Stories from Thursday, August 4, 2011

Jason Fleener and Pam Smith of Nevada, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their son, Cole Robert Fleener. Cole was born at 1:53 p.m., Friday, July 22, 2011, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 20 and 1/4 inches...

July 17 Tressa M. Fryar, El Dorado Springs, Mo., no proof of insurance. July 19 Ernest P. Clayton III, Lacygne, Kan., expired license plate. July 20 Jennifer E. Heckadon, Nevada, expired license plate. Joseph B. Smotherman, Walker, Mo., expired license plate...

Rachel Lee Applegate Owen, 96, of Schell City, Mo., was born Jan. 8, 1915, in Tiffin, Mo., the daughter of William Clay and Pernia Catherine (McKinley) Heath. She passed from this life on Sunday, July 24, 2011, at her home in Schell City, Mo. As a child, Rachel Lee, along with her family, moved to Schell City where she attended school until the eighth grade. ...

Under a law passed by the Missouri General Assembly and just signed by Gov. Jay Nixon, it will be illegal for teachers to interact with students as "friends" on Facebook and other social networking Web sites. The Missouri State Teachers Association and other teachers' unions are highly critical of the measure that becomes effective Aug. 28, and Vernon County school administrators call it somewhat beside the point because they already have guidelines discouraging the practice...

Set to play the 107th Sheldon Old Settlers' Picnic Aug. 20, native Nevadan Marci Mitchell says her rock-flavored country music will show the influences of her upbringing. "If you come out wanting to hear Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood, that's not me," Marci said Wednesday from Nashville, where she has pursued a musical career since graduating with honors from Pittsburg State with a bachelor's degree in English...