A former Tina-Avalon physical education teacher has been charged in Carroll County after an alleged sexual assault in late March or early April 2020 involving a student. Twenty-four-year-old Preston McMullen faces felony charges of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, second-degree statutory rape, and sexual contact with a student. His bond is $250,000 cash or licensed […]
Jenna Hasekamp, a member of the Audrain County F&L Hustlers 4-H Club, is helping to pioneer Missouri community College teams’ participation at livestock judging contests. This fall, Hasekamp will join North Central Missouri College’s livestock judging team, which started last fall and is currently the only Missouri community college team competing in livestock judging. “Jenna […]
(Missouri Independent) – As bills expanding charter schools and creating new scholarship accounts for private school tuition make their way through the process, one piece of legislation is trying to give students more options within the public schools that already exist. House Bill 543, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, would establish the “Public School […]
(Missouri Independent) – Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot will remain paused for at least a week after a federal vaccine advisory panel said Wednesday that it had too little data on a rare but serious blood-clotting condition reported in at least six women. That means states and federally run vaccine sites will […]
Just two days after being grilled again by state lawmakers in both parties, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) is suspending all collection of unemployment overpayments, at this time. Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight Chairman State Rep. Jered Taylor (R-Nixa) made the announcement on the House floor Thursday in Jefferson City, […]
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 […]
The Trenton High School Band and Choir will perform for the grand opening of the new performing arts center on April 17th. There will be two performances that evening, one at 6 o’clock and one at 7:30. The band will feature guest director Buddy Hannaford as well as a surprise guest tuba player. The choir […]
Three students were featured at the North Central Missouri College Foundation Scholarship Reception on April 14th. The reception recognized recipients of Foundation and institutional scholarships. The three student speakers shared their background and what their scholarships meant to them. Calvin Basham of Cowgill received the Paul and Betty Preston Steele Agriculture Scholarship. He is pursuing […]
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have introduced a bill to remove the antitrust exemption that has been in place for Major League Baseball to subject them to existing law. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), with over 20 cosponsors, has produced companion legislation in the House. “MLB […]
Missouri non-farm payroll employment recovered strongly in March 2021 after a loss in February, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 15,400 jobs over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in March 2021, down from 4.3 percent in […]
A jury trial has been scheduled in Daviess County for the wife of former Chillicothe Police Chief Richard Knouse. A jury trial is set for October 7th and 8th for 53-year-old Laieloni Kay Knouse of Chillicothe. A pre-trial conference is set for September 2nd. The case was transferred from Livingston County in September. Laieloni Knouse […]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration on April 13, 2021, halted the use of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine that has been given to 6.8 million people in the U.S. The pause is due to reports of blood clotting in six people who have received the […]
The state Board of Education has signed off on permanently allowing an accelerated substitute teacher training option. Aspiring substitutes will be able to fulfill the standard 60 college credit hours or they can complete an online training program of at least 20 hours. Last fall, the board temporarily allowed the online course to help close […]
The Trenton Municipal Utilities Water Treatment Plant will begin using free chlorine, or a free chlorine conversion, in its water system on April 16th in an effort to improve water quality. This entails feeding free chlorine as the disinfectant leaving the water treatment plant instead of chloramines. It will occur for three to six weeks. […]
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education on April 13th approved increasing pay. Non-certified staff wages will go up by 50 cents per hour, and extra-duty contracts will increase by four percent. Base pay for all certified staff will increase by $1,000, which will make the base pay $31,500 for the 2021-2022 school year. The […]
Missouri State Fair exhibitors interested in competing at the State Fair this year can now access the Premium Guide, a comprehensive tool for State Fair exhibitors, on the Fair’s website, mostatefair.com. The Premium Guide includes important rules and regulations for the Fair’s numerous livestock shows and competitive exhibits. Exhibitors are encouraged to explore the Premium […]
Results have been released from the first of three Saturdays for Missouri FFA members competing in career development events at the state level. Chapters at Trenton, Grundy R-5, Gallatin, and Winston did well when contests were held on April 10. Trenton took third place in meats judging, trailing the first place meats team from Van-Far […]
Several resignations were accepted and new employees approved following an executive session last night for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education. Names were released this morning by the school district office. Resignations from Rissler school positions are by Kelsey Donohue, Amy King, Hannah Ewbank, and Susan Gott. Resignations involving Trenton Middle School are from Lendy […]
The U.S. Department of Education says Missouri’s K-12 schools will get nearly two billion total dollars in federal aid from the latest coronavirus plan. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokeswoman Mallory McGowin says health experts suggest spending some of the virus funding on the basics instead of the pricey items and services. […]
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to a wide-ranging gun bill. The plan would allow concealed guns in places of worship. Current law requires churchgoers to first get the okay from church leaders before they bring them on site. The legislation would also let people bring guns on public transportation, […]
