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TRENTON
THURS. MAR. 16, 2023
Republican-Times “GOD BLESS AMERICA” republican-times.com
Trenton Rotary Club Celebrates 100 Years of Service The Trenton Rotary Club celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thursday night, March 9, with a meal and program at Cross Hall on the North Central Missouri College campus. Decorations coordinated by Kim Washburn included Rotary flags collected and received by the club during its 100 years as well as table decorations in the Rotary colors of blue and gold. A table also featured notebooks of the club’s history, compiled by the late Ruth Walker and Dan Wilford as well as other Rotary memorabilia, including attendance pins and song books. President-elect Jackie Soptic served as master of ceremonies and opened the event by leading those present in the Pledge to the U.S. flag. Dan Wilford gave the prayer. Mrs. Soptic gave the welcome to those in attendance and recognized special guests, including District Governor Kent Shelman of Independence, who gave remarks about the club’s involvement in Rotary International activities and congratulated members on their accomplishments during its 100-year history. There were 19 former club presidents in attendance. Allan Seidel, who served as president in 1978-79, presenting information about his time as president, including differences in Rotary then and now. He also shared a roster of members from 1976-77, which showed a membership of 60 individuals. Also recognized were Bruce Constant, who has been a member of the club for 40 years; and Carlotta Gonzalvez, who is the club’s exchange student from Spain. Diane Lowrey presented a history of the club, which was established during a meeting on March 6, 1923, and outlined the many activities in which the club has been involved over the years. Kim Washburn, who served as president during 2020-21, told about how the club weathered the
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 159th Year - No. 28
BRIEFS Spickard BOA Meets
The Spickard Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, March 8 at 6 p.m. at Spickard City Hall. Mayor Alan Tharp presided over the meeting. The agenda and minutes from the last meeting were approved on a unanimous vote. The financial report and payment all claims were also approved. There was discussion about taking bids for the ground around the lagoons for hay. The City decided not to put the ground up for bid. The next meeting of the Spickard Board of Aldermen will be Monday, April 10 at 6 p.m. Submitted Photos
Members of the Trenton Rotary Club celebrated the club’s 100th anniversary during a celebration held on Thursday, March 9 at Cross Hall on the NCMC campus. Members attending included, from left, front row, Dan Wilford, Diane Lowrey, Cathy McKay, Savannah Fogel, Debbie Carman; middle row, Jackie Soptic, Kristi Urich, Joe McDonald, exchange student Carlotta Gonzalvez, Megan Taul, Melissa King, Kim Washburn, Bruce Constant, Steve Taylor, Gary Dolan, L.D. Gibson, Phil Hoffman; back row, Chris Hoffman, Doug Tye, David Critten, Tom Witten, Allan Seidel, John Anthony, Don Purkapile, Scott Sharp, Jeff Crowley, Dr. Lenny Klaver, Brian Upton and Daniel Gott.
global pandemic and came back even stronger by becoming a 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Club as well as a 100 percent “Every Rotarian, Every Year” member participant. Mrs. Soptic read memories shared by members of their time as Rotarians, including L.D. Gibson, Diane Lowrey, Dr. Jim Selby, Don Purkapile and Doug Tye. Phil Hoffman shared information about his family’s participation in Rotary, including the 1927 international convention held in Belgium and attended by his great-great grandfather, H.F. Hoffman. Debbie Carman, a club member and director of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the club with a 100-year anniversary certificate from the chamber. Mrs. Soptic also read resolutions received from the Missouri Senate and Missouri House, recognizing the club’s centennial milestone. A cake honoring the club’s 100th birthday and made by Crystal Whitaker was served and “Happy Birth[See Rotary, Page 2]
North Central Missouri College will be closed on Friday, March 17th, for Spring Holiday. This closing includes all buildings and offices at all locations. The Ketcham Community Center will have holiday hours of 5:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. NCMC will reopen on March 20th for regular hours of business.
Laredo R-VII Spring Roundup
Laredo R-VII School District will hold its Preschool and Kindergarten Roundup on Friday, April 14 from 8:3011:00 a.m. Any student eligible for preschool or kindergarten beginning fall semester 2023 is encouraged to attend. Parents are reminded to bring the child’s birth certificate, social security card and immunization record to the screening. Call the school at 660-286-2225 to set up an appointment.
Two Interstate Rest Areas to Permanently Close Submitted Photos
Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Carman, left, presented a certificate of recognition to Trenton Rotary Club president-elect Jackie Soptic, right, during the March 9 Rotary Club 100-year anniversary celebration held at Cross Hall on the NCMC campus.
Trenton City Council Meets Trenton City Council met on March 13, 2023. The sewer plant has normal operations. Working to adjust the bar screen. Check valve in large plant pump failed. It was isolated and other pumps are being used. The council is getting a quote from the contractor for replacement. Reservoir PS – working to develop a new connection plan. Clarifier Modification project – starting, contractor is ordering materials. River PS – engineer finalizing plans. Grundy electric crew is installing new meters and continuing regular maintenance. Perform routine maintenance. Council is working on getting more water meters to communicate with AMI. Inputting LSL inventory data as it becomes available. Identifying and planning sewer main repair projects. The airport had normal operations. Concrete apron re-
North Central Missouri College Closed Friday
placement for this spring has been completed. Need to cut and seal. Crews performing maintenance on asphalt plants, storm inlets and culverts. Contractor is hauling asphalt sand when the weather is decent and is almost finished. Council has also advertised for asphalt rock hauling. The Trenton Fire Department had normal operations. The contractor has started to repair the concrete on the east side of the building. The Trenton Police Department had normal operations and the new patrol car was outfitted with a partition, lights and radio. Lights and poles have been ordered for the Dollar General lighting. The engineer for the Tenth and Oklahoma watermain project has been completing plans for phase one.
The Missouri Department of Transportation will permanently close the southbound Platte County Interstate 29 (Dearborn) and Clinton County Interstate 35 (Lathrop) rest areas next week as work begins to convert the facilities to commercial vehicle parking. The rest areas, including parking, will be closed to all motorists beginning the morning of Thursday, March 16. As part of the project, the current rest area buildings will be removed, additional truck parking will be added and vault toilets will be installed. MoDOT has contracted with Emery, Sapp & Sons on the $3.8 million project that is expected to be completed by the end of October 2023. It is estimated that up to 35 percent of the annual daily traffic on Missouri’s interstates are commercial vehicles. Of the 141 sites near an interstate in Missouri, 87 are at or above capacity at the peak hour
between 2 and 3 a.m. An additional 23 are between 80-100 percent full. “When truckers can’t find parking off the road, they resort to parking on the interstate access ramps and this creates a safety hazard,” said Marty Liles, MoDOT northwest district engineer. “By converting the rest areas to truck parking, we’re able to help meet the needs of commercial vehicles while decreasing the costs associated in the renovation and upkeep of traditional rest areas.” MoDOT currently maintains seven welcome centers, 14 rest areas and 24 truck-only parking sites on seven interstates throughout Missouri. For more information about the rest area projects and to sign up for project email updates, visit [See Rest Areas, Page 2]