Forum Flashbacks: Feb. 20-26

FORUM FILE PHOTO
WOMEN IN SPORTS: Northwest Missouri State University softball team member Lauren Lakebrink gave fielding pointers to Grace Porterfield during the 19th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day on campus Saturday. Organized by the university’s athletic department, more than 80 children registered for the day’s activities.

25 years ago

• The proposal by the Missouri Department of Corrections to establish a minimum security correctional facility near Maryville on the Mount Alverno property, today gained official support from the Northwest Missouri State University Board of Regents.
  With the action, Northwest becomes the first Nodaway County institution or organization to adopt a resolution stating their position on the issue.
  Northwest’s board, meeting this morning in a telephone conference session, voted unanimous support for the State of Missouri’s “desire to establish a minimum security correctional facility at the site east of Maryville known as Mount Alverno … ”
• Although Missouri Highway and Transportation officials are working to make U.S. Highway 71 east of Maryville safer, they say a reduction in speed will not be a part of the effort.
  Late Thursday morning, Steve Knobbe, MHTD Division Maintenance and Traffic engineer, announced results from a speed-monitoring test conducted by his department in late January at the intersection of U.S. 71 and 136.
  The results, which may surprise some area motorists, found traffic moving north along U.S. 71 moving an average speed of 54mph. Traffic headed south on U.S. 71 averaged 56 mph. Traffic was monitored only at the intersection since it is the area of most concern and the speed of U.S. 136 traffic was not checked.
  “With this information, we would not reduce the speed (limit),” Knobbe said. “We were expecting the speeds were 55(mph) or greater. I’m pleased the speeds were around 55.”

15 years ago

• The activities of an uncooperative home crowd at a Maryville High School boys basketball game last week resulted in a police officer being called in and even a shoving match between a student and a school administrator.
  But even though what some call a “random” incident serves as a black eye on the school district, sportsmanship at basketball games this year has been much improved over previous years thanks to a new program to help increase the level of respect between the school’s fans and opponents.
  During the Friday, Feb. 18 boys home game against Westport, fans located in a student seating section refused to sit down after the game started, despite warnings from administrators and a Missouri State High School Activities Association rule which states that fans at prep basketball games cannot remain standing for a long period of time. …
  When (high school principal Ron) Landherr asked students in the front row to take their seats, the students refused.
  Eyewitnesses at the game say Landherr began yelling at some of the students in the front row and, at one point, shoved one of the students. The student shoved Landherr back, and after a short conversation between the two, Landherr walked away.
  Landherr would not comment specifically about the shoving incident.

5 years ago

• U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt made a brief stop in Maryville on Friday to tour the Nucor LMP steel bar and wire plant on East First Street.
  Blunt made similar stops last week in Bethany, Albany and Fairfax during a mini-tour through northwest Missouri described by his office as a chance to “meet with local job creators and leaders to discuss the impact of executive overreach and burdensome regulations on Missourians.” …
  In his remarks to an audience made up mostly of Nucor employees, Blunt linked hoped-for growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector with the need for new energy policies emphasizing North American production of fossil fuels along with completion of the Keystone Pipeline System.
• The golf courses at city-owned Mozingo Lake Recreation Park will have new logos and new names for the 2015 season.
  Assistant City Manager Ryan Heiland earlier this week unveiled a new set of logos for what he said is to be henceforth known as “Sechrest 18,” formerly — but never officially — Mozingo Lake Golf Course and “Watson 9,” a nine-hole course scheduled to open this spring.
  During its construction over the past year, the city has been calling the new layout the Tom Watson Junior Golf Course at Mozingo Lake. But Heiland said the course is now to be known simply as “Watson 9” in order to differentiate it from the original 18-hole course built in the 1990s.