Stories from Thursday, December 31, 2009

Interesting news and features published in our print edition and e-edition December 31. On page 2: The Associated Press writes about the economy. On page 3: Advice from Annie's Mailbox and the calendar of events. Area school lunch menus...

North Street United Methodist Church will celebrate Kwanzaa on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at 3 p.m. The annual celebration of Kwanzaa's principals and practices will be followed by a soul food dinner. Everyone who attends is invited to bring a favorite soul food covered dish. There also will be a musical game played after the celebration. Everyone is invited to attend...

Kurtis Gregory is about to end one phase of his career, and is preparing to begin another. The 2005 Santa Fe graduate will play with his University of Missouri teammates one last time today, against Navy in the Texas Bowl at Houston, but earlier in the week the finality of the moment was "kind of hard to realize."...

In 1959, the U.S. became two states larger, when Alaska achieved statehood Jan. 3, and Hawaii joined the union Aug. 21. Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro marched into Havana on Jan. 1, ousting Fulgencio Batista, who had run the country since 1952, enriching himself and his cronies as he did so. ...

The Marshall Democrat-News office will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, for New Year's Day. There will be no edition of the paper published Friday. Publication and office hours -- 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. -- will resume Monday, Jan. 4.

Tomorrow is New Year's Day 2010. I guess that means I should be writing about the year that was, or the year to come, or about resolutions we make and never keep. Well, I have to confess that I have no crystal ball when it comes to what 2010 may hold. I know what I'd like to see, but that's just me. My prayer is that everyone will have a better year in 2010 than they had in 2009, even if they had a good 2009...

The library's annual Food For Fines week starts Monday, Jan. 11, and will run through Sunday, Jan. 17. Pull out those cans of food you didn't use over the holidays and bring them to the library. Each item is worth 50 cents towards your library fines. You can clear your account and help the local food pantry!...

The Marshall Public Library's Food For Fines takes place from January 11 -- 17. Each canned item is worth $1.00 toward your library fines.

Now that 2009 is coming to an end, news media of all types are compiling lists: the "top 10" fashion statements, movies, music videos, personalities, etc. There are even more lists this year because it marks the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s. ...

SEDALIA -- Junior Michele Fitzgerald buried three three-pointers en route to a game-high 13 points Monday to lead Warrensburg to a 42-30 non-conference victory in the W-K Chevrolet/State Fair Community College Shoot-out at Sedalia. Fitzgerald stroked one bomb and junior Emalee Nelson made a pair of shots as the Lady Tigers opened with a 9-1 first-quarter lead. By halftime, the margin was 16 points and the Lady Owls were unable to mount a second-half challenge...

Salt Fork YMCA received an unexpected surprise last week -- an unsolicited donation of slightly more than $30,000. The gift, by a donor who wished to remain anonymous, was made to The Heritage Club, part of the Y's endowment fund that aims to "ensure the continuation of the life-changing programs and services offered in the community."...

Mick and Tina Howard's truck was struck by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday morning, Dec. 30, but it prevented any damage to their North Lake Drive home -- barely. "If the truck wouldn't have been there," said Mick, "the gentleman would have run into the house."...

At their last meeting of the year Thursday, Dec. 31, Saline County Commissioners accepted Thompson Construction Company's low bid of $132,537.75 for a new bridge on 335th Road at Buck Creek. "I'm happy that it stayed here locally," Southern District Commissioner Richard "Dick" Hassler said...

The Marshall City Council will meet Monday, Jan. 4, at 5:15 p.m. in the city office building. Items included on the agenda are reports from council committees and the mayor. All council meetings are open to the public.

Pamela Adams, daughter of Jean and Gilbert Harms of Marshall, no longer lives here, but she has a message for area residents, especially small-business owners. Earlier this month, Adams, who is an Avon representative, received an e-mail message in her Yahoo! account from someone registered under the name of Kate Riley. Riley requested an unusually large order of perfumes, totaling $714.71, and promised to pay by credit card...

For City Administrator Charles Tryban, January 2010 is not just the beginning of a new year. It is the beginning of his retirement. At the Marshall City Council meeting Monday, Dec. 7, Tryban announced his retirement, after 25 years working for the city...

Two people suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle crash early Thursday, Dec. 31, on U.S. Highway 65 in Saline County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report. Katherine E. Martin, 19, of Odessa, and Brent M. Tucker, 22, of Higginsville, both declined medical treatment at the scene, troopers said...

A Glasgow woman suffered minor injuries Wednesday night, Dec. 30, in a one-vehicle crash in Saline County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report. Roberta E. Keller, 57, declined medical treatment at the scene, troopers said. The crash occurred at about 10:10 p.m. as Keller was driving a 2001 Dodge westbound on state Highway 240 one-tenth of a mile west of County Road 142, according to the report...

Area high school basketball scores for Wednesday, Dec. 30