Stories from Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Right now Vernon County is nearing an apex, on the verge of breaching a new horizon. New jobs are coming to town and the community is preparing to grow and expand. However, one of the questions on everybody?s mind is: What is going to happen next? Are we going to continue to grow or is this just a high point before the next slump...

John Henson watches as a backhoe removes some debris. The city has the 1500 block of north Main Street closed today while workers put in a curb and gutter.

An accident occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m. Tuesday evening when a white eastbound car driven by Ethel Baucom, Nevada, turned in front of a grey westbound car driven by Joseph D. Byram, Walker. According to an eastbound witness who was just east of the light a westbound car had just gone through the light before the wreck occurred and the left turn light was red. ?The blue car locked up the brakes but there was no way he could miss, he had nowhere to go but straight ahead.?...

In recent years, Dean Stutesman has built several housing developments in the Nevada area and he is ready to begin work on another one. Tuesday night, the Nevada Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the city council approve the final plat for about one-third of Stutesman?s new development and to send the preliminary plat for the remainder of the property on to the city council...

The Nevada Regional Hospital board of directors met with physicians during the January medical staff meeting Monday night. Medical staff got to share with the board their concerns and express their ideas for improving the facility and the policies and procedures...

Martha Lee Dougherty, 88, Nevada, Mo., passed away Monday, Jan. 12, 2004, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, Mo., following a lengthy illness. She was born Oct. 17, 1915, in Fortescue, Mo., the daughter of Lloyd Caleb Smith and Ida May Boyd Smith. She married Thomas Walter Dougherty on March 21, 1936, in Ottawa, Kan. He preceded her in death on Feb. 13, 1994...

Leonard G. ?Shorty? Trower, 72, Walker, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was born May 25, 1931, in Walker, Mo., to John Henry Trower and Emma Saathoff Trower. He married Betty A. Ogle on May 25, 1951, in Walker, Mo., and she survives of the home...

The Nevada Tigers simply couldn?t match Webb City?s firepower in a 68-57 Southwest Conference loss on Tuesday. ?We?re not going to win any shootouts,? said Nevada coach John McNeley. ?We were much less effective on the defensive end than we needed to be...

GOLDEN CITY, Mo. ? The Bronaugh Wildcats, who slipped from sixth to eighth in this week?s state rankings, suffered their second consecutive loss with a 62-47 defeat at the hands of the Jasper Eagles on Tuesday. The Wildcats (9-2) never really got untracked In their opening game of the Golden City Tournament...

Calvary Christian, behind three double-figure scorers, defeated the Training Center Eagles of Garden City, Mo., 62-48 at the Nevada YMCA on Friday. The Eagles rode a solid first-half performance to a 38-21 halftime lead, then cruised to their second win of the season against eight losses...

The Cottey Comets were the victims of a late Bible Baptist dagger in a heartbreaking 56-55 loss on Tuesday. Baptist Bible?s Rachel Green?s field goal with 12 seconds remaining was the difference. Ironically, the Comets were the benefactors of Carol Humphries? last-second shot in a 73-72 win over Baptist in their first encounter earlier in the season...

Next year will be the Sesquicentennial year for Vernon County ? its 150th anniversary. It is coming fast ? are you going to be ready? Many things will take place during the celebration. (Sesquicentennial ? I still cannot pronounce it, hopefully I will achieve this in another year.)...

100 Years Ago ? January 14, 1904 A destructive fire occurred at Girard, Kansas, Wednesday morning that consumed the Elvin Kistler Grocery Store and damaged the building. Parties living in rooms above the store discovered the fire about 4 o?clock in the morning. The stock was valued at $1,500 and was entirely lost. The building was damaged to the amount of $500. The loss was partially covered by insurance...