Stories from Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Nevada area chapter of Habitat for Humanity plans to dedicate its 11th home in Nevada at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 24, in a public celebration at the home, 915 N. Oak St. Volunteers said many hours of labor have been donated by dozens of volunteers and businesses since groundbreaking for the project last summer, and noted that the proceeds of the organization's monthly baked potato luncheons and cash donations from individuals, businesses and organizations provide the materials used in construction.. ...

Running a marathon takes tremendous mental and physical strength, but for two local residents, they have some added inspiration. Jayci Cosens and her husband, Chad, are organizing a team of runners to travel to the St. Louis Marathon on April 10 in St. Louis, Mo., and raise money to help their 8-year-old cousin Hunter Hawley's parents as he battles cancer...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- A Fort Scott project is part of a traveling exhibit that will make a stop in Fort Scott next week during its statewide tour. Starting Monday and continuing through March 5, Fort Scott Community College will host the "Kansans Tell Their Stories" exhibit in the Charlotte and Ken Lunt Lobby of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. ...

Volunteers for the Governor's Committee to End Homelessness will meet in the Crawford House at 1117 N. West St., Nevada, on Wednesday, Jan. 27 to once again conduct the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care, Point in Time Homeless Count. The twice yearly count is conducted in order to provide accurate information on the number and characteristics of homeless families and individuals on a local, regional and state level. ...

A missing piece of luggage kept a couple out of Haiti on the day of the earthquake that devastated the capital of Port-au-Prince. Eldon Shaw, former pastor of the Nevada First Christian Church, and his wife Gayneita were on a mission trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic when the earthquake struck...

Jan. 12 Trey N. Dockery, Nevada, speeding 28/15. Dwayne D. Ford, Sheldon, expired license plates. Christina S. Moss, Nevada, failure to stop at a stop sign and no proof of insurance. Cristobal A. Rodriguez, Nevada, speeding 28/15. Ryan A. Wooldridge, Nevada, speeding 28/15...

Jan. 15 A burglary was reported in the 200 block of north Clay, made by Skyler Beard, of Nevada. He reported a television stolen. Jan. 16 A theft was reported in the 1500 block of north Washington, made by Rickey Foster, of Nevada. He reported a walkman stolen...

James W. "Whittier" Toothaker, 53, passed away on Thursday Jan. 21, 2010, at his home in Nevada. He was born Sept. 30, 1956, in St. Elmo, Ill., to William H. Toothaker and Anna Marie Lustig Toothaker. James grew up in Illinois. He attended high school in Effingham, Ill,, where most of his life was spent. ...

Harold and Marjorie Duerson will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary on Jan. 28, 2010. Harold Duerson, son of the late May and Lynn Duerson, and Marjorie Fisher, daughter of the late Virgil and Grace Fisher, were married on Jan. 28, 1945, in Mound City, Kan. Probate Judge R.L. Cecil officiated...

Joe and Janet Gregory celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on Oct. 19, 2009. Janet Morrison of Fort Scott, Kan., and Joe F. Gregory, of Dodge City, Kan., were married on Oct. 19, 1952, at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott. Their children, Jeff M. Gregory, of Springfield, Mo., and J. Gordon Gregory, of Pittsburg, Kan., and Gilbert E. Gregory of Fort Scott, also celebrated...

The family of Tom and Janie Claflin, Sheldon, announce the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. Tom Claflin and Janie Landwehr were married Jan. 28, 1960, at the United Methodist Church, Liberal, Mo. They have resided in Sheldon since that time where they continue their family farming operation. ...

Stephen and Sherrill Brooks, of Nevada, announce the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie Brooks, of Joplin, to Justin Nations, son of Terry and Sharron Nations, of Webb City, Mo. Bride-elect Brooks is a 2000 graduate of Nevada High School, a 2004 graduate of Wentworth Junior College, and she will graduate from Missouri Southern State university in May 2010, with a degree in justice studies. She is employed by Wal-Mart in Webb City...

Victor and Mary Jo Giddings, of Aurora, Minn., announce the engagement of their daughter, Meg Giddings, to Trey Vernon, son of Bob and Debbie Vernon Jr., of Fort Scott, Kan. Bride-elect Giddings graduated from Mesabi East High School in 1999. She received a Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders and a master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She is a speech pathologist at Fort Riley, Kan...

Michael and Lorraine Richardson, of Nevada, announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Richardson, to Chris Hubbard, son of Kenny and Debbie Hubbard, of El Dorado Springs. Bride-elect Richardson is a 2006 graduate of El Dorado Christian School. She is currently attending MU Nursing School and will graduate in December 2010...

Sherrie and Carl Simpson Jr., of Butler, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Whitney Jean Simpson, of Butler, to Matthew Lee Weiss, of Butler. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Sharon and Carl Simpson Sr., Stockton, Mo., and Betty Bobbett and the late Buford Bobbett, Nevada, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hissink, of Nevada, announce the engagement of their daughter, Claire Elizabeth, to Kyle Phelan Hooe, son of Deven Hooe, of Nevada, and Michelle Leduc, of St. Joseph, Mo. Miss Hissink will graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia in May 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders...