Stories from Thursday, September 18, 2008

Tourism tax revenues for the first two quarters of 2008 were down a little more than $4,000 compared to last year, according to Marshall Tourism Commission Treasurer Grace Bouws, but commissioners expect a much better third quarter. Revenue for the first two quarters was $36,493 from the 5 percent room tax paid by guests at local hotels and motels, she said...

In June 2006 a well-known Marshall couple apparently died in a house fire. Investigators soon determined they had been murdered prior to the fire. This is the first of three stories recounting the events leading up to next week's trial of Lyndale Henderson, one of three men accused of the crime.

People don't usually like to have a landfill near their home, and nobody likes to see an un-zoned landfill spring up nearby over the course of a few months. In preparation for the fifth annual Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Committee's poster contest aimed at stopping illegal dumping, Ruth Anne Parrott visited yesterday with two classes of fifth-graders at Bueker Middle School...

With an ever-present smile, hearty laugh and comedic timing Elmer Zimmerman, 87, has been involved in Saline County 4-H for more than 57 years, serving most of it as leader of the Clay Center 4-H club. Zimmerman was inducted into the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame during the 2008 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, while his sister, sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews looked on...

ALMA -- It seems like just yesterday that the Santa Fe football team was slugging out a 21-6 win over Wentworth Military Academy. Actually, it wasn't much longer than that, Monday, giving the Chiefs only three precious days to prepare for top-ranked Orrick -- the defending MSHSAA Class 1 and I-70 Conference champion...

Cletus Martin Kloeppel, 74, of Marshall, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall, with Fr. Kevin Gormley officiating. ...

Interesting news and features published in our print edition and e-edition Thursday, September 18 On page 2: "Smart Money" columnist Bruce Williams answers questions on handling credit card late fees and retirement. Also a story from the Associated Press on the White House Administration's defense on the AIG buyout...