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Tuesday, March 24, 2020
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683 COVID-19
75¢
per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Ten Pages
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 58
Briefs...
Grundy County, Surrounding Area
Adjusting To The Coronavirus
R -5 Board To o Meet The Grundy R-5 Board of Education will hold a special meeting at noon on Wednesday, March 25 in the business room at the high school in Galt. Items on the announced agenda include staff resignations, discussion regarding the coronavirus impact and an executive session for personnel and student matters.
R -9 Lunc ches Ava ailablle Fo or All Lo ocal Children The Trenton R-9 School District has announced it will be providing lunch for ALL youth in the Trenton community, ages 18 and under, who need a meal while school is closed. Parents/guardians can call the school at 3594383 from 8 to 9:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, for a meal that day. Meals can be picked up from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the circle drive at the high school
Grundy County Health Department officials report there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county, however, there are two positive cases reported in this region - Clinton (Cameron) and Adair (Kirksville) counties. Statewide, as of Monday morning, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 106 positive cases. The health department said it has delivered notices requiring that all food service establishments in the county close their eat-in areas until April 6. Restaurants may continue offering carry-out, delivery and curbside service. The health department remains open for regular business hours, but will alter office services being provided to prioritize COVID-19 response and to protect the health of its employees. Persons who are ill should not come to the health department, which is not testing for COVID-19. The health department is reminding all residents to continue practicing good handwashing and cough etiquette. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath and persons believing they have symptoms or have been exposed should stay home to seek medical care. Persons should also call ahead prior to going to the doctor. The city of Trenton has no plans at this time (Monday) to send employees home. However, City Administrator Ron Urton said there are plans in place on what direction the city will take depending on information the city receives from state and local health officials. City Hall and Trenton Municipal Utilities are currently closed to customers. ********** The rules for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic changed over the weekend when Missouri Gov. Mike Parson ordered statewide social distancing, which resulted in many businesses having to close or severely restrict the services they offer. During a news conference on Saturday, Gov. Parson said that Missouri residents should stay home if at all possible, going out for only “essential needs.” Places such as the grocery store, gas station, banks and parks are allowed under the governor’s order so long as the necessary precations are taken and maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including maintaining at least six feet of distance between all individuals who are not family members. Residents were also barred from visiting nursing
U.S. ECONOMY
NCM MC Sitte Cha ange es
Photo Courtesy of Kris Ockenfels
While other Trenton R-9 School staff members remain at home due to COVID-19 concerns, cooks at Trenton High School were busy on Monday morning preparing lunches for local youth. The R-9 District is offering lunches on Monday through Friday to all children ages 18 and under who live in the Trenton community (see notice, at left). Those assisting in the lunch preparation were, from left, Sara Huffstutter, Cyndi Tabbert, Tamra Corbin, Lori Shuler and Ruth Blackburn.
homes, long-term care facilities, retirement homes or assisted living homes unless they are providing critical assistance. In addition, restaurants, bars and food courts were barred from in-house dining, limited to only drivethrough, pickup or delivery options. Schools were also ordered to remain closed. The order by the governor was issued through 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 6. Below is a list of announced operation changes from local and area businesses and services: The Trenton License Bureau has closed, effective on Monday, and will remain closed until at least April 6. At that time, the situation will be re-evaluated to determine whether or not to extend the closing time. The Department of Revenue has implemented automatic extensions for expiring driver licenses and motor vehicle registrations. The 60-day extensions, effective immediately, include vehicle owners with registrations or license plates expiring in March and April (owners will be able to continue operating their vehicles on Missouri roadways without penalty until they can apply for renewal); the time frame in which a vehicle safety and emission inspection is valid for March and April license plate expirations and applicants for a vehicle title will not be assessed a late penalty when visiting a license office, effective immediately; and valid Missouri driver licenses, nondriver licenses and noncommercial instruction permits with original expiration dates of March 1 through April 30 (the approved extension does not waive the mandatory retesting requirement for per-
sons who have allowed their license to expire for more than 184 days) Individuals who were provided notice to complete additional testing as part of a medical review program requirement will have 60 days to complete those requirements as well. The Emergency Services Complex, located at 1001 East 17th St., has been closed to the public until further notice. Trenton Fire Chief Brandon Gibler said the TFD, the Grundy County Ambulance Service and Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District remain ready to respond to emergencies, however, in the interest of public safety, no visitors are being allowed. Persons with an emergency are asked to call 911 while non-emergency phone calls for the TFD should be directed to 359-5552. The Grundy County Ambulance Service asks those who need to pay on an account to mail the payment to them at 1001 E. 17th St. Suite 1, Trenton, MO 64683. Questions or concerns about a bill can be directed to 359-4422 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. North Central Missouri College has announced that the 2020 commencement ceremonies, scheduled for May 9, have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled. NCMC said that the college will be honoring graduates through various capacities on the school website, social media and other outlets. Information regarding their alternative celebrations will be forthcoming. The college will also be closing the campus on Fridays until April 3. Business hours will now be from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through See COVID-19, Page 3
Dollar Limit Removed
Reserve Will Buy Additional U.S. Debt WASHINGTON (AP) — In its boldest effort to protect the U.S. economy from the coronavirus, the Federal Reserve says it will buy as much government debt as it deems necessary and will also begin lending to small and large businesses and local governments to help them weather the crisis. The Fed's announcement Monday removes any dollar limits from its plans to support the flow of credit through an economy that has been ravaged by the viral outbreak. The central bank's allout effort has now gone beyond even the extraordinary drive it made to rescue the economy from the 2008 financial crisis. "The coronavirus pandemic is causing tremendous hardship across the United States and around the world," the Fed said in a statement. “Our nation’s first priority is to care for those afflicted and to limit the further spread of the virus. While great uncertainty re-
mains, it has become clear that our economy will face severe disruptions. Aggressive efforts must be taken across the public and private sectors to limit the losses to jobs and incomes and to promote a swift recovery once the disruptions abate.” Financial markets sharply reversed themselves after the announcement but then fell back again after the market opened. By mid-morning, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down about 1.5%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond fell, a sign that more investors are willing to purchase the securities. In unleashing its aggressive new efforts, the Fed is trying both to stabilize the economic standstill and allay panic in financial markets. Many corporations and city and state governments are in desperate need of loans to pay bills and maintain operations as their revenue from customers or taxpayers
National Weather Service
Partly sunny skies on Wednesday, with evening rain possible. Cloudy on Thursday with evening rain. Highs will reach 63 on Wednesday with lows in the mid 40s. Thursday’s high at Trenton was 74, Friday’s high was 49 and Saturday’s high was 47. Sunday’s high was 38, the low was 33 and onehalf inch of snow fell. Rain totaled .83 of an inch of rain last week. Sunday’s high near Spickard was 36, the low was 42 with .36 of an inch of rain.
collapses. That need has escalated demand for cash. In the meantime, large businesses have been drawing, as much as they can, on their existing borrowing relationships with banks. The intensifying needs for cash means that banks and other investors are seeking to rapidly unload Treasuries, short-term corporate debt, municipal bonds and other securities. The Fed's move to step in and act as a buyer of last resort is intended to provide that needed cash. The Fed's actions increase pressure on Congress to approve a nearly $2 trillion stimulus package that stalled late Sunday. The bill includes funds that would help backstop the Fed's lending. Many economists say that whatever financial support Congress eventually provides will likely be even more important than the Fed's intervention. And they warn that such fiscal help needs to come soon.
The Fed’s intervention is not a substitute for fiscal stimulus,” said Joseph Gagnon, a former Fed economist who is now senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "Let's hope Congress passes something quickly.’’ Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, a tax and advisory firm, said that if Congress can pass the legislation and have it signed into law by Tuesday, banks could start making loans to small and medium-sized businesses, with the Fed's support, by Friday. “It is dependent on the political authorities getting their ducks in a row and passing a bill,” he said. In its announcement Monday, the Fed said it will establish three new lending facilities that will provide up to $300 billion by purchasing corporate bonds, a wider range of municipal
The All-Northwest District Basketball Team, as selected by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters, has been announced. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a list of area players recognized for their efforts in 2019-20.
Trenton Republican-Times GLOOMY
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Ele ecttion De eadlines With the postponement of the April 7 Municipal Election to June 2, new deadlines have been established. According to information provided by Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard, the last day to declare as a write-in candidate is Friday, March 27. The new deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is May 20 and the last day to vote absentee in the county clerk’s office is June 1, which will also be open on Saturday, May 30 for absentee voting. In the city of Trenton, there is no race for city council due to the number of candidates equaling the number of open seats, however the “bed tax” on hotels will be on the ballot. With the announcement that current Trenton R-9 Board President Doug Franklin announcing his plans to move from the district, there is no longer a race for R-9 school board.
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The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees will meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 in the Sugg Room of the Ketcham Community Center. This is a change in the originally announced location so that appropriate social distancing can be observed. Items on the announced agenda include consideration of a fourday summer work week, consideration of tuition/fees and room/board for the 202021 school year, Head Start items, the second reading of a board policy addition, personnel items (retirement/emeritus designation, resignation, transfers, employment, revised position/job description and new/replacement faculty position) and administrative reports. An executive session for personnel, real estate and legal matters is also planned.
What’s Inside
Sports.............................page 2 Local News ....................page 3 Across Missouri ............page 4 Community ...................page 5 Calendars ......................page 5 Comics ...........................page 6 Dear Annie ....................page 7 Crosswords....................page 7 Classifieds ..............page 8 & 9