PDF PAGES FOR WEBISTE.qxp_Layout 1 5/29/19 1:40 PM Page 1
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
TRENTON
REPUBLICAN-TIMES
Trenton, MO 64683
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 155th Year - No. 76
75¢ per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Sixteen Pages - 2 Sections & Two Inserts
TRENTON FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER Swimming Lessons Also Announced
Pool To Open On Friday
Photo Courtesy of Jim Bush
The water flooding the Trenton Municipal Airport was typical of many locations throughout Grundy County as heavy rains drenched the area over the weekend. Since Friday, 3.09 inches of rain has been recorded at the Government Weather Station in Trenton with more rain anticipated this week. As of Tuesday morning, Trenton has received 9.98 inches of rain during the month of May.
TRENTON R-9 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Will Be Provider
R-9 Stays With Current Insurance The Trenton R-9 Board of Education reversed course on Thursday, May 23, rescinding an earlier vote to contract with United Healthcare for employee health insurance and voting 4-3 to go with a revised bid from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. The board held a special emergency meeting where Board President Doug Franklin said that the revisions from Blue Cross/Blue Shield had come down in just the previous several hours. The company had offered to match the bid submitted by United Healthcare, which had not the lowest but the best bid when board members voted 6-1 to contract with them at a May 20 meeting. National General had submitted the lowest bid at that time ($511.24), with Blue Cross/Blue Shield submitting a bid that was $658.34 per month versus United Healthcare’s bid of $601. Higher co-pays and pharmacy prices led to National General being eliminated as a contender for the contract.
Franklin said he had been in contact with the district’s attorney and attorneys from the Missouri School Boards Association. He said there were basically three options, according to the attorneys. The only option that held no legal risk was to rescind the vote to go with United Healthcare and re-bid the insurance coverage. The second least risky option, legally speaking was, according to the attorneys, to take the Blue Cross/Blue Shield bid, which could be deemed the best bid based on price and the fact that it would save the district in administrative time and cost due to not having to complete the required new paperwork for the district’s employees. The attorneys even said that staying with the United Healthcare bid could pose a legal risk as Blue Cross/Blue Shield could then sue based on being the best bid. Building principals had been alerted to
TRENTON R-9 SCHOOL DISTRICT
the situation early on Thursday and had surveyed teachers about what their preferences were. All three principals, Tiffany Otto at Rissler Elementary School, Daniel Gott at Trenton Middle School and Ron Franklin at Trenton High School, as well as R-9 Special Education Director Tara Hoffman, told the board that the majority of employees wished to stay with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, with the only real concern being the cost of the buy-up plan. With the revised Blue Cross/Blue Shield bid, both companies were offering a $93.57 buy-up plan. Charley Crimi, a Trenton Middle School teacher, asked where the money would come from if the district was sued and was told it would come from district funds. John Crimi spoke as a taxpayer and said he thought the board should back up and take the time to re-bid the insurance,
A longer school year due to a harsh winter has resulted in the Trenton Family Aquatic Center opening a little later than usual, but if the weather cooperates, swimmers should be able to take a plunge in the pool beginning on Friday, May 31. Daily hours will be 1 to 6 p.m. with lap swim hours set for noon to 1 p.m. Daily admission prices for the 2019 season have been set at $5 for those age two through 54; $2.50 for those 55 and over; and $1 for non-swimmers. Youngsters 23 months and younger are admitted free of charge. Season passes are $85 for an individual pass; $200 for a family pass (up to four people in the household/babysitter). Up to two additional household members or a babysitter can be added for $45 each. A senior pass (55 years and over) is $25, which is also the cost of a lap swim pass. Private parties can be held throughout the week with the exception of Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parties are held
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and cost $250. Swimming lessons have also been announced. Levels one through six have been scheduled for June 10-21 for session I and July 15-26 for session II. Classes are held Monday through Thursday with Friday being used as a makeup day for inclement weather. Times include Level 1, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; Level 2, 10 to 10:45 a.m.; Levels 3 and 4, 9 to 9:45 a.m.; and Levels 5 and 6, 8 to 8:45 a.m. The cost for Level I, which lasts one week, is $30. The cost for Levels 2 through 6 will be $50 for the two-week session. Preschool lessons for youngsters age two through five will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Class dates are June 20, June 25, June 27, July 2, July 9, July 16 and July 18. The cost is $40 per swimmer. Those wishing to book a private party or sign up for swimming lessons may do so by contacting TFAC Manager Alexis Whitney at the pool.
Briefs... ED Committee Agenda The Economic Development Committee of the Trenton City Council will meet at 7:30 o’clock tonight (Wednesday) at city hall. The only item listed on the agenda is a discussion of economic development projects with the North Central Missouri Development Alliance.
Arts Group To Meet A meeting is planned for Thursday night to discuss revitalization of the arts program in Grundy County. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Cross Hall Coffee Shop on the North Central Missouri College campus. Among items to be discussed is a name for the organization which is being formed to oversee the effort as well as a presentation and discussion of proposed bylaws. All interested persons are encouraged to attend.
See R-9, Page 6
Middle School, High School Awards Presented
Students Recognized At End-Of-Year Ceremonies Students at Trenton Middle School were recognized for their achievements during the 2018-2019 school year during an assembly on Friday, May 24. Top Dawg Awards were presented to Ali Cox and Titus Kottwitz, fifth grade; Shaylise Turner and Riley Gott, sixth grade; Aubree Dalrymple and Jacob Gibson, seventh grade; and Serenity Marsh and Tucker Otto, eighth grade. Recognized with perfect attendance were Garrison Otto and Kinsley Otto, fifth grade; Kiley Lawrence, Baylee McCullough and Madalyn Tipton, sixth grade; Ava Frazier, Victor Markell and Lance Polk, seventh grade; and Kaylea Boyle, eighth grade. Those having near perfect attendance (absent less than one full day) were Isaac Bonta, Alyssa Bunnell, Elxyss Miller and Silas Spencer, fifth grade; Mason Rongey, sixth grade; Jaydon Stotts, seventh grade; and Jocelyn Archuleta, Eliana Cowling, Krysta McCullough, Brody Polk and Sarah Washburn, eighth grade. Eighth Grade Awards Eighth Grade Science – Eliana Cowling, Juliet Schmadeke, Tucker Otto, Savannah Triplet and Wyatt Schneiderheinze.
Eighth Grade Most Improved Writer Award - Rudy Esparza and Coleman Griffin. Eighth Grade Communication Arts High Achievement Award - Megan Spencer and Hunter McAtee. Top Students in Mrs. Ockenfels’ Eighth Grade Math class – Connor Campbell, Faith Lee, Serenity Marsh, Hunter McAtee, Dylan Spencer, Kayleigh Streett. Eighth grade Social Studies – Summer Ceradsky, Makenzee Epperson, Kelsey Gibler, Lydia Leininger, Megan Spencer and Sarah Washburn. Top students in Eighth grade Physical Education – Dylan Spencer and Savannah Triplet. Top students in Eighth grade Health – Summer Martin and Tucker Otto. Eighth grade students earning the Presidential Physical Fitness Award – Sam Gibson, Coleman Griffin and Ava Simpson. Seventh Grade Awards Seventh grade U.S. History (A’s all 4 quarters) – Leland Barger, Katelyn Clark, Aubree Dalrymple, Ava Frazier, Victor Markell, Zane See TMS, Page 6
National Weather Service Rain lingers through Wednesday before skies clear out Thursday night. Highs near 80 and lows in the mid 50s. Friday’s high in Trenton was 85, Saturday’s high was 84, Sunday’s high was 83 and Monday’s high was 81, the low was 70. A total of 3.09 inches of rain fell, bringing the total for the month to 9.98 inches. Monday’s high at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 79, the low was 61, with .03 of an inch of rain.
Underclassmen at Trenton High School were presented with awards and honors for their achievement during the 2018-2019 school at an awards assembly held on Friday, May 24. “I Dare You” Award - Jaren Whitney and Oakley Madden. Missouri Boys State - Riley Raymo, sponsored by the Trenton Lions Club. Missouri Girls State - Alexis Whitaker, delegate; Mackenzie Klinginsmith, alternate. Sponsored by the Trenton Lions Club. Gardner Courtesy Award - Cole Soptic and Hannah Stark. Grundy County Farm Bureau Leadership Day - Grace Allen, Dolan Huber and Matthew Slater. Baldwin Academy of Eminent Young Scholars - Hannah Bowe, Morgan King, Trager Leeper, Chandler Lynch, Alaina Overton, Kaci Persell, Gracyn Rongey, Colton Roy, Mallory Sole and Rebecca Urich. Grundy Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Elizabeth Fewins. Three-Sport Athlete Award - Kael Brock, Carson Burchett, Dalton Burchett, Royce Jackson, Caleb Johnson, Noah Lewis, Payden Mc-
Cullough, Chase Otto, Tyler Siemer, Kayden Spencer, Jaren Whitney, McKayla Blackburn, Teya Cooksey, Morgan King, Chandler Lynch, Maci Moore, Jenna Reeter, Gracyn Rongey, Shaylise Westerhof, Alexis Whitaker, Emma Curtis, Kristi Ewing and Lexi Gott. Perfect Attendance - Marianne Atup, Johnathan Dryer, Mackenzie Klinginsmith, Emily Kosse, Kasie Otto, Matthew Slater and Jerrick Stotts. Top Students in Language Arts I - Hannah Bowe, Morgan King, Chandler Lynch, Katherine Markell, Gracyn Rongey and Jillian Simpson. Top Students in Language Arts III - Oakley Madden and Halley Windsor. Top Language Arts II students -Emma Curtis, Lexi Gott and Hannah Stark. Top Students in American Government Lindi Moulin, second hour; Mackenzie McAtee and Halley Windsor, third hour; Oakley Madden, fourth hour; Rillie Ratliff, fifth hour; and Mackenzie Klinginsmith, sixth hour. Top College Algebra Students - Mackenzie
What’s Inside... It was a big weekend for the THS tennis and track teams, all of whom participated in state action. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a recap of the Class 1 boys tennis meet at Springfield and the Class 3 state track meet at Columbia.
Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It”
STILL WET
www.republican-times.com
See THS, Page 6
What’s Inside Sports.................Sec. 1, Page 2 Sports Salute .....Sec. 1, Page 3 Local...........Sec. 1, Page 4, 6-8 Community .......Sec. 1, Page 5 Across Mo. ........Sec. 1, Page 9 Comics ...............Sec. 2, Page 1 Classifieds ......Sec. 2, page 2-3 Crosswords........Sec. 2, Page 4 Dear Annie ........Sec. 2, Page 4