LIBERAL

Businesses call off sale of hog farms

Monsanto Co. and Prestage Farms have terminated a $25 million deal that would have allowed Prestage to raise 15,000 hogs in Seward and Meade counties.

The Seward County Commission approved the deal Jan. 20 to allow Prestage, based in Clinton, N.C., to buy Monsanto’s properties in the two counties.

Officials from Prestage and Monsanto said Wednesday a confidentiality agreement prevented them from disclosing why the deal fell through.

Those supporting the sale said it would save nearly 100 jobs, many held by residents of Plains.

Monsanto still is looking for a buyer, said Tom Kasser, general manager of Monsanto Choice Genetics.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo.

Reserve medical unit ordered to active duty

Seven members of an Independence-based U.S. Army Reserve medical unit have been ordered to active duty, the Army announced Thursday.

The Army said it could not release details of when the 1932nd Medical Team would be leaving but a deployment ceremony would be Sunday. Independence has declared Monday as 1932nd Medical Team Day.

The 1932nd is part of the 89th Regional Support Command, which controls nearly 150 units and 12,000 reserves in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Athlete’s shooting, drug link probed

Police said the recent shooting death of a former athlete from Maine might have been drug-related, but relatives said they were unaware he had any association with drugs.

Guy Coombs, 25, was shot to death last month after he arrived in Kansas City to attend a three-day seminar.

Coombs disappeared after going out with co-workers the night of Jan. 20, authorities said. Police found his body Jan. 27 in an abandoned apartment where drugs are known to be bought and sold and that Coombs “went there voluntarily.”