R-Times_2-28-20

Page 1

FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_Layout 1 2/27/20 2:10 PM Page 1

Friday, February 28, 2020

REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON

Trenton, MO 64683

Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 52

AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION

Filing Gets Under Way

Commission Race Develops Filing got under way on Tuesday for the Aug. 4 Primary Election and Grundy County already has one race to be decided. Incumbent Second District Commissioner Joe Brinser, a Republican who filed for re-election on Tuesday, got opposition on Wednesday when Brad Chumbley filed for the four-year post, also as a Republican. Five other incumbents, all Republicans, have also filed to retain their posts for another four years, including First District County Commissioner Don Sager, Sheriff Rodney Herring, Treasurer/Collector Barb Harris, Public Administrator Jill Eaton and Coroner Dewayne Slater. Nathaniel Curtis has filed for the office

of assessor, a position currently held by Kathy Veatch, who has indicated her intention to retire at the end of her term. Curtis filed as a Republican. The race for the Sixth District U.S. Congressional seat, which includes all counties in the Green Hills Area, has five candidates so far, including incumbent Republican Sam Graves of Tarkio. Democrats filing for the office are Ramona Farris of Kansas City, Charles West of Canton, Gena L. Ross of Platte City and Henry Martin of Kansas City. Statewide candidates filing so far include: Governor - Raleigh Ritter of Senaca, Mike Parson of Bolivar and James W.

NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI COLLEGE

(Jim) Neeley of Cameron, Republican; Nicole Galloway of Columbia, Jimmie Matthews of St. Louis and Antoin Johnson of St. Louis, Democrats; and Rik Combs of Lohman, Libertarian. Parson is the incumbent. Lieutetant Governor - Arnie C. (AC) Dienoff of O’Fallon and Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City, Republican; Gregory A. Upchurch of St. Charles, Democrat; and Bill Slantz of St. Charles, Libertarian. Kehoe is the incumbent. Secretary of State - John R. (Jay) Ashcroft, Republican; and Yinka Faleti of St. Louis, Democrat. Ashcroft is the inSee Election, Page 3

Possible Program Additions Reviewed

Surveys Aid In Future Planning North Central Missouri College trustees got a glimpse into what could be the future during a meeting held on Tuesday evening on the campus. NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver presented information on the ever-evolving college strategic plan as well as the results of a survey completed by area high school students. A tentative schedule of how the college could develop in the next several years was presented, including the construction of a new residence hall and book store/student center. Those facilities, Dr. Klaver said, would begin to be developed over the next year or year and a half and would likely be part of a fundraising campaign that will coincide with the college’s upcoming centennial. In looking at program additions, Dr. Klaver said the college has already implemented a co-curricular shooting club and dance team and in the fall will implement a co-curricular livestock judging team. Other co-curricular offerings that are tentatively being looked at include an instrumental ensemble and vocal ensemble, both scheduled for fall 2021, and a

drama troupe, scheduled for fall 2022. Extra-curricular programs being looked at include women’s and men’s crosscountry, fall 2021; women’s and men’s tennis, fall 2022; and women’s volleyball, fall 2023. Dr. Klaver gave a legislative update and presented information concerning upcoming meetings and the current sports teams. He also announced that State Rep. Rusty Black will be the speaker for the morning commencement exercises on May 9, with the afternoon speaker to be announced at a later date. In personnel items, Megan Pester of Trenton was hired as the marketing specialist, effective March 2. The vote was 51 with Diane Lowrey abstaining. Mrs. Pester currently serves as director of advising and that position will now have to be filled. She replaces Craig Sager, who left NCMC to take the head golf coach position at William Jewell College in Liberty. Also hired during the meeting was Shanell Mullins of Trenton, who will fill a vacant custodian position. She will be

TRENTON CITY COUNCIL

paid $10.75 per hour for the full-time position. Trustees approved tenure for three instructors - math instructor Traci Norris and nursing instructors Jamie Pittman and Lisa Schilling. Several Head Start items were brought to trustees by directors Janet Gott and Sue Ewigman for approval, including a salary adjustment for field staff, increasing the pay rate to bring them up to the new minimum wage. The increase affects all staff with wages that are below the minimum wage of $9.45 per hour as well as some who have more years of service and would be making less than newer employees due to the increase. The change goes into effect with the March payroll. Trustees gave approval for Head Start to increase the cost of blood lead tests from $10 to $14.95 and approved the Head Start 2020-2021 Child Selection Criteria for both Preschool and Early Head Start. Preschool Head Start selection criteria prioritize lower-income families and older children who will enter public school first. Early Head Start

selection criteria prioritizes low income younger children and Prenatal selection prioritizes pregnant teens. John Bennett, director of the newly formed North Central Adult Education and Literacy Group, met with the board to seek an endorsement for a grant proposal to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Adult Division to fund a plan for AEL in north central Missouri. The board voted to endorse the grant application and, if it is approved, to serve as the host fiscal agent. Bennett explained that the program, which would begin July 1 to serve Grundy, Mercer, Sullivan, Putnam, Daviess and Harrison counties, would expand to two new sites, Princeton and Milan, in addition to the current sites in Trenton and Bethany. Both new sites would offer English language education for the “substantial” international communities as well as a new high school equivalency program in Milan. The current equivalency programs in TrenSee NCMC, Page 3

75¢

per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.

Sixteen Pages & 1 Insert

Briefs... Alumni Pllan nning Meetiing Alums of Trenton High School are reminded of the annual planning meeting this Sunday, March 1 for the upcoming THS Alumni reunion. Classes are asked to send representatives to the 1:30 p.m. meeting in the BTC Bank meeting room, where mailing lists will be distributed as well as discussion held on the overall Labor Day weekend reunion. Persons are asked to park and enter on the north side of the building for the meeting, which is anticipated to last approximately one hour. Classes unable to send a representative are asked to contact officers Dr. John Holcomb or Steve Maxey to pick up a class list of addresses in preparation for the annual mailing in the spring.

Cou unty Commi ssiion Agenda a The Grundy County Commission will hold its regular weekly meeting Tuesday at the courthouse. Items on the announced agenda include an 8:30 a.m. meeting with Beth Leeper, billing director for the Grundy County Ambulance Service, a 10 a.m. meeting with Ambulance Director Steve Tracy and a 1:30 p.m. meeting with a representative from Konica Minolta to discuss cyber security. The commission was also scheduled to meet Friday morning to open bids for a truck for the road and bridge department and sign a flood plain ordinance.

SWC C D Appre eciiation Lu unch The Grundy County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its annual appreciation luncheon and awards presentation on Friday, March 6. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lager Building on the NCMC Barton Farm Campus. In addition to the meal, awards will be presented to the 2020 Cooperators of the Year, David and Bonnie Kramer, and the 2020 Soil Health Stewards of the Year, John and Frances Engleman. The awards ceremony will take place at noon.

P&Z He earings Set The Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission will hold two public hearings at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16 at city hall in connection with the construction of a new building to house the Trenton Orscheln store. Orscheln Property Management, in care of Crockett Engineering, is seeking a conditional use permit for physical improvements to subdivided land on property at 1840 E. 28th St. as well as approval of a final plat on that same property.

Coun ty y Proper tiies Fo or Sale Grundy County Collector-Treasurer Barbara Harris has announced she has a list of properties that have gone beyond the third offering in the county tax sale and can now be purchased per state statute (RSMO 140.260.8). Properties that fail to receive a bid after the third offering are eligible to be sold. A list of those properties in Grundy County can now be viewed in the office of the collector-treasurer, located on the second floor of the courthouse.

Bids Approved

Seven Structures On Demo List The Trenton City Council approved the 2019-20 demolition program list as well as two bids during a meeting on Monday night. Following the recommendation of the Building and Nuisance Board, the council agreed to take down seven structures while keeping within the $30,000 that has been budgeted for the work. Total cost of the work will be $34,750, however, cost-share agreements made with four of the owners will decrease that cost to $24,500. The city also has an additional cost of $4,836 for inspection fees, abatement and advertising, making the final cost to the city of $29,336. Structures slated for demo-

lition are located at 1409 Lulu St., owned by Russell and Bea Shaw; 701 E. Sixth St., owned by Jim and Mary Drake; 1307 Harris Ave., owned by Ty Bush; 1314 Norton St., owned by Bret and Penny Buswell; 1415 Lulu St., owned by Darrell and Amanda Williams; 1802 Carnes St., owned by Ronnie McLain; and 402 W. 12th St., owned by Crystal Orr. The Shaws, Drakes, Buswells and McLain have indicated they will be providing funds to help tear down their structures while the city will be responsible for the cost of the other three demolitions. Building Inspector Wes Barone said that the city has See Council, Page 3

Photo Courtesy of Pleasant View R-6 School

Winners from the Pleasant View R-6 Science Fair, held Feb. 20, have been announced. The overall winner was seventh grader Tyler Dixon (front row, center) while seventh grader Astrid Soriano (front row, left) placed second and seventh grader Remington Olmstead (front row, right) was third. The top two winners in the seventh and eighth grade division were Dixon and Miss Soriano. First place in the sixth grade class was Kinsley Allnutt (second row, fourth from left) and second place went to Brennon Mills (not pictured). The overall winners will be competing at the regional science fair in St. Joseph on March 27. Also pictured are, from left, row two, Hayden Pipes, Olivia Tabbert, Seanacie Ireland, Miss Allnutt, Carley McBee, Cristy Stretch, Adam Fender, Abbye Johnson; third row, Kruz Ulberg, Kallie Curd, Jake Black; and back row, Nolan Lopez, Reagan Schmidt, Grayson Little, Ashten Johnson, Hunter Limkemann and Jacole Simpson.

National Weather Service

It looks like a great weekend with sunny skies on Saturday and Sunday and highs reaching into the low 60s. Rain will enter the picture on Sunday night and Monday with a chance of snow on Tuesday. The high at Monday, Feb. 24 was 46 with .08 of an inch of rain. Tuesday’s high was 44 and Wednesday’s high was 39, the low was 27. There was no report from the Government Weather Station near Spickard.

What’s Inside... GFG Ag Services has announced several changes to its business that will go into effect on March 1. See page 6 of today’s Republican-Times to find out what is going on at the Trenton facility.

Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It”

BEAUTIFUL!

www.republican-times.com

What’s Inside

Sports.............................page 2 Local News ....................page 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Thank a Farmer ...........page 7 Across Missouri ..........page 11 Comics .........................page 12 Crosswords..................page 13


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.