Dan Claxton, Washington Missourian Journalist Profile

Articles

Oldest frame house in Washington has new owner

Nov 8, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

One of the oldest buildings in Washington may soon become one of its newest eating establishments, thanks to the dream of a Lake Sherwood developer who recently purchased the Front Street property. Kurt Smith is the new owner of the Zacharia Foss House at Front and Lafayette streets, the oldest frame house in Washington, and plans on converting it into a bed and breakfast and a breakfast restaurant/bar.
Washington Optimists celebrate 75th

Nov 5, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Thursday evening, a banquet at the KC Hall will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Washington’s Optimist Club. When the group was chartered on Aug. 15, 1949 under appointed President Tom Todd, it chose as its motto “Friend of Youth.” For the past three-quarters of a century, the club’s vision and community projects have endeavored to live up to that maxim. kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%96 (2D9:?8E@? ~AE:>:DE r=F3 6?8286D :?
Iconic Pacific shoe store changes hands

Nov 1, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Another iconic Pacific businessman is calling it quits, marking an end to a couple of decades of providing quality shoes for blue collar workers, tradesmen and other laborers. You’ll still be able to buy Redwing boots in Pacific, but not from Bill Meier. Meier recently sold his iconic shoe store on East Osage Street to Sid Boedeker Safety Shoe Service, a regional shoe retailer based in St. Louis.
Exchange student returns to America

Nov 1, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Last year, when Lukas Wippermann visited the United States as an exchange student, he liked it so much that he thought he’d try it again. So he’s back. He’s once again going to classes at St. Francis Borgia High School, and he’s even staying with the same hosts, the Farrell family, in Washington. In the spring of 2023, Wippermann was part of an exchange program called the Friendship Connection.
Riding facility helps young woman with developmental challenges

Oct 29, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Claire Scheer loves to ride horses. That’s not particularly unusual; plenty of 20-year-old women enjoy horses. But Claire’s love of riding is beneficial for reasons other than pleasure. In Claire’s case, if she couldn’t ride horses, her health would suffer, according to her mother, Cindy Scheer. Claire was born with a very rare condition called Aicardi Syndrome, which is marked by an absence of tissues connecting the left and right halves of the brain.
Sheriff's Office pays tribute to fallen law enforcement officers

Oct 25, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Being a law enforcement officer is an inherently dangerous job. Aside from the obvious risks, like being shot or assaulted, there are dangers that many don’t think much about. A lot of officers are struck by vehicles while standing on the side of the road, some suffer heart attacks on the job, and some contract deadly diseases, such as COVID, in the line of duty. Unfortunately, the majority of officer deaths do result from gunfire.
Booster group pays off post office loan

Oct 18, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Last week, the Historic Washington Foundation paid off a loan to the Bank of Washington and now owns the old post office building at Second and Lafayette outright. As foundation President Rick Hopp tells it, the effort to acquire the building was a long, hard road and took a lot of “Blood, sweat and tears.”The reason, according to Hopp, that the effort was worth it is simple: “It’s part of our history.”kA 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%92E 9:DE@CJ 8@6D 324< 564256D] r@?DECF4E:@? @?
Medicare Annual Enrollment starts October 15

Oct 12, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Since its inception in 1965, Medicare, the government healthcare system, has been an enormously popular program. It is so popular, and so many people are eligible, that 98.9 percent of all Americans over the age of 65 are covered by it, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since it was signed into law primarily as hospital insurance, the program has expanded to cover more people and more medical needs.
1902 bank robbery thrust Union onto national map

Oct 8, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

The Franklin County Historical Society held its annual History Fair at the Union Knights of Columbus hall Sunday, featuring about a dozen booths and exhibits related to the county’s past. Displays ran the gamut from a collection of equipment used in Vietnam by a Franklin County soldier, to historical tools and clothing, to artifacts from a Sullivan mansion.
Washington Trio Starts Publishing Company

Oct 5, 2024 | emissourian.com | Dan Claxton

Three Washington retirees have begun a new chapter of life by founding a publishing company from their home. Retired business people Dan Yoest, 72, his wife Guin Yoest, 77, and Guin’s sister, Cindy Waters, 80, have recently published the first in a series of travel books called “Discovering our ‘Sweet Land of Liberty,’” books intended to inform readers about interesting travel destinations while educating them about different aspects of American history.