August: Year-in-review

This bustling grocery story will soon be a much quiter place after is closed following its sale to Woods Super Market. File photo

The following is a "Year in Review" story for the month of August, showcasing the top stories in the community during that month.

In early August, the city of Nevada moved one step closer to having a dog park where dog owners will be able to bring their dogs for play and exercise off the leash, when the parks board dog park subcommittee voted 5-0, with Lisa Miller absent, to recommend the full parks board approve putting a dog park on unused land at Marmaduke Park. The subcommittee is proposing using about 5 acres, located east of the main entry to Marmaduke Park on Highland and behind the houses on North West Street, for a dog park. The property is currently leased for haying, with the lease expiring in December.

Before the proposal can be implemented, the parks board will have to send the city council a recommendation to make this area a dog park and then, the city council must pass an ordinance establishing a dog park.

In addition to the dog park, the Nevada City Council voted unanimously, on Aug. 19, to give its final approval to a general ordinance requiring dogs to be on a leash, in a fenced yard, tied up, or in an area with a properly-operating electronic fence. Until the enactment of this ordinance, Nevada has never had a leash law. What it had was a control ordinance, requiring dogs to be under the control of their owner.

After the Aug. 5 board of aldermen meeting, Bronaugh residents will need to keep their grass cut to 8 inches in height or less, or find themselves in violation of a new ordinance, approved unanimously by the board. The ordinance also set penalties for accumulations of trash. Property owners will have five days, after they are notified, to bring the property into compliance or request a hearing.

Also in early August, the Bronaugh school levy decreased for 2014. Bronaugh Board of Education set the tax levy at $3.617 per $100 assessed valuation, down 11 cents from last year's $3.72, at their meeting Aug. 8.

The Schell City Board of Aldermen approved a lower property tax rate set by the state auditor's office on Aug. 7. The new rate will be 82 cents per $100 assessed valuation, down 2 cents from last year's rate of 84 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

National Night Out returned to Nevada on Aug. 6, for its 30th year. Sponsored by the Nevada Police Department and Parks Department, the event kicked off with a free swim at the Walton Family Aquatic Center. The crime prevention event involves more than 15,704 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 38 million people were expected to participate in "America's Night Out Against Crime."

Sheldon held its 109th annual Old Settlers Picnic during the third weekend in August. Many locals and people from surrounding communities came together to celebrate the long-standing tradition.

The community favorite summer activity, "Music on the Square," culminated in a variety show on Aug. 22. The Nevada Daily Mail sponsored the event with Sarah Haney, editorial assistant, serving as the master of ceremonies. There were many different acts, including vocal talents, reading of original short stories and a drum solo, among many others.

On Aug. 22, RPCS Inc., owner of Ramey Supermarket, 500 E. Cherry St., announced that the Nevada Ramey, as well as the Summer Fresh grocery store, 312 W. Highway 32, in El Dorado Springs, had been sold to Woods Super Market, which would be closing both stores. RPCS Inc. operates 39 stores in Missouri, six stores in northeast Oklahoma and one store in Baxter Springs, Kan.