Stories from Thursday, December 17, 2009

Dora Emily (Arnold) Plunkett, age 90, passed away at Nevada Regional Medical Center on Dec. 12, 2009. She was born on Jan. 20, 1919, in Broughton, Kan., to James L. and Minnie (Wilson) Arnold. During World War II, Dora worked at Pratt & Whitney in Kansas. She served as a waitress at various steakhouses for most of the rest of her working career...

Reba Evans Cunningham began her dance with the angels on Dec. 12, 2009. She was born on July 20, 1921, in Blue Eye, Mo., daughter of the Rev. Willie Adron Evans and Floy Baughman Evans. The family lived in Shawnee, Okla., Berryville, Ark., and Picher, Okla...

The Hume Lady Hornets varsity basketball team started off the season with two strong victories recently. On Dec. 3, the Lady Hornets played their first game of the year at home as they took on the Lady Panthers of Sheldon. Three Lady Hornets broke into double figures on the night as Katie Orear finished the contest with 19 points, followed by Carlee Campbell and Makena Thompson with 10 as the Lady Hornets cruised their way to a 46-25 win...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- The Nevada High School freshman girls' basketball team added another strong victory to their record Tuesday night as they faced the Neosho Lady Wildcats. The Lady Wildcats were never really able to get anything going in the contest on either the offensive or defensive end of the floor, allowing head coach Clay Wheeler's Lady Tigers to cruise their way to a 46-6 win. ...

Opening for business in 1979, Great Oaks Country Club has gone through a lot of changes and faces during its operation. However, the recent state of the economy has forced the shareholders of the corporation to make a very tough decision and close the restaurant, Capone's, dissolve the swim and tennis club, and put the facility up for sale...

Osceola, Mo. -- A few weeks ago the Living Waters Foundation submitted a grant application to benefit the Bridge of Hope Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Osceola, Mo. Out of almost 5,000 submissions from around the country, a group of judges selected the top 50 to compete for a $10,000 award for their program. ...

The women's health services clinics will be held on Jan. 12 and Jan. 28, for all clients at the Vernon County Health Department on North Washington Street, Nevada. Other clinic locations also are available in surrounding counties. Participants must call for an appointment and cancellations should be made at least 24 hours in advance. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, today began the first of two visits to Missouri food pantries to make citizens and businesses aware of the opportunity they have to receive a tax credit for helping others in need...

Nine McGennis Old Barn stars will share a little holiday spirit this Saturday, Dec. 19, in a bold move to downtown Rich Hill. Usually, summer's warmth and stars overhead supply the backdrop for some lunacy, but this year, the Rising Sun Opera (the old Booth Theater) will keep the weather at bay for a one-time-only event. ...

A law passed by the 2009 Missouri legislature bans anyone under the age of 21 from texting while driving. While many agree that such a ban is a good idea, many people also wonder why the law doesn't apply to people of any age. Several bills have been filed for the 2010 session that would expand the ban to drivers of all ages...

Evelyn N. Shutters, 86, formerly of Milo, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at Truman Healthcare and Rehab in Lamar. She was born June 5, 1923, in Milo, to William Ison Garrett and Bertha Bell Martin Garrett. She was married to Frank Lowell Shutters on April 12, 1940, in Nevada, and he preceded her in death on June 10, 1984...

Tony and Christine Bowen of Leawood, Kan., are proud to announce the birth of their son, Chance David Bowen. Chance was born on Nov. 23, 2009. Grandparents are Bob and Arlene Bowen, of Nevada, and Judie Ahrenholtz, of Harlen, Iowa. Great-grandparents are Helen Kutina and Wanda Foote, of Nevada...

In a closed session following Monday's regular meeting, the El Dorado Springs R-II School Board reportedly voted not to retain head football coach and Athletic Director Chad Depee, according to mosports.com. Two former coaches, several parents and at least 50 football players packed into the El Dorado Springs High School library and were ultimately heard in an executive session after the regular meeting. ...

Jessie Prather said, "This is a fun place, I always come here. And Logan Brewer commented that, "You can stay with your friends, have fun and learn stuff like teamwork." Jessie and Logan are two of more than a dozen sixth grade boys, the middle school counselor, some members of the Nevada Rotary Club and volunteers met in the Nevada Middle School cafeteria after school Wednesday, Dec. ...

Missouri National Guardsmen in Afghanistan and Iraq are sending holiday wishes home this December. Soldiers from the 203rd Engineer Battalion, 1139th Military Police Company and 1138th Engineer Company took time to tape season's greetings to their friends, families and supporters back home...