Trenton City Administrator/Utility Director Ron Urton continues to ask residents to conserve energy on February 16th and 17th due to the extreme cold. He reports Trenton Municipal Utilities is running three generators at the north substation, but it is still having problems getting enough fuel to each individual unit. It was noted on February 15th […]
Tag: Cities
Trenton Municipal Utilities asking customers to conserve electrical usage
Trenton’s Utility Director Ron Urton is asking for TMU customers to conserve on their power usage today and again on Tuesday due to extreme cold. For the first time in his tenure of more than four years as city administrator and utility director, Urton stated TMU is operating diesel generators to assist in making power […]
Glen Briggs steps down as chairman of Local Emergency Planning Committee
Due to a technicality, Glen Briggs reports he’s stepping down as the elected chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee for Grundy County, but Briggs says he will continue as the Grundy County Emergency Manager. Due to what was called rule changes implemented by the Missouri Emergency Response Commission, the emergency planning committee chairman can […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve upgrading electrical system as well as electric rate study
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen on Monday evening, January 25th approved two ordinances authorizing engineering service contract agreements. City Clerk Hattie Rains reports one with Finley Engineering Company involves upgrading the 2400 electrical system. The other agreement is for electric cost of service and standard rate design with Toth and Associates and involves an electric rate […]
Audio: Four members of Gangster Disciples from Missouri arrested along with three from Kentucky and Illinois
Seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, are in custody after multiple arrests this morning for their alleged participation in a years-long interstate racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District […]
Audio: Missouri Senate committee to hear about controversial K-12 education bills
Two contentious K-12 education topics will be front and center Tuesday at the state Capitol in Jefferson City. The Missouri Senate Education Committee will consider Manchester Republican Andrew Koenig’s proposal that would let parents use tax credits to pay for things like private school tuition, tutoring, and school supplies. Supporters refer to this type of […]
As Missouri deals with ongoing teacher shortage, education leaders want to step up recruiting efforts
The struggle is real for Missouri when it comes to a constant shortage of K-12 public school teachers. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) wants to ramp up its teacher workforce by seizing the opportunity in a relevant setting. Dr. Paul Katnik, the assistant commissioner of the Office of Educator Quality, says […]
Attorney General William P. Barr announces results of Operation Legend
Attorney General William P. Barr announced the results of Operation Legend, which was first launched in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8, 2020, and then expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, on August 6, […]
Audio: Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black on the upcoming 101st General Assembly and COVID-19
The 101st General Assembly of the Missouri legislature begins January 6th with members being sworn in. Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black of Chillicothe will begin his third term. Black reports he has asked to remain on the Budget Committee. He has also asked to continue to be the Appropriations Chair for Education and the […]
40 charged in sprawling criminal enterprise using inmates
A federal grand jury has returned a 147-count superseding indictment against 40 defendants across South Carolina in the largest federal racketeering conspiracy in South Carolina history. The indictment alleges a sprawling criminal enterprise whereby inmates with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, often through the use of contraband cell phones, orchestrated murder, kidnapping, firearms distribution, […]
Missouri state auditor releases 2020 property tax rates review
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released her office’s annual review of local property tax rates. The State Auditor’s Office reviews rates to determine whether the rates are compliant with state law and to monitor rate adjustments to ensure revenue neutrality, as required by law. The office does not make recommendations on property tax rates […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen, with lengthy agenda, approve ordinance related to commercial structures billed for utility cost
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance on November 23rd establishing rules related to multiple-unit commercial structures to be billed for utility cost of service. City Clerk Hattie Rains explains the ordinance provides a definition and acknowledges that multiple units within the same commercial structure would have to adhere to additional cost of service […]
With no statewide mandate in Missouri, more local governments are requiring masks
(Missouri Independent) – In early July, the Columbia City Council passed an ordinance requiring everyone over 10 years old to wear a face mask when in close contact with someone from outside their household. Since that vote, a requirement for face masks has been in every health order issued for the city of 123,000 by the Columbia-Boone […]
Sullivan County confirms 12 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths; Putnam County 10 new cases of COVID-19
Sullivan County Health Department has confirmed twelve additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Sullivan County. Currently, Sullivan County sits at a total of six hundred and eight, with three active probable cases, seven deaths, and one hundred and sixteen active cases. The positive cases have been determined to be community-related. To maintain confidentiality, no other […]
Sullivan County officials recommending residents wear masks to slow spread of COVID-19
The Sullivan County Health Department, the county commission, the emergency management department, cities, and villages have released recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19. They include anyone at least two years old wearing a mask or face covering, social distancing of at least six feet, disinfecting surfaces often, staying home when sick, and frequent handwashing. […]
FBI releases 2019 Hate Crime Statistics
The FBI released Hate Crime Statistics, 2019, the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s latest compilation about bias-motivated incidents throughout the nation. The 2019 data, submitted by 15,588 law enforcement agencies, provide information about the offenses, victims, offenders, and locations of hate crimes. Law enforcement agencies submitted incident reports involving 7,314 criminal incidents and 8,559 related […]
Economic Development Committee to recommend public vote on “use” tax for Trenton
A committee composed of four members of the Trenton City Council has voted to recommend a public vote on enacting a local “use” tax for the city. The Economic Development Committee on Monday evening discussed the possibility before voting to send a recommendation to the full city council to put the issue on next April’s […]
Police chokeholds, no-knock warrants spark debate in Missouri House committee
(Missouri Independent) – As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level. The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing […]
Biden wants mask mandates nationwide: ‘We can save tens of thousands of lives’
(Missouri Independent) – President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus response plan seeks to put a national mask mandate in place by calling on all governors to require face coverings in their states. It’s a move that public health experts say could dramatically reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths. But putting wider mask laws in place […]
Trenton City Council approves repairs for 19-year old fire truck; approves health insurance rates for 2021
Trenton City Council on Monday night authorized more repairs to a 19-year-old fire department truck. The council also accepted the employee health insurance rates for next year. Fire Chief Brandon Gibler told the council the American LaFrance white fire truck was taken to an Oak Grove business to diagnose repairs that are needed to the […]