Stories from Friday, August 29, 2014

With the start of school came the start of organized sports. When people think of Fall sports the majority of them think of one in particular- football. Football is a favorite community wide and gets the most attention. However, while they're out on the field there is an overlooked group of girls in the gym practicing for their upcoming season...

I try to remind myself not to spend too much time talking about the weather in this column, as I am not a meteorologist (witch doctor) and some folks won't see the printed version of this article for another week. The thing is though, as an outdoorsman, the only people that are as affected by the weather as much us are farmers, and maybe a bride-to-be on the precipice of her outdoor wedding!...

Coach Spence Royer has made the decision to break away from the FAST Swimming organization based in St. Louis, in order to build his own team at the Rec Center in Caruthersville. On September 1st Bootheel Racers Swimming will officially begin. For the past 2 years Caruthersville has been home to a FAST Satellite Program and has enabled over 40 kids from the surrounding area to compete in the sport of swimming. Coach Royer will continue this momentum with his new team...

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has closed the MO Route 53 overpass bridge crossing the Union Pacific railroad line in Campbell, Mo., until further notice, as a precautionary measure. Excess movement was noted in the bridge during a routine inspection on Wednesday. Additional inspections began last Thursday. The area will be marked with signs. Motorists will be detoured to an alternate route...

JEFFERSON CITY- In the past 10 years, traffic deaths on Missouri roads have continuously decreased, likely due to driver education and road improvements, among several other factors, according to a highway patrol spokesman. Since 2005, the number of traffic fatalities has dropped every year, except for 2012 which showed a slight increase from the previous year, reported by the Jefferson City Tribune...