It’s been in the works for 15 years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has now released the final draft of the Master Manual for Management of the Missouri River. Corps’ spokesman Paul Johnston says the new manual focuses more on upstream management. Johnston says that means there could be a split navigation season on the Missouri River, hampering barge operators’ efforts to move goods. Plus, today’s announcement leaves open the door for man-made spring floods to help endangered species, although Johnston points out there’s nothing directly mandating them. Randy Asbury with the Coaltion to Protect the Missouri River, a group representing agricultural and business interests along the river is not pleased with the decision. Asbury says this could end up flooding farmers and people who live along the river or drop water levels so low, utilities won’t be able to operate. And barges could shut down permanently.
Republicans Accuse Democrats Of Race Baiting In Billboard Campaign
The State Republican Party is expressing its outrage over a billboard campaign Missouri Democrats are trying to launch. The ads, to be placed in predominantly Africa-American areas of St. Louis and Kansas City, feature he face of a black man next to the slogan, “Missouri Republicans Have A Plan. You Are Not Part Of It.” Paul Sloca with the Missouri Republicans says the Democrats’ playing of the race card is not acceptable. He calls it disgusting. Jim Gardner with the State Democratic Party rejects the suggestion that race baiting is going on. He concedes, however, that it makes sense – as a marketing strategy – to place certain ads in certain communities to appeal to people living in those communities. Viacom, which owns the billboards, has so far refused to put up the ads, saying they are “deceptive.”
Lady Bears One Game Away From MVC Title
The SMS Lady Bears improved to 24-2 overall and 15-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play with a come from behind win over Illinois State. The Lady Bears trailed 21-20 at the half and got down by eight points early in the second half. They responded with a 23-3 tear to give them the lead to beat the Lady Redbirds 64-47. After going 1-for-13 from the three-point line in the first half, SMS hit 6-of-7 three pointers in the run. Jenni Lingor hit four three and finished with a team-high 16 points. Meg Tierney scored 13 points and K.C. Cowgill had 11. SMS’s 20 points in the first half was a season low. SMS is now in position to clinch the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship with either a win at Indiana State on Sunday or a Creighton loss.
Northwest Missouri St. Loses Offensive Coordinator To UCLA
The offense at Northwest Missouri State has been one of the most feared squads in NCAA Division-II football over the last decade. The man responsible for those touchdowns is leaving. Jim Svoboda is leaving his post as the Bearcats’ offensive coordinator to become the quarterbacks’ coach at UCLA. In the ten years Svoboda’s offense broke over 70 Northwest Missouri St., MIAA Conference and NCAA Division II records. They led the nation in scoring in 1998 and 2000 In ’98 and ’99 Northwest Missouri State won back-to-back Division II National Championships. This marks the first movement of any kind in head coach Mel Tjeerdsma’s coaching staff since taking over in Maryville in 1994. Offensive line coach Bart Tatum will take over the offensive coordinator vacancy.
Blues Tie Avalanche In Kitchen’s Debut
Mike Kitchen’s first game as the Blues head coach was certainly entertaining. St. Louis battled back to earn a 2-2 tie and a point with the Avalanche in Denver. Milan Hejduk made Kitchen’s debut a little uncomfortable when he scored at the 3:35 mark of the first period to give the Colorado the early lead. At the 1:32 mark of the second period Hejduk struck again to put the Blues in a 2-0 hole. It remained 2-0 until the 15:16 mark of the second, when Dallas Drake scored on a goal assisted by Doug Weight and Eric Boguniecki. Three minutes and four seconds later, Keith Tkachuk scored on a power play goal from Pavol Demitra and Chris Pronger to tie it up. No one scored the rest of the way or in overtime. Chris Osgood was in goal for the Blues and made 25 saves. St. Louis remains in ninth place in the Western Conference standings.
