The Odessan — Lafayette County’s largest newspaper.

The Odessan began in 1884 as The Odessa Moon. Renamed the Odessa Democrat by publisher A.J. Adair, who purchased the newspaper in 1906, the paper was sold in 1940 to the Collins Ewing family, owners of The Missouri Ledger. The two papers were merged into what is now The Odessan.

The Ewings sold the newspaper in 1947 to William A. Bray. Remaining the publisher until 1954, Bray left to become executive director of the Missouri Press Association and sold the paper to Joe Western. Western was publisher from 1954 to 1960, until moving to Washington, D.C., to join the staff of The Wall Street Journal.

Betty Simpson Spaar purchased the newspaper on December 1, 1960, and remained actively involved in reporting the news and assisting businesses with advertising needs until her death in 2018. The newspaper is now published by her sons, John and Joe Spaar. The Simpson/Spaar family has worked in the newspaper profession for five generations beginning with Betty’s grandfather who published the newspaper in Rolla. For many years, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Simpson, owned and operated the Holden Progress. The Spaar family has deep roots in the community of Odessa and continues to chronicle it and the area’s history. Currently, two generations of the family have been raised in Odessa and work at The Odessan.

Joe Spaar, co-publisher and production manager, is a past board member of the Missouri Press Association. He won a first place award in the state for his weekly column, Sports Time Out.

John Spaar, co-publisher and advertising manager, was the 2005 president of the Missouri Press Association, the third generation of his family to hold that office. He has served as president of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. He also is a member and past president of the Odessa Rotary Club.

Hannah Spaar, daughter of Joe and the late Renee Spaar, is news editor. A 2009 graduate of Odessa High School and a 2013 graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri School of Journalism, Hannah has written a weekly column in The Odessan since she was 10 years old. She has received numerous awards for reporting, editorial writing and photography and was named the Missouri Press Association’s 2016 Outstanding Young Journalist. She also serves as news editor for Focus on Oak Grove. She is currently on the board of the Missouri Press Association.

Ruth Beamer reports on  Lafayette County, Bates City and Wellington city governments.

Laura Sanders, compiles and writes the Yesteryears column and researches topics of interest for the “I Have a Question” column.

Kory Hales, multiple award-winning sports editor and photographer, Pam Schuchner, production and Jennifer Rawls, costumer service, round out the staff.

In an effort to better serve area businesses, employees continually strive to create effective advertising. The Odessan staff has received numerous advertising awards, among them a national grand prize for the annual Christmas section.

The largest paid circulation newspaper in Lafayette County, The Odessan continues to receive awards for  feature stories, news coverage, special sections, advertising and photography. Serving western Lafayette County, the newspaper covers the Odessa and Wellington-Napoleon school districts, city and county governments as well as the businesses and families that make up our communities.

Newspapers in Education program for the Odessa and Wellington-Napoleon school districts involves delivering The Odessan each Thursday morning to fifth grade classrooms at the Odessa Upper Elementary School and Wellington-Napoleon Elementary School. This will be the 21st year for the program.

The office is located at 212 West Mason Street. The building is handicapped accessible and features ample parking for customers.

Focus on Oak Grove — the title says it all.

Focus on Oak Grove, the community’s newspaper, is available 52 weeks a year; each Wednesday afternoon in stores and newspaper racks in Oak Grove. A local subscription costs $40 annually and arrives in mail boxes each Thursday.

Newspaper was founded in November, 1995 in conjunction with The Odessan, as an Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce project after Oak Grove Banner, Jackson County’s oldest newspaper, was closed in 1993. In 2014, Focus on Oak Grove became a stand-alone publication. Ownership is Spaar Publications LLC. Co-publishers are brothers, John and Joe Spaar. Family has been publishing newspapers for five generations.

A knowledgeable and friendly staff is on hand to assist the community with family, civic, school and governmental news coverage as well as to help businesses, organizations and individuals meet their advertising needs.

Linda Ighoyivwi provides customer service, gathers the local news and sends it to The Odessan office for processing. She is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and has strong ties to the community. She and her family reside south of Oak Grove.

Ruth Ann Hafner joined the staff as a contributing writer in 2017. She is retired from the Blue Springs school district and resides at Lake Tapawingo. Hafner earned bachelor’s degrees in education and journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors and reports on the school board, fire district and brings you the stories about people and events that shape the community.

John Spaar is the advertising manager and is available to help business owners increase sales.

Joe Spaar assists with production, working out of the Odessa office.

Kory Hales, sports editor, works with coaches to cover Panther athletics.

Hannah Spaar, news editor, covers the Oak Grove Board of Aldermen and local government. She is a 2013 graduate of the School of Journalism at University of Missouri, Columbia and is a recipient of the Outstanding Young Journalist Award given by the Missouri Press Association.

In addition, a school intern works part-time at the office.

Linda Ighoyivwi, who shares the history of Oak Grove in “Echoes from the Past” and Jack Hackley, lifetime resident and developer who writes, “Jack Remembers” are contributing columnists. Started more than 20 years ago, Jack’s column has become so popular he is published in more than 20 newspapers across the state.

Every year, special sections feature high school athletes, graduation and Christmas greetings from local businesses. The bridal guide and Oak Grove City Guide are other annual publications.

Missouri road maps are available at the Focus on Oak Grove office at no charge. Self-inking stamps, business cards and carbonless forms may be ordered at the office.

Focus on Oak Grove is an award-winning publication recognized by the Missouri Press Foundation for outstanding coverage of government, breaking news, news or feature series, religion, rural life or agriculture, editorial and humorous columns in addition to receiving an honorable mention for the organization’s coveted General Excellence award. Awards also have been received in the MPA Best Advertising Idea Contest, making the newspaper a comprehensive means to promote organizations and businesses.

Focus on Oak Grove attempts not only to inform residents about what occurs in city government, the school and fire districts, but will continue to feature the achievements and happenings which make up the fabric of the town. Whether it is a family reunion, engagement, wedding, anniversary or birthday, Focus on Oak Grove wants to record your family news as part of the history of the community.

Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday. Please stop by the office at 103 SE 12th Street, call 816-690-7218 or email us at focus@iland.net.

The focus is always on Oak Grove!