07-13-2023 Post Telegraph

Thursday,

Lopez files suit against county, commissioners

Sheriff demands pay raise retroactive to January 2022. Commission disagree, saying state law prohibits salary increases during an elected office current term. Lopez rejected proposed settlement

PRESTON COLE

Princeton Post-Telegraph

PRINCETON Mercer County

Sheriff Jose Lopez filed suit in Division I of Mercer County Circuit Court last Thursday (July 7) against Mercer County and its three commissioners.

Presiding Commissioner Jerry Allen, 1st District Commissioner Cheston Easter and 2nd District Commissioner Zachary Martin were named as respondents.

The suit involves Lopez’s claim that under two Missouri Senate bills passed and signed in 2021, he is entitled to have his salary increased immediately, as well as retroactively to Jan. 1, 2022.

The commissioners disagreed in a statement provided to the Post-Telegraph on Monday morning, June 10. That statement, in full:

“The Mercer County Commission firmly believes that the claimed amounts for additional salary are unconstitutional by Missouri State Law as prohibited increases in pay during an

elected official’s current term of office.

“The Mercer County Commission offered a partial settlement for retroactive pay to resolve the significant differences in each party’s legal positions in lieu of the fiduciary obligations of the county.”

Lopez claims Section 57.317.1(2) RSMo mandates that a county sheriff’s salary is to be based on a county’s assessed valuation, on a percentage basis of the associate circuit judge’s salary ($150,035).

For Mercer County, a Class 3 county whose 2022 assessed valuation was $92,482,498, Lopez’s salary should be 45% of of that amount - $67,515.75.

Lopez claims that salary should have taken effect on Jan. 1, 2022. The sheriff’s current annual salary is $63,605.87, a difference of $3,909.88.

On May 1 of this year, the commissioners sent a “responsive” letter to Lopez’s attorney, Quinn Benson of Kirksville, Mo., offered a proposed settlement to adopt the pay increase effective Sept. 1, 2022. “However, the applicable funds will be allotted from the payroll portion of the Sheriff’s current budget,” the letter said.

See Lopez sues, Page 6

Girl

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Girl Scouts from Junior Troop 8175 of Princeton recently completed requirements to earn their Bronze Award, the highest award available for their level. Lilly Dowling (left) and Jaelynn Wells made birthday bags complete with a pan, cake mix, a can of soda to mix with the cake, frosting, candles, plates and napkins, and donated them to the Mercer County Food Pantry. To earn the award, the girls had to complete one Journey and spend at least 20 hours planning, executing, and delivering the project. They were pinned during the Court of Awards on June 4. The troop is led by Tricia Rudminat.

Hudson named 3rd Circuit judge

He’s been Grundy County asssociate judge since 1998 PRESTON COLE Princeton Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY Missouri

Gov. Mike Parson has appointed the replacement for the late Judge Thomas Alley as 3rd Judicial Circuit presiding judge.

Princeton holds annual Independence Day celebration

Steven Hudson of Trenton, who had been serving as Grundy County associate circuit judge, was named to fill the vacancy created when Alley died in April.

The announcement was made Friday, July 7, and took effect immediately.

Hudson will replace Matthew Krohn, Mercer County associate circuit judge, who had been the interim circuit judge.

Hudson has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from William Jewell College in 1983, and re-

ceived his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He was first elected as Grundy Councy associate circuit judge in 1998.

The appointment of Hudson as circuit judge created a vacancy for the Grundy County position. Once the vacancy is posted on Parson’s website, interested judges and attorneys can fill out an application and enter the nomination process.

The 3rd Judicial Circuit includes Mercer, Grundy, Harrison and Putnam counties.

MERCER COUNTY 4-DAY WEATHER

National Weather Service - Pleasant Hill/Kansas City, Mo.

Time of forecast: 3 p.m.

Monday, July 10

Thursday, July 13: Mostly sunny; 89/69

Friday, July 14: 50% chance of showers; 87/68

Saturday, July 15: Mostly sunny; 84/65

Sunday, July 16: Sunny; 84

Forecasts

COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph

The band Branded Souls was the featured performer during the Princeton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Independence Day celebration, held July 4.

STORAGE UNITS

For Rent - Storage unit. Elm Street Storage, Princeton. 660-748-3619. 6-8-ufnbP+C

GUNS & AMMO

WOOD’S GUN SHOP

5 Miles South of Ravanna 660-748-5795

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

1-5-2023-ufnP+C

SERVICES

New cemetery memorials, cemetery restorations and repairs. RW Monument, 520273-9933. 7-6-4tpP+C

Boyer Land Company LLC

Aaron Franklin, Sales Agent Princeton, MO 64673 660-748-6314

YOUR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST!

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General Construction Services

> Roofing

> Garages > Concrete > Fencing RW Construction 520-273-9933 7-6-4tpP+C

Wells Heating & Air Conditioning LLC

Princeton, MO

660-748-8489

Sales and Service

On All Brands

Serving Princeton & Surrounding Area

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NO HUNTING

NOTICE - Hunting and trespassing with dog and/or gun, trapping or fishing on land owned or leased by the undersigned is strictly forbidden. You are hereby warned to keep off these properties. Trespassers will be prosecuted.

No tresspassing for any reason on land that we own or lease. John & Linda Baughman. 9-29-22-52tpP+C

No hunting or trespassing on any land owned by Bill and Peggy Heck

9-15-22-52tbP+C

No hunting, fishing or trespassing on property owned, leased or rented by Joe and Victoria Ryan

4-27-23-52tpP+C

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Highland Farms land owned and operated by Dixie Berger, Joe Berger & Steve Berger. 5-19-22-52tpP+C

No hunting, trespassing or fishing on property owned, leased or rented by Howard or Joe Don Pollard 4-21-22-52tpP

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Choate property at any time. 3-30-23-52tpP

Absolutely no hunting with guns or dogs, fishing, or trespassing on land owned by Berndt Farm and Berndt Twin Lake Inc. 11-10-22-52tpP

No hunting or trespassing on Cox family property - Andy and Donna Cox, and Robert and Tina Cox. 12-3-20-104tpP

NO HUNTING

Absolutely NO TRESPASSING, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting and drones on land owned and/ or rented by FRJ Family Farms, LLC and Roberta Zimmer. 3-23-23-52tpP+C

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on land owned by Barbara & LeRoy Hider 10-13-22-52tpP+C

GARAGE SALES

ALL garage sales (and similar sales) MUST be paid for in advance, unless you have an account that is in good standing.

Garage Sale - Multi-family. Large selection. 14622 South State, Mercer. Friday, July 14, 6-8 p.m.; Saturday, July 15, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 7-13pP+C

INFORMATION

HOW TO CONTACT US Princeton Post-Telegraph PO Box 286/704 West Main Princeton, MO 64673

Phone: 660-748-3266

Fax: 660-748-3267

Email: posttele@grm.net

DEADLINES Al Display Ads (Ads with borders) All Classified Ads News & Photos: 10 a.m. Friday

* - includes photos sent via email

NOTE: Deadlines change for holiday printing schedules. Advance notice will be provided.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! If an error is made in your ad, we will be happy to correct it. However, we are not responsible for errors that appear for more than one week.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate and/or houses, and all rental housing and/or property, advertised in the Princeton Post-Telegraph newspaper and the Courier shopper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowlingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

EDITOR’S NOTICE

The receipt of news, advertisements, letters to the editor, and/or press releases by the Princeton Post-Telegraph DOES NOT constitute an agreement to publish such news, advertisements, letters to the editor, and/or press releases. All news, advertisements, letters to the editor, and/or press releases will be published at the discretion of the editor. At all times, the editor reserves the right to edit, amend, and/ or delete any and all information at will, with or without explanation.

The limit of liability of the Princeton Post-Telegraph takes no responsibility for advertising, legal and/or non-legal, not published. The Princeton Post-Telegraph takes no responsibility for the non-publishing of news, letters to the editor, and/or press releases.

This notice also applies for advertisements for the Courier (shopper).

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MERCER COUNTY, MISSOURI PROBATE DIVISION

In the Estate of: WINTON EUGENE COON, DECEASED Case No. 23AI-PR00010 NOTICE OF LETTERS TESTMENTARY (Independent Admibistration) TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF WINTON EUGENE COON, DECEASED

On July 5, 2023, the Last Will and Testament of the decedent having been admitted to probate, the following individual was appointed the personal representative of the estate of WINTON EUGENE COON, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Mercer County, Missouri. The personal representative may administer the estate independently without adjudication, order, or direction of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court, unless a petition for supervised administration is made to and granted by the Court.

The name and address of the personal representative is: ROBERT COWHERD, 903 JACKSON ST., PO BOX 228, CHILLICOTHE, MO 64601.

The personal representative’s attorney’s name, business and phone number: ROBERT COWHERD, CHAPMAN AND COWHERD, P.C., 903 JACKSON, PO BOX 228, CHILLICOTHE, MO 64601.

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

Date of decedent’s death: November 14, 2022.

Date of first publication:

July 13, 2023.

/s/ Julie Humphrey, Deputy Clerk

Receipt of this Notice by mail should not be construed by the recipient to indicate that he necessarily have a beneficial interest in the Estate. The nature and extent of any person’s interest, if any, may possibly be determined from the file and records on this Estate filed in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Mercer County, Missouri.

DATES OF PUBLICATION

July 13, 2023

July 20, 2023

July 27, 2023

August 3, 2023

CAINSVILLE MELANIE CHANEY

A large crowd attended the 16th annual Cainsville 4th of July Celebration on July 7-8 at the ball park. There were several raffles that weekend and some of the winners are as follows. Gary McLain won the 50/50 raffle that was involved with the car cruise. Tammy Lane won the duck run, David Dennis won the gun raffle, and Ronnie Miles won the knife raffle. Teresa Elmore won the horse apple bingo and several people won from the $2 raffle. JohnThomas won a lightbar. Glenda Mercer and Jim Crofut won subscriptions to the Bethany Republican-Clipper. Glenda Mercer won a Chiefs flag. Laura Crofut won a Texaco sign. Violet Ellsworth won a windshield sticker. Violet Ellsworth and Sandy Marsh won flashlights. Poker run winners were: 1. Steven Brayden; 2. Sydney Deskins; 3. Isaac Chaney. Jim Crofut also won the veterans blanket for the most years of service.

After the car show on July 8 a car cruise was held to Bethany around the square, stopped at Sonic and went back to

Cainsville. Nineteen cars stopped at Sonic and enjoyed a cold drink and visiting with people who stopped to see the cars. Then they returned to Cainsville to finish up the festivities for the day. Cars from Cainsville, Macon, Bethany, Princeton, Kirksville, Mercer, McFall and Gladstone, Mo., and Papillion, Neb., all went on the cruise.

This is currently all the information I have gathered from the festivities over the weekend but I will have more next week.

Damien Chaney spent the night Wednesday, July 12 and went to the movies with his grandpa and grandma Herman and Melanie Chaney. On Thursday, July 13, Damien and Melanie took Corben and Maudy Hutton to Amanda Zerbe in Ravanna to visit and play.

Bill and Trenda Robertson drove up from Gladstone to attend the festivities in Cainsville on Saturday and to visit their friends Herman and Melanie Chaney. They all had a really good time.

Sympathy to the family and friends of Jerry Stallsworth, who recently passed away.

Please let me know if

you had any visitors over the weekend and if you have any news for next week!

ORGANIZATIONS

Ragan-Hickman

Ragan-Hickman American Legion Post 477 and Auxiliary Unit 477 held their regular meeting on Monday, June 2 at the American Legion Hall/Mercer Community Center. Members present were Betty Bagley, Linda Berndt, Sandy Hull, Stacy Bagley, Ronald Hoover, LeRoy Mayes, Paula Hayes, Dave Asher, Roland Drabek, Gary Eastin, Robert Wilson, Donna Gibson, Harold and Rosemary Beverage, Greg Frost, Sally Reighard and Kristina Bagley, and four guests.

Plans are underway for the American Legion and Auxiliary to serve lunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, July 29 during Mercer Homecoming. The next meeting is set for July 24 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall/ Community Center in Mercer. All veterans and families are welcome to attend.

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.

Wednesday, July 5

• State vs. Phillip Michael Blink, Promise City, Iowa: Blink appered in custody for a trial setting on charges of Class A felony first-degree robbery, felony armed criminal action, Class B felony stealing or attempt to steal from a financial institution, and Class E felony unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting). A preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Blink is accused of the attempted robbery of First Interstate Bank of Princeton on May 19.

• State vs. Hanna Claire Allnutt, Princeton: Allnutt failed to appear for a review hearing on her conviction for violated provisions of Sections 302.130 or 302.178 regarding an intermediate driver’s license or temporary instruction permit. She has paid court costs and fees, provided proof of completion of community service hours, and filed an essay/report regarding viewing the “How to Save a Life” video. Probation was continued.

• State vs. Parker Coon, Princeton: Coon did not appear in connection with his convictions for Class B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and Class C misdemeanr failure to drive on the right half of the roadway when roadway was of sufficient width. On the Court’s motion, cause continued to July 18 at 9 a.m. for a case review and probation conditions.

• State vs. Matthew

Wayne Dixon, Chillicothe: Dixon appeared for arraignment on an infraction charge of animal trespass. He waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was set for Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. for plea or trial setting.

• State vs. Judy K. Duryea, Cainsville: Duryea appeared for a trial setting for a Class B misdemeanor charge of peace disturbance. A bench trial was set for Aug. 15 at 3 p.m.

• State vs. Kirby Wayne Eastin, Mercer: Eastin appeared for arraignment on two Class D felony charges of second-degree arson. He waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. At his request, cause continued to Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. for discovery, plea negotiations, and a plea or trial setting. He was ordered to report to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office for fingerprinting before leaving the courthouse.

• State vs. Kimber Gilbert, Mercer: Gilbert did not appear for a probation review hearing involving her conviction for Class A misdemeanor failure to stop for a school bus receiving or discharging school children. It was noted that

verification of her driver improvement program was not on file. At the state’s request, cause continued to Aug. 15 at 9 a.m.

Gilbert’s probation was suspended until further order.

• State vs. Larry D. Howie, Princeton: Howie appeared in custody for a probation violation hearing involving his conviction for Class A misdemeanor peace disturbance (second or subsequent offense). At his request, cause continued to July 18 at 1:30 p.m. for another hearing, and he was remanded to custody. The state has filed to revoke his probation.

Howie also appeared for trial setting on a charge of Class B misdemeanor peace disturbance (first offense). A preliminary hearing was set, also for July 18 at 1:30 p.m.

• State vs. Samantha Jo Johnson, Powersville: Johnson appeared for arraignment on a Class D misdemeanor charge of operated motor vehicle owned by another, knowing owner of vehicle has not maintained financial responsibility. She waived arraignment and presented proof of insurance. The state

is going to dismiss the charge.

• State vs. Derrick Michael LeMasters, Parkersburg, W. Va.: LeMasters did not appear for a payment review involving his conviction for Class A misdemeanor delivery or possession of an item at a county or private jail or correctional center which a prisoner is prohibited from receiving. A warrant for his arrest was ordered issued, with bond set at $117.50 cash.

• State vs. Mitchell R. Medina, Buellton, Calif.: Medina appeared in custody for a trial setting for Class D felony first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. A preliminary hearing was set for July 18 at 2:15 p.m. By agreement, a bond hearing was set for July 12 at 11 a.m. Medina was remanded to custody.

• State vs. Kyle Ray Nickell, Humeston, Iowa: Nickell appeared on a Class A misdemeanor charge of driving while revoked or suspended (second or third offense). At his request, cause continued to Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. for plea negotiations and a plea or trial setting.

• State vs. Edwin B. Payne, Princeton: Payne

appeared on a Class E felony charge of failure to register as a sex offender pursuant to Sections 589.400-425

RSMo. At his request, cause continued to Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. to check counsel status. Bond was continued.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

All persons listed are Missouri residents unless otherwise listed.

Friday, June 23

• Marvin G. McLain Jr. and Alyssa D. Lawson, both of Princeton.

LAND TRANSFERS

Monday, June 26

• Travis Marts to Cody Brundage.

• Cody Brundage to Eddie Gene Knapp.

Thursday, June 29

• Rick Knisley to David W. Elvin et al.

• Estate of William J. Stamper to Renante Kinney.

Friday, June 30

• Robert Wilson to Hawkins McCoy.

• Linda J. Grooms, trustee, to Melody Souders.

• Linda J. Grooms, trustee, to Brandi Ury.

• Jimmy M. See to Jimmy M. See et al.

• Walter and Judy Duryea Revocable Trust to Chris Illg.

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.

Young gymnast scores high during YMCA nationals

Special to the Post-Telegraph PRINCETON U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Cristal Dunkin announced on Monday, July 10, that Mercer County is authorized for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2023. FSA’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Emery Houck competed during the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships on June 23 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She finished second in all-around and on the bars, third in beam and floor, and fourth in vault. Emery is the daughter of Cole and Jessical Houck.

Commission MERCER COUNTY COMMISSION

Report taken from minutes of meetings of the Mercer County Commission. All votes are unanimous unless otherwise noted. Monday, June 26

• Minutes of the June 20 meeting were approved.

• Bills were approved and paid.

• Matthew Dixon spoke to commissioners, wanting to see Lindley Township land closure records.

• 911 administrator Travis Marts, assistant 911 administrator Carrie Evans and dispatcher Brenda Courtney spoke to commissioners about wanting ideas in finding another dispatcher. They are going to expand “help wanted” ads.

• Mercer County Ambulance District Director Doug Priest spoke to commissioners.

• Commissioners and County Clerk Judy Hamilton signed a certified copy of order authorizing Collector/Treasurer Susan Moore to pay the following:

*$84.09 to Dish Network for TV in the jail and sheriff’s office (money taken from Sheriff’s Special Fund #32);

*$7,320.54 to C&C Bridge and Concrete Inc. for match funds of Bridge 2550002

BRO-B065 (39) Progress Invoice 14 (money taken from SLFRF/ARPA Grant Fund #7);

*$1,087.68 to Cardmember Services for expenses during jailer training (money taken from Sheriff’s Training Fund #5); and

Counties are approved for emergency haying and grazing due to drought conditions on a county by county bases, when a county is designated as level D2 (severe drought) according to the U.S. Drought Monitor and can certify a 40% or greater loss of forage production

due to the disaster event.

“Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying or grazing of CRP must request approval before haying and grazing eligible acreage and must obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that includes haying and grazing provisions,” said Dunkin. “Current provisions allow for haying and grazing on 100% of a field.” Producers are not allowed to begin haying or grazing until after the primary nesting season, which ends July 15 in Missouri. The emergency haying authorizations end Aug. 31, 2023, and the emergency grazing period ends Sept. 30, 2023.

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2023 emergency haying and grazing authorizations.

To take advantage of the emergency haying and grazing provisions, authorized producers can use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage. The eligible CRP acreage is limited to acres located within the approved county.

In counties that are au-

thorized for emergency haying and grazing, producers are reminded that the same CRP acreage cannot be both hayed and/or grazed during the same release period. In addition, participants are limited to one cutting of hay.

For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact the Mercer County FSA office at 660-7484385, ext. 2.

BUY A COPY OF THIS WEEK’S PRINCETON POST-TELEGRAPH AT THESE LOCATIONS: PRINCETON - Casey’s • EverCare Pharmacy Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy • Snappy’s Post-Telegraph Office

MERCER - Hour Place • Mercer Hometown Market SOUTH LINEVILLE - Randy’s Short Stop

*$20,000 to Mercer County to reimburse Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund #36 for the board of prisoners account (money taken from Coronavirus Fund #7).

• Commissioners approved a liquor license for Dollar General Store #8096 for original package liquor.

• Commissioners received the Madison Township financial statement for the year ending Dec. 31, 2022.

• The Missouri Department of Revenue report for motor fuel taxes, motor vehicle sales tax and motor vehicle fee increases, a total of $50,185 was received for the county’s use as of June 22.

No meeting was held during the week of July 3-7.

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.

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USDA approves drought emergency haying, grazing of CRP acres in Mercer County

Be alert for MoDOT’s summer mowing crews

BETHANY M. BELT Special to the Post-Telegraph JEFFERSON CITY

Though it’s been a drier start to summer than usual, seasonal growth along Missouri’s roadways still needs to be mowed. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges motorists to use caution when encountering tractor mowers near the shoulders of interstates and other busy roadways.

“Mowing roadsides increases visibility for motorists along Missouri roadways,” said MoDOT

State Maintenance Director Natalie Roark. “We ask motorists to please watch out for our crews and help keep them safe too. Pay attention, slow down when approaching mowing crews, and never drive distracted.”

Major and minor routes will be mowed at least three times through the end of October. MoDOT mows about 400,000 acres of grass each year, which is equivalent to 300,000 football fields.

Crews use a protective “follow” truck to alert

motorists they are approaching slow-moving mowers. Drivers are advised to use the following tips to safely pass mowers on rural two-lane roads:

• Be alert for trucks and tractors with lights flashing and moving slowly, 2-5 mph.

• Slow down and focus on the road ahead of you. Put your cellphone down and avoid other distractions.

• Be prepared to stop or drive very slowly behind a “follow” truck, especially approaching a hill

Herdrich celebrates 30 years as Princeton license agent

or curve on a two-lane road.

• Obey the no-passing zone stripes, and only pass when you can see far enough past the “follow” truck to avoid meeting oncoming traffic.

Between mowing cycles, you can report grass and weeds blocking visibility at intersections along state-maintained roads by calling MoDOT’s 24/7 Customer Service Center at 1-888275-6636, or by going to modot.org/report-road-concern.

Mercer County Library announces new books

Special to the Post-Telegraph PRINCETON New titles added to the bookshelves at Mercer County Library are:

Adult fiction: What the Neighbors Saw, Melissa Adelman; The Whispers, Ashley Audrain; The Spare Room, Andrea Bartz; All the Simmers Bleed, S.A. Cosby; My

Magnolia Summer, Victoria Benton Frank; The Five-Star Weekend, Elin Hilderbrand; The House of Lincoln, Nancy Horan; The Survivor, Iris Johansen; Dead Eleven, Jimmy Juliano; Clive Cussler Fire Strike, Mike Maden; The Happiness Plan, Susan Mallery; Have You Seen Her?, Catherine

McKenzie; Cross Down (# 31 of the Alex Cross series, James Patterson; The Only One Left, Riley Sager; Palazzo, Danielle Steel; Zero Days, Ruth Ware; Welcome to Beach Town, Susan Wiggs; and Near Miss (# 64 of the Stone Barrington series), Stuart Woods.

The Mercer County Li-

brary has also added to its large print, western, children’s, juniors, young adult and Amish sections. Please remember the platforms Axis 360 Libby and Hoopla are open 24/7.

Have

PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph Donna Herdrich (left) celebrated her 30th anniversary as the license agent for the Princeton License Office on Friday, July 7 with an open house inside The Famous, which houses the license office. She’s shown with her husband Chuck, who helps with the office and the store.

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, July 17: sloppy cheeseburger/ bun, potato wedges, hominy, mandarin oranges.

Tuesday, July 18: chicken stuffing casserole with potatoes, winter mix with cheese, baked apples.

Wednesday, July 19: loaded baked potato (ham, broccoli, cheese), cottage cheese, cornbread, pears, peanut butter brownie.

Thursday, July 20: biscuits, sausage gravy, hash browns, tomato juice, oranges.

Friday, July 21: oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, hot roll, assorted fruit, chocolate cherry fudge cake.

Lopez sues

From Page 1

Commissioners also said they feel the “claimed amounts are unconstitutional as prohibited increases in pay during the sheriff’s current term of office and also because the amount seeks retroactively pay for periods that are claimed for which

pay has already been provided, we offer this settlement to resolve the significiant differences in each party’s legal position.”

Another letter from commissioners to Lopez on May 15 said “The allocation to the Sheriff’s department budget for 2023 means that the Sheriff’s existing budget will be charged for the settlement moneys, and he will have to manage his budget accordingly so as to stay within appropriated funds for 2023. How the Sheriff determines to allocate is his to determine except that he cannot exceed his 2023 budget total amount.”

Lopez, in a June 8 response, rejected the commissioners’ offer.

He is seeking the court order the commissioners to “create additional funding to his 2023 budget, including his request to have his salary be increased retroactively to Jau. 1, 2022. And, he is requesting commissioners pay for his “reasonable” attorney’s fees.

Lopez is currently halfway through the third year of a four-year term.

EU climate agenda includes animal sacrifice

GARRETT HAWKINS

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY At Missouri Farm Bureau, we’ve talked extensively for more than two years about the global climate agenda and how activists continue to miss the big picture. Every United Nations, European Union, and Biden administration meeting seems to focus on the “climate crisis” and ways to save the human race. Now, it seems we’ve entered a new phase of the global climate agenda - animal sacrifice, and Europe is leading the way.

The Irish government has proposed the large-scale slaughter of their cattle herd - culling 65,000 cows a year for three years, effectively reducing their national dairy herd by 10 percent. The European Union recently approved a plan to spend more than $1.5 billion to close farms and eliminate a significant portion of the Netherlands’ livestock herd in an effort to reduce emissions. You really can’t make this stuff up.

Until recently, the Netherlands was hailed as a tremendous agricultural success and model. During World War II, the Netherlands suffered a horrific famine where more than 20,000 people died during the Nazi occupation. In response, they invested heavily in agricultural production and efficiency, and have become one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. In spite of having just about one percent of the EU’s farmland, the Netherlands produces six percent of the EU’s food.

While we may not think it’s a good idea for the EU to slaughter

TIGERS! CARDINALS!

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AG ISSUES

their own livestock and forcibly close their farms, I suppose it is their prerogative. However, here’s the kicker. Not only do the EU’s plans impact their own producers - they are seeking to impose new standards on global trade. A proposal put forward by the European Commission, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), would require companies to demonstrate what action they are taking to protect the environment. If adopted, the CSDDD would introduce requirements for companies to identify, prevent, or end the impact of their activities on the environment. If you’re a farmer in Missouri, that should raise your eyebrows, considering Missouri exported more than $112 million worth of agricultural products to the EU in 2022.

Here at home, the Biden administration’s “all-of-government” approach to climate change is charging full speed ahead. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is getting into the big-government climate solutions game as well, through its proposed rules requiring publicly-traded companies to report climate-related risks. These proposed rules would even trickle down to the farm and ranch gate by requiring a company’s upstream and downstream value chain to report data to the SEC, creating huge compliance and data privacy concerns for the agricultural sector.

The untold story is that America’s farmers and ranchers are producing more food using fewer resources

than ever before. Over the last seventy years, U.S. agricultural productivity has increased by 175% and land use fell by 28%. According to an analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American beef producers have increased their production by 23% while decreasing emissions by 15% per animal.

According to the EPA, in 2018, voluntary land management practices alone removed 764 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to taking 165 million vehicles off the road for approximately one year. In my opinion, the greatest steward of the land and the true conservationist is the American farmer. American producers have used innovation to leave their farms better than they found it for generations. That’s a story we are proud of and one policymakers should understand before handing down directives that could take farms and ranches out of production, reduce global food security, and jeopardize global trade.

Franz Timmermans, vice president of the European Union (EU) Commission, stated in 2021 that, “If we don’t fix (climate change), our children will be waging wars over water and food. There is no doubt in my mind.” For my part, I have no doubt that Mr. Timmermans believes he is on a noble crusade. But, the fact that he and other climate activists believe sacrificing Europe’s livestock herd will improve food security is misguided and truly frightening.

Garrett Hawkins is a farmer from Appleton City and serves as president of Missouri Farm Bureau.

MFA Oil bulk plant holds open house

A good crowd attended the Princeton MFA Oil bulk plant’s open house last Friday, July 7, despite a noon-hour deluge that gave south central Mercer County with a nice half-inch rain.

The heavy cost of foreign wars sow the seeds of revolutions

PAUL HAMBY

Special to the Post-Telegraph

MAYSVILLE, Mo. Maintaining a worldwide empire is expensive. In the 1700s, the United Kingdom of Great Britain was constantly at war trying to protect her empire of colonies and outposts. In 1754, the conflict between Great Britain’s King George II and the Bourbon Dynasty of France sparked the beginning of war around the world.

Some of those battlefields included North American soil. The French and Indian War, started in 1754, pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the start of the war, the French colonies had a population of 60,000 settlers, compared with 2 million in the British colonies.

In 1756, just two years into the French and Indian War, Great Britain declared war on France. Soon after, Germany, Prussia, Spain, Sweden, India and several other countries got involved.

Great Britain was the

LIBERTY THOUGTS

superpower of the mid 1700s. Maintaining armies and a navy cost a lot of money. King George borrowed heavily to finance his wars.

Central banks are always willing to loan money for war. They just force whoever wins to pay off the debt.

Britain won, but did not have the money to pay back the war debt, so King George proposed taxing the American colonists in 1865.

The Stamp Act of 1865 required Americans to pay a tax on the use of paper items. Legal documents, playing cards, books, newspapers and everything made with paper required paying a new tax. When the tax was paid, each paper got

a stamp, thus the name. However, it could have been called the war tax because Americans were being taxed to pay for the king’s empire building wars.

Suddenly, most Americans were paying the new war tax.

The Americans response, called The Stamp Act Congress, was the first gathering of leaders from multiple colonies. One of the organizers was Christopher Gadsden, who is known for the famous “Don’t Tread on Me” Gadsden flag. It was the first step of rebellious activity in the colonies. Out of this gathering came the slogan “No taxation without representation” because Parliament was implementing taxes, but American colonies were not represented in the British Parliament.

The Americans at the Stamp Act Congress chose to send Ben Franklin to England to argue for an end of the Stamp Tax. Franklin succeeded in his first diplomatic mission and Parliament repealed the stamp act in 1766.

However, the seeds of rebellion and secession were sown that led to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

“My sentiments for the American cause, from the Stamp Act downward, have never changed. I am still of opinion that it is the cause of liberty.”

- Christopher Gadsden, February

1766

Today, America’s national debt is $32. That is $96,000 per citizen. The largest contributor to our debt is foreign wars such

as Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.

Our country was founded in part from rebellion for paying taxes for unjust wars. Someone

should remind the politicians in Washington of this history lesson.

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

A cute ugly dog

The uglier the dog, the more there is to love. That might make an appropriate motto for the folks behind the annual World's Ugliest Dog contest, a staple at the Sonoma-Marin fair in Petaluma, Calif., for the past 50 years. The aim is to celebrate imperfect canines and encourage adoption of pets in need of good homes. This year’s winner was Scooter, a 7-year-old Chinese crested dog born with backward hind legs belonging to Linda Celeste Elmquist of Tucson, Ariz. As Ms. Elmquist put it, “Despite the challenges he has faced with his deformed hind legs, Scooter has defied all odds and shown us the true meaning of resilience and determination. He has become an inspiration to countless people around the world.”

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

my returning to work at 80

my Social Security benefits?

Special to the Post-Telegraph WASHINGTON Dear Rusty: I am 80 years old, and I receive monthly Social Security benefits, but I’m thinking about returning to work. At this age, am I limited in how much income I generate without affecting my benefit? If so, how much can I earn without affecting it?

Signed: Spry Octogenarian.

Read more, learn more history

JOHN GRIMALDI

DAVID BRUCE SMITH

Special to the Post-Telegraph

WASHINGTON On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride boarded the Challenger, and became the first American woman to traverse the cosmos. Originally, NASA had restricted its corps of astronauts to men, but, according to History.com, “in 1978 (the agency) changed its policy…(and) approved six women out of…3,000 original applicants to (emerge as the first female astronauts in the U.S. space program.”

Ride, with “Stanford stamped” degrees in science and physics, was quickly positioned in the inaugural lineup. “She became an on-the-ground capsule communicator for NASA’s STS-2 and STS-3 (Space Transportation System) missions in 1981 and 1982, and an expert in controlling the shuttle’s robotic arm. NASA assigned Ride to be part of the STS-7 crew on April 30, 1982, serving as mission specialist and joining Commander Robert L. Crippen, mission specialist John M. Fabian, physician-astronaut Norman E. Thagard and pilot Frederick H. Hauck on the historic flight.”

For more information, The Grateful American Book Prize recommends Sally Ride’s and Susan Okie’s To Space & Back.

•After World War I, America’s unemployed veterans were promised Bonus Act payments for their services, but po-

litical delays left them adrift in poverty. Finally, on June 22, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill and ended the ordeal.

According to History. com, “as the last of its sweeping New Deal reforms, Roosevelt’s administration created the G.I. Bill (officially the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) to avoid a relapse into the Great Depression after the war ended. FDR particularly wanted to prevent a repeat of the Bonus March of 1932, and when 20,000 unemployed veterans and their families flocked in protest to Washington. The American Legion, a veteran’s organization, successfully fought for many of the provisions included in the bill, which gave returning servicemen access to unemployment compensation, low-interest home and business loans, andmost importantly - funding for education.”

The Grateful American Book Prize recommends The G.I. Bill: The New Deal for Veterans, by Glenn Altschuler and Stuart Blumin.

• On June 27, 1829,

James Smithson, an English scientist and wellto-do member of the National Academy of Sciences, died at the age of 64, and left his entire fortune of $500,000 ($16,487,120 in 2023) “to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of Smithsonian Institution an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

Some people say the bequest was motivated, “in part by revenge against the rigidities of British society, which had denied Smithson, who was illegitimate, the right to use his father’s name.”

After Congress learned of the lucky largesse, it was decided to use the funds to build museums, conduct research, produce publications, and invest in the sciences, the arts, and history.

Now, it is comprised of a worldwide network of 21 buildings, nine research facilities, a zoo, and 2016’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The Grateful American Book Prize recommends Gore Vidal’s novel The Smithsonian Institution

SENIOR ISSUES

year becomes part of your overall taxable income at your standard IRS income tax rate. Thus, returning to work may result in Social Security benefits unexpectedly becoming taxable income.

Dear Spry Octogenarian: Since you have already reached your full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security’s purposes, you can earn as much income from working as you like without your monthly Social Security payment being affected. Social Security’s earnings test applies only to those who collect benefits before reaching their full retirement age, which is somewhere between age 66 and 67, depending on year of birth.

However, although the earnings test will not apply to you, it’s important to know that Social Security benefits are subject to income tax if your annual combined income from all sources (also known as your “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” or “MAGI”) exceeds certain thresholds. Your income tax filing status is an influencing factor - if you file as a single and your MAGI is more than $25,000, or if you file as “married/jointly” and your MAGI is more than $32,000, then 50% of the SS benefits you received during the tax year becomes part of your overall taxable income. And if your MAGI as a single filer is more than $34,000 or, as a married filer more than $44,000, then up to 85% of the SS benefits you receive during the tax

For complete clarity, your “MAGI” is your regular Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on your income tax return, plus 50% of the Social Security benefits you received during the tax year, plus any other non-taxable income (except Roth IRA withdrawals) you may have had.

So, while your earnings from working at age 80 (and beyond) will not affect your monthly Social Security benefit payment, you may - depending on your total income or “MAGI” - find that your

Social Security benefits will become taxable if your combined income from all sources exceeds the above thresholds. And if your benefits will become taxable, you may wish to consider having income taxes withheld from your monthly Social Security payments, which you can do by submitting IRS form W-4V to your local Social Security field office.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC (Association of Mature American Citizens) Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit amacfoundation. org/programs/social-security-advisory or send an email to ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

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affect