Stories from Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Editor's note: Second-year Cottey College students and staff members make an annual trip to Europe, where educational modules take the students to famous places and immerse them in the culture of the area. This is the last in a series of letters back home, in which Cottey's public information director Steve Reed shares the experience...

The Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program offers protection against financial losses caused by natural disasters on non-insurable crops like pecans, pasture, hay, alfalfa, lespedeza seed, etc. Although eligibility for loss assistance on hay and pasture the last few drought years has been very difficult to qualify for, the eligibility requirements for pecans losses is very reasonable. ...

Deaf History Month is a recent addition to the catalog of national observances and celebrations. It was first observed on March 13, 1997. It celebrates deaf history, in particular key events in deaf history. On April 8, 1864, President Lincoln signed the charter initiating the first established college for the deaf Gallaudet University...

A roomful of friends, family and well-wishers bid a fond farewell to Vernon County Health Department board chairman Jerry Beisner, who has served in that role for 32 years -- since the board's inception in 1974. Allan Laflin, another of the board's original five members, attended the reception in Beisner's honor; and a plaque was presented to Beisner in honor of his service by fellow board member Charles Thompson, who has served for 18 years...

The Community Council on the Performing Arts will present "Social Security", a raucous comedy by Andrew Bergman, this week at the Fox Playhouse. The two-act play, with a cast of six, will be presented Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. ...

Chris and Christine Roper, Nevada, and Metallica, Kearstyn and Kaydence are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Christopher Lee Roper Jr. Christopher was born at 12:25 p.m., March 11, 2006, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 20 inches...

Unforgiving on deathbed FORT SCOTT, Kan., -- Andy Noret, the Missouri Pacific section foreman who was shot last Saturday by Charles Farrell, was buried yesterday. On his deathbed Noret refused to be reconciled to his wife, from whom he had been estranged for some months. He also directed that his brother J.M. Noret should have charge of his body and the funeral arrangements...

On Sunday, tornadoes tore through various parts of Missouri, including southeastern Vernon County. Although no lives were lost in Vernon County, 10 others in other parts of the state weren't so lucky. It's a grim reminder of the terrible danger posed by severe weather in Missouri. In the Montevallo area, some rural homes were destroyed, but these people escaped with their lives...

Awards presented at the recently held Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce banquet and casino night included the Agri-business Pacesetter Award, Small Business Pacesetter Award and Large Business Pacesetter Award. Agriculture is highly important in this area and it is equally important to give recognition in this area...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Right guard Will Shields, an 11-time All-Pro, has agreed to a four-year contract that will ensure his career ends with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team spokesman confirmed Monday. Shields has started 207 games for the Chiefs, who drafted him in the third round out of Nebraska in 1993...