04-27-2023 Post Telegraph

A proud son speaks as library named after his father

FIND THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS INSIDE THIS WEEK’S PRINCETON POST-TELEGRAPH

Princeton boys set four meet records, one school record during the

Mercer school board handles variety of items

Taff re-elected as board president. Employment decisions made for 2023-24

PRESTON COLE

Princeton Post-Telegraph

MERCER The Mercer school board reorganized after certifying results of the April 4 election.

The actions were taken during the board’s April 12 meeting.

around the budgeted amount. Old business

Larry Pollard,

of the

honor of Bill Pollard to the

Bill

Pollard.” Bill Pollard was the driving force behind

its kind in the United States.

Honoring a quiet hero

Special to the Post-Telegraph

CAMERON April 13, 2023

would have been Bill Pollard’s 100th birthday. Although he wasn’t here to have a birthday party the Missouri Veterans Home at Cameron used the day to recognize and celebrate him by having a rededication and renaming of the library. Bill had a mission after he moved to the home to create a military library to educate young people about war, with an emphasis on World War II and the Holocaust. He felt they were not being taught that part of history in school. Bill was a combat medic during World War II and the Korean Conflict.

The Military and Remembrance Library was completed and dedicated in March 2018.

It is still the only library of its kind in any veterans home in the United States. It continued to grow after his death, with more than 1,000 books about the military and the Holocaust being donated. One thing born on that dedication day was a documentary written and produced by Gene Greenberg and Larry Pollard.

Their intention was to use the documentary for educational purposes at no charge to schools anywhere. The first school to view it was Princeton R-5 in a block class taught by Bill’s granddaughter, Rachael Sticken. A Promise to Our Fathers continues to be shown at Princeton as well as over 400 schools across the country.

Due to the continued growth

of the library the Cameron Veterans Home decided more room was needed and new shelves were built to accommodate all of the books. After getting approval from Larry Pollard, the home decided to have the rededication and rename the library in Bill’s honor. The Memorial and Remembrance Library in Honor of Army Sgt. Bill Pollard is open to anyone who wants to visit. While visiting you can view A Promise to Our Fathers in the library. Locally, Bill Pollard wasn’t a stranger to anyone. While many knew about his military servic,e some did not know about his time spent at the Dachau con-

See Bill Pollard, Page 4

Six persons ran for three, three-year terms and two persons ran for a one-year unexpired term on April 4. Incumbent board member Heath West, along with Dana Stark and Matt Davis, received the most votes for the three-year terms. Makella Hagan, who was appointed to the board last fall, won the race for the one-year term. All four winners received the oath of office.

Board members then elected Ervin Taff as board president, West as vice president and Teri Noe as secretary/treasurer.

Other actions

• Changes were made to signatures on the district’s banking accounts. Taff, West and Noe will be on the school’s main checking and money market accounts at the Mercer branch of Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri.

Taff and Noe will be on the Millemon Math Award account, also at Farmers Bank.

District bookkeeper Jennifer Wilson will be allowed to ask about balances and rates, issue stop payment notices and, with board approval, renew certificates of deposit (CDs) and make internal transfers.

• As part of the consent agenda, superintendent Dan Owens informed the board that current taxes have come in over what had been budgeted. He anticipates delinquent taxes will be

• In old business, principal Wade Hall went over priorities and goals for the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). He’ll be working with teachers during the summer to make changes. A board member brought up that the area around home plate on the softball field needs work. Hall will get with athletics director Jeff Wyatt to get the work done before the summer ball season begins, and work on tracks that were left by equipment that was used during improvements made to the field.

New business

• Board members received a list of faculty and staff who have been with the district for 15, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. Owens plans to recognize those persons on the last day of school during an awards ceremony.

• The board set the district’s MSHSAA “dead period” for July 1-9. Missouri State High School Activities Association members must have a nineday period during the summer break during which students can’t have any contact with coaches and advisors about MSHSAA-sanctioned sports and activities. The ban does not include social interaction, however.

• The district received its health insurance renewal notice from its current carrier, MEUHP (Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan), for the 2023-24 school year. The HSA plan had a 1% rate increase, and the PPO plan had a 2% increase. The board approved renewing the insurance plan,

See Mercer school, Page 6

SUBMITTED PHOTO

son

late

Pollard, spoke during the April 13 ceremony during which the Missouri Veterans Home of Cameron renamed its Military and Remembrance Library in

“Memorial and Remembrance Library in Honor of Army Sgt. Bill

the creation of the facility, the only one of

Princeton’s Kelby Thomas splashed sand as he landed in the long jump pit during the Jim King Relays last Monday (April 17).

Tigers net 4 meet records, 1 school mark at JKR meet

Rhoades sets meet records in 100, 200 and pole vault, school record in the javelin; Holt breaks ex-Tiger’s mark in high jump.

Princeton finishes third in team standings

PRESTON COLE

Editor, the Post-Telegraph

PRINCETON Even though they didn’t have enough depth to score in some events, or have entrants in some other events, Princeton’s boys track and field team managed to have a highly successful day last Monday (April 17) during their only home meet of the season, the 4th Annual Jim King Relays.

The Tigers set meet records in all four events they won, and added a school record in a fifth event, as they scored 96 points, good for third place behind Putnam County (147) and Newtown-Harris (125).

Andrew Rhoades continued his record-breaking senior spring, winning three events and setting meet records in all of them, and added a school record in the lone event he didn’t win.

Rhoades won the 200 meters in 23.03 seconds, and finished first in the 400 in 51.91, breaking his 2021 meet records (23.59 and 52.37, respectively). He was the only entrant in the pole vault because of an injury to a Putnam

Princeton girls finish third during Jim King

Bears wins 300 hurdles, ties for first in the pole vault. Spencer breaks own meet record in the javelin but finishes second behind Gilman City athlete

PRESTON COLE

Editor, the Post-Telegraph

PRINCETON Princeton’s girls scored in 13 events last Monday (April 17) to finish third in their only home track meet, the 4th Annual Jim King Relays.

The Tigers won one event, tied for first place in another, and had nine other top-3 finishes in scoring 103 points, behind South Harrison (137 points) and Gilman City (107).

Danielle Bears was Princeton’s lone solo first-place finisher as whe won the 300-meter low hurdles in 54.56 seconds. She also tied for first in the pole vault, clearing 6 feet, 6 inches.

Megan Spencer finished second in her two throws, the javelin (113-93/4) and discus (97-3). The senior broke her 2022 meet record of 1074 in the javelin, but Gilman City’s Ava Langfitt won Monday’s event with a throw of 115-51/2

Relays

to take over the top spot on the meet’s record list.

Addy Henke finished second in the 400 metters in 1 minute, 8.88 seconds, and was third in the long jump at 14-71/4

Cheyenne Dinsmore took third in the shot put with a heave of 30-91/4, and Makenzie Dunkin was third in the discus at 83-61/4

Nevaeh Brizendine was third in the 3200 in 16:15.44, Faith Siemer was third in the 100 high hurdles in 18.40, and the 4x100 relay team of Alyvia Enright, Henke, Grace Kelly and Carsey Brown was third in 54.82. Siemer was fourth in the 300 hurdles in 56.98, and Bears was fourth in the 100 hurdles in 18.47.

The 4x200 relay team of Bears, Siemer, Kelly and Henke took fourth in 1:57.06. Gracie Thogmartin finished fourth in the 100 in 14.82, and Kayla Allton was fourth in the 800 in 2:50.65.

Kadence Power was fifth in the 400 in

See Princeton girls, Page 4

County vaulter that sidelined him, and cleared 11 feet to break PC Midget Jake Rouse’s 2022 record of 10 feet, 113/4 inches.

Princeton’s fourth meet record came in the high jump, where reigning Missouri Class 1 state champion Talan Holt cleared 6-23/4, breaking ex-Tiger Zeb Schwartzkopf’s 2021 standard of 6-1.

Rhoades’ school record came in the javelin, as he threw the spear 158-51/4 to break his 11-day school record of 155-3 accomplished during Chillicothe’s Joe Shy Relays.

The throw was good for second place behind Gilman City’s Brody Langfitt, who won the event with a meet record of throw of 169-7, shattering his 2022 toss of 162-2.

In addition to Rhoades’ javelin throw, the Tigers got second-place points from Jaden Finney in the high jump (6-03/4), Kenny Wright in the 3200 meters (12 minutes, 8.20 seconds) and the 4x100 relay (Tyler Coffman, Kelby Thomas, Nicolas Rubio and Ethan Rhoades; 48.61. Holt scored in his other two events, finishing third in the 100 in 12.22 and fourth in the 200 in 24.38.

See Princeton boys, Page 4

PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph Princeton’s Megan Spencer released the javelin while two East Harrison throwers look on.

TERRI KELLY/Princeton Post-Telegraph

Tigers hold off SH, need 1 win for GRC East title

Princeton hosts Maysville on Thursday; a Tiger victory would give them outright East crown, spot in next week’s overall GRC title game

PRESTON COLE

Princeton Post-Telegraph

BETHANY Princeton’s young but growing baseball team sometimes makes things a bit too interesting for their fan base.

But as long as the Tigers win, who cares, right?

The latest example came last Thursday (April 20) when the Grand River Conference East’s two unbeaten teams (in league play, anyway) met. The Tigers took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, then held on as South Harrison scored two runs with no outs to take a 4-2 league victory.

Princeton’s (7-7, 5-0 GRC East) win set up a winnertake-all - at least for the Tigers - showdown at 5 p.m. today (Thursday, April 27) against Maysville (4-1 GRC) on Gentry Field. A Princeton victory would clinch the GRC East title and put the Tigers into the overall GRC championship game next Thursday (May 4) at the home of the East winner.

St. Joesph Christian (3-0 GRC West going into this week), Albany and Pattonsburg (both 2-1) have a shot to make a trip east next week.

Princeton got the jump on the host Bulldogs (3-9, 1-4 GRC) by getting a run in the top of the first inning, and the Tigers added single runs in the third, fourth and sixth frames for its 4-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Landon Krohn was masterful for the Tigers, throwing six innings of no-hit ball at the Bulldogs with four walks and 15 strikeouts.

Now, one could ask why Krohn didn’t pitch in the bottom of the seventh. The answer is simple - Missouri’s pitch count rule. As a junior, Krohn had a maximum of 105 pitcher for the game. He threw 103 pitches over his six full innings, which meant he could only face, at the most, two batters (once a pitcher hits his limit, he is allowed to complete the at-bat to the hitter he’s facing). More likely, Krohn would have faced one batter, since he averaged 4.3 pitches per batter.

So, Kelby Thomas came into the game and at first, was a bit shaky - he walked three Bull-

dogs and hit a fourth, and the Tigers made an error as SH got two runs to cut their deficit in half at 4-2.

Then, Thomas righted the ship, striking out three straight batters to complete the combined no-hitter and end the game.

Krohn, Clay Evans and Thomas each got two hits, and Krohn hit a home run to pace the Tiger offense.

STATISTICS

OFFENSE: Hits: Logan Krohn

2, Clay Evans 2, Kelby Thomas

2, Gavin Power, Cooper Boxley, Talan Holt, Noel Schreffler. HR: Krohn. RBI: Krohn, Boxley. Runs scored: Krohn, Evans, Thomas, Holt. Walks: Evans, Evan Houck, Holt. Stolen bases: Boxley, Holt, Thomas. Hit by pitch: Thomas.

PITCHING: Krohn: 6 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 4 walks, 15 strikeouts; Thomas: 1 inning, 2 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 hit batter. Princeton 13, North Harrison 3 at Eagleville, April 18

The Tigers scored in all five innings, including five runs in the third when Krohn hit a solo home run and Thomas hit a 2-RBI shot. Power threw a complete game for Princeton.

OFFENSE: Hits: Thomas 2, Krohn, Evans, Holt, Boxley, Tyler

Mercer track scores at Milan

Meinecke scores all of boys’ team’s points

PRESTON COLE Editor, the Post-Telegraph

MILAN Mercer’s girls scored in seven events last Wednesday (April 19) during the Wildcat Relays.

The Cardinals’ highest finish came in the 4x200-meter relay, as the team of Gracie Rogers, Maddi Fisher, Makenzie Hagan and Linda Barton finished third in 2 minutes, 13.32 seconds.

Rogers had Mercer’s best individual finish, taking fourth in the 400 in 1:11.40.

Maddi Fisher was fifth in the high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 51/4 inches. The 4x400 team of Fisher, Hagan, Barton and Rogers was sixth in 5:18.22.

Hagan was seventh in the 800 in 3:30.94.

Sari Rogers scored in two throws, finishing

seventh in the discus at 74-83/4 and eighth in the shot put at 25-11/4

Mercer scored 23 points to finish 10th out of 13 teams.

• Tyler Meinecke scored in three events to score all of the Mercer boys’ 19 points, good for 11th place.

Meinecke was second in the 100 meters (12.07 seconds) and the high jump (5-7). He finished sixth in the 200 meters in 24.82.

• Navari Payton scored the Mercer boys’ lone point during Princeton’s Jim King Relays last Monday (April 17). He was sixth in the 200 in 26.94.

Mercer’s girls team had a limited number of members available to participate, but did not score.

TERRI KELLY/Princeton Post-Telegraph Tiger junior Gavin Power delivered a pitch during Princeton’s non-conference victory over North Harrison at Eagleville last Tuesday (April 18).

Coffman. 2B: Evans. HR: Thomas, Krohn. RBI: Krohn 4, Thomas 3, Holt 2, Power, Boxley, Coffman, Damian Houk. Runs scored: Evans 3, Krohn 2, Thomas 2, Boxley 2, Holt, Houck. Walks: Evans 3, Krohn 2, Thomas, Power, Holt, Boxley, Coffman, Houk. Stolen bases: Boxley, Holt. Hit by pitch: Houk, Boxley, Houck. Green City 18, Princeton 3 at Putnam Co. Tournament Saturday, April 15 (3rd-place game)

OFFENSE: Hits: Thomas 3, Boxley 2. 2B: Thomas. RBI: Thomas 2. Runs scored: Krohn, Boxley, Houk. Walks: Krohn 2, Schreffler, Houk.

PITCHING: Thomas: 2 innings, 6 runs (6 earned), 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts; Holt: 2 innings, 3 runs (1 earned), 1 hit, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 hit batter; Houk: 1 inning, 9 runs (6 earned), 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 2 hit batters. Scotland Co. 18, Princeton 5 Putnam Co. Tournament (1st-round game) 8 innings

OFFENSE: Hits: Krohn, Thomas, Schreffler, Houk. RBI: Thomas 2, Krohn. Runs scored: Krohn 2, Thomas, Boxley, Houck. Walks: Evans, Thomas. Stolen bases: Krohn 3, Thomas. Hit by pitch: Boxley, Krohn.

PITCHING: Krohn: 4 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts; Evans: 2 innings, 5 runs (0 earned), 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, two hit batters; Schreffler: 1 inning, 8 runs (6 earned), 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 strikeout, 2 hit batters; Houck: 1 inning, 4 runs (4 earned), 2 hits, 3 walks, 1 strikeouts, 1 hit batter. at Braymer 12, Princeton 2 Monday, April 10

OFFENSE: Hits: Krohn 2, Houck 2, Thomas, Power. 2B: Krohn, Power. RBI: Power 2. Runs scored: Krohn, Evans. Walks: Evans, Thomas. Stolen bases: Holt.

PITCHING: Thomas: 2.1 innings, 6 runs (2 earned), 2 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts; Boxley: 3.1 innings, 6 runs (5 earned), 6 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts.

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Bill Pollard

From Page 1

centration camp. He helped liberate and medically treat many prisoners. What he witnessed at Dachau haunted him the rest of his life. He had nightmares until his death.

He was bestowed the honor of being named Righteous Among the Nations. That term was established by the State of Israel honoring nonJews for their service of helping liberate Jews during the Holocaust.

COVID payments

From Page 5

in many. In fact, when Dr. McCullough began speaking out in 2021, he called the mRNA injections of spike protein among the most toxic substance ever injected into a human being.

Princeton boys From Page 2

The 4x200 team of Ethan Rhoades, Finney, Rubio and Kelby Thomas finished third in 1:43.22. Thomas also finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 17-81/4, and Coffman was fourth in the javelin with a toss of 126-3.

Other Jim King Relays records

Newtown-Harris’ Gage McGregor won the 800 in 2:07.55. Teammates Zachary Cross (300 hurdles, 41.82) and Hunter Miller (long jump, 21-0 also set meet records.

North Harrison’s Tyson Gibson tied his 2022 record in the triple jump by going 43-103/4. Putnam County’s 4x100 relay team finished first in 45.30.

Princeton girls From Page

2

1:11.84, and finished sixth in the 200 in 30.83. Brown was sixth in the 100 in 15.11.

Other Jim King Relays records

South Harrison’s Lillian Wilson won the 100 in 13.22 and the 200 in 16.94, breaking former Tiger Jaelyn Steeby-Thomas’ 2019 marks of 13.42 and 27.19, respectively. The Bulldogs’ Emma Chamberlain won the 800 in 2:36.61, and SH’s won the 4x100 (51.49), 4x400 (4:36.58) and 4x800 (10:57.80) all won in meet record time.

Cainsville freshman Sloane McLain, a member of the East Harrison co-op team, and Putnam County’s Allise Perkins tied for first in the high jump with leaps of 4-11.

Pattonsburg’s Kelsey Crabtree won the 100 hurdles in 17.02, breaking Thogmartin’s 2021 record of 17.05.

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Highland Farms land owned and operated by Dixie Berger, Joe Berger & Steve Berger.

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He stated, “There now are 200 papers showing that myocarditis (from the COVID vaccine spike protein) causes heart damage…If a healthy person suddenly dies, and there’s no antecedent disease, it’s the vaccine until proven otherwise.”

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“Medical professionals are obligated to ‘do no harm,’ a key ethical rule in modern medicine. It is concerning to see doctors being financially compensated based on the vaccination rates of their patients,” said Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver. “The COVID fiasco has caused many people to lose faith in hospitals and doctors. It will be a long time before that trust is restored, if indeed is even possible at this point. People have been injured and died as a result of the most expensive shot in history, and it was paid for with our taxpayer dollars. The entire medical system is in desperate need of reform.”

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

The Princeton PostTelegraph strives for accuracy and fairness in all of its news stories and photo captions. If you feel we have made an error, please contact us at 660748-3266 or posttele@ grm.net (email) to request a correction. If it is found we are in error, we will be happy to publish a correction or clarification.

Some automobile owners are willing to pay an extra hundred bucks or so for customized plates. But that’s “chump change,” as they say, among auto aficionados attending a recent Most Noble Numbers charity auction in Dubai. A license plate with the letter and number “P-7” (the significance of which is a mystery) sold for $14,975,356 making it the most expensive license plate ever purchased, according to the judges at the Guinness Book of World Records. They don’t call them “vanity” plates for nothing.

A dog-eat-dog case

The question is what compelled the VIP Products company to make a dog toy resembling the iconic bottle of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee sour mash. Whatever the connection is between a pooch and a bottle of booze, it riled the folks at Jack Daniel’s, who took their case to the highest court in the land where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito posed the question, “Could any reasonable person think that Jack Daniel’s had approved this use of the mark?” On the other hand, Justice Elena Kagan seemed to be leaning in favor of the plaintiff and against the toy maker when she commented, “Maybe I just have no sense of humor.”

Trendy astronauts

American astronauts will soon get a newer, more chic look in their new spacesuits in time for NASA’s much anticipated Artemis 3 moon mission in 2025. More important, the suits will be more comfortable and will allow astronauts to dress themselves. “This is going to be much more flexible suit. The range of motion is really going to improve the astronauts’ ability to do all the tasks they’re going to do when out exploring on the lunar surface,” Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who is part of the Axiom Space Inc. team. Prototypes of the spacesuits - the first new suits in more than 50 years - were recently displayed bearing black, blue and orange “to conceal the suit’s proprietary design.” The actual suits will be all white to reflect heat and keep modern day moonwalkers cool.

Just when you’d thought you’d heard everything …

Is the UN promoting sex for kids?

JOHN GRIMALDI

Special to the Post-Telegraph

WASHINGTON, DC Is the United Nations (UN) saying young children have a right to engage in consensual sex - including consensual sex with an adult? It certainly appears to have officially announced that the world needs to adopt a kinder, gentler approach to what is commonly known as “Statutory Rape” in the civilized world. If not, what does the United Nations mean when it publishes a declaration that: “sexual conduct involving persons below the domestically prescribed minimum age of consent to sex may be consensual in fact, if not in law. In this context, the enforcement of criminal law should reflect the rights and capacity of persons under 18 years of age to make decisions about engaging in consensual sexual conduct and their right to be heard in matters concerning them.”

The U.N. document, “The 8 March Principles for a Human Rights-Based Approach to Criminal Law Proscribing Conduct Associated with Sex,” is the handiwork of the International Committee of Jurists, the UNAIDS [the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/ AIDS] and the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

It goes on to state that “Pursuant to their evolving capacities and progressive autonomy, persons under 18 years of age should participate in decisions affecting them, with due regard to their age, maturity, and best interests, and with specific attention to non-discrimination guarantees.” Although the report doesn’t overtly suggest sex with minors should be legalized, it claims that children younger than 18 years of age are capable of willingly having sex with older individuals, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

The paper goes on to quote Grace Melton, who served as a public delegate on the U.S. delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, led by former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and who told the Free Beacon, “This document advocates for a lot of troubling

COMMENTARY

ideas and bad policies. Not only does it suggest that minors may be mature enough to consent to sexual activity, but it also asserts that ‘criminal law may not in any way impair’ the so-called right to abortion or to ‘gender-affirming care.’

(It) illustrates some of the consequences of the progressive left’s expansion of what constitutes 'human rights.’”

As one observer put it, “Worse yet, the UN report effectively and insidiously provides adults who engage in sex with underage children an affirmative defense against committing statutory rape … Indeed, the report, in effect, suggests it is no longer criminal conduct and detracts from the protections accorded an under-age girl or boy against intimidation to say it was consensual.”

The reaction to the “The 8 March Principles” came under fire on the social media site Twitter, says Fox News. In its coverage of the report, Fox quoted a Twitter post by women’s rights activist Michelle Uriarau of Melbourne, Australia, who wrote “This hideous U.N. report … seeks to decriminalize sex - even between children and minors. Evil.” The report also quoted Canadian Olympic gold medalist Theo Fleury, who succinctly declared, “The UN is full of pedophiles!!!!”

John Grimaldi is an editorial contributor with the Association of Mature American Citizens.

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PRINCETON POST-TELEGRAPH MISSION

STATEMENT (What we try to do every week)

“Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it because in the process WE WILL CATCH EXCELLENCE.”

Coach Vince Lombardi

MERCER COUNTY 4-DAY WEATHER

National Weather Service - Pleasant Hill/Kansas City, Mo. Time of forecast: Monday, April 24, Noon

Thursday, April 27: Mostly sunny; 65/46

Friday, April 28: Mostly cloudy, 50% rain chance; 58/41

Saturday, April 29: Mostly cloudy, 40% rain chance; 54/40

Sunday, April 30: Partly sunny, windy; 58

THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment for religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peacefully assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Doctors received payments to deliver COVID-19 shots

LIBERTY COUNSEL

Special to the Post-Telegraph ORLANDO, Fla. The Biden administration and health insurers incentivized doctors and health care providers with bonus payments and reimbursementsmuch of it taxpayer dollars - to vaccinate large percentages of their Medicaid patients with the COVID-19 shots. The federal government also used taxpayer dollars to reimburse providers for administering the shot to the uninsured at twice and, in some cases, nearly three times the usual dollar amount than it normally does for traditional vaccines.

Documents reveal that the federal health insurance program Medicare, California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), and the health insurance provider Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid in Kentucky incentivized health care providers with direct financial gain to promote and administer the COVID-19 shot, particularly to Medicaid beneficiaries in lower income and minority communities. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps people with limited income to cover medical costs.

According to California’s DHCS, $350 million in incentive payments was devoted to injecting the state’s 14 million Medicaid beneficiaries with the COVID shot from September 2021 to February 2022. Out of the $350 million, half came from federal taxpayer dollars and the other half came from California state taxpayers, the DHCS stated in a press release. Specifically, $200 million went to paying out financial rewards to health care providers who met certain performance marks raising the percentage of patients who had received the COVID-19 injection. To get paid under California’s incentive payment structure, which

CULTURE WARS

weighted young people 12 to 25, people ages 50 to 64 with chronic conditions, and minorities higher than other demographics, doctors needed to boost the vaccination rates of these specific groups by upwards of 75 percent to achieve the biggest payouts. The pay structure was unclear as to how much money doctors would actually receive.

As for Medicare, a program for people 65 years or older, the Biden administration is reimbursing health care providers significantly more to administer COVID-19 injections than it does for established vaccines. Notably, the government spent $2 billion when it bought 600 million COVID shots - enough to inject most of the U.S. population. Then it also funded the “American Rescue Plan Act” (ARPA) making the shot free for all Americans regardless of their health insurance status. Under the ARPA and the provider relief fund established by Congress, more emphasis and money has been put on the COVID shot than any other shot despite all the dangers.

For instance, before March 15, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursed providers $28.93 for a single-dose vaccine, and $16.94 for the first dose in a series of two. On March 15, 2021, those rates increased specifically for the COVID-19 shots to $40 per dose, and for “in-home” administered doses the rate went as high as $75.50 on August 12, 2021, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration website.

In Kentucky, health insurance provider Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid used the same strategy to reach low-income and minori-

ty communities. According to the provider’s bulletin, Anthem told doctors they would “recognize your hard work by offering incentives for helping patients make the choice to become vaccinated.” The payments were incremental and included an initial and final payment based on injection dates. For patients injected before Sept. 1, 2021, payments for doctors ranged from a $20 bonus per vaccinated person who injected 30% of their patients, to $125 per vaccinated person for those who vaccinated 75% of their patients. A final incentive payment was paid to doctors for newly injecting people after Sept. 1, 2021, at $100 per person who injected 30% of their patients, to $250 per vaccinated person for those who vaccinated 75% of their patients. Since then, Anthem has changed the rate to a flat $50 per newly injected patient.

Anthem’s incentive program also included guidance to health care providers in how to “soft start” conversations to convince hesitant patients to take the shot. The guidance cautioned doctors not to question a hesitant patient’s information sources, and implied those sources were not of “high quality” and that sources critical of the COVID-19 shot were “misinformation.” Rather, the guidance told doctors to downplay side effects, to advise patients the shot “prevents infection” and that it “is proven safe for all.”

Dr. Peter McCullough, an internist, epidemiologist, and one of the most published cardiologists in America, with over 1,000 publications and 660 citations in the National Library of Medicine has publicly stated the COVID-19 mRNA injection is toxic, dangerous, and the cause of sudden cardiac death

See COVID payments, Page 4

COMMISSION MERCER COUNTY COMMISSION

Report taken from minutes of meetings of the Mercer County Commission.

All votes are unanimous unless otherwise noted. Monday, April 17

• Corrected minutes of the April 3 meeting were approved.

• Minutes of the April 10 meeting were approved.

• Bills were approved and paid.

• Time sheets and the April 15 payroll were approved.

• The county received Schedule 13s from Grand River Mutual Telephone Corporation and Evergy Missouri West Inc., of 2,023 miles of line.

• Commissioners voted to approve an ordinance imposing a sales tax of 3% (Ordinance 2023-4-17). Article XIV, Section 2.6. (5) of the Missouri Constitution authorizes the governing body of a county to impose a county sales tax on all tangible personal property retail sales of adult use marijuana sold in such political subdivision. Mercer County voters adopted a 3% sales tax at the election held April 4, 374144, and Mercer County Clerk/Election Authority Judy Hamilton certified the ballot question on April 10. Commissioners signed the ordinance, and Hamilton attested to the signatures.

• Commissioners voted to move $1 of county funds from a money market account to a seven-month certificate of deposit. Commissioner Cheston Easter will discuss it with Collector/ Treasurer Susan Moore and Tracy Kilen of First Interstate Bank.

• Commissioners and Hamilton signed a certified copy of order authorizing Moore to pay the following:

*$15 to Missouri Sheriffs United for concealed carry weapon permits issued (money taken from Sheriff’s Revolving Fund #35);

*$110.67 to Hamilton’s office for election expenses, and $38 to Grundy Electric Cooperative Inc. for utilities in Lindley Township (money taken from Lindley Township Fund #43);

and *40.56 to General Revenue for half of the Xerox lease (money taken from Recorder’s Special Fund #06).

• Commissioners received certificates from the Missouri Sheriffs Association and Training Academy for Sheriff Jose Lopez and Deputy Riley Nelson for the 2023 MSA Spring Training Conference.

Mercer school

From Page 1

with the district paying 100% of the costs. Persons choosing the HSA plan will have $73 placed into their account each month.

• In his report, Hall said Title I data was handed out for board members to review. Title I teachers are working on final benchmarks for their classes.

He said the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is still releasing guidance about a literacy plan.

Hall said he’d like to hold a summer reading program for students in grades K-6. Students would receive invitations and would work with teachers on a one-on-one basis.

He also proposed changes to secondary handbooks for next year, about students attending the vo-tech school in Bethany or participating in work study.

• In his report, Owens said one of the district’s CDs will be coming due. He’ll get rates and present them during the May meeting.

He also went over the school board’s role and responsibilities, the chain

of command the Sunshine Law and financial terminology.

Employment decisions

After a closed session, the board voted to re-employ Greg Frost as a teacher. He is a tenured teacher, but his contract wasn’t renewed last month because he was a candidate for the principal position that needed to be filled when Hall was hired to become the district’s superintendent after Owens’ retirement on June 30.

Non-certified staff employed for 2023-24 were Terry Bomgardner, Martha Clark, Kelly Cowan, Debra Goodman, Nellie Henley, Kerri Jincks, Joni Johnson, Richard Jones, Tara Jones, Erin Nall, Jeff Powers, Midayli Purvis, Jamie Robinson, Jennifer Wilson, Kay Wyatt, Doug Eldridge, Doyal Wyatt and Martin Mason.

A supplemental pay schedule and extracurricular contracts will be presented to the board during its May meeting.

Editor’s Note: Information for this report was taken from unapproved meeting minutes provided by district bookkeeper Jennifer Lynn Wilson.

ADVERTISE in the Post-Telegraph today!

Tigers’ Moreno signs with NCMC golf

PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph Princeton High School senior Riley Moreno (left), the only member of the Tiger girls’ golf team last fall, will be continuing her academic and athletic careers during the 2023-24 academic year at North Central Missouri College (NCMC) in Trenton. She signed her letter of intent to attend NCMC last Wednesday (April 19) during a ceremony held in the PHS activity room. The event included taking photos with family, classmates and friends, along with refreshments. Also shown is NCMC golf coach Nate Swann.

Some like it hot

New Mexico officially is the first state in the nation to have an official aroma, namely the “sweet smell of green chili peppers roasting in the fall.” The state is a major producer of chili peppers and, in the most recent growing season, produced a record 53,000 tons of the spicy treats. In fact, the Rio Grande River town of Hatch is known as the “Chili Capital of the World.”

DIVISION I CIRCUIT COURT

Judge Anthony Horvath

Persons listed in this report are Missouri residents unless otherwise noted. Addresses shown are those of the defendants on the day their cases were heard.

Putnam County Associate Circuit Judge Anthony Horvath presided over this session following the recent death of 3rd Circuit Presiding Judge Thomas Alley. Mercer County Associate Circuit Judge Matthew Krohn was appointed as presiding judge by the Missouri Supreme Court, but under state law he cannot preside over Mercer County Division I cases in most circumstances.

Wednesday, April 19

• Brayden M. Wiggins, Trenton, vs. Riverside Country Club, Trenton: The case was called and passed to June 14 at 9 a.m. for trial setting.

• State vs. Charlie Benfield, Mercer: Benfield appeared for a probation violation hearing involving his 2007 conviction on a Class C felony charge of felonious restraint. At the state’s request, cause continued to May 16 at 1 p.m. due to an attorney conflect. He was remanded to custody.

• State vs. Jeffrey Ray Demry, Centerville, Iowa: Demry appeared on charges of Class E felony charges of driving while intoxicated (persistent offender) and unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting), and Class A misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. The case was set for May 10 at 9 a.m. for arraignment.

• State vs. Jimmy L. Taylor, Exeter: Taylor appeared for a probation violation hearing for his 2020 conviction for Class D felony first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. Cause continued to May 10 at 9 a.m. due to an attorney conflict. He was remanded to custody.

• State vs. Larry Eugene Kuster, Osceola, Iowa: Kuster did not appear for a hearing on Class E felony charges of driving while intoxicated (persistent offender) and driving while revoked or suspended, Class D misdemeanor owner operated motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility (motor vehicle required to be registered), and an infraction charge of failure to display plates on motor vehicle or trailer. His public defender was presented, and she requested a continuance. Cause continued to June 14 at 9 a.m. for plea or trial setting. Kuster’s bond was continued.

• State vs. Ray Frank Lewis, Princeton: Lew-

is appeared with his attorney for a criminal motion hearing involving his 2022 convictions on two counts of Class A misdemeanor driving while revoked or suspended (second or third offense), misdemeanor owner operated motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility (motor vehicle required to be registered; second or third offense), and Class B misdemeanor failure to register motor vehicle. At his request, cause continued to May 10 at 9 a.m. for a probation violation hearing. Lewis was remanded to custody.

LAND TRANSFERS

Friday, April 14

• Bob Martin to Larry Berndt.

• Keeling Land & Cattle LLC to Rakestraw LLC.

• Catherine A. Howie to Kyle Power.

Monday, April 17

• Daniel L. McLain to Seth Hudalla.

• FBN Finance, LLC to US Bank National Association.

• MRM Land Group, LLC to Shandy Holdings, LLC et al.

Tuesday, April 18

• Amos DeWayne Schwartz et al to Jonathan Miller.

Wednesday, April 19

• Raymond Dale Donelson to Bruce E. Bates, trustee, et al.

• Bruce E. Bates, trustee, to Raymone Dale Donelson. (2 transactions)

Thursday, April 20

• Steven Ray Weets to Tacey Laurie.

• Helen Robinson to Paula Delp et al.

SENIOR MENUS

All menus subject to change.

MERCER COUNTY

SENIOR CENTER

Serving from 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Meals can be picked up at the west door (facing Broadway Street) from 11:30-12:15. Meals served with 2% milk, coffee or tea. All bread, rolls, buns and crackers are whole grain; at least half grains are whole grains. For meal deliveries, call 660-748-3636 by 10 a.m.

Everyone is welcome to eat at the Senior Center.

Meals for anyone age 60 and older are a suggested contribution of $5. Meals for anyone under age 60 cost $7.

Monday, May 1: cheeseburger/bun, potato wedges, lima beans, mandarin oranges.

Tuesday, May 2: scalloped potatoes and ham, green beans, cornbread biscuit, pudding, peaches.

Wednesday, May 3: breakfast scramble (eggs, peppers, onions, mushrooms), bacon, tomato juice, strawberries

and bananas, oatmeal scotchies.

Thursday, May 4: chicken pot pie, mixed vegetables, roasted cauliflower, biscuit, pears.

Friday, May 5: beef roast, potatoes, carrots, biscuit, red velvet cake, assorted fruit.

POST-TELEGRAPH RETAIL OUTLETS PRINCETON

Casey’s General Store

EverCare Pharmacy

Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy

Snappy’s Store

Post-Telegraph Office MERCER Hour Place

Mercer Hometown Market

SOUTH LINEVILLE

Randy’s Short Stop SINGLE COPY PRICE 75¢

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The Princeton High School FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter recently chose its officer team for the 2023-24 academic year. From left: FRONT - Grace Kelly, treasurer; Emma Walkup, secretary; Hannah Meighen, vice president); and Addy Henke, president; BACK - TJ Stark, reporter; Ellie Guilkey, activity chair; Gracie Mitchell, media chair; Audrey Kelly, photographer/historian; and Kelsey Goodin, activity chair.

DIVISION II CIRCUIT COURT

Judge Matthew Krohn

NOTES: Persons listed in this report are Missouri residents unless otherwise noted. Addresses shown are those of the defendants on the day their cases were heard.

Tuesday, April 17

• State vs. Nicole Deanne Bryan, Las Vegas, Nev.: Bryan did not appear on a Class C misdemeanor charge of exceeded posted speed limit by 11-15 mph. At the state’s request, cause continued to May 2 at 9 a.m. for arraignment and disposition.

• State vs. Parker A. Coon, Princeton: Coon appeared with his attorney on charges of Class B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, Class C misdemeanor failure to drive on right half of roadway when roadway was of sufficient width, and Class D misdemeanor purchase or attempt to purchase or possession of liquor by a minor. At his request, cause continued to May 16 at 9 a.m. for plea setting, the setting of a preliminary hearing, or disposition.

• State vs. Lorrie Dolan, Harris: Dolan appeared on two Class A misdemeanor counts of passing bad checks. She was advised of her right to counsel, which she waived. She also waived arraignment and entered a plea of guilty. The Court did not accept the prosecuting attorney’s recommendation for punishment. Dolan was sentenced to six months in jail; execution of sentence was suspended, and she was placed on probation for two years. She was also ordered to pay restitution, court costs, a payment to the county law enforcement restitution fund and a crime victims compensation judgment totaling $745.49. A file review was scheduled

for July 18 at 9 a.m. to check payment.

• State vs. Donnie E. Gannon, Princeton: Gannon did not appear for a probation violation hearing on his 2022 convictions for Class A misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (prior offender) and Class D misdemeanor driving while revoked or suspended (first offense). His attorney was in court, however, and asked for a continuance. Cause continued to May 16 at 9 a.m. It was noted that Gannon is still in treatment.

• State vs. Alexis Graham, Mercer: Graham did not appear for a probation violation hearing on her 2022 conviction of Class B misdemeanor operated motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent driving. Her attorney was present and requested a continuance. Cause continued to May 16 at 1:30 p.m. The Court said Graham needs to be present in person on May 16. Failure to appear is likely to result in a warrant being issued for her arrest.

• State vs. Carter Wade Graham, Mercer: Graham appeared with his attorney on a Class E felony charge of unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting), and Class B misdemeanor charges of operated a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, and peace disturbance (first offense). At his request, cause continued to May 16 at 9 a.m. for a plea setting or the setting of

a preliminary hearing. Graham was to report to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office for fingerprinting before leaving the courthouse.

• State vs. Larry D. Howie, Princeton: Howie appeared in custody for a probation violation hearing on his 2021 conviction of Class B misdemeanor peace disturbance (first offense). At his request, cause continued to May 2 at 9 a.m.

Howie also made his first appearance on a 2023 charge of Class A misdemeanor peace disturbance (second or subsequent offenses). He entered a plea of not guilty, and was referred to the public defenders office for representation. He requested his bond be reduced to $100, but the request was denied. A bond hearing was scheduled for April 25 at 9 a.m.

• State vs. Robert M. Howie, Cameron: Howie appeared on a Class B misdemeanor charge of peace disturbance (first offense). He was advised of his right to counsel, and waived that right. He was arraigned and entered a plea of guilty. He was sentenced to serve 20 days in jail. Execution of sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation for two years.

Howie was ordered to serve three days of shock time in jail and pay the costs of incarceration, and credit was given for time served. He was ordered to pay

$107.50 in court costs, plus $200 to the county law enforcement restitution fund and a $10 crime victims compensation judgment. He requested that his $250 bond be applied to his costs and restitution. A file review was scheduled for May 16 at 10 a.m. to check payment. However, that hearing was canceled on April 21 after the bond was applied and Howie paid the rest of the judgment against him.

• State vs. Sandra Elaine Hull; Princeton: Hull appeared on a Class D misdemeanor charge of stealing (value less than $150 and no prior stealing offense). She waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was set for May 2 at 9 a.m. to check counsel status. Hull has applied for public defender services, and the request is pending. She was to report to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office for fingerprinting before leaving the courthouse.

• State vs. Ray Frank Lewis, Princeton: Lewis appeared in custody, accompanied by his attorney, for a trial setting on two Class E felony

See Division II, Page 12

DHSS launches anti-tobacco campaign aimed at parents of teens

LISA COX

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY Missouri’s campaign, “Tobacco is Changing,” launched this week to educate parents about the different candy-flavored tobacco products tempting kids into addiction. It is also the reality of the tobacco landscape –especially when it comes to e-cigarettes.

“Remember how shocked you were when you first heard about JUUL, the disposable e-cigarette that looks like a flash drive? Well, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the many shapes that e-cigarettes now take, including smart watches, makeup compactsthey’re even hidden in hoodies and backpacks,” said Valerie Howard who leads Missouri’s Tobacco Prevention and Control program within the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). “When parents familiarize themselves with these new products, they will know what to look for.”

E-cigarettes continue to be the tobacco product of choice for teens.

The 2021 Missouri Youth Risk Behavioral Survey shows that 40% of Missouri’s high school students have tried an e-cigarette, and 19%, or close to one in five, have used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days. There are currently more high school students in Missouri using e-cigarettes than adults who smoke (17%).

Parents can view the tobacco products at TobaccoIsChangingMO.org. Site visitors will find photos of tobacco products ranging from different varieties of e-cigarettes, little cigars and cigarillos, menthol tobacco products, and even new smokeless tobacco products like toothpicks. In addition, parents can get information on tobacco industry tactics like flavors and packaging, how to talk to their child about this sometimes difficult topic and actions they can take to reduce youth tobacco use and exposure.

In addition to the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program within DHSS, the department’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has partnered with the Missouri

Academy of Family Physicians, Missouri American Academy of Pediatrics, Missouri Association of Rural Educators, Missouri Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mental Health, Public Safety and Social Services, Missouri Hospital Association, Missouri Parents as Teachers Association, Missouri School Boards Association and Tobacco Free Missouri on this campaign to help educate Missouri parents about youth e-cigarette and other tobacco product use.

The Tobacco is Changing site includes a media toolkit with fact sheets, social media content and videos for communities and partners to use in their own communication efforts.

For more information about the Tobacco Is Changing campaign, visit TobaccoIsChangingMO.org. Free help for teens to quit using e-cigarettes is available by texting VAPEFREEMO to 873873 or at YouCanQuit.org.

Shown are some of the materials used in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ anti-tobacco campaign.

MDC urging motorists to give turtles a “brake” while they’re moving

JILL PRITCHARD

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages drivers to be cautious on the roads this spring and give turtles a brake! These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months, but are at special risk this time of year because they are more active.

Common turtles spotted crossing Missouri roads include three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and snapping turtles. Turtles emerge from

their burrows and begin the hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death. Thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles.

Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas.

Turtles are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, and de-

pend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperatures. This is why people see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days.

Vehicles are one of the leading threats box turtles face in Missouri, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down if they see a turtle in the road. If helping a turtle make it safely

across, check for traffic and always move the turtle in the direction it is traveling.

Additionally, MDC urges the public to leave turtles in the wild. Taking a wild animal, whether a turtle or other wildlife species, and keeping it as a pet normally ends in a slow death. Leave turtles in the wild, follow the speed limit, and keep

your eyes on the road.

For more information on Missouri’s turtles, visit the MDC online Field

Guide at https://nature. mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/search/ turtle.

Stacy Center hosts special events this weekend

Open house, pool reopening set for Saturday. Luncheon, silent auction scheduled for Sunday Princeton Post-Telegraph

PRINCETON The Stacy Center has announced two special events this weekend.

First, the center will have an open house to celebrate the reopening

of the center’s swimming pool on Saturday, April 29 from noon to 3 p.m. There will be free swimming, snacks, games, discounted memberships and prize drawings.

Then on Sunday, April 30, the Stacy Center will hold a luncheon and silent auction in the Princeton Elementary School commons from

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The meal will consists of smoked loin, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salads and desserts. Organizers say there will be “many wonderful” items up for bid during the silent auction.

Gold, silver should be legal tender in the U.S.

PAUL HAMBY

Special to the Post-Telegraph

MAYSVILLE A friend received a 1910 wheat penny in change this past week. It is fascinating to look at a coin that has been in circulation for 113 years. When that coin was minted our money was backed by gold and silver. Just three years later, the Federal Reserve Central Bank was created. The Federal Reserve is a private central bank that is not part of the government. However they do control our money supply. Since the creation of the Federal Reserve, our dollar has lost 97% of its value.

In just the past three years, the earning power of your money has lost 25% of its value.

Back in the day, our U.S. dollars were backed by gold and silver. That all changed and today U.S. dollars are actually paper loans. Look at

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

The Princeton PostTelegraph strives for accuracy and fairness in all of its news stories and photo captions. If you feel we have made an error, please contact us at 660-7483266 or posttele@grm. net (email) to request a correction. If it is found we are in error, we will be happy to publish a correction or clarification.

LIBERTY THOUGHTS

the paper dollars in your pocket. Across the top it says “Federal Reserve Note.” The U.S. Treasury prints these notes that are loans from the private bank called the Federal Reserve.

In June 1963, President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order for the Treasury to again issue silver certificates. His goal was to get the United States out of debt. JFK took on the two primary ways that have been used to drive up our national debt: 1) war (Vietnam); and, 2) the creation of money by the privately owned central bank. His efforts to have all U.S. troops out of Vietnam by 1965 combined with the June 1963 executive order would have destroyed the profits and control of the private Federal Reserve Bank. JFK was assassinated five months

later, in November 1963. Was JFK’s death a warning to future presidents from the Central Bank cartel?

Today we have cryptocurrency, Venmo, Paypal, Mastercard, Visa and paper money to use as legal tender. Legal tender is defined as “Money that is legally valid for the payment of debts.” Why not gold and silver?

Utah was first to recognize gold and silver as legal tender in 2011. Followed by Wyoming, Oklahoma and recently Arkansas. You can now pay your taxes in those states with gold or silver.

Missouri Senate Bill 100, sponsored by Sen. Bill Eigel, is similar. SB100 declares that the state of Missouri shall accept gold and silver as legal tender for payment of any debt, tax, fee or obligation owed. Capital gains on gold and silver would be exempt from Missouri taxes. The act requires the Missouri State Treasurer to keep

in the custody of the state treasury an amount of gold and silver greater than or equal to 1% of all state funds.

This is not a mandate that a private business or organization must accept all forms of legal tender. Missouri businesses may still set their own policies. For example, some businesses do not accept $100 bills. Some do not accept certain other forms of payment.

Gold and silver should once again be legal tender. It’s time to stop the devaluation of our dollar.

Paul Hamby is a conservative, free-thinking farmer and small business owner from DeKalb County in northwest Missouri.

A mega-buck license plate

Some automobile owners are willing to pay an extra hundred bucks or so for customized plates. But that’s “chump change,” as they say, among auto aficionados attending a recent Most Noble Numbers charity auction in Dubai. A license plate with the letter and number “P-7” (the significance of which is a mystery) sold for $14,975,356 making it the most expensive license plate ever purchased, according to the judges at the Guinness Book of World Records. They don’t call them “vanity” plates for nothing.

PRESTON COLE/Princeton Tost-Telegraph Princeton’s Andrew Rhoades easily won the 400 meters during last Monday’s (April 17) Jim King Relays in Princeton. The Tiger senior set meet records in this race plus the 200 meters and pole vault, and broke his school record in the javelin.

CAINSVILLE MELANIE CHANEY

May birthdays that I am aware of are as follows: Amy Kokesh, Diana Crouse, Deanna Seymour, Chris Seymour, Tamme Schwartzkopf, Jay Bain, Toni Dunagan, Kenny Crawley, Katie Crabtree, Kaitlyn Smith, Keely Waddle, Andy Hamilton, Kyla Plymall, Joshua Schoonover, Barbara McLain, Gary Turner, Glenda Mercer, Hilarie Vaughn and Kenny Wayne Thompson.

Isaac, Shyanne, Lilah and Lakelynn Chaney were Saturday night, April 22 visitors of Herman and Melanie Chaney.

I was told by some friends that I saw on Friday night that it should be in the Cainsville news. Which means my friends apparently read the article. So here it is: Melanie Chaney visited with some friends on Friday night, April 21 in Princeton.

There was a home baseball game against Newtown/Grundy on April 25. Junior high and high school HDC track will be at South Harrison on April 26. High school track will be at South Harrison on April 27, with junior high track at Worth County. There is a baseball game at Gilman City on April 28. I don’t have a new calendar yet so I’m not sure what else is going on at school in May. I know school is about over though and it has went fast.

Please keep Bill Bain in your thoughts and prayers. He is having some health issues and could use them.

Send me some news, so I don't have to write about what I did! Have a great day.

SCHOOL FOOD

All menus subject to change. PRINCETON

Breakfast is available to all students. It is served with a choice of 1% white milk or skim chocolate milk. Cereal is available as an option every day except where noted. Fruit and juice are available every day. Nutri-grain bars are available on select days.

Monday, May 1: EggStravaganza bacon and cheese.

Tuesday, May 2: pancakes, sausage patty.

Wednesday, May 3: french toast sticks.

Thursday, May 4: Pop Tart, yogurt.

Friday, May 5: biscuits, sausage gravy.

Lunch is served with the choice of 1% fat-free white milk or fat-free chocolate milk. Students in grades K-5 have the choice of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or the menu entree. Students in grades 6-12 have the option of a chef salad or the en-

tree every day unless noted. All bakery items are whole wheat or whole grain. Fruit is served with lunch.

Monday, May 1: chicken sandwich, french fries, red peppers.

Tuesday, May 2: sweet and sour chicken, steamed broccoli, brown rice.

Wednesday, May 3: pork patty, mashed potatoes, white gravy, peas, roll.

Thursday, May 4: spaghetti with meat sauce, romaine salad, carrot sticks, breadstick.

Friday, May 5: hamburger, potato wedges, celery sticks, dessert.

MERCER

Breakfast is served with orange juice and white or chocolate milk. Cereal is an optional entree.

Mondays: egg entree. Tuesdays: cereal, toast. Wednesdays: breakfast roll. Thursdays: sausage, pancakes. Fridays: biscuits, gravy.

Lunch is served with milk. A salad bar and fruits and vegetables are available every day, except where noted. Students in grades PK-6 will have the choice of option A or a chef salad. Students in grades 7-12 will have the choice of either option or a chef salad.

Monday, May 1: a) popcorn shrimp; b) tenderloin sandwich; baked sun chips.

Tuesday, May 2: a) chicken and noodles; b) chicken nuggets; mashed potatoes, green beans, roll.

Wednesday, May 3: a) chicken alfredo, breadsticks; b) hamburger; corn.

Thursday, May 4: a) meatball sub; b) hot ham and cheese sandwich; baked fries.

Friday, May 5: a) nacho supreme; b) baked potato; refried beans.

MERCER CO.

FOOD PANTRY

Located in the basement of Princeton United Methodist Church.

Second and fourth Tuesday: 9-10:30 a.m.

Other Tuesdays: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Note: Persons can pick up their food in the church basement. At present, social distancing will be observed, and masks are recommended but not mandatory.

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

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charges, unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting) and unlawful use of a weapon (possessed weapon and a felony controlled substance), Class D felony possession of a controlled substance and Class A misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (prior drug offense). A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 2 at 1 p.m.

Lewis also appeared for a probation violation hearing on his 2021 convictions for Class A misdemeanor driving while revoked or suspended (second or third offense) and misdemeanor owner operated motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility (second or subsequent offense). At his request, cause continued to May 2 at 1 p.m.

• State vs. Kyle Ray Nickell, Lineville, Iowa: Nickell did not appear on a Class A misdemeanor charge of driving while revoked or suspended (second or third offense). A warrant for his arrest was also issued, with bond set at $500 cash.

• State vs. Paul Redding, Corydon, Iowa: Redding appeared on a 2007 Class A misdemeanor charge of passing bad check less than $500. He was advised of his right to counsel, which he waived, and entered a plea of guilty. Imposition of sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation for two years. He was ordered to pay $91 in restitution, $107.50 in court costs and a $10 crime victims compensation judgment. He paid the restitution in court with

a cashier’s check. A file review was set for May 16 at 10 a.m. to check payment in full.

• State vs. Morgan Michelle Smith, Ridgeway: Smith appeared for arraignment for Class D misdemeanor operated motor vehicle owned by another knowing owner has not maintained financial responsibility. She was advised of her right to counsel, waived that right, waived arraignment, and entered a plea of guilty. She was ordered to pay a $300 fine, $107.50 in court costs and a $10 crime victims compensation judgment. A file review was set for July 5 at 10 a.m. to check payment in full.

• State vs. Daniel James Starr, Minneapolis, Minn.: Starr did not appear on a Class B misdemeanor charge of exceeded posted speed limit by 20-25 mph. A warrant for his arrest was ordered issued, with bond set at $500 cash.

• State vs. Dakoda Dale Wright, Cainsville: Wright did not appear for a counsel status review for charges of Class D felony of second-degree burglary and Class D misdemeahor stealing (value less than $150 and no prior stealing offense). A warrant for his arrest was ordered issued, with bond set at $10,000 cash.

• State vs. Shelley Service, Chillicothe: Service appeared for a preliminary hearing for Class D felony abuse or neglect of a child under Section 568.060.5(1) RSMo (no sexual contact). She waived the preliminary hearing, and was bound over for arraignment

and plea on May 10 at 9 a.m. Her bond ($10,000 with 10% allowed) was continued.

• State vs. Derrick Michael LeMasters, Parkersburg, W. Va.: LeMasters appeared for a prelimiary hearing for two Class E felony counts of resisting arrest, detention or stop by fleeing (creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person). He waived the preliminary hearing and was bound over to appear on May 10 at 9 a.m.

Five other counts were certified to Division I to follow the felony counts. Those counts are Class B misdemeanor counts of operated a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, exceeded the posted speed limit by 26 mph or more, and failure to drive on the right half of roadway when roadway was of sufficient width, causing an immediate threat of an accident, Class D misdemeanor owner operated motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility (motor vehicle required to be regstered; first offense), and infraction displayed or possessed motor vehicle or trailer plates of another person.

LeMasters’ bond (no bond) was continued as previously set. He was remanded to the custody of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.

Mercer FBLA competes at state contest

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Members of the Mercer High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America competed during the state contests April 16-18 in Springfield. From left: FRONT - Bailey Houk, Emma Shipley, Rainey Michael, Summer Martin and Makenzie Hagan; BACK - Jayce Davis, Breanna Houk, Kaydee Hill, Maddi Fisher, Gracie Rogers and Shelby Henley. Here are the members’ finishes: Future Business Leader - Kaydee Hill, fifth; Parliamentary Procedures - Kaydee Hill, Summer Martin, Breanna Houk, Gracie Rogers, Maddi Fisher, sixth; Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures - Shelby Henley, seventh; Makenzie Hagan, eighth; Mobile App Development - Rainey Michael & Emma Shipley, ninth; Human Resource Management - Summer Martin, 10th.