Year-Round Schooling Takes Center Stage

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer

School board candidates propose their ideas on year-round schooling Tuesday night
(Photo taken by Len Garry, Lenoir Images Lmt.)


LENOIR, USA - Senior citizens in Lenoir School District worry that a proposal for year- round schooling might hit them in the pocket book.

The idea of year- round schooling was presented as an option to reduce large class sizes in city schools at the Lenoir Retirement Center Tuesday night. School board candidates took opposing stands on the proposal.

Some said they believe the plan for a 12-month school schedule could eliminate the need for trailers as classrooms. Candidate Henry Lane supported this position, stating that the multi-tracking schedule that year round schooling supports would reduce the number of students in daily attendance by 25 %.

Not all candidates favored a multi-tracking school schedule. Board President Elton Fay argued that multi-tracking would negatively affect the community. Multi-tracking would mean different school schedules for students of different ages.

Candidates also expressed concerns that year round-schooling would hurt citizen’s pocket books. Elton Fay and Larry Dorman argued that the new schedule would be costlier than adding permanent buildings which the city can’t afford.

The issue of year- round schooling was not fully resolved Tuesday night. Yet, senior citizens reactions made it clear that they did not favor any plan that would affect their wallets.

“ Our taxes have already been raised enough,” said senior citizen Doris Charm, “Our politicians need to learn how to budget money more wisely so that problems like this can be easily fixed.”


Obama Adresses National Education

Grassland Fires Rage in Springfield

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer


Fires eat away at Missouri grasslands
(Photo taken by Mark Wellberg, amature photographer)


Springfield, MO - The spell of hot, dry weather that has held the area in its grasp for the last few weeks is taking its toll on grasslands and firefighters.

Saturday, in the wake of 15- and 25-mph winds and a high temperature of 99 degrees, fire protection agencies from across the area responded to 16 calls.

At the largest of those calls, a 25-acre grass fire on Peabody Road north of Prathersville and west of Route 19, paramedics treated on site at least five of 35 firefighters for heat exhaustion, Springfield County Fire Chief Debra Schuster said.

Three more of the heavily clad firefighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion, and two of them were flown to Springfield Hospital by helicopter. All were treated for about one hour and released.

Denis Sapp, fire captain of Station No. 1, said the blaze at Peabody Road, which burned out of control for an hour before it was contained, was probably started by a trash fire. The blaze endangered some nearby farmland and the barn on it but was extinguished before anything but grass was burned.

Fires like the one on Peabody Road had been starting all day, especially in the northern part of the city and country, said the chief. Some of the fires could have been the work of an arsonist, she added, but careless burning was a more likely cause.

“We don’t have any evidence there is an arsonist,” said the chief. “We sure hope we don’t have someone running around starting fires on purpose, but there is that possibility.”

When Your Football Helmet Fails You

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer

Head injuries are increasing in high school's across the nation
(Photo taken by Glen Photography, Redmond, CA)


Redmond, CA – It was supposed to be like every other game. Sixteen-year-old Pete Stenhoff and his football teammates of Chula Vista High School would play their hearts out. Charging the other team’s ball carrier Stenhoff was aggressive and in control… but then his helmet failed him.

Stenhoff, a 210-pound linebacker, cracked the vertebrae in his spine and is now confined to a wheelchair for life. Many of his hopes and dreams are shattered, but he is not alone. In fact his injury is just one among the 20,000 that are reported in high school football each year.

A recent study has shown that 7,000 players receive injury to their neck or head. Another 2,400 of these players leave the field permanently disabled. And, 13 of these players never leave the field alive. (I would need to include the actual studies name here for attribution)

Shockingly, many critics are blaming the helmet. They argue that the helmet has created a false sense of invulnerability.

“When players think they are invincible it encourages them to collide more often and with more force,” said Dr. Bob wise, head of the Brain Injury Resource Center at the University of Springfield. “In actuality, the helmet can only protect against a minute fraction of injuries” he added.

Stenhoff thought that while wearing his helmet he was invincible. Now that his injuries have left him 38 pounds lighter and unable to graduate with his friends he thinks otherwise. “I knew the risks involved when I decided to play football,” he said, “but I wish I would have known just how bad it could be.”


Watch More On High School Football Head Injuries

Hanes Makes Michael Jordan A Household Name

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer

Jordan rocks Hanes new "Tagless T-Shirt"
(Photo by Ralph Green, Hanes Co.)

Alexandria, VA - Michael Jordan has scored as many points in the game of endorsements as he has in the game of basketball, and Hanes is one of his biggest victories.

While Nike, Gatorade, and Wheaties are among Jordan’s most well known campaigns, Hanes is getting plenty of air time.

Remarkably, the clothing brand has aired the hoopster in over 25 commercials throughout the past two decades, including “No Ride Up” boxer briefs and the distinguished “Go Tag Less” campaign.

“We use Michael in a different way than Nike or Gatorade does,” said Hanes brand director of marketing. “They use him as a basketball player; we’ve always used him as a person, and we’ve found that his stardom transcends the game.”

College students in particular seem to be drawn to the athlete’s personal as well as athletic finesse. At Ursinus College in Collegeville this week, fans were easy to find: “I love Jordan because he has skills on the court and a great sense of style,” said fan Pat Nagle, “If he rocks it, then I want to rock it too.”

In fact people do “Rock it.” A recent study showed that Hanes has one of its products in over 85% of households in the United States.

Sure people like the apparel, but the company’s great success has to be attributed to the endorsements of Michael Jordan. “I know that my little brother only wanted to buy their boxers after he saw him in one of their commercials” laughed Ursinus student Liza Agayeva.

Statements like this highlight Jordan’s iconic nature; and the success that companies achieve from his endorsements proves that he is more than just a retired basketball player.


Watch Michael Jordan's "Go Tagless" Commercial For Hanes

Local Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer


Family and friends mourn the loss of officer Thomas Bradley Arn, 28
(Photo taken by Alice Redko, Staff Photographer)


ST. JOSEPH, Mo -- An unidentified gunman on a shooting rampage killed a town police officer and critically injured four people before he was shot and killed by police in downtown St. Joseph last night.

The gunman began opening fire on the corner of 22nd and Frederick streets before starting south towards Calvary Baptist Church, stated Lt. Jim Connors of the St. Joseph police force.

Officer Bradley Thomas Arn, 28, was responding to the scene when his police car was riveted with seven bullets. One of the bullets broke through the back windshield of Arn’s patrol car and hit him in the back of the head. The shots killed him instantly, said police.

An eye witness to the scene, Norma Guthrie, said that she and her boyfriend were on their way to the store when a gunman opened fire. “We were following behind the police officer when we heard gunshots,” she said, “We ducked down and the officer tried to get away but he was shot and killed.”

Shortly after Arn was killed, three St. Joseph police officers chased the gunman into the yard next to Calvary Baptist. Upon firing a shot at the officers, the gunman was then shot and killed by an unidentified St. Joseph police officer.

Lt. Jim Connors said that authorities are using fingerprints to identify the gunman who was carrying no identification.

An internal review of the officer who fired the shot that killed the suspect is also under way. “This is standard procedure anytime an officer fires a weapon,” Conner’s said. He then praised the officer’s for a job well done, “They did a good job and did what they were trained to do.”

Officer Arn, who had been serving on the force for six years, leaves behind a wife and two twin daughters. Funeral services for Arn will take place on Friday at Good Sheppard Baptist Church.

Liquor Store Robber Escapes Arrest

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer

Black Derby Liqour Store is robbed at gunpoint
(Photo taken by Michelle Williams, Staff Photographer)

Springfield, MO – A man with a pillowcase over his head held a clerk at gunpoint and ran off with $2,845 at the Black Derby Liquor Store here last night.

The robbery occurred early in the evening when a disguised male entered the liquor store, police said. He was about 6 feet tall and weighed 155 pounds. He was wearing blue jeans and a dirty white T-shirt with a torn sleeve and a pillow case over his head, according to the police report.

“I was behind the cash register and saw a man walk in with a pillowcase over his head,” said store clerk Marc Bellinos, “He pulled out a gun, pointed it at me, and then told me to throw all of our money into another pillow case – I was so scared.” The clerk added.

During the robbery, Bellinos triggered a silent alarm to alert authorities of the incident, police said. Police officers Anne Fulgham and Jose Lopez arrived to the store just as the gunman was fleeing the scene.

In pursuit, Officer Fulgham shouted a warning and then fired a shot at the man, according to the police report. Fulgham missed. Police then chased the man into a nearby alley but he was too fast for them to catch.

A local resident, John Paul Reinicke, said that he was walking down Ripley Way when he saw the gunman running down the alley. “The officers did a great job,” he said, “But the guy ran so fast he looked like a track star.”

Authorities are still searching for the robber who was able to escape arrest last night. Law enforcement officials encourage anyone with information to contact their local police center.

Former Springfield High Senior Class President Dies In Fatal Car Crash

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer

Springfield, MO - A former senior class president of Springfield High School died in a fatal two-car crash that took place on the corner of U.S. 63 and Route NN in rural Lincoln County last night. He was 27 years old.

Henry Higgins lived in Springfield his entire life. The son of Ralph and Amy Higgins, he is remembered for many reasons. “Henry was a wonderful individual,” said family friend Anita Thacker, “He died too young, but he accomplished so much.”

A scholar-athlete at Springfield High school in the late 1990s, Higgins was a prominent presence in the community. “Henry was our senior class president,” said classmate Barb Donald, “He loved organizing events and speaking on behalf of the students – he was really something else.”

After graduation Henry attended the University of Illinois. While there, he lettered for two years as a tight end on the school’s football team. “Higgins was a great football player,” said his coach Jim Rebber, “He was a team player and had such a passion for the game.”

Career oriented, Higgins had recently earned his real estate license and worked for the local firm West and Haver. “Henry was a real businessman,” said his boss John Doe, “He was new to our company but it was like he had worked here for 20 years.” ( I would also add an interesting anecdote here to highlight the skills Higgins had)

School and business were not his only interests. According to his parents, Higgins was also an avid member of the Springfield Jaycees and was passionate about giving back to the local community.

“Higgins was involved in a lot of community service projects,” said Springfield Jaycee’s President Mark Anthony, “He loved to help people and I just can’t understand why such a wonderful man was taken so soon.” (Here I would add specific examples of projects he was involved in)

Family and friends can celebrate Higgins life at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Newman Center, 101 Cedar Lane, in Springfield. Father Ralph Green will officiate. His burial will follow at City Cemetery, 30 Park Avenue, in Springfield.

Survivors include his wife, Cloris Higgins, of the home in Springfield; his parents, Ralph and Amy Higgins, of Springfield; a sister, Ruth Higgins, of Birmingham Alabama; and a brother, Russell Higgins, of St. Louis.