Stories from Thursday, July 15, 2004

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail With milder temperatures and a cool breeze blowing in, day three of the Vernon County Youth Fair was jam-packed with events keeping the participants, and this reporter, busy all day. Events began at 9 o'clock in the morning with the horse and mule show. ...

By Lynn A. Wade Nevada Daily Mail Thelma Shutters of Schell City was 57 years old when she found her voice as a writer. It was a dark time in her life. She'd had back surgery and had experienced physical pain as well as depression that had left her with a low sense of worth...

The city of Nevada will be changing this intersection, at Hunter and Main, from a 2-way stop to a 4-way stop, effective Friday, July 16. City officials said the change is aimed at increasing safety at the intersection. The amount of traffic traveling through the intersection has increased since the Neal Center opened...

Nevada Daily Mail Two men were arraigned Wednesday on charges relating to the murder of 38-year-old Denise Pierce of rural St. Clair County. The men were arrested after a two-day investigation by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with the Vernon County Sheriff's Office, the Barton County Sheriff's Office, Johnson County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri Highway Patrol. ...

By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail A month after approving the budget for the upcoming year it was back on the agenda for the Nevada R-5 School District Board of Education. "Just when you thought we were finished with this year's budget, here it is at the top of the agenda again," Superintendent Ted Davis said. "The change in the revenue forecast is a little more positive than our previous budget."...

Support group forming A support group for those with Sarcoidosis is now forming in the area. Those with an interest in such a group should contact Lisa Monks, Stockton, at (417) 276-6656. Aquacise classes begin The Walton Park Family Aquatic Center will hold Aquacise classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays June 28 through Aug. ...

Deaths Anna E. (Jean) Sparks Anna E. (Jean) Sparks, 76, Fruitport, Mich., formerly of Nevada, died July 12, 2004, at her home. She was born Feb. 2, 1928, in Barry, Mo., the daughter of James R. and Jessie Mae Miller. She married Amos N. Sparks in 1953 in Arlington, Va., and he preceded her in death...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Neptunes were in action for a rare midweek meet as they hosted the Lamar Tiger Sharks at Walton Aquatic Center on Wednesday. The dual meet featured the entire 30-plus members of the Neptunes trying to hold off the Lamar team which had the home team outnumbered drastically...

The job has begun and it still feels like the protective plastic is on the front. You know that stuff on the front of new appliances when you finally get them out of the box, the layer of film-like plastic that covers the controls. That is how it feels to me here, in a new place with a new job and with many new people to meet...

Solving problems Sometimes I feel like I am extremely bright, other times I know I am completely out of date and maybe even a bit stupid. Many things can cause this reaction in me, but it happens most often when I am working crossword puzzles. I have gotten into the rhythm of the ones in the Nevada Daily Mail. ...

Confessions and/or apologies of a novelist Publishing, above all of fiction, can have the feel of disrobing in public. It's embarrassing! One almost wants to apologize for the indelicacy. Who am I anyway, one asks himself, to inflict yet another self-revelation on the world, above all on one's friends?...