He was ejected from his Jeep when it ran off a gravel road south of Princeton on Sunday Princeton Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo A Spickard teenager died Sunday evening (Aug. 18) from injuries he suffered in a one-vehicle wreck on a gravel road south of Princeton.
According to an online report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP):
Henry J. Stutzman, 18, was driving a 2006 Jeep Liberty SUV south on Harmonica
Road, about a mile south of Princeton. The vehicle went off the south side of the road and returned to the roadway. It then overcorrected, went off the east side of the road and struck an embankment.
The Jeep began to overturn and ejected Stutzman out the driver’s side window. It then came to rest off the east side of the road on its driver’s side, facing east.
Stutzman was being flown to Unity Point in Des Moines, Iowa by the LifeFlight medical
helicopter, but landed at the airport in Osceola, Iowa. Clarke County Medical Examine George Fotiadis pronounced Stutzman dead at 10:04 p.m. at the airport.
MSHP Trooper A.D. Neighbors and MCIU Cpl. R.V. McCormick investigated the wreck, which the report indicated occurred at 7:12 p.m. They were assisted by Conservation Agent A.J. Musche, officers from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Mercer County EMS personnel.
Trash can lids on square installed
They’ll be in place for two months, then contentious situation will be revisited PRESTON COLE Princeton Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo The “Great Downtown Princeton Trash Can Controversy of 2024” is over. At least for a couple of months, anyway.
The Princeton City Council, during its Aug. 12 meeting, announced Rapid Removal will begin picking up trash in the four cans placed on the downtown square.
Of course, there are conditions attached. Rapid Removal wants two holes drilled in the bottom of each container, with no liners in the cans. And, trash won’t be picked up if anything, such as parked vehicles, is blocking the cans.
All that for $80 per month for weekly pickup.
Two issues were brought up during the announcement. The first issue questioned the city paying to have the four cans emptied, while businesses have to for trash pickup.
The matter of no one removing trash from the cans had become quite the little tempest in the social media teapot known as Facebook, with several persons - many of them Chamber of Commerce members - virtually demanding the
city act to solve the problem.
The other issue is more practical. Drilling holes in the bottom of cans that don’t have liners in them would cause rainwater to flow through the trash, which would come out and make a mess on the sidewalks when trash is removed.
That problem has since been largely resolved, as large green cover lids have been installed over the containers, with large slots on two sides to allow people to put their trash into the containers.
Council members said they would revisit the situation in a couple of months and reevaluate how things are working.
A different issue was raised by David George, owner of the soon-to-be-open Zeppelin Bar and Grill. He said he assumed that the trash can located in front of his building - which last housed Straight Line Beef Co. - was his and, thus, his responsibility. City Superintendent Greg Goodknight told George that while the sidewalks in front of a business belong to the business, the city had been asked to provide the cans around the square for the community’s benefit.
See Princeton council, Page 2
Serve Mercer County scheduled for
Sept. 14
PRINCETON, Mo. Serve Mercer County, an established 501(c) (3), invites all neighbors that want to help neighbors to serve on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Civic groups and school groups of all ages are encouraged to participate. Register online by Friday, Sept. 6 to receive a t-shirt. Meet at Mercer County Senior Center at Princeton between 8 and 8:30 a.m. to join a team project. Lunch will be provided.
If you have helped before, use the Serve Mercer County yellow T-shirt from last year.
Elderly residents or those with medical needs are invited to register their projects for cleanup efforts by calling 660-748-4486. Yard projects are ideal. Tools and equipment can be arranged in advance to complete projects.
Monetary donations for lumber and supplies can be sent to Serve Mercer County, PO Box 711, Mercer, MO 64661.
To volunteer online, go to www.servemercercounty.com.
PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph Lids for the much-cussed, much-discussed trash cans on the Princeton have now been installed and painted a pine green color.
HOW TO CONTACT US
Princeton Post-Telegraph
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Princeton, MO 64673
Phone: 660-748-3266
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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE
All real estate and/or houses, and all rental housing and/or property, advertised in the Princeton Post-Telegraph newspaper 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.
STORAGE UNITS
For Rent - Storage unit. Elm Street Storage, Princeton. 660-748-3619. 8-1-ufnb
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.
GUNS & AMMO
WOOD’S GUN SHOP
5 Miles South of Ravanna 660-748-5795
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday 1-5-2023-ufn
Boyer Land Company LLC
Aaron Franklin, Sales Agent Princeton, MO 64673 660-748-6314
YOUR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST! 1-5-2023ufn
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. 9-28-23-52tp
No hunting, fishing or trespassing on property owned, leased or rented by Joe and Victoria Ryan. 4-27-23-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Highland Farms land owned and operated by Dixie Berger, Joe Berger & Steve Berger. 5-16-24-52tp
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. 3-23-23-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on land owned by Barbara & LeRoy Hider 10-10-23-52tp
NO HUNTING OR TRESPASSING on any land owned by LAKE MARIE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION. 7-28-23-52tp
No hunting or trespassing of any kind, including but not limited to use of dogs or drones, on land owned by Diane Houk and Jenny Bomgardner. 9-28-23-52tp
Absolutely NO TRESPASSING, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, mushroom and drones on land owned and/or rented by KRW5 Trust (Keith or RaeLynn Weaver) 10-5-23-52tb
No hunting or trespassing on any land owned by Bill and Peggy Heck. 5-30-52tb
No hunting, trespassing or fishing on property owned, leased or rented by Shirley or Joe Don Pollard. 4-19-24-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Choate property at any time. 3-28-24-52tp
Absolutely no hunting with guns or dogs, fishing, or trespassing on land owned by Berndt Farm and Berndt Twin Lake Inc 11-10-23-52tpP
No hunting or trespassing on Cox family property - Andy and Donna Cox, and Robert and Tina Cox. 12-3-22-104tpP
No trespassing on property owned by Shandra Morin 4-11-24-52tp
Princeton, Mercer form JH softball co-op
East Harrison co-op folds after its three schools, including Mercer, can’t field a full team.
PRESTON COLE
Princeton Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo. The junior high softball landscape in Mercer and eastern Harrison counties changed mid-afternoon Friday (Aug. 16), with the announcements that one cooperative program had ended and two others were formed.
The changes began shortly after 1 p.m. with an official announcement from the Princeton R-5 School District that the Mercer school district’s previous co-op arrangement had dissolved due to a lack of players at Ridgeway and Cainsville, and the likely lack of players at Mercer.
Earlier this summer, Princeton issued an invitation to Mercer to form a junior high softball co-op. At that time, however, Mercer officials thought their school would have enough players to continue their participation in the East Harrison (Ridgeway and Cainsville) co-op.
Situations changed drastically in the days before the start of junior high fall sports practices on Monday (Aug. 19) for the three East
Harrison members, and things moved quickly after that.
Princeton has plenty of players in grades 6-8, enough that it doesn’t “need” to form a co-op at the current time. Superintendent Jerry Girdner said 14 young players were expected to begin the season.
That isn’t the case at the three East Harrison schools, however.
Mercer Superintendent/athletics director Wade Hall said his school estimated could have four to seven players, not enough for a “solo” team. With the situations at Ridgeway and Cainsville casting doubts about the East Harrison setup, the schools decided to find new teams for their student-athletes for this fall.
Ridgeway Superintendent Jonnie Beavers said just two girls attended a preseason meeting, but since then they’ve since decided not to play.
Cainsville Principal Mike Tipton said his school had just three players, but he’s found a home for them to play this season - they’re headed to join a co-op between Gilman City (host) and North Daviess.
Once those decisions were made, Hall said he contacted Girdner and Princeton athletics director Mike
Schmidli about possibly joining forces. After they approved, the two superintendents contacted their respective board of education members (Girdner by email, Hall via telephone), the boards gave unanimous approval, and the new co-op was born.
“The cooperative agreement is expected to benefit both schools by providing a stronger combined roster, ensuring that all students have ample opporunity to play,” Girdner said in a statement. “The combined teams will allow for the formation of both ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, offering more game-time experiences for the students.
“In cases where opponents do not have a ‘B’ team, Princeton and Mercer plan to schedule more ‘B’-only ganes to maximize playing opportunities,” he added.
As of Friday, Princeton had a total of 14 contests on its junior high softball schedule, including 12 games outside of tournaments at North Harrison and Albany. Princeton could play up to three games in each tournament, putting Princeton at the 18-contest limit allowed by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Princeton council handles “trashy” situation on square
In an unrelated note, George also said he’s interested purchasing the long-vacant lot on the south side of his business, owned by a Daniel Green, which is on the unpaid tax sale list. The council voted to waive the city’s tax liens on the lot in question.
Other items
• An ordinance approving an agreement between the city and MoDOT for sidewalks improvements along U.S. 136 was approved.
• The council held its annual property tax levy hearing, and approved a total tax rate of $1.10 on the $100 of assessed valuation - $1 for gener-
organizations
Chapter BY PEO
Chapter BY of PEO met Aug. 12 at the Christian Church annex. Terri Moore was hostess.
Della Orndorff gave an informative program on chair yoga to 9 members. Maureen Funk reported on the very successful Children’s Theater week at Mercer.
The chapter will be participating in the Dresses for Girls Around the World again. Members will receive a text of supplies.
Terri Moore gave the program on Missouri PEO Outreach.
The next meeting will be September 9 with Alice Mason as hostess.
al revenue plus a 10-cent band tax.
• The city’s conflict of interest ordinance was approved.
• Deputy City Clerk Jami McLain reported City Hall has received complaints about foxes in town. The city has no control over wild animals such as foxes inside the city limits. Issues about wildlife should be directed to the Department of Conservation.
• Goodknight said city workers have removed concrete, the toilet building, fences and dugouts from the old ballfields. He was to call Grundy Electric about having the light poles cut down to
Cainsville
MELANIE CHANEY
Colt Parkhurst spent Friday and Saturday nights with his great Aunt Sandy and great Uncle Wendell Willis! He helped mow the yard, got in some driving lessons, and cooked hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire pit! They had to have one more weekend together because he started preschool Wednesday at North Harrison!
Herman and Melanie Chaney, and Sam and Brenda Vaughn went to Springfield, Mo., to the Ozark Mountain Fair grounds for the 57th Annual Ozarks Antique Auto Club Swap Meet. After lots of walking and junking they ran into George and Nancy Chaney at
just above breaker boxes. Discussion is ongoing about what to do with the lights, the scoreboards and the concession stand/ storage room/press box.
• Eric Stevens with Far West Civil Engineering presented his firm’s services. The city currently has no need for engineering services.
• City Hall office staff were told to prepare a remodeling proposal to be presented to the City Council before bids are sent out. The council will then approve the project, and advertise in the Post-Telegraph for bids.
• Council member Tony Johnson said the Mercer County Commission has
Braum’s for lunch. They went to several flea markets that afternoon. On Sunday they stopped for lunch with Bill and Trenda Robertson in Liberty after going to some more antique stores. Good times were had and they are looking forward to next year already!
School started Wednesday, Aug. 21. Be watching for kids walking and teen drivers headed to and from school. Also, the school is looking for substitute teachers; give them a call if your interested.
The Cainsville Betterment Committee is looking for someone who can do leatherwork and would be interested in attending our history day at the school on Sept. 13. Bart Skroh and Rich
voted to place a 1-cent sales tax proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot. The purpose of the tax would be to provide funds to return dispatching services to Mercer County.
• Goodknight said the water tower project should be complete by the end of the week. He also said progress is being made on installing new water mains around town.
• Next meeting: Monday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Editor’s note: Information for this report came from unapproved meeting minutes provided by Deputy City Clerk Jami McLain.
Woodly are unable to attend. Thanks in advance! Don't forget about the reunion for Cainsville graduates from 1987 to 1993 at Kim Rardon’s house at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24! Hope to see everyone. Well, I guess no one did anything since I wrote the news last week, except what you’re reading here. Come on people, send me some news for next week!
A right delayed is a right denied
PAUL HAMBY
Special to the Post-Telegraph
MAYSVILLE, Mo. When a man claims something as a right, he claims it as his own or as due to him. The very conception of a legal right for one man implies an obligation on the part of somebody else or of everybody else. If a creditor has a right to a sum of money owed to him on a certain day, the debtor has an obligation to pay it. If you have a right to freedom of speech, to privacy, or to the ownership of a house, everyone else has an obligation to respect it. A legal right for me implies a legal duty of others not to interfere with my free exercise of it.
Among legal rights almost universally recognized and protected today are the right to freedom from assault, or from arbitrary arrest or imprisonment; the right to be protected from arbitrary intrusion into one’s home; the right to freedom of speech and publication (within certain established limits); the right to hold property; the right to compensation for damages inflicted by trespassers; and the right to demand fulfillment of a contract.
The two above paragraphs were written by Henry Hazlitt in 1964. Still valid. but today our individual rights are under attack.
Not so long ago in Missouri, you had a waiting period to purchase a handgun. That law was removed, but bills are filed regularly to re-impose such a time delay restriction.
Waiting periods can have unintended consequences. One example is a battered wife who fears that her husband will come back and beat her. She could be dead in three days if she is not able to get the firearm she needs to protect herself.
A stalker is a similar scenario. Victims will be told to get a piece of paper to prevent contact from the assailant. Howev-
liBertY tHoUgts
er, there is one consistent character trait of criminals, thugs and bullies: They do not follow the law and they don’t care if a judge issues a restraining order against them.
Waiting periods also shut down gun shows.
A right delayed is a right denied
If you have to ask permission, is it still a right, or has the government turned it into a privilege?
This August, the state of Maine implemented a threeday waiting period for purchasing a firearm. This new law was a reaction to an October 2023 shooting incident. Those pushing gun control seized the event as an opportunity to pass restrictions on citizens rights.
Nacole Palmer is the executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition: “These new laws will certainly save lives, both here in Maine and throughout the nation,” she said, then acknowledged that the new law would not have prevented the October shooting because the shooter legally purchased the firearm more than a month prior to the event. (AP) November elections in Missouri are coming soon. Ask the candidates if they support a time delay for your rightswhere you have to ask permission and if granted wait three days.
Or do they support protecting your God-given rights?
Paul Hamby is a free-thinking, conservative rancher and small businessman in northwest Missouri’s DeKalb County. Copyright (C) 2024 Liberty Thought of the Week. All rights reserved.
MERCER COUNTY 4-DAY WEATHER
National Weather Service - Pleasant Hill/Kansas City, Mo.
Time of forecast: 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19
Thursday, Aug. 22: Mostly sunny; 81/62
Friday, Aug. 23: Partly sunny; 84/60
Saturday, Aug. 24: Sunny; 90/70
Sunday, Aug. 25: Sunny, hot; 93
Forecasts reflect daytime high and overnight low temperatures. Weather forecasts change often. Check local radio, weather radio, or the NWS website (www.weather.gov) for the most recent updates.
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
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.”
Women are life giving agents
JOHN GRIMALDI
Special to the Post-Telegraph
WASHINGTON, DC Jennifer Strickland’s message in her new book, I Am a Woman: Taking Back Our Name, tells how “men are invading women’s sports and even bathrooms, while schools indoctrinate children in lies about gender fluidity. The assault of insanity on reality took normal women by surprise, but we can’t waste another minute in fighting back.”
In a recent interview with Association of Mature American Citizens CEO Rebecca Weber on her Better For America podcast she revealed that she got into modeling when she was eight years old and by the time she was 17 years old she was a Ford model and off to Europe. She said that by the time she was 23 years old she was starving herself and dealing with anorexia.
“I knew that I had gifts and talents and abilities,” Jennifer said, “but I didn’t have a relationship with God and I didn’t really know how to get off that road of modeling. And I had a series of strangers actually reach out to me on the streets in Italy and in Germany and invited me to church and shared Christ with me. And so I left the business and went back to school, got my master’s degree in writing and literature and decided to write a book to help girls understand the lies that the media feeds them about their identity and their value.”
She went on to note that the Merriam Webster and Cambridge dictionaries changed the meaning of male and female and man and woman. “And we had a Supreme Court justice who refused to answer the question, what is a woman?
CoMMentarY
Which is what led me to write my book because I believe that we all need to have a ready answer for that question. It’s beyond chromosomes, it’s beyond the ability to give birth. To be a woman is to be a life giving agent.”
In fact, Jennifer noted, women’s voices are very powerful. “You see it in the feminist movement that women have the power to shape a nation. And the reason why feminists are not standing up for women’s protections is because they never intended to protect the human family. They never protected the dignity of men, the dignity of the unborn child. And so they’re not going to protect our dignity now. We have to stand as a united force, male and female. The feminist movement taught men to sit down and shut up when it comes to the rights of women. We actually need men to do the opposite. We need them to stand up and guard our protections because male and female unity is how we rule.”
There’s a saying that says religion tells you what to do, but God tells you who you are, she said. “And when you know who you are, you know what to do. And so my passion after I left the modeling industry was to reveal for women and girls their worth, their value, their identity and purpose, and then teaching them the truth of their identity in God’s eyes. So that’s all I do. I create books, Bible studies, video resources, and we have an entire team behind us, which makes all of this possible. We have the I Am a Woman podcast, which I
launched when the word ‘woman’ was attacked. And we have my latest book, I Am a Woman. In addition, we minister to girls with eating disorders. We provide resources for women in prisons and girls in recovery centers. So we actually really need more people to partner with our ministry to help make it possible for us to continue to go into the prisons and the public schools, private schools, recovery centers, to teach women and girls how to heal.”
John Grimaldi is a editorial consultant with the Association of Mature American Citizens.
Waterfowl
From Page 3
reservation holder and hunting parties are limited to a maximum of four people.
Hunters with disabilities can apply to use ADA hunting blinds through the online reservation system during the same timeframe as the pre-season application period. ADA blinds that are not selected and allocated during the pre-season drawing will be placed in the weekly in-season draws.
For more information, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov and search Waterfowl Reservations, visit the Waterfowl Reservations page directly at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl/managed-hunts-waterfowl/waterfowl-reservations, or get a copy of the MDC 2024-25 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest, available online and where permits are sold.
Division i
CirCUit CoUrt
Judge Steve Hudson
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. Defendants in criminal cases were represented by counsel unless otherwise noted.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
• State vs. John Thomas Scott, Leon, Iowa: Scott appeared for arraignment on a Class C felony charge of stealing (motor vehicle, watercraft or aircraft). He waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was scheduled for a two-day trial on March 4-5, 2025 at 9 a.m., and a pre-trial conference was scheduled was scheduled for Feb. 11, 2025 at 10 a.m. Scott’s bond was continued.
• State vs. John Christopher Collis, Orion, Ill.: Collis and his attorney appeared via Webex for arraignment on charges of Class E felony unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting), unclassified felony armed criminal action, and Class A misdemeanor fourth degree assault. He waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was scheduled for Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. for a plea or trial setting, and the state wants Scott to appear in person. His bond was continued.
• State vs. Joseph V. Bellow, Mercer: Bellow appeared on two Class D felony charges of stealing $750 or more. At his request, cause continued to Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. Bellow’s bond was continued.
• State vs. Deven Kyle Price, Osceola, Iosa: Price appeared on two Class C felony charges of forgery. He withdrew his previous plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty. He was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections on each charge.
Execution of sentence was suspended, and he was placed supervised probation for five years on each charge, to be served concurrently.
On Count 1, Price was ordered to pay $300 to the Mercer County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund and $46 in court costs, both within 30 days, and perform 40 hours of community service in Mercer County within six months.
On Count 2, Price was ordered to pay $300 to the Mercer County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund and $46 in court costs, both within 60 days.
• Meghan Gould, Osceola, Iowa, vs. Bryant Elder, Princeton: Gould appeared without counsel, while Elder did not appear but was represented by attorney Kelsey Shores. She presented evidence about a wrongful death settlement and apportionment of damage. The court approved both as per judgment and order filed.
• Brett Berndt, Allerton, Iowa, vs. Black Fire Diesel, Princeton: Berndt did not appear but was represented by attorney Tara Walker. Brent Holmes appeared for Black Fire Diesel. Examination of judgment debtor was taken up and concluded.
• State vs. Reed E. Beavers, Princeton: Reed appeared for a docket hearing involving five felony charges and a misdemeanor charge. Felony charges: Class E resisting arrest, detention or stop by fleeing, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to another person; Class E damage to jail or jail property; Class E unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting); Class E third degree assault (special victim); and Class E third degree assault.
Beavers was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections on each felony count,
with the sentences to be run concurrently. Execution of sentences was suspended, and he was ordered to pay $300 to the Mercer County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund on each count. Including court costs, Beavers owes $2,220.50 (including a payment on his misdemeanor) before a $25 time payment fee was added. Payment is to begin Feb. 1, 2025. Beavers was also sentenced to 120 days of shock time. He was ordered to perform 40 hours of community services within six months, obtain full-time employment, and undergo mental, drug and alcohol evaluation within 30 days, and follow recommendations and treatment.
On the misdemeanor charge, Beavers was sentenced to one year in jail. Execution of sentence was suspended, and he was placed on court-supervised probation for two years. He was ordered to pay $300 to the Mercer County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund.
Before the sentences were handed down, Beavers withdrew previous pleas of not guilty and entered pleas of guilty.
• State vs. Shawn Phillip Ashford, St. Joseph: Ashford appeared for a probation violation hearing involving his 2021 conviction for Class A misdemeanor stealing. He admitted violating his probation on May 16, 2024. His probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to one year in jail. Credit was given for 45 days in jail previously served.
• Nneka Deshawn Williams, Chicago, Ill.: Williams appeared for a
preliminary on a Class E felony charge of child abduction. He waived the hearing, then waived arraignment and entered a plea of guilty. Imposition of sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation for two years. He was also ordered to pay $300 to the Mercer County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund plus court costs, both within 30 days.
• State vs. Zurrand Re’ale Murray, Broken Arrow, Okla: Murray appeared in custody for a preliminary hearing on a Class E felony charge of resisting arrest, detention or stop by fleeing, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person. He waived his right to the preliminary hearing, and was bound over to appear Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. He continues to be held without bond.
No information was available as of Friday, Aug. 16 about several misdemeanor charges against Murray.
lanD transFers
Friday, Aug. 9
• Steven S. Ross et al to John Hunter Ramsey.
• Lisa R. Stephens to James A. McClarnon. (2 transactions)
Monday, Aug. 12
• Roy D. Clark et al to
Roy D. Clark et al.
Tuesday, Aug. 13
• Mary Overton et al to Joseph Young.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
• Kelli Judd, personal representative, to Robert J. Cox.
Thursday, Aug. 16
• Mercer County Area Development Corporation to Patricia Kesinger.
• John D. Winkleblack to the Douglas A. Schau Revocable Trust.
MerCer Co.
FooD PantrY
Located in the basement of Princeton 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.
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, Aug. 26: salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, green beans, glazed carrots, rice, grapes.
Tuesday, Aug. 27: smothered pork chops, garlic diced potatoes, black eyed peas, bread, cantaloupe.
Thursday, Aug. 29: garlic butter bacon cheeseburger, fries, lima beans, apricots.
Friday, Aug. 30: oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, cabbage, dinner roll, assorted fruit, confetti cake.
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.
ADVERTISE in the Princeton Post-Telegraph today!
Princeton board sets tax levy, sells two buses to Cainsville
Overall tax rate raised 3.37 cents, but debt service stays the same. District to pay for students’ ACT test fees
PRESTON COLE
Princeton Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo The Princeton R-5 Board of Education set the 202425 property tax rate during its annual tax rate hearing, held last Monday evening (Aug. 12) as part of the R-5 board’s monthly meeting.
The levy was set at $5.5769 on the $100 of assessed valuation, an increase of 3.37 cents over the 2023-24 rate.
The increase goes into the incidental fund, which includes the teacher fund. That levy was set at $4.4417, compared to $4.4100 last year.
Two other levies are unchanged. Those are the capital projects levy of 18 cents and the debt service rate of 95.31 cents.
The Princeton board that was in place for the 2014-15 school year set the debt service rate at 95.32 cents, a rate promised to voters if they approved a small, notax-rate increase bond issue (which voters did with over 70% approval). The debt service rate was $1.1857 the previous year, and was a record $1.25 for the 2011-12 school year.
The overall levy has been above $5 every year but one since 2006-07, and reached a peak of $5.6269 in 2012-13.
Princeton’s assessed valuation, which includes a tiny bit of property in northern Grundy County, is up just over $116,000 this year - $51,198,835, compared to $51,082,685 a year ago.
In another financial decision, the board voted to prepay $200,000 on the district’s $4.97 mil-
Managed waterfowl reservations open Sept. 1
JOE JEREK
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters that the pre-season reservation period for managed waterfowl hunts this season will run Sept. 1-18 with results posted Oct. 1. The in-season weekly drawings will take place on Monday afternoons with a seven-day application period that opens the Tuesday before and closes the Monday of the draw at 3 p.m. Missouri residents and qualifying non-residents, such as students from out of state or members of the military stationed in Missouri, can apply online for a reservation to guarantee them an opportunity to hunt on a specific day on a specific area. Residents and nonresidents without a reservation can also arrive at a managed waterfowl hunting area the morning they wish to hunt and wait in the “poor line” for the possibility of getting a hunting spot.
Applicants for waterfowl reservations must have their required permits to apply, and their Federal Duck Stamp to hunt.
MDC offers managed waterfowl hunting on more than a dozen conservation areas specially managed with a focus on wetlands. Hunters can apply for a reservation or participate in a daily morning drawing for
lion Series 2021 General Obligation Refunding Bonds. The bonds were sold after voters approved what turned out to be a $6.2 million bond issue in April 2017 to build an addition to the elementary school and make other campus improvements.
Paying the bonds early will save the district around $20,000 in future interest payments.
Other actions
• The 2024-24 Local Compliance Plan for special education was approved.
• Two administrators were given special, required positions. Elementary Principal Wes Guilkey was named as the district’s homeless liaison, and elementary counselor Lori Puls was named as the English
Language Learners coordinator.
• A $50,000 grant for education aid in rural schools was approved. The grant is designed to help rural districts develop their educational workforce by offering financial help for professional development and certification. The program is designed to help rural districts address teacher shortages by enabling those districts’ employees to obtain full teaching certificates.
• The board approved a proposal by secondary counselor Heather Hall for the district to fund ACT test fees for students in grades 10-12. This will provide access to college admissions tests by allowing the district to hold two ACT test opportuni-
ties on campus each year.
• The district is selling two used diesel school buses to the Cainsville R-1 School District. Both vehicles are 2015 Freightliner Model C2 buses.
One bus has 102,657 miles on it and is being sold for $16,500. The other bus has 92,169 miles on it, and is being sold for $17,500.
An agreement for Princeton transportation director Lonny Lovett to provide mechanic services for Cainsville’s bus fleet was also approved.
Princeton R-5 has received a $1.725 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (RPA) that will pay the costs for five new electric-powered school buses. Once the buses go into service, five of the dis-
trict’s diesel buses have to be disposed of - either by selling them, donating them to an entity, or permanently disabling them. The most common method of disabling a bus is to run a rod through the engine block. That’s a condition of the district getting an EPA grant to purchase the electric buses.
• After a brief closed session, three hirings and a resignation were announced.
Theresa Delameter was employed as a cook, and Mikayli Purvis was hired as an elementary principal.
The resignation of Puls as elementary Student Council advisor was accepted, and Anna Fitzpatrick was named as Puls’ replacement.
opportunities to hunt at these areas. MDC also offers waterfowl hunting on other conservation areas. In addition to MDC areas, Missouri offers waterfowl hunting opportunities at numerous other public and private locations around the state.
For this fall, the MDC waterfowl reservation system will offer 50 percent of daily hunting positions for the managed-hunt areas through online reservations. Of the 50 percent of spots through online reservations, half will be for pre-season applications and half will be allocated during a weekly in-season application period.
The remaining 50 percent of spots will be held for hunters who participate in the daily, morning “poor line” drawing.
Successful pre-season and in-season reservation applicants will be notified after their respective draws via email or text message with their hunt date and location. Hunters will be notified of their pill number after the in-season drawing for the week of their reservation.
“Pills” designate the order hunting parties select their hunting locations on the morning of the hunt.
The lower the pill number, the sooner hunting parties get to select their hunting location.
Residents and nonresidents can hunt with a See Waterfowl, Page 3
Show Me Smokefree campaign launched
LISA COX
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON
CITY, Mo.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has launched the “Show Me Smokefree” campaign. Through online and onthe-ground efforts, Show Me Smokefree aims to increase access to smokefree air in all workplaces and public places, so that Missourians can be healthy no matter where they work or spend time. Smoke-free environments protect pe from secondhand smoke and vape aerosol, prevent youth from starting tobacco use, and help people quit. Yet only one in three Missourians are protected by smoke-free laws and some of these laws do not protect workers and customers in casinos, bars and restaurants. Exposure to secondhand smoke is one reason Missouri has high rates of cancer, heart attacks and stroke. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure are the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Missouri. Each year, 1,200 Missourians die due to exposure to
secondhand smoke.(1)
Show Me Smokefree includes on-the-ground campaign efforts designed to engage youth, residents, business owners and key decision-makers to work together to increase access to smokefree air. Interested youth can join Next to Rise and learn ways to work with other Missouri high school students for new and improved smoke-free air laws in their communities.
“The Show Me Smokefree campaign has affected my community by bringing people together,” said Lexi Hillman, a Next to Rise Youth from La Monte High School in
See Show Me Smokefree, Page 8
Lineville council discusses trash price, skunks
Use of city bags to be required. Snyder hired to pick up stray cats, city will ask Wayne County Conservation for possible assistance
PRESTON COLE
Princeton Post-Telegraph
LINEVILLE, Iowa Members of the Lineville City Council handled a wide range of topics - from trash pickup prices to street situations to loose cats and skunks - during their meeting last Monday night (Aug. 12).
The first order of business was a request for a liquor license renewal for Marty Nickell, owner of Steel Wheel Saloon. All five council members were present, and they approved the routine, annual request.
Next, shrinkage in the Water Department was reported at 9.96%. Mayor Jack Shields said a leak on Johnson Street had been found and repaired, and that there’s a potential second leak on Washington Street might be investigated to see if it is a leak. City Clerk Brandy Shriver presented water rate information she’d been asked to present, and after discussion, she was instructed to research more options to present at the September meeting.
The council then held a discussion about an increase in the costs of trash pickup and reviewed rate options for residents and small and large businesses. After deliberation, the group voted to raise the cost of dumpster fees from $45 per month - whether a dumpster is emptied once or twice weekly - to $30 per dump. Individual fees were raised from $16 monthly to $18, and small business fees were raised
from $17 to $19, with the continued use of city trash bags.
Shriver said she’d received complaints about trash being picked up that wasn’t in city bags. She said she’s contacted C&E Trucking about it, and learned they had been picking up trash at one property because they remembered Shields telling them once that if a house doesn’t put out garbage for months and finally sets some up, to simply pick it up. Shields and the council told Shriver to contact C&E and tell them not to pick up trash that isn’t in city bags, no matter what.
In another matter involving trash, Shields said the city’s recycle trailer needed new signs and to be painted black again. He’ll be trying to find someone to do the work.
Other items
• Shriver presented the city’s street finance report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, and a resolution to approve it, which the council did.
Shields said there are trees on West Third and East Third streets, and one on the right of way of East English Street that needed to be cut. He said he’d contact Twisted Oak to cut the trees.
Councilman Tom Shriver said the contrac-
tor that’s going to repair a piece of West Third told him he’d be starting the work over the last two weeks of the month.
• Brandy Shriver told the council they need to decide on flooring for the library expansion, either LVT flooring or an epoxy surface. The council voted to use epoxy and approved a $4,600 bid from Iowa Epoxy for the job.
• Shields led a discussion about junk vehicles. Council members agreed that nuisance letters and a copy of the city’s ordinance should be mailed to all properties that have what the council has deemed a junk vehicle on it. Shields and Brandy Shriver will drive around town to ensure that all properties in violation of the ordinance get nuisance letters.
• Brandy Shriver presented the annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended June 30. The council reviewed the document and approved it.
• Tom Shriver asked his colleagues if they thought a nuisance letter needed to be sent to a property owner for what was said to be a dilapidated building. Brandy Shriver said the property was still in the name of its deceased owner. The council told her to find out what they needed to do to proceed
with the situation.
• Shriver told the council she’s received complaints about cats and skunks on Johnson Street. She said she had contacted Jeff Snyder to begin trapping cats, but didn’t know what to do about the skunks. Shields suggested she call Wayne County Conservation to see if they could do anything.
• Shriver said she’d been asked if the city would be willing to contact the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department to perform a welfare check on a resident. She was given permission to call for a check.
• In her monthly fund balance report, Shriver said June income was $11,298.60 in governmental funds and $18,365.19 in utility funds. Expenses were $28,620.93 in governmental funds and $22,055.56 in utility funds. The usual transfers of $1,425 in utility funds were made.
Editor’s note: Information for this report was taken from unapproved meeting minutes provided by City Clerk Brandy Shriver. All votes were unanimous, except where noted.
oBitUaries
Bernard Vogel Mercer, Mo.
Bernard William Vogel, 86, of Mercer, Mo., passed away Sunday, August 11, 2024 at his home.
He was born to Leo Peter and Marie (Claes) Vogel on July 6, 1938 in Brooklyn, Iowa, one of 13 children.
Bernard graduated in 1958 from Lineville High School in Lineville, Iowa. He helped do carpentry work with his brothers in Indiana. He also helped local farmers on different jobs.
He joined the United States Army for two years and served in the National Guard for four years.
H married Carol Lenore Still, the daughter of Lewis and Evelyn Still, on July 3, 1985 in Cainsville, Mo. They were blessed with two children, Bill and Georgia.
They lived near Pleasanton, Iowa and then moved to a farm near Mercer. He enjoyed hunting, farm work and raising cattle. He worked at Voltmaster Batteries in Corydon, Iowa for 15plus years, then later helped Bobby Speck do carpet work for 16-plus years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, nine brothers and three sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Vogel of the home; son, William “Bill” (Pam) Vogel of Lineville; daughter, Georgia (Jamie) Chapman of Chillicothe, Mo.; three grandsons, Jacob and Jimmy Chapman and Aaron West; one brother, Donnie Vogel; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Bernard has been cremated under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home of Princeton, Mo. A memorial graveside service and inurnment will be held at a later date in Middle Point Ceme-
tery of Mercer under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Middle Point Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673.
Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
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, Aug. 26: yogurt, donut.
Tuesday, Aug. 27: pancakes, sausage patty.
Wednesday, Aug. 28: sausage links, french toast sticks.
Thursday, Aug. 29: cheddar cheese omelet, hash brown.
Friday, Aug. 30: 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 entree every day unless noted. All bakery items are whole wheat or whole grain. Fruit is served with lunch.
Monday, Aug. 26: tenderloin sandwich or fish sandwich, cherry tomatoes, broccoli with cheese.
Tuesday, Aug. 27: BBQ glazed chicken or corn dog, potatoes au gratin, buttered peas.
Wednesday, Aug. 28: BBQ pork sandwich or grilled chicken sandwich, coleslaw, baked beans.
Thursday, Aug.
29: taco or quesadilla, romaine salad, black beans.
Friday, Aug. 30: hamburger or hot dog, seasoned curly fries, baby carrots, dessert.
MERCER
Breakfast is served with orange juice and white or chocolate milk. Cereal is an optional entree.
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, Aug. 26: a) corn dog; b) tater tot casserole; peas and carrots.
Tuesday, Aug. 27: a) roast beef; b) ham; mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, roll.
Wednesday, Aug. 28: a) McRib sandwich; b) chicken sandwich; baked beans.
Thursday, Aug. 29: a) burrito; b) sloppy joe; Spanish rice, brownie.
Friday, Aug. 30: a) pizza; b) hot ham and cheese; corn.
CAINSVILLE Breakfast is served
with fruit, juice, and milk.
Mondays: breakfast burrito, cereal, toast. Tuesdays: french toast with syrup and peanut butter, turkey sausage. Wednesdays: cereal, toast, hash brown patty, scrambled eggs. Thursdays: pancake, turkey sausage. Fridays: biscuits, gravy.
Lunch is served with milk. Fruits and vegetables are available every day, and students are required to have at least one cup of either on their tray.
Monday, Aug. 26: chicken patty on bun, scalloped potatoes.
Tuesday, Aug. 27: mini corn dogs, macaroni and cheese.
Wednesday, Aug. 28: chicken quesadilla, corn.
Thursday, Aug. 29: maid rite, green beans. Friday, Aug. 30: chicken salad sandwich, chips.
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.
Is my wife eligible for increased SS benefits?
RUSSELL GLOOR
Special to the Post-Telegraph
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Dear Rusty: I will be turning 70 (yikes) this coming November. I will begin taking my Social Security benefit at that time. My age 70 SS benefit will be approximately $4,500 per month. My spouse (who is currently 74) began receiving her SS benefits about 10 years ago - before her FRA. She receives approximately $1,900 per month.
My question is, based on my expected SS monthly benefit of approximately $4,500, would my spouse be eligible for an increase in her monthly SS benefit? I’ve read some articles about this topic, but none of them seem to be on point - so I thought I’d reach out to you. Signed: Seeking Answers
Dear Seeking: Congratulations on choosing a claiming strategy which will maximize your Social Security. Waiting until age 70 to claim guarantees you will get the most you can personally receive for the rest of your life, along with annual Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). But the spouse benefits available to your wife when you claim are not based
on your age 70 amount. Rather, spouse benefits are calculated using full retirement age (FRA) amounts. Here’s what that means: If your age 70 benefit will be about $4,500 then your FRA amount was likely around $3,450. If your wife claimed at, say, 64, then her FRA entitlement would probably have been around $2,200. Your wife will only get a spousal boost if 50% of your FRA amount (not your age 70 amount) is more than her own FRA entitlement. From what you’ve shared, 50% of your FRA amount would be about $1,750, which is less than your wife’s FRA entitlement (and her current age 64 amount), which means that she would not be eligible for a spousal boost to her own amount from you. Spouse benefits can be tricky, because they’re based on FRA entitlements, regardless of the age at which benefits are actually claimed. That is not so, however, for surviving spouse benefits. If
Missouri State Fair’s new indoor arena to be named in Gov. Parson’s honor
Special to the Post-Telegraph
SEDALIA, Mo. The Missouri State Fair Commission held an official groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 15 for a new indoor arena on the fairgrounds. The arena will be named the Governor Michael L. Parson Arena, recognizing the governor’s dedication to the Missouri State Fair during his time as a Missouri elected official.
“The Missouri State Fair Commission has caught me by surprise, but as a lifetime Missouri State Fair fan and proud supporter of the fair, it is truly an honor to have an arena sharing the Parson name that will bring so much joy, new traditions, and cherished fair memories,” Parson said. “For Teresa (Parson’s wife) and me, it’s never been about our names but about serving Missouri families. We are proud that the support our administration has prioritized for the Missouri State Fair will
continue serving future generations of fairgoers for years to come.”
Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn, a member of the State Fair Commission, said naming the arena after Parson honors his strong commitment to the fair and Missouri agriculture.
“It is only fitting that this new state-of-the-art complex is named for such a strong supporter of the Missouri State Fair,” she said. “Governor Parson attended the fair as a child with his family and continues to attend with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.”
The indoor, climate-controlled arena will measure 150,000 square feet in size, with the ability to host a wide variety of events throughout the year and during the annual Missouri State Fair. It replaces the outdoor State Fair Arena located on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds.
Events typically held in
Show Me Smokefree From Page 6
Pettis County. “I thought it was so cool for different people to come together to help improve the community for everyone.”
Visit ShowMeSmokefree.com to learn more or join the movement to increase access to smoke-free air. Show Me Smokefree also has dedicated Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages with shareable videos, images and other content explaining the importance of updating Missouri’s smoke-free air laws.
(1) American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. Bridging the Gap. (2022, December 16). Missouri - Bridging the Gap. https:// smokefreegaps.org/gaps-missouri/
Increased SS benefits From
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you were to predecease your wife, her benefit would be your entire $4,500 amount, instead of her own smaller current amount. Surviving spouse benefits are based on the amount each of you are currently receiving, not on your amounts at your full retirement age.
I hope this answers your question, but we’re always here if you need any further assistance.
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. Russell Gloor is the national Social Security advisor of the AMAC Foundation.
the State Fair Arena are cancelled for 2024 as construction begins on the new facility.
“The Parson Arena will be home to events during the 11-day fair and all through the year,” Mis-
souri State Fair Director Jason Moore said. “The impact on Sedalia and the surrounding area is significant as we welcome events of all types and sizes to the new facility once it is complete.”
Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.
The Missouri State Fair ended Sunday, Aug. 18.
“This new arena is a significant investment in the future of the Missouri State Fairgrounds,” Commission Chairman Kevin Roberts said. “We appreciate Governor Parson’s dedication to the Missouri State Fair and the advancement of Missouri’s agriculture industry.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (sixth from left) and his wife, first lady Teresa Parson (center) were involved in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Governor Michael L. Parson Arena on the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. COURTESY MISSOURI STATE FAIR COMMISSION
