Stories from Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The 87-year-old Franklin School building and the 2.79 acres it sits on have been sold for $27,000 to a Nevada real estate investor who is seeking public input about their possible future usage. With some two dozen people attending the Saturday auction conducted at the 300 S. Spring St. school, Gary Lunkenheimer paid $21,500 for the unoccupied western half of the city block and $5,500 for the tract with the two-story building...

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds motorists that wearing a seat belt can save a life. Many Missourians will travel over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend to enjoy time with friends and family. If traveling this holiday, please make sure the car is in good condition before beginning the trip. It is also important that drivers are well rested before driving...

Rain or shine, Nevada Mayor Jayne Novak is scheduled to switch on the city's annual Light's at the Lake display at Radio Springs Lake, at 6 tonight. Since the Springfield National Weather Service office is calling for a 60-percent chance of rain today and tonight, those who attend the lighting ceremony should dress accordingly...

JEFFERSON CITY - To help people travel around Missouri quickly and safely this holiday weekend, the Missouri Department of Transportation is restricting work on interstates and state highways. Work on all MoDOT construction projects that would impact travel lanes will stop at noon Wednesday, Nov. 24 and resume the morning of Monday, Nov. 29...

An award-winning new video from University of Missouri Extension can help farmers assess their land's potential for supporting bobwhite quail. Bobwhites have more complex habitat requirements than many wildlife species," said Bob Pierce, MU Extension state fisheries and wildlife specialist. "They require an appropriate mix of plant communities that provide food and areas for nesting, rearing broods, loafing and escaping predators--all interspersed closely together."...

A false alarm Tuesday night at a local restaurant prompted Fire Chief Robert Benn to call on Nevadans to pay particular attention to their commercial and home heating systems during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. "It was just a dirty furnace ... It's that time of year." said Benn, outside the Pizza Hut at 1100 E. Austin Blvd., where the lights, sirens and general hubbub outside and on the roof hadn't discouraged the customers from continuing to eat...

Effort aims to educate housing managers on drug identification, other issues

Billy Dean Scotten II, 49, of Nevada, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, at Medicalodge of Nevada. He was born Aug. 19, 1961, in Kansas City, Mo., to Bill D. Scotten and Phyllis J. Raney Scotten. He married Angela Joy Fahnestock on Oct. 13, 2001, in Walker, Mo., and she survives of the home...

Virginia Ann (Walters) Rothenberger, formerly of Schell City, Mo., passed away Nov. 16, 2010, at the Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was born Dec. 11, 1928, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Benjamin Ford Walters and Lara A. (Brooks) Walters...

Donald L. Starr, son of Goldie Scifer and George Starr was born Sept. 8, 1920, in the Double Branch community. He passed away Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010, at the Barone Alzheimer's Care Center, Nevada, after a short illness. Don was a retired carpenter, farmer and school bus driver. He was united in marriage to Wilma Ratts. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends...

Raymond J. Jenkins, 76, of Nevada, passed away at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, following a lengthy illness. Raymond was born on April 19, 1934, in Nevada, to Harry M. Jenkins and Laura Bell Young Jenkins. On June 10, 1954, he was married in Visalia, Calif., to Shirley A. Helums and she survives of the home...