Stories from Monday, August 11, 2003

It was a scene to which any office-dweller could relate, much like a gathering of mid-level executives slurping down some final drops of coffee in the break room minutes before a major meeting with corporate honchos was to commence. So it was for the Marshall High School football team today as the clock neared the 7 a.m. ...

Katie Glenn was certainly glad she made the trip from Columbia to Marshall last week for the first Missouri Valley College Junior Open tennis tournament. Glenn was the meet's only two-time winner, the Hickman High School player teaming with Columbia's Sarah Ginsburg to win the 18-and-under girls' doubles title and then beating Ginsburg for the 16-and-under singles crown...

Players in the Democrat-News' "The Race is On" NASCAR Winston Cup contest figured on a Gordon win. It was, however, the "wrong" Gordon which took the checkered flag Sunday in the Sirius at the Glen road race at Watkins Glen, N.Y. While 16 ballots picked pole-sitter Jeff Gordon to come in first, the four-time series champion was a lap behind when Robby Gordon crossed the finish line. ...

Early enrollment for Marshall schools last week prepared 2,290 students for their first day of school in kindergarten through 12th grade. Though the number is about 75 behind last year's enrollment, students are expected to continue registering through the first few days of school...

With the release of a Slater Police Department report, additional information concerning alleged misuse of a credit card by MorPower employees has come to light. The five page narrative outlines the investigation between July 1 and July 23. During that time, Slater Police Chief Keith Wright spoke with MorPower owner Jim Bradley and three of his employees concerning nearly $18,000 in charges to a company credit card...

Saline County has gained a little ground in its fight against shrinking sales tax revenue, the county commission reported Monday. Sales tax collected in August was $47,759, ahead of last August, which was at $38,320. But the county is still down from this time last year, which was behind from 2001...

State Rep. Patricia Secrest will be the guest speaker during a meeting of the Saline County Republican Committee and ice cream social set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at the North Point Shelter in Marshall's Indian Foothills Park. Those attending should RSVP to Richard Clemens, committee president, at (660) 886-8829 or Colleen Brown, vice president, at (660) 886-2449...

Songs from the '50s and '60s resounded from the concert stage at Indian Foothills Park Friday evening as about 200 people of all ages sang along, tapped their feet or danced to music created by the Krazy Kats. As part of the Mid-Missouri Fine Arts Council's Summer Concert Series in the Park, the Krazy Kats came to Marshall for their first public outdoor concert in this area in some time...

The 2003 Missouri State Fair Queen Contest proved to be a positive learning experience for two Saline County women. Mindy Montgomery and Lorin Price, both of Marshall, competeted in the pageant, with Price being named fifth runner-up during the final portion of the competition Friday afternoon...

Every year since about 1994, the Marshall Municipal Band travels to Arrow Rock to play a concert dedicated to John Emmerson, who spent over half his life playing in the band. This year, Linda Moore, administrator for the Historic Arrow Rock Council, will expand that music tradition to include up to three additional concerts, with some financial support from the Missouri Arts Council...

Karl Edward Bean, 57, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, at his home in Athens, W.Va. Cremation. No memorial services will be held. Memorials are suggested to Concord College Communication Arts Department, Athens, W.Va. 24712 or the Community Hospice of America, P.O. Box 6363 Bluefield, W.Va. 24701. E-mails of sympathy can be sent to the family at helenbean@frontiernet.net. Arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center in Princeton, W.Va...

Charlie Mason, 80, of Marshall, died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, at Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg. Funeral arrangements are pending at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home in Marshall.

Jason L. Ronsley, 22, of Marshall, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at Sweeney-Reser-Wills Funeral Home in Marshall. Rev. Jerry Scott will officiate. Organist Ramona Bullington will provide the music. ...

Lloyd Ellsworth Shepard, 66, of Marshall, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, at his home. Memorial services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at First United Methodist Church in Marshall. Christ Foockle officiated. Organist Jane Huff provided the music. ...