Professionals and Leaders Uniting Grundy County, known by the acronym PLUG, began as a grassroots-networking group to encourage and support young professionals in the area. Over the past year, PLUG has evolved into a local group working to improve the business and residential community culture with the intention of making Grundy County “an appealing place […]
Tag: commission
NRCS watershed efforts continue to benefit farmers, communities
Sixty years after the first of 1,182 flood-prevention structures were built in Missouri with federal financial and technical assistance, landowners who have witnessed the before-and-after effects of heavy rain are still praising the benefits of the watershed projects. “Panther Creek used to flood almost every time it rained, but it hasn’t flooded at all since […]
Missourians face large bills, aggressive collection tactics from air ambulance transports
Missourians are frequently subjected to aggressive collection efforts by air ambulance providers totaling tens of thousands of dollars in a practice called balance billing, according to a detailed report released today by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP). To assess the scope of the problem, the DIFP initiated a data call for […]
Audio: Separation of church and state group lodges 2nd Missouri complaint in the last month
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has lodged its second complaint in the last month against biblical displays in the state. The group claims two paintings in the Camden County Clerk’s Office in south-central Missouri violate the Constitution. The Foundation’s Joe Poor says the artwork is a clear breach of the separation of church and state […]
Governor Mike Parson makes appointments to commissions and offices in area counties
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced Wednesday appointments to various commissions and offices. Those appointments included Randy Huffman of rural Galt as the Sullivan County Western District Commissioner. Huffman replaces Danny Busick who resigned from the commissioner position and was to be sworn in today (Wednesday) as the Second District State Representative for Mercer, Sullivan, and […]
Audio: $50 million renovation in progress to spruce up 100-year-old Missouri Capitol
Work continues on $50 million in renovations of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. Dana Rademan Miller chairs the State Capitol Commission which is charged with the preservation of the structure. She says the building has been in urgent need of repair after state revenue declines led to 15-years of deferred maintenance. Rademan […]
Audio: Study says most neighboring states pay their teachers more than Missouri
Niche.com ranks Missouri 39th in the nation in teacher pay. Paul Katnik, Assistant Commissioner of Missouri’s Office of Educator Quality, says the state’s school teachers make roughly 49,000-dollars annually. A Vanderbilt University study says teacher merit pay for student performance has merit. During Tuesday’s State Board of Education meeting, Katnik discussed the study […]
Despite government shutdown, IRS confirms tax filing season to begin January 28
Despite the government shutdown, the Internal Revenue Service today confirmed that it will process tax returns beginning January 28, 2019, and provide refunds to taxpayers as scheduled. “We are committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds notwithstanding the government shutdown. I appreciate the hard work of the employees and their commitment to the taxpayers […]
Audio: Counties continue to warn Missouri lawmakers against transferring road maintenance to local governments
Local county officials continue to push back against any effort on the state level to transfer maintenance of roads to them. Opposition to any transfer of the “lettered roads” to local governments is reflected in unbending comments by Randolph County Commissioner Wayne Wilcox in northeast Missouri. Wilcox says handing over those roadways to […]
Clinton County audit results in “Poor” rating from state of Missouri
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Clinton County, located in northwest Missouri. In giving an overall rating of “poor,” the report highlighted the weak financial condition of the General Revenue Fund, the County Commission’s failure to perform a cost analysis before implementing a self-insured medical plan, and the need to improve controls […]
Western District Court of Appeals affirms decision, potentially opening the way for CAFO in southwest Grundy County
Online court information shows a ruling has been issued regarding a CAFO that has been proposed for southwest Grundy County. Docket information reports the Western District of Missouri, Court of Appeals, has affirmed a decision by the Missouri Clean Water Commission which (in November 2017) had approved a permit for a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (also […]
New pump and drainage system planned for Fountain Grove Conservation Area of Livingston County
The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved a contract for a project to install a pump station and drainage system to improve wetland habitat management at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Fountain Grove Conservation Area in Livingston County. The contract for the eight point three million dollar project was approved with Lehman Construction, LLC of California, […]
In final days on the job, Hull reflects on time as presiding commissioner
Rick Hull’s 12 years as the presiding commissioner for Grundy County come to an end at the end of this year. His current term officially ends December 31st when Phillip Ray, who was elected as presiding commissioner earlier this year, will be sworn into office. Hull says some of his accomplishments during his time as […]
Christmas lights added to Grundy County Courthouse
Christmas lights have been put up on the Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton. Presiding Commissioner Rick Hull says the Grundy County Commission tried to find someone to install the Christmas lights earlier in the year. The county commission helped park buses during the Trenton Marching Festival in October, and some of the proceeds from the event […]
Missouri’s largest-ever poaching investigation ends in jail time
A Greene County man’s court sentencing in December in Barton and Lawrence Counties are the most recent events in what is one of Missouri’s largest conservation cases involving the illegal taking of deer. On December 13, David Berry Jr. of Brookline received a 120-day sentence in Barton County Circuit Court for a felony firearms probation […]
Resurfacing project awarded for Missouri Highway 6 in Adair and Sullivan Counties
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently awarded a contract to Chester Bross, of Palmyra, Missouri, for a resurfacing project on Missouri Route 6 in Adair and Sullivan Counties, from the Chariton River to Missouri Route 129, for a total length of approximately 14.5 miles. The total cost of the project is $2,595,497. “Crews will […]
Swearing in of officials to take place at Livingston County Courthouse
Swearing in and retirement ceremonies will be held at the Livingston County Courthouse in Chillicothe December 28th. Six elected officials including Ryan Horsman, Circuit Judge; Michael R. Leamer, Associate Circuit Judge; Ed Douglas, Presiding Commissioner; Jane Gann, Circuit Clerk; Sherry Parks, County Clerk; and Amy Baker, Recorder of Deeds will be sworn in in the […]
Princeton City Council approves contract with Senior Center
The Princeton City Council approved a service contract with the Senior Center at its meeting Thursday evening. Deputy City Clerk Cory Willett reports the contract was for $240 for live music for a Christmas event December 14th. The council also approved an agreement with the Senior Center for it to purchase 16 feet of city […]
KCP&L/GMO customers to see decrease in utility bills starting in February, 2019
Kansas City Power and Light Company and its Greater Missouri Operations Company have filed applications with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to adjust the Demand Side Investment Mechanism charge on customer bills. The charge appears as a separate line item on customer bills and allows KCP and L and GMO to recover demand-side management […]
Trenton Police Department accepting donations for annual “Shop with a Cop” event
The Trenton Police Department is accepting donations for its Sixth Annual Shop with a Cop event. The police department reports the program allows children an opportunity to have a positive interaction with law enforcement officers and allows the police to assist children in their time of need during the Christmas season. Donations from businesses, organizations, […]