Stories from Saturday, November 15, 2008

Bonnie Corene Johnson, 91, Stockton, a homemaker, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Christian Health Care, Nevada. She was born May 25, 1917, in rural Polk County, the third of eight children born to Lewis Preston and Oma Jane (Gannaway) Earnest. She accepted Christ as her savior when she was a young lady, while attending a revival at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church in rural Cedar County. ...

Nov. 13 There were reports of animal neglect in the Nevada area, an alarm in the Schell City area, a careless and imprudent driver in the Schell City area, an assault in the Nevada area, fraud in the Schell City area, a careless and imprudent driver in the Nevada area, cows out in the Nevada area, trespassing in the Nevada area, animal in the Moundville area, and harassment in the Nevada area...

Nov. 12 An accident occurred at 8:13 p.m., in Atlantic and Ash, involving a van driven by Briana M. Johnston, of Nevada, and a parked van owned by the State of Missouri. No injuries were reported. There was a report of a burglary in the 1100 block of north Main, made by Charles Morton, of Nevada. He reported a Play Station, remotes, and video games stolen...

Tis the season…Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and oh yeah, flu season. As winter begins so does the time for runny noses, coughs, and fevers. The important question is, what can you do to stay healthy and if you do become ill, how do you know the difference between a cold and influenza (flu) or something more serious such as pneumonia?...

Residents living in and around the Nevada, Mo., community can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke. The complete screening package now includes a new Heart Rhythm screening, checking for irregular heartbeat, which is a major risk factor for stroke...

Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, remains optimistic about the first of five fall sales of Show-Me-Select replacement heifers, set for 7 p.m., Nov. 21 at Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage. "I'm still hoping we can top $1,250 for average price, maybe hit $1,300," said Cole. "We were spoiled with the spring heifer sale, which averaged over $1,500. The slowdown in the economy may prevent the fall sale from reaching that peak."...

One of the biggest most complex and compound problems facing any commanding officer of Fort Scott during the Civil War was the lack of troops to protect the millions of dollars worth of supplies at Fort Scott, protecting the supply trains going south to Fort Gibson and Fort Smith and to protect the loyal civilians who were being murdered and robbed within 20 miles of Fort Scott...

On Sept. 30, 1942, 20-year-old Betty Turnbull Helms, with written permission from her parents, became a part of history when she enlisted in the U.S. Navy as one of the first enlisted women to serve in the WAVES. Helms, now 86 years old, said that the Navy already had female officers, but this was the first group of enlisted women...

It's time once again for the Vernon County Ambulance District to begin its annual toy drive and already employees of the district have been busy working to raise money for the annual effort. "We've done a variety of things over the years to raise money, like selling cutouts, but this year we're going to try something a little different," James McKenzie, VCAD director said. ...

UNIONTOWN -- USD 235 has a new plan in place as it strives to help meet the educational needs of all students in the district. During its regular meeting on Monday, the USD 235 Board of Education approved the district's Assurances and Intervention Plan, which outlines when and how district officials need to intervene in the process of educating students...

Fort Scott Chiropractic, 222 State, opened its doors on Thursday for the sole purpose of helping both Bourbon County residents and more than 100 of the center's patients. The local chiropractic office participated in a national event to help low-income families during the Thanksgiving holiday...

Meet Donna Chilton and her 15-year-old daughter, Alexandra, from Lamar, Mo. Every year, during the first weekend in December, this mother-and-daughter team dress in vintage gowns, and drive to the Fort Scott National Historic Site in Fort Scott, Kan...

I received one of those calls today on my home phone where a no-nonsense voice said, "Call Michelle," and then gave me a toll free number plus the extension. Since I was going to be on the road, I wrote the number down and made the call from my cell phone. I started getting nervous while waiting because the recording kept stating that this was a debt recovery outfit, and "Your call is important to us and may be recorded."...

This past Tuesday was a day to remember, wasn't it? Election Day, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008. I could empathize with the black mothers who brought their little kids to Manhattan, or to downtown Chicago, so their offspring could be there when history was made, when the black candidate, Barack Obama, became the first of his race to become president of the United States, our fabled "Land of Opportunity," at last and utterly redeeming herself...

Samantha Walker and James Hallam exchanged wedding vows on Oct. 25, 2008, at the Anchor Fellowship Church, Nevada, with Jerry Pyle officiating. Latrisha Churchwell served as maid of honor. Attendants were Kylee Baldwin and Ryleigh Randolph, flowergirl Kimberly Churchwell, and ring bearers Izzabella Hallam and Natalie Baldwin. Zack Warren served as best man. Groomsmen were Michael Hallam and Brandon Baldwin. Ushers were Casey and Dallas Hallam, brothers of the groom...

Clifford and Linda (Nutter) Lyman Jr., Fort Scott, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 22. They were married on Nov. 20, 1958, in Fort Scott, Kan. The couple had three children, two sons and a daughter. They have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Family and friends will be hosting a reception from 2 to 4 p.m., at the First Church of the Nazarene, 801 E. 3rd, Fort Scott. They request no gifts, but cards may be sent to 736 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701...