Stories from Tuesday, March 14, 2006

There is a lot of outdated information about dog catchers, now called animal control officers, and Matt Russell dispels all of it. In the past being a dog catcher was not especially esteemed, witness sayings such as "He couldn't get elected dog catcher."...

Editor's note: this is the fourth in a series of letters back home, relating the experience of Cottey College students during their annual visit to Europe. Educational modules, sight-seeing and an immersion in local culture are highlights of the trip...

Editor's note: Jaleana Thompson is a student at Bronaugh High school and recently took on the project of interviewing Jim Woody, an 82-year-old veteran of World War II. Following is Thompson's account of the interview; a letter to the editor relating to this article appears on today's Opinion page...

Open burning will be temporarily reinstated beginning March 15. Nevada Fire Chief Bill Jeffries said open burning will be allowed for a period of about two weeks, to allow community members to dispose of yard waste and brush that has been accumulating during the burn ban...

"In the heavens a storm of overwhelming magnitude was forming..." --Anonymous Ancient trees were uprooted, windmills blown apart and metal roofs ripped off aluminum outbuildings like they were nothing more than paper, when the 250-yard wide path of tornadic destruction passed through Vernon County on Sunday...

Gertrude Olia Downie died Friday, March 10, 2006, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, Mo., at the age of 91. Gertrude was born March 7, 1915, in Union County, Miss., to Joseph Patrick Ryan and Olia Elgin Bryant Ryan. Joe Ryan worked for the railroad, moving his family to Memphis, Tenn., when Gertrude was a toddler. ...

Joseph C. Conard, 70, Nevada, Mo., died Friday, March 10, 2006, at Freeman Hospital East in Joplin, Mo., after an illness of several weeks. He was born Sept. 17, 1935, in Fort Scott, Kan., to Curtis Clayton Conard and Zelfey Elizabeth Waltz. He was married to Carole Ann Thomas Conard who survives of the home...

Maxine Smith, 87, Wichita, Kan., died March 13, 2006. Services will be at 11 a.m., March 16, at Affinity Mortuary. Family visitation will be from 7-9 p.m., March 15, at Affinity Mortuary.

James Howard Long, 80, Lamar, Mo., died Sunday, March 15, 2006, at Barton County Memorial Hospital, Lamar. Services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 15, at Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Lamar. Visitation will be from 7-8 p.m., today at Daniel Funeral Home...

Nathan and Christina Clark, Nevada, and Ethan are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Maddison Clark. Maddison was born at 6:07 p.m., March 6, 2006, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces, and measured 22 inches...

Jack and Monica Householder, Bronaugh, and Stephan and Erica are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Trenton Eugene Householder. Trenton was born March 3, 2006, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 21.25 inches...

Dear editor: At our Veteran's Day assembly this fall at Bronaugh High School we asked all Veterans to come forward to be honored and thanked for their service to our country. About 30 veterans came, more than half of which were World War II veterans. I was impressed that so many veterans from a war that ended 60 years ago came to show support at our assembly for all service men...

Veterans who look to the federal government for health-care assistance, particularly those who seek medical attention for service-related injuries and illnesses, have generally backed the Bush administration's increases in funding for medical services. Since taking office in 2001, the administration has increased medical spending on veterans by 69 percent. And another 11 percent boost is being budgeted for the next fiscal year...

Marshall resigns from bench JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., -- Judge William C. Marshall today tendered his resignation as judge of the Supreme Court to Gov. Folk to take effect April 1st. Judge Marshall's reason for resigning from the bench is that he desires to practice law in St. Louis, where he was a most successful lawyer before being elected supreme judge...

Frank Thomas kept quiet about the White Sox this time. With his former team in town to play Oakland, the Athletics' new slugger declined to offer any more opinions Monday about his acrimonious split with Chicago this offseason. ''I've got nothing to say about the White Sox. Frank has left the building,'' Thomas said in Phoenix before Oakland's 9-8 victory over the World Series champs...