If it's the responsibility of old horsemen to help young horsemen, Jim Kuhn of Trenton and his wife, Dot, did their duty this past Friday night.

The Kuhns hosted Ezra Cooley and his horses, Red and Striker, for an evening at their home and "ranch" on the severe northern edge of Trenton.

Even though it's been several years since Jim kept any horses, his barn's still standing and provided overnight shelter for Cooley's mounts.

Jim Kuhn said he was contacted by Mike Kohlbrecher, a State Farm insurance agent in Carlyle, who was trying to give Cooley a helping hand. Ezra stayed near Carlyle Thursday night, and near Salem the night before that.

Cooley's story is a pretty unique one, and starts in his hometown of Chico, California, where Ezra was a building contractor, another coincidence since Jim was also a builder during his working life, constructing a number of houses in town in addition to developing the Olive Lake subdivision in northeast Trenton.

As improbable as it seems, Cooley is attempting to ride his horses around the world.

He sold out of the contracting business and hit the road in April of 2006. He's been riding ever since. Already, he has crossed the country and halfway back. His original plan was to ride from California to New York, look for a ride to Spain and continue his quest across Europe and Asia. He managed to wrangle a plane ride for he and his horses, but thought better of making the trip overseas in the absence of a corporate sponsor to provide a steady financing source for his sojourn.

While riding in the United States for the past year-and-a-half, Cooley has lived day-to-day, stopping for periods of time to earn money at odd jobs, including breaking a number of wild horses.

Along the way, he has been profiled by several television stations and major media outlets, including USA Today, and he roped the Merrill-Lynch bull on Wall Street in New York.

Since leaving New York and starting back across the country, Cooley has made a point to travel through as many urban centers as possible, in hopes of attracting that elusive corporate sponsorship that will allow his dream to survive.

On leaving the Kuhns, he planned to go to St. Louis, then head south toward Texas, cross over into Mexico and travel through South America.

He ran into a glitch when Illinois state police refused to allow him to cross the Mississippi River bridge, and ultimately he caught a ride across.

As one might expect, there have been a lot of anxious moments for the 27-year old cowboy, days without food or sleep, riding through 20 feet of snow in the High Sierras and sandstorms in Utah.

"The first night I cried like a baby in my tent," Cooley said. "I didn't know what I was getting myself into, and I was thinking that riding a horse around the world was a pretty stupid idea."

Cooley didn't find his focus until he was a couple of hundred miles into his trip. He had started the adventure simply to see if he could do it, but he figured he needed a cause. "When I would ride through towns, people seemed so happy to see me and supportive of what I was doing, I decided I should try to do something good."

Cooley searched a number of charitable causes before settling on National Children's Cancer Research, which is based in St. Louis.

"I think everyone has a purpose in life," Cooley said, "and I know I've inspired a lot of people during my trip to take risks in their lives."

Cooley rides on of his horses and leads the other one during his trip. Unlike most folks who traverse the country in unusual ways--running, walking--Ezra has no support team riding with him, no safety net for when things get difficult. "There are a lot of variables, and you just have to go with them," he said. "You try to plan as much as you can, but sometimes you have to wing it."

Cooley insists he has a support system. "I've had a great network of people who have helped me out along the way. I couldn't have made it this far without their help. It makes me proud to be an American."

There are also haters, according to Cooley. "By far the most difficult thing is riding through the cities," he said. "I've had people comment on how pretty my horses are, then do a complete about-face when they find out what I'm doing, because they think I'm being cruel. They don't know anything about horses. The reason my horses look so good is because they're in great shape. They're well-fed and well-exercised. They'd rather do this than anything else."

As long as he's been on the road already, Cooley figures he has another eight years before finally completing his journey.

"Some days I get tired of it," he said, adding that most of those days come when he's riding through urban territory. "It's a good day when you have a patch of dirt where you can sleep and feel comfortable that nobody's going to bother you," he said.

By that standard, his night at Jim and Dot Kuhn's must have been a great day. Jim treated him to a steak dinner at Trenton House that evening, and he got to sleep under a roof, in a real bed, before making his way westward Saturday.

To learn more about Cooley's progress, or to make a donation on his behalf to National Children's Cancer Research, visit his website at ezrasexpedition.com

Freshmen

HIGH HONORS

Chelsea Bair, Rebekah Brennan, Hayley Ellis, Kylee Frazer, Claire Haselhorst, Erica Johnson, Mark Johnson, Chelsea Klein, Alison Koerkenmeier, Philip Kunz, Kelsey McIntyre, Kendall Osborne, Rebecca Phillips, Adam Quitmeyer, Ryan Sleeper, Alexandria Smith, Nicole Stegman, Chelsey Stein, Heidi Strong, John Sussman, Blair TurnerJosh West, Maria Zagorski.

HONOR ROLL

Jacob Campbell, Sarah Cantwell, Tommy Carroll, Devon Cook, Sarah Culler, Brett Davis, Kyle Emig, Liz Fuhler, Steffan Gluck, Ashley Griesbaum, Stephen Heggem, Austin Isaak, Samantha Keck, Chad Klein, Paige Laird, Brooke Layne, Ryan McVey, Brook Morgan, Danielle Mueller, Ryan Nelson, Bryanne Peters, Maggie Peterson, Jessica Renth, Stephanie Saunders, Nathan Schreiber, Cody Stein, Jarred Tucker, William Vos, Charles Weekley, Kelsey Whitaker, Sinjin Wolney, Kristen Zgonina, Courtney Zimmermann, Garrett Zurliene.

SOPHOMORES

HIGH HONORS

Cyndi Baker, Paige Bann, Lisa Burhana, Amy Ford, Caitlyn Jacober, Brittany Mueller, Nicole Wollbright, Brandon Zurliene.

HONOR ROLL

Jacob Ackerman, Drew Adrian, Brandon Bahl, Michael Bateman, Beth Brueggemann, Courtney Carroll, Keith Ciborowski, Melissa Conley, Samantha Brandall, Brittney Denton, Jami Dress, Jessica Haar, Katherine Haynes, Caitlin Huff, Austin Jeanneret, Josh Jones, Dane Jorgensen, Kris Korte, Amanda Kost, John Madson, Tyler Marshall, Kyle Morris, Janelle Moss, Robert Robison, Stephen Rogers, Chloe Stason, Nick Stason, Alex Stein, Courtney Turner, Leslie Wakeley, Allison Watkins, Brandon Weekley.

JUNIORS

high honors

Maggie Arensten, Shawn Arensten, John Beach, Tony Bechtoldt, Katelyn Brown, Amber Calvert, Lance Emig, Lena Faitz, Sarah Frerker, Luke Gruender, Zach Haselhorst, Jillian Hausmann, Jacob Henss, Cody Jakobitz, Jimmy Jenkins, Ashley Kunz, Taylor Lockowitz, Jennifer Scheuchner, Sarah Schomaker, Elizabeth Spihlman, Ross Turner, Emily Weinberg, Cassie Wolters.

HONOR ROLL

Nick Bair, Taylor Beimfohr, Rachel Billhartz, Kelsey Boeser, Jacob Brandmeyer, Sanli Brandmeyer, Tyler Campbell, Christina Cathcart, Megan Chiarella, Joseph Deimeke, Caitlyn Dunning, Jessica Farmer, Raymond Feldmann, Cody Frazer, Alex Heck, Brandon Hoeflein, Allison Isaak, Shane Kirkland, Kyle Kohlbrecher, Kevin Kunz, Justin Litteken, Janie Lodes, Hunter Marshall, Shaun Nelson, Kevin Ogden, Holly Rensing, Joe Spihlman, Robert Sussman, Megan Toennies, Taylor Zurliene.

SENIORS

high honors

Holly Allison, Angie Athmer, Cassie Brown, Jason Combs, Stephen Curtis, Mandie Ellis, Nathan Fuhler, Morgan Hatt, Amanda Hetland, Marsha Krausz, Sarah Lambird, Alicia Litteken, Lauren Locke, Luke Pakosta, Michael Peterson, Brian Phagan, Ryan Quitmeyer, Gretchen Rieger, Paul Ritzheimer, Danielle Sotnyk, Ryan Turner, Ryan Vincent, Brittany Wallace, Sara Wilken.

honor roll

Charlie Bair, Darcee Bair, Jason Berkemann, Danielle Billhartz, Jared Boeser, Sarah Bursich, Miranda Conley, Sandra Crouch, Daniela Davila, Laura Elling, Justin Erwin, Mary Flowers, Tyler Gladu, Chris Harpstrite, Jessie Hinkle, Stephanie Hinojosa, Josh Huelsmann, Daniel James, Justin Kollmann, Tiffany Kunkle, Nick Mastromatteo, Marcus McClure, Mike Miller, Sean Rakers, Erin Ranz, Jessica Rice, Zach Schrieber, Tyler Shaw, Jake Sopiars, Jake Suggs, Chris Tyra, Paige Wilbert, Josh Wilhelm, Kyle Zimmermann.

Local engineer and swim parent Steve Brown on Monday visited Trenton's city council and offered to volunteer his time to help devise a solution to renovate the Trenton swimming pool.

The pool renovation is part of a nearly $500,000 park grant project through the Illinois Department of Transportation's Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program.

A new tennis court, also part of the grant project, is nearing completion at a cost of around $125,000, but engineers have encountered unforeseen difficulties with completing the pool project, as laid out in an article in last week's Sun.

"I just came to see if I can provide any assistance or ideas at this point from someone who has some experience in this field," said Brown. "I would volunteer my time. I have two kids on the swim team, and I know a lot of other kids who swim."

Trenton mayor Bob Koentz said the council welcomes new ideas and suggestions, and noted that city engineers have not yet returned his call with any new solutions to the pool problems. "I don't think the pool company has gotten back to them yet," Koentz said.

Two main components were planned for the pool, the replacement of the gutter and pressurized water system and lining of the pool floor and walls. Glitches have developed on both fronts. The new gutter system will not work with the existing structure of the pool walls, since the stainless steel interior walls are not backed by a concrete pit, but by dirt and sand. The structural integrity of the walls is also apparently compromised. The walls are anchored in the ground by steel buttresses, but not stainless steel, and those anchors have deteriorated. After emptying the pool late this past summer to inspect the walls, the city quickly filled it again to provide more stability.

"As far as the gutter system, one possible option is upgrade the existing system and replace all the piping," said Koentz. The walls are a more delicate matter, and solutions may well be more expensive.

"There are all sorts of solutions," to the wall problem, said Brown. "It's just a matter of how cost-effective they are. There are ways to replace those buttresses by drilling them from above."

The city's primary goal in renovating the pool is to provide another decade's worth of use to the community, while formulating plans to either replace it or further upgrade it at that point.

Another issue with the renovation is that the city will likely be forced to comply with newer state regulations as to the water depth for diving boards. Engineers have told the city council that the boards at the Trenton pool do not meet those requirements, and must be removed with the renovation.

In addition to use by the general public, Trenton has a swim and dive team which competes and practices each summer at the pool.

Trenton has let bids for a used bucket truck, after Mayor Koentz and city street superintendent Mike Jones took a road trip to price them last Tuesday. The council had given them authority to purchase a truck for up to $20,000--the maximum amount of money a municipality may spend on a given item or project without calling for sealed bids--but the only acceptable trucks cost more than that. The bidding closes November 7.

Koentz said the dealership he and Jones visited also leases the units at a rate of $250 per day. "He recommended against leasing," Koentz said, "because when you need a vehicle, it's first come, first served, and you may not get one."

The council has received a preliminary report from HMG Engineers as to the installation of emergency generators at City Hall and the city's maintenance shed, but Koentz said the city is still waiting for a specification list. The city has been working on the project for over a year, but progress stalled when discrepancies arose as to the size of generators necessary to power the facilities. The city must also obtain an Environmental Protection Agency permit in order to use propane generators.

The council met in closed session at the end of the work meeting to further discuss negotiations to purchase the Trenton VFW building.

The Sugar Creek Ambulance Service recently purchased two RUGGED Power-Pro powered ambulance cots.

The cost of the two cots was $19,264. Donations to the volunteer service that accrued in the Davis Memorial Fund paid for 100% of the cost of these cots; no tax money was used.

These cots will lift 700 pounds with the push of a button minimizing the need for the EMT's to perform the lifting. There are many benefits to these new stretchers including increased maneuverability in patient's homes, better ergonomic controls, shortened load/unload time and a larger patient surface.

In addition to transporting the patient, the cots will also carry the cardiac monitor, the oxygen bottle and patient belongings.

An estimated 65% of all workers' compensation claims in EMS result from back injury. Field studies have shown that the Power-Pro cots could save an EMS team from lifting as much as 3,000 pounds per shift. This of course minimizes the risk of back injury.

The volunteer EMT's have been trained in the functions of the cots and they are now in service.

The Sugar Creek Ambulance Service is a volunteer ambulance service which serves Trenton, Aviston and the surrounding Sugar Creek Township. Donations are always appreciated to continue to upgrade necessary equipment.

- 1907 -

Peter Esspenpreis was injured by a piece of coal in the south mine while working. The coal fell from the top of the mine and hit his hand, crushing two fingers.

Dr. A.H. Steffens made preparations to locate to Trenton permanently and leased the offices that were then occupied by Dr. Watt. Dr. Steffens came from South Dakota to be at home with this vulnerable mother.

Mrs. Ralph Jackson and little son of Mt. Vernon came to spend several weeks here with her husband Prof. Jackson, principal of the Trenton public schools.

- 1917 -

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Meyers, former residents of Trenton, gave birth to a baby girl.

Many attended a Halloweíen party at Turner Hall given by the local branch of the Clinton County Red Cross. Arnold Metzger drew a prize of $1 in gold and Allan Eisenmeyer was given $1 in silver for the Best Childrenís Mask.

The Trenton Basketball teams opened their season against a Highland team at Turner Hall. Trenton beat Highland 45 to 3. After the game, the young folks enjoyed dancing until a late hour.

- 1927 -

Mary Singler sold her household and kitchen furniture at a public auction at her residence in New Baden on Nov. 3.

A serious fire at Kuehne Furniture Factory could have been avoided. Mr. Kuehne took care of a blaze that started when sparks dropped onto shavings in the boiler room, but failed to see it has also created flames in the engine room. An alarm eventually sounded and firemen responded. They were able to contain the fire, but considerable damage had already been done.

Trenton residents were surprised when Mrs. Chas. J. Miener hung herself at her home. Mrs. Meiner has gone through some family problems in previous years and had even shot her husband one year before committing suicide. She was discovered by City Marshall Schoene.

- 1937 -

The Eighth Grade class of Trenton edited a school paper as part of their class work and put it on display for the public.

Walter Brunner and his family moved to Trenton from St. Louis. Their new residence was purchased from the Bondshuh estate.

F.J. Callaway, CMM., U.S. Navy Recruiting Officer was in Carlyle examining and enlisting men ages 17-24 for the United States Navy on Oct. 30.

- 1947 -

Born to Casper Huber and wife, a boy on Saturday, Oct. 26.

For the first time in banking history in Clinton County, a bank exceeded $3 million in deposits. Farmers Bank in Trenton was very close to the $3 million mark with $2,918,776.65 in deposits.

The first man killed in World War II from Clinton County was finally returned home more than two years after being killed in action. Sgt. Alphonse H. Wilken was killed in Germany on March 3, 1945 and was a member of Company L. 13th Infantry.

- 1957 -

Miss Ruth Ellison was surprised with a bridal shower at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Ellison on Oct. 13. She married Rudolph Meyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christ Meyer, on Nov. 24.

Individual lockers were installed at Wesclin High School in the basement and were in use by the students.

Prices at Trenton IGA on Oct. 31: Four pound bag of Jonathan Apples - 29¢; Half gallon of Clorox Bleach - 29¢; One pound tin of IGA Coffee - 84¢; One pound of Pork Loin Roast - 49¢.

- 1967 -

Roger Wobbe, 28, of New Baden was killed in a two-car accident in Swansea on State Rt. 161 and U.S. Bypass 50. Four others, including the driver of the other vehicle, were injured and treated.

Sixteen girls of the F.H.A Club at Wesclin collected $66.12 in Trenton and New Baden to contribute to UNICEF.

Edward Dagit, 70, of New Baden died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on Oct. 30 while in a courtroom in Bellevlle to pay a parking violation ticket. The ticket was actually his brotherís, George Dagit.

- 1977 -

Pete Schmacher, the Trenton Council Grand Knight, made a contribution to kick-off the 7th Illinois Knights of Columbus Mentally Retarded Drive.

Three Trenton Cub Scouts received several awards at Pack 39ís October meeting. Doug Mueller earned five silver arrows, Tony Baumgartner received one silver arrow and Jay Rogers walked away with a Bear Award, one gold arrow, one silver arrow and his Webelos colors.

Chris Baer of Trenton earned a spot as a member of the University of Illinois Womenís Club, which was celebrating its 80th year. Bear was one of 68 members.

- 1987 -

Karyn Whitlatch, an RT at St. Joseph Hospital, headed the effort to offer x-raying of Halloween candy at the hospital as a free service. Parents could come Oct. 31, Nov. 1 or Nov. 2 to have their kidsí candy looked at.

Mrs. Lois Clark was named Clinton Countyís 4-H Leader of the Year by the County 4-H Program. Mrs. Clark was a 14-year leader of the Trenton Sew and Soís.

Miss Jean Markus and Steven E. Schulte were solemnized on Oct. 19 at St. Francis Church in Aviston. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Markus of Aviston and the bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Schulte of Trenton.

- 1997 -

Rob Campbell of Trenton got a rare opportunity to play a concert grand piano that belonged to world renowned concert pianist Vladimir Horowitz on Oct. 4. At the time, he was a third year piano student of Karen Koch.

Trenton experienced a slight baby boom with four babies being born and one being adopted within eleven days. Lynn and Mike Fuhler welcomed daughter Nicole Anne; Darrell Dean Combs Sr. and Sandra Combs had a son, Darrell Dean Combs Jr.; Alexa Rae was born to Brian and Julie Davis; and Steve and Karen Buzzard gave birth a son, Mason Gerald. Jim and Ruth Orschell met their adopted daughter Emily Claire at Lambert Airport on her first birthday as she arrived her from Russia.

Justin Fuhler was named to the 1997 Illinois High School Associationís Baseball Coaches Association Class "A" All State Team. Fuhler was a catcher for Wesclinís Baseball team.

Marcellus J. "Teedle" Niemeyer, 74, of Breese, died Friday, October 26, 2007 at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. He was born September 2, 1933 in Breese, son of Frank and Anna, nee Huelsmann, Niemeyer, and they both preceded him in death. He married Betty Lou Vandeloo in Carlyle on November 24, 1955. She survives in Breese. Siblings, children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends also survive. Internment St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese.

For full obituary and condolences, www.hempenfuneralhome.com

Dolores A. Pinsterhaus, 79, of Germantown, died Monday, October 29, 2007 at Caring First Nursing Home in Breese. She was born June 5, 1928 in St. Rose to William and Wilhelmina, nee Tebbe, Benhoff, and they preceded her in death. She married Lawrence Pinsterhaus Sr. September 7, 1949 at St. Rose Church, and he preceded her in death on December 31, 1978. Siblings, children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends survive. Internment St. Boniface Cemetery, Germantown.

For full obituary and condolences, mossfuneralhome.com