Stories from Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced Friday that a Stockton, Mo., woman and her son have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in an arson fire. Dina Larson, 39, of Stockton, and her son, Jacob Smith, 19, have pleaded guilty to the charge contained in an April 1, 2009, federal indictment. Larson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Sept. 17; Smith pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Sept. 15...

According to the Columbia Daily Tribune in Columbia Mo., David Robinson, plant manager of the 3M facility in that city, "is leaving town to become manager of the company's Nevada, Mo., plant, effective Oct. 1." The Tribune said that in July 2005, when Robinson took the helm, the Columbia plant employed more than 650 "full-time equivalent" employees...

With the deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service today reminded potential homebuyers they must complete their first-time home purchases before Dec. 1 to qualify for the special first-time homebuyer credit. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extended the tax credit, which has provided a tax benefit to more than 1.4 million taxpayers so far...

A popular musical event is returning to the First Baptist Church of Nevada on Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. NewSong, winners of the Dove Award and a Grammy Award nominee, has put the city on its "Give Yourself Away Tour." The tour visits 21 cities throughout the South and the Midwest...

Dear Editor: As a result of a recent letter from the Missouri House and Senate budget chairmen to the Commissioner of Education, a controversy is brewing over the Missouri Teachers' Career Ladder Program. In the letter, the chairmen twice used the phrase "...it is the intent of the 95th General Assembly..." and indicate a possible end of funding for the career ladder...

Dear Editor: Health care reform should be more than a buzz word. It should offer a chance to provide coverage, cost control, and most of all, peace of mind. Anything less than an option to force insurance companies to offer an equitable plan at an affordable price is not health care reform. Any plan that does not offer a single payer option will not do this. I am tired of being held for ransom for my health...

The Nevada Lady Tigers varsity volleyball team suffered their second loss at home in three matches as they fell to the Pleasant Hill Chicks Monday night, 25-14, 19-25, 22-25. The Lady Tigers got off to a very strong start in the opening set as they jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on the heels of three consecutive aces by senior Melanie Messick. ...

EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. -- The Nevada Lady Tigers softball team earned their second tournament victory of the year as they posted a clean sweep at the El Dorado Springs Invitational Saturday. In three games, the Lady Tigers outscored the opposition by a staggering 32-1 margin, beating Stockton 8-0 in the closest game of the tournament. Senior Rachel Kennedy pitched a one-hitter in that contest to lead the Lady Tigers to an opening round victory...

The Nevada Lady Tigers golf team was scheduled to be back out on the road Monday, heading to Briarbrook Country Club in Carl Junction, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Due to persistent stormy weather around the area, that match was canceled and has yet to be rescheduled. Lady Tigers head coach Brian Leonard called a possible make-up date "iffy," but no definite decision had been made as of Monday evening...

The Nevada Lady Tigers tennis team showed another strong performance in tournament play Friday as they traveled to Monett. The Lady Tigers took fourth place overall in the tournament out of 11 teams and got individual top-six finishes out of two players, as well as top-fives from two doubles teams. Caitlin Wagner posted the best individual finish of the tournament for the Lady Tigers as she took third in the No. 2 singles bracket while Leah Creasy placed sixth in No. 1 singles competition...

The Hume Lady Hornets volleyball team has posted three strong victories in consecutive matches last week. At the Archie tournament, the Lady Hornets were forced to take on much larger schools, but were still able to come home with a victory over Butler. The Lady Hornets needed just two sets to take the victory over the Lady Bears, winning both sets in close decisions, 25-19 and 25-22...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Cottey College volleyball team posted their first win of the season Saturday with a three-game sweep of Central Bible College, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-20. "Well, we finally got the goose egg off of our record and won our first match of the season," Comets head coach Marla Kannady Foreman said. ...

Sept. 6 An accident occurred at 5:17 p.m., on Ash and Hunter, involving a car driven by Christopher J. Smith, of Nevada, and a car driven by Hannah R. Cartmill, of Nevada. No injuries were reported. Sept. 7 An accident occurred at 10:45 a.m., involving a tractor/trailer driven by Travis K. Anderson, of Nevada, and a building at 501 N. Osage, owned by Bob Beisly, of Nevada. No injuries were reported...

Sept. 15 There were reports of a civil matter in the Nevada area, an agency assist in the Nevada area, a minor motor vehicle accident in the Nevada area, a suspicious vehicle in the Nevada area, goats out in the stateline area, an auto theft in the Harwood area, a careless and imprudent driver in the Walker area, a lost or stolen item in the Harwood area, an ambulance request in the Nevada area, a traffic hazard in the Nevada area, and a suspicious activity in the Harwood area...

Raymond D. Townson, 86, of Bedford, N.H., died Sept. 18, 2009, at his residence after a period of declining health. He was born in Bronaugh, Mo., Nov. 5, 1922, and was the son of Harley and Leona (Knaack) Townson. He lived in Bronaugh, most of his life and had been a resident of New Hampshire since 2003...

Edward Bruce Thurlo, 58, of El Dorado Springs, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, to join his Heavenly Father. Bruce was born on Oct. 10, 1950, to Dorotha Umpherman and Henry Thurlo, in Carrollton, Mo. Bruce grew up in Bosworth, Mo., and graduated in 1968, from Bosworth High School. ...

Corey and Jurea Burchell, of Richards, and big sisters Lorissa and Maerial, are proud to announce the birth of their baby sister and daughter, Neliah Jane Burchell. Neliah was born on Sept. 15, 2009, at the Cedar County Memorial Hospital, in El Dorado Springs. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 20 inches...

Kristin and Travis Gossett, of Olathe, Kan., and big sisters Brittany and Taylor, are proud to announce the birth of their twin sons and brothers, Lucas Jacob Gossett, and Logan Charles Gossett. Lucas was born at 12:37 p.m., and Logan was born at 1:22 p.m. Lucas weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and Logan weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces...