One of the three Baptist missionaries murdered in Yemen has a Missouri connection. William Koehn got his training for missionary work at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. A family friend says he was planning to leave Yemen next year and retire in Texas.
Judge In Mansfield Midwifery Case Recuses Self
December 31, 2002 By
A new judge will have to hear the case against a woman in Mansfield accused of helping deliver a child although she did not have a midwife license. The baby later died. The original judge in the case against Victoria Kocher has disqualified herself because her husband has done business with the couple whose baby died. Kocher is charged with unauthorized practice of midwifery and endangerment to a child. She says she never claimed to be a midwife – that she was just a labor coach.
Sappington Man Responsible For Wife’s Murder Commits Suicide
December 31, 2002 By
A Sappington man who hired a hit man to kill his wife has hanged himself in a prison cell in the state of Louisiana. Richard Abeln’s wife was killed in 1997. He was in a federal penitentiary. He had killed his wife to avoid an expensive divorce. He pleaded guilty to the murder.
State Government Braces For Next Round Of Budget Cuts
December 31, 2002 By
The next round of cuts in funding for state services and institutions will be announced later this week. And, state government officials indicate layoffs can no longer be avoided. The state constitution forbids deficit spending by the state and Budget Director Linda Luebbering projects a $300-Million deficit without cuts in programs, services, and employees. And, the situation is even worse for the next fiscal year, where she’s suggesting a $1-Billion shortfall. The Legislature starts putting together the budget when it comes into session in January.
Non-Profit Alliance Promotes Local Phone Competition
December 31, 2002 By
A non-profit alliance of groups promoting competition in the local phone markets is hoping the new session of the Legislature will see action to make competition a reality. Steve Veile is Executive Director of Show Me Competition – the alliance’s umbrella organization. He says that while choosing a long distance company is easy, looking for choice with a local phone company is not easy at all. Veile would like to see SBC – the state’s largest local phone company – sharing its network with potential competitors. He says this is justified because SBC – formerly Southwestern Bell – was allowed to operate as a profit-making monopoly for years and others should now be allowed to compete.
