Stories from Thursday, December 20, 2007

SLATER -- Santa Fe and Slater split a non-conference boy-girl basketball doubleheader Wednesday, with the Chiefs and host Lady Wildcats each claiming their third straight victories. Santa Fe broke open a four-point game with a 15-7 third-quarter run, junior Brett Case -- a transfer point guard from Wellington-Napoleon -- sinking three buckets to key the charge...

One of the scenes we think about when celebrating Christmas is the coming of the Wise Men to pay homage to the newborn King. The truth is, they probably came a couple years after He was born. But the timing is not what I wanted to talk about. Many Christmas sermons focus on the wise men and gifts they brought to the baby Jesus. Scriptures tells us very little about the men themselves, but we know what they brought...

The Marshall trash and recycling pickup schedule will change for the two holiday weeks coming up, according to city officials. Ward 1 schedule will remain as usual on Mondays, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Ward 2 pickup will be on Wednesdays, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, 2008, due to the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Ward 3 will be on Thursdays, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3, and Ward 4 will be on Fridays, Dec. 28 and Jan. 4...

Slater Schools Superintendent John McEachern said, "It's good for our kids to be known as great kids," at the school board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 18. McEachern was referring to comments he said he heard from every crafter who participated in the craft show sponsored by Slater High's Student Council...

Editor's note: This story is the latest installment in a series focusing on the family of the first freed slave to purchase property in Saline County. As Velma Bacon and Marvin Wilhite continue their research into the roots of the Murray family, the overriding theme of the unfolding story is the fine character of the family that began as slaves and became property owners and pillars of the Saline County community...

Joe Blodgett, long-time Ambulance District supervisor, and a driving force behind the 9-1-1 Commission, has resigned his position on the commission, effective Dec. 19. This resignation comes just days after announcement of Blodgett's retirement from the Ambulance District...