Stories from Sunday, February 18, 2007

By Jason E. Silvers Herald-Tribune Fort Scott, Kan. -- On Monday, people all across the country will celebrate the federal holiday officially designated as Presidents' Day. But some people may ask, "Which presidents are we celebrating and why?" The holiday began as the celebration of the birthday of George Washington, the nation's first president who is often called "The Father of our Country," originally implemented by the federal government in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices. ...

By Steve Moyer Herald-Tribune Nevada, Mo. -- Missouri residents are getting a sneak peek at the three possibilities for a new license plate and are being given a chance to go on the Missouri Department of Revenue's Web site to vote on which they prefer. Three public meetings are scheduled for Springfield, Kansas City and St. Louis in the next three weeks to gather public input...

Dallas Holm concert to be presented; theater roof repaired and ready. Herald-Tribune Fort Scott, Kan. -- Despite some concern among the public that the show might not go on, Christian artist Dallas Holm will perform as scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main St., Fort Scott, officials said this week...

By Lynn A. Wade Herald-Tribune Nevada, Mo. -- Everyone seemed to be having a a great time throughout the cruise across the Atlantic on the Andrea Doria. "It was a grand ship. It was really, very beautiful," said Betty Hill, Nevada. Hill and husband and five children were passengers on the cruise, enjoying a carefree evening on July 25, 1956, as they drew nearer and nearer the north Atlantic coast of the U.S. But the Andrea Doria never made it to shore...

Helen L. Nelson, 88, died early Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, at Fort Scott Medicalodge. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date by Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.

Ira Eaton, 82, Nevada, Mo., died Feb. 16, 2007, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo. Funeral services to be announced at a later date by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

Esther Pauline Allen, age 88, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died late Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, at the Community Hospice of Texas, in Burleson, Texas. She had suffered a stroke while visiting family in Texas. She was born July 19, 1918, in Hatfield, Mo., the daughter of Charles T. Gibson and Bessie Mae Pottorff Gibson. She married Harold O. Allen on July 3, 1936, in Nevada, Mo. He preceded her in death on March 16, 1981...

Hi neighbors. Although Presidents Day is typically for Lincoln and Washington only, there is no reason to single them out. We have had 43 Presidents, including the current one, since this country was formed. They were: George Washington, 1789-1797; John Adams, 1797-1801; Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809; James Madison, 1809-1817; James Monroe, 1817-1825; John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829; Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837; Martin van Buren, 1837-1841; William Henry Harrison, 1841-1841; John Tyler, 1841-1845; James K. ...

After being victorious in the Battle of the Hemp Bales at Lexington, Mo. on Sept.19-21, 1861, Confederate General Sterling Price and his army were pursued south by southwest across Missouri in a very erratic manner by Union forces until the Confederates occupied Springfield. ...

The following explanation as to why we yell, "Geronimo!" when we jump out of planes is from "The Book of Totally Useless Information" by Don Voorhees: Well, we don't all jump out of planes or there would be a lot more yelling going on, and not necessarily "Geronimo!"...

Herald-Tribune Two Nevada Tiger wrestlers won semifinal matches at the Class 2 state tournament Friday, advancing to Saturday's championship round. Juniors Mason Heard and Spenser Daniels both earned decisions in their semifinal bouts, while a third Tiger -- fellow junior Ryan Herda -- has clinched at least a medal...

By Joe Warren Herald-Tribune NEVADA, Mo. -- Senior Bryan Campbell had a career night but it wasn't enough as the Nevada Tigers were stopped by the Webb City Cardinals Friday, 71-64. Campbell scored 32 points, but Webb City tallied 30 in the fourth quarter to squash Nevada's upset bid on Senior Night at Wynn Gymnasium...

By Scott Nuzum Herald-Tribune IOLA, Kan. -- Fort Scott High's girls survived a few anxious moments in the fourth quarter of a Southeast Kansas League battle with Iola Friday night, winning 26-24 despite not scoring for the last seven minutes of the contest...

By Joe Warren Herald-Tribune NEVADA, Mo. -- Webb City focused on keeping the Nevada Lady Tigers from getting the ball inside and the strategy worked, as they earned a share of the Southwest Conference championship with a 52-33 victory Friday. While Nevada tried to celebrate Senior Night with an undisputed conference title, the visiting Lady Cardinals wanted nothing to do with that...

I suppose if I had a choice I would pick the 1960s as the perfect time to be young. In those days, we really had the best of everything. As I look back at that decade, I see a time of sweeping changes and momentous events. It's the decade that began with Richard Nixon as vice president and ended with him in the White House after he had been beaten in his initial bid for the presidency. I don't know if there was a face aside from Nixon's that figured prominently in both 1960 and 1969...

"There's few brave souls on the lake. They had to break the ice in the coves to get to a fishing spot, but there are fishermen out there," said Bob Dawson, when ask if he had seen any one out on the lake last week. I was one of them and it wasn't too bad...

By Scott Nuzum Herald-Tribune IOLA, Kan. -- It's no longer easy for Zach Quick to score points. But if that's the way it's going to be, it just opens things up for someone else to get some points. Kevin Gray scored 12 points and Zach Smith and Alex Barner each scored 10 as Fort Scott High's boys defeated Iola, 55-31, Friday night to stay atop the Southeast Kansas League ladder...