Stories from Wednesday, March 26, 2003

With a huge cut to state education funding looming, the Marshall School District is preparing to cut $1 million from its budget. "We're taking a pretty good hit next year in state funding," said Marshall Superintendent of Schools Joe Aull who reported on budget plans at Tuesday's meeting of the Marshall Board of Education. While the exact amount of state cuts remains elusive, it appears that it will be in the $200 million dollar range and could go as high as $300 million...

SWEET SPRINGS -- Junior D.J. Flaspohler tossed a three-hitter and scored three runs as Fayette ruined Sweet Springs' baseball home opener Tuesday with a 15-1, five-inning rout. Junior Jamie Estill's two-run single keyed the Falcons' first-inning rally, which saw them score five times. Estill also stroked two-run hits in the fourth and fifth innings, while Flaspohler also drove in a pair of runs as Fayette (1-0) scored at least two runs in four of the five frames...

WARRENSBURG -- Warrensburg took advantage of four missing Marshall starters during the first half Tuesday, the host Lady Tigers scoring all of their goals before intermission for a 3-0 non-conference victory. Freshman Erica Luehrs' crossing pass found senior Sherita Gray 19 minutes into the contest for Warrensburg's first goal. ...

Marshall head boys' tennis coach Susan Carney was happy, but not overly impressed, with her team's 9-0 season debut victory Monday at Moberly. Her reaction following Tuesday's home opener was considerably more enthusiastic. The Owls, a year after losing a 5-4 decision to Warrensburg, defeated the Tigers by a convincing 8-1 margin...

Ever since league play in girls' soccer began in 1997, Rock Bridge has ruled the NCMC roost. The gap may be tightening, but there's no reason to believe the Lady Bruins won't continue to excel during the '03 campaign, albeit with a much younger lineup. However, Helias has been nipping at their heels the past couple of years, during which the Lady Crusaders reached the MSHSAA Class AAA-A Championships, and Rock Bridge's 35-match unbeaten streak in conference play may be in jeopardy...

The Marshall boys' golf team sliced a stroke from the previous day's season-opening score and was two points better on its home course Tuesday than at any time last year. That still wasn't enough to keep pace with Warrensburg's powerhouse, which had four players break 40 to win a three-way match at Indian Foothills Golf Course. ...

For the first four years of the Marshall girls' soccer program, there was a consistent level of respectability -- at least a .500 record in overall or NCMC play, including a playoff appearance during a 12-6-1 campaign in '99. Since that high-water mark, though, the Lady Owls' fortunes have slid -- down to 3-18 a year ago, including 1-6 in league play to put them in the cellar for the first time ever. ...

It took a month before it happened, but the Missouri Valley College softball team Monday finally wrangled the elusive doubleheader sweep. The victim was Missouri-Rolla -- a solid NCAA Division II team. The Lady Vikings had to go eight innings to win the opener, 3-2, and rally late in the nightcap for a 5-2 victory. In both games, though, Valley's pitching was effective -- all four runs being the products of errors...

Sandra Sue Weeks, 30, of Marshall, died Sunday, March 23, 2003, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at Montgomery-Viets Chapel in Buffalo. Rev. Robert Long will officiate.

Mary Clare Weaver Sherrer, 38, of Sedalia, formerly of Marshall and Malta Bend, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall. Father Kevin Gormley will officiate...

Kaye Reno, 56, of Malta Bend, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, at Sweet Springs Baptist Church. Rev. Charles Ahlemann will officiate.

Donna Lieser Arth, 60, of rural Grand Pass, died Wednesday, March 26, at Lafayette Regional Health Center in Lexington. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall. Father Kevin Gormley will officiate...

An epidemiologist, a nurse, a Red Cross volunteer, a public health specialist and a farmer were among the officials gathered Tuesday in Waverly to answer questions about bioterrorism. The event was one of six the Lafayette County Health Department is sponsoring at county schools to help families and businesses develop a bioterrorism plan...

The time has come for local bands to stake their claim to high school fame in what students call the MHS Battle of the Bands. The battle will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, in the Marshall High school gym. The event is the second portion of Star Hunt 2003, an annual fund-raiser for the MHS Drama Club...

Nearly 40 Marshall Habilitation Center employees participated, judged or watched the center's annual Hat Day contest, the last event of this year's Women's History Month observance. Only five participants competed across four categories, each taking either $15 for first place or $10 in second place winnings...

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a four-part series looking at how area schools rated in the annual PEER report issued by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the University of Missouri. The series concludes with Marshall, the largest of Saline County's K-12 districts...

Notable quotes "Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." -- Doug Larson Silent auction The library is happy to announce the silent auction brought about $500. We would like to thank everyone for participating in the fund-raiser...