Stories from Friday, October 12, 2007

Kimberly, Mark and Zacharey Vandiver, of St. Louis, announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister, Phoebe Madison Vandiver. Phoebe was born at 9:28 a.m., on Oct. 8, 2007, at Missouri Baptist Hospital, in St. Louis. She weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 21 inches...

Several readers have asked about Miss Kitty. Let me assure you that she is fine. If anything, Miss Kitty is better than fine. A friend of ours had a particularly good way of describing the good fortune of rescued pets. She owned a dog that was spoiled beyond belief. (Aren't most pets?) Our friend, who had the most beautiful Virginia drawl, once said of her dog: She fell on her you-know-what and landed in a pool of butter...

Tuesday's front page article about the "Straight Nights" vigil held at Cottey College, made my direction for this week's article quite easy. My one word title of "Tolerance," is one that is very important to me and I hope to all Americans. What is "Tolerance?" Wikipedia the free internet encyclopedia gives us a rather lengthy but clear definition. ...

This is one of my favorite times of year. I love the cool weather and enjoy the changing leaves across our state. October is particularly special to me because, in addition to the splendors of the season, it is a time to focus on our health in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

During a regular meeting held at Benton Elementary School, Nevada R-5 superintendent Craig Noah and athletic director Kevin McKinley updated the district's board of education on the district's attempts to join another activity conference when the Southwest conference dissolves at the end of the school year. So far Nevada has been rebuffed when attempting to join any other conference and the district's attempt to start a new conference failed...

Dave Clauss, 3M Nevada's plant manager, reported this morning that it's back to business as usual at the plant, after an explosion in a boiler on Tuesday disrupted the usual routine. "We're back to normal operations," Clauss said, noting that the entire boiler didn't explode -- the event had to do with a burner on the apparatus, which is a much less significant incident...

Open burning will be allowed in the city limits of Nevada from Saturday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Oct. 28. During this period, residents will not have to call the fire station for permission to burn; however, some rules must be followed:...

Aquila's local neighborhood weatherization program began Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the residence of Valorie LeDuc. Aquila is targeting 100 homes in 29 communities across their service area with five homes in Nevada to be prepared for upcoming winter weather...

The First Christian Church is having a blood drive to support the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall, the former Aldi's building. The senior minister, Bill Platt said that the church hoped to double the previous goal of 25 pints...

Carriers provide an important service to readers and to the newspaper, and on Saturday, Oct. 13, National Carrier Day, newspapers from across the country are honoring those who get the printed page from the press room door to the readers' front doors...

Look Before You Leap students were greeted by special guest Dan Meers, also known as KC Wolf, Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Nevada Middle School. Meers, the KC Chief's mascot for 18 years spoke to almost 200 students about his life, and lessons he learned. Beginning his career as Truman the Tiger, mascot of the University of Missouri, Meers graduated to become the St. Louis Cardinals mascot, Fredbird...