REPUBLICAN-TIMES
Rep. Mazzie Christensen Chairs Missouri Delegation at GOP Convention
By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com
Missouri 2nd District Representative Mazzie Christensen is just 26-years old, one of the youngest state legislators in the entire country, but her elected chairmanship of the Missouri delegation at the GOP National Convention in Milwaukee July 15-18 indicates that her star is on a meteoric rise.
A St. Joseph Christian High School graduate, she earned her degree from Missouri Western State University, and then immediately jumped into politics at the national level, serving first as
an Executive Assistant to the Director of Presidential Personnel under John McIntee in the Trump White House. She also served as a “war room” analyst for Donald J. Trump for President in 2020. She also posted stints in the office of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, and maverick Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green. She, and Sophia Shore, chairwoman of Senator Bill Eigel’s surging gubernatorial campaign planned, and orchestrated the insurgent takeover of the “Truly Grassroots [See MAZZIE, Page 2]
Spiders! Snakes! Bats! Worms! EWWW!!
AHHH!! Join the wiggles and squiggles as the ItsyBitsy Spider, Little Miss Muffet, Hobo Worm, Black Widow Spider, Snake, and a host of other critters take over the stage!
“Squirm” is a musical that celebrates the things that make us squirm and discovers that most of those things are in some way, good for us. The performance highlights young performers from the Trenton and Pleasant View schools
who have spent the past two (2) weeks rehearsing every morning.
Please join us and celebrate the youth of our community! The performance will be presented on Saturday, July 27, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts
Center at the Trenton R-IX High School. There is no admission and doors will open at 1:30 p.m. The performance is under the direction of Madeline Cotton, Shani Kinney, & Amy Overstreet.
Trenton Ramping up for 24-25 School Year
By Mark McLaughlin Staffwriter@Republican-Times.com
Bright Futures Trenton, a world-class school volunteerism program is ramping up for the 202425 school year, and they want community involvement and people to be involved at an individual level coming into the school year.
Bright Futures Trenton is a community-based initiative to ensure all of the children of the community are successful. The organization focuses on the building of relationships with community individ-
uals and forming partnerships to meet the physical, social, emotional and social needs of Trenton school children.
Founded in Joplin by now retired superintendent C.J. Huff, Bright Futures was so successful in aiding schools with increasing student learning, graduation rates, and helping kids, Huff took the process nationwide. It is credited with significant increases in student learning, and was a bulwark of the community
and assisting families and children in the wake of the devastating and deadly Joplin tornado of 2011.
Part of its mission in any community where it is active is to take an identified student need and meet it within twenty four hours.
Chris Hoffman, Business Development Officer at BTC Bank in Trenton, is a member of an advisory committee of community leaders and volunteers who facilitate the gathering of materials,
the organization of volunteers, and backstopping of the local elementary, middle and secondary schools.
“It’s just a good thing that helps a lot of kids.“ said Hoffman. “It helps every student to start off the year on the same page and we have a great group of people from faith, school, business and other civic organizations who throw themselves into this project “
The advisory Board
By Mark McLaughlin StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com
Cameron resident and retiree Larry Workman has carried on his family’s legacy of service, and honor to veterans as the caretaker of the Cameron Veterans Memorial, located just off U.S. Highway 69 at State Street on the Southwest corner of the high school grounds.
His brother Zach, past owner of Lawn’s Unlimited in Cameron was commissioned to rebuild the Veteran’s Memorial in 2000, providing landscaping, named bricks commemorating a Cameron service person, and placing memorial benches in the majes-
tic, yet understated area that not a lot of people out of town even know exists.
Zach Workman donated the materials, was compensated for the labor, but the result is as epic and welldone as a small town display of its type can be, and the giving has continued for nearly 25-years. In honor of his father, Army Veteran Clarence Workman, who was part of the famous Big Red One, served under General George S. Patton, and served as jeep driver for the Adjutant General who pre-
Glory flying at Five Points
Photo submitted by Mazzie Christensen
Photo by Mark McLaughlin All gave some...some gave all. Iconic center display at Cameron Veterans Memorial.
Tuesday, July 16. Boyd's rapid ascension in the State GOP is studied in the accompanying story.
LOCAL
for Trump” group which for the first time, wrested control of the Missouri GOP from establishment Missouri leadership.
Stories prior to the Convention recounted the delegate slate that Shore and Christensen had put forward and been voted in by the Convention were upended after a protest by two members of GOP State Chair Nick Myers group, who replaced the elected slate with his own “leadership slate” of delegates.
When Christensen’s group presented and made their case to the GOP Credentialling Committee, the original slate of delegates was restored, and by vote, Christsensen was made chair.
As chairwoman, Christensen coordinated travel, lodging and logistics for the 104-person Missouri delegation, and on the Convention’s first day, reported the delegation’s voting to the Convention, helping to assure Donald Trump the parties’ nomination, less than two days after the former President was
Mazzie
• FROM FRONT PAGE•
nearly cut down by an assassin’s bullet in Pennsylvania.
“That was the most sickening thing I have ever seen in my life.”said Christensen, who, like most Americans was shocked and stunned speechless, only to see Trump defiantly signal to the crowd, and the country, that he was okay.
“The entire experience of the week was pretty remarkable and pretty humbling.”Christensen said.”It was an amazing, inspirational thing to be a part of.” Christensen, and her recently married spouse Josh, a North Dakota state legislator, are incredibly young, but incredibly bright young people.
That she was at the “point of the spear” of a true “grassroots”, organic movement resembling the Tea Party of 2010, is something she brushes off.
“I don’t think I’m the face of the movement in Missouri.”Christensen said.”I’m just the face of many, many people in our state and nationally that
Bright • FROM FRONT PAGE•
want something different, and something better.”
What is really quite remarkable about Christensen is her “political science chops”, able to advise Donald Trump’s Presidential campaign, while at the same time, being perfectly comfortable sitting in the Republican Central Committee meeting in Trenton, contributing to and listening to the concerns of real people, who she relates to as seamlessly as if she was at a church social.
The metamorphosis of the Republican Party from it’s Chamber of Commerce elite roots to an organization of everyman and women, a working person’s party, was the assessment of how Republicans are changing as a party.
Christensen seems to be someone who could catch a tailwind in the next few years, and potentially rise in prominence not just at the state level, but perhaps nationally as well.
She’s a young lady worth watching.
and building-level Bright Futures Site Councils with representation from the five partnership areas — social/human services, faith-based, parents, business, and schools. The Bright Future Sites Council s work to meet building-wide needs, while the Advisory Board focuses on overall/communitywide needs.
The Board includes Chairman Ryan Vaqndel, Kara Helmandollar, Taylor Ormsby, Cara McClellan, Kristi Harris, Leslie Woodard, Christy Tolson, Marjorie Kuehn, Dave Miller, Jeb Walker, Chris Hoffman, Josie Baugher, Micah Ferguson and Kayla Graham. Volunteer co-coordinators are Lynn Griffen and Terri Critten.” said Hoffman.
Current initiatives underway in the Trenton Schools include: Food
Pals, Beds for Bulldogs, Lunch Buddies, BlueLight Special, Grundy County Back to School Event, Winter Booster Event, THS-TMS Bulldog Closet, Holiday Food Assistance, New Soles for Bright Futures, Suds for Students, Work for Success, Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive, Terrific Kids Service Learning Field Trips, THS Career Day, Pass the Pride, Gym Shoe Dash, High Five Fridays, Chalk the Walk, Teacher Appreciation, Testing Snacks-Rissler & THS Community Classroom Partners.
In other words, this organization is everywhere, covering every conceivable need school kids could have.
“We know in a lot of schools that teachers provide a lot of supplies and help to their students out
of their own pocket.” Hoffman said.” This provides them with relief, and the knowledge that the community is behind them.”
The resources Bright Futures Trenton collected in the past school year were overwhelming, included KidSight vision screenings for all students in grades 1,3,5,7,9 and 11, 986-pair of socks from Bombas for students K12, 1280 snacks for 245 students, at Rissler during MAP testing, and 1,596 snacks for 305 students at TMS.
Track snacks were provided for seven events and forty students, TMS basketball snacks were provided at three away games for 30 athletes, and multiple, multiple clothes received in donations at the Winter Booster event, servicing 96-students, re-
ceiving major donations from churches, Wright Memorial Hospital, Unilever, St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Chapter MN of P.E.O. and Rural Dale Baptist Church. 80-volunteers put in more than 200 volunteer hours in setting up the Winter Booster event.
The group is currently enlisting volunteer help, each event/drive directed by a different person: Lunch Buddy Volunteers at Rissler Elementary (45 mn. Two times a month).contact tcritten@trentonr9.k12.m o.us Becoming a Work for Success Partner—contact Cara McClellan at cmcclell@amfarm.com
Bring a group to greet students at Rissler Elementary on High Five Friday—contact wproffitt@trentonr9.k12. mo.us Volunteer to help
with our Back-to-School Event—there are a variety of ways and times to help. Contact legriffin1987@gmail.com
Volunteer your business or church group to sponsor a Terriffic Kids service learning field trip(once a year for one hour) Contact bstreiff @trentonr9.k12.mo.us
Volunteer to serve on a Bright Futures Site Council at a school building or Head Start— contact tcritten@trentonr9.k12.m o.us Volunteer to help sort out resources — legriffin1987@gmail.com
Hoffman noted over time, resources have been collected and stored in the homes of volunteers, and that became too much.
Bright Futures is purchasing a building at Highland and 10th Street to store everything from beds, to backpacks, to
toiletries and non-perishable foodstuffs. The 30 x 40 building came with a $71,000 price tag and the group hopes to raise $85,000 to complete the preparation of the building. A bathroom needs to be built in the building, and shelving is currently being installed that will help to store the significant amount of materials coming in. Moving day is August 8. Financial contributions are welcome. They are used to purchase beds, clothing, shoes, coats, food, school supplies, backpacks, hygiene items, etc. Checks can be made out and mailed to Bright Futures Trenton, PO Box 593, Trenton, MO 64683. Donations can also be made online through the Bright Futures Trenton Facebook page.
Trenton Area Calendar of Events
FRIDAY
Church Women United Thrift Shop, 17th & Harris, noon to 4 p.m.
Green Hills Alcoholics Anonymous, Tenth Street Baptist Church, 6 p.m. For more information, call 359-2704. North 65 Center: Line Dancers, 9:30 a.m.; Cards, 12:30 p.m.
Grundy County Health Department, Safe Sitter for Grandparents, GCHD Education Annex, 9 a.m. to noon.
SATURDAY
Church Women United Thrift Shop, 17th & Harris, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Farmers Market, Sesquicentennial Park, 8 a.m. - noon.
Grundy County Museum open 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Narcotics Anonymous, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 4 p.m.
Grundy County Museum open 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
MONDAY
Green Hills Alcoholics Anonymous, Tenth Street Baptist Church, 6 p.m. For more information, call 359-2704 or 357-2367.
Grundy County Health Department, WIC Services by appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Free Blood Pressure Check and $1.00 Blood Sugar Checks, walkin, 9 a.m. to noon.
MI Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 2901 Hoover Drive, 7 p.m.
North 65 Center: Line Dancers, 9:30 a.m.; Cards, 12:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
Trenton Lions Club, First Christian Church Fellowship Hall, noon.
Grundy County Health Department, Children’s Immunizations by Appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nurse Services by appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spickard Coffee Club, Wise Community Center, 8 a.m.
Domestic Violence/Anger Management Group, North Central Missouri Mental Health Center, 7 to 9 p.m. North 65 Center: Cards, 12:30 p.m.; Fun Night, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Grundy County Health Department, Children’s Immunizations by Appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; GCHD Board of Trustees, Regular Board Metting
Lower Level of Health Department 4:30 p.m.Class of 1959 Lunch at Senior Center at 11:30 a.m. North 65 Center: Cards, 12:30 p.m. THURSDAY Trenton Rotary Club, BTC Bank Community Room, noon. North 65 Center: Cards, 12:30 p.m.; Early Bird Bingo, 6:00 p.m.; Regular Bingo, 6:45 p.m. Grundy County Health Department, Adult Blood Draw Clinic by appointment, 9 a.m. to noon.
Meet the new Grundy County Jewett Norris Library Director, Sarah Shoberg from 2pm to 4pm on the main floor at the library.
16th District Representative Mazzie Boyd reports Missouri's 27 delegates during the roll call at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
Photo submitted by Mazzie Christensen
OBITUARIES
Idell Lee Thompson
Idell Lee Thompson of rural Newtown, MO died on Monday, July 15, 2024, at Meyer Care Center of Higgingsville, MO.
Idell was born March 4, 1930, to John David & Hazel Izora (Smith) Sandford in the northwest corner bedroom of the Newtown Hotel. A sister, Mary Sue, was born three (3) years later. Idell attended Fillmore School north of Newtown for grades 1-8 and then Newtown High School until she graduated in 1947. She worked on the family farm for one year and then attended Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College for two years from 1948-1950 until she had earned sixty plus hours which enabled her to apply for a teaching job. In the fall of 1950 Idell took a job at Fairview School, northeast of Lucerne, MO for one year and then transferred to the school at Harris, MO where she taught for three years.
Later serving as a substitute teacher for the school in Newtown. The love of her life, Earl June Thompson, entered her life in the fall of 1949 when he arrived at the Sandford home and asked for a date. Idell turned him down as she already had a date for the weekend! Eventually she did agree and their first date was around New Year’s Eve 1949 where they went to a movie and then dancing at the roadhouse in Trenton, MO. Idell took a job at Hallmark in Kansas City during the summer of 1951 and June would ride the train to his Aunt Louisa’s home in KC so he could spend time with Idell. June proposed in the spring of 1951, and they were married on August 18, 1951, in Kansas City with her sister,
Mary Sue, and June’s brother, Gerald, as the only family attending. The couple planned to honeymoon in Nashville, Tennessee, but traveled as far as Mountain Grove, MO when Idell realized they did not have a place to live when they returned to Newtown.
Idell & June rented three (3) rooms in a house west of the Baptist church at Newtown until the spring of 1952 when they moved to a farm west of town. The couple bought the “Brud” Holt farm west of Newtown in 1958.
Idell returned to teaching in the fall of 1964 and took evening classes at Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College in Kirksville until she obtained her degree in Elementary Education.
She taught a 4 th /5 th /6 th grade classroom at Ravanna, MO from 19641967 and then took a 4th grade teaching position at Princeton, MO from 19671969. In the fall of 1969 Idell began her 23 years of teaching at the NewtownHarris School where she taught 5 th /6 th grades, then kindergarten, and later became the school’s librarian. Idell retired from full-time teaching in 1991 but did continue to substitute for several years.
Following her retirement the couple wintered in Florida at various locations for several years and finally purchased a home in The Villages in Lady Lake, Florida. They always planned to return to MO in time for spring turkey season. Idell was well known for her tatting and crochet abilities as well as her “crafting.” Following her retirement from teaching she shared her talents by traveling to numerous craft shows throughout the state and setting up her booth of Thompson’s
Mr. Wilbur Wayne Perry
Mr. Wilbur Wayne Perry, 87, a resident of Trenton, Missouri died at 3:33 A.M., Friday, July 19, 2024, at Sunnyview Nursing Home, Trenton Missouri. His body was cremated under the directions of Slater-Neal Funeral Home, Trenton Missouri. No services are planned at this time.
Mr. Perry was born June 4, 1937 in Spickard, Missouri the son of Richie L. and Edith J. Roberts Perry.
He attended Spickard R-II Elementary thru High School. He worked at Trenton Foods and Modine as Maintenance Supervisor, and was an electrician for the communities of Galt, Spickard and Chillicothe.
Later he was Maintenance Supervisor at Buckhorn Rubber Company. He also owned Perry Electric Motor Service, and Mark Twain Electric. Wilbur was past president of the boy’s and girl’s club of Hannibal Missouri. He loved life and enjoyed joking with family and friends.
He was married to Barbara Lame on May 23, 1957, and had three children- Janice, Steve, and Stanley.
Then on October 10, 1980 he was married to Deborah Starr and had two step-
children Tracy and Robert Starr. She preceded him in death on December 27, 2021.
His survivors include his children- Janice Chenoweth and husband Bobby, Farley Missouri, Steve Perry and wife Ruth, Trenton Missouri, Stanley Perry and wife Cindy, Loch Lloyd, Missouri, Tracy Forney, Mexico, Missouri, Robert Starr and Sarah, Clark Missouri.
Eleven Grandchildren- Brett Chenoweth and wife Abby, Ashley Chenoweth Elder and husband Josh, Tiffany Perry Griffith and husband Michael, Eric Fisher and wife Valerie, Jeremy Fisher, Taylor Perry, Lyndsey Perry, McKenna and Justin Forney, Ryan and Charley Starr.
Thirteen great grandchildren- Tucker, Maddox, Beckett, Evelynn, Emmett, Kaidance, Garrett, Kira, Brenin, Griffin, Skye, Meira, William and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Deborah and two brothers Charles Perry and Harold Perry.
Funky Junque! She was also an avid reader, sometimes having three or more books in progress at the same time.
In 2015 Idell moved to Higginsville, MO, and later moved into Meyer Care Center of John Knox Village of Higginsville. Idell supported her girls in many endeavors as 4-H leader, Advisor for The Order of Rainbow for Girls, Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, baker of thousands of doughnuts for bake sales, and volunteer for many other activities. She attended hundreds of her grandchildren’s basketball, football, softball, and volleyball games and one wrestling meet.
She was a charter member of the Lucerne American Legion Auxiliary Post 249 serving as President and then as 2 nd District President for two years. She was a Past Matron of Medicine Chapter #140 Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Lucerne Methodist Church. Idell was a past member of the Missouri State Teachers’ Association and a current member of the Missouri Retired Teachers’ Association.
Idell is survived by daughters, Shani Kinney of Trenton, MO; Sharon Thompson of Alma, MO; and Shelly Fauss and her husband, Ron of Corder, MO. Five Grandchildren: Katie Kinney of Trenton, MO; Kenton (Alicia) Kinney of Kearney,
MO; Kade Kinney of Kirksville, MO; Samuel (Britney) Fauss of Odessa, MO; and Alexandria Fauss of Orlando, FL. One great-granddaughter: Kaisley June Kinney of Kearney, MO; one brother-inlaw: Finis Brundage of Princeton, MO; and numerous nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews, and greatgreat nieces & nephews.
Idell was preceded in death by her husband, Earl June; an infant son, Robert David; son-in- law, Frank Kinney; sister, Mary Sue Brundage; and her parents. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, 9:00 a.m. at the Newtown Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Lafayette County Cancer Coalition or the Mercer County Library in care of Slater Neal Funeral Home of Trenton, MO.
Harry Walter Bratton
Harry Walter Bratton March 3,1933July 14,2024. Lee's Summit, MissouriHarry Walter Bratton, a 91 year old resident of Lee's Summit, Mo. died July 14, 2024 after a lingering illness. No funeral services are planned. Graveside rites for burial of the cremains may be held at a later date at Edinburg Cemetery, Edinburg, Mo. Harry was born March 3, 1933 on a farm north of Hickory Creek, Mo. to Herman L Carter Bratton. He attended Pleasant Ridge rural school and graduated from Trenton High School in 1951. After High School, he worked in Trenton as a mechanic for Bock Truck & Tractor Co. from 1951 to 1953. June 8, 1953 Harry married the love of his life, Alice J Sanders. April 8, 1953, Harry was inducted into the army during the Korean War. He was stationed for a year in an artillery battalion, located at the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich, Germany, where he served as a mechanic. After graduating from Trenton Junior College in 1956, Harry, Alice and daughter Marilyn moved to Columbia, Mo where Harry attended Engineering School at the University of Mo. February 8, 1960 Harry began work as a Junior Mechanical
Engineer at the Bendix Corporation in Kansas City, Mo. He retired July 30, 1993 as a staff engineer. Harry enjoyed engineering, writing, hunting, fishing, shooting, traveling and genealogy,He and Alice visited many places in the U.S., Hawaii, Caribbean, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, took five cruises and toured Europe eight times. He was a member of the Foundation Board of North Central Missouri College for several years. Harry was preceded in death by Alice, his wife of 66 years, his parents, and sister Anna Katherine. He is survived by daughter Marilyn and husband Mark Wade, granddaughter Jennifer and husband Rob June and great grandson Alex, grandson Christopher Piker, step grandson Stephen Wade and wife Krystle And step great granddaughter Shakota Wade, step granddaughter Danielle and husband Dr. Michael Semchyshyn and step great grandson Lane. Mount Moriah and Freeman Funeral Home 10507 Holmes, Kansas City, Mo 64131 is in charge of the arrangements. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to North Central Missouri College, 1301 Main St., Trenton, Mo. 64683
The Republican-Times welcomes letters from its readers. We require that all letters to the editor be signed by the writer, including a telephone number where the writer can be reached. The writer’s name will be published. Subject matter of the letters is limited to issues and matters of local interest to the general public. Letters of a personal or family nature (i.e. thank you cards, memorials, etc.) will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit, shorten or correct grammatical or spelling errors. The publisher reserves the right to reject any letter submitted for publication. The deadline for letters is noon on Monday of the week they are to be published.
Idell Lee Thompson
WORKMAN
sided over the Nuremberg War Trials, Larry Workman took responsibility for the mowing, maintenance and upkeep of the Memorial grounds.
Since 2000, Workman has mowed the roughly ten acre grounds of the Memorial 850 times, committing an hour and a half to two hours to not just mowing, but manicuring the grounds.
Roger Foreman, a great veteran similarly committed to the Veteran’s Home, told Workman, just for his own FYI, to figure out how much he would have “billed out” that work for if it had been a paying gig all these years.
“When I figured it out, it shocked me to learn that it would have billed out to $125,000 in expenses over that time.”Workman said.”It’s okay though, it’s been a labor of love for me and my family, because while Zach and I didn’t serve, we look at it this way…They went to war and fought for us…This is the least we can do.”
Workman, 68, vows to continue the work as long as he can, and can see himself doing it until age 80 or beyond, stating, “I’m really afraid to let someone else take it on, without their understanding how important it is that this look good all the time.”
Now, Workman is getting to a point where he’d like assistance from the community in covering the cost of six annual lawn applications done by Archer’s of St. Joe, which amount annually to $1,750 annually.
Workman and the American Legion post 28, which owns the ground upon which the Memorial sits, have set up an account at Farmers State Bank main branch under the account name”Cameron Veterans Memorial”
“I’d like to raise enough money so that this fund selfperpetuates, so that I don’t have to continue fund-raising for this every year.”Workman says.”Any money with-
drawn from that account requires my signature and that of Legion Post Commander Allen Reed.”
Workman cautioned that the American Legion, which has been made up mostly of World War II veterans, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam War Veterans and a few Persian Gulf vets, is dwindling in membership. He says membership of small-town posts around Missouri is shrinking as legacy veterans pass away, without new blood coming into the organization to keep it going.
“Guys out of the Iran and Afghanistan Wars, the War on Terror, have done their service, come home, and tried to get back to their lives.”Workman said, very cognizant of the difficulties and horrors of war, and the hard time many vets have had re-acclimating to civilian life.
He gets it. He remembers sitting down with his father Clarence, giving him an audio recorder and telling him to “tell us everything you remember from the day you went into the Army until the day you came home, everything you can remember.”
Clarence Workman complied with that request, and Larry took the transcript of Clarence’s “oral history”, committed it to type, and his sons built from that a book of pictures to go with the narrative of their dad’s experience.
“I remember one picture of my Dad, the last one taken of him the army, where his face was so ashen.”Workman said.”He had the look of, “I’ve seen enough war. I’ve had enough war.”
Workman told of witnessing Nuremberg first-hand, and spoke of watching Rudolf Hess, one of Hitler’s foremost SS thugs, who sat during the proceedings with a look of abject hatred on his face.
“Dad knew he was in the presence of evil.”Workman
Grundy Electric Cooperative to Host 86th Annual Membership Meeting
Trenton, Missouri, July 22, 2024-- Grundy Electric Cooperative will host their Annual Meeting of the Membership Thursday, August 1, at North Mercer R-III School in Mercer, Missouri. Dinner and registration will begin at 4:30 pm with musical entertainment by Jeremiah Hamilton and Makayla Mejia. Registered members will receive a gift at registration. The business meeting will begin at 6:30 pm with reports on the cooperative, election of directors, and voting on a proposed bylaw amendment. A drawing for six $200 electric bill credits will be held. All Grundy Electric Cooperative member-owners are invited to attend.
ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESSES
said.”I believe the recording we did was his way of “releasing the war” from his mind.”
The Memorial is beautiful, idyllic, understated, and yet, perfectly complete. Why there is so little promotion of the Memorial is something Workman doesn’t understand. He does say when new residents and business people come to survey Cameron as a potential home town, or corporate headquarters, those in the know include the Memorial as part of the community tour.
“The Memorial is a source of pride in this community and we’d like to really share with others.”Workman said. With several hundred commemorative bricks, dedicated benches, plaques and small kiosks memorializing each war since the Revolution, it’s worth an hour stop, a picnic, a class field trip, and History class research projects on who some of Cameron’s bravest are and were.
Workman’s legacy to the community is a love letter to Cameron’s finest.
“All gave, and some gave all” says the plaque commemorating the fallen soldier, inspiration taken from the military’s most recent engagements in Iran and Afghanistan. That image alone sets you back.
Cameron citizens and all those in North Missouri are rallied to come and to assist with this most beautiful of regional landmarks, cared for as a life mission by one of Cameron’s most selfless, and unselfish leaders.
“Keep the story alive.”Workman implored.”These people were the best of us.”
In the mean time, Larry Workman will keep the grounds golf course immaculate for those who come, maybe at first just to look, but as they get up closer, to wait awhile, and take it in.
It’s worth the stop and the cause is worth your help.
SEN. RUSTY BLACK CENSURED BY GRUNDY COUNTY RCC---
The Grundy County Republican Central Committee voted to composed this letter and send it to State Senator Rusty Black as a "notice of censure" for his failure to publicly support the "Truly Grassroots for Trump" slate of delegates to the Republican National Convention. Black has been conspicuously silent on the matter, drawing the ire of local Republicans.
THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Merit is the Secret Sauce of American Exceptionalism
By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@RepublicanTimes.com
(An ongoing series)
It is an ongoing debate in our politics and civic discussions about how every individual can achieve the American Dream.
Does one work for it? Does one compete for it? Does one receive it as an entitlement? If a person is historically “disadvantaged”, should steps be taken to level the playing field to provide everyone access? Does the American political system, cultural norms and mores, and civil society as a whole provide for an equality of opportunity? Should it provide an equality of outcome?
All Americans are, genetically at least, immigrants. We came from somewhere else to some place new.
No one was there from the Welcome Wagon. One was greeted by intemperate weather, rocky soil, predator animals, and allowed you just as much of your own ingenuity, hard work and elbow grease as you could muster to make a go of it.
One either worked hard,
or they died. Freedom and Liberty meant that you became whatever you became on your own, on your own steam, by your own effort.
Immigrants became settlers and moved westward on the frontier. Some were incentivized by the Homestead Act, settlers into the Indian Territory of Oklahoma became “sooners” because they lined up, raced, and staked out their claim.
Gold miners became rich with a pan, a pick, and a metal screen with a tray under it. The Gold did not just jump into the pan.
When the nation was settled, people set up farms, communities, cities, businesses, factories, and built ships that could carry goods bought and sold around the world.
Americans lived by the principle that hard work meant food on the table.
Later generations of Americans traded their skills, talents and ingenuity for money, compensation, and “considerations”.
This is the definition of “Meritocracy”, the notion of a political system in which economic goods or political power are vested in individual people based on ability and talent, rather than wealth, social class, or
race. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement.
Because hard work was in our DNA, “work ethic” emerged as the most American of shared personality traits and talent.
It is the secret sauce of American Exceptionalism.
Everyone values hard work, though many are jealous of the productivity of others, the wealth they accumulate, and the success and fame they earn for their talents.
In the time of Ronald Reagan, they spoke of “rugged individualism”, of people rising up by their bootstraps to make something of themselves. People rose to the level of their talent.
The Founders believed in hard work — Franklin’s belief in education and the provision of public libraries fueled his belief in the ability to improve one’s self. Washington never received anything based on his name, but accumulated it by hard work, and developing a reputation for success and capability.
Many in the society were limited in their abil-
ity to move up the social ladder, but this was accepted. The best rewards went to those most talented. That was the way of the world.
Jefferson, very pointedly, did not promise an equality of outcome, or “happiness” to the American people. He believed in people’s ability to engage in the “pursuit of happiness.”
How successful they were was up to them.
The American work ethos then, comes down to this.
A competing idea, or series of ideas suggests that many in society are shut out because of their race, social status, or living on “the wrong side of the tracks”.
The “American Success Story” of the kid who came up from poverty to excel, or abuse, or living with the addiction of parents is embodied in the life story of GOP VicePresidential nominee J.D. Vance.
No one gave him anything. He had to fight for it. He had to work for it. He studied. He got a law degree from Yale University, started a technology company, wrote a book and sold the rights to his
He changed his image in the blink of an eye at the cost of a two-centimeter chunk of his right ear.
It’s said that Providence intervened. Given time to think, people of faith concluded that Donald Trump has a higher mission and things yet to achieve in God’s service.
EXHIBIT TWO: Joe Biden contracts COVID for the third time, and the pressure from within his party to step aside as the Democratic nominee accelerates to a crescendo. Essentially told that he could “do it the easy way or do it the hard way”, Biden acquiesced and withdrew from the race.
life story, resulting in the hit movie “Hillbilly Elegy”.
He is potentially one step away from the Presidency, and pledged to “never forget where he came from”, a nod to humble circumstances, but self-motivation to be something more than his life-circumstances had dealt him.
The Constitution did not allow for hereditary succession to public positions. Whoever you were, you had to work for it. You had to earn people’s votes. You had to sell people on your “merit” for the job.
The Culture Wars of the last 25-years have introduced grievance, identity politics, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”, “Critical Race Theory” and now demands for reparations for slavery into the public discussion.
Whereas equality guarantees everyone a shot, equity requires that hiring and selection of people to positions take into account the identity politics boxes of race, gender, sexual orientation which must be filled, before one is considered on merit, regardless of whether or not they are best for the job, the
promotion or the reward.
This DEI premise of “equity” has found its way into schools, universities, the military and law enforcement. The concept of “white fragility” has targeted people to consider “checking their privilege” and willingly giving up positions of leadership to lesser talents who checked a box of race, sexual orientation, or gender.
Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a national 32hour work week. Schools go on four-day school weeks. Workplaces have comfort rooms, suggest naps, and advocate remote work from home. In other words… France.
The truly unique nature of the American experience is bolstered by how hard people are willing to work to achieve it. In the conceptual culture war between the need to provide equality and the need to provide equity, the greatest strength of the American people…the ability to outwork everyone in sight loses something. What is lost?
Exceptionalism, the quality that most sets us apart from the rest of the world.
sure her the nomination. Unless she completely faceplants in the next 25 days before the Democratic National Convention, she is the nominee.
EXHIBIT ONE: A 20-year old “Loser to Lion” shot Donald Trump on July 13. At the moment of the Fight or Flight response we all face at the glimpse of mortality, Trump got angry, pumped his fist, and told his followers at the Pennsylvania Rally to FIGHT.
The takeaway…Donald Trump is a warrior…not my words, but the words of witnesses, followers, talking heads and the American people.
EXHIBIT THREE: Kamala “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round through the Passage of Time” Harris is coronated the new Democratic nominee without a primary, without a vote of the people, anointed by the New Democratic Oligarchs that include the San Francisco Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, The Clintons, and the titular President Emeritus of the United States…Barack Obama.
Within forty eight hours, Harris received enough delegate commitments previously committed to Biden to as-
EXHIBIT FOUR: Joe Biden is still the President, for now, until January 20, 2025. While the Democrats total effort rested on getting Biden out of the nomination, the Republicans take their turn now at demanding Biden resign, or that Harris convenes the cabinet and initiates the 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office, making her the 47th President for five months and sending thousand of Trump 47 t shirts to be distributed to villagers in the Congo.
EXHIBIT FIVE: The mainstream media was found out. The Democratic Party was found out. And now, with Harris as the sacrificial lamb for 2024, the “lie machine” of rehabilitating her as the Next Messiah has begun, and they question whether or not Trump was actually shot. They breathlessly report this, and shamelessly throw their all into hiding the machinations of the Democratic Oligarchy and expect the American people watching them…all twelve of them, to buy the crap sandwich they
TRENTON R-IX SUMMER SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES
The following schedule was released from Trenton R-IX Athletic Director John Cowling on summer athletic opportunities for Bulldog boys and girls athletes.
Weights: (MWF)-6:30 to 8:00 AM
High School Girls Weights: (MWF) 8:00 to 9:30 AM
Middle School Boys Weights: (TU, TH) 7:00-8:15 AM
Middle School Girls Weights: (Tu, TH) 8:30-9:45 AM
OPEN GYM/OPEN COURT/OPEN FIELD TIMES:
High School Boys Wrestling: (MWF) 8:00-9:30 AM
High School Girls Wrestling: (MWF) 9:30-11:00 AM
High School Girls Basketball: (MWF) 9:30-11:30 AM
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL (MWF) 8:00-9:30 AM
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF
Tu-Th
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Middle School Football (TH)
10:00-11:00 am (after weights)
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS
Open Court 10:00 AM-11:30 am)
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS
Open Court Tu, Th
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Open Field (T/TR) 9:00-10:30 AM
SOFTBALL CAMPS
July Date: TBD at Chillicothe or Trenton Softball Team Camp: Mornings July 29-August 2
THSL/MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND CAMP
July 22-26 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
DRUMLINE
July 15-19 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
JULY 22-26 8:00-AM-4:00 PM
COLOR GUARD CAMP
Full Band and Color Guard Camp
July 22-26 8:00-4:00 PM
*The Republican-Times will keep this schedule updated through the summer.
The Leadership Northwest Music Jam was the topic of a program presented at the Thursday, July 18 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club. Scott Sharp presided at the meeting, Dan Wilford gave the prayer and Michael Ormsby was the sergeant at arms.
Program Chairman Kassie Hodge introduced Shane Lynch and Jenna Stevens, who told about the Music Jam, which is scheduled for Aug. 31 at the Black Silo Winery. The event is in its fourth year and raises money to support the Leadership Northwest Missouri organization. Leadership Northwest provides training and networking opportunities for leaders in a 19-county area of northwest Missouri. Each class is asked to come up with a “class project” to help support the organiza-
tion and it was the Music Jam that was organized by the 2021 leadership class, of which Lynch and Mrs. Stevens were members. This year’s event features Jordan Rainer, who was a member of “Team Reba” on this year’s “The Voice” music competition. The opening act will be Makaila Mejia, who will be a sophomore this fall at Trenton High School. In addition to the music, there will also be food vendors available. Lynch noted that local sponsors have helped with the funding for the concert. Tickets purchased prior to the event are $25, with tickets being $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. There is also a link to the ticket site via the Leadership Northwest Facebook page.
During the business meeting, Grundy County
Associate Circuit Court Judge Carrie Lamm Clark was initiated as a new member of the club by President Scott Sharp. Members were asked to help man the ticket booth at the grandstand during the North Central Missouri Fair on Friday, Aug. 2. A request was also made for volunteers to help at the Thrift Shop during the last two Sat-
urdays in August. The Salvation Army will be conducting a “Christmas in July” fundraising effort at Hy-Vee from July 22-27 and members were asked to help with that effort. The program for July 25 will be presented by Kelli Hillerman and members of the Grundy County LEPC. Kassie Hodge is the program chairman.
In City of Trenton vs. David V. Ayala II, charged with expired plates and operating a motor vehicle on highway without valid or no license, the defendant entered guilty pleas. Both cases were continued until August 6, 2024, in order to give the defendant time to pay fines of $147 plus court costs.
In City of Trenton vs. Kathy Jo Campbell, charged with three nuisance violations, the defendant was given until September 3, 2024 to remove trash and debris from her property.
In City of Trenton vs. Erin H. Carriker, charged with a nuisance violation, the defendant entered a guilty plea, and TPD reported that the property had been abated. Carriker was ordered to pay fees and fines totaling $188.50 by September 3, 2024.
In City of Trenton vs. Brayn Douglas Conner, charged with following another vehicle too closely, the defendant appeared in court and received a continuance until September 3, 2024.
In City of Trenton vs. Matthew Eugene Cook, charged with two nuisance violations and a nuisance charge for an aban-
Land Transfers
Land Transfers
July 18, 2024
Hunter Dalinghaus and wife to James Dannatt and wife
July 19, 2024
Court Records
doned vehicle, the case was continued until September 3, 2024 to give the defendant an opportunity to continue work on the property.
In City of Trenton vs., Jennifer Lynn Curtis, charged with an animal license violation and an animal at large, the defendant entered a guilty plea and was ordered to pay fees and fines of $89.50 by September 3, 2024.
In City of Trenton vs. Nicholas Robert Day, charged with a nuisance violation, the defendant entered a guilty plea and was ordered to pay fees and fines of $188.50 by September 3, 2024.
In City of Trenton vs. Brandy Marie Elliot, charged with driving while revoked or suspended, operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility, and expired plates, the defendant failed to appear. A warrant was issued for her arrest with a bond of $163.50 due upon apprehension. Elliot had offered original guilty pleas on each count, with costs of $138.50, $64.00 and $89.00 due.
In City of Trenton vs. Charles Thomas
Fayo, charged with exceeding speed limit by 10-15 mph. Over, the defendant entered a guilty plea. The defendant failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A cash only bond of $134.00 is due upon his apprehension.
In City of Trenton vs. Shawnon Anthony, charged with exceeding posted speed limit of 11-15 mph. Over, the defendant entered a guilty plea and paid a fine of $70.50 plus court costs of $38.50.
In City of Trenton vs. Zachary Jacob Marrs, charged with a nuisance violation, the defendant’s mother appeared on his behalf. The case is continued until September 3, 2024 in order to give the defendant time to work on the property.
In City of Trenton vs. Jason Edward Miller, charged with a Peace Disturbance, a nuisance violation and a separate nuisance violation for an abandoned vehicle, a guilty plea was entered and the defendant pays fees and fines in the amount of $64.00.
In City of Trenton vs. Elizabeth Ann Novak, charged with expired plates, the de-
fendant pled guilty, and was ordered to pay $89.00 in court fines and fees, which were deducted from a previously posted $89.00 bond.
In City of Trenton vs. Krystal Hope Price, charged with displayed /possessed fictitious/canceled/suspended/revoked/altered driver's license, a guilty plea was entered, and the defendant was ordered to pay $138.50 in fees and fines by September 3, 2024.
In City of Trenton vs. Garrett Jones Pruett, charged with expired plates, the defendant failed to appear, but called the court to acknowledge he had missed the date. His case was continued to August 6, 2024.
In City of Trenton vs. Samantha Marie Ratkovich, charged with a nuisance violation and a nuisance violation for an abandoned vehicle, the defendant appeared in court. The case was continued until September 3, 2024 to give the defendant time to work on the property.
Marriage Dissolutions Granted Arrest Records
Creed David Paul Jones vs. Kerry Jo Jones
Heather Marie Lawrence vs. Kristopher Keith Taylor
LeRoy Detweiler and wife to Donald Wilburn
Daniel Loyd to Caleb Boyd Paul Yutzy et al to John Kramer and Wife
LOCAL
James Leon Baker of Versailles was arrested on a failure to appear Capias warrant for arrest in Jackson County on July 19, 2024, stemming from a 2019 Felony E charge of
Commissioner Meeting
Failure to Register As a Sex Offender Pursuant to Secs. The defendant will go to court August 15, 2024.
The Grundy County Commissioners met Tuesday July 15 at the Grundy County Courthouse. Commissioners Don Sager and Brad Chumbley, and Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray were in attendance.
First District Commissioner Don Sager made a motion to open the Board of Equalization meeting. Second District Commissioners Chumbley seconded the motion. Present for the Board of Equalization Meeting were Don Sager, Brad Chumbley, Phillip Ray, Melissa Purkapile, Brandon Harvey and Nathan Curtis. There were no meeting appointments made.
Matt Walker, ambulance supervisor, brought in ambulance updates for the week. New internet router came in and is awaiting a new install in the new Transit van. Matt also checked the Stryker cot and loading system components. Command One coordinated with Pinnacle to have some cables and wiring installed during assembly so installation should be quick and easy. Pinnacle also sent their invoice for the new Transit vehicle.
Payment is due on delivery and will be received around July 30.
Motions to close the meeting, and second were received and the meeting was closed.
City Council Approves Contract with Bright Futures
By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com
The Trenton City Council met to conclude items on an abbreviated agenda in their Monday, July 22 meeting.
In attendance were mayor Jackie Soptic, City Administrator Ron Urton, City Clerk Cindy Simpson, Assistant City Clerk Anita Ewing and Council members Tim Meinecke, David Mlika, Duane Urich, Lou Fisher, Glen Briggs, Calvin Brown and Marvin Humphries.
Council member John Dolan attended by Zoom. Following the Call to order, pledge and prayer, minutes of the previous meeting and bills for the month were approved. With no public com-
ment, the Council moved on to Ordinance number 36 to provide $8,000 in funding to Bright Futures Trenton to run a water line to their building at 10th and Highland, which will serve as a distribution and storage center for the volunteer organization, doing a “muscular” job in meeting the needs of students in Grundy County schools.
The contract noted that as long as the identified mission of Bright Futures continued, that the City was committed to providing the waterline to help make the building functional. After some limited discussion, the ordinance was approved 7-0.
The Council also ap-
proved the contract with SMICO services for the 2024 sewer cleaning and CCTV scan of the city’s sewer lines. The contract received quick approval from the Council.
City Administrator Urton told the Council that the city was on the lookout for a new dump truck to be used by the Street Department, having sold three older units out of shelf life.
Urton told the Council that the department would be watching for a suitable replacement truck, having already budgeted $50,000 to the expense. Following this discussion, the Board adjourned into Executive Session to discuss legal matters.
AC in the boxes is minimal where temps are high. They will get an evac and recharge on the AC system in each one while they’re there for replacement of the parts affecting the dash vents. Walker reported he also inquired about the possibility of adding a second AC system to cool the boxes. Walker said it’s unusual for them to do that, but Pinnacle said they would check into it and provide a quote if it was possible.
Two full-time EMT’s plan on attending paramedic school. One will start at Grand River Technical this August with the other one going through Voc-Rehab and will be
attending classes in Buchanan County beginning in January.
There are currently 13-people on the email list for the Fall 2024 EMT Class. There have been four completed applications. Application deadline is July 22. Dr. Borhani’s one year contract as medical director has been renewed. He will be retiring within the next few years so they will be looking for a new medical director to take his place when the time comes.
The next meeting of the County Commission was July 23.
The Grundy County Republican Central Committee held the official ribbon-cutting for their campaign headquarters at 2302 9th Street in Trenton on Thursday, July 18. Meet the Candidates night is Friday, July 25 at 6;00-9:00 PM at the corner of the 9th and Rural Streets in Trenton.
Grundy County Republican Central Committee Ribbon Cutting
The Grundy County Republicans held a ribbon cutting at GOP headquarters July 18 at 7 PM. The Headquarters is located at 203 E 9th Street Suite B and will be staffed noon-5 pm starting July
29. Following the ribbon cutting, a short planning meeting for the Meet the Candidate BQ will be held. The Meet the Candidate BQ and music by the band Centerline will be on July 25 at 9th and Rural
Street 6-9 pm. The public is invited to attend each of these events.
Becky McDonald Chair of the Grundy County Republican Central Committee 660-654-1482
Photos of Cameron’s beautiful Veterans Memorial centrally located between the school buildings.
Photos submitted by Larry Workman.
Photo submitted by Phil Ray
The Grand River Garden Club Yard of the month is at 610 West 12th Street and owned by Jim and Dana Gross.
Photo by Mark McLaughlin
Grundy County Associate Circuit Court Judge Carrie Lamm Clark became the newest member of the Trenton Rotary Club during its meeting on Thursday, July 18. Club president Scott Sharp conducted the membership ceremony. Submitted photo
Larry Workman of Cameron is the unofficial caretaker of the Cameron Veterans Memorial. He has mowed and tended the Memorial since 2000.
Vietnam War commemorative at Cameron Vets Memorial is one of six from the Revolutionary War through the War on Terror.
Photo by Mark McLaughlin
Photo by Mark McLaughlin
The North Grand River Book Store is the Grand River Garden Club Business Beautification award winner for August. The store is managed by Doug Crawford and the caretaker of the building is Janet Urton. The store is located at 1108 Main Street in downtown Trenton.
Photo by Mark McLaughlin
Trenton’s Little League is tate bound and rasing funds for their trip!
Photo by D’Anna Honeycutt
PUBLIC NOTICES
Because The People Must Know
CITY OF TRENTON, MISSOURI
Advertisement for Bidders
The City of Trenton, Missouri is accepting bids for Exterior Door and Concrete Step Replacement. Bids will be accepted at City Hall, 1100 Main St., Trenton, MO 64683, until 11:00 a.m. on August 15, 2024 . Specifications and more information can be obtained by contacting Ron Urton at 660-359-2283. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids or waive any irregularities that are in the best interest of the City.
(7/25/24)
CITY OF TRENTON, MISSOURI
Advertisement for Bidders
The City of Trenton, Missouri is accepting bids for Wall Extension. Bids will be accepted at City Hall, 1100 Main St., Trenton, MO 64683, until 11:00 a.m. on August 15, 2024. Specifications and more information can be obtained by contacting Ron Urton at 660-359-2283. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids or waive any irregularities that are in the best interest of the City.
(7/25/24)
CITY OF TRENTON, MISSOURI
Request for Proposals
The City of Trenton, Missouri is initiating an Infill Housing Program. The City has three vacant lots to develop and is accepting proposals for construction of residential structures. Proposals will be accepted at City Hall, 1100 Main St., Trenton, MO 64683, until 11:00 a.m. on August 22, 2024. Specifications and more information can be obtained by contacting Ron Urton at 660-359-2283. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids or waive any irregularities that are in the best interest of the City.
(7/25/24)
In Re: Tanner Moore, A Single Person
TRUSTEE’S SALE
Under the terms of the Deed of Trust executed by Tanner Moore, A Single Person dated 03/03/2022, and recorded on 03/04/2022 Book 686 Page 819 Document 22LR0352 in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Grundy County, MISSOURI, the undersigned Successor Trustee, will on 08/21/2024 at 2:00 PM at the West Front Door of the Grundy County Courthouse 700 Main St. Trenton, MO 64683, sell at public venue to the highest bidder for cash subject to the terms announced at the sale, the realty described in said deed of trust, to wit: ALL OF LOT TWELVE (12), IN BLOCK TWO (2), IN COUNTRY CLUB ADDITION TO THE CITY OF TRENTON, GRUNDY COUNTY, MISSOURI.. Eastplains Corporation
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE
(7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15/24)
MO 5 UNIT SIZES AVAILABLE
Call: Mike or Jane Cooksey 660-359-7683
North Central Missouri College is accepting bids for the renovation of an existing athletics/golf building on the Trenton campus. Please see www.ncmissouri.edu for additional details. (7/25/24)
North Central Missouri College is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation in its admissions, educational programs, activities, services, or employment practices as required by law, applicable statutes, and College policy. Sexual harassment, to include sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited. Inquiries concerning NCMC nondiscrimination policies should be referred to: Dr. Lenny Klaver, President, Frey Administrative Center, 1301 Main Street, (660) 359-3948 x1200. NCMC’s full notice of nondiscrimination can be found in the board policy manual publically available at www.ncmissouri.edu (7/25/24)
TrenTon republican-Times
(USPS 638-180)
Published By Honeycutt Media, LLC 122 East Eighth St. Trenton, MO 64683-0548
E-Mail: news@republican-times.com Phone: 660-359-2212
Established September 4, 1864
Periodicals Postage Paid at Trenton, MO
Jamey & D’Anna Honeycutt
Wendell Lenhart Co-Publishers Publisher Emeritus
Sales Megan Graham
Composing - Anita Ewing, Libby Endicott
Editorial Jamey Honeycutt Staff Reporter Mark McLaughlin Business Operations Becca Giesken Becca Giesken
Postmaster: Send address changes to: Republican-Times, P.O. Box 548, Trenton, MO 64683
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all the local news printed in this newspaper, as well as all AP news dispatches.
“The Republican has a greater purpose in life than merely to publish the news.” . . . Col. W.B. Rogers.
Published every Thursday, except holidays; Single Copy, $1.15 plus 10¢ sales tax. $52.60 plus tax per year in Trenton and Grundy County. $64.60 plus tax per year in Missouri and $75 per year out of state.
Public Notice
Trenton R-IX School District is currently seeking a qualified individual to fill a vacant position on our Board. This is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about education and committed to serving our community.
Candidates interested in this position must meet eligibility requirements for school board candidates under Missouri law. The appointed candidate will serve until the next April board election. Applications can be obtained from the Trenton R-IX District Office, available from Monday to Thursday, between the hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm. Please note that the deadline for submitting applications is Friday, August 2nd, 2024. We encourage all eligible and interested individuals to apply. This is a vital role that directly contributes to the quality of education in our community, and we look forward to welcoming a new member to our team.
Should you have any questions about the application process or eligibility requirements, please do not hesitate to contact the District Office at 660-359-3994. We thank you in advance for your interest in this important role.
(7/18, 7/25/24)
National Newspaper Association
Agriculture
See Consumer Oil & Supply for your One Stop Shop for Muck and Lacrosse boots and gloves. Consumer Oil & Supply 614 Harris Ave. 359-2258
Buying standing walnut, oak & cottonwood timber. Cash or on shares. Call Mike at 816-248-3091
Gravel, sand, top soil, mulch, river rock, boulders-Turney Mini Quarry 816-248-2523.
PAYING $75/ACRE FOR RENTAL PASTURE. Will consider any size and location. 816-288-9060.
For Rent
Sunnyview Apartments is taking applications for single & double apartments. Sunnyview is a residential care facility for the elderly. We provide qualified staff to administer medications, provide three meals a day and offer minimal assistance with the activities of daily living. Now accepting Medicaid. For more information contact Cassandra Brewer at 660-3595647.
Mobile home for rent in Jameson. Large yard, no pets Call 660-334-1334
FOR RENT Hale, Mo.
One 2 bed apt, one 1 bed apt, 1 studio. NO PETS First month rent & dep req. appliances & utilities furnished. Background check req, 660-645-2269
For Sale Registered Jack Russells 816-807-0382
For Sale 2021 Polaris Ranger XP1000. Air-Heat wipers. Electric windows, winch, back up mirror, side mirrors, dump bed. Call 660-359-7643
Estate Sale. Misc furniture, tools, saws, lg green egg smoker, pellet grill. For pics or info call Carol
at 573-291-2681
Pond building supplies. Roll plastic pipe, 100 lb. & 160 lb. PSI. Pond shutoff & stock tank valves, hydrants. Trenton Hardware, 901 Main, Trenton, 660-359-3660.
HELTON INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Williams Shopping Center, Trenton, MO. New To Medicare or Want To Compare Pricing ... Call Brian McDaniel 816-289-1935 or Leah Helton 660-359-3806 or 660-635-0537 "Our Quality Of Service Is What Makes Us Different"
PUBLIC RELEASE
Shelter Insurance – Cale Gondringer 1601 E 9th St., Suite D. 660-359-4100. LIFE * HOME * AUTO * FARM * BUSINESS. We’re your shield. We’re your shelter.ShelterInsurance.com
Shelly's Pet Care, 660684-6864, 103 S. Locust St., Jamesport, MO 64648. Professional, Personalized Grooming. Appointments available Monday - Saturday. 35 Years of Experience!Serving the Green Hills Area since 1996! Help Wanted Sunnyview Nursing Home has job openings available for the following posi-
tions: RN, LPN, CNA, Dietary and Level I Medication Aide. Please fill out a job application at 1311 East 28th Street, Trenton, MO 64683. E.O.E. Notices THE PEOPLE’S CO-OP 1736 East 9th St. 3593313. Premium Diesel, Gas, 10% Ethanol –CENEX. 83 years of service & experience. MR. TIRE – Dean, Hankook, Cooper tires.
Replacement Parts; Accessories; Chemicals; Tool & equipment. www.tlautosupply.com Services
*SEAMLESS GUTTER-
Trenton R-IX, Grundy R-V, Laredo R-VII, Pleasant View R-VI, and Spickard R-II announced its revised free and reduced price policy for school children unable to pay the full price of meals served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Local education officials have adopted the following family-size income criteria for determining eligibility:
Children from families whose current income is at or below those shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Applications are available at the school office. To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application and return it to the school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. A complete application is required as a condition of eligibility. A complete application includes: (1) household income from all sources or Food Stamp/TANF case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature and last four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult household member signing the application. School officials may verify current income or other information provided on the application at any time during the school year. Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Households with children who are eligible under the foster, Head Start, homeless, migrant, or runaway programs should contact the school for assistance in receiving meal benefits. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Children who are members of households currently certified as receiving Food Stamps, TANF or FDPIR are eligible for free meals. To complete an application, the household must provide the names of the children, a statement that the household receives the qualifying benefits, the Food Stamps/TANF/FDPIR case number, and the signature of the adult household member making application. When known by the school that members of a household are receiving assistance from Food Stamps, TANF or FDPIR, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free school meals. If any children in the household were not listed on the eligibility notice or not listed on the application, the household should contact the school to have benefits extended to all children in the household. If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for these benefits. Under the provisions of the policy, the verifying official will review the applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the hearing official on an informal basis or he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to the Superintendent. Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy. A complete copy of the policy is on file in each school and in the central office where any interested party may review it. USDA Non-discrimination Statement: In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative me ans of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)-8778339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
ING* We are ready to replace your old gutters with new seamless aluminum gutters! MOORE’S CONSTRUCTION & WOODWORK, INC. 359-5477. 52 Years Experience.
WANTED!! Used & Abused Cars & Trucks, Highest prices paid! You Call - We Come Get It! FRONTIER AUTO & TRUCK PARTS, (formerly Jim’s Auto Salvage). 145 Hwy. W., Trenton, 359-3888.
Carquest Auto Parts T & L Auto Supply, Inc., 1823 East 9th, Trenton, 3592268. tlautosupply.com Monday-Friday, 7-5, Saturday, 7:30-12.
Call MIDWEST MECHANICAL & rely on comfort. 800-425-0976 or 485-6611, Brian S. Israel, owner. For your heating & cooling needs. All Tax Credits & Rebates available! Geostar Geothermal Heat Pumps. Over 25 years experience.
RED BARN MINI STORAGE, across from the new hospital on Iowa Blvd in Trenton. 5 Unit sizes available. Call Mike or Jane Cooksey 660-3597683.
JAMESPORT LUMBER
Full Service Lumberyard. We also sell Trusses/ metal/rebar/concrete blocks. New Hardware Department - Gift Certificates and Delivery Available - Free Estimates
32089 St. Hwy 6, Jamesport 660-684-6404
JAMESPORT BUILDERS, 660-6846931, 32137 State Hwy 6, Jamesport. POLE BARNS - GARAGES, Spray foam insulation.
BUY - SELL - TRADEBIG NASTY'S GUNS & AMMO - Stop in and see us at our New Location1515 E. 9th Street, Trenton, MO. Nathan Rorebeck, 660-635-0469, www.bignastys.com
Mid-States Services is now offering: Fiber Optic installs in rural Trenton! Mid-States will STILL WAIVE the $150 installation free for those who sign up NOW! Sign up TODAY by calling 660359-2045 or at http://www.mid-states.net. 4100 Oklahoma Ave., Trenton, MO 64683.
Willing Workers LLP - Do you need your siding or roof replaced?
Give Willing Workers a call today for a FREE estimate... 660-973-5694, John Kramer, 17594 St. Hwy. 190, Jamesport, MO 64648
PAGE TREE SERVICE
Jeff Page 660-359-3699shop, 660-359-2202home. Serving the entire Green Hills Area! Specializing in tree trimming, stump grinding & complete removal. 75' bucket truck, chipper & stump grinder. Licensed & in
CLASSIFIEDS
sured. Free Estimates! Agriculture
See Consumer Oil & Supply for your One Stop Shop for Muck and Lacrosse boots and gloves. Consumer Oil & Supply 614 Harris Ave. 359-2258
Buying standing walnut, oak & cottonwood timber. Cash or on shares. Call Mike at 816-248-3091
Gravel, sand, top soil, mulch, river rock, boulders-Turney Mini Quarry 816-248-2523.
PAYING $75/ACRE FOR RENTAL PASTURE. Will consider any size and location. 816-288-9060. For Rent
Sunnyview Apartments is taking applications for single & double apartments. Sunnyview is a residential care facility for the elderly. We provide qualified staff to administer medications, provide three meals a day and offer minimal assistance with the activities of daily living. Now accepting Medicaid. For more information contact Cassandra Brewer at 660-3595647.
Mobile home for rent in Jameson. Large yard, no pets Call 660-334-1334
FOR RENT Hale, Mo.
One 2 bed apt, one 1 bed apt, 1 studio. NO PETS First month rent & dep req. appliances & utilities furnished. Background check req, 660-645-2269 For Sale
(7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15/24)
Registered Jack Russells 816-807-0382
For Sale 2021 Polaris Ranger XP1000. Air-Heat wipers. Electric windows, winch, back up mirror, side mirrors, dump bed. Call 660-359-7643
Estate Sale. Misc furniture, tools, saws, lg green egg smoker, pellet grill. For pics or info call Carol at 573-291-2681
Pond building supplies. Roll plastic pipe, 100 lb. & 160 lb. PSI. Pond shutoff & stock tank valves, hydrants. Trenton Hardware, 901 Main, Trenton, 660-359-3660.
HELTON INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Williams Shopping Center, Trenton, MO. New To Medicare or Want To Compare Pricing ... Call Brian McDaniel 816-289-1935 or Leah Helton 660-359-3806 or
660-635-0537 "Our Quality Of Service Is What Makes Us Different"
Shelter Insurance – Cale Gondringer 1601 E 9th St., Suite D. 660-359-4100. LIFE * HOME * AUTO * FARM * BUSINESS. We’re your shield. We’re your shelter.ShelterInsurance.com
Shelly's Pet Care, 660684-6864, 103 S. Locust St., Jamesport, MO 64648.
(7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15/24)
ACROSS 1. Nasal mucus
5. Hairs on the back of a dog 11. Ones who build anew 14. Consume too much food 15. Praised 18. Provides weapons 19. Become less lively 21. Engine additive 23. Thought or suggestion 24. South Korean city 28. Midday rests 29. Expression of acidity or alkalinity 30. Group of rockers
32. Very fast airplane
33. One who is paid to do something
35. Buzzing insect 36. Monotheistic religion founder 39. Strong dark beer
41. Blood type 42. Square measures
44. Honorific titles in NW Semitic languages
46. Present 47. Afflict in mind or body
49. Duty 52. Municipality in Stockholm 56. In a normal way
58. Rode a bicycle 60. Charitable 62. Verandas 63. Uncredited
DOWN 1. No seats available 2. Russian river 3. A European river 4. Phrase 5. Idol 6. Keyboard key 7. Prefix indicating mutual 8. Kilometers per hour 9. Set an example 10. It’s among the “Great” ones 12. VVV 13. Murdered 16. Icelandic poems 17. Seas 20. Famed
cartoonist 22. Partner to “Ma”
25. Equal to one quintillion bytes
26. Speak incessantly
27. Disquiet
29. Parts per billion (abbr.)
31. Upper-class young woman (abbr.)
34. S. American plant
36. Monetary unit of Thailand 37. Regions 38. Baseball legend Yogi
40. Ancient Egyptian notion of spiritual part of humans
43. Fishing net
45. Tinseltown
48. MacBeth’s wife was one
50. Took a spill
51. Adversary to pets
53. Town in Galilee
54. Secret racist society (slang)
55. About aviation 57. Longing or yearning
58. Hawaiian dish
59. Field force unit 61. Partner to “Pa”
Garfield® by Jim Davis
Alley Oop® by Joey Alison Sayers and Jonathan Lemon
For Better or For Worse® by Lynn Johnson
Frank & Ernest® by Bob Thaves
The Born Loser® by Art and Chip Sansom
Shoe® by Jeff MacNelly
THS Coach Bacon “Dean” of Bulldog Coaches
By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer
Trenton High Wrestling Coach
Charlie Bacon enters his 16th year as head wrestling coach at his alma mater, and he is as open, enthusiastic and energetic as the day he took the job all those years ago.
“I was so fortunate to have stepped into a historically great program.”Bacon said.”I was coached by Coach Hurst(now in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Missouri Wrestling Hall of Fame)and was coached for one year by Bill Hill… Both were tremendous coaches and examples.”
After a year assisting Coach Hill, Bacon took the helm, and has over time had one consistent message and philosophy.
“You don’t have to be the fastest, to don’t have to be the strongest, you don’t have to be the best athlete in order to become a good wrestler.”Bacon said.”You get out of it what you put into it.”
Bacon, like all other THS coaches previously interviewed this summer, encourages open mat time, and promotes the weight room…hard.
“All of us as coaches are involved in that together and we all agree. Getting bigger, stronger and faster is the way to winning.”Bacon said.
Bacon identifies technique and different “moves” instruction in the wrestling room to making his team more competitive, as well as how athletes are approached.
“Ben Askren at Missouri changed
Chalk Talk
• FROM FRONT 16•
are feeding us.
There is no comparison to any thirteen days in any other period of history that included an assassination attempt, a palace coup, a totally undemocratic process by the self-appointed “Protectors of Democracy”. Throw in the resignation of the Director of the Secret Service Tuesday, and you’re looking at a political landscape which most resembles Joplin, Missouri after the 2011 tornado.
SORTING IT OUT:
R-T Publisher Emeritus Wendell Lenhart visited the office on Monday, and made this statement. “If Trump would have been as-
comes out to $30,000 a year, times eighty players, and the payout, with change, is $2.6 million for the entire 88-player squad. Every Michigan game is a sellout so the revenue over a season, just on home football games, is a staggering $434,000,000 per year. Without those 88 football players, Michigan relies on Big Ten volleyball for their entertainment, and nobody will care.
College football conference alignment raced ahead of the NCAA’s abil-
the old “template” of getting in an athlete’s face hard all the time.”Bacon said.”He encouraged learning a counter for everything, was encouraging, and wrestlers improved.”
He pointed to a recent visit by Missouri wrestler Jay Cuse, who put on a camp for the THS wrestling team. He made a point with Bacon that stuck.
“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”taught Cuse, making an important point about summer specifically and wrestling generally.
Kids try to do everything so fast that perfect becomes the enemy of the good.
“Summer is a time where we tell the kids to slow down, work hard, but they don’t have to make weight.”Bacon said.”Our kids are going to be moving up in divisions this year because they’re growing, and doing the hard development work that makes you a more mature, and more complete wrestler.
He points to senior wrestler Mason Rongey, a 4-time state tournament entrant and a state medalist this past year as a dialed in, serious athlete who leads the room with his work ethic.
“Mason is no-nonsense, worker and leader for our team.”said Bacon.
Other leaders for the upcoming Bulldog squad include last year’s 106-pounder Jacob White, a sophomore who finished 4th in the state in his first trip.
He has been dubbed “The Muscle Hamster”. No…seriously.
White has grown, gotten bigger, and gained even more definition over the summer, and he’s another in the
sassinated, it would have been civil war.”
I think he’s right. I’ve heard that sentiment from two or three different sources in the last week, and I think there’s truth to it. Thomas Crooks, the would-be assassin, who I look at and think of Screech Powers from “Saved by the Bell”, outworked, outwitted and outplayed the United States Secret Service.
One of two things happened.
1—It was either just an enormous screw-up with so many broken wheels and spindles of security as not to be believed, or:
2—It was intentional
ity to control it. The new center of college football is not at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, but rather in the ESPN main studios in Bristol, Connecticut. And now…NCAA Director Charlie Baker, late the governor of Massachusetts, proposed a $28 billion fund to be spread among Division I institutions to pay their players between $1,000 a month or between $10,000 and $20,000 a year. That’s for D-I football players, mens and women’s basketball players…and I can’t con-
SPORTS OPINION
mode of Rongey, a hand to hand assassin.
“He is another serious dude.”Bacon said.”He has 7 to 8% BMI, and is all muscle…he will be a rock as he continues to grow.”
Logan Wilson, a senior who wrestled at 175 a year ago, is headed up to the 190 weight class this coming year. Bacon said that in his first trip to state, he handled it like a true opportunist.
“A lot of guys get into that environment and freeze up.”Bacon said.”Not him…he wrestled well, and took this summer with a bullseye at getting better.”
“If you show him something in the weight room, he’ll try it and work on it.”Bacon said.
Remy Olmsted and Cooper Houser are two other young guys, along with Henry Lasley, a 150-pounder who never missed Open Mat or a weight room session all summer(Alpha Dog material).
“Henry is the young man who proves the point that hard work beats talent that doesn’t work hard.”Bacon said.
Bacon praises the entire THS coaching staff as guys with a unique dynamic, all working together, all working cooperatively as being what makes the school special.
“When the kids see us in the weight room with them, working out alongside them, and see our relationship as a group, it matters to them.”Bacon said.”It’s what makes this place truly special.
that the chess pieces were so organized that the Bethel High Math and Science student of 2020 was able to lob off shots at Trump, nearly killing him. That would mean someone higher up created the environment to kill their political opponent.
We’ve discussed in these columns how the Democratic Party over three election cycles has subverted the vote of their party members. The pressure campaign on Joe Biden had to involve carrots(looking out for Hunter, a multi-million dollar golden parachute, a Presidential library) and sticks(either get out or we forcibly push you out with the 25th Amendment.).
It was a bloodless coup, but a coup nonetheless, totally unprecedented. The rush to anoint Harris was an attempt to take advantage of the speed of events so that Democratic voters didn’t have the time to say,”Not so fast my friend”.
The Democratic Party is now a big-money Oligarchy with Stalinist/Leninist principles that will do anything to win. Anything.
But the rush to install Harris is also an acknowledgement that Trump is positioned to win. They will not expend capital or sacrifice a potentially sound candidate in 2024. If Harris goes down in flames, they can say that she had her shot.
Election experts and po-
Coach • FROM FRONT 16 •
firm if it extends out to the Olympic Sports. If you’re in D-II, D-III or NAIA…forget about it. With the massive profits college athletics roll up, there is absolutely no excuse for not cutting these kids in for a share of the booty.
College athletes have died in fall football workouts. Some have been paralyzed. And for the last forty years, they could be declared ineligible if anyone bought them a hamburger or gave them a dime beyond what they got in their paltry “laundry
Athletic • FROM FRONT 16 • ules that allowed athletes opportunities, yet, when conflicts arose, allowed coaches to show the ability to cooperate with each other, and cross-promote activities.
It was a jaw-dropping document that represented coaches cooperating, consulting one another, and then engaging kids.
“June is so busy and kids have so much they can do, so the coaches work very hard to keep them active and improving, without burning them out.”Cowling said.”They do a great job in helping kids sort out priorities, where they should be, and what’s most important.”
Cowling points to the really positive coaches’ climate in the school, noting sport to sport cross-promotion, noting Jon Guthrie(who seems to be everywhere), and Brad Ewald, the volleyball coach making a concerted effort to keep them participating in sport season after sport season…volleyball to basketball for exemple, supporting other coaches,
Coaching isn’t an easy business, and coaches don’t just do the x’s and o’s, but do an element of counseling and social work with players from time to time…and sometimes with parents as well.
litical strategists on both sides would say that the removal of Biden by the 25th Amendment gives Harris the power of incumbency, sort of. What exists now is existentially dangerous to the nation.
Benjamin Netanyahu came to the United States Monday to meet with Biden and members of the Congress. No one was at Reagan International to meet Netanyahu, not Biden, not Harris and not even the Secretary of State. It was a massive insult to our greatest ally in the world.
It’s a tipoff to where President-to-be Harris lies in the contest between Israel and Hamas …
That’s not dangerous.
Conflicts are inevitable.
“I make sure that our programs are healthy top to bottom and that our coaches have what they need to succeed.”Cowling said.”I’ve been where they are, and so it’s important to me they they know that I have their back.”
“I know the quality of these people.”said Cowling.”and knowing them, their work habits, and love of the kids they work with, it’s easy to support them when stuff happens.”
“I try to treat our coaches right.”Cowling said.”because they treat our kids amazingly well, and I am proud of them.”
The athletic program impresses an onlooker, especially those of us with some credibility from having done it ourselves, because coaches stay at THS, they love the athletes, and the athletes love the coaches.
Kismet perhaps?
THS athletes, musicians, thespians…they’re all in good hands. And the short time coaches and Cowling have to catch their breath in the summer is quickly running out. Fall sports kick off Monday August 12, as football, volleyball, softball, girls tennis and girls golframp up.
Organized and purposeful chaos, and away we go.
That’s biblically disastrous. When we catch our breath, we hope that China doesn’t invade Taiwan, that Putin doesn’t detonate a tactical nuclear weapon over Kiev, that Israel isn’t overwhelmed in the next five months.
There’s still an election, arguably the most important of a lifetime, and the tea leaves seem to imply a favorable result.
Provided that the Secret Service can actually keep Donald Trump alive until January 20.
If it can’t do that, what we have seen in the last two weeks is kindergarten. It would bring a whole new meaning to the words “Apocalypse Now”.
money” stipend. Athletes even got the stink eye if they went out and got jobs for extra money, that may or may not have been jobs, from boosters, and may have, under the rules of that time, have been shady at least.
University athletic departments and the NCAA, and ESPN for that matter, need to pony up chunks of the money made on the backs of these kids. There are many college athletes today who are staying their full five years in college football, because this may be the only time
in their life that they get paid for playing football. Great NIL deals for individuals are hard to come by, so the revenue sharing model at least gives players some kind of nestegg to go into the real world on if they’re so lucky. The news two weeks ago that five-star quarterback and Missouri recruit Matt Zollers had received a 2024 Dodge Challenger as part of an NIL deal made legal by the Pennsylvania State legislature was the first hard story I’ve seen of high school
players…high school sophomores and juniors, cleaning up.
NIL has raced at light speed past the NCAA. College athletes are now employees. Coaches are their Bosses. College athletic departments now have General Managers instead of Athletic Directors. As I’ve said before, if the product doesn’t change, how it’s funded is okay with me. The kids deserve a break, and I think all the money guys around college sports need to pony up. It’s about time.
Trenton A.D. Cowling Leader of Ascending Athletic Program
Trenton athletic director
Jon Cowling has had his moments in the sun, including a state runner-up finish as Bulldog softball coach in 2019, and in his administrative role as Activities Director at Trenton High School, Cowling leans on twenty years of experience as both a head and assistant coach.
There is a lot to do, many boxes to check, and an overriding mission…Making sure that athletes and activity participants at THS and TMS are well-coached, cared about and taken care of.
Participation in activities at Trenton, like all schools, fluctuates a bit from year to year but was high during the 2023-24 school year. It is expected to be so again this year.
There was plenty of growth and success as the Bulldog football team moved to the second round of the playoffs, the volleyball team set a record for single season wins, softball was off the charts good, the girls basketball team won districts in the first year with a new coach, boys basketball is moving forward and pro-
gressing, and both tennis and golf have been very good, with boys tennis winning a District title in the spring. Without a good “general manager” in charge, things can go sideways in a hurry, but Cowling has done a perceptibly great job in hiring new coaches, supporting and retaining long-term coaches, and being the “quartermaster” and logistical specialist that doesn’t just make Friday night football games games, but rather events and community social gatherings that community people mark their calendars for.
Cowling began his coaching career at North Harrison in 1999, taught and coached at Princeton from 2002 to 2005, then landed at Trenton in 2005. Cowling has worked on the girls side throughout his career, coaching at all levels. His interests turned to administration and his style and sense of the job came from working with A.D. mentors Wes Croy and Chris Ackenfels, both of whom were great role models and mentors. “I had great examples to follow throughout.”Cowling said.”and I have always had community people like
By Mark McLaughlin StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com
Steve Perry, Brad Tolson, and softball parents who took and coached up young kids coming up that were such supports to the total program.”
Game preparations include hiring officials, lining up pressbox help, chain gangs, and facilitating the athletic and band boosters and the quarterback club in setting up concessions.
Game nights are a production.
Conference wrestling will be coming up and hosted at THS this year which is a massive undertaking. Track meets involve even more coordination. One guy has to move the chess pieces flawlessly over the board to make sure that events come off.
Cowling sets the table, and then it’s up to the sport coaches and activity sponsors to go play the games. At the beginning of the summer, Coach Cowling assembled the sports schedule and activities schedule for developmental events… camps, open gyms, weight workouts, that required the rather large group of coaches and directors to collaborate together and work out sched-
[SeeATHLETIC, Page 15]
The Old Ball Coach
by Mark McLaughlin StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com
Court Decision Rights A long Standing Wrong in College Athletics
On July 11, The U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on July 11 that “college athletes whose efforts primarily benefit their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wage-andhour laws” in a ruling by U.S. Circuit Court Judge L. Felipe Restrepo.
From its inception as an organization the National Collegiate Athletic Association has considered college athletes to be “amateurs”, whose only form of compensation up to now was an academic scholarship, room, board and books, but that “philosophy” has been steadily eroded by efforts to give college athletes, who bring in tens of millions of dollars through their efforts to athletic departments, college endowments and general scholarship funds, a piece of the pie.
It began with the 2021 Supreme Court legalization of Name Image and Likeness, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh writing in his majority opinion that “This notion that college
athletes cannot be both students and employees is just not accurate when you have student employees on campus.”
“It’s just beyond belief, the idea that the athletes would not meet the same criteria as employees,” Kavanaugh added.
To a steady drum beat, college athletes have been recruited, signed, and then handed off to their school “collective”, privately organized, to set up endorsement deals ranging from the local campus pizza joint to massive corporate sponsorships.
Given that there was little parity as to who got the goodies on each team, and whether or not the sport was a revenue producer(football, men’s basketball, arguably, now women’s basketball), the NCAA, state legislatures and even state courts have moved in the direction of revenue sharing, giving athletes a cut of the massive level of proceeds taken in by Power Five Conferences, while at the
same time trying to apply some guardrails to the madness.
As an illustration, here’s a math problem for you to work. Michigan Stadium seats 108,000 fans. Tickets for their early season Top Ten match-up with Texas are going for $575 a seat…Equals…
$62,100,000—I’ll write it out for you…Sixty Two Million, One hundred Thousand dollars.
Michigan has seven home games, then goes to Columbus for “The Game” November 30 at Ohio State.
There are 88 scholarship players on a Division I football team —In State tuition is $15,372 while out of state tuition is … wait for it… $41,958.
First of all, if my history major son wants to go to Michigan to get a crack at student season tickets… forget it, Chester.
But do this…Let’s just say for argument's sake that a Michigan football player’s tuition, on average over the entire squad
[See COACH , Page 15]
