Stories from Thursday, December 9, 2010

Joshua W. Goodwin, 27, of Nevada was arraigned in the 28th Circuit Court of Vernon County on Monday, Dec. 6, on one class B felony charge of assault in the first degree and one charge of the unclassified felony of armed criminal action, according to court documents. Goodwin was read the charges against him and advised of his constitutional rights. He entered a not guilty plea to both charges...

Despite record soybean production in 2010, yields probably could have been even better, says a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist. One reason was green stem syndrome. "Normally, when a soybean plant matures, it drops its leaves and the stems lose their green color," said Travis Harper. ...

Members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, devastated in a Feb. 8, 2009, fire, held a celebration Wednesday night to dedicate a new building. Since the fire, many fundraising efforts took place. By April, parishioners of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lamar had Lenten fish fries, car raffles, carnivals and chili cook-offs, digging deep into their own pockets, and raising $175,000, within a community beset by economic hardship. ...

An open house in honor of Wade Wooley's 50th birthday will be held Saturday, Dec. 11, 1-4 p.m., in the First Christian Church fellowship hall at the corner of Austin and Cedar, Nevada. Guests are encouraged to bring photos or memories to share. For information, call Betty at (417) 549-6237...

Nevada Daily Mail and Herald-Tribune photographer Ralph Pokorny was honored with two awards in the Missouri Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest. Above, Pokorny displays his awards. At right, he was awarded first place for feature photos in the Daily Mail's circulation class; and a baseball photo depicting a broken bat earned a third-place recognition in the sports photography category, above right...

On Dec. 7, officials from the city of Nevada were presented with a certificate announcing the recent award of $191,420 of federal enhancement dollars through the Missouri Department of Transportation. The funds will be used to construct 3,600 feet of new sidewalks along Hickory St. ...

Releasing an 18-song album called "Tips Appreciated," Nevada musician "Dangerous Doug" Harper has reconciled the conflict between making honest music with social value and surviving in a superficial business that is inherently false. Harper's career has had its peaks and valleys since he graduated from Nevada High School in 1997, worked at KNEM-KNMO Radio as a disc jockey and production assistant and studied electronic media at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield...

Paul Richard Grigas, 61, Nevada, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He was born June 27, 1949, in Elizabeth, N.J., to Joseph Frances Grigas and Helen Marcella Diamond Grigas. Paul was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Woodbridge New Jersey High School in 1967. ...

Agatha Arlene Green, 62, Nevada, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, at her home in Nevada. She was born Aug. 10, 1948, in Halo, Texas, to Henry Elton and Muriel Dean Witte. She married Fred Green in 1993 in Carrabelle, Fla., and he preceded her in death in 2006...

Shirley Ann Wait, 78, Nevada, died on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, at Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada...

Taleah Juanita Clark, 56, Sheldon, died on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2010, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo. She was born July 21, 1954, in Kansas City, Mo., to Donald Dean Dawson and Edith Fern Ballard Dawson. No services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada...

November 21 Shawna M. Alkire, Nevada, speeding 50/40. Stephanie L. Brooks, Nevada, expired license plate, no proof of insurance. Randall W. Cassidy Jr., Nevada, speeding 42/30. Jacob P. Fisher, Nevada, open burning while prohibited. Debra L. Gilmore, Nevada, failure to stop at stop sign...

The Cottey College Comets accomplished something they have never done before. They beat Penn Valley Community College on their court, pulling out a 62-58 come-from-behind victory over the Lady Scouts. It was a pretty evenly matched first half, according to Comets head coach Dave Ketterman. The Lady Scouts took a one-point lead at the break, 27-26. First-year Comets Myriah Hicks and Santana Cruz each had eight points in that opening frame...

Play started Monday night in the middle school Tri-County Conference basketball tournaments at Joplin and Anderson. Nevada's seventh grade girls defeated Joplin North, 34-6, at Joplin North with Megan Payne leading the offensive effort with eight points. Madeline Culbertson, Mallory Price and Carsten Warner each had six points on the night...