Stories from Thursday, June 10, 2004

By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada R-5 Board of Education reviewed the results of the Stanford Achievement Test for first and second grade students which showed Nevada students significantly more advanced than the national average. "For the past several years the district has targeted reading and math at the primary levels as the best and most expedient path by which to make significant educational gains," Superintendent Ted Davis said. ...

By Ralph Pokorny Nevada Daily Mail The city will not be holding an election in August as planned to renew the one-half cent park and recreation sales tax. During a special city council meeting at noon on Wednesday the council voted 4-0 to cancel the Aug. 3 election so it would not interfere with the Nevada R-5 School District levy increase election scheduled for Aug. 3...

Nevada Daily Mail A trial jury convicted a final co-defendant in a four-person methamphetamine case Tuesday for illegally possessing ephedrine, according to Todd P. Graves, U.S. Attorney. Tony A. Gastineau, 42, of Joplin, Mo., was convicted of the charge that he possessed ephedrine between Dec. 30, 2002, and Jan. 28, 2003, knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine...

Link http://www.nevadadailymail.com/sports/

By Brian Johnson Nevada Daily Mail The United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced last week that the USDA has added some additional funds to the Emergency Conservation Program. The Emergency Conservation Program, is a program that provides assistance to help farmers rebuild farmlands, fences and conservation structures damaged by natural disasters like tornados...

By Brian Johnson Nevada Daily Mail It seems like now, more then ever, our troops need our support. Since the war on Iraq began last year, the community has shown its support for the troops in many small ways -- a campaign to get people to hang yellow ribbons, prayer vigils, various drives to send packages and correspondence to soldiers, news stories on those individuals who left or returned that we knew about, but as time passes, there's been little fanfare to welcome soldiers home or to send them off, wishing them well. ...

An Osceola man escaped uninjured from this accident Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 71 near Nevada. Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Harwell, who investigated the accident, said the 49-year-old Ricky D. Hankins was apparently "running too fast" on the rain-slick highway when the rig jackknifed, and the truck left the roadway on the right side and struck a culvert. Hankins told troopers a gust of wind caught the trailer...

Nevada Daily Mail All alumni, Walton Park Pool staff and families from 1979 to present are invited to attend as special guests for the grand opening of the Walton Park Family Aquatics Center on Saturday, June 12th, at 10 a.m. A free swim will follow short ceremonies, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to view many of the pool's new features, which include a new waterslide, a zero-depth entry and other amenities...

By Lynn A. Wade Nevada Daily Mail Priceless nuggets of information, words and photos printed on paper would eventually crumble into dust, disappearing forever from memory and from the archives of the Vernon County Historical Society if no one bothers to preserve and store them properly...

submitted photo Nathan Ryan was presented his patch for hitting 25 out of 25 targets. To accommodate the large number of participants in the shotgun division of the Vernon County 4-H Shooting Sports they meet each week on Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheldon Trap Club. Top shooters for June 2 and 3 were: Senior division: Matt Byers, Kyle Cushard, Derek Miner, Danny Amick and Kevin Lee. Junior division: Taylor Scotten, Nathan Ryan, Aaron Greer, Josh Jeffries and Clayton Gray...

A memorized task list for setting the table and preparing a meal is still part of my daily ritual. The difference is I remember the list, but don't follow it. For setting the table I was reminded to always put on, knives, forks and spoons, napkins, glasses and plates, bread, butter and jelly, sugar, salt and pepper...

Editor's note: A newly released book, "Peninsula of Lies," by Edward Ball (Simon and Schuster, 2004) delves into the truth and consequences woven into the story of Gordon Langley Hall, who lived in Nevada some 50 years ago. Following is local historian Pat Brophy's take on .....