Clark County’s final Red Cross-sponsored community blood drive collected 55 units of blood May 21 at First Baptist Church in Kahoka, providing donations that could help as many as 165 people, including babies. Organizers thanked everyone who “rolled up a sleeve” to donate, noting that every donation matters, no matter the reason behind it. The May drive also marked a transition for the local blood donation program after the Red Cross recently announced it would discontinue many smaller community blood drives in the area, including Clark County’s, effective July 1. The announcement came as a shock to many local supporters,…

By Emily Bontrager A piece of downtown Kahoka history was uncovered last week during repair on the Clark Mutual building where Clark Mutual Insurance Company and Ross Insurance are located on the west side of the square. As work began near the top of the brick building, the name “J. H. Puder” became visible once again. Archived editions of the Clark County Courier provide insight into the life and business history of John Henry Puder; a longtime Kahoka businessman whose name once appeared regularly in local advertisements and business notices. According to Puder’s obituary, published in the April 4, 1930,…

University of Missouri Extension NOVELTY, Mo. – Waterlogging and flooding are among the most damaging weather-related stresses in crop production worldwide, and their impacts are increasing as extreme rainfall becomes more frequent. Flooding ranks second only to drought among abiotic stresses. Research by Gurbir Singh, a soil scientist with University of Missouri Extension at MU’s Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm, along with Gurpreet Kaur, assistant research professor in the MU School of Natural Resources, and others, shows how excess water affects crops, soils and nutrient management, and outlines strategies farmers can use to reduce losses. Flooding submerges plants, while…

Jim McCoy and Shirley Branson were married in St. Francisville, MO, on May 29, 1966, with Rev. Hollis Wilhelm officiating. Shirley was from St. Francisville and Jim grew up in Canton, MO. Jim was drafted into the Army just a few weeks after their wedding and was stationed in Frankfort, West Germany for two years. Shirley joined him over there nine months after he left. Upon returning to the States, they lived in Canton for a short time until making their home with their daughters in Wayland, MO. Both are retired from factories in Keokuk and live in Kahoka where…