Stories from Wednesday, September 17, 2008

There was plenty of other business on the agenda, but the main focus of the Slater City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17, was vandalism in city parks. Mayor Stephen Allegri passed around photographs of the most recent incident, which occurred some time over the weekend of Sept. 13-14, again to Kiddie Park bathrooms. This time, the damage was more permanent -- extensive spray-painting of gang-related graffiti and foul language...

A Nelson woman found herself in custody at Saline County Justice Facility Tuesday, Sept. 16, after she called 911 for assistance. According to the incident report from the Sheriff's Department, the woman and her minor child were trapped in their vehicle by rising water on a county road early Tuesday morning when she called 911...

Construction workers hoist two units into place Tuesday, Sept. 16, and fit them together like a jigsaw puzzle -- only the pieces in this case each weight six to eight tons. The operation, which kept Marion Street blocked for about an hour Tuesday afternoon, is part of ConAgra Foods' expansion project, which is expected to bring as many as 160 new jobs to the area...

Highway K just north of Blackwater is more hospitable to gulls than cars Tuesday evening, Sept. 16. Blackwater School is closed Wednesday, Sept. 17, for the second day in a row becauase the flood has limited travel in the area. At Blue Lick, the Blackwater River was nearly 10 feet over flood stage Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. ...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton may be known as a military guru, but he's a romantic at heart. The 76-year-old Democratic congressman from Lexington is getting married to Patty Martin, a longtime friend from his hometown. Skelton presented an engagement ring to Martin as a birthday present on Aug. 31 while the two dined at Plaza III, an upscale steakhouse on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza...

Interesting news and features published in our print edition and e-edition Wednesday, September 17 On page 2: "News of the Weird" columnist Chuck Shepherd shares stories of a Texas pedophile who saves crime details for his autobiography, a Muslim preacher with 86 wives and 170 children and other oddities. Also stories from the Associated Press, covering a knife-throwing groom in Wisconsin and a Michigan janitor who was awarded a Golden Plunger...

The Missouri Valley College men's rodeo team began defense of its NIRA Ozark Region championship by taking first place in the Viking Stampede, held Thursday through Saturday on the Saline County Fairground at Marshall. Junior Adam Gilchrist of Maple Creek, Sask., won the all-around title with 260 points, a major contributor to the Vikings' 750-point tally -- 31 points ahead of arch rival Tennessee-Martin...

BOONVILLE -- Utter dominance. That's the most apt description for the 7-0 whipping the Marshall boys' soccer team laid on the host team Tuesday during an NCMC match at Boonville, which is playing a varsity schedule for the first time this season. All-region senior Chris McCoy recorded his second hat trick of the campaign with three straight goals for the Owls, the last one in the first half for a 3-0 lead and the other two within 25 seconds of each other early in the second half -- the second assisted by sophomore defender José Reyes.. ...

Marshall holding PP&K contest The Marshall Parks and Recreation Department will host the NFL-Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition Saturday at Indian Foothills Park. The contest is free and open to boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 15. It will be held at 10 a.m. on Field 3 of the Lyon Bowl...

GRAIN VALLEY -- The last time the Marshall volleyball team stood on the court at Grain Valley, it was holding the championship trophy from the Class 3, District 15 Tournament. The Lady Owls went on to reach the MSHSAA quarterfinals for the first time in school history. If they are to do that again, they may need to get past the Lady Eagles in District 15, something they weren't able to do Tuesday during a 25-21, 25-18 non-conference loss at Grain Valley (2-2)...

While attending a recent seminar for hospice chaplains, I couldn't help notice just how different people who call themselves "ministers" can be. The conference room was filled with men and women alike, some in suits and some in jeans, and some with starched, white clergy collars announcing there vocation to all who would take notice...