Good morning, Jefferson City.

Fort Leonard Wood will host its traditional Thanksgiving Day celebration next Thursday when over 12,000 meals are served at lunchtime with more than 28,000 provided throughout the day.

Service members, Gold Star families, veterans and others will enjoy a feast featuring turkey, baked ham, herb-crusted salmon and sides like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread dressing—plans are set to serve all guests.

East Elementary School in Jefferson City raised over $900 to help local families by surpassing its $600 goal for First Christian Church’s food pantry, and Principal Jesse Oswald (wearing an inflatable turkey costume) greeted students on Wednesday morning; the funds will be used by the church to buy turkeys and hams for families in need.

In a Jefferson City conference room, a small team at the Missouri Gaming Commission is drafting hundreds of pages of rules for legal sports betting set to launch on Dec.

1—aimed at boosting revenue while addressing concerns like gambling addiction and fair play. They visited other states to learn best practices and will require thorough financial and criminal checks before companies can apply for a license.

Murder on the Orient Express

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Miller Performing Arts Center — Ticket information available — Experience Agatha Christie’s thrilling mystery as detective Hercule Poirot solves a deadly crime aboard a trapped luxury train.

Loose Creek Christmas Extravaganza and Pork Burger Sale

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Loose Creek Community Club — All proceeds benefit the Megan Boehm Memorial Scholarship Fund — Enjoy a festive craft show while indulging in delicious pork burgers.

A Convocation of Eagles

1 PM – 8 PM — Missouri River Regional Library — Free entry — Discover the fascinating life of eagles with expert insights from a local photographer.

Chess Club

6-7:30 p.m. — Missouri River Regional Library — Free entry — Engage in chess with players of all ages and skill levels.

Tail Waggin' Tutors

11 AM — Missouri River Regional Library — Free entry — Read your favorite book to a trained therapy dog and share your stories with Raina and River.

Thanksgiving Day Pie Run

8:15 a.m. — Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Multipurpose Building — Registration fees apply — Get ready to race with a choice of 5K or 10K distances to work off those Thanksgiving pies.

Eagle Watching Presentation

9 AM – 5 PM — Missouri River Regional Library — Free entry — Discover the majestic eagles of Cole County with local expert Pat Struempf.

LEGO Block Party

6-7 p.m. — Missouri River Regional Library — Free entry — Enjoy free-building LEGO fun with standard bricks and mini-figures for ages 5-12.

Preschool Storytime

10:30-11:30 a.m. — Missouri River Regional Library — No reservations needed — Enjoy engaging stories and music for preschoolers ages 3-5.

Eagle Photography Presentation

9 AM – 8 PM — Missouri River Regional Library — Free entry — Discover the breathtaking beauty of eagles through the lens of a local photographer.