Stories from Wednesday, December 21, 2005

By Ralph Pokorny Nevada Daily Mail Area National Guard troops that have been in Iraq for the past 11 months will be returning to Nevada Friday morning and Nevada Mayor Brian Leonard issued a proclamation during Tuesday evening's city council meeting urging Nevada residents to show their support for the sacrifices they made...

By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail Area law enforcement officers took five people, four men and one woman, into custody during a raid at a Nevada residence on Tuesday. Three of the men and the woman were later charged with drug-related crimes. "On 12-20, 2005, two search warrants were executed in Nevada Mo.," Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman said. ...

Special to the Daily Mail Washington, DC -- Congressman Ike Skelton announced that the final version of the Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense Authorization bill includes a provision that may help promote the use of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol...

Marvin Oerke and the board of Prairie Pride Inc. are joined by members of the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce at their new office at 2107 E. Austin. The group plans to build a biodiesel production facility, about halfway between Nevada and Fort Scott, Kan., capable of producing about 30 million gallons of fuel each year from soybeans grown locally, by co-op members...

By Nancy Malcom Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada community center was filled with singing and dancing Friday night as preschool students performed for family and friends. A full house enjoyed the antics as Bright Beginnings Preschool held its 10th annual Christmas program. Songs included "Five Little Elves," "Jingle Bell Rock," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and ended with "One, Two, We Thank You."...

Franklin P. Norman, 95, long recognized as one of Nevada's leading citizens, passed away on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, Mo., after a brief illness. Franklin was born on Sept. 21, 1910, in Nevada to Clyde C. and Florence Palmer Norman...

James R. Journey Jr. was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 18, 1922, to James R. Journey Sr. and Cora (Nyhart) Journey. James recently passed away on Dec. 19, 2005, at the Community Springs Healthcare Center in El Dorado Springs, Mo. James spent his childhood in Buffalo, Kan., and from the age of 12 grew up, in Nevada. James married his wife, Mary L. (Wade) Journey on Aug. 21, 1947...

Vonda Vivian King, age 97, of Overland Park, Kan., was born March 30, 1908, in Olean, Mo., and passed from this life on Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at home from aortic stenosis. Vonda was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Price and Cora Hortense (Procter) Price...

Accountability in the nation's public schools has become a major industry. Tracking students' progress in key learning areas is supposed to give educators, parents and the government an indication of how well schools are performing. Of course, states are permitted to set their own standards, so a state with relaxed standards may show, through testing, that it is doing a better job than a state with tougher standards. Missouri is generally regarded as a "tougher standards" state...

After a year of studying the federal tax system, the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform has issued a report that has stirred little comment from taxpayers. Maybe the lack of reaction is because of everything else dominating headlines these days...

By Thomas D. Rowley Guest columnist A few months ago, my family and I left the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and headed for the hills of Texas. (Yes, Texas has hills.) As a result of the move, we're now enjoying the many benefits of small-town living: a saner pace of life, a deeper connection to nature, and folks that say "please," "thank you" and "have a great day" -- and actually mean it -- to name but a few...

**100 years ago Carver's body brought home The remains of Henry Carver who was shot and killed by Ed Carrigan at Webb City, Tuesday night arrived here on the noon train today accompanied by his brother, Frank Carver. The deceased was 30 years of age they day he was killed. ...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail NEOSHO, Mo. -- 'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the court, not a creature was stirring, particularly the Nevada Lady Tigers. In the Southwest Conference opener for both schools, the Lady Tigers were thrashed by the Neosho Lady Wildcats Tuesday, 57-40...

Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri football captain Jason Simpson will miss the final game of his senior season after a weekend arrest for marijuana possession. Simpson, a safety and the team's second-leading tackler this season, has been suspended by Coach Gary Pinkel, an athletics department spokesman told The Kansas City Star Tuesday...