Stories from Saturday, May 1, 2010

Betty L. Robinson, 81, formerly of Nevada, passed away on April 28, 2010, at Shady Oaks Healthcare Center, in Thayer, Mo. She was born Jan. 24, 1929, in Thayer, Mo., to Charles Lee and Mary A. Robinson. Survivors include three brothers, Lewis L. Robinson of the state of California, Richard L. ...

Alice Holland, 91, Huntington, W.Va., formerly of Nevada, died on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Huntington. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Announcement is made of the engagement of Allison E. Olin to Justin W. Daly. Allison is the daughter of Thomas and Jean Olin, Sun City, Ariz., and the late Jeanne Bierman, Elgin, Ill. Justin is the son of Jeff Daly, Fort Scott, and Lisa Goddard, Fort Scott. The couple plan to be married in July 2010...

The family of Joe and Doris Norval will host a celebration of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary on May 16, 2010, from 2--4 p.m. at the El Dorado Springs Civic Center, 135 West Spring Street. The occasion is open to friends and family. Joe and Doris were married on May 21, 1960, at the Christian Church in Osage Beach, Mo. Their children are Rusty and Jill Norval, Pam and Gene Shumaker, Joey and Theresa Norval, and Kathy and Myron Rapp...

Bob and Dorothea Nichols Wells, Schell City, were married May 6, 1960, at Yokohama, Japan, while Bob was serving in the U.S. Navy at the Naval Air Station, Atsugi, Japan. They were transferred to the United States and finished the service years at Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Wash. From there they settled in the greater Kansas City area where they spent the next 40 years...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- National Arson Awareness Week 2010 is May 2-8, with this year's theme being "Community Arson Prevention." This year's goal is to focus attention on the devastating crime of arson and provide communities with tools and strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods, businesses, schools and places of worship...

A group of USD 234 teachers were able to promote health and wellness among students and families through a community event last week. On April 22, physical education teachers in the district hosted a Family Fit and Fun Night event for students and families that focused on encouraging families to make healthy choices. ...

FORT SCOTT -- The main gates at the Fort Scott National Cemetery will be closed starting Monday and will remain closed for eight weeks as a major reconstruction project gets underway. Barricades and directional signs will be installed to direct the public and inform them of the change. Visitors will be able to access the cemetery via the 18th Street entrance during the project...

Nevada, Mo. -- The Western Missouri 911 Dispatch Center board of directors met in a closed executive session on Friday, April 30, to discuss with the center's director, April Tarrant, a job of-fered to her by Jasper County Emergency Services. Kelly Stephens, board chairman of the Jasper County Emergency Services board, said that they did offer Tarrant a position with their organization. "She wanted to take a few days to think about it," Kelly said, and he has not heard back from her...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- A local resident has called it quits after nearly 50 years working for the same company. Joe Hull had been one of the most consistent aspects to the operation of Peerless Products. In a time when many people work for a company for a few years, Hull stayed with his first job for 47 years...

With the new community center already seeing plenty of use, from casual users of the gym and rec rooms to events like Friday's Bryan Elementary School carnival, the Nevada Parks Board will be paying tribute to the many contributions that Franklin Norman made to Nevada at 2 p.m., May 27, when they unveil a large plaque in his honor that will be located above the couch in the lobby of the Franklin P. ...

There was an interesting column in the April 16 edition of The Nevada Daily Mail, Richard Carpenter's "Speaking of Sports and Sportsmen" touched on a timely topic that's fascinated me for years: what in the way of personal conduct should we have a right to expect of our professional athletes?...

My newly acquired Brittney that I received from my brother seems to be running out of luck. This April, he celebrated his second birthday. Shortly after his first, he ran into a street in Kansas City, was hit by a car, and after a month of rehab was back on his feet. Brother decided the dog was too much for him to handle so he willed him to me...

ALTOONA, Kan. -- Uniontown's softball team swept Altoona-Midway 12-0 and 13-1 in a Three Rivers League doubleheader Thursday. Uniontown's pitchers, Tayler Shook and Ithaca Marlier, held the Jets to a total of four hits the entire day. "The girls played excellent defense," Eagle head coach Alan Shinn said. "We also threw two of their baserunners out at home."...

PAOLA, Kan. -- Paola swept Fort Scott High School's softball team 5-0 and 10-0 Thursday night as Paola pitching held the Tigers to a total of five hits in the non-league doubleheader. Sidney Maycumber's fifth-inning double in the second game broke up an attempt at a perfect game by the Panthers' freshman pitcher. The game was called after six innings and the Paola pitcher faced only one batter of the minimum...

If you are a crappie angler, now is the time to hit the water. Fishing reports from most area lakes show the crappie run is on and anglers are taking limits of these tasty fish. Everything from minnows to jigs are catching fish that are in water from 1-4 feet deep. ...

COLUMBUS, Kan. -- Senior Nolan Stark won the Columbus Invitational, the last of this year's four Southeast Kansas League designated tournaments, here Thursday as he was the only competitor who was able to shoot under 80. "Nolan had a great day," Fort Scott head coach Ken Klassen said. ...