Stories from Thursday, August 2, 2007

"I'm averse to giving away any parks. I do know things can be recycled and reused," Gina Cripps, parks board member said during the boards Wednesday meeting and the other four current board members agreed, voting 5-0 to recommend to the city council that the city keep all of the existing parks...

An annual sales tax holiday, a time in which the state sales tax is waived on certain items students need for a new school year begins Friday, and this time residents can take advantage of the tax break in Nevada and Vernon County during the annual tax holiday. In the past the city and county have not participated in the tax holiday but this year they are. Presiding Commissioner Bonnie McCord explained why the county opted to participate this year...

For many people who donate to the United Way it is a once-a-year donation. But for the people who work for the charitable group it is a year-round effort. A lot of that work is behind-the-scenes and isn't readily apparent to the general public. Recently Adam Dean, Chairman of the Vernon County United Way board of directors, announced the group has successfully completed the membership standards the parent group, United Way of America, places on local organizations...

A group hoping to build an ethanol plant in Vernon County are now in the process of soliciting investments for the project. Tuesday they presented a program to the Nevada Lions' Club at their weekly lunch. Board members from Ozark Ethanol said the plant would be located on Highway 43, one-half mile south of U.S. Highway 54. Regar Todd and Kerry Rose gave the presentation and answered questions afterward...

Embattled Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, along with sidekicks Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips, allegedly ran a dog-fighting ring with pit bulls. If that wasn't bad enough, they, according to The Associated Press, reportedly executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means...

The Chicago Cubs are going places. Barry Bonds is not. Matt Murton raced home on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, sending the Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and to the top of the NL Central...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Buddy Bell chose family over baseball on Wednesday, resigning as manager of the last-place Kansas City Royals effective at the end of the season. An emotional Bell, who will turn 55 on Aug. 27, announced the decision before Kansas City's game against the Minnesota Twins. He will join the Royals' front office in 2008 as a senior adviser to general manager Dayton Moore...

RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- If Damon Huard's luck holds true, the NFL's next great quarterback is sure to be Brodie Croyle. Standing in the shadow of giants seems to be the hand that fate has dealt this compliant, philosophical and -- so far, at least -- lifelong second-stringer...

WICHITA -- The National Baseball Congress World Series at Lawrence Dumont Stadium is a grind. The Nevada Griffons (1-1) are part of that grind entering weekend play. Trouble is, they still don't know what time or who they play on Friday. Nevada catcher-designated hitter Greg Lagreid says he has some good vibes that the team can venture deep into World Series play...