State Representative Ben Baker, R-Neosho, wants to ban drag queen storytime at public libraries. About 300 people, including queens dressed in full drag and LGBT supporters, rallied Saturday at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City against Baker’s bill. Missouri Capitol Police provided security and crowd control. The event included many holding signs like “Knowledge is […]
Grundy County rural firefighters continuously battled grass fires Saturday from late morning until late afternoon. Grundy County Rural Fire Chief Kenny Roberts said that it included battling two to three fires at the same time. Four brush trucks, two pumpers, and a tanker truck were used during the approximate six-hour period. There were no injuries […]
Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Sergeant Jake Angle confirms Harrison County Sheriff Joshua Eckerson died Thursday night after sustaining a gunshot wound. The preliminary investigation indicates the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. The Patrol responded to a Bethany residence with the Bethany Police Department and Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and determined, upon arrival, that Eckerson was […]
One-hundred-thirty-five cases of influenza had been reported for this season to the Grundy County Health Department of Trenton as of Wednesday afternoon, March 4, 2020. Epidemiology Specialist Kelli Hillerman says 82 of those cases were Influenza A and 53 have been Influenza B. She calls February the health department’s “busiest month” when it comes to […]
A Kirbyville, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri. Brent A. Tribble, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 24 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 16, 2019, Tribble pleaded guilty to participating in a […]
The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce has announced annual award recipients to be honored at its annual banquet. Those being honored this year are M. G. Kennedy and Dan Wilford, have been named as Pillars of the Community, the Trenton Elks Lodge is the Organization of the Year, and Vintage Vines and Black Silo Winery […]
The Trenton man charged with felony first-degree assault or attempting to cause serious physical injury to Trenton Police Officer Jasmine Diab appeared in Division One of Livingston County Circuit Court on Tuesday for a pre-trial conference. Thirty-nine-year-old Jamey Aaron Griffin’s case was continued to May 5, 2020, for a pre-trial conference. A jury trial was […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced that his office has filed civil lawsuits against two contractors and criminal charges against another two contractors for allegedly defrauding multiple consumers. The four actions were filed Monday across the state. “Making repairs and renovations on your home can be a stressful, busy time, and selecting a reputable […]
A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing heroin to distribute and illegally possessing 10 firearms. William C. Merriweather, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 4, 2019, Merriweather pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a […]
Missouri’s health director testified Monday afternoon in Jefferson City that he’s hoping for the best and preparing for the worst regarding the coronavirus. State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams appeared before the newly-created Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Williams testifies there have been no confirmed […]
Two southwest Missouri men have been charged in federal court for kidnapping a Webb City, Missouri, woman and threatening to kill her and her family unless she recanted her testimony in another criminal case. Jeffrey Marsh, 32, of Oronogo, and Zaqouri Traves Archer, 31, of Joplin, were charged together in a criminal complaint filed in […]
A fire on Saturday night destroyed the Red Barn Wedding Venue & Event Center at 200 Iowa Boulevard just southeast of the Trenton city limits. Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District Chief Kenny Roberts said the structure was fully involved when firefighters received the call around midnight. Roberts said the origin and cause of the […]
The USDA says it’s relaxing some hemp requirements under its interim final rule. Under its new guidance, USDA will delay enforcement of labs to be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Also, hemp producers will not be required to use a DEA-registered “reverse distributor” or law enforcement to dispose of plants that are not compliant. USDA […]
A Kirksville man has been convicted of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Media outlets report an Adair County jury found Danny Welte guilty in the November 2016 death of his wife, Echo Welte. She was reportedly shot in the back of the head and died at the scene in the Kirksville Days Inn parking […]
An Aurora, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and distributing child pornography. Michael Steven Copfer, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, Feb. 24, to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Copfer to 15 years of supervised release […]
The state owes Missouri counties more than $32 million for housing and transporting inmates who end up going to state prison. Missouri’s tab has been a problem for years, but the amount has grown in recent years by a significant amount. In October 2017, Missourinet reported the state was about six months behind in paying its […]
A motion was granted for change of venue in Division One of Circuit Court this week for a Columbia woman taken into custody after an investigation of a shooting in Unionville in December. The Putnam County Circuit Clerk’s Office reports the venue for 22-year-old Victoria Hope Larsen was changed from Putnam County to Harrison County. […]
Additional charges and more defendants have been added to two federal indictments that now charge a total of 21 defendants for their roles in separate conspiracies to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Springfield, Missouri, area, resulting in the overdose deaths of at least two people. Most of the defendants were arrested in a coordinated […]
A retired Roman Catholic priest from southern Missouri is now charged with four sex-related felonies in southeast Missouri’s Stoddard County, involving alleged sexual abuse of minors. Missourinet’s Cape Girardeau television partner KFVS reports 76-year-old Frederick Joseph Lutz was arrested Wednesday morning in Springfield, where he now lives. Stoddard County Prosecutor Russell Oliver has charged Lutz […]
Precast concrete walls have arrived to form the main hall of the Trenton R-9 Performing Arts Center. Installation of the walls began on Monday when school was not in session in observance Presidents Day. Each wall and roof panel can weigh up to 81,000 pounds. Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels previously reported some classes […]
