TrentonR-Times_05-01-2020

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Friday, May 1, 2020

REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON

Trenton, MO 64683

Eight Pages

Briefs...

No Summer School

THS Graduation Set For Saturday, June 6

COVID-19

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

Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 69

R-9 BOARD OF EDUCATION

There will be graduation ceremonies for the Trenton High School Class of 2020, but summer school program plans have been scrapped following action taken by the Trenton R-9 Board of Education during a special meeting on Wednesday night. THS seniors will receive their diplomas during commencement exercises planned for 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at C.F. Russell Stadium. THS Principal Kasey Bailey outlined a plan for the event, which he said will be conducted “as close as possible” to graduation ceremonies of the past, including addresses being given by the class valedictorian and salutatorian as well as presentation of diplomas by the board president and superintendent. In an effort to observe social distancing guidelines as outlined by the governor, the stage will be located at the east end of the football field, with graduates and faculty being seated at the front of the staging area between the five-yard

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and 17-yard lines. Seating will be provided, with a 12-foot wide aisle down the center line and six feet between each chair. Bailey said this will accomodate 80 seats for graduates and 40 seats for faculty and staff. Each aisle would begin on a yard-line marker. Spectators will be placed in an area behind the graduates, beginning at the 20-yard line, and will be required to bring their own seating. There will be no public seating allowed in the regular stadium seating area, where the high school band will be located to provide music for the ceremony. Bailey said that in putting together the plan, some concerns were expressed regarding how to keep social distancing in place when spectators enter and leave the ceremonies as well as using restrooms, but said those attending would be advised to use those guidelines as much as possible. He said the plan does include dismissing the crowd individually in an effort to avoid close contact. While

Late Bill Payment Policy Change

R-6 Board To o Meet The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education will hold a special meeting on tonight (Friday) at the school. The meeting, which begins at 6 o’clock, will include discussion of building projects and a review of building bids.

the governor’s social distancing order does not require individuals to wear a mask, that practice is being encouraged by the Grundy County Health Department, which provided guidelines to the district in the ceremony plan. Bailey said he also used information from the governor’s recovery plan as well as visiting with R-9 administration, staff members, city officials and the manager of North Central Missouri College, where the ceremony is normally held. In case of rain, the ceremony would be moved to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, also at the stadium. Bailey said the June 7 ceremony would be held no matter what, but the time could be pushed back, depending on the weather conditions. The board also voted not to hold summer school this year and instead concentrate on preparations for the return of students to class in August. Trenton Middle School AsSee R-9, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL Appointment OK’d

R -9 Sttud dentt Remin nder Trenton R-9 School students will be able to turn in iPads and collect student belongings, beginning next week. At Trenton High School, seniors may turn in their iPads and pick up belongings on Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5, anytime between 3 to 6 p.m. Underclassmen (freshmen through juniors) will turn in iPads in the lunch line between 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8. There will also be an iPad turn-in from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8 at the high school for those who cannot come at the other scheduled times. Pre-kindergarten through 11th grade students will be able to pick up personal belongings at their respective schools beginning Monday, May 18. Students with the last name beginning with the letters A-G will pick up from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 18; those with the last name beginning with H-0 will pick up from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19; and those with the last name beginning with P-Z will pick up from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20. Those who can’t make their appointed time can pick up items from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.

La aredo Drrive e-Thrru Ch hecko out The Laredo R-7 School District will have a “drive-thru checkout” for students from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Teachers will be present and have all student belongings from this school year ready to be picked up during this time and students will need to turn in student work, textbooks, library books, band instruments, ball uniforms and all other school items. School officials noted that social distancing guidelines will be observed.

Public Entities Opening Back Up

Health Department Issues Guidelines The Grundy County Health Officer and Health Department Administrator Elizabeth Gibson has issued a Public Health Order, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, May 4, in an effort to provide guidance to local residents, businesses and organizations as phase one of the state’s Show Me Strong Recovery Plan goes into effect. “The governor’s new orders are purposefully broad to allow local public health authorities to tailor additional guidance to meet the needs of their communities,” Ms. Gibson said. “Grundy County can cautiously re-open its businesses and resume gathering in small groups because we haven’t identified any positive cases in our county at this time.” According to the Grundy County guidance plan: • Churches are encouraged to allow space for social distancing by opening additional seating areas, offering more in-person services with fewer attendees (use business square footage guidelines) or combining in-

person services with online video technology. • All persons are encouraged to limit attendance at other group gatherings. Group gatherings should be limited to 30 or fewer persons. • Businesses must adhere to the same square footage restrictions as is listed the governor’s order. • Social distancing, good handwashing practices and the use of face coverings in public are still needed to slow the spread of COVID-19. • Persons who are sick are being asked to stay home except to seek medical care. The full text of the order will be available on the Grundy County Health Department website, www.GrundyCountyHealth.org, and will expire on May 31. Meanwhile, entities closed for the past several weeks due to the state’s Stay at Home order will be opening back up for business next week following Gov. Mike Parson’s announcement of the first phase

NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI COLLEGE

of the Show Me Strong Recovery Plan. The initial phase allows Missourians to begin returning to economic and social activities while adhering to social distancing requirements. All businesses are also allowed to be open provided the social distancing guidelines in the state’s new health order are followed. Entities such as Trenton City Hall/Trenton Municipal Utilities, the Trenton License Bureau, the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library and offices within the Grundy County Courthouse have either been closed or have had restricted access by the public. Those places are now looking at plans to be open to the public on Monday with certain restrictions. Trenton City Hall/Trenton Municipal Utilities Regular office hours will resume on Monday at 8:30 a.m., with hours to be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday See Open, Page 8

Hear Construction Update

Trustees Approve Health Insurance Bid It was business as usual, mostly anyway, for trustees of North Central Missouri College, who held a board meeting on Tuesday night in the basement of the Alexander Student Center. Using social distancing and limiting the number of people at the meeting, trustees approved health insurance for employees, agreeing to renew the coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. The college, which covers 100 percent of the employee monthly premium, will pay a 5.5 percent increase over current rates. In addition to the monthly premium, the college will contribute $60 per month to an employee health savings account, an amount that is currently $50 per month. The rates will be $574.14 per month per employee for the $1,500 deductible PPO plan; $521.90 per month per employee for the $1,000 deductible SPIRA plan; and $508.99 per month per employee for the $2,800 deductible

HSA plan. NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver gave board members an update on the new residence hall project, saying that builder Scott Weldon of Weldon Construction has estimated the cost to be around $800,000 to $850,000. Dr. Klaver said it was decided to split the contract, one for the architect and one for Weldon Construction and said if the hall cannot be built in the near future, there would be an architectural plan to be used when it can be constructed. In personnel matters, the board approved employment of Andrea Schuelke of Bedford, IA as a nursing instructor, beginning Aug. 12 at a pay rate of $43,864. She was also approved as a clinical adjunct instructor, being paid at the daily clinical rate. Christopher Mengel of Trenton was hired as the student services coordinator, beginning May 11, at a salary of $11.01 per hour. Barry Boulware of Trenton was

National Weather Service

Partly cloudy Friday night with the sun returning on Saturday. Rain likely Sunday, but the sun returns on Monday. Highs will be in the low 80s and lows will be in the mid 50s. The high at Trenton on Monday, April 27 was 78, Tuesday’s high was 77 and Wednesday’s high was 68 with a low of 50. Rain totaled .17 of an inch during that period. Wednesday’s high at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 66, the low was 44.

hired as an adjunct instructor to teach Intro to Religion and Humanities courses beginning with the fall semester. Stephanie Parman of Maryville was approved as a clinical adjunct nursing instructor. Green Hills Head Start personnel items included the resignations of Kelsie Duff and Cassandra Shouse as teacher aides at the Brookfield “A” Head Start Center. The two positions will be filled by Kayla Henry and Shelby Ownes. Board members approved a revised job description for the position of secretary/clerk to the board of trustees. The part-time position is held by Vicki Weaver, who will be working 25 to 30 hours per month with the bulk of that time spent in the third and fourth weeks of the month, when she is preparing for and attending the board meetings. In other business, the board: • gave the oath of office to Dr. John

Holcomb and Dr. NiCole Neal, who were re-elected to the board based on their filing for the April ballot. That election was moved to June 2, but since only two persons filed for the seats, the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office said two could assume their offices in the same manner as if the election had been held on April 7. • elected officers, with Diane Lowrey elected as president and Dr. Neal elected as vice president. Mrs. Weaver was re-elected as board secretary/clerk and Tyson Otto was reelected as treasurer. • accepted a bid from MEI Total Elevator Solutions of Kansas City, KS for the modernization of the Geyer Hall elevator. The bid of $83,548 was the lowest of three received and will be paid for through the physical plant budget and the Hoover Building Fund. See NCMC, Page 8

What’s Inside... Trenton High School wrestler Caleb Johnson has been recognized for his work in the classroom. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for information regarding Johnson’s selec tion as an Academic All-State athlete.

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MOSTLY SUNNY

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Trenton Municipal Utilities customers who have delinquent bills will receive help during the next three months in getting caught up after members of the Trenton City Council adjusted its policy during a meeting on Monday night. With utility bills still being due by the 18th of each month, the council approved a plan to give additional time to those who have a hard time paying the bill as long as the customer contacts TMU that they are unable to pay their bill in full by the due date. Customers will be asked to pay 50 percent of the past due amount, with the remaining balance and the current bill balance being set up on a payment schedule for no more than 60 days. Customers who do not contact TMU to make payment arrangements will be subject to having their utilities shut off, which is usually done around the 29th of each month. TMU Comptroller Rosetta Marsh said there are currently 210 customers with delinquent utility bills, including two to three businesses. She said reminder calls are made prior to any shutoff, which will continue under the plan approved by the council. Customers with delinquent bills will be notified of the policy change along with information regarding assistance that may be available to help with utility payments. In other business, the council accepted a bid of $23,638 from the Stella Jones Company for the purchase of 81 wooden poles ranging from 30 to 45 feet in length. It was the lowest of five bids received. The council approved Mayor Linda Crooks’ appointment of Duane Urich as fourth ward councilman. He replaces Larry Crawford, who resigned last week. Urich’s name will appear on the June 2 municipal election ballot as he was the only person to file for the fourth ward seat. City Administrator Ron Urton updated the council on several projects, including replacement of the 17th Street Bridge, which is still scheduled to begin just after Memorial Day. He reported the street department was scheduled to start asphalt production on Monday and that signs have been put up on the east and west ends of town, announcing the start of the Highway 6 overlay project on May 4. All votes were unanimous with Glen Briggs, Lou Fisher, Danny Brewer, Brad Chumbley, Cathie Smith and David Mlika attending the meeting in person. John Dolan attended via Zoom, along with Mayor Crooks and City Attorney Tara Walker.

What’s Inside

Sports.............................page 2 NASCAR .......................page 2 Agriculture....................page 3 Calendars ......................page 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 Comics ...........................page 5 Dear Annie ....................page 6 Crosswords....................page 6 Classifieds .....................page 7


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