Stories from Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Marilyn M. Bigham, 85, Nevada, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2013, at Christian Health Care in Nevada, following a lengthy illness. She was born on July 4, 1927, near Horton, Mo., as the only child to Clarence and Mary (Humble) Compton. On May 20, 1949, she married Arvid L. Bigham in Nevada who preceded her in death on May 8, 1989...

Editor's note: Dr. Selena Kohel, assistant professor of psychology, and Professor Karen Polon from Cottey College led an alternative spring break trip to Thailand last month. Most years, Cottey offers an alternative trip to students for those who may want to go somewhere other than Europe. Dr. Kohel, who has family in Thailand, led this two-week trip for 17 Cottey students. This is the final installment of her story...

Biologists have found zebra mussels in a lake at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area, which is in Vernon and St. Clair counties. Zebra mussels are an invasive species from Eurasia that can cause ecological and property damage. A Missouri Department of Conservation crew conducting a fish study found small zebra mussels attached to a stick on Monday, May 6, said Tom Priesendorf, a MDC fisheries management biologist. ...

A Nevada man accused of killing his estranged wife in July 2009 pleaded not guilty Tuesday during his arraignment in 28th Circuit Court. Bob Beisly II, 57, entered a plea just moments before Presiding Judge James R. Bickel announced he would recuse himself from the case because of his past contact with Beisly. Bickel said a new judge, to be appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court, will preside over the case at the next hearing...