Boonville (Mo.) board says it has cleared superintendent of wrongdoing in connection with rodeo incident

An investigation has cleared Boonville (Mo.) school superintendent Mark Ficken of wrongdoing related to a Missouri State Fair rodeo act featuring a clown wearing a mask of President Barack Obama. The Columbia Tribune says the Boonville school board had asked investigators to assess Ficken's role at the rodeo, where he was an announcer during the bull-riding portion of the show. The investigation concluded that Ficken had no advance knowledge of the skit mocking the president and played no role in it "other than an incidental reaction." Ficken has asserted through his attorney that he said only "Watch out, Obama" during the skit.