Stories from Saturday, February 14, 2009

A new study released in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that adolescents who consumed closer to the recommended three servings of dairy foods per day had a lower body mass index and less body fat than those with lower daily dairy consumption...

Hi neighbors. Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you have an opportunity to be with the ones you love today. It's always a good year when Valentine's Day falls on a weekend. Although many feel Valentine's Day is all about romantic love, how many parents cherish the memory of getting that first odd-looking flower created with crayons or construction paper by eager, loving little hands. ...

One evening in late 1973, maybe it was my first day teaching classes at Cottey, while I sat listening to 33-rpm records (remember them?) on our living room floor, utterly thrilled at how well my students had reacted to their new, 33-year-old New York hippie-teacher, Jack Tyler paid me a visit. Ginny, our 1-year-old daughter Jessica, and I had already met Jack and his wife Paula, and their grey cat Barney, just, I think it was, the day before...

Leroy and Danielle (Trower) Kerns, of Springfield, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Kierra Nicole Kerns. Kierra was born at 12:56 a.m., on Feb. 3, 2009, at Cox South Medical Center, in Springfield. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and measured 21 inches...

Jenny and Christopher Schulze, of Republic, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Maelee Faye Schulze. Maelee was born at 2:54 p.m., on Jan. 12, 2009, at Cox South Medical Center, in Springfield. She weighed 9 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 22 1/2 inches...

Mary J. Wille, 78, Nevada, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada following an illness of several months. She was born Dec. 20, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Arthur Adam Kneller and Iona Lena Isley Kneller. She married Vernon Wille on May 20, 1954, in Lawson, Mo., and he preceded her in death in April 1991...

Charles Michael Payne, 59, of Fort Scott, died Thursday afternoon, Feb. 12, 2009, at the Mercy Health Center. He was born Sept. 9, 1949, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Elmer Michael "Mike" and Hilda (Roberts) Payne. Charley was an outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and hang out with his "old buddies."...

Margaret A. "Peg" Byler, age 80, of Fredericktown, died Friday Feb. 13, 2009, at the Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon. Peg was born Nov. 5, 1928, in Amherst, Ohio, to Frank and Anna (Davie) Ward and was a graduate of Amherst High School where she served as "Flag Bearer" for the marching band. On May 5, 1951, she married Robert Byler, an Ohio State Highway Patrolman. They lived in Amherst, Massillon, Monroeville, Fremont, Bellevue and Canfield before moving to Fredericktown in 1969...

Mary Ann Thurston, age 77, went to be with her Lord, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Mercy Health Center, joining her beloved husband and baby boy Johnnie. She was born Jan. 15, 1932, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Lee Roy Monroe and Rena Jewell Morrow Monroe. ...

Shirley "Joann" Lawson, 70, Sheldon, Mo., died on Feb. 12, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital, in Kansas City, Mo. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

The IRS projects more than 1.2 million Missouri and 575,000 Kansas taxpayers will hire someone to prepare and e-file their 2008 federal tax return. While most tax return preparers provide excellent service to their clients, the IRS urges taxpayers to be careful picking a tax professional...

University of Missouri Extension is hosting a meeting on managing corn for higher yields on Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the TeleCenter Café, 2015 N. West, Nevada, Mo. Topics and speakers for the day are "Corn Diseases and Their Management," presented by Laura Sweets, UM plant pathology specialist; "Yield: How It Is Made and How It Is Lost," presented by Bill Wiebold, UM Soybean Specialist; Weed Management in Corn for 2009 and Beyond, presented by Kevin Bradley, UM weed control specialist; and "Fertilizer Prices Are Going Crazy: Should I Change My Management," to be presented by Peter Scharf, UM fertility specialist.. ...

Three Nevada residents were injured in a one-vehicle crash on U.S. 71 Friday afternoon. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 26-year-old Randy A. Stevens, Nevada, told troopers he fell asleep at the wheel of the 2002 Ford Explorer in the northbound lanes of the highway, about seven-tenths of a mile south of Nevada...

The Executive Summary of the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area Management Plan has been completed and is online and available for public viewing and comment for a period of 30 days beginning Feb. 9, 2009, according to a press release from the Freedom's Frontier Web site. ...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- For the second year in a row, both Winfield Scott Elementary and Eugene Ware Elementary schools are promoting a greater amount of parental involvement in the lives of children. Both schools worked together to purchase 400 children's books, which were donated to Mercy Birthplace at Mercy Health Center and Mother to Mother Ministries...

Dorcas Clark took the train to Appleton City in 1946 to visit a friend, Alma Smith, who had recently moved there from Walker. Glen Noble was going to high school and working for Katy Railroad picking up and delivering the mail to the post office and he was at the depot. ...

Nevada Regional Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in ultrasound as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology. According to President and CEO Judy Feuquay, patients should find comfort in an ACR accredited facility. "The ACR accreditation demonstrates a commitment to quality patient care. Only the highest quality care is provided by accredited facilities," said Feuquay...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- The state budget, recent cuts to public schools, and the status of the national economy are a few topics that will be up for discussion during an upcoming legislative forum. Area legislators will offer their initial assessments of the 2009 session of the Kansas Legislature during a "Legislative Issues" forum that is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ...

The phones have been ringing, e-mails are pouring in from area residents that are ready to get tickets to the David Allan Coe Children's Mercy Concert that is to be held at the Nevada Speedway on Saturday April 18, 2009. The tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 at two locations in Vernon County: Tobacco Shack, located on east Austin Boulevard, in Nevada, and the Moundville Market located on 43 Highway in Moundville...

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hallie Ruby announce the couple's 57th wedding anniversary, noting, "It is the love they share that brings joy to their family and friends." Hallie and Joann (Colvin) Ruby will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary Monday, Feb. ...

Announcement is made of the engagement of Christina Ann Raker, daughter of Richard Raker, Crossville, Tenn., and Karen Bradshaw, Topeka, Kan., to Joseph Wesley Symes, son of Fred and Linda Symes, Nevada, Mo. Christina is a 1996 graduate of Lee's Summit High School. She attended the University of Central Missouri, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication in 2000. She is currently employed by Third Eye Productions in Kansas City, Mo., as venue manager...

Vickie Collins and Don John Epps announce their plans to be married on Feb. 28, 2009. The ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, Kan. Collins is the daughter of the late Jack and Joan Collins. She is a 1997 Graduate of Fort Scott High School and attended Friends University. She is currently employed as a human services specialist with SRS of Kansas...

Julie Ogden and Mike Hallam, of Nevada, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Alisa Marie Fanning, to Adam Lee Pryor, son of Cathy Moore and Greg Pryor, of Nevada. Fanning, a Crowder College student, is pursuing an associate's degree in nursing and plans to graduate in May. She is a 2005 graduate of Nevada high School. She is employed by Moore-Few Care Center as a CNA/CMT...