Stories from Thursday, February 2, 2006

On the eleventh day at the eleventh hour on the eleventh month, the United States of America celebrates Veteran's Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, this marks the day that World War I ended. In 2005, it was the day Leah Piland and two other nominees from Missouri went to Washington, D.C., to be rewarded for their hard work and determination in serving United States veterans...

Members of the Nevada Regional Medical Center Board of Directors were given a demonstration at their January meeting by the Employee Safety team of some of the equipment recently purchased to assist in moving patients. Sharon Board, director of Rehab Services and head of the safety team explained how the equipment was used and members of the team demonstrated two of the devices, a lift for patients sitting or in bed and one that assisted patients to stand...

Tax assistor Shirley Heathman will be providing services at the Nevada Senior Center, located inside the Neal Center at Hunter and Main streets in Nevada, by appointment. Through Care Connections for Aging Services, volunteers like Heathman will give assistance on income taxes to those age 65 and older who have been certified as totally and permanently disabled to see if they qualify for a rebate based on the previous year's income and taxes or rent paid on one's homestead. ...

Darla Engelbrecht, diabetes nurse educator, is helping form a diabetes support group, the first meeting is Feb. 9 at the Nevada Senior Center. The first speaker for the group will be Leonard Ernsbarger, former youth specialist for the University of Missouri Extension office and current diabetes patient...

For two long years, Hunter Lukenbill of Nevada looked forward to a special day. Finally, the time came. Yesterday, Hunter turned over his long locks to Locks of Love, a national program that provides hair pieces to children who have experienced hair loss due to a medical procedure or condition...

A local boy, Hunter Lukenbill, wanted to do something special for someone else. It took him two years to grow his hair to the required length for a donation to a special charity.

Robin Drew Wilson, 48, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, at Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada, Mo. He was born April 10, 1957, to Charles Lee Wilson Jr. and Shirley Lou Phelps Wilson. Robin resided at the Nevada Habilitation Center since 1998. Robin was one of nine children. He is survived by his father; two brothers, Terry Wilson, Atlanta, Ga., and Lynndale Wilson, St. Joseph, Mo.; three sisters, Tracie Wilson, Jacksonville, Fla., Shirl Wilson, Kansas City, Mo., and Roxanne Wilson, St. Joseph...

Cathleen A. Deaton, 39, Nevada, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She was born June 29, 1966, in Artesia, Calif., to Jackie Marshall Deaton and Linda Marie Henning Deaton. Cathleen lived in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. She came to Nevada in 1997, from San Antonio, Texas. She worked as a cook at Camp Clark including Sho-Me Challenge and for Camp Crowder in Neosho, Mo...

Six more weeks! No matter what the ground hog predicts today, in six more weeks we can expect it to be spring. But we haven't really had much of a winter so far. I know I am borrowing trouble to say that. I can remember some March snowstorms that were as bad as any I have ever seen. Well, I think I must take that back. The snowstorms of my childhood were pretty terrific...

Each year, the chief justice of Missouri is honored to give a "State of the Judiciary" speech to the state legislature. While this year I spoke primarily about the important values of having courts that are professional, fair and impartial, and prompt. The media focus, not surprisingly, was on my request for a modest increase in the Judiciary's budget...

Ground-hog failed to see his shadow If the ground-hog came out this morning he did not see his shadow, and according to the weather prophet, we will not have six weeks of cold weather. We take it for granted that the ground-hog is an early riser, at least on such an important day. Evidently the groundhog also desired to get in the band wagon early with other of natures prophets. With no prospects of six weeks cold weather the ordinary man feels pretty good about Vernon County's climate...

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- In one of their worst performances of the season, the Nevada Tigers were manhandled by the Bolivar Liberators Wednesday, 67-46. Playing in their second game of the 75th Annual Liberator Classic, the Tigers (12-7) dropped to 0-2 in round-robin play as they struggled to keep up with the quick Bolivar squad...

The Bronaugh Wildcat basketball teams were both beaten by Golden City and St. Paul (Kan.) recently, in boys-girls doubleheaders. Friday it was Golden City taking the twinbill, beating the Lady Wildcats 49-34, and coming back to top the Wildcats 63-37...

Every time I watch this season's Nevada Tiger boys basketball team, I shake my head. When are they going to realize this is it? In about a month, there will be no more basketball in a crimson and gray uniform for eight of the players on this year's team...

The Nevada Lady Tiger junior varsity squad poses with the trophy they won at the El Dorado Springs junior varsity tournament last week. The JV won all three games they played to take the championship. The team is coached by Jenny Allard.