Fraud

Man pleads guilty to $244 million ghost-cattle scam

A Washington man pleaded guilty to defrauding Tyson Foods Inc. (Tyson) and another company (Company 1) out of more than $244 million by charging them under various agreements for the purported costs of purchasing and feeding hundreds of thousands of cattle that did not actually exist. According to court documents, Cody Allen Easterday, 49, of […]

Grundy R-5 School

Grundy R-5 Board of Education accepts resignation, offers contracts to several in closed session

The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education accepted a resignation at a special meeting on March 23rd and offered several contracts for employment. A resignation was received from Kindergarten through 12th Grade Special Education Instructor Rusty Burns. Contracts for employment were offered were to Samantha DeRyke for kindergarten, Lindsay Wyatt for third grade, Marsha McLain […]

Newtown-Harris School Website

Newtown-Harris Board of Education approves employee health insurance plans and senior trip to Branson

The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education on March 15th approved paying $575.08 toward employee health insurance plans. Insurance will continue through the Ozark Schools Benefits Association.  Superintendent Lucas McKinnis reported that the district offers seven plans, and insurance costs are less than last year. Employees can upgrade to a PPO plan, but they may have […]

Laredo R-7 School

Laredo Board of Education accepts health insurance bid, approves field trips and renews teaching contracts

The Laredo R-7 Board of Education accepted health insurance through the Ozark Schools Benefits Association on March 8th. The district will pay $530 for 2021-2022 plus vision and life insurance. The board approved field trips. They included the eighth grade to Kansas City, kindergarten through second grade to Shatto Dairy, and third through eighth grades […]

USDA Logo

State agriculture officials recommend enhancements to USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box program and recommend adjustments to improve the program’s effectiveness.   “The Farmers to Families Food Box program has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic […]

Sunnyview Nursing Home

United States Department of Agriculture approves contracts for an energy project at Sunnyview Nursing Home

The United States Department of Agriculture has approved contracts for an energy project at Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments in Trenton. Administrator Jerry Doerhoff reports Raines Heating and Cooling’s bid for HVAC was approved for $828,270.29. The Wilson Group’s proposal for windows and doors was approved for $388,369. The Grundy County Nursing Home District is […]

CRP Website Revised (Conservation Reserve Program website)

USDA extends general signup for Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Conservation Reserve Program General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021.  USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates […]

Grundy R-5 School

Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approves extension of COVID Response Act; approves purchase of new math curriculum

The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved an extension of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on Wednesday evening, January 13th. The act provides employees 80 hours of paid sick leave if the employee is quarantined with COVID-19. The board approved the purchase of a new curriculum for the elementary school. Math Expressions will […]

Audit News Graphic

Final Jackson County audit report highlights concerns with assessment procedures, other areas of county government

Jackson County needs to improve controls and procedures in its assessment department to ensure effective and efficient future reassessments, an audit released today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway says. Those were some of the recommendations in the final report of the Auditor’s independent review of Jackson County government finances. The county received a rating of “fair.” […]