Stories from Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Loren Thomas Stone, age 81, of Springfield, passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007. He was born April 10, 1926, in Pittsburg, Kan., the son of Charles Floyd and Verna (Jarrell) Stone. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II. On April 4, 1948 he and Lucille Frizelle were united in marriage...

Teresa Green Rosser, died on Dec. 24, 2007, she was the cherished mother of Loretta Dhanagom, Mark Rosser, Dennis Rosser, Timothy Rosser, Maria Rooney and Christopher Rosser. Her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends servive Teresa...

Betty Lou Hendrix, 67, Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at her home, in Nevada. She was born June 6, 1940, in Nevada, to James William Mesplay and Dorothy Madeline Butts Mesplay. Betty was born and raised in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School, in 1958. ...

Jennifer Null, of Nevada, is proud to announce the birth of her daughter Aubry Dawn Null. Aubry was born at 1:26 a.m., on Dec. 29, 2007, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces, and measured 19 inches. Maternal grandparents are Johnnie and Yuvonne Null, of Nevada. Maternal aunt and uncle are Justin and Bethany Minor, of Nevada...

Lacey Phillips and William Lopez, of Nevada, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Curtis Lee Lopez. Curtis was born at 11:05 a.m., on Dec. 28, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 20 inches. Maternal grandparents are, Mr. and Mrs. David Phillips, of Nevada. Maternal great-grandparents are, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Phillips, of Donna, Texas, and Mr. and Mrs. Don Stukesbary, of Nevada...

In an age filled with anxiety and uncertainty, we can be thankful that at least one person has stepped forward with a simple but inspiring message of hope. Recently, TV star Jennifer Love Hewitt came out with this ringing declaration: "Put on a bikini -- put it on and stay strong." Wow, that just says it all. I don't own a bikini, but I briefly considered wearing my underwear outside my pants just to show solidarity with my sisters...

Surfing television and the Internet can be an exercise in serendipity. Bored with the incessant rerun of "A Christmas Story" on Christmas day, I discovered C-Span's presentation of an October 2007 State Department Forum on "U.S.-Soviet Relations in the Era of Détente 1969-1976." The commentators were two men who were central figures in that period, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger...

Aquila has turned to the Missouri Public Service Commission in an effort to gain permission for a rate increase alleviating themselves of the burden of rising fuel costs. Aquila provides electricity to about 300,000 customers in the southwest and northwest regions of Missouri and requested the increase to recover costs already paid over the last six months. ...

Barton County commissioners have offered the Lamar R-1 School District a chance to purchase the old Barton County Memorial Hospital building for $1. Commissioners presented the R-1 school board with the opportunity on Dec. 20, during a regular board meeting. ...

Motorists may soon notice a more visible presence of the Missouri State Highway Patrol on the highways. One hundred forty-two previously unmarked patrol cars now have decals on the side to help increase visibility and further reduce traffic violations. Thus, motorists can expect to identify more marked patrol vehicles on the roadways...

A Dec. 29 fire at a home in the 1100 block of S. Main Street caused an estimated $3,000 in damage to the structure, according to the Nevada Fire Department. Just after 7 p.m., firefighters were called to the home and found light smoking coming from the front door and located a small fire in the living room ceiling, above a ceiling fan. The fire was contained to that area, and no injuries were reported...

The Northeast Vernon County school district will conduct an informal meeting about the potential construction of a new, centralized pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school, at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3, at the high school gymnasium in Walker. Open to the public...

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports seven people died during the New Year's holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28, to 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. During this year's 102-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 333 traffic crashes, which included 104 injuries and six of the fatalities. Troopers also arrested 123 people for driving while intoxicated...