Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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M I D WAY by Valerie Mossman Three former students were sentenced for their involvement of the Oct. 21, 1997, murder of Midway Shop ' n ' Hop convenience store clerk Gracie Hixson. Brian Campbell, of Kansas City, Mo., and Philip Baldwin, Lee ' s Summit, Mo., pleaded guilty to robbery in the first degree and murder in the second degree. The charge of robbery was dropped at their sentencing Oct. 25, 1999. Campbell, who was the driver of the car, was sentenced to 1 8 years for second-degree murder and was denied probation. Baldwin, who was instructed by gunman Travis Canon to steal beer and other grocery items, was sentenced to 25 years for second-degree murder with probation denied. Travis Canon, of Ravenwood, Mo., pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Canon received three consecutive life sentences for the murder, robbery and armed criminal action charge. He received five years for unlawful use of a weapon. Judge Randall Jackson described Canon as having a ...cold, callous, bone-chilling disregard for human life. The men were acquainted through school at Northwest. Campbell and Baldwin were still enrolled in school when they were apprehended Nov. 16, 1998, after a one-year investigation. They were in the middle of the semester at Northwest and Baldwin continued the semester while his incarceration. Oct. 12 - — 3 a.m., Gracie Hixson was robbed and shot at the Midway Shop ' n ' Hop convenience store on U.S. Highway 71. The Midway Shop ' n ' Hop continues business after the 1997 murder of employee Gracie Hixson. The convenience store was located about I S miles outside of Maryville on U.S. Highway 71 . Photo by Amy Roh Nov. 16 — 2 p.m., Campbell and Baldwin were arrested on the Northwes] campus; Canon was arrested at a St. Joseph, Mo., construction site. 2:15 p.m., Search warrant serviced at Ravenwood, Mo., residence. 4 p.m., Campbell and Baldwin confesse their involvement in the robbery, but said Canon pulled the trigger. k(]fi Mag

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. PROTESTS by Sara Sitzman Protests and demonstrations marked the course of Northwest history. Two unforgettable movements were the lourr ' loss and the U.S. Highway Basincss 71 protest. In 1971, the Zowapt yearbook, edited by Lynn Ridernour, was disiiketi by the (Ireeks. The sororities and fraternities said their organizations did not receive fair coverage in the book, claiming it was anti-Greek. Approximately 200 upset Cireeks marched to the presidents house and then to the fountain across from the Olive IX ' Lucc Fine Arts Building. There, they threw yearbooks into the water to cleanse them and show their lack of appreciation. The yearbook destruction continued as other protesters drove down Cxillcgc Avenue, nailing the btx)ks to light poles and burning them. Despite these actions, students were not punished for these displays of disrespect toward the publication. ITiis was viewed as a silent approval from the administration. Another display of student disapproval occurred April 13, 1964. About 700 students, in protest of the quality of food being served in the cafeteria, had a sit-in demonstration at the Nodaway County Counhouse. They moved their efforts to Business Highway 71, stopping traffic for an hour. Cars were backed up for three miles. The next night, another rally group of approximately 1 ,500 formed. They were stopped by fire trucks, police and police dogs before they could reach the highway, llie crowd was sprayed with water hoses, pushing them back, and students threw rocks. In response, police threw tear gas bombs. No one was seriously hurt, but there were some minor injuries. As a result of these demonstrations, 40 state highway patrol officers were sent to campus by Gov. John Dalton. A committee of 30 people met with President J.W. Jones to establish bener food regulations. In the end, two students, David Herring and Edward Rceder, were dismissed from Northwest for instigating the riots and the head of food service, M.T Sheldon, resigned. TTiese events hel ped shape Northwest. While riots were not always the answer, some students believed them to be the swiftest form of change. New personal computers were added to the residence halls. I Northwest was presented with the Missouri Quality Award. It symbolized the quality Northwest had strived for jthough years of enhancement. The trimester academic schedule took effect. The Northwest Missourian, campus and community newspaper, prints in color. rhe Harvey and Joyce Whhe International Plaza opened. Building the Plaza was a part of Nonhwest ' s continued dedication to show multicultural impact on a global society. rhe Bearcat football team was named the NCAA Division II National Champion, with an undefeated ieason. Northwest was the first school to win the :hampionship with a 1 5-0 record. After three years of developing as a club team, women ' s soccer finally became a sanctioned university sport in 1999. Photo by Amy Roh Proles y

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Aher being sentenced to life in prison without parole. Travis Canon Is escorted out of the Andrew County Courthouse. Canon was sentenced after he shot and killed Gracie Hixson at the Midway Shop ' n ' Hop convenience store. Photo by lohn PetmvK Oct 2S marked the beginning of Philip Baldwin ' s 2S year sentence as he is accompanied into the Andrew County Jail. Baldwin pleaded guilty to robbery in the first degree and murder in the second degree and was not eligible for parole. Photo by John Petrovtc 1 Qrko F jb. 1 Ji— - B-iklu in pleated guilty to sccond-Segree urder Sept. 22 — Canon sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder, life imprisonment without parole for armed criminal action and hve years m prison for felony robbery in first degree. Oa. 25 — Baldwin sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole. Campbell sentenced to 18 years in prison without parole. Eighteen years in prison without parole is the sentence handed to Brian Campbell after his connections with the murder of Gracie Hixson. Campbell was waiting in the car outside of the convenience store while Travis Canon pulled the trigger. Photo by John PetmvK li M iJv 4