National Weather Service - Pleasant Hill/Kansas City, Mo. Time of forecast: 7 a.m., Monday, March 10
Thursday, March 13: Sunny, unseasonably warm; 74/56
Friday, March 14: Mostly sunny, 40% rain chance; 77/42
Saturday, March 15: Partly sunny, windy, cooler; 52/28
Sunday, March 16: Sunny, windy; 50 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.
“The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat” on full display
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Post-Telegraph
ABOVE - All eight members of the Princeton girls basketball team celebrated with their classmates that filled a boisterous, supportive student section after the Tigers defeated Brunswick 56-37 last Tuesday night (March 4) in the sectional round of the Class 1 Girls Basketball State Tournament, a game held in front of a virtually sold-out Princeton Elementary Gym in the Tiger program’s first state tournament game since 1998. RIGHT - Emotions ran 180 degrees opposite those earlier last week on Saturday afternoon, after Northeast (Cairo) defeated the Tigers 62-34 in the state quarterfinals held in Fitzsimmons-John Arena on the campus of Moberly Area Community College. Addilyn Henke, the Tigers’ career and single-season scoring leader, got a huge, emotional hug from veteran coach Mike Schmidli after she was taken out of the game with 1 minute, 14 seconds remaining.
Stories and photos of both state tournament games appear on Pages 7 (sectional) and 8 (quarterfinals).
Cainsville group gets $1,050 GRM Networks grant
Community Betterment to use funds at Legion field
Special to the Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo. GRM Networks has awarded a total of
$3,750 as part of the company’s Community Improvement Grant program. Organizations receiving funding in the second semiannual distribution for cal-
State FFA Degree recipients
COURTESY PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL
Princeton High School FFA members Mady Tipton (from left), Mia Covey and Addilyn Henke will receive the State FFA Degree during the Missouri FFA Convention on April 25 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Only 3% of the state’s FFA members receive the honor every year.
Tipton is a third-generation State FFA Degree recipient. Her father, the Rev. Mike Tipton, received the State FFA Degree in 1998 as a member of the Macon FFA chapter. Her grandfather, Roger Tipton, received his State FFA Degree in 1969, also as a member of the Macon FFA chapter.
endar year 2024 are the Village of Blythedale, Mo.; the Chula Park Committee of Chula, Mo. and the Cainsville Community Betterment Committee of Cainsville, Mo.
The Cainsville Community Betterment Committee received a grant of $1,050 to upgrade the cook shack at the community’s ballfield by purchasing a refrigerator and water heater.
The Village of Blythedale
was awarded a $1,500 grant for playground upgrades. The village plans to purchase new play equipment for the community park to provide a safe and clean environment for play and learning.
The Chula Park Committee will use their $1,200 grant to replace the park’s toddler play area that was destroyed by an accidental fire.
Applications for the next distribution of grants are being
accepted now through May 1. Grant amounts vary, with a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1,500 awarded to successful applicants. The cooperative’s Board of Directors will review applications and award grant amounts. Applications may be downloaded by visiting grm.net/about-us/grants/. Questions regarding grant applications should be directed to Amy Davison at 888-748-2110 or adavison@corp.grm.net.
The Cainsville Community Betterment Committee
nity Improvement grant to upgrade the cook shack
ing a refrigerator and water heater. From left to right, are Cainsville
Legion Post 257 commander George “Bob” Washburn, GRM Networks customer service representative Allie Vaughn, Post 257 finance officer John Francis; and Cainsville Community Betterment Committee vice president Laura Crofutt.
The Post-Telegraph is planning a special page to salute the 2024-25 Princeton High School girls basketball team for its extremely successful season. We plan on publishing the page either next week (March 20) or March 27. The cost is $10. To be included, call 660-748-3266 or send an email to posttele@grm.net.
OBITUARIES
Joseph Hendricks
Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Joseph Hendricks, fondly knows as Pa to his grandchildren, died on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Joe was 81 years old. Joe’s loving spirit is carried on by his wife, three children, six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren.
He met the love of his life, Lillian Mae Thomas, in high school. He and Lillian were married for 62 years. They moved from Princeton, Mo., to Excelsior Springs, Mo., in 1962 when Joe got a job working for the city of Excelsior Springs.
Joe quickly moved to a position at Owens Corning Fiberglass where he worked for 23 years. He then worked for the Excelsior Springs Housing Authority for 20 years.
Joe was a man of many interests and talents. In his earlier years, he enjoyed working on cars; you could often find him in his garage under the hood of a car, with one of his kids holding the flashlight and one of his brothers by his side. He rebuilt several cars over the years with his favorite being a 1966 Plymouth. It should be noted, he sold that car to buy a car for his 16-year-old daughter.
Joe was not only skilled in mechanics but could repair or build just about anything. He built a house addition and a sunroom among other things.
Joe was the number one fan of his children, always there to offer his
love, support, and encouragement, attending track meets, cross country meets and wrestling matches. He was such an enthusiastic fan he could often be seen down on the wrestling mat helping the referees.
No one who met Joe could ever forget his sense of humor. He was never one to resist a joke or a funny story. He was the master of pranks, often to the dismay of his neighbors, who did not always find them funny.
Joe was a man with nine lives: actually, more than nine. Riddled with many health issues, including heart disease, he tackled them head on. He fought relentlessly. Despite the pain he lived with, he kept his sense of humor and his commitment to God. He was a member of Richmond Christian Union Church.
You will forever be in our hearts and will continue to impact our life choices, always focused on the good in people.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Richmond Christian Union church, 415 East Main Street, Richmond, MO 64085, or a healthcare focused charity.
His funeral service was held Friday, March 8 at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
LAND TRANSFERS
Friday, Feb. 28
• Megan Jean Redd, co-independent personal representative of the estate of Roland Frank Pence, to Jacob Glant.
• Caleb Keeling to Bradley J. Bruggink, trustee.
• Keeling Land & Cattle MO/IA LLC to Double B Ventures LLC.
• Keeling Land & Cattle MO/IA LLC to Bradley J. Bruggink, trustee.
• Keeling Land & Cattle MO/IA LLC to W4 Farms MO LLC.
Tuesday, March 4
• BARBAC LLC to
Gorden Land Properties LLC.
• Leroy Yoder to David Detweiler. Thursday, March 6
• Charlene M. Evans to Ryan David Evans. (2 transactions)
• Kelli D. Judd to Jason Scott Floyd.
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, March 17: pancake sandwich.
Tuesday, March 18: pancakes, sausage patty.
Wednesday, March 19: breakfast pizza.
Thursday, March 20: pancake on a stick.
Friday, March 21: 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, March 17: fish sticks or chicken strips, macaroni and cheese, fresh broccoli and cauliflower.
Tuesday, March 18: sweet chili chicken or grilled chicken patty, egg roll, brown rice.
Wednesday, March 19: cheeseburger macaroni or cheese lasagna rollup, buttered carrots, cottage cheese.
Thursday, March 20: roasted chicken or pork
patty, scalloped potatoes, buttered peas.
Friday, March 21: hamburger or hot dog, potato wedges, baked beans, 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, March 17: a) McRib; b) ham sandwich; steamed California blend vegetables.
Tuesday, March 18: a) ham; b) popcorn chicken; mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, roll.
Wednesday, March 19: a) chili, peanut butter sandwich; b) hot dog, chips; mozzarella sticks.
Thursday, March 20: Italian sub; b) deli sandwich; macaroni and cheese.
Friday, March 21: a) taco salad; b) chicken strips; fried rice.
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, March 17: no school.
Tuesday, March 18: chicken strips, french fries.
Wednesday, March 19: tater tot casserole, peas.
Thursday, March 20: pizza, salad.
Friday, March 21: fajita, Spanish rice.
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. For meal deliveries, call 660-748-3636 by 9:30 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, March 17:
chicken and dumplings, corn, green beans, peaches, sliced bread.
Tuesday, March 18: Polish sausage, potatoes and cabbage, harvard beets, bun, cherry salad.
Wednesday, March 19: swiss steak with peppers and onions, cooked carrots, broccoli with cheese, sliced bread, spiced apples.
Thursday, March 20: chef salad, cottage cheese, sliced bread, California fruit salad (honeydew, cantaloupe, grapes).
Friday, March 21: chicken cordon bleu, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, assorted fruit, hot rolls.
ORGANIZATIONS
Chapter BY PEO
Chapter BY of PEO met March 3 at the Princeton First Christian Church annex with 14 members in attendance. An initiation ceremony was held for Lucy Walkup.
Officers for the new year are Glenda Homedale, president; Kim Palmer, vice president; Maureen Funk, recording secretary; Patricia Stamper, corresponding secretary; Gayle Waldron, treasurer; Alice Mason, chaplain; and Harlene Dougan, guard.
Pearl Scurlock served a delicious meal. The next meeting will be April 7 with Maureen Funk as hostess.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Ambassador Troop 1252: Emily Oswalt.
Troops marking Girl Scout Week
Special to the Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo. It’s Girl Scout Week! And with that a celebration for local as well as girls across the country to honor the first Girl Scout meeting March 12, 1912.
Juliette Gordon-Low hosted the meeting at her home in Savannah, Ga., with 18 young ladies present.
Mercer County Girl Scouts were joined by the Cainsville troop this past weekend for their annual swim party and sleepover. They earned the GS Way badges and the World Thinking Day badge. The girls learned about the history and culture of India. They learned words and the art of henna tattooing, tried a tasty dessert, and the differences between American Girl Scouts and Indian Girl Guides. One of five WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) world centers, Sangam, is
located in Pune, India and the girls watched a video about the center. They attended services Sunday morning at New Hope Baptist Church. Troop 8175 consists of girls in grades K-5 and has nine participants. Each of the three levels (Daisy, Brownies, and Juniors) have completed a Journey this year. The Daisies attended a workshop where they earned all their petals. All the girls have worked on several badges as well. The Juniors have completed the prerequisite for the highest recognition for their level, the Bronze Award, and will begin their project soon. The older girl troop is 1252 and has one member this year. Emily Oswalt attended a Go Gold Expo in January and is currently brainstorming ideas for her Gold Award project. This is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.
This year, the girls
have attended fall camp south of Albany, celebrated Juliette’s Halloween birthday, held the annual family Christmas dinner and silly sock exchange, donated items to the Mercer County Food Pantry, sold fall product, and are almost ready to wrap up cookie season with a pizza party next month. In May, they will take a surprise field trip followed by a camp out at Camp Prairie Schooner in Lee’s Summit. The year will end with Bridging/Court of Awards on May 31.
Troop 8175 leaders are Tricia Rudminat and Christy McCracken. Helpers are Laura Smith, Christina Speakman, Shannon Neil and Gillian Sapp. Leaders for Troop 1252 are Rudminat and McCracken with Sapp and Susan O'Brien as helpers.
For more information on joining or volunteering, contact Rudminat at 660-748-5457.
MERCER CO. HEALTH DEPT.
305 West Main, Princeton 660-748-3630 MARCH
Blood pressure clinics Wednesday, March 26, 2 p.m., Oakwood Terrace, Princeton. WIC services Thursday, March 27, at office, by appointment. Open lab Friday, March 21, 8-10 a.m., by appointment. Other items
• Safe Kids NWMO meeting: Thursday, March 20, 1 p.m.
• Board meeting: Wednesday, March 26, 6 p.m.
• Princeton R-5 Health Fair: Thursday, March 27.
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Chamber chooses new officers during meeting
Special to the Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo. The Princeton Chamber of Commerce met Wednesday, Feb. 26 at The Famous. The meeting was called to order by president Kelly Bertrand. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
A discussion was held about membership. Bertrand has written a letter to that will be distributed to current and potential members by her, Donna Herdrich and Jeanenne Neeley.
The trash cans around the square were discussed. Dr, Tammy Hart has talked to the city and will revisit with them soon.
Neeley will make a list of businesses and services in our area.
It was reported that Hector Garcia has finished two additional murals.
The new bylaws were given out at the January meeting. They were approved.
A motion was made to allow another organization to take over the Easter Egg Hunt at the park so the chamber can focus more on business. It passed.
Nominations for officers Hart was nominated for president, Bertrand was nominated for vice president, Shaarel Collins was nominated for treasurer, and Herdrich was nominated fo secretary. The nominations passed. Announcements Marcia Cox reported
Shelly Bickel has reached out to Make My Move and they are very interested in putting a program in place in this area. She will be working with them on requirements. Herdrich and See Chamber, Page 5
Brownie Troop 8175, from left: Jasmine Hawthorne, Ryleigh Neil and Taylor McFee.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Daisy Troop 8175, from left: Zoey Speakman, Aubree Wise and Averleigh McCart.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Junior Troop 8175, from left: Hannah Smith, Ella Curtis and Rosalie McFee.
Helping livestock producers understand grass tetany in beef cows
University of MO Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. If you’ve ever seen a cow suddenly collapse in early spring, seemingly out of nowhere, you might have witnessed a case of grass tetany, says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey. This metabolic disorder, historically linked to magnesium deficiency, can be a problem for cattle grazing lush cool-season grasses. Understanding the causes, symptoms and prevention strategies for grass tetany can help cattle producers avoid costly losses, says MU Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.
What is grass tetany?
Grass tetany, also known as grass staggers, is caused by low levels of magnesium in the blood. It is most commonly ob-
CAINSVILLE
MELANIE CHANEY
After another weird week of weather I still don’t really have any news. I am more than happy to tell about birthday parties, trips, visitors, etc., if anyone would like to let me know about them.
Herman and Melanie Chaney spent the day in Gallatin at an auction on Saturday, March 8 and enjoyed playing outside with thier granddaughters on March 9.
The EAst Harrison elementary boys basketball team took second place in the North Daviess Elementary Tournament.
The Cainsville R-1 FFA is selling popcorn to help with their trip to the state convention. They are also participating in several contests.
There will be an early out on March 13, and no school on March 14 and March 17. I hope this really is a spring break and Mother Nature gets the clue!
On March 17, come out and enjoy supper and elementary basketball games at 5:30 p.m. at the Cainsville school gym.
Don’t forget, the plan-
served in lactating cows
grazing early spring growth of cool-season grasses like tall fescue. These pastures, while high in energy and protein, often have low magnesium levels and excessive amounts of potassium, which can interfere with magnesium absorption. Environmental stressors such as frost and drought further alter the mineral composition of forages. Spring-calving cows are especially vulnerable due to the high magnesium demands of lactation, which can quickly deplete their reserves.
Recognizing the symptoms
Grass tetany doesn’t always announce itself with clear warning signs, but knowing what to look for can make the difference between saving and
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ning for the annual PTO carnival is in full swing. If anyone would like to help out please contact the school.
I saw that there is a fundraiser on March 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Davis City, Iowa Community Building to help with expenses of the nnual 4th of July parade in Pleasanton. A soup supper, cake walk and auction are some of the events planned. Just a heads up about the annual trade days to be held in Cainsville on April 19 as 1108 Enterprise. For more information call 660-425-0634.
Well I have given everyone some ideas of things to do so let’s hope I get some news about them doing it in the future! Thanks everyone!
Unfortunately I have one last thing. It is with great sympathy to the many family members, friends and friends that just as well be family at this time for the loss of Nick Booth on March 9. He will be missed by so many.
losing an animal, says Bailey. Early symptoms include:
• Increased excitability.
• Teeth grinding.
• Excessive salivation.
• Muscle spasms.
• Loss of body control.
• Collapse and death in severe cases.
• Without immediate intervention, death can occur within hours.
Traditional solutions:
Do they work?
For years, the standard recommendation was to supplement cattle diets with additional magnesium. Magnesium oxide is commonly added to mineral mixes or mixed into feed to increase intake. However, magnesium supplements are often unpalatable, leading to inconsistent intake among cattle, Bailey says. Additionally, despite supplementation, some cases of grass tetany still occur, indicating other factors are at play.
In acute cases, intravenous magnesium and calcium solutions administered by a veterinarian can treat the condition. However, prevention remains the best approach since once symptoms become severe, survival rates decline significantly.
The role of potassium and sodium in grass tet-
any
Research suggests potassium and sodium play a crucial role in magnesium absorption, and their balance in forages may be as important as magnesium itself.
Potassium:
The hidden culprit
While potassium is essential for plant growth, high levels in pastures can exacerbate magnesium deficiency. Potassium competes with magnesium for absorption sites in the rumen, so even when magnesium levels in forage are adequate, excessive potassium can block magnesium from leaving the rumen, increasing the risk of grass tetany.
Fertilization practices can further contribute to the problem. Heavy potassium fertilization, especially in early spring, may increase the risk of grass tetany by skewing the mineral balance in pastures, says Naumann.
Sodium’s overlooked role
Sodium plays a less obvious but equally important role in magnesium absorption. Sodium helps transport magnesium across the rumen wall, improving its availability to the animal. However, freeze-damaged grasses often lose significant
amounts of sodium, potentially reducing magnesium uptake even further. Low sodium intake in cattle diets can compound the issue. Providing freechoice salt or increasing the amount of salt in your free-choice mineral can support magnesium absorption and be a cost-effective strategy for reducing the risk of grass tetany, says Bailey.
What about phosphorus?
Soil phosphorus may play a critical role in preventing grass tetany in ruminants. MU research indicates that fertilizing tall fescue pastures to reach adequate soil phosphorus levels enhances the availability of magnesium in the forage.
This improvement in magnesium availability helps ruminants maintain proper magnesium levels in their diets, which is crucial for preventing grass tetany.
Prevention strategies
Managing grass tetany requires a multifaceted approach. Bailey and Naumann offer some key strategies:
Provide high-magnesium supplements: Make sure cows receive sufficient magnesium, especially during high-risk periods in early spring. Most “hi-mag” minerals
have 6%-10% magnesium. Increase salt consumption: Most mineral supplements contain 15%-30% salt. Choose a mineral that is closer to 30% salt, if possible. If not, consider mixing a bag of salt and a bag of mineral for cows in March and April. Limit excessive potassium fertilization: Be mindful of pasture fertilization practices. Avoid heavy applications of potassium in early spring, which can suppress magnesium absorption in cattle.
Graze mixed pastures: Introducing legumes such as clover into pastures can help balance mineral content, as they generally contain higher levels of magnesium than grasses alone.
“Grass tetany remains a significant challenge for cattle producers, but with careful management and strategic supplementation, its impact can be minimized,” says Bailey. “Understanding the interplay between magnesium, potassium and sodium in forage systems is key to developing effective prevention strategies.”
For more information, contact your local MU Extension agronomy or livestock specialist.
Federal Department of Education needs to go, DESE needs trimming to downsize government
PAUL HAMBY Special to the Post-Telegraph MAYSVILLE, Mo. The federal Department of Education was created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. The department’s mission was to distribute federal education money to the states, to collect and analyze data on students, and enforce federal education laws that relate to civil rights and equal access. Public education has turned into the “Education Industrial Complex.” It is a combination of bureaucrats, university staff, union reps and lobbyists with $238 billion and self-created mandates.
The priority has become protecting the establishment and indoctrination of our children. The priority should be teaching our kids the basics.
Our kids are failing to learn. In the most recent data available, 40% of fourth graders are reading below the lowest level and 33% of eighth graders are reading below the lowest level. Teachers are forced to teach to the test to meet federal and state mandates, leaving little time for the basics. The result is that too many kids are not mastering the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
More money is not the answer. It’s been proven over and over that more money per student does not create graduating seniors better prepared for the next chapter in their life.
One of the basic problems with our current education model is a one
Chamber
From Page 3
that there is a new RV repair shop opening soon.
A report was given by Neeley and Hart on Great Northwest Days at the Capitol. It was deemed a success and a great networking opportunity.
Bertrand announced that Joel Barrett from the UMKC In novation Center will be speaking on “Proof to Profit” at the Hal England Conference Room on Thursday, May 1 from 12-1:30 p.m. This is open to all business people or anyone interested in starting a business.
A sign up sheet for food items was passed around
Sheriff Jeff Spencer will be the speaker at the next meeting which will be held on Wednesday, March 26 at the old Bank of Princeton building at 5:15 p.m.
The chamber will continue to meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Any one interested in welcome to attend.
You do not need to be a business to be a member or guest of the chamber.
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.
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in the Princeton Post-Telegraph TODAY!
LIBERTY THOUGTS
size fits all approach. This forces every student to learn the same way and be tested the same way. Federal mandates are enforced by thousands of administrative staff at the federal, state and local level.
As parents, we recognize that there are many different personalities of children, different ways they learn, and each child is unique in their own way. The approach of making all children fit into the same mold is failing our children.
The Missouri Department of Secondary Education, known as DESE, has its share of issues.
One is the leadership of DESE has a master plan for school consolidation and locations throughout Missouri. That is not their job. Central planning is not the purpose of DESE.
Central planning is what is done in communist countries. Local control and competition is the American way. Local school boards need to be given back the power to operate their schools again.
A second issue is making student attendance every day a priority for schools to get their share of federal and state money. Schools are paid for attendance of students and therefore make it a priority for kids to attend. Awards are given to students for perfect attendance, and the result is sick and contagious
children sometimes go to school who should be at home. Plus this discourages children from important activities outside of school during the weekdays.
One urban school board recently discussed sending out truant officers to collect the kids missing from school so they could collect their DESE money for those kids.
Federal and state mandates on public schools should be abolished. All DESE rules, mandates and indoctrination should be eliminated. DESE should be reduced to two employees: one to write checks to various school districts and one to report to the legislature.
Student scores have fallen for decades. After the COVID education fiasco, DESE had to lower the school average score thresholds to prevent the state from taking over several schools. We have a near epidemic of 18-year-olds who cannot read or balance a checkbook or do basic math.
School choice would bring competition to public schools, but it must come along with the removal of federal and state mandates that are inhibiting teachers to be able to
excel.
A third issue is the educational industrial complex created by the teaching colleges and their lobbyists continue to raise the bar for teacher certification. Their goal is to force teachers to go back to college guaranteeing future customers of the colleges (requiring teachers to get CEUs and master’s degrees) in order to continue to teach. This does not make better teachers, it makes customers for the teaching colleges.
In January, Missouri Sen. Brad Hudson found evidence of DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) and liberal indoctrination on DESE website and has called for an audit. Hudson told The Heartlander newspaper: “The DESE presentation appears to be full of DEI and CRT (critical race theory) language. It's troubling to me when (DESE has) a slideshow that’s saying things like ‘don’t call boys boys, don’t call girls girls.’
“This is the kind of woke stuff that my constituents and the citizens of Missouri do not want their tax dollars going to prop up.”
See Hamby, Page 6
GUNS & AMMO
WOOD’S GUN SHOP
5 Miles South of Ravanna 660-748-5795
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday 1-2-2025-ufn
SERVICES
Boyer Land Company LLC
Aaron Franklin, Sales Agent Princeton, MO 64673
660-748-6314 YOUR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST! 1-2-2025ufn
LAND WANTED
Looking for land to lease for 2025 deer season. Will pay top dollar. References available. Not an outfitter. Fully insured. 715-495-3241. 1-30/4-15b
STORAGE UNITS
For Rent - Storage unit. Elm Street Storage, Princeton. 660-748-3619. 2-6tfnb
FARM ITEMS
For Sale - 201 net wrapped grass hay. $49/bale. 95 plastic twine hay. $45/bale Call 660-292-0139. 3-13/3-20p
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 hunting or trespassing on Cox family property - Andy & Donna Cox and Robert & Tina Cox.
2-6-2025/3 years (106t)p
No hunting, fishing or trespassing on property owned, leased or rented by Joe and Victoria Ryan. 4-25-24-52tp
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. 3-21-24-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on land owned by Barbara & LeRoy Hider 10-8-24-52tp
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. 9-26-24-52tp
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). 10-3-24-52tp
No hunting or trespassing on any land owned by Bill and Peggy Heck. 5-30-24-52tb
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
No trespassing on property owned by Shandra Morin 4-11-24-52tp NO HUNTING OR TRESPASSING on any land owned by LAKE MARIE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION. 3-6-2025
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MSHSAA board discusses input from area meetings
Special to the Post-Telegraph COLUMBIA, Mo. The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) held its regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, via Zoom due to the winter weather across the state.
During the meeting, MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad gave a thorough report on this year’s area meetings. Over the course of the last few weeks, the MSHSAA staff traveled to all eight board districts to discuss important topics with the member schools.
Following Dr. Rukstad’s report, the Board approved the Annual Questionnaire, a key tool used each year to gather input from member schools on important issues. This feedback helps the Board identify
Gov. Mike Kehoe and state legislators, you have the opportunity this session to DOGE public education.
Remove the mandates on teachers, lowering the cost to remain a teacher and help attract more folks to the profession.
Remove the red tape each public school must deal with and make the schools replace duplicate admin staff with teaching staff.
Remove DESE curriculum and let local school boards choose. Remove mandates on curriculum letting local schools experiment with alternative teaching methods.
Downsize DESE to two employees.
Repeal the 1993 Outstanding Schools Act that gave so much power to DESE.
Pass school choice. Let competition work, then outcomes will matter.
Encourage President Trump to keep his promise to shut down the federal Department of Education.
Copyright (C) 2025 Liberty Thought of the Week. All rights reserved.
Paul Hamby is a conservative, free-thinking farmer and small businessman in northwest Missouri’s DeKalb County.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
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and implement changes that reflect the priorities of member schools. The questionnaire was distributed to member schools on Monday, Feb. 17, with responses due by Friday, Feb. 28.
“We are eager to connect with our member schools, hear their valuable insights via the questionnaire, and bring their feedback back to the Board as we shape our Annual Ballot,” Dr. Rukstad said.
The Annual Ballot will be available to member schools starting Monday, April 7, and will remain open until Friday, April 18. The results of the Annual Ballot will be posted to the MSHSAA website later this spring.
The Board also approved staff recommendations from the Golf Advisory Committee. Specific information on those Board actions will be available in the future.
The Board is scheduled to meet again in March.
COMMISSION
MERCER COUNTY
COMMISSION
Report taken from minutes of meetings of the Mercer County Commission. All votes are unanimous unless otherwise noted. Monday, March 3
• 2nd District Commissioner Gary Porter call in from 9 a.m. until 10:20.
• Minutes of the Feb. 24 meeting were approved.
• Sheriff Jeff Spencer spoke to commissioners about the lease of vehicles, a website, and building options for a jail/sheriff’s office/911 services.
• Bills were approved and paid.
• Time sheets and the Feb. 28 payroll were approved.
• Commissioners received February fees collected from Assessor Dana Widner.
• Spencer presented the February motor equipment expense reports for himself and Deputy Randy Francis.
• Commissioners received February fees received from Public Administrator Kelli Judd.
• Commissioners and County Clerk Judy Ham-
ilton signed a certified copy of order authorizing Collector/Treasurer Susan Moore to pay $40.56 to General Revenue for half of the Xerox lease. Money was taken from Recorder’s Special Fund #06.
• The report from the Missouri Department of Revenue about motor fuel taxes, motor
It’s not a house cat
vehicle sales taxes and motor vehicle fee increases, in the amount of $58,843.27 for the county’s use as of Feb. 21.
• Commissioners received the training certificate from the County Commissioners Association of Missouri for Porter.
It’s not often you find yourself face to face with a wild caracal cat on the loose in the US; these critters are usually found in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia. But there it was, loose in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates and it appears that no one knows how it got there. When the police caught it and dropped it in a cage it went crazy and so they shot it with a tranquilizer gun, “but the drug they used wasn't potent enough to knock it out. It didn't get really groggy until it was in the cage for about 7-8 minutes,” according to a neighbor who saw the hunt.
Hamby From Page 5
Tigers’ Elite Eight reach the Elite 8
Lewis ends game on personal 8-0 run, Henke sets program single-season scoring record and defense shines as Princeton plays in, wins first state tournament game since 1998
PRESTON COLE
Princeton Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo. Call them the “Elite Eight.” “Fabulous Few” has a nice ring to it, as well, for the 8-member Princeton girls basketball team.
Thanks to a recent change reportedly due to a lack of venues willing to host early state tournament games, Missouri schools can host the first two rounds of state play on their home courts as long as their gyms meet set requirements.
Last Tuesday night (Feb. 4), the #9-ranked Tigers were one of those fortunate teams. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd (listed capacity: 600) in Princeton Elementary Gym, the District 11 champion Tigers led for virtually all of the final 31 minutes in taking a 55-36 victory over Brunswick in the sectional round of the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls Basketball State Tournament.
The victory, which came in Princeton’s first state tournament game since 1998, improved the Tigers’ record to 23-4 and put them into the state quarterfinals on Saturday (Feb. 8) against #1-ranked Northeast Randolph County (Cairo).
Princeton’s first goal, an Addilyn Henke steal and layup at the 7:13 mark of the first quarter, was something of a harbinger of how the night would go for Brunswick, playing its first state game since 2007. Two harbingers, actuallyone, that the Wildcats (19-9) would have trouble handling Princeton’s pressure defense, and that Henke was not going to be as cold as she was in the first half of the district title game against Green City the previous Saturday (1 point).
Brunswick got the game tied at the 7-minute mark on a close-in
bucket from its talented 5-foot-11 post player, Joslynn Brown. Just 20 seconds later, Randa Shahan gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead and Princeton wouldn’t trail again. Macey Lewis - remember her name - got a steal and layup 16 seconds after Shahan’s bucket, and after Brown hit again, Mikaylee Henke hit a putback and Shahan buried a 3-point shot for an 11-4 Princeton lead.
After a Cadence Meyer hoop cut the gap to 11-6, Addilyn Henke drained a 3 at the 21/2-minute mark and added a layup off another Tiger steal 16 seconds later to give Princeton a 16-6 margin. Katie Cook hit a 3 for the Wildcats, but Audrey Kelly connected with 5 seconds left as Princeton led 18-9 after one.
Neither team did much over the first 4 minutes of the second frame, as Cook and Brown hit to bring the District 12 champions back to within 18-13 at the 5-minute mark.
Then, as she is wont to do, Addilyn Henke got hot. She scored 8 points of a 10-1 Tiger run (Gracie Mitchell hit the other goal on a putback) as Princeton took a 28-14 lead with 1:45 left before halftime. Brown hit twice for the Wildcats, but Henke finished a 10-point quarter with a hoop with 7 seconds left for a 30-18 Tiger halftime lead.
The third period was the only 8-minute stretch where Brunswick outscored Princeton, albeit by just a 10-8 margin. Shahan hit the first Tiger hoop with 6:49 left, then she got a steal and got the ball to Henke, who scored to make it 3420. Meyer and Henke traded 3s to make it 37-23 with 4:11 left, then Cook got a 3 and Cadey Neidholdt added a deuce to get the Wildcats under a 10-point deficit, 37-28 with 2:10 left. Late in the period, however, the Tigers got yet another steal and Henke hit a layup with 3.8 seconds to go to send Princeton to the fourth leading by 11, 39-28. Henke, already the Tigers’ alltime career scoring leader (with
2,391 points at night’s end), broke the program’s single-season scoring record on that final shot. It gave her the 656th point of her senior season, one more than the 655 points scored by Tiger legend Stacy (Rockhold) Snyder during the 1987-88 season. Both Henke and Snyder scored that many points in 27 games. Henke finished the game with 663 points this season.
Princeton put the game away by doubling up the Wildcats 16-8 in the fourth quarter. Henke hit two of the Tigers’ four hoops, the second with 3:37 left that made it a 43-30 Princeton lead. Brown hit 2-of-2 free throws at 3:22, and then Lewis hit 2-of-2 at the line with 21/2 minutes left to put the Tigers up 45-30, Brown hit a bucket, and Henke hit 1-of-2 foul shots before Brown got the final hoop of her night to cut the gap to 46-36 with 1:49 remaining. Henke hit 1-of-2 at the line with 1:36 left for her final points of the night, then Lewis began a personal 8-0 run that sent Tiger Nation - including over 70 PHS students in a special section, with the $10 per ticket admission price paid for by the Princeton Athletic Booster Club - home very happy.
With the Tigers up 47-36, Lewis hit 1-of-2 foul shots with 1:17 left, then hit 2-of-2 with 1:06 left. She then delivered the coup de grace with one more steal and layup, plus a free throw to complete a 3-point play, with 27.5 seconds remaining. Lewis finished the game with a fast break goal off a Tiger defensive rebound with 11 seconds left.
Addilyn Henke led all scorers with 30 points, 17 in the first half, despite an ubnormally rough night at the line - 2-of-7 by a 70% shooter. Lewis’s big closing stretch allowed her to finish with 12. Other scoring: Shahan 7, Mitchell 2, Mikaylee Henke 2, Kelly 2. Brown was the only Wildcat to reach double figures, scoring 18 of her team’s 36 points.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Post-Telegraph
Macey Lewis drove to the basket for two of her 10 fourth-quarter points.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Post-Telegraph
Randa Shahan (#14) guarded Brunswick’s 5-11 Joslynn Brown in the low post.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Post-Telegraph Addilyn Henke (#3) gets encouragement from Audrey Kelly before a free throw attempt.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Post-Telegraph
Gracie Mitchell (#1) made it difficult for a Brunswick player to find an open teammate.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Post-Telegraph Mikaylee Henke (left) forced a Brunswick player into a turnover during the first half.
MISSOURI CLASS 1 GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
A sad end to a beautiful season
#1-ranked Cairo hits Princeton with 15-0 opening surge, returns to Show-Me Showdown semifinals with a dominant 28-point win over #6 Tigers
PRESTON COLE Princeton Post-Telegraph
MOBERLY, Mo In most of their games during the 2024-25 season, the Princeton girls basketball team battled opponents who were taller than them, or bigger than them, or had more depth. And in most of those games - 23 of their first 27 contests - they were able to overcome those factors to come away victorious.
Saturday afternoon wasn’t one of those games. Northeast Randloph County of Cairo (Cairo for short) combined everything that the Tigers were able to overcome in previous games, and the Bearcats posted a wire-to-wire, 62-34 triumph in the quarterfinals of the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls Basketball State Tournament.
Princeton (23-5) suffered just its second loss of the season to a Class 1 opponent. The other such loss was to St. Elizabeth (24-6), which lost to Walnut Grove 41-37 in overtime on Saturday in another quarterfinal game. The Tigers’ other losses were to South Harrison (19-7), which lost in the sectional round of the Class 3 state tournament, and Albany (21-7) and Milan (20-7), which lost district championship games.
Cairo (24-6), which hopes to improve on its second-place finish in last year’s state tournament (a 6452 loss to northwest Missouri’s Platte Valley in the championship game), plays Rock Port (26-4) at 8 p.m. Friday night in the second Class 1 state semifinal game during Show-Me Showdown I in Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. The first semifinal is set for 6 p.m. between Chadwick (264) and Walnut Grove (23-5). Championship and thirdplace games will be played Saturday.
Cairo starts quickly as Tigers struggle Cairo put together a 15-0 run to start the quarterfinal game, played in front of a less than half-full crowd in the 2,500-seat Fitzsimmons-John Arena on the campus of Moberly Area Community College. It was a run that Princeton never recovered from.
Avery Brumley, one of three senior Bearcat starters, got a layup down a mere 10 seconds into the game. Cairo next added three consecutive buckets on as many steals (by Olivia Cross, Brumley and Mallori Hankins) to go up 8-0 at the 4:15 mark of the first quarter. The
son scoring leader.
Bearcats then added a free throw from Cross and a putback from Hankins, and later got hoops from 6-foot post player Macie Harman (four inches taller than any Tiger player) and Brumley, and Cairo led 15-0 with 2:38 left.
Addilyn Henke, who played the final game of her illustrious, four-season Tiger career, finally got Princeton on the board with a 3-point shot with 2:10 left to end the Cairo blitz. That didn’t deter the Bearcats, who got scores from Harman and freshman reserve Elly Jaecques, the latter at the 50-second mark, to make it 19-3. Randa Shahan, one of Princeton’s three senior starters, connected with 30 seconds left, and the game went to the second quarter with Cairo comfortably in a 19-5 lead.
The Bearcats took their biggest lead of the first half on two Hankins goals, the second with 6:42 left in the second quarter, at 23-5. The rest of the period was pretty much a standoff as Princeton finally was able to penetrate Cairo’s defense for scores.
Henke got an old-school 3-point play, and Shahan hit a 3 as the Tigers pulled to within 23-11 at the 6:05 mark. Hankins sandwiched a Macey Lewis goal with two of her own, then Audrey Kelly scored to make it 27-15 at the 4:15 mark. Cross then hit a putback and a 3 to get the lead back to 17 points, 32-15 with 2:56 left. Henke hit two free throws, Jaecques got a bucket, and Henke connected with 1:45 left before Jaecques hit two foul shots at the 1:10 juncture to give the Bearcats a 36-19 halftime lead.
Henke’s goal was historic, as it got the Tigers’ career scoring leader to the 2,400-point mark.
Princeton continued its desparate comeback attempt by twice cutting the deficit to 11 points in the third quarter. Lewis hit early, and after a Cairo free throw, Kelly and Henke (a 3) got buckets to make it 37-26 with 3:46 left. Hankins and Henke then traded buckets, Henke’s coming at the 3:25 mark off a drive through Cairo’s defense, and it was 39-28.
The Bearcats then pulled away for good. Brumley hit two free throws, followed by goals from Cross, Brum-
ley and Harman to go up 47-28 with 1:32 left. Addilyn Henke got a bucket and missed the free throw on an and-1 attempt, but sophomore sister Mikaylee Henke got the rebound and scored to get the Tigers to within 47-32. Cairo ended the period with a hoop by Harman and a 3 from Cross, and the 3 with 7 seconds left was the dagger as it gave the Bearcats their first 20-point lead of the afternoon, 52-32.
Neither team scored much in the fourth quarter, as the Bearcats outscored Princeton 10-2. Brumley hit 6-of-6 free throws, four of them during a game-closing 8-0 run, and Cairo got goals from Cross and Hankins, the latter with 6 minutes for the day’s final bucket. Princeton’s lone basket of the period came - fittingly - from Addilyn Henke, a bucket with 7:38 remaining for the 2,411th point of her career. Coach Mike Schmidli took his three senior starters out, one at a time, with 1:14 left, and Henke was the last one to go to the bench. All three seniors got hugs from Schmidli and standing ovations from the Tiger faithful, but Henke got the longest hug and loudest ovation, which included a good number of the Bearcat crowd who made the short drive (6 to 12 miles or so) from the Cairo/ Jacksonville area.
Henke led all scorers one final time, scoring a gamehigh 19 points with 14 coming in the middle two quarters. She finished with 682 points this season (24.4 average) and 2,411 career points in 107 games (22.5 average), all program records. Ironically, her 19 points Saturday were her fourth-lowest output of the season. Shahan finished her career with 5 points, and Lewis completed her career with 4 points. Other scoring: Kelly 4, Mikaylee Henke 2. Three players reached double figures for Cairo, with Avery Brumley and Hankins hitting 16 each and Cross adding 15. Other scoring: Harman 7, Jaecques 6, Chloe Brumley 2. None of the Bearcats’ 6 losses came to a Missouri Class 1 school.
Princeton, the coaches’ pick to win the Grand River Conference West, finished in a 3-way tie for the title with Albany and North Andrew. The Tigers won the Albany and Gilman City tournaments and finished second in the South Harrison Tournament to Class 3 South Harrison. They also won their first district title, and first state tournament game, since 1998.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Princeton Post-Telegraph Princeton’s Addilyn Henke (in blue) beat Cairo’s much taller Macie Harmon to the basket for a second-half goal. The Tigers’ senior superstar ended her career as Princeton’s career and single-sea-
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Princeton Post-Telegraph Macey Lewis, one of Princeton’s three senior starters, was well ahead of the pack for a second-half shot.
TERRI KELLY/Special to the Princeton Post-Telegraph Randa Shahan (front) got set to block out a Cairo player in the event a Bearcat free throw missed the mark.
