Stories from Friday, May 30, 2014

When I am looking at Facebook on the Internet I get dismayed at the number of four letter words that very nice people use in their messages. I'm not just talking about the misused religious words, but words that to me were considered "not nice in polite company." But lately I have been dismayed at some three letter words...

I received an updated credit card in the mail. It was the same card type, same account number, and my name was the same. Activating the new card should have been child's play, but like so many recent technological wonders, it was anything but. There have been so many changes during my life that at times, it is confusing...

Dear Editor: The Community Council on the Performing Arts (CCPA) is revving up to launch its fundraising drive for the 2014-15 season. As part of this effort, the hard-working volunteers of the CCPA board will be reaching out to the community for support. There are several options available. Aside from exposure, the money is used to incorporate culture and camaraderie that contributes to the betterment of our community...

Dear Editor: I do not think I have openly wept since the loss of my mother... until tonight. Ozark Public Television aired a wonderful show detailing the invasion of France on June 6, 1944. Ken Burns' film "The Necessary War" is, to me, the definitive documentary on World War II. This is an equally impressive documentary on the invasion. They took veterans to the beaches and let them dive in modern submarines to visit the wrecks of the actual ships shot or mined from underneath them...

Doradee Kelso, 96, of Nevada, Mo., passed away Monday, May 26, 2014, at her home in Nevada. She was born on Oct. 22, 1917, to Charles Neal and Amy (Porter) Steward, in Carthage, Mo. She graduated from Carthage High School and from Stephens College, Columbia, Mo. ...

John Michael "Mike" Lawson, 55, of Sheldon, Mo., passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at his son's home in Belton. He was born Sept. 6, 1958, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of John Clark and Shirley Joann (Greer) Lawson. After Mike's school years he was united in marriage to Jodi D. ...

Donaldeen Mae Rei, 86, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. She was born May 10, 1928, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Donald V. Kibble and Beulah Ramsey Kibble. She married Joseph Rei on June 2, 1946, at Mapleton, Kan. He preceded her in death on Jan. 10, 2009...

Nevada Daily mail "It's been quite a journey so far," is how Ian Cummins explained his mission to walk across the United States. Thus far, Cummins has made it to Nevada since taking his first steps from Virginia Beach, Va., marking the edge of the country...

Nevada Daily Mail A Nevada woman was seriously hurt Wednesday morning after colliding with a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 54. Charlotte Michael, 54, and Lamar driver Ronald Spencer were involved in the accident three miles west of Nevada around 7 a.m. According to Missouri Highway Patrol trooper Jason Krehbiel, Michael's car, which was crossing the highway, failed to yield to Spencer's semi-truck...

By Eric Wade Daily Mail Sports Editor As is the case every summer, excitement was high as the Nevada Griffons baseball team opened its season against the Midwest Nationals Blue team at Lyons Stadium Thursday night. The Nationals brought a roster into the contest that was a bit different from what the Griffons typically see, as the Blue squad consists almost exclusively of high school players from the 2014 and 2015 graduating classes. ...

Nevada Daily Mail Charges against a Nevada man for unlawful possession of a firearm have been dismissed. Leviathon Dipman, 23, was arrested by Nevada Police March 13 after executing a search warrant at a home on North Clay. Officers acted on information that Dipman possessed a firearm, which would be in violation of his probation...

Nevada Daily Mail A call to the national Insurance Services Office to determine why some Vernon County residents were seeing drastically increased fire insurance rates determined that no entity in the region -- the county commission, rural fire departments or city government -- is to blame for the increases...

By Pookie DeCocq Special to the Daily Mail I truly love my job at the Osage Prairie YMCA, as there is never a dull moment. A couple months ago, my boss, Jeff Snyder, handed me a letter we had received from "Pat," who was interested in coming to our Y to teach us to play pickleball...

The Nevada Griffons baseball team is scheduled to host its annual summer baseball skills camp for boys and girls, next week. The camp is open to all interested participants, ages 6 through 15 and will be held between 10 a.m. and noon, next Tuesday and Wednesday, at Lyons Stadium. There is a fee for each participant in the camp and completed registration forms can be delivered to Morrison-Post Insurance, at 211 W. Cherry Street, or can also be brought to the camp's opening session on Tuesday...

The Nevada Parks and Recreation Department is hosting an adult co-ed softball league, at the Twin Lakes Sports Complex. Games will be played on Monday evenings, and are scheduled to begin on July 7. League registration is now open and will continue through June 18...

Nevada Daily Mail A Moundville man was pulled from the wreckage of his crushed truck following a collision with a train Wednesday afternoon. Emergency crews responded to a call of an entrapped driver around 4:20 p.m. at the intersection of Panama and Highway 43, west of Nevada. The driver, who appeared to be unconscious when emergency personnel arrived on scene, was later identified as Gilbert Harris, 49, of Moundville...

It is a common thing for children to be fascinated by some of the things a deputy carries on his or her belt, and most kids do not hesitate to ask what something is. Last week, a small child that was in the office asked me why the deputies were wearing such funny looking hats. The deputy being scrutinized by the small child was wearing his campaign hat...

Dear Editor: Mr. Thornton's letter of April 23 states my defense of the Christian founding of America and "freedom of religion" not "freedom from religion" are the result of "proof texting" is falsely discerned. Further, I know nothing of a video, unnamed by Thornton, that has given me "proof texting" for my positions. I decline to read Dershowitz as suggested. He is the type of lawyer who has contributed to America's moral decline...

Hi neighbors. Another month bites the dust and time moves on to whatever comes next. We have always heard older people say that time moves faster the older you get. I don't think time moves faster. I think we start recognizing the passage of cycles...

Local emergency medical services personnel joined with their counterparts and the public during Emergency Medical Services Week that concluded last week, May 18-24. National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line."...