Stories from Sunday, August 21, 2005

Six months ago, Jim and Carrie Rayburn moved their business, Golden Needle Embroidering, from a building at Champion Diamonds to a storefront at 113 South Main Street. Thursday evening they signed a new lease to move again to a larger building at 200 South Alma Street to accommodate the expansion the Rayburns and their new partners, Jody and Bridget Norcross, are planning...

Above, Jerry Cox, on the left, battles it out with Roy Shotts, during the water games, which were part of the festivities kicking off Walker Fun Days Friday night in Walker. The object of the game is to push the keg to the opponent's end of the cable using the fire hose. ...

Preparations for the Walker Fun Days water games were interrupted when the emergency tones issued forth from emergency personnel radios. At 7:20 p.m., Walker fire fighters and first responders were summoned to a traffic accident on U.S. Highway 54, about one mile east of Walker corner, where a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am had struck a 1995 Freightliner tractor-trailer. ...

Members of the newly organized PEO Chapter ND, Nevada, Mo., pose for pictures before ceremonies at the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts at Cottey College. Assisting in the chapter organization were Missouri State Chapter Officers and members of Nevada PEO Chapters KK and DW. ...

Pauline H. Geyer, 73, Dewey, Okla., died Friday, Aug. 19, 2005. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Interment will follow in Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday between 6 and 7 p.m...

Joseph Hope Hornback, Nevada, 95, died Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, at Moore-Few Care Center. Graveside services will be held at a later date in October under the direction of Evergreen Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Vernon County Historical Society, 231 North Main Street, Nevada, MO 64772...

The current obsession this silly season (what some of us in the news business label the time of year when stories are scarce and we look over hill and dale for anything at all to write about) is Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war protester who lost a son in Iraq...

When you only have one senior on a high school athletic team, it becomes easy to question where the leadership will come from. As far as the Nevada Lady Tiger softball team is concerned, that question has been answered. With only second baseman Mallori Adams able to lay claim to the title of senior, the Lady Tigers will be relying on a group of juniors to help lead the program...

While channel surfing one late July afternoon, I came across the movie "The Pride of St. Louis," about Dizzy Dean. Now, whenever there is a baseball move on television I'll watch it, especially the older ones filmed in the vintage stadiums, but this isn't about ballparks or even solely Dizzy Dean, really...

Over the past weekend, I was reminded of just how ponds are the first delight and first great teacher for youngsters and adults alike. Looking down into the clear waters of my pond you enter a new world. Seeing sunfish in the clearings you can watch them forage near the bottom or in mid-water. Sometimes I could drop a can of floating bait and watch how the fish, including channel catfish and big bluegill, come to it...

Jim and Betty Stoner of Grain Valley, Mo., announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Tammy Eberhard, to Jim Phelps Sr., of Nevada. Bride-elect Eberhard is employed by Nevada R-5 School District Transportation as a bus driver. She is a Nevada High School graduate...

Alan and Julie Kearbey of Nevada announce the engagement of their daughter, Becca Kearbey, to Nathan Wessley, son of Marie Wessley of Nevada and Jayson Wessley of Houston, Texas. Bride-elect Kearbey is the owner of the ESBE Hair Salon in Springfield. Prospective-groom Wessley is employed by UPS and Ruby Tuesday's in Springfield...

Sarah Campbell and Dustin Gammon exchanged wedding vows on June 3, 2005, at Nathanael Greene Park in Springfield, Mo. Vows were solemnized by Jeff Gammon, brother of the groom. Parents of the bride are Marianne McCabe of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the late Jerry Campbell. The groom is the son of Doug and Judy Gammon of Nevada...

Brian M. Massey, Joplin, and Katie J. Madsen, Carthage, are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Massey is the son of B.F. and Phyllis Massey, Joplin, and the grandson of Olivia and the late Benjamin Massey, and the late Wyatt and Bernice Johnson, all of Joplin...

Hi neighbors. I'm a creature of habit. I like things to stay the same and I get that way more and more as each year passes. When employed at the old State Hospital and its various evolutions from 1972 on, I remember being taught that one aspect of geriatric care was recognizing that "older folks" didn't like change...