Stories from Saturday, June 21, 2008

Dale and Nancy Scism will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, June 29. They were married on June 21, 1958. To celebrate the occasion, an open house will be held from 1-4 p.m., at the Moore-Few community room in Nevada. Friends and family are welcome. The open house is being hosted by their four children -- Rick Scism, Doug Scism, Janie Rogers, and Janice Hines...

Hi neighbors. Although summer has officially started, we still have a few weeks before those phone calls start with people telling us who to vote for. Even cell phone numbers will get those calls now. There's a lot to be said for having a cell phone. They've filled the void of those hand-to-face actions cigarettes used to provide. Also, people can reach you at any and all times...

Much has been written in this column about "bush-whacking" and "bush-whackers," both of which were very common in Missouri during the Civil War. However, for the benefit of any new readers and a refresher for the faithful, I thought it would be best for Mr. Webster and the Union blue-bellied hounds to provide a definition, perception and reaction to the "bushwhackers" (partisan rangers, if you are of the Southern persuasion) and what "bushwhacking" was...

Jeannette Ruby (Nicely) Borders, 76, Nevada, entered her heavenly home on Thursday, June 19, 2008. She died at home in the presence of her loving and caring family. She had met the challenge of a cancerous brain tumor for the past year with courage and faith. She was born to Oary Nathan Nicely and Audrey Frankie (Carey) Nicely on Aug. 16, 1931...

Bernice Loree Walker, 99, of Tiffin, Mo., died Thursday, June 19, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Shewas born April 25, 1909, in Warsaw, Mo., to James Milton Downs and Laura M. Taylor Downs. She was married Dec. 8, 1927, in Joplin, to George Lawrence Hoffman and he preceded her in death January 1947. She later married H. Clay Walker, in June 1968, and he precceded her in death September 1975...

Larry Wayne Reed was born Oct. 25, 1945, in Nevada, the son of Albert and Ceraldine (Page) Reed. He passed away June 18, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital, in Joplin, at the age of 62. Larry was raised in Vernon County and graduated from Metz High School. Soon after graduation he attended auctionneering school. He had a great love for horse racing and auctioneering until his failing health...

Margaret (Peggy) Sumner, age 63, of Garnett, Kan., passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2008, at the Anderson County Hospital in Garnett, Kan. She was born on Nov. 25, 1944, in Axtell, Kan., the daughter of Ted and Margaret (Meier) Studer. Peggy grew up and attended schools in Beattie, Kansas. She graduated from Emporia State University...

James C. Holman, 61, Timonium, Md., passed away Monday, June 16, 2008, at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, Md. He was born Aug. 29, 1946, to the late H. Leland Holman and Alta Deane Wade Holman. Survivors include his step-mother, Louise Holman, Springfield, Mo.; one sister, Eleanor Sigmon and her husband James, Prescott, Ariz.; one niece, Linda Roxberg and her husband Steve; one nephew, Jim Sigmon Jr. ...

Jessica and Joshua Heiserman, of Rockville, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Tessa Heiserman. Tessa was born at 2:12 a.m., on June 15, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches...

Ashely Sanning and Tracy Byran, of Sheldon, and big sisters Leah and Donna Byran, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister, Tracy Lynn Byran. Tracy was born at 10:55 a.m., on June 17, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 19 1/2 inches...

June 19 There were reports of a careless and imprudent driver in the Rich Hill area, an ex parte violation in the Nevada area, a railroad sign down in the Nevada area, a stop and hold in the Vista area, a dog bite in the Nevada area, a domestic dispute in the Deerfield area, property damage in the Nevada area, kids walking in the Milo area, an ambulance request in the Nevada area, threats in the Nevada area, an alarm in the Schell City area, and a controlled burn in the Milo area...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Farmers and landowners who provide habitat for bobwhite quail don't have to sacrifice productivity or spend a lot of money. Some wildlife-management techniques may actually save time and effort, and eligible farmers can receive per-acre payments through a USDA conservation program...

The April 15 tax deadline is long passed, but it's not too late to file a 2007 tax return for your economic stimulus payment. The Internal Revenue Service says retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers are eligible but may not know it, or think it is too late to get a payment. ...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Many area residents have been taken by surprise by the most recent developments at the Kansas City Star, a Kansas City, Mo.-based newspaper. After the metropolitan newspaper, which is in its 128th year, announced it was going to lay off about 10 percent of its employees due to 1,400-positions layoff by its parent company, The McClatchy Company, which owns several newspapers nationwide...

Nevada, Mo. -- The First Baptist Church is getting ready for its 150th anniversary beginning June 27. A century and a half in the making, the church is kicking off its celebration Friday with a tailgate party at 5:30 p.m. when they will serve hamburgers and hotdogs to those in attendance. ...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Holden Guilfoyle has not let a very rare disease keep him from living and enjoying his young life. "He loves baseball, and he's basically into anything related to sports right now," Holden's mother, Jenny Guilfoyle, said. "He's really obsessed with T-ball right now because his big sister is playing."...

By Eric Wade Herald-Tribune The Nevada Griffons fell to 10-4 overall with a 6-4 league record last night, in a 3-2 loss to the El Dorado, Kan., Broncos. Nevada's starting pitcher, Matt Speake, started off strong, holding the Broncos hitless in the first inning. Nevada looked as though they may start an early rally with a lead-off hit by Tyler Redick, followed by a one out stolen base, but were shut down when the next two batters struck out to end the inning...

After catching nearly a bucket full of nice sized bluegill recently, Bill Wilson, 53, said, "I never met a bluegill I wouldn't eat. Bluegill or perch are at the top of my list of gourmet wild treats, and there is no better time than this month to collect the bounty inspite of the high water."...

Herald-Tribune The Nevada Parks and Recreation department hosted the first annual Bushwhacker 5K run at this year's Bushwhacker Days. The event was divided into three different age groups, with medals given to the top finishers in each group. In the 16-30 men's group, Mason Benn took first place, followed by Todd Brier in second and Josh Newman in third. The women's group was won by Libby Jones, with Kelsey Wilson and Betsy Laighninger rounding out the top three...