Voters in the city of Columbia might have decided to decriminalize marijuana, but the police department at the University of Missouri says students better not think they can get away with very much. The new city ordinance says a person caught with 35 grams of marijuana or less will be referred to the city court so no state criminal record is established. The ordinance applies to Columbia police. But the University of Missouri has its own police force. And the head of the university police department says somebody who is caught with small amounts of grass more than once will be sent to the county prosecutor for state charges. And the prosecutor says he’s likely to prosecute repeat offenders.
Former Supreme Court Judge Calls for Death Penalty Moratorium
November 12, 2004 By
A former member of the State Supreme Court calls for a moratorium on the death penalty. Retired Judge Charles Blackmar, who was on the court from 1982 to 1992, has told a Columbia audience he thinks a “fair number” of people have been executed who were not guilty. Blackmar points to the case of Joseph Amrine, who was finally released after 17 years under a death sentence when three witnesses recanted their testimony against him. Blackmar says that makes him wonder how many others were wrongly convicted. Blackmar allowed six executions during his time on the State Supreme Court. Blackmar says he had taken an oath to uphold the laws of the state and fulfilled his oath despite his personal feelings.
Football Playoff Preview–Classes 5 & 6
November 12, 2004 By
CLASS 6—The champion in Class 6 will be hard to predict. In the so-called west bracket Rockhurst will travel to Blue Springs and DeSmet hosts Columbia Hickman. Rockhurst goes in search of its eighth state title, while Blue Springs will vie for its fourth. Hickman, which is ranked number one in the state of Missouri and is looking for its second state championship, is 8-1. Their only loss is to Rockhurst, Rockhurst’s only loss is to Blue Springs and Blue Spring’s only loss is to Hickman. DeSmet may be the underdog in the bracket but they come into the playoffs with the only undefeated record at 10-0. While most of the attention has been placed on the West, the East will have something to say about it. Kirkwood is under first-year head coach Larry Frost, who made the jump from Class 4 to Class 6 after serving as the head coach at Clayton high school. Kirkwood will face Mehlville, which makes it’s second straight trip to the post season and is looking to add a second state title trophy to the one they won in 1999. Mehlville was 4-3 before averaging 47 points per game in districts, winning all three games. CBC will host two-time state champion Hazelwood East…CLASS 5—While Class 6 is full of former state champions, there isn’t a single former champ in the Class 5 playoffs, though there are some teams that have had some painful memories from title games. McCluer North will host Vashon on Saturday afternoon as they try to exorcise demons that have haunted them in the post season. McCluer North has advanced to the championship game three times and have been shut out on each occasion. Parkway Central has lost state championship contests and will host Summit High school. Raymore-Peculiar made it to the 2002 Class 5 Show-Me Bowl and lost to Webster Groves. This year they’re ranked #1 in the state and are a perfect 10-0—they host Waynesville High School. Park Hill South will host Truman.
Royals Sign Third Baseman
November 12, 2004 By
The Royals have signed third baseman Chris Truby and will likely start at the hot corner in 2005. Truby has had major league experience with the Astros, Expos, Tigers and Devil Rays. He’s appeared in 263 games since making his debut in 2003. He hit .300 with 25 homer urns and 83 RBI’s with the Pirates Class-AAA team in Nashville last season. Truby is expected to fill the gap at third base until minor leaguer Mark Teahen is ready to play full time at the big league level. Teahen came to the Royals last season from the A’s in the three-team deal that sent Carlos Beltran to the Astros. The signing means Joe Randa, who has played eight of his ten seasons in Kansas City, will not be brought back.
Long-Time High School Baseball Coach Retires In Columbia
November 12, 2004 By
After 27 seasons, 366 wins and a state title, Columbia Hickman High School baseball coach Kent Fewell is retiring. Fewell, had already made the decision after last season, but has just now filled out the paperwork to make it official. Fewell graduated from the school in 1968 and started coaching there ten years later. The Kewpies won the 1990 Class 4A state championship. Fewell was inducted into the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
