Reality Store offers glimpse into future for area eighth graders - 2004-01-12
Come and see what the future holds. Roughly 900 area eight graders participated in the 2004 Reality Store presentation at Spoon River College Wednesday, Jan. 7, to give them a quick look into life after school.

Each student attended a presentation on his or her potential career, learning what is involved in the job
and how to prepare for it. They then headed to the commons area, where they took part in the "real world" demonstration. Each received a "paycheck" for their job, then proceeded on to the various stations which allowed them to buy such essentials as food, housing and transportation, and luxuries such as entertainment.

Each student also stopped off at the "Casino of Life," where they had a chance to spin the Wheel of Chance and had to deal with either an unexpected bonus or an unexpected expense.
Read the full story at Canton Daily Ledger

Dasher, longtime Reno leader, dies at 86 - 2004-01-12
In 1983, people working to save what was left of Northern Nevada casino pioneer William F. Harrah’s collection of vintage automobiles in Reno were scared they’d lose the historic cars.

They needed to raise millions of dollars to construct a downtown museum for the vehicles.

Benedict “Ben” Dasher, a prominent Northern Nevada businessman who lead the effort, reassured his group.

“Everything we’ve seen points to strong national support,” Dasher said. “But it’s very important for us to show that this community is willing to get it started.”
Read the full story at Reno Gazette Journal