Mentally disabled woman and nurse or caretaker wearing a surgica

Missouri launches apprenticeships for direct-support professionals

Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental disabilities. The Show-Me State, like many others, is facing a serious direct-care workforce shortage. To answer the need, the program Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Duane Shumate, the state coordinator […]

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 The probation was revoked and a previous stay of execution was […]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 […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton R-9 Board of Education address full agenda at meeting on Tuesday

At the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting on April 12th, Superintendent Mike Stegman discussed the school district’s bomb threat on March 30th. He said a threat came into the Trenton Police Department regarding a suspicious package at the high school, and the police informed the school district. Trenton Middle School and High School were […]

North Mercer School District Website V1

North Mercer Board of Education reorganizes after election, offers contracts to staff

The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education offered contracts for a principal, a Communication Arts teacher, and non-certified staff members April 11th. Wade Hall was offered the contract for the district’s preschool through 12th grade principal. He is currently the Jamesport High School/Middle School principal. Cassie Moore was offered the contract for seventh through 12th […]

North Mercer School District Website V1

North Mercer Board of Education to address personnel, pay schedule and awards at meeting on April 11

The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education will consider approval of resignations next week. The board will meet on April 11, 2022, at 6 pm. Other items on the agenda include a plaque presentation, certification of election results, the oath of office, and an election of officers. There is also to be a discussion of […]

Budget Graphic

Record Missouri surplus likely to grow under $46.5B House budget plan

(Missouri Independent) – The biggest state budget in Missouri history could also leave the biggest surplus in state history when the next fiscal year ends. The Missouri House on Thursday sent 15 appropriation bills to the state Senate, one supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year, and 14 spending $46.5 billion in the coming year. The […]

Buddy Hannaford Final

Obituary: Buddy “Edward Gaines” Hannaford

Buddy “Edward Gaines” Hannaford, age 78, died peacefully after a brief illness April 5, 2022, in The Living Center in Marshall, Missouri. A Celebration of Buddy’s Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022, at First Christian Church, 130 N. Jefferson Ave., Marshall, MO  65340.  Rev. Randal DeMasters will officiate.  Burial will […]

Family and friends developmentally disabled

Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled to meet next week

The Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled will discuss background check information next week. A meeting will be at the east entrance of the Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton on April 11th at 6:30 pm. Other items on the agenda include policy and procedure, a transportation report, The Gifted Disability Team of Grundy County, […]

Budget news graphic

Missouri House signs off on $46.2 billion budget, leaves most of huge state surplus untouched

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Tuesday to a package of budget bills spending $46.2 billion, with Republicans defeating repeated Democratic efforts to tap the state’s record surplus. The budget includes boosts to higher education funding, both for institutions and scholarships, as well as funding one of last year’s most controversial issues, Medicaid […]

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson photo courtesy Wikipedia

Jackson wins 3 GOP votes as U.S. Senate advances her Supreme Court nomination

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Senate advanced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic Supreme Court nomination in a 53-47 procedural vote Monday evening, hours after the Judiciary Committee deadlocked along party lines. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah voted with all 50 Senate Democrats on the procedural […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Missouri, Arizona and Louisiana sue Biden administration for rescinding Title 42

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry are suing the Biden Administration for rescinding the public health policy, Title 42, during the worst border crisis in decades. The revocation will result in an unprecedented crisis at the United States southern border that will have a devastating […]

Photo of Trenton High School building with the sign "Trenton High School" or THS

Trenton High School music students take top honors at competition in St. Joseph

Numerous music students at Trenton High School have qualified for state competition following the district events Saturday in St. Joseph. The Trenton High School vocal music department qualified seven entries for the state music contest on April 29th in Columbia. The Trenton High School instrumental music department qualified six entries and they have the opportunity […]

USDA Sign

USDA offers CLEAR30 option for producers to enroll land with expiring conservation contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative (CLEAR30) — a nationwide opportunity for certain landowners and agricultural producers currently implementing water quality practices through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to enroll in 30-year contracts, extending the lifespan and strengthening the benefits of important water quality […]