Stories from Saturday, March 19, 2011

Marie Addington, 90, Nevada, passed away on Friday morning, March 18, 2011, at Nevada Regional Medical Center, following a brief illness. She was born on July 14, 1920, in Okmulgee, Okla., to Joe Riley Reed and Stella Blanch Hawkins Reed. Marie was raised in Okmulgee and later in Russell, Kan. ...

Joe E. Goddard, 80, of Blue Springs, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo. Joe was born May 3, 1930, in Richards, Mo., the son of Ernest and Ruby (Evans) Goddard. He retired from Marine Electric and was Pentecostal by faith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Ernest, Belva, Francis, Donal, William, Ernest "Chub" Goddard and Hazel Evans...

Rocky Lynn Thompson, 51, Topeka, Kan., passed away on Friday, March 18, 2011, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan., following a lengthy illness. He was born Dec. 25, 1959, in Sacramento, Calif., to Maynard Emery Thompson and Dixie Lee McGrath Thompson...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The growing season is approaching and staff at Tri-Valley Developmental Services are making plans for an event held every two years that is popular with many local gardening enthusiasts. The Gardener's Christmas event is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. ...

An auction to benefit Alexandra Umphenour and her family is being planned for 1:30 p.m., May 1, at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Mound City. Marty Read Auction Service will host the event. All proceeds will go to the family. Alex, 20, was in a horse accident Feb. 13 which left her suffering from severe head trauma. She is currently at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Neb., in a coma, a news release said. Her parents have stayed by her side the entire time...

Nevada, Mo. -- The biggest question about a dramatic fire in Nevada will probably never be answered. That is, what started the roaring blaze that leveled the NAPA Auto Parts building at 306 E. Walnut St. three weeks ago? State Fire Marshal Randy Sweet of Springfield has issued a preliminary finding that the Feb. 25 fire was an accident that started somewhere near the back of the store, Nevada Fire Chief Robert Benn said Friday...

The Nevada High School Forensics and Debate Squad invites the public to a variety of award-winning performances at a Forensics Showcase, at 6 p.m., March 22, at the NHS auditorium. Performers include sophomore Josh Neely with his storytelling, "The Web Files" by Margie Palatini; sophomore Cody Foster reading poetry from "Notes from the Man Who Shot Me" by John Musgrave; junior Casey Barker reading a poem from Mona Van Duyn called "The Stream"; sophomores Tucker Wingert and Foster doing a duet acting scene from "The Producers" by Mel Brooks; freshman Kelsey Hammontree with a prose interpretation of "Cipher In the Snow" by Jean Mizer; junior Cody Cauthon performing a humorous interpretation of "Controlling Interests" by Wayne Rawley; and sophomore Christian Renz acting out a dramatic interpretation of "Last Rung on the Ladder" by Stephen King.. ...

RICH HILL, Mo. -- Fifty people convened at Lions Club Meeting Hall Thursday night to have a buffet dinner and see Richards farmer Wyatt Hoenshell and his wife Debbie accept a $2,500 Monsanto American Farmer's Grow Communities Award for Mary E. McGennis Agricultural Park & Youth Center...

Don Schapeler, right, shows Brandon Claspil, left, a pair of handmade spur straps that they carry at Cherry Street Furniture & Accessories, 108 E. Cherry St., inside Ray's Trophies and Awards. Schapeler said they carry a variety of handmade items made in America, including rustic log furniture, loomed rugs, quilts, jams, jellies, jewelry ane similar products. Most of their items are made within a 50-mile radius of Nevada and some are made by old order Mennonite and Amish craftsmen...

Bill and Kathy Harrison, Columbia, Mo., enjoy March as much or even more than the other months of the year. This is the month they hike the many trails in the state. The Harrisons moved to Missouri from Colorado sevaral years ago and thought they would miss the mountains and the hiking adventures they experienced. However, they, like many other backpackers and hikers, have found that there plenty of trails and adventures within the state...

FORT SCOTT -- Lions Field, the home of Fort Scott Community College baseball, now has a new stone wall on the right-field side of the park. When John Hill III and his coaching staff took over the FSCC program in the fall of 2008, the first thing they did was build a new right field wall because the old one was crumbling. ...

Brent and Sandra Gundy, of Walker, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Whitney Gundy, to Tyler Shaw, son of David and Sherry Shaw, of Bronaugh, Mo. Bride-elect Gundy is currently a full-time student at Missouri State University majoring in animal science...

FORT SCOTT -- It happened nearly two weeks later than they wanted but Fort Scott Community College's softball team finally played its home opener Friday afternoon. The Greyhounds split a Region VI Division II district doubleheader with Brown Mackie, winning the second game 5-3 after dropping the opener 3-0 at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex...

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Phillips, Eldorado, Kan., formerly of Fort Scott, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Kayla Leighann Phillips, to Clinton Jack Sutter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sutter, Rosila, Kan., and Joanne Horn, Overland Park, Kan...

Joe and Dezlie Nimmo, of Nevada, announce the engagement of their daughter, Lenna Busse, to Chris Heckadon, son of Jeff and Jeanine Beach, of Moundville, Mo. Bride-elect Busse is a graduate of Osceola High School. She is employed by Heartland Behavioral Health Services...

Jeremy Daniel and Kristy Lee Clark, of Sheldon, Mo., will celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary with a reception on March 29, 2011, at their home. The Clarks were married March 29, 2008, in Sheldon. Cards for the couple may be addressed to P.O. Box 6, Sheldon MO 64784...