Friday, December 31, 2010

Northwest Women Celebrate New Year's Eve with 77-61 Win

Northwest Missouri State got into an early hole against MIAA tail-ender Lincoln, but then turned around and took control of the game and ran away with a 77-61 win in their first game back from the holiday break. It looked like Lincoln would simply backdoor Northwest to death in the early stages of the game as they jumped out to a 6-2 lead behind the post play of Vivian Essuon in the early going. Donisha Bronnon added a couple of buckets and Lincoln raised their lead to 10-5 at the 14:06 mark. It looked like it would be one of those games in which the cold weather would sap the energy out of both teams' play and whoever would outslop the other would win.

Northwest had their struggles on the offensive end as they were doing too much staring instead of working the ball and not getting good looks as a result. But finally, they started to get untracked as Monai Douglass came off the bench to give them a spark with a pair of assists to Gabby Curtis and Gentry Dietz to make it 10-9 with 12:33 left. Lincoln went back up by 5, aided by a 3-pointer from Bria Dillard, but then Kyla Roehrig grabbed a pair of putbacks to cut it back to one. Vivian Essuon scored again in the post, but then Gabby Curtis alertly pushed it up the floor and found Abby Henry at the top of the key for a 3-pointer to tie it at 16.

Coach Gene Steinmyer then changed up his defense; he went from his usual man to man to a zone look and brought in Alexis and Candace Boeh, neither of who played in the Fort Hayes game two weeks ago. But the twin sisters brought some much-needed energy and fresh legs to the team on defense as Northwest held Lincoln scoreless for three minutes and built up a lead. Lincoln hung in gamely against Northwest, but was no match for their depth as Steinmeyer could use his deep bench while Lincoln only had seven players. Gabby Curtis scored from the right side and then Candace Boeh grabbed a putback to make it 20-16. Essuon got a putback for Lincoln, but a rested Kyla Roehrig came back for a 3rd chance putback and then Shelly Martin hit the first of five 3-pointers for Northwest to make it 25-18 with 6:31 left. The deep bench gave Steinmeyer the luxury of resting his main players longer and letting them come back fresh.

Ashley Williams scored to make it 25-20, but then Gentry Dietz scored from inside as Shelly Martin got her the ball; Abby Henry kicked it out to Gabby Curtis for 3, Kyla Roehrig cleaned up on a miss in transition and then scored off a Curtis drive to put Northwest up 34-20 at the 4:36 mark. Bria Dillard scored a layup for Lincoln, but then Abby Henry took a charge, which took away Lincoln's aggression for the next few minutes while Meridee Scott came off the bench and found Shelly Martin for a 3-pointer and hit one of her own to make it 40-22.

Vivian Essuon hit consecutive shots to cut Lincoln's deficit to 45-31 early in the second half, but then Shelly Martin hit a 3-pointer in transition as Abby Henry found her in transition and then Kyla Roehrig got an off-balance putback to make it 50-31. On the other end, Northwest made an adjustment as they started collapsing on Essuon and stripping her of the ball the second it arrived in the post, causing some turnovers. Lincoln tried to hang around, but then post player Gentry Dietz started playing like a point guard as she hit Gabby Curtis and Tara Roach from the left baseline and Ashley Thayer for a 3-pointer from the wing; that was three assists on three consecutive trips down the floor. Monai Douglass found Abby Henry on the left baseline and then the high-energy crew of Alexis and Candace Boeh came back in and Alexis hit a shot from the left elbow as nobody came out and guarded her to make it 61-38 with 12 minutes left.

The referees began giving Lincoln some sympathy calls at that point, and Northwest went through a long scoring lull, but then Steinmeyer put his starters back in and Shelly Martin scored over a Kyla Roehrig screen, Abby Henry scored a pair of free throws after Martin got a steal in the post, and then Shelly Martin hit her 5th 3-pointer of the night off an Abby Henry drive and kickout to give Northwest its biggest lead of the night at 68-38 before Northwest cleared its bench the rest of the way. To show the kind of depth that Northwest had that night, all but one of their players scored that night and nobody played for more than 28 minutes.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

David Baird new prosecuting attorney for Worth County

Gov. Jay Nixon today appointed David A. Baird, of Maryville, as the new prosecuting attorney for Worth County; the appointment is effective Jan. 1. A vacancy for that position would have occurred on Jan. 1 because no candidates for prosecuting attorney appeared on the ballot for the November elections in Worth County.

Baird, a Democrat, is the outgoing prosecuting attorney for Nodaway County, a position he has held since 1981. He currently is the vice-president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. Before the prosecuting attorney position in Nodaway County became full-time in 2006, Baird also operated a private law practice in Maryville from 1981 to 2006. He has served as an adjunct instructor of business law at Northwest Missouri State University since 1982. Baird received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.

David Baird will replace John Young, who was appointed by Governor Roy Blunt four years ago.

Cut to the Chase: Mincemeat Madness

MINCEMEAT MADNESS

By Denny Banister

It all started the day after Christmas. At first the symptoms were mild – insomnia that night followed by slight body tremors in the morning combined with lethargy and restlessness. I had difficulty thinking clearly and a decreased attention span. I was irritable and nervous.

I told my wife about my symptoms, but she said she had not noticed anything out of the norm for me. “Thanks for the insight, dear.” How is it we’ve remained married 46 years? Next, I noticed the heart palpitations.

I looked up my symptoms on a medical internet site and found they were similar to a malady called the DTs. The DTs, or delirium tremens, are suffered by alcoholics who, after a long period of heavy alcohol consumption, suddenly quit drinking. That ruled me out since I had not quit drinking.

“Hey, guess what I found in the cupboard,” my wife asked. “Another mincemeat pie,” she answered before I could fire back a wisecrack disguised as a guess. I could not believe there was a whole mince pie I missed – I thought I ate the last of the mince pie with whipped cream (we ran out of ice cream) just before we went to bed.

Thinking back on it, about all I had to eat the whole day on Christmas was mincemeat pie. I had mince pie with coffee and ice cream for breakfast, mince pie with milk and ice cream for lunch, and mince pie with eggnog and ice cream for dinner.

It would be an exaggeration to suggest mince pie was all I had to eat on Christmas Day, of course. There are certain things I eat every Christmas, and I ate them between my mincemeat meals. There was the box of chocolate covered cherries, the box of peanut brittle and something else – oh, yeah, the fruitcake.

It could have been worse, but my kids are no longer at home so I could not raid their Christmas stockings for candy canes and Cracker Jacks. Wait, Cracker Jacks – I ate that Christmas Day too from a big can loaded with three kinds of popcorn. I left the cheddar third and butter-flavored third for my wife. Hey, that’s just the kind of guy I am, I’m not inconsiderate – but I ate the third sweetened with caramel.

My wife brought me a piece of the mince pie she discovered and I ate it faster than our dog can swallow a meatball that bounced from my plate to the dining room floor. That’s when I noticed my body tremors, irritability nervousness and other symptoms of the DTs were gone.

It did not take a doctor to determine the diagnosis – I was suffering from a sudden lack of sugar. Yes, I was in full mincemeat pie withdrawal, and it wasn’t pretty. I realized I was hooked, and started to panic. The stores would not be stocking mince pies on their shelves again until the next holiday season.

There was no way I could make the remainder of the final mince pie last 11 months, so I ate the rest of the pie and headed to the car. I had to get to all the grocery stores and buy the last of the mince pies before their shelves were emptied. I also needed to stop by the appliance store – we were going to need a bigger freezer. That works out nicely since I had yet to get my wife her Christmas present.

(Denny Banister, of Jefferson City, Mo., is the assistant director of public affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Jack Remembers: Most Memorable

At my Methodist Church, our former minister, Kate McClain, during Advent each Sunday, asked us to tell our most memorable Christmas. I told the congregation I grew up in the church and when I was a child looked forward to Santa Claus giving each of us a bag of hard candy with an orange in it at the Christmas Eve service.

I couldn’t tell them about one Christmas Eve, which was spent at the Ranchhouse near Blue Springs. I was probably a senior in high school and almost my whole class was there. The only problem this Christmas Eve, a bunch of Blue Springs kids also were there, and we didn’t get along too well. I had a $20 bill and a $1 bill, which was a lot of money considering a beer only cost 25 cents. They had a great band. I walked up, put the dollar in their tip bowl, and requested a number. Later, when I went to pay for a beer, I only had a dollar bill in my pocket. I had tipped the band $20, a fortune back then. Maybe like $200 today.

As the night went on, the drummer asked if I wanted to play the drums, which I did. For $20, I could have bought the drums. About midnight, I was talking to Gene Morris, an older brother of a classmate who could fight a buzzsaw. A Blue Springs guy came up and said, “You’re the smart SOB who was playing the drums, aren’t you?” Gene said, “Who’s a smart SOB? And hit him in the mouth. A brawl broke out. One of the Oak Grove girls ran up to me and said, “Jack, the police are out front.” We headed for the door. The sheriff’s deputy was walking in and said, “Where do you think you are going? I have called for the paddy wagon.” About that time a beer bottle missed his head about four inches and hit the wall. He made a bee-line across the dance floor to the Blue Springs guy who threw it, and we headed home down 40 Highway at 12:30 a.m. Christmas Eve in my old Ford, with the girls in the back seat singing Christmas carols.

Kate, that was really my most memorable Christmas Eve.


Jack Hackley can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com

Fungicide resistance in frogeye leaf spot confirmed

Fungicide applications to soybean have significantly increased over the past five years due to claims of both a reduction in foliar disease and an increase in “plant health.” However, overuse of these fungicides may erode their benefits, warns a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.
Concerns about resistance have centered on fungicides called strobilurons. “Since the development of the ‘strobies,’ plant pathologists have noted the potential for resistance to develop quite easily with repeated use of these chemistries,” said Julie Abendroth.
Because the strobilurons are active only at one specific site in disease pathogens, they possess a high “resistance risk,” she said.
Strobies include products such as Headline and Quadris, as well as combination fungicide products such as Headline AMP, Quilt Xcel, Quadris Xtra and Stratego.
In 2007, Iowa State University specialists identified 23 different plant pathogens resistant to the strobilurons. In October 2010, Carl Bradley from the University of Illinois confirmed the first case of strobiluron resistance in frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina) from a soybean field in Tennessee. In this particular field, strobiluron fungicides were applied twice during the season, but the field continued to have severe frogeye leaf spot. Once analyzed, the samples were shown to require a fungicide concentration 200 to 7,000 times higher than nonresistant frogeye leaf spot samples.
Strobies can reduce the severity of numerous foliar diseases in soybean; however, in on-farm trials in west-central Missouri, a yield response to fungicide application has most often occurred when frogeye leaf spot is moderate to severe, Abendroth said.
“Other foliar diseases do not appear to be as yield-limiting as frogeye leaf spot. It is therefore important that when needed, strobie fungicides remain able to provide control of this disease,” she said.
To prevent resistance to the strobilurons, it is important to make fungicide applications only when needed. If a fungicide application is determined to be necessary, select either a fungicide with a triazole chemistry or a combination fungicide. Triazole fungicides such as Domark, Tilt and Folicur possess a different site and mode of action than the strobie fungicides. Also, the triazoles have a lower overall “resistance risk.”
For more information, contact your local MU Extension office.
(The trade names within this article are given with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the University of Missouri is implied.)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Rebooting State Government

Missourians will have another opportunity to share their ideas on how best to reboot Missouri state government. Senate Leader-elect Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, today announced that he plans to devote the beginning weeks of the 2011 legislative session that begins Jan. 5, to host working groups of lawmakers to examine the public’s ideas on how to better manage state government. Missourians can submit their ideas through the Rebooting Government link on the Missouri Senate website (www.senate.mo.gov). More than 3,000 Missourians participated in a similar effort in March.

“While Missouri is in better shape than most states, we are still facing an on-going budget shortfall meaning we must continue to find ways to do more with less – just like every Missouri family is sacrificing and doing,” Mayer said. “We welcome every idea citizens have to offer to how to make government work better for them and at a lower cost to them – the taxpayer.”

Mayer said the Senate took the lead last session in an effort to identify ways to make government more efficient. He said the Senate will continue with that effort with working groups examining every idea submitted and making cost-saving recommendations during the opening weeks of session.

“We must find common-sense solutions to address this on-going budget situation and a big part of that is to consider every possible way to make government smaller and more efficient – whether that is through more control, alterations or deletions,” Mayer said. “This is an opportunity for Missourians to tell us about their experiences – good or bad – with state government and how we can improve. We welcome and value your ideas.”

Mayer noted every idea would be considered. He said Missouri’s budget situation creates an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly examine and reshape every aspect of state government in order to set Missouri on a sustainable, long-term path for the future.

Missourians can submit their ideas by visiting the Senate’s website (www.senate.mo.gov) and clicking on the Rebooting Government logo. Submissions may be anonymous. Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R- St. Joseph, initiated the Rebooting Government effort last spring. The feature will be available on the Senate website through the 2011 legislative session.

Cut to the Chase: Getting serious about New Year's resolutions; really serious

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS, REALLY SERIOUS

By Denny Banister

It’s that time of year again; time to decide if we are going to make any resolutions to change our lives in the coming year and, if so, just what we will resolve. The majority of resolutions seem to center around losing weight, eating better and getting exercise.

People load their gifts of ‘generous-sized’ clothing into the car and take them to the department store to exchange them. Obviously these new clothing items will not fit for long as the weight falls off, so they exchange the clothing for things like digital scales and cookbooks containing healthy recipes.

YMCAs nationwide have a surge of overcrowding the first few weeks of each new year, and then taper off to where most using the facilities are the regulars. After weeks of selling extra candy, liquor, pies, cookies, and seasonal diet-busters like egg-nog and fruitcake, January 1st brings surges to grocery store fresh produce aisles.

Most of us know how easy it is to make a resolution and how difficult it is to keep a resolution. What if you had five or six hundred resolutions to try to keep? As hard as it is to conceive, that is exactly what happens to Farm Bureau every year.

Hundreds of resolution suggestions pour into the Missouri Farm Bureau Statewide Resolutions Committee each year, dealing with a huge gamut of issues affecting members statewide. The committee works to combine similar resolutions, carefully wording each in order to cover the intent of all of the suggestions.

These resolutions are then debated by approximately 600 farmer and rancher voting delegates from every county in the state and, following amendments and wording changes, the resolutions face a vote by the assembly to determine if they will be included in Farm Bureau’s policy book for the upcoming year. These are not resolutions made on a whim, but instead they are very carefully created and receive fair consideration before the final vote.

To make sure we don’t forget our resolutions, they are printed in the farm organization’s policy book word-for-word as approved by the voting delegates. This policy book is distributed widely to employees of Missouri Farm Bureau who will work to make the resolutions become reality, and to state legislators and members of the Missouri congressional delegation so they know exactly how we feel about a very wide range of issues.

Like nearly everyone else, we may individually fail to keep our personal resolutions to lose weight, eat better and exercise, but as an organization we in the Missouri Farm Bureau take our resolutions very seriously.

Happy New Year from the farmers and ranchers of the Missouri Farm Bureau.


(Denny Banister, of Jefferson City, Mo., is the assistant director of public affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.)

Proposed EPA Ozone Standards Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet by the Environmental Protection Agency

• On January 6, 2010, EPA proposed to strengthen the national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, the main component of smog. The proposed revisions are
based on scientific evidence about ozone and its effects on people and the environment.
• EPA is proposing to strengthen the 8-hour “primary” ozone standard, designed to protect
public health, to a level within the range of 0.060-0.070 parts per million (ppm).
• EPA is also proposing to establish a distinct cumulative, seasonal “secondary” standard,
designed to protect sensitive vegetation and ecosystems, including forests, parks, wildlife
refuges and wilderness areas. EPA is proposing to set the level of the secondary standard
within the range of 7-15 ppm-hours.
• The proposed revisions result from a reconsideration of the identical primary and secondary
ozone standards set at 0.075 ppm in 2008.
• EPA is reconsidering the ozone standards to ensure that two of the nation’s most important
air quality standards are clearly grounded in science, protect public health with an adequate
margin of safety, and protect the environment. The ozone standards set in 2008 were not as
protective as recommended by EPA’s panel of science advisors, the Clean Air Scientific
Advisory Committee (CASAC). The proposed standards are consistent with CASAC’s
recommendations.
• The proposal to strengthen the primary standard places more weight on key scientific and
technical information, including epidemiological studies, human clinical studies showing
effects in healthy adults at 0.060 ppm, and results of EPA’s exposure and risk assessment.
• The proposal to set a distinct secondary standard places more weight on the importance of a
biologically relevant standard by recognizing that cumulative, seasonal exposure to ozone
harms sensitive vegetation.
• EPA will take public comment for 60 days following publication of the proposal in the
Federal Register. The agency also will hold public hearings on the proposal in the following
three locations:
• February 2, 2010
Æ’ Arlington, Va.
Æ’ Houston, Texas
• February 4, 2010
Æ’ Sacramento, Calif.
• EPA will issue final standards by August 31, 2010.

Review of Science: Public Health
• Scientific evidence indicates that adverse public health effects occur following exposure to
ozone, particularly in children and adults with lung disease.
• Breathing air containing ozone can reduce lung function and inflame airways, which can
increase respiratory symptoms and aggravate asthma or other lung diseases. Ozone exposure
also has been associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, medication
use, doctor visits, and emergency department visits and hospital admissions for individuals
with lung disease.
• Ozone exposure also increases the risk of premature death from heart or lung disease.
• Children are at increased risk from exposure to ozone because their lungs are still developing
and they are more likely to be active outdoors, which increases their exposure.

Review of Science: Public Welfare
• Scientific evidence shows that repeated exposure to ozone during the growing season
damages sensitive vegetation. Cumulative ozone exposure can lead to reduced tree growth;
visibly injured leaves; and increased susceptibility to disease, damage from insects and harsh
weather.
• Sensitive plant species that are potentially at increased risk from ozone exposure include
trees such as black cherry, quaking aspen, ponderosa pine and cottonwood. These trees are
found across the United States, including in protected parks and wilderness areas.
Review of Science: Technical Record
• The reconsideration is based on the scientific and technical record used in the March 2008
review, which included more than 1,700 scientific studies.
• In this reconsideration, EPA is not relying on studies about the health and ecological effects
of ozone that have been published since the science assessment to support the 2008 review
was completed. However, EPA conducted a provisional assessment of these newer studies
and found they do not materially change the conclusions of the Agency's earlier science
assessment. More information on the provisional assessment is available at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=214003

DETERMINING COMPLIANCE: THE FORM OF THE STANDARDS
• When EPA sets air quality standards, it also must specify the measurement unit, or “form” of
each standard, which is used to determine whether an area is meeting the standards.
• For the primary standard, ozone concentrations are averaged over 8-hour periods. The fourthhighest 8-hour value at a particular monitor in the most recent year is averaged with the
fourth-highest 8-hour values from the previous two years. This produces a three-year
average. To meet the standard, the three-year average must be less than or equal to the level
of the standard. EPA did not reconsider the form of the primary standard. 3
• The proposed secondary standard is designed to protect sensitive vegetation from adverse
effects associated with cumulative ozone exposures during the three months when daytime
ozone concentrations are the highest. Specifically, the form of this new proposed secondary
standard is a “cumulative peak-weighted index,” called W126. The W126 index is calculated
by:
o “Weighting” each hourly ozone measurement occurring during the 12 daylight hours
(8:00 am to 8:00 pm) each day, with more weight given to higher concentrations.
This “peak weighting” emphasizes higher concentrations more than lower
concentrations, because higher concentrations are disproportionately more damaging
to sensitive trees and plants;
o Adding these 12 weighted hourly ozone measurements for each day, to get a
cumulative daily value;
o Summing the daily values for each month, to get a cumulative monthly value;
o Identifying the three consecutive months during the ozone season with the highest
index value, to get the cumulative seasonal index value, and;
o Averaging these maximum seasonal index values over three years.
• An area would meet the proposed secondary standard if the three-year average of the
cumulative seasonal index values is less than or equal to the level of the standard (i.e., 7-15
ppm-hours).

ESTIMATED TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED STANDARDS
• EPA, states and tribes will work together to implement the ozone standards that result from
the reconsideration.
• EPA is proposing an accelerated schedule for designating areas for the primary ozone
standard. Also, EPA is taking comment on whether to designate areas for a seasonal
secondary standard on an accelerated schedule or a 2-year schedule.
• The accelerated schedule would be:
o By January 2011: States make recommendations for areas to be designated attainment,
nonattainment or unclassifiable.
o By July 2011: EPA makes final area designations.
o August 2011 Designations become effective.
o December 2013: State Implementation Plans, outlining how states will reduce pollution
to meet the standards, are due to EPA.
o 2014 to 2031: States are required to meet the primary standard, with deadlines depending
on the severity of the problem. 4

MONITORING FOR OZONE
• In a separate rule, EPA proposed in July 2009 to modify the ozone air quality monitoring
network design requirements. The proposed modifications would better support alternative
ozone standards, including the 2008 ozone standards and the ozone standards proposed in
this reconsideration.
• EPA is not proposing in this reconsideration to further modify the minimum monitoring
requirements for ozone.
• The already proposed monitoring revisions would change minimum monitoring requirements
in urban areas, add new minimum monitoring requirements in non-urban areas, and extend
the length of the required ozone monitoring season in many states.
o EPA proposed that urban areas with populations between 50,000 and 350,000
people operate at least one ozone monitor.
o EPA proposed that states be required to operate at least three ozone monitors in
non-urban areas.
• There are approximately 1,200 ozone monitors operating in the United States, with about
1,000 sited to represent urban areas and 200 to represent non-urban areas.
o EPA estimates that about 270 new ozone monitors could be required to satisfy the
proposed monitoring requirement. We expect the number of new monitors to be
considerably less because of the flexibility including in the proposal.
• EPA is considering comments received on the proposed monitoring requirements and plans
to issue a final rule in coordination with the final ozone standards in August 2010.
BACKGROUND
What is Ozone?
• Ozone is found in two regions of the Earth’s atmosphere – at ground level and in the upper
regions of the atmosphere. Both types of ozone have the same chemical composition (O3).
While upper atmospheric ozone forms a protective layer from the sun’s harmful rays, ground
level ozone is the main component of smog.
• Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but forms through a reaction of
nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and
methane (CH4) in the presence of sunlight.
• Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline
vapors, and chemical solvents are the major man-made sources of NOx and VOCs.
• Because sunlight and hot weather accelerate its formation, ozone is mainly a summertime air
pollutant. Both urban and rural areas can have high ozone levels, often due to transport of
ozone or its precursors from hundreds of miles away.

Ozone and Public Health
• Exposures to ozone can:
o Reduce lung function, making it more difficult for people to breathe as deeply and
vigorously as normal,
o Irritate the airways, causing coughing, sore or scratchy throat, pain when taking a
deep breath and shortness of breath,
o Inflame and damage the airways,
o Increase frequency of asthma attacks,
o Increase susceptibility to respiratory infection, and
o Aggravate chronic lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.
• In some people, these effects can lead to:
o Increased medication use among asthmatics,
o More frequent doctors visits,
o School absences,
o Increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and
o Increased risk of premature death in people with heart and lung disease.
• Groups that are at greater risk from ozone include:
o People with lung disease, especially children with asthma.
o Children and older adults.
o People who are active outside, especially children and people who work outdoors.
Ozone and the Environment
• Ground-level ozone can have harmful effects on sensitive vegetation and ecosystems. When
sufficient ozone enters the leaves of a plant, it can:
o Interfere with the ability of sensitive plants to produce and store food, leading to
reduced growth, making them more susceptible to certain diseases, insects, other
pollutants, competition and harsh weather.
o Visibly damage the leaves of trees and other plants, harming the appearance of
vegetation in urban areas, national parks, and recreation areas.
• These effects can have adverse impacts on ecosystems, including loss of species and changes
to habitat quality, and water and nutrient cycles.
About the NAAQS Process
• The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. National standards
exist for six pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur
dioxide, and lead.
• For each of these pollutants, the Clean Air Act requires EPA to set the health-based or
“primary” standards at a level judged to be “requisite to protect the public health with an
adequate margin of safety” and establish secondary standards that are “requisite” to protect 6
public welfare from “any known or anticipated adverse effects associated with the pollutant
in the ambient air” including effects on vegetation, soils, water, wildlife, buildings and
national monuments, and visibility.
• The law also requires EPA to review the standards and their scientific basis every five years
to determine whether revisions are appropriate.
• The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) provides independent advice to the
EPA Administrator on the relevant scientific and technical information and on the standards.

HOW TO COMMENT
• EPA will accept public comments for 60 days after the proposed revisions to the ozone
standards are published in the Federal Register.
• Comments should be identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2005 -0172 and submitted
by one of the following methods:
o Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov),
o e-mail (a-and-r-docket@epa.gov),
o Mail (EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail code 6102T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460), or
o Hand delivery (EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• To download the Federal Register notice about the proposed revisions to the ozone standards,
visit www.epa.gov/ozonepollution.
• Today’s proposal and other background information are also available either electronically at
http://www.regulations.gov, EPA’s electronic public docket and comment system, or in
hardcopy at the EPA Docket Center’s Public Reading Room.
o The Public Reading Room is located in the EPA Headquarters Library, Room
Number 3334 in the EPA West Building, located at 1301 Constitution Ave., NW,
Washington, DC. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern standard
time, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
o Visitors are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal
detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor materials will be processed through
an X-ray machine as well. Visitors will be provided a badge that must be visible at
all times.
o Materials for this action can be accessed using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2005-
0172.

Editor's note -- The new standards have not been implemented yet. On December 8th, the EPA posted this notice on their website related to ozone emissions:

In January 2010 EPA proposed stricter standards for smog. As part of EPA's extensive review of the science, Administrator Jackson will ask the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) for further interpretation of the epidemiological and clinical studies they used to make their recommendation. To ensure EPA's decision is grounded in the best science, EPA will review the input CASAC provides before the new standard is selected. Given this ongoing scientific review, EPA intends to set a final standard in the range recommended by the CASAC by the end of July, 2011.

Opinion: New EPA Standards will Kill Missouri Jobs

by Rusty Kahrs
Before the end of the year, the US Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue new national ozone standards that could post a huge threat to jobs and economic growth in Missouri.

in 2008, the EPA lowered the ozone standard from 80 parts per billion (ppb) to 75 ppb. The decision came after years of careful study and analysis and following a normal rulemaking process that allowed stakeholders to participate. Over the last two years, Missouri and the businesses affected by the new standard have worked hard to meet it.

Now the EPA wants to lower the standard again, to between 60 and 70 ppb. This time, though, the agency intends to act without conducting any new research or a proper rulemaking process. A lower standard may seem to make sense from a public health point of view, but the economic costs would far outweigh the very minor health benefits.

Under the Clean Air Act, areas that do not meet ozone standards are considered to be "non-attainment." If the standard is lowered below 70 ppb, all of Missouri's urban areas and many of the state's other counties would be non-attainment areas. (So would many national parks, by the way.)

Non-attainment status brings serious consequences:
--Major manufacuring companies that want to invest in facilities will be required to offset any new ozone emissions and install maximum emission reduction technology, potentially inhibiting economic development and job growth.
--Missouri may lose federal funding for highway and transit projects if the state cannot demonstrate that the projects will not increase ozone emissions.
--Missouri businesses will be less competitive because they would have to make costly investments in emissions reductions, which could rise to as much as $2.4 billion, according to a study by NERA and Sierra Research, two independent consulting firms.

The study also found that a 60 ppb standard imposed today would eliminate 68,000 jobs in Missouri that otherwise would have been created by 2020. The study also reported that a 60 ppb standard would cut the gross regional product by $6.1 billion and reduce disposable income by $3.2 billion.

Even if Missouri businesses and individuals installed every available emission control to limit ozone emissions, the Missouri Energy Forum estimates that the state would only achieve 12% of the necessary ozone reduction. We may not be able to meet the EPA's proposed lower standard no matter how hard we try.

Everyone wants cleaner air. What we don't want or need is an unnecessary and unprecedented federal rulemaking that will cost jobs, destroy the economic recovery, and devastate businesses in our state.

We need our elected officials in Washington to force the unelected bureaucrats at the EPA to step back, engage in a proper rulemaking process, consider both the costs and benefits of what it has proposed to do, and communicate them to the general public. Missourians deserve no less.

Rusty Kahrs is the Presiding County Commissioner in Pettis County and Chair of the Missouri Energy Forum.

Road Condition Report for December 24, 2010

Interstate 29 - PARTLY COVERED
From Iowa Line to US 136 (Atchison).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 29 - PARTLY COVERED
From US 136 (Atchison) to RT W (Holt).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 29 - PARTLY COVERED
From RT W (Holt) to MO 118 (Holt).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 29 - PARTLY COVERED
From MO 118 (Holt) to US 59 South Jct (Holt).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 29 - COVERED
From US 59 South Jct (Holt) to US 169 North Jct (Buchanan).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 29 - COVERED
From US 169 North Jct (Buchanan) to IS 229 South Jct (Buchanan).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 29 - COVERED
From IS 229 South Jct (Buchanan) to Platte County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 35 - COVERED
From Iowa Line to Routes H And AA (Harrison Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 35 - COVERED
From Routes H And AA (Harrison Co.) to Route 36 (Dekalb Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice Interstate 35 - COVERED
From Route 36 (Dekalb Co.) to Clay County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice US 136 - PARTLY COVERED
From Nebraska Line to Route YY (Atchison Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice US 136 - PARTLY COVERED
From Route YY (Atchison Co.) to Route 71 N. Jct. (Nodaway Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice US 136 - PARTLY COVERED
From Route 71 S. Jct. (Nodaway Co.) to Gentry County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 136 - COVERED
From Nodaway County Line to Route EE (Harrison Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 136 - COVERED
From Route EE (Harrison Co.) to Mercer County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From Iowa Line to Gentry County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From Worth County Line to Route 136 E. Jct. (Gentry Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From Route 136 W. Jct. (Gentry Co.) to Route Z (Gentry Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From Route Z (Gentry Co.) to Route Z (Dekalb Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From Route Z (Dekalb Co.) to I-29 N. Jct. (Buchanan Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From I-29 N. Jct. (Buchanan Co.) to I-29 S. Jct. (Buchanan Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 169 - COVERED
From I-29 S. Jct. (Buchanan Co.) to Clay County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 36 - COVERED
From Kansas Line to Route 31 (Buchanan Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 36 - COVERED
From Route 31 (Buchanan Co.) to I-35 (Dekalb Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 36 - COVERED
From I-35 (Dekalb Co.) to Livingston County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 36 - COVERED
From Caldwell County Line to Route 65 (Livingston Co.).
Condition last updated at 07:04 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 36 - COVERED
From Route 65 (Livingston Co.) to Linn County Line.
Condition last updated at 07:04 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 71 - COVERED
From Iowa Line to Route V (Nodaway Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported partly covered with snow and/or ice US 71 - PARTLY COVERED
From Route V (Nodaway Co.) to Andrew County Line.
Condition last updated at 06:51 AM on 12-24-2010.
Road reported covered with snow and/or ice US 71 - COVERED
From Nodaway County Line to I-29 (Andrew Co.).
Condition last updated at 06:52 AM on 12-24-2010.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Worth County Band Has Christmas Program

The Worth County Band held its annual Christmas program at the school last Tuesday evening, with students from grades 5 through 12 performing in the concert.

Leading off the evening were Bobby Lynch, Elizabeth Owens, Quentin Miller, Keegan Warner, and Olivia Davidson performing "Jingle Bells." Kayla Luschen, Jimmy Raymond, Ryan McClellan, and Drake Kinsella performed "Up on the Housetop." Performing "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" were Darbi Weddle, Shelby Thomas, and Aubrey Ragan. Performing "Jingle Bells were soloists Shylea Moellenberndt, Drew Martell, Emily Thomas, Dallas Steele, Will Engel, and Cade Allee. The full band then performed "Up on the Housetop" and "Jingle Bells."

The sixth graders performed "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "Angels we have heard on high," "Good King Wenceslas," "Away in a Manger," "We Three Kings," and "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen." The seventh graders performed "Santa, I hear you," "Silent Night," and "Hark! The Herald Angels sing." The high school band performed "Drummers Christmas Carol," "Snow Globe, "Deck the Halls with Dazzling Drummers," "Candlelight Carol," and "Christmas Day." Following the concert, the high school students gave instructor Ms. Joana Healy a present in recognition of her hard work directing the band.

The following students performed at the concert:
FIFTH GRADE:
Flute: Elizabeth Owens and Shylea Moellenberndt.
Clarinet: Aubrey Ragan, Shelby Steele, Darbi Weddle, Olivia Davidson, and Ian Hargrave.
Alto Sax: Emily Thomas.
Trumpet: Will Engel, Kayla Luschen, Jimmy Raymond, and Bobby Lynch.
Trombone: Ryan McClellan, Quentin Miller, Drew Martell, and Dallas Steele.
Percussion: Drake Kinsella, Keegan Warner, and Cade Allee.

SIXTH GRADE:
Flute: Carrissa Runde.
Clarinet: Victoria Moore, Dominique Findley, Sidney Troutwine, and Abbie Dye.
Alto Sax: Brooklyn White.
Oboe: Hannah Robinson.
Trumpet: Harley Charles, A.J. Warne, and Aubrey Staton.
French Horn: Emma Novak.
Trombone: Kristen Ross and Jacob Wimer.
Baritone: Belle Babb.
Percussion: Lucas Caddenhead, Alec Summers, and Wade Rush.

SEVENTH GRADE:
Clarinet: Taylor Raymond, Kenna LaFollette, Dylanie Abplanlap, and Crystal Davis.
Alto Sax: Tess Andrews.
Trumpet: Rikky Hunt, Jackson Rush, Chris Allen, Nathan Pointer, and Jacob Auten.
French Horn: Truman Moore.
Trombone: Danielle Funk and Ben Badell.
Baritone: Joel Kollitz.
Tuba: William Runde.
Percussion: Ryan Smyser, Brevyn Ross, Adrian Fletchall, and Jake Hardy.

8th GRADE & HIGH SCHOOL:
Flute: Felicia Cook, Jordan Hunt, Dylyn Constant, Shannon White, Sidney Davenport, Kacey Smyser, Kristen Andrews, Brianna Fletchall, Katie Mullock, Maddison Davis, Lynzee Ware, Taylor Causey, and Kaitlyn Davidson.
Bb Clarinet: Angela Behrens, Bailey McPike, Sarah Lynch, Kiley Reynolds, Alaina Freeman, Jessica Garrett, Jade Hughes, Kali Cameron, Clarie Andrews, Kayla Martell, Jennifer Runde, Laura King, Sydney Thummel, and Shelby Thomas.
Bass Clarinet: Akaysha Raga and Sierra Groven.
Contra-alto Clarinet: Alysa Lyle.
Alto Sax: Cody Green, Eli Mullock, Sheena Fletchall, DeAnn Warne, Malori Moellenberndt, and Lily Ueligger.
Tenor Sax: Courtney Keltner and Madison Cassavaugh.
Bari Sax: Rebecca Moore.
Oboe: Starla Farnsworth and Jacy Gabriel.
Bassoon: Lauren Null.
Trumpet: Brian Hall, Alex Harmening, Mitchell Andrews, Charles White, Clayton Ross, Mitchell Charles, Andrew Mullock, and Cody Schrock.
French Horn: Brooke Gilland, Carli Jackson, Taylor Butcher, and Travis Troutwine.
Trombone: Sam Martell, Josh Warner, and Cody Straight.
Baritone: Bryce Ross and Paige McPike.
Tuba: Shane Kollitz.
Percussion: Adam Summers, Grant Parman, Martin Charles, Dallas Greenland, Clayton Troutwine, Dakota Owsley, Caleb Mace, Dalton Miller, Dillon Schrock, Wyatt Rush, Cole Parman, Zac Carr, and Jacob Caddenhead.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Allendale Arrows Carol in the Cold

Thirteen Allendale Arrows 4-H members and several volunteers braved the cold weather Thursday night and walked the streets of Allendale serenading people with Christmas carols. Their first stop was the Allendale Baptist Church, where the ladies were having their Bible study there. Their next stop was the Allendale Pool Hall, followed by Peggy Miller, the RLDS Church, Mary Kay Lambert, Berkley and Joyce Carr, J.W. and Clara Harding, Bill and Shirley Calhoon, Albert and Diane Baker, Bill and Rita Glenn, Will Brown, Dean and Marie Weddle, and Daryl and Angie Lamb. They serenaded people with such favorites as "Deck the Halls," "Away in a Manger," "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," among other things. This is one of several community service projects that the Allendale Arrows have done in 2010; they have also done a Halloween Party and an Easter Egg Hunt and planted trees in the park. Some of the people they visited gave treats in return. "I want you to know how much we look forward to seeing you guys," Joyce Carr told the kids. At the welcome sign at 46 and T, some of the kids stopped to look at the decoration. Will Brown let them in out of the cold while they were singing; his place was decorated full of historical memorabilia. After the trip, they returned to the Allendale Community Building where they were treated to marshmallows and hot chocolate.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Matt Robinson to Resign as Worth County Superintendent

Worth County Superintendent Matt Robinson told the Sheridan Express Monday that he will be resigning at the end of the school year to take the superintendent's position at Cameron. He said that he had gotten a much better job offer and that he would be closer to his family.

He said that the biggest accomplishment of his tenure was continued improvement in student achievements and working with kids in ways that meant something. He said that other accomplishments that occurred while he was superintendent were going to paperless board minutes as well as other technology projects. He said that the budget was headed in the right direction after two years of deficit spending which he said would help in the event of further state and federal cutbacks.

Robinson said that the challenge for the next superintendent would be to continue to look at student achievement and find ways of making it better. He said that while the budget was on the right track, future administrations still needed to run a tight budget due to reduced funding. "We need to make sure that we're doing the best we can with what we've got," he said.

Robinson said that he had enjoyed his stay at Worth County. "My leaving here had nothing to do with Worth County," he said. "Cameron was too good of an opportunity for me to pass up."

Ted Findley Appointed Worth County Presiding Commissioner

Ted Findley was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to serve as Presiding Commissioner for Worth County. Findley, a Democrat, sat in the commissioner's seat for the first time Monday. Findley, along with current commissioners Dennis Gabbert and Rob Ruckman will all be up for election in 2012.

The commissioners approved a new computer for Treasurer Linda Brown and voted to pay half of the loan on the Mack Truck plus interest so that they could keep a cushion for other needed expenses.

Emergency Management Director Pat Kobbe reported that the county was in the process of seeking a $15,000 Homeland Security grant for equipment for the Security Command Trailer. Included are three computers, one monitor, portable radios, a wireless printer, a camera, and radio battery chargers. Region H, which includes Worth County, has gotten $460,000, of which half of that has already been allocated. Commissioners also directed Kobbe to sign a memorandum in support of a pet trailer that the City of St. Joseph is seeking to shelter pets in the event of an emergency; the county would be able to use it in case of an emergency on their part. Both Kobbe and new Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley said that there were people who would not leave even in an emergency situation because they did not want to leave their pets uncared for. There would be no cost to the county. Kobbe said that she wanted to get various sized pet carriers for people who wanted to help care for pets in such a situation. She said that hopefully, the new fire building and two other places would be able to shelter pets if needed.

Kobbe said that if Homeland Security wanted the county to go through a bidding process, that they would be ready to do so. The National Earthquake Exercise will be held from 8-12 a.m. May 19th at the Worth County Sheriff's office.

Kobbe discussed Department of Homeland Security Directive #5. It says that all responders should respond on a unified system. There is a push to get all systems on the same page to ensure better communication in the event of an emergency. The first person who responds to an emergency would become the Incident Commander; they could hypothetically overrule the President if he were to be there. The Incident Commander would then step aside when someone with more experience came to the scene. The main goal is for there to be someone in charge of the scene when an emergency is taking place. The ultimate goal is to get to where everyone in the US responds in the same way whenever an emergency situation arises. For the county, Kobbe said that the goal was to get more people trained in order to get more funding for local needs. Specifically, many of the newer personnel need training. Kobbe said that the government was asking a lot of people who are volunteers to give up a lot of time in order to take training; most of the agencies in the area are volunteers.

Discussion then turned to powering up the generators in the event of an emergency. Work is partially done on the task of getting the Courthouse to where it can be given limited power in the event of an extended outage. The sheriff's office and the emergency command center would be hooked up, as well as the heating system. Commissioner Rob Ruckman said that the county would not want to run anything else except when it was absolutely necessary. The WCCC has a generator that automatically switches on. The county is in the process of securing books for the generators so that people would know how to use them if needed. The problem is that manuals for them are not readily available. After searching, Ruckman reported that he had found some leads on where to get a manual.

A special meeting regarding the square fire will be held at Grant City Hall. Commissioners Ted Findley and Dennis Gabbert reported that part of the old Art Shop building tested positive for lead contamination. One of Grant City Auto's basement walls also tested positive for contaminants, but Gabbert reported that owner Dennis Adams is challenging that because the rest of the walls which had the same paint tested negative.

Road and Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall reported that the county crews were in the process of fixing up equipment and putting on tire chains in case of ice. They were also lining up patron gravel for the roads. Discussion focused on the Mike Troutwine road north of Sheridan, which has a lot of traffic and which needs blading and ditch work. Fletchall said that the county has already put the special rock on that road, but that nobody has put up money to put CART rock on. Gabbert said that he had looked and that he could not find any previous agreement regarding the upkeep of that road between the county and landowners. "I can't believe we would have agreed to gravel that road," he said.

Discussion turned to brush removal and cost sharing. Fletchall said that it was important that landowners allow county crews to do needed sloping and bank work so that the problem doesn't return in 5-10 years. He said that in some cases, just removing the brush was just a halfway solution. Commissioner Ruckman said that the policy of the county was to only cost-share on brush removal once.

Fletchall reported that a tube extension that had gotten cut near Denver needed work. He said that there were various roads around the county that needed mulching work.

Commissioner Ruckman said that the policy regarding the CART program was to deliver gravel as soon as possible to landowners who really wanted it now and to "roll with the punches" regarding the weather.

The county reenacted the Emergency Rock program with the expiration of the CART signup for this year. Cost is $150 per load, payable in advance. All rock will be at least two inches or greater. Gabbert said that the county was in the process of lining up old Emergency Rock and Patron Gravel orders for delivery so that the county could close out the books on this year. There is currently $22,352 left in the Emergency Rock fund.

Fletchall said that with the freezing weather, the county was done doing digging work for FEMA relief projects. He said that with the frozen ground, all the county could do now was to put some rock in that had washed out.

The commission announced a new policy regarding visitors. Visitors who wish to meet with the commission need to call the County Clerk's office at (660) 564-2219 by Thursday to put themselves on the agenda. Commissioner Gabbert said that the county would manage it so that Fletchall would be there to talk with landowners when necessary. Time allotment will be 15 minutes per person. Typically, the county will meet with visitors for public comments at around 11:30, but Gabbert said that the county would be flexible for the first two weeks while the word is getting out. The commission can call an emergency meeting without 24 hour notice in order to deal with emergency situations. The commission can also take a vote to go into closed session to discuss litigation or personnel issues as allowed in Missouri Statue 610.022.

Commissioners are in the process of drawing up a written policy regarding brush law enforcement. Fletchall and commissioners are coming up with ideas on what they want the enforcement to consist of.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Gabby Curtis hits 27 as Bearcats topple Fort Hayes 71-65

Northwest Missouri State's women got their third straight win, 71-65 over Fort Hayes State as Gabby Curtis matched a career high with 27 points and Northwest survived a 31-point barrage by Traci Keyser to get the win. Northwest weathered a five minute scoreless stretch in the first half, got their second lowest point total of the year, and still managed to pull off the win. The game marked the debut for standout post player Gentry Dietz, who only had one semester of eligibility left and had to sit out the first half. Gentry showed some rust playing in her first game of the year, but led the team in rebounding with 10 as she showed she belonged on the floor. The return of Dietz changes the chemistry of the team and there are bound to be some struggles the first time out for the Bearcats. However, the hope is for the 'Cats to get better and gell by the end of January and the early part of February. The nice part about the win is that they do not have to spend the next 13 days with a bad taste in their mouths.

The Bearcats got off to a fast start as everything was falling for them. They opened the game on a 14-3 run as Tara Roach had the hot hand for them. Kyla Roehrig found her open on the top of the key, she scored another bucked off a Shelly Martin steal, and Gabby Curtis found her open on the right side. Shelly Martin added a 3-pointer off an Abby Henry drive, Henry drove to the hole and hit a shot from the right win, Curtis drove around a ball screen for a shot on the right wing, and Gentry Dietz hit a free throw.

But then Traci Keyser hit a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws as Hayes got to within 15-11 and Northwest got tentative with the ball, not attacking the basket enough. Hayes crept to within two before Abby Henry finally went to the basket and kicked it out to Curtis who hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get Northwest going again. Abby Henry got a steal off the press, threw it to Tara Roach, who fed Abby for the drive, and she got it to Kyla Roehrig for the finish. Following another stop, Gabby Curtis pushed it up the floor and kicked it out to Shelly Martin for a 3-pointer to make it 23-15.

But then the Bearcats went into a five-minute scoreless stretch as Hayes climbed right back in the game. Northwest was getting good looks on offense, but the shots were not falling. Against Emporia, when the shots were not falling, Northwest could not buy a stop and lost. However, against Hayes, they were able to get just enough stops to win the game despite shooting only 37.7%. In the meantime, Hayes fought back to tie it at 23 before Meridee Scott finally got Northwest untracked with a free throw at the 4:21 mark. Roehrig added two more free throws, Gabby Curtis went to the rack in transition as Abby Henry pushed it up the floor, and Abby Henry inbounded it to Gentry Dietz to make it 30-26 before Shelby Hillman made a 30-foot 3-pointer to make it 30-29 at the half.

The game was tied at 32 and 34 before Northwest got in front as Gabby Curtis hit a free throw, Curtis then hit Abby Henry on the break for a 3-pointer, and then Henry scored on a steal and drive to make it 40-34. Northwest caught a break as Henry's foot was on the line. But Hayes came right back as Traci Keyser heated up again, hitting two free throws and a 3-pointer during a 7-0 run that put Hayes back in front at 41-40.

The lead changed hands a few more times until finally, Gabby Curtis began to take over the game for Northwest. Gentry Dietz lobbed the ball into Kyla Roehrig inside to make it 46-45 and put Northwest up for good, and then Dietz got a putback. Gabby Curtis got loose in transition and hit a pullup jumper, and then with the floor spread out, Abby Henry got another drive as Coach Steinmeyer was constantly telling his players to quit settling for jump shots and go the hole. Keyser connected again, but Curtis hit another pullup, faked out a defender and went down the left baseline and converted it into a free throw, and then got a steal and ran over a defender who was not set and turned that into two more free throws to make it 58-47 with eight minutes left.

Gentry Dietz made one out of two free throws and Curtis was there for the putback to keep it at 10 at 62-52, but it was only a matter of time before the next Hayes run came, and it did as Keyser started getting on the line and attacking the basket as Hayes closed to within 62-58 with 3:05 left. Dietz hit a free throw, but then Kara Champlin slipped in for Hayes to make it 63-60. All Fort Hayes needed was one more stop to give themselves the chance to tie, but Gabby Curtis would not give them that chance as she got a drive to make it 65-60. Kyla Roehrig, who had seven blocks on the night, got one in the paint and grabbed the ensuing carom and Curtis went to the hole again to make it 67-60. Hayes tried to hit a 3-pointer, but then Kyla leaped into the air to block the shot and Gentry Dietz was there for the rebound. Curtis finally missed a runner and there were some anxious moments as Dietz made a rare mistake by fouling Keyser on a 3-pointer with 33.8 seconds left. Keyser was automatic from the line and Hayes was within 67-63 with 33.8 seconds left. But Shelly Martin went four for four from the line in the closing seconds and got a steal as Hayes could not catch up at the end.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Bluejay Girls run away from Trojans; get NWMO title

Northeast Nodaway's girls used a career night from Blair Schmitz (25 points) and a strong effort from Michelle Schulte (19 points) to run away from Nodaway-Holt and claim their second straight Northwest Missouri Tournament Title with a 65-42 win over the improved Trojan squad. Nodaway-Holt had gone winless in their last two seasons, but featured freshman guard Megan Rosenbaum, who could seemingly break down defenses at will. The question was how good the Trojans were -- they dropped a pair of games early in the season, but they caught fire and blew out second seeded South Nodaway 52-27 to open the tournament. Then, they beat CFX 50-49 when Rosenbaum hit two free throws with 1.6 seconds left to win it.

The worrisome thing about the matchup was the fact that the Trojans had beaten West Nodaway 57-50 earlier in the year -- Northeast had only beaten the Rockets by 10. And Nodaway-Holt had crushed Northeast in summer ball -- without Blair Schmitz, Kristin Sherry, or Rachel Runde. But on the other hand, Northeast has been one of the best in the business at getting to the line while Nodaway-Holt had shown a disturbing propensity to hack and foul at will. Nodaway-Holt cut down some on their fouls Friday night, but not enough to stop the Bluejays; Northeast was 14 for 16 from the line.

Northeast had missed a ton in the game against West Nodaway, but all of a sudden, Michelle Schulte's 3-pointer from Rachel Runde with 5:50 left meant that everything would be falling against the Trojans. Emily Bryant found Blair Schmitz inside as Big Bad Blair was able to post at will all night long. On the next play, Kristin Sherry made the play of the game as Megan Rosenbaum drove past Michelle Schulte, only to have Sherry take a charge. That play seemed to affect Rosenbaum the entire game as she didn't score at all in the half court until late in the game -- all of her points the entire game were either off steals or free throws. Previously in the summer, whenever Rosenbaum would get past Schulte, there would not be any defensive help meaning Rosenbaum was able to score at will. On the next defensive play, Blair Schmitz made a diving steal, somehow rolled it to Rachel Runde, who fed it to Emily Bryant, who fed it to Schulte for a layup to make it 9-2.

With Northeast ganging up on Rosenbaum, Nodaway-Holt isolated Jodie Holmes with some success as she converted a 3-point play and drew Kristin Sherry's second foul, banked home a 3-pointer, and scored off a backdoor layup to make it 15-12 with 1:12 left in the first quarter. But then Big Bad Blair drew Rosenbaum's second foul and hit a pair of free throws to make it 17-12 after one.

Nodaway-Holt tried to match Northeast's pace, keeping the deficit at 19-16 after Krysta Beattie scored after Rosenbaum pushed it, but then Big Bad Blair struck as Michelle Schulte fed her for a 3-pointer and then Rachel Runde threw her a quick outlet following a stop and she converted it to free throws to make it 24-16. Darcy Brown scored on a fast break to make it 24-18, but then Blair Schmitz skipped it to Michelle Schulte, who hit both free throws. Rachel Runde then threw it to Big Bad Blair, who drew Holmes' second foul and converted a 3-point play; Michelle hit Emily Bryant for a 3-pointer and then Rosenbaum had a rare miss of a layup and the tiny but deadly Schulte girl was there for the defensive glass and drew the foul and hit two more free throws to make it 34-18.

Amanda O'Riley hit a free throw and Rosenbaum got a steal and drive to cut it to 34-21 at the break, but Nodaway-Holt's attempt to press and get back in the game backfired when Kristin Sherry got the ball to Big Bad Blair in the middle of the court and Schmitz burned the press for a 3-point play. Michelle Schulte then cleaned up on a Kristin Sherry miss and then the tiny but deadly Schulte girl made Nodaway-Holt pay for stepping on the inbounds line when Northeast was only applying token pressure as she buried a 3-pointer after Blair kicked it out to her to give Northeast a 42-21 lead.

It was only a matter of time before Nodaway-Holt made their run and they did as Krysta Beattie got the hot hand, hitting a pair of free throws and scoring from the left side. Megan Rosenbaum added a steal to make it 44-27, but then Rachel Runde found Blair Schmitz inside, Kristin Sherry drove to the basket after Runde fed her a perfect high-low, Runde found Kristan Judd inside, and Big Bad Blair scored from the high post with 12.6 seconds left as Northeast finished on a 8-1 run to make it 52-27. It was one of those nights for Rosenbaum, who tried to drive the lane for the last shot of the quarter, but Kristan Judd tied her up at the buzzer.

Rosenbaum did all she could in the fourth quarter to bring her team back, getting consecutive steals to make it 55-34 with 5:39 left. But then Big Bad Blair slipped in behind the defense and got a pass from Rachel Runde, Blair kicked it out to Bryant for her second 3-pointer of the night from the right wing, Kristin Sherry got a drive and pullup jumper in the paint, and Blair got two free throws and Michelle Schulte one to give Northeast its biggest lead of the night at 65-38.

Worth County Boys Win 1st Tournament in 14 Years

Worth County got off to a slow start against Maryville JV, climbing into a 12-point hole late in the third quarter. But they used a 26-point fourth quarter to come back and win the Northwest Missouri Tournament 53-49 Friday and win their first tournament in 14 years. The last tournament win for the Tigers was in 1996 when P.J. Sanders, Dustin Lambert, Nate Combs, Ben Fletcher, and Daniel Gladstone played and the Tigers won the Gilman City Tournament by beating the host Gilman City squad. They also won the Albany Tournament that year. Before that, their last tournament win was in 1993 when Scott Parman and Mike Moutray's team beat Jefferson for the Worth County Tournament title. Before 1993, there was a ten-year tournament drought for the Tigers; Worth County won their own tournament in 1983 when Donnie Waldeier and Kent Thompson and Michael Hann, among others, beat South Harrison for the tournament title and avenged one of their four losses that year.

For a long time, it looked like a gallant effort for the Tigers would come up short as they battled referees and an extremely physical Maryville JV squad. They could do nothing against them in the first quarter as none of their shots were going in. They went scoreless for the first 5:40 of the game before Todd Harding finally got a putback with 2:20 left. Thankfully, they were playing strongly on the other end of the floor, which meant that they were only down 5-2. Bryce Ross scored from inside to make it 5-4 before Kyle Leslie's fast break made it 7-4 after one quarter. Worth County was getting a lot of good looks, but the shots were not falling and they had to attack the basket more.

The Tigers fell behind 10-4, but then started fighting back as Eli Mullock got a drive and floater to go down. Bryce Ross and Alex Harmening took charges and Ross hit a pair of free throws. Worth County continued to stop themselves offensively by picking up their dribbles too much and the referees missed an obvious over and back call on Maryville JV, but Wyatt McClain finally cut inside to make it 12-10 with 4:01 left. The Tigers were doing a better job of attacking the basket in the second quarter and getting on the line, but they were still behind 17-13. Nonetheless, Coach Chris Healy said that they were fine since if they could hold them to 17 the second half, the shots would eventually start to fall. "It took us two quarters to adjust to their physical style of play," said Healy. "We knew this was going to be a competitive game and I was pleased with how the rest of our players stepped up when Bryce and Todd fouled out. When you start feeling success, things start getting easier for you and practices get better."

Maryville came to play with their extremely physical style of ball, but unlike Northeast Nodaway, Worth County was attacking the basket. "You have to counter their pressure with pressure," explained Healy. It was only a matter of time before it started paying off. All of a sudden, Worth County got some shots to drop and moved ahead. Bryce Ross hit a pair of free throws and Todd Harding hit a drive and floater and the game was tied at 17. Kyle Leslie hit a pair of free throws, but Eli Mullock jumped a pass, did a perfect crossover, and got the layup. Alex Harmening hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 5:25 and Worth County went ahead for the first time in the game.

But then things threatened to head south in a hurry; Maryville started posting up inside and rebounding at will and getting all the calls. One referee called a questionable foul on Todd Harding which was not his call; Alex Harmening picked up his third foul during that stretch as well. On the other end, there was at least one occasion where the Maryville players were putting their hands on Bryce Ross' back and getting away with it. Eric Martin was sealing and scoring at will, while Cole Forney added an NBA 3-pointer as Maryville pulled away to a 37-25 lead late in the third quarter before Bryce Ross hit from the right baseline to make it 37-27.

It looked like the Tigers had put forth a gallant effort that would fall short, but that was not to be the case. The Tigers used their most productive quarter in the last three years, putting up 26 points in the final quarter to get the win. The win was also their biggest comeback in the last three years; the last time they rescued a bigger deficit was three years ago when they came back from an 18-point first half deficit against Hamilton to beat the Hornets in GRC action.

Worth County put on the full court press to start the fourth quarter. The first three quarters were being played at Maryville's pace. But when the Tigers changed the tempo of the game, it worked in their favor as it created a lot more opportunities for their guards to create chaos. Ross hit a free throw to start off, then Alex Harmening scored off a steal and then Todd Harding found Ross inside for a pair of free throws to make it 37-32. Eric Martin got a putback for Maryville, and Ross and Harding each picked up their fourth fouls. But then Worth County got a free throw, Todd Harding converted a 3-point play, Jordan Harding scored from inside, and then Todd Harding got a steal off the press to put Worth County in front to stay at 40-39 with 5:23 left.

Following a stop by Worth County, Jordan Harding hit a free throw and the Alex Harmening created pressure which caused a backcourt violation. On the other end, Alex then saved an errant pass from going out of bounds on the right side and got it into Ross to make it 43-39. Maryville missed a free throw, but a bad pass led to a Forney bucket inside to make it 43-41. Todd Harding pushed it up the floor and turned it into a free throw with 3:25 left, but he then fouled out and Tyler Kenkel hit two free throws to make it 44-43 with 3:07 left.

Eli Mullock then drove it down the left side and got it into Ross and he scored to make it 46-43 with 2:51 left. Kenkel missed a 3-pointer, but Forney was there for the offensive board and made one of two to make it 46-44. Wyatt McClain then picked up his dribble and was in trouble, but Jordan Harding made a perfect backdoor cut for a layup to make it 48-44. Worth County got a stop and a chance to raise the lead, but Wyatt traveled with the basketball. But Maryville tried to get it into the post and Jordan Harding got the steal and aired it out to Ross, who took it away from two defenders and drew the foul and hit one out of two free throws. After both teams exchanged turnovers, Alex Harmening fouled Payton Scarbrough on a 3-pointer with 1:10 left, but he only made one out of three to make it 49-45. Maryville got an offensive board, but struggled in their halfcourt set and threw a bad pass out of bounds. Nobody from Worth County even came close to touching it, but the referees started helping out Maryville all they could at that point and gave them back the ball.

This time, Maryville rushed a 3-pointer and it went out of bounds off of Jordan Harding; Bryce Ross tried to jump a pass, but picked up his fifth foul and Scarbrough hit one out of two to make it 49-46 with 49.3 seconds. Worth County beat the press and ran the clock all the way down to 22.5 seconds before Maryville could foul and Eli hit two free throws to make it 51-46. But then Maryville responded as they passed the ball around several times before Cole Forney hit a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to make it 51-49. Maryville JV fouled Jordan Harding immediately, but his first free throw was nothing but net and the second one bounced several times on the rim and dropped in to clinch the game for Worth County.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Bluejay Boys Get Attitude Adjustment; Take 3rd

Northeast Nodaway's boys did double duty following their disappointing 50-35 loss to Maryville's JV squad. They stayed after school and had a practice, along with a long heart to heart conversation from Coach Ryan Madden. "We needed an attitude adjustment. We needed to make some changes and we needed to attack the basket a lot more," he said. "Our guard play was a lot better and we had a lot more intensity tonight." Whatever Coach Madden told his players before the game must have worked as the Bluejays turned right around and beat West Nodaway 62-47 to take the 3rd place trophy at the Northwest Missouri Tournament. The most telling stat was that the Bluejays made 18 free throws against the Rockets in Thursday night's game; against Maryville JV the night before, they went to the line twice right off the bat, didn't go to the line again until late in the third quarter, and only went six times during the game. The play was not perfect; the team still made a lot of mistakes. But it was a step in the right direction for the team.

"We're out for a little bit of revenge," promised guard Aaron Patton before the game. "We need to get out and get them for what happened last night." The General and the rest of the team made good on that promise, picking up the intensity as the game progressed and responding every time the Rockets made a run.

The Bluejays struggled early as they were chucking up quick shots instead of running the offense and West Nodaway took an early lead as Brent Barnett hit a 3-pointer to make it 5-2. The referees were making it harder on them by calling a three seconds call on Northeast, but letting Rocket players camp out in the lane with no calls. Colby Wiederholt got the Bluejays untracked with a shot in the paint and then Kevin Stoll found Bryce Farnan on the left baseline; Aaron Patton got a steal and drive to make it 8-5 with 3:48 left. Bryce Farnan, who was doing too much leaning on people, picked up his second foul, but Kevin Stoll's free throws and a Colby Wiederholt steal off the half court trap that led to an Aaron Patton layup made it 12-7. But with Farnan out, Heath Harris began sealing inside at will, hitting some free throws to cut it to 12-10 after one.

Farnan came back in at the start of the second and West Nodaway chucked up an ill-advised 3-pointer that led to a Wiederholt coast to coast layup on the other end. Farnan got a putback and then leaned over a Rocket player, reached well over his back, got another putback, and somehow did not pick up his third foul as Northeast led 18-10 at the 6:30 mark. Harris got a putback and Barnett hit another 3-pointer to make it 18-15, but West Nodaway could not catch Northeast as Farnan hit a pair of free throws and then got a steal and hit another pair of free throws. West Nodaway closed to within 26-23 behind a fast break from Harris with 19 seconds, but then Farnan got a third chance putback and drew the foul. He missed the ensuing free throw, but then Colby Wiederholt grabbed the putback and put it back in as Northeast was really starting to take control of the offensive glass at that point.

Farnan continued to dominate the offensive glass, getting another pair of free throws and then connecting from the left baseline to make it 34-23 with 7:15 left. But then he picked up his third foul and West Nodaway fought back in his absence to come to within two. Heath Harris hit a pair of free throws, Northeast had a defensive lapse similar to last game when nobody was back on defense and Kolby Marriott was alone for a layup, and Landon Wood slipped behind the defense and got a backdoor layup. Colby Wiederholt got a putback to make it 36-29, but Brandon Whittington hit a 3-pointer to counter. Farnan came back in, but Heath Harris stepped around him to make it a two-point game.

West Nodaway got a stop on the other end and threw it into Harris again, hoping for a similar result and a tie, but Kevin Stoll helped perfectly on the play and knocked the ball out of Harris' hands to Aaron Patton, whose layup swung the momentum back to Northeast. The Bluejays got another stop and then Bryce Farnan threw a long outlet to Colby Wiederholt for a layup. Wiederholt then stripped the post and on the ensuing possession, Clayton Judd was left unguarded and hit a long outside shot to make it 42-34. Judd, who had been benched and chewed out by Coach Madden in the first half, turned around and played some of his best ball of the year in the second half. Kevin Stoll, who had been missing 3-pointers all year, all of a sudden hit one from the top of the key and then Farnan hit from inside. Colby Wiederholt beat the defense down the floor and turned it into a free throw and then Patton got a driving layup with five seconds left to make it 50-34 after three.

Farnan threw another long outlet pass to Colby Wiederholt for a layup to make it 52-34, but then West Nodaway put on a press and Northeast started panicking against it, throwing it away and giving the Rockets a chance to make a game of it. Heath Harris hit a free throw after Farnan's 4th foul and missed the second, but Marriott was there for the board; Landon Wood hit from the high post following a steal off the press to make it 52-39 . But then Clayton Judd showed himself to be the steady hand that Coach Madden wanted all year as he beat the press, went to the basket, and turned it into two free throws.

The Bluejays continued to struggle, only managing a free throw over the next few minutes as they started rushing shots again; Landon Wood hit a couple of free throws and got a putback and Heath Harris scored from inside as West Nodaway came to within 55-45 with 3:31 left. But then Clayton Judd was there again for the Bluejays, crashing the boards and getting a putback; Bryce Farnan followed with his automatic jumper from the left baseline to make it 59-45. Brandon Whittington's free throws cut it to 12, and then a mixup ended well for Northeast. Bryce Farnan told Kevin Stoll to "pull up"; Stoll, thinking Farnan had told him to "put it up," threw a desperation heave from three quarters court that hit off the backboard. But Stoll showed his trademark hustle by tearing down the court, grabbing the ensuing carom, and hitting the wide open Colby Wiederholt for a layup; following a stop on defense, Northeast ran the clock from just under a minute left to 9 seconds before Bryce Farnan hit a free throw for the final score.