Stories from Friday, May 2, 2008

"There's no doubt in my mind we will make it." Fitzgibbon Hospital CEO Ron Ott said Thursday, May 1, that he's convinced the Cancer Center Campaign will be a success. "We have a wonderful community here and they won't let it fail," he said. With 90 percent of the needed funds in hand, Ott and Fund Development Officer Gayle Carter firmly believe they will meet a July 11 deadline to claim $200,000 in additional funding from The Mabee Foundation...

With the upcoming countywide 911 coming online, Saline County rural fire districts have met and changed their boundaries in order to encompass areas that were once not covered by any fire department. "Everybody's area has changed somewhat with the exception of Glasgow, Malta Bend and Waverly. Theirs didn't change," said John Rieves, captain of Marshall's Fire Department...

After the opening of the State of Saline County meeting Thursday, April 24, moderator Jean Gaddy-Wilson sent participants off to their small group sessions with three questions to consider: --What are three activities that are occurring in your area right now that will help Saline County progress at a faster pace than it has progressed in the past decade?...

A two-car accident involving a tractor-trailer left three Grand Pass residents with injuries on Wednesday, April 30. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 1998 Pontiac driven by Sonja R. Lohse, 41, of Grand Pass, was traveling southbound at 8:45 a.m. on Missouri Highway 23, about four miles north of Concordia, when she crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2002 Peterbilt truck driven by Eugene E. Volker, 41, of Humboldt, Neb., according to the report...

The Marshall Board of Education announced it will hold a closed session Monday, May 5, at 7 a.m. to discuss personnel matters. The meeting is the third special executive session to discuss personnel matters since its April 22 regular meeting.

Sam Panettiere, representing Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond, will be on hand Wednesday, May 7, for a special listening post forum in Marshall. The forum will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the rotunda area of the Saline County Courthouse. For more information, contact County Clerk Kenneth Bryant at 660-886-3331...

Marshall head baseball coach Ian Verts used the occasion of Senior Night to start all eight of his upperclassmen Thursday. He may be tempted to do it again after the 11-1 licking the Owls hung on Knob Noster, the first five-inning "mercy" rule victory for the program since the playoff-bound 2006 squad opened the season with a 15-0 rout of Lexington -- a span of 55 games...

HUGHESVILLE -- Not all of the winless Sweet Springs baseball team's losses have been embarrassing, but Thursday's was certainly forgettable. Northwest of Hughesville used a 12-run second inning, which required only five hits on its part, to demolish the visiting Greyhounds in five innings, 18-2. Sweet Springs pitchers issued 10 walks and its fielders committed four errors -- three during the Mustangs big rally...