Stories from Monday, September 12, 2011

Gina Gail Milburn, the new director of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, has enjoyed her first month on the job, becoming acquainted with the local library system. Milburn comes at a time when libraries are looking ahead to significant technology changes...

A young woman with ties to Barry County has been named as the director of intercollegiate athletics at William Woods University (WWU) in Fulton. Amber Cox, daughter of Vikki Gripka, of Joplin, and David Cox, of Cassville, will leave behind the position of chief operating officer (COO) of the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) Phoenix Mercury to return to the Missouri university...

Even though the Diamond Wildcats come into Friday night's football contest 0-2 against the 2-0 Pierce City Eagles, it doesn't mean they will be a push over. Diamond is coming off losses to solid programs in Lockwood and Miller. "The front part of our schedule is brutal," said Diamond head coach Aaron Davied. "We have played two physical teams in our first two games, and now we are rewarded by getting to play Pierce City."...

The Monett cubs soccer team tasted defeat for the first time this season, falling 5-2 to Rogersville. "The score isn't indicative of how we played," said Monett head coach Dan Janssen. "I am proud of how hard the boys battled and the effort they put forth on the field tonight."...

The Pierce City Lady Eagles improved to 7-1 on the young softball season with a pair of wins this week. On Thursday, the Lady Eagles defeated Dadeville 8-1. Pierce City struck first with two runs in the first, single tallies in the second, fourth and sixth innings and three runs in the seventh...

One week after giving the number one ranked team in Missouri Class 3 football fits, the Monett Cubs schedule rewards them with a trip to Class 5 Nixa tonight. "We do not have an easy schedule," said Monett head coach Chad Depeé. "We have to play with the same type of intensity that we showed against Rogersville."...

Neither team had any trouble moving the ball against their opponent's defensive teams. There were 10 penalties during the game. Pierce City was penalized eight times for 80 yards. Diamond was penalized three times for 20 yards. "We've got to find a way to get that fixed," said Eagles head coach Mac Whitehead. "We need to get that done. I told the guys it's time to grow up. We can't make any more excuses about being inexperienced."...

Hoping to build off the momentum generated in the previous two weeks, the Monett Cubs football team traveled to Christian County on Friday night to face the Nixa Eagles. The Eagles handed Monett a 31-12 defeat. "Nixa is a big and solid squad," said Monett head coach Chad Depeé. "We knew coming into this game it was going to be a fight. I was proud of our boys for battling to the end of the game and never quitting."...

Lyla Rauch Gates, age 97, of Aurora, passed away at 2:35 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, in her home. She was born to Orion Wilson and Nellie Juno (Bailey) Bass in Springdale, Ark. on April 29, 1914. She attended schools in Monett, graduating with the class of 1932. She has been a resident of Aurora since 1940...

Alexander Burns Hall, age 56, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died on Friday, Sept. 9 at his home. He is the cousin of Viga Hall, former resident of Monett. Plans are incomplete under the direction of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett.

Ralph F. Henderson, 92, of Monett, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 at 6 a.m. at Benchmark Healthcare, in Monett. He was born on Oct. 31, 1918 in Purdy, MO, the son of the late Ben and Gertie (Inman) Henderson. He was united in marriage in March of 1936 in Loma Linda, CA to Anna Imogene Mullins, she survives...

Joe E. Forgey, age 90, of Exeter, died on Sunday, Sept. 11. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, in McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Graveside services with military honors will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in Ruddick Cemetery, Garfield, Ark...

John Edward Kennedy, age 71, of Bountiful, Utah, formerly of Monett, died at 8:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept.7, at his home. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Butterfield, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville, Missouri...

Richard "Dick" Langstraat, age 72, of Monett, died on Saturday, Sept. 10. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett.

Lorraine A. Sawyer, age 92, of San Antonio, Texas, formerly of Mt. Vernon, died at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, in her home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home with burial at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Thelma E. Cork, age 95, of Monett, died on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett. Mrs. Cork was born in New Castle, Ind. on Thursday, Nov. 11, 1915. She was the daughter of Charles Edmond and Edna Grove Taylor. Mrs. Cork was a retired hairdresser and a Baptist...

A Cassville woman was hurt in a one-vehicle crash at 7:38 p.m. on Sunday two miles east of Wheaton. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tessa Craig, 20, was driving west in a 1997 GMC Yukon on Highway 76 when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck the embankment. Craig received minor injuries and was transported to St. John's Hospital in Springfield for treatment...

Ideal weather conditions created a perfect picture postcard setting from Broadway Nights in downtown Monett on Friday. More vehicles were parked on Broadway than have turned out for the monthly extended hours shopping session in several months as the warm night offered a good time to meet friends and have a night on the town...

For the fourth time in five months, August sales tax receipts to Barry and Lawrence towns and counties have shown gains over 2010. Monett's two sales taxes for the general fund brought in $120,497.51 in August, a new record that is $7,011.20 higher than a year ago. The total is a little more than double the amount generated in 2001 and almost $7,000 better than the old August record set in 2008...

The Missouri MIA/POW Awareness Run, sponsored by Rolling Thunder Missouri Chapter #3, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Monett's South Park. The ceremony honoring all Missouri MIA and POW military personnel will take place near the Navy jet at 2 p.m...

Monett High School will hold its annual football homecoming on Sept. 16 when the Cubs will play against the Lamar Tigers. This year the homecoming theme is "Battle In The Bayou." The theme and Homecoming activities are sponsored by the Student Council...