Stories from Thursday, July 7, 2005

Special to the Daily Mail West Central Missouri Community Action Agency is celebrating 40 years of building stronger communities by stabilizing families in crisis and will be hosting open houses throughout its nine county service area and at its central office...

By Kelly Wiese Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State Auditor Claire McCaskill said Wednesday that the Department of Revenue has been hindering her office's attempts to do its job, and she's willing to fight the battle in court. McCaskill said she has had some trouble with other agencies in recent months, but revenue officials have been the largest problem...

By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail Nevada Firefighters Local 3031 once again put on Nevada's premier Fourth of July performance at the Vernon County Fairgrounds. The 13th annual fireworks display benefited from cool breezes, warm crowds and cold watermelon. ...

Mike Ast and Nevada Mayor Brian Leonard display a flag commemorating Nevada and Vernon County's 150th year, during a city council meeting Tuesday night.

Jed and Tatum Massoth and Rees, Wellington, Kan., and Rees are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Trenton James Massoth. Trenton was born at 4:06 p.m., on June 10, 2005, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. He weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches. ...

Aleasha Brokob, Sheldon, and Daylon Sneed and Destiny Brokob are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Dawnielle Koryn Brokob. Dawnielle was born at 12:11 p.m., on July 1, 2005, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 20.25 inches. ...

Dwight W. Ness, 72, Sheldon, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

Betty Jean Whiting, 70, formerly of, Fort Scott, Kan., died Tuesday, July 5, 2005, at the Fort Scott Manor. She was born March 3, 1935, in Hutchinson, Kan., the daughter of Paul Cornelius Whiting and Elizabeth Virginia (Betty Jo) Graham Whiting. She was a graduate of Wichita East High School. ...

There is no way to cram more into a holiday weekend than we just did over the Fourth of July. Each of our activities concerned close relatives and at the time I am writing this essay, we are all still on speaking terms and hopefully enjoying each other...

"The Confederate flag has been used by racist hatemongers, therefore it must be banned!" "There were baddies among the Bushwhackers, therefore the name must go!" This is as sensible as to say, "Airplanes have been used to bomb and kill people, therefore those works of the devil must be banned!"...

I've always been a power to the people kind of guy. I believe in democracy, and I love our representative republic that we call the United States (at least when activist judges aren't dictating from the bench). That being said, I can't stand the way that baseball sets the starters for the All-Star Game...

By Gail Agee Track Reporter Wow! What a night! Cars were flying around the track and there was a 40 Lap Late Model Feature, plus an excellent fireworks display. In memory of Kenny Gilmore the number 73 was lit prior to the fireworks display and birthday cake was available at the concession stand. ...

**100 years ago: Wants a divorce; alleges abuse Harriet Thompson, through Attorneys Scott & Bowker, has filed suit in the circuit court for a divorce from her husband C.W. Thompson. She states that they were married at Clayton, Iowa, Sept. 28, 1970, and lived together until March 1893, and alleges that her husband abused her and threatened to shoot her...