Stories from Thursday, January 18, 2007

By Lynn A. Wade Nevada Daily Mail Pat Chambers, Vernon County United Way fund-raising co-chair, grinned from ear to ear as he told the small crowd gathered at the Nevada Country Club the news. "You've all probably seen the big thermometer by the police department that shows how much we've raised. We're please to say that we have reached our goal," Chambers said...

Judy Laquidara's son was supposed to be clearing the driveway, but meanwhile he took the opportunity to erect a natural sculpture on the frozen lawn, adding a creative twist to Mother Nature's chilly demeanor at the family's Nevada home earlier this week...

By Ralph Pokorny Nevada Daily Mail The Vernon County Local Emergency Planning Committee usually starts planning their annual fall emergency drill in July or August, with the drill to be held in late September or early October. This year they are getting off to an earlier start...

By Lynn A. Wade Nevada Daily Mail A new legislative session has begun, and State Representative Barney Fisher, R-125, already has reported that a plan for legislation aimed at doing away with state income tax on Social Security retirement income has been unveiled in the legislature...

Robert Gene Nunez, 76, Kingsville, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at Lee's Summit Hospital, Lee's Summit, Mo., following a brief illness. He was born Aug. 12, 1930, in Moundville, Mo., to Frank Nunez and Mary Ellen Little Nunez. He married Barbara Rice on Sept. 30, 1990, in Kansas City, Mo., and she survives...

Mary Lou Palmer, 80, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 27, 1926, in Nevada, to Frank Shade and Mary E. Fox Shade. She married Donald Lee Palmer on Jan. 11, 1952, in Nevada, and he survives of the home...

Dorothy F. Dailey, 83, passed away suddenly Jan. 14, 2007, in Springfield, Mo. She was born Oct. 13, 1923, in Ames, Iowa, to Norvil D. Floyd and Lola Moore Floyd. On Nov. 2, 1945, she married Ralph R. Dailey who preceded her in death in 1977. Besides being a mother and a homemaker, Dorothy was a bank teller at Sheldon State Bank while residing in Milo, Mo. ...

Those of us who have lived through this last week are not too concerned right now about global warming. It's funny how our memories get mixed when we think back to former cold spells and dry spells. Each generation has its own version of the most terrible winter or summer, but when we are in the middle of an unusual cold snap we tend to think back to all those earlier freezes...

100 years ago Thousands are homeless CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Thousands of people along the Ohio river are homeless because of the prevailing high water. Indications point to a stage of at least 55 feet for the river in this city, making this the greatest flood since February 1884. The city authorities today began to care for the flood victims. School buildings and churches have been opened as temporary homes for the homeless...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail Lamar is lost and Neosho might not be too far behind. At least that's what NHS athletic director Kevin McKinley said as the ever-growing list of ice storm postponements added another chapter. Tonight's scheduled girls basketball JV-varsity doubleheader at Wynn Gymnasium has been postponed until Friday, Feb. 2. The Nevada-Lamar boys were already scheduled to play that day and it will now be a girls-boys doubleheader...

It's hard to believe with all the ice and snow that baseball season is right around the corner. In less than a month the first players will start to find their way to spring training -- which for the Royals means a trip to Surprise, Ariz. I had a chance to visit with Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore and former Nevada Griffon and reigning Royals team MVP Mark Teahen when they were in Fort Scott recently, and it got me excited about the upcoming season...