Stories from Sunday, December 11, 2005

By Nancy Malcom Herald-Tribune Nevada, Mo. -- For almost 60 years, Floyd McComas has shared memories of being a POW in Germany during World War II with a man he never met. At 96, Floyd McComas may be the oldest POW in the United States. He has been recognized as the oldest in Missouri...

By Mitzi Shead Herald-Tribune Fort Scott, Kan. -- Students of Fort Scott Christian Heights made their school proud at the recent Missouri Southern State University English Competition. Kristi Beltram, Adrienne Bahr, and Alyssa Vanwart placed at the competition. Beltram placed third in spelling dictation for 11th and 12th grades, and Vanwart also competed in the 11th and 12th grade category and placed second in scramlets...

By Jason E. Silvers Herald-Tribune UNIONTOWN, Kan. -- On Monday, the USD 235 Board of Education is slated to learn about a trust fund set up in the name of former Uniontown and Fort Scott resident Maxine Burt. During their regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. ...

Herald-Tribune Nevada, Mo. -- Quality Products, Inc., a sheltered workshop providing employment for disabled persons in Nevada, recently announced that it'll have to close its doors in May if a great deal of new business isn't generated, and local business owner Tom Hollands of Missouri Welding Institute says that's simply unacceptable...

Both Missouri and Kansas now have laws regulating the sale of pseudoephedrine, one of the common precursors used to manufacture methamphetamine, sending a message to those who would misuse these products -- use as directed, not for unlawful purposes. Officials say keeping tabs on the substance is helping to reduce the number of meth labs, while keeping medicines available for their intended use...

Frances C. Klampe, 95, Overland Park, Kan., formerly Nevada, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Overland Park, Kan. She was born April 1, 1910, in Livingston, Mont., to John Lyman Ruckman and Effie Caligta Turk Ruckman. She married Raymond F. Klampe on June 2,1936, in Lewistown, Mont., and he preceded her in death in 1993...

Loren and Annette Bogan, Prescott, Kan., and Autumn, Brianna, Chance, Blaine, and Blake are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, and sister, Brooklyn Paige. Brooklyn was born at 8:53 a.m., Nov. 10, 2005, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, Kan. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and measureed 18 inches...

With the holidays on the horizon, the following comments from "Attitudes of Gratitude" by M.J. Ryan seemed appropriate: Recently I took my one-year-old daughter to the zoo for the first time. Her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw an elephant. And when I gave her her first scoop of ice cream, her joy knew no bounds. Her little body wriggled, her eyes sparkled, and she brought out the biggest smile...

Hi neighbors. If you've looked out your window lately you've noticed the snow. If you've had to actually get out into the snow I feel sorry for you. Since I've retired I've made it a point to avoid snow as much as possible. Snow, icy streets, bone-chilling gales, frosted windshields, these are all the bane of the working folk. Been there and done that -- way more than should have been enough for anyone...

I attended a function last Saturday at Cottey College, then the Community Choir performance of Christmas music Sunday afternoon down at the beautifully restored Fox Playhouse downtown. At both these functions, I saw people I think I've known half my lifetime, but people whom I haven't seen recently. ...

By Joe Warren Herald-Tribune NEVADA, Mo. -- A 17-3 run that began in the first quarter and ended in the second, vaulted the Nevada Tigers over the El Dorado Spring Bulldogs Friday night, 74-38. The Tigers started out slow, as El Dorado Springs' Anthony Cauthon scored his team's first nine points to give the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead...

By Scott Nuzum Herald-Tribune MOUND CITY, Kan. -- Cooler heads prevailed here Friday night as Jayhawk-Linn's boys rallied from a 10-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to defeat Prairie View, 56-48, on the second night of the round-robin Linn County Tournament...

By Joe Warren Herald-Tribune JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Nevada Lady Tigers played games on consecutive days for the first time this season, and it showed. Nevada fell behind in the second period as Leavenworth (Kan.) harassed the Lady Tigers with a full-court press and the Lady Tigers crumbled Friday, 56-40...

On a day when the temperature was hovering close to 30 degrees last week, I stopped by a convenience store and the owner said, "You going duck hunting in this cold?" I replied, "No, I'm going fishing." If he had any doubts I was a little crazy, this confirmed it. "Your line will freeze and so will you," he said...

You know, I can't say when I first began to hate the Oakland Raiders. Suffice to say, it was a long time ago. Loathing for the Raiders is part and parcel of being a Chiefs' fan. There is simply no way you can say, "I'm a Chiefs fan but I also like the Raiders." The two teams are the antithesis of each other and when I think of the Oakland image I conjure up the visage of Darth Vader, the personification of evil...

Herald-Tribune IOLA, Kan. -- The Cottey Comets lost to Allen County Community College Wednesday, 65-46. Cottey fell behind 31-14 at halftime and never recovered. Lacy Leonard led the Comets with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Kerri Shanks added 11 points...

I have a hard time throwing things away. I have about eight or nine gloves in a box in the basement … each of them for the right hand. I hate to throw them away because I keep thinking somewhere out in the woods somewhere, there are eight or nine gloves which fit my left hand. ...

Kim and Gayla Hancock, of Republic, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Gayle Hancock, to Christopher Adam Schulze, son of Ron and Ranea Schulze of Nevada, Mo. Bride-elect Hancock is a 2002 Republic High School graduate, and a 2005 graduate of Southwest Baptist University, with degrees in political science and communications/public relations. She is employed as marketing director for Federal Protection Inc. in Springfield, Mo...

What a week! It goes to figure that one of only two games that I picked wrong last week would be my Cowboys falling in New York. Sure, I expected the Giants to win, but what kind of fan picks against their team? That's why I've got to make the ultimate decision this week. Do I go with the team I cover, or the team I grew up loving?...

Samuel and Linda Evans, Devon, Kan., announce the engagement of their daughter, Kadie Kay, to Bo Bryan Casper son of Frank Casper, Oakland Ark., and Patricia Casper, Mountain Home, Ark. The bride-elect graduated from Fort Scott High School in 2000, Fort Scott Community College in 2002, and Oklahoma State University in 2004. She is currently employed as a business development officer for UMB Bank...

Andrea Leigh Harlan became the bride of Todd Jeffrey Shellhorn Oct. 22, 2005, at the Lee's Summit, Mo., First Christian Church. Parents of the couple are Wayne and Sandy Harlan of Blue Springs, Mo., and Bob and Sue Shellhorn of Grain Valley, Mo. The Rev. Bill Briley solemnized vows of the ceremony...

Sharlie Fortney and James Pilcher exchanged wedding vows Nov. 26, 2005, at the Northwoods Wedding Chapel, Nevada. Maid of honor was Vesta Masters; best man Andrew Moore. The couple resides in Nevada.

Betty Van Dyke and Jack D. Ham were married Dec. 11, 1955, in a home wedding ceremony at the residence of her father, with the Rev. Bingham officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Ham, who live in Bourbon County, Kan., will celebrate their 50th anniversary today...