Stories from Sunday, July 31, 2005

For the 2005 property tax year, Nevada City Manager Craig Hubler is once again recommending a reduced general fund tax levy. The levy would be reduced to $.5350, which is substantially below the approved levy ceiling amount of $.6533. The tax savings for local residents in 2005 will be $100,740...

It's big, it floats and it now belongs to Linda Ballard. Ballard won an 18-foot Bass Pro Suntracker Party Barge by entering a fund-raising contest at the Nevada O'Reilly Auto Parts store on Austin. She and her husband Harold "Junior" Ballard took possession of the pontoon boat Friday in the O'Reilly parking lot with representatives from the Developmental Center of the Ozarks, the organization that benefited from the fund-raiser, and O'Reilly present...

Area anglers flock to the banks of the Marmaton River each spring and summer hoping to catch their limit of fish; however, this summer fishing has not been very good. Anglers are not catching fish on the Marmaton because the fish are not there in big numbers, Tom Prizendorf, a Missouri Department of Conservation biologist in El Dorado Springs, said Thursday...

The Nevada R-5 School District team, above, brought two firsts to the annual Relay for Life this year. It was the team's first time to participate and they were first team to ever reach the platinum level of fund-raising. The platinum level is for teams that raise $10,000 or more, Warren Schooley, Relay for Life chairman, said. ...

Those who listen to local radio stations in Nevada, El Dorado Springs and Stockton may soon be hearing the words of local writer Thelma Shutters, Schell City, set to music, in a song titled, "Whippoorwill's Call." Shutters said the music and vocals are by Ramsey Kearney, a Nashville, Tenn., artist who has co-written songs with Mel Tillis and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry. ...

Tony and Sandra Hitsman, Place Center, Kan., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Sierra Kay Hitsman. Sierra was born on July 13, 2005, at Geary Community Hospital in Junction City, Kan. She weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 18 inches. ...

Ginger Woolston and Travis Williams, Nevada, and Dallas Williams, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Gracie Mae Williams. Gracie was born at 9:58 a.m., on July 25, 2005, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and measured 19 inches. Paternal grandparents are John and Nancy Williams. Maternal grandparents are Rick and Alta Woolston. Maternal great-grandparents are Dale and Kay Woolston...

Travis and Tammy Claypool, Richards, and Zane and Cole, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Kaitlyn Marie Claypool. Kaitlyn was born at 8:35 a.m., on July 12, 2005, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and measured 20 inches. ...

Elsie I. Carlat, 91, formerly of Nevada, died Monday, July 25, 2005. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary E. Driver, Sadie Spillman and Dollie Howell; and one brother, Orville Rapp. Services were held at Ferry Funeral Home on July 30, at 10 a.m., with John Nichols officiating. ...

Roy Herman Hawkins, 87, Walker, died Wednesday, July 27, 2005. Services were held at Moore Cemetery on July 30, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Charles Brown officiating. Musical selection was "The Old Rugged Cross." Pallbearers were Clayton Arnold, Robert Cubbage, Phil Martin, Bill Bishop, Fred Haynes and Adam Arnold. Interment was in Moore Cemetery in Nevada. Arrangements are by Ferry Funeral Home...

Albert Fassel, 89, Schell City, died Thursday, July 28, 2005, at the Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. He is survived by one son, Earl Fassel, Gower, Mo.; three daughters, Sharon Mitchell and Alida Taylor, both of Walker, and Kathy Robertson, Vancouver, Wash.; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren...

The Nevada High School softball team held its summer camp this week at Bushwhacker Field. Above: Erica Klinksick fields a ground ball at shortstop. There were an average of 18 players who attended the camp held by the Lady Tiger coaches. The camp included work on fundamentals in the field and at the plate, as well as some team-building drills and positional work. ...

Two Nevada-area drivers captured wins at Nevada Speedway July 23. Factory Stock driver Shawn Hendren (top) won the Feature for the fourth time this season. With 2,790 points, Hendren leads the season standings in the Factory Stock division. Hendren leads Ken Layman of Webb City, who has 2.390 points. ...

I think I'll become a White Sox fan. Now folks, let me assure you, this is a decision which I do not take lightly and quite possibly could have been 30 years in the making. OK, that's enough. I'm not deaf and could easily hear all those shouts out there of "front-runner." But front-running had little to do with it and a decision as serious as this one might have been at least hastened by the fact that the White Sox are having a spectacular season, but was not brought about by it. ...

In spite of the recent heat wave, fishing can still be great as I found out last week. Getting a late start, I didn't hit the water until close to noon, but the fishing and the catching was as good as any so far this year. On my first cast, a keeper crappie hit my jig before it had dropped 10 feet toward a brush pile. The line hadn't straightened out, but the fish swam away with the jig and a surprised angler hauled it in...

Hi neighbors. It seems we have another giant on the move. In case you haven't been watching world headlines, China is flexing its growing muscles. Perhaps even salivating as it raises it's head up to peep over the Great Wall and see what might be available beyond...