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TRENTON
THURS., FEB. 1, 2024
REPUBLICAN-TIMES “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
Old Glory flying at Five Points
republican-times.com
BRIEFS R-T Welcomes New Reporter
The Republican-Times welcomes Mark McLaughlin to its family. Mark joins the newspaper as a staff reporter focusing on community interest, local boards and councils, some sports, and education. “My wife and I are pleased to have Mark working with us to help better tell the story of our community through photos, articles and an honest curiosity about all things Trenton and Grundy County,” said Jamey Honeycutt, editor, co-publisher and co-owner of the Trenton RepublicanTimes, Green Hills Weekly Paper and Honeycutt Media. Jamey continued, “Mark brings 35 years in education as a teacher, coach and counselor. Mark has a good sense for things our newspaper focuses on including school activities, positive role models in our community schools and churches.” “Mark is the son of a newspaper publisher and understands what makes a community newspaper so vital to the residents it serves,” said Honeycutt. He is married to his wife of 37 years, Katie and has two children and nine grandchildren.
TFD Called to House Fire
At 6:47 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, the Trenton Fire Department responded to a 911 call of a house fire at 117 Maupin St. in Trenton, owned by Alicia Garner. According to a report filed by Lt. Jeremy Summers, upon arrival firefighters saw no smoke or fire showing, however there was the smell of smoke inside the residence. Upon inspection, a burned area was located on the ceiling. Firefighters made an inspection hole in the ceiling, fiding a small fire in the attic. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. They also pulled insulation from the attic to ensure all smoldering insulation had been removed and all hot spots were extinguished. There was light smoke and fire damage and moderate water damage to the house. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical. Assisting the TFD were the Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District, Grundy County EMS and the Trenton Police Department.
Animal Control is a Mission for Conwell by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer “That damned cat...” That’s probably the response most of us have when we walk out our front door and see garbage strewn across our front yard. If we see Puss and Boots running with guilt painted all over his face to the nearest hedge row, you think to yourself, “There ought to be a law”. Well, actually, there is. Local Trenton ordinances exist for the management of stray cats and dogs in the city, and one in particular dealing with feral cats is that people are prohibited from feeding stray animals...cats especially. Trenton Animal Control Officer Ashley Conwell has been on the job since April of 2023, and she is not the Nurse Ratchett type one sees in movies or TV depicting the local dog catcher as a villain. She’s soft spoken, but she goes about her business in a business-like way. She has an academic background in Animal Husbandry, and as such, sees her role to make sure that the community’s animal population is safe, cared for, and protected from cruelty, abuse and negligence. Her tasks include responding to animal noise complaints, bites, observed owner negligence or abuse, and a very direct relationship with Greenhills Animal Shelter, Affordable Vet Clinic and Dr. Shelby and other animal caregivers in the area. “I'm here to make sure that animals get the love and care they need, and to make sure they’re safe,” Conwell said. “I can’t
Ashley Conwell Trenton Animal Control Officer
emphasize enough the purchase of a $5 collar tag for animals, dogs especially, because when I get a call that an owner has lost their pet, that tag is the way to quickly reunite the owner with their pet.” With that tag, owners reclaiming their pets need shot records or pictures to identify their wayward waif. “If they don't have that tag, it's a $150 shelter fee to reunite owner and pet.” Winter is a hard time for domestic animals in the community. Cold temperatures highlight the danger to pets kept outdoors, and stray animals become more of a prob[See Conwell, Page 2]
NCMC Trustees Approve Bid for New Student Center, Extend President’s Contract The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. During the meeting, Trustees approved several bids and purchases, including a bid for a new Student Center on the Trenton campus. They also added another year to the current five-year contract of President Dr. Lenny Klaver, extending it until 2029. Trustees also heard several communication reports and approved Head Start and personnel items. In communication re-
ports, Trustees were introduced to Abigail Bilby, Nursing Instructor, and heard a report on the Trenton campus Tutoring Center from Tutoring Center Director Jayne Meservey. Sue Ewigman, Head Start Director, stated the Head Start Change of Scope was approved and discussed efforts for those changes. Ewigman also said Head Start will be moving to a four-day week beginning in February, with their centers operating on a Tuesday-through-Friday schedule.
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 160th Year - No. 22
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Tristan Londre, provided information on the annual Nursing and Health Science Day event and announced the Missouri State Board of Nursing officially extended approval for the PN to ADN programs with no recommendations, which is the best review you can get. For Student Affairs, in Dr. Alley’s absence, Dr. Klaver discussed new federal regulations coming up, campus activities and events, Financial Aid, Residence Life efforts, dual credit en-
rollment, and transcript requests. Jennifer Triplett, Chief Information Officer, discussed end-of-year system updates, the start of the spring term, cybersecurity advancements, MFA, and email security. In the President’s Report, Dr. Klaver discussed spring enrollment, stating NCMC is currently up 9 percent in enrollment, and the legislative agenda, including proposals for core funding increases, funding the A+ program, CBHE proposals, and two bills re[See NCMC, Page 2]
Rendering of the future Dr. Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center to be built on the NCMC Trenton Campus
Area Boards Review CSIP, Discuss 24-25 Calendars The Grundy R-V and Spickard R-II Boards of Education met recently to review CSIP updates and discuss the 2024-25 calendars. Grundy R-V The Grundy R-V Board of Education met in regular session Wednesday, January 17 at the school. In old business, the Board heard reports on transportation and construction updates in the district. No action was taken. The Board heard a presentation from high school principal Matt Rayl regarding updates to the district CSIP and plans for APR improvement for next year. In new business, the Board reviewed and approved the school calendar for the 2024-25 school year. The first day of school will be Tuesday, August 20, 2024. The final day will be May 16, 2025. The Board heard a review of candidate filings for the District Board of Education. Two persons filed for the open positions available, incumbents [See Boards, Page 2]
A Conversation With a Sheriff by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer When you meet Grundy County Sheriff Rodney Herring, you meet a person who connected passion with purpose for his entire career. In a career spanning four terms as County Sheriff (with plans to file for reelection in February), Herring began as an EMT and was certified as a “peace officer” without lots of training or background knowledge. He completed a degree in Criminal Justice from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg (Now CMU), was employed in 1993 by the City of Holden, moved to the Columbia Police Department, attended the Missouri Police Academy, and then relocated his family to Trenton in 1999, where he became a deputy under outgoing Sheriff Greg Coon.
Rodney Herring Grundy County Sheriff
Herring first became Sheriff in 2000. Noting that Grundy County is considered a “Class III” county in assessed valuation, Herring faces issues with staffing and funding. Directing a [See Herring, Page 2]