Farm Scene news graphic

Know youth labor laws before hiring summer staff

As the school year ends, you can expect young people to start applying for summer jobs. For agricultural employers, these young workers can provide extra capacity at a time when farms and agribusinesses often have more work than they have employees to get that work done. “Labor is tight as the economy picks up steam […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Audio: Graduation ceremony held for 92 Trenton High School seniors, including 15 honor graduates

There were 15 honor graduates at Trenton High School for the 2020-2021 school year, including Valedictorian Carly Spencer and Salutatorian Hannah Stark. The honor graduates were recognized by Trenton High School Principal Kasey Bailey when the Trenton R-9 School District held graduation Saturday night, May 8, 2021, for 92 students.     Bailey also recognized […]

Graduation with cap and rolled up diploma

Two area schools to hold graduation on Sunday, May 9

Two area schools will hold graduation ceremonies on May 9, 2021. Thirteen seniors will graduate from North Mercer R-3 in the new gym on May 9th at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Principal Wes Guilkey will speak. Two seniors will graduate from Breckenridge R-1 in the gym at 3 o’clock. Teachers Kadee Estenbaum and Mindy […]

Travis McMichael William Bryan and Gregory McMichael Final

Three from Georgia charged with hate crimes and attempted kidnapping in the death of Ahmaud Arbery

Three Georgia men were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia and charged with hate crimes and the attempted kidnapping of Ahmaud Arbery. The indictment also charges two of the men with separate counts of using firearms during that crime of violence. Travis McMichael, 35; Travis’s father, Gregory McMichael, 65; […]

Newtown-Harris School Website

Newtown-Harris Board of Education take action on personnel matters; set last day of school and graduation

The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education took action on Wednesday, April 14 on several personnel matters. Special Education and Process Coordinator Jerry Kiger’s resignation was accepted. Josie Hinkle was hired as the kindergarten through 12th-grade special education teacher and process coordinator. All classified staff members were rehired with the board approving an increase in hourly pay for […]

Grundy R-5 School

Grundy R-5 Board of Education approves salary increases; approves project list and purchases using emergency relief funds

The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education April 14th approved increases in pay for 2021-2022. Six hundred dollars was added to the base, which raises the base to $31,200. The increase for certified and non-certified staff is 2.4%. The high school principal base salary was raised to $65,600, elementary school principal to $66,400, and superintendent […]

Fraud

Man pleads guilty to $244 million ghost-cattle scam

A Washington man pleaded guilty to defrauding Tyson Foods Inc. (Tyson) and another company (Company 1) out of more than $244 million by charging them under various agreements for the purported costs of purchasing and feeding hundreds of thousands of cattle that did not actually exist. According to court documents, Cody Allen Easterday, 49, of […]

Bomb Threat

Woman threatens to bomb prep school, kill officials and students because school published same-sex wedding announcements

The Justice Department announced today that Sonia Tabizada, 36, of San Jacinto, California, was sentenced to 15 months and 13 days for intentionally obstructing persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs by threatening to bomb Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C.  In May 2019, school officials announced that Visitation Prep, […]