Trenton Republican-Times 6-20-2024

REPUBLICAN-TIMES

Students in grades 4th- 9th attend Garfield. Submitted by Brenda Thorne

County Commissioners Face Challenges From New Candidates

Mark McLaughlin StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com

The Trenton-Republican Times will provide questionnaires to all county and state level candidates for office in the 2024 election. Each candidate will receive the same questionnaire tailored for their office, and their answers will be entered, without comment or editing, for voters to decide the direction of their county and state government offices.

Grundy County R-V Ballfield and Ag Improvements

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com

The regular meeting of the Grundy RV Board of Education meeting was held at 6:00 Tuesday evening, June 11.

In Old Business, The Board heard a report on maintenance items at the elementary school and high school. The Board approved a bid from Kramer Construction to replace the two doors on the ag shop with two new metal doors and frames. Total cost, $7,460 The Board approved a three year bus maintenance contract with Lexington Diesel Services.

In new business, the Board approved the district’s participation in the state A+ program, approved policy updates regarding food service and ELL services. And heard a report on the district participation in the Baseline Salary Grant for the 2024-25 school year and in the Preschool Grant. No action was taken.

The Board reviewed the district investments, no action was taken.

The Board approved the allocation of

$5,000 for ballfield improvements.

The Board approved a technology contract with QNS, Quality Network Solutions, for $10, 280/year.

The Board directed the administration to gather information regarding the purchase of a new mower for the High School.

Report was presented by the elementary principal.

After a closed session the Board approved the resignation/retirement of Neva Harkins, head cook at the elementary. Approval was given to promote Cassie Allnutt to head cook at the elementary school, and the Board approved hiring Erik Jackson as high school custodian.

The end of year special board meeting was set for at 6:00 p.m. on June 27, 2024 in the high school business room. The July board meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 6:00 in the high school business room.

Bill 190 to “Freeze” Property Tax for Seniors

Missouri Senate Bill 190 passed the Missouri State Legislature on May 24, 2024, and the bill’s implications, aimed at freezing property tax for those drawing social security benefits has far-ranging impacts for county taxing entities scrambling to build revenues for services.

In the weekly County Commissioners meeting at the Courthouse this past Tuesday, Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray said that the bill, authored by Smithville State Senator Wayne Luetkemeier proposed to freeze the property tax paid by seniors drawing social security.

The Missouri Senate Bill Tracker provided this info on the Bill:

“This act authorizes a county to grant a property tax credit to eligible tax-

[See Senate, Page 2]

The Trenton Fire Department responded to a major structure first at 1414 East 13th Court in Trenton Thursday. The TFD arrived at 8:13 PM to find the home of David Brown on fire and a detached garage nearby totally engulfed in flames, with heavy smoke and flames showing from both structures.

Firefighters deployed a 1 ¾ inch attack line and began extinguishment of the garage and southeast corner of the house., Firefighters then set up a ventilation fan and performed a positive pressure attack entering through the front door of the house to begin extinguishment and conduct a primary search of the interior. After the fire was controlled, crews conducted overhaul

tions to assess for fire extension and extinguish any remaining hotspots. TFD reported extensive fire damage and collapse of the roof of the garage, declaring it a total loss. Extensive fire damage to the back porch, back room and kitchen were reported, all on the Southeast corner. Extensive heat and smoke damage to the entire ground floor was reported, and moderate fire

Area Youth Benefit Corp funding For allowing our summer school students to take many field trips this summer to the Trenton Cinema, Shatto Dairy, Crowder State Park, and Trenton Aquatic Center. Without your support, these field trips would not have been possible for the students.

Republican-Times photo taken by Gabriella Graham

payers residing in such county, provided such county has adopted an ordinance authorizing such credit, or a petition in support of such credit is delivered to the governing body of the county and is subsequently submitted to and approved by the voters, as described in the act.

Eligible taxpayers are defined as residents who: 1) are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits; 2) are the owner of record of or have a legal or equitable interest in a homestead; and 3) are liable for the payment of real property taxes on such homestead. The amount of the property tax credit shall be equal to the difference between the real property tax liability on the homestead in a given year minus the real property tax liability on such homestead in the year in which the taxpayer became an eligible taxpayer.

A credit granted pursuant to this act shall be applied when calculating the eligible taxpayer's property tax liability for the tax year. The amount of the credit shall be noted on the statement of tax due sent to the eligible taxpayer by the county collector. The amount of property tax credits authorized by a county pursuant to this act shall be considered tax revenue actually received by the

LOCAL

county for the purposes of calculating property tax levies. (Section 137.1050)

RETIREMENT BENEFITS INCOME TAX DEDUCTION

Current law allows taxpayers with certain filing status and adjusted gross income below certain thresholds to deduct 100% of certain retirement and Social Security benefits from the taxpayer's Missouri adjusted gross income, with a reduced deduction as the taxpayer's adjusted gross income increases. For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, this act allows the maximum deduction to all taxpayers regardless of filing status or adjusted gross income. (Sections 143.124 and 143.125)

So, in summary, the two methods for enacting this savings to seniors are:

1—The County Commissioners pass an ordinance granting the tax credit to seniors under the conditions above. 2—Individual citizens may petition to place an initiative on the ballot, most likely in April of 2025, based on a certain percentage of registered voters and on the verification of those petition signatures.

Ray says that this action by the Legislature creates a multitude of problems.

“You will have each individual county setting up their own application process, so no continuity from county to county.”Ray said.”Some counties may do it by Commissioner ordinance, others by petition, others not at all.”

That lack of continuity and consistency is the “fatal flaw” of the identified process, and that doesn’t even address the issues created by it. Ray says that the bill might sound like a great idea but provides no guidance as to how to implement it.

Ray said that the Grundy County Commissioners will not enact an ordinance from on high that affects every other taxing entity reliant on property tax revenues. The act will most dramatically impact school districts, county ambulance services and districts, the Senior Tax Board, the Library Board, and the Nursing Home Board.

County Treasurer Barb Harris offered a simple response to the bill,”It’s as clear as mud.”Harris said.

Livingston County Presiding Commissioner Ed Douglas addressed the bill in a communication from his office in February, parts of which appeared in an article from the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune at the time.

“Our Commission has had questions regarding Senate Bill 190. Senate Bill 190 was passed by the state legislators last year and signed by the Governor. It allows the County Commission of each county to freeze property tax values for seniors eligible for Social Security at current levels. Alternately, by petition of a percentage of the registered voters, the measure may be placed on the ballot to be decided by the voters. At this time, the County Commission has chosen not to act on this measure. The reasons for this are as follows:

Our county's legal counsel has strongly recommended that all counties he represents not implement it at this time. His reasons are many; but in summary, the law in its current form is very poorly written with many unanswered questions regarding eligibility and implementation, which is likely to result in numerous lawsuits. SB 190 was tacked on to another bill at the end of the legislative session, and most legislators that I have talked to about this bill, as disappointing as it may sound, have indicated they did not fully understand what they were voting for. It is possible that in this legislative session some of the many questions and uncertainties will be addressed in a followup bill this spring. We plan to follow this closely to see if some of the questions are addressed.

An additional concern that we have as a Commission is that this bill reduces the future income of many taxed entities without any consideration for replacement of their lost revenue. It should be noted that the county itself did not have any real estate tax revenue in 2023, so this bill really has very little effect on our county's revenue. Ho-

damage to the attic and second floor bedroom above the southeast corner were reported, along with moderate smoke damage to the rest of the second floor. All occupants and animals made it out of the home safely,

wever, the entities that would be affected by a loss of future revenue include all the county's school districts, the city of Chillicothe, the Ambulance District, the library, the Health Center, all 13 townships, and others. The Superintendent of the R-II schools, Dan Wieber, has indicated that the loss of revenue from this bill to the R-II District is estimated to be around $3.2 million over the next 10 years. Of course, it has been suggested that if those numbers for the school are accurate, $3.2 million over 10 years is only going to be $320,000 per year, which is not a large part of the school's budget. However, when one looks at it that way, this loss would very likely equate to losing five or six teachers, which is no small issue. Other entities could be hurt as well. SB 190 proposes taking funds away from entities that are planning on that revenue to support their future budgets, and the bill makes no provision to replacing that revenue loss.

Of course, as a Commission, we understand the desire to help our seniors. But we feel that the state should help seniors by using their own revenue to do this rather than by telling the local governments how their revenue should be spent. The state can do this by lowering state income taxes for seniors, or lowering state sales tax for seniors, or some type of state tax credit for seniors.

Conceptually, we think it is unfair to pass a bill that takes revenue away from the local governments without any provision for replacing the revenue that is needed for local expenses. We hope that replacing lost revenue can be addressed by future revisions of the bill. If so, clarification of eligibility and implementation would make this bill much easier to consider.

Our position as a Commission is to take a "wait and see attitude" until some of these issues are addressed.”

Presiding Commissioner Ray notes that he concurs with Douglas’ assessment of the issue, its implications and consequences. Ray asked County Assessor Nathan Curtis and County Treasurer Barb Harris to prepare a fiscal impact assessment to get a handle on what the county would face should this be enacted.

“We want taxes to be applied fairly to everyone. ”Ray said.”We need guidance and rules to follow, and believe this requires a standardized application process to eliminate legal issues with it.”

It should be noted that State Representative Mazzie Boyd and State Senator Rusty Black are both on the record voting “yes” on SB 190.

• FROM FRONT PAGE•

and the American Red Cross was contacted. TFD returned twice for rekindles. No injuries were reported. Cause of the fire is under investigation , and is currently undetermined. The State Fire Marshall has been contacted. TFD received assistance from Grundy County Rural Fire, Grundy County Ambulance, Trenton Police Department and Trenton Municipal Utilities. TFD Lieutenant Alex Lovell provided the report.

Chalk Talk

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

Last week, Israel’s IDF force conducted a raid on a Hamas stronghold in Gaza, and set free four Israeli hostages held since the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel which killed more than 2,000 people and took another 150-people, including Americans, as hostages.

It was cause for celebration around the world for anyone that loves justice, and making the most heinous of actions by an individual or group of people right.

The action by the IDF was bracketed by a “Free Palestine” protest around the White House, literally surrounding the building, that featured vandalism of the statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback in Lafayette Park, and which, in a separate protest weeks ago involved draping a statue of George Washington with a Palestinian flag and the checkered headdress so associated with Palestinians in Gaza and other parts of Israel.

The one newsbit was encouraging. The other one angered me greatly.

And then…just when you thought the Administration couldn’t get it any more wrong with their “nanny-management” of Israel’s response to the Massacre, which involves urban warfare in and amongst 1,000,000 Palestinian civilians with nowhere to go, Vice President Ka-

mala Harris jumped into the fray to announce she was “grieving for the dead Palestinians who lost their lives”during the rescue mission.

Are you kidding me?

The State Department authored a cease-fire plan designed to get out the remaining hostages, and institute an end to the eight month Gaza conflict, which would leave Hamas alive, still in charge in Gaza, and still in a position to mount additional barbarian attacks like we saw in October.

Hamas is all-in. Progressive pro-Palestinean elements in the United States are all-in. The State Department is allin. Joe Biden is all in, for as long as his spotty attention span will allow.

Even the Israeli War Cabinet is supportive, in contrast to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, who seeks to end the threat of Hamas once and for all, and who stated the Israeli war purpose clearly.

End Hamas. Take control of Gaza, and provide security for it until Democratic elections could be held.

For the United States Part, there is still this panacea thinking about a “two-state solution” where Israel surrenders land for a Palestinian homeland. They assume, in such a middle school sort of way, that a little bit of land will solve the problem.

[See Chalk Talk, Page 12]

OBITUARIES

Rhoda Louise Oyler

Rhoda Louise Oyler of Trenton, Missouri, died June 9, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born 101 years ago during a snowstorm in the Forks of the River near Trenton.

She survived that storm on March 19, 1923, and went on to survive many more of life’s challenges: the Great Depression, six months of wondering if her first husband, William Morris

Robinson, was dead or alive while missing in action during World War II - later having him declared dead following his last mission as a tail gunner in Italy, droughts and floods on the farm, taking care of ailing relatives and maybe most of all, dealing with her ornery pup of a little brother, Charles.

They learned to share what little they had. Hobos from the nearby train would beg at their door for a place to sleep or any scrap of food…even clabbered milk. Their mother would always find or create something like a bean sandwich. Rhoda appreciated what God gave her -

Growing up with her Davidson family playing with her brother and their dog, Rex, frying chicken for Sunday dinner with her mother, Bertha, and fishing with her father, Frank. Time spent with neighbors playing cards, a new dress made from a flour sack, a mess of wild mushrooms, onions or berries and a warm fire in winter.

Rhoda and her husband, Clifford, raised their daughter Teresa on a farm in the same area where you would meet neighbors in the middle of the road and stop to visit, sing at church and cook a tailgate meal for the field.

They saw nature’s wonders everyday at home and trav eled to 49 states, Canada and Mexico to see a few more.

Rhoda had fond memories of her friends from Trenton schools and Chillicothe Business College where she was

a homecoming attendant, jobs in Kansas City and Trenton, The V.F. W. Ladies Auxiliary, and Salem and First Baptist churches.

Her daughter, Teresa Oyler of Trenton survives. Her husband, Clifford Verne Oyler; father, Frank Davidson; mother, Bertha Lee Hein Davidson; and brother, Charles Hein Davidson preceded her in death.

Rhoda did not want a service but asked for any donations in her memory be made to Green Hills Animal Shelter, 3041 E. 10th St., Trenton, MO, 64683. Donations can be handled by Slater Neal Funeral Home, 813 Custer St., Trenton, MO, 64683.

BIDEN WILLING TO SACRAFICE ISRAEL TO WIN MICHIGAN

LOCAL

Commissioner • FROM FRONT PAGE•

FIRST DISTRICT COMMISSIONER’S RACE

FIRST DISTRICT INCUMBENT: Don Sager

Occupation:

Retired/ Drive for Double RR Ag

Public offices sought:

Current 1st District County Commissioner(8years)

Trenton R-IX School Board(9-years)

Educational Background, training, Degrees: Trenton R-IX High School (1973). Chillicothe Vocational Tech—Heat, Air and Refrigeration (1974).

Trenton Junior College— Associate of Arts Degree (1975). Northeast Missouri State University— BSE in Industrial Education (1977). 8-years Mandatory training for County Commissioner.

Describe what you believe to be the role of a commissioner: Keep abreast of state mandates and issues that will affect the county. Work with adjoining counties and district counties to better Northwest Missouri. Work with townships and and county residents to make needed improvements.

Most importantly, be good stewards of the finances so that the county is financially stable for the future.

As an office holder, what do you believe are your proudest accomplishments of work in

this position? What will You prioratize and what county needs will you address with another term in office?

The thing I am most proud of in Grundy County is the elected officials and all of the county employees working together.

We, as a county, are in a real good position currently for bridge replacement—8 built in last 8 years, and we have two more scheduled for the coming year. We have two new ambulances ordered and are to be delivered this year. Is there anything else you wish to highlight for purposes of outreach to the voters?

I would like to thank the people of Grundy County for their support over the last 8 years and would like to ask for their vote and support for another term.

FIRST DISTRICT CHALLENGER: Kevin Ireland

Occupation:

Contractor and Cattle Farmer

Public offices sought: District 1 County Commissioner

Educational Background, training, Degrees: High School Graduate, attended Trenton Junior College

Describe what you believe to be the role of a commissioner:

SECOND DISTRICT CHALLENGER: Brian Johnson

Occupation: Foreman for Dupree Testing, Pipeline Maintenance Provider Public offices sought: District 2 County Commissioner Educational Background, training, Degrees: Trenton High School (1994). Attended one year at North Central Missouri College. OQ(operator qualification), certified as pipeline worker. CDL, Commercial

Driver’s License

Describe what you believe to be the role of a commissioner:

“The role of the county commission is to oversee the operation of the county. They are responsible for budgeting and appropriation of funds for all county activities and services. They are responsible for building and maintaining county roads and bridges. They are also responsible for authorizing payments owed by the county, managing county property and county funds”

What do you propose to prioritize, if elected, and what county needs will you address if elected to a term in office?

If elected to this position, I would first focus on the budget. I realize that the past few years have been difficult because of inflation and much higher op-

erating costs. However, a balanced budget has to be a priority and a deficit budget such as the one in 2022 was very concerning. I also want to make sure that county funded projects as the 911 upgrades are done in a timely manner, especially since this equipment can be out of date in just a few years. Is there anything else you wish to highlight for purposes of outreach to the voters?

“I have nothing but respect for my opponent and realize this job is very difficult and many hard decisions have to be made. I believe my ability to problem-solve and work with others are my greatest strengths. In my current job, I work as a liaison between one of the largest petroleum companies in the country and landowners. I am a lifelong resident of

Grundy County. I have been a board member for over 20-years at the First Assembly of God Church. I have also been a worship leader for the past 25-years. I was also one of the founding board members of the Green Hills Recreational Association. I believe it is vital to provide opportunities for our youth. I also have over ten years of construction experience.”

“To oversee the county budget and to ensure the county taxpayers are getting the most value for their tax dollar.”

What do you propose to prioritize, if elected, and what county needs will you address if elected to a term in office?

“I plan to develop a strong working relationship with all townships in Grundy County and to listen to all county departments to help provide the best services we can to all taxpayers of Grundy County.”

“I would like to see the county brush law enforced to clean up the roadways in the rural areas of Grundy County.”

“I would like to work to finish implementing the new 911 service for the citizens of Grundy County”.

Is there anything else you wish to highlight

for purposes of outreach to the voters?

“Honesty, integrity and transparency should always come first as a person as well as a County Commissioner. As one of your County Commissioners, I will always make myself available and listen to all taxpayers’ questions. If I don’t know the answer, I will do my best to get you one. While our thoughts and opinions may not always be the same, I will always base my decisions on what I feel is best for the citizens of Grundy County.”

SECOND DISTRICT INCUMBENT:

Occupation:

Small Business Owner

Chumbley

Public offices sought: Current 2nd District County Commissioner Trenton City Council

Educational Background, training, Degrees: Trenton R-IX High School (1989)

Mandatory training for County Commissioner, MODOT

Describe what you believe to be the role of a commissioner:

To monitor and oversee public safety and infrastructure

As an office holder, what do you believe are your proudest accomplishments of work in this position? What will you prioratize and what county needs will you address with another term in office?

There is no one person, in my opinion, that can

take credit for the work that goes on in the county. It is a spider web of coordination of all offices, elected officials and townships to make everything work as smoothly as possible.

Is there anything else you wish to highlight for purposes of outreach to the voters? I would like to thank all the voters of Grundy County for the support and trust you have placed in me in the last four years. It has been my pleasure to serve Grundy County as Second District Commissioner. I would be honored to continue to represent the people of Grundy County for a second term. I am asking for your support and trust to continue progress in Grundy County.

The Republican-Times welcomes letters from its readers. We require that all letters to the editor be signed by the writer, including a telephone number where the writer can be reached. The writer’s name will be published. Subject matter of the letters is limited to issues and matters of local interest to the general public. Letters of a personal or family nature (i.e. thank you cards, memorials, etc.) will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit, shorten or correct grammatical or spelling errors. The publisher reserves the right to reject any letter submitted for publication. The deadline for letters is noon on Monday of the week they are to be published.

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT

Why We’re A Republic

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@RepublicanTimes.com

(Part five of an eight part series)

I learned some things in the research for this series that just left me breathless as I went through what I knew, and tried to move “what I thought I knew” forward a level.

You all know the paragraph of the Declaration that begins with “That all men are created equal…and ends with Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

Those look like the most “shiny things” of the paragraph, and the Declaration is the shiniest thing of all. But it’s what comes next that led the Framers to move forward with the Constitution.

“...That to secure those rights, Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

In Former Attorney General Edwin Meese’s article,”The Moral Foundations of Republican Government”, Meese says,”...Now these rights were neither the result of legal privilege nor the benevolence of some ruling class. They were rights that existed in nature before governments or laws were ever formed.”

Meese continues that “Consent of the Governed” is a political concept that is the reciprocal of equality. Because all men are created equal, nature does not single out who is to govern and who is to be governed. Consent is the means whereby man’s natural equality is made politically operable.”

“Politically Operable”...In other words, a people’s government that works for the people.

So what form of government would it be?

The Framers were students of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Edmund Burke, Voltaire, Rousseau and other great philosophers of the Enlightenment Age. But they

also studied Machiavelli, who said that “the end justifies the means”.

They studied Greek Democracy and the Roman Republic and were impressed with aspects of both. They idealistically liked the idea of freedom of speech, one man one vote, and the idea of the rule of law. But as they discussed “democracy” as a framework, they dismissed it as too many cooks in the kitchen. Too much emotion, too much chaos.

If you put all of the different forms of government on a linear visual representation, European Monarchies would fall to the extreme right with near total control of government over their people. Anarchy, or no government at all, would fall to the extreme left. It was what was left over after the fall of Civilization and the beginning of the Middle Ages. Life was “nasty, brutish and short”. The barbarians had rolled over the gates.

The government envisioned parallel to the time of the Founders, the Articles of Confederation was a loose organization of states mostly in pursuit of their own interests, but when mutual threats arose from the outside and the inside, the system didn’t work.

A Republic featured a strong central government with an emphasis on individual rights. The people would elect representatives who would act in their interests and on their behalf in governing.

The Constitution would be a reflection of the idea of a Republic functioning on “consent of the governed.”

Its separation of powers between a legislative, executive and judicial branch guaranteed that no one branch of government would be too powerful. Its checks and balances were constructed in such a way that the branches were co-equal and worked in concert with one another.

For example, the executive branch, or President,

would nominate a Supreme Court Justice. The Senate would confirm it. All three branches worked together.

To remove a President, one chamber of the Congress would assemble evidence, the other chamber, the Senate, would be jurors and decide whether or not the President would be removed. The Presiding officer of any impeachment is the Chief Justice of the United States.

These are the formational principles of the United States Government under the Constitution.

What the Framers constructed and presented for ratification to the states was to the right of center. What the Articles of Confederation were, was to the left of center.

It struck the balance, provided appropriate controls, checks, balances, separations, and guarantees. It said that the Federal Government could only do the things it had been enumerated to do. It was limited government in the strictest sense. Everything else, according to the 10th Amendment to the Constitution was to be left to the states, and to the people themselves.

For the part of the people, it allowed them a most important right … the franchise to vote. It was the way they could be involved. They could seek office themselves, or support the candidacy of anyone they wished with their support, effort, and to some degree, their money.

But it was not a free for all. In a republican form of government, the desire for democracy was achieved in a collective way. If it was good for one of us, it was good for all of us.

What differentiates a republic from a democracy is this…The Framers believed in the concept of “majority rules”, but it also built in safeguards for the protection of the minority. The rules of Congress would be developed over time, but the filibuster in the Senate is an example of the check the mi-

nority can hold over the majority so as not to be run over.

While observers today anguish over how long it takes to get anything done, the design of the Framers was to make sure the process was slow, deliberative, and required majorities and minorities to work together in compromise to honor all sides of an argument.

Thomas Paine said of the Constitution that, “We have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest, purest, constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to literally begin the world all over again.”

Madison said this of the Republic,”What is government itself but the greatest reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls would be necessary.”

Madison concluded in Federalist Paper 51 that,”In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this; you must first enable the government to control the people, and in the next breath, oblige the government to control itself.”

Madison and Hamilton, who feared the unruly “stock” of the frontier American, both knew that the temptations to seize power were available, and that man, not on his best days, was still subject to human nature.

A Republic was a Constitutional gamble. Even as America was trying to build a “More Perfect Union”, France was in a death spiral of violence, despotism and dictatorship directly resulting from their own Revolution.

A sideways glance to our first ally gave the Framers pause. Next installment … How the concept of “one nation under God” was indicative of moral virtue, civil society, and the heart of good governance.

CLASSIFIEDS

PUBLIC NOTICES

Because The People Must Know

BUSINESS/ SERVICES

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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.

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!

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF GRUNDY COUNTY, MISSOURI BOKF, N.A., ) Plaintiff, ) ) Cause No. 24AG-CC00013 vs. ) )

Debbie S. Gaddy a/k/a Debbie S. ) Gaddy Wright a/k/a Debra Sue ) Wright (Deceased), ) Michael E. Wright, and ) John Doe ) Defendants. )

NOTICE OF ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

The State of Missouri to Defendants, Debbie S. Gaddy a/k/a Debbie S. Gaddy Wright a/k/a Debra Sue Wright (Deceased) and John Doe:

You are hereby notified that an action has been commenced against you in the Circuit Court for Grundy County, State of Missouri, the object and general nature of which is to Quiet Title as to the property secured by a Deed of Trust dated March 24, 1997, and which action affects the following described property to wit:

ALL OF THE SOUTH FORTY (40) FEET OF LOT FIVE (5) AND THE NORTH THIRTY (30) FEET OF LOT SIX (6), IN BLOCK ONE (1) IN HOFFMAN AND HEIMAN’S SECOND ADDITION TO THE CITY OF TRENTON, MISSOURI. SUBJECT TO ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ROADS AND EASEMENTS.

The names of all parties to said action are stated above in the caption hereof and the name and address of the attorney for the Plaintiff is Scott D. Mosier, Millsap & Singer, LLC, 612 Spirit Dr., St. Louis, MO 63005, (636) 5370110.

You are further notified that, unless you file an answer or other pleading or shall otherwise appear and defend against the aforesaid petition within forty-five (45) days after the 20 th day of June, 2024, judgment by default will be rendered against you.

Witness my hand and the seal of the Circuit Court this 11 th day of June, 2024.

/s/ Becky Stanturf, Circuit Clerk (6/20, 6/27, 7/4, 7/11/24)

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

St. Hwy. 190, Jamesport, MO 64648

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

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

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

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

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

For Sale: One grass fed beef. Sold by hanging weight. Call 66o-645-2269

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!

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

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" 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

NOTICES

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

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

WEBSITES

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

FOR RENT

Sunnyview Apartments is taking applications for single & double apartments. Sunnyview is a residential care facility for the elderly. We provide qualified staff to administer medications, provide three meals a day and offer minimal assistance with the activities of daily living. Now accepting Medicaid. For more information contact Cassandra Brewer at 660-359-5647.

For rent: Hale, Mo. One 1br apt and one studio apt.

NO PETS, first month rent and deposit required, Appliances and utilities furnished. Ideal for someone on a fixed income. Immideate possession, background check required. Please call 660-645-2269

FOR SALE

Garden Headquarters! Garden seeds, assorted garden tools, best prices in town. Trenton Hardware, 901 Main, Trenton. 660-3593660.

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.

North Central Missouri College is seeking a Residential Life Coordinator/Assistant Women's Softball Coach. 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 660-3576203. NCMC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action

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

File No. 244886

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE

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

All of Lot Twenty-five (25) of Scott and Haddox First Addition to the City of Trenton, Missouri, commonly known as 2303 Park Lane Dr, Trenton, MO, 64683 subject to all prior easements, restrictions, reservations, covenants and encumbrances now of record, if any, to satisfy the debt and costs.

SouthLaw, P.C. Successor Trustee

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

NOTICE

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

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

SouthLaw, P.C.

13160 Foster, Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66213-2660 (913) 663-7600 File No. 245518

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE

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

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

SouthLaw, P.C. Successor Trustee

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

NOTICE

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS

employer.

Help Wanted: Home Visitor, Caldwell County Head Start. This position is responsible for planning homebased learning experiences that focus on promoting highquality early learning in the home. Full-Time with the following benefits: 4-day work week, Dental/Health /Life insurance, Retirement, LifeFlight, Sick Leave and Paid tuition to NCMC. This position is responsible for the supervision of center staff and volunteers. As well as planning, monitoring, and managing the facil-

ity’s daily program, social services, and family engagement activities. Visit http://www.greenhillsheadstart.org for job description and application or call 660-359-2214. E.O.I.

REAL ESTATE

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

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: "The advertisements appearing in this column may involve the offer of a security as defined by Missouri

law, such as investment contracts, partnership interests, or notes. It is possible that these advertisements or the offers on which they are based may require registration with the Missouri Securities Division under Chapter 509 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.

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

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

General at (880) 392-8222 or the Federal Trade Commission at (877) FTC-HELP for free information. Or visit our Web site at www.ftc.gov/bizop.

PUBLIC NOTICES Because The People Must Know

Find the Right Cancer Treatment

The Trenton R-9 Mascot team took some time out of there summer break and volunteered a couple of hours on Thursday morning at the Grundy County Food Pantry.

Photo Curtosey of Dave Burkeybile

The Downtown Depoty, located at 902 Main Street and owned by Kelly Griffith, was named the Grand River Garden Club Business Beautifcation Award Winner for June.

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

The home of Dennis and Diana Barnard at 1211 Tindall Avenue was recognized as the Grand River Garden Club Yard of the Month Winner for June.

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

Summer School Students

Enjoy Crowder State Park

Anna Persell and her team helped 4th and 5th graders at Trenton R-9 learn to fish, shoot archery, kayak, and canoe.

Photos submitted by Jenny Otto

The Princeton R-V Board of Education met June 10, 2024 at the Board Room. Consent agenda items, minutes of the previous meeting and bills were all approved. During the public participation segment of the meeting, a community member requested that the board and administration consider allowing 6th grade students to participate in junior high sports. Although MSHSAA approved the eligibility of 6th grade students three years ago, Princeton has not yet adopted this policy. The decision has been made based on concerns about physical requirements and potential dangers, as well as the age, physical and mental abilities, maturity, skills, and preparedness of 6th grade students for competitive sports at the junior high level. However,

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com

due to a decline in enrollment & participation in recent years, the athletic director is currently evaluating anticipated participation numbers for the upcoming Fall 2024 season. This reassessment aims to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage in athletic activities while maintaining safety and competitiveness. In Old business, the Board received a recommendation from school administrators to implement a process for random drug testing of students. With the recent legalization of marijuana and the continued rise of drug use and abuse among youth, the school remains committed to deterring and preventing student drug use. Under this proposed program, students in grades 7-12 would be re-

quired to consent to random drug testing as a condition for participating in all extracurricular activities. Students who test positive for drugs or violate the screening process may face suspension or exclusion from these activities. It is important to note that the sanctions in the proposed policy focus solely on limiting opportunities for participation in sports and school activities. Any violations of the district’s discipline policy regarding drugs and alcohol will be subject to the appropriate consequences as outlined in the policy. The Board will review additional information at the June board meeting to discuss and assess the proposed drug testing program. Community input is highly encouraged during this evaluation period, and all

are invited to provide feedback to board members or administration as part of this review process. Numerous adjoining and area school districts have established testing programs in place. The Princeton RV School District has secured approval for five electric school buses at no cost. The grant covers 100% of the expenses for both the buses and the necessary infrastructure materials. Princeton will collaborate with Grundy Electric to implement and install the charging stations. It is possible that the new Electric School buses could be delivered mid to late 2024. In New Business, the annual financial audit for the Princeton R-V School District is scheduled to begin on July 26th. The Princeton R-V School District will

hold an online surplus auction for a limited number of items. The auction can be accessed on Govdeals. com, with an estimated closing date of Friday, July 5. The Board entered closed session at 6:15, and emerged at 7:15, announcing the following staff changes; The Board approved the retirement of JH/HS art teacher Becci Shew. The board approved Rafaela Johnson as the JH/HS art teacher. The board approved Cody Demoss as JH?HS business teacher. The board approved Riley Moreno as the PK paraprofessional. The board approved Bill Goodin as the sped PARAPROFESSIONAL. The board approved P. Goodin and Mike Schmidli as girls junior high basketball coaches. The board approved Bill Goodin as the

cross-country coach. The board approved Coach O’Brien as the Interim Varsity Head football coach. The board approved Scott Ussery as the Varsity Assistant football coach. The board approved Troy Malone as the Varsity Assistant football coach. The board approved Bill Goodin as the Junior High /High School track assistant coach. The board approved Meredith Ussery as the junior high cheerleading coach for basketball and football. The board approved Tina Holt as the varsity girls golf coach(fall). The board approved Mr. and Mrs. Bagley as National Honor Society sponsors. The board approved Rafela Johnson as the yearbook advisor.

Ray Requests Fiscal Impact Statements

By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com

The Grundy County Commissioners met Tuesday, June 11 at the Grundy County Courthouse.

Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray and Associate Commissioner Brad Chumbley were in attendance, but Associate Commissioner Don Sager was absent for a second consecutive week due to a medical issue requiring hospitalization. Commissioners fielded a variety of issues in the day’s proceedings. The day began with discussions with Road and Bridge Crew workers. The Bridge Crew fixed up a tube for Madison Township and will be delivering and reinstalling. The tube is located on Northwest 125th and will involve digging concrete

back wall out, and repair and putting new rock back in.

Commissioner Ray told them that when it gets too hot out, they can get in the truck and pick a township and inventory the 9-1-1 street signs so they can get it to EMS Director Glenn Briggs to make new signs.

Discussion was held on a washout in Myers Township of Northeast 126th. Chris Ward got a bridge broom bid back from Murphy Truck and Tractor in the amount of $9,500. Ray instructed them to get a price on a clamshell bucket. They were instructed that they could use one of those with more urgency than the brush broom.

Ray also had a conversation with Aiden Rains

about when he is graduating and planning on leaving employment with the county so we have some heads up. He said he graduates in December and then be in the hunt for a new job. He was also told that he needs to be wearing his steel toe boots from time he gets to work until the time he leaves at night. Phil also asked Chris Ward to determine how soon he can go out and finish his required CDL license.

The Commissioners took some questions from Republican-Times reporter Mark McLaughlin regarding their position on the Sheriff’s pay situation. The commissioners said that they have no issue whatsoever with issuing Sheriff Rodney Herring’s pay to the prescribed amount, but are required to implement this in the next Sheriff’s term beginning in January 2025, according to the State Constitution.

Discussion turned to the recent passage of Senate Bill 190, enacting a freeze on senior citizen property taxes when seniors reach Social Security age. The legislation directs County Commissioners to either pass a county ordinance freezing seniors tax bill, or to allow citizens to file a petition to get the issue on the ballot, most likely April of 2025. Ray called in County Assessor Nathan Curtis and County Treasurer Barb Harris, in to discuss the legislation. Ray believes there will be a lot of questions asked about the law, and asked both offices to prepare fiscal impact statements to the Commissioners. He needs the info so that as questions are asked (and they will be), he wants to have an accurate estimate of what the county is looking at if those taxes are frozen.

In State vs. Anthony W. Alexander, charged with Felony D possession of a controlled substance, Felony E unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, Misdemeanor D driving while revoked/suspended and Misdemeanor C Exceeded posted speed limit (exceeded by 16-19 mph.), a continuance was issued. State appears by PA. Defendant appears in custody and PD Kelly Miller and waives bond arguments at this time. Defense advises Court that they are researching VA treatment options and will file an appropriate request for furlough once a bed date has been confirmed. Case is hereby continued to 07-09-2024 at 9:00 a.m. Alexander is still under custody with a $50,000 cash only bond required.

In State vs. Heather Montana Berry, charged with Felony D Stealingmotor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft.

Felony D Burglary-2nd Degree and Felony D Stealing-$750 or more, State appears by PA. Defendant appears in custody and with SPD Janeal Matheson. Bond Hearing held and Court modifies bond to allow for $10,000.00 cash only. Case continued to 07-09-2024 at 9:00 a.m.

In State vs. Brandon Z. Brewer, charged with Felony E attempted forgery and Felony D possession of a controlled substance, the case was not disposed. Bond is fixed at 50,000 cash only, administered by North Missouri

Court Services, with the defendant to submit to random UAs on demand.

In State vs. Stacy J. Craig, charged with Felony D Possession of a controlled substance and Felony E unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia-amphetamine or methamphetamine, State appears by PA. Defendant appears in custody and PD Kelly Miller and advises the Court due to mental health concerns, Defense will be filing a request for medical furlough. State does not oppose the furlough if agreeable transport can be arranged. Case is hereby continued to 06-25-2024 at 9:00 a.m. Bond remains unchanged and fixed at $20,000.00 cash.

In State vs. Nicholas R. Day, charged with Misdemeanor A non-support, a probation violation hearing was conducted. State appeared by APA Stout. Defendant appears in person pro se. State advises the Court that the parties have reached an agreement wherein Defendant shall pay balance in full on or before 07-09-2024, and if zero balance on or before that date, State will dismiss the pending probation violation action herein.

Defendant acknowledges his understanding and agreement of the same in open Court. By joint agreement of the parties, case is hereby continued to 07-092024 at 9:00 a.m.

In State vs. Douglas Eugene Denny, charged with Felony E driving while revoked/suspended, a bond

Vern Sawyer called in about a bridge in Myers Township that has been a washout that needs to be fixed. The washout occurred on County Road BB near NE 100th Street. It was on the list for Chris Ward to fix it on Thursday while they are in the area on Northeast 126th. There is also a tube that is a little farther up the road that needs a replacement tube installed. Ray indicated he would contact the Township to get that tube replaced. The Commissioners heard from EMS Director Glenn Briggs on the County Ambulance radio system installations in Galt and Spickard. Briggs told the commissioners that

Diana

appearance hearing was held. State appeared by APA Stout. Defendant appears in person pro se. State advises the Court that the parties have reached an agreement wherein Defendant shall pay balance in full on or before 07-09-2024, and if zero balance on or before that date, State will dismiss the pending probation violation action herein. Defendant acknowledges his understanding and agreement of the same in open Court. By joint agreement of the parties, case is hereby continued to 07-092024 at 9:00 a.m.

In two cases of State vs. Dawn J. Freemyer, one for Misdemeanor C Exceeded posted speed limit (by 1115 mph.) and an infraction for not wearing a seatbelt, the defendant entered guilty pleas in both instances. The defendant paid fines and fees totalling $142.00 online, so the in court hearing was canceled.

In State vs. Amber Nycole Leeper, charged with Felony E DWI-Persistent and Felony D unlawful possession of a firearm, State appears by PA. Defendant appears in custody and with PD Kelly Miller. Defendant waives preliminary hearing and Court accepts the same. Case is bound over to Circuit Court Division 1 on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Bond remains fixed at $50,000.00 cash only.

In State vs. Rebecca Louise McClain, two sep-

concrete has been laid in Spickard and and at GHRPC is getting us a 9-1-1 address so that a meter can be installed. Laredo needs electric run. Mockingbird Hill site is complete, and rock has been delivered for the driveway.

Commissioner Ray commended Briggs for his lawncare efforts at the court house and county jail grounds. Briggs indicated one more load of gravel for the lot so we can have extra parking. Briggs was also reminded to submit the quarterly FEMA report and GIS grant and paperwork.

Brush letters are going to be mailed to Shon Muff and Gary Crispin whose time to complete

Land Transfers

6-3-2024

6-4-2024

Marriage Dissolutions Circuit Court

Mark

Gabrielle

arate cases were heard. In the first, the defendant is charged with operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility. No information was available on the outcome on CaseNet.

In State vs. Jonas C. Miller charged with Misdemeanor C exceeded posted speed limit (by 1619 mph. over), a guilty plea was received and court fines and fees in the amount of $272 were received by the court.

In State vs. Zachariah Mullins, a Show Cause hearing for failure to appear was scheduled. Fees and fines in the amount of $183 and $147 were paid to Daviess County, and Grundy County is awaiting those payments. The defendant had entered a guilty plea on charges of operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility, and failure to register a motor vehicle. Court receives email copy of bond form from Daviess County showing Defendant posted bond. Court will note that Defendant was provided a wrong Court date and therefore Clerk calls this date and leaves a voice message to Defendant that case is set for 06-112024 at 9:00 a.m. (mv); UPDATED - UPDATEDDefendant calls to confirm receipt of the telephone message and acknowledges that he will be present on 06-11-2024.

In State vs. Richard D. Peters, charged with Felony E Domestic Assault-

3rd Degree, State appears by PA. Defendant appears in custody and with PD Kelly Miller. Defendant waives preliminary hearing and Court accepts the same. Case is bound over to Circuit Court Division 1 on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Bond remains fixed at $25,000.00 cash only.

In State vs. Ashton Lynn Summers, charged with infraction for failure to wear a seatbelt, the defendant failed to appear. State appears by P.A. Defendant fails to appear. Court orders warrant be issued and sets bond at $10.00 cash only.

In State vs. Rachel Hillary Trump, charged with Felony D Forgery, the defendant entered a guilty plea. State appears by PA. Defendant appears in person pro se and files a waiver of counsel herein. Pursuant to a plea agreement, State files an amended charge to Class A misdemeanor of passing bad check, and Defendant enters a plea of guilty to the amended charge. Court accepts the same and follows the agreement. Court suspends imposition of sentence on and places Defendant on probation for 1 years under the Courts supervision. Defendant is ordered to pay a $117.50 Court cost and restitution to Grundy County Prosecuting Attorney's office in the amount of$2,875.00, and that said fees shall be paid from the cash bond previously posted in the

amount of $7,500.00. Balance of unused bond shall be issued and mailed to Defendant.

In State vs. Naomi Esther Roy, charged with Felony D abuse or neglect of a child-no sexual contact and Felony E resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony, arraignment was scheduled for June 13, 2024.

In State vs. Kaley R. Sheldon, charged with Misdemeanor non-support, the defendant entered a plea of guilty. State appears by APA Stout. Defendant appears not. APA advises that Defendant is compliant and no need of hearing. Hearing canceled.

In State vs. Tara Leanne Weimer, charged with Felony E-Assault-3rd Degree, Bond was fixed at $10,000 cash only bond. Continuance Reason - Other; Continuance RequestorDefendant/Respondent; State appears by PA. Defendant appears in custody and with PD Kelly Miller who advises the Court that they are seeking facility for Defendant to undergo inpatient treatment and will be filing a furlough attendant thereto when a bed date has been confirmed. State will not object to furlough for inpatient treatment but agreement will be dependent upon transportation arrangements. Case continued to 07-09-2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Arrest Records

clean-up is up this month. Brush letters sent out in December 2023 are our of time and have to restart the process if work wasn’t done.

In a conversation Thursday morning, Ray said that contacts are being made out to Township Boards to “pull together” a list of needed bridge and culvert work needs to get done, as no current schedule, timeline or priority of projects is available.

By listing everything out of all needed projects, the list can be published and readily available for all county citizens to see the list, when the project is scheduled, and when it has been completed.

Marriage Licenses

Timothy Alexander Ledbetter, 38, of Trenton, MO was arrested on a Capias Warrant for arrest by Independence, Missouri Police on a charge of Felony E Driving While Revoked or Suspended. Ledbetter was extradited from Jackson County Jail on June 8, and is held in the Grundy County Jail on a $10,000 Cash only bond.

The complaint reads that on or about July 10, 2022 the defendant operated a motor vehicle on a highway, during a time when the defendant’s operator’s license was revoked, and knew that the license was revoked/suspended on or about February 9, 2022, when Ledbetter was convicted. In 2016, 2020 and 2021, the defendant was convicted of similar driving without a valid license offenses. A court date has been set for June 13, 2024 in Division I Court.

Opinion / Editorial CHALK TALK

FROM PAGE 3 •

In a 2014 broadcast, Rush Limbaugh stripped away the veneer that peace could actually, ever be achieved between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Limbaugh said, ”One of these two sides is going to have to win, and the other is going to have to lose. And until that happens, there will not be a solution. And yet, every day of my life I have been force-fed the idea, conventional wisdom — doesn’t matter when, every year of my life, every day, every month — I’ve been force-fed news stories wherein the narrative or the template is that a diplomatic solution is at hand, or a diplomatic solution looks grim, or a diplomatic solution is slipping away, or we are on the verge of gaining a diplomat beakthrough. And it’s none of it true. There is no diplomatic solution! We’ve had some of the best diplomats the world’s produced try to solve this and they have failed. We’ve had some of the worst diplomats the world has produced (one of them serving right now) and they have failed. Because there isn’t a diplomatic solution. All you have to do is read the Hamas charter. The Hamas charter explicitly calls for the elimination of Israel.”

Over the years, Rush was even more pointed when he said this. “The only way this conflict ends is with the death of the last Jew or the death of the last Palestinian… Total victory means the annihilation of one side or the other.”

Donald Trump came probably as close to moving this ball down the field with the Abraham Accords, which brought the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan closer to normalizing relationships with Israel than anything since Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin shook hands in the Rose Garden and made peace between Israel and Egypt in 1979 in the Camp David Accords. Our State Department, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan trumpeted the steps that Israel and Saudi Arabia were taking to establish a bulwark of “mutual interest” between the mod-

erate Arab nations and Israel, as a counter to the aspirations by Iran. It was roughly a week later that Hamas terrorists, using motorcycles, ultra light airplanes, drones and flooded out of tunnels in Gaza funded by U.S. humanitarian aid to the Palestinians which they converted to tunnel construction, the purchase of rockets and ballistic missiles, and killed 2,000 Israelis on October 7. The college protests we saw brought the U.S. closer to a 1938 style Kristallnacht ( Night of the broken glass)against Jewish citizens that any time since 1938.“Squad members” Rashida Talib of Michigan , Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and the ever acerbic Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leaned into Biden’s “ironclad” defense of Israel, chipping away at it until hundreds of thousands of voters, many Arab in Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada, battleground states in the 2024 election voted “noncommitted” in Democratic primaries against Biden. The result? Biden has signaled his willingness to sacrifice Israel to win Michigan. The result was civil war by an incredibly stupid “Free Palestine” movement dedicated to turning the Chicago Democratic National Convention into absolute chaos…circa 1968. While they have indicated plans to do the same in Milwaukee to the Republicans convention, their pressure against Biden against the backdrop of a nationwide anti semitic movement helps Republicans more than Democrats. It leaves Israel increasingly alone, to the point that even the staunchest Israeli politicians are hitting the chicken switch that leaves them vulnerable to even more attacks. I have sympathy for Palestinian civilians in the crosshairs of Israel’s action because Hamas puts women and children between them and the IDF as human shields. But if that’s the game Hamas wants to play, the sad fact is this. Israel can give them no quarter. They have to finish the job. And the U.S. needs to do whatever it takes to help them do it.

EDUCATION

NCMC’s first Radiologic Technology Cohort Graduates with 100% Pass Rate and Employment

North Central Missouri College’s first Radiologic Technology cohort of students passed their ARRT certification exam on the first attempt and are now registered as Radiologic Technologists, all of whom are successfully employed.

“At North Central Missouri College, we love seeing our students succeed,” said Dr. Mitch Holder, NCMC Dean of Instruction. “These students have clearly demonstrated they are workforce-ready. I am particularly proud of these students for accomplishing the 100% pass rate as the first cohort graduating from North Central Missouri College. These students have been prepared by excellent instructors, Mallary Hann and Lorinda Ross, both of whom are dedicated radiologic tech-

nologists with high standards for patient care.”

Eight radiologic Technology students graduated and took the examination. Candidates must meet educational and ethics requirements to be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Radiography examination. The exam is a computer-based assessment that includes 230 questions. Students must receive a scaled score of at least 75 to pass and receive certification.

“Congratulations to the NCMC Radiology program instructors, advisors, and recent graduates on a 100% American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) pass rate,” said Aileen Rost, NCMC Radiologic Technology Advisory Board Member and Mosaic Life Care Radiol-

ogy Manager. “The high standards in patient care and the graduation of qualified individuals is a true asset to our community of patients and the Mosaic system. Mosaic’s decision to partner with NCMC was due to a strong history with the instructors and their outstanding outcomes.

NCMC provides wellrounded, highly skilled radiologic technologists, which assists systems like Mosaic with quality technologists and also assists with a reduction of agency staff. Growing our own and staying close to home to serve are the partnership goals between NCMC and Mosaic. It is a great program with outstanding results; congratulations!”

NCMC’s Radiologic Technology Program is a comprehensive two-year program in which stu-

dents earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. Once accepted into the program, students undergo rigorous training, completing thirteen didactic and five clinical courses. The didactic courses encompass the areas of Patient Care, Safety, Image Production, and Radiographic Procedures. During clinical courses, students must demonstrate competence in 80 radiographic examinations, ensuring they are wellprepared for their future careers.

To learn more about NCMC’s Radiologic Technology program, visit https://www.ncmissouri.e du/academics/radiologictechnology-degree/ or contact the Savannah Campus at (816) 3248089.

LAREDO / GALT NEWS

David “Chisel” Gillespie Retires

On Tuesday, June 18th Grundy County EMS observed the last shift of retiring Paramedic David “Chisel” Gillespie. A native of the Galt/Laredo area, Gillespie closes the book on a 40-year career in Fire and EMS, working for agencies all around North Central Missouri. It has been our privilege here at Grundy County EMS to have him on our full-time roster for the past six years.

In his time Paramedic Gillespie has been involved in every facet of fire and EMS, not the least of which has been education, and he is responsible for teaching, training, and mentoring many of the Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics working in our area today. While we will miss having him here on shift, we can be comforted by the knowledge that his contributions to the service will continue to be felt by the people of his community.

Grundy County EMS would like to express our gratitude for his many years of service and wish him all the best in his retirment.

Carol Wilford Bonna Dittberner returned home on Sat., June 8, from spending ten days in Minnesota. She spent part of the time at Gary and Barb Harbo’s in Eagan; then they went to Gull Lake near Brainerd at the Harbo’s Time Share condominium.

The Pastor of Laredo Baptist Church, Gary Dean and his wife Louise, and Dan and Carol Wilford attended the Pastor’s Conference and the adjoining Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, IN, on June 9 – 12. There were over 16,000 in attendance. The Deans and the Wilfords both stayed at a Red Roof Inn and rode together to the Convention each day. The Wilford’s arrived a day early and went to the Indianapolis Zoo in down town Indianapolis.

Justin Reeter and his

three oldest sons, Carson, Kyrian, Caden, as well as two friends, Willie Bunnell and Brady Moore attended Resound Fest at Miracle Hills Ranch Christian Camp and Retreat Center near Bethany on June 7-8. They enjoyed Christian singers and bands, went to the Gospel Farms that provided many activities, including mini-golf. Before going to Resound, they had a picnic at a park and celebrated Carson’s belated 16th birthday. The Reeters spent June 10-12 in Omaha, NE, at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. It has the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, rattlesnake exhibit, indoor rainforest and a Desert Dome. They also enjoyed riding the steam locomotive train at the zoo. On Thur., June 13, they celebrated Caden’s 10th birthday at home with just family.

Photo (L to R): Kami Gibson, Jaycie Griffin, Ada Fox, Riley Schoonover, Madison McCrea, Baylee Hoffman, Dawn Rapp, and Kandace Damgar. Submitted Photo

Photo, A Shift (left to right) FF James Knight, EMT Jonas Kurtz, Paramedic David Gillespie, Paramedic Truman Elbert, EMT Brice Gibler, FF/EMT Jeremy Summers Submitted Photo

Garfield® by Jim Davis

Alley Oop® by Joey Alison Sayers and Jonathan Lemon

For Better or

Worse® by Lynn Johnson

Frank & Ernest® by Bob Thaves

The Born Loser® by Art and Chip Sansom

Shoe® by Jeff MacNelly

COMMUNITY

Grundy County Democratic Meeting

Grundy County Democrats will meet Tuesday, June 25 th , at noon, at Washington Street Food and Drink in

Trenton. Reports will be given on the Presidential Primary held in March and Democratic State Convention that will be held on Saturday,

June 22 nd.

Election year events will be discussed and plans made for participation in local and area events.

TLA AND ASC SIGNS POSTED AT LAKE TRENTON--- Competing signs found behind American Sportsman Club in Trenton represent another step forward in the conflict between the Trenton Lake Association and American Sportsman Club. The TLA signs appear in the far southernmost shore of Lower Lake Trenton, and this one, directly behind the American Sportsman outdoorsman store on West Highway 6.

Rotary Business Blooms

The Fair Winds Flower Farm at Gilman City was the topic of a program presented at the Thursday, June 13 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Jackie Soptic presided over the business meeting, Dan Wilford gave the prayer and Martha Goedert was the sergeant at arms.

Program chairman Steve Taylor introduced Jadeth Jenkins, who told about the business that he operates along with his partner, Brian Jenkins, who has 14 years of floral experience and has a degree in plant biology. Jadeth, who spent five years doing social work after graduating from college, decided he would like to take a different path in his professional life, which led to him and Brian to operate the farm on property owned by Jadeth’s grandparents. His sister, Gia, had established a flower growing business at the site as her FFA SAE project and when she graduated, the two men continued and expanded the business. They grow a variety of flowers on the farm and also have a

large area dedicated to sunflowers. The business offers everyday and custom arrangements along with arrangements for weddings, showers, funerals, table pieces and house plants. They also offer a “bouquet subscription,” where flowers can be purchased on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. They also provide workshops and offer free delivery to the Trenton and Gilman City area. Jadeth noted the business is part of the weekly farmer’s market at Trenton. Among future plans are “you pick” events, providing a space for photographs, more involvement with local FFA chapters and applying for agrotourism grants to fund expansion projects such as new equipment and buildings.

During the business meeting, members reviewed upcoming activities. The initiation ceremony for the 2024-25 officer team and board members will be held at the June 27 meeting.

The program at the June 20 meeting will be presented by Pastor Del Weyer of the First Assembly of God Church.

GRM Network Host Fiber Day June 27th

GRM networks, along with other Missouri broadband providers, will host Fiber Field Day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, June 27 at the headquarters of GRM Networks at 1001 Kentucky in Princeton. This is an opportunity for media, consumers, policymakers, industrial partners and community stakeholders to see first

hand how Smart Rural Community providers are deploying Fiber Optic broadband through Missouri.

The event is free and open to the public.

Media guests will have access to appointed and elected officials. Invited guests are Governor Parson, Lieutenant Governor Kehoe, Senior Advisor of Public

Engagement at the White House Will McIntee as well as federal, state and local elected officials. Confirmed attendees include Missouri State Representative Danny Busick, Taylor Blackwell from U.S. Senator Josh Hawley’s office, and Christian Halftery from Representative Sam Grave’s office.

Grundy County Health Department and TFD to offer Hands-Only CPR/AED Classes

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death. When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby.

The Grundy County Health Department and the TFD are teaching Hands-Only CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator(AED) on Monday, June 24, at the Health Department Annex, 1307 E. 17th Street, Trenton. The class is offered at two different times: 12 noon until 1 p.m. and

again from 5 until 6 p.m. There is no charge to attend, and classes are open to the public.

Hands-Only CPR has just two steps and has been shown to be as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public, according to the American Heart Association. The first step is to call 911 if witnessing a teen or adult who suddenly collapses. The second step is to administer CPR using

hands only. An AED is an easy-to-use device found in most public places that is used for a person in cardiac arrest.

The heart association says that each year, more than 350,000 EMS-assessed cardiac arrests occur in the United States outside of a hospital. About 90 percent of people who suffer these out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival

Trenton Area Calendar of Events

FRIDAY

Church Women United Thrift Shop, 17th & Harris, noon to 4 p.m.

Green Hills Alcoholics Anonymous, Tenth Street Baptist Church, 6 p.m. For more information, call 359-2704.

North 65 Center: Line Dancers, 9:30 a.m.; Cards, 12:30 p.m.

Grundy County Health Department, Safe Sitter for Grandparents, GCHD Education Annex, 9 a.m. to noon.

SATURDAY

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

Farmers Market, Sesquicentennial Park, 8 a.m. - noon.

Grundy County Museum open 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

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

Grundy County Museum open 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY

Green Hills Alcoholics Anonymous, Tenth Street Baptist Church, 6 p.m. For more information, call 359-2704 or 3572367.

Grundy County Health Department, WIC Services by appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Free Blood Pressure Check and $1.00 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

Grundy County Health Department, Children’s Immunizations by Appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; GCHD Board of Trustees, Regular Board Metting Lower Level of Health Department 4:30 p.m.

Green Hills Alcoholics Anonymous, Tenth Street Baptist Church, noon. For more information, call 359-2704 or 3572367.

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

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

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.

Grundy County Health Department, Adult Blood Draw Clinic by appointment, 9 a.m. to noon.

The Old Ball Coach

by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer

Sorry to burst your bubble pre-teens, tweens and teens, but if you want to lament to anyone who will listen that “I don’t have anything to do”, “I’m bored…” or any other such throwaway phrase, it’s your own fault.

For grades 6-12 Trenton, it isn’t a matter of how many days you have something to do, but rather how you plan your time.

As I come into town every morning between 6:30 and 7:00 AM, there is a buzz of activity around the school complex, with football weights and agilities three days a week, middle school football Tuesday in Thursday, in full pads, the weight room open every day, the softball field popping with open field play, the middle school gym busy with volleyball, and basketball open gyms five days a week.

THS High School and Middle School coaches lined out an amazing schedule for kids to get bigger and stronger, work on skills, get individual coaching, and start to refocus the mind on the next school year, the next sports season, the next competition opportunity.

Little kids will be wrapping up GHRA baseball and softball in the next two to three weeks, the Aquatic Center is open and some individual players are traveling the state and region playing competitive travel basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer.

The THS football team traveled Tuesday to Atchison, KS to Benedictine College football camp, the THS girls basketball squad played in the Chillicothe shootout last week, and will have more going on in the weeks to come. There is plenty to do. While it is important for parents to monitor their kids for signs of burnout, and a need to take a little break, go on vacation, or just take a weekend boating or fishing at a nearby lake, most athletes in your community will tell you that to be good in September, you have to do three things in June, July and August. Rise and Grind. I stand corrected. That’s two words with the word in the middle added for emphasis. As a basketball coach, I always believed that you can’t set the game down in March and pick it back up again in October and pick up where you leave off. You get worse in your skills, your shot is off and the ball feels like a foreign object in your hands.

What THS is doing is the right blend of free play, skills work and competition. But the serious “baller” needs to do some extra things … A 5-11, 160 pound point guard, a sophomore, needs to arrive at the next season 15-20 pounds heavier, a 6-3, 260 pound lineman needs to arrive 20-25 pounds heavier, with a summer emphasis on lowering Body Moss Indi-

cator numbers. Jelly needs to turn to twisted steel. The hardest competitive thing in any contact, or collision sport is for a talented underclassman, who on pure talent made his way to the field or court for extended time, plays for his freshman and sophomore years “from behind”.

You’re giving up size, weight, strength, and quickness to older, more mature players. You are chasing the rabbit your first two years in the sport, and if you have done the skill things, done the weight work, and outworked everyone in sight, your junior year provides you the first year since middle school that you became “the alpha”, the wolf, instead of the rabbit.

I believe travel sports, an arena I knew well for almost twenty years is an important “add-on” for a player who wants to get really better.

While some travel programs do have connections with college coaches, and travel teams do play in exposure events, I believe families doing this should not look for intensive skill training as part of a travel team.

If you want training, hire a trainer. But travel teams serve a singular purpose. Learning to play with other guys and girls with exactly the same agenda as you, to come together as a team, and to learn to do the things you do at a faster

TRENTON R-IX SUMMER SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES

The following schedule was released from Trenton R-IX Athletic Director John Cowling on summer athletic opportunities for Bulldog boys and girls athletes.

DEAD WEEK — August 3-11

No athletic activities will take place during this week.

WEIGHT ROOM TIMES:

High School Boys Weights: (MWF)-6:30 to 8:00 AM

High School Girls Weights: (MWF) 8:00 to 9:30 AM

Middle School Boys Weights: (TU, TH) 7:00-8:15 AM

Middle School Girls Weights: (Tu, TH) 8:30-9:45 AM

OPEN GYM/OPEN COURT/OPEN FIELD TIMES:

High School Boys Wrestling: (MWF) 8:00-9:30 AM

High School Girls Wrestling: (MWF) 9:30-11:00 AM

High School Girls Basketball: (MWF) 9:30-11:30 AM

THS GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP SCHEDULE

June 19 @ TBD

June 20 @ Milan

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

Tuesdays and Thursdays in June

8:30-10:00 AM TMS Gym

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF Tu-Th

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Middle School Football (TH)

10:00-11:00 am (after weights)

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS

Open Court 10:00 AM-11:30 am)

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS

Open Court Tu, Th

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Open Field (T/TR) 9:00-10:30 AM

SOFTBALL CAMPS

June 18-Lathrop

pace, with greater efficiency, against people who might just roll you up and make you look silly sometimes.

I had no greater fun in my coaching career than putting these teams together and seeing a th starter on a team go back the next year, and be “the man”. I loved watching a 7, 8, 9 player become a starter. And I loved seeing All-Conference players become All-District and All-state players. That’s the payoff for the dollars you spend. If a scholarship or next level opportunity avails itself as a result, that’s a bonus.

There are lots of kids in town taking every advantage of these opportunities. And you have coaches absolutely dialed in on doing the work. I had two athletic sons. I made sure they had stuff to do with the game and in their physical development every day. I believed they had their whole life to work. And I wanted them to fall into bed exhausted every night. Their athletic schedules put them with their friends, doing work, and staying out of trouble. One runs a multi-million dollar interior design business. The other is an electrician and paramedic in Des Moines doing fiber optic installation in the city's skyscrapers.

You have all the opportunity in the world, young stud. Rise and Grind.

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

THSL/MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND CAMP

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

DRUMLINE

July 15-19 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

JULY 22-26 8:00-AM-4:00 PM

COLOR GUARD CAMP

Full Band and Color Guard Camp

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL COLOR GUARD

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

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

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

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Guthrie

• FROM PAGE 16 •

Sophomores Asher Pryor and Preston Whitney are two long, athletic players who will gain minutes as they gain reps and game opportunities.

Guthrie has been a pain-stakingly patient, quietly encouraging, positive influence on his team, and parents notice.

Father and volunteer coach Brad Tolson says of Guthrie,”Coach is the kind of coach you want your son to play for. He is the right person, in the right place and the right time to build our program and do it the right way.”

Guthrie, whose wife Amy and three kids, James, 10, Nora, 9 and Lucy 6, are “all-in” in the Trenton Schools, understands something unique among coaches we’ve run across.

“I tell my wife all the time that we as coaches are all “interim”.”Guthrie said.”We just try to make kids better, teach and encourage and expect them to be good people, and to develop the character traits that will make them successful.”

THS will “take it on the road” to the Grundy County Shootout this coming Friday with games against Grundy County and Princeton during the day.

A THS football player doing the dreaded “core strength” drill at weights this Monday at 7 a.m.

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

THS Bulldog Standout Kieffer Tolson finishes a fast break with a scoop and score in summer shootout action last Friday versus the North Missouri Knights.

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

The Trenton High School Football boys spent last Tuesday and Wednesday at the Benedictine Football Team Camp at Atchison, KS. The team did a lot of drill, competed in 3/4 speed scrimmage against several schools, many of whom were larger schools. Assistant Coach Jon Guthrie provided the photo, and termed the camp a “great success” for the team.

by Jon Guthrie

Republican-Times

Alpha Dogs of the Week

KIEFFER TOLSON AVERY CLARK

Avery Clark is the

HUNTER SMITH

boys basketball coach Jon

the

day’s shootout with the North Missouri Knights and Brookfield

boys have open gyms Monday, Wednesday and Friday, work the

and will play in the Grundy County shootout this Friday June 21.

is poised to have another highly decorated year.

Submitted by THS Basketball Coach Jon Guthrie, Kieffer is the returning Class 3 District 16 Player of the year. A prolific scorer who breached the 1,000 point barrier midway through last season, Tolson is a long, talented scorer with the ability to involve his teammates. In addition to open gyms, the weight room, and on the golf course, Tolson is playing travel ball with the Moberly Kings summer squad.

RT Girls Alpha Dog award winner, awarded to athletes who put in the hard work of getting better in the summer, are outstanding practice and game players, and who shiny example. THS weight room coordinator Kevin Hixson calls Clark a “tough, disciplined athlete” who shreds the weight room.

The ALPHA DOG award is given to R-T area athletes who are putting in the work on their offseason sports, the weight room, and who standout to their coaches. This week’s Inaugural Alpha Dogs are: Avery is a THS multi-sport athlete. She participates in softball, wrestling and track. Clark is a “tough, hard-working, determined” young lady, benching almost 160-in the weight room. Coach Kevin Hixson says Clark is an amazing leader, and eats up hard work.

Congrats to the first ever R-T Alpha Dogs of the Week.

and basketball standout is the inaugural R_T ALPHA DOG for football. The Alpha Dog is a “summer grinder” in workouts, the weight room, team camps and shootouts.

Coach Jon Guthrie notes Hunter is a 340-pound squat lifter…an impressive stat for a young player.

Submitted by THS basketball coach Jon Guthrie, and highlighted by football coach Kevin Hixson, Hunter is an “old man” strong monster in the weight room, in summer football workouts, basketball open gyms, and shootouts. Hunter is a starting offensive tackle on Hixson’s returning District Champion football squad who is squatting 340-pounds, a tough feat for a big man. As a post player, starting after an injury last year on the basketball squad, Guthrie says Smith is getting better and better.

GUTHRIE LEADING A BASKETBALL RESURGENCE AT THS

By Mark McLaughlin StaffWriter@Republican-Times.com

Trenton boys basketball coach Jon Guthrie is bullish on the Trenton High School boys athlete, whether it’s challenging hard work in the weight room, assisting Kevin Hixson in football, Coach Shockley in baseball, or directing the boys basketball team in what will be year three of an incrementally improving program.

Guthrie became head boys basketball coach when the opening and the need arose, and a conversation with A.D. John Cowling convinced both Guthrie was the right man for the job.

A Jefferson City High School graduate whose love was basketball, but skillsets best suited him to football, found a love of coaching after a scholarship offer for football from Central Methodist and a walk-on offer to play offense or defensive line for Truman State University.

Doing a little bit of self-advocacy, Guthrie identified that the MIAA level of play might be beyond his size and body type, and expressed that concern to the TSU football staff.

He was offered the opportunity to hang around the program, to work in the weight room, and six years later, with a B.S. Degree in Education and a Masters’ Degree in his arsenal, Guthrie headed north to New Sharon, Iowa and North Mahaska High School for a year, where he learned under four-time state championship football coach Steve Errett.

Guthrie came to Trenton 14-years ago and worked his way through middle school coaching and high school assistant coaching, and on the heels of a one-win season three years ago, Guthrie didn’t see a program in the throes of desolation, but a program with an amazing level of potential.

Guthrie said.”I really felt, and still believe that we have a potential to grow the basketball skills and IQ of this

squad and make them competitive.”

Following a 6-win season two years ago and a 9-win season in 2023-24, Guthrie has been maxing out June teaching and work opportunities with the Bulldog boys, who begin the day with him in the weight room, then follow him to the gym for summer practice and prep.

Guthrie’s three aspirational goals for the Bulldog squad is for them to move to a winning record this year, compete for the Grand River Conference upper tier, and maybe challenge for the title, and to advance player awareness, skills, and efficiency by old-fashioned hard work.

The squad begins with All-District player of the year Kieffer Tolson, a 6-2, 185 pound point guard who can light it up from the arc, and has become a tougher, physical, finishing player at the basket in starting every game for three years, passing the 1,000 point barrier last winter, with a chance to challenge the 2,000 point barrier this year, and hold THS records for points, assists and steals when he graduates next year.

“Kieffer is just a prolific scorer, and a tremendous leader who looks to build up his teammates.”Guthrie says Guthrie highlights senior returner Hunter Smith, a deceptively strong and skilled 6-4 post player who is solid and strong on the boards, and is becoming a consistent scorer.

Sophomores Camden Skipper, Ivan Dixon, and Graham Sager are three young players set to make meteoric jumps in their game with the work they’re currently doing. Guthrie also points to sophomore Kaden Schweitzer, a defensive specialist who will start JV and then come in on “lock down duty” when called to do so at the varsity level.

THS Senior basketball player

Kieffer Tolson is the Inaugural R-T ALPHA DOG, awarded to the players over the summer and through practice that get out and get after it. Tolson was the Class 3 District 16 Player of the year last year, and

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

Photo by Mark McLaughlin Wrestler, trickster and softball star

inaugural

Hunter Smith, THS football

THS

Guthrie preps

Bulldog boys prior to last Fri-

boys. The THS

weight room,

Photo by Mark McLaughlin

Photo