Stories from Saturday, December 11, 2010

Albert Leroy Stroud, 74, of Arcadia, Kan., died at 1:43 p.m., Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, in St. John's Burn Center, Springfield, Mo. He was born Sept. 26, 1936, in Pittsburg, Kan., at Mt. Carmel hospital. His life was all about being a truck driver and his handle was "Supertrucker" for his whole career. Lee died from health complications and burn injuries from his house catching on fire...

Anton Vanzyl, 41, of Schell City, Mo., died on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Mo. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 17, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City. Memorials are suggested to a memorial for Mr. Vanzyl's expenses. Interment will be in South Africa...

Getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is serious business at any time and if you've been drinking, it's a dangerous decision that can end your life. That was the message delivered at Nevada High School Friday by an eerily attired "grim reaper" and a dozen students who spoke to no one after being taken out of class and having their faces painted white...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Local students will provide a variety of holiday sounds during special concerts scheduled for next week. The bands at Fort Scott Middle School and Fort Scott High School will give their annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Fort Scott High School gymnasium, 1005 S. Main St...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- With the help of many volunteers, a local teen has undertaken a task that will benefit the whole area. Joseph Hutchins, 15, of Nevada, Mo., decided to make his Eagle Scout project something that would last. Rather than building something that would eventually rot away, he decided to electronically catalogue more than 44,000 names contained in Bourbon County marriage records spanning from 1902-1995...

Ten-year-old Jaiden Chei of Nevada and her horse, Freckles, spend a lot of time together -- much of it in the show arena; and this year, the horse and rider team has earned top honors in arenas across the state. The show season wound down in November, and recently Jaiden rounded up four grand champion titles, one reserve champion title and one reserve high point recognition...

The First Baptist Church choir holds their final rehearsal before they present Handel's "Messiah" at 6 p.m. Sunday. In addition to the 50 member choir, the performance will include solos by soprano, Robin Steinhous, Columbia, Mo., alto, Darla Strecker, Coffeyville, Kan., bass, Michael Straw, Columbia, Mo. ...

Miss Holly candidate Carly Greer plays a flute solo during the talent portion of the Miss Merry Christmas pageant Friday night at the Nevada High School auditorium. Greer is one of eight young women vying for the Miss Holly crown. In additon to the Miss Holly contest, there were nine competitors for Miss Candy Cane, 13 for Miss Snowflake and one for Miss Merry Christmas...