TOP STORIES

PHS announces 2026 Homecoming court

Perryville High School has announced its 2026 Homecoming Court. The court will ride in the Homecoming parade on Saturday, Oct. 17, and the King and Queen will be crowned during halftime of the …

Seatbelt law ordinance fails to pass

The ordinance proposing changes to Perryville’s seat belt laws failed to pass on second reading at the October 6 meeting, while other measures were passed. Currently, Perryville’s seatbelt …

Out with the old

On September 28, the historic Chester Bridge was demolished in front of a crowd of Illinois and Missouri residents of all ages, some of which were around for the opening of the bridge in 1942. …
Local News

More than a cup of coffee

There is a life-sized Chewbacca standing watch inside Villainous Grounds. Nearby, a BB-8 droid keeps company with Baby Yoda and Baby Groot. A sizable flock of novelty rubber ducks occupies its …

2026 ST. VINCENT HOMECOMING COURT

Perry County installs siren for Lake Perry

Residents and visitors at Lake Perry have an additional way to receive warning when severe weather or other emergencies threaten the area, thanks to the installation of a new outdoor emergency …

Court Docket

All individuals are innocent unless proven guilty. Full docket available at republicmonitor.com. State vs. Alexandreah Denyell Holmes. Filing Date: June 9, 2026. Charge(s): Failure to drive …

CHESTER BRIDGE

Sergeant Jeremy Tenney was honored with a life saving award for his involvement in saving a woman from drowning in August in Perryville.

Officers honored for saving life

Three Perryville police officers were honored by Police Chief Dustin Miller for their actions that saved a woman from drowning in August during the City of Perryville’s regular meeting on September …
SPORTS

Busy week for cross country teams

Perryville and St. Vincent’s cross country squads had a busy week, competing in Perryville Tuesday and at Notre Dame Saturday. As hosts Tuesday, Perryville’s boys and girls teams both took …

Saxony Lutheran defense shines in road win

CHARLESTON — The up and down year for Saxony Lutheran football continued with a win Friday night, bringing the Crusaders record to 3-3. The Crusaders won 27-12 in what head coach OJ Turner …

Injuries slow Pirate offense

FESTUS — The Perryville Pirates fell to 3-3 after a 35-7 loss to Jefferson Friday night. The lone Perryville touchdown was scored when Lucas Buchheit connected with Xyzavier Wilson. While …
OBITUARIES

Keith Wiliams

Keith Williams, 69, of Friedheim, Missouri died Thursday, October 8, 2026 at his residence, after a short illness. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, October 12, 2026 …

Lyam Corke

Lyam Patrick Corke, of Farmington, entered eternal rest on October 8, 2026, at Children’s Hospital at the age of 11. He was born on August 20, 2015, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Daniel and Michelle …

Irma Dreyer

Irma W. Dreyer, 89, of Perryville, Missouri passed away Wednesday, October 6, 2026 at her home. Friends may call 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, October 12, 2026 at Ford & Young Funeral Home …

Joe Giesler

Joe Giesler, age 67, of Arnolds Park, Iowa, passed away on September 23, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones. The family warmly welcomes friends and relatives to a Celebration of Joe’s Life on …
STATE NEWS
How one unpaid medical bill landed a KC-area patient in court
In December 2022, a surgeon at NKC Health removed Karrie Krause’s gallbladder. Three years later, a lawyer representing the hospital took her to court over her unpaid bill. The middle school …
Researchers point to community violence programs, pandemic recovery in historic homicide decline
As candidates debate public safety ahead of the midterm elections, a new assessment of the nation’s historic homicide decline suggests there is no single explanation for the drop — and that some …
Trump immigration policies could turn away much-needed foreign doctors, critics say
As the nation’s physician shortage worsens, some fear the Trump administration’s immigration policies will dissuade or prevent doctors who earned their medical degrees in foreign countries from …
Trump administration appeals judge’s order blocking White House ban of 3 news outlets
WASHINGTON — A federal judge late Tuesday extended a block on a Trump administration ban of press passes for three news organizations, which will allow them to continue to enter the White House …
Students to compete in civics bee championship in nation’s capital, carried on C-SPAN
WASHINGTON — As partisan tensions rise in advance of the fast-approaching midterm elections, students will test their knowledge Wednesday in a field that’s long enjoyed bipartisan support: …
OPINION
Columnists
Nick Palisch
Corn Sweat: It’s a real thing
Every summer, it happens. You step outside expecting another warm July afternoon, but instead you’re greeted by air so thick it almost feels like you could wear it. You immediately start …
Nick Palisch
What is a backyard weather observer?
When most people think about weather observations, they picture massive radar sites, satellites orbiting Earth, television meteorologists standing in front of green screens, or government agencies …
Jim Martin
Cacophony of chaos
Sittin’ here under the River Tree this spring morning, especially with the cacophony of chaos around us, seemingly everywhere, the old codger can’t help thinking about what we call “faith”. …
Robin Garrison Leach
IDC about FOMO
Text Abbreviations and acronyms splotch the pages of our modern vocabulary. They wedge themselves into conversations and communications. I LOL when I read funny things. A few times, I’ve even …
Letters to the Editor
    • Song and dance

      To the editor: I see Jason Smith is still singing and dancing for Supreme Leader. Every week District 8’s Congressman picks up some …

    • Saddle Club deserves pat on the back

      To the editor: The Perry County Saddle Club needs a pat on the back for putting on such a great Mule Show on Saturday. If you missed …

    • MORALS AND PRINCIPLES

      Dear Editor In 1 Corinthians, Paul warns us gently but seriously to avoid influences that could lead us away from the truth. “Do not be …

    • RHETORICAL YING-YANG

       Dear Editor The rhetorical ying-yang between Paul Flentge and I reminds me of the class discussions I was lucky enough to monitor. In …

    • WALKING, TALKING CONTRADICTION

        Dear Editor Oh, for the love of God, Jason Smith. I had to wince at most of your April 9 contribution because if I pat myself on the …

    • DUMBER THAN BEFORE I READ IT

      Dear Editor Thank you, Congressman Jason Smith (R). Your March 26 column left me dumber than I was before I read it. I had to deny so many …

    • THE BIGGER PICTURE

       Dear Editor It seems controversy still continues with our local hospital to some degree. Frequently, the “bigger picture” can be …

    • WHEN THEY SPEAK, THEY REPRESENT US

      Dear Editor When we elect our government officials, from the local mayor to the president of the country, they represent us. Of course, we …

    • CHANGES WE WILL SEE IN THE FUTURE

      Dear Editor This letter is in support of Prop K.I.D.S. My life’s profession has largely been education. I could tell you a great deal …

    • SUPPORT PROP K.I.D.S.

      Dear Editor My name is Shadrick Shafer, and I have been a proud Perry County resident for 20 years. I am writing to ask for your support of …

WEB EXTRAS
8 personal banking tasks you should automate to save time and money
Mercury reports on automating personal banking tasks to save time and money, highlighting eight tasks like automatic savings and payment setups.
How a smarter home can help families reclaim their time
(BPT) - It's a Thursday evening at home, and all you want to do is relax with your family. However, the mental list of possible to-dos stops you from being fully present with your loved ones. …
10 best cities to rent rather than own a house in 2026
TheZebra.com reports that Salt Lake City, Denver, and Austin are among the top 10 U.S. cities where renting is more affordable than buying.
6 Ways to Create a More Sustainable Bathroom
(Feature Impact) Conserving water, energy and resources is key to running an environmentally friendly household, and one of the best places to start is your bathroom. As one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, it's a small space that makes a big difference. Every flush, shower, twist of the tap and restock of restroom essentials is an opportunity to manage your ecological footprint.
What are typical mistakes homeowners make when refinishing hardwood floors?
(BPT) - Key takeaways:Homeowners value hardwood floors because of their warmth, beauty and endurance.It's important to protect the appearance, value and lifespan of hardwood floors by …
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