Stories from Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Area students will soon be heading back to the classroom and homework assignments, and they will not be alone. Tuesday, members of the Nevada Planning Commission were given a homework assignment to tackle before their September meeting: look over Nevada's Comprehensive Master Plan and see if they think it needs to be revised...

Vernon County exhibitors still have time to sign up to take part in the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City. This year, the show will be Oct. 19-24. The entry deadline is Sept. 1. Vernon County youth specialist Carol Parmenter noted that there is no 4-H horse show this year; however, there will be a youth horse show on Oct. 9, with three classes -- showmanship, horsemanship and hunt seat equitation. This show is for students in the 8-10, 11-13 and 14-18 age groups...

It's not CSI or one of its clones, where experts can solve complicated cases in an hour of television time, but the police laboratory at Missouri Southern State College in Joplin provides essential analysis services to the Nevada Police Department as well as departments all over southwest Missouri...

James Smith, 14, above, and Matthew Matt, 13, right, were two of a number of youth taking advantage of the skate park at Walton Park Tuesday afternoon. The kids at the skate park were also taking ample breaks on the bleachers under the large shade tree, for relief from the heat. ...

Next week the Sprints are coming for their final visit of the season. Saturday night drivers drew for their starting positions in the heat races and those finishes determined their starting positions in the Features. Racing is really exciting as drivers try hard to get the extra points they need since there are only three more races until the Track Championship is awarded. ...

The Nevada High School fall sports teams started two-a-days Monday, the first day allowed by the state for school sports to begin organized practices. Ryan Herda (right) tries to tip a pass during Wednesday morning's football practice. Look for previews of all NHS fall sports programs beginning next week in the Nevada Daily Mail...