FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_Layout 1 3/13/20 10:28 AM Page 1
Friday, March 13, 2020
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Fourteen Pages - 2 Sections & 1 Insert
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 56
Trenton, MO 64683
75¢
per copy
TRENTON CITY COUNCIL
Wage Discussion
TIF Policy Gets Council OK
R-T Photo/Diane Lowrey
The Trenton High School Instrumental Music Department put the final touches to its state contest pieces during a concert on Monday night in the THS gym. The percussion orchestra, pictured above, the brass and woodwind bands and the symphonic band all performed the selections they will play before judges at the state instrumental music contest on March 31 at Platte County High School. Ethan Stewart is the THS Band Director.
TRENTON R-9 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Briefs...
Salary Proposal Approved
Committee To Discuss Insurance Coverage A proposal increasing the base salary for teachers in the Trenton R-9 School District next year was approved by members of the board of education during a meeting on Tuesday night. On a vote of 7-0, the board agreed to add $700 to the base salary on the district salary schedule as well as movement by one step for years of service. The beginning salary for a first-year teacher is now $33,000, which Superintendent Mike Stegman called “competitive” with districts in the area. Certified substitute salaries were also increased to $12 per hour ($90 per day). Non-certified salaries were increased by 30 cents, with the beginning salary now at $11.35 per hour. Movement for years of service was also approved as was an increase in substitute non-certified salaries to $11.35 per hour ($85.13 per day). The board also voted to add the drama club sponsor to the extra duty schedule, with a $700 stipend for that position. The entire package is estimated to cost $188,274, which includes salary increases, retirement and FICA. Stegman noted that amount is based on current staff and could be reduced depending on the employment of individuals to fill open positions. The expenditure would leave the district fund balance at around 25 percent. The board also decided to leave health insurance coverage at a $602 per month/per employee maximum or a full single health insurance policy, whichever is less. The Salary and Welfare Committee had asked the board to provide an increase of up to $50 to pay for
See R-9 Page 8
The Trenton High School/Trenton Middle School Mascots will hold their annual pancake feed on Saturday in the THS Commons. Serving will be from 7 to 11 a.m. The menu for the eatwhat-you-want, pay-what-you-want event includes pancakes, biscuits and gravy, water, juice and coffee. Proceeds go to help with mascot program expenses.
See COVID-19, Page 8
See Boards, Page 8
Trum mp, Biiden Ge et Vo otes President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden were the top vote-getters in Grundy County during the March 10 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary Election. Only 1,366 voters (23.67 percent of registered voters) went to the polls in Grundy County on Tuesday, with Donald Trump getting 886 of the 889 votes cast on the Republican ticket. Former Vice President Joe Biden got 305 of the 456 votes cast on the Democratic ballot, with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders picking up 116 votes and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg getting 12 votes. Libertarian candidate Jacob Hornberger got all three votes cast on that ballot, while Howie Hawkins got the one vote cast on the Green Party ballot and Don Blankenship got one vote cast on the Constitution Party ballot (the other vote was uncommitted). The results mirrored that of the entire state of Missouri, where President Trump and Biden were winners on their respective ballots.
National Weather Service
Clouds will be moving in on Friday with rain expected on Friday night and Saturday, possibly mixed with snow on Saturday morning. Clearing skies on Sunday with a high of 45. Lows will be as low as 29. Trenton’s high on Monday, March 9 was 60 with 1.41 inches of rain. Tuesday’s high was 44. Wednesday’s high was 65 and the low was 38. Wednesday’s high at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 61, the low was 36.
No o Visitors At Sunnyviiew Until further notice, Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments will not be allowing visitors to the facility due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. Earlier this week, the nursing home had announced it would be restricting visits but has since decided to stop visits altogther. A meeting was to be held on Thursday afternoon to address the situation and to come up with a timeframe as to when visitors may be allowed back in.
The best way for persons to protect themselves from contracting a respiratory illness like COVID-19 is with common sense precautions: • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an
What’s Inside... The NCMC Pirates have been given the number nine seed in the NJCAA-Division II National Basketball Tourament in Danville, IL. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a story and the tournament bracket.
Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It”
FLAKES?
Personnel Top Area Agendas
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available. Persons who are sick are asked take these steps to prevent the spread to others: • Stay home. • Cough or sneeze into an elbow or
Co ommis ssio on Se ets Age enda The Grundy County Commission will meet in regular session on Tuesday at the courthouse. Items on the announced agenda include a 9 a.m. proclamation with the Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled, the opening of mowing bids at 9:30 a.m. and a 10 a.m. meeting with Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District Chief Kenny Roberts, Trenton Fire Chief Brandon Gibler and Galt Fire and Rescue Chief Terry Wynne. The commission will also hold its regular weekly meeting with Ambulance Director Steve Tracy at 11 a.m.
No Visitors At Local Nursing Home
person to person. Grundy County Health Department Director Elizabeth Gibson said the virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. There is no vaccine for COVID-19.
See City, Page 8
Personnel items were addressed at meetings this week of the Princeton R-5, Pleasant View R-6, Tri-County R-7, Grundy R-5, Laredo R-7 and Newtown-Harris boards of education. Princeton R-5 The Princeton R-5 Board of Education held two meetings this week, including a special closed session on Wednesday. Superintendent Jerry Girdner reported that during Wednesday’s meeting, the board approved Tyler Radewald to fill a vacant custodial/maintenance position as well as approved Bill Goodin as the girls basketball coach for the 2020-21 school year. The board also heard comments from the community regarding school personnel. During the regular meeting on Monday, the board voted to approve the 2020-21 salary schedule for certified staff as well as the wage schedule for non-certified staff. A junior high/senior high cooperative agreement for football with North Mercer was approved for next year as were several board policy updates. The board heard an update on maintenance projects and were told Mike Homedale and Phil Stanley will be volunteering next week to complete interior painting in the new locker room. During a closed session, the board approved teaching contracts for the 2020-21 school year and accepted the resignation of elementary teacher Jillian Marsh. Athletic and activity extra duty contracts were approved and the board heard comments from community members regarding school personnel. The next meeting of the board will be held on Monday, April 13. Pleasant View R-6 The Pleasant View R-6
No COVID-19 Testing Given In County Grundy County Health Department officials are advising that no individuals in Grundy County have been tested for COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Gov. Mike Parson announced in a press conference on March 7 that Missouri has its first case to test presumptive positive for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The case is travel-related (travel to Italy) from St. Louis County. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has tested a total of 26 individuals as of March 7 for COVID-19. Three additional tests remain in progress. The coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China is a new (novel) virus and causes COVID-19, which is a respiratory illness that can spread from
working with the city on the TIF project, the policy is needed to conform with state statutes. The TIF project involving Orscheln, including plans to develop property for a new store location, is to be discussed at a meeting of the Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission on March 16. The council discussed, but took no action, on a proposal to set up a cash reserve policy for the city. A reserve policy is already in place for Trenton Municipal Utilities and City
SCHOOL BOARDS Monthly Meetings
Mascot Pa anc cake Fe eed
health insurance coverage. The board has received five requests for proposals from companies wanting to serve as the district’s insurance broker to assist the district in finding the most affordable coverage. Board members Cliff Roeder and Dr. David Whitaker will be meeting with members of the Salary and Welfare Committee to go over the proposals and make a recommendation to the board at its April meeting. With the establishment of certified and noncertified salaries, the board also set administrative salaries following an executive session at the end of the regular meeting. Salaries include Superintendent Mike Stegman, $113,058; Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels, $90,090; Director of Special Education Tara Hoffman, $60,390; THS Principal Kasey Bailey, $74,910; TMS Principal Daniel Gott, $75,240; Rissler Elementary Principal Tiffany Otto, $72,720; THS Assistant Principal John Cowling, $64,020; TMS Assistant Principal Jackie Price, $62,700; and Rissler Elementary Assistant Principal Adriane Todd, $56,100. The board approved a bid from Jason Shuler Concrete and Construction for $50,162 for concrete work at the new concession stand under construction at C.F. Russell Stadium. Dennis Gutshall, who is serving as project manager for the R-9 construction project, said it was the lowest of two bids received and the work being planned should take care of drainage issues in the southwest corner of the stadium, where the structure is being built. The area is currently as-
GRUNDY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
An ordinance allowing a Tax Increment Financing project involving Orscheln Farm and Home to move forward was approved by the Trenton City Council at its meeting on Monday night. On a 7-0 vote, with Danny Brewer absent, the council approved an ordinance setting the procedures to be followed in soliciting bids and proposals for all TIF projects in Trenton, including the current Orscheln project at the intersection of Highway 65 and 28th Street. According to Megan Miller of Gilmore and Bell, which is
www.republican-times.com
What’s Inside
Sports.................Sec. 1, page 2 Local ...........Sec. 1, page 3 & 8 Op/Ed.................Sec. 1, page 4 Community .......Sec. 1, page 5 Agriculture ........Sec. 1, page 6 NASCAR ...........Sec. 1, Page 9 Across MO.........Sec. 2, page 1 Comics ...............Sec. 2, page 2 Crosswords........Sec. 2, page 3