Trenton Republican-Times_5-30-24

TRENTON

REPUBLICAN-TIMES

Briefs...

Summer School Meal Program

Trenton R-9 School District has announced that anyone 18 years of age or younger, as well as disabled adults over age 18, enrolled in school during the regular school year are eligible for free breakfast and lunch during summer school, which will be held May 22 to June 19. This includes students who are enrolled during the school year but chose not to attend Summer School. Breakfast will be served from 7:30-8:00 a.m., with lunch being served from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Anyone with questions should contact Superintendent Daniel Gott at 660-359-3994.

Community Blood Drive

The Community Blood Center (CBC) will hold a blood drive on Monday, June 3 from 12-6 p.m. at the North 65 Center, 2901 Hoover Drive in Trenton. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by visiting savealifenow.org/group and using Group Code: TN. For additional details, contact Todd Schnoebelen at (816) 8109274.

NCMC Elevator Maintenance

The North Central Missouri College Ketcham Community Center elevator will be down from May 28 to June 28 for routine maintenance. The Ketcham Center will remain open, and the weight room and track will be available via stairs.

For more information and questions, contact the Ketcham Center at 660-359-3948.

Cub Scout Pack 23 Fundraiser

Cub Scout Pack 23 will hold a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, June 15 from 5-8 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Family Activity Center, 1107 E. 11th St. in Trenton. All proceeds from this fundraiser will help fund summer camps for the scouts.

Flags Adorn Courthouse

Flags were flying all around the Grundy County Courthouse on Monday, May 27 in honor of Memorial Day.

Three Local Businesses Fail Compliance Check

The Trenton Police Department and the Midland Empire Alcohol Task Force conducted alcohol retail outlet compliance checks in Trenton on Friday, May 24, 2024.

The Police Department is reporting that three local businesses sold an alcoholic beverage to the underage person. At this time,

charges are pending, and no further information can be released.

The Task Force provides the underage person, funds to purchase, and pays for all Police Officer overtime to work the investigations. The underage person attempted to buy alcoholic beverages from approximately sixteen retail

establishments and bars in Trenton.

The Police Department and the Task Force have conducted compliance checks for the last several years to eliminate mistakes by employees and identify anyone selling alcoholic beverages to minors.

Businesses that would like to provide training for their employees can contact Agent Erich Hellerich of the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control at (816) 743-8745.

Authorities will continue to follow up with additional training opportunities for the businesses and employees on legal requirements and compliance.

Sheriff’s Potential Lawsuit Over Pay May Face Legal Obstacles

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

Grundy County Sheriff Rodney Herring is in deliberations with his attorney about a potential lawsuit against Grundy County, claiming the County has not honored a pay raise passed in Legislative Bill 53/60, and codified in State Law 57.317.1.2, RSMo.

In the legislation passed in 2021, County Sheriff’s salaries were to be tied to the salary of the Associate Court Judge, and specifically in Class Three Counties at 50 percent of the judge’s pay based on property tax valuations. The statute further instructed that if Herring’s salary increase would have been over $10,000, the increase would be split into 20 percent increments over five years.

In Grundy County, the salary of Judge Carrie Lamm Clark, which will be at $163,000 as of July 1, would have made Herring’s salary $81,500 under the law.

The problem with the legislation is that it was enacted as all Sheriffs statewide elected on the

2020 election cycle took office, followed by passage of the legislation, then ran squarely into Missouri Constitution Article VII, Section 13 which states “Limitation on increase of compensation and extension of terms of office. – The compensation of state, county and municipal offices shall not be increased during the term of office; nor shall the term of any officer be extended.

What this means, at first glance, is that the legislatively enacted pay increase could not be paid until the beginning of the next term of office, beginning in January 2025.

Herring’s current salary is $45,777.60 annually, some $34,000 short of the prescribed pay, and is an understandable point of contention.

According to the Missouri Constitution, pay raises that are legislated within the current term of an officeholder cannot be paid during that term. While the Commissioner’s Association lost that suit in 2022 with the judge upholding the constitutionality of the new state law, how it

is enacted is a picture that is clear as mud. Following passage of the bill and the case of County Commissioners Association of Missouri vs. State of Missouri, in which Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green found in favor of the State, the law was Constitutional because it dealt with “public safety” as a single subject, and agreed that Sheriff’s pay was tied to the Associate Court Judge. They also noted that a number of new “accountability measures” tied to Sheriffs offices represented new and extended duties not originally within the purview of State Statute 221, which deals with everything pertaining to Sheriff’s duties and conduct of County Jails.

On the basis of this, 104 of Missouri’s 114 counties moved ahead and enacted Sheriff’s pay increases, some immediately, and some sequentially. The ten counties holding out on moving forward were Mercer, Nodaway, Cape Girardeau, Shannon, Harrison, Carroll, Daviess, DeKalb, Andrew and Holt County.

[See Sheriff, Page 2]

GRVCO to Present Summer Concert

The Grand River Valley Choir and Orchestra will present its annual Summer Concert, “Sunlit Silence!” Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m. in the Trenton R-IX Performing Arts Center. A variety of music will be performed. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., following the dress rehearsal. Barb Cox will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Our GRVCO musicians represent the 15 Missouri communities of Altamont, Cameron, Chillicothe, Gallatin, Jameson, Jamesport, Laredo, Ludlow, Marshall, Newtown, Pattonsburg, Princeton, Trenton, Weatherby and Winston. The GRV Orchestra will open the program with “Radetsky March”, fol-

Old Glory flying at Five Points

R-T Photo by D’Anna Honeycutt

GRVCO

• From Front Page •

lowed by “English Folk Song Suite”, “Out of Africa”, “American Folk Rhapsody”, and “The Magnificent Seven”. Chris Thomas serves as the GRV Orchestral conductor.

The GRV Choir will then perform, under the direction of Tyler Busick. Sonja Wimer is the choir accompanist.

The GRV Choir and Orchestra will combine for “He Never Failed Me Yet”

The finale will be the performance of “Sunlit Silence”, a piece commissioned for the organization’s 15th Season Celebration. It was composed and will be conducted by Jonathan T Krinke and will be dedicated to the late Buddy

Hannaford, one of the founders of the organization and the original orchestra conductor. GRVCO is a 501(c)(3) organization. They have no sponsors and rely on donations. All performances are free due to their Donor’s Club and the anonymous donors who contribute at our concerts. Your financial support helps provide the funds necessary to continue the organization’s mission. Information on the Donor’s Club will be available at the door.

Visit the organization’s website…grvco.com…and Like them on Facebook for additional information. Come on out June 17 for an evening of enjoyment and the opportunity to Meet Your Musicians following the concert in the THS Commons.

LOCAL

Sheriff

• From Front Page •

Brian Bear, attorney to the Missouri Sheriff’s United, and Herrings attorney in this case, stipulated the following in a Demand Letter for back pay and the pay increase to the County Commissioners.

In his letter, Bear said, “OGCS is aware that the County’s refusal to adhere to Senate Bill 53/60 is based on the contention that no salary increase for any office holder can ever go into immediate effect. That is an erroneous statement of law. As Senate Bill 53/60 was constitutionally passed and signed into law, and the salary increases to sheriffs were in compliance with Article VII, Section 13, the mandatory salary increases are valid and should be issued in accordance with the timetables

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FEEDER SALE - MONDAY, JULY 1 • 11 AM

** NO SHEEP, GOAT & HOG SALE - SATURDAY, JULY 6 **

FEEDER SALE - MONDAY, JULY 15 • 11 AM

** NO SPECIAL COW SALE - FRIDAY, JULY 26 **

FEEDER SALE - MONDAY, JULY 29 • 11 AM

Cattle Sales: Mondays @ 11 am Sheep, Goat & Hog Sales: 1st Saturday of the month @ 10 am

Special Cow Sales: 4th Friday of the month @ 6 pm 5 weigh cow buyers at every sale! Very active weigh cow and bull market!

all day on Sundays to receive livestock! Barn: 660-622-4214 Casey Flinn, Owner: 816-769-7532 Field Reps: Dwayne Penny: 816-506-2776

Utah Stulz: 660-334-0400

Bobby Morrison: 816-345-0518

Ben Peterson: 660-247-2759

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Rick Tate: 660-734-1307

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set forth in the bill.”

Bear’s demand letter goes on to site numerous instances of case law, which will be the basis of arguments before the court when the suit commences.

Bear goes on to identify new responsibilities of County Sheriffs under Bill 53/60, including duties regarding service of process, the enforcement of new crimes, medication assisted treatment for detainees, new obligations regarding juvenile inmates, new obligations regarding inmates generally, new peace officer licensure requirements, new duties specific to law enforcement agencies and their executives, new law enforcement use of force practices, and new obligations regarding expungement of records.

Bear’s concluding sentence summarizes Herring’s complaint, “I want to emphasize that the County’s position on OGCS’s immediate salary increase is well outside the mainstream for the State’s 114 counties. Nearly all the counties in this state have already recognized that the requirements of Bill 53/60’s salary increases are tied directly to the bill’s new duties and thus fall squarely within the exceptions recognized in Hawkins and Sheehan (precedent cases of a similar nature). For those few counties that have refused to comply, this has unfortunately resulted in litigation between sheriff and the county commission. OGCS wishes to avoid that unnecessary expense on the taxpayers and is hopeful that this communication will resolve the matter without any need for litigation.”

Bear’s letter represented an attempt on Herring’s behalf to resolve the issue without litigation. In interviewing with Herring the details for this story, it was learned that Herring and

Bear had not received correspondence from CCMA Counsel Ivan Schroeder responding to their demands.

In following up with Schroeder, it was learned that the response letter had been written, but never sent. Our investigation helped Schroeder identify this issue and we learned it was to be transmitted Tuesday.

Herring’s litigation moving forward is, according to him “looming”.

Of concern in this issue was who controlled the enforcement mechanism to put this into place. Contacts with the Secretary of State’s Communications Director, Joe Don Chaney, pointed us to the State Auditor’s Office and Communications Director Trevor Fox.

In an email reply to our queries on this issue, Fox reported a surprising detail which may turn the entire controversy on its head.

Fox told us that the Auditor had recorded findings in audits conducted in Chariton, Ozark, Holt, Montgomery, Pemiscot, Carroll and Iron Counties, counties which had moved ahead and paid the increases, that showed they had done so in violation of Article VII, Section 13.

Keep something in mind… 104 of the 114 counties in Missouri moved ahead in the initiation of those pay raises.

Unless something changes, what looks like a thunderstorm of an issue now turns into a sunami when the Auditor comes to call.

He said that exceptions to the rule were, 1) no existing compensation for the office, and perhaps the most relevant to Herring’s situation and part of Bear’s argument, 2) new or additional duties extrinsic or not germane to the office and a third, non-related exception.

The implications of that are that the Counties were ordered by the Auditor to go back to the paid Sheriffs and recover the paid increases, in effect, clawing back those proceeds. It should be noted that Herring’s claim, and that of other Sheriffs in his situation, is that the “accountability measures” which enumerated new and more complex responsibilities to his office are the basis of his case.

Schroeder countered that Section 221 pertaining to Sheriff’s duties and county jails laid out all these things in general terms, and that the law simply clarified them.

Judge Green’s decision in Cole County is important in the respect that it pointed to the direct correlation between the performance of an efficient sheriff with pay commensurate to their responsibilities.

Herring currently makes less than an entry level Trenton Police Department Officer who draws $45,864 a year, and a beginning Missouri State Trooper who makes $58,000 a year. While the legislation addressed new duties and responsibilities, and did raise pay in acknowledgement of this, it left out one very important detail…that the law as written did not set an effective implementation date, and created an undue but understandable push by Missouri Sheriffs to push for the pay increase.

“If they would have stated that January 1, 2025 was the effective date, it would have taken into account that Sheriffs were just starting their current term.” Schroeder said. “That bit of clarity would have cleared most of these legal issues.”

More will follow on this fast developing meteor storm of a story next week.

435 W. 2nd St., Tina, MO 64682 Casey & Amelia Flinn, Owners

Courtesy of North Central Missouri College

Cory Cooksey, a Computer Science and Information Systems Instructor of Trenton has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee for May. Cory holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master's in Information Technology and has been employed at NCMC for 24 years.

Cory describes his job as rewarding, challenging, and busy. Recently, the NCMC Computer Information and Technology program was recognized nationally as one of the best computer science programs in the nation. In the future, Cory would like to assist in making the SAIL program successful at NCMC. He also sees the Computer Information and Technology program embracing industry-recognized certificates and providing additional involvement/courses at the Savannah Campus. When asked what his favorite thing about NCMC is, he said, “The people – students and NCMC employees.”

When Cory isn’t at work, he is working on projects on his farm, laser engraving, 3-D printing or beading. He also enjoys crafts, tinkering and media. He is involved in Scouting USA and Mic-O-Say.

Two Being Held in GCDC

Dan Richard Peters Jr., 37, of Trenton, was arrested on a Felony E charge of Domestic Assault-3rd degree, on May 21, 2024. Peters was identified as a prior and persistent offender, and is punishable by sentence to an extended term of imprisonment, specifically that of a Class D Felony, dating back to similar complaints in 2013 and 2023.

In the current case, on or about May 5, 2024, the defendant knowingly caused physical pain to his victim by throwing her to the ground. The victim was deemed a domestic violence victim in that she and the defendant were in a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.

REAL ESTATE

Peters was ordered held on $25,000 cash only bond and is to have no contact with the victim. Peters was assigned a May 28 court date.

Kimberly Irene Stevens, 37, of Trenton, was arrested on a Misdemeanor B charge of Trespass-1st Degree on May 23, 2024.

On or about May 23, Stevens was found to be knowingly living unlawfully in a building located at Iowa Boulevard and owned by Wright Memorial Hospital, and notice against trespass upon said real estate having been given by actual communication to the defendant. She was ordered held on $5,000 cash bond and is to undergo random UA testing.

Red Barn Mini Storage

Mary A. Dennert

Mary A. Dennert, age 88, a resident of Chillicothe, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe.

Mary was born the daughter of Fred and Kathryn Neilson Navarrete on July 3, 1935, in Cudahy, WI. She was united in marriage to John Dennert on June 9, 1956, in Appleton, WI. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 8, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Chillicothe, with visitation at 1:00 p.m., followed by the service at 2:00 p.m. Inurnment will be in Linwood Park Cemetery, Boone, IA.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home of Chillicothe.

FOR SALE

The Third Circuit Juvenile Office is taking Sealed bids on a 2012 Chevy Impala with approximately 180,000 miles. For more information or details, please contact the Juvenile Office at 660-359-4040 ext. 2270. Sealed bids marked “Car Bid” will be accepted in the Juvenile Office at the Courthouse, 700 Main Street, Suite 13, Trenton, MO 64683, until 8:30 a.m. on June 14, 2024, at which time they will be publicly opened. The Third Circuit Juvenile Office reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

Steve L. Richman and Wife to Kolositina Fifta and Wife

Joshua Currie and Wife to Hubert Lowery and wife

Rita Haynes to Moore Equities LLC

Kevin J. Keuler and Wife to Jacob Kramer, et al Matt Nalle and Wife to FX Land, Inc.

Photo

LOCAL

Lloyd Wins National Spirit of Advising Award

Jaya Lloyd, a dedicated Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Adviser at Trenton High School in Trenton, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious FCCLA Spirit of Advising Award. This honor recognizes Mrs. Lloyd as a chapter adviser who embodies the spirit of advising, providing unwavering support and guidance to her students.

The FCCLA Spirit of Advising Award celebrates advisers who consistently demonstrate a commitment to the FCCLA mission, work tirelessly to support student success, provide enriching learning experiences, encourage positive character development, and nurture student leaders. Only one chapter adviser per state is honored with this award annually, making

Mrs. Lloyd’s selection a remarkable achievement.

"I am continually inspired by the dedication of FCCLA’s Chapter Advisers," remarked Sandy Spavone, Executive Director of FCCLA. "Recipients of the Spirit of Advising Award lead by example, embodying FCCLA's values through their steadfast commitment and dedication to their students. Their contributions are invaluable, and they serve as true ambassadors for the organization."

Mrs Lloyd has been THS FCCLA advisor for the past three years. During her tenure students have advanced to national competition every year. Mrs. Lloyd has placed regional officers the past two years and she was awarded the Excellence in Advising for the region in 2022.

Mrs. Lloyd will be rec-

ognized and presented with the FCCLA Spirit of Advising Award at the 2024 National Leadership Conference, which will take place in Seattle, WA. The event, attended by thousands of FCCLA members, advisers, and supporters, will celebrate her outstanding achievements and contributions to the FCCLA community.

GHRA Summer Sports Program is Topic at Recent Rotary Meeting

The Green Hills Recreation Association’s summer sports program was the topic of a program presented to members of the Trenton Rotary Club on Thursday, May 23 at the BTC Bank community room. Jackie Soptic presided at the meeting, Joe MacDonald gave the prayer and Steve Taylor was the sergeant at arms. Program chairman Bruce Constant introduced Cara McClellan, treasurer of the GHRA, who told about the organization and its activities. There are 331 youth participating in the GHRA summer T-ball, baseball and softball programs this year, with games already under way at Van Meter Park, Moberly Park, Ebbe Sports Complex and Burleigh Grimes Field. There are eight teams involved in T-Ball, which consists of youth ages 4 to 6. In baseball, leagues include Machine Pitch (7 to 8 years), Minor (9 to 10 years), Little League (11 to 12 years) and Junior-Senior (13 to 15 years). In softball, teams are divided into 8 year, 10 year and 12 year age groups. Games will be played through the first week in June, with league tournaments to be played during the rest of the month and into July. Trenton will host the Harrison County Little League Tournament June 9-14. Trenton plays is regular season games in the Harrison County league. Trenton will also host an all-star tournament the week of July 8, with six 910-year-old and six 11-12-year-old teams from north Missouri playing.

The GHRA soccer program will also play this summer, with games to be played on four Saturdays during the month of June at the soccer field near the NCM Fairgrounds. There are several youth involved in this program as well, many of whom are also playing summer ball.

Mrs. McClellan said there are many individuals who volunteer their time as coaches for the teams that play. The park board allows the GHRA to use the fields at no cost in exchange for the GHRA providing the concession workers. The GHRA also provides umpires and referees for the games.

In addition to the summer programs, GHRA offers flag football in the fall and

Chalk Talk

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Harrison Butker’s Benedictine College commencement speech became part of the “culture wars” over the last two weeks, a microcosm of the confusing state of our society, opinions on both sides, and the “ripples” it has after the speech is done and the national media isn’t paying as much attention to it anymore.

The Left Wing Media calls out Butker for his attacks on “Pride Month”, LGBTQ people, and working women. The Right Wing Media is partially critical on the working women portion of the speech, partly supportive on the “taking a stand” position of standing up and saying what one means, and in ways both complimentary of his Catholic faith, and aggressively opposed on some aspects of what he had to say.

National Media took up the response of Mt. St. Scholastica Abbey and the response written representing the Mount, defending the Benedictine order and faith, and the priests and nuns who made a lifelong sacrifice to live their faith and serve their Lord.

I went back and read Butker’s speech twice more to make sure I hadn’t missed a hidden meaning, or a cleverly turned phrase.

What I left with was the conclusion that Harrison Butker is a person with a deep, passionate and authentic adherence to his Catholic faith.

He is all in. His “haters” are people who take issue with anyone who calls out others for immorality (as they see it), movements to normalize everything from transgender men in women’s sports to the next steps in the decay of the fabric of society…Euthanasia for older people or those with incurable disease (don’t laugh…this is happening in Justin Trudeau’s Canada), abortion on demand, and the demand of those on the left that the rest of us not just tolerate this decadence, but celebrate it and participate in it…or risk cancellation.

But Butker lost me when he stood up to thank those who stood in his support, and likening himself to Daniel in the lion’s den. While it may not have been intended to be self-aggrandizing, it came across that way.

To be a Christian or a Catholic in today’s America puts you on the domestic terror watch list and earns you an “extremist” label. To call out immorality or stand for what’s right will get you plenty of incoming fire. Do we even need to add into this what it means to be Jewish in America right now, especially on a college campus?

For any of us willing to stand up and take the heat, if we’re of sturdy stuff and believe in the cause, then take your chances.

But understand something here…No one who went into that commencement speech three weeks ago went in pre-

Have an Opinion?

basketball in the winter. Intramural volleyball for girls was added last year.

Mrs. McClellan also recognized the many sponsors who help defray GHRA costs, which she said allows youth to take part in the programs at a minimal cost.

There are scholarship opportunities available for participants in need.

During the meeting, Jackie Soptic announced the club would be responsible for putting up flags around the courthouse on Flag Day, June 14. A community fireworks show is planned in Trenton for July 4 and donations are currently being accepted. They may be left with Cole Soptic at Farmers State Bank. Checks are to be made out to the Green Hills RDI, with “fireworks” written in the memo. The Rotary Club voted to make a $100 donation to the fireworks program as well as a $331 donation to the GHRA.

An installation program was held for LaTasha Cunningham, who is the club’s newest member. Ms. Cunningham works at Southern Bank of Trenton.

The program for the May 30 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club will be presented by the Trenton R-9 School District Administrative Team. Daniel Gott is the program chairman.

pared for the possibility that they would become the targets of the vitriol that would be aimed at Butker after the speech.

Within twenty-four hours of the speech, with the story exploding, Catholic Churches, monasteries and colleges around the country began receiving hateful Facebook posts, emails, text messages and phone calls, to the extent that numerous of these organizations had to shut down their news feeds and not answer the phones.

Talk may be cheap, but this kind of churlish, hateful, and dangerous behavior aimed at innocent, good, kind, people can lead to more than this, stuff that follows the narrative we see in the Justice for Palestine movement right now.

It’s not a stretch.

Harrison, I respect you for your speech and your beliefs. I don’t believe all of it, but I am willing to defend your right to believe it.

But before you take too many more interviews to stand up and say how much heat you took, look in your rear view, make a few phone calls to the people who put you forward as a speaker, and then ask yourself if the unintended consequence of what you said has put other people under attack, and at risk, who didn’t ask for it, didn’t expect it, and…because of what they believe, will just take the hits for it because of what they believe about turning the other cheek.

Harrison, you need to backtrack, and you need to check for collateral damage, and reach back out and make this right.

Open your damned checkbook, son. You have big shoulders, and probably can afford a security detail. These people can’t. You have fixing to do here. Get it done.

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.

Jaya Lloyd

THS FCCLA Advisor

Photo Courtesy of Trenton Rotary

LaTasha Cunningham, right, was installed as a new member of the Trenton Rotary Club during the club’s May 23 meeting President Jackie Soptic, left, conducted the ceremony.

COMMUNITY

Grundy R-V Announces Fourth Quarter Honor Roll

Grundy R-V has announced its honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2023-2024 school year. Those on the Principal’s Honor Roll have earned a grade point average of 3.667 and above, while those on the Honor roll achieved a grade point average of 3.00 to 3.666.

Those named to the Principal’s Honor Roll include Corbin Axtell, Cooper Coffman, Makina Limkemann and Molly Milazzo, seniors; Adysan Rains and Mason Rayl, juniors; Kruz Belvel, Carson Reeter and Lexa Stonger,

sophomores; Ara Bella Hanes, freshman; Kruiz Allnutt, Leah Carver and Bronson Pipes, eighth grade; Riley Holtman, Carson Kasinger and Alanna Rains, seventh grade; Shane Holtman, Maggi Merriman, Maci Novak and Keiton Parsons, sixth grade.

Those named to the Honor roll include Kaylee Fischer, Slade Hill, Peyton Moore, Layton Stonger and Chloe Weske, seniors; Kabel Bower, Bradyn Randall and Trever Sykes, juniors;

TrenTon republican-Times (USPS 638-180)

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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.

Kinsley Allnutt, Jacob Black, Hayden Pipes and Ryker Summers, sophomores; Adalynn Bower, Audrey Coffman Sahavanna Ortega Nunley and Bethany White, freshmen; Adrian Boren, Lily Eddy and Quin Weldon, eighth grade;

Ivy Allnutt, Colt Berry and Casen Gardner, seventh grade; Lily Hall, Kailynn Hayden, Scarlette Lea and Thomas Wilson, sixth grade.

Stark Named to Westminster Dean's List

Hannah Stark of Trenton was named to the Spring 2024 Dean's List for exemplary academic performance at Westminster College in Fulton.

Stark is a Junior at Westminster.

The Dean's List recognizes Westminster students who achieved high academic performance during the past semester. To be included on the Dean's List, a student must achieve a 3.60 semester grade point average with at least 12 hours completed that se-

mester.

The list of 238 students includes 53 freshmen, 48 sophomores, 63 juniors, and 74 seniors.

Dr. Ingrid Ilinca, Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, Provost, and Chief Student Retention Officer, recently commended the students for their exemplary academic performance.

"The students on the Dean's list are among those who presented at national and regional conferences, brought home prestigious

awards for their research and shared the results of their work this spring at the Undergraduate Scholars Forum. They deployed tremendous energy and worked very hard to get these outstanding results," Ilinca said. "On behalf of the entire Westminster College community, I want to congratulate each one of them for their accomplishments and thank them for creating such a vibrant community of high-performing learners."

Claude Melvin Eckert and Wilma Nadine Dunn were married on May 23, 1954, after a 7 year courtship. They are now celebrating 70 years of marriage and 77 years of love, support, companionship and true teamwork. Nadine attended school in Grundy County and Claude attended school in Livingston County. The school bus would pick up Nadine, then drive 4 more miles to pick up Claude for school. Nadine always sat with her friend Margaret close to the front of the bus. Claude always sat directly behind them. On one occasion Margaret leaned over to Nadine and said, "I think that Eckert boy likes you!"

As the two continued to get to know one another, it didn't take long for either of them to realize that they had found "the one". Claude went on 3 dates with one other girl. He was kind of paired with the sister of the girl his cousin was dating because his cousin did not have a car and needed Claude to drive. Nadine went on only one date with one other boy. That was enough for both of them to know who they truly wanted to be with in their hearts. Both had a passion for teaching. For 39 years they worked side by side at Pleasant View R-6 School. Nadine taught all the grades in her career but especially loved teaching art. Claude also taught all of the grades but primarily seventh and eighth grade math and history. He also served as the Principal and Superintendent of the school. Seventeen years into their marriage they decided to have a child. In February 1971, Nadine gave birth to a beautiful baby girl they named Claudine. Claudine married John in 1994 and gave them 3 grandchildren, Leslie, Andrew and Ethan. Claude and Nadine both feel that they have been blessed greatly and have had many "God Winks" throughout their lives. If you do not know what a "God Wink" is, Claude highly recommends reading the book "When God Winks at You" by Squire Rushnell. -- Dictated by Claude Eckert

The couple now reside at Lake George Senior Living 5000 Richland Rd. Columbia, MO 65203

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.

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 3572367.

Grundy County Health Department, WIC Services by appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Checks, walk-in, 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. Spickard Coffee Club, Wise Community Center, 8 a.m.

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. 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 North 65 Center: Cards, 12:30 p.m.

Class of 1959 Lunch at Senior Center at 11:30 a.m.

Grundy County Health Department, Immunizations by Appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Adult Blood Draw Clinic by appointment, 9 a.m. to noon. Green Hills Alcoholics Anonymous, Tenth Street Baptist Church, noon. For more information, call 359-2704 or 3572367.

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.

Claude and Nadine Eckert 70th Anniversary

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT Can Man Rule Himself?

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

(Part two of an eight part series)

In all of human history, there have been rare glimmers of societies capable of putting forward such a question. In only one instance have a people put their money where their mouth was and attempted it.

That is the United States of America.

This series might not be typical fare for a small community newspaper, but so much of what we report on and discuss in these pages are snapshots of how civil society works, how people take care of each other, what they are willing to stand up for, and what they’re willing to lay down their life and die for.

We report on city and county government, and opine on national government. At the heart of every report is a report card on the health of the “social contract”, John Locke’s principle that government relies on the people to give their government consent to act on their behalf, with the government’s guarantee in return to act in the best interests of the people.

When government does right, and works as it’s supposed to, the people enjoy a life of liberty, able to pursue their dreams and “pursue happiness”.

Depending on how you define the length of a generation, we are 13 generations into what became the American Experiment of self-rule. We have fought 81 military actions in that time, but had only one Con-

stitution, officially changed only 26 times since 1790.

The American people have come from the four corners of the globe. Many of the people who came to Plymouth Rock and Jamestown came because of religious persecution and because they sought to take their chances in a world they knew nothing about.

They were ill-prepared for it when they got here.

The very first colony, Roanoke, completely disappeared without a trace in two years. It wasn’t an auspicious beginning, but they learned.

Much of America’s early immigration were people of Protestant faiths, who not only took issue with Catholic theology, but with the rigid and judgmental response Puritans, Quakers, Baptists, Lutherans and others received from the Church of England.

“Good riddance to bad rubbish” was the view of many in Torie England in those days, and the hundreds of people who started the ripple became a wave of thousands of people.

While they were nominally “Englishmen” in the sense that they still were subjects to a king, the king was 4,000 miles away. The laws laid down by Parliament until the 1760’s basically represented a “salutary neglect” of the colonies and it’s people.

With no back-up to rely on, the people recognized the need for self-government, for civil order, for the concept of “commonwealth”, that people would only survive individually if they cast their lots collec-

tively for mutual defense and protection, fair commerce, and the important side benefit that is so truly American...the luxury of being left alone to mind their own business, while caring about their neighbors, setting and adhering to rules and laws, and creating expectations of their leaders, and of each other.

While Spain’s colonial ambitions reflected around the search for wealth, gold primarily, the French sought trade from North America’s interior, and the trapping and timber opportunities that existed there.

England, on the other hand, sought to establish colonies, to export people there, and to build domination of the world by boots on the ground, a roof over the head and a chicken in every pot.

It was inevitable that the European powers would come into conflict with each other, and with the Indians, most significantly of the Iroquois Nation, who began to realize that white settlement meant an encroachment on their traditional tribal lands.

From the beginning, Native Americans could not conceive of the concept of “land ownership”, believing that it belonged to all, for the use of all. They realized quickly that whites had the intention to take and not to share land, and they cast their lots with the group of whites most likely to turn back the tide…the French.

The French and the English built competing military bases or forts in the Ohio Valley, what is today

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Western Pennsylvania, and clashes ensued, framing the French and Indian War.

Britain and France transported thousands of troops from Europe to the colonies and into Canada. When all was said and done, Britain triumphed, but at an enormous economic cost. While the war would continue in Europe under the name of the “Seven Years War”, the British had secured North America and its colonies primarily for the British Empire.

It was 1763 that saw the beginning of an attempt by Parliament, and the King, to try to become more directly in control of the Colonies, and to tax them for reimbursement for costs the Empire incurred to protect Colonial subjects of the King.

I’ll leave it to the textbooks to lay out the different taxes, and policies, and punishments incurred by the Empire, but I’ll say this…That the colonists had no members of Parliament to argue for them, no representation, no buffer was the greatest mistake in the History of the British Empire.

Americans had learned to enjoy their level of independence from the Empire, and in very American fashion, when told to do something they didn’t want to do, they rebelled.

Two American “Founders” important to these fledgeling fires of freedom were Benjamin Franklin, a brilliant writer, inventor, scientist, and politician and political genius and revolutionary Samuel Adams. Franklin advocated for the Colonies before Parliament (without a seat or a vote), and sought to “soften” the King’s increasingly draconian measures to bring the Colonies to heel. Franklin was instrumental, late in the 1760s of examining the elementary steps Americans would need to take to separate from Great Britain, when it

became evident to him that separation was not a matter of “if” but “when” and “how”.

He began to speak publically on the concept that Britain had the greatest jewel of all in its possessions and was squandering it, wasting it, and alienating people who still swore allegiance to the King, abusing people and by force, trying to make them obey.

Boston was the site of the majority of the early conflict, the place where the Sons of Liberty had their start. Brewer and businessman Samuel Adams began to pull like-minded individuals together to push for independence.

The Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1774 led to a surge of British troops into the colony, young soldiers in hostile territory, who didn’t want to be there, with people they were trying to subjugate that didn’t want them there.

Parliament imposed taxes on almost everything that moved in the Colonies. They prohibited the Colonies from manufacturing that competed with British industries, and forbade the Colonies to trade with France, Spain or anyone else…except Britain.

British producers gouged the colonists, who had no other choice but to pay.

King George III, despite one last appeal from the Continental Congress, which sought reconciliation in 1775, the Olive Branch Petition, was ignored by the King, who declared the Colonies in open rebellion.

The Middle Colonies of North America, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey were merchants and businessmen who were mostly content with the state of affairs.

The Southern Colonies of Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia were agriculturally based, making a

mint on their products and, at least initially, failed to see the problem.

The spilling of blood at Lexington and Concord changed all of that. It brought attention to a “bully” trying to strongarm fellow colonists. And throughout the colonies, murmurs and rumbles began.

So when the Second Continental Congress convened in 1774, George Washington was named commander in chief of the Continental Army. Independence was proposed, and the Congress began down a long road towards separation.

You weren’t an American in those days, but you were a Virginian, a New Yorker, a South Carolinian, and you considered your colony “your country”. But front of mind, loyalists believed their greatest asset was that they were Englishmen.

When Benjamin Franklin stood up in June of 1776 to debate Pennsylvanian John Dickinson and South Carolinian Edward Rutledge, their debate centered on the “glorious benefits of being an Englishman.”

Franklin, sitting in the back of the hall with his gouty foot propped up on a pillow, countered, “Calling me an Englishman is like calling a steer a bull…He’s happy for the honor but would much rather have restored what was rightfully his.”

Franklin struggled to his feet, and made the seminal point of the Convention to that point, “Something has occurred here with the people of these colonies… They are not Englishmen, they are Americans. They are rougher, earthier, less dignified, but proud and independent.”

“We are Americans, a new people,” Franklin said, “and we require a new nation.”

In the next installment, an inspired group of leaders achieved the highest form of leadership, an aspirational leadership with forethought, a mission, and a “Firm Reliance on Divine Providence” in giving the American Experiment not just a push, but a shove.

Spickard R-II Holds Year- End Awards Ceremony

Fourth Quarter

Honor Roll

Red (A) Honor RollCarter Wyatt, Alice Tharp, IndiLinn Allen, Remington Etter and Nolan Allen.

Black (B) Honor RollNova Bowe, Zoey Eakes, Annyston Vandever, Tyler Canady, Trinity Chapman, Addi Roberts, Mason Wilson and Jacob Wilson-Hay.

Fourth Quarter

AR Heros

Nolan Allen, Remington Etter, Nova Bowe, Emmitt Marrs, Bentley Adams, IndiLinn Allen, Zoey Eakes, Taralynn Stiner, Alice Tharp, Annyston Vandever, Tyler Canady, Addi Roberts, Trinity Chapman, Mason Wilson, Carter Wyatt, Forest Sharp, Sophia Persell and Jacob Wilson-Hay.

AR Champions

Remington Etter, Nova Bowe, Emmitt Marrs, Bentley Adams, IndiLinn Allen, Zoey Eakes, Taralynn Stiner, Alice Tharp, Annyston Vandever, Trinity Chapman, Mason Wilson, Carter Wyatt, Sophia Per-

sell and Jacob Wilson-Hay.

Library “I love reading” Award

Emmitt Marrs, Nova Bowe and Mason Wilson.

Most Improved in Computer Science

Ruger Etter

Being a Great Friend Award

Trinity Chapman and Sophia Persell

Brightest Smile Award

Carter Wyatt

Best Dancer

Nolan Allen

Incredible Artists

IndiLinn Allen, Zoey Eakes and Jacob WilsonHay.

Soil and Water Conservation Posters

District K-2 - Zoey Eakes, first; IndiLinn Allen, second; and Taralynn Stiner, third.

District 4-6 - Mason Wilson, first; Jacob Wilson-Hay, second; and Trinity Chapman, third.

County level - Mason Wilson, first; Zoey Eakes, second; and IndiLinn Allen, third.

iReady 100%+ Growth

Trinity Chapman, Mason Wilson, Annyston Vandever, Bentley Adams, Alice Tharp, Jacob WilsonHay, Ruger Etter, Zoey Eakes, Remington Etter, IndiLinn Allen, Tyler Canady, Forest Sharp, Carter Wyatt and Nolan Allen.

Driving Awards from Mario Kart Gaming Day

Mason Wilson, first; Carter Wyatt, second; Nolan Allen, third; and Annyston Vandever, fourth.

Basketball Awards

Best Offensive PlayerMason Wilson

Best Defensive PlayerSophia Persell

Team Pride awardRuger Etter

Most Shots - Jacob Wilson-Hay

In It to Win It - Traxton Galvin

Most Improved PlayerForest Sharp

Most Valuable PlayerTrinity Chapman

PBS Drawing

$100 gift card - Alice Tharp

After School Club

Emmitt Marrs, Bentley

Adams, Taralynn Stiner, Alice Tharp, Annyston Vandever, Tyler Canady, Trinity Chapman, Forest Sharp, Sophia Persell, Nolan Allen, Zoey Eakes, IndiLinn Allen, Addi Roberts, Ruger Etter and Remington Etter.

Kindergarten Classroom Awards

Nolan Allen - Best Dancer, Math Award and Reading Circle.

Nova Bowe - Superhero, Scientist Award and Reading Circle.

Remington EtterTalker, Reading Award and Reading Circle.

First and Second Grade Classroom Awards

Emmitt Marrs - Math Flash Award and Reading Circle.

Bentley Adams - Engineering Award and Reading Circle.

IndiLinn Allen - Human Calculator and Reading Circle.

Zoey Eakes - Scientist Award and Reading Circle.

Taralynn Stiner - Sound Buster Award and Reading Circle.

Alice Tharp - Spectacular Speller and Reading Circle.

Annyston VandeverStrategic Reading Award and Reading Circle.

Fun awards - Emmitt, Rolo Award; Bentley, Jr Mint Award; IndiLinn, Lifesaver Award; Zoey, Reeses Pieces Award; Taralynn, Crunch Award; Alice, Smarties Award; and Annyston, Gummy Bear Award.

Third and Fourth Grade Classroom Awards Academic Awards -

Tyler Canady, Penmanship; Ruger Etter, Most Improved Writing; Trinity Chapman, Math Master; Addi Roberts, Super Speller; and Traxton Galvin, Most Improved Reading.

Fun awards - Traxton Galvin, Puffs Award; Trinity Chapman, Cool Ranch Award; Addi Roberts, Classic Lays Award; Ruger Etter, Funyon Award; and Tyler Canady, Nacho Cheese Award.

Reading Circle Certificate

Tyler Canady, Ruger Etter, Trinity Chapman and Addi Roberts. Fifth and Sixth Grade Classroom Awards

Sophia Persell - Fashionista Award, Puzzle Award and Reading Circle.

Forest Sharp - Information Award, Potato Award and Reading Circle.

Jacob Wilson - HayGrowth Award, Steak Award and Reading Circle.

Mason Wilson - Bookworm Award, Ice Cream Award and Reading Circle.

Carter Wyatt - Celebration Award, Ice Cube Award and Reading Circle.

Staff Years of Service - 10 year pins - Jackie White and Shelly Porter.

Thank you for your service - Tami Watt and Carol Schmidt.

Special Friend of Spickard School - Babe Roy. May Top Pirate

Annyston Vandever May Top Teammate Captain Jack

Area School Boards Approve Bids, New Hires

The Spickard R-II and Princeton R-V Boards of Education recently met to discuss fuel, propane and milk bids and approve new hires.

Spickard R-II

The Spickard R-II Board of Education met on Monday, May 20 at 6 p.m.

The board approved payment of bills totaling $35,706.48. Budget amendments related to final budget amounts for the ARP Esser III grant were also approved.

The board approved changes recommended by the CSIP committee including: updating committee members, changing testing information from Star to iReady, adding TerraNova testing for K-2 to goal 1.1, adding PD attended by staff this school year, adding information regarding the new Reading Success Plans and extending goal 3.2 related to student behavior.

Superintendent Erica Eakes will make approved changes and adoption of the updated CSIP will be done at the June 17 meeting. Summer office hours were set for Monday through Thursday, 9:002:00 from May 20 to August 15.

Approval was given for requesting bids for services, including diesel fuel, gasoline, propane and milk.

Superintendent Eakes reported that the May Top Pirate was Annyston Vandever and May Top Team-

mate was Captain Jack. She reviewed iReady reading and math diagnostic test scores with the board and said several teachers have signed up for Professional Development over the summer. Summer maintenance projects were discussed, as well as replacing the damaged north door.

The next meeting of the Spickard R-II Board of Education will be Monday, June 17 at 6 p.m.

Princeton R-V

The Princeton R-V Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting was called to order with the approval of the consent agenda, which included approval of the April 8 Board of Education Minutes and the payment of all bills and any necessary fund transfers.

It was announced the last day of school was to be Friday, May 17, with an early out at 12:30 p.m.

A community member expressed gratitude for the district's efforts in recognizing and appreciating school bus drivers. A concern was shared about student safety, specifically regarding interactions between student vehicles and school buses in the afternoon.

In old business, the Board approved an increase in insurance premiums for the 2024-2025 school year. The base PPO plan will

cost $708.58, reflecting a 17 percent increase from the previous year, and will be fully covered by the school district. The base HSA plan will cost $602.74, with the district contributing an additional $105.84 to each employee's HSA account.

The board reviewed a recommendation from school administrators to implement a process for random drug testing of students. With the recent legalization of marijuana and the continued rise of drug use and abuse among youth, the school remains committed to deterring and preventing student drug use. Under this proposed program, students in grades 7-12 would be required to consent to random drug screenings as a condition for participating in all extracurricular activities.

Students who test positive for drugs or violate the screening process may face suspension or exclusion from these activities. It is important to note that the sanctions in the proposed policy focus solely on limiting opportunities for participation in extracurricular activities. Any violations of the district's discipline policy regarding drugs and alcohol will be subject to the appropriate consequences as outlined in the policy.

The Board of Education will review additional information at the June board meeting to discuss and as-

sess the proposed drug testing program. Community input is highly encouraged during this evaluation period, and all are invited to provide feedback to board members or administration as part of the review process. Several neighboring school districts, including South Harrison, Stanberry, Milan, Brookfield, Worth County, King City, Albany, Putnam County and Green City already have established testing programs in place.

In new business, the Board approved Princeton R-V's participation in the Career Ladder Program for the 2024-2025 school year. This program provides salary supplements for teaching staff, compensating them for additional responsibilities and voluntary efforts that are not already compensated in some form.

The Career Ladder Program operates as a matching fund initiative, with up to 60 percent of the additional salary supplements funded by state grants, while the remaining 40 percent, along with any related benefit costs, is covered by local revenue sources. This grant is subject to annual appropriation.

The Board rejected all bids for the 2024-2025 bank depository services. The administration received two bids: one was submitted an hour after the deadline, and the other lacked details on specific

fees for certain services. The district will re-advertise for bids and aims to approve a proposal at the June board meeting.

The board approved a proposal by Quality Network Solutions (QNS) to maintain the district's networks, computer hardware, software, and firewalls.

This three-year agreement will commence on July 1, with an annual fee of $27,832. Previously, the district shared a technology director with three other districts. However, due to the increase in devices and network complexities, the district decided to seek additional resources to address its technology needs.

The district will also continue to employ part-time onsite support, including Kami Stark and Rob Koon.

The Board approved an invitation for Cainsville to participate in grades 7-12 football through a cooperative agreement with MSHSAA. Previously, Princeton had a co-op with Mercer and, more recently, with the addition of Newtown-Harris. High school football co-ops are permitted with a maximum of three schools, provided the total enrollment for grades 9-11 remains under 150 students. In recent years, participation from Mercer has declined, with only two students participating last year. Upon reviewing next year's anticipated participation numbers, it was dis-

covered that Mercer would not be sending any athletes. With this information, the athletic director reached out to Cainsville, which indicated that they have several students interested in playing. The co-op agreement is valid for one year. The existing co-op agreement with Mercer will expire this school year.

During closed session, the board:

• approved extra duty assignments for Dr. Ussery as District Special Education Director and JH/HS SPED Supervisor and Ms. Puls as Elementary SPED Supervisor.

• all non-certified staff for the 2024-2025 school year.

• accepted the resignation of Scott Ussery as Assistant Football Coach and Derek Power as Junior High Girls Basketball Coach.

• accepted the retirement of Meri Power, Cook.

• approved the hiring of Tamme Schwartzkopf as Parents As Teachers Coordinator and Ranae Shahan as Extra Duty Prom Coordinator.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Princeton R-V Board of Education will be Monday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m. A special board meeting regarding the budget will be held Tuesday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m. There will be no July board meeting.

Historic Thompson House Coming Back to Life

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

The Historic Thompson House, the original home constructed in Grundy County in 1834, is coming back to life.

The home belonged to Dr. William Preston Thompson, and to get to the location today, it’s a 3.4 mile trot north on 52nd Street at Edinburgh, and comes with a caution… When you get to the “T”, turn right.

Don’t turn left. Don’t EVER turn left. My 2016 Kia Forte is “a boss” flying up the highway, but it nearly died and foundered, hung up on what happens when you take a wrong turn.

In order to get to the house itself you need an SUV or a high-profile pick up, and a four-wheeler isn’t a bad idea. One arrives at a parking area and then is ushered through an evernarrowing “lane” resembling a wagon trail until the trees give way to a beautiful meadow, and the location of the house.

If you want to go to see it, call ahead. Once you start down that grass, wood-lined lane, you sir, are committed.

The house is approximately seven or eight total rooms, with a root cellar, a newly constructed outhouse and now, the recon-

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structed slave cabin.

Led and lovingly rebuilt by Gary and Ellen Dolan and Jim and Martha Goedert, the house has a storied history, and nearly sank back into the forest and meadows of its location ten years ago, down to a shell of what was originally, a glorious and vibrant home that brought medical care to friendly Native Americans under a commission from the U.S. Government… mission critical? Hello...to vaccinate Native Americans from a smallpox epidemic that threatened to bleed into white settlements as close as Richmond, MO.

Thompson was a Virginia “blueblood”, with a history in the Virginia House of Burgesses. His first wife was the niece of Revolutionary icon Patrick Henry of Virginia.

Our visit to the house was, for an old history teacher, a trip back to a “time that land forgot”. The Dolans and the Goederts were in the process of facilitating the rebuild of the slave quarters, and had help from Brian Upton and Trenton City Councilman John Dolan. In the afternoon, the construction of the cabin would be completed by Amish craftsmen familiar with the process of old, original log cabins.

Ellen and Gary Dolan, took turns with the history lesson on the Thompson family, and on the house itself. The Dolans were named 2023 winners of the McReynolds Award for historic site preservation by the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation.

Thompson and his wife brought six slaves with them, including one freed

man, Jefferson Waterford, who became a merchant at the end of the Civil War, and opened one of the first groceries on Main Street in Trenton.

When commissioned, Thompson told his guide to take him more than a day’s ride into the wilderness, away from white settlers.

Thompson met friendly Native Americans in the area, who assisted him with locating his house and medical office in a geographical area that didn’t flood. The “byway” of the home’s location became a cross roads in and out of the area for settlers, and Native Americans.

The slaves who accompanied Thompson were brilliant builders, and laid the stones that made up the buildings without any mortar. The root cellar has a remarkable bit of stone work over the entrance with a perfectly cut “keystone” that has survived 191 years.

That the house, once abandoned, remained standing was a testament to the workmanship of the original builders.

Gary and Ellen Dolan were an area farm family,

with Gary having made numerous trips to the home when younger. When talk emerged that the remaining “shell” of the house was going to be demolished and sold, the Dolans intervened, along with iconic Trenton residents Ted Druckenmiller and Tad Trombley.

They purchased the sliver of land and the house for $1 in the late 2000’s, and set about the restoration of the “Federal Style Home”, the type that was popular in Williamsburg at the time Thompson moved west.

The house and surrounding land was famous for timber rattlesnakes, with the first school tour which took place having students

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step over a doorway into a lower room, stepping over a four-foot long Jurassic terror.

Steps were taken after that to keep the grass cut and to make sure it was safe for people to work.

The threesome received a $50,000 grant for initial restoration from the Hoover Foundation, but most of the money raised and applied to the project since then was either donated or as an “in kind” consideration.

The floor was painstakingly done, laid board by board, the roof was replaced and the house made sound and water tight. Enough of the original trim showed semblances of the original paint and they were able to replicate the shade, and replace rotted trim, baseboards, and doorways with authentic wood like that used at the time.

The threesome turned to Spickard’s famed Amish woodworker, Emery Zook in crafting and completing much of the woodwork, the grand staircase (restored beautifully) and employed others in the plastering and painting of the walls and ceilings, affixed to the original brick walls.

As Druckenmiller and

Submitted Photo

Gary and Ellen Dolan - Directors of the Friends of the Thompson House, continue a "life's work" project of preserving and restoring their Thompson House, the first residence of White settlers dating back to 1833.

The Thompson House - Before Renovation

The Thompson House - After Renovation

House

From Page Eight

Trombley passed away, the Dolans brought in Jim and Martha Goedert, two remarkable individuals, Jim holding an Engineering doctorate and Martha a Midwife, Nurse Practitioner and Public Health specialist.

It should not be a surprise that the Goederts have a remarkable life history of service in the Peace Corps, with service tours to Tanzania, Togo and Ethiopia. Their academic backgrounds and love of things historic brought the Dolans and Goederts together.

It isn’t surprising given that history of service to the world that they would identify with Thompson, who it could be said, was the first of the “Doctors Without Borders” movement.

His motivations were similar, but the stipend from the government didn’t hurt either.

It was hard during my sit down with the Dolans and Goederts to assemble a lot of pithy quotes.

Class was in session and I sat mesmerized by the connections both couples made to history…The significance of the Indian Removal Act of the 1830’s, that led to the removal of the Cherokee Indian nation to Oklahoma, the importance of small Missouri towns of Brunswick and Boonslick, the importance of the Grand and Missouri Rivers, and the general location of the Thompson house relative to the Santa Fe Trail, which runs roughly along the route of U.S. 24 that touches Moberly, Salisbury, Brunswick, Waverly and on to Excelsior Springs and Richmond.

Grundy County is an important hub to all that history, and the significance of the Dolans, the Goederts, Druckenmiller and Trombley is critical to the pres-

THOMPSON HOUSE RENOVATION

ervation of experiences, stories, triumphs and tragedies important in making where we live come to life in a rich past.

“The people of the revolution and before were the “first sons” and they were the builders of the Revolution,” Martha Goedert said. “The ‘second sons’ were those who moved west to settle, the pioneers who were part of America’s policy of Manifest Destiny.”

Goedert points to the “Moore settlement” in Trenton and various other notable cabins, homes and farms in Missouri that are key footnotes to these stories.

While the work on the house continues, the intention of the group is to open it to tours and educational opportunities for area

of a lot of people who came to what would become Trenton and Grundy County in the 1830s and 1840s,” Goedert says. “There is a very strong Scotch-Irish cultural flavor to these people who used Missouri as their second or third stop after their initial stops in Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.”

“The group has spent 15-20 years of accumulating the history, and hope to make this a museum,” Goedert said. “It is very visual for young people and very hands on.”

The enterprise is a remarkable undertaking and a labor of love for some good people working hard to help students, adults, and those who love history, to keep this important link to the past.

It’s worth the trip.

The Slave Cabin was disassembled from another location and reassembled on the Thompson House property. It is to be restored to reflect the slave cabins of the time period.

The Thompson House Renovated Staircase

Open Borders and Their Effects on Us Studied

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

When Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year, the charges against him warranting that impeachment were that he failed to enforce federal law on securing the borders of the United States.

Customs and Border Patrol statistics for Fiscal Year 2023 recorded more than 2.4 million “encounters” on the southern border, most prolifically in the Eagle Pass, TX port of entry, Yuma, AZ, and the San Diego, CA sectors of the southern border.

Nationwide, more than 3.2 million “encounters” were recorded, including the Canadian border, those entering by boat, and those being flown into the country.

Of those “encounters”, defined as a contact between an illegal immigrant and the CBP, 169 individ-

uals on the terror watchlist were apprehended attempting to enter the country. These individuals have ties to Middle Eastern terror groups, such as Al Qauda, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

The majority of those illegals crossing the border report a request for refugee/political asylum, noting political persecution in their country, are coached what to say, and are released out into the country with a “court date” six to seven years in the future by an immigration judge, and they then disappear.

Another 1.7 million known “gotaways”, those who avoid detention or who do not willingly turn themselves over to CPB officers are recorded.

In the three and a half years of the administration of Joe Biden an estimated 11-million illegals have entered the country. What are the effects of this on the nation as a whole and upon us locally? Why is

this a matter of “policy” by the administration to welcome in millions of people, largely incapable of providing for their own support, and dependent on the Federal Government, NonGovernment Organizations, and local municipalities for basic support benefits for food, medical care and housing? Is there a political endgame to this? What are “curious” statistics on this subject regarding where people are coming from?

How do “bad actors” – The Mexican and Venezuelan drug cartels, the Chinese Communist Party, and Islamist actors – use this porous opening to our country to fund our demise?

Upon study of local court reports since January, only one case popped up in Grundy County court involving an illegal immigrant committing a crime for which he was charged, convicted and incarcerated. The court notes reflected that at the end of his criminal sentence, he would be

remanded over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation from the country.

Depending upon what source you reference, there are at present between 50,000 and 70,000 illegal immigrants in the state of Missouri. Determining how many of those individuals are self-supporting and how many rely on public assistance is a matter of more research, but one area where this will show up is in enrollment of ‘English as a Second Language” students in our public schools.

The southern border states have absorbed the largest mass of illegal immigrants and the biggest strains on public services. Proactive actions by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to transport illegals to sanctuary cities have been called “political stunts” and “inhumane” by the same Blue City Mayors who just twenty four months ago rolled out the

red carpet of sanctuary city Shangri-La..

Denver has defunded its police department by more than $8 million to reallocate more taxpayer money to “migrant services”. Mayor Eric Adams of New York has been the recipient of more than 300,000 illegal immigrants via the “Hook ‘Em Horns” Express, and has begged the Federal Government for help.

Mayor Brandon Douglas of Chicago moved veterans out of housing, closed community centers and took over park and recreation athletic fields to house illegal immigrants, and the locals aren’t having it.

So why has the Federal Government done this?

It is a purposeful attempt to shift the demographics of the country and turn red states purple and purple states blue. While the desire of Open Borders advocates is to create 15 million new American citizens by the granting of amnesty, the political winds and votes in Congress aren’t there to do so.

With a majority of the American people rating illegal immigration as their number one political issue going into the Presidential Election of 2024, the “endgame” is to “replace” the current demographic of population so that white Americans are no longer in the majority. It’s already predicted that by 2039, white Americans will be in the minority, not of a melting pot, but more a tossed salad of nationalities.

If Democrats are unable to achieve amnesty for the 15 million some illegal aliens currently in the country, the mass of humanity still works in their favor. While not holding voting rights, at least for now, illegals will be counted into the 2030 Census, the basis upon which congressional districts are drawn and how seats are apportioned in Congress. It also will have a direct relationship on the distribution of electoral votes.

The final issue is how enemies of America have so effectively used our political decision-making against us.

The open border makes it possible for the Sinaloa

Cartel of Mexico, the leading trafficker of fentanyl into the United States, to do business. The precursor elements that go into that drug, and the lacing of meth, heroin and oxycodone with fentanyl come from China. China sells the “pillpresses” at cost to the cartels and provides them the materials that ultimately kill over 100,000 Americans every year. The Chinese Communist Party has more than 290,000 students attending American colleges on student visas, but has pushed more than 34,000 illegal immigrants across both borders and into the United States.

The vast majority are young adult males of military age. The same stats hold when looking at age and gender of illegals from Venezuela, Syria, Russia, and Cuba, not to mention the other middle eastern countries.

None of these people are our friends.

Chinese citizens do not just freely leave China… These are not political refugees. They had the wherewithal to get to Mexico, or Central America and then hike in the rest of the way, and then have money to go on when they get here.

National security experts are concerned about how much damage trained members of the People’s Liberation Army can do through pirating American technology, espionage, and psychological warfare. There are 34,000 people who represent two army divisions and change of soldiers, should they be so inclined.

Illegal immigration, the unfettered entry of enemies, drugs, human trafficking and narco violence, is the number one issue reported by voters in the upcoming Presidential election.

While Republicans have carved this out as their issue over multiple election cycles, the “heat” on Democratic cities and states have rattled their candidates towards a more conservative approach to dealing with the border. For many voters, both Democratic and Republican, this is now a can that can no longer be kicked down the road.

On Wednesday, May 22, Samantha Powell (left) was administered the oath for the appointment of a CASA Volunteer for the Third Circuit of Missouri at the Putnam County Courthouse by Circuit Judge Steve Hudson (right). She completed 30 hours of training through the Missouri State CASA Association and will now be an advocate for children in the court system in the Third Circuit of Missouri. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate and is a national non-profit organization, with programs in 49 states across the country. Missouri has 24 programs, with over 4600 children served in 2023. The Third Circuit Program, which includes Grundy, Harrison, Mercer and Putnam Counties, was established in 1997. CASAs are independent volunteer advocates trained to be the voice of abused and/or neglected children, most of whom are in the foster care system, and speak up for what is in their best interest. CASAs typically work with one child or sibling group to ensure their needs are being met while under the Court’s jurisdiction. A CASA does not provide legal representation, but carefully researches background details and observes a child’s situation to provide objective observations and recommendations to the Court for the care of the child.

GRM Networks has partnered with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, to offer grants that support local organizations in their efforts to build and help sustain a high quality of life in rural America. Grants may be awarded for the following categories:

• Business and Economic Development

• Community Development

• Education

• Telecommunications Applications

Grant requests may range between $250 and $5,000. GRM Networks will contribute 10 percent toward the one-time grant with the remainder of the grant funded by FRS.

Priority of grants awarded will be given to projects that:

• Could be fully funded by the grant maximum of

$5,000 or have at least 75 percent of the project currently funded

• Focus on technology and broadband enabled projects

• Have a long-term impact for the community and its residents

• Promote community participation and engagement

• Create a more sustainable rural community

Organizations wishing to apply should review grant information and the

application process found at grm.net/about-us/grants/. Applications must be completed electronically and should be emailed to Amy Davison at adavison@corp.grm.net. Questions about the grants, or the application process, may also be directed to Davison at 888-748-2110.

The deadline to submit grant applications to GRM Networks is August 9, 2024. Organizations receiving grants will be announced in December.

Submitted Photo

E. Mathews

Not just “play”

It’s on many people’s heads

Pouch

Lake in Botswana

Unruly group

Very eager

Edward __, author and writer

Flying insect

Type of vessel (abbr.) 15. Accept and handle

Postmodernist Austrian “House”

Baseball stat

Talk rapidly and unintelligbly

Caregiver (abbr.) 35. Old Irish alphabet

Japanese city

In a way, acted

Things to see

Nursemaid 40. Type of tooth

To be demonstrated

Defunct European group

PC market growing again

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

R-T Photo/Anita Ewing

The home of Larry and Linda Spencer, at 804 Lake Manor Drive, has been named the Yard of the Month for the month of May by the Grand River Garden Club.

R-T Photo/Anita Ewing

McDonald’s at 1861 E. 9th St. in Trenton received the Beautification Award for the month of June from The Grand River Garden Club.

Classified Advertising Information

Phone 660-359-2212

Classified advertising rate schedule in the Republican-Times is listed below. DEADLINES:

For Newspaper: 4 p.m. the Monday before Thursday printing

For Green Hills Weekly Paper: 4 p.m. the Thursday before Tuesday printing Ads also appear same number of days on the Internet at www.northwestmissouri.com.

The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy not consistent with editorial policy.

Up to 25 words - $10.00 60¢ per word for each additional word over 25 words. Blind ads should be answered by writing box numbers given in care of the Republican-Times.

BUSINESS/ SERVICES

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: "The advertisements appearing in this column may involve the offer of a security as defined by Missouri law, such as investment contracts, partnership interests, or notes. It is possible that these advertisements or the offers on which they are based may require registration with the Missouri Securities Division under Chapter 509 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.

Advertisers and potential advertisers are advised that transactions and advertisements involving securities entail certain rights and responsibilities created by the above mentioned laws. If you have any questions, call your attorney or the Missouri Securities Division at 1800-721-7996.

Anyone considering investing should be aware that all persons who sell securities and the securities they sell must be registered or exempt from registration with the Securities Division of the Secretary of State's office. To make sure the individual and the investment are registered prior to investing, call 1800-721-7996.

INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU INVEST! Always a good policy, especially for business opportunities and franchises. Call MO Attorney General at (880) 392-8222 or the Federal Trade Commission at (877) FTC-HELP for free information. Or visit our Web site at www.ftc.gov/bizop.

The Republican-Times business office hours are Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed from 12-1 p.m. for lunch) and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The office will be closed on Saturdays.

Republican-Times 122 E. 8th St. 359-2212 Fax: 660-359-4414

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*SEAMLESS GUTTERING* 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, 3593888.

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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.

-------------------------------------PAGE TREE SERVICE

Jeff Page 660-359-3699shop, 660-359-2202-home. Serving the entire Green Hills Area! Specializing in tree trimming, stump grinding & complete removal. 75’ bucket truck, chipper & stump grinder. Licensed & insured. Free Estimates!

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JAMESPORT LUMBERFull 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

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Carquest Auto Parts T & L Auto Supply, Inc., 1823 East 9th, Trenton, 3592268, tlautosupply.com Monday-Friday, 7-5, Saturday, 7:30-12.

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Mid-States Services is now offering: Fiber Optic installs in rural Trenton! MidStates will STILL WAIVE the $150 installation free for those who sign up NOW! Sign up TODAY by calling 660-359-2045 or at http://www.mid-states.net. 4100 Oklahoma Ave., Trenton, MO 64683.

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RED BARN MINI STORAGE, across from the new hospital on Iowa Blvd in Trenton. 5 Unit sizes available. Call Mike or Jane Cooksey 660-359-7683.

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JAMESPORT BUILDERS, 660-684-6931, 32137 State Hwy 6, Jamesport. POLE BARNS – GARAGES, Spray foam insulation.

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BUY - SELL - TRADEBIG NASTY'S GUNS & AMMO - Stop in and see us at our New Location - 1515 E. 9th Street, Trenton, MO. Nathan Rorebeck, 660-6350469, www.bignastys.com

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Willing Workers LLPDo you need your siding or roof replaced? Give Willing Workers a call today for a FREE estimate... 660-9735694, John Kramer, 17594 St. Hwy. 190, Jamesport, MO 64648

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Offutt, Offutt & Associates Auction Service. Land, farm, and Home. Free Appraisals. Cameron, MO. 816-7243214

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CRP Grass seeding and management. Experienced life long grass farmer. Ray Schwarz 816-223-4712

-------------------------------------www.republican-times.com

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FARM NEEDS

See Consumer Oil & Supply for your One Stop Shop for Muck and Lacrosse boots and gloves. Consumer Oil & Supply, 614 Harris Ave., 359-2258

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Buying standing walnut, oak & cottonwood timber. Cash or on shares. Call Mike at 816-248-3091.

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CLASSIFIEDS

PAYING $75/ACRE FOR RENTAL PASTURE. Will consider any size and location. 816-288-9060

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Gravel, sand, top soil, mulch, river rock, bouldersTurney Mini Quarry 816-2482523.

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PETS/ANIMALS

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!

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Registered Jack Russell Puppies for sale. Males only. $350 Call 816-807-0382.

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INSURANCE

HELTON

INSURANCE

SOLUTIONS - Williams Shopping Center, Trenton, MO. New To Medicare or Want To Compare Pricing ... Call Brian McDaniel 816289-1935 Or Leah Helton 660-359-3806 or 660-6350537 "Our Quality Of Service Is What Makes Us Different"

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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

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NOTICES

The Republican-Times business office hours are Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed from 12-1 p.m. for lunch) and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The office will be closed on Saturdays. Republican-Times 122 E. 8th St., Trenton, MO Phone: 359-2212

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THE PEOPLE’S CO-OP, 1736 East 9th • 359-3313. Premium Diesel, Gas, 10% Ethanol – CENEX. 83 years of service & experience. MR. TIRE – Mastercraft and Yokohama tires.

WEBSITES

Replacement Parts; Accessories; Chemicals; Tool & equipment. www.tlautosupply.com

RUMMAGE SALE

Selling contents of two storage pods. Signed collectibles, Several pieces of Wilton Pewter. Signed pictures. Victorian, modern and antidue furniture. Plates, bowls and dishes. Decor items. M & M collectibles. Power and hand tools. All kinds of fishing equipment. 5 boxes of blue rock. Pallet Jack. Outside furniture, garden pots and decor. 2007 Lund Boat 17.5 ft crappie edition. This is unique and unusual collection. May 30th 8-6 May 31st 8-5 1101 NE Timberlake Lane, Lathrop.

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Four Family Garage Sale June 6th, 7th, and 8th. 204 South 4th Street in Gower Missouri. Thursday and Friday 8-5 Saturday 8-noon.

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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 660-359-5647.

For rent: Hale, Mo. One 1br apt and one studio apt. NO PETS, first month rent and deposit required, Appliances and utilities furnished. Ideal for someone on a fixed income. Immideate possession, background check required. Please call 660-645-2269

FOR SALE

Fresh bulk garden seed. Limited supply. Trenton Hardware, 901 Main in Trenton, 660-359-3660.

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For sale 2003 Bayliner fourwind. $6000 OBO. Interior and exterior in great condition. New battery and tires. Call 816-284-3081

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Farm To Market - In season Fancy Red Romaine & Blue Curley Leave Kale. Call for Pricing. 209-613-4186

HELP WANTED

Sunnyview Nursing Home has job openings available for the following positions: 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.

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North Central Missouri College is seeking a Program Coordinator for the Workforce Development Board. This is a full-time position with benefits included. Interested applicants should visit www.ncmissouri.edu/jobs for more information and how to apply or call 660-357-6203. NCMC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE: Home in Spickard, MO. 3 bed 1 bath. Has older two car garage. No heat or air. Older move in ready home. No title Insurance. Serious inquires only. Please call 660-748-3339

Because The People Must Know

IN THE 3RD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT GRUNDY COUNTY, MISSOURI PROBATE DIVISION Case No. 24AG-PR00024

Petitioner: BROOKE NICOLE ASHFORD vs.

Respondent: PARKER ARON PAUL ERVIE, MINOR

Nature of Suit: PR Guardianship - Minor Notice Upon Order for Service by Publication

The State of Missouri to: Unknown, Natural Father of Parker Aron Paul Ervie

You are notified that an action has been commenced against you in the Probate Division of Circuit Court of Grundy County, Missouri, the general nature of which is: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN OF MINOR

The name and address of the Attorney for Petition: TARA L WALKER, 605 E 9TH STREET, TRENTON, MO 64683.

The Court has appointed David Hershberger, an Attorney with an address of 721 Webster St., Chillicothe, MO 64601, to represent the above-named Minor.

Said Matter will be heard on 20th day of JUNE, 2024 at 1:30 p.m., at the courtroom of the Probate Division at Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton, Missouri.

It is ordered that a copy of hereof be published according to law in Trenton Republican-Times, a newspaper of general circulation publisher in Grundy County, Missouri. You are further notified that, unless you file an answer or other pleading or otherwise appear and defend against the aforesaid petition, judgment by default will be entered against you.

06-MAY-2024 /s/ Michelle Smith Probate Clerk (Date of 1st Publication May 16, 2024) (5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6/24)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF GRUNDY COUNTY, MISSOURI

WILLIAM G. COON, Trustee of the ) William G. Coon Revocable Inter ) Vivos Trust Agreement dated October ) 27, 1995 ) ) et al, ) Plaintiffs, ) vs. ) Case No. ) 24AG-CC00012 BENTLEY WYATT, ) ) et al, ) Defendants. )

NOTICE OF ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

TO: Bentley Wyatt, John Doe Defendants 1-100 and each of the defendants’ successors, grantees, assignees, donees, alienees, administrators, executors, creditors and other legal representatives

YOU ARE HEREBY notified that an action has been commenced against the Defendants named above in the Circuit Court of Grundy County, Missouri, the object, and general nature of which is to determine and declare the respective interests and to quiet title the following described property in Grundy County, Missouri, to-wit:

The North Three-fourth (N 3/4) of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section Sixteen (16), Township Sixty-three (63) North, Range Twenty-Four (24) West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, subject to public and private roads and easements.

The names of all parties to said action are stated above in the caption hereof and the name and address for the attorney for the Plaintiffs is Tara L. Walker, P.O. Box 457, 605 E. 9th Street, Trenton, Missouri 64683.

You are further notified that unless you file an answer or other pleading or shall otherwise appear and defend against the aforesaid petition within 45 days after the 23rd day of May, 2024 (the date of first publication), Judgment by default will be rendered against you.

WITNESSETH my hand and seal of the Circuit Court this 17th day of May, 2024.

/s/ Becky Stanturf, Circuit Clerk (5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13/24)

NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BIDS

SouthLaw, P.C.

13160 Foster, Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66213-2660 (913) 663-7600

File No. 245518

PUBLIC NOTICES

Because The People Must Know

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE

For default in the payment of debt secured by a deed of trust executed by Joelle Barrer, dated June 9, 2023, and recorded on June 12, 2023, Document No. 23LR0638, in Book No. 696, at Page 803 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, Grundy County, Missouri, the undersigned Successor Trustee will on June 25, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at the North Front Door of the Grundy County Courthouse, Trenton, Missouri, sell at public vendue to the highest bidder for cash:

All of Lot Seven (7), in Block four (4), of College Addition to the City of Trenton, Grundy County, Missouri, commonly known as 923 Normal St, Trenton, MO, 64683 subject to all prior easements, restrictions, reservations, covenants and encumbrances now of record, if any, to satisfy the debt and costs.

SouthLaw, P.C. Successor Trustee

First Publication: May 30, 2024. For more information, visit www.southlaw.com

NOTICE

Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §1692c(b), no information concerning the collection of this debt may be given without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction. The debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose (Casefile No. 245518-1029718).

(5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20/24)

SouthLaw, P.C. 13160 Foster, Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66213-2660 (913) 663-7600

File No. 244886

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE

For default in the payment of debt secured by a deed of trust executed by Carole L. Sims, dated May 7, 2019, and recorded on May 20, 2019, Document No. 19LR0453, in Book No. 663, at Page 668 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, Grundy County, Missouri, the undersigned Successor Trustee will on June 25, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at the North Front Door of the Grundy County Courthouse, Trenton, Missouri, sell at public vendue to the highest bidder for cash:

All of Lot Twenty-five (25) of Scott and Haddox

First Addition to the City of Trenton, Missouri, commonly known as 2303 Park Lane Dr, Trenton, MO, 64683

subject to all prior easements, restrictions, reservations, covenants and encumbrances now of record, if any, to satisfy the debt and costs.

SouthLaw, P.C. Successor Trustee

First Publication: May 30, 2024. For more information, visit www.southlaw.com

NOTICE

Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §1692c(b), no information concerning the collection of this debt may be given without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction. The debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose (Casefile No. 244886-1026659).

(5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20/24)

REQUESTS FOR BIDS/INVITATION FOR BIDS

City of Trenton

Trenton Municipal Airport

State Block Grant Project No. 23-011A-1

Sealed bids will be received until 2:00 p.m., June 13, 2024, and then publicly opened and read at City of Trenton, 1100 Main Street, Trenton, Missouri 64683 for furnishing all labor, materials and equipment and performing all work necessary to: Construct T-Hangar.

Copies of the bid documents including project drawings and technical specifications are on file and may be inspected at: City of Trenton, 1100 Main Street, Trenton, Missouri 64683 Olsson, 1027 S. Main Street, Suite 503, Joplin, MO 64801 Olsson, 601 P Street, Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68508 Quest CDN (see below

To be qualified to Bid, a complete set of plans, specifications, contract documents and proposal form must be obtained from either: 1) www.questcdn.com for a fee of $22 (nonrefundable). Once logged into the site, insert eBidDoc project number 9126232 (Trenton Municipal Airport, Missouri; Construct T-Hangar); or 2) Olsson at (402) 474-6311 for a fee of $90 (nonrefundable).

Questions regarding bids shall be directed Brian Coomes, P.E., consulting engineer at (620) 670-5102. Contractors may inspect the project site by arrangement with Wes Barone, Airport Manager, (660) 359-2013. A prebid conference will not be held for this project.

Each proposal must be accompanied by a bid guaranty in the amount of five (5) percent of the total amount of the bid. The bid guaranty may be by certified check or bid bond made payable to City of Trenton. Bids may be held by the City of Trenton for a period not to exceed 90 Days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of evaluating bids prior to award of contract.

The right is reserved, as the City of Trenton may require, to reject any bid and also the right to reject all bids.

In accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, and the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law, the Contractor will be required to comply with the wage and labor requirements and to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedule of wage rates established by the United States Department of Labor and the Missouri Division of Labor Standards, respectively. The highest rate between the two (Federal and State) for each job classification shall be considered the prevailing wage.

The City of Trenton, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that for any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

This project is subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Part 26 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation. The owner has established a contract goal of TBD percent participation for small business concerns owned and controlled by qualified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE). The bidder shall make and document good faith efforts, as defined in Appendix A of 49 CFR Part 26, to meet the established goal.

Award of contract is also subject to the following Federal provisions:

• Executive Order 11246 and DOL Regulation 41 CFR PART 60 - Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity.

• DOL Regulation 29 CFR Part 5 – Davis Bacon Act.

• DOT Regulation 49 CFR PART 29 - Government wide Debarment and Suspension and Government wide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace.

• DOT Regulation 49 CFR PART 30 - Denial of Public Works Contracts to Suppliers of Goods and Services of Countries that Deny Contracts to Suppliers of Goods and Services of Countries that Deny Procurement Market Access to U.S. Contractors (Foreign Trade Restriction).

• TITLE 49 United States Code, CHAPTER 501 – Buy American Preferences.

The Trenton R-IX School District is soliciting bids on Dairy Products and Diesel Fuel for the 2023-2024 school year. Contact Daniel Gott (660-359-3994) for bid specifications. Sealed bids are to be submitted no later than 10:00 am Friday, June 21st, 2024, clearly marked "Dairy Bid" or “Fuel Bid” to: Trenton R-IX Schools, Attn: Secretary to the Board, 1607 Normal Street, Trenton, MO 64683. -or email to dgott@trentonr9.k12.mo.us

The Trenton R-IX Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The Trenton R-IX School District is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. (5/30, 6/6/24)

SPORTS Trenton Bulldog Tennis Awards Banquet Held May 21

THS Tennis Coach Dave Sager recognized his outstanding group of District Champion tennis players at the squad’s awards banquet held May 21.

Letterwinners included seniors Victor Markell and Bradyn Sager, junior Jacob Horton, sophomores Isaac Dixon and Garrison Otto, and freshmen Ryeland Kirk, Henry Lasley and Jacob White. Lady Bulldog Faith Elliot, a sophomore, lettered on the girls side.

Recognized for 10+ singles wins was Isaac Dixon with 13 and 15+ wins was Bradyn Sager, who recorded 19 singles wins.

Recognized for 10+ doubles wins were Victor Markell (14), Bradyn Sager (10) and Jacob White (12). Isaac Dixon received recognition for 15+ doubles wins. Individual team recognitions included:

JV Player of the Year: Ryeland Kirk

Most Improved Player: Jacob Horton

Top Singles Player: Bradyn Sager

Top Doubles Team: Victor Markell and Isaac Dixon

Mr. Clutch: Jacob White/Henry Lasley

Ironman: Garrison Otto/Isaac Dixon

Slam King: Bradyn Sager

Mr. Tennis: Victor Markell

Senior Bradyn Sager delivered a massive career, recording 59 singles wins over four years, 100+ combined singles/doubles wins and 50/50 career wins (Singles, 59 and Doubles, 72).

Senior Victor Markell collected 51 doubles wins and 53 combined wins.

Sophomore Isaac Dixon returns with an amazing start to his young career, notching 68 career combined wins in just two seasons.

(5/16, 5/23, 5/30/24)

TRENTON REPUBLICAN-TIMES

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.

DEAD WEEK #1 — June 29-July 7

DEAD WEEK#2 — August 3-11

No athletic activities will take place during these weeks.

WEIGHT ROOM TIMES:

High School Boys 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 GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP SCHEDULE

June 6 @ Chillicothe

June 10 @ Lathrop

June 19 @ TBD

June 20 @ Milan

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP TMS Girls Basketball Camp 5/28 & 5/29 8:00 AM-9:30 AM

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL (MWF) 8:00-9:30 AM

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

Tuesdays and Thursdays in June

8:30-10:00 AM TMS Gym

MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

TMS Volleyball Camp May 28-31

(10:30-12:00 PM) TMS Gym

June 10-14, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM TMS Gym

MIDDLE SCHOOL LEAGUE PRACTICE

June 4, June 11, June 18, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM

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

June 11-Lathrop

June 18-Lathrop

July Date: TBD at Chillicothe or Trenton Softball Team Camp: Mornings July 29-August 2

THS VOLLEYBALL

(all in Middle School Gym) 5/30, 7:00-9:30 AM

SKILLS CAMP 6/3 TO 6/7 7:00 am to 2:00 PM TEAM CAMP 6/10-6/14 7:00 am-9:30 AM

HIGH SCHOOL/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

JUNE 10-14 8:00 am-3:00 PM

Full Band and Color Guard Camp

July 22-26 8:00-4:00 PM

MIDDLE SCHOOL COLOR GUARD

6/3 and 6/5 1:00-2:00 High School Gym

6/10 and 6/12 1:00-2:00 Middle School Gym

6/17 and 6/19 1:00-2:00 High School Gym

6/24 and 6/26 1:00-2:00 High School Gym

*The

NCMC Men’s Basketball Welcomes Two Recruits; Camp Dates Announced

Fresh off an Elite 8 Finish and a 27-8 record, NCMC Pirate Men’s basketball coach Jeremy Esry has been busy on the recruiting trail, signing a high-impact transfer and an outstanding high school player from Georgia to the Pirate squad for next year.

Camden Bennett, a redshirt freshman at Missouri Western, brings a great high school background at St. Joseph Benton and a big, long body to the point guard position, replacing outgoing point guard Isaiah Reams.

“Camden has been playing at the off-guard spot, but we see his highest ceiling going forward being a full-time move to the point guard spot,”Esry said. “He is long and athletic and would be defined as a lead guard from the point, meaning he creates for others out of the break, and can be a score first option for us.”

Garrett Fettinger, a 6’ 7” 210-pound “stretch four” from Woodstock, GA comes to NCMC after a great high school career. Fettinger is long and athletic, and can force people to come outside and guard him on the perimeter, and then he can take them off the dribble to the basket.

Bennett and Fettinger rejoin a prolific scoring team returning over 60 points of offense from their 2023-24 squad.

Back for NCMC is standout NJCAA First

Team All-American Tyler King, a 6’ 4” 190-pound shooting guard who put up double figure numbers a year ago, and is projected as a Mid-Major Division I recruit going forward in his sophomore year.

“Tyler is super athletic and a really deep threat for us,” Esry said. “He was in the high 30 percent range from three-point range and he is a dangerous, prolific scorer.”

King is joined by second year returner John Carroll, s 6’ 7” forward who put up a pair of double-double games in the Division II National Tournament at Danville, IL. Esry expects Carroll, who can play the four spot, to stretch out to the three spot this year.

Thirdly for the Pirates, Giovanni Mack returns with his 13 ppg. and five assists production from a year ago. Esry characterizes Mack as a shifty, super quick guard.

NCMC is one of four NJCAA Division II squads in Missouri, with another seven NJCAA Division I squads.

NCMC holds their own against all of them.

“Moberly is probably considered the top JC program in the state, but we beat them this past year and they really don’t want to play us again,” Esry said.

In other Pirate basketball news, Esry said that registrations are pouring in

The Old Ball Coach

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

Caitlin Clark had a tough first week in her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever, dropping her first three games and sounding off about struggles with teammates and her coach.

The response to Clark’s success at the college level was worshipful by fans who enjoyed watching her play, her run to the the most points scored ever by a college player – men’s or women’s –and leading the Iowa Hawkeye women to a second consecutive national

runner-up finish.

Through the process of the season, Clark was the most recognizable figure in college basketball, men’s or women’s, and she gave the college women’s game a “door opener” to the fans of America, and they stampeded through it.

The problem was, whether it was Cheryl Swopes, Lisa Leslie, Brittany Greiner or a herd of other WNBA players, past and present, the criticism and “downtalk” of Clark was very

currently for the NCMC basketball camp, scheduled for July 15-16 with K-2 kids going from 9:00-10:00 a.m., grades 3 through 6 going from 10:30-1:00 p.m. and grades 7 through 12 going from 1:30-4:00 p.m.

Grades K-2 tuition is $40 while grades 3-6 and 712 tuition is $60, with $10 off signup cost if received by June 10. Registration forms can be picked up at the College, or by emailing Esry at jesry@mail.ncmissouri.edu, or by calling 816465-0185.

Esry says that ten Pirate basketball players will be assisting with the conduct of the camp, featuring fundamental development, drill work they probably have never seen before, competitive games, and then playing 5-on-5 up and down the court.

“One of the great outcomes is that the kids get to know our players on a personal level and develop a relationship with them,

significant.

I call it jealousy, and just catty, petty behavior. That so many of the women’s players in the WNBA, and to a lesser degree, college, say she shoots too much and isn’t a team player – demonstrably false by her college stats averaging more than seven assists a game – the criticism of a great young athlete and the not so secret hopes that she fails is exactly what the sport doesn’t need.

Her $76,000 contract with the Fever is absolute robbery. The team has been forced to move their games from 3,500 seat arenas to 17,000 seat arenas to accommodate the demand for tickets.

And yet, so many of her peers hope she fails. Fever head coach Christy Sides laid into her last week about her play and attitude, leading

which builds young fans who follow our guys and support them when the season comes,” Esry said.

“You can’t overestimate just how much our players really love the outreach to kids in the area with camp.”

Esry says that kids from as far away as Springfield, the middle of Nebraska, and as nearby as Chillicothe, Princeton and Gallatin make the camp a part of their summer.

“We haven’t had as good a response from Trenton players as we’d like, but we know Coach Guthrie is working to help with that,” Esry said. “We had 133 players total last year, and of those, 55-60 were high school players.”

“We have a good number of our players over the years who got to know us through our camp, and of course, we’re always looking for the potential recruit, as well as making all players, regardless of talent level, better,” Esry said.

to Fever fans calling for her ouster. The team was 0-3 at the time and the team seems dedicated to the premise that Caitlin Clark really “isn’t all that”.

You ever hear the story of the goose who laid the golden eggs?

When these petty women decide to grow up and find ways to multiply Clark’s generational skills instead of tearing them down, Clark can do for her team what she has done for women’s basketball. Make them relevant. Iowa women’s coach Lisa Bluder stepped down at Iowa recently after a tremendous 30-year run in the college game.

I believe the Fever should have her number on speeddial. One can hope. WNBA…Don’t screw this up.

Republican-Times will keep this schedule updated through the summer.

Camden Bennett Garrett Fettinger

THE DEHUMANIZING AND HUMILIATING OF CAITLIN CLARK