The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Midwest rose 0.3 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The May movement was influenced by higher prices for shelter, energy, medical care services, and food. Overall, energy costs were up 1.3 percent, and prices for food turned up 0.5 […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation is increasing its efforts to slow the spread of the deadly deer disease called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) throughout Missouri by proposing new regulations that would change requirements for transporting deer carcasses and add carcass-disposal requirements for meat processors and taxidermists. If approved, the regulations would become effective Feb. 29, […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved 2019-2020 salary schedules, salaries, and stipends at a meeting Tuesday evening. Faculty salary schedules for regular and nursing will see a one percent increase in the base and allow movement of one vertical step, which is one year of service, with an average three percent total […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved health insurance matters at a special meeting this week. The district’s health insurance will be contracted with Insurance Management Services, and the district will offer four plans for employees. The plans include two health savings account options and two preferred provider organization options. The premiums range from $516.63 […]
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education agreed to pay for life and vision insurance for district employees at its meeting Monday evening. Administrator Misty Foster reports the board will pay for $15,000 worth of life insurance for each employee. Contracts were offered to all non-certified staff and a freeze was put on bus salaries. The […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Region 7 state highway safety offices are joining law enforcement nationwide for a Border to Border Click it or Ticket kickoff event starting Monday, May 20. The campaign seeks to increase seat belt use by coordinating highly visible seat belt law enforcement in the […]
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved salary increases at its meeting Wednesday evening. The base teacher salary was increased by two and three-quarters percent to $30,000 for a beginning teacher. Certified teachers will be able to move on the salary schedule based on experience and continuing education. A two and three-quarters percent salary […]
The Grundy County Extension Council retroactively approved a raise for Office Manager Vickie Pash at a meeting Monday evening. Extension staff member Meridith Berry reports it was a 50-cent raise. Berry reported the surety bond was increased from $10,000 to $40,000 with no increase of cost. She said it was to come into compliance with […]
The wet and cold start to this year’s corn planting season bodes poorly for yields, based on research from the University of Missouri Extension. But MU Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold says farmers should not switch from corn to other crops or early maturing corn varieties because of rain-delayed planting. There is still time to get […]
On August 20, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act which created a variety of programs, including Community Action Agencies, as part of his War on Poverty. He knew then as we know now, that the war against poverty must be won in the field, in every private home, in every public […]
The Trenton Park Board approved admission prices for the Trenton Family Aquatic Center as well as lifeguard wages at its meeting Wednesday evening. The daily admission prices will be the same as last year: free for children younger than two years old, $5 for anyone age two to 54, and $2.50 for seniors age 55 […]
The newly-organized Utility Committee for the city of Trenton is recommending a reduction in electric revenues this year for TMU. The three-member committee also voted last night to request a professional study of Trenton’s electric rates. All eight city council members attended meetings last evening at Trenton City Hall that also included the election of […]
Governor Mike Parson signed HB 14 to ensure that the state has the necessary funds to operate through Fiscal Year 2019. The supplemental appropriations bill allows for the continued current operations of Missouri state government. The Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed Fiscal Year 2019 supplemental HB 14 totals $468 million, including $189 million General […]
Missouri Soybean Hall of Fame 2019 inductee Gary Riedel says demand for soybean increased greatly since farmers approved checkoff dollars to fund research and promotion. Riedel served as head of Missouri Soybean Association in the early 1980s and was president of the American Soybean Association when the national soybean checkoff went into effect. This year, […]
The Jamesport City Council accepted an ordinance regarding employee salary at its meeting on Monday. The ordinance set the salary for utility personnel Ray Bontrager at $15 per hour and Trent Brewer at $14 per hour. It also set City Clerk Shelley Page’s salary at $12.50 per hour and the assistant city clerk’s at $7.50 […]
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education approved increasing the base pay of certified teachers at its meeting Tuesday evening. The base pay will increase $1,000 to $30,000 and a six percent raise was approved for all non-certified hourly employees as well as a five percent increase on extra duty contracts. The board approved a […]
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education voted to increase the certified base salary and increase pay for several other positions at a meeting Monday evening. The certified base salary was increased by $500 to $28,900. The office aid and part-time custodian position were increased to $8.60 per hour. The bookkeeper, head cook, head custodian, and […]
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved the district’s health insurance provider as well as salary increases at its meeting Monday evening. Ozarks Schools Benefits Association will be the health insurance carrier for the next school year. Insurance rates increased by eight point six two percent with Blue Cross Blue Shield to be the district’s […]
The next deadline for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding this year is May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments and contract extensions in the fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes to this critical […]
A surge yesterday in absentee voting at the county clerks’ office significantly increased the total for Grundy County in this election. A total of 40 absentee ballots were cast Monday between the office hours of 8:30 and 5 o’clock. That raises the total number of absentees cast to 183. Another dozen absentees have been requested […]
