Stories from Sunday, July 1, 2012

SUBMITTED photo The parents of Ashley Marie Marshall and Dustin Louis Mayer are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Ashley is the daughter of Tom and Linette Marshall and Harry and Pam Pinney of Columbia, Mo. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Missouri with a BS in biological science. ...

From staff reports JEFFERSON CITY Mo. -- Effective immediately, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has issued a FIRE BAN on all conservation areas. The fire ban includes prohibiting campfires and other open fires, including charcoal grills. The fire ban does permit the use of contained camp stoves and charcoal cooking fires in concrete or metal fire rings. The use of firewood in cooking fires is prohibited under the fire ban...

From staff reports JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon today ordered the activation of the State Emergency Operations Center in response to fires and a prolonged period of record heat and low precipitation across Missouri. The Governor also ordered the Missouri National Guard to ready the assets and resources it would need to support firefighting operations in Missouri. This Missouri Division of Fire Safety is assisting with the coordination of resources...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor During a brief stop Friday morning at Dexter's Central Gardens Residential Care in Dexter, Gov. Jay Nixon met with constituents, thanked a group of veterans who reside at the center, outlined some of the challenges his administration has faced, and pointed to a positive outlook for the future of Missouri...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor Spending time with Earl and Neva Young, it doesn't take long to understand why the two have shared 70 successful years of marriage. "We are so blessed," says Earl. "I love her dearly," he expresses openly. "She's my sweetheart."...