Marijuana leaf

Audio: Missouri medical marijuana-related businesses recover money seized by government

A Missouri police chief once called asset forfeiture “pennies from heaven” It’s a rule that allows the government to seize the property of a person who has not even been charged with a crime.  That includes an armored car carrying money from legal Missouri businesses.     The federal government has agreed to return more […]

White-tailed Deer Fawn

Missouri Department of Conservation urges the public to leave wildlife wild

As many head outside to enjoy the longer days and warmer weather this spring, they may come across a variety of newborn animals. It may appear young creatures are abandoned, but that’s usually not the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians that interfering with wildlife does more harm than good. MDC State Wildlife […]

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 […]

Count Basie Orchestra

Count Basie Orchestra to play at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre on April 24

The legendary Count Basie Orchestra comes to the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre for a show on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Featuring members personally chosen by him, more than 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and excellence of jazz. […]

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 […]

Judge gavel and money on brown wooden table. Many hundred dollar bills under judge malice on court desk. Judgement and bribe

Missouri Attorney General obtains judgment and full restitution for victims in “Lantern Fest” lawsuit

Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the entry of a consent judgment against Happy Fun Events, LLC, Owen Spencer Hunn, and Martha Hunn. The Hunns owned Happy Fun Events, a Utah-based company, that put on “Lantern Fest” events around the country. Happy Fun Events had scheduled an event in Jefferson County for November 2018 that it […]

Fentanyl Graphic

Four Missouri men indicted for a fentanyl conspiracy that resulted in overdose death

Four Missouri-area men have been indicted for their role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in an overdose death. Dmitry Cattell, 22, Joseph Burgess, 21, and Jordon Simmer, 20, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Kelton Hill, 22, of Parkville, Mo., were charged in a nine-count indictment returned under seal by a federal […]

Audubon Society Website

Ivan Miller to give presentation on Purple Martins at Grand River Audubon Society

Jamesport resident Ivan Ray Miller presents the program at the April 13th meeting of the Grand River Audubon Society. Social time begins at 6:30 with the meeting at 7 pm at the Mildred Litton community room of the Litton Agri Center northwest of Chillicothe. Miller has numerous Purple Martin nesting houses on his property from […]

Prison Inmate or Prison Worker

Audio: Bill to allow offenders to work for reduced prison sentences advances to Missouri Senate

An effort aimed at giving convicts a second chance and lessening the chance of a return to prison is headed to the Missouri Senate.     That bill would create the Earning Safe Reentry Through Work Act.  The bipartisan measure would offer some Class E felons to work for time off their sentences. Representative Wes […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Testing news graphic

Missouri Supreme Court declines to immediately hear appeal of COVID ruling

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request by five counties and health departments to quickly hear arguments and review a case that they say “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. The decision means an appeal of a Cole County judge’s November ruling will have to first go through […]

Election Results

Election results in the Municipal Election for Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Three individuals were elected to the Trenton R-9 Board of Education, three for the Grundy County Health Department board, and three members of the Trenton City Council won re-election with a former councilman returning to a council seat. Each of the winners led from start to finish, meaning from the absentee ballots through the final […]

Rape Kit or DNA Testing

Missouri clearing backlog of untested, unreported rape kits, getting FBI matches on suspect DNA

In a major milestone, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced at a press conference earlier that the Attorney General’s Office has worked with 169 law enforcement agencies to clear their backlogs of untested, report sexual assault kits. In total, 3,298 untested, reported kits have been sent to the lab to be tested. Further, because of […]

Scam News Graphic

Promissory note scam allegedly defrauds investors in 35 States

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division is seeking a final order from Commissioner David Minnick for $200,000 in civil penalties and other remedies against California-based Until Tomorrow Drivetrains, LLC and Dennis R. Di Ricco. Between December 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, Until Tomorrow Drivetrains, LLC and Di Ricco, with the assistance of an […]

Man with fingers through fence also immigration or immigrants

Biden administration to halt pandemic policy blocking migrants who claim asylum

(Missouri Independent) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that the government will terminate a Trump-era policy that prevented migrants from claiming asylum during a health crisis, including the coronavirus pandemic. The policy will end on May 23, the CDC wrote in its notice. “There is no longer a serious danger that the […]

Municipal Elections Graphic

Grundy County Clerk reports 63 absentee ballots returned, 26 requested for the April 5th Municipal Election

Sixty-three absentee ballots for the April 5 Municipal Election had been returned to the Grundy County Clerk’s Office as of 10:30 am Friday, April 1st. Another 26 ballots had been requested but not yet returned to the county clerk’s office. The Grundy County Clerk’s Office at the courthouse in Trenton will be open on April […]