Stories from Monday, December 15, 2003

MALTA BEND -- Even with two starters out due to illness, the Cairo boys' basketball team had too many weapons for Malta Bend. The visiting Bearcats opened up a 29-point halftime lead Friday and breezed to a 63-15 CAC victory. Cairo had six players taller than anyone on the Tigers -- including 6-foot-6 senior Matt Cooley -- and, once the decision was made to go inside, dominated the paint...

MALTA BEND -- Even in defeat, the young Malta Bend girls' basketball team had been competitive against some quality opponents this season. Neither condition existed Friday as the Lady Tigers regressed during a 58-30 loss against a Cairo squad which bore little resemblance to last year's CAC champion...

SLATER -- Both teams played strong defense, but the athleticism of the Slater boys' basketball team once again was the deciding factor Friday in a 58-53 home victory over Lewis and Clark Conference rival Westran. The Wildcats were out-shot fro the field, 31.6 to 23.3 percent, but dominated the boards by a 36-17 margin -- with senior guard Kourtney Wright hauling down nine rebounds -- to give Slater a commanding 40-17 advantage in free-throw attempts...

First Team Player School Pos. Yr. Hgt. Edna Chumo Central Methodist MH Jr. 6-0 Kelly Hartley Evangel S-H Sr. 5-10 Mary Fisher Benedictine OH Sr. 5-11 Kara Wall Lindenwood MH Jr. 5-11 Elaine Meyer Baker Lib Sr. 5-8 Kristin Bernardy Lindenwood Lib Sr. 5-2...

SWEET SPRINGS -- The Sweet Springs girls' basketball team made its free throws down the stretch Friday to pull out a 55-52 non-conference victory over visiting Green Ridge. The Lady Greyhounds took a slim one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Sweet Springs senior Linsey Johnson knocked down eight of 10 attempts from the charity stripe and senior Shelley Rennison made three of four...

A combination of wintry weather and seasonal illness kept some local basketball teams out of action over the weekend. The Santa Fe boys' and girls' basketball teams were scheduled to begin their I-70 Conference campaign at home Friday against Wellington-Napoleon, but a flu bug closed the school during the final three days of last week. That contest has been related for Jan. 15...

The hill near Eastwood Ele-mentary School in Marshall was a popular place Sunday afternoon as many youth gathered to try out their sleds and snowboards. Left: Garrett Green, 8, rides a snowboard down the slope. Right: Eli Cook, 6, trudges back up the hill while toting his sled...

While Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the purchase of 100,000 doses of adult flu vaccine from Aventis Pasteur late last week, it doesn't appear that any will reach Saline County in the near future. "I don't think we're going to get any more," said Brenda Bair, business manager for Missouri Valley Physicians...

A Marshall woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for her involvement in the operation of a methamphetamine lab. Stephanie A. Shaver, 24, was one of four people arrested in September when police raided a home in rural Marshall. While initially charged with class A felony manufacture of methamphetamine in the presence of a child, Shaver pleaded guilty to the amended charge of class B felony manufacture of methamphetamine...

At its regular meeting last week, the Sweet Springs Board of Education decided on a new insurance carrier for the 2004 calendar year. The board unanimously approved an insurance policy from Missouri United School Insurance Council, or MUSIC, of St. Charles. The approved policy carries an annual premium of $37,021 a year. The board opted not to continue coverage with Baston-Mike Keith Insurance of Warrensburg, which would cost the district $46,467 a year...

A Malta Bend man on parole for methamphetamine possession and distribution faces a host of charges after an encounter with the Saline County Sheriff's Department early Saturday morning. Saline County Sheriff Wally George said the incident began at 12:30 a.m. Saturday when two of his deputies spotted a vehicle without license plates on Lunbeck Street in Malta Bend...

The Saline County Road and Bridge Department had all the county roads cleared of snow by 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Southern District Commissioner Mike Dillon said Monday morning. He said county crews spent 16 hours clearing roads. Dillon said the road department would spend Monday repairing snowplows...

Hortense Edwards, 85, of Marshall, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Weiker Funeral Home in Slater. Rev. Debbie Roath will officiate. Music will be provided by organist Bethany Weiker. ...

William J. Hisle Sr., 80, of Concordia, formerly of Saline County, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Concordia. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. ...

Katheryn Kensit, 96, of Marshall, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, at Mar-Saline Manor Care Center in Marshall. Arrangements are pending at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall.

David F. Stout Jr., 81, of Ft. Myers, Fla., formerly of Saline County, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall. Rev. Colby Smith will officiate. Pianist Julie Lewis will play "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "The Lord's Prayer." Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. ...