Stories from Friday, January 3, 2014

By Eric Wade Daily Mail Sports Editor The calendar year 2013 proved to be an active one for area sports teams. Though the year opened a little bit slow, it didn't take long for things to pick up as the Nevada Tigers basketball team and Cottey College Comets basketball team had a strong month of January. The Comets went well into the month before losing their first game of the season, following a 10-0 start, while the Tigers won the Clinton Tournament for the first time...

Eula M. McReynolds, 94, Nevada, Mo., died on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at Christian Healthcare, in Nevada. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com...

Evelyn Bell, 81, of Schell City, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, at Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, at First Baptist Church, Schell City. Burial will be in Green Mound Cemetery, Harwood, Mo...

Sherry Bea Burnett, 61, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Mo., following a lengthy illness. She was born March 30, 1952, in Lexington, Mo., to Howard R. Burnett Sr. and Mildred Ann Richer Burnett. As a child, Sherry moved with her family to Kansas City and graduated from Ruskin Heights High School in 1971. ...

Maurice Joseph Cundiff, 78, of Lamar, Mo., passed away Dec. 31, 2013. He was born June 29, 1935, in Lamar, to Joe and Hazel Kremp Cundiff. Maurice was an agriculture equipment mechanic. He worked for John Deere and Hartzler's in Nevada, Mo., Purinton's in Lamar, Mo., and farmed with his parents. ...

It's now official, although the forecast was promising we did not have have a "White Christmas" in 2013. I can remember when I was really disappointed if there was no snow on the ground for the holidays, but now, I don't find it nearly so appealing. Still, my memories of so many activities from long past are a pleasant reminder of my youthful days...

OK. Do you have your Christmas tree down or disposed of yet? Are all of your Christmas decorations neatly stored away in clearly-labeled boxes? Have all the snacks you bought or fixed for New Year's Eve been eaten up? Have you finished the last of your New Year's Day ham? Then I guess you are ready for the next thing. But what is it?...

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announced Thursday that Missouri has experienced a strong reduction in traffic fatalities since 2005. Preliminary statistics indicate that Missouri recorded 741 traffic fatalities in 2013. ...

Nevada Daily Mail A much honored tradition returns tonight, the Girl Scout Cookie Crunch-Off. Running 20 plus years, the crunch-off has seen many venues. This year the Girl Scout-run carnival and cookie eating contest starts at 6 p.m. in the community center...