Stories from Thursday, July 3, 2008

Early this afternoon a crop dusting plane piloted by Dennis Grainger, from a Butler crop dusting service, crashed in a corn field near Stotesbury. The plane, which apparently suffered an engine failure during crop dusting operations, remained mostly intact but caught fire. Grainger walked away from the crash with minor, if any, injuries. See full story in Saturday's Herald-Tribune.

In the early 60s, my parents became regular spectators at the Nevada Speedway. It was a great treat for a kid back then as it is still today. For close to 50 years Saturday nights in Nevada have always included stock car racing. One of my favorite parts of the venue was the Trophy Dash. It was a big part of the weekly spectacle of racing in Nevada...

Melissa Lane and Shane Bennett, of Nevada, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Zoie Mae Bennett. Zoie was born at 1:03 p.m., on June 28, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weigehd 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 20 inches.

July 1 There were reports of a vehicle accident in the Deerfield area, fraud in the Nevada area, a careles and imprudent driver in the Nevada area, a 911 hang up in the Nevada area, a traffic stop in the Milo area, a grass fire in the Nevada area, a controlled burn in the Deerfield area, threats in the Nevada area, a suspicious vehicle in the Nevada area, fireworks in the Nevada area, a grass fire in the Deerfield area, smoke in the Nevada area, a stranded motorist in the Sheldon area, an abandoned vehicle in the Sheldon area, and a suspicious vehicle in the Milo area.. ...

July 1 There was a report of a burglary at the 300 block of north Adams, made by Melissa Allman, of Nevada. Items reported stolen were a stereo head unit and remote. An accident occurred at 5:54 p.m., at Wooter and Mill, involving a parked pickup owned by Brian Howard and Sherry Weber, of Nevada, that rolled forward into a gas meter and a building at 902 E. Wooter, owned by Charles Hagan Repair. No injuries were reported...

At a special session Wednesday, June 25, the Hume R-8 school board held a special session to swear in new board member Marvin Querry. The board also unanimously approved final revisions to the 2007-'08 budget and the fiscal year 2009 budget. A transfer of $30,000 to be used for the completion of the preschool addition/expansion project, paint the buildings and lockers, seal the roof and replace the restroom stools was also approved...

With gas prices at an all-time high and thousands of Missourians hitting the highway for the three-day Independence Day holiday and summer travel season, there are two simple steps to save your money and your life -- slow down and wear your seatbelt, officials say...

The Missouri Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army and Missouri National Guard, have begun the annual survey to track the movement of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), a tree-eating pest that has the potential to strip entire forests. Nearly 12,000 triangular gypsy moth traps have been placed on trees throughout the state and can be spotted from now until the end of August...

Organizers said there was an overwhelming response from the Nevada community in the collection of new and used shoes, destined for the feet of people throughout the United States and the world who need them. Disciples Christian Church in Nevada collected nearly 500 pairs of shoes for the Soles 4 Souls mission during a drive that culminated in a Sunday event...

Draven Shade Leemaster, of Nevada, born June 20, 2008, died Monday, June 30. Services will be held today, July 3, at 2:30 p.m., at Evergreen Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be today at 9 a.m., until time of the services. Burial will be at Wagner Cemetery. View obituary and send condolences online at www.evergreenmemorialchapel.com...