Stories from Saturday, June 13, 2009

For years, while nearing Pomme de Terre, my son, Brad, would comment, "it looks good," as we passed over Crane Creek in Hickory County. Each year, we would go back to the creek armed with ultra-light or fly rods and fish this small stream for smallmouth bass or bluegill and were never disappointed...

The Nevada Griffons have once again seen one of their players taken by the MLB draft. Left-handed pitcher Adam Champion posted a 1-0 record for the Griffons this season in two appearances. Champion pitched just 6 1-3 innings for the Griffons, but was able to record seven strikeouts and an opposing batting average of just .136 on his way to becoming one of the most valuable members of the Griffons' starting rotation...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Nevada Red Sox AAA squad got their trip to the Carl Junction tournament started with a tough loss Thursday evening. The Red Sox opened the tournament by squaring off against Galena, Kan., and came up short as Galena took the victory by a final score of 3-0, despite a very strong effort by starting pitcher Ron Johnson. "Ron Johnson pitched a great game; we just didn't hit," Red Sox Assistant Coach Jason Irwin said...

Nevada, Mo. -- Sergeant Steve Bastow is well known around Nevada, he has been a member of the Nevada Police Department since 2001 and an EMT for the Vernon County Ambulance District before that. Bastow is a life-long resident and graduated from Nevada High School in 1986. He attended Missouri Southern State College's police academy...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Recent improvements to the downtown Fort Scott area inspired a group of local men to donate about 100 hours of their time to make even more downtown renovations. According to Fort Scott City Commissioner Jim Adams, he was visiting with a group of friends during lunch one day about the downtown makeover. ...

Rich Hill, Mo. -- A gas leak is suspected in the explosion of a house June 8 that severely injured a Rich Hill man, Jack Allen Baker. Baker walked into his home at approximately 9 p.m. on East Chestnut in Rich Hill, lit a cigarette and his house exploded around him...

The World Health Organization declared a flu pandemic Thursday, which came as no surprise to public health officials in Kansas who have been responding to infections with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus across the state for nearly two months, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment...

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- On the banks of Rapid Creek in Rapid City, S.D., 10 Missouri National Guard Soldiers are using their training to provide clean water for Soldiers from across the country. The members of the distribution platoon of the 311th Brigade Support Battalion, Company A, are participating in the 25th annual Golden Coyote training exercise. ...

Amy Bernice McCoy, 98, passed away at Medicalodge of Gardner, KS on June 10, 2009. Graveside Services will be 11 a.m., Monday, June 15, at Moran Cemetery in Moran, KS. Memorial Contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Moran. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, (913) 856-7111. Condolences may be sent to www.brucefuneralhome.com...

Dean Harth, 59, Nevada, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2009, at his home in Nevada following a lengthy illness. He was born May 21, 1950, in Nevada, to Delbert Ivan Harth and Opal Belle Livingston Harth. He married Pamela Mantooth on May 24, 1968, in Fort Scott...

Kenny and Stephanie Hackman, of Deerfield, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Kaylee Ann Hackman. Kaylee was born at 7:06 p.m., on June 10, 2009, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 21 inches...

Kamrynn Mumbower, one week old daughter of Krista Mumbower and Shawn Wyatt passed away Friday, June 12, 2009, at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott...

Hi neighbors. Bushwhackers Days hit it off with a bang Wednesday night. At least a roll of thunder. My granddaughter was very disappointed that she couldn't spend her birthday money on the Square or at the carnival. She went to the movies instead and spent time enjoying the festivities Thursday before she had to return to Des Moines. ...

Throughout history civilians killing civilians is and was, commonplace in war. This is especially true today in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel and Palestine and was quite prevalent throughout Missouri and eastern Kansas during "our" Civil War. Very often "war" is convenient for settling, by murder or assassination, offenses such as personal grudges, or revenge for acts of violence or outrages committed by civilians to other civilians...

Ray and Vonnie Foster, of Nevada, will celebrate their 50th wedding on June 20, 2009, with a reception at the Eagles Lodge in Nevada hosted by their children and loved ones. The reception begins at 3 p.m. The Fosters were married June 16, 1959, in Colorado Springs, Colo. ...

Edward Keating and Patricia Warzel were married on June 9, 1949, and are observing their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married in a double-wedding ceremony with Bernard Gorman and Edith Warzel. The Rev. Patrick Nagle celebrated the nuptial mass at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, in Fort Scott...

Don and Jeanne Sheets, of Nevada, will observe their 60th wedding anniversary on June 25, 2009. Don and the former Jeanne McHugh were married on June 25, 1949, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Nevada. The Sheets are parents of four children, Connie Garton, Milo, Mo., Mike Sheets and Monte Sheets, both of Nevada, and Lois Miller, Louisburg, Kan.; five grandchildren, Kylie Moad, Kimberly Garton, Kristin Twellman, Jared Sheets, and Jon Sheets; and four great-grandchildren, Colin Twellman, Carter Moad, Tyler Twellman, and Easton Sheets.. ...

Judy and Bobby Button, Fort Scott, will celebrate 45 years of marriage on Saturday, June 13, 2009. The couple have two children, Ginger and Kevin; four grandchildren, Justin, Zakary, Katie and Shayla; and two great-grandchildren, Colby and Paityn. Cards may be addressed to: P.O. Box 845, Fort Scott, KS 66701...

Gary and Pudgie Ogle, of Ketchum, Okla., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in July in Ketchum, Grand Lake. Gary and the former Pudgie Westcoat were married June 14, 1959, at First Christian Church, in Nevada. The couple are parents of three children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren...

To honor their 25th wedding anniversary, the children of Dale and Connie Wooldridge will host a reception on Sunday, June 28, from 3-5 p.m., at the Moore-Few Community Room in Nevada. The family requests that the presence of friends and family is the only gift needed...

Mr. and Mrs. James DeMoss, Fort Scott, announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Rebekah Sue DeMoss, to Kyle Lewis Varvel, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Varvel, LeRoy, Kan. The bride to be is currently a senior at Pittsburg State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Education and majoring in history/government. She is currently employed by the Pittsburg State University Registar's Office...

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Cameron, of rural Rich Hill, announce the marriage of their daughter, Lindsey Brooke, to Scott David Benbrook on Jan. 4, 2009, in a candlelight ceremony at the Park Avenue Methodist Church in Rich Hill. Following a reception at the Nevada Country Club, the couple enjoyed a honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean Islands...