Stories from Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Hume R-8 School District is starting an $89,000 project to replace all its lights with smaller, more efficient bulbs installed by Rich Hill contractor Mark Yohe. Superintendent David Quick said Yohe will remove the old size T-12 bulbs and put up T-5s in reflective housings everywhere except in the gymnasium, which got new lights a few years ago...

Fall and spring are fund-raising times for many schools, so residents are often not surprised to find two teenagers at their door selling magazines. "We are in a contest," declares one of the youngsters, "and if we get enough bonus points we can earn a trip to Europe this summer."...

Missouri food price increases have outpaced national trends, according to Missouri Farm Bureau's year-end Marketbasket Survey. The American Farm Bureau also tracks food prices each quarter on the same 16 items nationally that represent a cross-section of agricultural products. ...

The Missouri Nut Growers Association will hold its 2012 Annual Meeting and Nut Show Feb. 3-4 at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center in Nevada. Nut growers from across the state will gather to compare notes on pecan and hickory, black walnut, and chestnut production and to compete in the Nutty Cookie Contest...

The Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce held a Fourth Friday Coffee at Jenny's California Cafe, located on the East side of the Nevada Square. A crowd of about 30 people stopped to enjoy the pastries, to network with colleagues and take a chance on winning two tickets to the upcoming Vernon County Cancer Relief benefit that will take place Feb. 11...

Parks board member Lance Christie shows the parks board a map of the off-road bicycle trail that Christie and another cyclist have laid out in Postlewaite Park during last Wednesday's parks board meeting. He said that they have spent several hours clearing the trail, which is either 1.6 or 2 miles long, depending on the route that is followed. ...

Dorothy Mae McConnaughey, 87, Richards, Mo., passed away on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada, following an illness of a few weeks. She was born July 2, 1924, in Richards, Mo., to James Samuel Blake and Rhoda Mae Norris Blake. She married Lee McConnaughey on March 5, 1941, in Clinton, Mo., and he preceded her in death on June 3, 1983...

Donald L. Proctor, 76, longtime resident of Nevada, died on Jan. 6, 2012. He was born July 22, 1935, in Tulare,Calif., to John J. Proctor Jr. and Edna Mae Proctor. Donald married Donna M. Proctor on Sept. 24, 1961, and they shared 50 years together. She survives of the home...

Nathan and Heather Modlin of Nevada, Mo., and older brother Parker Modlin, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister, Tierney Ann Modlin. Tierney was born at 8:36 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and measured 18 inches in length...

Mary Elizabeth Pettibon, 90, Nevada, died on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com...

Annabelle Lee Arrasmith died on Jan. 27, 2012. She was born on Nov. 27, 1931, near Rich Hill, to Edith Alice (Fritts) and Lee Roy Miller. Visitation was at Heuser Funeral Home in Rich Hill, Mo., from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30. Funeral services will be at First Christian Church in Rich Hill at 11 a.m., today...

Nevada 43, Neosho 31

Nevada Daily Mail KANSAS CITY -- The Nevada High School boys basketball team had the lead entering the fourth quarter, but host Kansas City Central rallied for a 51-45 win over the Tigers on Saturday. After an even and low-scoring first half (17-17), Nevada outscored Central 12-9 in the third quarter and led 29-26 as the fourth quarter began...

Nevada Daily Mail SPRINGFIELD -- The Nevada High School girls swim team competed at the Springfield Invite on Saturday. Nevada sophomore Grace Reichard once again had a fine day in the pool. Reichard took first place in the 100 butterfly with a state-qualifying time of 1:01.63...

Nevada Daily Mail KANSAS CITY -- The Cottey College basketball team ran into a talented Penn Valley squad last Friday night. Host Penn Valley defeated Cottey 75-47. Cottey fell to 6-8 on the season with the loss. Penn Valley led 36-22 by halftime en route to the win...

Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Middle School basketball teams took on Carthage on Monday night. The seventh grade boys beat Carthage 49-30. Matt Sommer scored 30 points and Miles McNeley added eight. The seventh grade boys are now 9-1. The seventh grade B team won 29-29. Cameron Diaz scored 14 and Nathan McCall added eight...

Nevada Daily HUME -- The host Hornets won the girls title at the Hume Tournament last Saturday, beating El Dorado Christian 58-32. Hume (13-2) was led by Makena Thompson's 16 points and 11 rebounds. Tori Sears added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Point guard Emily Brooks scored 11 and handed out nine assists...

"I was at a meeting in Jefferson City on Monday and it started snowing there so I came back early," Dr. David Stephens, Nevada R-5 superintendent said of the Blizzard of 2011. One year ago today, Vernon Countians faced 18 to 20 inches of snow from a storm that assaulted the area...