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Local structure fires increased in January

The Licking Rural Fire Department responded to three structure fires in January, and within a 12-hour period beginning Saturday afternoon, February 7, were deployed for two structure fires, one in the rural district and one within the city, and they provided mutual aid at a structure fire south of Edgar Springs. Not only do heating…

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Dr. Edna M. Grover-Bisker named 2026 Missouri Mother of the Year

LICKING, Mo. — Dr. Edna M. Grover-Bisker, a longtime community leader, educator, and advocate for families across Mid‑Missouri, has been nominated as Missouri’s 2026 Mother of the Year, a statewide honor recognizing exceptional dedication to motherhood, service, and positive impact. The Missouri Mother of the Year award, presented annually by American Mothers, Inc., celebrates women…

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Wildcat Archers start their season

The Wildcat Junior High and High School Archery Teams traveled to Dent-Phelps R-III School on Saturday to compete in their first tournament of the season, and they represented Licking with pride. High School Wildcat archers finished as follows: J’sai Leahy 263, Malachi Smith 246, Jeffrey Alkire 244 and Drew Wiebe 240. Junior High Wildcat archers…

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Coming Events: February 12, 2026

VOTE FOR LRC VALENTINE KING AND QUEEN Cast a vote for a penny for the 2026 Licking Residential Valentine King & Queen! Stop by from now until February 13 at 225 West Highway 32, Licking, to vote. Funds collected will be used for resident activities. NSDAR FEBRUARY MEETING The Noah Coleman Chapter, NSDAR, is scheduled…

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Classifieds: February 12 – 18, 2026

For Sale: 30% Off Sale on most booths and Furniture Room now in progress at Rustic Haven Flea Market in Licking, Mo. For more info call 573-674-1382. L/6/8tc For Sale: JD 410 round baler, hay rake. Call 573-308-6323. L/3/8tp For Sale: Books make great gifts! Find Marie Lasater’s new book “What The Coroner Saw” and…

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Obituary – Ret. SSG Kenneth T. Cantrill, Jr.

Retired Staff Sergeant Kenneth Thomas Cantrill Jr., age 47, passed away on January 31, 2026, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. He was born on January 25, 1979, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at St. Rose Dominican Hospital. Kenneth proudly served in the United States Army for 21 years, including distinguished service as a member…

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Controlled substance arrest at SCCC

Chief Pat Burton On January 30, 2026, at approximately 2:23 p.m., an officer with the Licking Police Department responded to South Central Correctional Center for a report of an employee attempting to bring a prohibited item into the facility. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Corie Buckner, a 37-year-old male from…

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In This Edition: February 5, 2026

Please note our web address is www.thelickingnews.net and email addresses are shari@thelickingnews.net and katey@thelickingnews.net. Contact us at 573-674-2412 if you are having problems emailing us or accessing the website. Our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience these changes may have caused you. Thank you for reading The Licking News; we appreciate your support. In addition to…

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Rinne announces departure, Loughridge named next LHS Principal

By Supt. Telena Haneline The Licking R-8 Board of Education is pleased to announce the hiring of Mrs. Angie Loughridge as Licking High School Principal for the 2026-2027 school year. Mrs. Loughridge will be succeeding Dr. Jarad Rinne, current LHS Principal, who was recently named Assistant Superintendent for the Forsyth R-III School District. The board…

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