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REPUBLICAN-TIMES
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
TRENTON
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Eight Pages
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 155th Year - No. 35
Trenton, MO 64683 2018 IN REVIEW
75¢ per copy
NATIONAL REPORT 144 Die On Duty
September, October, November, December
Homecoming, Election Among Top Stories Police Editor’s Note: This is part three of a multi-part story, recapping the top stories in Trenton and Grundy County during 2018. September Former Spickard R-2 school teacher and administrator Ruth Ann Shipps was selected to serve as the grand marshal of the 2018 Spickard Fall Festival parade. The annual festival included the selection of royalty that included Jakob Holtzclaw, king; Kennedy Schneiderheinze, queen; Alex Holtzclaw, prince; and Kinlea Griffin, princess. Dave and Ruby Woodson were selected to serve as the grand marshals of the 2018 Trenton High School Homecoming Parade, with Karissa Brock and Jadan Whitney named the THS Homecoming King and Queen during Homecoming festivities. The Trenton R-9 Board of Education voted to seek requests for qualifications for architectural services as the board began looking at future projects such as a performing arts center and renovation work. In October, the board selected Ellison-Auxier of St. Joseph as the firm to provide the services. Eight members of the Trenton High School Choir earned all-district honors following auditions at Missouri Western State University. They included Kasie Otto, Emma Gilham, Trager Leeper, Jonin Villacampa, Aiden Maxey, Elijah Merrin, Caleb Johnson and Lawrence Link. Trenton resident and veteran Kris Schmidt was recognized as the “Hero of the Game” at the University of Missouri-Georgia football game. R&R Farms (the Loretta Ray family) and Bill and Connie Anderson and fam-
AP EXCHANGE
ily were recognized as Century Farm recipients by the Grundy County Farm Bureau and University of Missouri Extension. After a few weeks of study and discussion, the Trenton City Council voted 6-1 to decrease electric rates by 5 percent, effective with the November billing. At the same meeting, the council agreed, after four votes and two mayoral vetoes, to have an electric rate study conducted. In November, the council agreed to not conduct a rate study. October The rain didn’t stop the annual Wright Run 5K/10K from attracting 106 runners and walkers. Winners of the event included Ethan Keuhn, male, 5K; Kristi Ewing, emale, 5K; and Jennifer Dickson, female, 10K. Around $8,000 was raised during the event, with proceeds to be used to support the purchase of equipment and improvements for WMH. It was a beautiful weekend for the 2019 Missouri Day Festival, which included a parade, band festival and contests. Dr. John Holcomb was selected to serve as the grand marshal of the parade, which included 19 bands. The home of John and Mary Sue McCullough at 605 W. Crowder Rd., was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home, known as the Wolz House, was the subject of a feature story in the R-T. Trenton High School graduate Sara Faubion Stipkovits was the guest speaker at the Bright Futures Trenton volunteer recognition breakfast, telling those in attendance of the difference teachers and volunteers made in her life
as she grew up in Trenton. Lynn Griffin was recognized as the 2018 Champion of the Year and Hodge Presbyterian Church was named the 2018 Partner of the Year. November Even with no local contests, voters turned out in force for the November General Election, with 61 percent of registered Grundy County voters going to the polls. That number was the highest since the November 1992 General Election. Voters were voicing their opinions in the U.S. Senate race between Republican Josh Hawley and incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill, as well as on three medical marijuana issues and a transportation tax. Hawley was elected and one of the medical marijuana questions passed, however, the transportation tax was defeated. Grundy R-5 Superintendent Rob Deaver announced that he would be retiring from his position at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Deaver has served as the superintendent for 14 years. Dr. Bev Hooker, who has served as the director of the Green Hills Head Start program for 20 years, announced her retirement, effective Jan. 31, 2019. She was granted emerita status by the NCMC Board of Trustees in recognition of her work. Trenton R-9 Superintendent Dan Wiebers announced his resignation, effective June 30, 2019. Wiebers, who has been the R-9 superintendent for four years, accepted the superintendent’s position in the Chillicothe R-2 School District. Wiebers had also previously served as the Trenton High School principal for nine years.
Briefs...
Wife Cares For Husband
Strong Bond Aids Couple In Alzheimer’s Battle SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — It's been nearly 60 years since 18-year-old Ernie Cooper walked into an ice cream parlor wearing a baseball uniform and flexing his muscles. The 15-year-old girl behind the counter couldn't help but take notice. "He was quite the catch," Alberta Cooper recalled to the Springfield News-Leader , smiling at her husband. "He batted his big brown eyes. At the time he had dark hair and the longest eyelashes you've ever seen. Now his eyes are milk chocolate, but they are still very nice. He is still my gorgeous hunk." Alberta eyed the reporter's notebook. Don't put in too many details, she said. She doesn't want "any of these old widows" to come after her Ernie. Alberta and Ernie Cooper — known to friends as 'Bert and Ernie' — are living out their golden years in a home they built 13 years ago near Branson. Sometimes, Ernie doesn't recognize their home. He frantically starts packing and tells Alberta they are in someone else's house and must leave quickly. That happens a few times every week, Alberta said.
Ernie has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Their daughter and son-inlaw moved into their basement a few years ago to help the couple, who are now 74 and 77. Still, the disease has been taxing on Bert and Ernie's loving relationship. "At times he didn't know who I was," Alberta said. "That is hard." According to Jacob Simburger, spokesperson for the Alzheimer's Association Greater Missouri Chapter, there are 110,000 individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia in Missouri, with about 316,000 caregivers providing unpaid care to individuals. Simburger, who met the Coopers recently, called their story "one of love, hope and perseverance." Bert had a care consultation (a one-on-one meeting with an Alzheimer's Association social worker to discuss planning and resources), Simburger said. And that social worker shared the Coopes' story with Simburger, who was looking for a unique family to highlight in a letter to donors. "I met with Bert and Ernie at their home and we instantly clicked and have stayed in
Superintendent Input Meeting
touch since then," Simburger explained in an email. "Our Care Consultant follows up every few months with families she helps to make sure they're doing OK and get them plugged in with appropriate services as needed. So Bert will be connected with us going forward." Alberta said she really appreciates the information and support she receives from the Alzheimer's Association. "You need to get a support group around you, because you can't do it by yourself," she said. "I love him to pieces and I'm so glad he is here. But sometimes you just need somebody to hold your other hand." The Coopers celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on Dec. 19. Alberta said they began dating not long after that day Ernie walked into the ice cream parlor. "He gave me a ring when I was a senior. We were going to get married. I even bought the dress," Alberta recalled. "But I gave his ring back because I thought it wouldn't work. We were just too different, even though I loved him." The two continued to date. They also dated other people. See Couple, Page 7
National Weather Service
The Trenton City Council started a lot of conversation within the community when it accepted, after three votes, a bid from WCA for trash removal services. The bid was lower than the one submitted by Rapid Removal, which had the contract for the previous five years. In December, the council voted to extend its agreement with Rapid Removal while agreeing to allow the city to explore its options. In addition, the council voted to continue its recycyling program, something council members had agreed to discontinue at a previous meeting. Dr. Christopher Small was announced as the new executive director of the Green Hills Community Action Agency. Dr. Small took a position vacated by the resignation of Aaron Franklin. December Trenton resident Cindy Roy wrote a first-hand account of her trip to Washington D.C. to help decorate the White House for the holidays. Mrs. Roy was among those who helped decorate the oval office and said she learned of the opportunity from Adam Kirby, a Trenton native who had served as a White House intern. Republican-Times readers learned that Wright Memorial Hospital had contracts with two doctors, Dr. Molly Harp and Dr. Khanna Smith, who planned to join the Hospital in 2019. In addition, WMH CEO Steve Schieber said a third physician, Dr. Chris Odehnal, planned to join the staff in 2021 following a residency in Springfield. The story also addressed new and on-going programs at the hospital.
A meeting for patrons of the Trenton R-9 School District interested in providing input into the selection of the next school superintendent will be held this afternoon (Wednesday). Dr. Bob Watkins of the Missouri School Boards Association will host the meeting, which will be held at 3 p.m. in the THS Commons. MSBA is assisting the R-9 Board of Education in the selection process to replace Dan Wiebers, who is leaving the district in June to take the superintendent’s position in Chillicothe.
Budget Meetings Set The Grundy County Commission will be holding extra meetings during the next two weeks as they develop the 2019 county budget. The commission will open the budget hearing for public comment at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2 and will meet with Grundy County Assessor Kathy Veatch at 9 a.m, Public Administrator Jill Eaton at 9:30 a.m., Circuit Clerk and Recorder Becky Stanturf at 1 p.m. and Prosecuting Attorney Carrie Lamm Clark at 2 p.m. Meetings set for Thursday, Jan. 3 include Associate Circuit Judge Steve Hudson at 10 a.m., oroner Dewayne Slater at 1:30 p.m and Third Circuit Judge Tom Alley at 2 p.m.The commission plans to meet with Sheriff Rodney Herring at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7.
Bill Would Cap Sales Tax KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri state senator will seek during the upcoming legislative session to cap the amount of sales taxes that local governments can collect. St. Louis-area Republican Sen. Andrew Koenig already filed legislation to cap the combined local sales tax for any Missouri city at a little more than 7.2 percent,.Koenig said he thinks there are too many taxing jurisdictions in Missouri, where both cities and smaller jurisdictions such as community improvement districts can impose sales taxes. Koenig's bill would exempt from the cap taxes collected mostly from visitors, such as hotel and rental car taxes. A similar measure to cap local and state sales taxes at 14 percent failed last year.
What’s Inside...
Sunny on Wednesday with the high around 28. Mostly clear on Wednesday night with the low around 18. Thursday’s high, under mostly sunny skies, is forecast near 40. The high on Thursday (Dec. 27) at the Government Weather Station in Trenton was 57, the low was 23. There was no report from the Government Weather Weather Station near Spickard.
The “Fab Five,” boys tennis and girls softball dominated the the local sports scene in 2018. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a recap of some of the top stories from what was a busy year in Trenton and the surrounding area.
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Officer Deaths Rise In 2018 WASHINGTON (AP) — More police officers have died in the line of duty this year in the United States than in 2017, according to recently released. The most common cause of death was gunfire, and vehicular accidents claimed nearly as many officers' lives. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said in a report that 144 federal, state and local officers have died so far in 2018. That figure represents roughly a 12 percent increase from the 129 who died in 2017. The majority of the officers who died were either shot — 52 this year, up from 46 in 2017 — or fatally injured in car or motorcycle crashes, which accounted for 50 deaths. Other fatalities involved heart attacks, strokes, drownings and cancer and other illnesses among those who responded to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Of the officers who were shot, eight were killed during investigative activity and six were killed while responding to calls of a domestic or public disturbance, according to the report. Two were fatally shot while serving warrants, two died while handling or transporting prisoners and two others were inadvertently shot by other officers. Craig Floyd, the fund's chief executive officer, called the increase in deaths disappointing after a decline in 2017. "Sadly this reminds us that public safety is a dangerous job and can come at a very steep price," Floyd said in a statement accompanying the report. "We must never take the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers for granted, and we must remember the families of the fallen who are left behind." Of the officers who died in traffic-related incidents, 32 were killed in crashes involving another vehicle and 14 were struck while outside their vehicle. An additional four were killed in motorcycle crashes. The officers who died in 2018 include a sheriff's deputy in Sacramento County, California, killed in a shootout at an auto parts store; a Greensboro, North Carolina, police officer killed in a car crash while responding to a call for a robbery; and a Greene County, Missouri, sheriff's deputy who drowned when his car was swept away by rising water. The states that experienced the highest number of officer fatalities were Texas, California, Florida and New York, with 11 fatalities each.
What’s Inside Sports.............................page 2 Community ...................page 3 Calendars ......................page 3 Comics ...........................page 4 Crosswords....................page 5 Dear Annie ....................page 5 Classifieds .....................page 6 Local News ....................page 7 Area News .....................page 8