Grundy R-5 School

Grundy R-5 Board of Education approves insurance quote, reviews grant and approves bus routes

The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education on December 14th approved an insurance quote for Missouri United School Insurance Council general liability coverage for the district. The cost for the standard policy is $37,804. A $4 million umbrella policy was also approved at $1,536. The board approved the Return to Instruction Plan and the test […]

School buses wait Tuesday outside Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in Columbia (Photo Credit Rudi Keller Missouri Independent

Confusion around COVID ruling swirls as two Missouri school districts end semester early

(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]

SafeDefend Website

Trenton R-9 Board of Education hears presentation on implementation of SafeDefend system

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]

Indictment graphic with gavel and file folder

Missouri man who contacted hundreds of children through a teen dating website indicted on child sexual exploitation charges

A Missouri, man who contacted hundreds of children through a teen dating website was indicted by a federal grand jury on child sexual exploitation charges. Kody Ryan Kelso, 30, Springfield, was charged in a five-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment that was […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri Attorney General issues statement on St. Louis County rescinding their “Illegal mask mandate”

Counsel for County Executive, Sam Page, and St. Louis County announced at a court hearing that the defendants are “rescinding” their illegal mask mandate in St. Louis County. “My Office has been on the forefront of fighting mask mandates across the state, and we have vigorously litigated against St. Louis County’s illegal mask mandates. Attorneys […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Two additional candidates file for a seat on the Trenton R-9 Board of Education

Two additional candidates have filed for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education election on April 5th. Joshua Shuler filed for a three-year term, and incumbent Jason Hostetler filed for the one-year position. Incumbent Dorothy Taul, Jeffrey Spencer, and Toby Havens previously filed for three-year terms. Two three-year board positions and a one-year term are open. […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Trenton man facing charges of harassment, stalking and assault

Charges have been filed against A Trenton man following an investigation last week by the Trenton Police Department. Twenty-four-year-old Isaac James Wattenbarger faces three felony counts: 1st-degree harassment, 1st-degree stalking, and 2nd-degree assault. Bond is $35,000 cash with Wattenbarger to appear December 14th in Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Wattenbarger is accused of causing […]

Senator Dan Hegeman

State Senator Dan Hegeman files Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform

State Senator Dan Hegeman has pre-filed Senate Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform. While it contains some familiar language, Hegeman said it also embraces new technology, with what he called “voter safety” in mind. The legislative proposal would allow a local election official to oversee ballot-counting machines and ensure these machines are not connected […]

Evergy Website

Evergy files request with Missouri Public Service Commission for increase in monthly electric bills

Evergy Missouri West and Evergy Metro have filed applications with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to adjust the demand side mechanism charge on customer bills. The charge appears as a separate line item on customer bills and allows Evergy to recover demand-side management program costs and incentives under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act. […]