Stories from Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Homer Scott, 91, of Slater, died Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at Sweet Springs Villa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 6, 2011, at Weiker Funeral Home in Slater, with Rev. David L. Duncan officiating. Burial will be in the Slater City Cemetery. ...

Area high school scores for Tuesday, May 3

Shirley Jean Sparks Sowers, 72, of rural Brunswick, died Monday, May 2, 2011, in Slater. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 5, 2011, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Brunswick. Cremation burial will be in Elliott Grove Cemetery in Brunswick. ...

So far, so good for Marshall Parks and Recreation's attempt to remain financially conservative. "We're still holding our own," said Jeff Stubblefield, parks director. Tax revenues were down in March and Stubblefield had said he was "cautiously optimistic" and taking a proactive stance this year, particularly with the rise in gas prices that won't seem to unbuckle...

Gertrude (Trudy) Eckhoff, 90, of Sweet Springs, died Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sweet Springs, with Rev. Dan Wing officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. ...

Ralph William Quick, 85, of Saline County, died Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Funeral arrangements are pending at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall.

The Marshall High School Orchestra will present its Spring Orchestra Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5 in the Marshall High School Little Theater. The Orchestra is under the direction of Kevin Lines. The concert will include a wide variety of music to showcase the depth of talent of this outstanding ensemble...

Genevieve D. (Penny) Herndon, 86, of Marshall, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, at Mar-Saline Manor in Marshall. Memorial graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 9, 2011, at Hazel Grove Cemetery in Herndon, with William W. Harlow officiating. Memorials may be made to Fitzgibbon-Mary Montgomery Hospice or Hazel Grove Cemetery in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com...

Will Campbell, of Marshall, will be performing Thursday, May 5, with The Mannish Boys at the 32nd annual Blues Music Awards. The group has been nominated in four categories -- Album of the Year for "Shake for Me," Band of the Year, Traditional Blues Album of the Year for "Shake for Me" and Instrumentalist-Drums for Jimi Bott...

Interesting news and features published in our print edition and E-edition May 4.

Residents approached by anyone claiming to represent Sig Nu fraternity and selling raffle tickets should contact Marshall police. Missouri Valley College Security Director Karen Chevalier said Wednesday that she had received reports that someone was going door-to-door and making phone calls in the area soliciting raffle chances...

Shattered concrete sits over land where once gas pumps gleamed in summer sun and bright lights drew revelers to drink and dance away the night. Thirty-five years ago, there wasn't an adult-themed store or fireworks store. Thirty-five years ago, Marshall Junction was a thriving part of the county that produced tax revenue and provided a necessary respite for travelers...

Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc., announced it has reached an agreement to acquire the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy in Marshall effective May 11. The company will be combining and relocating its pharmacy on the Marshall Square into the existing Medicine Shoppe location at 161 S. Benton...

State Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, was the sole "nay" vote from the Republican side of the aisle when the Missouri Senate voted Wednesday, May 4, to override Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of the Congressional redistricting plan. Stouffer and state Sen. Joe Aull, D-Marshall, were vocal opponents of the plan, which puts three rural counties, including Saline County, into the Fifth District, which is dominated by the Kansas City metropolitan area...

In Marshall, Will Campbell is a licensed clinical social worker who is involved in developing mental health programs with Fitzgibbon Hospital and has his own therapy practice, The Lotus Center. In Memphis Thursday night, May 5, the same guy will be known as Willie J. Campbell and he'll be holding down the bottom end of The Mannish Boys sound during the band's performance at the 32nd annual Blues Music Award show...

Alex Sprigg, a Marshall High School senior from rural Nelson, said her favorite activity in her four years as an FFA member has been the Career Development (CDE) contests. "I really enjoy ag contests. It seems hard just to study and always cram for those ag contests and lots of them are hard. ...

Ian Swisher, a Marshall High School senior, joined FFA as a freshman in high school initially because his whole family "has always been in agriculture." "And I was just interested in learning more about possible career fields," he said. Swisher, the son of John Swisher and Frances Spickerman of Marshall, was one of five Marshall seniors who were recently honored as State FFA Degree recipients at the Missouri FFA Convention held April 14-15 in Columbia...

Austin Thiel said becoming a Marshall High School FFA member as a freshman has helped him - and can help others - learn many "life skills." "There are a lot of opportunities that are involved," said Austin, who lives in rural Marshall. "Plus it is a lot of fun."...

Editor's note: This is the first of several stories showcasing FFA members from Marshall, Malta Bend, Slater, Sweet Springs and Santa Fe high schools who will receive the State FFA Degree on Friday, April 15, at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...