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June 6, 2023 | By Megan Duncan Muddy River News Correspondent
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Marion County Associate Judge John J. Jackson granted on Friday a motion to dismiss impeachment charges against Stephan Franke, who represents the Third Ward on the Hannibal City Council. Jackson was appointed to preside over the impeachment proceedings after Hannibal Municipal Court Judge Donald M. Bastian recused himself in October 2022. Articles…
Read Full Article June 6, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Before Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting started, Mayor Mike Troup thanked the Quincy Police Department for its work in the recently completed Tim Bliefnick case. A jury of six men and six women found Bliefnick guilty last Wednesday on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in the Feb.…
Read Full Article June 5, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A Quincy man facing two felony charges for his involvement in a May 30, 2022, crash at 12th and Locust that killed a Quincy woman on Memorial Day last year will spend three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections — and the victim’s husband wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. Breeden Wike, 21, appeared…
Read Full Article June 5, 2023 | By Mark McDonald and Randy Phillips
Mark McDonald and Randy Phillips take you to Hannibal and talk to Faye Dant about Jim’s Journey, which is The Huck Finn Freedom Center honoring Daniel Quarles, the prototype for Jim in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the man who lived and died in Hannibal. Dot Foods brings you Muddy River Gems.
Read Full Article June 4, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
Miss Quincy Shelby Rose heads to the Miss Illinois Pageant in Marion this week. She talks about pageant life, her platform “Fostering Hope” and college life as a student at the University of Alabama. She also discusses her participation in a documentary on sorority recruitment on campus called “Bama Rush”. Muddy River News is furnished…
Read Full Article June 3, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
The two Adams County prosecutors who tried the Tim Bliefnick murder case reflect on the case and what the ramifications could possibly be. We did have a slight audio issue with this so we apologize in advance. MRN This Week is furnished by Harvey’s.
Read Full Article June 3, 2023 | By Steve Eighinger
QUINCY — The 19th annual Quincy Derby is set for June 16-17 on the 18th Street hill bordering Bob Mays Park. Champions will be crowned in Super Stock, Stock, Masters Elite and and Super Kids divisions. Aiden McConnell, race director for the event once known as the Soap Box Derby, says the response has been…
Read Full Article June 2, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
MRN Publisher J. Robert Gough had a text conversation Friday morning with a juror who wished to remain anonymous as they didn’t know if any other jurors were or had been talking to the media. MRN: “Was there a first head count? Like 10 guilty, 2 not guilty? What was the feel of the room?…
Read Full Article June 2, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
GOLDEN, Ill. — The color of three park benches caused quite a stir last month in Golden, but a decision by the village’s mayor could help quiet the controversy. Mayor Jim McClintock told Muddy River News Thursday afternoon that rainbow-colored park benches in front of the public library and in City Park will be restored…
Read Full Article June 1, 2023 | By Muddy River News
QUINCY — Casey Schnack, defense attorney for Tim Bliefnick, released a statement Thursday regarding his Wednesday conviction on two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Home Invasion: “On behalf of myself, Tim and the entire Bliefnick family, I would like to thank the jurors for their hard work and effort they put…
Read Full Article June 1, 2023 | By Megan Duncan Muddy River News Correspondent
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal City Council voted during a special meeting held Wednesday night to approve approximately 10 percent raises for Hannibal city employees, including policemen and firefighters. Councilman Stephan Franke explained the raises are described as “approximate 10 percent increases” because of pay scales per the union contracts of police officers and firefighters. Franke said…
Read Full Article May 31, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — A jury of six men and six women found Tim Bliefnick guilty Wednesday on two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Home Invasion in the Feb. 23 shooting death of his estranged wife Rebecca Bliefnick. The Adams County jury took 4 hours and 15 minutes to decide Bliefnick’s fate. Bliefnick…
Read Full Article CourtTV experts call Jones' closing 'excellent,' say Tim Bliefnick had 'worst possible defense ever'
May 31, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Commentators on CourtTV Wednesday afternoon were complimentary of Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones’ closing statement in the Tim Bliefnick trial while suggesting the defendant change his last name to “Disbelief-nick.” Tim Bliefnick is accused of shooting Becky Bliefnick multiple times at her Kentucky Road home on Feb. 23. Tim was arrested on March…
Read Full Article May 31, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — Judge Robert Adrian sent the jury in Tim Bliefnick’s first-degree murder trial out to deliberate at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones and defense attorney Casey Schnack presented their closing statements Wednesday morning. Jones began his closing with his basic case of Tim riding a bike to Becky’s house, climbing on…
Read Full Article May 31, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A detective with the Quincy Police Department explained Tuesday afternoon to the six-man, six-woman jury in the Tim Bliefnick trial the evidence recovered from home surveillance systems, as well as multiple electronic devices, links Tim to the murder of his estranged wife. Tim Bliefnick is accused of shooting Becky Bliefnick multiple times at…
Read Full Article May 30, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — No evidence will be presented, and only one witness could be called Wednesday morning by defense attorney Casey Schnack in the Tim Bliefnick trial. The decision to have Tim testify in his own trial won’t be made public until both sides return to Adams County Circuit Court at 8:45 a.m. Tim Bliefnick is…
Read Full Article May 30, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — An Illinois State Police (ISP) ballistics expert with 26 years of experience testified that eight shell casings found by the slain body of Becky Bliefnick were fired by the same gun as 27 shell casings found in her estranged husband’s basement. Tim Bliefnick’s first-degree murder trial resumed Tuesday morning. He is accused of…
Read Full Article May 30, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — A former cross-fit partner of Becky Bliefnick’s testified Becky sent her Facebook messages in March 2022 saying she was nervous about how her divorce from Tim Bliefnick was going to turn out. Christine Mandel, who is from Quincy but now lives in California, worked with Becky Bliefnick at Q-Town CrossFit. Mandel was sobbing…
Read Full Article May 30, 2023 | By Muddy River News
CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College Board of Trustee members recently unanimously approved Lauren B. Schellenberger, provost and vice president for academic affairs, to become the 28th president of Culver-Stockton College on July 1. “Culver-Stockton College is a place where students of promise experience transformational growth through a distinctive curriculum and outstanding opportunities for student…
Read Full Article May 30, 2023 | By Steve Eighinger
QUINCY — When Norman Haerr thinks back to the great flood of 1973, he will always believe it served as a reminder. “The Lord was letting us know that he’s in charge,” Haerr, a resident of Taylor Mo., said. This spring marks the 50th anniversary of the devastating event that saw the Mississippi River overflow…
Read Full Article May 29, 2023 | By Don Crim
QUINCY – The last day of school can be bittersweet. While students and teachers are eager for a leisurely summer break after a nine-month learning marathon, it also marks an end of a chapter. Educators will have a new crop of students, and kids will have a new teacher and set of classmates, when school resumes…
Read Full Article May 29, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Christina Butler is thrilled the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is recognizing her father, Gary Butler, next month. She says she’s equally excited others like her father also are being remembered. “We’re recognizing all people who serve our country,” she said. “It’s not just about my dad. It’s really important to continue to…
Read Full Article May 28, 2023 | By Muddy River News
HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Hannibal teenager was killed Saturday night in a crash three miles outside of Hannibal on Route M in Ralls County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder was westbound on Route M at 8:26 p.m. and travelled off the right side of the road. The vehicle returned to the…
Read Full Article May 28, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
The director of Quincy/Adams County 9-1-1 talks about upgrades to the system and what it takes to be on the front line of response with someone is in danger. MRN This Week is furnished by Harvey’s.
Read Full Article May 28, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
Dear MRN, I recently read a story online that claimed the cheapest day of the week to buy gas is Monday. Is that true? GasBuddy released a study in February 2022 that determined Monday offered the lowest average gas prices in 2021 in most of the United States, including Illinois, Michigan and Virginia. Monday also was…
Read Full Article November 01, 2024
CLUB MUDDY: ROUNDABOUT ROUNDUP AND THE ELECTION IS NIGH
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