FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_Trenton Republican-Times 11/12/21 2:08 PM Page 1
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021
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TRENTON
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 158th Year - No. 20
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BRIEFS County Employee Raise OK’d
Grundy County employees will receive a salary increase in the 2022 budget following action taken by the Grundy County Commission at its meeting on Tuesday. According to Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard, the across-the-board increase of $1 per hour was approved and will be included when commissioners begin working on the 2022 budget. The increase was needed to keep all employees in line with the $11.15 minimum wage that will go into effect. In other business on Tuesday, the commission agreed to explore more information on MOSWIN radios as proposed by Motorola. The commission will be looking at a seven-year lease for three sites at a projected cost of $3,477,996. The commission had also looked at a proposal from Command One, but it did not meet the specifications. The only item listed on the Tuesday, Nov. 16 agenda is a 10 a.m. meeting with Michael Marriott, who will provide an update on Missouri Department of Transportation projects. R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
‘MUFFINS FOR MILITARY’ AT RISSLER Area veterans were warmly greeted and honored Thursday at multiple programs held in schools around north Missouri in observance of Veterans Day. Above, first graders at Rissler Elementary School in Trenton sing “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Those attending the program were treated to muffins during the program.
Contact Tracing Gone At R-9 Board Makes Changes To COVID Plan
YES, Masks Are Still Required On The School Bus!
Staff members in the Trenton R-9 School District will discontinue contact tracing for COVID-19 following action taken at Tuesday’s meeting of the R-9 Board of Education. Board member Brandon Gibler made a motion to amend the district’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan for 2021-22, and following discussion, the changes were approved on a 5-2 vote. The majority of the changes involve procedures after a confirmed case is found in the school. Rather than district personnel compiling a list of close contacts (names, dates of birth, email addresses and phone numbers) and informing them of the potential exposure, the following policy was approved: “School staff will send an advisory notice to the parents/guardians of students identified as close contacts stating ‘On (date),
The fact that the Trenton R-9 Board of Education deleted a requirement for masks to be worn on all school buses DOES NOT mean those riding the bus don’t have to wear them. As pointed out at the R-9 board meeting Tuesday, the policy was never a school policy; it has always been a federal mandate. Steve Liechti, general manager of the Applebus Company Bus Barn in Trenton said, like it or not, the federal policy is still in place. “Right now, we are still under a federal government issued mandate that masks will be worn as long as the person is inside the conveyance,” he said. “When it’s federally mandated, our choices are very limited.” Liechti said students who attempt to get on the bus without a mask are provided one, but once the student is on the bus, it can be difficult for the driver to monitor the mask situation. “A lot of students, for multiple reasons, don’t want to wear the masks,” he said. “And that’s kind of hard to monitor when they’re in the back of the bus.” The federal rules apply to whether the student is riding to and/or home from school or to school activities and affects all persons, child or adult, who is a passenger on the bus. your student was potentially exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Watch for symptoms for 14 days. If your student feels ill, keep them home and seek medical advice from their doctor’.” Under the mitigation section, the
sentence that close contacts will be “contacted and advised to follow CDC health guidelines and the guidelines of the Grundy County Health Department” will be deleted and replaced with “Persons who come in [See R-9, Page 7]
Schools Council Has Heard Enough Set Filing City To Look Into Getting Out Dates Of Contract With Laredo, Princeton Boards Hold Meetings Candidate filing dates for the April 5, 2022 election were set by area boards of education in meetings held earlier this week. Laredo R-7 The Laredo R-7 Board of Education set the filing dates for the April 2022 school board election and accepted bids during a meeting held Monday evening. According to information provided by the district, the board accepted a bid of $3,269 from Brandon Spencer for repairs to the roof and from Hillside for $2,767 for ceiling tiles, [See AREA, Page 5]
Rapid Removal
If the discussion at Tuesday night’s Trenton City Council meeting is any indication, it would appear that city leaders have had enough of the complaints about Rapid Removal - and enough of the company’s
refusal to address those concerns. Council members reviewed the latest list of citizen complaints about the trash hauling company before the subject of when and how the city can get out of its contract with the company was discussed. The contract ends on Dec. 31, 2023 and City Attorney Tara Walker said there is probably “cause” to end the contract early.
“I personally would be interested in looking at another company,” remarked Third Ward Councilman Robert Romesburg, with Second Ward Councilman Danny Brewer agreeing. “It seems like it (the problem) just keeps coming month after month. I’d like to stay local, but...,” he said. In June, the council dis[See TRASH, Page 7]
Vote To Join LAGERS Fails Gallatin Aldermen Will Address Retirement Program Again Next Month Gallatin city aldermen continue to look into the LAGERS retirement system for city employees, but a vote to join the system failed during a meeting Monday evening. According to information provided by
City Clerk Hattie Rains, the board discussed the various retirement options with the LAGERS program, something that has been on the table for the past several months. City Administrator Lance Rains provided a report with the annual cost for the city of Albany for the past 10 years. Following that discussion, Alderman Carl McBee made a motion to join the LAGERS program, which died for lack of a second. [See GALLATIN, Page 5]
Festival Details Announced
Plans are being finalized for the 13th Annual Festival of Trees, which will be held Nov. 27 at the Rock Barn. According to organizers of the event, which benefits disabled individuals in Grundy County, the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Eastside Park parking lot and end at the back side of the Rock Barn. There will be a variety of music and crafts from 6 to 7 p.m., with entertainment including the THS Colorguard, Makayla Hamilton and Connie Olmstead among those announced so far. Children will have the opportunity to make Santa plates and gingerbread houses and a “balloon-maker” will also be available. Ed Arnold will conduct an auction of decorated trees, wreaths and other items at 7 p.m. Brenda Thorne, one of the event’s organizers, said there are several unique items this year, including a fire pit made and donated by the Grand River Technical School. Anyone interested in donating an item for the auction is asked to contact Mrs. Thorne, Judie Leininger or Deanna McCarter.
Holiday Event Is Dec. 3
“Christmas in a Small Town” is the theme of this year’s Downtown Christmas event, which will be held Friday, Dec. 3. The event is sponsored by Main Street Trenton and will kick off with a cookie walk sponsored by Hodge Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. at The Space, located at 1013 Main St. Cookies and other holiday goodies will be available until 7:30 p.m. A soup supper will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in the basement of the Trenton Masonic Lodge and the hot cocoa, sponsored by Preceptor Nu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, will be served at the “Hot Cocoa Corner” at Lucky Dog Embroidery from 5 to 8 p.m. A Christmas parade is planned at 5:30 p.m., with those interested in entering asked to contact Cindy Jennings at 660-359-1923. Santa will make his appearance and be available for photos at the gazebo located in the downtown Sesquicentennial Park from 6 to 8 p.m. and kids crafts will be available to make during those hours at the Trenton Elks Lodge. The evening will also include carolers from the Trenton High School Choir performing on Main Street and after hours shopping at downtown businesses. For more information, contact Main Street Trenton Director Megan Taul at director.mstrenton@gmail.com.
Gallatin Christmas Event
“Christmas Around the Square” will be held in Gallatin on Saturday, Dec. 4, with food trucks, a baby show, a parade, a gingerbread house contest and of course, Santa, among the featured attractions. The event will be held in the downtown area, with craft vendors set up from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Food trucks will also open at 9 a.m. and will be on site until 6:30 p.m. A baby show is scheduled at 11 a.m., as are barrel rides, and face painting will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Photos with Santa and sleigh rides are available from 1 to 4 p.m. and Santa’s workshop is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. The Christmas parade will get under way at 5:30 p.m. Also included in this year’s event is a gingerbread house contest. The houses should be dropped off by 5 p.m. Dec. 3, with voting open to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. in Santa’s workshop. There are no specific rules for the contest, with entrants encouraged to use their imagination and any materials they have on hand. Entries are limited to one per household.
WEATHER ALMANAC Day: High/Low Rain Monday 70/48 — Tuesday 65/52 — Wednesday 67/51 1.02 Barton Campus Wednesday 68/50 1.07
PIRATES SPLIT
The NCMC women kept winning on Tuesday, but the men suffered their first loss of the season. SPORTS, 2