Stories from Friday, February 8, 2008

Earlier this week the first annual and regular national convention of TIRED (ThisIsReallyEconomicallyDumb.gov.us) was held in our fair city. Delegates took up most of two tables at the coffee shop. It was during the course of the half-morning convention that some of the visiting delegates pointed out the obvious. Cape Girardeau has figured out something the rest of the nation has yet to learn. And we didn't even realize it. That's why it's always good to have outsiders come to town...

Like many times in my life, today was one that regardless of how carefully I planned, it went unerringly wrong. The phrase "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry," fits my past few hours perfectly. The worst part of this debacle is that early on, I knew things were not going well. ...

Helen L. Hillier, 71, of Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, in Kansas City, Mo., following an illness of several months. She was born Aug. 28, 1936, in Sheldon, to John Hobbs and Fern Sallee Hobbs. She married Stanley E. Hillier, on Feb. 8, 1958, in Ketterman, Mo. He preceded her in death on Dec. 11, 1993...

Mary Ruth Pickrel, 89, of Morton, Ill., formerly of Nevada, passed away on Sunday Feb. 3, 2008, at the Apostolic Christian Restmore Nursing Home, in Morton, Ill. She was born Jan. 1, 1919, in Callaway County, Mo., to George Herman Bell and Sarah Salmon Bell...

Virginia "Ginger" Stafford Swearingen, 68, of Sedalia, died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at Bothwell Regional Health Center. She was born Dec. 1, 1939, in Sedalia, the daughter of Elliot Morrison Stafford, Jr. and Virginia Reid Stafford. On Oct. 8, 1960, in Sedalia, she was married to Hinton Wooddy Swearingen, who survives of the home...

Nevada's eighth-grade boys basketball team easily outdistanced the Neosho eight grade team during the semi-final game of the 2008 Tri-County Eighth Grade Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday evening winning 39-21. Although Neosho kept the game close through the first period, Nevada picked up the pace and took control of the game in the second quarter and were never seriously challenged again...

Comedian Tommy Johnagin will perform on the Cottey College campus on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m., in Raney Dining Room. Tommy Johnagin started his stand-up career at the ripe young age of 18. Johnagin dropped out of college at age 21 to pursue his dream and become a full-time comedian...

Educators at Bryan, Benton and Truman elementary schools in Nevada want parents to know about a little-used resource available at the schools. It's the parent lending library, and it offers parents videos, DVDs, books, games and more on things like getting better behavior from children, managing stress, coping with life changes such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. The resources are available for checkout through each school...

Red, pink, love, hearts, teddy bears, roses, and chocolate. What do these things all have in common? Valentine's Day! For one local charity, Valentine's Day is the marker for a special local fund-raisers. Council on Families in Crisis will once again host their annual Valentine's Day Chocolate Sale...