Stories from Tuesday, December 2, 2008

This year, 89 people attended the annual Local Ear Awards held at Shooters Restaurant. To determine the winner, 64 votes were cast through a Web site promoting local music, www.localear.info in Novem-ber, after the 13 nomination ballots were cast back in October. This determined the 31 regular awards this year that were presented. This year there was also two special awards presented -- the ICON Award, which went to Jeremy Smith; and the Hall of Fame Award, presented to The Midnight Playboys...

Higher fuel prices and limited family budgets make cheap home energy conservation measures appealing. "No one thing will magically cut energy expenses a lot but attention to many little things can all help add up to greatly-reduced costs," said Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist, University of Missouri Extension...

The holiday season is in full swing as Cottey College prepares for the Hanging of the Greens celebrations. This three-part festivity includes an informal Christmas Choir concert on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m. in Raney Dining Room; the Hanging of the Greens on Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Chapel; and the Hanging of the Greens semi-formal dance on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9-12 p.m. in Hinkhouse Center...

Many Vernon County teens are "betwixt and between" when it comes to Christmas. They are too old to sit on Santa's lap and breathlessly dictate a wish list, yet too young to have lost the desire for gifts under the tree. An organization is there to help during the Christmas season, Teen Angels, founded by Terri Meyers in 2000 when she realized there were programs to help younger children but none for teens older than 12...

The Nevada City Council is tentatively scheduled to hold a public hearing and take their first look at the city's 2009 fiscal budget tonight, as well as hear the annual report from the Nevada-Vernon County Cham-ber of Commerce, when they meet at 7 in the Public Safety Building, 120 S. Ash St. Copies of the budget were available for viewing last night...

Mary Douglas, 80, of Nevada, died on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, at her home. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m., at Evergreen Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at Newton Burial Park. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Evergreen Memorial Chapel. View obituary and send condolences online at www.evergreenmemorialchapel.com...

Kendra and Scott Arlint, of Tulsa, Okla., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter JoceLynn Renee Arlint. JoceLynn was born at 9:23 p.m., on Nov. 28, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital, in Tulsa, Okla. Maternal grandparents are Earl and Laura Litzell, of Claremore, Okla. Maternal great-grandparent is Betty Smith, Walker, Mo...

Nov. 26 There were reports of a vehicle vs. deer accident in the Nevada area, a theft in the Nevada area, an alarm in the Nevada area, a hay fire in the Deerfield area, a juvenile in the Nevada area, a disturbance in the Schell City area, a vehicle accident in the Nevada area, a trespassing in the Nevada area, a controlled burn in the Milo area, a controlled burn in the Compton Junction area, and a vehicle accident in the Nevada area...

Nov. 18 12:49 p.m., medical, Nevada Regional Medical Center. 5:26 p.m., refusal of care, no transport. Nov. 19 10:44 a.m., transfer, St. Luke's, Kansas City, Mo. 1:33 p.m., medical, Nevada Regional Medical Center. 5:43 p.m., medical, Nevada Regional Medical Center...

Nov. 24 An accident occurred at 6:07 p.m., on U.S. Highway 54 and Adams, involving a car driven by Rachel R. McCracken, of Nevada, and a SUV driven by Amy R. Smith, of Nevada. No injuries were reported. Nov. 25 A one vehicle accident occurred at 6:28 p.m., at 403 E. Hickory, when a car driven by Clinton E. McKenzie, of Nevada, struck a carport. No injuries were reported...

Nov. 12 Robyne Maxville, Nevada, expired license plates. Jasson L. Roark, Hudson, Fla., seat belt law. Nov. 13 Clarence R. Bleyenberg, Schell City, expired license plates. Steven J. Campbell, Rick Hill, Mo., defective equipment (brakes), and seatbelt law...

As any avid college football fan on either side of the Missouri-Kansas border already knows, the famed Border Showdown between the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks roared into a sold out Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Nov. 29. Most of the statistics from the game were surprisingly even, given the high-powered offense the Tigers have shown this year and the less than stellar season that Kansas has exhibited following last year's 12-1 overall record that was capped off by a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. ...

Dear Editor: A majority of the people of Vernon County and of the State of Missouri voted the McCain/Palin ticket in the election of 2008. This may have been the very first election in history that Missouri did not vote with the winner. Many Republicans are still bewildered as to why the election was lost to a candidate associated with the far left wing of the Democratic Party and considered the most liberal Senator in the U.S. ...