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TRENTON
THURS., MAY 16, 2024
REPUBLICAN-TIMES “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
Old Glory flying at Five Points
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 160th Year - No. 37
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Jordan Rainer to Headline Music Jam
Council Approves “Recovery Home”, Passes Ordinances
republican-times.com
What’s Next for the City? by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer It’s been an eventful last month for the City of Trenton, with the failure of the Economic Development Tax, and pushback on the Wage/Years of Service pay scale. But the beat goes on. Mayor Jackie Soptic has gone to work with an active city council on advancing needed improvements for the City, and has been working with city employees to gain needed input on the Wage/Years of Service pay schedule. At the last Council meeting, Soptic indicated a desire to meet with city employees in the Electric Department and with City Hall Staff to hear their concerns directly, answer questions and gain input. “We had really good discussion with these workers, and learned some issues that will be addressed,” Soptic said. “Through this entire process, I have wanted to hear everyone’s concerns, and when I [See City, Page 2]
Rising Country Music star and standout talent from “The Voice” Season 24, Jordan Rainer, is set to ignite the stage as the headliner of this year’s Leadership Northwest Music Jam, presented by Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center. Returning for its fourth consecutive year, this event will once again be hosted at Black Silo Winery in Trenton on Saturday, August 31, coinciding with the celebrations of Trenton’s Alumni Weekend. Trenton High School freshman, Makayla Mejia, is slated as the special guest to kick off the evening's music festivities. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite. From her unforgettable stint under the mentorship of country icon Reba McEntire on “The Voice” to the resounding success of her current headlining Straight Shot Tour, Jordan Rainer embodies what Reba herself describes as a force of nature. With a magnetic stage presence and a voice that captivates audiences far and wide, Rainer promises a perform-
Briefs... Humphreys Alumni Reunion
The Annual Humphreys Alumni will be held on Saturday, May 25 from 1-4 p.m. at the Humphreys Community Building. Those attending are asked to bring finger foods. Drinks and table service will be provided. All alumni, former students, teachers, family and friends are invited to attend.
Trenton Christian School
Trenton Christian School is now accepting applications for enrollment for Fall 2024. Trenton Christian School will be located at First Christian Church, 1700 Princeton Road. A $100 deposit is to be paid at the time of enrollment. Enroll online at www.trentonmochristian.com. Tuition is $152.50 per week. Accelerated Christian Education curriculum will be used to integrate character-building lessons.
TMS Awards Assemblies
Trenton Middle School will hold awards assemblies on Friday, May 17, which is the last day of school, in the TMS gymnasium. Scheduled assemblies will be as follows: Fifth Grade - 8:15 a.m., Eighth Grade - 8:45 a.m., Seventh Grade - 9:15 a.m. and Sixth Grade - 9:45 a.m. All parents and grandparents are invited to attend.
Laredo R-VII Graduation
Laredo R-VII held eighth grade graduation ceremonies on Monday, May 6. Named valedictorian was Emma Lowrey. River Limkemann was salutatorian and also received the citizenship award.
Lunch with Law Enforcement
The Trenton Police Department invites the community to join them on Monday, May 20 for Lunch with Law Enforcement at the North 65 Center, 2901 Hoover Drive in Trenton. Officers will be available to answer any questions or hear concerns of the public during this time.
ance that will leave an indelible mark on all who attend. Shane Lynch, Music Jam coordinator, shares his excitement about Rainer’s headline act, expressing admiration for her talent and stage presence. “I watched Jordan on ‘The Voice’ last season and she was my favorite on Team Reba. She's not just a great singer; she’s a true creative entertainer, and I can't wait for her to grace our stage in Trenton.” More than just a night of music, the Leadership Northwest Music Jam serves as a vital fundraiser for the Leadership Northwest Missouri (LNWMO) program. This year, the event takes on added significance with the introduction of a scholarship initiative. Proceeds from ticket sales will continue to support the LNWMO program, while also paving the way for the future by offering two $500 scholarships to deserving high school seniors. One scholarship will be awarded to a student from Grundy County, the host county of the Music Jam, while the sec-
Jordan Rainer
ond will go to a student from any of the 19 counties within the Northwest Missouri region. The announcement of this year’s recipients will be released soon. So come on out for an evening of music and entertainment with the extraordinary talents of Jordan Rainer and Makayla Mejia, but also to support future leaders in Northwest Missouri.
Makayla Mejia
Commissioners Advance 911 System Completion The Grundy County Commissioners approved a bid of $33,316 for the completion of the 911 system locations at Spickard and Galt in their regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting held Tuesday, May 7. Command One submitted the accepted bid with the cabinets for Spickard coming in at $9,837 and Galt at $11,337. The option of HVAC air for both is $12,142 for a total of $33,316. Commissioner Brad Chumbley made
the motion to accept the bid, and Commissioner Don Sager seconded it to move the project forward. In other business, Sager made a motion to approve minutes for December 20 and 27 of 2022. The Commissioners wrote a check for bridge completion of project BRORO40(30) to MERA Excavating for $89,433.40. [See 911, Page 2]
by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer The Trenton City Council met in its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Standing room only was the description of the Council Chamber, as most of the public guests came in favor of the “Sober Life” Recovery House, initiated by council member Duane Urich and director Jenn Hottes, aimed at providing a “safe home” for women transitioning from prison and rehab back into “living life again”. After the pledge and prayer, Mayor Jackie Soptic called the meeting to order. Minutes of the last meeting were approved and bills were paid. Councilmen Tim Meinecke, David Mlika, Duane Urich, Lou Fisher, Glen Briggs, Calvin Brown and Marvin Humphreys were in attendance. Councilman John Dolan was absent. The Council approved the Conditional Use Permit of Ed Creason of Consumer Oil and Supply for the construction of six grain bins on their property located next to the feed mill and housed in the old Codes Building. The permit was passed on a 7-0 vote by the Council. The next topic was the [See Council, Page 2]
Lt. Larry Smith Graduates from SPSC Program The Trenton Police Department is pleased to announce the recent graduation of Lieutenant Larry Smith from the School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) at Northwestern University. Lt. Smith has successfully completed the twentytwo week Staff and Command program held in Evanston, IL from September 11, 2023 - February 25, 2024. This program, which was implemented by the Center for Public Safety
in 1983, has graduated over 21,000 students. both nationally and internationally. Lt. Smith was a student in SPSC Class #558, which accommodated a total of 24 students for the twenty-two week period. The School of Police Staff and Command provides upper-level college instruction in a total of twenty-seven core blocks of instruction and additional optional blocks during each session. The major topics of study in-
clude: Leadership, Human Resources, Employee Relations, Organizational Behavior, Applied Statistics, Planning and Policy Development, Budgeting and Resource Allocation. Each student is academically challenged through written examinations, projects, presentations and quizzes, in addition to a staff study paper that are all required parts of the curriculum. Upon successful completion, students may [See Smith, Page 2]
Lt. Larry Smith