July 12, 2026
Lexington News
St. Luke UCC hosting picnic
St. Luke UCC in Grand Pass will hold its annual church picnic on Wednesday, July 15 from 6-9 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and share in the games, opportunity quilt drawing, the dunk tank, and lots of food, along with ice cream and homemade cakes and pies.
LCHD announcement
The Lafayette County Health Department will be closed Tuesday, July 7 from 8 a.m.-noon for staff development/training. The Health Department will be open from noon-5 p.m. that day.
Lexington PD’s K9 Sasha to get donation of body armor
Lexington Police Department’s K9 Sasha will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Sasha’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Don Fike.” Delivery is expected within 10 weeks.
Big Muddy Clean Sweep will return to Lexington
The Big Muddy Clean Sweep is back for Missouri River Relief’s 25th anniversary, and volunteer registration is now open!
Health and Wellness projects approved by City Council
News Editor The Lexington City Council at its June 9 meeting approved three Health and Wellness projects that had been previously approved by the Health and Wellness Committee.
Second Sunday season kicks off
The 2026 Second Sunday season got off to a successful start on June 14 with the theme, “Art for the Ages.”
Man sentenced for child sex crimes
Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Hillbrener announces that Jose Zuniga, 44, of Lexington, Missouri pled guilty on June 1, 2026, to four counts of the unclassified felony of Statutory Sodomy, four counts of the class A felony of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and one count of the class B felony of Possession of Child Pornography.
A quiet confidence
Father’s Day morning found me reflecting on the people who show us how to navigate life. I have been fortunate all my life to have such a father. I realize not everyone does, but it could be a mother, a grandparent, a teacher, or a friend. And they may appear in different seasons of our lives.
Higginsville man sentenced to prison
James Looney, 43, Higginsville, was sentenced to serve time in the Missouri Department of Corrections on June 15, 2026. The sentencing followed his guilty plea to the class D felony of Possession of Child Pornography, the class E felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence, the class E felony of Sexual Contact with a Student, the class B misdemeanor of Sexual Misconduct in the First Degree and the class C misdemeanor of Sexual Misconduct in the Third Degree on May 18, 2026. The case was previously set for jury trial in May. The defendant’s plea allowed the child victims to not have to testify during a trial. The State was represented by Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney, Kristen Ellis Hilbrenner, at both the plea and sentencing hearing.
Great pitching propels Excelsior Springs to state title
The Excelsior Springs Tigers Baseball team definitely proved that good pitching wins Baseball games, as the Tigers did not allow a single run in their two games in the State Final Four Baseball Tournament, and they scored just enough runs to win the Class 4 State Championship, on June 3 and 4 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark.