Stories from Thursday, July 7, 2011

Cara Virginia Williams Jones, 88, of Tiptonville, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and owner of the Lake County Banner, died Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Methodist LeBonheur Germantown Hospital in Memphis. As a mother, she left a legacy of honor, integrity, and a love for helping others. As a newspaper woman, some of her jobs included society editor, proofreader, and bookkeeping...

David L. Patten, 90, of Nevada, and formerly of Wamego and Manhattan, Kan., died Monday, July 4, 2011, at the Christian Health Care in Nixa, Mo. He was born on Dec. 26, 1920, in Randolph, Kan., the son of Harry J. and Kathryn (Nelson) Patten. He worked for Viking Manufacturing for 19 years as a sheet metal worker and the custodial department at Kansas State University for 10 years before his retirement in 1982. ...

June 29 Bradley Overman was arrested for shock incarceration. No bond. Dennis Williams was released to Cedar County. Jail population: Total census, 57; state, 8; Vernon County Re-entry program, 4; Bates County, 5; Cedar County, 4; and Dade County, 1...

JEFFERSON CITY--KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company has filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission which contains the company's annual fuel adjustment clause true-up for the period of March 1, 2010, through Feb. 28, 2011...

An Overland Park engineering company expects to start work by the end of July and finish refurbishing Northeast Vernon County Schools by the resumption of classes Sept. 1. The NEVC School Board recently told Energy Solutions Professionals to seek bids for installing new school building and gymnasium lights and programmable thermostats and for insulating buildings and caulking or filtering windows in the schools in Walker and Schell City...

Visitors may become a Missouri State Park Explorer by attending Explorer Camp July 16 at Prairie State Park near Mindenmines. This year's camp is all about animals in the news: mountain lions, black bears and elk. Those attending the camp will learn about these animals that have been in the news in Missouri the last few years by completing activities on all three of these animals...

Local citizens will have the chance to make summer truly extraordinary by visiting an American Red Cross blood donor center or blood drive. In about an hour, a donor can turn a typical summer day into an extraordinary gift for a patient in need. A single donation can help save up to three lives, according to a Red Cross press release...

Rich Hill man shatters pie auction record; money from sale totals $3,300.

Spencer Hoagland, an incoming senior from Northeast Vernon County High School, was just awarded the top spot in the National Future Business Leaders of America Competition in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, July 1, for her testing knowledge in the field of Word Processing II. ...

Gabby Gire loved country music as a 2-year-old watching Country Music Television; and that interest has led her, at 14, to the verge of statewide recognition as a singer. Performing before 1,000 people at Bushwhacker Days June 10, she was judged the best of 12 entertainers in the local Texaco Country Showdown, advancing to the state level Aug. ...

In game one of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Ozark Generals, the Griffons fell short of a win, 9-8. The Griffons started out strong with two runs in the first. Leading off for the Griffons, Peter Goudeau III went to first on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by the next batter, Stuart Jack. Goudeau scored on a double by Peter Barrows. A single by Rick Hepworth advanced Barrows to third who scored moments later on a wild pitch...

Norman and Laura Nation of Fort Scott and Jim and Polly Herman, of Fort Scott, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter and son, Elise Joy Nation and Jeremiah James Herman. The couple plan to be married on July 22, 2011. Elise is a 2009 graduate of Fort Scott High School and a 2011 graduate of Fort Scott Community College. She is currently employed full time by Heidrick's True Value...