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Friday, September 13, 2019
TRENTON
REPUBLICAN-TIMES
Trenton, MO 64683
TRENTON R-9 BOE
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 3
Fourteen Pages - 2 Sections & 1 Insert SOFTBALL GAMES Saturday Night
Celebrities Will Take On Heroes
Road District Petition
E-Cigarette Use, Vaping Addressed At Meeting
TRENTON CITY COUNCIL
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Briefs...
Early Graduation Requests Approved
Members of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education discussed electronic cigarette use and vaping during a meeting on Tuesday night. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported on efforts at the high school and middle school to curb issues involving e-cigarettes and vaping, which he noted has become an issue at schools throughout the country. Stegman said he was told that students leave backpacks in their lockers to cut down on taking such contraband to class and that random bathroom and locker room checks are made by administrators. Teachers also monitor restrooms between classes. Stegman said that students caught with e-cigarette paraphernalia are disciplined according to the district’s tobacco use guidelines in the handbook, which includes three days of in-school suspension. Stegman said he would be meeting with administrators to further discuss the topic, which he said is “becoming a dangerous situation.” He said the district would be naive to say that vaping is not an issue and that detection is difficult. He said it is an issue the district needs to stay on top of. Board member Marcie Cutsinger suggested involving students in coming up with ideas to help curb the situation. Among action items approved by the five board members present were early graduation
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requests from Kaitlyn Owen and Emma Rorebeck, membership in the Missouri School Boards Association for another year and approval of bus routes (10 regular and three special education/preschool). It was noted that the MSBA dues of $3,479 were the same as last year and provides R-9 with the “full maintenance” services provided by the association. The board was informed of changes made in the Positive Behavior Support program at the Rissler Elementary School. Assistant Principal Adriane Todd said positive behavior is being recognized by classrooms, with students being allowed to “color in” a dog paw chart for good deeds done. When the chart is filled, a classroom party is held. It was noted that classes are being encouraged to use one of the parties for service projects as a way to give back to the community. Individual recognition is also being done. Following an executive session, the board voted to hire Alissa Dekoning, Ann Constant, Annie Bass, Amy King, Marjorie Keuhn and Chloe Martin as substitute teachers and Mattie Yoder as a substitute cook. Board members present at the meeting were Doug Franklin, Brandon Gibler, Dorothy Taul, Corey Leeper and Mrs. Cutsinger. Absent were Dr. David Whitaker and Cliff Roeder.
It appears that a decision on whether or not to dissolve the Spickard Special Road District will end up in the hands of the Grundy County Commission rather than being decided by voters in the April 2020 election. After researching the issue, it appears that state statute requires the commission to hold a hearing on the issue and then make a decision on whether or not to dissolve the district, which was established in 1994 by the commission after a petition was presented with signatures seeking its formation. Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard said the commission is consulting with legal counsel before making a decision on how to proceed with action on the petition to dissolve the district, which was presented to the commission on Aug. 21 with 63 valid signatures. Public notice will be given by the commission at least four weeks prior to the hearing, according to Mrs. Spickard.
Commission To Meet The Grundy County Commission plans to meet with city officials from Trenton and Laredo during its meeting set for Tuesday at the courthouse. The commission is scheduled to meet with Trenton City Administrator Ron Urton and other city officials at 8:30 a.m. to discuss partnering opportunities. At 9:30 a.m. the commission will meet with Laredo Mayor Carol Holloway to discuss law enforcement. ********** SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 Celebrities vs. Heroes Softball Games - Griffin Field Concessions at 5:30 p.m., Opening Ceremonies at 6 p.m. Earthquake Drill - Rock Barn Area (area closed to the public)
Columbia Contractor Awarded Bid
17th Street Bridge Project Moves Forward Boone Construction of Columbia was officially chosen as the contractor for the 17th Street Bridge replacement project during a meeting of the Trenton City Council on Monday night. The council unanimously approved the bid of $2,339,736, which was the lowest of six received. The bid recommendation had been contingent on approval by the other entities that are providing funding for the project, however, City Administrator Ron Urton said Union Pacific Railroad, the Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Department of Transportation have all indicated their support of the project, allowing the city to proceed with the bid award notification to Boone. Once paperwork is completed, a notice to proceed will be issued and, once the bridge is closed, the company will have 150 days to complete the project and re-open the bridge. Urton said the bridge would not be closed before the Missouri Day Festival in October. It was noted that the cost of the entire project, including purchase of property and demolition of structures in the area of the bridge work, has been estimated at $3,373,194. Funding will be provided by a Community Development Block Grant of $500,000 as well as $750,000 from MoDOT and $650,000 from the railroad. The rest of the cost, $1.4 million, will come from the city’s transportation sales tax. The council discussed using asphalt from the city’s plant if the mix is approved by the state. Urton said he would visit with the company about that possibility. The council approved two ordinances to purchase materials and provide labor for lift station work in the Town and Country area. Enviroline will provide materials and start-up labor at a cost of $20,426 while
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SMI-CO will do the installation at a cost of $16,560. Also approved was an $11,698 bid from Troyer Roofing for metal roof restoration at the TMU warehouse as well as a bid from Asplundh for tree trimming services at a cost of $119.21 per hour for a two-man crew, not to exceed $25,000. Bids were received from MFA Oil and Landes Oil for #2 diesel fuel used for the electric generators, with both bids at $2.049 per gallon. It was decided to purchase a tanker-load from each company. Urton told the council that water samples tested for lead showed all to be below the EPA level for action and that the city would continue testing on an annual basis. He reported attending a FEMA workshop with Councilman Glen Briggs and will be completing paperwork so the city can receive FEMA funding to pay for damage due to flooding this spring and summer. The city was presented with a grant of $95,866 from the Missouri Public Energy Pool to be used for electric distribution system upgrades including the purchase and installation of reclosers and switches for substations and distribution lines and the maintenance of breakers, relays and transformers. Connie Ford, director of membership services, made the presentation and noted this is the second such grant the city has received, with a $63,095 award being presented in 2015. In other business: • Urton reported that a city bucket truck was sold on the Purple Wave website for $22,000. • Councilwoman Cathie Smith, who chairs the economic development committee, reported that interest has been shown in the possible construction of a new hotel in Trenton. She also said efforts were under way to develop a brochure to highlight places of interest
R-T Photo/Diane Lowrey
The city of Trenton received a grant award of $95,866 from the Missouri Public Energy Pool to help with electric distribution system upgrades. The grant was presented during Monday night’s meeting by MoPEP Director of Member Services Connie Ford, at right. Accepting the grant were Mayor Linda Crooks, left, and City Administrator/Utilities Director Ron Urton, center.
in Trenton and the surrounding area along with a list of monthly activities. • Briggs recognized city departments who assisted with a gas leak in the area of Ninth and Custer streets on Monday, which closed off a portion of Ninth Street for about 90 minutes. • Councilman Brad Chumbley recognized those assisting with the Bags, Beer and BBQ activities held on Saturday in downtown Trenton.
Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7, Princeton R-5, Newtown-Harris
Agendas Address Personnel, Contracts Personnel and contracts were among items that saw action during boards of education meetings this week involving Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7, Princeton R-5 and Newtown-Harris R-3. Pleasant View R-6 Personnel topped the agenda of the Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education during its meeting on Tuesday night. According to information provided by Superintendent Rebecca Steinhoff,
the board hired Cassie Bethards of Trenton as a paraprofessional in the preschool classroom and agreed to hire an additional aide in the early childhood special education preschool as well as add an ECSE bus route. The board voted to change the head cook’s hours from 7.5 to 8 hours per day and accepted the resignation of Jeni Moore as Parents as Teachers coordinator. The board adopted the DESE Model
Compliance Plan for Special Education and approved a field trip for the seventh and eighth grade class to attend the Renaissance Festival in Kansas City on Oct. 14. Mrs. Steinhoff reported that there are 107 students in grades kindergarten through eight (up 11 students). There are 20 preschool students (up two) and 33 in the ECSE preschool (up eight). Dates of importance included an early-out on Sept. 13, midterms and
National Weather Service Sunny skies are expected this weekend with high temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. Low temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 60s. The high temperature at Trenton on Monday, Sept. 9 was 91, Tuesday’s high was 87 and Wednesday’s high was 90. The overnight low on Wednesday was 72. The high on Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 88, the low was 71.
Academic Night on Sept. 20, the book fair on Sept. 20-27, the KEYS “Lunch with a Loved One” on Sept. 26 and the preschool “Lunch with a Loved One” on Sept. 27. The next board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Laredo R-7 The Laredo R-7 Board of Education See Boards Page 8
What’s Inside... It’s been a busy week for THS and TMS fall sports squads. See page 2 & 3 of today’s Republican-Times for recaps and photos from games involving the football, softball, tennis, golf and volleyball teams.
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The 11th Annual “Celebrities vs. Trenton Heroes” softball games will be played this Saturday at Griffin Field. Two games are scheduled to be played, with the “Celebrities” team to include local and area residents many of whom have played for several years. Hardee’s Manager Lynda Lynch and Wright Memorial Hospital Development Officer Dave Bain will serve as the team coaches for the celebrities while Terry Wynne of Sayre Farms and Trenton Middle School special education teacher Jon Guthrie will serve as coaches for the Heroes. Making up the “Celebrities” team, which is looking for its first-ever win, will be THS girls softball coach and teacher Joel Hultman, NCMC Men’s Basketball Coach Jeremy Esry, Nestle Operations Manager Tyson Christy, FFDD bus driver Jennie Hutchinson, Camp Rainbow Director Daniel Savage, Grundy County Sheriff Rodney Herring, Grundy County Associate Commissioner Joe Brinser, Barnes Baker Automotive owner Brent Wyant, Stevens Backhoe owner Danny Stevens, Kansas City Royals Senior Advisor to the General Manager Mike Arbuckle, former THS teacher Murray Dennis, Black Silo Winery owner Duane Urich, Trenton Mayor Linda Crooks, THS Spanish teacher Amy Currie and Trenton Republican-Times publisher Wendell Lenhart. A whole host of athletes are scheduled to play for the Trenton Heroes. Group and individual pictures of the Trenton Heroes will be taken by Jon Shannon at 5 p.m. at Griffin Field. The concession stand opens at 5:30 p.m. with a menu of grilled hot dogs, chili/cheese dogs, nacho chips and cheese, homemade brownies and beverages. Opening ceremonies are at 6 p.m. with Dave Burkeybile serving as the emcee and play by play announcer. Trenton Hero Toni Allen will sing “The Star Spangled Banner,” followed by the throwing out of the ceremonial first pitch by Dr. John Holcomb in honor of Larry Leininger, a supporter and organizer of the softball event who passed away earlier this year. Dr. Holcomb, a long-time friend of Mr. Leininger, will throw the ball to Leininger’s daughter, Shelly. There will also be a balloon launch in memory of Mr. Leininger. An auction of donated items is also planned. The list includes two gift baskets of homemade canned items from Sam Day, an autographed batting helment from Kansas City Royals player Whit Merrifield, a signed poster of retired Kansas City Chiefs tight See Games, Page 8
What’s Inside Sports .........Sec. 1, page 2 & 3 Op/Ed.................Sec. 1, page 4 Community .......Sec. 1, page 5 Agriculture ........Sec. 1, page 6 Local News .....Sec. 1, page 7-9 Comics ...............Sec. 2, page 1 NASCAR ...........Sec. 2, page 3 Dear Annie.........Sec. 2, page 4 Crosswords........Sec. 2, page 4