To report a news tip, call

the Information Center at

417-836-1199 or e-mail
webeditor@
news-leader.com Ozarks Â
Monday
July 19, 2010
News-Leader.com 1B

Greenwood effort reaches milestone

By Claudette Riley
CRILEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM
As the economy was faltering, plans for
a new science and classroom wing at the
Greenwood Laboratory School finally
started to take shape.
The faculty, parents and supporters of
the 103-year-old school decided to forge
ahead with a capital campaign to raise $2.5
million for the project.
“Science has always been a strength for
Greenwood. In the new and renovated
space, so much more can happen,” direc-
tor Janice Duncan said of the 340-student
school on the Missouri State University
campus. “We hope that we have a lot of in-
teraction with the university and the com-
munity.”
Alumni and others gathered this week
with architect Tim Rosenbury of Butler,
Rosenbury & Partners to review floor plans
for the wing. They also celebrated a mile-
stone — raising more than $2 million — and
talked about plans to raise the rest before
work starts this fall.
The Greenwood Science Scholars’ Labo-
ratory wing is expected to open in fall 2011.
It will house two 1,800 square foot labora-
On Page 5B
• Students at the new school will also en-
counter a new way of teaching.
tory classrooms with storage space, three
study atriums, faculty offices and one large
atrium.
The addition will coincide with a beefed-
up science curriculum. The latest teaching
techniques and exploration of the science
of medicine, as well as the use of technol-
ogy, will be emphasized.
“Even if you don’t have kids there, you
have to be proud of what we’re doing for
kids,” said parent Frank Sharp, chair of the
capital campaign.
Students in kindergarten through grade
12 attend the school, which serves as a
teaching and research laboratory for Mis-
souri State University students.
Sharp, a Greenwood graduate, said it was
daunting to start a major fundraising cam-
paign during an economic downturn.
“It’s not a good time to do it, I under-
stand that, but it’s going to be worth it,”
See Greenwood, Page 5B

[ Ozarks exposure ]

DEAN CURTIS
Multiplying homes invade pastoral scenes Multimedia Editor Dean
Curtis has been document-

H olsteins dot a lush green
hill north of Ozark along
the road leading to the high
school. The black and white
outlines are a sharp contrast to
the brilliant green field. Atop a
hill a solitary house, newly con-
structed, intrudes upon the qui-
et country setting, disturbing
the line where land meets sky.
Years ago I photographed a
Ozarks exposure is a feature highlighting the work of the News-Leader photo staff and the region we serve. It appears every Monday.
similar scene in north Ozark,
horses this time grazing in a
field of long grass that rippled
and shimmered under the sun
and a gentle breeze. To take the
picture, I stood on a newly con-
structed road, which led to a fu-
ture subdivision. Houses soon
sprang up and, over the years,
multiplied like rabbits. The
horses are now gone, their
peaceful pasture devoured.
This scenario has repeated it-
self many times across the
Ozarks. Towns spread out and
spill into the countryside. The
current economy has slowed
but not stopped this process.
The cattle grazed contented-
ly, not bothered that they
would soon have new neigh-
bors.
I wondered what the future ing the changing Ozarks for
would bring. How soon will 18 years.
houses outnumber cattle and dcurtis@news-leader.com
when will bulldozers — not 417-836-1182
cattle — be grazing on this
land?
I put away my camera and
took one last long look at this
tranquil setting as scenes like
this have a way of ending up
only as memories.

More inside
Springfield man
Fenner says he’s AUG. 3 PRIMARY
Supporters tout
convicted in drug
trafficking case serious candidate PROSECUTOR Patterson’s ability
A 50-year-old Springfield By Kathryn Wall encing was a move to Iraq By Kathryn Wall Moore said Patterson’s
man who goes by the name
KWALL@NEWS-LEADER.COM in recent months — smack KWALL@NEWS-LEADER.COM ability to motivate his
Claude X has been convicted Steve Fenner says he’s not in the middle of the cam- The supporters of Dan coworkers and think criti-
of drug-trafficking conspiracy a very good candidate, but paign — that has led many Patterson’s bid for Greene cally has set him apart, as
and faces a mandatory life he thinks he’ll make a great to question whether he’s County prosecutor say it’s well as his experience try-
sentence for distributing prosecutor. that interested in becoming his years of experience and ing nearly every type of
heroin, cocaine and marijua- He says he’s not great at prosecutor at all. leadership that make him case that can come before
na. campaigning, asking for “I do understand the ap- best for the job. the prosecutor’s office.
X, his legal name, recruited money or just saying what pearance of that,” he said, Fenner Patterson “The office will be in very Greg Wheelen, president
women and teenage girls to people want to hear. insisting that he’s a serious good hands if Dan is elect- of the Springfield Police
sell drugs for him, telling them He contends he’s honest candidate. ed prosecutor,” said current Sergeants League, said the
they could join the “X family” and driven, which he says He said the opportunity Inside Prosecutor Darrell Moore, group unanimously decid-
and legally change their name are better qualities in a to help train Iraqi officials who has publically en- ed to endorse Patterson.
when they proved them- prosecutor as opposed to in law enforcement and the • See how the candi- dorsed Patterson as his suc- “We’ve had a great 13-
selves. 2B someone running for of- criminal justice system was dates are similar in a cessor. year-relationship with
fice. too good of an opportunity comparison of the two. Moore will be leaving the him,” Wheelen said, adding
“I’ll tell you, I’m not a to give up, and since he can 2B office after 12 years at the that Patterson has made a
A different kind good candidate. I’ll be a be back in the area by the top spot. He’s running for real effort to work with law
of gun control good prosecutor,” he said. Missouri’s 7th District Con-
Part of what he was refer- See Fenner, Page 2B gressional seat. See Patterson, Page 2B
Hank Billings recalls an invi-
tation to a shooting match
during his days as a teenage Steve Fenner Dan Patterson
police reporter. 5B
Fenner became a Springfield police firm of his own. Patterson graduated from Greene County Prosecutor’s
Also: officer in 1989. He remained in the
department until 1993.
“Overall it’s the same system that
you’re working in,” he said of his de-
University of Missouri-Colum-
bia Law School in 1993.
Office in 1996.
Patterson is also a major in
• Helping hands, 3B “It became apparent to me that in cision to move into the defense side He started his law career in a the Missouri Army National
• Around the Ozarks, 6B order to make positive changes for of litigation. private law firm in the St. Guard and has been deployed
• Obituaries, 3B the better, going to law school and He closed the office in preparation Louis area, but said he didn’t twice — in Operation Noble Ea-
• Weather, 5B becoming an attorney would be the to campaign for the prosecutor job, find private practice fulfilling. gle after the 9/11 terrorist at-
thing to do,” he said of his decision he said, but then the opportunity to “He could have any job in pri- tacks and in Kosovo.
to enroll at the University of Mis- train judicial officials in Iraq came vate practice that he wanted, He said his dedication to
souri-Columbia. his way. but he always has been about public service, both in the mili-
He passed the bar in 1996 and spent He’s been in Iraq since April, but public service,” said current tary and as a prosecutor, likely
the next two years as an assistant he’s no stranger to the area. Fenner Prosecutor Darrell Moore. came from his dad, who
prosecutor for Greene County. is a veteran, having served in Iraq Patterson moved to the served two tours in Vietnam.
He’s since opened a private law from 2007 to 2008.
Lottery
PICK 3 Get your fix of local data Weekly features Correction policy Breaking
9-5-2 (midday) news on your
6-1-2 (evening) Visit News-Leader.com/data to get a deeper look at what's Sunday: Reporter’s notebook The News-Leader strives for accu-
going on in the area. See the latest restaurant inspections, Monday: Ozarks exposure cell phone
PICK 4 racy and fairness. We will correct
8-1-1-5 (midday) school incident reports, 911 calls and warrants from around Tuesday: Births, Milestones any errors or misunderstandings Text SNLNEWS to
Springfield. Check back every day to see what's new. Wednesday: School spotlight
8-4-0-0 (evening) Thursday: Community columns created by stories, headlines or pho- 44636 (4INFO)
SHOW-ME CASH Friday: Weekend calendar tographs. To request a correction, presented by
7-9-14-22-31 Saturday: Young achievers call Shawna Kipp at 836-1112. Cars.com
THE CRIME SCENE