PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Kevin Horner, left, of Curryville, talks with Republican Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Mark McCloskey and McCloskey’s wife, Patricia, during the Pike County Lincoln Day Dinner Sept. 30 at the fairgrounds outside Bowling Green. The McCloskeys came to national prominence after using their Second Amendment rights to defend their St. Louis home from a mob in June 2020. McCloskey gave a spirited talk focusing upon government overreach, border security and preserving constitutional freedoms. Other candidates for the Republican Senate nomination are Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, former Gov. Eric Greitens, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Congressman Billy Long and retired Army Capt. Paul Walker. Six Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination. Others speaking at the Sept. 30 event included Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, State Sen. Bill Eigel, 40th District State Rep. Chad Perkins and Pike County Presiding Commissioner Chris Gamm. Newspaper publisher and former Poplar Bluff Mayor Scott Faughn and Kathy Gamm of the Pike County Republican Party were emcees. Special honors were given to retired State Rep. Jim Hansen of Frankford and to former Pike County Coroner Chris Stark, who died in August of COVID at age 57.