Stories from Monday, June 25, 2012

Monett Area YMCA Challengers Day Camp participants spent Wednesday painting the concrete seats and planters at Monett's South Park. Some of the participants are pictured above. From left, are: Alex Ormsby, Bailey Flint and Casey Shields. The project was one of the Challengers community service projects, according to Layla Minton, camp director. ...

Jeff Meredith, the new executive director for the Monett Chamber of Commerce, talked about his work and the future role of the chamber at last week's meeting of the Monett Kiwanis Club. A native of southwest Missouri and a graduate of Neosho High School, Meredith worked at the Joplin chamber for five and a-half years, serving the past two and a-half years as the administrative assistant. The Joplin chamber employs 16 people, preparing Meredith to work with a staff...

The Fourth of July is just around the corner and the lure of fireworks is strong among the young and young at heart. There is nothing quite like the sizzle of a fuse before the explosion of color and noise to replicate the battle for our nation's freedom in 1776, but in Monett and other areas, there are restrictions on that type of celebration...

The Monett City Council approved three resolutions designed to save money at the June 20 meeting. A resolution was adopted allowing the city to join the Region 8 Education Service Center, made up of other government entities. Pyle said there was no obligation or cost for the membership...

Maevene Webb, age 81, of Washburn, died at 9:08 a.m. on Friday, June 22. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Washburn Prairie Cemetery, Washburn, Missouri.

Wilbur "Rex" Williams, age 83, of Verona, Mo., passed away at 10:41 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2012, at his home. He was born April 11, 1929, in Barry County, Mo., the son of Wendell Rex and Lola Fern (Mullen) Williams. Rex lived in the Barry-Lawrence County communities his entire life and was a 1947 graduate of Verona High School. ...

Gregory Pinto, age 54, of Wheaton, died at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13. A memorial service will be held in Dallas, Texas at a later date. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

Jessica Sue Henry, age 31, of Aurora, died at 6:52 a.m. on Monday, June 19, from injuries she sustained in an automobile accident. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 25, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora.

Ronald Lee Huffines, age 56, of Shell Knob, died at 12:50 a .m. on Thursday, June 21. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob.

Eugene Joe Williams, age 87, of Marionville, formally of Verona, died at 12:40 p.m. on Friday, June 22, at the Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. A funeral service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, at the Verona Baptist Church with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, also at the church. Burial will be held at Spring River Cemetery...

Sheryl Lee Clifford, age 59, of Aurora, died at 12:35 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, at the home of her son in Joplin. A funeral service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora, will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 25, at the Aurora Bible Church with burial at Maple Park Cemetery...

Daniel Charles "Dan" Clark, age 52, of Shell Knob, died at 3:26 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob,

Spraying for mosquitoes will take place in Monett this week from 8 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting. Spraying will take place on June 26 north of Cleveland, on June 27 between Cleveland and Highway 60, and on June 28 south of Highway 60. For more information, call 235-3495...

Sharee Woods has retired from Schreiber Foods after 36 years of service. On May 4, plant partners in her honor held a luncheon celebration. Don Swearingen, plant manager, pictured at right, presented Woods, at left, with a gift for her dedication. Woods began her career on March 20, 1976. ...

The Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of Monett Masonic Lodge #129 AF & AM accepted a plaque from Pythagoras Lodge #383 in Cassville on June 7. The plaque and its message were designed by members of Pythagoras Lodge to say "Hey Thanks" to the Monett Lodge members for all of their hard work and assistance. The plaque is now displayed at the Monett Lodge. Pictured above, from left, are: George Bilby, of Pythagoras Lodge, Benji Oakley, of Monett Lodge and Mark Pry, of Pythagoras Lodge...

On Friday and Saturday, June 15 and 16, employees, customers, and vendors of Jack Henry & Associates participated in the annual John W. "Jack" Henry Memorial Charity Golf Classic in Monett. This year, Bright Futures Joplin was selected as one of the charities to benefit from the tournament...

The Monett YMCA "Team A" flag football is pictured above. Members of the team are: Maddix Adams, Kash Adams, Mav Grimley, Enrique Hernandez, Vincent Pinkley, Kolby Rattles, Levi Taylor and Porter Reed. Team A is coached by Rick Minton. [Chuck Nickle Photography]...

The Monett YMCA "Team 1" youth soccer squad is pictured above. Members of the team are: Dante Zapata, Antonio Vizcaino, Eric Ortiz, Jacob Erpelding, Mason Dossett, Elianna McElhany, Rylee Poole, Aiden Rivera and Lauren Blades. Team 1 is coached by Jorge Zapata. [Chuck Nickle Photography]...

Monett artist Jason Inman won Best in Show with one of his oil paintings at the Friends of Spiva-St. Avips art show and auction in Joplin. Inman was one of nearly 100 artists who contributed work to the fundraising event to support the Spiva Center for the Arts. His painting was a 16-by-20 inch portrait of his daughter, Allyson, now age 7, dressed in a pioneer-period bonnet and dress...