Stories from Thursday, March 4, 2010

Bernice Martha Heiman Griggs was born in Montrose, Mo., on Jan. 13, 1926. She passed away on Feb. 24, 2010. She was married to Howard K. Griggs on June 23, 1947, and to this union they had seven children. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard K. Griggs; infant daughter, Linda Lucille Griggs; two sisters, Rita Heiman Gibbons, and Evelyn Heiman Brownsbarger; and one brother, James Heiman...

William Joseph "Bill" McDermott Jr., 59, Nevada, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at his home in Nevada, following a lengthy illness. He was born July 19, 1950, in Springfield, Mo., to William Joseph McDermott Sr. and Evelyn Louise Hembree McDermott...

Jack Wayne Caparoon Sr. was born at Bonner Springs, Kan., to George and Ida (Coop) Caparoon, Sept. 27, 1918. Jack passed away Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, at the Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jack joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 serving on the Destroyer USS Bennion. He was discharged Oct. 26, 1945, with the rank of Seaman 1st Class SV-6...

Billie Catherine Jennings, 78, of Nevada, died March 2, 2010, at Barone Alzheimer's Care Center. Graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 6, at Pinecrest Cemetery, in Collegeville, Ark.

March 2 An accident occurred at 1:03 p.m., at U.S. 54 Highway and Washington, involving a car driven by George E. Hudiburg, of Fort Scott, and a pickup driven by Danielle M. Minor, of Nevada. No injuries were reported. An accident occurred at 1:52 p.m., at 2250 E. Lincoln, involving an SUV driven by Eric L. Hendren, of Jasper, and a pickup driven by James L. Pennington, of Nevada. No injuries were reported...

The Missouri Ethics Commission released a new training tutorial, "Campaign Materials Identification Requirements." The presentation provides an overview of campaign materials, including: "Missouri law provides specific requirements for identifying those paying for printed campaign materials. The Commission continues our mission of providing relevant, timely information and education," said Julie Allen, executive director...

The Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct a "Chapter Response to Disaster" class for those individuals in Vernon and Cedar counties who are interested in becoming a member of the Disaster Action Team. The Red Cross responds 365 days a year to meet the immediate emergency needs of persons who have been affected by a man-made or natural disaster. This is the basic class required to join the Disaster Action Team and respond to local disasters (most often fires)...

Editor's note: Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman presented his artistic pool demonstration at the Osage Prairie YMCA on Tuesday. During the show, and in a post-event interview, he shared more about his life as an expert pool player and entertainer, and how it all came to be...

Many of our western stories laud the bravery of our ancestors who went west to seek their fortune or to establish their new homes. Those of us who enjoy living in Vernon County are possibly descendants of a person, or a couple, who left their families and security "back east" to find new land. I am grateful to them for settling here eventually and have no desire to push further west...