Thursday, June 29, 2023
Volume 151, No. 26 - Princeton, MO 64673
FIND THIS INFORMATION AND MORE IN THIS WEEK’S PRINCETON POST-TELEGRAPH
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Mercer board deeds land, approves budget Property was once site of a country school, one of many in the district. Surplus budget for 2022-23, deficit plan for 2023-24 approved PRESTON COLE Princeton Post-Telegraph
MERCER A Mercer area couple will receive one-half acre of land that is on their property, which was once the site of a country school. The action to issue a quit claim deed to Richard and Linda Taff came during the June 12 meeting of the North Mercer County R-3 Board of Education. During the meeting, the board also closed the 2022-23 fiscal year, adopted a preliminary 2023-24 budget, and made decisions on extra-duty assignments. Quit claim deed Title agent Fonda Shipley, owner of Mercer County Title Company in Princeton, handed out information on old country school properties inside the district. They are exempt from taxes and owned by the Mercer district. The Taffs own property that
has one of those sites on it, and they want to have the site deeded to them so that they could fill an old cistern. The board voted 5-0 to do a quit claim deed to the couple for the site, which is one-half acre in size. Board president Ervin Taff abstained from the vote, and another member was absent from the meeting. The couple is responsible for all costs. Shipley noted most of the sites of the old country school are smaller than one-half acre. The original deed for the site the Taffs are getting was dated 1861. Surplus budget for 2022-23 Amendments included to the 2022-23 budget means the district ran at a healthy surplus. Revenue went up by $190,800, while expenses were down by $10,615. Those factors placed final revenues at $3,693,495, against expenses of $3,314,597 for a surplus of $378,597. Superintendent Dan Owens said that the district’s capital projects fund (Fund 4) had
Sticken speaks to kids about military experience
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U.S. Army Reserves Staff Sgt. Ethan Sticken (the really tall guy) shared his military experience Friday, June 23 for the Mercer County Library’s Summer Reading Program. He taught the kids about his travels, his uniform and exercise, they played a marching game, and even let them try MREs. The children enjoyed him reading to them and he also brought an American eagle craft for them to make. It was the perfect way to celebrate our patriotism heading into the upcoming 4th of July. Sticken also serves as a science teacher at Princeton High School.
4th of July events set for three area towns
See Assignments, Page 5
More progress on new ballfields noted
Activities from early morning to after dark in Mercer, Pleasanton and Princeton Post-Telegraph staff report
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A crew was in Princeton late last week to install the backstop and fence poles on the new softball and baseball fields. The fields will have netting to protect spectators from dugout to dugout, and the traditional chain link in the outfield areas.
Three local communities are having Independence Day events next Tuesday, July 4. You can start the day at 7 a.m. by attending the annual breakfast and bake sale sponsored by Ragan-Hickman American Legion Auxiliary Unit 477 at the Mercer Community Center/Legion Hall. Proceeds from the hometown-style breakfast go toward the auxiliary’s project of placing small American flags at the graves of veterans in Mercer County cemeteries. Next, you can take a drive to Pleasanton, Iowa, for the village’s 165th annual Independence Day event. Activities include a parade at 11 a.m. (line up at 10), hometown talent at 12:15 p.m., music at 1 p.m.,
and games for all ages at 2 p.m.. 4-H and other food stands will be available. Note: If you’re new to the area, Pleasanton is located on the north side of the Missouri/ Iowa state line in northwestern Mercer County on Route B (in Missouri, anyway). Finally, come to Princeton for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual celebration at Gentry Field in the lower fairgrounds. The Rev. Mike Tipton will offer the opening prayer at 6 p.m., followed by Felisha Bertrand performing the national anthem and local talent performing. The band Branded Souls will play from 6:30 to dusk, at which time local pyrotechnician and his crew will set off the fireworks display. In between, the chamber will See 4th of July, Page 2
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