Stories from Friday, June 2, 2017

Thursday saw the completion of the first phase in the effort to restore the Vernon County Courthouse. Over the past few months, problems with the stone and marble at the building’s four entrances were addressed by a state grant. “It’s called a Missouri Heritage Properties Grant,” said presiding Vernon County commissioner, Joe Hardin. “There’s a priority for buildings listed on the national register of historic places, and this courthouse is one of those.”...

Mariska Buehler got a haircut last week, but instead of going onto the floor and into a trash can, she is donating her hair to Wigs for Kids. “I think it would make them feel better and not be made fun of — it’s a big deal,” Mariska said. The 14 inches of hair Mariska had cut last week will go towards making wigs for children suffering from hair loss because of chemotherapy, or a number of medical conditions...

An out-of-court settlement was reached in a federal lawsuit filed last summer by three former Cottey College student-athletes against the school. The suit –– filed in United States Courts, Western District of Missouri –– by Breauna Carter, Amalia Harris and Dajanae Wilson was formerly dismissed with prejudice on April 5...

The Nevada Griffons opened its 32nd season on the diamond Thursday night at Lyons Stadium, falling to the Midwest Nationals 18- and-under team, 8-5. Nevada (0-1) starting pitcher Dean Alexander, a southpaw out of Gretna, La., encountered early trouble, as Robbie Merced’s second inning two-run blast to left-center field handed the Nationals a 2-0 lead...

Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s Secretary of State, will be at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center at 1 p.m., on Tuesday, June 6. Over the span of an hour, the statewide officer in charge of elections will describe the provisions of the state’s new voter identification requirements in a presentation entitled, “ShowIt2Vote.” He will tell how the state can help those without a photo ID to obtain one at no charge and he will answer questions...

There is a new sight to see in Nevada. When you’re driving down Austin Boulevard and you pass Lynn Street, glance to the right, and you will see a new mural hanging on the east wall of Wilkinson Pharmacy. “I thought it would be a good idea if kids painted one about kids in Vernon County … all the different things the kids do in the county,” artist Mike Conway said...

Well, it’s been a couple of weeks since my last report on the Citizens Police Academy. We have covered a variety of topics each one more interesting than the previous. April 5th was: Introduction to Academy (Chief Crain, Lt. Bastow) and Patrol procedure (Officer Champion)...

“Ross is the real deal,” Greg Hoffman said during Thursday’s recognition of Ross Lawrence as the Nevada Rotary Club’s 2017 Paul Harris Fellow. “There is no question about it. He’s authentic, he’s genuine, he’s passionate. When he gets involved in something like Rotary or United Way or whatever it is he doesn’t just join. He looks for opportunities to improve it and make a difference and he does and has and anybody who works with him sees that,” Hoffman said...