Stories from Wednesday, March 16, 2005

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail No one wants to return to their home one day to find the house ransacked -- beds overturned, the contents of drawers strewn about the floor, personal papers rifled through and precious possessions carted away by a stranger...

By Steve Reed Special to the Daily Mail Hola, Mama! Thursday was another educational module day for faculty and students. This morning I was to lead a group of 18 students to Las Ventas, Madrid's massive bullfighting arena, and more specifically, to the Museo Taurino, the bullfighting museum behind the ring. After a quick attendance check, off we went to Las Ventas...

Nevada Daily Mail Cecil Pritchett, president of the Osage Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. and the Vernon County Soil and Water Conservation District announced Monday that help is needed in collecting vital information in the development of a "Watershed Plan" for the Marmaton and Little Osage River watershed...

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail Tuesday morning, at 11:22 a.m., Nevada firefighters responded to a fire at Vernon County Meats in Nevada. The first firefighters on scene reported that the building was fully involved and immediately called for back-up. Fire crews brought tankers from Milo, Compton Junction and Walker to aid Nevada crews and fought what was described as a "defensive" fire fighting effort due to the heavy involvement of the fire...

Dennis McKinney, 82, formerly of Schell City, died Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. He is survived by three sons, Mike McKinney and David McKinney, both of Nevada, and Terry McKinney, of Schell City; one sister, Mary Rachel Smith, of Waynesboro, Pa.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren...

Alfred Dean Gilliland, the son of Lois Dean and Irene Arbogast Gilliland, was born Feb. 21, 1937, in Fort Scott, Kan., and passed away on March 14, 2005, at his residence at 68 years of age. Mr. Gilliland graduated from Nevada High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1955-1959. He was the father of two daughters, Tina and Teresa, in a previous marriage. He worked at 3M as an electrical/maintenance manager for 26 years. Al was united in marriage to Dolly Ratliff on Dec. 3, 1994...

Ruth Elizabeth Mace, 83, Nevada, died March 13, 2005. Services were held at the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints today, March 16, at 10 a.m., with Ammon Hizer officiating. Speaker was Bill Gillette. Soloist was Loren Hunt. Musical selections were "Love at Home," "Abide With Me" and "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." Organist was Jane Peterson. ...

Charles Edwin Holland, 64, Nevada, died Tuesday, March 15, 2005, in Claremore, Okla. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

Marjorie Nell Williams, 83, of rural Muscatine, Iowa, died Monday, March 7, 2005, at the Unity Hospital at Muscatine. The daughter of James and Nell Seehorn Boyd, she was born July 18, 1921, at Nevada. She married Paul Shepherd in 1940. He preceded her in death. She married Fred Matthews and he preceded her in death. She married Jesse Williams and he preceded her in death in the 1980s...

Lee and Jessie Grant, Pembroke Pines, Fla., are proud to announce the birth of their son, Tanner Riley Grant. Tanner was born at 9:53 a.m., on March 9, 2005, at Memorial West Hospital in Pembroke Pines, Fla. He weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 19.5 inches. ...

Jay and Lisa Abbot are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Jenna Reese Abbott. Jenna was born at 3:41 p.m., on March 10, 2005, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 18 inches. She joins a brother, Brett. ...

Dan Rather is no longer on CBS evening news but still has a place on 60 Minutes Wednesday. The question that comes to mind is "Why?" CBS should just dump him and get on with life. It's like pulling an adhesive bandage off, the slower you pull it off the more painful it is. Rip it off quickly and it doesn't hurt as much...

This is the last in a series of columns about the awards presented at the recently held Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet. The last two columns have been devoted to the 2004 Pacesetter Awards. This one will be about other awards...

100 years ago: AD -- The treasure box There is a box at W.T. Ballagh's popular drug store which will interest all the smokers in Nevada. On the cover is a handsome picture of the great American eagle, while inside are 50 well-made cigars, of good long Havana filler, called Wadsworth Bros. "Chicca," that sell for 50 cents each...

Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Drake Diener scored a career-high 30 points and tied his career best with seven 3-pointers, leading DePaul to a 75-70 victory over Missouri in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night. Quemont Greer added 17 points and Draelon Burns had six assists for the Blue Demons (20-10), who dropped to the NIT after losing three of the last four regular-season games. DePaul will play the winner of Clemson vs. Texas A&M in the second round...

Associated Press MESA, Ariz. -- Kansas City slugger Mike Sweeney is ready to rejoin the Royals' lineup, after the first baseman and designated hitter missed five spring training games with a sore back. ''Sweeney's ready to go,'' manager Tony Pena said after the Royals' 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. ''We just decided to give him one more day. That way everybody would feel comfortable. But he's ready to go, and he will be playing tomorrow.''...

Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR has turned its penalty system up a notch, stripping Jimmie Johnson of his lead in the points and suspending three crew chiefs for cheating at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It's NASCAR's most severe meting out of punishment since the sanctioning body began docking points in 2002...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Offered a contract by the Houston Texans, Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace says ''the ball is really in St. Louis' court'' in deciding whether to retain the veteran lineman. Pace, during a visit Monday with Texans officials, told the Houston Chronicle that negotiations with the Rams are ''at a standstill'' -- what he called typical in recent years, when St. Louis has placed the franchise tag on him...

Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio -- Oakland's first trip to the NCAA tournament will last at least two games. Golden Grizzlies, meet the Tar Heels. Oakland broke open a tight game behind Rawle Marshall's 29 points and Cortney Scott's 21 to beat Alabama A&M 79-69 Tuesday night in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton...