FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_shopper 4-22-20.qxp 10/8/20 11:08 AM Page 1
Friday, October 9, 2020
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 157th Year - No. 11
75¢
per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Twelve Pages & 1 Insert
Briefs... Columbu us Day Closings s Several offices and businesses have announced their plans to close on Monday, Oct. 12 in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. Closed will be the Trenton Post Office (no box or home delivery), Trenton City Hall/Trenton Municipal Utilities (no city council meeting), the Grundy County Courthouse, the Grundy County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce/License Bureau, the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library, the Grundy County Health Department, the North Missouri Children’s Advocacy Center, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (the Career Center will also be closed), Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri, Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri, Farmers State Bank, Citizens Bank and Trust, US Bank and BTC Bank. The Trenton Republican-Times office will be open regular hours on Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tren nto on R-9 Bo oard Me eeting Photo Courtesy of Kris Ockenfels
As part of the Trenton High School/Middle School construction project, building the Performing Arts Center in its current location has allowed for creation of a courtyard, which has now been completed with the installation of benches and tables. The space is being used for lunch on nice days and is also available for outdoor classrooms, meetings and club activities. It also serves as an optional corridor to get from the high school to the choir, band, vo-ag and art rooms.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Public Hearing Held
CUP Request Turned Down Following public hearings on Monday night, the Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission turned down one request, approved a second and moved a third to a hearing before the Trenton Board of Adjustments. Assistant City Clerk Tracy Maberry said the commission turned down a conditional use permit request from Gabe Chrisman and Erma Newton, who planned to build an outdoor theater on property Ms. Chrisman owns at 2306 Oak St. and 2211 Stature St. Ms. Chrisman appeared before the commission to present information about plans for the property, which she said would include the showing of videos during times when the weather would allow. In-person viewing would be available, but she said there would also be
GRUNDY COUNTY
room on the property for persons to park vehicles and watch as well. The property was described as around 2 1/2 acres in size. Ms. Mayberry said three persons attended the meeting via Zoom and expressed concerns regarding increased traffic in the area as well as noise and late hours. Ms. Chrisman said she didn’t believe noise would be an issue. It was noted some activities might not start until after dark during the warmer weather and not conclude until late in the evening. Ms. Maberry said Ms. Chrisman indicated activities would take place in the spring, summer and fall. Commission member Donnie Vandevender said he was not in favor of locating a business in what he described as a “res-
idential area.” City Administrator Ron Urton said the area was zoned as “mixed use,” allowing both residential and certain types of businesses to operate there. Commission chairman Jean Peace also commented she did not feel this was an area for the type of business being proposed. The request will be forwarded to the Trenton City Council for final action with the recommendation from the commission. Ms. Mayberry said the council will consider the request at its Oct. 26 meeting. The commission gave unanimous approval for a request from Hope Haven Industries to rezone property at 3300 Pleasant Plain from 0-1 open space to I-2 See Zoning, Page 5
Stabilizing Thompson River Bank
Commission Will Aid Project The Grundy County Commission voted on Tuesday morning to enroll in a cost-share program through the Missouri Department of Transportation. According to information provided by Grundy County Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray, associate commissioners Joe Brinser and Don Sager voted to enroll in the program. The county will work in conjunction with the NRCS Streambank Stabilization Program to stabilize the river bank, northwest of the Thompson River Bridge on Highway 6. The proposed current cost incurred by Grundy County would be approximately $43,750 to assist with the $350,000 project. A request for proposals is being prepared for a 911 communications buildout project, which would replace existing radio transmission equipment used by law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel. The proposal will include a hybrid system to allow both analog and digital format radios to be used on the system. It would also be required to meet the state standard of 90/90 coverage on mobile radio units. It was announced the Community Emergency Response Team will hold a training on Oct. 17.
POOSEY CONSERVATION AREA
The road and bridge department reported that work continues on FEMA sites, with employees staging fill material to be used at the Berry Bridge site in Meyers Township. It was also noted GPS coordinates for the Berry Bridge site have been submitted as requested by FEMA. There is an opening in the road and bridge department, with information available in the county clerk’s office. Ray said the commission approved CARES Act funding for the city of Trenton ($37,955.59); Newtown-Harris School District ($2,600); and Grundy County ($15,682.27). A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 for the purchase and installation of HVAC systems for the third floor of the courthouse. All persons interested in submitting bids must attend the meeting. The agenda for the Tuesday, Oct. 13 meeting includes a road and bridge report at 8:30 a.m., followed by an emergency management report at 9 a.m and an ambulance report at 10 a.m. The commission will consider CARES Act allocations at 11 a.m.
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education will meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13 in the high school commons. The meeting is open to the public, however, it can also be accessed virtually at https://meet.google.com/tkqbypv-wfm?hs=122&authuser=0. Items on the announced agenda include policy updates, early graduation requests, updates on the school calendar and federal programs, GEC grant requests, ELL/SPED and testing program evaluations, parentteacher conferences, principal reports and comments from Superintendent Mike Stegman. An executive session for personnel is also planned.
Fllu Sho ots On n Octt. 15--16 Flu shots for children and families will be given by the Grundy County Health Department on Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16, by appointment. Thursday’s schedule will be from 3 to 6 p.m. while Friday’s schedule will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Vaccinations will be administered curbside on the west side of the health department building at the corner of 17th and Lincoln streets. Participants are asked to wear a mask. Vaccines are available for those age six months and older, including the high dose vaccine for those age 65 and older, on both days. Persons with insurance, Medicaid or Medicare are asked to bring their cards for billing purposes. Donations are accepted for people who are uninsured. Persons are asked to call the GCHD office at 359-4196 to schedule an appointment. Consent forms, which are required and should be filled out prior to arrive, are available for download at the health department website, www.grundycountyhealth.org.
COVID D-19 Upd date New cases of COVID-19 continue to go up in Grundy County while active case numbers remain steady. According to information provided on Thursday morning by the Grundy County Health Department, there are 287 total cases in the county, up 21 since the report provided to the Republican-Times on Monday. Active numbers as of Thursday are listed at 51, down two from Monday. The number of deaths attributed to the virus remains at eight. Area county numbers available as of Thursday morning include Livingston County, 320 (78 active, 3 deaths); Linn County, 259 (79 active, 7 deaths); Sullivan, 236 (21 active); Daviess, 159 (active number unavailable); Carroll, 157 (20 active, 2 deaths); Caldwell, 149 (24 active, 2 deaths); Harrison, 145 (22 active, 1 death); Putnam, 41 (5 active, 2 deaths); and Mercer, 31 (active number not available). According to the COVID-19 Dashboard, which appears on the state reporting site, showmestrong.mo.gov, Missouri has 137,156 reported positive cases to date, including 2,259 deaths. Region H of the state, which includes Grundy County, has reported 6,230 cases, including 72 deaths.
No Tour Stops Along Trail
Annual Fall Drive Event Set For Sunday, Oct. 18 With a few modifications, the 34th annual fall driving tour at the Poosey Conservation Area will take place from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Missouri Department of Conservation has changed the format slightly as a precaution against COVID-19. But the annual driving tour uphill and down on winding gravel roads through forest and woodlands will proceed. This popular event allows people to ride or drive on area service roads that are normally
closed to public vehicle traffic. A vehicle (or other mode of transport) with high clearance is recommended, as shallow creeks will be crossed. Each year, the tour draws families and community groups riding on towed trailers or on wagons drawn by pickups or horses. Couples in horse-drawn buggies are common as are riders on horses. Cars and the occasional bicyclist also take the tour on the gravel roads. Visitors can enjoy driving or riding slowly to see the fall foliage. The tour traverses rugged
National Weather Service
It willl be resort weather here in north Missouri this weekend with sunny skies expected all through Columbus Day on Monday. Highs will be in the low 80s and lows will be in the upper 50s and low 60s. The high at Trenton on Monday, Oct. 5 was 72 while Tuesday’s high was 83. The high on Wednesday was 84, with a low of 57. Wednesday’s high at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 80, the low was 54.
terrain with some steep uphill climbs and downhill descents. The tour begins at Pike’s Lake, with the entrance to the lake reached off Route W and County Road 502 in Livingston County. Gates open at noon and the last vehicle will be allowed to begin at 4 p.m. Due to COVID-19, MDC will not have a tour brochure and stops along the way. In the past, those stops have included demonstrations of conservation practices and a chance to discuss nature or natural resource issues with MDC
staff. Visitors can still stop along the way to rest the horses, picnic, hike a trail or visit the limestone outcrop above the Panther’s Den. The MDC requests people maintain safe physical distancing when out of vehicles, and please wear masks when interacting with MDC staff. For tour information, persons can contact MDC Resource Forester Samantha Anderson at 660-646-6122. Maps and information about Poosey Conservation Area are available at the website, https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZSS.
What’s Inside... It’s been a busy sports week for THS and TMS fall sports athletes. Check out pages 2 and 3 of today’s RepublicanTimes for stories involving the tennis, softball, volleyball, golf and football teams.
Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It”
PERFECT!
www.republican-times.com
What’s Inside
Sports ....................page 2 & 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 NASCAR .......................page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Amendments..........page 7 & 8 Comics ...........................page 9 Dear Annie ..................page 10 Comics .......................page 109