BELLE — Belle’s growing arts scene took center stage on July 3 as Jason Ryberg was named the city’s fourth Poet Laureate by Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell during a small ceremony at Barb’s Books.

Ryberg, originally from Kansas, has lived in Belle for eight years and is the author of more than thirty poetry collections, six screenplays and numerous essays and short stories. He serves as an artist-in-residence at the Osage Arts Community and The Prospero Institute of Disquieted P/o/e/t/i/c/s, and works as an editor and book designer with Spartan Books.

The honorary title of Belle Poet Laureate is bestowed by the mayor after reviewing recommendations from the Osage Arts Community (OAC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Belle that hosts national and international artists through its residency program.

“I think it’s great,” Ryberg said of the appointment. “When I first came here, it would’ve never occurred to me that I’d be this fortunate.”

As Poet Laureate, Ryberg will work with local schools and civic groups to promote creative writing and literacy. One proposed initiative includes publishing student poetry and hosting community readings open to all ages.

“There are always plenty of ideas boiling over,” he said. “It’s just a matter of whether we can capture a couple of them and make them happen.”

Mitchell praised the appointment and the broader growth of Belle’s landscape, citing OAC as a driving force behind the artistic and cultural growth of the community by introducing new faces to the area.

“It’s great for the community,” Mitchell said. “You sit down and talk to some of these folks and think, ‘Wow.’ A lot of them have been all over the world.”

He noted the regular arts and entertainment events hosted in town, particularly the comedy series at Padgett’s Place, where comedians such as Lady Moe Joe have drawn increasingly large crowds.

“They brought a comedian named Lady Moe Joe to Belle,” Mitchell said. “She draws a big crowd, and everybody enjoys it. The more it goes on, the bigger the crowd gets. She’s funny and engages the crowd, sometimes you even end up in her act.”

Mitchell is one of those who inadvertently found his way into her performance, and doesn’t mind being part of it.

“I have a nickname and, when she found out what it was, she couldn’t let it go,” said Mitchell. “People loved her reaction.”

Asked how it feels to occasionally become part of her comedy routine, the mayor laughed.

“It makes me feel good,” he said. “People think she’s hilarious. If you can’t laugh and have a good time, then what’s the sense of being around?”

Mitchell also expressed support for more community-driven arts projects, such as mural painting and local exhibitions.

“We’ve got people trying to do a mural deal,” he said. “Maybe we can get these guys incorporated into it—do four or five, not just one.”

He said events like the July 3 ceremony highlight what’s already happening behind the scenes in Belle’s creative spaces.

“This is the first time I’ve been in here,” he said of Barb’s Books. “Books galore, paintings—it’s just great. People need to know this is here.”

Outgoing Poet Laureate Caitlin Jones, who served from April 2022 through December 2024, reflected on her time in the role and how the Belle arts community changed her life.

“I am honored to have served as the Belle Poet Laureate from April 2022 to December 2024,” Jones said. “At the beginning, I was a newly published author just finding my feet in the publishing world and building relationships with other creatives in the region. Now, I’ve published my second book and have formed lasting connections from Columbia to St. Louis and everywhere in between.

“During my term, I was especially thankful that the community rallied behind the bookstore ramp project I chose to champion. Accessibility is extremely important to me. Without the community’s support and companies like Krause Foundations and Three Rivers Electric, we wouldn’t have finished the project as quickly, if at all. That’s just how this small community operates. There’s always someone willing to help see your goals through.

“It amazes me that the small town of Belle has such a vibrant, creative community. When I moved here in 2017, I never expected it. But this community changed my life. Without it, I’d probably still be scribbling in journals and losing ideas in the grind of daily life. I certainly wouldn’t have published two books. Even better, the local government understands the importance of the arts and has now appointed the fourth Belle Poet Laureate, Jason Ryberg. I wish him the best of luck. I know he’ll be a fantastic ambassador for Belle and the region.”

As Ryberg steps into the role, both city leaders and arts advocates say they hope to see continued momentum for creative initiatives in Belle and surrounding communities.