Area Sports and Education

By Shari Harris, Publisher August 11 was the official start of practice for the 2025 Fall Wildcat Baseball season, and their first games will be August 29 and 30, at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark. The Licking Wildcats will face Silo, Okla., Southwest (Washburn), Purdy and Crane in the two day event. Head Coach Cole…

Shari Harris, Publisher Parents, grandparents, students and siblings eagerly awaited the opening of the Licking Elementary Open House Monday afternoon. A line had formed before the doors opened at 4 p.m., signalling the start of the Open House. The excitement of a new school year was in the air and visible in the smiling faces…

By Shari Harris, Publisher The Licking Lady Wildcats start their 2025 volleyball season on Tuesday, August 26, at the Willard Jamboree. Coach Tammy Gorman remains at the helm, and with three returning seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and nine freshmen on the roster, she’ll have a young team this year. Coach Gorman anticipates four to…

Registration for Licking High School and Junior High School students looked a little different this year, but administrators hope the new system made the process easier for families and students. Registration paperwork was able to be completed online through Infinite Campus and returning students were not required to come to campus to do this. An…

By Shari Harris, Publisher A Back to School Bash was held Friday evening at Licking’s Old City Park. Area churches combined with other organizations to hand out school supplies and other items to students in preparation for the 2025-26 school year. Booths were set up for each class, with school supplies donated by the churches…

By Adviser Stacie Hutsell Timothy Norris, Sadie Hutsell, and adviser, Mrs. Stacie Hutsell, from Licking R-8 High School, tested and participated in events at Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.’s (FBLA) National Leadership Conference (NLC). Missouri competitors were required to stay in the Hilton Anaheim and participated in events held in the Anaheim Convention Center.…

Submitted by Stacie Hutsell, LHS FBLA Adviser SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) welcomed 5,200+ attendees from nearly 400 chapters to the State Leadership Conference April 13-15, 2025, to celebrate the 66th year as an organization. Members and advisers gathered in person to expand their leadership knowledge, compete in various events,…

The Licking Wildcats hosted the Sectional game of the Class 3 State Tournament against Fair Grove on May 27. Fans from both teams crowded the bleachers at Deer Lick Park to watch a true battle between the evenly-matched teams. But it was not to be Licking’s year to three-peat at this level of the tournament.…