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Todd Hays’ family has been farming in the Monroe City area for seven generations. But the COVID-19 pandemic is causing problems in the farming industry that he said his family has never faced.

• One sexton for 26-acre cemetery n Grass dead around grave markers ‘ • Grass dead around grave markers • Mowed grass left upon markers RICHMOND – A look at the condition of graves within the 26-acre Richmond Memory Gardens cemetery raised concern from a few relatives of people buried there. Wet weather conditions, drainage issues and limited personnel make keeping the cemetery in top shape a constant job.

HARDIN – A fiscal review group, WalletHub, ranked Missouri’s 516 school districts and declared Hardin-Central’s per-pupil spending “least-equitable.” “The ranking is based on average household income and per pupil expenditures,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales told this newspaper. “Hardin-Central School District ranks least equitable because it has the highest spending in the state, over $32,000 per pupil, almost double the state average.

JEFFERSON CITY – A photo of a barn won Best in Show for the 2020 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest hosted by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Submitted by Christine Peper, Jefferson City, judges chose the photo from nearly 1,000 submitted by amateurs from across Missouri.

RICHMOND – Everyone agrees they like the change of venue this year, moving out of the Eagleton Building and across the parking lot to the shaded lawn at the Ray County Museum. The day is warm, but not a typical July scorcher.

• NUMBERS CONFLICT • ERROR DISCOVERED • ERROR CORRECTED RICHMOND – The three online sources that announced two COVID-19 deaths in the county are wrong, Ray County Presiding Commissioner Bob King said. “There are no deaths in Ray County,” King said Monday, based on his conversation with the Ray County Health Department.

RICHMOND – The coronavirus pandemic led Cayenne Stark to find a creative way to celebrate her daughter Gabriella’s second birthday. “(Stark) tried everywhere to get a place where we could have her birthday and everything’s closed down,” Linda Desmond said.