Stories from Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Hoping to increase their clout in the race for federal and state grants, representatives from Saline, Lafayette, Pettis and Johnson counties have moved toward forming a Regional Planning Commission (RPC). Commissioners, economic development officers and other county representatives gathered at the Sweet Water Cafe in Sweet Springs Tuesday to share information and consider forming a Regional Planning Commission and Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) in order to have a louder voice when it comes to requesting dollars from the state and federal government.. ...

GIRLS' SOCCER MSHSAA Quarterfinals (Class AAA-A) StL-Cor Jesu (16-7-1) 4, StL-John Burroughs (13-4-1) 1 St. Charles West (18-6-1) 2, StL-Incarnate Word (14-7-2) 0 Helias (16-3) 3, Ozark (18-7-1) 1 KC-St. Teresa's (24-1) 7, Platte Co. (13-8-4) 0 -...

MSHSAA Sectionals (Class A) Bernie at Oran (17-4) Advance (6-6) at Southern Reynolds (14-4) Sparta (13-1) at Dadeville (16-7) Morrisville (16-5) at Stoutland (11-5) New Haven (13-9) at Madison (10-4) Atlanta (8-2) at Bevier (12-4) Amoret-Miami (14-4) at Sacred Heart (14-3)...

After replacing half of its roster of a year ago, defending Babe Ruth Junior League regular season champion Rose Acre Farms got off to a nice start Tuesday with a 7-6 victory over the host Slater Purple squad -- which returned virtually intact. Purple, 2-12 as one of the league's youngest teams a year ago, pounded the greener troops of the new Slater Gold team in the nightcap, 16-0, behind the three-inning perfect game of southpaw Colter Doherty...

It wouldn't be entirely accurate to call Marshall senior Ashley Fann a late bloomer. After all, she saw varsity action in three sports as a freshman. However, it wasn't until her final two years that Fann evolved from a role-player into a team leader in basketball, tennis and soccer...

A rather disturbing news item came across the Associated Press report last week. The National Research Council, a group of government advisers, is recommending that trucks weighing 90,000 pounds - 10,000 pounds more (yes, that is five tons more) than the current limit and as much as 10 feet longer (five feet more per tandem trailer) be allowed to use the nation's interstate highway system including deteriorating Interstate 70 through central Missouri...

Helen Louise Benedict Claycomb, 56, of Bosworth, died Monday, May 20, 2002, at her home in Bosworth. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 24, at Gibson Funeral Home in Brunswick. Rev. Lanny Lybarger will officiate.

Myrtle M. Gibson, 87, of Marshall, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at Golden Oaks Residential Care in Marshall. Arrangements are pending at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall.

Kathleen Brown, 90, of Marshall, died Saturday, May 18, 2002, at The Living Center in Marshall. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, at Enon Cemetery near Excelsior Springs. Rev. Jerry Geisart officiated.

The Slater Board of Education met Tuesday night to discuss and take action on plans for the coming school year and focus on finances. Slater A-Plus Program Coordinator Myra Jones reported on program funding, stating the district would not know how much money it will be allotted for the third year of its A-Plus program until as late as August...

A crackdown on nuisance properties in Slater is producing results according to Councilman Ron Monnig. "I've been on council five years now and I think in that time we've torn down 40 houses now," said Monnig. "There's a lot that needs to be done and we're going to continue to work on this, but it's important to remember what we've accomplished...

Something to consider "There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the free pubic library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, or wealth receives the slightest consideration." -- Andrew Carnegie From the desk of the director...