Trenton Republican-Times_3-14-24

REPUBLICAN-TIMES

“GOD

Trenton R-IX Bond Issue on April 2 Ballot Council Approves Contract, Adds Police Officer

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

The Trenton R-IX Schools have proposed a No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue Ballot Measure for the April 2 Municipal Elections.

The Bond Issue will fund safety and facility improvements in the Trenton Schools and will target a three-tiered list of improvements needed to keep the school functioning at peak capacity.

If the ballot initiative is approved, the District’s debt service property tax levy, in place since the early 2000’s, would remain at $0.90 per $100 of property tax valuation.

Trenton R-IX Superintendent of Schools Daniel Gott manages three differ-

ent funds at the school, with fund one being General expenditures, fund two being teacher and staff salaries and fund three being debt service.

Fund three is the targeted “receiver” of these continued funds. Each year the District retires or pays off old debt from previous bond issues. As this debt is paid off, the existing levy can continue and the funds can be used to pay for bonds that are sold for new improvement projects.

“During the last bond issue, the community voted to add the Performing Arts Center, office and other improvements to existing buildings,” Gott said. “This issue will assist in replacing HVAC units at the end of their functional life, repairing roofs

A Conversation with WMH Administrator

Catherine Hamilton

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer Wright Memorial

Hospital Administrator Catherine Hamilton presides over one of Trenton and Grundy County’s largest employee pools, managing 178 health care professionals, and a $17-million dollar annual payroll, with dollars that circulate six times within the local economy.

That, in itself, is an impressive pair of statistics, and the impression one gets of Hamilton is that of a down-to-earth, personable leader completely “stoked” about the work she gets to do every day.

Originally named Interim Administrator of Wright Memorial Hospital

BRIEFS

Easter Services

The Republican-Times will be publishing its yearly notice of Easter Services in the Grundy County area. If your church is planning special services or a cantata, call 660-359-2212 or email news@republicantimes.com to include your church’s service information.

Catherine Hamilton WMH/Hedrick Administrator

in Trenton and Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, Hamilton received the permanent title in January, 2024.

She manages two hospitals, part of a health care

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

The Trenton City Council met in open session Monday, March 11 and discussed a number of items.

Mayor Jackie Soptic called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., the Pledge of Allegiance was led and then the prayer was offered by Father Bill Fox of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Trenton.

Board members Lou Fisher, Glen Briggs, Calvin Brown, Marvin Humphreys, David Mlika and

Tim Meinecke were in attendance.

After approving the minutes of the previous meeting and the bills for the month on 6-0 votes, Briggs passed on a recommendation from the Police Personnel Board to hire Jarod Hogan, a current reserve officer, to full-time status on the Trenton Police Force.

Police Chief Rex Ross gave the “thumbs up” to the recommendation, saying that Hogan would make a great full-time officer.

Following a motion by Briggs and second by Mlika, the Council voted 60 to approve the hiring.

City Clerk Cindy Simpson announced that members of the Council were invited to attend the Missouri Municipal League meeting at Chillicothe on April 24. She said that video lottery machines, a topic of interest and past discussion by the Council, would be the discussion topic.

In public comments,

[See Council, Page 2]

Paper Ballots...Source of Confusion Investigated…Clearing the Air

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

A proposed amendment to the Republican Party GOP Platform raised questions this week on what the voting law is, how it’s being administered locally and what the truth actually is.

The truth, and the details, matter to a lot of people concerned about fair elections, the principle of one man, one vote, and suspicion over whether or not voting machines can be tampered with, and if still used, can be relied upon.

The R-T entered this investigation knowing that there is a great deal of concern about voting machines, and those expressing those concerns would much rather trust

human hand-counting than a machine that counted votes at any step in the process.

The R-T learned that in 2022, the State Legislature had visited this and other election issues and concerns. House Bill 1878, signed into law June 29, 2022, which became Missouri Statute 115.225.5, declared paper ballots to be the required voting instrument in Missouri, and prohibited the use of DRE (Direct Recording Electronic) machines in Missouri voting precincts. The law also addressed the requirement for voter identification (what was needed, what would work if one didn’t have a State I.D.), etc.

That law required all

polling places in the State of Missouri to replace all DRE Machines, and to use paper ballots.

Joe Don Chaney, Director of Communications for Secretary of State Jon Ashcroft told the R-T that upon review, only two counties in the State had not achieved the compliance requirement of the State regarding DRE machines, and that Grundy County was not one of those two counties.

Machines in use by Grundy County are “tabulators only” with absolutely no internet connectivity that can be compromised, according to Grund County Clerk Courtney Campbell.

“Voters in our county will receive a paper ballot, fill it out and run it through

the tabulating machine,” Campbell said. “At the end of the night, the stored results are retrieved from the machine, downloaded and then reported to the State. Touch machines, or voter assistance, are available on a very limited basis for a disabled person who needs assistance voting, but it is very limited.”

The key part of the process, the paper ballot itself, is the equivalent of a “receipt” of the voter’s vote, and while an incorrectly filled ballot might be kicked out of the tabulator, the human vote counter steps in to read it, and to determine the intent of the voter.

Campbell said State Law requires an audit of at

[See

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer Mayor

Jackie Soptic, North Central Missouri Development Alliance Executive Director Lauren Dannar and Scott Sharp of the Missouri Department of Economic Development “made the rounds” with media Monday morning to promote the Economic Development Initiative, also known as the half-cent sales tax, appearing on the April ballot.

The Initiative, titled

Chapter 67.130 sales tax “will ensure resources are available for specific projects that aim to improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors, maintain public safety, maintain existing public facilities, and increase Trenton’s selfsufficiency.” (source: NCMDA information pamphlet).

In “fleshing out” the proposal’s details, Sharp asserted two primary things. “The funds generated will not be spent any-

where except in Trenton,” Sharp said. “Its uses will be for incentivizing newly relocating businesses, funding infrastructure development and funding of economic development organizations like Main Street Trenton and The Chamber of Commerce.”

Details of the program include:

•Funds cannot be used on retail development.

• No more than 25 percent of the funds can be

The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, February 27.During the meeting, the Trustees heard communication reports, approved Head Start Child Selection Criteria and Salary Schedules, approved purchases and surplus items, and approved the tuition and fee schedule for the 2024-2025 year. They also approved several personnel items and

retirements.

In communication reports, Trustees were introduced to new employee Jenny Barone, Academic Affairs Assistant, and heard from Dr. Beth Caldarello, Library Director, about the Testing Center. Head Start Director Janet Gott provided information on the Head Start change of scope, four-day workweek, Early Head Start, open positions,

[See

Old Glory flying at Five Points

Hamilton

• From Front Page •

juggernaut operated by Saint Luke’s Health System, based in Kansas City, and the BJC HealthCare in St. Louis. As of January 2024, the two health systems officially integrated to become BJC Health System, with Saint Luke’s operating as the West region, and BJC HealthCare operating as the East region. That provides Trenton and the Green Hills Region with a rock-solid financial foundation, and the power of a very healthy organization.

“We’re on the eastern end of the BJC Health Care West region (Saint Luke’s), but being centrally located in the state, we aren’t too far from the West region (BJC HealthCare). That gives us an unparalleled ability to draw the best of all services from both regions as we move forward,” Hamilton said.

Coming up through the ranks as a nurse, Hamilton attended Penn Valley Community College for her Associate Nursing degree, then moved on to the University of Missouri-Kansas City to earn her registered nursing (RN) degree and Webster University to earn her Master’s (MSN). This positioned her to be a Chief Nursing Officer, most recently in the Saint Luke’s Critical Access Region, which includes Wright Memorial, Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, along with two additional hospitals in Kansas.

That “bedside manner” one sees in the best nurses, an ability to care for patients and to get to know them, serves her well in the position of Administrator. Coming up the blue-collar route, she carries that caring for patients over in the day-to-day operation of both hospitals.

“Our two hospitals, Wright and Hedrick, used

to be somewhat competitive with each other. But as we’ve continued to integrate staff, leadership, and even providers over the years, we’ve really come to operate as sister hospitals, serving our two communities together,” Hamilton said. “That ability to work together allows us to offer a better product and service to the entire region.”

She touted her providers on staff as “outstanding” and noted that many of them, whether general practice providers, specialty providers, or surgeons, are here because they want to be here, even knowing they could be elsewhere.

“Trenton’s lifestyle and quality of life is a very strong pull for our professional staff,” Hamilton said. “The providers we have choose to live here because they like the small-town feel, the outstanding school system, and strong faith and church community for them and their families.”

Hamilton noted the addition of general surgeons Dr. Drew Johnson and Dr. Justin Walters as two exciting new staff “adds” to the Wright Memorial roster and noted that Dr. Bradley Moore, a urologist, is another prime add to the hospital’s Specialty Clinic.

In 2022, Hedrick Medical Center initiated a cooperative agreement with the Chillicothe School District to provide In-School video visits. The program is completely voluntary and allows school students (and their guardians) and teachers the ability to connect virtually from school with a Hedrick Family Care nurse practitioner when students or teachers fall ill in school. This helps teachers and students both stay in school, and also helps busy working parents, who may otherwise have to miss work, or be delayed in getting their kids in for a clinic visit.

The program is working very well in Chillicothe, and Hamilton says that a similar plan is under con-

sideration by the Trenton R-IX School District and awaiting approval.

She noted that patients at Wright and Hedrick can take advantage of Saturday hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton and Hedrick Family Care in Chillicothe. Patients can also schedule same-day appointments on most days. This allows a level of access to timely provider care that is critically important, although emergent situations should still be seen in the emergency department.

Hamilton noted some “wish list” items and identified continuing to build the Hospital Foundation as a more integral, active and game-changing part of the hospital. She said the physical needs of the hospital include radiology equipment, which, because of the size of the machinery, can require physical remodeling of the facility.

Scanners and updated MRI equipment, which are incredibly expensive, is a goal and focus for the next several years, as technology continually improves.

“The exciting part of where we are right now is that we are very stable financially and we’re going to be here for a long time,” Hamilton said. “I am so grateful to the dedicated professionals who work here, and want to encourage our patient base to support us.”

“Give us a chance to earn your business,” Hamilton said. “We’ll take good care of you.”

Hamilton is an impressive person and leader with an aspirational sense of her mission, and of the opportunities present in the moment.

In a time where so many communities of like size are seeing their hospitals close, Wright and Hedrick are two outstanding facilities with a decidedly upward trajectory, and that begins with Hamilton, a good and dedicated health professional and community servant.

Bond

• From Front Page •

and purchasing a muchneeded new phone system and Building Automation controls that handle room temperatures and comfort level of our kids and staff.”

Staff and Administration identified those “Tier I concerns” as must haves, and then identified Tier II priorities of enhancing safety with new doors, locking systems and bullet-resistant glass. It also would direct attention to renovating the 1930’s Stadium, including WPA Project Restoration and Repairs.

Gott noted Monday that the prospective 2024-25

Council

• From Front Page •

Danny Stevens, owner of the Holy Water Car Wash on 12th Street, thanked the council for their intervention upon learning that a building project for the college would require the closing of the street connecting to his business entrance and would be shut off for a year and a half. Stevens said that after Council intervention, the contractor had made a suitable and workable accommodation that kept access to the car wash open.

In other public comment, Father Bill Fox announced that St. Joseph Parish would be celebrating their 150th Anniversary on Sunday, September 6 with Bishop James Johnston of the Kansas City/St. Joseph Diocese offering mass and helping to celebrate the occasion. The Council congratulated Father Fox, and thanked him for inviting

budget had been prepared and that these projects would be completed by the No Tax Increase Bond Issue:

1. New Roof at TMS.

2. 16 rooftop HVAC units.

3. New HVAC Control System.

4. New Telephone system district wide.

5. Replacement of aging outer doors on all three campuses.

Tier III concerns included potential ceiling replacement at the high school, LED lighting upgrades, locker replacement and resurfacing of the parking lot.

Gott says that the Bond

Council member participation in the festivities.

The Council passed Bill number 11 after an initial reading, discussion, final reading and a vote. The Ordinance approved a proposal between the City and M & M Utilities, LLC, for the Phase Two of the 10th Street & Oklahoma Avenue watermain project and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute the contract. The motion to approve came from Briggs and the second from Fisher and was approved by the Council on a 6-0 vote.

In new business, Mayor Soptic re-appointed Jordan Ferguson and Rachel Arnold to the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Board. The appointment was approved 6-0.

In a Building Board update, Mlika reported the recommendation of the Board to move the demolition match amount from $2,500 to $3,500 and to match homeowner expense

way through, and never have it compromised by a machine.”

Issue proceeds can be used only for capital improvements, and noted that the work, or majority of it, would be completed during the 2024 summer break.

The last bond issue passed overwhelmingly in the early 2000’s and Gott expects a similar outcome this time.

“We appreciate the support our students and staff get from the community in all the educational things that we do,” Gott said. “We would greatly appreciate their support in helping us keep our physical plant updated, safe and working properly.”

on asbestos abatement 50 percent. Mlika moved to approve the recommendation, Brown seconded and the measure was approved 6-0.

In the final action of the Council, Fisher signaled the intent to add a Personnel Board to the City’s governance structure. The Personnel Board would conduct evaluations of supervisory positions in the city departments and recommend actions concurrent with those staff evaluations.

Fisher called for the board to be composed of a council member from each of the four wards of the City. With motion and second, the Council voted 5-1 to add the discussion to the next agenda, with Briggs voting no.

The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. The next meeting of the Trenton City Council will be Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

least one polling place each election night to confirm the counting of the machine, and in Grundy County, this means one polling place incorporating two voting precincts. This is random in each election.

Republican County committeeman Dennis McDonald, who offered a resolution in last weekend’s Republican Caucus, indicated that he wasn’t aware of the existing statute, planned to research it, and indicated that his over-riding concern, and that of many others, are machines involved in any part of the process.

“There isn’t a good substitute for hand-counting of ballots,” McDonald suggested. “There are ways to follow this process all the

The only county in Missouri that practiced the hand-counting of all ballots was Osage County, who tried this during the 2022 elections. The Osage County Clerk’s office indicated that they tried the process, found a lot of complicating factors with it, and will not be repeating that process in 2024.

The take-away is a simple one – that the current process using the tabulator and then randomly auditing a polling place with handcounting is the best, most reliable way to assure an accurate vote count.

While the existing law may not 100 percent allay those concerns, Chaney asserts that every machine that was used in recording a voter’s vote, by law, now

has to produce a ballot the voter can inspect, and confirm that his wishes were honored in the product produced.

“We took this changeover very seriously and worked hard with our counties to make sure that they had the information that they needed to know,” Chaney said. “The Law is the Law, and that is the most important thing.”

The take-away on the local situation? Grundy County is in full compliance with existing state voting laws, and while that might not satisfy everyone, the intentions of the law were to assure a more accurate, less corruptible voting system, and our County, even if no one knew it 100 percent, was in compliance with both the letter and spirit of the law.

DAILY RECORD

REAL ESTATE

Miles Tratchel to Brian

Bock

Todd George to Eli Zook, et al

Timothy Mitchell and Wife to Moore Equities LLC

Three Facing Charges

Jesse Matthew Harding, 42, of Trenton, was arrested on March 1, 2024 for a driving shile revoked/suspended, a probation violation.

On November 3, 2023, Harding committed the class E felony of driving while his license was revoked. The defendant has been arrested on five separate offenses since 2003, making him a prior and persistent offender.

Harding was ordered held on $10,000 cash only bond.

Lloyd Wayne Shaver, 34, of Farmington, was arrested March 1, 2024 on a charge of forgery, a class D felony.

The complaint reads that on or about February 20, 2024, the defendant, with purpose to defraud, altered the amount of check #1234 belonging to the victim, knowing that it had been altered so that it purported to have a genuineness that it did not possess. Shaver has been convicted of two or more felonies dating back to 2014 and 2017 for a previous forgery charge, and a first degree tampering with a motor vehicle charge in the Cape Girardeau Circuit Court.

Shaver was ordered held on a $10,000 cash only bond.

Daniel Isaiah Gray, 22, of Trenton was arrested on March 1, 2024 on charges of first degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a class D felony and misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree, pursuant to subdivision (6), special victims.

The felony complaint reads that on or about August 12, 2023, the defendant knowingly and without the consent of the owner operated a skid steer owned by the victim. The assault complaint reads that on or about August 12, 2023 the defendant knowingly caused physical contact with a second victim, a law enforcement officer, a special victim knowing that such person would regard such contact as offensive.

In a lesser third offense, Gray was charged with operating a motor vehicle during a time when he did not have a valid operator’s license.

Gray was ordered held on $10,000 cash only bond, and a court date of March 14 was set to hear the case.

Tax

• From Front Page •

used for administrative services, including staff and facility costs.

• The initiative establishes a board of at least five members: three appointed by the city, one by the county and one by the school district.

Projects the sales tax can support:

• Matching grants

• Housing development infrastructure

• Incentives for new businesses

• Industrial Park development

• Revolving loan funds for local organizations

• Funds for workforce development

Sharp said that one important feature of the Proposition is the formation of a five-person Board to provide oversight and advisory capacity on the use of the funds.

NCMC

• From Front Page •

furniture, supplies, and centers, Second Harvest, and enrollment. Dr. Tristan Londre, Vice President of Academic Affairs, provided information on enrollment and program growth, an upcoming Ag Contest Day, and an upcoming Teacher Education Day. He also gave praise to the Library for its services to students.

Dr. Kristen Alley, Vice President of Student Affairs, gave praise to the Library and provided information on the spring semester, conduct, Savannah Campus, the upcoming fall semester,

Soptic and Dannar provided insight on why Trenton is a “regional hub” with an unfettered potential for growth and development.

“Trenton is not a bedroom community,” Dannar said. “With NCMC and a highly functioning hospital, we are the place where people within the region come for retail needs, for advocacy services, such as the Women’s Shelter, DSS offices and child advocacy offices.”

“Research shows that people commute to Trenton from a 50-mile radius in all directions to work and to shop,” Soptic said.

In it’s preparation for this initiative, NCMDA identified through analytics research the following important factors:

• Trenton residents make up only 50 percent of the foot traffic in many of the retail establishments in Trenton. This means the other 50 percent of customers are

FAFSA changes, and housing applications. Jennifer Triplett, Chief Information Officer, provided information on print management changes, antivirus systems, and system upgrades.

President Dr. Lenny Klaver discussed the ACCT legislative summit and legislative updates, the MCCA President’s meeting, spring enrollment, NJCAA updates, the Savannah property purchase, and UCM agreements, and provided an athletics update and a data point.

In business items, Trustees approved the Head Start Child Selection Criteria and the Head Start 2024-2025

Missouri S&T Awards Degrees

Nearly 700 students received degrees from Missouri University of Science and Technology during commencement ceremonies held at Missouri S&T on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16.

Missouri S&T awards bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of science and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.

Missouri S&T has traditionally recognized graduates earning a bachelor's degree with honors by plac-

ing the designation "summa cum laude" (GPA of 3.8 or above on a 4.0 scale), "magna cum laude" (GPA of 3.5 to 3.79) or "cum laude" (GPA of 3.2-3.49).

Those earning degrees from this area include Cody Kennebeck of Chillicothe, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology and Jackson Pauley of Chula, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

Missouri S&T Honor List

Missouri University of Science and Technology announces the names of students who made the honor list for the Fall 2023 semester.

To be included on the honor list, students must have carried a minimum of 12 hours and had grade point averages of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0.

passing through, from out of town, or who come to Trenton for their retail needs.

In a Thursday morning interview last week, NCMDA Executive Director Lauren Dannar discussed a real issue – that of housing availability.

“The issue on housing in Trenton is not just affordable housing, but adequate housing,” Dannar said. “The community can’t grow if there’s nowhere for people to live and “base” in Trenton.”

Soptic indicated that the City had been working hard to clean up distressed or abandoned housing and buildings in the community, and that there were lots available for contractors to purchase and develop in the area.

“One issue is that the neighborhoods in which many of these available building spaces are located can potentially be directed towards construction of

salary schedule. A renewal of Proofpoint email security was approved and several surplus items in facilities. Trustees approved the 20242025 tuition and fee schedule with NCMC increasing tuition by $5.00 a credit hour. With the increase, NCMC still remains on the lower end of the cost of tuition in the state for community colleges and the lowest of area four-year institutions. Trustees also approved several course fee changes.

multi-family units, apartments and duplexes.” Sharp said.

In an interview with Mayor Jackie Soptic earlier this month, the Mayor indicated one of the city’s most pressing needs was to move forward with the development of the new industrial park land north of Trenton. Only two new industrial spaces are available in the existing industrial park, dating back to the 1960’s.

“We either need to develop the Industrial park or sell it,” Soptic said in that interview. “We know that the businesses and manufacturers we will attract to Trenton will be businesses in the 25 to 50 employee range, but we need to complete the infrastructure to the new park in order to make that possible.”

The initiative will create up to $400,000 a year annually in development revenue.

The information provided

In personnel items, Trustees approved Head Start resignations/end of employment from Kaylee Bell, Raielle Lurten, Peggy Martin, Marissa Woodard and Mazzie Ballet. In Head Start employments, Trustees approved Lily Sittner as Teacher Aide, Makala Graves as Teacher Aide, Tegan Ziebarth as Toddler Teacher and Amber Lamp as Infant Teacher.

In NCMC personnel items, Trustees approved retirements from Head Start

by NCMDA identified Chillicothe, St. Joseph, Liberty, Excelsior Springs and Unionville as area communities who have already passed and implemented similar initiatives.

Trenton’s current area sales tax is 8.35 percent as compared to 8.975 percent in Chillicothe, 10.97 percent in Cameron and 9.725 percent in Kirksville.

Analytics suggest that the strength of Trenton as a “pass through” community offers the opportunity to tap visitors at the point of sale for at least half the burden of the new tax. With 50 percent of the working population of Trenton living somewhere else, this process enables the City to collect upon not just the local citizen, but the incoming, passing through customer.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 with March 6 as the last day to register to vote in this election.

DirectorJanet Gott, Interim Dean/Director of the Savannah Campus Sue Nichols and Trio DirectorJanet Pultz, all effective June 30, 2024. Trustees approved the employment of Rebekah Clary, Talent Search Advisor; Douglas Frazelle, Custodian; Beth Crawford, adjunct; and Katielynn Wooten, Clinical Instructor.

The next regular meeting of the NCMC Board of Trustees is Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Frey Administrative Center.

Those on the honor list from this area include Brian Peterson and Eric Wong, Trenton; Garrett Skinner, Jamesport; Jacob Roy, Gilman City; Jackson Pauley and Samual Pauley, Chula; and Carter Allen, Gavin Funk, Cody Kennebeck, Christopher McCarthy and Gabriel Peterson, Chillicothe.

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

A THREAT TO “OUR” DEMOCRACY

After three and a half years of the current administration, the “election math” suggests that a new/old marshall could return to the White House in 2024. We know that Donald Trump can smell victory and that Democrats across the country are in blind, rabid panic over the prospect.

Over the last eighteen months, Democrats have co-opted a term and phrase, describing Donald Trump as “a threat to our democracy.” They suggest that Trump will bring a Fascist, authoritarian bent to his second term, and they have a list of reasons why.

For my part, “cognitive dissonance” sets in at the prospect of any political candidate being a “threat to democracy”. I’ve been working on sorting this out, so will begin with the seven “democratic norms” Democrats and “never-Trumpers” fear the President will implement in a second term, suggested in Project Democracy’s “Authoritarian Playbook” just recently released:

The analysis of Project Democracy is that Trump will:

1. Politicize Independent Institutions – All democracies have functions that operate independently from partisan political actors, from law enforcement to central banking. Authoritarians attack and seek to capture those institutions.

2. Spreading Disinformation – Many politicians lie, but authoritarians propagate and amplify falsehoods deliberately and with abandon and ruthless efficiency.

3. Aggrandizing Executive Power – Authoritarian projects cannot succeed without the cooperation or acquiescence of legislatures, courts, and other institutions.

4. Quashing Dissent – Strong democracies have strong oppositions and an independent press. Authoritarians seek to si-

lence those sources of dissent.

5. Marginalizing Vulnerable Communities – Many authoritarians attack vulnerable groups intentionally, sowing division and attempting to turn the many against the few.

6. Corrupting Elections – 21st-century authoritarians generally maintain the facade of elections while tilting the rules against their opponents, suppressing votes, and biasing or even overturning the results.

7. Stoking Violence – Most autocrats deliberately look the other way from political violence. Many actively inflame violence to stoke fear, division, and feelings of insecurity.

Take a minute to absorb this. Read it aloud. Let it roll around on your tongue and bang against the bony structures of your skull. Ask yourself this… Can you make the case in ALL SEVEN propositions that what Democrats fear Trump will do is EXACTLY what DEMOCRATS have spent EVERY MINUTE doing since Trump descended the escalator in 2015?

One of Saul Olinsky’s Rules for Radicals is to accuse your opponent of doing, or wanting to do, exactly what you yourself are doing. This keeps the opponent off-balance, in reactive mode, momentarily paralyzed in cognitive dissonance trying to wrap the head around something so patently untrue about yourself, and so egregiously obvious by the opposition.

Part of this steadfast adherence to the Rules for Radicals among Democratic operatives, planners, and strategists is an almost diabolical genius in messaging, achieving fidelity from all its members to the same talking points and making this assumption about most Americans…

They have the intelligence of a basic house plant, and the attention span of a two-month old Labrador Retriever.

Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels theorized that the bigger the lie, the more people would believe it. Today’s propagandists take the “Big Lie”, repeat it in a moment by moment, loudening, persistent drum beat until the American public is so mesmerized by it that they exit stage left, speechless, wordless, and ultimately, defenseless.

Donald Trump is unquestionably a threat to Democrats when they speak of “a threat to OUR Democracy.” They speak of democracy in a proprietary way, like it’s “theirs”.

If the meaning of democracy has changed to mean what the Democrats say it means, it translates to, “All animals are equal,

except some animals are more equal than others”, with thanks, and a tip of the cap to George Orwell.

In The Democrats “cancel culture” world, it is they who define who is acceptable, and who is deplorable.

Americans may have to concede the point to Democrats about what democracy means to them. They broke it, so they bought it.

Freedom-loving Americans need to recalibrate. In order to protect The Republic, we may have to consider that our job is not to preserve democracy, but rather, to preserve liberty and freedom itself, a far more foundational concept to our existence as Americans.

Here’s a stone-cold stunner. Did you know that the word “democracy” does not appear in either the Declaration of Independence, which asserted our freedoms, or in the United States Constitution, which carefully laid out how the Republic was supposed to work.

It is not until you begin to “harvest” the rights identified in the Bill of Rights that the observer begins to see “democratic principles” the Amendments protect…Freedom of Speech, the Right to Bear Arms, The Right to Due Process, and the overarching concept of the Rule of Law.

The Democrats want us to believe that democracy is at risk. If they refer to the barnyard definition of democracy, embodied by two wolves and a sheep getting together to discuss what to have for dinner, Donald Trump is a threat to that vision of a Socialist, Marxist world they seem so intent on bringing to all of us.

Democrats are alarmed. The Deep State is alarmed. Democrats want us to fear the onset of fascism, and how Trump could bring that to pass.

Fascism isn’t coming. It’s already here...they broke it, and they bought it, and Trump has nothing to do with it. The reason they wrote such a compelling piece as the Authoritarian Playbook is that they ooze with it.

It takes one to know one.

Who knows it better? And while Donald Trump has placed himself squarely between Fascists and the American people, Americans need to wake up to what we really need to protect...Liberty to live our lives as we please, and freedom to pursue the American Dream.

Carol Wilford

On Fri., Mar. 8, Justin Reeter and his sons, Carson, Kyrian, Caden and Korbin attended a TobyMac Concert in Independence. The event was held in the Cable Dahmer Arena, a 5,800-seat multi-purpose indoor facility. TobyMac, an American contemporary Christian music singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer, was performing in his Hits Deep 2024 Tour (of 30 cities), which began Jan. 26, in Jonesboro, AR, and will finish on Mar. 23 in Charleston, WV.

Dan and Carol Wilford drove to Kansas City to attend Grandparents’ Day at Northland Christian School, where their daughter, Mary Gonzalez, teaches Vocal Music and Cultures Classes. After the pledges to the American and Christian flags, and to the Bible, Mary’s students in grades K-5 performed a variety of songs. The speaker was a grandparent. Then grandparents went to their grandchildren’s classroom to meet the teacher and do activities; and then on to the Book Fair. Before school was dismissed for Spring Break, cookies and drinks were available. The Wilfords drove to their daughter’s home in Kansas City, KS, and spent time with her and her husband, Lisandro and their three boys, Sammy, Joshua and Andrew.

On the evening of Sat., Mar. 9, Carol Wilford went to Bill Meeker’s to give him a copy of an interesting obituary of Naomi Ruth Creason. She was the 103-year-old sister of Raymond McCrary; Raymond had been a longtime member of the Alpha Baptist Church. When Carol arrived at Bill’s, she thought she saw him out in the pasture by a tractor watching a contained fire, so she just left the paper on his porch. Then Jason Meeker, Bill’s grandson and neighbor, drove into the driveway. Carol told him the reason she had come; and then he said his grandpa had gone to church for the potato bar supper. Well, Carol decided she would go to Alpha Baptist Church too, since it was right on the way back to her house. When she arrived, they insisted that she stay and ‘eat a bite’ too. Before eating, Carol read part of the somewhat comical obituary aloud since several people remembered Raymond and Carolee McCrary from years ago.

E-Mail:

Jamey

Sales

Megan Graham

“The

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.

Grundy County Health Department, Breastfeeding Class and Car Seat Safety and Installation, GCHD Education Annex, 1307 E. 17th St., 10:30 a.m.

SATURDAY

Church Women United Thrift Shop, 17th & Harris, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Staff Reporter Mark McLaughlin Hodge Presbyterian Church Mariners ANNUAL PANCAKE SUPPER Friday, March 15 Hodge Presbyterian Church 315 W. Crowder Rd., Trenton Serving 5:00 - 7:00 pm Eat What You Want - Pay What You Want!

Business Operations Becca Giesken

Composing - Anita Ewing, Libby Endicott

County. $64.60 plus tax per year in Missouri and $75 per year out of state.

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SUNDAY

Narcotics Anonymous, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 4 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.

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.

Spickard Coffee Club, Wise Community Center, 8 a.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.

Grundy County Health Department, Immunizations by appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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.

Park Board Discusses Budget, Park Staff Day

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

The Trenton Park Board met Monday at 5:15 p.m., discussing the 2024-25 budget and an increase in hourly pay for summer park staff.

Mayor Jackie Soptic, Park Superintendent David Shockley, Asst. Park Superintendent Shawn McCullough, City Liason Calvin Brown and local print and radio media were also in attendance.

President Curtis Crawford called the Board to order at 5:16 p.m. and entertained discussion on minutes of the February meeting, achieved a motion, second and unanimous approval.

In unfinished business, Hamilton revisited the discussion for honoring past Park Superintendent Phillip

Daniels with some type of memorial. Ideas had been offered in the February meeting that included tree planting, naming one of the ball fields for Daniels or mounting a plaque. Hamilton noted that the problem with naming as field or park for someone is that you run out of places with which to do that. Following discussion, Hamilton moved that a 20” x 20” plaque be purchased and placed on the concession stand at Upper Moberly Field.

Explaining that Daniels lived a short distance from this field made the placement a logical location. Shockley confirmed that the cost of such a plaque was roughly $700. A second on Hamilton’s motion came from Cox and the item carried unanimously.

Crawford noted that the Board’s action was an “honorable thing to do” in recognition of the contributions of Daniels, a great public servant.

In other business, Crawford handed out a budget document for review for 2024-25. The budget included items that Crawford said “pretty much resembles last year”, and dealt with labor, wages, utilities (expected to rise) and capital improvements on the Aquatic Center, approved last month.

The Budget, set at $412,298.50 represented a significant jump from the $326,555.00 budget for 2023-24, but reflected the big ticket item of the pool repair and renovation. Notable increases included a $15,000 increase in labor costs, offset by spending

Market Report from Monday, March 4 2254 head sold

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300-400lbs 3.37-4.00

400-500lbs 3.30-3.55

500-600lbs 3.12-3.44

600-700lbs 2.91-3.18

700-800lbs 2.59-2.70

Heifers:

300-400lbs 3.30-3.74

400-500lbs 3.04-3.45

500-600lbs 2.74-3.11

600-700lbs 2.50-2.72

700-800lbs

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Special Cow Sales: 4th Friday of the month @ 6 pm

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less on part-time staff, noting that $22,000 had been budgeted for pool and park staff, but only $15,000 had been spent.

City Parks each were allotted a $2,500 line item for upkeep and repair, and ballfields a $2,000 allocation for the same. The cost for pool supplies upticked $2,000 in the new budget from the current year, while expected tax revenues enjoy a 10 percent increase from $360,000 to $400,000. Interest income is expected to be at $10,000 this year, up from $4,000 a year ago.

In other business, Crawford directed Shockley to begin advertising for summer pool and park staff help. The beginning wage for pool staff was upgraded $0.25 an hour from the past year in the February meeting, resulting in an entry level wage of $11.25 an hour. Discussion was given

to the wage level for Park Staff, which represents two positions requiring an applicant 18 years or older.

Given the use of some heavy equipment, and the responsibility that goes with that, it was moved, seconded and passed to up Park Staff wages to $12.00 an hour. The position(s) will be advertised with an expected 40-hours per week from Middle May through Middle August. Shockley added that on this schedule, Park Staff would accumulate 960-hours of work each during the summer work period.

Mayor Jackie Soptic questioned Shockley on whether he planned to attend the Career Fair at the Rock Barn on April 3, and Shockley indicated that he did. The Career Fair will include on-site recruiting, interviewing and hiring for those seeking work parttime or full-time.

ACCOUNTING POSITION AVAILABLE

Grundy Electric Cooperative, Inc. is accepting applications for an accounting position. Qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree, emphasis in accounting preferred. Interested applicants may obtain the application at www.grundyec.com, Employment Opportunities. Submit a completed application and resume by March 22, 2024 to: Grundy Electric Cooperative, Inc., Attention: Cathy McKay, 4100 Oklahoma Avenue, Trenton, MO 64683 cmckay@grundyec.com EOE/M/F/H/V

Shockley provided the Board with his report and indicated projects were underway in dumping trash cans three times weekly, mopping and cleaning the Upper Moberly Park Shelter House, and scheduling and handling payments and keys for the Rock Barn and Shelter house rentals.

Tree trimming throughout the park system was underway, removing a lot of winter and wind produced debris.

Shockley said that NCMC baseball and softball have started their spring season. Clean up was underway around Griffin Field and Burleigh Grimes field which included leaves, trash and mowing. Bathrooms at Burleigh Grimes and Ebbe Sports Complex are open.

Playground equipment safety checks were being completed, with swings being replaced at Eastside, Van Meter and Gladys Grimes Parks. Some vandalism was removed from slides.

New lights are being installed around the outside of the Aquatic Center, specifically around the filter building and in the bathhouse area. Grasses in front of the center have been trimmed and plans are sought for new plants in front of the building.

Finally, Shockley reported an initial cleanup at 5-Points by trimming grasses, cleaning up the daylilies and trimming the trees.

The Board adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

The Capitol Report

REP. MAZZIE CHRISTENSEN

MO House of Representatives

201 W. Capitol Avenue Room 116A-2 Jefferson City, MO 65101 E-mail: mazzie.christensen@house.mo.gov

573-751-4285

NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT

To the Great Constituents of District 2,

“In half a lifetime, many Americans have seen their God dethroned, their heroes defiled, their culture polluted, their values assaulted, their country invaded, and themselves demonized as extremists and bigots for holding on to beliefs Americans have held for generations.”

– Pat Buchanan, “The Death of the West” (2002)

The Missouri House has now officially sent 33 bills over to the Senate. Some of the highlights from this week: • HB 1518: Prohibits public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against a religious student association or denying a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association. This was a great bill and I was happy to support it • HB 1706 & 1539: The

ACROSS MISSOURI

Protection of Children and Vulnerable Persons which establishes the "Committee on Sex and Human Trafficking Training" the committee must annually evaluate and establish guidelines for required sex and human trafficking training. This would require each EMT, including each paramedic, to receive four hours of sex and human trafficking training as part of continuing education requirements for re-licensure every five years. Each registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, county prosecuting attorney, and juvenile officer must complete one hour of sex and human trafficking training annually. Social workers will be required to complete two hours of sex and human trafficking training for license renewal. Lastly, each peace officer will be required to receive two hours of sex and human trafficking training within the law enforcement continuing edu-

cation one-year reporting period.

• HB 2385: Prohibits local governments from requiring private property owners to accept certain types of income.

• HB 2279: This bill brings back the city population's signs which were being removed. I was a big supporter of this bill as I love our small town population signs.

• HB 2322: District 1 Rep, Jeff Farnan’s bill adds student licensee as another way of obtaining a funeral director license with a completed apprenticeship. Great bill!

• HB 2634: Modifies provisions relating to public funding of abortion facilities and affiliates and provisions relating to MO HealthNet providers. This defunds Planned Parenthood in Missouri. I spoke in support of this bill! The Attorney General is currently bringing a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood due to “its flagrant and intentional refusal to comply with

state law. In the suit, Attorney General Bailey lays out Planned Parenthood’s pattern of statutory violations”:In 2018, following at least a half-decade of health-code violations, Planned Parenthood’s facility in Columbia was shut down after staff admitted to having used moldy abortion equipment on women for months. Also in 2018, Planned Parenthood physicians conceded in open court that, for at least 15 years, the organization failed to comply with state law requiring physicians performing abortions to file reports when women experience medical complications from abortions.

In 2020, the Administrative Hearing Commission determined that even though Missouri law at the time required that the same physician who performs an abortion be the one to notify the woman of the risks of abortion, physicians at Planned Parenthood were not doing so. Planned Parenthood’s most recent

unlawful behavior was captured in an investigative video, when Planned Parenthood staff admitted they traffic minors across state lines to perform abortions without parental consent. Worse, they admit doing this “every day, every day, every day.” The investigation revealed that Planned Parenthood removes minors from school using altered doctors’ notes, transports them into Kansas for abortions, and then quickly returns them—all to avoid the legal requirement to obtain parental consent.

Next week, I will announce the winners of the District 2 Photo Contest! Thank you to everyone that participated.

It's a pleasure to serve and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at (573) 751-4285 or email me at Mazzie.Christensen@ house.mo.gov

NCMC+UCM Direct Connect Transfer Agreement Provides Seamless Pathway from Two-Year to Four-Year Degree

An agreement that makes it possible for students at North Central Missouri College (NCMC) to pursue an associate degree while concurrently taking courses leading to a bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) was signed Feb. 26 at NCMC in Trenton. The NCMC+UCM Direct Connect Transfer Agreement builds upon a relationship between both institutions that not only helps facilitate credit transfer between NCMC and UCM, but also includes benefits for students such as lowering the cost of a four-year degree, providing student use of services at each institution, and student record sharing between NCMC and UCM.

UCM President Roger Best and NCMC President Lenny Klaver signed collaboration documents while surrounded by faculty, staff and administrators from both institutions who have played vital roles in launching this initiative. The agreement spells out each institution’s obligations to help facilitate the smooth, seamless transfer of students who complete two-year Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) programs at NCMC to one of seven

HELP WANTED

four-year degree programs at UCM. These initial dual admission pathways giving NCMC students access to upper-level courses at UCM are:

• AA/Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice and Criminology

• AAT/BS in Physical Education (K-12 Certification)

• AAT /Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) Elementary Education Birth-3rd Grade

• AAT/BSE in Elementary Education Grades 1-6

• AA/BS Construction Management

• AA/BS in Business Administration in Marketing

• AA/BS in Educational Studies and Training

According to Dr. Mitchell Holder, a UCM alumnus who serves as Dean of Instruction at NCMC, the agreement provides an efficient route to graduation for students who want to pursue any of these degree pathways. While students take advantage of the affordability of the community college experience and diverse levels of academic preparation it makes possible, they also have access to joint academic advising and student services that will help them

Part-Time Office Administrative Assistant position available. Candidate must have a High School diploma or GED and be experienced with Bank Reconciliation and Date Entry. This position offers a competitive hourly wage with flexible 25-30 hour work week. If interested, please send your resume to:

Grundy County Public Admin

Attn: Admin Assistant Position

700 Main, St., Ste. 12, Trenton, MO 64683 or Email publicadmin@grundycountymo.com

Trenton R-9 Preschool & Kindergarten Screenings

March 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2024

The Trenton R-IX District is holding their Preschool and Kindergarten screenings for students, that are not currently enrolled, for the 2024-2025 school year. Students must be age 3, 4, or 5 by August 1, 2024 in order to be screened. Please call the Preschool Office at 660-359-2003 to make an appointment.

Required Documentation includes:

• STUDENT’S LEGAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE

• STUDENT’S IMMUNIZATION RECORDS

• PROOF OF RESIDENCY

If you have any questions, please call the Trenton R-9 District Office at 660-359-3994

navigate toward a successful collegiate experience. Contributing to this goal is a $1,500 renewable additional scholarship that will be awarded to a student who graduates from NCMC with a two-year degree and is on the four-year degree path with UCM. This award is stackable with other student financial awards to help lower the cost of their higher education.

“We look forward to providing our students with continued opportunities for seamless transfer to the University of Central Missouri. These academic program articulation agreements will help our students on their educational path as they progress toward graduation and the professional or graduate school opportunities thereafter,” said Klaver. “The expansion of our partnership is a great benefit for our students transferring to UCM.”

Best emphasized the significance of the opportunities provided in the NCMC+UCM Direct Connect Transfer Agreement and the impactful role they will play in ensuring student success.

“We have a lot in common between our institutions…We’re firm believers in providing highquality education that leads to a meaningful outcome, and doing so

for an affordable price,” he said. “We appreciate the longstanding relationship we have with NCMC and are very grateful that we are able to formalize it into very clear pathways for students. At the end of the day, it’s to ensure students can be successful. We want to celebrate that through our agreement signing.”

Dr. Tim Crowley, vice provost for academic programs at UCM,

noted that the recently signed articulation documents are just the beginning of many more opportunities for collaboration between both institutions. This will likely lead to additional degree pathways in the future. He and other individuals who spoke at the signing ceremony commended the efforts of their colleagues who are helping to make these opportunities possible.

NCMC Students Attend Governor’s Student Leadership Forum

North Central Missouri College students Kiara Franklin and Cole Henderson were two of 80 collegiate students represented during the annual Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values held in Jefferson City.

The Forum challenges students’ character development by encouraging them to reflect on their own decision-making skills, values, and belief systems. Students learn about how to reconcile relationships, stand for truth, and love others as they love themselves. The Forum’s guiding principle is teaching students to embrace altruism rather than egotism.

Governor Mike Parson welcomed students of the Forum with a meet and greet in his office, followed by an inspirational message from Rebecca Welsh,

Founder of Halo, a mission that provides housing, healing, and education to at-risk and homeless children. Students ended their time at the Capitol hearing from Missouri State Senator Travis Fitzwater.

Students also heard from several speakers who lead by example. A question and answer panel including Youssef Abdou, Natalia Chaing Breña, David Johnson, Bailey Stephen, and Sadie Williams discussed the importance of community and relationships. Judge Pat Joyce shared a message on redemption after the students’ tour of the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Kyrell and Michaela Newell, directors of St. Nicholas Academy, shared a message on servant leadership. Justin Campbell, Regional Director of YoungLife concluded the Forum, challenging students to consider their purpose in what they are aiming at.

Cole Henderson said, “I had a lot of fun this past weekend getting to meet

new people and listen to people's stories. We learned how to be vulnerable, set boundaries, to not stray to far from your vision/mis-

sion, and most importantly how to really listen to build better relationships with other people.”

The event started in 1988 under the leadership of former Missouri Governor and 79th U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

For more information visit www.mogslf.com, call 573-691-7572 or e-mail jaclyn@mogslf.org

Photo Courtesy of North Central Missouri College University of Central Missouri President Roger Best, left, and North Central Missouri College President Lenny Klaver sign documents making possible the new NCMC+UMC Direct Connect Transfer Agreement.

Photo Courtesy of North Central Missouri College North Central Missouri College students Kiara Franklin and Cole Henderson participated in the Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum held recently in Jefferson City.

TMS Students of the Quarter

and attendance. Students may only receive this honor once in their middle school career.

Those receiving Student of the Quarter honors at TMS include, from left, fifth graders Brooklynn Ray, daughter of Phil and Taya Ray and Wesley Stiles, son of Ashley and Blake Stiles; sixth graders Lillyann Lorenz, daughter of Rachel and Cody Walton and the late Eric Lorenz and Carter Bunnell, son of Courtney Bunnell and Aaron Bunnell; seventh graders Kennedy Cross, daughter of Hayley and Ethan Cross and Logan Harris, son of Elle and Kevin Harris; and eighth graders Payton Hanes, daughter of Misty and Nicholas Hanes and Quinten Cannon, son of Jessica Cannon and Matthew Cannon.

NCMC Selects Outstanding A+ Students

North Central Missouri College has named four NCMC students to receive the A+ Outstanding Student Award: Rawlins Brant, a graduate of Mid-Buchanan High School; Valorie Gabrielli, a graduate of Polo High School; Kelsey Gibler, a graduate of Trenton High School; and Roman Phillips, a graduate of Atlanta High School.

The A+ Outstanding Student Award was established to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of A+ students at North Central Missouri College. Students were selected based on GPA, campus involvement, and instructor/staff recommendations. Each recipient was awarded a $250 scholarship from the Jack N. Young, Mildred M. Young, Noble J. Young, and Myra A. Young Scholarship Fund through the North Central Missouri College Foundation.

660-359-6210

Dr. Kristen Alley, Vice President of Student Affairs, said, “We are extremely proud of these exceptional students! They are starting their collegiate careers off in the best possible way, using the A+ scholarship and establishing a strong academic foundation. It’s an honor to be able to recognize them and their efforts.”

Rawlins Brant said, “The A+ Scholarship helps encourage academic achievement and fosters skills development, which can open doors to better career opportunities for me.”

Valorie Gabrielli said,

GRM Networks Announces 2024 Youth Tour Winners

Students selected to represent GRM Networks at the 2024 Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., are Madalyn Tipton of Princeton and Bree Vaughn of Cainsville. Tipton and Vaughn will travel to the nation’s capital this summer and join other youth representing rural telecommunications providers.

The FRS Youth Tour is an all-expense paid trip that brings together students from across the United States. Attendees will spend five action-packed days learning about broadband applications in rural communities, tour famous historical sites and monuments, participate in team building exercises and create lifelong friendships. Tipton and Vaughn will hear from representatives from the Federal Com-

munications Commission (FCC) and learn how the FCC’s role impacts and benefits rural America. They will also spend a day on Capitol Hill that includes meeting with staff and members of Congress from their congressional district.

Tipton and Vaughn are both juniors in high school and active in school and community organizations. Tipton attends Princeton R5 and is the daughter of Mike and Melanie Tipton. Vaughn is the daughter of Shane and Hilarie Vaughn and attends Cainsville R-1.

To be eligible for the tour, an applicant must be in high school and age 16 or 17 at the time of the tour. The applicant must also have a parent or legal guardian who is an active member of GRM Networks. Students are encouraged to start planning their

application for next year by visiting grm.net/aboutus/youthtour to review requirements.

GRM Networks is a member owned cooperative that provides communication services to customers located within a 4,500 square mile area that covers 44 exchanges in Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa. GRM Networks is dedicated to delivering reliable, advanced communi-

cations technology while providing an exceptional customer experience. GRM Networks is committed to promoting and investing in its local communities. LTC Networks and SCC Networks are subsidiaries of GRM Networks and cover an additional four exchanges in Iowa and Missouri. For more information about GRM Networks, visit grm.net.

“The Missouri A+ Scholarship Program has taken so much stress off my back. I can use this time to save and prepare for my next steps in college and in life and can use my other scholarships for books and fees.”

Kelsey Gibler said, “The Missouri A+ Scholarship Program has been a huge help during my college career. Being able to get my Associates completely debt free has been such a blessing and has allowed me to further my education.”

Roman Phillips said, “The Missouri A+ Scholarship program makes it possible for students like me to afford going to college and start life with a good educa-

tion.”

The NCMC Foundation, a 501c(3) IRS-approved organization, works with North Central Missouri College to Transform Lives and Empower People. The Foundation manages over 50 endowed/named scholarship funds that benefit NCMC students through several stages of their higher education journey. For more information on the NCMC Foundation or how to help students through scholarships, please visit www.ncmissouri.edu/foundation/ or call NCMC Foundation Executive Director Alicia Endicott at 660-357-6403.

Rawlins Brant Valorie Gabrielli

Kelsey Gibler Roman Phillips

Photo Courtesy of Trenton Middle School Trenton Middle School has announced its Students of the Quarter for the third quarter of the 2023-24 school year. Students are selected based on the following criteria: academic performance, character, behavior, effort, social relationship

Madalyn Tipton

Bree Vaughn

Garfield®

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Alley

For

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LOCAL

Leadership Northwest Is Topic of Rotary Program

Leadership Northwest Missouri was the topic of a program presented at the Thursday, March 7 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Jackie Soptic presided at the meeting, Dan Wilford gave the prayer and Brian Upton was the sergeant at arms. Cole Soptic was the program chairman.

Kendra Pickering, executive director of LNW, told members that the program was started by community leaders interested in economic growth and development on a regional level. The program takes in 19 northwest Missouri counties, helping participants hone their skills as leaders, as well as discuss issues of regional importance. Classes are held from January to June at various sites in the 19-county area. She noted that participants come up with a class project at the end of their session, with two projects continuing to have a major impact

on the region – Great Northwest Days, which is held each year in Jefferson City; and the Northwest Leadership Music Jam, a concert held in Trenton during the Labor Day weekend that raises funds for the LNW Scholarship program. Ms. Pickering said several members of the local Rotary Club have participated in the program throughout the years, with Cole Soptic currently being a member of the LNW Board. Following graduation, participants become part of the LNW Alumni group, which Ms. Pickering said allows participants to keep in touch for networking opportunities.

During the business meeting, Brian Upton was presented with a Paul Harris +2 pin in recognition of his contributions to Rotary International and its foundation. Members were also reminded that shoes and money are being collected for the Rotary District Shoes for Orphan Souls project

WAYCO Arts Council Announces “The Pied Piper” Missoula Children’s Theatre Play

WAYCO Arts Council

of Wayne County, IA announces the summer 2024

Missoula Children’s Theatre production will be “The Pied Piper”. Mark your calendars for auditions on Monday, July 15 and performances on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20. Rehearsals will be throughout the week, with times to be released at a later date. All children who have completed kindergarten through twelfth grades are encouraged to participate. Children do not have to live in Wayne County to take part in this amazing experience!

All events will be held at the Allerton Centennial Building in Allerton, IA.

Show synopsis for “The Pied Piper” according to promo materials is as follows:

“What do you do when your town is overrun by ravenous rats? Sara, an orphan girl, and the other Townspeople of Hamelin Town turn to the Mayor of Hamelin and the Council when their town is threatened. They then call on the

and the Bright Futures Trenton shoes project. Members have been challenged to donate at least 2 pair of shoes and at least $10, with the shoes going to the Orphan Souls project and the money going to the Bright Futures shoe project. Collections are being accepted until April 4 and members of the public may also take part. New tennis shoes are requested for the Orphan Souls project. Persons who want to donate to the Bright Futures project are to make their checks out to the Trenton Rotary Club and put “shoes” in the memo. Donations can be left with any Rotary member or with shoe chairman Diane Lowrey.

The program for the Thursday, March 14 meeting will be brought by NCMC Foundation Director Alicia Endicott, who will talk about the college’s scholarship program. Diane Lowrey is the program chairman.

Pied Piper to save them from the troublesome creatures. The Mayor’s children, staff, and the Cooks also join in the endeavor. Find out what happens when the town chooses not to pay the Piper and the children are led away from the town along with the rats!”

The play is adapted by Jim Caron with additional dialogue by Steven Thomas and Michelle Nigh, with music and lyrics by Bob Hubley and Michael McGill.

WAYCO Arts Council strives to bring quality arts programming to Wayne County at little or no cost to its citizens. There is no cost for participation in this production. WAYCO is a 501(c)(3) organization and welcomes contributions from supporting groups and individuals. Contributions may be sent to Cathy Couchman, Treasurer WAYCO Arts, 501 S. West St., Corydon, IA 50060. Call Mary Roberts at 641872-1374 for more information.

Photo Courtesy of Trenton Rotary Brian Upton, left, was presented with a Paul Harris +2 pin at the March 7 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club. The pin is presented in recognition of a member’s contributions to Rotary International and its foundation. Making the presentation was Club President Jackie Soptic.

- $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/

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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.

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Fax: 660-359-4414

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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.

-------------------------------------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.

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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 LLP -

Do 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

-------------------------------------Country Discount Store 19939 State Highway D Hamilton, MO. Dog food. Fresh Brown Eggs. Much, much more! Come check out our Specials!! CASH OR CHECK ONLY.

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Offutt, Offutt & Associates Auction Service. Land, farm, and Home. Free Appraisals. Cameron, MO. 816-724-3214

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

-------------------------------------WANTED FARM

GROUND - I am looking for row crop ground to cash rent. Call Brad 816-284-3689.

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ISO pasture to lease. Cameron, Osborn, Plattsburg, Maysville. Top price paid. Text 816-284-0570

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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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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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FOR SALE

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

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4 burial sites for sale at Resthaven Cemetery, Trenton, Missouri. $675 each or $2475 for all. Call Bob at 660359-7468.

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WEBSITES

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

LOST/FOUND

LOST - Beloved black & white cat on Thursday, February 22 from 1405 E. 13th Street in Trenton. Picture on Facebook under Patricia Vulgamott. If seen, call 660-3650150, leave message or bring home.

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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: 660-359-2212

Fax: 660-359-4414 news@republican-times.com

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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.

FOR RENT

preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

PUBLIC NOTICES

Because The People Must Know

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF GRUNDY COUNTY, TRENTON MISSOURI

Case No. 24AG-DR00010

In re the marriage of Paea Ivahanoa Similai, Petitioner and Ani Salesi Palau, Respondent

NOTICE UPON ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

"We will not knowingly accept any advertising for rental property which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis."

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.

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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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Help Wanted: Teacher, Trenton Head Start. Full-time with the following benefits.

-4-day work week

-Dental/Health/Life Insurance

-Life Flight

-Retirement

-Sick Leave

-Paid Tuition to NCMC Go to Green Hills Head Start for job description and application or call 660-3592214. E.O.I.

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Drivers Wanted - Home some nights and weekends. Good CDL record, tractortrailer experience. Hauls from Chillicothe to Iowa and back. If you aren't making $1200 to $1400 a week, you need to call 816-520-3060.

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North Central Missouri College is seeking a part-time Dance Coach. 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

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North Central Missouri College is seeking part-time Seasonal Maintenance Workers. 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

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North Central Missouri College/Workforce Development Board is seeking a Compliance Manager. 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

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THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO ANI SALESI PALAU, Respondent

YOU ARE HEREBY notified that an action has been commenced against you in the Circuit Court of Grundy County, Missouri, at Trenton, the object and general nature of which is a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

The name of the party to said action is Paea Ivahanoa Similai.

You are further notified that, unless you file an answer or other pleadings or shall otherwise appear and defend against the aforesaid Petitioner within 45 days after February 22, 2024, judgment by default will be entered against you.

/s/ Becky Stanturf Circuit Clerk (2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/24)

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

File No. 240744

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE

For default in the payment of debt secured by a deed of trust executed by Anita L. Souders, dated May 20, 2019, and recorded on July 9, 2019, Document No. 19LR0651, in Book No. 664, at Page 774 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, Grundy County, Missouri, the undersigned Successor Trustee will on March 29, 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: SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF GRUNDY, STATE OF MISSOURI THE EAST TWENTY-FIVE (25) FEET OF LOTS THREE (3) AND FOUR (4) AND THE WEST TWENTY-FIVE (25) FEET OF LOTS FIVE (5) AND SIX (6), OF BLOCK SIXTEEN (16) IN FIELD'S THIRD ADDITION TO THE CITY OF TRENTON, MISSOURI. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED BY DEED RECORDED IN BOOK 589, PAGE 121 OF THE GRUNDY COUNTY, MISSOURI RECORDS., commonly known as 509 8th Ct E, 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: March 7, 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. 240744-1007777).

(3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/24))

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is given the 14th of March 2024 that the Board of Adjustments will hold a public hearing on April 1, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, for purpose of hearing a request from Richard & Sue Lollar for a 912 square foot variance on the Maximum Area for Accessory Structure of 720 square feet to allow them to build a 34’x48’ garage/barn on property located at 2080 Fisherman Road.

Mr. Donnie Vandevender, Chairman

Mr. Michael Ormsby, Secretary (3/14/24)

The City of Laredo, Missouri, is requesting proposals for services to complete a lead service line inventory and services. The full scope of required services and proposal requirements are available at 213 East Main Street Laredo MO 6465 or can be requested via email from laredomo@grm.net. All proposals must be mailed to and received at 213 E Main Street Laredo MO 64652 by April 8th, 2024 at 4:00PM. Late proposals will not be considered. Electronic proposals will not be considered. Proposals must be sealed and clearly labeled with the entity’s name and address on the outside of the envelope. Conditional proposals will not be accepted. Proposals will be opened and read publicly on April 8th, 2024 at 5:30PM.

This project is being financed through the Missouri State Revolving Fund, by the Water and Wastewater Loan Revolving Fund and federal Capitalization Grants to Missouri.

Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President's Executive Order Number 11246. Requirements for bidders and contractors under this order are further explained at the link provided below. The City of Laredo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites the submission of proposals from Women and Minority Business Enterprises.

The appropriate state and federal wage rates are applicable to this project. Additional documentation and information regarding the federal funding requirements for each bidder to consider can be found at the following link under the “Resources” tab and are hereby considered incorporated by reference into this RFP: https://dnr.mo.gov/water/what-were-doing/financial-assistance-opportunities/drinking-water-state-revolving-funddwsrf-lead-service-line. (2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/24)

IN THE 3RD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT GRUNDY COUNTY, MISSOURI

PROBATE DIVISION

Case No. 24AG-PR00012

In the Estate of TANNER MASON MOORE, Deceased.

Notice of Letters of Administration Granted (Supervised Administration)

To All Persons Interested in the Estate of TANNER MASON MOORE, Decedent:

On 01-MAR-2024, the following individuals were appointed the Co-Personal Representatives of the Estate of TANNER MASON MOORE, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Grundy County, Missouri.

The Co-Personal Representatives' business addresses are:

RHONDA KAY CLARK, 104 COUNTRY CLUB PL, TRENTON, MO 64683

DONALD ROBERT MOORE, 8719 NE 151ST STREET, LIBERTY, MO 64068

The Co-Personal Representatives' Attorney's name and business is:

TARA L WALKER, 605 E 9TH STREET, TRENTON, MO 64683.

All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was mailed to, or served upon, such creditor by the personal representative, then within two months from the date it was mailed or served, whichever is later, or be forever barred to the fullest extent permissible by law. Such six-month period and such two-month period do not extend the limitation period that would bar claims one year after Decedent's death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar any action against a decedent's liability insurance carrier through a defendant ad litem pursuant to Section 537.021, RSMo.

Date of the decedent’s death: January 1, 2024

Date of first publication: March 7, 2024

/s/ Michelle Smith Probate Clerk

Receipt of this notice by mail should not be construed by the recipient to indicate that the recipient necessarily has a beneficial interest in the estate. The nature and extent of any person's interest, if any, can be determined from the files and records of this estate in the Probate Division of the above referenced Circuit Court.

(3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/24)

LOCAL

North Central Missouri College Foundation Awards Dual Credit Scholarships

Jack N. Young, Mildred M. Young, Noble J. Young, and Myra A. Young Dual Credit Scholarship

North Central Missouri College Foundation recently announced dual credit scholarships to 30 students in counties that fall within NCMC’s service area. The recipients of the Jack N. Young, Mildred M. Young, Noble J. Young, and Myra A. Young Dual Credit Scholarship are given a one-time $324 scholarship to use toward their tuition. Nearly 100 applications were received, and winners were selected by the NCMC Foundation Scholarship Committee. This is an annual scholarship program with applications received the first Friday in February and awards announced later that month. Recipients are strongly encouraged to write a thank you letter expressing their appreciation.

“NCMC has such an outstanding reputation, and their values really resonate with me,” comments Gallatin R-V recipient Hallie Vanderslice. “This dual credit scholarship would be significant in helping me achieve my future plans and provide financial support. My dream career is to become a CRNA. Anesthesia would be a fulfilling career path for me for my passion in pain-management.”

Mason Rayl from Grundy County R-V in his own words explains how beneficial dual credit courses are. “NCMC's dual credit courses allow me to get a head start on my future plans and save money. I can earn college credits while still in high school, which helps me stand out in college applications. They also provide a valuable steppingstone towards future goals and ensure financial stability for my family.”

Newtown-Harris R-III’s Andrea Pendergraft shares that NCMC dual credit courses are serving as a gateway to her future in nursing. “I’ve not only completed prerequisites for nursing but have also gained skills, such as time management and efficiency in navigating technological tools. From a financial perspective, the DC pro-

gram has proven to be a practical investment as it minimizes tuition costs. Transitioning into foster care has pushed me to pursue DC education.”

North Mercer R-III’s Linda Barton intends to have a career in the medical field. “I would like to be a Radiologic Technologist. I have always had an interest in human anatomy, and I would like to set myself up to do something I enjoy while having a successful career. I am a NCMC Dual Credit student. Taking Dual Credit courses in High School will help me start my college education. Being awarded the scholarship would help my family financially as my mother is attending college at this time.”

“Scholarships are one way to help students afford to further their postsecondary education. The Jack N. Young, Mildred M. Young, Noble J. Young, and Myra A. Young Dual Credit Scholarship make it possible to award these annual scholarships. It would not be possible without the families investing in NCMC”, commented NCMC Scholarship Coordinator, Kristi Varner. “Our students are fortunate to have such generous donors leaving planned gifts that continue to provide dozens of dual credit scholarships.”

Phil and Connie Hoffman

Dual Credit Scholarship

North Central Missouri College Foundation recently announced recipients of the Phil and Connie Hoffman Dual Credit Scholarship. This scholarship was created to assist Trenton High School students with their NCMC dual credit tuition. The two recipients were selected to receive a one-time $324 scholarship to use toward their tuition. The NCMC Foundation administers this annual scholarship program with applications received the first Friday in February and awards announced later that month. Recipients are strongly encouraged to write a thank you letter expressing their appreciation.

Jacob Horton, a dual credit student at Trenton High School, loves a challenge and is actively involved in Boy

Scouts Troop 97 where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. “I plan on attending NCMC for the first two years, then I plan on transferring to a college to finish my degree in Aerospace Engineering and find a job that I can count on to continually challenge me to keep learning.”

Emma Roberts, a dual credit student at Trenton High School, wants to pursue a career as a Midwife. “I want to be the first in my family to graduate from college. I want to become a Midwife and start at NCMC in their nursing program to obtain my RN transfer degree. I am an extremely hard working and determined, compassionate and adaptable person.”

“Scholarships are one way to help students afford to further their postsecondary education. We thank Phil and Connie Hoffman for investing in NCMC, by supporting this dual credit scholarship”, commented NCMC Scholarship Coordinator, Kristi Varner. “Our students are fortunate to have such generous donors.”

By participating in the NCMC dual credit program, a high school student can make substantial progress toward a college degree before finishing their senior year of high school. For questions about the NCMC Dual Credit program contact Director of Regional Programs, Whitney Trump at 660357-6318 or wtrump@mail.ncmissouri.edu. For information on NCMC Foundation Scholarships contact Foundation Executive Director Alicia Endicott at 660-357-6403 or aendicott@mail.ncmissouri.edu.

The NCMC Foundation is an IRSapproved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works with North Central Missouri College to transform lives and empower people. The Foundation Board is made of up TJC/NCMC alumni, business and community leaders and friends of the college, all who support the objectives of the Foundation and the mission and vision of NCMC. To learn more about the NCMC Foundation visit https://www.ncmissouri.edu/foundation/.

Newtown-Harris/Grundy Co. 2024 Baseball

BASEBALL

2023-2024 SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT

3/12 @ Princeton (Jamboree)

3/20 Northwestern (Brunswick)

3/21 @ Princeton

3/25 Milan

3/28 @ Novinger

4/1 @ Southwest (Tina-Avalon)

4/2 @ Putnam County

4/8 Green City

4/9 Tri-County (Gallatin)

4/16 Bucklin (Macon County)

4/20 HDC Tournament

4/23 Ridgeway (Cainsville, Mercer)

4/25 @ Brookfield

5/1 Gilman City (N. Daviess, Pattonsburg)

THE DETAILS

CO-OP: Newtown-Harris/Grundy County

MASCOT: Tigers/Panthers

COLORS: Purple and Yellow / Black and White

COACHES:

Head — Ty Stillwell

Assistant — Caleb Fairley

Game 1

Trenton vs Princeton

The Trenton Bulldogs would take to the plate first with Princeton’s first pitcher being Landon Krohn. He would strike out the first three, putting Brayden Wiggins on the mound first for Trenton. Princeton would score two runs in the bottom of the first after Talan Holt hit one deep into center field.

The Bulldogs would have one run in the third inning,

when Wiggins hit the ball past the pitcher, earning an RBI and sending Graeme Sager over home plate.

Princeton would take the win though, scoring six runs to Trenton’s one.

Game 2

Trenton vs Newtown

Elijah Miller would start off pitching for the Bulldogs in the matchup against Newtown-Harris. He would face off against the first four batters, with only N-H Tiger, Brett Otto getting a hit.

The Bulldogs would only score in the first inning when the Tigers’ pitcher would walk four batters, sending E. Miller over the plate.

Newtown-Harris would score five runs in the third inning by B. Otto, Hunter Miller, Corbin Axtell, Cooper Coffman and Kaleb Bower.

Game 3

Princeton vs Newtown

The last game of the night would be a close one

as both teams only scored one run each in the hour game time.

B. Otto would score off of K. Bower’s walk before Princeton’s Kelby Thomas would get the rest of the outs in the inning.

Princeton would score in the fourth inning. K. Thomas would hit one deep into left field for a triple and then would later steal home off a pass ball behind Newtown-Harris catcher. The game ended 1-1.

Princeton 2024 Baseball Team

R/T Photo Taken by Libby Endicott

2023-24 NEWTOWN-HARRIS/GRUNDY CO. BASEBALL TEAM - (from left) (front row) Kash Barlow, Preston Tovrea, Brett Otto and Hunter Miller. (back row) Layden Fordyce, Cooper Coffman, Corbin Axtell, Kaleb Bower and Slade Hill. (not pictured) Zack Cross and Mason Rayl.

R/T Photo Taken by Libby Endicott

2023-24 PRINCETON BASEBALL TEAM - (from left) (front row) Chase Evans, AJ Dowling, Hudson Wilson, Noel Schreffler, Kelby Thomas, Brekk Illg, Gavin Stockman and Judd Henke. (back row) Damian Houk, Hunter Lowrey, Kash Holt, Evan Houck, Gavin Power, Talan Holt, Landon Krohn, Cooper Boxley, Clay Evans and John Schreffler.

Trenton Boys Tennis

Trenton Baseball

2023-2024 SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT

3/19 @ Savannah

3/20 Cameron

3/28 Bishop LeBlond

4/1 @ Benton

4/2 Carrollton

4/4 @ Richmond

4/8 Chariton (IA)

4/11 @ Kirksville

4/15 @ Maryville

4/16 Chillicothe

4/17 @ Cameron (Tournament)

4/23 @ Lafayette (St. Joseph)

4/26 Lafayette County

4/29 Kirksville

4/30 @ Cameron

5/1 @ SJ Benton (Tournament)

THE DETAILS

MASCOT: Bulldogs COLORS: Black and Gold COACHES:

Head — David Sager

2023-2024 SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT

3/12 @ Princeton (Jamboree)

3/16 @ Brookfield

3/18 Carrollton

3/19 @ Penney

3/21 Chillicothe

3/22 @ Lathrop

3/25 @ Cameron

3/28 @ Princeton

4/1 Ridgeway (Cainsville, Mercer)

4/4 Maysville

4/9 Lawson

4/11 Putnam County

4/13 Trenton (Tournament)

4/18 Milan

4/22 St. Joseph Christian

4/23 @ North Harrison

4/25 @ South Harrison

4/29 @ Polo

5/2 @ Bevier

5/6 Tri-County (Gallatin)

THE DETAILS

MASCOT: Bulldogs

COLORS: Black and Gold

Be on the look out for your spring sports teams! Different teams featured every week.

COACHES:

Head — David Shockley

Assistants — Brad Ewald, Jon Guthrie

R/T Photo Taken by Libby Endicott

2023-24 TRENTON BOYS TENNIS TEAM - (from left) Jacob White, Bradyn Sager, Garrison Otto, Jacob Horton, Isaac Dixon, Victor Markell, Henry Lasley and Ryeland Kirk. The team has four returning athletes which include members of the Class 1 District 15 Champions, as well as half of the State Doubles team.

R/T Photo Taken by Libby Endicott

2023-24 TRENTON BASEBALL TEAM - (from left) (front row) Camden Skipper, Myles Griffin, Brayden Wiggins, Collin Taylor, Maxx Baker, Bentley Kitchen, Gavin Bundridge and Kaydan Foster. (back row) Coach Jon Guthrie, Coach David Schockley, Mathew Bowden, Chase Foster, Elijah Miller, Aiden Weyer, Mason Rongey, Logan Wilson, Walter Olmstead, Brodie Burgess, Graeme Sager and Coach Brad Ewald. (not pictured) Rick Whitney and Brady Tobias.

TRENTON REPUBLICAN-TIMES IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Kinney Inducted into MO USA Hall of Fame Youth State Wrestling Results From Springfield

Results of 10 & Under

Wesley Stiles - 1st place (130 lbs.)

Clayton Glidewell - 6th place (50 lbs.)

Owen Lowe - 4th place (150 lbs.)

Local Athletes Receive All-District Team Honors

Boys Class 1 District 14:

- District Coach of the Year: Ty Stillwell (Grundy Co.)

- Sr. Corbin Axtell (Grundy County)

- Sr. Zack Cross (Grundy County)

- Jr. Hunter Miller (Grundy County)

Girls Class 1 District 11:

- District Coach of the Year: Ty Stillwell (Grundy Co.)

- District Player of the Year: Jr. Addilyn Henke (Princeton)

- So. Kinsley Allnutt (Grundy County)

- Jr. Addilyn Henke (Princeton)

- Sr. Grace Kelly (Princeton)

Boys Class 2 District 16:

- So. Gavin Wilmes (Gallatin)

- Sr. Boston Bell (Gallatin)

- Sr. Talan Holt (Princeton)

- Jr. Clay Evans (Princeton)

Girls Class 2 District 16:

- District Coach of the Year: Trisha Adkison (Gallatin)

- Sr. Annabelle Ball (Gallatin)

- Jr. Kallie Salmon (Gallatin)

- Sr. Ashley Feiden (Gallatin)

Boys Class 3 District 16:

- District Player of the Year: Jr. Kiefer Tolson (Trenton)

- Sr. Gabe Novak (Trenton)

Girls Class 3 District 16:

- Jr. Mirena King (Trenton)

- Jr. Kaegen Croy (Trenton)

- Sr. Madi Moore (Trenton)

FAMILY SUPPORTMrs. Shani Kinney’s late husband, Frank Kinney, was inducted into the MO USA Wrestling hall of fame due to his years of dedication to the program. There to accept his award was his family.

Frank Kinney was inducted posthumously into the MO USA Wrestling Hall of Fame on Sunday, March 20, 2024 at the State Tournament held in Springfield. Accepting his award were his wife, Shani, children, Katie, Kenton and Kade, and Kenton’s family – Alicia, Kendahl, Kale, and Kaisley.

Frank Kinney was a longtime asset to Missouri USA Wrestling, where he acted in a number of roles. Serving

on the MO USA Board of directors in District leadership and the State tournament Committee, he and his wife, Shani, have provided key support, countless hours, commitment and leadership to MO USA Wrestling and its athletes, parents, and coaches.

Frank wrestled at Kirksville R-III High School, where he qualified for state his junior (1975) and senior (1976) years at heavy-

weight. Frank was a registered wrestling official with the Missouri State High School Athletic Association for several years following his high school graduation. Frank started his wrestling coaching career in 1999 as part of the Trenton Kids Wrestling Program. He served on their board of directors and was the club’s treasurer for 19 years. He coached, officiated, and volunteered with youth wres-

tling, and could be found at multiple wrestling tournaments across the state, where he spent countless hours imparting his wisdom and humor on thousands of youth. Frank served on the MO USA Wrestling State Tournament Committee for eight years and attended all state series tournaments where he worked behind the scenes in a variety of capacities.

Garnett’s PGA Career Will Continue

Brice Garnett Wins Puerto Rico Open to Regain PGA Tour Status

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- Brice Garnett holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole Sunday to win the Puerto Rico Open in his first tournament of the year, sending him to The Players Championship next week and giving him PGA Tour status for the next three years.

Garnett closed with a 3under 69 at Grand Reserve Golf Club, getting back in the game with consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th and then saving par on the 18th in regulation.

Erik Barnes closed with a 68, also saving par on the 18th. They finished at 19under 269.

Both had their chances in the playoff, each time on the 630-yard closing hole. Garnett missed a 12-foot birdie putt for the win on the first extra hole. Barnes holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole, with Garnett matching him from 6 feet.

Barnes narrowly missed from 12 feet after Garnett's birdie on the fourth playoff hole.

Garnett was emotional when it was over, and it's

easy to understand why. He won in the Dominican Republic in 2018 for his only PGA Tour victory, but he fell outside the top 150 last year and was reduced to having low status as a past champion.

Given this year of signature events and high stakes on the PGA Tour, this was the first tournament that had room for him. The Puerto Rico Open was held opposite the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Garnett referred to it as his "Augusta," so important because it would give him a chance to pick up FedEx Cup points. It worked out better than he can imagine.

The victory comes with a two-year exemption -- the rest of 2024 on the PGA Tour, plus the next two years. Along with The Players Championship next week and its $25 million purse, Garnett is in the PGA Championship, and he starts next year in Kapalua for The Sentry.

"It's huge," he said. "I was so excited for the opportunity to compete out here again. I get three more years on this tour, some events I get in. There was really a lot of unknowns this year."

Jimmy Stanger had a

good chance to join the playoff. He was left of the green in two on the 18th and needed to get up-anddown for birdie. But he bladed his chip across the green and had to settle for par and a 70.

Stanger tied for third with Victor Perez (65) and

Hayden Springer (68). Ben Kohles, the 54-hole leader, didn't make a birdie until the 15th hole. He still had a chance going to the par-5 18th to join the playoff, but he three-putted from 35 feet for bogey and closed with a 73 to tie for sixth.

Photo Provided by Shani Kinney 130 10 & UNDER CHAMPION - Wesley Stiles, of Trenton, pinned opponent Mahlea Talato, of Jackson County, to earn first place in the 10 & under 130 lbs. bracket at the MO USA State Championship in Springfield.

Photo Provided by Shani Kinney

(from left) Kendahl Davis, Alicia Kinney, Kaisley Kinney, Kenton Kinney, Kale Davis, Katie Kinney, Kade Kinney, Shani Kinney and Pat Ream (President of MO USA Wrestling Program).

Photo Credit - Getty Images and ESPN Sports Gallatin native Brice Garnett won the Puerto Rico Open this past Sunday and punched his ticket to The Players Championship next week. The win also gives him PGA Tour status for the next three years. He is the son of Tom and Nancy Garnett of Gallatin.