Arrested News Graphic

Grundy County authorities report the arrest of four individuals

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of four individuals in court on April 14th on capias warrants on probation violations. Forty-year-old Shawn Alan Wells of Maryville was originally charged in one case with felony non-support with total arrears in excess of 12 monthly payments due under an order of support. In another case, […]

Prison Sentence

Missouri woman sentenced 8 years in prison for meth trafficking

A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking after she received a large package of methamphetamine shipped from California to distribute locally. Cassiopeia Marie Blaise, 37, Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to eight years in federal prison without parole. Blaise pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2021, to […]

Jobs Report

Missouri unemployment rate drops to 3.6% in March

Missouri non-farm payroll employment decreased slightly from February 2022 to March 2022, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 200 jobs over the month. Private industry employment increased by 600 jobs, while government employment declined by 800 jobs. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate […]

Meth with police banner

Missouri man pleads guilty to $10 million conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilos of meth

A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a nearly $10 million conspiracy to distribute almost 1,000 kilograms (2204 pounds) of methamphetamine. Michael B. Becher, 40, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Sept. 1, 2018, to Nov. 5, 2019. […]

Scholarship

Missouri State Fair awards scholarships to 4-H and FFA youth

Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced today that 46 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture Committee. These students are seeking higher education at a university/college of their choice and will be recognized on April 22, 2022, […]

Spickard, Missouri

Spickard Board of Aldermen approve budget for 2022-2023

The Spickard Board of Aldermen approved the 2022-2023 budget at the Monday evening meeting. Total income for April 1st, 2022 to April 4th, 2023 is estimated to be $135,145.56. Total expenses are anticipated to be $115,514.23. The totals include American Rescue Plan Act, general sewer, and water funds. Spickard anticipates $24,516.95 in ARPA funds and […]

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 […]

Student Loan graphic

Pause on federal student loan repayments extended by Biden through August 31

(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration Wednesday announced its plans to extend the pause on federal student loan repayments until the end of August. “I recognized in recently extending the COVID-19 national emergency, we are still recovering from the pandemic and the unprecedented economic disruption it caused,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.  “If loan […]

Write in candidates news graphic

Grundy County Clerk reports on write-in candidates for Tuesday’s election

Write-in results have been released for Grundy County following April 5th’s election. Information provided by the Grundy County Clerk’s Office shows four individuals received write-in votes for the two Spickard Alderman At Large positions. Tanja Younger received two votes. Mike Yates, J. R. Roberts, and Mike Jaycox each received one vote. Six people each received […]

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 […]

Accident Graphic

Residents of Trenton and Spickard, including 4-year-old boy, injured in crash on Highway 65

The Highway Patrol reports three area residents sustained injuries when a car struck a sports utility vehicle in Grundy County on Friday morning, April 1st. The driver of the car, 24-year-old Landan Ellis of Trenton, received moderate injuries and was taken by emergency medical services to Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton. The driver of the […]

Drinking Water Fountain (Photo by Sean Musil on Unsplash)

Missouri House bill would cut down on poisonous lead in school drinking water

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where […]

Chillicothe City Hall

Chillicothe City Council adopts 2022-2023 budget, accepts demolition bid and approves supervised work release program

The Chillicothe City Council adopted the 2022-2023 budget for the City of Chillicothe and Chillicothe Municipal Utilities on March 28th. City Clerk Rozanne Frampton reports it was about a $16.5 million budget. It will begin on April 1st. The council accepted a demolition bid for 1016 Cherry Street. It also approved an addendum to the […]

Grundy County Commission Sign

Grundy County Commission accepts bids for steel, culverts and fuel

The Grundy County Commission accepted multiple bids on March 29th. A steel bid was accepted from Oden Enterprises of Wahoo, Nebraska. There were different prices for different items. Culvert bids were accepted from Owens Trenching of Laredo for plastic culverts and Metal Culverts of Maryville for metal culverts. There were different prices for the different […]

Drug Trafficking

Missouri driver who led officers on high-speed chase charged with meth trafficking and illegal firearms

A man who led police officers on a high-speed chase in a stolen car driving the wrong way on Interstate 70 was charged in federal court with illegally possessing several firearms and more than two kilograms of methamphetamine. Davon R. Williams, 28, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in […]