Stories from Thursday, September 1, 2005

One thing no one can accuse Marshall School District Superintendent Rob Gordon of is being behind in the times. Gordon and the district's administrative staff have combined to create a new position that will assist teachers throughout the district by incorporating technology more frequently in the classroom...

With organizations like the American Red Cross currently accepting only donations of water and cash for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, a pair of Marshall women are spearheading a drive to collect other items. Melissa Hisle and Penny McGuire began their drive after learning there was no place locally to take items like clothing and food for those along the Gulf Coast in the storm's path...

A problem at the Marshall Municipal Utilities power plant cost added $10,000 to the expense of providing power to the city, but things could have been worse. Speaking at Wednesday's meeting of the MMU Board of Public Works, MMU Electric Production Superintendent Kyle Gibbs said Unit 5, one of MMU's largest generators, was taken off-line for three days last week because of an internal leak...

As America bands together to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Marshall Municipal Utilities is gearing up to be part of the relief effort. At Wednesday's meeting of the MMU Board of Public Works, Electric Distribution Superintendent Jeff Bergstrom said his department is waiting for a call to send a crew south. At this time it isn't clear exactly where the men will be going...

A Miami man was involved in a traffic crash Wednesday when a minivan collided with his tractor-trailer. According to a preliminary report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 12:50 p.m. on Missouri Highway 210 east of Raines Road in Clay County...

Cecil Saylor, 92, of Sweet Springs, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, at Sweet Springs Villa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at First Baptist Church in Sweet Springs. Rev. Charles Ahlemann will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Sweet Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sweet Springs Volunteer Fire Department in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home...

Due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 5, two Marshall residential sanitation pickup days will be changed. Ward 1 residents who normally have refuse and recyclable paper collected on Monday will have their trash picked up on Tuesday, Sept. 6, instead...

As I look around at what's happening in the world today, I am almost at a loss for words. In my neck of the woods, a hot summer of drought has given way to weeks of rain and overflowing rivers and tributaries. In the south, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are all trying to get out from under the devastation left after Katrina paid her catastrophic visit. And the war in Iraq drags on...

Ed Johnson has been a lot busier in the past few months. Having launched the Missouri Valley College men's volleyball program three years ago, he takes over the women's club for which he has been an assistant for four seasons. Yet, the extra duty isn't a strain...

SWEET SPRINGS -- If anyone is anxious to get the 2005 prep football season under way, it's Andy Obermann. Sweet Springs' new head coach has yet to see his team in action, missing a chance for a dry run with the cancellation of last week's pre-season Jamboree at Alma...

MOBERLY -- Moberly senior Megan Bradshaw beat the rest of the field by 12 strokes Tuesday to pace the Lady Spartans to a 223-251 decision over the visiting Marshall girls' golf team. Bradshaw one-putted on eight of nine greens, chipping in on the other hole, to shoot seven-over-par 43 on the Moberly Country Club course. Junior Danielle Roberts of Moberly (1-1) has the second-lowest score at 55...