Stories from Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Beulah Abigail Watkins, 94, Sheldon, Mo., passed away on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at her home in Sheldon following a lengthy illness. She was born March 6, 1915, in Sheldon, to John Moore and Martha Ellen Gonterman Moore. She married Cecil J. Watkins on July 3, 1936, in Carthage, Mo., and he preceded her in death in 1988...

Albin Bernard Kos Sr., age 82 of Nevada died on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at the Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg following a lengthy illness. Mr. Kos was born March 21, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Frank and Agnes Blasic Kos. He was married to Freda Kroenke on June 24, 1991, and she survives of the home...

Jim "J.J." Farley, was born in Columbus, Kan., on Nov. 16, 1944, to Joseph W. and Josephine Adamson Farley. He passed away on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. His family moved to Pittsburg, Kan., when he was a small child. He grew up in Pittsburg, graduated high school and attended Kansas State Teacher's College of Pittsburg, where he received his bachelor's degree in secondary education while completing the ROTC program and receiving his officers' commission, in preparation for military service in the U.S. ...

Derrel Waynon Maness, 76, Nevada, died on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at his home in Nevada. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Thomas Briscoe, 45, Sheldon, died on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Fred Ross Bratcher Sr., 68, of Nevada, died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Memorial services are pending. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Evergreen Memorial Chapel. Send condolences online at www.evergreenmemorialchapel.com...

Kaleb Wayne Brewer, age 20, of Nevada, died Nov. 2, 2009, in Nevada. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

In a year already full of firsts, the Nevada High School varsity softball team has added yet another item to that list -- All-Region honors. Olivia Culbertson may only be a sophomore this year, but she already has more experience under her belt as a softball player than some senior athletes. That experience has translated in a big way for her as she became one of five sophomores to make the 17-player All-Region first team roster...

Nevada High School cross country finished off team competition Saturday at the Class 3 District 7 competition at Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo. Harrisonville senior Maksim Korolev, who placed second at state last year, set a new course record at 16 minutes, 5 seconds. ...

The search is over for Kaleb Brewer, reported missing Thursday. Brewer was found in the creek just past the first set of railroad tracks across south BB highway Monday. Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman said that information was still being developed but that it appeared Brewer had lost control of his vehicle and ended up in the creek...

Kaleb Leonard, 24, Sheldon, will be arraigned in Vernon County Circuit Court Nov. 23 on the charge of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class C felony. On Oct. 22, Leonard took his daughter, Cali, to the Nevada Regional Medical Center emergency room with head injuries...

COLUMBIA -- With statewide rainfall averaging more than 10 inches, Missouri weather records show October was the wettest in 68 years and second wettest in history. "Rainfall was about three times normal for October, which is considered a fairly dry month suitable for harvesting," said Pat Guinan, University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture climatologist...