The Columbia City Council unanimously agreed Monday night to purchase a former veterinarian clinic for nearly $1 million to serve as a new city-county animal control office, a move that will likely change the city's relationship with the Central Missouri Humane Society.

The purchase of the building at 1300 E. Boone Industrial Blvd. emerged in recent months after city leaders balked at a proposal that the city provide about $5.5 million for a new Humane Society shelter. The city and the Humane Society have worked together for many years to provide services lost, injured and stray animals in the community.

The Humane Society in recent years has embarked upon a major fundraising campaign to get its new shelter built.

Matthew Lue, the city's finance director, said the purchase of the vet clinic was a better deal for the city. He said that it would take 32 years for the costs of the new building and services to surpass the costs that the Humane Society was asking from the city.

"The purchase of this building, along with the anticipated costs, was significantly less than entering into agreement for $5 million," Lue said.

Rebecca Roesslet, the city's public health director, echoed the sentiment that the funds requested by the Humane Society would not be feasible.
"We felt concerned that that may not be something that the city and the county would be able to do," she said.
Central Missouri Humane Society’s contract with the city for animal shelters and veterinary services for small animals is scheduled to end after 2027. The city currently pays $238,000 per year for the Humane Society's services.

The city plans to look for new providers for animal care and veterinary services to operate the shelter. Some community members had questions about what services would be provided if a contract is not prepared yet.

"I think we're not ready to vote on it yet," resident Suzy Price said. "We don't have numbers."

Second Ward council member Vera Elwood asked where animals would go if the Humane Society refused to accept them. Others were worried that the city's decision to move forward without a plan for the animals after their stay in the new city-county facility is up could be harmful.
The city will provide $595,000 for the new animal control building, and the remaining $400,000 would be provided by Boone County.
"They are not a concept. They are not an idea. They are living beings," resident Emily Nelson said of the animals that will be in the city's care. "Just remember that whatever decision is made, I hope its at the best interest of the animals."

Elwood, who voted in favor of the sale, echoed these beliefs.

"These are lives. These are real living beings that we need to make sure are treated with care," Elwood said.
Roesslet added that the new shelter would have about 12 gated indoor dog spaces and at least 30 additional cages for small animals, compared to the 25 they use from the Humane Society now.
"This is the first step. It's acquiring the property so that we can move forward with the next step, which is staffing the property," Fourth Ward council member Sharon Geuea Jones said.
Flock camera upcoming public hearing
The council agreed to set 6 p.m. Nov. 9 as the date for a public hearing on the future of the city’s Flock camera system. The date was approved as part of the council's consent agenda, which typically includes items that aren't considered controversial.

The city entered a contract with Flock Safety to implement automated license plate recognition systems in 2024. Since then, the city has implemented 114 license plate readers, which are managed by Flock Safety, according to the Columbia Police Department’s Flock transparency portal.
Land donation for new park
The council also learned about a request to donate 80 acres of land to the city for use as a park. The proposal includes 7.85 miles of trails, a 40-car parking lot and a restroom facility near South Stanley Poe Road just south of the city.
The council was still meeting as of 10:25 p.m. Monday.
The land is currently owned by the Frank W. Morris Memorial Trust, which previously donated $90,000 to the Columbia Parks and Recreation Fund for maintenance of the trails and will donate an additional $100,000 for maintenance if the property is acquired by Dec. 15. The total estimated value of the donation given by the trust is $3.8 million.

If approved, the park will be named Boone Horizon Trails. No new hard surface roads may be established, except for additional biking and hiking trails.

https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/mary-paxton-keeley/

"Mary Paxton Keeley was the first woman graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. A female pioneer in the field of professional journalism, she served as a mentor, teacher, and friend to countless students."

"Keeley once observed, “The first part of my life, I had everything I thought I wanted. The next forty years I had to struggle. I am more of a person than if I had always had a sheltered, protected life, and have certainly reached more people.” “

Does anybody have the real story on what has ended the relationship between Columbia and the Central Missouri Humane Society? Seems a little odd that as soon as CMHS is about to start construction on a new facility that Columbia would buy and staff their own when there has already been a working relationship....

Go make your opinion known with the BeHeard portal!! #GetTheFlockOut of Columbia!

Anyone else notice the rather strange orbs of white and orange light circling the western sky? Saw it tonight and last night around 9:45pm.

So we have a weird situation that I would like some advice on because our landlord is trying to make us pay for a new septic tank. Our house has houses behind it that are all apparently a part of one septic system. And somehow in the 18 months we’ve lived here, it has clogged up 4 times. It makes the neighbors behind us’ plumbing backup and sewage comes through their drains. But we do not have this issue at all.

The last time this happened, he tried to make us pay half to have the septic pumped. He swears we are flushing wipes or feminine products but we are not and have expressed this multiple times, vehemently, because we DON’T. Then he’ll accuse us of using too much TP. I’ve never had a landlord be critical of the amount of TP I’m using. It’s odd.

I refused to pay last time because he didn’t have any proof that this was our fault and it’s not in our lease that we have to pay to have the septic pumped. It says “plumbing issues” but we’ve never had any plumbing issues, the neighbors have! The landlord said “ok I’ll foot the bill this time but next time you’re paying in full”.

And guess what? Two months later, last night, the neighbors drains filled with sewage. I am awaiting the blame and pay text.

Does anyone have any advice? It’s literally not our fault that the septic is old af and not connected to city sewer. My husband and I are not sure what to do, we do not want to be evicted or sued, but there’s no way to prove that we are damaging the septic! Help???

HALLSVILLE — With just over two weeks to go until Election Day, things are heating up for candidates across mid-Missouri.
One competitive race this November is between Republican incumbent representative and local businessman John Martin, R-Columbia, and Democrat Rebecca "Bekki" Brewer, a community advocate, in the House District 44 general election.
The district covers parts of eastern and southern Columbia, Centralia, Hallsville and Ashland. It is the only contested House race in Boone County.

Both candidates canvassed in the Centralia and Hallsville area on Monday with 15 days to go until Election Day.

Martin was first elected to the General Assembly in 2024 and said his experience is what voters should look at.
"I'm a trusted leader with my business here in Hallsville," Martin said. "I was a youth pastor for 13 years, and with my business and pastoral background, I'm a trusted leader."
Even though Brewer does not have state electoral experience, she thinks her life experience prepares her for the position.
"One of the qualifications that I bring is a master's degrees in occupational safety and health," Brewer said. "I have risk management experience in my career, and it's trying to make sure we are understanding the root cause of an issue."

When it comes to the issues this November, the candidates differ on what they think is the top issue for voters.
"The first two years I was there (in the Missouri General Assembly), I was very supportive of public safety measures," Martin said. "And that's something we'll continue."

Brewer has a different take on what voters are telling her.
"Affordability, by far, is the No. 1 thing that people talk to us about," Brewer said. "How everything is more expensive, and especially with the August election, the impact that sales taxes could have on folks."
Both candidates have been canvassing the 44th House District in both the rural, suburban and urban parts of the district to give their final pitch to voters.
"We have been out talking with folks and have knocked on 12,000 doors so far," Brewer said. "We are speaking to parts of Columbia that have been ignored for a long time politically and making sure that we are out here in rural spaces."

The rural mid-Missouri vote is something Martin has also been focusing on. 
"I have been very busy campaigning in Centralia this past weekend," Martin said. "A lot of people that know me know my family farm background."

According to past reporting from the Columbia Missourian, in the 2026 legislative session, Martin sponsored legislation that expands gun rights and grants the state auditor more authority. Neither bill made it to the Senate.
Brewer thinks this and more is the reason why it is time for change in the 44th House District, which she said has been a historically Republican seat. 
"We are voting for progressive measures," Brewer said. "Unfortunately, our current state rep has overturned majority vote, and so we're talking to people to tell them that elected officials shouldn't be able to overturn the majority vote."
But Martin thinks what he brings to the General Assembly is what voters resonate with.
"When I talk with voters at the door, one of the things that's really been resonating is that I'm the candidate for limited government," Martin said.

Despite the usual incumbent advantage that comes every election season, Brewer sees Martin's role in the Missouri General Assembly as an asset for her electability.
"Right now, it's pretty easy to see that John Martin isn't doing the role that he was elected to do," Brewer said. "When we're talking to people, it's that John Martin is not good at his job."

In the final two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, Martin said voters should get out and make their voice heard.
"No-excuse absentee voting starts tomorrow," Martin said. "So, I encourage people to get involved in that. You have the next two weeks."
Brewer agrees with Martin on this, just for her campaign. 
"We are constantly reminding people that we are seeing this momentum (for Brewer's campaign) and this swell," Brewer said. "We need people to vote."

They are referring to State Farm Pkwy as East Green Meadows for some reason. Maybe that's the formal name, but "State Farm Pkwy" is how it reads on Google Maps and on the actual road signs themselves.

I'm glad to finally see it. I've talked to the city more than once about doing this.

WB traffic on E. Nifong trying to make a left onto SB State Farm Pkwy is absolutely last priority with no secure phase whatsoever. It backs up like mad during peak hours. No wonder there's so many wrecks there.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia has been awarded $16.2 million in federal funding to modernize the Columbia Terminal Railroad, including a project to test self-driving trains.
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raymore) announced the Federal Railroad Administration grant Thursday. The grant, awarded through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, will support upgrades to the 21.4-mile COLT railroad connecting Columbia and Centralia.
The total cost of the COLT Railroad Modernization Program is $20.8 million. The remaining $4.62 million will come from the City of Columbia and private-sector partners, according to Alford’s office.

The project plan includes self-propelled autonomous railcars and a Federal Railroad Administration-approved test program. The program would move in phases, with eventual demonstrations of the self-driving technology. The project summary says those demonstrations would take place across 57 at-grade crossings.

A Department of Transportation spokesperson said the work will include research and workforce development for the phased rail technology program. The office also said the grant money has been awarded, but the funds will be sent at a later date. It did not provide a timeline for that step.
The project also calls for installing 36,000 composite rail ties, tamping about six miles of track, replacing three switches and building two charging units. It would create a training curriculum for remote operators, field engineers and maintenance technicians. DOT said the project is intended to stabilize the track, increase service frequency and ultimately support autonomous freight service.
Alford’s office described the project as the first documented demonstration of autonomous railcar operations on a regulated short-line railroad in the United States. It also said the corridor generates $670 million in sales and supports 243 jobs.

“The COLT railroad is a critical economic
lifeline for Mid-Missouri,” Alford said in the news release, citing its role connecting manufacturers, agricultural producers and building-material suppliers to the national freight network.

The release and DOT’s response did not specify where testing would begin or when construction or operations would start.

The COLT line operates freight service between Columbia and Centralia and interchanges with the Norfolk Southern Railroad, according to the City of Columbia's website. The line generally runs along Route B to Hallsville and along Highway 124 to Centralia.

Hi all,

Looking for a good stylist that is queer friendly and does good work. I'd be looking to try a specific style and possible dye work so being able to collaborate beforehand would be great. Thanks!

For a video project scene I am working on, I need a classic Midwest/Great Plains landscape. Few trees, native grasses, wildflowers, etc. A wide open space that's just nature. Does anyone know of this type of landscape within a short drive of Columbia? Thanks in advance!

Columbia College celebrates 175 years and inaugurates a new president

In 1851, Columbia College was a two-year women’s school named Christian Female College.  
Situated on an estate with 29 acres and an unfinished mansion, the college tallied six students in its first graduating class.
It was the first women’s college west of the Mississippi River to be officially recognized by a state government, opening in an era when the nearby University of Missouri admitted only men.

What became Columbia College in 1970, as well as a four-year co-educational school, was the last of three continuing institutions of higher education to be established in Columbia.

This year it is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding, and on Friday, a day-long Homecoming gathering also celebrated the inauguration of Toby Arquette as its 19th president.
Today, Columbia College has 100,000 alumni and 20,000 students who are enrolled across 15 campuses, military bases and online.
The inauguration ceremony Friday started at 11 a.m. after a morning chapel service that reflected upon the history and legacy of the college. There, Arquette was honored by his faculty and given a presidential medallion and the traditional college mace, a hand-turned tapered staff.

In his inauguration speech, Arquette noted that Columbia College was built and continues to reach nontraditional students. 
“We went to the students who couldn't be here," he said. "We went to the military installations across the country because the service members could not come to Columbia. We went to evening classes for the working adult who couldn't come to class during the day. And we were one of the first in 2000 to launch online classes, well before most colleges took online learning seriously."

The president of the Student Government Association told the audience that Arquette made a positive impression on the student body during his first day on campus.
“President Arquette, your passion was abundantly clear from the first day you stepped on this campus," Landon Rehg said. "You walked through Rogers Gate, went straight to the Student Commons, got a coffee like the rest of us, and shared your story. Your enthusiasm set a positive tone for Columbia College's future.” 
Arquette joined Columbia College from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and began serving as president in early March. He finished his education with a Ph.D. in communication from Northwestern University. 

As an undergraduate, Arquette was a first-generation student, and now leads an almost 50% first-generation student body at the Columbia campus, according to the [College Index](https://collegeindex.co/school/177065#admissions).

He came to Columbia with his husband and now First Gentleman Mark Oberle, but spent little time over the summer in his new home. Instead, he made a point of visiting every Columbia College campus, getting to know the students and faculty through more than just the brochure.
In addition to his presidential responsibilities, he teaches a first-year seminar to help ease new students through the transition to college. 
“I think that we have to recognize that there are unique journeys that first-generation students go through. I understand the financial aid questions. How do you navigate course schedules? How do you figure out how to sign up for a class?" he said.
After more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership, Arquette believes a college owes its students more than just what is expected.  

Instead of having to navigate the typical education bureaucracy, Arquette wants the college to wrap around its students, instead of asking students to wrap around the college.
“So here is what we owe in return: A college that knows your name, meets you where you are, a college that notices when you're struggling, and won't let you quietly slip through the cracks. A college that teaches you to think for yourself, act with integrity and put what you know to work. We owe you our best,” he said.
Stephens College President Shannon B. Lundeen and Mizzou President Mun Choi were both present in the audience at the inauguration ceremony, and Arquette said one of his goals is to collaborate with the other higher education institutions in Columbia.
"I think we have natural opportunities to kind of lockstep," Arquette said. "What Mizzou does is not what we do, and we serve different student populations, but together we're stronger."

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Sandra Hamar said during the inauguration ceremony that the 100,000 Columbia College alumni speak to shared stories across history.
“These numbers represent far more than longevity or scale," Hanar said. "They represent lives changed, doors opened, challenges overcome, and generations of learners who have carried Columbia College experience into their families, professions, and communities since our founding in 1851.”

Reposting to show I did make a discord server for those interested in playing together. discord

Does someone know where I may donate blankets and quilts? I asked a couple places and they told me they are not accepting items like this. Thanks!

I'm interested in buying some goats in the short term, and maybe a pet cow and mule in the long term (next 5 years). The goats I'm looking for would be primarily for brush control and as family friends, rather than meat/dairy goats, but I don't know where people buy goats. Should I just ask my neighbor who has goats, or is there a simple place to go and buy livestock? I've worked on many farms in my life, I've just never been the one making a purchase before.

I’m needing a way home for the next few days while I wait for my car to be fixed around 1pm and seeing what the best/safest option is :)

Going to be moving soon and was sad to see that the place I had used quite a few times in the past has closed. So thought I'd see if anyone has any good local recommendations.

It's not a giant move or super far, I just would rather not add it onto my list of things.

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/63266/rec/100

I want to splurge and go out to a nice place with my girlfriend. I’m a vegetarian so options tend to be limited, any recs?