Stories from Sunday, January 27, 2008

In 2003, Dave Isay, the founder of StoryCorps, began collecting the stories of everyday Americans with the idea that everyone has an important story to tell. The following interview of Cynthia Rahn is from a collection of stories, "Listening is an Act of Love":...

On the NBC Evening News of Jan. 24, there was a short film clip of our President slightly slumped against his fancy chair, visibly snoozing while a high-up dignitary was delivering a sermon last Sunday. NBC wasn't the only venue where this notable gaff could be seen; all you had to do was consult any newspaper in the U.S. ...

Hi neighbors. Such an unusual week this has been. It began with an early morning drive to Stockton in Cedar County to attend that county's historical society meeting Saturday. This time the meeting was in the old Hoff home, which is assumed to be the oldest house in Cedar County...

Eugene "Gene" Gray, 55, of Schell City, Mo was welcomed into Heaven on Jan. 23, 2008, from the Elleitt Memorial Hospital, in Appleton City, Mo., after a long struggle with cancer. Gene was born on Dec. 29, 1952, at Walnut Ridge, Ark., to Aileen Gray. ...

Doris Irene Purvis, passed away Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, at Palm Grove Healthcare, Beaumont, Calif., She was 93 years old and had been in failing health for the past few years. Doris was born June 29, 1914, in Edna, Kan., to Sidney Harlow Hunziker and Freda Edna Massey Hunziker. ...

EImo Neal Gerster, age 91, the son of Charles Otis and Daisy Ethel (Scott) Gerster was born Sept. 7, 1916, in Walker, Mo., and passed from this life on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, at his home in Schell City, Missouri. Elmo attended school in Dederick and then graduated from El Dorado Springs High School, in 1934. ...

Nevada, Mo. -- Connie Denning pointed to a small caricature on the document in front of her, carefully pulling the yellowing, delicate old newspaper pages a little closer. "That's Burton Hoff-man," she said. Turning the page, she said, "and that's L.F. Richardson. People can tell who it's supposed to be without being told. This has been at Catherine's (restaurant, on Osage Boulevard, Nevada) and people will say, 'oh, that's my mother! Or, oh, that was my neighbor.'"...

Editor's note: This is the second in a series delving into the causes and impact of sex crimes on the lives of local citizens. The series will continue in next Sunday's edition of the Sunday Herald-Tribune. Next week: A prosecutor's dilemma. This week's poll on www.nevadadailymail.com asked readers if they believe sex offenders can be rehabilitated. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- A number of local agencies that provide aid for area residents can only do so because of assistance provided to them through the local chapter of a well-known national organization. Bourbon County plays host to 18 different community service agencies, which rely partially on funds provided by the Bourbon County United Way. ...

Nevada, Mo. -- People in Vernon County don't like to think there are homeless people among them, but there are. Homelessness looks different in every community, according to Nevada Housing Authority Director Carol Branham. In Vernon County, "It's the young man or young lady who got kicked out of his or her home by the parents, who wants to stay in school and get a diploma. ...

Although the bird (quail) season is over, there are a lot of people that get "birdie" this time of year. Many of them don't hunt with a dog and a gun, they use a binocular to find the birds. As a wide variety of birds gather around backyards and bird feeders, birding doesn't take much equipment, all you need is a good bird identification book, a quality binocular and a good field guide. ...

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Missouri State High School Activities Association released the district assignments for the 2008 and 2009 football seasons and the worst nightmares of many Nevada football fans have come true. First, Nevada has been bumped into Class 4, where it is the third smallest such school in the state. It had been one of the largest Class 3 schools in the state...

RICHMOND, Kan. -- Jayhawk-Linn's boys stepped back into Pioneer League play here Friday night only to find themselves on the short end of a 47-25 loss to Central Heights. The Vikings (2-1 league, 6-6 overall) led 33-7 at halftime. Jayhawk-Linn (0-3, 3-10) saw no one reach double figures in scoring. Kris Bogan led with five points...

NEVADA, Mo. -- Kansas City (Mo.) Renaissance Academy defeated the Nevada Tigers 56-53 Friday night in a game that went down to the final buzzer to decide the winner. With a three point lead, one-tenth of a second on the clock and a Renaissance player at the charity stripe, the game appeared to be over when a Renaissance player committed a lane violation giving Nevada the ball under the Renaissance basket...

NEVADA, Mo. -- Shannon Jolley has officially announced his plans to leave his position as head football coach at Nevada High School after just one season coaching the Tigers. Jolley has decided to move to a position with Eldon, Mo. Schools as Athletics Director and Head Coach...

------------ FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Fort Scott High School student section came dressed as firemen for Homecoming Friday night. At first, it looked as if it was going to take high-powered water cannons to stop the visitors from Pittsburg as the Purple Dragons jumped out to a 17-2 lead in what seemed like the blink of an eye. But the Tigers rescued themselves from the brink of disaster and blazed back for a 48-47 Southeast Kansas League victory...

-------- FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott High's girls won their seventh straight game Friday night, taking a 53-25 win over Pittsburg on Homecoming in Southeast Kansas League play. Tie Tigers (8-1 in the SEK, 9-4 overall) also moved into a tie for the league lead after Iola upset Labette County, 58-52, at Iola. ...

MORAN, Kan. -- Pleasanton's teams were swept by Marmaton Valley here in a non-league doubleheader between the Three Rivers League rivals Friday night. Marmaton Valley's boys took a 65-29 win while Wildcat girls gained their first victory of the season, 45-35...