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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021
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Three Long-Time R-9 Employees Set To Retire Board Approves DESE Grant For Counselor
R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
Downed trees were a familiar sight on Thursday morning as area residents began to clean up from Wednesday night’s storm. Above, a tree lays across the front lawn of Hodge Presbyterian Church after being blown over by the extremely high winds that accompanied the storm.
HURRICANE FORCE Record High Temperatures Usher In Strong Winds Wednesday was a warm and mostly sunny day, but it was a dark and stormy night - and not one that area residents will forget any time soon! To say the weather on Dec. 15, 2021 was strange would be an understatement as Trenton saw a record high temperature, damaging winds and residents smelled smoke from a state away. According to Grundy County Emergency Management Director Glen Briggs, the high temperature of 74 was not only the record high for Dec. 15, it was the record-high for any time in December. In fact, Briggs said, the temperature has only reached 70 degrees in December three times. While the warm temperature might have been welcome, the wind that blew into Grundy County later in the day and throughout the evening hours was not. The maximum gust in Trenton was 48 miles per hour but to the north those in [See WIND, Page 6]
R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
Several snowmen and reindeer at one local display took a tumble in Wednesday’s high winds.
Three long-time employees in the Trenton R-9 School District have announced their intention to retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Following a closed session held at the conclusion of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening, the board announced the retirements of Kim Foster, Chris Parks and Kris Ockenfels. Mrs. Foster currently teaches sixth grade English, while Parks teaches middle school physical education and Ockenfels serves as director of supportive services. Other personnel matters approved include the resignations of kindergarten teacher Alexis Cook and special education teacher Mary Kate Stewart, both at the end of the current contract year, and the employment of Amanda Gott as special education teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. In addition, Chloe Bloom was hired as a paraprofessional, beginning her duties after the holiday break. Those approved as substitute teachers include Nora Yoder, Jerika DeWitt and Marcene Sharp. Amy Currie also submitted her resignation as cheerleading sponsor and Alyssa Nichol has resigned as a paraprofessional. Board members approved a Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education Grant that will be used to hire an additional counselor for postsecondary students. The counselor will work with juniors and seniors concerning their post-secondary plans, whether that be college, a vocational school, entering the workforce, etc. Trenton High School Principal Kasey Bailey said the grant is for three years and will require the new employee to attend training, beginning in February. Board members approved an audit conducted by Conrad and Higgins LLC, which showed no problems. Mark Higgins told the board that the district has a $6.2 million fund balance, which is about $2 million less than the prior year due to the building project the district recently completed. He said the General Fund is up about $800,000 as is the Unre[See R-9, Page 7]
BRIEFS Thrift Shop Closed
The Church Women United Thrift Shop is taking a break and will not be open or accepting donations. The thrift shop will be closed from Dec. 19 through Jan. 6. It will be open to the public again the weekend of Jan. 7-8. Volunteers are asking that no donations be left at the shop until Jan. 2.
Trash Pickup Day Churches Set Special Christmas Services Changing For Some Congregations Plan Special Council Hears Concerns About Three-Way Stop A portion of Rapid Removal customers will see a change in the day their trash is picked up, according to information shared by the company at Monday night’s meeting of the Trenton City Council. Jon Ceradsky, route manager for Rapid Removal, told the council that his company has contracted to run some of Waste Management’s routes and will juggle some of its routes to be more efficient. The plan
WEATHER ALMANAC Day: High/Low Rain Monday 53/32 — Tuesday 66/38 — Wednesday 74*/40 — * Record High Barton Campus Wednesday 75/40 —
is to move Wednesday’s residential routes to Tuesday and to move a portion of the Thursday routes to Wednesday. Ceradsky said the change is being implemented Jan. 1 and the company plans to contact local media to publicize the exact locations that will be affected by the change. He also said the customers that will have a new pickup day will either have a sticker placed on their trash can or a hanger placed on their door. The change does not violate the company’s contract with the city and Ceradsky noted that the change is permanent. In other issues discussed with Ceradsky, it was noted that the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays will not alter the company’s pickup schedule. It was also noted that a letter from the company outlining items that can be picked up and the procedures for bulky items has not yet been received to be placed in the city’s utility bills. The council first asked for the letter in July and asked again at the Nov. [See COUNCIL, Page 8]
Music, Communion Times
Several churches have announced their plans for special services for the Christmas holiday.
Tenth Street Baptist Church Christmas Eve candlelight service, 6 p.m. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Christmas Mass, 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Trenton Foursquare Church -
Christmas Eve candlelight service with communion, 6:30 p.m. Galt Christian Church - Christmas Eve candlelight service with communion, 6 p.m. Trenton First Assembly of God [See CHURCH, Page 12]
Photos Courtesy of TMS
It was an evening full of music Monday in the Trenton R-9 Performing Arts Center as vocal music students in grades five through 12 from Trenton Middle School and Trenton High School took the stage, under the direction of Tyler Busick. Above, fifth and sixth grade students perform while at left, seventh and eighth graders entertain the crowd. In addition, the Trenton High School Concert Choir and THS Gold Rush also performed. Laurie Bonta was the accompanist for the program. The TMS and THS band students will perform their winter concerts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the PAC.