Stories from Saturday, September 19, 2009

Vernon E. Cox, 81, Nevada, formerly of Richards, Mo., passed away on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. He was born on Dec. 26, 1927, in his home north of Eve, Mo., to Jessie Harold Cox and Goldie Hagerty Cox. He married Lois Maxine Palmer, his high school sweetheart, on Sept. 17, 1949, in Nevada, and she survives of the home...

Stephen Allen Woody, 55, Peculiar, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, at Cooperstown Medical Center in Cooperstown, N.D. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 5-8 p.m. at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville, Mo. Honorary casketbearers are: Dennis Bunger, Bill Trinkle, Jack Gresham, Tim Middaugh, Terry Jarman and Logan Chupp. Cremation. Memorial contributions may be made to Vernon County Historical Society...

Brittany Boyington and Joshua Porter Sr., are proud to announce the birth of their son, Joshua Jerome Porter Jr. Joshua was born at 3:19 p.m., on Sept. 17, 2009. He weighed 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Maternal grandparents are Jeffrey Boyington, and Nyla Boyington, both of Fort Scott...

Kelly Stewart and Blake Lundberg, of Fort Scott, and siblings Lindsay, Lathan, and Lucas, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Baylae Marie Lundberg. Baylae was born at 3:41 p.m., on Sept. 17, 2009, at Mercy Health System, in Fort Scott. She weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces...

September and October of 1864 were chaotic months in Missouri and Kansas because of Major General Sterling Price's campaign in the "Show-Me" (Mo.) and Jayhawker (Kan.) states. This column and those to follow through Nov. 7 will focus on different aspects of this campaign and the four battles that occurred on Oct. 25, 1864. These battles include Trading Post, Mine Creek and Little Osage, Kansas and Shiloh Creek/Charlot's Farm near Deerfield, Mo...

A short while ago, I kept the three Garnett grandchildren for a couple of days. The grandkids consist of a 14-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl, and a 5-year-old grandson. They were helpful as we picked the garden and worked on a rock border around the house for the better part of one whole day...

Every once in a pretty long while, on the TV evening news, say, and simultaneously in "The Kansas City Star" and the current "Time," magazine, I suddenly notice a sizeable gathering (well, two or more) of brief news stories on the always-interesting subject of human boorishness. You know, so-called civilized adults behaving, for a moment or more, as if they'd somehow been exempt from the laws of human evolution?...

Hi neighbors. The main thing on my mind this week is blatant disregard for social decorum. In other words, let us talk about rude, crude and belligerent celebrities. The first one that comes to mind this week is Kanye West. Although I didn't watch the MTV Music Video Awards show, I have seen the replay of his actions many more times than he deserves the publicity over...

Nevada's new $8 million wastewater treatment plant is expected to be finished and in operation around March 2010, which is a little later than originally expected. Roger Beach, wastewater treatment plant manager, said that the project is behind because of the 120 rain days that stopped construction last spring...

Vicky Hartzler, former Missouri state representative, representing parts of Cass and Johnson counties, political activist and author of the book "Running God's Way: Step by Step to a Successful Political Campaign," has announced her intent to run for U.S. Congress in Missouri's 4th District...

On Thursday, Sept, 17, the Community Narcotics Enforcement Team Drug Task Force (also known as CNET) exploded into action with Operation Powder Keg. Powder Keg is a multi-county operation which involved the counties of Vernon, Bates, Dade and St Clair County Missouri. ...

The search for more information continues as Bourbon County Sheriff's Office investigates a vehicle chase Wednesday night. Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray said there was believed to be a vehicle chase involving two Bourbon County citizens which traveled across the state line on U.S. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- When it comes to student disciplinary measures, USD 234 officials want all parents, teachers and staff working together. USD 234 will offer a seven-week training course, titled "Becoming a Love and Logic Parent," for parents of USD 234 schoolchildren from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Keyhole Youth Center, 1002 S. Main St...

The jury trying the case against Stephen Hart, who faced two charges accusing him of first degree child molestation, came back with an acquittal on both charges after four hours of deliberation Friday. The mother of the children stormed out of the courtroom when the verdicts were announced; but 28th Circuit Court Presiding Judge James Bickel stopped anyone else from leaving until the jury had a chance to leave without being accosted...

Announcement is made of the engagement and approaching marriage of Stacy Icke to Izack Whitworth. The bride-elect is the daughter of Greg and Kim Icke, Fairview, Okla., and Dale and Juanita Gates, Enid, Okla. The prospective groom is the son of Clifford and Jean Whitworth, Moundville, Mo...

Bud and Charlie Guthrie, of Nevada, Mo., celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Sept. 15, 2009, at Big Cedar Lodge, in Branson, Mo. Bud and the former Charlie Baines, were married on Sept., 15, 1969, in Webb City, Mo. The couple have one son, Brett Guthrie and wife Elana of Parker, Colo.; two daughters, Michelle Guthrie, of the home, and Christy Guthrie-Strauss and husband Chad, of Rogers, Ark. They have three grandchildren, Kylie and Kaelen Guthrie and Jake Strauss...

Marty and Tena (Miller) Pearson, of Fulton, Kan., are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple were married Sept. 16, 1984, in Fort Scott. The Pearsons have three children.

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Raeven D. Eads graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills...

Army Pfc. Austin G. Martinez has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.. ...

Army Spec. Rachel C. Wells has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.. ...

ANDERSON, Mo. -- The Nevada Middle School eighth grade football team saw their first action of the season Thursday night as they traveled to McDonald County with very promising results. The Tigers jumped on the Mustangs early in both games and never looked back, taking both games by two-touchdown margins. The Tiger defense held strong throughout both games, allowing a total of 12 points in the two contests combined...

When Tom Martin and Sam Nelson, Nevada, arrived at the Schell-Osage Wildlife Area to open the teal season last Saturday, they never bothered to load their shotguns upon seeing the water conditions and the lack of birds on the area. Nelson said, "I had heard there weren't many teal on the area and not much water, but we thought it would be better than what we found...

WELLSVILLE, Kan. -- Jayhawk-Linn's Meriel Long took the varsity girls' race at a cross country race Thursday, finishing as the only runner under 17 minutes with her time of 16:41. She was the only Jayhawk in the varsity race. Kelsey Carbajo of Spring Hill, Kan., was second in 17:07...

RIVERTON, Kan. -- Uniontown's volleyball team swept through a quadrangular with three larger schools Friday night as the fourth-ranked Eagles defeated Columbus, Riverton and Galena in two games each. "The team played well," Uniontown head coach Jackie Hall said. "And I do mean team. Everyone contributed. Our hitters had an outstanding night as our passers were getting the ball to our setter, Tayler Shook, so she could make good choices at the net."...

UNIONTOWN, Kan. -- Uniontown jumped out to a three-touchdown lead and held on for a 21-6 victory over Jayhawk-Linn Friday night. The Eagles (2-1) had to shuffle players around due to injury and head coach Chad Stroud was pleased with their ability to persevere...

PLEASANT HILL, Mo. -- The Nevada Lady Tigers golf team traveled to Country Creek Golf Club Thursday and brought home another very strong performance. Of the three teams that participated in the match, the Lady Tigers took advantage of Emmaly Ellis and Mariah Jones bringing home th top two individual scores as they finished with the overall team best score of 197. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Cottey College Comets softball team opened their limited fall schedule with a doubleheader at Fort Scott on Wednesday evening. The Comets lost the first game 7-0 and were tripped up in the second game 7-4. "We are light years ahead of where we were last year," said head coach Greg Tietz of his second-year squad. Last year's team was composed of all freshman and by comparison, this year's team offers a mix of new and returning players...

CHERRYVALE, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's cross country teams took part in a meet at Big Hill Lake Thursday with Parsons acting as the host. In the 4-kilometer girls' varsity run, Jenna Harper finished in 13th place for the Tigers with a time of 19:59.93 while Morgan Tourtillott was 14th in 20:08.37...

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Nevada Tigers varsity football team made their return to Logan Field Friday night on a substantial high after winning their previous two games on the road. The Tigers came into the night with a 2-1 record on the year, looking for their first win at home as they took on the Roosters of Pleasant Hill on Parents' night. ...

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Pittsburg took advantage of two first-quarter Fort Scott turnovers at Hutchinson Field Friday night and jumped out to a three-touchdown lead on its way to a 53-14 Southeast Kansas League victory. As has been the case in all three games this season, the running game was key. Fort Scott (0-2 SEK, 0-3 overall) rushed for only 28 yards on 33 carries and allowed 376 yards on 53 rushes...