Farmer Publishing

Coffee with Sheriff Andy Riley
2026-04-29 10:30 - 11:30 UTC
Stop by the Tarkio Nutrition Center at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, for Coffee with the Sheriff. Shoot the breeze, ask questions, or voice your concerns with Sheriff Riley while enjoying a cup of Joe. The Nutrition Center is located at 412 Main Street in Tarkio.

Tarkio City-Wide Clean-Up May 1-3
2026-05-01 07:00 - 2026-05-03 19:00
The City of Tarkio is hosting its City-Wide Clean-Up Weekend May 1-3, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day. Items may be placed in the dumpsters located at the gravel parking lot at 603 S. 3rd Street, west of the swimming pool. This is for Tarkio residents only. There will be surveillance cameras monitoring the site.
Things NOT allowed include: tires of any kind, lithium batteries, canned food, cement, sand, rock, plaster, paint or other chemicals, hot tubs or pool liners, bodily fluids, plants, limb/yard waste, household trash, nor any trash that can be picked up by regular trash collection. Car batteries and lawn mower batteries may be placed in the container specified for metal items. For questions, call 660-736-4941 and leave a message.

Tarkio city-wide garage sales
2026-05-01 08:00 - 2026-05-02 17:00
In coordination with Tarkio City-Wide Clean-Up, the Tarkio Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring city-wide garage sales that same weekend, May 1 and 2. Visit the Tarkio Chamber Facebook page to sign up to get your garage sale on the map, which will be posted on that site April 27. Printed versions will be available at White Tees in Tarkio during business hours the week of April 27. This is a great way to make some money selling what you don’t need anymore.

Retirement reception for Kelly Rohlfsen
2026-05-01 11:00 - 13:00
Colfax Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. is saying goodbye to longtime employee Kelly Rohlfsen. Stop by the office at 208 Walnut Street in Tarkio from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 1, and congratulate him on his retirement. A light lunch will be provided.

Baccalaureate for FHS seniors
2026-05-03 14:00 - 15:00
The community is invited to a baccalaureate service Sunday, May 3, honoring the Fairfax Class of 2026. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Christian Church, 304 N. Broadway.

Baccalaureate for RPHS seniors
2026-05-03 19:00 - 20:00
The Rock Port Class of 2026 will be honored at a baccalaureate service Sunday, May 3. The community is invited to attend the service at 7:00 p.m. at the Rock Port Baptist Church, 109 E. Calhoun Street. A reception will follow the service.

“Stay Strong, Stay Healthy” classes to begin May 4
2026-05-04 14:00 - 2026-06-26 15:00
If you are interested in unlocking the joy of strength training, join the “Stay Strong, Stay Healthy” Level 1 group sessions in a fun and supportive environment. Feel stronger, more energized and connected as you increase your overall fitness, flexibility, and balance. Build muscle and increase bone density to reduce frailty, osteoporosis and the risk of falls. Classes include warm-up exercises, strengthening exercises using hand and ankle weights, and cool-down stretches. Weight equipment will be provided
The group will meet from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Rock Port. The first week, classes will be Monday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 6. Classes will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the exception of the final week, which will be Monday, June 22, and Friday, June 26.
The classes are free. The $60 class fee has been covered by grant funding from Young at Heart Resources for those age 60 and older.
Pre-registration is required. To register, scan the QR code or call the Nodaway County Extension Office at 660-582-8101.

Fairfax R-3 music concert
2026-05-06 18:30 - 20:30
Fairfax music students will be performing a music concert Wednesday, May 6, for family and friends in the high school gym. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Music Boosters will host a dinner from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria that evening.

Blood drive at Tarkio Tech
2026-05-07 11:00 - 15:00
Join the Community Blood Center and Tarkio Technology Institute in saving a life with a blood donation Thursday, May 7. From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., donate blood in the banquet hall of Tarkio Tech, located at 404 N. 13th Street (use the back entrance). Those who donate will receive a Green Flag water bottle and stickers.
All donors are required to be 17 and older (or 16 with parental consent form), meet minimum weight requirements, be illness free, bring a photo ID, and eat well and hydrate beforehand.
Sign up at savealifenow.org/group and use group code EI8G. For additional details, contact Amy Hughes at 660-623-9071 or maintenance@tarkiotech.com.

National Day of Prayer
2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:00
National Day of Prayer will be held Thursday, May 7, at the Atchison County Memorial Building in Rock Port. This year’s theme is “Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations,” based on 1 Chronicles 16. The service, hosted by First Christian Church, Rock Port, will begin at 12:00 noon. Everyone is invited to attend as they pray for neighbor and nation. A free sack lunch will be provided after the service.

Rock Port R-II spring band and choir concert
2026-05-07 19:00 - 21:00
The Rock Port R-II spring band and choir concert will be Thursday, May 7, at 7:00 p.m. The Rock Port music students will perform for family and friends in the south high school gym. An ice cream bar will follow.

Fairfax city-wide clean-up
2026-05-08 08:00 - 2026-05-10 17:00
Residents of Fairfax, Missouri, are encouraged to participate in a city-wide clean-up May 8-10. Dumpsters will be set up on the west side of the park for residents to place their unwanted items.

Fresh mobile pantry May 11
2026-05-11 10:00 - 12:00
The next Second Harvest fresh mobile pantry in Atchison County will be Monday, May 11, 2026, at Rock Port High School, 600 S. Nebraska Street in Rock Port, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Vehicles should drive east on Calhoun Street along the north side of the school. Supplies are limited, but the food is free to the public. There are no income guidelines. The Second Harvest Community Food Bank schedule can be found at www.shcfb.org.

Tarkio Tech/Musuem/Edna O'Dell paintings open house
2026-05-12 17:00 - 19:00
Take a trip down memory lane and visit Tarkio Tech’s open house Tuesday, May 12, at 5:00 p.m. in the Curnutt Center. Recently, reproductions of Edna O’Dell’s paintings that once graced the walls of the Walnut Inn in Tarkio were hung on the walls of the Sid Cooper Banquet Hall at the Curnutt Center.
Printed by Don Jagger Photography and sponsored by locals, the gorgeous depictions of Tarkio’s well-known sites back in the day can once again be enjoyed. The paintings include depictions of the Tarkio Avalanche newspaper building, Tarkio City Hall/Fire Station, Tarkio Community Building, Tarkio Depot, Tarkio Elementary and Middle School, Farmer’s Bank, Farmers & Valley Bank, the Mule Barn, the Opera House/First National Bank, Rankin Hall, Tarkio Valley Bank, the Walnut Inn, the Tarkio Theatre, and the Tarkio Water Tower. There is also a picture of the artist, Edna O’Dell.
Take a look at the reproductions on the bottom floor and stop by the David Rankin/Tarkio Museum on the top floor for an evening full of history (don’t forget to take a gander at the WWII newspapers hanging on the wall outside the museum). Refreshments and other entertainment will be provided. The Mule Barn Theatre Guild is sponsoring the event.

Fairfax hosting 106th annual Alumni Banquet May 15
2026-05-15 18:30 - 20:00
The 106th annual Fairfax High School Alumni Banquet will be held Saturday, May 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school gym (pictures of honored classes will be taken at 6:30 p.m.). Reservations can be made by contacting Aleesha Lemar, 660-920-9040. Reservation payments of $15 per person can be mailed to Aleesha Lemar at 17825 390th Street, Graham, MO 64455. Reservations may also be made at KG Buds in Fairfax. Please provide your name, the number of people attending (to include you), and graduating class years.

The Gas Spot hosting fundraiser for CH-F
2026-05-16 08:00 - 21:00
The Gas Spot is hosting a fundraiser for Community Hospital-Fairfax’s hospital bed replacement campaign. On Saturday, May 16, $1 from every transaction at The Gas Spot location at 401 U.S. Hwy. 59 in Fairfax, Missouri, will be donated to Community Hospital-Fairfax.
Initiated by Carol Mears, store manager, the single-day fundraiser is planned for the final day of National Hospital Week. Any purchase made on May 16, including fuel, lottery, and 21+ products, will count toward InConvenience, Inc.’s $1 per transaction donation.
“Fairfax has supported us from the moment we opened our doors, and we believe communities should support the people and places that take care of them,” said Tiffany Fraley, CEO of InConvenience, Inc. “Community Hospital-Fairfax is more than a hospital, it’s peace of mind for this town. If everyone just stops in for gas, snacks, pizza, or their everyday errands, those $1 donations can stack up fast and make a real impact.”
“The May 16 fundraiser is a creative way for the community to show support while doing their ordinary Saturday errands,” says Lindsay Griffith, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager for InConvenience, Inc. “We hope folks come in that Saturday to top off their fuel, pick up snacks for the week, or take a pizza home. They’ll be doing good just by stopping in, whether it’s for a special treat or just something on their shopping list.”
Community Hospital-Fairfax is a rural critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency room. “This hospital is the lynchpin of medical care for this community,” says Kris Umbarger, Director of Marketing and Community Healthcare Foundation for Community Hospital-Fairfax. “It’s the only hospital in two counties.” Currently using beds from before their 2010 move into their current space, Umbarger explained that patient comfort is a priority this year. With digital hospital beds costing around $8,900, and labor and delivery beds costing $23,000, Umbarger says this initiative may take 5-10 years to complete.
Carol Mears has been the store manager of the Fairfax location since its re-opening in 2024, which averages 267 transactions per day. The Fairfax Gas Spot location serves Wingman pizza, chicken, sandwiches, and sides, in addition to standard convenience store offerings. Under Mears’ leadership, the Fairfax Gas Spot frequently leads prepared food sales in all 20 Gas Spot locations.
For further information about this fundraiser and other community engagement endeavors, email lindsay@inconvenienceinc.com.
InConvenience, Inc. is a women-led company operating 20 C-stores, focusing on providing convenience to customers, opportunities for employees, and support to communities through grassroots approaches and unwavering convictions, all while maintaining a sense of humor and humility. The company’s mission is to be a reliable partner in their customers’ daily lives with a commitment to value, innovation and ethical operations in a clean and safe environment.

Bike rodeo to be held May 16
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00
The Rock Port Police Department and the Atchison County Health Department will sponsor a bike rodeo Saturday, May 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The event will be held at 500 South Main Street in Rock Port. Cyclists will learn skills building. There will also be snacks and giveaways, including a 14” bike with training wheels, and a 20” bike. Kids will have fun, learn some new skills, and have a chance to win a new bike!

Westboro Wildcats Alumni 2026
2026-05-16 12:00 - 14:30
The alumni of Westboro High school or those who attended the school are invited to the 128th meeting Saturday, May 16, at 12:00 noon at the Westboro Fire Station (at the west end of Main Street). Dinner will be catered and the cost is $12.00 per person.
Honored classes are: 1946, 1956, and 1966. The gathering is open to those who attended Westboro School. Spouses and guests are also welcome. Call for reservations (please call as an accurate count is needed for the caterer): Carol Kirkpatrick, 660-984-5416 or cell 816-341-1176; or Bev Clinkingbeard, 660-623-9110.

Ride Your Bike to School Day
2026-05-19 07:30 - 08:00
The Rock Port Police Department will hold Ride Your Bike to School Day Tuesday, May 19. Students will meet at Blue Jay Stadium with their bikes at 7:15 a.m. and the bike ride will start at 7:30 a.m. The Rock Port Police Department will lead the ride and assist with traffic control.
Families are encouraged to ride along. Riders may join at any point along the route, which will take Cass Street, Water Street, and West Calhoun Street. Stride, pedal, glide or roll along!
For more information, contact City Hall at 660-744-2636.

Free Kids’ Summer Meals
2026-05-20 08:00 - 2026-08-14 12:30
Free summer meals for all kids and teens are available weekdays through the Kids’ Summer Meals program. The Tarkio Nutrition Center, located at 412 Main Street in Tarkio, will serve breakfast and lunch – completely free for every child in the community. Breakfast for kids will be served from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Lunch for kids will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Families in Fairfax can pre-order lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but must call 660-736-5725 by 9:00 a.m. that day. Meals are reserved on a first‑come, first‑served basis, so be sure to call in advance. Meals can be picked up from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Fairfax branch of the Atchison County Library, located at 118 E. Main Street in Fairfax.
The menu is:
June 3: Breakfast – Pancakes; Lunch – Fish sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham/turkey sandwich
June 4: Breakfast – Toast with jelly; Lunch – Lasagna, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham/turkey sandwich
June 5: Breakfast – Yogurt with fruit; Lunch – Sliced turkey sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham/turkey sandwich
June 8: Breakfast – Cereal with milk; Lunch – Creamed chicken, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham/turkey sandwich
June 9: Breakfast – Oatmeal; Lunch – Sloppy Joes, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham/turkey sandwich
June 10: Breakfast – French toast sticks; Lunch – Ham and mac casserole, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham/turkey sandwich
No Hunger Summer
No Hunger Summer will run through June 18 at the Rock Port School at 600 S. Nebraska. Breakfast will be served from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. and lunch is 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday. All children under 18 eat free; adults coming with a child are $2. For more information or to volunteer to serve, contact Steve Waigand at steve.waigand@rpbluejays.com.

Rotary hosting Hy-Vee Cookouts
2026-05-23 11:00 - 2026-05-30 13:00
The Tarkio Rotary Club is hosting their cookouts on Saturdays. Stop by Hy-Vee from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and enjoy hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, and steak sandwiches.

THS Alumni Banquet May 23
2026-05-23 17:00 - 20:00
The Tarkio High School Alumni Banquet will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026. Social hour will be from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Photos of honored classes will be taken at 5:30 p.m.) A business meeting will start at 6:00 p.m., followed by a dinner, catered by Horseshoe Cafe and Catering. The menu will include roast beef or chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and veggies.
Tickets to attend the banquet are $25 each and may be purchased at the Flower Mill and Farmers State Bank in Tarkio or on Venmo @Tarkio Alum. Please provide your name, those attending, and class years.

Memorial service of worship Sunday, May 24, at Walkup Grove Cemetery
2026-05-24 11:00 - 13:00
A memorial service of worship will be held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, May 24, at Walkup Grove Cemetery in Atchison County. The worship is sponsored by St. Oswald’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, with Fr. Sidney Breese presiding at this special service. The Rt. Rev. Amy Dafler Meaux, Bishop of West Missouri, will also be present. Those in attendance should bring a lawn chair and enjoy the beauty and peace of a historical country cemetery.
Following the worship service, a potluck dinner will be held at St. Oswald’s. Please bring a dish for the meal. In case of inclement weather, worship will be held at St. Oswald’s (30996 X Avenue, Skidmore, Missouri).
Directions from Mound City: Take Route N north of Mound City approximately 14 miles, which is one mile south of Hwy 46. Turn east on 280th Avenue. Continue on that gravel road one mile to Walkup Grove Cemetery.
Directions to Walkup Grove from Maryville: Take Highway 46 for 19 miles west. Turn south on EE for 2 miles. Turn west on 290th Avenue for one mile. Then turn north on W Avenue for one mile. The cemetery will be on your left.
Directions to Walkup Grove from Fairfax: Take Hwy. 46 east to Hwy. N. Turn south for one mile. Turn east on 280th Avenue. Continue on that gravel road one mile to Walkup Grove Cemetery.

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES
2026-05-25 08:00 - 12:30
Monday, May 25, 2026
Mound City – Mount Hope Cemetery 8:00 a.m.
Craig – I.O.O.F. Cemetery 8:45 a.m.
Fairfax – Fairfax City Park 9:30 a.m.
Rock Port – Atchison County Memorial Building 10:15 a.m.
Near Westboro – St. John’s Lutheran Church 11:00 a.m.
South of Westboro – Center Grove Cemetery 11:45 a.m.
Tarkio – Home Cemetery 12:30 p.m.

High Creek Cemetery Memorial Day Tea
2026-05-26 10:00 - 16:00
The annual Memorial Day Tea will be held Sunday, May 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the High Creek Church (15824 State Hwy. B, Watson, Missouri). This event is held inside the church, so should there be sunshine or rain, you will be free from the elements. You can expect the usual wide variety of cookies along with tea, coffee, and water.
Everyone is welcome to come in and sit a spell and visit with whomever is there. Take a minute to catch up on the news or share a memory or two, rest those tired feet, and refresh the body with goodies before continuing on your day. If you wish, bring your lawn chair and sit under the shade trees.
As a reminder, all flowers not in permanently mounted vases, flags, decorations, solar lights, and mementoes must be removed by Monday, June 8, 2026.
Members of the High Creek Cemetery Association hope to see you Sunday, May 24, at the church on the cemetery grounds. Everyone is welcome.

NodawaySaysNo.org to hold community meeting
2026-05-26 18:00 - 20:00
A community meeting, sponsored by NodawaySaysNo.org, will be held on Tuesday, May 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This event is open to the public and will be held at the Maryville Community Center, West Court, at 1407 N. Country Club Road, Maryville, Missouri. Panelists will present the impacts of AI data centers on communities regarding land ownership, financial tax breaks given to developers, environmental concerns, water and power usage, health effects, and transparency concerns among elected city and county officials.
NodawaySaysNo.org consists of concerned citizens seeking answers about the proposed AI data center in southern Nodaway County. Visit the organization’s website for further information at https://nodawaysaysno.org/.
Community members are encouraged to attend this meeting as well as the Maryville City Council and Nodaway County Commission meetings.

RPHS Alumni Banquet
2026-05-30 13:30 - 17:00
The Rock Port High School Alumni Banquet will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the high school gym. Honor class pictures will be taken at 1:45 p.m. (oldest to youngest). Light refreshments and bottled water will be served. Free-will donations will be taken at the door. No reservations are required.
This year’s honor classes are: 70 year – Class of 1956, 60 year – Class of 1966, 50 year – Class of 1976, 40 year – Class of 1986, 30 year – Class of 1996, 25 year – Class of 2001, 20 year – Class of 2006, 10 year – Class of 2016, Graduates – Class of 2026. All RPHS alumni and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Members of the Alumni Banquet Committee are: Lynn (Bailey) Hunter, Marlene (Walter) Demott, Malisa (Groff) Linthicum, Jennifer (Umbarger) Vogler, and Eric Chamberlain. They look forward to seeing you at this year’s banquet!

St. John’s Lutheran Church will host True North Vacation Bible School
2026-06-01 08:30 - 2026-06-05 18:00
St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Westboro, Missouri, will be hosting Vacation Bible School Monday, June 1, through Friday, June 5, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for children ages 3 (potty trained) through 12 years. The VBS program will take place at St. John’s on Friday, June 5, at 6:00 p.m.
During the week, the kids will go on the ultimate Alaskan adventure where northern lights glow over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and glistening glaciers. As the kids trek the tundra, they’ll explore how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Pointing them toward Jesus, True North VBS shows them that He is a faithful friend we can always trust. He’s our True North!
If you are interested in helping that week or in signing your child(ren) up, text Baleigh Heits at 660-253-0704 or Maddi Cotton at 660-853-1157. They are excited to go on this Alaskan adventure!
