The U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced USDA has invested $60.9 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 11,000 rural households, 81 farms, 73 businesses, 16 educational facilities, 12 critical community facilities, and two health care facilities in rural Missouri. […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved recommending the Friends of Gallatin financing a five-year note with the United States Department of Agriculture at two and three-quarters percent to purchase a vacuum trailer from Ditch Witch. The vote was taken after Public Works Director Mark Morey reported the lowest bid for the vacuum trailer came from […]
The Trenton City Council Monday night authorized the Howe Engineering Company to proceed with plans to have repairs made to a flood-damaged sanitary sewer force main under Muddy Creek. During the flooding of last May, the stream bank severely eroded and exposed the force main pipes. City Administrator Ron Urton said the piping is still […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen took action on various matters Monday evening. Certificate of deposit rates from Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri and BTC Bank were reviewed. The board approved cashing out the sales tax CD that matures January 27th for $65,199.06 and purchasing a 36-month CD at the highest interest rate between Farmers and […]
All ordinances on the agenda were approved during Monday nights’ meeting of the Trenton City Council. One ordinance begins the process that ultimately involves the re-development of land at the southwest corner of 28th street and Highway 65 as the future location for a new Orscheln Farm and Home store. A funding agreement was unanimously […]
A Camdenton, Missouri, man who was scheduled to go to trial on Tuesday, instead pleaded guilty to a $78,000 fraud scheme in which he used his victim’s credit cards without authorization. Ivan Joseph Stark, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, Jan. 6, to one count of bank fraud […]
Evergy Missouri West, Incorporated has made two filings with the Missouri Public Service Commission requesting to adjust the fuel adjustment charge on the bills of its electric customers. In the first filing, Evergy Missouri West proposes to adjust the charge to reflect fuel and purchased power costs for the period from June to November 2019. […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved several ordinances at a meeting this week. The ordinances regarded a salt storage lease agreement with Larry Johnson, an engineering agreement for professional services with Allstate Consultants for the Gallatin Wastewater Treatment Plant and collection system, and an operation and maintenance agreement with People Service, Incorporated for operation, maintenance, […]
Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District Chief Kenny Roberts reports a fire caused extensive damage to a house at the intersection of Routes O and Y Tuesday evening. The Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District provided mutual aid to the Spickard Fire Protection District at the house owned and lived in by Donnie and Nancy […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved the final draft of the 2018-2019 school audit on Tuesday evening. Bob Conrad with Conrad and Higgins said the district was “in good shape.” Information presented included that the district’s retirement is 84% funded, which Conrad called “excellent” and “healthy.” The district has more than 11 hundred students, […]
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an application filed by Evergy Missouri West, Incorporated to adjust the renewable energy standard rate adjustment mechanism charge. The charge currently appears as a separate item on customers’ monthly electric bills and is designed to recover costs associated with Missouri’s Renewable Energy Standard. A residential customer using 1,000 […]
Beginning today and running through next month, Trenton Municipal Utilities has announced tree trimming will be done in the various areas within the city of Trenton. Asplundh Tree Expert Company is trimming trees via a contract with the city of Trenton. The company will be working on trees and branches that are described as interfering […]
A Columbia, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana that involved another Columbia man who was murdered during a home invasion in which hundreds of pounds of marijuana in a rented U-Haul truck was stolen. Blake Jeffrey Johnson, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie […]
Frigid weather across the Midwest puts the elderly at special risk, said a University of Missouri Extension safety specialist. “Elderly in poorly heated homes or those of low income may unknowingly keep temperatures in a dangerous range in attempts to lower their heating bills,” said Karen Funkenbusch. As many as 25,000 older adults die each […]
The Chillicothe Fire Department responded to a call of smoke in the maintenance room at the Comfort Inn of Chillicothe on Friday. Battalion Chief Les Hinnen reports a maintenance person told firefighters smoke was coming from the maintenance room when he opened the door, and he directed the firefighters to that room. Hinnen says the […]
Farmer’s Electric Cooperative, based in Chillicothe, has been selected as one rural co-op in 21 states to receive USDA financing to build and improve rural electric infrastructure. According to a recent announcement from the agriculture department, Farmer’s Electric is to receive a $14,000,000 loan allowing it to connect 726 customers while building and improving 114 […]
Missouri’s Public Service Commission is reminding you that the state’s Cold Weather rule is now in effect. The rule aimed at helping customers with heat-related utility bills began November 1st and remains in effect through March 31st. It prohibits gas and electric utilities from disconnecting services when the temperature is predicted to drop […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen this week discussed three engineering proposals the City of Gallatin received for sewer plant clarifier repairs or replacement. Administrator Lance Rains has worked with all three firms in the past and was to schedule interviews with them. Aldermen Steve Evans and Dan Lockridge volunteered to attend the interviews. The city […]
Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri offers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help low-income households pay their utility bills. Executive Director Chris Small calls LIHEAP one of Community Action’s “hallmark programs,” and describes it as “not a handout, but a hand up to help people with energy assistance needs and free […]
Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri offers weatherization all year to provide cost-effective energy-efficient home improvements to low-income households, especially for the elderly, children, disabled, and others hit hard by high utility costs. The program aims to lower utility bills and improve comfort to ensure health and safety for homeowners and renters. It is […]
