NASCAR was in Atlanta this week, where Jimmy Johnson won for the third-straight week. With the win he moved to within 59 points of leader Kurt Busch, with three races to go. Columbia’s Carl Edwards, who began his career on the major circuit in late August, earned his first top-five finish by checking in at third. Jamie McMurray, who’s 11th in the points’ standings, finished eighth in Sunday’s race. St. Louis native Rusty Wallace was 11th on Sunday and Fenton native Ken Schrader was 23rd.
Business Merger Runs Into Legal Wrangling
November 1, 2004 By
A lawsuit is challenging the proposed merger of John Q. Hammons Hotels Corpation with a private company, Barcelo Crestline. The lawsuit has been filed by Garco Investments, one of the owners of Hammons Hotels common stock. It says Carcelo Crestline’s offer for the stock is too low. The suit says Hammons, who owns about 76 percent of the stock in question, has accepted the officer so that it furthers his interets but damages the public shareholders of the company. A spokesman for the Hammons company says the suit is premature and without merit.
Investigators Probe Fatal Plane Crash In Northeast Missouri
November 1, 2004 By
Federal investigators have started looking at the wreckage of a light plane that crashed Friday night in northeast Missouri, killing the three people aboard. All three were from Indiana, returning home from a pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota. The four-seat plane was flying from Winner, South Dakota, to Anderson, Indiana, when it crashed near Downing – about 25 miles north of Kriksville. The FAA says the pilot was trying to go through, or get around, a thunderstorm.
Election Should Determine Whether State Governor Remains Divided
November 1, 2004 By
It appears Missourians are divided over who should be their next Governor. But, if they choose Republican Matt Blunt, it’s likely their state government won’t be divided. Political analysts predict Republicans will retain control of the State Legislature, both the Senate and House. The Governor’s race between Blunt and Democrat Claire McCaskill remains a toss-up. Kansas City Star political reporter Steve Kraske says this election reminds him of 1992, when Democrats consolidated state government with the election of Mel Carnahan as Governor and pushed through some weighty legislation. Kraske says recent public opinion polls indicate Missouri is leaning toward Republicans, but he doesn’t count out Democrat Claire McCaskill. He says she has been running a strong campaign and the Governor’s race is too close to call.
Lung Cancer Awareness Program Being Launched
November 1, 2004 By
A new program is being launched to better inform Missourians and other Americans about the threat of lung cancer. An organization known as The Wellness Community, which provides support and education to cancer patients and their loved ones, is behind the project. Kim Thibouldeaux, the organization’s President, say thousands of Missoruians are touched by lung cancer every year. Thibouldeaux points out lung cancer affects many more Americans than other forms of cancer such as breast cancer. The Wellness Community has branches throughout the country, including one in St. Louis which serves not only the city but anyone in the state who might need help that can be provided by the organization. An estimated 3,780 Missourians will die of lung cancer this year. More than 4,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in Missouri this year.
