SECURITY IS A WARM BLANKET - Students of Home Court Advantage, the Macon area home school co-op are pictured working on a fleece blanket to donate to help children in Haiti. The group met on Friday, Feb. 12 in the Macon United Methodist Church multipurpose room. The blankets will be taken to Kirksville to be sent to Haiti on Feb. 17 through Project Linus. Project Linus is a national organization that offers new, handmade blankets and afghans to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Elizabeth Gregory, project chairman, said that approximately 35 children worked on the blankets.

Sharon (Farrington) Nelson, formerly of Atlanta received a special present from her husband Randy when he discovered he was being deployed to Afghanistan.

An elementary cheerleading clinic was held Saturday in the high school gym. Children from Kindergarten through 6th grade learned to dance, do a few cheers and jumps, and some fun skills from the Macon High School Cheerleading Squad. Pictured above are future cheerleaders winding throughout the gym playing “Little Sally Walker..” The young cheerleaders are to perform their routine they learned on Saturday, on Friday night at the home game Friday against Palmyra.

The Macon Police Department has arrested a suspect who allegedly burglarized the First Baptist Church in Macon, Macon Police Chief Steve Olinger said Thursday afternoon.

According to Chief Olinger, Daniel L. Spotts, 47, of Keytesville has been formally charged for 2nd degree burglary and stealing.

"On Thursday, Jan. 28, my department was notified by the Shelby County Sheriffs Department in reference to an inmate they had in their jail. We then applied for and received a warrant for charges on Spotts," Chief Olinger said.

On Dec. 28, an employee of the First Baptist Church reported a burglary in their office on North Rutherford Street in Macon. It was determined that an unreported amount of petty cash was taken out of the office area of the church, Chief Olinger said.

"A video surveillance system in the area was used to possibly identify a suspect to the burglary," Chief Olinger said. "Still photographs were captured off of the video and broadcast throughout the State of Missouri."

Spotts remains in custody at the Shelby County Sheriffs Department with a bond of $1,600 on similar charges in Shelby County.

The Macon Police Department is still investigating the recent burglary of the Crossroads Christian Church in Macon.

 JoAnn Schwieter, seventh grade student at Macon R-I Middle School is donating her hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces for children suffering from medical conditions that result in a long-term loss of hair. JoAnn also donated her hair when she was in second grade and again in fifth grade. JoAnn is pictured above with cosmetologist, Rebecca Wilson of Gena’s Hair Hut in Macon who cut off 10 inches of her hair. JoAnn is the daughter of Rick and Johanna Schwieter of Macon.

A 71-year-old Ethel man was pronounced dead at the scene by a Macon County Deputy after a one-vehicle accident Tuesday morning south of Ethel.

A fire was quickly extinguished at the Callao School Tuesday evening.

Law enforcement, family members and the communitiy is still in search for Darrell Roger Allen, 74, a longtime Macon County businessman and resident.

Lexie Rachelle Ross was born at 12:18 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at the Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. Lexie is the daughter of Neal and Stacey Ross, of Atlanta. Lexie was also welcomed by her proud 7-year-old brother, Bryce. Lexie weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20.5 inches in length. Her grandparents are Donald and Terry Ross of Atlanta and Ronald and Karen Bragg of LaPlata. She is the great-granddaughter of Marjorie Mossbarger and Martha Bragg, both of LaPlata.

The frigid weather doesn’t seem to ruffle the feathers of an Eagle. While bitter cold weather forced cancellations in the area over the weekend, the birds seemed to soar. Pictured above an adult eagle was seen flying near Axtel Road at the northern edge of Long Branch Lake.
 

Canine Officer Aric Bowzer and his partner, Bailey have been working together with the Macon Police Department since July 2001. Bailey retired from the force in November. Pictured left with officers Bowzer and Bailey is Macon Police Chief Steve Olinger. Chief Olinger worked as a canine officer for the MPD from December 1996 to 1998. His partner was Officer Valco