Court News graphic

Court news for Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court on Thursday, April 14, 2022

Forty-third Circuit Court Judge Ryan Horsman of Chillicothe presided when several cases were processed Thursday in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court. Evidence was heard during a hearing and the judge found Josy Simmons of Trenton had violated the terms of her probation. The probation was revoked and a previous stay of execution was […]

Jobs Report

Missouri unemployment rate drops to 3.6% in March

Missouri non-farm payroll employment decreased slightly from February 2022 to March 2022, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 200 jobs over the month. Private industry employment increased by 600 jobs, while government employment declined by 800 jobs. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate […]

Court News graphic

Court news for the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court for April 12, 2022

Four defendants waived preliminary hearings Tuesday in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Each had their cases bound over to the Division One court docket on Thursday. Jennifer Dee Tunnell of Trenton is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance/synthetic cannabinoid as of March 13th. Domanic James Lee Ratkovich of Trenton is […]

Burglary Graphic

Third suspect arrested in connection with burglary, theft and property damage at business north of Trenton

A third person has been arrested following the law enforcement investigation of burglary, theft, and property damage incidents during February at a business north of Trenton. Forty-three-year-old Kenneth Walter Bonine of Trenton was arrested on Sunday on three felony counts including 2nd-degree burglary, stealing over $750, and 1st-degree property damage. Bond was set at $15,000 […]

Indictment graphic with gavel and file folder

Three separate indictments handed down in Harrison County involving murder, assault and sex crimes involving a child

Grand jury indictments were filed in Harrison County this week on three men. Forty-one-year-old Travis William Gilliland of Ridgeway has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Bail was set at $250,000 for all counts. A probable cause affidavit accused Gilliland of shooting and killing Lynn Trammell in March. Fifty-eight-year-old Stephen Marshall of […]

Hunter David Krawitz photo courtesy Grundy County Law Enforcement Center

Spickard man arrested in connection with theft from Northeast 20th Street

Another man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into and stealing items from a Grundy County business in February. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports that 21-year-old Hunter David Krawitz of Spickard was arrested on April 7th. Krawitz has been charged with the felonies of second-degree burglary, stealing $750 or more, and first-degree property damage. […]

Hands in Handcuffs Arrest graphic

Five arrested by Trenton and Grundy County authorities

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on April 6th of a Trenton man who allegedly broke in and stole items from a business in February. Two Spickard residents were also arrested on April 6th. Forty-eight-year-old Oliver Eugene Vandevender has been charged with the felonies of second-degree burglary, stealing $750 or more, and first-degree […]

Far West Missouri Stake Easter Cantata

Hoover Theater to host performance of Far West Missouri Stake Easter Cantata

The Far West Missouri Stake Easter Cantata will be performed on Saturday, April 16th at 2 pm in the Jewett-Norris Library Theater. The cantata chronicles the life, miracles, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Isaiah prophesied the Savior’s birth in the Old Testament. The Cantata begins with a narrative from Isaiah. The choir begins by singing […]

Rape Kit or DNA Testing

Missouri clearing backlog of untested, unreported rape kits, getting FBI matches on suspect DNA

In a major milestone, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced at a press conference earlier that the Attorney General’s Office has worked with 169 law enforcement agencies to clear their backlogs of untested, report sexual assault kits. In total, 3,298 untested, reported kits have been sent to the lab to be tested. Further, because of […]

Eric Greitens (Photo is screenshot from Eric Greitens YouTube channel)

Women within Missouri GOP speak out against Eric Greitens as party remains silent

(Missouri Independent) – In just two weeks since allegations of domestic violence surfaced, Eric Greitens’ campaign for the U.S. Senate has been under siege from fellow Republicans urging him to drop out of the race.  With one notable exception. The state party, which in recent years has denounced several candidates running under the GOP banner for […]

Planned Parenthood

Control of Title X federal family planning funds remains with Missouri nonprofit

(Missouri Independent) – Despite facing competition from the state health department, the nonprofit Missouri Family Health Council Inc. will continue to administer federal Title X family planning funds. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $250 million in Title X funding this week, including $5.3 million to Missouri. That money helps pay […]

Marijuana leaf

U.S. House votes to decriminalize marijuana in federal law

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. House passed legislation Friday to legalize marijuana nationally, but its future is much less clear in the Senate. The House voted 220-204 to approve the measure, which would fix the split between federal law and 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Three Republicans joined all but two Democrats in approving the measure. […]

Road Closed leading to bridge

Shoal Creek Bridge, northwest of Dawn closed until further notice

A section of Livingston County Route C is now closed at the Shoal Creek Bridge, northwest of Dawn. Despite repeated repair efforts, a recent inspection found the bridge has deteriorated beyond repair, prompting the Missouri Department of Transportation to close the bridge until it can be replaced. Until that time, motorists will need to use […]

Gas Pumps News Graphic (Photo via Envato Elements)

Biden OKs release of 1 million barrels of oil a day from reserve, calls for supply boost

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden called Thursday for U.S. energy companies to do their part in lowering gasoline prices by boosting supplies of oil, saying the industry should plow record profits back into increased production. Biden also said he would release 1 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve daily for the […]

Elections (Vote or Voting)

Missouri Secretary of state reports 506 candidates file for office in August Primary Election

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office announced that 506 candidates have filed for the August 2 primary election. The filing period closed yesterday, March 29, at 5 p.m. Candidates that filed on the first day, February 22, drew a random number to determine the order their names will appear on the ballot. The names of […]

Coyote standing in field (Photo Credit Mo Dept of Conservation)

Missouri Department of Conservation approves expansion of furbearer hunting, trapping seasons

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its March 25 open meeting on regulation changes that will extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. The extension comes in response to stakeholder requests to provide additional opportunities for the taking of multiple furbearer species. […]