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Friday, December 28, 2018
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 155th Year - No. 34
75¢ per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Twelve Pages & 2 Inserts
Briefs... Superintendent Input Meeting A meeting for patrons of the Trenton R-9 School District interested in providing input into the selection of the next school superintendent will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Dr. Bob Watkins of the Missouri School Boards Association will host the meeting, which will be held at 3 p.m. in the THS Commons. MSBA is assisting the R-9 Board of Education in the selection process to replace Dan Wiebers, who is leaving the district in June to take the superintendent’s position in Chillicothe.
Commission Meeting The Grundy County Commission will meet in regular session on Tuesday, with the swearing in of officeholders elected in November. The oath of office will be given to officeholders elected in the November election at 9 a.m. in the courtroom located on the third floor. Those expected to be sworn in include incoming Grundy County Presiding Commissioner Phil Ray as well as incumbents Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard, Grundy County Associate Judge Steve Hudson, Circuit Clerk and Recorder Becky Stanturf and Prosecuting Attorney Carrie Lamm Clark.
First Day Hike R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
The 2018 edition of Holiday Hoops is in full swing at the Ketcham Community Center, with games being played through next Monday, Dec. 31. The Trenton High School girls are among the teams taking part in the event. During last Saturday’s matchup with St. Joseph Lafayette, point guard Ainsley Tolson, right, passes the ball off to Maci Moore, who then scored two of her game-high 30 points in the THS win.
2018 IN REVIEW
May, June, July, August
New Year’s Eve Closings
Personnel Top Area Story List Editor’s Note: This is part two of a multi-part story, recapping the top stories in Trenton and Grundy County during 2018. May Kayla Graham was named the director of the Senate Bill 40 of Grundy County, also known as Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled in Grundy County. She began her duties May 1 and replaced Sam Day, who retired from the position. Mary Ritko, who had served as financial secretary of the Trenton R-9 School District for 46 years, was the subject of a story in the Republican-Times. Mrs. Ritko retired from the position and was replaced by Mona Loyd. Commencement ceremonies were held at North Central Missouri College, with Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft addressing students in the morning ceremony and Dr. Albert Cross addressing the afternoon graduates. The class of 2018 featured 420 students. Dave Bain of Trenton was named the foundation development director for the Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation. Graduation ceremonies were held at Trenton High School following a week of activities including baccalaureate and senior awards night. Charlie Bacon was the speaker for the baccalaureate, with vale-
Crowder State Park will be the site for a “First Day Hike” on Tuesday, Jan. 1. Park staff will lead hikers along the 3.2 mile Tall Oaks Trail, where participants will be able to view various nature communities found within the park. The hike begins at 2 p.m. at Shelter 3, located in the main parking lot, and will continue until 5 p.m. Hot cocoa will be served at the end of the hike.
dictorian Emily Kasinger addressing her 76 classmates and Jayden Roeder giving the salutatorian speech during commencement exercises. Madyson Williams was the valedictorian of the Grundy R-5 High School Class of 2018, while Zoe Littleton was named salutatorian. Other area top students included Princeton R-5-Lauren Cox, valedictorian, and Kasen Purdin, salutatorian; Tri-County R-7 at Jamesport - Lilly Simons, valedictorian, and Macey Ward, salutatorian; Harrison County R-4 at Gilman City - Mitchell Sievering, valedictorian, and Megan Cottrell, salutatorian; and Newtown-Harris - Kendra Johnson, valedictorian, and Katie Blanchard, salutatorian. Students selected to receive the “Top Dawg” Award for the 2017-2018 school year were fifth graders Traeh Swank and Mason Rongey, sixth graders Jena Harris and Cade Claycomb; seventh graders Eliana Cowling and Levi Johnson; and eighth graders Jaica Clark and Colton Roy. Trenton R-9 special education instructor Connie Olmstead was recognized as the R-9 “Teacher of the Year.” Mrs. Olmstead retired at the end of the school year after 26 years in the district. Other nominees for the award included Tim Gilham, instrumental music; Darcie Taylor, TMS
science; and Amy Overstreet, Rissler Elementary art instructor. The Republican-Times announced that effective June 4, the paper would begin publishing twice a week, with all papers being mailed to subscribers rather than delivered by newspaper carrier. June Nestle took over ownership and operation of the former ConAgra Food Plant on Harris Avenue. Kevin Bailey of Trenton was named Chieftain of the Boy Scout Tribe of MicO-Say. In his role, he served as titular head of Mic-O-Say ceremonies during the summer of 2018. Trenton Police Chief Tommy Wright resigned from his position after serving for five years. Wright came to Trenton in October 2012 from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Wright was the subject of a feature story in the R-T prior to leaving the office. Rex Ross was named the interim chief and was later named the permanent chief of police. Tiffany Otto of Trenton was hired to serve as the principal at Rissler Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year. A graduate of Grundy R-5 High School, Mrs. Otto had been serving as middle school principal at Gallatin and had also See Year-End, Page 5
Three offices/businesses have announced their plans to close on Monday, Dec. 31 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. Closed will be the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library, the Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri and KCP&L. The Trenton Post Office will open on Monday for regular business hours, but will be closed on Tuesday in observance of New Year’s Day. The Republican-Times office will be open until noon on Monday, but will be closed on Tuesday.
Trenton City Council Filings Three more individuals have filed for the Trenton City Council subject to the April 2 election. Harry Kately of 916 Normal St. is seeking the third ward position currently held by Travis Elbert. Also filing is incumbent first ward councilman Glen Briggs of 701 E. Fifth St., who is being challenged by Kenny Weaver. In the second ward, Robert Romesburg of 826 W. 15th St. has filed for the seat currently held by Larry Porter. There are no candidates in the fourth ward, a post that is currently held by Jennifer Hottes. Dr. Nick McHargue previously filed for re-election as mayor, which is a fouryear term. Persons wanting to file for the council can do so during regular business hours at Trenton City Hall. The filing deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Happy New Year from the staff of the Trenton Republican-Times
Moving To New Location In January
GREEN HILLS WOMEN’S SHELTER
Volunteers Are Needed To Help With Expansion The Green Hills Women’s Shelter is looking for a few good volunteers. With the shelter moving to a new 8,500square-foot building late next month, additional help will be needed to assist in providing various services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse who will be using the facility. Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Sager said there are many jobs with which individuals can assist, ranging from answering the telephone (including the shelter’s 24-hour hotline) and answering mail to sharing interests and skills such as financial literacy and cooking. Sorting donations, writing thank you notes and providing in-kind services such as car repairs, plumbing, lawn care, snow
removal, etc. are also other areas in which individuals can assist. “This will be a big building we have to maintain and we will have plenty of jobs for volunteers to do,” Ms. Sager said. The new facility will offer space to house up to 21 adults and children, doubling the capacity size of the current building. There will also be both residential and educational wings, providing living space as well as rooms for classes, recreation and private counseling. An outside area will provide space for a garden as well as a kennel to house pets of shelter residents. “We really need people who will be able to be in various parts of the building and grounds
National Weather Service The weather forecast shows highs ranging from 29 to 41 and no precipitation until overnight on Sunday. Recent high temperatures include Dec. 21, 39; Dec. 22, 41; Dec. 23, 44; Dec. 24, 47; Dec. 25, 48; and Dec. 26, 50. The overnight low was 36. A total of .95 of an inch of rain was recorded over the past several days. There was no report from the Government Weather Weather Station near Spickard.
throughout the day, helping with whatever happens to be going on,” Ms. Sager said. Ms. Sager went on to say that volunteers can choose the amount of time they wish to spend at the shelter, adding that help is needed any time throughout the day. “You can come in daily, once a week, once a month, whatever works for that individual,” Ms. Sager noted. “We appreciate any time someone can come in and help.” To become a volunteer, individuals must be at least 18 years of age. There is an application process to be completed, which can be found on the shelter website, www.greenhillswomensshelter.net. Volunteers will also be required
to pass a background check through the Missouri Criminal Record Check and Family Care Registry (registration information also on the shelter website). Once volunteers are approved, there will be 48 hours of training required, which will include information in care training as well as domestic and sexual violence training. Monthly two-hour trainings/team meetings are also required for all volunteers. For more information about the volunteer program as well as to learn about volunteer opportunities, persons can go to the shelter website or contact Ms. Sager at the shelter, 359-3297. The shelter also has a Facebook page.
What’s Inside... The Ketcham Community Center has been a busy place as the NCMC Holiday Hoops continues. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times with a recap of high school basektball games being played.
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What’s Inside Sports....................pages 2 & 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 Community ...................page 5 Calendars ......................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Local News ...........page 7 & 11 Comics ...........................page 8 Dear Annie ....................page 9 Crosswords..................page 10