Stories from Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Riley Ethan Taffner and Dreygan Evan Taffner, twin sons of Jonathan Dean Taffner and Sarah Elizabeth Wilson Taffner passed away on Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at Freeman West Hospital, in Joplin, Mo. Survivors in addition to their parents, include one sister, Clara EmilyRose Taffner, of the home; paternal grandparents, Ray and Donna Taffner, Nevada, Diane and Bill Armstrong, El Dorado Springs; maternal grandparents, Susan and Rod Squire, Nevada, Michael and Debbie Wilson, Osawatomie, Kan.; paternal great-grandparents, Lowell Schlotzhauer, Jerico Springs, Mo. ...

Melinda Stevenson, of Carthage, Mo., and big brother Auszrah, are proud to announce the birth of their son and baby brother Dayton Levi Stevenson. Dayton was born at 12:44 p.m., on Feb. 2, 2009, at St. John's, in Joplin. He weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 20 inches...

Jan. 31 Larry F. Cauthon, Rich Hill, failure to register vehicle and expired operator's license. Jordan L. Herren, Milo, failure to stop at a stop light. Andrew W. Miller, Nevada, failure to transfer plates. Feb. 1 Jerry D. Crabtree, Nevada, driving while suspended...

Feb. 15 There were reports of a controlled burn in the Nevada area, a medical call in the Nevada area, cows out in the Milo area, a repossession in the Nevada area, a four-wheeled ATV in the Montevallo area, a grass fire in the Walker area, a controlled burn in the Sheldon area, a vehicle vs. deer in the Nevada area, and a controlled burn in the Sheldon area...

This is a continuation of last week's column which was about the 50 percent cut that Governor Jay Nixon had proposed for the University Extension budget. Such a cut would be significant and certainly not called for. Here is a major program that has an direct effect on many citizens in the state and on a much larger number indirectly. A cut of this type would gut Extension as we know it...

"We made them work the whole court, all night," said coach Brent Bartlett, wearing down the Pleasant Hill Chicks to glean a victory Tuesday night, 43-28. "Our defense created some turnovers, kept them really off balance. Really felt like in the fouth quarter, things started falling our way," Bartlett said...

Governor Jay Nixon has restored some of the funding cuts he proposed for the University of Missouri Extension Service. Nixon originally proposed a 50 percent reduction, $15.5 million, but quick action by concerned citizens and their representatives has caused Nixon to re-evaluate the cuts according to state representative Barney Fisher...

The Springs Gallery, a new not-for-profit contemporary Art Gallery located in El Dorado Springs, Mo., is hosting local artists from El Dorado Springs and the surrounding areas for its first exhibition and reception, 1-6 p.m., Feb. 21. The new, 2,500-square-foot gallery expects to be full of all sorts of art and a wide variety of styles...

During the March 3 City Council meeting, its members will be considering several ordinance related to the renovation and expansion of the Community Center. Interim City Manager Harlan Moore told the council that he had originally intended to have them vote on the design-build contract with Crossland Construction for the renovation of the Community Center Tuesday, but they had found some things that were not contained in the budget for the project, that needed to be included...

"Good diction!" "Energy! Let's see your faces!" "Big crescendo, now!" "Dance to the audience!" Wes Morton's voice booms its encouragement toward the stage full of singing dancers, as first the Treble Effects, Nevada High School's all-female show choir, then the Soundsational Singers, a co-ed group, rehearse for upcoming shows...

I have always looked forward to getting the mail. I used to receive several personal letters most days when my family wrote letters instead of using e-mail. I enjoy getting the e-mails also, but it does limit my daily mail to bills and advertisements. Oh yes, and the appeals for money from charitable causes come quite often too...