Candidates Forum

Audio: Candidates for Trenton R-9 School Board answer questions from the public during forum on Wednesday

Three candidates for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education participated in a forum in the Rissler Elementary School Library on March 30th. Incumbent Dorothy Taul, Toby Havens, and Jeff Spencer are running for two three-year terms. The forum was relocated after the evacuation of Trenton High School, where the event was originally to be held. […]

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, […]

Mental Health First Aid Missouri Website

Audio: Free mental health first aid training is being offered to Missouri K-12 schools

State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven says students, teachers, and school staff are experiencing increased mental health challenges and stressors right now. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is teaming up with Mental Health First Aid Missouri to offer free mental health first aid training to K-12 schools across the state. Amy Bartels, with […]

North Central Missouri College Website V2 (NCMC)

North Central Missouri College “Pirate’s Ball” honors three on Saturday evening

The North Central Missouri College Foundation March 26th recognized three individuals who attended Trenton Junior College or North Central Missouri College. Distinguished alumni John Hunolt, Janet Lake, and Nick Sottler were honored at the Pirates Ball. NCMC Athletic Director Nate Gamet introduced each honoree. John Hunolt graduated from TJC in 1971. He worked in Ottumwa, […]

(Photo of Zachary Wayne Douglas courtesy Braymer School District website)

Teacher and coach at Braymer School District facing charges after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students

A teacher and coach for the Braymer C-4 School District is facing charges after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students. Twenty-nine-year-old Zachary Wayne Douglas of Utica has been charged with one count of felony sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, one count of felony first-degree sexual misconduct, and four counts of misdemeanor […]

Coyote standing in field (Photo Credit Mo Dept of Conservation)

Missouri Department of Conservation approves expansion of furbearer hunting, trapping seasons

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its March 25 open meeting on regulation changes that will extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. The extension comes in response to stakeholder requests to provide additional opportunities for the taking of multiple furbearer species. […]

Edward Neill

NCMC’s Edward Neill selected for Missouri Community College Association’s Student Leadership Award

Edward Neill, a criminal justice student at North Central Missouri College from Princeton, has been selected as NCMC’s representation for the Missouri Community College Association 2022 Student Leadership Award. Edward is pursuing two degrees, including an AA and an AAS in Criminal Justice.  He is involved in the Criminal Justice Club, Tutoring Center, and Student […]

Photo of border wall (Photo via Greg Bulla on Unsplash)

New process for asylum cases at the border unveiled by Biden administration

(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration announced Thursday steps to expedite asylum cases at the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to resolve a years-long backlog, but policy advocates worry the streamlined process could prevent asylum seekers from obtaining legal representation if their cases are denied.  “If somebody is not approved in the first instance, they’re […]

Gilman City School

Gilman City Board of Education accepts resignations, offers contracts and amends policy regarding retirement

Personnel actions announced by the Gilman City R-4 School District include resignations from high school physical education teacher Adam Clark and high school and elementary art Ryleigh Hightree. Non-tenured staff offered contracts for next year at Gilman City were Troy Malone, Melody Prescott, Kaitlyn Eoff, Keely Waddle, Hailey Francis, and Cheryl Witten. Offered contracts to […]

Hedrick Medical Center

Hedrick Medical Center Recognized as a Missouri AIM Star facility

Hedrick Medical Center has been recognized as a Missouri AIM Star by the Missouri Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. The recognition signifies the hospital’s completion of the organization’s Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Collaborative. Hypertension, known as high blood pressure, can have a devastating effect on a mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia, a condition signaled by high blood […]