February brings more cold and ice to the region

The Tooth Wizard and Panda demonstrated good dental techniques to students at Bronaugh in early February. Afterwards each student received a dental goodie bag filled with a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, a mirror decal reminding kids to brush twice daily, and a coloring sheet. --file photo

February 2008 was a cold, snow covered, icy month. Along with the bad weather came flue fires, and automobile accidents. Feb. 1, one fire was reported at Daylight Donuts, located on the east side of the Square. However, the flames did not keep the business down for more than a day.

Students in grade levels first to third were able to help choose books/authors for Show Me Readers awards. The Show Me Reader awards, was a 10-week program held at the Nevada library, where local students could come to learn and voice their opinions on books that they felt should receive an award out of 10 books/authors. Students had to attend six out of the 10 meetings to be able to vote on books/authors up for the award.

A new illicit drug was introduced to young people. "Cheese," a heroin-based drug mixed with other very harmful substances was first found in Dallas, Texas. The drug sends new threats into the world of teenagers, and even elementary-age children -- costing only $2 for a single hit, or a gram could be bought for $10.

On Feb. 5, Missouri State Highway Patrol officer, Larry Stoddard, returned to duty after he allegedly was forced to shoot a Nevada man, Patrick Ellis, during a traffic stop. It was reported that Stoddard shot Ellis in the stomach during an incident in January. Stoddard was on administrative leave while the shooting was being investigated.

While celebrating Valentine's Day, locals were encouraged to buy chocolates and homemade sweets to benefit a fund-raiser for domestic violence victims; all proceeds went to the Moss House, in Nevada.

Statistics showed that crime in the Nevada area had also gone down. A decline in crimes such as burglary, stealing, auto thefts, and assaults were shown. One-hundred-eleven burglaries were reported in 2006, and had gone down to 74, in 2007; stealing had gone from 550 to 425; auto thefts declined from 46 to 40 reports; and assaults had gone from 281 to 246.

On Feb. 17, a Metz man was facing 12 felony charges involving illegal hunting activity and receiving stolen property. He was facing 11 class A misdemeanors and one class C felony.

Author Bulkeley Butler, spoke at Cottey on Feb. 19-20. Butler spoke of her success in becoming a CEO. She spoke to classes including: Marketing, women's studies, leadership development, social justice, and civic engagement. Butler is the author of "Become the CEO of You Inc.: A Pioneering Executive Shares her Secrets for Career Success."

In February, emergency responders had access to a new mapping system.

The system would break down roads by townships, and more, by showing boundaries of school districts or Zip codes. This would allow emergency responders to reach people in the rural part of the county more quickly and with more ease. Another new event that was announced in February was the Nevada Daily Mail and Herald-Tribune would be switching to mornings in March.

The switch would make it so the newspaper would be printed at night, and at the post office in time to be mailed that day. In doing so, people living in rural county areas would receive their papers the same day as people who lived in town.