Stories from Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Mary Lou Kithcart, 86, was born Feb. 4, 1928, in Butler, Mo., the daughter of James W. and Crystal (Johnson) Sherman. She departed this life on Aug. 9, 2014, with her family at her bedside. She graduated from Butler High School in 1946. She was united in marriage to Melvin Kithcart on Nov. 16, 1946, to this union three children were born. For the next 65 years they were in business together in the Rich Hill area until Melvin's passing on Jan. 26, 2012...

Jimmie Charles Keffer, 69, Walker, Mo., died Aug. 12, 2014, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center, in Nevada. Additional family information and funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date by Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com...

Nevada Daily Mail The Northeast Vernon County High School Future Farmers of America members participated in several summer activities, gained experience in teamwork, communication and leadership skills, and earned funds for their chapter. Members attended a paintball trip to Paintball Ridge in Joplin on May 31, where they learned teamwork and communication skills, while competing with other groups...

Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Planning Commission held a public hearing and then voted 5-0 to send the city council a positive recommendation on accepting all of the necessary easements for the city's sewer interceptor improvement project. Mark Mitchell, Nevada assistant city manager and IT director, told the planning commission that the city code allows it to consider them as one project, which saves considering all of the easements separately...

Nevada Daily Mail The issue of increasing dues for 4-H membership dominated the Missouri University Extension Council meeting Monday. Missouri 4-H increased state membership dues to $20 per child starting Jan. 1, 2015. The local dues are $7. "Missouri 4-H is committed to bringing children the opportunities and quality programs that one expects form 4-H," a letter to 4-H families said. ...

Special to the Daily Mail The Aug. 2 Nevada Daily Mail contained an article I submitted about an Australian woman, Joanna Abernathy, who was bicycling across America. Less than a week after the article was published, the unthinkable happened. Joanna was within 500 miles of her Washington, D.C., final destination when she was struck by a drunk driver and lost her life. Joanna's brother, Jacob Abernathy, discovered the article and was kind enough to let me know via my published email address...

Nevada High School Athletic Director John McNeley has high hopes for the school's athletic programs as they embark upon their inaugural season in the West Central Conference. "It's an exciting time for us," McNeley said. McNeley is entering his second year as the school's athletic director. Former AD Kevin McKinley retired from the position in 2013...

Nevada Daily Mail The issue of increasing dues for 4-H membership dominated the Missouri University Extension Council meeting Monday. Missouri 4-H increased state membership dues to $20 per child starting Jan. 1, 2015. The local dues are $7. "Missouri 4-H is committed to bringing children the opportunities and quality programs that one expects form 4-H," a letter to 4-H families said. ...

July turned out to be a whirlwind month for Nevada Tae Kwon Do students. Three students who competed in their first tournament, Brooklyn Kutina, Nathan Slichenmyer, and Bradey Denny ---- where honored July 26 for their tournament performances. Some local Martial Arts students also participated in the Midwest Martial Arts Association Southern Conference tournament in Springfield, July 19...