Stories from Friday, April 4, 2008

For the past three years, the governor and I have had the privilege of living in the Missouri governor's mansion, a beautiful, historic home. Our family has enjoyed living here and sharing the mansion with the thousands of Missourians who have visited here. When we leave, we will take fond memories of wonderful celebrations and of the precious moments of everyday life with our young son, William Branch...

Kenton Tyler Stoddard passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2008, at Menorah Hospital, Overland Park, Kan. He was born Sept. 5, 1970, in Nevada. He received his Master's Degree in Economics from Central Missouri State University. He worked at Midland Loan Services, Overland Park, Kan., from September 1998 until his death. ...

Ella Rebecca Piotrowski, 92, of Nevada, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2008, at Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada, following an illness of several months. She was born Dec. 5, 1915, in Metz, to George Kessler and Nellie Nordruft Kessler. She married Grant Piotrowski in 1945 and he preceded her in death in 1970...

Mary Wanda Prine, 80, Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada, following an illness of several weeks. She was born Jan. 11, 1928, in Oklahoma to Tom Springer and Martha Greemore Springer. She married Jim Prine on Feb. 7, 1948, in Wheatland, Mo., and he preceded her in death on Dec. 31, 2006...

Eagles Aerie No. 3770 is sponsoring a benefit for Children's Mercy Hospital April 5. Activities include a video bowling tournament, a lip sync contest, a pool tournament, a cake walk, jail and bail, ring toss and a grab bag-duck draw. A poker run will feature trips to aeries in five local communities...

On April 8, voters in Nevada will head to the polls to elect two of four candidates to seats on the Nevada City Council. To help voters make an informed decision as to which candidates to choose, the Nevada Daily Mail sent each candidate an identical list of questions. The candidates responses, edited only for style and grammar, appear below...

Administrators, school board members, teachers and students from 43 school districts throughout west-central Missouri are gathering in Warrensburg to celebrate Distinction in Performance awards by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at a banquet in the University Union on the University of Central Missouri campus. Nevada R-5 will be represented there as well, for the students achievements in 2006-'07...

Parents of children who will be five years old on or before July 31, 2008 are asked to "Think P.I.N.K." and attend Parent Information Night for Kindergarten '08-09' at Bryan Elementary School on Monday, April 7, at 7 p.m. The Nevada Parents As Teachers Program and Bryan School will be hosting an open house and information night for parents and their "kindergartners-to-be." The children will visit kindergarten classrooms, enjoy special school activities and be treated to a school bus ride. ...

Nevada, Mo. -- The city of Nevada will start the flushing of water mains on Monday, April 14. Customers within the area of the flushing and surrounding influence areas may experience some discoloration in their water if usage occurs during the flushing period...