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City councilwoman Laura Nauser, left, watches teammate Eddie Murray make a basket during a donkey basketball game. The fundraising event at the Boone County Fairgrounds benefitting the Columbia-based youth literacy and education organization Destiny of H.O.P.E.

City councilwoman Laura Nauser, left, watches teammate Eddie Murray make a basket during a donkey basketball game. The fundraising event at the Boone County Fairgrounds benefitting the Columbia-based youth literacy and education organization Destiny of H.O.P.E.

Members of the Skyhawks and the Black Daggers descend over Columbia Airport during the Salute to Veterans Airshow.

Members of the Skyhawks and the Black Daggers descend over Columbia Airport during the second day of the Salute to Veterans Airshow.

vigil

Resa Jenkins wipes tears from her eyes during a candlelight vigil for her son Deaudre O. Johnson, who was shot the night before and died at the hospital earlier in the morning.

Gary Berendzen consoles Justin Barksdale after the body of a 6-year-old was finally recovered from the home that was destroyed by fire overnight in Holt's Summit, Mo. The fire started around 3:00 am and claimed the lives of three children..

Gary Berendzen consoles Justin Barksdale after the body of a 6-year-old was finally recovered from the home that was destroyed by fire overnight in Holt's Summit, Mo. The fire started around 3:00 am and claimed the lives of three children.

Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith didn't begin playing organized football until he was a junior in high school. As a redshirt freshman at Missouri, Smith was tabbed Big 12 defensive newcomer of year. He finished with 11.5 sacks -- an MU single-season record -- and 19 tackles for loss. Missouri's modern-day Deacon Jones, Smith prefers a subtler way to describe the feeling he gets when smashing into a quarterback. "A sack feels like a kiss from a girl you like a lot," Smith said.

Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith didn't begin playing organized football until he was a junior in high school. As a redshirt freshman at Missouri, Smith was tabbed Big 12 defensive newcomer of year. He finished with 11.5 sacks -- an MU single-season record -- and 19 tackles for loss. Missouri's modern-day Deacon Jones, Smith prefers a subtler way to describe the feeling he gets when smashing into a quarterback. "A sack feels like a kiss from a girl you like a lot," Smith said.

Contestant Afsah Khan is shown on television monitors as she thinks about her word during the Regional Spelling Bee at Christian Fellowship Church in Columbia, Mo. Khan placed third in the competition..

Contestant Afsah Khan is shown on television monitors as she thinks about her word during the Regional Spelling Bee at Christian Fellowship Church in Columbia, Mo. Khan placed third in the competition.

Eight participants of Columbia Builds Youth celebrate at the conclusion of their graduation ceremony. CBY, a branch of the national/global YouthBuild program, teaches construction skills to young people ages 16 to 24 while helping them earn their GED...

Eight participants of Columbia Builds Youth celebrate at the conclusion of their graduation ceremony. CBY, a branch of the national/global YouthBuild program, teaches construction skills to young people ages 16 to 24 while helping them earn their GED.

Swimmers from Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools visualize their state races prior to practice on Wednesday. Visualizing allows the swimmers to relax and focus on their state performances. The two teams practiced together during the season, but competed separately at the Missouri State Championship Swim Meet held the following weekend at the Rec-Plex Center in St. Peters, Mo

Swimmers from Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools visualize their state races prior to practice on Wednesday. Visualizing allows the swimmers to relax and focus on their state performances. The two teams practiced together during the season, but competed separately at the Missouri State Championship Swim Meet held the following weekend at the Rec-Plex Center in St. Peters, Mo

Ninth grader Dylan Ibanez reacts after being scored on during a soccer game between faculty and students at West Junior High School in Columbia, Mo. The students lost.

Ninth grader Dylan Ibanez reacts after being scored on during a soccer game between faculty and students at West Junior High School in Columbia, Mo. The students lost.

Brent Hagar and his 8 year-old son Levi slide across an ice-covered bridge at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, Mo. after sledding down a nearby hill during a mid-January snow day..

Brent Hagar and his 8 year-old son Levi slide across an ice-covered bridge at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, Mo. after sledding down a nearby hill during a mid-January snow day.

Mark McGimsey kisses his 3-month-old daughter, Maeghan, on the family's living room. At 4 feet 8¬Ohm inches tall, McGimsey is a dwarf, and the condition has caused him significant medical problems. "The disability has allowed me to be a stay-at-home dad," he said. "I had a great job, but it pales in comparison to being able to stay home with my children. There's nothing better than a sleeping baby on your chest."

Mark McGimsey kisses his 3-month-old daughter, Maeghan, on the family's living room. At 4 feet 8¬Ω inches tall, McGimsey is a dwarf, and the condition has caused him significant medical problems. "The disability has allowed me to be a stay-at-home dad," he said. "I had a great job, but it pales in comparison to being able to stay home with my children. There's nothing better than a sleeping baby on your chest."

Musicians play in a field following a Halloweeen party at The Werehouse, an artist collective in Winston-Salem, NC.

Musicians play in a field following a Halloweeen party at The Werehouse, an artist collective in Winston-Salem, NC.

Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Scholz, left, questions Taron Crawford at the Boone County Courthouse about firing .22-caliber handgun at a house party in 2003 that left MU student Charley Blondis dead.

Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Scholz, left, questions Taron Crawford at the Boone County Courthouse about firing .22-caliber handgun at a house party in 2003 that left University of Missouri student Charley Blondis dead. Crawford was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Zane Durante waits for defending champion Grant Roulier to make a move during the tie-breaking championship match at the annual Columbia Open Chess Tournament at Gentry Middle School.

Zane Durante waits for defending champion Grant Roulier to make a move during the tie-breaking championship match at the annual Columbia Open Chess Tournament at Gentry Middle School.

Parker Eshelman photo University of Kansas volleyball players, left, celebrate a point after Missouri's Weiwen Wang (13) was unable to keep the ball in play during the closing minutes of the 5th game of Missouri's 23-30, 30-26, 30-20, 28-30, 7-15 loss at the Hearnes Center, Wednesday. Sept2007/MUSports/MU volley vs KU pe

University of Kansas volleyball players, left, celebrate a point after Missouri's Weiwen Wang (13) was unable to keep the ball in play during the closing minutes of the fifth set of Missouri's 23-30, 30-26, 30-20, 28-30, 7-15 loss at the Hearnes Center.

Bobby Poole of Overland Park, KS, takes a bathroom break during halftime of the World Cup watch party at Arrowhead Stadium Pavillion, Thursday, June 22, 2006, In Kansas City, Mo. Ghana defeated the U.S. 2-1.

Bobby Poole of Overland Park, KS, takes a bathroom break during halftime of the World Cup watch party at Arrowhead Stadium Pavillion, Thursday, June 22, 2006, In Kansas City, Mo. Ghana defeated the U.S. 2-1.

Cara McMillan, left, and her husband Del, both active musicians, have grown tired of their chicken and gorilla suits. They hope to sell the costumes. "We've had some good times with them," said Del. The couple, who have been married for 10 years and met while both were singers in their church's choir, found new costumes to continue their yearly traditions. Cara invested in a Dr. Seuss suit, and she recently bought Del a new Viking suit. "We wanted something new," she says.

For Sale - Cara McMillan, left, and her husband Del, both active musicians, have grown tired of their chicken and gorilla suits. The couple hopes to sell the costumes. "We've had some good times with them," said Del. The couple, who have been married for 10 years and met while both were singers in their church’s choir, found new costumes to continue their yearly traditions. Cara invested in a Dr. Seuss suit, and she recently bought Del a new Viking suit. "We wanted something new," she says.