Stories from Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Thelma Viola (Giger) Owen, 94, passed away Monday, April 15, 2013, at Truman Healthcare Center, where she had been a resident for the past 14 months. Thelma, the second child of Grover and Theo (Riddle) Giger, was born Sept. 25, 1918, near Irwin, Mo. She was a life-long resident of that community...

On April 12, 2013, at age 82, the Triune God gave the joy and victory of eternal life to Donald Lee Prater. Born in Essex, Mo., on Oct. 29, 1930, he was the oldest along with siblings, Don, Charles, Dale, Sonny, Bill, Harold, and John, who were largely raised by their maternal grandparents in Dexter, Mo. Early on, Don learned to work hard, help others and take responsibility for family...

Several blood drives have been set in Vernon County to mark World Red Cross Day on May 8 and the American Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to celebrate by donating lifesaving blood in their communities. The need is constant, and all blood types are needed, especially O negative, B negative and A negative, according to a news release from the American Red Cross...

The Nevada City Council will hold a public hearing tonight and vote on a special ordinance to change the zoning of a portion of the 500 block of East Austin Boulevard. The meeting will be at 7 in the city council chambers of the Public Safety Building, 120 S. Ash St...

Hume's School District superintendent has a simple description for legislation that will eventually do away with Missouri's income tax. "It is bad legislation," said David Quick of Senate Bill 125, "It's going to have a big impact on every school in the state."...

Health Fair Connie Denning, above left, and her granddaughter, Marci Denning, try a healthy juice smoothie at a booth of Dr. Ron Jones at the ninth annual Community Health Fair, coordinated by Nevada Regional Medical Center. Delera Vinson of Lamar waits for her serving. The event was Saturday at the Osage Prairie YMCA...

The Cottey College Comets softball team was scheduled to make its return to Vanek Family Memorial Field Tuesday, but yet again, Mother Nature had other plans. The Comets were scheduled to play North Arkansas Community College at home Tuesday afternoon, but those games were canceled due to rainy weather and wet field conditions. This is the sixth doubleheader the Comets have been forced to call off this spring...

Nevada High School athletic director Kevin McKinley announced Monday that Nevada High School officials are planning Meet the Coach Night on May 5. Parents, Booster Club members, alumni, community members, administration and players are all invited to attend and welcome new Nevada Tigers head football coach Eric Yoakam in a "meet and greet" event at Nevada High School. The event will be held at 6 p.m., in the Nevada High School auditorium...

CARTHAGE -- Nevada shot a 347 in the Sonic/Carthage High School Invitational golf tournament Monday at the Carthage Municipal Golf Course. Seventeen teams competed, with the Tigers finishing eighth. "The weather was the same as it has been the entire season this year," said Tigers head coach Brian Leonard. "Predictions were originally to be 70-80 degrees, but instead, it was overcast and 50-55 degrees. The wind was blowing about 15-20 mph, which made the air damp and chilly."...

PECULIAR, Mo. -- Nevada's boys' track team took ninth and the girls 13th in Raymore-Peculiar track invitational Friday. Nevada finished ninth in the boys' division with 29 points. Raytown took the team title with 135 followed by Rockhurst with 128, Ruskin at 97, Raymore-Peculiar at 86, Kearney at 49, Warrensburg at 41, Belton at 32, and Rock Bridge at 31...