Area Sports and Education

By Christy Porter, Managing Editor The Licking Elementary Reading Tools Project, a program for building reading curriculum each year, received a $1,000 mini grant from Simmons First Foundation, of Simmons Bank. Literacy Specialist Amy Antle received the grant in August and has carefully chosen items that reinforce and enhance the reading curriculum being taught in…

The Licking Wildcats took on the Willow Springs Bears on Tuesday at the Sherman Hill Field House. Both teams are in Class 3 District 10 this year, so the win was an important one for either. Licking trailed 26-30 at the half, but pulled away in the third quarter and never looked back, winning 63-51.…

By Coach Steve Rissler LICKING, Mo. – Licking Girls’ Basketball matched up with fellow District 10 opponent, Willow Springs, on Thursday at the Sherman Hill Fieldhouse, just two days after the Wildcat Boys’ teams came away with wins over the Bears. The Bears were able to keep the score close throughout the first half, but…

  ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The St. Louis Cardinals have announced the schedule for the 2024 Cardinals Caravan, presented by Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance. The Cardinals Caravan will traverse 20 different cities across Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Indiana. A combination of more than 40 current Cardinals players, minor league prospects, alumni and team…

Submitted Licking R-VIII teachers and staff were shown great appreciation by the community during the month of December. Individual tote bags were quilted and embroidered by the Restorative Justice Program at South Central Correctional Center. Each bag was made with a variety of unique materials and included the last name of the staff member. The…

By Shari Harris, Publisher MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – The Licking Lady Wildcats entered the 2023 Mountain Grove Holiday Tournament as a first seed in a field of 14 teams. Licking and second seed Mountain Grove enjoyed a first round bye, but faced stiff opposition throughout the remaining tournament. Third seed Alton won the tournament, followed…

By Shari Harris, Publisher The Licking Wildcats fought through a sixteen-team field to finish third in the Cabool Holiday Tournament. Third seed Liberty claimed first place, followed by first seed Norwood, and second seed Licking defeated fourth seed Mansfield for third place. Gainesville (6th seed) took 5th place and Salem (7th seed) earned Consolation. In…

By Shari Harris, Publisher It was a family-size case of insanity onstage at the old gym at Licking High School during Thursday and Friday’s presentations of “Arsenic and Old Lace” by the Licking Theater Department. The plot follows the Brewster family, which includes a number of maniacs, most of them homicidal in nature. Mortimer Brewster…

Photos by Shari Harris

By Shari Harris, Publisher The Licking Wildcats hosted the Houston Tigers on Tuesday, December 19, at the Sherman Hill Field House. Licking took their record to 8-1 on the season and 2-1 in the conference with a 61-47 win over their district foe. The Wildcats were up 13-10 at the end of the first quarter,…