Stories from Friday, March 5, 2010

Matt and Johnna Boch, of El Dorado Springs, and big sister Gabby, are proud to announce the birth of their son and baby brother Gavin Leo Boch. Gavin was born at 8:14, on March 3, 2010, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and measured 22 inches...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Inviting Missourians to share their ideas on how to reboot Missouri state government, Senate Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, today announced a new feature on the Missouri Senate Web site. The new link -- Rebooting Government -- is one step in the Senate's effort to identify ways to make government more efficient. Shields said every idea would be considered...

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has $1.2 million to help Missouri farmers produce organic products, and another $150,000 for a pilot project to introduce all growers to high tunnel structures that extend the growing season for crops. State Conservationist J.R. Flores says landowners may apply until March 19 for cost-share funding for both initiatives through NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program...

Thursday morning, an incident at Pittsburg State University called attention to the reality that some sort of campus violence can happen in a small campus in a small community. Officials at Cottey College in Nevada say they're prepared to spring into action and have plans in place to address a variety of emergencies...

A Pittsburg State University student, Tyler Baker, 19, of Lee's Summit, Mo., was arrested for allegedly discharging a shotgun from a porch at Nation Hall. The college's emergency alert system was not activated because the determination that a weapon had been discharged and the apprehension of the suspect occurred almost simultaneously. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As many as 35,000 Missourians would benefit from extended unemployment benefits under legislation sponsored by Representative Barney Fisher, R-District 125. HB 1544 was given final approval Thursday by the Missouri General Assembly...

The Nevada High School Debate and Forensics squad took first place in overall sweepstakes at the Exeter Tournament on Saturday. Nevada triumphed over the second place school by more than 100 sweepstakes points. Nearly every member of the squad competing brought home individual honors and Nevada had finalists in every individual event category...

GOLDEN CITY, Mo. -- The Hume Lady Hornets and the Lady Tigers of Rich Hill each earned a trip to the Class 1 District 7 basketball tournament championship with strong victories in the tournament's semifinal round Wednesday night. In semifinal action at Golden City High School, the top-seeded Lady Hornets of Hume took on No. ...

"We're just glad to finally be playing." Many of his players echoed the sentiments of Cottey College head softball coach Greg Tietz heading into Thursday's home doubleheader against the Ravens of Coffeyville Community College. The Comets were scheduled to open the spring season against Coffeyville on Feb. ...

One of my favorite new shows on television is "NCIS Los Angeles." In a strange episode this week, the show's script, delved into a real life political and population issue. The show looked at one fictional family from China, who had their lives changed forever by the "one-child" policy of the People's Republic of China...