A dual national of the United States and Ireland was sentenced to 324 months, or 27 years, in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for conspiracy to advertise child pornography. Eric Eoin Marques, 36, of Dublin, Ireland, pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2020, to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, between […]
Tag: extra
U.S. House Democrats add more mass transit, high-speed rail into infrastructure bill
(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. House transportation panel early Wednesday passed along party lines the panel’s $60 billion slice of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget plan, adding nearly $20 billion for a new transit program and high-speed rail development in the states. Chairman Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon had considered these and other items underfunded in […]
Trenton R-9 School Board hires several during executive session
Actions taken during the closed session of the Trenton R-9 School Board include the hiring of Michelle Hixson of Trenton as the districts’ financial secretary, hired as para-professionals were Carly Carlton, Kaylynn George, and Jane Cooksey. Extra Duty assignments include Emma Novak and Amber Sprague as the Rissler School Yearbook Sponsors and Chris Parks as […]
Missouri Republicans vow to push again for voter ID law
(Missouri Independent) – With several months to go before state lawmakers return for the 2022 legislative session, Republicans are promising to once again push to require photo identification to vote. Committees in the Missouri House and Senate held hearings Tuesday dominated by discussions of requiring a government-issued ID for both in-person and absentee voting. Secretary […]
Newtown-Harris Board of Education approved extracurricular hires
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved extracurricular hires on September 13. T The new hires are Jessica Parsons for Scholar Bowl, Megan Brown for the Honor Society, and Andrea Luper for the yearbook. The board approved after-school staff contracts and the substitute teacher list. The tuition rate was set at $13,500 per year. The […]
North Central Missouri College Upward Bound Program now accepting applications for new participants
The Upward Bound Program based at North Central Missouri College in Trenton will be recruiting and accepting participant applications. High school students in the Chillicothe, Gallatin, Grundy R-V of Galt, Penney of Hamilton, Trenton, and Tri-County of Jamesport school districts are invited to submit their applications by working through their high school counselor. Students who […]
Vehicle break-ins prompt reminder from Bethany Police Department
The Bethany Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance as it conducts investigations regarding motor vehicle break-ins from the weekend. The Bethany Police Department, via Facebook, says the department received a large number of calls regarding vehicles being broken into. Vehicle owners are reminded to lock their vehicles when unable to secure the vehicle inside […]
North Mercer Board of Education approve boys and girls golf; adopt payment policy for employees on COVID quarantine days
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education September 8th determined the district will pay employees for all COVID-19 quarantine days that are linked to contact tracing through the school. Superintendent Dan Owens reports the district will also pay for 10 days of quarantine for all other reasons. An amendment was approved to the supplemental salary […]
In court, drug middlemen fight to limit pharmacies insured patients can use
(Missouri Independent) – In the first test of a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, drug middlemen last week argued that federal law gives them a right to limit which pharmacies patients with health insurance can use — or at least make it more expensive if patients get their medicine at a shop that isn’t preferred […]
Audio: Congressman says every agribusiness in Missouri is dealing with worker shortages
Southeast Missouri Congressman Jason Smith says every agribusiness in the state is dealing with worker shortages. Smith, a Republican from Salem, says the biggest problem with the worker shortage is the government is paying more people to stay home than it is for them to get a job. Federal pandemic unemployment insurance ended […]
Audio: Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Poker Run set for Saturday, September 11
A poker run and a 50-50 raffle are among events Saturday, September 11, 2021, during a fundraiser for the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce. The 180-mile poker run is open to motorcycles plus what promoters call classic, custom, and other fund vehicles. Stops are planned at five locations. Chuck Jones discusses the route, with stops […]
Former Missouri contractor pleads guilty to seven felony counts of deceptive business practices
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Christopher Meagher, proprietor of “Metro Restoration,” has pled guilty to seven counts of felony deceptive business practices in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties. Through Metro Restoration, Meagher transacted with numerous consumers in the Kansas City area to provide home repair and renovation services. Upon taking consumers’ upfront payments, […]
Kari Smith named Wright Memorial Hospital’s Employee of the Quarter
Kari Smith, a registered nurse II at Wright Memorial Hospital, was honored as the hospital’s Employee of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2021. Steve Schieber, CEO, presented the award to Smith at a ceremony held in her honor on August 26. The Employee of the Quarter Award recognizes an employee who provides exemplary […]
Missouri man sentenced prison for tax evasion
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for tax evasion. Duane Dixon, 59, of Sedalia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to three years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Dixon to pay $639,733 in restitution to the IRS. On Feb. 2, 2021, Dixon pleaded guilty to one […]
Five Points Festival slated for August 28 in Trenton
Multiple activities are planned in Downtown Trenton on August 28, 2021, as part of the Five Points Festival. The Throwdown for Downtown Cornhole Tournament will be held on Main Street that morning, with warm-ups at 10 o’clock and the first toss at 11 o’clock. Cash prizes will be awarded for the first through third-place teams […]
As Missouri students head back to class, state launches new COVID testing program
(Missouri Independent) – Monday marks the first day of school for thousands of students across Missouri and it’s also when schools can begin enrolling in a new federally-funded testing program aimed at helping facilitate a safe return to the classroom. The Department of Health and Senior Services announced Friday evening that Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc., a […]
Audio: Missouri Public Defender System on track to have largest staffing increase since 1989
The state Public Defender System is on track to have its largest staffing increase since 1989. The Missouri Legislature passed a state budget this year that includes hiring a total of 53 new public defenders statewide. The Missouri Public Defender System has already filled 32 of those positions. The System has been understaffed […]
Masks optional in school buildings for students and staff, mandatory on school buses in Grundy R-5 School District
The Grundy R-5 Board of Education has approved a resolution for COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Masks will be optional in all school buildings for students and staff. Masks will be required for students and the driver to ride on school buses. Other strategies include social distancing when possible, extra cleaning of all surfaces, and assigned seats […]
Audio: Temporary health workers commanding as much as $200 per hour in Missouri
Temporary health care workers are in high demand across Missouri and are commanding quite the price for their services. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports hospitals across the state need the extra staff to deal with surges of COVID-19 patients. That’s led to hourly rates that have risen to $200 an hour in some […]