Features

A total of 32 people donated blood at the recent American Red Cross blood drive at New Site Baptist Church in Monett. First time donor was Tracy Glouse. Those achieving donation milestones included Michele Cornell and Glenn Fields, one gallon; and Nora Barrientos, 4 gallons...

Evert Fritz, a lifelong resident of the Monett/Freistatt area, will turn 95 years young on Sept. 7. All family and friends are invited to attend an open house to help him celebrate his birthday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Monett. Contributed photo...

Tom and Sharon VanDerhoef, of Pioneer, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple was united in marriage on Aug. 26, 1971, in Commerce, Okla. They have two children; Valerie, who is married to Brett Friederich, and their daughter, Ella, of Andover, Kan.; and a son, Dan VanDerhoef, who is married to Leilani, and their two daughters, Lorelei and Lyndsie, who live in Cassville. The photo was taken on Tom and Sharon’s honeymoon in Hawaii. Contributed photos...

As Missouri celebrates 200 years of statehood, one local organization is celebrating its 100th year of work in the community. On Sunday, May 2, the Verona Knights of Columbus Council held a celebration in the Holy Trinity Parish Hall in Aurora to commemorate the appreciation the Knights have for their clergy and religious, and also to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Verona Council of the Knights of Columbus...

The Health Department divides food service code violations into two categories; Priority and Core items. Priority items are more likely than other violations to contribute to food contamination, or illness and/or injury. Core items although important to the overall hygiene of the establishment, do not necessarily present an immediate threat to food contamination or illness and/or injury...

• Marissa Acevedo, five counts of equipment violation, fined $113.50 each count; one count of animal at large, $63.50. • Brianna M Akins, affray, non-injury assault, suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), six months probation. • Alexis Aldaba, operated vehicle on highway without valid or no license, SIS, six months probation...

Monett Lions recently gathered for a traditional pulled pork potluck dinner in Monett’s South Park and the annual installation of a new slate of officers.

CRIMINAL • Gregory Allen Ackley: possession of marijuana of 10 grams or less, misd. D, fined $150; unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, misd. D, fined $150. • Omer Al Khaf JI: failed to maintain a good working horn, fined $250. • Richard L. Aleshire: tampering with utility meter- 2nd degree, misd. A; stealing, misd. A...

With summer coming to an end local students who participated in the annual St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Waldensian Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church and First Christian Church Vacation Bible Study are celebrating a successful year. Thirty five children ages 4-17 enjoyed being Knights of North Castle during a vacation bible school event held three hours each morning for a week at the First Christian Disciples of Christ Church at 4th and Wishart in Monett...

Almost 200 area teens and adults from the Monett Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints re-enacted the westward trek of handcart pioneers June 24 through 26. Each youth was assigned to a family consisting of a “Ma and Pa” and approximately six to eight youth. For three days, they helped push wooden handcarts with their belongings over various terrains – camping for two nights...

Students of the Week at Monett Elementary School for the week of Sept. 6 are pictured.

The second All Roads Lead Home Mural received a $500 boost during back to school meetings in August from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association, represented by Shirley Andrus (left) and Ruby Vincent (right). Kim McCully-Mobley, an Aurora High School educator, received the grant on behalf of the Youth Empowerment Project and the Houn’ Dawg Alumni & Outreach Center...

The Purdy R-II School District is welcoming 14 new staff members to its ranks for the 2021-2022 school year, including a new superintendent, Dr. Travis Graham, pictured at front.

Missouri State University awarded 2,954 degrees to students during spring commencement ceremonies May 13-14 at JQH Arena. Students who graduated with honors completed at least 30 undergraduate credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. The following local students earned degrees:...

Jeanne Swank, of Monett, retired from Freedom Bank of southern Missouri on June 29. Swank spent 18 years in her banking career.

Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri recently welcomed long-time agricultural lending expert Ron Keith as vice president, serving Southwest Missouri in the Monett branch. “We’re thrilled to have Ron join our Freedom Bank team,” said Darrin Newbold, Freedom Bank president. “He has a wealth of agricultural knowledge and will be a tremendous asset to our lending team in Monett with the ability to serve Southwest Missouri.”...