(Missouri Independent) – Smithfield Foods agreed this week to pay the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration $13,494 to settle a citation for failing to protect its meatpacking employees in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from exposure to the coronavirus last year, but the company didn’t admit it did anything wrong. As such, the settlement can’t […]
Tag: this week
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 6 additional arrests over the weekend
Highway Patrol troopers made additional arrests this weekend in several area counties. Early Sunday morning, 47-year-old Cheryl Branch of Milan was arrested in Sullivan county for allegedly driving while intoxicated. 62-year-old Kerry Cochenour of Milan was arrested early Saturday morning for alleged felony driving while intoxicated as well as failure to maintain a vehicle to […]
Hunters harvest 89,861 deer during opening weekend of firearms season
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 89,861 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season on November 13 and 14. Of the 89,861 deer harvested, 54,415 were antlered bucks, 7,187 were button bucks, and 28,259 were does. Top harvest counties for […]
Billions headed to Missouri transportation fund from gas tax hike, infrastructure bill
(Missouri Independent) – With $6.5 billion on the way from the federal infrastructure bill and a newly increased gas tax, Missouri is ready to take a big bite out of $4.5 billion in unfunded highway needs, Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said this week. But that doesn’t mean the state is ready to tackle […]
Authorities conducting investigation after human remains found in Union Star; Two arrested on unrelated charges
Northwest Missouri authorities are investigating a possible homicide after discovering a body this week at Union Star in DeKalb County. Sheriff Kasey Keesaman reports his office received information Monday from an outside agency regarding a death that occurred on South 7th Street in Union Star. Since that lead, Keesaman said law enforcement has executed several […]
Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”
(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter. Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]
Experts say flu shots, COVID-19 Boosters go hand-in-hand
People are being urged to check with their healthcare providers about getting a flu shot, to help protect them from an illness during the holiday season. Seasonal flu activity dropped dramatically last year at the height of the pandemic, but as life gets back to near normal, researchers are also expecting a return of influenza. The Centers […]
Agriculture Secretary: Biden Administration ‘protecting animal agriculture’ with methane reduction plans
(Missouri Independent) – Reducing the number of livestock will not be a priority for the Biden administration as it seeks to drastically cut methane emissions to stem climate change, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “climate-smart” initiatives will focus on new types of animal feed and manure […]
Recent rainfall brings welcome relief to areas with drought conditions in north Missouri
The U. S. Drought Monitor Map for this week indicates hardly any abnormally dry conditions remain in the Green Hills Area. The map was released the morning of November 4 and is based on conditions as of November 2. For the Green Hills, there are only abnormally dry conditions in the northeastern part of Linn County. […]
2021 Farm Service Agency county committee elections underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs […]
Bridge on Highway 136 west of Princeton now narrowed to one lane
The Weldon Fork of the Grand River Bridge on U.S. Route 136, just west of Princeton, is now narrowed to one lane for repair. Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation had planned to complete repairs at the bridge this week but found more work was needed than originally anticipated. The single-lane closure will remain […]
Audio: “Falling back” should remind Missourians of safety says Missouri State Fire Marshal
Three out of five home fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. As we approach Daylight Saving Time this weekend, Missouri’s state fire marshal is reminding us to protect ourselves and our families. State Fire Marshal Tim Bean is asking that you use the clock-changing occasion to make sure you have working smoke […]
Date change announced for chili supper at Rissler Elementary School
A different date has been announced for the Trenton R-9 Parent/Teachers Organization chili supper this week. Because the Trenton Bulldogs play a high school district football game in Maryville on Friday night, November 5, the chili supper has been changed to Thursday, November 4, 2021. Serving on chili and cinnamon rolls at Rissler Elementary School […]
Chillicothe Area Chamber Holiday Parade theme for 2021 is “Recipe for a Merry Christmas.”
The Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the 75th annual Chillicothe Area Chamber Holiday Parade with a theme of “Recipe for a Merry Christmas.” The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and includes floats, bands, vehicles, animals, favorite characters, and, of course, Santa. The parade is organized by the Chillicothe Area Chamber […]
Audio: Case adding greater protections for rape survivors heads to Missouri Supreme Court
A case heads to the Missouri Supreme Court this week about a state law adding greater protections for sexual assault survivors. The Missouri Supreme Court will hear a case Tuesday about a 2020 law known as the “Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights”. The law streamlines the testing and tracking of rape kits […]
Recent rainfall in Trenton turns deficit into a surplus
Trenton’s most recent rain has boosted this month’s total to 8-3/4 inches at the water plant in west Trenton where official readings are taken for the National Weather Service. According to Glen Briggs of Grundy County Emergency Management, this is the second greatest amount of rain in October for Trenton since 1895 when there was […]
Following Missouri lawsuit, Hickory County dog breeder barred from commercial breeding, dogs rescued
Following a lawsuit filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, a Hickory County dog breeder has been barred from operating as a commercial dog breeder forever, and dogs in her possession were seized and rescued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “This is another great result in our important work with the Missouri Department of […]
Portions of the Green Hills Region remain in drought despite rainfall
Less of northern Missouri is experiencing abnormally dry conditions this week than last week, according to the U. S. Drought Monitor Map. This week’s map was released the morning of October 28 and is based on conditions as of October 26. In the Green Hills area, Mercer, Putnam, Grundy, and Sullivan counties no longer have abnormally […]
Area students to receive American FFA Degree at National FFA Convention
Numerous members of area FFA Chapters are to receive the highest FFA individual degree this week at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The American FFA Degree awards ceremony is to be held on Saturday morning October 30, 2021. Area recipients by school chapter include: Trenton: Allena Allen Grace Allen McKenna Cox Mackenzie McAtee Matthew […]