Stories from Saturday, February 9, 2008

Homeownership is one of the greatest opportunities for personal wealth and savings, but our current local property tax system has become an increasing burden on Missourians. In 1980, Missourians passed the Hancock Amendment, which requires many local governments to "rollback" their tax rates when assessed valuation of property in the district increased by more than the Consumer Price Index. Hancock was and is a valuable protection for Missouri taxpayers...

One of the greatest gifts that most of us ever receive is to know that someone truly appreciated something you have done or given to them. Growing up, my mom's grandmother always had a way of making us kids feel that whatever gift we had given her was so special. In her later years, we remembered her opening a drawer and there would be nightgowns that we had given her years earlier...

Posted 12:15 p.m.

MOUND CITY, Kan. -- Jayhawk-Linn finished its second regular season of high school wrestling by sweeping Lenexa St. James Academy and Erie here Thursday. The Jayhawks (5-7) defeated St. James 29-22 and Erie 39-12. In the St. James dual, Tyson Baker (18-14) scored a technical fall at 145 pounds. ...

PLEASANTON, Kan. -- Uniontown and Pleasanton split a Three Rivers League doubleheader here Friday night. Pleas-anton's girls won the opener, 43-32, while Uniontown's boys took the nightcap, 68-47. The win for Uniontown's boys was big because it keeps alive a slight chance they have to catch Crest in the Three Rivers League race, although they will need some help in doing so. Uniontown (4-2 in the TRL, 9-7 overall) and Crest face each other Friday night at Uniontown...

CHANUTE, Kan. -- Chanute's girls just couldn't keep up the pace that Fort Scott High established as the Tigers crushed the Blue Comets, 55-24, at Ralph Miller Gymnasium here Friday night. Fort Scott (11-2 in the Southeast Kansas League, 12-5 overall) shot 54 percent from the field, making 22 of 41 field-goal attempts, while forcing Chanute (4-8, 6-10) into 26 turnovers -- 11 in the third quarter alone...

Another "Thriller in the Miller"