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FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021
TRENTON
R-T REPUBLICAN-TIMES 75¢
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 157th Year - No. 40
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Filings Set Up Races For April 6 Election Candidates Wait Until The Last Minute To File As the deadline to file for office in the April 6 Municipal Election grew closer, candidates waited until basically the last minute to file for seats on the Trenton City Council and the Trenton R-9 School Board, with races developing in two of the city’s four wards and seven candidates filed for the two open seats on the school board. In addition, the city has placed a use tax on the ballot, while Grundy County has placed a question concerning brush on the ballot and four townships will ask voters to renew special levies. Trenton City Council Lance Otto filed Tuesday afternoon for a seat in the first ward, creating a race with incumbent Glen Briggs who had filed earlier. In addition, a race developed in the third ward, with Derrick Gott filing to challenge Robert Romesburg
for that seat, which is currently held by Cathie Smith, who is not seeking re-election. Incumbents Danny Brewer from the second ward and John Dolan from the fourth ward have both re-filed and will not face a challenge on the ballot. City of Trenton Use Tax In addition, the city of Trenton has placed a use tax on the ballot. The tax would provide increased revenues to the city to help pay for services such as law enforcement, street improvements, etc., as well as “level the playing field” for local businesses, which currently collect city sales tax on local purchases that is not currently paid on out of state Internet purchases. The local use tax cannot exceed the amount of the current city sales taxes, which is 2.58 percent, and a yes vote would not change that amount. Trenton R-9 School Board While no candidates had filed for the two seats being left vacant by the expiring terms of Cliff Roeder and Dr. David Whitaker, Tuesday’s rush of filings has resulted in seven candidates. They in[See FILINGS, Page 7]
R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
NCMC OPENS COVID-DELAYED SEASON The No. 6 North Central Missouri College men’s basketball team is introduced ahead of its 118-115 double-overtime victory over No. 19 Kansas City Kansas on Wednesday night. Earlier, the No. 15 NCMC women fell 71-67 to the No. 9 KCKCC women. SPORTS, PAGE 2
Trial In Officer Shooting Case Is Set Pre-Trial Conference Is Scheduled For February 4
A Trenton man who is charged in connection with the shooting of a Trenton police officer is expected to go on trial next month in Livingston County.
Jamey Griffin, 40, is accused of shooting Trenton Police Officer Jasmine Diab on June 14, 2019 as Officer Diab was transporting him for a mental health evaluation. Griffin was sitting in the front of the patrol car when he was able to remove Officer Diab’s weapon and shoot her in the abdomen. He was apprehended in Winston by bystanders and has been held in custody since being released from the hospital. He is being held in the DaviessDeKalb Regional Jail at Pattonsburg, charged with first degree assault-special
victim, a class A felony; unlawful use of a weapon, a class A felony; and armed criminal action, an unclassified felony. According to online court records, Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney Annie Gibson filed amended information in December to charge him as a prior and persistent offender, a move that would make him eligible for enhanced punishment such as a longer sentence, if convicted. She cited a prior driving while intoxicated charge and a prior non-support [See GRIFFIN, Page 7]
Spickard School Board Appoints Members Board Approves Change To Academic Eligibilty
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education approved a change to the academic eligibility policy, appointed two board members to fill vacancies and
approved the school audit during a meeting held Monday. According to information provided by Administrator Dr. Kristi Weldon, the board approved a new policy that addresses student academic eligibility guidelines. She noted that the information is being provided to parents. Also approved were MSBA policy updates and the school audit, conducted by Clevenger
and Associates. Two district residents, Alexis Sturgeon and Glenn Wilson, were appointed to fill vacancies on the board, with Wilson also filing to fill the unexpired two-year term, subject to the April 6 election. Filing for the three-year terms were incumbents Ruth Ann Shipps and Mel Chapman. No formal election will need to be held since the number
of candidates equal the number of vacancies. Board members met with Jennifer Wyckoff of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, who discussed the Hazard Mitigation Plan. By being a part of the plan, the district would be able to apply for disaster funding in the event of a tornado, flood, etc. In other business, the board [See SPICKARD, Page 7]
Great Northwest Day Going Virtual In 2021 New-Look Events Scheduled To Take Place Feb. 1-3
With the COVID-19 Pandemic still affecting the gathering of large groups, Great Northwest Day at the Capitol will have a different look and feel for 2021. Since its grassroots beginning in 2003, constituents from across 19 counties in northwest Missouri have engaged in a
unique regional, cooperative approach to communicate with statewide elected officials, staff members and department administrations. Faced with COVID-19 challenges in 2021, the steering committee of the annual gathering with legislators in Jefferson City is pushing forward by shifting to virtual visits advocating regional priorities. The event will take place over three days, Feb. 1-3, with participants encouraged to engage online with questions on the Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Facebook page. The schedule will include a 2 p.m.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Trenton will see mostly clear skies on Saturday, but there is a 30 percent chance of wintry precipitation. On Sunday there is a 30 percent chance of rain, turning to snow late. The high at Trenton on Monday was 37. On Tuesday it was a high of 42 and Wednesday saw a high of 52 with a low of 21. The high Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 40 with a low of 19.
Monday, Feb. 1 Facebook Live legislative update with a regional legislative panel. Events on Feb. 2 include a 10 a.m meeting about GNW Priorities. At noon that day, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will join the group on Facebook Live. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the group will be on Facebook Live at 10 a.m. with Rob Dixon, director of the Department of Economic Development. The GNW group began work last fall collecting and prioritizing a list of common issues that impact the entire region. [See NORTHWEST, Page 7]
BRIEFS County COVID-19 Update Active cases of COVID-19 continue to fall in Grundy County even as the total number of cases since the pandemic began are increasing. According to information provided Thursday by the Grundy County Health Department, there are 57 active cases of the virus in Grundy County, a number that is down from 62 reported on Monday. The total cases are at 997, up from 983, with 770 confirmed cases (up from 759) and there are 227 probable cases, which is up from 224. The county has recorded 33 deaths, which is the same as Monday’s report. In addition, GCHD Administrator Elizabeth Gibson said the department has received a second shipment of vaccine that was requested for Phase 1A recipients and has requested doses for Phase 1B Tier 2. She said clinics for that tier will be announced if the request is approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services. She also noted that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday that mass vaccination clinics will be established in all regions of the state.
Sunnyview Board Meets The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening, scheduling a special meeting and hearing a report on December activities. According to information provided by Administrator Jerry Doerhoff, the board will meet in special session at 2 p.m. today (Friday, Jan. 22) to open bids on the energy improvement project. Doerhoff presented his report to the board, noting that residents enjoyed the many Christmas activities that took place in December, including the Christmas carolers on the lawn, the parade through the parking lot and the live nativity that was held. He thanked Jennifer Hale and her staff as well as the community members who helped arrange the activities. He also said the residents enjoyed the Christmas party. The board held a closed session to approved minutes from the December closed meeting. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Budget Approval Tuesday The Grundy County Commission will meet in regular session Tuesday at the courthouse. The commission is expected to adopt the 2021 budget during the meeting. A public hearing to receive comment on the budget was held Jan. 19, with no one from the public, other than a Republican-Times representative, attending. The only other item listed on the agenda is an 11 a.m. meeting with the Northwest Missouri Business Facilitation Group.
WRESTLERS ROLL... The Trenton High School wrestling team pushed its dual winning streak to five on Tuesday, sweeping a triangular with Richmond and host Brookfield. SPORTS, PAGE 3
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