoing maintenance of the bridges, Rabbit’s Foot Lake, the property’s split rail fence, the Churchill Gate, and the rest of the grounds, while also limiting what could be built there. The original agreement reportedly included a reversion clause, meaning that the land would see ownership returned to the Smith family if any deficiencies were not remedied within 90 days of a formal notice.
The complaint states that Smith’s counsel made a formal notice to the city in September 2024, and that the city failed to take sufficient steps to make improvements.
A court date has not yet been set.
A 63-year-old Mexico man suffered serious injuries after his 2023 Harley Davidson street glide motorcycle hit a deer as he was driving northbound on Route C, two mile south of Audrain County Road 132.
The accident happened Saturday afternoon, north of Centralia, at approximately 2:17pm.
The man was transported by Audrain County EMS to University Hospital in Columbia.
