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Fulton authorities look for vandals who defaced Churchill memorial

June 2, 2009 By

6-2 Memorial Spray Paint wall.jpg The Westminster College Churchill Memorial in Fulton has been defaced by vandals who spray-painted the side of the church of St. Mary the virgin, Aldermanbury, the breakthrough sculpture (part of the Berlin wall) and the Winston Churchill statue that stands outside near the church sometime over the weekend.

Fulton police chief Steve Myers says detectives are looking into the possibility the vandals could face more than local or state charges, but since it’s a federal landmark, federal charges could be filed as well.

Myers says detectives have a couple of leads they are looking into and they are confident they will be able to bring the case to a successful close.

vandalism Myers says the cost to repair the memorials will be expensive because specialists have to be brought in that will try to remove the paint without damaging the building and artwork further.

He says the city was struck as well in the skate park by the taggers.

PHOTOS COURTESY JUSTIN KELLEY / FULTON SUN.

Chris Newbrough reports [Download/listen Mp3]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Small business loans quickly popular

June 2, 2009 By

Missouri small businesses are quick to respond to the start of the new Small Business Loan Program. "Extremely signifant" response says spokesman John Fougere with the Department of Economic Development, "Brisk."

It’s a two-million dollar loan program for businesses with five or fewer employees. The companies can borrow 25-hundred dollars to 25-thousand dollars. Payback at three percent interest can be spread through ten years.

Fougere says many of the borrowers cannot get the capital they need the usual way. "Some of this seed money for items like computer software or hardware and other basic equipment is very important to a small business that is starting up. That’s where we want to step in," he says.

Fougere says small businesses will be catalysts for new jobs and will help turn around the economy.

The deadline for applying for the loans is June 26th. A business plan has to be part of the application. If more money is requested than is available, the Economic Development Department will hold a lottery to pick recipients of the loans.

Upload BP’s interview with John Fougere (5:28 mp3)

Filed Under: Business

Missouri tops nation in meth busts for first quarter 2009

June 2, 2009 By

meth-rehab.jpg Missouri again gets the infamoustitle of being number one in the nation for methamphetamine busts.

Capt. Tim Hull with the Highway Patrol says there were462 methamphetamine busts and discoveries of meth processing dump sites in Missouri thefirst quarter this year, January through March.

That puts Missouri ahead — way ahead — of our contiguous states.

Hull says there are two ways tolook at those numbers, that it’s possible Missouri has more reported bustsand lab discoveries (or abandoned meth-making supplies) because of our state’s aggressive drug task forces and stringentlaws. And he says, they might get even tougher.

State officials are looking at implementing a system that would electronically track purchases of over-the-counter ephedrine-based drugs and their purchasers. (Ephedrine is one of the main ingredients for cooking meth.)

And, he says, Missouri’s crack-down efforts have become an example for other states in their battle with meth problems.

According to the numbers, the top meth hotspots in the state are Jefferson, Franklin, Jasper and Washington counties, in that order.

All of the counties surrounding St. Louis high numbers of meth busts; Jefferson County had 46 busts.

Tied for second are Franklin and Jasper counties, both with 26. Other counties topping the list: St. Francois, St. Charles and Cape Girardeau counties.

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

University of Missouri hosts renewable energy conference

June 2, 2009 By

Experts on renewable energy gather at the University of Missouri-Columbia on Wednesday for the fourth Advancing Renewables in the Midwest conference. Jay Hasheider, the Energy Services Supervisor for Columbia Water & Light, says a good deal of the focus will be on solar and wind power.

"We include, in terms of renewables, things like solar energy or wind energy or biomass and we also include energy efficiency," said Hasheider. "So, all of these are topics that would be, I guess you could say, fair game for the speakers to talk about."

While many renewable energy ideas are bound to be addressed, Hasheider says the greatest attention will be paid to large-scale projects.

"Most of the projects that we’re looking at I would call our utility scale type of things," Hasheider told the Missourinet. "What that means is that it would be projects that would have a large impact either through many people putting this on their homes or one large scale project."

A hydro project on the Mississippi River is among the ideas on the agenda. Hasheider sees the chance for experts to exchange ideas as very positive

"Conferences like this give people the ability to find out about the successful projects," said Hasheider. "Also, the big thing is that they get to network and talk to other people."

The one-day conference runs from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Education Tagged With:

MIAA conference tops in men’s hoops attendance

June 2, 2009 By

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, (MIAA) claimed the top men’s basketball attendance average for NCAA Division II conferences in the 2008-09 season, the NCAA recently announced.

The MIAA drew 266,320 fans to its 11 institutions’ 156 home games last season for an average of 1,707 fans per game. The average edged the 13-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which averaged 1,700 fans per game.

Leading the MIAA was Central Missouri. The Mules drew 50,697 fans in 17 home games for 2008-09,  an average of 2,982 fans, to rank third overall behind Northern (S.D.) State (4,735) and St. Cloud (Minn.) State (3,316) from the NSIC.

Missouri Western barely edged out Emporia State for 15th place — each school averaged 2,083 fans, but the Griffons’ average was slightly higher when extended to decimals.

Conference with total # of fans and average per game
1. MIAA 266,320 1,707
2. Northern Sun 297,459 1,700
3. Central Intercoll. 177,855 1,423
4. Southern Intercoll. 196,224 1,161
5. Great Lakes Valley 210,747 1,092

Top D-II schools in country w/# of games and total fans
1. Northern (S.D.) State [NSIC] 15 71,024
2. St. Cloud (Minn.) State [NSIC] 15 49,742
3. Central Missouri [MIAA] 17 50,697
4. Benedict (S.C.) [SIAC] 13 37,848
5. Morehouse (Ga.) [SIAC] 12 34,546




 

2008-09 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Attendance
                       Total   Games/  2008-09          Change
    By Conference       Teams Sessions  Attend.    Avg. In Avg.
1. MIAA                   11      156  266,320   1,707     +40
2. Northern Sun           13      175  297,459   1,700    +322
 3. Central Intercoll.     10      125  177,855   1,423     +54
 4. Southern Intercoll.    13      169  196,224   1,161     +86
 5. Great Lakes Valley     14      193  210,747   1,092    +142
 6. Peach Belt             10      140  131,526     939    +124
 7. Great Northwest         9      118  109,170     925     +38
 8. Lone Star              14      186  161,126     866     -35
 9. Gulf South             15      202  173,031     857     +85
10. Rocky Mountain         14      182  139,401     766    +130
      
   By Institution                      G/S Attendance    Avg. 1. Northern (S.D.) State [NSIC]         15     71,024   4,735
 2. St. Cloud (Minn.) State [NSIC]       15     49,742   3,316
3. Central Missouri [MIAA]              17     50,697   2,982
4. Benedict (S.C.) [SIAC]               13     37,848   2,911
 5. Morehouse (Ga.) [SIAC]               12     34,546   2,879
 6. Elizabeth City (N.C.) State [CIAA]   11     31,324   2,848
 7. Augustana (S.D.) [NSIC]              12     31,697   2,641
 8. Virginia State [CIAA]                16     40,747   2,547
 9. Southwest Minnesota State [NSIC]     16     38,961   2,435
10. Washburn [MIAA]                      13     31,376   2,414

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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