Multimedia

By MARY ELLEN POFF  ¦   Alice Montagino looks out her kitchen window at the snow while her husband, Frank, reads the newspaper. The couple moved to Columbia after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home in New Orleans.

By RYAN GIBBONS  ¦   Kathy Freeman is currently training for her second-degree black belt.

By Missourian staff  ¦   A slideshow focusing on Derby Ridge Elementary.

By Nathan SKid  ¦   Principal Ben Tilley explains what makes Fairview Elementary unique.

By Stephanie Sanchez  ¦   Principal Beverly Borduin provides a brief history of Grant Elementary.

By Francisco Fisher  ¦   Principal Elaine Hassemer explains the role of diversity at Paxton-Keeley.

By Missourian staff  ¦   A slide show that demonstrates what makes Rockbridge Senior High unique.

By J.J. GILMORE/Missourian  ¦   Scott Williams, right, jokes with Douglass players Mikhail Williams, left, and Keondre Carthron during Wednesday’s practice.

By Brian Hamman  ¦  

By SUZY LAFFERTY/Missourian  ¦   Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe proposes lowering Columbia's unposted speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, including the neighborhood on Falcon Drive where this sign is posted.

By AMANDA LUCIER/Missourian  ¦   Jenean Thompson, right, discusses possible sentences with Vanessa Bennett, at the Boone County Jail on Thursday. "Everyone has a constitutional right to adequate legal representation," Thompson said about the rising caseloads of public defenders. "But 'adequate' just isn't good enough for me."

By AMANDA LUCIER/Missourian  ¦   Jenean Thompson comforts Philandra Robinson, the girlfriend of one of her clients who faces years in jail on a series of state and federal charges. "When I talked to him on the phone, you could tell he was one of those fathers who really cared about his kids, " says Thompson. "When he gets out, I hope they hang in there and have a good life."

By AMANDA LUCIER/Missourian  ¦   The scene of an arson is one of the many stops Jenean Thompson, a Columbia public defender, made Thursday. Thompson stopped to consider the location of witness's window before returning to the office for an afternoon in court.

By AMANDA LUCIER/Missourian  ¦   Jenean Thompson, a public defender, approaches the Boone County Courthouse for an afternoon of arraignment hearings. Public defenders, like other governmental employees, get time off on federal holidays but says that "even on those Mondays we have off, you'll see public defenders in the office and visiting their clients in jail."

By AMANDA LUCIER/Missourian  ¦   Jenean Thompson, a Columbia public defender, carries case documents on her way to court on Thursday. According to Thompson, an experienced public defender can handle up to 150 cases a year, though the public defenders in Columbia may face many more next year because of staff transfers and medical leave.

Kirk Jones

By KYLE WAYNE STEWART/Missourian  ¦   Claire Schaeperkoetter has been an All-District selection her first three seasons with the Bruins.

By Missourian file photo  ¦   Stefhon Hannah has fouled out once, and picked up four fouls in two other games this season.

By KYLE WAYNE STEWART/Missourian  ¦   Point guard Eric Franklin joined the Hickman varsity as a sophomore

By TYSON ANDERSON/Missourian  ¦   Zach Young stretches while in a rehearsal with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. Young also teaches hip-hop classes at Columbia Performing Arts Centre.