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Friday, January 4, 2019
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683
75¢ per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Ten Pages
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 155th Year - No. 36
ANNUAL EVENT Healthy Lifestyle
Wellness Challenge Begins Jan. 10-11
R-T Photo/Diane Lowrey
The oath of office was administered to Grundy County officials elected during the November 2019 General Election. Outgoing Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge Jack Peace, right, conducted the swearing-in ceremony for, from left, Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder Becky Stanturf, Presiding County Commissioner Phil Ray, Prosecuting Attorney Carrie Lamm Clark, Associate Circuit Judge Steve Hudson and County Clerk Betty Spickard.
TRENTON R-9 SCHOOL DISTRICT
Survyes, Public Meeting
Public, Staff Offer Opinions In Search What characteristics do patrons in the Trenton R9 School District want to see in their next superintendent? The public had the chance to speak out during a meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the THS Commons and while the meeting was not well-attended, the Missouri School Board Association representative that is helping with the search said he has still received much feedback. Dr. Bob Watkins said that as of Wednesday morning, 109 surveys had been completed online as part of the process to select a new superintendent to replace Dan Wiebers, who will be leaving the district to take the superintendent’s job in Chillicothe. “I think that is a very good number, especially since we’ve had the Christmas and New Year’s holidays during this process,” Dr. Watkins said. MSBA began advertising for the position on Dec. 12, the day after the R-9 Board of Education agreed to use the organization to assist in the search. The board is hoping to have a new superintendent hired as soon as the end of January. Dr. Watkins said he anticipates receiving additional
WESTERN DISTRICT COURT
surveys prior to the Jan. 14 deadline, when the information will be compiled and used by MSBA to help the R-9 School Board determine finalists to be interviewed for the job. The survey can be found on the Trenton R-9 School District website, www.trentonr9.k12.mo.us, then click on “Superintendent Survey-Trenton R-IX.” In addition to the public meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Watkins met with R-9 teachers, staff and administrators and said he received a lot of valuable information, most of which he said was positive. “It’s obvious that the patrons as well as the staff and teachers realize how important the schools are in this community,” Dr. Watkins said. “A lot of people talked about how the district is moving forward in a good way and how they want the next superintendent to help continue that momentum. They talked about things that need to be done in helping make the district better, whether that be curriculum or student achievement, but their main concern is making sure that the new superintendent is the ‘right fit’ for the district.” Dr. Watkins said that 11 applications had been re-
Briefs...
Rules Against Hickory Neighbors
Appeals Court Supports CAFO Permit Decision The Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals has ruled against Hickory Neighbors United Inc. in their efforts to seek a judicial review of a decision by the Missouri Clean Water Commission’s Administrative Hearing Commission to approve a permit application filed by Trenton Farms RE, LLC. In a decision issued on Wednesday, the court supported the clean water commission’s decision to grant the permit and turned down arguments made by Hickory Neighbors United, which sought to have the decision reviewed by the court. The clean water commission voted 4-0 in November 2017 to issue a permit to Trenton Farms for construction of a CAFO on
property it owns in the Hickory area, southwest of Trenton. According to the summary issued by the court, Hickory Neighbors had argued that because manure storage structures would be located within the FEMA Zone A 100-year flood plain, the clean water commission had erred in approving the permit. In addition, Hickory Neighbors argued that certain commissioners on the commission were unconstitutionally or unlawfully appointed or had conflicts of interest precluding them from participating in the permit approval process. The third point involved Hickory Neighbors stating the commission had abused its discretion in denying its request for a continuance.
Unseasonably warm temperatures over the weekend with highs in the lower 50s and lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. The high on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 was 24; the high on Dec. 30 was 41 with a trace of rain; and Dec. 31’s high was 38 with .68 of an inch of rain. The high on Jan. 1 was 20 and the high on Jan. 2 was 32, the low was 17. The high on Jan. 2 at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 31, the low was 19.
City Council Meeting
The court ruling stated that the Trenton Farms CAFO buildings are protected from inundation or damage during a 100-year flood event because their elevation is above the base flood level elevation and, because low water velocity will negate erosion concerns, are unchallenged and legally sufficient to establish compliance with 10 CSR 20-8.300 (4)(A). The court said the clean water commission did not exceed its legal authority when it accepted the AHC recommended decision sustaining DNR’s issuance of a permit to Trenton Farms. Claims that the clean water commissioners were unconstitutionally or unlawfully apSee Court, Page 3
National Weather Service
ceived as of Wednesday morning, a number he anticipates will grow to around 22 to 23 before the Jan. 14 deadline. With January typically being the month that school boards conduct superintendent evaluations, he said it is also the time superintendents consider making moves to other districts. “We are really doing this (search) at a good time,” he said. Once the deadline passes, Dr. Watkins will go through the information he has collected from the surveys and meetings as well as review the applications to try to determine who might be a good fit for Trenton. He will meet with the school board at its meeting on Jan. 16 to go over his findings and suggestions as well as give the board a chance to look over all applications received. At that meeting it is hoped that finalists can be determined and interviews arranged. At its December meeting, the school asked that candidates for the position have administrative experience, with superintendent’s experience preferred. They set a salary range of $105,000 to $120,000 and said they plan to offer a three-year contract to the person hired.
The Trenton City Council will hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7 at city hall. The meeting, which has been labeled as a “workshop,” involves a representative from Burns and McDonnell discussing the recent sewer rate study as well as giving an update on the sewer plant improvement project.
County Commission Agenda The Grundy County Commission will continue its work on the 2019 budget during meetings next week. The commission will meet with Grundy County Sheriff Rodney Herring at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7 and with Ambulance Director Steve Tracy at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, which is the regular commission meeting date
Bloodmobile To Trenton The Community Blood Center will bring its bloodmobile to Trenton on Monday, Jan. 21. The bloodmobile will be at the North 65 Center from noon to 6 p.m. Sponsors for the visit are the Grundy County RSVP and Trenton Lions Club. Those who offer to donate will receive a free Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt while supplies last. Appointments can be made online at esavealifenow.org, entering the sponsor code: trenton. Appointments can also be made by calling Edna Foster at 359-3836.
What’s Inside... The THS boys and girls basketball teams will be playing in the Lawson Tournament next week. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a bracket from the tournament along with a bracket from the South Harrison Tournament at Bethany.
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BEAUTIFUL
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Is weight loss on your list of New Year’s resolution or are you just looking to improve your health during 2019? If so, then you may want to be a part of the 12th annual Green Hills Wellness Challenge, sponsored by the Grundy County Health Department, the Ketcham Community Center, Hy-Vee, University of Missouri Extension and the Trenton Republican-Times. Sign-up for this year’s challenge will take place on Thursday, Jan. 10 and Friday, Jan. 11 at the Ketcham Community Center or the health department during regular hours. Participants must be at least 18 years old to participate or have a signed parental consent. There is an entry fee of $10. The format will be the same as last year, with participants being required to weigh-in each week to be eligible for the cash prize. Participants may weigh on Thursday or Friday at the health department or Thursday through Sunday at the KCC. Each participant will be allowed to miss one weekly weigh-in with no penalty. All actual weights will be kept confidential, however, the percentage of weight lost each week will run in the Friday edition of the RepublicanTimes. Hy-Vee will be providing written nutritional information during the challengeas part of the Republican-Times weightloss list. The University Extension will host a class at the health department, “Eat Smart, Be Active.” The class will start on Jan. 18 and includes a series of nine classes over an 11week period. Participants will see the most benefit from attending all the classes. Keeping a food journal is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight and challenge participants will receive a food and exercise journal with their entry fee. Completed journals will be entered into a drawing for two oneyear memberships to the KCC and two one-year subscriptions to the Republican-Times newspaper. Participants may also keep their journals in other formats. including electronic devices. The prize pool will be divided among all participants who have lost 10 percent or more of their initial body weight at the end of the challenge. The health department will donate $1,500 to the pool and a portion of the entry fees will also be added to the cash prize pool. Participants from last year’s Wellness Challenge are eligible to win a $300 maintenance prize. This prize will be awarded to the person who has maintained the highest perSee Wellness, Page 3
What’s Inside Sports.............................page 2 Local News ....................page 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 NASCAR .......................page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Crosswords....................page 7 Dear Annie ....................page 7 Comics ...........................page 9