Stories from Wednesday, February 16, 2005

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail What if an anti-government terrorist group set off an explosion in a barn in rural Vernon County that may have released an unknown chemical into the area? This was one mock scenario that the emergency response teams for our area had to discuss at a table top exercise last night...

By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail "One of the worst things an officer has to do is to tell a family that their father isn't coming home but even worse is telling a family their child isn't," said Nevada Police Chief Christine Keim on the importance of using appropriate child restraints in cars...

By Ralph Pokorny Nevada Daily Mail In early September the Missouri State Auditors office released a report on how about $39,000 of city funds were apparently misappropriated and on Feb. 7, the state released the results of a petition audit they were working on during the same time period...

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail Even though it's still five months away, Vernon County 4-H members are already gearing up for the Vernon County Youth Fair. Saturday was the official weigh-in for steer that are going to be shown at the fair in July. A multitude of pickups towing trailers loaded with cattle began queuing along the north entrance road of the fairgrounds as early as 7:30 a.m., even though the weigh-in didn't begin until 8 o'clock...

Chris and Angie Eads, Fort Scott, Kan., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Brightin Elizabeth-Kay Eads. Brightin was born at 11:07 p.m., on Feb. 12, 2005, at Fort Scott Mercy Hospital. She joins two sisters, Hali and Paxsten. Paternal grandparents are Roy and Juanita Eads, Fort Scott, Kan. ...

Devin Ryan Ellifrits, newborn infant, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, Kan. He was born Feb. 14, 2005, in Fort Scott, Kan., to Jeremiah Daniel Ellifrits, Nevada, and Lisha Jo Starbuck, Lamar, Mo. Devin is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Gary and Mindy Starbuck, Sheldon; paternal grandparents, Randy and Tracy Ellifrits, Nevada; great-grandparents, Martha O'Connor, Nevada, Woody Weber, Grove, Okla., and Fontella Barrett, Nevada; aunts and uncles, Amber Starbuck, Valarie O'Connor, Shylo Starbuck, Andy Ellifrits, Joy Ellifrits, and Sam Ellifrits. ...

Associated Press Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad: Feb. 9 -- The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y., on military death benefits: Amid all the debate over the war in Iraq and President Bush's handling of it, there is one thing on which most Americans would probably agree up to now, the government has been inexcusably stingy in compensating the families of U.S. servicemen and women who died fighting that war...

100 years ago: Severe weather puts squeeze on coal supply RICH HILL -- Letters, telegrams and telephone messages have been pouring in on local operators and shippers of coal the past three days for big orders of fuel which cannot be filled owing to the extreme severity of the weather and the deep snow in the strip pits...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Tigers must have thought they were seeing a mirror image when they traveled to take on Carthage Tuesday. Carthage took a page out of John McNeley's playbook, extending offensive possessions, limiting Nevada's possessions and making enough plays at the end to win...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Lady Tigers continued their struggles on the road in Southwest Conference play, losing their third straight, 46-43 at Carthage Tuesday. Nevada found itself down early, a recurring theme this season, only to climb back into the game late and lose a close one at the end...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail The bus leaves this afternoon as the Nevada Tigers send five wrestlers to Columbia for the state championships this week. All matches will take place at the Hearnes Center on the University of Missouri campus. Each Tiger is matched up in a 16-man bracket, with the top wrestlers that Class 2 has to offer...