Stories from Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Front matter I had so much fun with the people who were able to attend our medieval feast. Thank you, you prince and princesses of Missouri! Only three more days until the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Watch this space next week for information about our Harry Potter Party here at the library. It will take place on Saturday, July 23...

Tyler Nichols and Kameron Godsey split five blue ribbons between them Saturday for the Salt Fork YMCA Swim Club during the Mid-Missouri Conference Championships at Centralia. Nichols led a strong contingent of 11- and 12-year-old boys by winning the 50-meter breaststroke (46.75 seconds), 50-meter butterfly (24.17) and 100-meter individual medley (1:29.06). ...

Aquila, the natural gas provider to Marshall, has filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to increase its purchased gas adjustment by 8.4 percent for customers in its southern system, including Marshall. If approved, the increase would take effect July 18 and be in place through October...

Wally Martin, 75, of rural Sweet Springs, died Tuesday, July 12, 2005, at her home. Cremation. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 15, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Sweet Springs. Rev. Gene Smith will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society...

Following are results from the 4-H shooting sports competitions held Sunday, July 10, as part of the 2005 Saline County Fair. BB - youth division First place, Jessie Gorrell, 359 points; second place, Daniel Kiehl, 352 points; third place, Kayla Elson, 318 points...

The Marshall Municipal Band will continue its 2005 season Thursday evening on the east side of the courthouse lawn, expecting another large turnout on what should be a pleasant mid-summer night. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. "We've been thrilled with the audience response this summer," said director Kevin Lines. "This is truly a slice of Americana that makes Marshall a wonderful community in which to live."...

While several dormant projects are showing signs of life, Marshall-Saline Development Corporation Executive Director Roy Hunter is taking a "wait and see" approach. Hunter discussed the projects at Tuesday's meeting of the MSDC Board of Directors. He said he has been in contact with representatives of both the Zhenji Brewing Company and Renewable Power of Missouri in recent weeks...

Waves of vibrations shake and rattle through the walls of some downtown businesses like a series of tiny earthquakes as large vehicles drive down the cobblestones of Miller Street in Sweet Springs. Heavy trucks are taking some blame for damaging buildings and the street in the town's historic district...

It isn't official yet, but Marshall Municipal Utilities customers should be prepared to see an increase in their electric rates. After decades of selling its surplus electricity to Marshall and other communities for a reduced rate, Kansas City Power and Light (KCPL) announced its plans to move to a market-based rate structure. As a result, MMU has been paying more the power it purchases from KCPL since February and that expense is expected to increase even more in June 2006...

Several of the young children that were a part of the Foods of a Medieval Feast program Tuesday morning at the Marshall Public Library were born in this millennium or near the end of the 20th century. But after sampling several "medieval" foods that were a part of the program, the nearly two dozen area youngsters looked as though they were ready to travel back in time for a taste of a multi-course medieval meal...