Welcome to the Worth County Word, your online, independent newspaper for all things Worth County! Here you can find stories, photos, advertisements; anything you might want to know about your community in Worth County, Missouri.
Got questions or story ideas? Have photos you'd like to submit? Please contact Riley Drury at 660-215-8486 or email her at theworthcountyword.com
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What's the Word Around Worth County?
June 17, 2026
Ex-Reporter starts online newspaper in Worth County
By RILEY DRURY
The Worth County Word
June 17, 2026
This will not be the format of the other articles I intend to publish on this website, but being the first edition, I figured that called for you, whoever you are, to hear from me directly. My name is Riley Drury, and until February of 2026, I was a reporter for the Times Tribune, Worth County’s local newspaper.
The paper, which at the time was owned by and printed in conjunction with the Maryville Forum, has since gone out of business, leaving me without a job and Grant City without a paper specifically catered to them. I intend to change that. Hence, ‘The Worth County Word’!
Please don’t misunderstand me. I have no intentions of disrespecting the publications that are already in existence in the area. We all had no issue co-existing when the Times Tribune was still in print, and it is my hope that we will have no such problems now. What this truly comes down to is this; selfishly, I miss being a part of my community. I miss knowing what was going on in the town and the county, I miss writing articles and shedding light on events and people that deserve to be recognized!
I missed having the opportunity to inform you, the people of Worth County, of what is happening in your community. You, and anyone else who might be interested! *Cough* *Cough* I’m looking at you, Papaw.
So, if you’re reading this, you may be wondering, ‘what is this newspaper going to be’? Well, I’ll tell you. The long answer is that the Worth County Word is going to be an online-only newspaper covering the events and situations that were previously covered by the Times Tribune. The short answer…whatever you want it to be! The purpose of this newspaper is to bring the community together, inform friends and family on what’s going on, and to connect us to each other, and the things happening in our streets! So do you have a story that you think someone might find interesting? Did you take an absolutely adorable photo during the Elementary Christmas concert that other parents might want to see? Send it to me!
You may be wondering where the catch comes in. The last newspaper was available on a subscription basis, so when do I pull out my credit card and shell out forty bucks a month? Well…you don’t.
My intention, at least at this point in time, is not to sell subscriptions, but to sell ads. I want to give local businesses a chance to purchase advertisements, created by me, to be featured on the Worth County Word website and social media pages. And since its online only, and I have no printing costs, mailing costs, other employees, or overhead of any kind, you can visit the website at no cost to you!
Articles will be posted on an as-written basis. As soon as an event happens, and I have time to write up the article and process the photos, the article will then be uploaded to this website, and and some of them will be shared to social media. Please go follow ‘The Worth County Word’ on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! Did you miss the day it was uploaded? No worries! Every upload will be saved under the date it was published on the archives page!
I hope this website, and the news we share, is as helpful, uplifting, and enlightening to you as it will be to me, and I hope you will all continue to help me ‘spread the word’, even if I am operating in a less official capacity. I can’t wait to see what Worth County has to offer. Until next time!
City Seeks Emergency Demolition Grant for Masons Building
By RILEY DRURY
The Worth County Word
June 17, 2026
GRANT CITY, Mo. - A public hearing was held prior to the June Board of Aldermen meeting in order to perform a needs assessment of Grant City, in the hopes of procuring an emergency demolition grant for the dilapidated building on South Main Street.
The earliest photos of the building, as collected by Lizzie Jeans and Roberta Owens, show that the building has existed in Grant City since the 1900s. The property has gone through several owners and iterations over the years, and was divided into two separate buildings sometime during or before the 1940s. According to Jeanes, the deed of the building cites the addition of a brick parting wall while the roof of both buildings remains connected. In reality, a wooden parting wall was built instead, meaning the building cannot be taken down without also taking down the adjoining building; The adjoining building currently houses an apartment.
The most concerning of the information shared during the meeting was that of the precautions that must be taken by residents of the apartment buildings on either side of the property. According to Jeanes, the property owners have been notified to inform their residents that on nights where it is raining, it is unsafe to sleep near the outside wall of the building, as water is more likely to cause the building to fall than wind damage.
The building poses a significant risk to Grant City residents, and has been surrounded by safety barriers for some time. While the building is prepped and ready for demolition as soon as the ok is given, the project is still going to cost about $405,000; an amount estimated from the one and only bid received for the property. Only one contractor agreed to take on the project.
Residents are advised to steer clear of the building if at all possible, especially children who live and play in the surrounding area.
Drury's Deductions
These are the personal opinions of Riley Drury, and are based on what she has seen and experienced. These opinions are not meant to be taken as fact.
The abandoned buildings are an issue that the board of Aldermen have been dealing with for a long time. I have sat through countless meetings and watched as city employees, specifically Lizzie Jeanes, have sought out every possible solution to combat this problem. There have been obstacles; lots of government hoops and red tape to jump through that has stopped an easy solution from being found. But Lizzie Jeanes and the Board of Aldermen are, and continue to be, highly concerned about this issue. I commend them on their hard work in this area, and hope to see the situation dealt with soon, before any one is injured.
City Council Notes:
In addition to the emergency Community Development Block Grant, the city is also applying for another grant, which will provide funds to tear down six houses, as well as the VFW building on the square.
Chip Seal has been completed on city roads, the board of Aldermen voted that another load of cold mix be purchased.
Tyson Troutwine proposed a potential plan to be added to a bond ballot at a later date. He proposed applying for a grant that the city previously applied for in 2016, which paid for hot mix treatments on city streets. Many of the potholes the city repairs are the same ones over and over again, and Troutwine believes some sort of maintenance plan will help to provide a more long term solution. The city agreed to check on water and sewer lines first, to ensure the repairs would not have to be ripped up later due to necessary water/sewer line replacements.
There is a leak in the water tower, about 50-60 feet off the ground. City employees have been trying to find a solution to the leak, and have found a company who is equipped to make the repairs.
by RILEY DRURY
The Worth County Word
June 18, 2026
GRANT CITY, Mo. - Orilla's Way Assisted Living hosted local children on Thursday, June 18, at 10:00 AM to create a freedom chain; an American flag made from paper chain links, in order to decorate the facility for the fourth of July, also known as the 250th Birthday of the United States of America.
Local children and parents alike came together to help the residents with the crafting process, and were rewarded for their efforts via outdoor play time and popsicles, which participants of all ages enjoyed.
The flag now sits on the wall in the entrance of the facility, ensuring that the local residents can enjoy a patriotic view upon entering the building.
This is just one of many events that are taking place locally in order to celebrate the 250th anniversary, as many local organizations are coming together to host themed events.
Drury's Deductions
These are the personal opinions of Riley Drury, and are based on what she has seen and experienced. These opinions are not meant to be taken as fact.
Since before the Times Tribune shut down, I have observed that Orilla's Way is going out of their way to host local events, specifically events centered around getting local children to spend time with their residents. I personally think this is an incredible undertaking, and love to see different generations of our community coming together and interacting with one another. Keep up the good work, Orilla's Team!
Other 250th Birthday Events:
There is a Worth County Scavenger Hunt being held on July 1-3, where participants can follow clues all around Worth County! There is a limit to four people per team, and the clues will be spread out over four days. Be sure to post your findings on social media!
There will be a free swim at the Grant City Pool on the 4th of July from 1-4 PM. Head in to enjoy the facilities!
The Worth County MFA will be hosted a 'Patriotic Rubber Ducky Find' at the Grant City Park on July 4th, taking place from 6:30 TO 8:00 pm. Kids can bring in up to two ducks to exchange for prizes.
While not overtly Fourth of July themed, Old Defiance Days begins tomorrow, June 19, with the Rodeo in Sheridan, starting with Mutton Busting at 6:00 PM. The activities will continue into Saturday the 20th, starting as early as 7 AM with the Sheridan Fire Department Breakfast.
Also on Saturday, June 20th, the Grant City Baptist Church is hosting a car show in the church parking lot, with registration starting at 10:00 AM. There will be awards given out and a food truck, My-Ty's Snack Shack, will be selling food.
