The Marshall News Messenger from Marshall, Texas • A1

The Marshall MarshallNewsMessenger.com Marshall, Texas Wednesday, May 25, 2011 50 Cents NEWS As Missouri still reels, deadly storms strike OK EL RENO, Okla. (AP) A line of violent thunderstorms roared across middle America on Tuesday, killing six people in two states, with several tornadoes touching down in Oklahoma and high winds pounding rural Kansas. The high-powered storms arrived as forecast, just two days after a massive tornado tore through the southwest Missouri town of Joplin and killed 122 people. ing at least 60 others, including three children who were in critical condition, authorities said. Cherokee Ballard, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner, said four people died west of Oklahoma City in Canadian County, where a weather-monitoring site in El Reno recorded 151 mph winds.

She did not have any immediate details about the deaths. In Kansas, police said two people died when high winds threw a tree into their van around 6 p.m. near the small town of St. John, about 100 miles west of Wichita. The highway was shut down because of storm damage.

More severe weather was expected after nightfall as the storms continued east. "Unfortunately, this event will likely continue for some time," Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said. "I am asking all Ok-lahomans to stay aware of the weather and to take proper precautions to keep themselves out of harm's way." Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten said at least 60 people were injured in the evening storms. Three children suffered major injuries in Piedmont west of Oklahoma City, according to Lara O'Leary, a spokeswoman for the region's Emergency Medical Service Authority.

The line of storms began about 3 p.m. in Oklahoma and followed tracks greater than 40 miles into the state's capital city before continuing on toward Tulsa. Oklahoma state offices and many businesses let workers leave hours earlier to get out of harm's way. Photo by paul b. southerlandap Several tornadoes struck A half-mile-wide tornado moves north in Canadian County Oklahoma City and its sub-after having just crossed SH-3, the Northwest Expressway, urbs during rush hour, killing west of SH-4 moving towards Piedmont, Okla.

Tuesday, at least four people and injur- Gone Fishin' Community groups ask county for help Photo by COURTNEY CASENEWS MESSENGER Gwen Jackson of Jefferson, looks over the water as she ends her day by fishing at Arena Park Pond on her way home after work Tuesday. Mrs. Jackson caught one fish during her time at the park. Robin Y. Richardson RYRICHARDSONMARSHALLNEWSMESSENGER.COM The Harrison County Commissioners' Court listened to the funding needs of outside agencies Tuesday during the first day of the court's budget hearing workshop regarding the 2011-2012 annual budget.

"These are the first hearings of this kind in over four years," stated Harrison County Judge Hugh Taylor. "I feel it is important that your elected commissioners have a chance to hear from the agencies that are funded in the budget. The budget workshop will resume at 8:30 a.m. this morning, continuing with budget fiscal hearings from elected officials and inside department heads. On Tuesday, Jean Birmingham, president of the Harrison County Historical Museum, was the first to address commissioners, asking for $8,750 on behalf of the museum's board.

"This will match the amount that's received from the city of Marshall. I hope you give us that consideration," she said. The request is almost double the amount the museum received last year and in years past. Ms. Birmingham explained that after the renovation of the courthouse, the museum board agreed to pay $4,200 a year to lease the museum's part of the building.

"We did this so that the historic tax credit program could be used to set up an endowment fund for maintenance of this courthouse. This has been extremely difficult for our little small organization," she informed. Ms. Birmingham told the court that the exhibit fabricators expect to finish installing the museum exhibits within 11 months. "We're already giving tours of the courthouse," she said, noting since November, they've given tours to more than 300 people.

In May alone, they toured 45 Elysian Fields students. Literacy Council Karla DeLuca, executive director of the MarshallHarrison County Literacy Council also asked the court for additional support in the amount of $12,000. "We're asking for additional funding this year because we had a chance to set up a computer lab in the literacy council," said Ms. DeLuca. "You have to have a computer these days just to apply for a job or find a job." Ms.

DeLuca said the $10,000 the court has given the council in the past has gone to teach EnglishGED and other programs to more than 100 people a year. Right now, 69 people are enrolled in monthly classes. Because of the council, the county's illiteracy rate has dropped from 30 percent to 19 percent. MarshallHarrison County Health District The Marshall Harrison See COMMUNITY, Page 3A Photo by COURTNEY CASENEWS MESSENGER Gwen Jackson of Jefferson, spends the last part of her day fishing at Arena Park Pond on her way home after work Tuesday at City Arena. Mrs.

Jackson caught one fish during her time at the park. Photo by COURTNEY CASENEWS MESSENGER Gwen Jackson of Jefferson, works on baiting a fishing hook as she ends her day by fishing at Arena Park Pond on her way home after work Tuesday. Mrs. Jackson caught one fish during her time at the park. Commission to consider 3 MEDCO funds requests U.M.

Army to encamp in Marshall this summer agreement with Network Com-munications for extending fiber broadband service to the Marshall Business Park during its most recent meeting. In other business: Commissioners will present a retirement plaque to Richard "Andy" Smith for his 24 years of service to the Marshall Fire Department. Commissioners will consider the first reading of a rezon-ing ordinance from AE Agriculture and Estate to C3 General Business at 710 W. Loop 390 also with a public hearing. Applicants Sikander Singh and Satnam Singh hope to expand the service station, which was grandfathered in during the annex with nonconforming use as zoned.

A public hearing on the annual plan, part of the 2011-2012 Community Development Block Grant, will be held. Commissioners will consid- ities of door-to-door sales. Resolutions to approve interlocal agreements with Texas Department of Transportation for sign installations and maintenance for wayfinding and welcome monuments will also be on the consent agenda. The Marshall City Commission elected to have Mayor Jack Hester serve as their leader during the interim caused by the unprecedented runoff in District 4, as part of its special called meeting on May 18.. The runoff election between District 4 candidates Bill Marshall and Larry Michels will begin early voting on May 31.

The hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for that week, through Friday, June 3, at the Harrison County Elections Office at 415 E. Burleson St. Early voting will continue from 7 a.m.

to 7 p.m. on June 6 a 7 with election day held on June 11. Terri Richardson TRICHARDSONMARSHALLNEWSMESSENGER.COM The Marshall City Commission will consider three expenditures of more than $50,000 each Thursday night as requests from the Marshall Economic Development Corporation. While the city's agenda memos do not detail the nature or exact amount of the three expenditures, MEDCO representatives are slated to make presentations for each. During its regular meeting on April 26, MEDCO approved the purchase of about 800 acres in the Woodlawn area for about $1.7 million.

The property is in a key location for the corporation to offer rail spur access to companies seeking to relocate or expand. MEDCO also approved hiring a "director of business services," continues to develop properties, and approved an er awarding a bid for the San-ford Street culvert construction project. Commissioners will consider entering a purchase agreement with Union Pacific Railroad company for 33.565 acres to be used as a storm water detention facility. Commissioners will receive a report on district boundaries and the possible need for redis-tricting based on the 2010 census. Commissioners will receive a presentation of a draft travel policy from Commissioner Ed Hoffman with discussions.

Commissioners will also hear routine reports on the U.S. Army Reserve Center on Pinecrest Avenue and the monthly financial report. Included in the meeting's consent agenda, which receives little or no deliberation, will be the second reading of an ordinance to regulate the activ Terri Richardson TRICHARDSONMARSHALLNEWSMESSENGER.COM A summer camp by the United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth from Kingwood will be in Marshall this summer and held a pre-site visit this week to prepare for projects. The U.M. Army, made its last mission to Marshall in 2007 and will be back the week of July 17 with about 60 youths and 40 adults full of spirit for helping others.

"The youth helpers are high school age," said Josh Beasley of Kingwood. "The U.M. Army does missions in different cities in the summerandlivein a different town for a week." The U.M. Army group coming to Marshall will sleep at the First United Methodist Church downtown and has arranged to use some facilities at Wiley College, such as showers, he said. "The idea is to send kids away from their comfort zone so they can rally focus on the work and on God," said Beasley.

"We're hoping the community will really be able to notice their impact." Beasley and First United Methodist Youth Minister Jordan Jackson were compiling a list of possible projects this week, as the teens will be working from the list when they arrive. Jackson will also be working as their sites guide. See U.M., Page 3A VOL. 133 NO. 245 18 PAGES INSIDE ONLINE CORRECTIONS The Marshall News Messenger makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information we report, and it is our policy to correct errors promptly.

Readers may bring mistakes to our attention by telephone at 903-927-5961 or by fax at 903-935-6242. Find showtimes, descriptions, trailers and reviews of newly released movies online at Midweek religion news for Harrison County. Page 8A News from the Waskom community. Page 9A Kyle Busch gets a speeding ticket for going 128 miles per hour in a 45. Page IB 2 MarshallNewsMessenger.com.