Tractor mowing hemp on hemp farm

Missouri Industrial Hemp Program posts proposed regulations

The Missouri Department of Agriculture posted proposed rules for the Missouri Industrial Hemp Program three weeks early. The rules, as required by provisions in Senate Bill 133, will amend existing regulations and transition the legal growth of industrial hemp in Missouri from a pilot research program to a commercially regulated program. The Department posted the […]

Take Back Drugs

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day set for October 26th

Law enforcement will collect unused and unwanted prescription drugs during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Medications will be collected on October 26th from 10 to 2 o’clock. Area locations in Missouri will include the sheriff’s offices of Mercer County in Princeton, Harrison County in Bethany, and Adair Couty in Kirksville; Bethany […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton Board of Education approves grant application requests

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved grant application requests at its meeting Tuesday evening. Fifth-grade Communication Arts teacher Christy Gibler’s request was for a $500 GEC Community Foundation grant to purchase guided reading leveled book sets for the classroom library. Board Vice President Brandon Gibler abstained from voting on the request with Dorothy Taul […]

Corn in the field

Monthly grain crop review for September, 2019

September had several warmer than normal days, breaking records in some parts of the state. The high temperatures helped the corn crop dry. However, harvest progress is trailing last year’s pace and the five-year average. The late-planted corn is still too wet to combine unless there are dryers available. Nationally, 11 percent of corn has […]

Bomb Threat

Soldier at Fort Riley charged with distributing instructions for bombs

A soldier stationed at Fort Riley was charged in federal court with sending over social media instructions for making bombs, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said. Jarrett William Smith, 24, Fort Riley, Kan., was charged with one count of distributing information related to explosives and weapons of mass destruction. Smith, a private first class infantry soldier, […]

Smithville Fire Protection District Website

Missouri State Auditor issues follow-up report on Smithville Area Fire Protection District

A follow-up report by State Auditor Nicole Galloway shows the Smithville Area Fire Protection District has made progress to implement many of the recommendations of a 2018 audit. The citizen-requested audit highlighted improper incentive payments to employees, questionable credit card and travel expenditures, and poor planning for the construction of a fire station by the […]

USDA Sign

Useful USDA resources available for farmers hurt by 2018, 2019 disasters

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program began Sept. 11, 2019. “U.S. agriculture has been dealt a hefty […]

Offenders filling sand bags

Department of Corrections contributes labor and funds to help flood and storm victims

When storms and floods struck the state in the spring and summer of 2019, the Missouri Department of Corrections staff and offenders invested long workdays and hard-earned dollars to help fellow Missourians. Supervised by staff working extra hours outside their usual shifts, more than 350 offenders from Missouri prisons contributed 1,548 workdays to flood relief, filling and placing […]

Serve Mercer County Project Photo

Serve Mercer County completes first project

Serve Mercer County’s first project was to build a landing and connect an aluminum ramp for the Smith family of Princeton. Serve Mercer County is a new opportunity for people to come together, as neighbors helping neighbors, to serve our community. The focus is primarily serving the elderly and less fortunate through cleanup and beautification […]

Farm Tractor Crash or Accident

Big rig hits farm tractor from behind near Stewartsville

An Osborn man received minor injuries when the farm tractor he was operating was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer unit near Stewartsville. Fifty-four-year-old Christopher Arnaman was taken by private vehicle to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The semi-truck driver, 55-year old Gene Cairo of Savannah, was not reported hurt. The accident happened Saturday afternoon on […]