• The Herald was one of five newspapers in Missouri recently participating in the Potter Digital Ambassador program. That program is part of the Reynolds Journalism Institute’s Walter B. Potter Sr. Fund for Innovation in Local Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. And it’s designed for both the students and the newspapers to benefit from, said Randy Picht, RJI’s executive director.
The Herald was featured last week on a national website, poynter.org, which highlighted the program. MU senior Marlee Baldridge spent a week in Houston.
Other newspapers selected were Eldon, Washington, Perryville and Bowling Green.
• Best wishes for a healthy and enjoyable retirement to Cpl. Curtis Haden, who has stepped down after a 28-year career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
• A Licking business, Fox Funeral Home, is under new ownership, it was announced last week. Carol Fox said she had sold the business…Best of luck to Brad Evans, who was hired last week as the City of Houston’s economic developer. He’s been employed with the city’s police department. His replacement has not been named yet. You can read about him on page A1 of this edition.
• The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra will present a concert, “Love Notes,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Star Theatre in Willow Springs. Texas County residents are among its 30 members. Jodie Forbes of Houston is the conductor. The cost is $7 for those 12 and up.
• Odds and ends: Electrical meters were swirling during the latest monthly billing period. Bills have landed in mailboxes…A recent recycling event in Houston drew a crowd. Houston had the highest tonnage of electronic equipment hauled away in the region…The City of Houston is assessing its emergency management needs for an upcoming grant funding period. Radio and generator needs will be tallied.