Stories from Monday, December 22, 2003

Christmas comes but once a year, but public schools must obey laws year-round. As the holidays arrive and are celebrated each year, area schools each have their own traditions and policies. However, the topic of Christmas in rural public schools generally means one more look at history and American culture and a few special programs for students, their parents and community members to enjoy...

Unemployment in the county was down again in the county during November, the Missouri Department of Economic Development reported over the weekend, but the county's labor force and number of employed persons also continued to decline. Saline County's 4.2 percent unemployment rate for last month was .1 percent below October, .8 percent lower than September's jobless rate and a full 1 percent lower than the county's jobless rate for October 2002...

Ten Saline County children went on a short Wal-Mart shopping spree Friday night with Marshall and Sweet Springs police officers. The annual Shop with a Cop program helped four families do some Christmas shopping they otherwise might have missed this holiday season. From about 7 to 8 p.m., the children and some of their parents paired up with five officers to select about $75 worth of clothing, toys and other needed or wanted items per child...

Three people were injured in traffic accidents around Saline County Friday. The first accident occurred early Friday morning, shortly before 7 a.m. on U.S. Highway 65 in Malta Bend. According to the preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol radio report, Shawn M. Welch was northbound when he fell asleep. Welch's 1992 Ford traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a ditch and utility pole before overturning...

Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner reported Monday on her meeting with Pettis County officials. Saline County Assessor Margaret Pond and Auditor Tara Vogelsmeier also attended the informal meeting Wednesday with Pettis County commissioners and that county's emergency management assistant...

Leslie Dennis, 91, of Marshall, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, at Mar-Saline Manor Care Center in Marshall. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall. Father Kevin Gormley will officiate. A prayer service will be at 6:30 p.m. ...

Linda Dierker, 50, of Higginsville, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, at Meyer Care Center in Higginsville. Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Blackburn Cemetery in Higginsville. Pastor Mike Koch officiated. Burial was in Blackburn Cemetery in Blackburn. Pallbearers were Eric Giffen, Beau Giffen, Ricky Giffen, Kyle Giffen, Phil Giffen and Bruce Stone. Honorary pallbearers were Bryan Wagner, Les Kelso, Danny Iman and Jammie Stephens...

Norman Dale Erickson, 47, of rural Fayette, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, at University of Missouri Medical Center in Columbia. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Friemonth-Freese Funeral Home in Fayette. Rev. Paula Ritchie officiated. ...

"Coach" Woody Gaba, 86, of Marshall, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Big Bend Retreat in Slater. Private family burial will be held Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. William W. Harlow will officiate. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church or Friends of Arrow Rock in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall...

Martha Stouffer Leaton, 98, of Kansas City, formerly of Saline County, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Kingswood Manor in Kansas City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall. Rev. Norma Marchand will officiate. ...

Herman W. Peters Sr., 95, of Waverly, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at The Living Center in Marshall. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Waverly United Methodist Church. Rev. Bob Payne and Rev. Jeff Maxwell officiated. Organist Charlotte Zumalt and pianist Julie Lewis accompanied Melissa Hinz as she sang "He Touched Me" and "The Lord's Prayer." Lewis also played "His Eye is on the Sparrow." Pallbearers were Jeff Campbell, David Harbison, Paul Peters, Mark Peters, Byron Peters and Lyle Peters. ...

Robert Harvey Werneke, 62, of Sweet Springs, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Christ Lutheran Church in rural Sweet Springs. Rev. Douglas A. Dubisar will officiate. ...

"They've got a good club, don't they?" The question, purely rhetorical, was offered by Marshall head girls' basketball coach Jeff Martin after watching his team get demolished at home Friday by Boonville, 69-32. The answer to his query was both obvious and unnecessary...

SEDALIA -- Bob Gonzalez kept his word, and lived to regret it. The Slater's head boys' and girls' basketball coach had wanted to play in Saturday's W-K Chevrolet-Buick/State Fair Community College Holiday Shootout at Sedalia in order to give his teams an early-season test against strong competition...

SEDALIA -- "Turn and face the strange ch-ch-ch-changes," advised rock singer David Bowie in the '70s. Making adjustments to different circumstances, though, hasn't been easy for the Santa Fe basketball teams. The Lady Chiefs, returning four starters from a 25-3 Class 2 quarterfinalist, apparently miss the leadership and offensive cohesion provided by two-time all-state guard -- now a starter at NCAA Division II Missouri-Rolla. ...

Friday, Dec. 19 BOYS Lewis & Clark Salisbury 64, at Paris 32 I-70 at Windsor 69, Concordia 46 Non-conference Sweet Springs at Slater, ppd. (2/3) Glasgow 63, at Westran 48 at Helias 51, Eldon 38 at Kirksville 62, Clark Co. 41 School of the Osage 55, at Mexico 42...