Lawrence County, Missouri

County news

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Stotts City runoff election to be held May 27

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(Lawrence County Clerk, April 21, 2025) A runoff election for Stotts City Alderman and Collector will be held Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in the Historic Courthouse in Mt. Vernon.

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In Person No Excuse Absentee Ballots for the Stotts City Runoff Election will be available on May 13, 2025, until May 23, 2025, in the County Clerk's office during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays (closed holidays).

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Anyone who was eligible to vote in the Stotts City Election on April 8, 2025, will be eligible to vote in the runoff election. Eligible voters must have been registered by March 12, 2025.

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The election will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, Mt. Vernon, in the second floor historic courtroom.

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Governor Kehoe Announces FEMA to Participate
in Joint Damage Assessments for April 28-29 Storms

 

(From the Office of Gov. Mike Kehoe, May 8, 2025) Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will participate in joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) of public infrastructure in six counties following the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that heavily damaged areas of southwest and southeast Missouri from April 28 to 29.  

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“Last week, intense severe storms once again brought destruction to areas of Missouri, further burdening families, businesses, and communities already dealing with the aftermath of previous damaging severe weather,” Governor Kehoe said. “The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been on the ground for days, helping local officials document damage. Our local partners and SEMA believe the emergency response costs and damage to roads, bridges, and other important public infrastructure warrant a formal review by FEMA and meet the levels required for a federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance.”

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Joint PDAs are being requested for the following counties: Barry, Greene, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton and Washington. Additional counties may be added as damage information is received from local officials.

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Joint PDA teams are made up of representatives from FEMA, SEMA and local emergency management officials. Beginning Tuesday, May 13, five teams will verify documented damage to determine if Public Assistance can be requested through FEMA. Public Assistance allows local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.

SEMA continues to coordinate with local officials, other state agencies, and volunteer and faith-based partners to identify needs and assist impacted families and individuals. If you have damage, you should contact your insurance company and file a claim as soon as possible.

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Missourians with unmet needs are encouraged to contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767. For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, including general clean-up information, housing assistance, and mental health services, visit recovery.mo.gov.

 

Center Creek bridge on Lawrence 1030 closed

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(Lawrence County Commission, April 21, 2025) A Lawrence County bridge over Center Creek on Lawrence 1030 has been closed and won’t reopen until repairs - or replacement - can be completed.

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Western County Commissioner Chris Prater said the action followed a state inspection in which the bridge, #3980005, was issued a Critical Inspection Finding due to severe undermining of the abutments and other concerns.

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“In the interest of public safety, the bridge should be closed as soon as possible,” the notice from MoDOT said.

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Prater said signs closing the bridge were posted April 21, and barricades would be in place this week.

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The Lawrence County Commission visited the site Monday to see the condition firsthand. Weekend flooding appeared to have exacerbated the situation, Prater said.

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The bridge is located in the western part of the county in Common II Road District.

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​Official election results for the April 2025 election

 

Lawrence County Clerk Tammy Riebe has released official results of the April 2025 election.

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​Sr. Citizens Tax Credit applications available; due by June 1

 

(Rev. April 15, 2025) Lawrence County property owners age 62 and older may now apply for the Senior Citizens Tax Credit. Deadline for the annual applications is June 1, 2025.

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Application forms may be downloaded here or picked up at the county collector's office on the main floor of the Historic Lawrence County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, Mt. Vernon. Completed forms must be notarized before turning them in at the collector's office. (Notary service is not available at the collector's office. Applicants should check with their banks, attorneys or other notary sources.)

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Office hours at the collector's office are 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed holidays).

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The Senior Citizens Tax Credit applies only to the taxpayer's primary residence. It will appear as a credit on the qualified taxpayer's property tax statement. People must reapply each year.

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Health dept now open in new quarters on Missouri Drive

 

(March 10, 2025) Lawrence County Health Dept. is now open in its new quarters at 1549 Missouri Drive in Mt. Vernon. Its first day of business there was March 4. Open house and ribbon-cutting were held March 10.

 

The facility was constructed south of I-44, just south of the Lawrence County Law Enforcement Center and 911. You can reach it via the south outer road.

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County adopts updated health ordinances

 

(Nov. 27, 2024) Lawrence County Commission has adopted updated health ordinances. pertaining to wastewater treatment systems and food establishments..

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Sign up for free property fraud notifications

 

(Sept. 25, 2024) Concerned about title theft? Lawrence County Recorder of Deeds Denise Massie invites people to sign up for a free notification if a deed is recorded in your name. Click here and follow the prompts.

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A recent "On Your Side" episode featured another way people are trying to make money off services that are already provided in the local recorder's office.

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Notice of Use Tax

 

(Lawrence County Clerk Tammy Riebe, Sept. 20, 2021) Lawrence County, Missouri previously adopted a use tax, which is currently in effect. A use tax is the equivalent of a sales tax on purchases made from out-of-state vendors by in-state buyers and on certain taxable business transactions. The use tax rate for Lawrence County is currently 2.125 percent which is equal to the total local sales tax rate. Certain purchases from out-of-state vendors will become subject to an expansion of the use tax effective on January 1, 2023, as provided by state law.

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If any local sales tax is repealed or the rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be deemed to be repealed, reduced, or raised by the same action.

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I, Tammy Riebe, County Clerk for Lawrence County, Missouri, do hereby certify that the foregoing is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, correct. Dated this 3rd day of September 2021.

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Census Bureau puts county's population at 38,001

 

The U.S. Census Bureau puts Lawrence County's 2020 population at 38,001, slightly below the 2010 figure of 38,634. However, another indicator suggests more people are living in Lawrence County than did in 2010. There has been a 1.4 percent increase in individual and household personal property assessment lists returned to the county assessor in the same time period.

 

The Census Bureau ranks Lawrence County as 31st in population in Missouri's listing of 114 counties and the City of St. Louis.

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Lawrence County experienced population drops in 1910, 1920, 1930, 1950 and 1960; but it recorded steady growth from 1960 through 2010.

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