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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
R-T
TRENTON
REPUBLICAN-TIMES
$1.25
©Honeycutt Media, LLC
12 PAGES + 1 INSERTS
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 158th Year - No. 75
republican-times.com
BRIEFS Art’s Alive To Perform “Harvey”
Art’s Alive is pleased to announce Open Auditions for the light-hearted comedy, “Harvey”, by Mary Chase. Auditions will be held Saturday, July 16 at 9 a.m. in the Hoover Theater at the Grundy County-Jewitt Norris Library, 1331 Main Street, Trenton. Harvey will be directed by Ann Plumb and Terry Toms. The play has roles for 6 men and 6 women. Unfortunately, there are no little children in the play, but there ARE parts for young adults. Prepared readings are optional. Evening Rehearsals will start in July. Performance dates have been set for September 24 and 25. “Harvey” is a 6-foot rabbit who has befriended Mr. Elwood P. Dowd. Though Harvey is invisible to most, Elwood begins buying theater tickets and introducing him to all his friends.The BIG problem begins when he introduces the rabbit to his sister’s society friends! Embarrassed and mortified by this, Elwood’s sister, Veta, decides to have him committed to the care of Chumley’s Rest. The tables are SOON turned when staff at Chumley’s believe Veta actually needs to be committed instead! Ticket information and pricing will be announced in the near future. Those with questions can email Ann at annplumb@gmail.com.
BOA Hearing Scheduled
The Board of Adjustments will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1100 Main Street. The board will hear a request from Mark & Teisha Ledbetter for a 20-foot variance on the minimum lot frontage of 70 feet to allow them to build a 28’ x 28’ home on property located at 1813 Merrill Street.
GRVCO To Perform
The Grand River Valley Choir and Orchestra will be in concert Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. in the Trenton High School Performing Arts Center. This summer concert, “We Remember” will be dedicated to the late Buddy Hannaford, who was one of the founders of GRVCO and conducted the orchestra for many years. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Those wishing to attend are asked to enter through the west side doors of the high school into the commons area. The performance is free, but donations will be accepted to ensure the GRVCO may continue to provide musical entertainment for years to come.
R-T Photo/Amy Morton
American flags adorned the Grundy County Courthouse for Flag Day, June 14. The flags were placed around the courthouse by members of the Trenton Rotary Club.
R-9 Board Tackles Lengthy Agenda The Trenton R-9 School Board met for their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 14. All board members were present along with Interim Superintendent Rob Deaver and Board Secretary Susan Leeper. Board President Dorothy Taul called the meeting to order. The board began the meeting by thanking Mr. Deaver for stepping in and helping with superintendent duties, the office personnel for all the extra work they have done and Kasey Bailey for his years of service to the district. The board also announced the retirement of Board Secretary Susan Leeper, who is leaving after 34 years of service in the
district. There will be a retirement reception for Susan at the district office on Wednesday, June 29 from 12-2 p.m. Mrs. Taul also introduced and welcomed new Superintendent Daniel Gott, who will begin his duties on July 1. The board approved amendments of the agenda, treasurers report, minutes of the previous meeting and bills. In old business the board approved new wording from two policies that were approved at the last meeting and rescinded the Preschool Coordinator Position. Kasey Bailey presented a policy change of a $50 stipend per event for administrators
to help cover supervision of sporting events which was approved on a 7-0 vote. Summer school principal Vanessa Pauley gave a report on summer school activities. Summer school is held May 25-June 29 with 206 students enrolled from Trenton R-9, Pleasant View R-6, Grundy R-5, Spickard and Laredo. There are 14 teachers and four paraprofessionals with a daily attendance average of 98.6 percent. The students are enjoying numerous activities and field trips all while focusing on the core subjects. [See R-9, Page 8]
Council Discusses Subdivision, Reviews Policy NCMC Expands Service Region
The Trenton City Council met on Monday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Council members Lance Otto, Glen Briggs, Danny Brewer, Marvin Humphreys, Robert Romesburg and David Mlika, along with City Clerk Cindy Simpson, Mayor Linda Crooks, City Administrator Ron Urton, City Attorney Tara Walker and Police Chief Rex Ross were in attendance. Council members John Dolan and Duane Urich joined the meeting via zoom. Mayor Crooks called the meeting to order, minutes and bills were approved. Mayor Crooks reported that the
pool has opened with 30 lifeguards and 15 non-certified staff and has been well attended. She reported that Uprooted Creamery should be opening this week and there is a new barbershop in town. Jonesey’s Chop Shop has opened on the north side of the Plaza Towers Apartments. Police Chief Rex Ross reported there were 63 people in attendance at the recent Cops and Bobbers event. Public Comments were opened with a discussion from a few home owners on Serendipity Lane concerning the Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to allow
construction of a subdivision in the area. Terry White was the first to speak, wondering if the city council was going to review the decision. City Administrator Ron Urton told them that since there were no zoning changes made or permits to be issued, the zoning board has full approval process as long as all criteria is met, which it has been. The homeowners are highly concerned over the gravel road being damaged by the heavy machinery and equipment being brought in to build and hook up electric and water to the new subdivision. The homeowners use their yearly
Homeowner Association dues to pay for the gravel to maintain the road. There was major discussion over who actually owns the road. The city council suggested the homeowners find out who actually has ownership of the road, and look into establishing a special taxing district to get funds to pave the road. If the road is paved or asphalted, it will be up to the city code and the city would take over maintenance of the road. Ordinances passed with 8-0 votes were a “Conflict of Interest [See Council, Page 4]
Submitted Photo
The Missouri Bicentennial Mural, painted by 16,116 citizens across the state, will be dedicated June 23, 2022, 2:30 p.m., at the Harry S. Truman State Office Building, 301 High St., Jefferson City. The large-scale mural was recently installed inside Harry’s Place Cafeteria, 4th floor of the Truman State Office Building, for the public to enjoy. The mural features 19 state symbols to commemorate Missouri’s 200 years of statehood. Cape Girardeau artists Aaron Horrell and Barb Bailey traveled across parts of the state for several years with canvas and supplies to create a 15-panel mural measuring 12 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Horrell and Bailey invited the public to paint within a small triangle of the mural. The oldest painter was 102 years old and the youngest painter, with help from a family member, was 12 days old. Mural painters, including 737 Trenton residents, came from 358 Missouri towns, 30 states, and Washington, D.C., as well as 17 countries since the painting began in 2019. Completed in 2021, the artists donated the mural as a gift to the people of Missouri. The public can see the Missouri Bicentennial Mural during regular visitor hours when the Truman State Office Building is open, Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Bicentennial Mural is an endorsed project of Missouri 2021, a statewide initiative of the State Historical Society of Missouri to promote a better understanding of Missouri and its regions, communities and people to commemorate Missouri’s bicentennial.
Beginning fall 2022, North Central Missouri College will be expanding its service region to include Buchanan County. Through this expansion, NCMC will provide affordable community college opportunities to this part of our region by offering courses, customized training, and helpful services to those wishing to enroll in community college. NCMC efforts in Buchanan County will include partnerships with educational entities, industries, and community organizations. NCMC also has partnerships with industries in Buchanan County for business and industry training. Recently, NCMC has added a Talent Search grant serving the St. Joseph School district. Talent Search assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them succeed through high school and enter higher education. NCMC has also entered into a partnership with Missouri Western State University with a dual ad[See NCMC, Page 7]