Stories from Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Sheldon boys rally late, beat Bronaugh for tourney title

Nevada Daily Mail SPRINGFIELD -- The name says it all -- the last-chance meet. And on Saturday, Nevada's 200-yard freestyle relay team took advantage of its one last chance. The relay team of Megan Messick, Tayrin Schmitt, Grace Reichard and Emma Denman qualified for the state meet by swimming a qualifying time of 1:46.31. The time needed to qualify was 1:46.59...

Nevada Daily Mail NEVADA -- The Nevada High School boys basketball team will host Springfield Central tonight at Wynn Gymnasium. The varsity game should start around 7:30 p.m. Nevada's boys are now 9-13 on the season. Next, Nevada's girls will play at Webb City tonight. The varsity girls game starts at 6 p.m. The Tigers are now 13-10...

Nevada senior wins third district title, Nevada will send five to state

Red, pink, love, hearts, teddy bears, roses, and chocolate. What do these things all have in common? Valentine's Day! For one local charity, Valentine's Day is the marker for one of their local fundraisers. Council on Families in Crisis will once again host their annual Valentine's Day Chocolate Sale...

Old Man Winter skirted through Vernon County on Monday, leaving behind a less slippery legacy than predicted for the area. Although some freezing drizzle was expected last night, the forecast 3 or more inches of snow bypassed the area, with temperatures hovering in a slightly warmer range than expected over Sunday night...

A cover crops tour is slated for 10 a.m., Feb. 16, during which producers will have the opportunity to view tillage radishes, ryegrass and crimson clover. The University of Missouri Extension tour will be presented at the Steve Cubbage farm. To get to the farm from Nevada, travel east on Austin Boulevard, one and one-half miles east on Old Town Road. At 1900 Road, turn left and the field day will be on the west side of the road...

Representative Barney J. Fisher and Senator David Pearce joined Nevada R-5 Superintendent Dr. David Stephens a dinner to discuss education issues. The dinner was sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators and was held in its meeting room in Jefferson City...

Editor's note: In the following essay, a local woman shares story of her grandparents' love that spanned 60 years; a tribute to the love they carried with them to life's end. On Valentine's Day, we're sharing this reader-submitted story with our readers. For more local love stories, pick up a copy of SHE magazine, available now at the Nevada Daily Mail and The Fort Scott Tribune offices and in racks throughout the coverage area...

Betty Ann Hickam, 69, Lamar, Mo., formerly of Nevada, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar, following an illness of several weeks. She was born March 22, 1942, in Pattonsburg, Mo., to George Phillips and Dorothy Raw Phillips. She was married Nov. 17, 1967, in Miami, Okla., to George "Andy" Hickam and he preceded her in death June 27, 2008...

Dwain Allen Belcher, 61, Nevada, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada. He was born July 8, 1950, in Nevada, to Ralph Edmund Belcher and Frances Louise Yurk Belcher. Dwain was raised in Nevada and graduated from high school in Fort Scott, Kan., in 1969. ...

Bernice Odessa Hall, 78, Nevada, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at the Barone Alzheimer's Care Center in Nevada, following a lengthy illness. She was born March 12, 1933, in Mount Vernon, Mo., to George Alonzo Powers and Harriet Odessa Butler Powers. She was married to Don Lusk who preceded her in death in 1976, and later married Claude Hall and he also preceded her in death...

Johnnie David Bass, 83, of Nevada, Mo., passed away Feb. 12, 2012, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. He was born June 18, 1928, in Crowburg, Kan., to Elmer Everett Bass and Ada Belle (James) Bass. On Feb. 14, 1953, he married Betty Brown in Benton County, Ark. To this union six children were born. After Betty's death, Johnnie married Juanita McCain on Jan. 17, 2009...

Edward Nathan Vaughn passed away at the age of 84, on Feb. 10, 2012, at Christian Health. He was born on May 5, 1928, in Humansville, Mo. His parents were John and Nellie Vaughn. He married Wanda Clearwater on Nov. 4, 1945, in Ottawa, Kan. He farmed until he retired in 1987. He served as volunteer minister of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1957 until his death...