Stories from Monday, July 6, 2009

A Waverly teen was arrested Saturday, July 4, and charged with three felonies in connection with a string of mailbox explosions in northern Saline County. Jacob Dillion Hostetter, 17, was charged with class C felony possession of an explosive device and two counts of class D felony knowingly exploding a device, according to court documents released by the Saline County Sheriff's Department...

McKenna Bishop and Keegan Brewer were named Little Miss Liberty and Little Uncle Sam, respectively, during the Independence Day celebrations at the Sweet Springs City Park Saturday, July 4. Other contestants in the Little Miss Liberty/Little Uncle Sam Contest included Lindsey Winston, Kendall Brewer and Madison Moulton in the category of girls aged 0-3 category; Eli Smith and Jonathan Twilling in the category for boys aged 0-3 category; Keanna Robinson in the category for girls between the ages of 4 and 6; Shane Winston and Cole Murphy in the boys aged 4-6 category; and Hanna Viets in the girls aged 7-10 category.. ...

WARRENSBURG -- Marshall Travelers baseball coach Ian Verts' summer-long quest to develop an offense is beginning to pay off. Over the last two weeks, the team has raised its batting average from .201 to .237, scoring 14 runs Thursday during a twinbill at Warrensburg...

Selma Steinkuehler, 104, of Sweet Springs, died Saturday, July 4, 2009, at Sweet Springs Villa Nursing Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 2009, at St. John United Church of Christ in Emma, with Pastor Tim Biesemeyer officiating. ...

Harold G. Thayer, 88, of Jefferson City, formerly of Marshall and Carrollton, died Thursday, July 2, 2009, at his home. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2009, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall, with Evangelist Robert Bruch officiating. ...

Dorothy M. Fleming, 93, of Higginsville, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Lafayette Regional Health Center. Private services will be held in Ventura, Calif. Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at Kaiser-Wiegers@ctcis.net...

John L. Blackburn, 84, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., died Friday, July 3, 2009. A memorial service will be conducted by Charles Durham Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. It will follow a family burial service at Evergreen Cemetery in Tuscaloosa at 2 p.m. ...

John W. "Johnny" Proctor, 43, of Marshall, died Friday, July 3, 2009, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall, with Rev. Steve Raglin officiating. Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com...

Missouri Valley Community Action Agency reminds Saline County parents to pre-register children for the Back to School Fair to be held Wednesday, July 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Marshall High School Commons. Children must be registered with MVCAA before Wednesday, July 15, to participate. To register, call Gail Watson at 660-886-7476 ext. 841...

Interesting news and features published in our print edition and e-edition July 6. On page 2: Comics, puzzles and the astrograph. On page 3: Area students receive honors from William Jewell College and Missouri Western State University...

Members from the Saline County 911 Commission met as the Saline County 911 Commission Finance Committee Monday, July 6, to discuss financing options for the Saline County 911 Dispatch Center and the equipment that will be housed inside that building...

Update: Lenea Jeanette Rader, 29, has been charged with class C felony receiving stolen property worth $500 or more. Two Marshall residents are suspected of being involved in a Sunday, July 5, burglary case, according to Saline County sheriff's deputies. One of the suspects is in custody, according to Sheriff Wally George.