Stories from Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Linda Jo Bellach, 69, Nevada, passed away on Saturday, July 29, at her home in Nevada following a lengthy illness. Linda was born Feb. 20, 1948, in Rockville, to William J. and Willa D. (Guffey) Bowers. She was united in marriage to George C. Bellach on Sept. 4, 1965, and he survives of the home...

Donald D. Vinzant, age 79, Nevada, passed away on June 25, in Florida. Donald was born into poverty and pain. He spent most of his childhood in foster care or the care of relatives. He was unable to read and write though he did learn to “draw” his name thanks to Mom. ...

Karl Lee Baggett, 64, Nevada, passed away on Saturday, July 29, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, Kan., following a brief illness. Karl was born on Aug. 31, 1952, in Nevada to Robert Lee and Nellie Viola (Crosswhite) Baggett. He married Sherri Rae Venter on Jan. 5, 1980, in Nevada and she survives of the home...

James Warren Hartman, 54, Carterville, Mo., formerly of Nevada and Bronaugh, passed away on Saturday, July 29, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. James was born March 25, 1963, in Lincoln, Neb., to James Wessley and Norma Mae (Crabtree) Hartman. He was united in marriage to Stephanie E. Curtis on June 11, 2016, in Nevada, and she survives of the home...

Nina N. Gardner, 60, died Friday, July 28, in Lamar. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with the Rev. Jerod Lamb officiating. Interment will follow in Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon. You may view obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com...

The Nevada City Council passed on second reading bill number 2017-33 prohibiting smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes in public places at its regular session meeting Tuesday evening with council person Ryan Watts the only “no” vote. Before the vote, Mayor Brian Leonard opened the floor to public comments...

City maintenance employee William Jeffery presented the Walker board of aldermen with a list of projects that needed to be done at the group’s meeting Monday evening. Those projects include servicing the city’s deep well, clear well and water tower — all of which need to be done on a routine basis — repair the drains in the well house, replace the well house door and eventually updating or replacing the water distribution system...

On Tuesday, the southern district commissioner, Everett Wolfe, shared a bit of what he had learned about the Vernon County Youth Fair in the mid-1950s. County recorder of deeds, Doug Shupe, came into the commission’s office with a copy of the land transfer which is the heart of today’s fairgrounds...

Nine-almost-ten-year-old Mia Jackson is a member of Millennium 4-H and this was her first year to show at the Vernon County Youth Fair. Mia competed in the dog show, rabbit show and had several craft projects on display in the Home Ec. Building. “The first time I didn’t do so well,” Mia said of the dog show...

The St. Joseph Mustangs have captured the MINK League championship, winning back-to-back elimination games to knock off the Ozark Generals in the decisive, best of 3 series July 29-31. The Mustangs not only ruled the MINK North division, but also finished with the best record of any team in either division (37-14 overall, 31-13 MINK). Meanwhile Ozark, the MINK South champion, concluded the season 26-20 in MINK League-play (29-21 overall)...