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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021
TRENTON
R-T REPUBLICAN-TIMES 75¢
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 157th Year - No. 52
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Search For Administrator Ongoing Eaton Ammends Resignation Date To March 9
The process of replacing the Grundy County Public Administrator is continuing with the Grundy County Commission planning to attend a meeting Thursday evening to discuss the position. In addition, the commission voted to change the county’s residency policy for employees during a meeting on Tuesday. According to Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard, the commission was scheduled to meet with the Grundy
County Republican Committee at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the lower courtroom. The group will discuss a replacement for Jill Eaton, who has resigned from the position. Mrs. Eaton’s resignation was originally effective Feb. 26, but the person who was selected to serve as the interim public administrator last week was found to be unable to meet the statutory requirements of the position. On Tuesday, in an effort to ensure no loss of service to the citizens, the commission voted to accept Mrs. Eaton’s amended resignation date of March 9. Thursday’s meeting may result in a closed session to discuss the appointment. Whomever is selected by the commission to serve as the
interim may be appointed by the governor to serve until the Nov. 2022 General Election. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray had earlier said that, for the sake of continuity, the commission would like to appoint the person whose name will be sent to the governor by the Republican committee. The commission also voted to change the residency policy for county employees. In the past, county employees were required to live in the county, however, the group voted to Tuesday to change the policy and no longer make county residency a requirement for employment. Elected officials are still required to live in the county. In other business, the com-
mission appointed a board for Bethel Cemetery, which includes Larry Griffin, president; Nathan Vandevender, vice president; and Donnie Vandevender, secretary/treasure. Donnie Vandevender had met with the commission to ask to have a board appointed since the previous board no longer exists due to death or health issues. The commission also held a phone conference with Tim Christenson of Granite, a wholesale telephone company, to discuss replacing the service on the AT&T phones. The commission also met with Carlee Quinn, April Meighen and Hannah Tucker of the University of Missouri Extension. The group gave the annual extension report.
Van Meter Shelter House Deemed Unsafe Park Board Planning To Re-Open Aquatic Center This Summer The shelter house at Van Meter Park will be torn down following action taken at the March meeting of the Trenton Park Board, where board members also moved forward with plans to open the Trenton Family Aquatic Center this season. During a meeting held Wednesday at Moberly Park, park board members learned that the wood frame of the Van Meter structure has separated and the shelter house was recently found to be dangerous. Park Superintendent David Shockley said he has put a snow fence around it to keep park patrons from going into it.
Board members authorized Shockley to demolish the structure and noted they fully intend to construct a new shelter of some type at the park. There was good news for patrons of the Trenton Family Aquatic Center as the board is planning to open the facility this summer after having to make the hard choice to keep it closed last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The board agreed to begin advertising for and accepting applications for a pool manager, assistant manager and lifeguards. They also voted to have Shockley seek bids for a “fall mat” that will be placed under the diving boards. The city’s insurance carrier has recommended the mat be installed to help reduce injuries that have occurred in that area of the aquatic center. The motion authorized Shockley to spend up to $6,500 on the mat, which he plans to have installed for this season. Shockley said he and assistant park manager Hunter Trask
will be attending the certified pool operator training in Kansas City in April. A bid from Perkins Dozing of Jamesport was accepted for stump removal. The bid was for $200 per stump, while a bid from Custom Tree Care of Kansas City was for $1,975 for 10 stumps. It was noted that an additional stump has been added to the list since the bids went out so there are 11 to be ground. The board voted to go with Perkins since it is a local bid and the cost was very similar. In his report, Shockley told the board he has been preparing ball fields for the North Central Missouri College softball and baseball teams and noted that the Trenton High School baseball team has begun its practices. He and Trask also worked with board member Gary Schuett on Wednesday to clean up Sesquicentennial Park, with Schuett noting that the lights and ultrasonic “noise makers” have [See PARKS, Page 7]
BRIEFS Council, School Board Meetings
The Trenton City Council is scheduled to meet in regular session on Monday, with the Trenton R-9 School Board scheduled to meet on Tuesday. Agendas for the meetings were not available as of press time, but will be posted on the Republican-Times website. The city council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall, with the R-9 Board scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Vaccination Opportunity
A mass vaccination clinic with the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be held in Bethany on Saturday, March 6. According to GCHD Administrator Elizabeth Gibson, as of Thursday morning there were still appointment times available and those wishing to register can do so at https://form.jotform.com/210544499079162. Missouri is currently vaccinating the following priority groups: Phase IB-Tier 2 (age 65 and up, adults up to age 64 with certain health conditions; Phase 1A (healthcare workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities); and Phase 1B-Tier 1 (emergency services personnel, law enforcement, corrections, fire service). Beginning March 15, Missouri will begin vaccinating Phase 1B-Tier 3, which includes K-12 educators, childcare educators, critical infrastructure and government workers. Ms. Gibson also said there are no new reported COVID cases in Grundy County since last Monday, when three active cases were reported.
Police Personnel Board
The Trenton Police Personnel Board will meet in special session at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 13 at the Grundy County Law Enforcement Center. The meeting will be an executive session, closed to the public and news media, and will involve a personnel matter.
Mascot Pancake Day
The Trenton Bulldog Mascots will hold a “grab and go” pancake day on Saturday, March 20. The event will be held at the new concession stand building at C.F. Russell Stadium. The menu will consist of pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy, milk, juice, juice and water. Donations will be accepted, with all funds being used for the Trenton High School and Trenton Middle School mascot teams. Call-in orders are welcome at 660-654-1605.
Appointment To FFDD Board
The Grundy County Commission made an appointment to the board of directors of Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled in Grundy County. Tona Crawford has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the board and will serve a three-year term, ending in Dec. 2023.
Spickard Admin NCMC Celebrates Homecoming Rhodes Resigns Position Osborn, Crowned NCMC Board Later Meets With City Council Over Water Line
The Spickard R-2 School District will be searching for a new administrator for the 2021-22 school year following the resignation of its current administrator during a meeting held Feb. 24. According to information provided by the school, Dr. Kristi Weldon submitted her letter of resignation to the board during a closed session held following the regular meeting. Dr. Weldon, who was hired in July 2020, resigned effective at the end of her contract, said she has accepted a position with another district and will be leaving the district at the end of her contract. The meeting began with the swearing-in of Alexis Sturgeon, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the
late Jesse Richmond. Nancy Anderson was appointed board treasurer. Under public comment, Kevin Wyatt discussed adding seventh and eighth grade back into the school. Currently, the district goes through sixth grade. Dr. Weldon said that sixth grade student have asked for the district to expand the grades offered so they don’t have to leave Spickard after sixth grade. Later in the board meeting, members discussed the issue, with the cost-effectiveness of making such a change to be further discussed. Dr. Weldon said the district will post a job opening for seventh grade as the possibility is explored. Also included in new business was a report on the Parents as Teachers Program, with board members learning that the program will be “in the red.” The 2021-22 school calendar was also approved. It was announced that the district is expected to receive around $234,000 from the El[See SPICKARD, Page 7]
Queen And King
“Pirate for Life” was the theme as North Central Missouri College celebrated Homecoming and Alumni Appreciation Day Saturday, Feb. 27, with students from Brookfield and Stanberry being crowned the king and queen. Nick Rhodes of Brookfield and Lily Osborn of Stanberry were crowned the 2021 king and queen during halftime of the Pirates basketball game. NCMC Distinguished Alum Sam Smith of Trenton, escorted 2020 Homecoming Queen Katie Adkison of Hamilton, who assisted during the festivities. Other candidates included Calvin Basham of Cowgill, Sebastian Perry of St. Joseph, Wilmy Germinis of Willemstad, Curacao, Jacquelyn Perez of Milan, Madison Eller of Chillicothe and Trinity Cox of Spickard. The annual event is spon-
Submitted Photo
Lily Osborn of Stanberry and Nick Rhodes of Brookfield were crowned the 2021 North Central Missouri College Homecoming Queen and King during festivities that took place Feb. 27 at the Ketcham Community Center.
sored by the NCMC Student Senate. “The NCMC Student Senate makes this event possible every year. They are excited to show their Pirate Pride and honor NCMC students, faculty, staff, alumni, and family
that make NCMC such a special place to be,” commented NCMC Director of Development Alicia Endicott. “The Alumni Association is thrilled to be a part of this annual event, and we appreciate all of our alumni and friends who are
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SECTIONAL SEND OFF...
Mostly cloudy skies sit over Trenton Friday night with an overnight low of 32. Trenton will see mostly sunny skies over the weekend, however, with a high of 57 on Saturday before hitting 63 on Sunday and 65 on Monday. The high in Trenton on Monday, March 1, was 50 with a high of 61 on Tuesday. Wednesday’s high was 68 with a low of 36. There was no report from the Government Weather Station near Spickard.
The district champion Grundy County Panthers saw their season come to a close on Tuesday, falling 61-50 at Orrick in the sectional round of the state playoffs The Panthers finish the season with a 20-6 overall record. SPORTS, PAGE 3
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a ‘Pirate for Life,’ the theme of Homecoming and Alumni Appreciation Day.” Also recognized between the Lady Pirates and Pirates games was the Rondon Family of Santa Domingo, Dominican [See NCMC, Page 7]
WHAT’S INSIDE
SPORTS ....................PAGE 2 & 3 OP/ED ............................PAGE 4 CALENDAR .....................PAGE 5 AGRICULTURE ...............PAGE 6 ACROSS MISSOURI .......PAGE 7 COMICS ..........................PAGE 8 CROSSWORDS ................PAGE 9 CLASSIFIEDS.........PAGE 10 & 11 AREA .............................PAGE 12