Stories from Thursday, January 15, 2009

Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored Jan. 19 with a national holiday, but many activists are urging that people use that day as a day of service, a day "on" instead of a day "off." Cottey College students will join community volunteers on Saturday, Jan. 17, to do just that, helping with a variety of activities...

The Nevada Police Department will be hosting three dog vaccination and licensing clinics to help area residents comply with dog licensing regulations in Nevada. Dog licenses are due annually on Jan. 1 and a penalty is assessed as of March 1 each year. All clinics will be held at the City/County Community Center, 200 N. Ash, Nevada...

In a ceremony held Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the circuit courtroom of the Vernon County Court-house, two graduates were recognized for their hard work and perseverance in completing the Vernon County Adult Drug Court Program. Linda Beasley and Nick Brandell were honored for their successful completion of the program...

Not many of us feel that we have achieved celebrity status. But something within us likes to acknowledge any close encounters with a famous person. For years our family has enjoyed the realization that Lester and Ken Curtis (Festus on the Gunsmoke series) are second cousins. ...

Two recent books with curiously complementary titles convincingly delineate the birth, and possibly the death, of Western civilization. "The Victory of Reason" by Rodney Stark (Random House, 2005) is subtitled "How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success." Stark advances the striking thesis that Christianity, nothing else, produced the "victory of reason" that powered liberty and science in Western culture, developments seen in no other culture past or present. ...

Irma Jean Perry, 82, of Rich Hill, died Jan. 13, 2009, at her home. Memorial services will be held Friday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m., at the Heuser Funeral Home, in Rich Hill. The family suggest memorial contributions to the Papinville Cemetery, in care of Heuser Funeral Home. Private burial will be in Papinville Cemetery...

Jeanne Morrison, 76, of Lee's Summit, Mo., died Jan., 12, 2009, at her home in Lee's Summit. Funeral services and family information will be announce later by Heuser Funeral Home, in Rich Hill.

Jan. 8 An accident occurred at 12:45 p.m., at U.S. Highway 54 and Route BB, involving a car driven by Harold L. Hendrickson, of Appleton City, Mo. and a car driven by Chelsie D. Johnson, of Richards. No injuries were reported. There was a report of a burglary on the 700 block of west Garfield, made by Shelly Horst, of Nevada. She reported a .30-.30 rifle, and jewelry stolen...

Dec. 17 Jennifer M. Kenagy, Nevada, failure to stop at a stop sign. Natalie A. Leeper, Nevada, failure to provide adequate care for animal. Samuel Lingenfelter, Gridley, Kan., speeding 64/40. Dec. 18 Kelly J. Ast, El Dorado Springs, expired license plate...

The Nevada Middle School eighth grade boys' basketball teams hosted Webb City Monday night with less than favorable results. The B team was up first on the night and struggled to get the offense going. The Tigers were able to put up just seven points in the game, ultimately falling by a final score of 53-7...

The Hume Hornets boys' and girls' basketball teams recently competed in the Lakeland tournament with mixed results. On the boys' side, Hume was able to take a 63-56 victory over Hermitage. Four Hornets broke into double figures in the game, led by Cameron Hinton and Cody Franklin with 16, followed closely by Ryan Austin with 13 and Eric Pruitt with 10...

The Cottey College Comets played almost mistake-free basketball in the first half Tuesday night as they rolled to an easy 79-45 win over Ozark Christian College. Two 3-pointers at the beginning of the game, one by Jessica Roberts and the other by Brittany Smith, gave the Comets a quick 6-2 lead and they never looked back on the way to a 40-23 halftime lead...