Stories from Friday, February 22, 2008

One of the photographs accompanying last Monday's story about the women from Altenburg who have been cleaning other folks' houses since the Depression is on my desk. Every time I look at those four faces -- Arleen, Lillian, Betty, Myrtel -- my day improves. And if I look at the photo for longer than just a few seconds, I start laughing. Out loud...

Dear editor: On behalf of the Nevada Middle School, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the community for supporting the school's Christmas Sharing Project. With your generosity, 50 Nevada Middle School students received items needed for the winter season...

Megan Leonard and Chadd Friar, and siblings Daulton Cole and Beau Allen Hunter, of Nevada, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister, Kennedy Marie Friar. Kennedy was born at 3:30 p.m., on Feb. 19, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 19 inches...

Loretta M. "Bunny" Steward, 79, of Nevada, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, in Nevada. She was born June 29, 1928, in Nanty Glo, Pa., daughter of the late Richard and Marguerite Shreve. On Sept. 17, 1954, in Washington, D.C., she married Harold D. Steward, of the home...

The current debate in Congress over what flavor of "economic stimulus" package to pass is a distraction. We've got much deeper economic troubles that a $150 billion tax rebate can't fix. Don't worry, counsels President George W. Bush, the "economic fundamentals are solid." But that depends on what indicators at which you're looking. ...

Ag producers who need to obtain or renew a private pesticide applicator license can attend one of the following training sessions provided through University of Missouri Extension. Due to a change in the rules, renewals will no longer be able to be done by picking up the booklet and completing the worksheet from the Extension Center. ...

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, candidacy filing begins for persons interested in running for elected Vernon County Official positions. Eight offices will be on the ballot this August, including Northern Commissioner, South-ern Commissioner, Sheriff, Assessor, Collector-Treasurer, Public Administrator, Coroner, and Surveyor...

A winter storm dropped inches of grainy sleet and ice on the area. Yesterday, the Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map indicated that about three-fourths of Missouri's highways were covered early yesterday afternoon. Today, the National Weather Service is predicting a 50 percent chance of wintry precipitation, as well as a chance of sleet Saturday night. Area schools remain closed today...

The economic stimulus payments recently approved will be going out to approximately 130 million households but are causing many people to question whether they will qualify for the payment; and if so, how much they will receive. Suzan Gaster, an accountant and tax preparer, said she had printed out information from the IRS for her employees so they could answer anyone questioning them about the payments...