Stories from Friday, January 14, 2011

Linda Louise Dobson Curtis, 60, Nevada, gave up her courageous battle with melanoma and ovarian cancer on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at her home. She was born in the elevator of the hospital in Parsons, Kan., to George E. Dobson and Bernice Rasa Dobson on Sept. 2, 1950. She and Monte J. Curtis were married on July 14, 1978, in Miami, Okla., and he survives of the home...

Russell James Rourk, 86, resident of Bronaugh, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center. He was born on April 15, 1924, in Swart, Mo., the son of Roy Elba Rourk and Laura June McDaniel Rourk. He was a graduate of Arcadia High School and Fort Scott Community College. ...

Nevada heavyweight wrestler Sam Ellifrits pins Carthage freshman Blaine Perry during Thursday's match. Zach Shepherd also won his match with Carthage sophomore Logoan Bryan. Nevada lost the match to the Carthage Tigers 52-12.

The Lighthouse children's Theatre in El Dorado Springs will roll out the red carpet for guests for its third annual gala, to be held April 30. Appearing as this year's guest of honor for the "Lights of Broadway" event is stage, screen and television star John Goodman...

Last year the Nevada R-5 school district was able to cover their budget shortfall by not replacing teachers or staff who retired or resigned. This year, the district is facing a much larger deficit that will be more difficult to resolve. Dr. David Stephens, Nevada R-5 superintendent, told the R-5 board during their monthly meeting Wednesday night at the district's central offices, that if the district received its full funding from the state they would receive about $10 million...

Cottey College faculty, staff, and students have added events to this weekend's celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Opening Ceremony, at 10 a.m., Saturday, will now feature speaker Dr. Teresa Clounch, associate dean of students/director of residence life at Baker University. Her remarks are titled, "I have a Dream ... I am the Dream."...

On Thursday morning the Vernon County Commission and County Clerk Tammi Beach sat down to their final day of work on the 2011 county budget. For the third year in a row it has been difficult to get declining revenues and increasing costs to balance while keeping the county offices and programs running efficiently and productively...

Molly Matlock, right, standing in for 2010 MatWarming queen Andi Alexander, crowns Amber Reasoner as the Nevada High School 2011 Matwarming Queen before Thursday night's wrestling match with Carthage.