Stories from Thursday, June 23, 2011

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Vernon County urges cancer survivors, to take part in the survivor's victory lap which will kick off the 2011 Relay for Life walk on Friday, June 24, on the Nevada Square. "The courage and strength of walking survivors helps the community see that cancer survivorship is real," organizers said. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. with the Survivor Lap beginning at 6:15 p.m...

Treasurer delineates how Payments in Lieu of Taxes will be distributed.

The Nevada Elks Lodge No. 564 will host a public forum to discuss issues regarding the continuation of the 1/2-cent Parks Sales Tax ballot issue, at 6 p.m., June 29, in the Nevada Elks Bingo Hall behind the Elks Lodge at 510 N. Centennial Blvd. The forum will be conducted as a question-and-answer period to address voter concerns about the proposed renewal of the 1/2-cent sales tax for city of Nevada parks and recreation, to be put before voters on the Aug. 2 ballot...

A reception in honor of the opening of an exhibit of art by Kathleen Day will be held at 7 p.m., at the Art Shop, 104 E. Cherry St., Nevada. The show is to include new works, mixed media sculpture and dimensional paintings created by Day, a teacher and a prolific artist, who says she is inspired by found objects, often incorporating old items thrown away. Her artwork also will be featured in the upcoming calendar by Interweave Press...

Discover the history of land surveying in Missouri during a special program Saturday, July 2 at Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site near Ash Grove. The event, titled "Chains and Needles: Surveying Early Missouri," will begin at 2 p.m. and will include a discussion of the work of Nathan Boone and other early surveyors in the state. Admission to the event is free and open to the public...

Katie Rodriguez Banister, 2010 Ms. Wheelchair Missouri hosted by On My Own, Inc., spoke n topics relating to disabilities, in a presentation to students at Benton and Truman elementary schools in Nevada in May. A biography tells her story: In 1990, Katie Rodriguez Banister survived an auto accident that left her a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chest down. After six months of rehabilitation and 15 months residing with her parents, she returned to living independently in 1992...

The story of the year in the East Coast and Midwest art worlds goes back to the old State Hospital No. 3, in 1925, when a 17-year-old Springfield boy named James Edward Deeds Jr. was hospitalized. Known only as "The Electric Pencil" for decades until his identity was recently confirmed by the Springfield News-Leader, Deeds had illustrated 140 pages of ledger paper carrying the names the hospital was then known by: "State Hospital No. 3" and "State Lunatic Asylum No. 3."...

Mary Louise Pettibon, 76, Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at Landmark Hospital in Joplin, Mo., following a lengthy illness. She was born April 27, 1935, in Lamar, Mo., to Walter G. Waring and Mellie Ethal Watson Waring. She married Max Pettibon on March 25, 1953, and he preceded her in death on June 2, 2006...

By Ralph Pokorny Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Griffons used four pitchers, who faced a total of 47 Ozark General's batters over the course of nine innings and the final outcome of the Wednesday night's first of two games with the 6-13 Ozark Generals came down to the final pitch of the game to give the Griffons a 8-5 win...

Jason Lee Thomas, 28, Nevada, died Sunday, June 11, 2011, in Richards, Mo. He was born Jan. 26, 1983, in Kansas City, Mo. Jason grew up in El Dorado Springs and Walker, Mo. He graduated from Northeast Vernon County High School in 2002. Jason worked at various nursing homes and also the Nevada Habilitation Center. He loved spending time with his family, especially his children...