Stories from Wednesday, March 24, 2010

March 12 Taylor R. Ast, Walker, expired license plates. Timothy Bradford, Carterville, Mo., speeding 40/30. John D. Braucher, Nevada, speeding 40/30. Kaleb E. Claypool, Nevada, speeding 46/30. Noah R. Colopy, Nevada, speeding 42/30. Taylor M. Gower, Nevada, speeding 41/30...

The Vernon County University of Missouri Extension is hosting a presention offering information about universal design and ways homeowners can improve the environment at home called "Make Your Home Safer: Create a Safer Home with Simple Modifications" on Thursday, April 8, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ...

Ruth M. Nelson, 105, of Neodesha, Kan., formerly of Nevada, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2010, at the Golden Living Center, in Neodesha, Kan. She was born on April 21, 1904, in Pleasant Gap, in Bates County, Mo., to Milton E. Fox and Lydia M. Bollweg Fox. She married Harry L. Nelson on March 5, 1925, in Richards, Mo., and he prec eded her in death in 1976...

The Nevada Police Department recently participated in the "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" crackdown, conducted March 12-14. During the increased effort, Nevada Police Department officers identified and took enforcement action on 71 traffic violations including four driving while intoxicated violations, 15 speeding violations and 15 lane violations/other hazardous moving violations. ...

The Vernon County Youth Task Force is hosting a Town Hall meeting for the prevention of underage drinking, at 6:30 tonight, in the auditorium at Nevada High School. The event is free and open to the public, and will be moderated by Carol Branham. Speakers will include Nevada R-5 Superintendent Dr. ...

A country singer who has ties to the area, Sue Thompson, born in Nevada as Eva Sue McKee, is preparing a book about her life and is being assisted in the endeavor by Dan Keenan, a retired Army officer who also has experience in several fields, including as a news anchor. Thompson first learned to sing, play the guitar and ride a horse while living here...

Each year the police departments all over the country publish the statistics from the past year, the city of Nevada Police Department is no different. Each year when the statistics are release they come with caveats. The wording of the caveats varies little, since each year the reasons for them stay the same. ...

"Do we desire to be in a conference? Absolutely." Nevada High School Athletic Director Kevin McKinley has spent most of the last three years holding that mindset after the disbandment of the Southwest Conference in 2007 that left Nevada and McDonald County with the very substantial disadvantage that comes with independent status...

Dear Editor, Five generations of my family have graduated from the two schools that are now combined into the NEVC R-1 School District. The students from our school take second place to no other students. Everyone who wants to attend college does and returns to our community to become business personnel, business owners, skilled nurses, lawyers, judges, welders, teachers, military, skilled mechanics, people of all trades and, most of all, some of the most successful farmers in the state...

Dear Editor, I am writing in support of Proposition S. Voting yes on April 6 will ensure that a new school will be built in the Northeast Vernon County School District. My husband and I are the parents of a second grader and ninth grader who attend NEVC and we are very proud of the board of education, who have spent a lot of time researching what is available for our school district -- contacting state and federal representatives, numerous bankers, architects, construction companies, energy companies and the community. ...