Stories from Friday, November 16, 2018

Betty Jo Lathrop was born April 30, 1929, to James Murvy and Mildred Combs Wilson in Polk County near Aldrich, Mo. Betty passed away Nov. 12, 2018, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Mo., after a short illness. As a young woman Betty began working at Big Smith Factory in Lamar, Mo., where she proved to be an accomplished seamstress, specializing in zippers. ...

Robert (Bob) Randall Jones, 87, died at his home in Independence on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Bob was born Sept. 18, 1931, in Orrick, Mo. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Bram Funeral Home in Hamilton, Mo. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home on Nov. 17. Interment will be in the Kingston Cemetery, Kingston, Mo...

Betty M. Allen, 94, born and raised in Nevada, Mo., passed away peacefully at her son’s home in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, Nov. 8. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Bundy Allen; her parents, Paul and Leona Current; five siblings, Pauline Whisler, Maurice, George, Robert, and Ronald Current; and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by two children; four grandchildren; and two great-grandsons...

The Nevada R-5 School Board held their regular meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15. In attendance were Dr. Jeremy Fast, Jay Sloniker, Joy Hawks, Monty Smith, Lois Pendrak, Mike McCaffree, Alyson Harder, Dr. Tyson Beshore, Jodie McNeley, Diann Marti, and Melissa Hendrix...

Sheldon’s Board of Aldermen met in regular session on Thursday with all members present. Mayor Rob Sewell called the meeting to order and the agenda, past minutes and the treasurer’s report were approved. The board discussed the closure of three streets with railroad crossings in town. ...

The Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce Share the Warmth Coat Drive is currently underway. Coat collection began on October 1 and will continue through Dec. 21. Brand new or clean, gently used coats may be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce at 225 W. Austin, KNEM/KNMO Radio at 414 E. Austin or Osage Prairie YMCA at 500 W. Highland in Nevada. While all sizes are needed and accepted, they are especially in need of toddler and extended adult sized coats...

Ben Hines is second to none. After collecting a silver and bronze as a freshman at last year’s Missouri Class 1 state swim meet Hines, a Nevada High School sophomore, returned to the pool with a vengeance this season. Motivated by the near-gold medal misses in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle at last year’s showcase prep event, Hines has remained on a mission to capture state championship gold...

From thanksgiving up through Christmas Eve, an annual fixture in front of Walmart and Woods Supermarket is the sound of a bell being rung by a volunteer, seeking donations into a red kettle in support of the Vernon County Salvation Army. “This is our group’s only fundraiser and we need volunteers to pick a time, sign-up and serve,” said Greg Hoffman who is in charge of the bell-ringers...