Stories from Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Empire District Electric Company Manager of Community Relations Rick Hendricks was in Nevada Tuesday meeting with City Manager Craig Hubler and other city officials. Hendricks said the purpose of the visit was to meet with future customers and see what their interests and concerns are, prior to the company's purchase of Aquila's gas services in the area...

Two U.S. Senators, Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., announced on Feb. 10 that the Combat Meth Act was included in the compromise reached on the USA-Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report. The Senate and the House agreed to add the act, which was proposed in December, and now the Senate is expected to vote soon on a Patriot Act compromise that includes the Combat Meth Act...

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Vernon County. Such a warning means that conditions -- the low humidity, dry conditions and the presence of wind -- are right for the outbreak of wildfires. In response to the warning, the Vernon County Commission and emergency management director are requesting that residents refrain from open burning until there is significant rainfall in the area. See related story, Page 3...

A Nevada woman said she had turned in information about a house she believed was a drug house over to police to investigate but nothing appeared to be happening. When she checked back, she said, she wasn't told anything, heightening her concern that her request for help for her neighborhood might have fallen on deaf ears. To add to her concern, the house is only a block away from a Nevada school...

Nevada High School's Soundsational Singers were busy Tuesday afternoon, delivering singing valentines to people throughout the Nevada area. The musical greetings, becoming an annual tradition in Nevada, are a fund-raiser for the group. Below are five members of the group -- from left, Stephanie Bussee, Keyaira Lyda, Jordan Bell, Sara Chrisenberry and Tasha Jones-Smith -- who brought one of their musical messages to the offices of the Nevada Daily Mail for employee Debbie Swait...

The annual chocolate sale benefiting the Council on Families in Crisis was held on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Woods Supermarket in Nevada. Above from left to right, Betty Lewis and Jacquie Brown, volunteers with the Moss House, offer wrapped candies for sale. All proceeds went to the Moss House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence...

Thayne William McNeil of Bronaugh, Mo., passed away Feb. 13, 2006, in Nevada, Mo. He was born Oct. 11, 1918, in Pleasanton, Kan., the only child of Ferne Madge Griffith and Elmer Lloyd McNeil. He attended school in Pleasanton, and graduated from Mound City, Kan., in 1938. He loved being on the football team...

Jeff and Terri Freeland, El Dorado Springs, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Lauren Nicole Freeland. Lauren was born at 8:01 p.m., Feb. 8, 2006, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 19.5 inches...

Dear editor: Reporter Steve Moyer's recent article on a grant to fund a deputy sheriff to be assigned to the Drug Task Force for two months and Sheriff Peckman's comments in the article were very interesting. I would like to add some encouraging news concerning deputy sheriff compensation...

There is a saying that you are what you eat. There is much truth to this statement. For some time I have been interested in nutrition, but I have never made an intensive study, nor have I been really conscious of the different foods that I was eating. I use to be a meat and potatoes person and liked to eat pies and ice cream...

Young man who stole 25 cents sentenced for highway robbery CHANUTE, Kan., -- Ten years in the penitentiary for 25 cents is the fate or Roy King, a young man tried before Judge Stillwell here yesterday for snatching a purse from some Chanute woman one night a few weeks ago. ...

NEVADA, Mo. -- It was truly a game for the seniors. After an emotional pre-game ceremony honoring the eight outgoing Nevada seniors, the Tigers celebrated on the court by dominating Carthage Tuesday, 57-33. Senior sharp-shooter J.R. Mills downed five 3-pointers in the first half and Nevada jumped out to an 18-0 first-quarter lead and the visitors never had a chance...

NEVADA, Mo. -- For 16 minutes the Nevada Lady Tigers went toe-to-toe with Carthage in a Southwest Conference battle Tuesday, but it wasn't enough. Carthage overcame a 19-17 halftime deficit with a big third quarter, then converted at the free-throw line in the fourth to hand Nevada (13-11 overall, 1-6 in the conference) its fifth consecutive conference loss...

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Cottey Comets made history Tuesday, in more ways than one. Not only did Cottey get its first-ever victory over visiting Penn Valley, they also clinched a home game in the first round of the NJCAA Region 16 tournament for the first time in school history...

The University of Missouri will investigate the handling of coach Quin Snyder's sudden departure last week, university officials said Tuesday. Snyder stepped down on Friday, a day after vowing to finish his seventh season at the school. The Kansas City Star reported that athletic director Mike Alden sent Gary Link, a basketball analyst who is also his special assistant, to inform Snyder that he would not be retained...