Stories from Sunday, December 12, 2004

The Nevada High School Soundsational Singers perform a wintry spectacular of dance and familiar tunes for the members of the Nevada/Vernon County Area Chamber of Commerce, Friday, during the chamber's annual meeting at the Nevada Country Club. The festive performance brought cheers and an occasional laugh from the crowd as musical appearances were made by some of the most famous of Christmas characters, including Santa, Miss Susie Snowflake, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman, who sang "Blue Christmas" to his girlfriend, who's not around for the holidays.. ...

By Steve Moyer Nevada Herald Saturday was a bad day for weather but a good day for the Southwest Missouri Painters group, a small group of local artists who turned the Schell City Masonic Temple into an art gallery for the day. Ladine Casey, one of the group's members, is looking forward to a showing in Nevada, which is still in the planning stages...

Associated Press LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- State transportation commissioners on Friday approved the expenditure of $159 million on 57 road projects -- the first beneficiaries of a funding plan approved by voters in November. The project list marks the first phase of the transportation department's Smooth Roads Initiative that eventually will spend about $400 million on repaving, striping and other road safety improvements during the next three years...

By Ben Holman Nevada Herald According to Terri Meyers, owner of Evergreen Memorial Chapel, there is a segment of the needy population that is overlooked by the mainstream charitable organizations -- teenagers. "Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and like organizations do a great job with what they do, but they only give gifts to children 12 and under," said Meyers. ...

Maxine V. Hayes, 82, Nevada, passed away Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, in St. Joseph Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., following a short illness. She was born Nov. 13, 1922, in rural Horton, to Carl Raines and Mae Lynn Raines. She married William Jay Hayes on July 22, 1949, in Harrison, Ark., and he preceded her in death on May 22,1994...

Marie Juanita Adams, 88, Nevada, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, following a lengthy illness. She was born Aug. 22, 1916, in Monett, Mo. She was married March 20, 1935, in Nevada, to Lewis Adams who survives of the home...

Daina Jane Luther Ives, 37, died Dec. 7, 2004. Services were held at Pine Street Baptist Church on Dec. 11, at 10:30 a.m., with David Landwehr and Terry Mosher officiating. Musicians were Betty Seitz, Michael Pruitt, June O'Connor, Sarah Morris, Sharon Pruitt. ...

Joseph Jacob Love, 85, died Dec. 8, 2004. Services were held at Evergreen Memorial Chapel on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m., with Bill Garwood officiating. Music selections were "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "The Lord Is My Shepherd" and "Blest Be The Tie That Binds." Vocalists were Brenda and Meredith Love. ...

Dec. 1 editorial, from The Washington Missourian on lobbyist Andrew Blunt: Gov.-elect Matt Blunt has a brother, Andrew, who is a lobbyist. This is said to be a first in state government -- a sitting governor with a sibling as a lobbyist. We take it for granted that the brothers are honest to the core. ...

100 years ago: Prominent Republicans meet in Nevada The following prominent Republicans of the sixth congressional district met in Nevada last night. The meeting was not open to the public, but it is understood that "pie" was the chief dish to be disposed...

By Joe Warren Nevada Herald After falling to Harrison, Ark., on Thursday in the first round of the Lady Eagle Classic in Joplin, the Nevada girls were entering uncharted territory. It was the first time they had to come back from a loss. Nobody knew what to expect on Friday as the Lady Tigers took on Joplin for the second time this season. In the first contest Nevada won a hard-fought four-point victory...

By Joe Warren Nevada Herald The Nevada Tigers overcame an inspired El Dorado Springs ballclub and poor free-throw shooting to beat the Bulldogs on the road Friday, 58-55. In a back-and-forth game, the Tigers had a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter and Ben Wilson took over on the offensive end to pull out the win...

Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- When the NFL schedule was released, Monday night's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans looked like a playoff prelude in prime time. But with a slew of injuries, the Chiefs and Titans are struggling at 4-8 and a long way from the playoffs...

What used to be my favorite time of year for sports at Nevada High School has in recent years been for the most part just a shade better than a nightmare. Football was once the crown jewel of the Nevada athletic program. It had a following that was the envy of southwest Missouri. The Tigers on the road would often equal and even outdraw home crowds...

Although it seems that Thanksgiving has just passed, you don't have an excuse to be one of those last-minute Christmas shoppers, especially if you are shopping for an outdoorsman or woman. Sarah Thompson, who had just come out of Cabela's, said, "It used to be hard to shop for an outdoorsman, but today it's hard to decide just what to get him there are so many choices."...

Special to the Herald Alicia Ann Legleiter of Nevada and Brett David Neil of DeKalb, Mo. were married Oct. 16, 2004, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Nevada, Mo. The Rev. Kim Osborn solemnized the vows of the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Belvin and Ardis Legleiter of Nevada and the bridegroom is the son of David and Peggy Neil of Marshfield, Mo...

Special to the Herald Rich and Lee Ann Jensen of Hill City, S.D., announce the engagement of their daughter, Alicia Jensen, to Marlin K1otz, son of Marvin and Linda Klotz of Nevada. Bride-elect Jensen graduated from Arizona State University, with an Industrial Engineering degree. She is currently employed with TMI Integrated in Fort Worth, Texas...

Special to the Herald Nancy Mohler and Bill Jehle were married on Nov. 19, 2004, in Big Sur, Calif. The couple lives in Topanga, Calif. Attending the outdoor ceremony were dear friends Liisa Larson and Steve Buehler, the groom's son, Wolf, and his brother and sister-in-law, Max and Nancy. The weather and the coast view were spectacular. A celebration dinner followed at Cielo at the Ventana Inn...

Special to the Herald The children of Nevadans Ken and Norma Bruhn have planned a Dec. 19 celebration to honor their parents 50th wedding anniversary. Ken Bruhn and the former Norma Armitage were married Dec. 21, 1954, in Miami, Okla. The Bruhns have two children, Mike Bruhn, Nevada, Mo., and Terri Baugh, Clinton, Mo.;two grandchildren, Stacy Bellamy, Marshall, Mo., and Kenny Bruhn, Nevada; three great-grandchildren, Brianna Bellamy, Taylor Bellamy and Noah Bellamy, Marshall, Mo...

Special to the Herald Glenn Wooldridge and the former Alta Bogart were married Dec. 18, 1954, in Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge, of Moundville, are parents of two sons, Dale, of Nevada, and Darren, of Moundville. A 50th anniversary celebration will be hosted by son and daughter-in-law Dale and Connie Wooldridge on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 2-5 p.m. at 501 S. West Street in Nevada. This special family celebration is open to all friends and relatives. The couple requests the omission of gifts...

Special to the Herald Mr. and Mrs. Bill Higgins will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Dec. 17, 2004. Charles W. (Bill) Higgins and Blanche Alice Peters were married Dec. 17, 1954, at the home of the bride's parents, near Sheldon, where they now reside...

Hi neighbors. Another Christmas is almost here. Another Christmas that many families will be spending together. Unfortunately, there will be many families in America separated by an ocean and a desert. I get lots of e-mail jokes, poems and essays of all types from family members and friends...