Normally it’s the electricity that slices through the sky that threatens Hannibal High School’s outdoor graduation ceremony. This year, it’s the electricity that typically flows through power lines to Porter Stadium that has Superintendent Jill Janes making alternate plans.

One of the most dangerous places to be these days in Hannibal might be a city park. Monday night’s 100 mph winds did significant damage to the Parks & Recreation Department’s premier destination - Riverview Park.

The project: An assortment of work is planned, including the installation of storm water drainage on North Main, the construction of new sidewalks, curb and gutters on North Main, plus the grading and overlaying of the Main Street driving surface.

For some left a big pile of yard waste following Monday night’s severe storm, the temptation will be to burn it, rather than haul it off. But burning it is exactly what the Hannibal Fire Department doesn’t want the public to do.

WHAT IS IT? The city of Hannibal’s flood gates were removed on Wednesday by Street Department personnel. With the river receding the decision was made to pull all five gates.

Of all the trees that were damaged or destroyed on the Hannibal-LaGrange University campus during Monday night's severe weather, there was one tree in particular that officials held their collective breath in regard to - the trinity tree.

Outside Pam and Aaron Lightle’s home on Ridgewood Drive in Hannibal, their two children were waiting for grandparents to come pick them up. As the sound of their laughter filled the air, Pam and Aaron were expressing thankfulness, despite the fact half a large tree lay on Pam’s station wagon.

The hub of Hannibal's economic district was essentially shut down Tuesday afternoon because of a lack of electricity.

Nothing is official.No one really knows what roared through.But what is clear is Mother Nature's heavy toll on Hannibal Monday night with damaging winds, heavy rain and a destructive path.Power lines are down, trees are...

Was it a tornado or just powerful straight-line winds which raked Hannibal early Monday evening? To those tending to damage, it didn't really matter in the aftermath of the powerful storm.

It was roughly five years ago when Mike Barron, manager of Hannibal Regional Airport, proposed putting a plane on floats on the city’s riverfront. While it hasn’t happened, Barron hasn’t forgotten or given up.

Mother Nature provided dry skies for the Hannibal High School Class of 2013 senior banquet and cruise on Friday, May 17, after a light spattering of rain had fallen earlier that afternoon.

Hannibal residents will have a chance to voice their opinion regarding proposed electric (3 percent), water (4 percent) and sewer (4 percent) rate hikes during a public hearing next month.

I met my hero's son and I couldn't be prouder.

A new tenant will be occupying the former Blockbuster building in the Huck Finn Shopping Center in Hannibal later this year.

The project: An assortment of work is planned, including the installation of storm water drainage on North Main, the construction of new sidewalks, curb and gutters on North Main, plus the grading and overlaying of the Main Street driving surface.

The time line for many projects can be summed up with the phrase “sooner or later.” When it comes to construction of the Hannibal Expressway, the appropriate phrase would be “later, rather than sooner.”

The fate of a 6-year-old pit bull in Hannibal will apparently be determined by City Manager Jeff LaGarce.

Four new members of Missouri's 10th Judicial Court's Court Appointed Special Advocates (better known as CASA) were sworn in to their volunteer positions by Bringer Shepherd.

The U.S. Postal Service has notified residents in another Hannibal neighborhood that their home mail delivery will be discontinued, starting Tuesday, May 14.

Saturday, May 11, was Lauren Day at Hannibal’s Walmart Supercenter, where 13-year-old Lauren Peters of Monroe City was honored by many associates, along with her family and friends.

The St. Louis Cardinals won two World Championships in the 1960s.Within that decade, legends and hall of famers wore the birds on the bat and Thursday, May 9, three of St. Louis' most popular players from this significant era of team history were honored.

Residents on a portion of New London Gravel Road could see their home mail delivery cut off. If it happens, the reason will be the same as what prompted U.S. Postal officials to take the same step for over two weeks on College Avenue - Moose, a 6-year-old pitbull.

When Friday dawned, David Taylor of Hannibal was prepared to appeal Thursday’s ruling that his 6-year-old pitbull, Moose, was a dangerous dog. However, by 4 p.m. Thursday, Taylor said it appeared an appeal to the city manager would be pointless.

An official with Hauck Holdings, LTD, owner of the Huck Finn Shopping Center, says a new business will be joining Hannibal’s retail community, but it won’t be filling the void left when Kroger closed its doors late last year.

Thursday marked the first time in over two weeks residents in the 5000 block of College Avenue in Hannibal didn’t have to make a trip to the post office to get their mail.

Improvements totaling around $30 million will be made in the months ahead by BASF at its Hannibal site.

Home mail deliveries could resume soon in the 5000 block of College Avenue in Hannibal since Moose, David and Kristi Taylor's large dog, has been relocated.

Each year since 1996, a large number of Hannibal, Mo., youth have participated in Kids In Motion (KIM), a summer pre-employment training program that teaches at-risk youth some skills needed to become successful adults.

A second trial setting for Rebecca Kirk could come later this summer or in the early fall.

Yesterday's trial setting was delayed because attorneys are waiting for the results of DNA tests, opening the door to more time for discovery.Afterwards, Hubbard's attorney, James Ochs, said a trial has potential for being set for the fall, but it all depends on discovery and Judge Rachel Bringer Shepherd's available schedule for trial.

Why am I not a sports writer?

Work on the downtown improvement project resumed Tuesday morning, but just hours after Bleigh Construction personnel cracked open Main Street, questions were being asked regarding when work would be shut down in advance of Hannibal's first major street event of 2013.

Plans for the North Main Street Recreation Area will be moving forward. On Tuesday night, the Hannibal City Council gave its approval to a contract between the Parks Department and Bleigh Construction regarding the planned improvements.

Birdno was sentenced to life plus 100 years in prison for five counts of statutory sodomy.

Roughly a month since representatives of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) came to the deconstruction site of the old Maryland Hotel (Conklin Hotel) in downtown Hannibal to take air and material samples, no test results have yet been received.

The four Hannibal High School members of the state champion Dream Team have another reason to celebrate - the team won second place in the national finance contest on May 2, competing with teams from 19 states in the National Finance Challenge.

The nearly 300 Hannibal-LaGrange University graduates who received degrees on Saturday, May 4, were advised to “see obstacles as opportunities” and remember that their future is in God’s hands.

Although the late Dr. Howard Brant Goodrich, a well-known local doctor, moved his family to Florida many years ago, 26 family members have gathered in Hannibal for the joint burial of two of Dr. Goodrich's daughters.

The five boys and five girls who are finalists in the Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce's Tom and Becky Program for 2013-2014 are being announced today, May 4.

Council chambers at city hall in Hannibal will look about the same when the Council convenes on Tuesday night, but some big changes will have been implemented since it last met on April 16.

Through their shouts of “Amen,” their hand waves and loud applauses for the Lord, they prayed with great passion.It was the National Day of Prayer Thursday and the 50 patrons at Fifth Street Baptist Church made it clear they turn to the power of prayer for all and for their country.

After delivering over 900 quilts to wounded vets, Quilts of Valor group stops in Hannibal.