How A Small Town Won Big: Waynesville’s Story Goes Statewide

A community win deserves a bigger stage, and Waynesville just earned one. After an outpouring of votes and neighbor-to-neighbor support, we’re officially part of the Missouri Humanities Small Town Showcase, a statewide celebration of local stories tied to the U.S. 250 commemoration. We walk through what this recognition means, how a film and podcast team will capture the town’s voice, and why your story—whether it’s about Route 66 memories, neighborhood milestones, or quiet acts of service—belongs in the spotlight.

We also get practical. You can now use the Ward Finder to confirm your ward, find your council members, and reach the right person with questions or ideas. That simple step helps us plan better, set priorities with real input, and keep accountability close to home. If you’ve never contacted a representative before, this is the easiest on-ramp to local government and a direct line for shaping what comes next.

Looking ahead, the Route 66 Centennial takes center stage as volunteers rally around projects that honor the Mother Road’s legacy in our town. Whether you bring time, skills, or connections, there’s a role for you. And for neighbors who need it, we share details for the free tax center near the downtown square—hours, eligibility, and the phone number to book help. From storytelling to services, every piece points toward the same goal: a Waynesville that listens, includes, and moves forward together.

If this resonated, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for updates, and leave a quick review so more folks can find the show. Your voice keeps Waynesville’s story alive—what should we highlight next?

Transcript

Waynesville Wins Statewide Showcase

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good morning, this is Sean Wilson, the mayor of Waynesville with your weekly update for February 1st, 2026. First, I'd like to say thank you to all of the citizens of the surrounding community for casting their votes for the city of Waynesville, and it led to our city being selected as part of the Missouri Humanities Small Town Showcase. That's right, out of 15 communities all across the state, Waynesville has made the cut. We could not do this without the help of all of our citizens. And again, I say the community. So they came out, they participated, they voted, and your voice was heard, and we have been selected. So I want to say thank you to everyone for sharing the post and for making and making and taking the time to vote. So what does this mean for us? Missouri Humanities is coming to our town. They're going to work with our community to produce a short film and a podcast, but that's all about us, our history, our culture, our story. And it's all going to be featured on a statewide platform for everyone to see and hear. This is a part of the Missouri Humanities Digital Storytelling Initiative. And this year is tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. So our town story is going to be a part of something even bigger than just Missouri. Their team will be on ground here filming around town and talking to people who make Waynesville what it is. So if you want to be a part of telling your story or telling our story, stay tuned. We'll have more details coming soon and how you can get involved. So Waynesville, this achievement belongs to us. We've got a story worth telling. And now the whole state and even beyond is going to hear about it. In other news, I want to share and encourage our citizens to utilize the wardfinder. You can find it at wardfinder.city forward slash Waynesville Mo. Wardfinder.city forward slash at Waynesville Mo. The Ward Finder is to help our citizens to be able to identify which ward they reside in and who are their council members with their contact information. We ask everyone to please validate, verify your ward that you reside in on this app. And this gives you an opportunity to actually connect with your local representation within our community. So we ask you to go to that website, answer the survey question that'll ask you some questions that'll help us on plan in the future. And we ask that you please share this with your neighbors and ensure that we get this information back so we can make future plans for our community and its development. Again, wardfinder.city org slash Waynesville Mo. Just as a reminder, Waynesville Action Group will be meeting on Friday at 4 p.m. at City Hall to continue on with their project for the Centennial. If you are interested in participating or volunteering your time or your talents for our project in commemoration of the Centennial 100-year celebration of Route 66, please send me an email at mayor at WaynesvilleMow.org. Mayor at WaynesvilleMobe.org. One last reminder that the free tax center is now here, it's up and open, it's operational. The hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at 201 North Street. It's at the corner of Olive and North Street near the downtown square in Waynesville. They will be closed on federal holidays. If you have any questions about assistance, about tax preparation, please contact the tax center at 573-452-8624. 573-452-8624. The services are for military retirees, DOD retirees, veterans, gold star families, and our senior non military retiree population. Again, number is 573 452 8624. Please spread the word. Thank you for your continued support in making Waynesville a wonderful place to live, work, and thrive. Stay engaged, and I look forward to seeing you around the town.