Stories from Saturday, March 8, 2014

To the trout angler, there is nothing like opening day of fishing in Missouri's four trout parks to remind them that spring is coming soon, despite this winter's cold and snow. Since opening day fell on a Saturday this year, a larger than usual crowd was expected, but the weather forecast kept some anglers away. At Bennett Spring, park officials said attendance was down nearly a thousand from what they expected...

The Nevada Lady Tigers swim team celebrated the just-completed season with an awards banquet Wednesday night. Senior Grace Reichard was recognized as the Lady Tigers' Most Valuable Swimmer, while the Lady Tigers choice award -- an award that's given based on a vote of the swimmers -- was presented to senior Maddi Gordon. Abby Landoll received the Guts Award and Aly Lunkenheimer was honored as the Lady Tigers' Newcomer of the Year...

Ocia Mae Crowe, 92, of Nevada, Mo., passed away March 7, 2014, at the Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada. She was born March 15, 1921, in Richards, Mo., to Silas (Bud) and Jessie Edna (Lawrence) Austin. She attended the Durham School and was later united in marriage to Virgil Lee Reed. ...

Lorn Edward "Sonny" Lawrence, 93, Nevada, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2014, at Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada, after a brief illness. Sonny was born July 28, 1920, in Deerfield, Mo., to Edward and Nellie (Zimmerman) Lawrence. He was united in marriage to Ruth Warner in 1940, in Fort Scott, Kan., and she preceded him in death on May 21, 2009...

Mike (Michael James) Murray, 67, of Albany, died on Thursday, March 6, 2014, of cancer. He was born Jan. 23, 1947, in Watertown, N.Y., to Edward and Virginia (Brown) Murray. Mike grew up in St. Louis, Mo. He attended college in Kansas City, Mo., and Kirksville, Mo. ...

With the weather warming up, the Sheriff's Office has started receiving an increase in theft reports involving anything from scrap metal to vehicles and trailers -- as of this week, even cattle. It never ceases to amaze me that someone could break into someone else's home, take cattle from their land, or take money through a stolen credit card or bank account number. They live with themselves every day, knowing they took something from someone who worked hard...

The Pacesetter awards for community involvement and for large and small businesses and agriculture - these are all designations and honors bestowed at the Chamber of Commerce banquet. Corey Johnson, Mary Mitchell, Con-Way Trucking, the Farmers' Market, and 54 Feed and Seed were all honored...

By Dana Redburn Nevada Parks and Recreation Director Whether we realize it or not, trends influence most every aspect of our lives, forever changing our futures. The current trend shaping the future in parks and recreation is adult and family programming. This type of programming establishes a firm foundation for health in the community and strengthens family bonds...

Hi, neighbors. At 2 a.m. this Sunday morning you must get out of bed and change your clocks ahead one hour. Of course, if you can go back to sleep within 10 minutes, you will find you still miss an entire hour's rest. Some people who are less adventurous set their clocks the night before...

Nevada Daily Mail The Richards town board is seeking more members, now that membership has fallen to two. "They have to live in the city limits and be over 21," Kaila Jones said at the board meeting Thursday. "We need at least two. We are short three board members."...

Nevada Daily Mail National Eating Disorders Awareness week was Feb. 23 to March 1, this year. The goal is to spend that one week devoted solely to increasing conversation and awareness about eating disorders. The week is about creating a safe, encouraging environment for people with eating disorders and to reach out to counselors, friends and family...

Nevada Daily Mail More than 100 people attended this year's Wax Museum display, "Y2K Does Wax: We Brought in the Millennium, While They Left Their Mark," Tuesday evening, at Nevada Middle School. "This is a really fun experience," Katherine Pruitt, who portrayed Walt Disney, said. ...

Sam Foursha, Nevada's former economic development director, announced his candidacy for state representative in Missouri's 126th House District as a Democrat, citing his "wide array of experience in public service and economic development." Foursha, a Nevada native, said he's running because he "wants to be a clear voice of consensus in the Missouri House -- not one beholden to stubborn party politics."...