Stories from Tuesday, December 28, 2004

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail Although snow was not a factor this holiday season, Missouri roads were the scene of many accidents over the holiday weekend. As travelers packed the roads on their way to and from Christmas celebrations, many people were injured and several people killed...

By Kelly Wiese Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.-- When Gov. Bob Holden leaves office next month, he'll take with him only a few gifts received during his time in office, but leave behind dozens of boxes of paperwork covering his four years as Missouri's chief executive...

By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail A slow Christmas season for retail at least had some good news for retailers. Gift certificates and gift cards in various denominations sold before Christmas made for relatively few returns after the holiday. Phil Vinyard, Vinyard Farm and Home Supply, said that the season started off slow but by the week before Christmas business was close to normal for the season...

Looks like delivering all those gifts may have taken a lot out of Santa -- at least, from this inflatable version of the Jolly Old Elf -- and it appears he's taking a nap at 605 S. College. This Santa and his fellow inflatable icon, Frosty the Snowman, stood proudly in front of this residence but now lie on the ground waiting to be stowed away for next year's chance to strut their stuff...

Ida Beth Spencer, 94, Nevada, passed away Friday morning, Dec. 24, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada, following a brief illness, She was born May 20, 1910, near Walker, to Herbert Victor Thompson and Nellie Emmadella Wareham Thompson. She married Harold Spencer on Dec. 17, 1926, in Fort Scott, Kan. After 73 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on March 12, 2000...

Frankie Lucille Fine, the daughter of Frank Clark and Ora Haggard Blevins, was born April 9, 1917, in El Dorado Springs, and passed away Dec. 25, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center at the age of 87 years, 8 months, and 16 days. She moved with her family from El Dorado Springs to Nevada at an early age and spent the rest of her life in Nevada. ...

Georgia Wallace, 70, of Nevada, died on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2004, at Christian Health Care of Nevada following a lengthy illness. She was born on May 12, 1934, in La Cross, Kan., to Wesley E. Adkinson and Ruth E. Waln Adkinson. She married Calvin L. Wallace on Nov. 18, 1950, in Eureka Springs, Ark., and he preceded her in death on April 20, 1995...

Nellie F. Broughton, 72, Nevada, died today, Dec. 28, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

Jackie L. Beeman, age 69, Sheldon, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2004. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

George A. Gilman, 77, died Dec. 23, 2004. Services were held at Ferry Funeral Home on Dec. 27, at 2 p.m., with Terry Mosher officiating. Soloist was Jennifer Gilpin. Musical selections were "How Great Thou Art" and "The Old Rugged Cross." Organist was Betty Seitz. Pallbearers were James McConnaughey, Art Garren, Rick Trower, P.D. McConnaughey, Wayne Reinert and Richard Womelsdorf. Interment was in Deerfield Cemetery Deerfield. Arrangements were by Ferry Funeral Home...

Deep Throat I recently was given some information that affected a friend. The information was sensitive and could have caused the friend some very significant personal problems if it came to light. I came by this information in such a way that if I told this friend of what I had heard, and the friend decided to confront the other person, I would be caught in the middle of the entire situation. ...

100 years ago: Rain, sleet and snow A very sudden change in the weather occurred in this section Monday night and as a result heavy overcoats and winter furs are in evidence. Monday morning the atmosphere was warm and very much like spring weather, but late in the afternoon the southern breezes disappeared and the wintry blasts from the north came suddenly and with telling effect. ...

Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas -- Even by his lofty standards, Lance Armstrong's return to the mountaintop in 2004 was pretty special. The question now facing Armstrong and his legion of fans is whether he'll return to challenge the Pyrenees and the French Alps again in 2005...

Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If ever an NFL game might seem meaningless, it's Sunday's regular-season finale between playoff-bound San Diego and the going-nowhere Kansas City Chiefs. Nevertheless, there are several ways for each team to approach things, and Dick Vermeil can only guess what path the Chargers will take...

George Willhite Kraft, 88, Nevada, died Saturday, Dec. 25, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. He was born July 16, 1916, in Nevada, Vernon County, to George Kraft and Bula Agnes Willhite Kraft. On Sept. 12, 1942, in Nashville, Tenn., George W. Kraft married Naomi Veronica Christilaw from Glenwood, Minn., who survives...

Do you believe in ghosts? Of course you do. EVERYBODY IN AMERICA NOW BELIEVES IN GHOSTS! That, of course, is because a woman recently sold her father's ghost for $65,000. (At first it sounded like an outrageous sum, but then it was revealed that the online casino that bought the ghost -- the same one that bought the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich -- had also received the dead man's cane as part of the deal.)...