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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021
TRENTON
R-T REPUBLICAN-TIMES 75¢
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 157th Year - No. 55
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GCHD Recinds Mask Mandate Vaccinations Available At Several Locations Around The Area
The Grundy County Health Department has rescinded its public health order requiring masks to be worn in all public places in the county. According to information provided by GCHD Administrator Elizabeth Gibson, the health department board voted at its March 11 meeting to rescind the order requiring masks effective March 15. The wearing of face coverings is still strongly encouraged in all public places and groups where social distancing cannot be maintained as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. According to Ms. Gibson, who is the health officer for the county, the board reviewed case data trends which indicate that COVID-19 disease transmission is declining statewide and in
Grundy County. The number of new cases per week and the Grundy County positivity rate are below the risk levels set by Gov. Mike Parson’s Public Health Warning, issued Nov. 19, 2020. There were no new cases reported over the weekend and there is currently only one active case in the county. The GCHD will continue to measure local case data against risk criteria established by state officials and may issue additional orders if guidance is warranted. The order’s cancellation does not override the policies of other governing bodies or entities, such as school or businesses, that may continue to require masks for attendance or service. Masks will continue to be required for services at the health department. Other strategies for reducing the spread of COVI9-19 included seeking vaccination at the earliest opportunity; staying home if you are ill, even if the symptoms are mild; practicing social distancing and avoiding group gatherings; washing hands often; and cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched [See VACCINE, Page 12]
BRIEFS Survey Monkey Added To Forum
In an effort to ensure that questions submitted for the upcoming Trenton R-9 Board of Education candidate forum can be asked anonymously, an option has been added through surveymonkey. The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P32NZ59. It allows users to ask a question, answer the question “What do you see as the greatest need for Trenton R-9 in the next three years?” and leave any additional comments or questions. Those who wish to submit a question through email may still do so at rtimes@lyn.net. The forum, sponsored by the Trenton Teachers Association and the Trenton Republican-Times, is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Trenton High School commons. Seven candidates will be on the ballot, including Emily Lasley, Melissa King, Bill Miller, Michael Voorhies, Joshua Shuler, Jeff Spencer and Shaun McCullough. Photo Courtesy of Trenton Middle School
THE BEE’S KNEES Trenton Middle School seventh grade student Titus Kottwitz made Grundy County proud when he won the Northwest Regional Spelling Bee, held Saturday in St. Joseph. Titus, who was the winner of the Grundy County Spelling Bee held earlier this year, outlasted spellers from 14 counties to take the crown and earn the right to continue working his way to the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, which will be held July 8 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, FL. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary rounds - usually held all in one week - will be held virtually, with spellers advancing through three levels of competition: the preliminary, quarterfinal and semifinal segments. They will be broadcast live on ESPN platforms, with the semifinals slated for broadcast on June 27. Dates for the earlier rounds will be announced this spring. When all is said and done, 10 to 12 finalists will make the trip to Orlando. Titus is the son of Nathan and Jamie Kottwitz. Mosaic Life Care Foundation served as the sponsor and host for this year’s spelling bee.
Boards Discuss Personnel, Calendars Grundy, Tri-County Boards Hold Meetings Recent meetings of the Grundy R-5 and Tri-County R-7 boards of education focused on personnel and school calendars for the 2021-22 school year. Grundy R-5 Students in the Grundy R-5 School District will have a full-time music program for the 2021-22 school year following action taken at Thursday’s R-5 board meeting. According to information provided by Superintendent Phil Fox, the board voted to restart the music program and following an executive session, offered a contract for the position. The name of that person is being withheld until a cothe contract is accepted. High School Principal Matt Rayl presented a calendar for the 2021-22 school year, which will be the district’s first utilizing a four-day school week. Classes will
begin on Aug. 24 and end on May 20, 2022. A discussion was held on the preschool program that is being implemented next year as well. It will be a free, all-day program, limited to 10 students, with preference given to four-year-old students. Following the closed session, the board approved moving Tiffany Carver from kindergarten teacher to preschool teacher. The board also voted to hire Robin Griswold as the Parents as Teachers instructor, a position that is shared with the Laredo R7 District. A discussion was held on employee health insurance, with the district now utilizing the group, Missouri Educator’s Trust. Board members approved providing all full-time staff a $3,000 Health Savings Account for $549.91 per month per employee. The staff will have the option to buy up to three other plans at their expense. In other business, the board reviewed four bids for mowing and rejected all bids, opting instead to have the mowing done inhouse with current employees. Board members approved the Grundy County Hazard Mitigation Plan, directed the ad-
ministration to adjust COVID-19 safety measures as they see fit based upon local conditions and heard elementary and secondary principal reports. They also learned that the district received a 100 percent rating in the recent bus inspection conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and formed a committee to develop specifications for the construction of a bus barn. It was noted that the district is also looking for a bus driver. In addition to those items already mentioned, the board took action in closed session to renew the contracts of all certified staff members who were presented for renewal. Currently, the district has openings for kindergarten, third and fourth grade, part-time special education at the elementary and full-time special education at the high school. The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 14 in the high school business room. Tri-County R-7 The Tri-County R-7 board met Wednesday at the school in Jamesport, approving the 2021-22 school calendar and hiring [See BOARDS, Page 4]
WMH To Hold Virtual Fundraiser Proceeds From Charity Auction To Support Program
The Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation has announced plans for a virtual charity auction. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program, as well as the Foundation’s gen-
eral fund, which supports Wright Memorial Hospital in a variety of ways. The event is scheduled to take place from April 15 - 24, with the bidding all taking place online. The Foundation will be accepting donations to be featured in the auction through April 14. Items donated should have a minimum value of at least $25. “Because of the pandemic, our flagship fundraising events, such as the golf tournament and the Wright Run were canceled in 2020,” said David Bain, Foundation Development Offi-
cer, Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation. “Because of that, we haven’t been able to assist the hospital or the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program to the extent in which we would have liked. We’re hoping this event will be very successful, and that we can make a sizable contribution to the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program, as well as support the hospital in equipment purchases and other endeavors.” The auction will be hosted in partnership with local auctioneer Michael Witten, and MW
Auctions. Persons will be able to register, and then bid on MW Auctions’ website: www.mwauctions.bid The Foundations’s mission is to promote, advance, encourage, assist, and support the growth, development, and operation of Wright Memorial Hospital. For more information about the Foundation’s initiatives, to donate to the auction or to discuss other opportunities to support the Foundation, contact David Bain, at 660-358-5706, or dbain@saintlukeskc.org.
Library Will Re-Open
The Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library has announced that it will re-open to the public on Monday, March 15. The library will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those entering the building must wear a mask. There will be a limit of five people at a time on the adult level and five people at a time on the children’s level, with a 25-minute limit. Library patrons are reminded that curbside pickup is still available.
R-9 Salaries Are Set
Salaries have been set for Trenton R-9 administrators for the 2021-2022 school year. The salaries were set during Tuesday night’s board meeting and include increases for all administrators, including a $4,106 increase for R-9 Superintendent Mike Stegman, whose salary was set at $117,164, an increase from $113,058. Other salaries (with this year’s salary in parentheses) include Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels, $91,090 ($90,090); Trenton High School Principal Kasey Bailey, $77,860 ($74,910); THS Assistant Principal John Cowling, $66,640 ($64,020); Trenton Middle School Principal Daniel Gott, $78,200 ($75,240); TMS Assistant Principal Jackie Price, $65,280 ($62,700); Director of Special Student Services Tara Hoffman, $63,580 ($60,390); Rissler Elementary School Principal Tiffany Otto, $75,110 ($72,270); and Rissler Assistant Principal Adriane Todd, $58,480 ($56,100).
Park Board OKs Purchase
The Trenton Park Board held a special meeting Friday morning, approving the purchase of a replacement for the shelter house at Van Meter Park that had to be demolished due to safety concerns. The board voted to purchase an 18x20-foot green metal carport to be installed and anchored onto the existing concrete pad. Board members felt that going with a metal structure versus a wood one would be more advantageous as a wood shelter house had been damaged when vandals set a post on fire. The board had budgeted $2,500 and the estimate from Vance Cox was an eight-foot tall structure, including installation and anchoring, at a cost of $1,740. Board members agreed that if a 10-foot tall structure could be purchased with the cost remaining under $2,500 they would prefer to go that route to deter people from climbing on top of it. President Duane Helmandollar said that after the meeting he checked on a price for the 10-foot tall structure and it does fall within the budgeted amount, so the board will go with that one. It will take three to four weeks to get the structure in place, which means it should be in place prior to the t-ball games that will be held at the Van Meter ballfield.
City Meetings Are Scheduled
The administrative and utility committees of the Trenton City Council have scheduled meetings for tonight (Tuesday). The Administrative Committee will meet at 5 p.m. at city hall, with items on the agenda including discussion on an exotic animal ordinance, airport hangar buildings, rental inspections and surplus bikes. The public will not be physically able to attend the meeting but can access it at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81507863986. The Utility Committee will meet at 6 p.m., with agenda items including department reports, the director’s update, a review of monthly financial reports and a discussion of the February storm event. The meeting can be accessed at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89859761019.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
PIRATES PREVAIL...
Rain is likely in Trenton on Wednesday with mostly cloudy skies on Thursday before the sun returns on Friday. Highs will stay in the upper 40’s and low 50’s. The high in Trenton on Thursday was 57 with Friday hitting 52 and Saturday seeing 58. The high Sunday was 52 with 0.86 of an inch of rain. The high on Sunday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 47 with a low of 39 and 1.05 inches of rain falling.
The North Central Missouri College baseball team was victorious in its home opener on Friday. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams followed suit, picking up road victories on Saturday. SPORTS, PAGE 2
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SPORTS ..........................PAGE 2 NCAA BRACKET ...........PAGE 3 CALENDAR .....................PAGE 5 ACROSS MISSOURI .......PAGE 6 THANK A FARMER .......PAGE 7 COMICS ..........................PAGE 8 CROSSWORDS ................PAGE 9 CLASSIFIEDS.........PAGE 10 & 11 AREA .............................PAGE 12