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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022
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R-9 Board Accepts Resignations, Hires New Staff New Board Members Sworn In, Officers Elected For 2022-2023 Changes are ahead at Trenton High School following the resignation of the building principal on Tuesday. Listed among action taken in an executive session at Tuesday’s meeting of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education was the resignation of THS Principal Kasey Bailey. Bailey has served in the position since the 2019-2020 school year and before that was the assistant principal for THS and Trenton Middle School. He had previously been a teacher at TMS. He has accepted the position of Regional Director of College and Career Advisors, a position with Ozark Technical Community College that will be housed at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. Resignations were also accepted from third grade teacher Marcie Stegman and eighth grade social studies instructor Joel Hultman. Three new elementary teachers were hired, including Kaylee Myers, Andrew Pauley and Chelsea Coe and new coaches taking on positions include Jon Guthrie, who
will be the varsity boys basketball coach, as well as Guthrie and Kevin Hixson, who were hired for summer weights; Adam Clark, who will be the assistant middle school girls basketball coach; and Zane Robinson, who will be an assistant varsity football coach. Robinson, along with Angela Gutshall, Robin Wilson and Nicholas Covey, were hired as substitute teachers. Also named was the staff for the 2022 R-9 Summer School, which includes teachers Andrew Pauley, Anna Muselman, Emily Voorhies, Joy Bettis, Madison Stahl, Shelby Bagley, Jessica Golden, Pam Bowden, Heather Epperson, Tammy Ockenfels, Michelle Lynch, Alexis Whitney, Jenny Otto, Brenda Thorne, Amos Dickson and Sarah Pauley; paraprofessionals Briana Smith, Libby Hall and Tammy Leafgreen; and cooks Ruth Blackburn, Robin Burkeybile, Tawnya Farmer, Tami Corbin, Carol Leeper, Vicki Williams, Lori Shuler and Sarah Porter. Extra-duty assignments and sponsorships were approved and include Emma Novak and Amber Sprague, Rissler yearbook sponsors; Sheridan Mounce, TMS yearbook sponsor; Taya Ray, Builder’s [See R-9, Page A7]
Staff Changes Coming For Gallatin R-5 District Will Add Sixth Graders To Some Middle School Sports Multiple changes in staff took place following the closed portion of the Gallatin R-5 Board of Education meeting, held Wednesday evening in the high school library. The board, which also certified the April 5 election results and saw the oath of office administered to Anita Riley and Jesse Bird, accepted the resignations of Patrick Treece, Courtenay Treece, Stephan Williamson, Hayley Boyd, Dalton Rosenbach, Janece Gibson and Lauren Wingate. In addition, Angel Michael resigned her position as middle school girls softball coach. With resignations usually come new employments and Wednesday was no exception as the board voted to offer teacher contracts to Kelsey Freeman (elementary), Susan McFee and Katilyn Steinman (no grade level specified) and Kristina Lee, seventh and eighth grade math and science. In ad-
WEATHER ALMANAC Day: High/Low Rain Monday 67/48 — Tuesday 84/47 — Wednesday 71/34 .21 Barton Campus Sunday 71/33 .30
dition, the board voted to offer the superintendent secretary/board secretary position to Carrie Holcomb. Extracurricular assignments were made and include varsity girls softball, Penny Gardner; assistant varsity girls softball, Terri Feiden; assistant middle school girls softball, Aubrey Feiden; assistant varsity football, Harris Cameron, Brett Adkison and Wyatt Bird; middle school football, Stephen Wood; assistant varsity girls basketball, Trisha Sprague; varsity boys basketball, Chad Sullenger; assistant varsity boys basketball, Harris Cameron; middle school girls basketball, Penny Gardner; varsity boys wrestling, Brian Bottcher; varsity girls wrestling, April Fenimore; assistant varsity wrestling, Randy Eaton and Clinton Fenimore; middle school wrestling, April Fenimore; middle school boys track, Penny Gardner; middle school girls track, Brittney Ghidoni; assistant baseball, Cole Lockhart; boys golf, Chad Sullenger; high school football cheer[See Gallatin, Page A5]
VFW Event Is Planned
Submitted Photo
Rachael Rongey has been selected by the Trenton R-9 Board of the Education as the 2021-2022 Trenton R-9 District Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Rongey is the fifth grade Science teacher and has been teaching for 16 years and in Trenton for eight years. Mrs. Rongey uses instructional methods that intrigue and inspire her students, according to TMS Principal Daniel Gott. “One of her most successful strategies is utilizing the ‘whole brain’ teaching method which maximizes student engagement by focusing on mirroring words and actions. Mrs. Rongey's students enjoy being in her class because she acknowledges their individuality and purposefully addresses their needs,” he said. “Mrs. Rongey's hard work, dedication to each individual student and partnership with peers and the community makes her deserving of this honor. We are lucky to have Mrs. Rongey at Trenton Middle School and the Trenton R-9 School District.”
New Council Members Seated Discussion Held On ATV/UTV Operation After Dark The Trenton City Council made efficient use of their time Monday evening, approving a number of items and reorganizing the council during its first meeting since the April 5 election. Three of the four members elected in last Tuesday’s balloting were given the oath of office. New First Ward Councilman Glen Briggs as well as incumbents Marvin Humphreys from the Second ward and Dave Mlika from the Third Ward were given the oath of office after election results were certified. Fourth Ward Councilman Duane Urich, who was also re-elected, was not present. Prior to the new council being seated, an ordinance outlining the parameters of a new Animal Welfare Committee was approved. The five-member committee will be appointed by the mayor for three-year-
terms beginning June 1. The council will have approval over the appointments and one council member will serve as an ex-officio member. The purpose of the committee is to advise the council on matters that arise related to animals in the city and the committee will act only in an advisory capacity. The council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Farmers Home Administration, USDA grant in the amount of $40,000. The funds will be used to help offset the purchase of a new air compressor and cascade system for the Trenton Fire Department and a new police vehicle with console equipment, a prisoner partition, vehicle graphics and patrol vehicle outfitting, as well as 17 portable radios and eight mobile radios for the TPD. The city is committing funds of around $187,957 for the purchases. Council members also approved an amendment to the city’s ordinance concerning business licenses, creating a $15 daily business license for vendors provid[See Trenton, Page A6]
Area School Boards Meet Boards Reorganize Following April Elections The Laredo R-7 and Princeton R-5 boards of education met Monday, with the Laredo board voting to increase salaries and the Princeton R-5 board continuing its discussion of the purchase of an electric school bus. Laredo R-7
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education elected new officers and voted to increase salaries during its meeting on Monday. According to information provided by the district, the board certified the April 5 election results, with Kristi Urich and Angela Lowrey being elected to three-year terms. Officers were elected and include Matt Foster, president; Casey Bowe, vice president; Mrs. Urich,
treasurer; Robin Griswold, board secretary; and Mrs. Lowrey, MSBA delegate. The board considered the salary proposals and voted to increase Superintendent Misty Foster’s salary by 5 percent as well as non-certified salaries. The board voted to increase the base salary for certified staff by $1,500, making the base $32,500 per year. The board voted to table bus driver salaries until May to [See Area, Page B3]
Gallatin Hears Report On Water Issue Laredo And Spickard Hold Meetings, Swear In New Aldermen The Gallatin, Spickard and Laredo boards of aldermen held meetings this week, giving the oath of office to those elected on April 5. Gallatin In addition to giving the oath of of-
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fice to aldermen West Ward Alderman Dan Lockridge, and East Ward Alderman Dan McCann, who were elected April 5, the board heard an update from Public Works Director Mark Morey on the boil advisory that was issued a couple of weeks ago. According to information provided by City Clerk Hattie Rains, Morey told the board the boil advisory was issued after crews couldn’t get the water pressure shut down enough to
repair a leak on the eight-inch water main. Crews eventually had to shut off the valve feeding the water tower, which reduced the pressure enough for the line to be repaired. Morey said that unfortunately, in the process of shutting off valves to reduce the pressure, a valve separated due to disintegrated non-stainless steel valve bolts. Crews held off replacing all the bolts in the four separate valves on [See Councils, Page B3]
Joseph L. Norton VFW Post No. 919 is continuing its effort to make major renovations to the VFW Hall and will host a ham and beans lunch on Wednesday, April 20. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m at the VFW Hall, located at 919 Washington St. The event will feature beans, ham, cornbread, Jello salad, dessert and a drink. The cost is $10 per plate and those attending are invited to eat in or carry out their order. All proceeds will be used to help renovate the local VFW Hall.
Community Easter Egg Hunt
The Trenton Kiwanis Club and Trenton High School Key Club will host its annual Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16 at Moberly Park in Trenton. The event will get underway at 9:30 a.m. with games and activities prior to the hunt, which will start at 10 a.m. sharp. Open to all Grundy County residents aged 10 and under, the event will be held in the upper area of the park near the enclosed shelter house. Those attending should park in either the upper lot near the enclosed shelter house or the lower lot near the pool. If using the lower lot, individuals are asked to use the park road to walk to the upper area of the park so as not to disturb the area that is to be hunted. Ambulance, fire and area law enforcement will have vehicles and staff at the park at 9:30 am. Children are encouraged to check out the ambulance, fire truck and police cruisers and visit with their personnel. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras as there will be an Easter photo area at the shelter house.
Easter Egg Hunt For Dogs
An Easter egg hunt for dogs will be held at lower Moberly Park on Saturday evening, weather permitting. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. and is free to the public. Dogs must remain on leashes and be guided by a person capable of maintaining safe control of the pet. Dogs will sniff out plastic Easter eggs loaded with treats and prizes scattered round the lower park area. The event, which is one in a planned series that is designed to unite pet owners from around the community and provide a safe, fun time for pets, is being sponsored by Pet Central, KONG Pet Products, Canidae Pet Foods and Red Barn Pet Products. For more information, contact Pet Central at 660-3581391.