• The Texas County clerk’s office will be open the next two Saturdays for absentee balloting. County Clerk Kris Neal says her office will be open 8 a.m. until noon those days.
The last day to vote absentee is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7.
As of Tuesday morning, there had been about 600 absentee votes cast.
• Columnist Tony Messenger in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week:
“That is what this nation must pray for now on Nov. 9:
Silence as Clinton becomes the first woman elected to the American presidency.
Silence as a Republican Party ripped apart by a destructive force seeks to regain its standing in a broken political system.
Silence as national leaders find the best versions of themselves to heal our deep divisions. Silence, blessed silence.”
• Around the area: The former H.D. Lee Co. factory at Seymour — most recently the home to Executive Coach Builders — will soon be occupied by Bless International, a not-for-profit corporation in Elizabeth, Ky., that operates its Mentoring Men for Mission that prepares missionaries and missionary families for international service, often in Africa.
• The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra — which includes members from this area — will present its “Spooktacula IV” at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Star Theatre in Willow Springs.
Associate conductor is Jodie Forbes of Houston.
The public is invited to dress for the Halloween occasion.
Cost is $7 for adults; children under 12 are free.
• This marks the last week for letters to the editor whose topics are related to the election… since no one would have the opportunity to respond before election day.
• Fuel prices are cheaper locally than the statewide average, gasbuddy.com reported Monday. The average price was $2.03 per gallon at a survey of 3,940 gas outlets in Missouri. The national average stands at $2.21.