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TRENTON
THURS., MAY 9, 2024
REPUBLICAN-TIMES Old Glory flying at Five Points
republican-times.com
North Central Missouri College Commencement and Honors Brunch Held Saturday, May 4 North Central Missouri College Commencement was held on May 4, 2024 with two ceremonies; the morning ceremony at 9:00 a.m. honoring all associate degrees and certificates that are non-nursing, and the afternoon ceremony at 1:00 p.m. honoring nursing certificates, degrees, and pinnings. Both commencement ceremonies were held at the Ketcham Community Center on the Main campus located in Trenton. Commencement was also livestreamed at piratesdigitialmedia.com. This year marks the 97th NCMC commencement ceremony, with 502 degrees and certificates awarded to 449 individual graduates, including 109 associate in arts, 36 associate in arts in teaching, 198 associate in applied science, three associate in general studies, 11 associate in science and 145 certificates. The average graduate age is 24, with the oldest graduate being 59 and the youngest, 17. Graduates come from California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Texas, along with the countries of Canada, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Panama, the United States and Venezuela. North Central Missouri College Distinguished Alumna and former President of State Fair Community College, Dr. Joanna Anderson, and Mike Poore, Chief Executive Officer of Mosaic Life Care, gave the commencement addresses. Dr. Anderson spoke at the 9:00 am morning ceremony, and Mike Poore was the 1:00 pm afternoon speaker. Faculty Senate President Amy Guthrie led the processional, and the Army National Guard 548th Transportation Company presented the colors. Faculty Marshalls were Sarah Bird, Maryellen Harman, Korynn Skipper, Sophia Swink, Janna Ingram, Jack Green, Vel Westbrook and Abby Bilby. NCMC student Sarabeth Michael sang the National Anthem for the both ceremonies and Sawyer McCallon, Student Senate President, provided the welcome and evocation. Dr. Tristan Londre, Vice President of Academic Affairs, presented the class, [See NCMC, Page 2]
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.
NCMC Summer Hours
North Central Missouri College began operating on summer hours May 6 and will do so through August 9, 2024. Office hours for the public will be Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m for all locations. The Tutoring Center and NCMC Library hours will be Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. The Ketcham Community Center will be open Monday-Friday 5:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-200 p.m., and closed Sundays.
Summer School Meal Program
Trenton R-9 School District has announced that anyone 18 years of age or younger, as well as disabled adults over age 18, enrolled in school during the regular school year are eligible for free breakfast and lunch during summer school, which will be held May 22 to June 19. This includes students who are enrolled during the school year but chose not to attend Summer School. Breakfast will be served from 7:30-8:00 a.m., with lunch being served from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Anyone with questions should contact Superintendent Daniel Gott at 660-359-3994.
“GOD BLESS AMERICA” Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 160th Year - No. 36
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Trenton History Comes Down
R-T Photo/Megan Graham
On Sunday, May 5, demolition began on the storm-damaged Wesley United Methodist Church building located on the corner of 9th St. and Washington in downtown Trenton. It was on May 6, 2023 that an EF-0 tornado inflicted significant damage to the roof of the 130-year-old structure, creating two large openings in the roof. Once the demolition is complete, plans include the construction of a smaller church building at the same location.
A Conversation with Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer Grundy County Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray is a “Renaissance Man” if ever there was one. A graduate of Trenton R-IX, Phillip attended NCMC before completing his Bachelor’s at Missouri Western State University. Ray is a local farmer and a music guy with several years as an instrumental music arranger and clinician. He can be seen from time to time with students in the Trenton R-IX instrumental music department or working the annual FFA Alumni BBQ during the North Central Missouri Fair. Phillip, wife Taya, and their children Caleb and Brooklynn reside in the Hickory community southwest of Trenton. Any conversation with him on local government is sure to provide nuggets of information of which you never knew about, are momentarily incredulous, and then convinced… Ray never makes an argument that he hasn’t deeply researched, rarely asks a question for which he doesn’t already have an answer, and embodies the advice once received from an old Catholic Monsignor. “Never deny, seldom confirm, but always distinguish.” Ray explains that the job of Presiding Commissioner in the three-person group which includes Associate Commissioners Don Sager and Brad Chumbley, is providing a Grundy County presence on multiple area boards and committees among the various responsibilities within local county government. Ray is the elected Chairman among all county commissioners for the office of
Workforce Development for 34 counties in North Missouri. “I can’t stand to see perfectly capable people rely on unemployment benefits for more than a very short time,” Ray said. “You can either DO or INSPIRE, and I believe there’s a role for EVERYONE to contribute.” Ray feels that it is imperative to be visible and present in Jefferson City, meeting with officeholders, and educating them about regional needs along with the many things North Missouri has to offer. “I’ve had the opportunity to visit several places and study abroad, but I find myself moving just a little bit quicker when I’m headed back home,” Ray said. He is very high on the young people of the region. He leans in on making sure that lawmakers at the state level know about it by helping promote business, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing opportunities in the area to help place and retain a viable workforce. He knows promotion of this area of the state is uphill. There is a preconceived notion that the counties north of U.S. 36 are the “badlands” if you live south of that throughway, and are “lapland” whereas north of the border, in many ways more like southern Iowa than a part of Missouri. Ray didn’t state those points, but he is conversant in how you change that perception of the region. “I have shaken a lot of hands in Jefferson City, and not all of them remember my name, but they remember where I’m from and what I advocate for this region of the state,” Ray said. “We represent the local population to the state level regarding their [See Ray, Page 2]
Local Women Nominated for Award Jackie Derry Hoffman and Kathi Brewer are both members of the Main Street Trenton (MST) board and have been influential leaders in the Trenton community. They were nominated as a team for the Mary Means award, which was created to recognize leadership in the national Main Street program. Their shared vision has become a pivot foot for creating programs that support how Trenton embraces the future. They are keen on looking back toward the restoration of town heritage and old buildings, while molding a current work environment to support a thriving and vibrant downtown. Every organization has a mission statement. Yet for successful non-profits, there must be those who work to establish the groundwork. There must be those who are the springboard for new projects, creating tension in[See Award, Page 2]