Stories from Tuesday, July 27, 2021

The three other teams in the South Division of the MINK League were automatically awarded playoff spots once the Nevada Griffons’ season was cancelled. Now that the postseason has begun, though, nothing is guaranteed. While the Sedalia Bombers earned a first-round bye thanks to their first-place season record of 20-17, the Joplin Outlaws (18-21) and Jefferson City Renegades (16-19) battled it out in the wild card round Monday night at Joe Becker Stadium...

This year has been one of firsts for Evan Rea. In the spring, the Nevada High School junior made his maiden voyage to the state tennis tournament. This summer, in preparation for his senior year, Rea played in his first-ever Show-Me State Games. Although a bit of bad luck in seeding prevented him from vying for a MSHSAA medal a few months back, Rea succeeded in winning gold in the 18-and-under boys singles division this past weekend in Columbia...

In the world of competitive nite hunts, there is only one thing better than having a world-class coonhound. It’s having two of them. “I’d say I’ve got two of the best females in the nation in my kennel,” said area 16-year-old Judd Koshko, fresh off his championship in the senior division (ages 13-17) of the 2021 United Kennel Club Youth Nationals event this past weekend in Miami, Okla. ...

Vernon County has seen a surge in active COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks. With the county's vaccination rate being poor, the numbers have climbed. The Nevada Daily Mail sat down and spoke with Vernon County Health Department Director Steve Durnell on the staggering numbers and what the community, at large, can do to help slow the spread...

Roy Parkison Jr. passed away on July 23, 2021, at Nevada Medical Lodges after a lengthy battle with cancer. Roy was born on Dec. 14, 1936, in Harwood, Mo., to Roy Snow and Irene Parkinson. He graduated from Schell City High School in 1955. Upon graduation, Roy worked for a short while in Wichita welding at the Coleman Furnace Company. ...

Anthony "Tony" VanDyk, age 66, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., died on Tuesday evening. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m., at the Schell City Community Building under direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. Memories and video tribute will be held at 2:30 p.m., at the community building...