Stories from Thursday, October 23, 2003

Fall leaves reached the peak of color in the Nevada area this week, according to the National Weather Service, and throughout the city many trees, especially maple trees, displayed brilliant orange, yellow and red leaves, heralding the wintry weather that's just around the corner...

Cody Collins, 5, in the foreground, smiles for the camera as he , complete his run around a course at Nevada Head Start Wednesday afternoon. The preschool conducted a trike-a-thon benefitting St. Jude's Hospital for children. Anyone wishing to donate to the hospital through the Head Start project may do so now through Nov. 1, when donations will be delivered to the hospital...

The Vernon County Commission met with members of the Archetype Design Group Wednesday to discuss issues relating to the proposed new jail. Presiding Commissioner Charlie Johnson said the commission was still looking for a solution to the antiquated facilities now in use. ...

The ongoing saga of Vernon County's child pornography ring has finally neared its end this week as Gary Lee Smith of Jefferson, Ga., was sentenced, in federal court, to 19 years and seven months in prison without parole. In addition, he will have to pay $20,800 restitution to the victim. ...

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- The Cottey College Comets volleyball team edged the Longview Community College Lakers in five games on Tuesday. Cottey (9-8) won games one and two, 30-18 and 32-30, then lost the next two, 17-30 and 28-30, before winning the deciding game 15-13. ...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- The Nevada varsity Tigers were defeated in two games by Neosho in a Southwest Conference matchup on Tuesday. Nevada lost 25-21 and 25-18 to fall to 8-15-2, 3-5 in the conference. Neosho improved to 6-15-5. Hillary Adams, Veronica Mosier and Ashley Beckett led the Tigers with eight service points apiece. ...

100 Years Ago -- October 23, 1903 The stonemasons are now at work dressing the stones that are to be used for curbing on East Cherry Street. Mr. Starkey says he will have another carload of stone here by Tuesday to replace the stone that failed to pass the inspection of Civil Engineer Clack. ...

It isn't often that a middle age plus person eats breakfast with 15 beauty queens and then rides in a parade in the afternoon. It happened to me, however. I was in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to be one of three presenters in a workshop for writers. Two of us had decided to go over the night before to be ready for our 10 a.m. ...

I was recently handed a letterhead copy ofa letter, dated Sept. 10, from a certain railroad company to its employees, telling them that they might be disciplined, or even dismissed, if they exercised their would-be Constitutional right of free speech. ...