Courtesy of PRNewswire

LISLE, Ill - Growing up, Army Staff Sergeant Fabian Hall could always be found in the kitchen with his grandmother.  After learning family recipes and many culinary skills, he will now have the opportunity to put his talents on display this weekend.

Hall was surprised Thursday evening outside a Kroger grocery store in Ft. Worth, Texas, by the driver of the famed No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, Aric Almirola.  Stepping out of his race car at the store, Almirola handed Hall an Eckrich grilling set and asked if he could help grill for the race team and owner, "The King" Richard Petty, during this weekend's race activities.

Pictured is the front portion of a house in Union, Mo. on Washington Street that collapsed during last night storms.

Franklin County, Mo. – Wednesday evening powerful thunderstorms plowed through Franklin County leaving behind a widespread area of destruction and Governor Nixon declaring a State of Emergency.

Sherriff Gary Toelke said this morning that Sullivan was one of the hardest hit areas, suffering a substantial amount of damage after 100 mph winds were reported at the Sullivan Airport.

The United States Postal Service is disappointed with a Congressional action, preventing USPS from stopping Saturday mail delivery.  The USPS released the following statement late Wednesday morning.

The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service met April 9 and discussed the Continuing Resolution recently passed by Congress to fund government operations. By including restrictive language in the Continuing Resolution, Congress has prohibited implementation of a new national delivery schedule for mail and packages, which would consist of package delivery Monday through Saturday and mail delivery Monday through Friday, and which would have taken effect the week of Aug. 5, 2013. 

Photo courtesy Mizzou Basketball

Columbia, Mo. – Phil Pressey, Missouri’s career leader in assists (580) and steals (196), will forgo his final collegiate season and make himself eligible for the 2013 NBA Draft. Pressey made the announcement on Wednesday as he has signed with the agency CAA Sports (Creative Artists Agency).

“Many college basketball players dream of this day, but when I had to finally make this decision it was difficult because it means I am leaving a place I love so much,” Pressey said. “I love my teammates, my coaches, Mike Alden and all of our fans, and I’m so glad I had the chance to play for Coach Haith these last two years. He had such a big impact on my career and because of that relationship I will help Missouri Basketball anyway I can going forward.

“I wish we could have brought home a national championship banner, but coming to Mizzou was the best decision of my life. This is a special place and I will always be a Tiger.”

City Clerk, Kathleen A. Trentmann swears in reelected candidates, (left to right) Ward 1 Alderman Tori Panhorst, Mayor George Panhorst, and Municipal Judge Scott Fulford.

New Haven, Mo. – Mayor George Panhorst was easily reelected in last week's election, receiving 54% of the vote.  Ward 1 Alderman Tori Panhosrt and Municipal Judge Scott Fulford were also reelected after no one chose to run against them.

Mayor Panhorst began with discussing the highly publicized tie between Ward 2 Alderman candidates.  Click here to read this story.  (Note: We will have a story on a proposed parking ordinance later this week after we meet with Police Chief John Sheible.)

One topic discussed was thanks to a question submitted in QuickNewsNow’s “You ask the questions and we’ll get the answers” as part of our Mayoral election coverage, was part of Monday night’s agenda.

Pictured left to right: Back row Assistant Coach Leslie Wyatt, Head Coach Jennifer Croy, Front row: Kathy Oetterer, Kayla Oetterer, and Rodney Oetterer.
Photo courtesy of North Central Missouri College.

Trenton, Mo. - Tuesday afternoon the North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates basketball team has signed its first recruit for the 2013-14 season.

Kayla Oetterer, a 5’11” forward from New Haven, Mo. has made the decision to continue her basketball career at NCMC.

Oetterer is a 2012 graduate of New Haven High School and received a unanimous nomination to the Missouri Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association’s All District First Team in 2012.