Putnam County Health Department

Putnam County Health Department encourages county residents to register with Missouri’s Vaccine Navigator

The Putnam County Health Department encourages county residents who fall under Phase 1B Tier 3 to register with the state’s Vaccine Navigator. Phase 1B Tier 3 includes those who work for kindergarten through 12th-grade education, childcare, communications infrastructure, dams and energy sectors, food production and processing facilities, the government, and information technology. More information on the […]

Eaglepicher Technologies website (built mars rover batteries)

Made in Missouri: Batteries that power Mars rover, Perseverance, made in Joplin

The new Mars rover is powered by batteries manufactured by EaglePicher Technologies in Joplin, Missouri. There were 14 EaglePicher silver-zinc batteries on the Atlas V launch rocket. Two of the company’s thermal batteries powered the spacecraft during entry, descent, and landing stages, including igniting the pyrotechnics that opened parachutes. The rover’s main power system consists […]

Governor Mike Parson

Audio: Parson’s budget proposal would close half of housing units within Missouri women’s prison

The women’s prison in northeast Missouri’s Vandalia could have about half of its housing units permanently closed. Trevor Foley, with the state Department of Corrections, says Governor Mike Parson’s new state budget proposal would make the change. Gov. Parson’s proposed $34.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July includes about $802 million for […]

MoDOT Webpage

Audio: MoDOT director Patrick McKenna says 645 MoDOT employees currently have COVID

Missouri’s transportation director says more than 600 of his employees currently have the coronavirus. State Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna testified before the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight on Monday in Jefferson City, delivering MoDOT’s annual report. “As of this moment (Monday afternoon), we’re at about 645 cases of COVID within MoDOT, MoDOT alone,” McKenna […]

Firetruck news graphic

Chillicothe Fire Department responds to “exploding trailer” at Calhoun and Washington street

The Chillicothe Fire Department reports it responded to a call of a trailer exploding at the intersection of Calhoun and Washington street on Thursday afternoon, January 29th. Captain/Emergency Medical Technician Tracy Bradley says flames came from the rear axles of the trailer. A hand line was used to start extinguishing the fire, two trucks were positioned […]

Firetruck news graphic

Chillicothe Fire Department responds to Bryan Street

Chillicothe firefighters briefly were at 1312 Bryan late Saturday afternoon to extinguish smoldering insulation and wood in a bathroom wall. Firefighters arrived on the scene to smoke billowing from the area, taking approximately three gallons of water to extinguish the fire after the wall was opened. A thermal imaging camera was used to ensure the […]