Stories from Sunday, January 2, 2005

The past year has been filled with joy and tears, change and comforting traditions that have endured through many years. Through it all, the people of Vernon County reached out to one another -- to grieve together, to celebrate together, to honor the past and to dream of the future. Here, in the first issue of the year, we take a moment to look back at some of the events and people that shaped our community, in the second part of our series. In this edition are some of 2004's most vivid moments.

Hi neighbors. Another year has passed and a new year is here at last. Are you ready for it? Have you gotten into the 2005 mind set yet so you won't still be writing 2004 for a month or two? It's always strange that it takes us so long to change over. I guess that proves the tenacity of doing things by habit...

Worth noting: God's cake, obeying the law, TennCare: Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation. A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away...

Special to the Herald Don and Shirley Shepley celebrate 50 years of marriage on Jan. 4, 2005.The former Shirley Hill and Donald Shepley were married Jan 4, 1955, at the Church of Christ in El Dorado Springs, Mo. The Shepleys have lived east of Nevada in Vernon County ever since, except for a short time of living inside Nevada while they built their first house...

Special to the Herald Mr. and Mrs. Kerry Fowler of Sheldon, and Mr. and Mrs. Randy Ogle of Nevada announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their children Charity Lynn Fowler and Justin Heath Ogle. The bride-elect is a 1999 graduate of Sheldon High School, Sheldon. She graduated in 2003 from Missouri State University in Springfield, with a bachelor's degree in animal science. She is currently employed by Murphy Family Ventures...

Special to the Nevada Herald Announcement is made of the engagement and approaching marriage of Karen Douglas to Michael Lehmann. The couple will exchange vows on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005. Bride-elect Douglas is the daughter of Charlene Lewis and the late Robert Douglas...

Are the Chiefs worth all this grief? Look at what they've been doing to us and continue to do. I was among the I don't know how many people who long ago reached the conclusion that the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs were not nearly as good as their record indicated...

As the New Year starts, there are a lot of hunters still going after their favorite game, including archery deer and turkey, quail, rabbits and squirrels as well as some waterfowl. Another activity that is growing across the state at this time of year includes several friends who get "birdy." Jack Wilson is one of these people. Wilson loves the outdoors and although he doesn't hunt with a dog or gun, he uses a binocular to find birds...

Associated Press SAN DIEGO -- Except for the sellout crowd, the San Diego Chargers' game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs will have all the charm of an exhibition on a hot August night. In this surprising season, that's not a bad thing for the Chargers...