Stories from Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Bryan Dean Rabe, of El Dorado Springs, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 31, 2010, at his home. Bryan was born July 25, 1957, to W.D. (Bill) and Patricia (Coit) Rabe in Versailles, Mo., and baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Versailles. Bryan moved with his parents to El Dorado Springs in 1961, and attended school and graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1975. ...

Patrick William Pritchard, 26, Tuscaloosa, Ala., passed away on Jan. 30, 2010. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Dan and Marilyn McGinnis, Nevada, and big brother Ethan are proud to announce the birth of their son and baby brother, Connor Cian McGinnis. Conner was born at 6:16 p.m., on Jan. 12, 2010, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 21 1/2 inches...

Jan. 31 There were reports of a stranded motorist in the Sheldon area, a check well being in the Walker area, a farm animal in the roadway in the Nevada area, a smoke investigation in the Nevada area, a follow up in the Nevada area, and a traffic hazard in the Nevada area...

The Cottey College Comets watched an 11-point lead disappear in the second half as the Fury from St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley rallied to defeat the home team 73-65. It was a wild game to say the least, as the Comets would build a lead, see the Fury rally, and then build a lead again. ...

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- The Nevada Middle School seventh and eighth grade boys basketball teams struggled Monday night as they took on the Tigers of Carthage Middle School. The seventh graders lost both games on the night as Carthage took the A game by a final score of 59-21 and the B game by a score of 29-19. Ben Somner led the scoring for Nevada in the A game with six points while Tristan Smith paced the A game with 15...

"It's a tough way to end out Senior Night, but they went out in style." Despite a tough loss to a very talented Carl Junction team, Nevada High School head wrestling coach Devin White still came out of Tuesday night's regular-season home finale with a substantial measure of pride in his team...

In this tough economic climate, fundraising can be particularly challenging for many non-profit organizations. But now, agricultural youth groups as well as civic organizations in eligible Missouri counties, among them Vernon County, can enlist support from local farmers to win a $2,500 award. The application process for farmers is simple. With the deadline fast approaching, they just need to visit www.growcommunities.com and fill out a short form by Feb. 28...

A total of 257 voters, including those 78 Nevadans who cast absentee ballots, turned out for the Nevada City Council primary election on Tuesday. When all was said and done, James McKenzie emerged as the leader with 156 votes. Sonya Tumm garnered 111 votes, followed by Debbie Bossaller with 102 votes and Myron Damon gleaned 94 votes...

The Nevada City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to pass on first reading an amended employment contract with John (JD) Kehrman as Nevada's new city manager. At the request of council members Brian Leonard and Jayne Novak the council also voted 5-0 to amend the contract, shortening the time allotted for both side in the termination clause and adding "Mr." to the references to Kehrman...

The roads the townships maintain are in bad shape all over Vernon County. Winter weather has taken its toll on the roads and with much of the year left to go many townships are finding it necessary to hold off on maintenance. Kyle Forkner, Metz Township board member, said the roads needed to dry out before the work would do any good...

It was about 25 or 30 years ago when Warren Hargus, area community development specialist, recognized a need for a community junior college for Vernon County. He saw a real need for an education program after high school. The concept that the Hargus felt was needed in the area never developed, but, a few years later Crowder College located a campus in Nevada. This campus met a need for many students in this area looking for an opportunity to take college courses...