Prison Sentence

Missouri woman sentenced 8 years in prison for meth trafficking

A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking after she received a large package of methamphetamine shipped from California to distribute locally. Cassiopeia Marie Blaise, 37, Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to eight years in federal prison without parole. Blaise pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2021, to […]

Meth with police banner

Missouri man pleads guilty to $10 million conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilos of meth

A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a nearly $10 million conspiracy to distribute almost 1,000 kilograms (2204 pounds) of methamphetamine. Michael B. Becher, 40, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Sept. 1, 2018, to Nov. 5, 2019. […]

City of Chillicothe Website

Chillicothe City Auditor resigns, applications being taken to fill position

Chillicothe City Auditor Hannah Fletcher has submitted her resignation effective the first week of June. City Clerk Roze Frampton reports the city is currently seeking applications to fill the position. The full-time position is to be appointed until the position is filled by a vote of the people in April 2023. The candidate must be […]

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 […]

John Boyd photo courtesy of John Boyd Junior

Democrats file suit to keep two-time Republican candidate off ballot for Missouri House seat

(Missouri Independent) – Democrats want to kick a candidate off the ballot in the race for a Kansas City-area Missouri House seat, claiming the Grandview man who filed in the 36th District contest is actually “a longtime Republican and vocal opponent of the Democratic Party.” John D. Boyd Jr. filed for the seat on Feb. […]

Moberly Park Swimming Pool

Trenton Park Board approves pay scale for Trenton Aquatic Center employees

The Trenton Park Board approved pool staff pay on April 11th. The pay was set at $10 per hour for first-year certified lifeguards. That is $1 per hour more than last year. Employees returning for their second year, including those who were non-certified staff members last year, will receive $10.25 per hour. Returning employees will […]

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 […]

City of Trenton Website

Agenda for Trenton City Council meeting includes ordinances and discussion of driving all-terrain vehicles after dark

Three ordinances and one resolution will be considered, and newly elected officials will be sworn in at the Trenton City Council meeting next week. The council will meet at the Trenton City Hall on April 11th at 7 pm. The meeting will also be available on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/83458330081. One ordinance would enact a new […]

Prison Sentence

Former pain management clinic owner sentenced to over 16 years in prison for unlawful opioid distribution

A Florida man was sentenced today in the Southern District of Florida to 200 months in prison for illegally distributing opioids at his pain management clinic in Miami, Florida. According to court documents, Habib Geagea Palacios, 40, of Miami, owned General Care Center Inc., a cash-only pain management clinic in Miami. At General Care, Palacios […]

Eric Greitens (Photo is screenshot from Eric Greitens YouTube channel)

Women within Missouri GOP speak out against Eric Greitens as party remains silent

(Missouri Independent) – In just two weeks since allegations of domestic violence surfaced, Eric Greitens’ campaign for the U.S. Senate has been under siege from fellow Republicans urging him to drop out of the race.  With one notable exception. The state party, which in recent years has denounced several candidates running under the GOP banner for […]

Indictment graphic with gavel and file folder

Grand Jury indicts former CEO of major construction company in Missouri in Minority Business Enterprise fraud scheme

A federal grand jury indicted Brian Kowert, Sr., former Chief Operating Officer of the HBD Construction Company, on March 30, 2022, for five counts of wire fraud relative to his falsifying of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation in several construction and redevelopment projects from 2014 through 2022. Kowert, Sr. was an owner, executive vice president, […]

Meth news graphic

Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking 100 pounds of meth and illegal firearms

A Missouri man who sold an assault rifle and methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms. Jacob Michael Richardson, 34, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, March 29, […]

Phone Scam

Trenton Police Department reports scammers contacting residents using a variety of scam techniques to gain personal information

The Trenton Police Department reports residents receiving scam telephone calls from what appears to be a local telephone number or a telephone number from a business; however, these are telephone scammers spoofing telephone numbers to gain personal information to use in an identity theft scheme. Authorities are encouraging residents to be vigilant in keeping their […]

Gallatin City Hall

Gallatin Board of Aldermen receive information on painting interior of water tower and get update on water meters

The Gallatin Board of Aldermen on March 28th approved a bid for ordering six electric transformers. The bid from T and R Electric was for $6,060 and the vote came after Public Works Director Mark Morey requested to order the transformers to have on hand as backups. The delivery time will extend into the 2023 […]