Stories from Wednesday, October 27, 2004

The Honorable James R. Bickel, presiding Circuit Court judge, presents James Stevens Sr. with a certificate recognizing his successful completion of Drug Court Tuesday night at the Vernon County Courthouse. Stevens, along with Carl Carpenter, was recognized last night in a graduation ceremony for the Drug Court program which was created in 2001 as an alternative to prison for defendants with substance abuse problems. ...

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail There is only one seat on the Vernon County Commission being contested this November. Both the Presiding and Northern Commissioner candidates are running unopposed, while the position of Southern Commissioner will be appointed by the voters this November...

Nevada Daily Mail Autopsies for the incident involving two Sheldon residents Monday night have been completed and the Vernon County Sheriff's office has now released the official results. At approximately 7:15 Monday night the Sheldon chief of police received a call on a domestic disturbance at 201 Anderson Street in Sheldon that ended in the deaths of both parties involved. The Vernon County Sheriff's Office was called for assistance and responded...

By Nancy Malcom Nevada Daily Mail It's been another busy year for the Bushwhacker Museum and the Vernon County Historical Society. Patrick Brophy, curator, corresponding secretary and editor of the quarterly newsletter, "Bushwhacker Musings," explained, "The activities of the society and museum are intermixed and indistinguishable." The society was organized in 1938, but became inactive during the war in 1944. ...

Last in a six-part, weekly series examining key issues in the Missouri governor's race. By Marc Powers Nevada Daily Mail JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In the last two years, Missouri voters have rejected three statewide ballot proposals to raise taxes. Repeated calls by Gov. Bob Holden for higher taxes, mostly on smokers and casinos, during the same period fell on deaf ears in the Republican-led legislature...

Above, three generations of pumpkin decorators worked on this masterpiece Tuesday evening during the third annual Pumpkin Carving event held at Bryan School for one of their Kindergarten Enrichment Night activities. While a few students and parents carved traditional jack-o-lanterns, most chose to decorate a pumpkin. ...

Obituaries Thompson Jay Bound Thompson Jay Bound, 57, Montevallo, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, following a brief illness. He was born June 26, 1947, in Nevada, to William Thompson Bound and Nellie Opal Smith Bound...

In support of Bekki Cook Dear editor: I am writing this letter to encourage my fellow readers of your newspaper to vote for Bekki Cook for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Missouri on Nov. 2. Bekki is best known to Missourians as the Missouri secretary of state from 1994 to 2000. ...

Campaigns come to an end The campaigning for the 2004 election has been going on for months -- even years. Tuesday will be time to cast votes. We should know the results by the next day -- unless it is too close, then we will not know for some time. About half of the population will be celebrating and happy with the results. The other half will be disappointed and sad...

100 years ago: Several cases of diphtheria identified in the area. There are several cases of diphtheria in this city but so far the danger is not considered such as would necessitate the closing of the public schools. Superintendent Clark says that he has consulted several physicians but none had advised the closing of the schools. A majority of the cases seem to be in the northeast part of this city although there are cases in the south and west part of the city as far as can be learned...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail Nevada junior tennis player Lisa Pendrak finished seventh overall in singles play at the Missouri State Class 1 Singles Tournament this weekend. Pendrak won two matches and lost two as she set school records for most wins in a season...

Nevada Daily Mail Both Nevada Middle School girls basketball teams opened their seasons against Webb City Monday. The eighth-grade A-team lost to Webb City, 39-34 in double overtime. Heidi Wilson and Taylor Means led the Lady Tigers with 10 and 11 points, respectively...

Nevada Daily Mail The Cottey Comets finished their regular season Tuesday, losing to the Mid-America University junior varsity in five games, 29-31, 30-27, 30-19, 24-30 and 16-14. The loss dropped Cottey's record to 12-12 this season heading into the Region XVI tournament at Florissant Valley Saturday...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Fourteen years after Tony La Russa's 103-win Oakland team was swept in the World Series by underdog Cincinnati, the St. Louis manager is facing the same outcome against the wild-card Boston Red Sox. ''We're in about as difficult a spot as you can be in,'' the manager said Tuesday night after the Red Sox beat the Cardinals 4-1 to take a 3-0 lead...

The Calvary Christian Eagles finished sixth at the Missouri Christian Schools State Volleyball Tournament last week. The Eagles went 7-5 in pool play to start the tournament, finishing third in the seven-team pool. Then Calvary played New Salem Baptist of Marble Hill in the championship bracket, losing a close match 25-18 and 26-24...