Latest news with #CarthageCityCouncil
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Carthage checking off requirements for ‘Missouri Blue Shield Program'
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Members of the Carthage City Council approve a resolution that affirms the support of the city's public safety. The resolution is one of many steps needed to qualify for the Missouri Blue Shield Program. The program is a state initiative, put in place by Governor Mike Kehoe, and recognizes the commitment Missouri city governments have for public safety and the reduction of violent crime. Once Carthage has met all the requirements, the police department will then be eligible to apply for state funding for training and equipment. 'There has to be a lot of interaction with your community. You have to show certain upgrades to either equipment, personnel, training, all those things. Plus, you must also show that you work with the community. For example, a citizen's police academy and various other programs that we do,' said Carthage Police Chief, Bill Hawkins. A number of area departments have already earned the designation, including Joplin, Jasper County, and Newton County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Schreiber puts Carthage production plans on hold citing 'uncertain economic conditions'
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Plans for a $316 million cheese manufacturing plant on Hazel Avenue, announced in November 2024 in Carthage, have been put on hold, with the company citing 'general uncertain economic conditions.' Carthage Economic Development Corporation CEO Jeff Meredith read an email from Wisconsin-based Schreiber Foods at Tuesday's regular Carthage City Council meeting announcing the company was 'indefinitely pausing its Carthage production facility project.' 'Schreiber wishes this weren't the case, but general uncertain economic conditions are driving this decision,' the email said. 'Schreiber highly values its presence in Southwest Missouri, its excellent workforce and its relationships with the local communities, including its relationships with you and the city of Carthage. Schreiber will keep all it options open with hopes to revisit this or a similar project on the site as soon as practical.' Meridith said the delay is bad news but he believes the city is 'well positioned when they decide they want to do an expansion in the future, that we would be top of that list, but that's purely speculative.' Crews have been working between Schreiber's distribution center and Hazel Avenue for several weeks preparing ground for construction. Schreiber also said its decision to put the project on hold came after a 'thorough evaluation of current economic conditions and their impact on the project.' 'We're disappointed to announce this pause, but it's necessary given the current situation,' Ron Dunford, president and CEO of Schreiber Foods, said in a statement Wednesday. 'We remain committed to the Carthage community and will continue to support our existing operations and partners (employees). While this pause is unfortunate, it will not keep us from continuing to deliver exceptional-quality food to our customers and being an essential ingredient in their success.' Schreiber has been in the Carthage community since 1950, currently employing more than 1,300 people across its existing operations. The city voted in November 2024 to provide property tax abatements for the project. At the time of Schreiber's announcement plans, the company was still considering whether to build a smaller 168,000-square-foot plant or the larger 253,000-square-foot plant. Schreiber said in January it had decided to go with the larger plant that would add 250 jobs to the local economy. The larger facility was eligible under Missouri's Enhanced Enterprise Zone rules for an eight-year 100% property tax abatement because it was employing more than 250 people at wages of about $23 an hour, which is above the average wage in Jasper County. This isn't the first time Schreiber has put an expansion project on hold because of uncertain economic times. In February 2020 the company announced it was putting construction of its $40 million Hazel Avenue distribution operation on hold as the COVID-19 pandemic started to affect the world economy. In December 2020 the company contacted the city to announce the plans were back on track. The distribution center was completed in 2022.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge denies impeached Carthage mayor's request for immediate reinstatement
CARTHAGE, Mo. — A Cole County Judge rules against embattled former mayor Dan Rife in his request to be immediately reinstated as the mayor of Carthage. PREVIOUS: Hearing underway to decide fate of embattled Carthage mayor The civil suit was a request to review the City of Carthage's impeachment of, then-Mayor, Rife and to immediately reinstate him. Rife's primary argument was that the Carthage City Council did not have enough votes to impeach him. At the time of the impeachment hearing, there were only eight seated city council members. Two of the seats were vacant due to resignations. At the beginning of the impeachment hearing, Rife's attorney objected to Mayor Pro Tem Alan Snow's ruling that six votes were enough to get rid of Rife. All of the council members were present and participated in the hearing. The six council members who voted for impeachment signed the Articles of Impeachment. In today's ruling, Judge Cotton Walker said that Rife did not ask the entire council to weigh in on whether they agreed with Snow's ruling on the number of votes they needed to impeach him and therefore, had waived his right to have that issue reviewed by a court. Christopher Thornton, Rife's attorney, has made the number of votes used to impeach his client as his central argument. He also objected to the issue at the beginning of the impeachment trial. 'Before we begin I would like to make a couple things on the record, if I could. One is, I noted that you made a ruling that six votes will be required tonight by the Board of Impeachment to convict. I want to renew my objection to that. As briefed, we believe that the correct number is seven, and I would like to make that objection on the record.' Christopher Thornton, Impeachment Trial of Dan Rife Paul Martin, the council's impeachment attorney, said today that Rife had the obligation to ask all of the council members to weigh in on whether they agreed with Snow's ruling about the number of votes needed for impeachment. Today we spoke with a few council members about Judge Cotton's ruling and asked whether they understood Rife had an obligation to ask every member of the council. 'I didn't know,' Snow said. 'I was advised on hearing procedures by the hearing officer, Mr. Engelmeyer. I didn't know that any other procedure was necessary.' City council member Lori Leece was equally confused by today's ruling. She echoed Snow's response and said they had already received a legal opinion on the matter. 'I didn't think I had to [weigh in] because the City Attorney, Jon Gold, advised Alan Snow about how many votes were needed to impeach,' Leece said. 'Acting as a juror in the impeachment hearing, this wasn't in the rules given to us as a Council.' 'We raised that question, and so did the city's attorney,' said council member Chris Taylor. 'The city's attorney told them they needed at least seven votes. He testified to that at the hearing. Lori and I voted no because we knew they needed at least seven votes to impeach.' 'I wish the judge would have ruled based on case law and precedence, not on his own interpretation,' Leece said. Neither Martin or Thornton were completely clear as to what happens next based on Judge Cotton's ruling from today. Both said they needed time to review the 15-page order, but they both thought today's ruling was only in reference to Rife's request for Summary Judgment. While Thornton and Rife are trying to determine what happens next, Rife had one thing to say about today's ruling… 'I'm not done. I'm not quitting.' This tense power struggle within Carthage city government first emerged in mid-2023, when Mayor Dan Rife fired all the board members of the city-owned Carthage Water and Electric Plant because they failed to comply with his request for financial details. The City Council immediately reinstated the members of the board, drawing a battle line that pitted former City Administrator Greg Dagnan, Mayor Dan Rife, and former City Attorney Nate Dally against the council and backers of the CWEP board. That was followed by criminal charges of embezzlement against former Parks & Recreation Director Mark Peterson, after Dagnan reportedly found money missing when preparing the city budget. After a forensic audit, Peterson is facing felony charges of money laundering and stealing. Backers of CWEP's board, dotted with powerful people, including some elected officials, formed a political action committee, Carthage Citizens United, to promote candidates for the City Council who would fire Dagnan and impeach Rife. That slate of Jana Schramm, Tom Barlow, Dustin Edge, and Derek Peterson – son of the accused former Parks & Recreation director – was elected April 2, and immediately fired Dagnan and started the impeachment of Rife, who had blocked the firing. The city attorney, the administrative assistant, the fire chief, and a few other city employees resigned. Dagnan has sued the City for wrongful termination and defamation, and against CCU for tortious interference with his contract, and Rife had sued to stop his impeachment because of due process. All of this has led to legal missteps, illegally closed meetings, and rebuke by the state attorney general's office. Dustin Edge resigned from the council. Tiffany Cossey lost her council seat after a large majority of voters from Ward 5 said 'yes' to a recall question on the November 2024 ballot (see updated information in the links below). The city also received a letter from its insurer warning that coverage could be lost or diminished because 'terminations by the council' were not following employment law. (Story Date: April 1, 2024 – April 30, 2024) New Carthage City Council Members Call For Major Changes In First Meeting > New Carthage Council Members Working To Remove City Administrator > Special City Council Meeting Takes Place In Carthage > 'Tyrannical Council' – Reason Given For Resignation From Carthage City Government > Carthage City Employees Express 'No Confidence' In Seven City Council Members > Carthage City Employees And Fire Department Weigh In On City Council > Carthage Council Discusses Filling City Attorney Position > (Story Date: May 1, 2024 — May 31, 2024) Carthage Mayor Calls Special Council Meeting 'A Major Violation Of The Sunshine Law' > 'I Had To Detach': Carthage Council Member Explains Why He Walked Out Of Meeting > Carthage Councilwoman Publicly Confronts Resident Who Asked For Her Resignation > Carthage Council To Discuss Impeachment 'Charges' Against Mayor > Carthage City Administrator Files Lawsuit Against City, City Council, CCU > Twice Elected Carthage Mayor Must Pay For His Own Attorney > Carthage Council Discusses Impeachment Of Mayor At Special Meeting > Council Member Wants To Hold Off On Impeachment Proceedings Against Mayor > Carthage Special City Council Meeting Violated Missouri Sunshine Law > Carthage Council Disagrees On Filling City Attorney Position > Carthage City Administrator Greg Dagnan Fired > (Story Date: June 1, 2024 — June 30, 2024) Carthage Mayor Releases Statement Regarding Lawsuit Filed Against The City > Carthage Council Appoints Interim City Administrator At Special Meeting > Impeachment Hearing Against Carthage Mayor Now Delayed > Court Date Set For Carthage Mayor's Impeachment Hearing > Embattled Carthage Mayor Asks For New Judge, Citing Multiple Conflicts Of Interest > Carthage Council Temporarily Fills City Attorney Position > Carthage City Councilmembers Attend Sunshine Law Training > Some Defendants In Former Carthage City Admin Lawsuit Cite 'Sovereign Immunity' As Response Deadline Looms > (Story Date: July 1, 2024 — August 31, 2024) Recall Petition Filed Against Carthage Council Member Tiffany Cossey > Jasper County Certifies Signatures For Carthage Council Member Recall > Carthage City Council Over Budget On Legal Fees > Carthage Council Sets Date For Impeachment Hearing Against Mayor > Private Meeting Reveals What Carthage Mayor Was Asked To Do > Carthage Mayor And City Council Reach Agreement In Civil Hearing > New Date Set For Impeachment Hearing Of Carthage Mayor > Carthage Council Delays Hiring New Fire Chief > Carthage Fire Department Questions City Council's Inaction To Hire New Chief > Carthage Closed Session Sparks Controversy Over Fire Chief Appointment > Arguments Heard In Wrongful Termination Case Of Former Carthage City Administrator > Carthage Community Members Protest After Fire Chief Appointment Controversy > Carthage Council Says 'No' To Forensic Financial Audit Of CWEP > Split Ruling Issued In Civil Suit Against Carthage, Council Members, CCU > (Story Date: September 1, 2024 — October 31, 2024) Carthage Mayor Calls For Audit Of CWEP Amid Council Backlash > Carthage Council Approves More Funding For Mayor Impeachment Hearing > Carthage Still Without Fire Chief After Third Closed Session Meeting > Carthage Council Fails To Approve Hiring Of New Fire Chief; Interim Chief Speaks Out > Court Motion Filed To Halt Impeachment Hearing Of Carthage Mayor > Carthage City Council Member Submits Resignation > Carthage Council's Behavior Deemed 'Suspect' By Judge > Carthage Council Member Files Police Report Against City Resident > Judge Allows Petition For Damages To Move Forward Against Councilmembers, CCU > Court Hearing Highlights New Agreements In Impeachment Hearing Of Carthage Mayor > Efforts To Impeach Carthage Mayor Move Forward > City Of Carthage Faces Insurance Loss Over Employee Terminations Made By City Council > Carthage Council Members Questioned In Disqualification Hearing > Carthage City Council Member Charged With Campaign Sign Theft > Carthage Council Member Speaks About Upcoming Recall Election > Carthage Mayor Is Impeached > Attorney Files Petition After Impeachment Of Carthage Mayor > Swearing In Of Carthage Mayor Pro Tem Takes Places In Special Council Meeting > (Story Date: November 1, 2024 — December 31, 2024) 'Carthage Citizens United' Raises Nearly $36,000 From Local Donors > Carthage Voters Say 'Yes' To Removing Controversial Council Member > Carthage Seeks Out 'Neutral' Candidates To Fill Multiple Vacant Council Seats > Judge Issues Ruling In Battle Over Carthage's Mayoral Impeachment > New Mayor Leads Carthage City Council Meeting > Impeached Carthage Mayor Seeks Court Review Of Removal Process > Impeached Carthage Mayor Makes Request At City Council Meeting > No Decision Made In Court Case Of Impeached Carthage Mayor > (Story Date: January 1, 2025 — Present) Carthage Council Votes To Fill Vacant Seat > Municipal Charge Dropped Against Former Carthage Council Member > Partial Ruling Issued In Former Carthage City Admin's Wrongful Termination Lawsuit > Hearing Underway In Jefferson City To Decide Fate Of Embattled Carthage Mayor > Insurance Deductibles Skyrocket For The City Of Carthage > Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Carthage City Council candidate cited for shoplifiting
CARTHAGE, Mo. — A candidate for Carthage City Council is cited for shoplifting from Walmart on New Year's Day. The citation was issued this week against Jack Perkins, 78, after the Carthage Police Department investigated the details of the alleged theft. Perkins is on the April 8 ballot for the city's vacant Ward 3 seat. Police say the retail giant has video of Perkins going through a checkout line and then leaving the store without paying. CPD says Walmart also provided them with video of Perkins walking to his vehicle and leaving the parking lot. Carthage City Council candidate cited for shoplifiting SW Missouri vo-tech programs receive big boost for equipment upgrades; See the breakdown Carthage brothers charged with shooting How local schools are using their portion of Missouri's feminine hygiene grant program Downed power poles knock out power for some CWEP customers We contacted Perkins for a comment about the allegations, and this was his response: 'This is Jack Perkins, you just called me and I have a lot of things I want to say. But the comment, what you should publish which is probably going to be on tv…is gonna be no.. no comment. No comment. Total b——t. And you tell that f—–g news director, she better watch her a–. And i hope this is f—–g recorded. Son of a b—h.' Jack Perkins voicemail Perkins is scheduled to be in court March 13. Early absentee voting is already underway for the April 8 election. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Swearing in ceremony for two new Carthage police officers.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Police Department welcomes two new hires. During a swearing-in ceremony held at Tuesday's (2/11) Carthage City Council meeting, Ryan Wagoner and Hailey Criqui took the officer's oath. They were sworn in by City Clerk, Miranda Deal. After being sworn in, Police Chief, Bill Hawkins introduced the department's newest patrol officers. For the next several months, the newly hired officers are under the supervision of a field training officer. Both have served in law enforcement prior to joining Carthage. Ryan previously worked at the Newton County Jail. Hailey worked as a corrections officer at the Barry County Jail. She's hoping to one day become a K-9 handler for the Carthage Police Department. 'Right now, we don't have any K-9 units, I don't know what chief wants to do with that, if he does at all. I know we have other K-9 units with different places, but I'm hoping at one point that will get implemented, so that's something I want to do,' said Criqui. 'I'm a longevity type of person, so the longevity of the Carthage Police Department is there. There are multiple opportunities for me. If I want to go to a certain place in the department, it's there. From day-to-day I can see doing this until I retire,' said Wagoner. The Carthage Police Department now has 31 sworn officers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
