Stories from Friday, April 15, 2005

"Tax Day," thankfully, is not the gloom and doom affair for Sherri and I it appears to be to many Americans. It likely helps that we get money back instead of being told to cough up more to Washing-ton, D.C., and Jefferson City. But after sinking well over $100 into computer software to do our tax returns, an improvement over what we have paid in the past to have accountants do the job, I'm in agreement with those wishing something could be done about our tax code...

Members of Missouri Valley College's Theta Phi Alpha sorority are currently in the middle of their annual 48-hour "rock-athon" to benefit the Lighthouse Shelter in Marshall. Kicking off the event at noon Thursday, the 15 members of group will take turn rocking the hours away in front the sorority house on College Street until noon Saturday. In addition to seeking pledge donations prior to the start, the group is also asking passing motorists to stop and donate any loose change they might have...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Although the Senate overwhelmingly approved a major rewrite of Missouri's education funding formula on Thursday, some lawmakers worry they are making a promise to public schools they won't be able to keep since the bill lacks a funding source to pay for the changes...

Members of the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission's Transpor-tation Advisory Council met in Marshall Thursday, hearing a presentation about transportation concerns in Saline County. Norvelle Brown, Saline County northern district commission, said the county has identified three primary areas it would like to see improved. These include "Clyde's Corner" and "Quarry Hill" on U.S. Highway 65 and a pair of aging bridges on Missouri Highway 41...

The road leading to the site of the I-70 Medical Center in Sweet Springs has been given a name. The Sweet Springs Board of Aldermen voted to name the new road Hospital Drive on Monday Mayor Roxanne Hinton reported to the board that the city has all the permits and approvals needed to run utilities under Interstate 70 to the hospital site...

A total of five highway construction and improvement projects in Saline County were on the list of 2005 projects updated by the Missouri Department of Transportation Thursday. MoDOT's to-do list in the county includes installation of three-strand guard cable on Interstate 70 across the county, a bridge replacement on Route K over the Blackwater River approximately two miles south of Interstate 70, resurfacing on 10 miles of I-70 from a half-mile west of U.S. ...

The Malta Bend City Council met Monday evening for a short session and discussed several minor topics. The council members swore in one new alderman, Ann Gorrell, and discussed needed street repairs. However, the council members didn't give a timetable on when the repairs would be done, saying vaguely that repairs would begin sometime this summer...

Joseph W. Dennis Jr., 80, of Buckner, formerly of Independence, died April 13, 2005, in Blue Springs. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at D.W. Newcomer's Chapel, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to Missouri River Blue Grass, Cross Ranch State Park, 1403 River Road, Center, N.D. 58530...

James Paul "Jim" Merrell, 63, of Lincoln, formerly of Marshall, died Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at a Veterans Administration Hospital in Columbia. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at First Baptist Church in Lincoln. Rev. Dan Braaten, Rev. ...

The Marshall boys' and girls' track and field teams continued to improve during second-place finishes at a home triangular Thursday. Roughly half of the Owls' entries lowered times or increased distances and heights, the boys scoring 61 points to finish behind Smith-Cotton (99 points) and ahead of Rock Bridge (25) and the girls' tally of 66 trailing the Lady Tigers (85.5) and besting the Lady Bruins (28)...

The Missouri Valley College men's tennis team won for the sixth time in its last seven matches Thursday by beating NAIA Region V rival McKendree (Ill.), 6-3, at Indian Foothills Park. Freshman Martin Boström, ranked 38th in the NAIA, led the Vikings' charge with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles and Valley got an 8-6 decision with freshman partner Alejandro Ahuja at No. 2 doubles. A year ago, Valley had lost to the Bearcats (4-3) by a 9-0 margin...

A nine-day break from competition apparently didn't do the Marshall boys' golf team much harm. The Owls defeated a Warrensburg club which placed second at the Grain Valley Tournament on April 4 -- the same meet in which Marshall was fourth -- by a 159 to 163 margin Thursday at Indian Foothills Golf Course...

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Two youth wrestlers from Marshall earned all-America status at the USA Wrestling Nationals at Cedar Falls, Iowa, on April 1-3. Nick Harper (left) came in third in the 87-pound Midget class and Ryan Harper placed third among Schoolboy division heavyweights. The meet involved some 1,500 entries from 45 states...

BRUNSWICK -- Junior Alex Rieglesberger allowed only four hits and struck out 13 batters as Brunswick stretched the Slater baseball team's losing streak to nine games Thursday with an 11-5 home victory. Brunswick banged out 15 hits and drew 11 walks, but didn't pull away until senior Josh Swan's two-run single capped a five-run fifth inning...

The Marshall boys' junior varsity tennis team swept eight singles matches against the Columbia Independent School's varsity squad Thursday for an 11-1 home victory. Sophomores Morgan Evans and Jordan Adams and freshman Taylor Scarff all enjoyed 10-0 blankings in the sixth through eighth singles spots. The only member of the Owls' starting singles lineup to play was sophomore Craig Solomon, who moved from No. 6 to No. 1 for a 10-6 victory...

KANSAS CITY -- The Missouri Valley College women's golf team was first among Heart of America Conference members, and sixth overall, in the Park Tournament this week at the National Golf Club of Kansas City. Freshman Carly Wormworth of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, posted a two-day total of 181 for 10th place in the 10-team meet to pace the Lady Vikings -- who tallied 809 points. Valley's 399 score during Tuesday's final round, paced by Wormworth's 88, was fifth best...

ASHLAND -- Freshman Paige Fifer's first goal ended the Marshall girls' soccer team's three-match scoreless string Thursday. However, neither host Southern Boone nor the Lady Owls could connect again over the final 80 minutes of a 1-1, double-overtime non-conference tie. Marshall, playing without senior Nicki Erickson -- who had all five of the team's goals on the season prior to the contest -- had one fewer shot than the Lady Eagles, 6-5...

BASEBALL NCMC Kirksville 3, at Mexico 1 Non-conference at Brunswick 11, Slater 5 Windsor at Calhoun, ccd. at Higginsville 11, Crest Ridge 1 (5) at Moberly 11, Centralia 1 (6) at New Bloomfield 5, Westran 4 GIRLS' SOCCER Non-conference Marshall 1, at Southern Boone 1 (2ot)...