Stories from Monday, December 24, 2012

By Eric Wade Nevada Daily Mail As of Dec. 11, McDonald County's search for a new conference home is over. Effective July 1, 2013, McDonald County will be a member of the Big 8 Conference in everything except sports, with full membership coming the following year...

Nevada Daily Mail State specialists from University of Missouri Extension will be helping producers to manage their crops for profit on Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Vernon County fairgrounds at Centennial Park. Dr. Bill Wiebold will discuss "Crop Management to Increase Yield Stability." and Dr. Peter Scharf will talk on "Managing Fertilizer Application after a Drought."...

By James R. Campbell Nevada Daily Mail One of Neal Gerster's best friends, Stanton Gammon of Walker, says Gerster is always ready to help with any worthwhile project he sees. "A lot of people think a county commissioner works two or three days a week and the rest of the time is your time, but Neal is not that way," said Gammon, who worked with Gerster at Harwood Elevator...

By James R. Campbell Nevada Daily Mail As the second eldest in a family of 11 children, Neal Gerster grew up with a sense of responsibility that carried over into his adult life as leader of a myriad of civic and social activities and as Vernon County's northern commissioner for the past 14 years...

A bill pre-filed last week in the Missouri legislature by Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, proposes allowing teachers and administrators in Missouri public schools to carry concealed weapons on school property. Filed Dec. 18 in the wake of tragic school shootings at Sandy Hook Elemenatary School, Newtown, Conn., Kelley's bill, which has 24 co-sponsors, doesn't require anyone to carry concealed weapons; but if they choose to do so, school staffers would be required to carry them on their person rather than putting them in a drawer or cabinet.. ...

By Lynn A. Wade Nevada Daily Mail Majestic trumpeter swans have made a habit of spending several winter weeks in Nevada, and have been swimming around Katy Allen Lake for a few weeks. These birds, which may weigh up to 30 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 8 feet, were nearly hunted to extinction by the late 1800s because their skin was used to make ladies' powder puffs and the pristine, white feathers were used to make hats...