Stories from Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Construction numbers modest for 2010, resident asks council for public disturbance help By SARAH REED and ERIC CRUMP Democrat-News Writers The City of Marshall issued permits for construction valued at $6.6 million in 2010, according to a report released Tuesday, Jan. 4, by city officials...

Nine misdemeanor charges have been filed against a Sweet Springs man in connection with allegations of identity theft. Albert Allen Grapes, 49, is accused of using the identity of another Sweet Springs resident to order DirecTV, pay his gas bill, order EMusic and service with FreeCreditReport...

A Marshall resident started the New Year with a felony driving while intoxicated charge as a chronic offender. Eddy Jose Fletes-Hernandez, 28, has at least four prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, according to court filings. According to the probable cause statement, the Missouri Highway Patrol trooper who stopped Hernandez administered a portable breath test with a "positive" result. Then at the Saline County Jail, Hernandez was asked to take the official breath test...

A two-vehicle crash at 2:36 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, proved fatal for one Saline County resident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ruby Romine, 74, of Slater, was driving a 1989 Buick northbound on U.S. Highway 65. Romine attempted to turn left onto Fairground Road, according to the report, and failed to yield to a southbound vehicle...

Newly sworn-in Saline County Presiding Commissioner Tom Stallings opened his first meeting with a monster-sized gavel. "I'm going to have to find a smaller one," Stallings said. "I don't think I'll be able to lift it for four years." The mallet was a gift from former County Clerk Ken Bryant...

It is an example of the system working perfectly. Two Marshall police officers and a Saline County Sheriff's Deputy received awards for their actions in saving the life of a Marshall man from a burning building Dec. 20. But what hasn't been known is how the county's E911 system helped get the officers in place to save wheelchair bound man from the fire...

Interesting news and features published in our print edition and E-edition January 4.

Slater City Council member Ruby Romine died Monday, Jan. 3, reportedly after being involved in a traffic accident. Her death was a tough blow for her fellow council members to bear.

Prep Hoops Round-up

West has career-high 25 points for Lady Vikes

Ruby Romine, 74, of Slater, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at University Hospital in Columbia. Arrangements are pending at Weiker Funeral Home in Slater.

James Leon Tyler Sr., 66, of Marshall, died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. Memorial graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating. Memorials are suggested to family choice in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com...

Saline County Sheriff's investigated a report Sunday, Jan. 2, of a long trail of trash bags discarded along 197th Trail, according to a Sheriff's Department report. Deputies discovered large trash bags left along the side of the roadway "along the entire road."...

Vernon Junior Reynolds, 71, of Green Ridge, died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at his home. Private family memorial services will be held Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. Memorials are suggested to Gill Memorial Baptist Church. Born May 5, 1939, in Rocky Fork Township in Boone County, he was the son of the late Vernon L. Reynolds and Mildred L. Scarborough. He lived in Saline County most of his life...

Area high school basketball scores for Monday, Jan. 3