Missouri district will investigate superintendent's role in mocking of President Obama

The Boonville (Mo.) school district says it is hiring an outside investigator to look into the involvement of Superintendent Mark Ficken in the public mocking of President Barack Obama during a rodeo at the Missouri State Fair. The Columbia Daily Tribune says Ficken was the announcer at the bull-riding portion of the rodeo when a clown appeared in an Obama mask and asked, drawing loud cheers, whether the crowd wanted to see Obama stomped by a bull. A statement from board president Charles Melkersman says, "If it is discovered that district employees participated in the offensive conduct or remarks, then the district will take appropriate action.”