Featured Stories

The 72nd New Melle Festival took place on June 5, 6, and 7 at New Melle Sports and Rec. Despite the rain over the entire weekend, attendees were treated to sights and scenes that made for an unforgettable weekend. The July issue, coming out on July 3, will feature all the stories and photos from the Festival and Parade.

On Thursday, May 1, the New Melle Chamber of Commerce welcomed over 50 artists from the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival for the “New Melle Paint Out.” These artists were invited to paint their unique perspectives of New Melle at various properties and businesses within a 5-mile radius of City Hall.

By Kathy Miller - On Saturday, April 19, the New Melle Chamber of Commerce hosted the 30th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at New Melle Sports and Rec.

By Kathy Miller - Just over three years ago, on January 8, 2022, a small twin-engine plane crashed in Defiance, close to Hwy . F, resulting in the deaths of both the pilot and co-pilot, both from Ohio.

By Kathy Miller

The following are the highlights from the November 5, 2024, New Melle Board of Aldermen (BOA) Meeting.

On Saturday, November 30, the New Melle Chamber of Commerce hosted the New Melle Country Christmas, complete with snow at New Melle Sports and Rec.

Highlights from the October 8 City of New Melle BOA

By Kathy Miller

The following are highlights from the Tuesday, October 8, City of New Melle Board of Aldermen Meeting.

The Bethel Hills Community in Dutzow was awarded $60,000 through the Kubota Hometown Proud grant program. This year, the program launched a call for entries in March and received 1,590 applications.

On Saturday, September 21, the Annual Augusta Harvest Festival celebrated the season with a parade, car show, pie contest, scarecrow contest, live music, kids’ activities, and other special events.

One of the highlights of the Augusta Harvest Festival is the Annual Pie Contest. The winning pie in each category was auctioned off to the highest bidder.

By Kathy Miller - Thanks to Chris Caldwell for recording the meeting in my absence.

Roll Call: Mayor Steve Burt, Aldermen Goodman, Nelson, Schneider, Attorney - Steve Martin, City Clerk - Marica Gay and Cochran Engineering were present. Alderman Karrenbrock was absent.

The Dutzow Knights of Columbus hosted the Ninth Annual Clay Shoot Tournament to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday, September 21 at Blackhawk Valley Sporting Clays Course in Old Monroe. Sixty-three participants took part in the competitions, including KC Member Individual, Open, Women, and Junior Individuals.

On August 22, Julia and Brian Welge, the new 1860 Schulhaus Venue owners, hosted a grand opening. They, along with the New Melle Chamber of Commerce (NMCC), family, friends and members of the community also held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new venue located in the historic schoolhouse in New Melle.

By Kathy Miller

The following are highlights from the Tuesday, July 9, 2024, City of New Melle Board of Aldermen meeting held at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

By Kathy Miller

The following highlights are from the Tuesday, May 13, City of New Melle Board of Aldermen Meeting. Roll Call - Mayor - Steve Burt, Aldermen Nelson, Karrenbrock, Schneider, Attorney - Steve Martin, Marcia Gay - City Clerk and Cochran Engineering were present. Alderman Goodman was absent.

At the Scholarship Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 16, the New Melle Chamber of Commerce (NMCC) surprised Janet Hespen with the 2024 Community Service Award at the Quarry Wine Garden.

On Wednesday, April 24, Daniel Boone Elementary (DBE) students, staff and Principal Kevin Armour delivered 2400 items collected by faculty and students during their April Food Drive.

The New Melle Chamber of Commerce (NMCC) would like to thank the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival committee and the over 50 artists who visited New Melle on Thursday, May 2, to capture the beautiful scenes around town.

The Augusta Community Food Drive sponsors would like to thank everyone for their support. Despite rising costs, they raised $1,700 in donations and 44 non-perishable food items.

On May 14, Billie Kramme from the Bethel Hills Community was one of ten volunteers from the St. Louis region to receive the 2024 Women of Achievement (WOA) award.

By Kathy Miller  On Friday, May 24, Daniel Boone Elementary (DBE) held its Annual Last Day of School Assembly, which was led by the principal, Kevin Armour. The following are some of the highlights from the assembly.

By Kathy Miller  The New Melle Friendship Society hosted a distinguished delegation from Melle, Germany, New Melle’s Sister City, for a 30th-anniversary visit in May.

The 21st Augusta Plein Air Festival concluded on Saturday, May 4, with the final awards and sales.

By Kathy Miller     If you have ever heard anyone mentioning the "Skeleton House" on DD in Defiance, there is a good chance that you already know which house they are referring to. If you are unfamiliar with it, you can find The Powers Family's house one mile south of the DD Market, past Sorenson Kennels, at 985 Hwy DD. For almost four years, the Powers family has displayed skeletons in humorous and whimsical scenes.