Stories from Saturday, February 6, 2010

Glenn LeRoy Smith, age 68, Mound City, Kan., died Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at Olathe Medical Center. Graveside funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 8, at the Richland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel in Mound City. The family suggests contributions to the Mayo Clinic, Leukemia Research. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.coffelschneider.com. Arrangements are by Coffel-Schneider, Mound City, Kan...

Jimmie R. Dowell, a self-employed subcontractor, passed away on Feb. 5, 2010, at the age of 45. He was preceded in death by his father, Toney Dowell, brother-in-law Timothy Carver, and niece Chasity Dowell. He is survived by his mother Huleta Dowell, of Wichita, brothers, Bill, Gene, Richard (Shelia), and Mike (Patricia) Dowell, all of Wichita; sisters Rita Hawkins, Wichita, Joyce (Duane) Mikesell, Derby, Patricia Brustrom, Cave City, Ark., Theresa (John) Dowell, Atlantic Beach, Fla., Barbara (Martin) Reents, Hope Well, Va., Carolyn (Charles) Goodson, Tonya (Michael) Carver, Wichita; 39 nieces and nephews; 48 great nieces and nephews; one great-great niece; and Goddaughter Kalyn Graves. ...

Viola Frances Urner, 88, Nevada, passed away Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. She was born Sept. 15, 1921, in Nevada, the daughter of Frank Sterling Vaughn and Dexia Asenath Biggs Vaughn. She was married March 27, 1940, to Anthony M. Urner and he preceded her in death July 29, 1966...

Margaret Ellen Shade Branstetter arrived in Heaven at 5:55 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. She had been ill since Christmas Day. She was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her beloved husband, Lawrence A., "Bud"; the twins she miscarried in 1958; her parents; brother; three sisters, Eva, Fay, and Gertrude; many other family members and friends...

The Nevada Public Library is hosting a Narnia preview and trivia game event, a preview of the production of "Narnia -- The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 3:30 p.m.. Attendees can meet the actors, learn about theater and play Narnia trivia for prizes...

The need to take control of tight budgets can start right at home according to Jeff Barber, a housing and environmental design specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "In 2010, homeowners can take advantage of several financial incentives to save tax dollars, capture rebates and begin years of savings on their energy dollars with many inexpensive energy-saving home improvements," said Barber...

Six months after her first inquiry about the Rotary International Youth Exchange, Kelly Clow received confirmation that she will be going to Germany to live for the coming school year. Clow's interest in foreign study began while in St. Louis on vacation during the summer, Clow read a book about a woman and her daughter who had both experienced exchange programs and had recommended the Rotary exchange as a worthwhile and meaningful program...

GARLAND, Kan. -- The Garland Rural Fire Department District No. 2 is proud and happy to announce that they have been awarded a grant in the amount of $219,450 for the purchase of a new vehicle. United States Senators Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., informed the department last week of the funds they would be receiving as part of a $1.24 million effort through the 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program under the U.S. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Tickets are going fast for a performance by a well-known dance company later this month at Fort Scott Community College. Organizers of the performance by the Alvin Ailey II Dance Company, which is set to take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the FSCC Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton St., said tickets for the event have been a hot item since going on sale just a few weeks ago...

On Thursday, Feb. 4, Roy Allen Slates, 55, of Nevada, turned himself in to the Vernon County Sheriff's Office in response to two felony complaints filed in the Circuit Court of Vernon County relating to the Nov. 9, 2009, home invasion in northern Vernon County and the Jan. 8, 2010, kidnapping of a New Jersey man...

Tom and Sally Thorpe, of Nevada, were guests recently at a surprise celebration honoring their 40th wedding anniversary on Feb. 7, 2010. The event was hosted by their children and spouses: Tom and Amy Thorpe of Lincoln, Neb., Tracy and Daniel Barmann, of Nevada, and Craig and Annie Thorpe, also of Nevada...

Tiffany Phillips and Michael Fisher announce their engagement to be married on Sept. 19, 2010, in Stone Harbor, N.J. Their home is in Independence, Mo., where Michael works for the Missouri Mavericks Hockey Team, although they met in Prescott Valley, Ariz., while working together...

For some months now, I've come to believe I'm now -- and have been since I retired from teaching, some six years ago -- living in a new world. Not quite, mind you, a "brave new" world, like Aldous Huxley's drug-altered landscape in the mid-1930s, but a changed one to which I've got to get accustomed, nonetheless...

Hi neighbors. You probably already know Phil the groundhog saw his shadow. That is supposed to mean six more weeks of bad weather. On the other tip of the country General Beauregard Lee of Georgia did not see his shadow, so I guess that part of the country is going to have more spring like weather early...

At times you just know that things happen for a reason. Old dog Jake, the German shorthair, was heading for his 13th year. I knew somewhere in the near future he wouldn't be with me. I'd been out of town all of last week and as usual the neighbor boy just up the hill tended to the three dogs while I was away. ...

Nevada High School class of 2009 graduate Jordan Hagerman was one of four members of the Missouri Valley College Lady Vikings wrestling team to earn All-American honors at the WCWA Nationals last weekend. Hagerman got off to a strong start in the tournament as she defeated Jamestown College's Justina Luafalamana in the opening round of the 82 kg bracket. ...

EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. -- The Nevada Lady Tigers went into action Friday night for the final game in their toughest week of action so far this season as they attempted to spoil Courtwarming for the Lady Bulldogs of El Dorado Springs. The Lady Tigers came into the contest on a high from their first overtime contest of the year Thursday night against the Lady Bears of Butler. In that contest, the Lady Tigers needed an extra period to earn their 13th win of the year by a final score of 66-58...

The cold and dreary days of February can cause outdoorsmen and women to get cabin fever, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are many ways to enjoy this month while waiting for the good fishing, turkey and mushroom hunting in March and April. Hunters still have a few days left in the rabbit, squirrel, snow goose, coyote and crow seasons. Anglers catch some of the largest bass of the year from some of the larger impoundments across the state...

BUFFALO, Mo. -- "(We) may have lost the dual by points, but (it) goes down as a win in my book." Head coach Devin White's Nevada Tigers wrestling team showed what was arguably its strongest performance of the 2009-'10 season Thursday night as it took on the Bison of Buffalo High School...