Trooper graduates from highway patrol academy

Trooper Jason McBride recently graduated from he 79th recruit class of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy. The class of 20 graduated April 20 in Jefferson City following six months of training.

McBride previously served four years in the U.S. Marines military police. Afterward he attended a law enforcement academy at Southeast Missouri State University and worked for two years as a deputy with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Trooper McBride was assigned to Troop D in Stone County and resides with his wife, Marca, in Kimberling City., Mo. He is the son of Glenn and Madelein McBride of Jackson, Mo.

Civil War touring route includes Missouri

Parts of Missouri will be included in a new Civil War touring route that is being mapped by the Oklahoma Historical Society. The Oklahoma Historical Society received a grant of $36,000 from the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program to put together the map.

Ralph Jones of the Oklahoma Historical Society says that the driving tour will include several locations in Missouri, including the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, the Battle of Springfield site and the Springfield National Cemetery, General Sweeney's Museum, the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield at Republic, and the Newtonia Battlefield at Neosho.

In all, Jones said the map will include ten Civil War battlefields, six museums, five historic sites, and seven cemeteries all related to the Civil War, and all located in northeastern Oklahoma, various parts of Missouri and northwestern Arkansas.

"The project will interpret the Civil War history of the Trans-Mississippi West and highlight the need to preserve these sites," explained Jones. He added the map will be available to the public for touring regional battlefields and other sites.

The goal of the American Battlefield Protection Program is to protect significant battle sites of wars fought on American soil.

Benefit auction planned for children's home

Shepherd's Cove Children's Home has been operating on shoestring budgets since it opened in 1998, but David Butler, the home's president, hopes to secure its future with a benefit auction Saturday.

The second annual benefit auction will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bud Shell Auto World, under the tents on the lot.

Food, games and activities for children will be available. "It should be a fun day for everyone," Butler said.

Money raised during the event will help the home with its operation during the coming year. Last year's event raised $100,000.

Shepherd's Cove Children's Home is a state licensed foster home that sits next door to Abundant Life Church near Gordonville, Mo. It operates from donations and support from the church.

The home was nearly closed in 1999 when a large loan payment was due. The Rhodes Family Trust helped the home but did not pay off the loan. The children's home has been making payments to the trust since that time. The balance remains around $130,000.

"This will be to secure the future of the children's home," Butler said.

Some of the items to be auctioned off include five cars, a collection of guns, small appliances and tools, saddles and tack and a trampoline.

Donations are still being accepted. Call Butler at 979-9611.

-- From staff reports