Stories from Thursday, July 17, 2008

July 3 Gregory E. McKinney, Joplin, Mo., speeding 44/30. July 4 Lisa A. Baggett, Nevada, expired license plates. Jamin W. Koehn, Walker, speeding 56/40. James A. Pryor, Nevada, no proof of insurance. Jason L. Thomas, Nevada, dog running at large. Lora A. Wade, Clinton, Mo., driving while intoxicated...

July 14 There were reports of a careless and imprudent driver in the Lawrence County area, cows out in the Bronaugh area, a careless driver in the Mt. Vernon area, a barn on fire in the Bellamy area, a pursuit in the Bates County area, threats in the Hume area, a wanted person in the Deerfield area, a careless and imprudent driver in the Nevada area, an ambulance request in the Walker area, a possible drunk driver in the Nevada area, horses out in the Montevallo area, a check well being in the Nevada area, a shot with a BB gun in the Nevada area, a 911 hang up in the Nevada area, a check well being in the Nevada area, a 911 ambulance request in the Sheldon area, a missing person in the Walker area, a vehicle vs. ...

Amy and Kelley Ray, of Nevada, and siblings Mason and Megan Ray, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister, Reagan Lynn Ray. Reagan was born at 8:50 a.m., on July 10, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 19 1/2 inches...

When I was a child we had long trips from our farm here in Vernon County to Washington, D.C., each year as we returned at the end of the school year before going back in September. Our large family all went in one car, with the luggage covered with a tarp, fastened on the passenger side of the car with a little folding gate...

During the hot summer months, severe heat can cause illnesses such as beat exhaustion and heat stroke, according to the Vernon County Health Department. Each year more people in the United States die from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined. Ghikiieri under four years old are especially at risk...

It was once a mainstay of the construction business -- easy and cheap to install and a very effective fire-proofing material, but there was a downside to asbestos, its fibers can cause severe illness and even death. Since 1978 asbestos was banned from any new construction in the United States but there are a lot of buildings that were built during its heyday that still contain asbestos...

Associate Professor of Theatre Elizabeth Cox, a 1972 graduate of Nevada High School, has been devoted to fostering her students' confidence, love of words, and ability to breathe life into a playwright's characters throughout her 13 years of service to Plymouth State University. In honor of her creativity, skill and service, her colleagues and students selected Cox as the University's 2008 Distinguished Teacher...

Meet me in Missouri is a musical revue of the music attributed to Missouri composers. It is a delightful show, full of surprises and just down-right nostalgic. I was invited by Marsha Martin, the pianist and producer, to sit in on one of the rehearsals of this production Even though the rehearsal, as most rehearsals run, was somewhat jumbled, stopped for this production change or we need this or that, what I just said about it holds true. It was totally enjoyable and full of fun...