Stories from Saturday, February 16, 2019

He doesn’t fit the stereotype of a drug addict. He has a quick smile, is well dressed and speaks with confidence. Thirty-five year old Jason Keith is passionate about his recovery and is quick to share his experiences in hopes of making a difference...

Kaycee Joy Sisseck, 23, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Nevada. Kaycee was born Sept. 25, 1995, in Nevada, to Michael Darren Hawks and Jodi Ann Kennedy. Kaycee was raised in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School Class of 2014. ...

Larry Albert Harms, 57, Kearney, Mo., (formerly of Schell City) passed away on Friday, Feb. 13, 2019. Larry was born Feb. 16, 1961, in Nevada, Mo., to Albert Harms Jr. and Betty Louise (Blakely) Harms. Larry grew up on a farm in rural Schell City and graduated from Schell City High School Class of 1979. Following high school Larry worked all of his life in the construction business as a heavy equipment operator. For the past 17 years he has lived and worked in the Kansas City area...

Della Parkison, 70, of rural Harwood, Mo., passed away after a short illness at Moore-Few Care Center, on Wednesday evening, Feb. 13, 2019. Della was born April 9, 1948, in Plattsburgh, Mo., the daughter of Northrup and Olive Larson. Della attended high school in the El Dorado Springs area, but graduated in 1966 in Grandview, working part time in the home of family friends...

Robert (Bob) David Ross, 79, (formerly of Peoria, Ill.) returned to his heavenly home on Feb. 11, 2019, after a valiant battle with pancreatic and liver cancer. His devotion to his life to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace...

A trio of Nevada High School wresters are competing at the boys and girls state meets in Columbia. For Nevada, senior heavyweight Caleb Longobardi opened Thursday with a dominant showing in the boys' Class 2 tournament — needing just 39 seconds to pin Kansas City Center's Marquan Dickerson. Nevada sophomore Lane Brooks, who has competed in multiple weight-divisions this season, was disqualified prior to his opening match after not making weight in the 113-pound division...

The Nevada High School boys' basketball team has drawn a 3-seed for the upcoming Class 4 District 13 Tournament, and matches up with No. 6 seed Harrisonville in opening-round-play — Feb. 26 in Pleasant Hill. On paper, Nevada (17-6) would appear to be the heavy favorite in the opening-round game, as Harrissonville (5-14) has struggled mightily this season...

The Nevada Middle School seventh and eighth-grade basketball teams put the finishing touches on their respective seasons, with both competing at the Wild West basketball tournaments. The Nevada eighth-grade team, aided by Drew Beachler’s buzzer-beating bank-in three-pointer to force the fifth-place game into overtime, knocked off McDonald County, 41-38, in double overtime Thursday in Carthage. ...

Cottey Comet head golf coach Eric Cameron has secured a commitment from Lee’s Summit North High School senior Julia Scism. Scism capped her prep golf career this past fall on a high-note — garnering All-Conference and All-District accolades, while also qualifying for the state championship tournament...