Piglets in barn (Photo courtesy Diego San)

Smithfield withdraws request for CAFO permits environmentalists criticized as too lax

(Missouri Independent) – The global meat producer operating some of Missouri’s largest industrial hog operations has withdrawn requests to convert 10 of its permits to what environmental groups say would be more lenient ones. Smithfield Foods Inc., which has a history of environmental violations in Missouri, operates some of the largest concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in the […]

Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation

Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation meets with city and county entities discussing economic development

The Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation, Trenton City Council, Grundy County Commission, and North Central Missouri Development Alliance met on October 27, 2021. The groups discussed the state of economic development in the city and county. No action was taken at the meeting. Jackie Soptic with the IDC reports the groups talked about available land […]

Moderna and J&J COVID-19 booster shots now being administered to eligible Missourians

Following federal guidance issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has amended the state’s standing orders for Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine administration for those who are eligible for a booster shot. For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the […]

Audio: United Way is a diverse organization serving your community in ways you probably didn’t know about

The United Way of Grundy County supports 10 organizations in the area through fundraising. Spokesperson Edna Foster says the local United Way organizations share a view that the way to improve lives is by mobilizing the caring power of communities.     When monetary donations are given to the United Way of Grundy County, they […]

Bright Futures Website

Audio: Bright Futures Trenton assists over 1500 students in 2020-2021 school year

Bright Futures Trenton plans to start new initiatives and restart others. Co-coordinator Terri Critten highlighted the services and programs to come at the group’s Celebration and Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on October 22, 2021. She explained Bright Futures has received five requests for beds in the district so far this school year. The group usually posts […]

MoDOT Website

Missouri Department of Transportation accepting proposals on Shoal Creek bridge in Livingston County

The Missouri Department of Transportation is accepting proposals until the end of this year for the reuse of the Pony Truss, Warren alternating vertical bridge on Livingston County Route C over Shoal Creek, currently located 1.4 miles northwest of Dawn. The Shoal Creek Bridge is a 1933, rigid-connected, 178-foot long bridge with a 100-foot Warren […]

Sam Graves Sam Graves official photo

Graves introduces bill to help small communities cut through red tape at FEMA

Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) introduced the Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster (SPEED) Recovery Act to help small communities recover from disasters more quickly by allowing more small recovery projects to proceed under simplified procedures—giving communities more control and more tools to rebuild and recover. “By far, most disaster recovery projects in the United States […]

Jobs Report or unemployment

Missouri unemployment rate drops to 3.8% in September

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from August 2021 to September 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,500 jobs over the month, with job gains in service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in September 2021, down from 4.0 […]

Not Dated Samaritan's Purse Website 2021

Audio: “Operation Christmas Child” provides shoebox gifts to children; You can help locally through area churches

International relief organization Samaritan’s Purse provides partners around the world with shoebox gifts through Operation Christmas Child. The boxes can be filled with items and are given to children in need in countries around the world. National Collection Week is November 15th through 22nd. There are multiple area drop-off locations with varied hours. They include […]

Monarch Bioenergy Gas Plant on Smithfield Farm

Trenton Rotary Club hear presentation on Monarch Bioenergy Project at Smithfield

The Monarch Bioenergy Project was discussed at the Trenton Rotary Club meeting on October 14. The project is a joint venture between Smithfield Hog Production of Princeton and Roeslein Energy of Saint Louis. Smithfield General Manager Michael Rainwater and Roeslein Director of Communication Brandon Bulterz talked about the project, which allows methane gases generated by […]